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Our thanks go to The Rothbury Highland Pipe band for sending Donna Scott out on a very rainy Thursday evening to come and play the pipes for our beacon lighting in honour of the Queens Platinum Jubilee. Despite the rain it was a momentous occasion, with Prosecco and canapes for those in attendance, and despite the rain we all had a great time, including the cows who joined in ...

This is Libby a rescue Newfoundland who came to visit us with her owners last week.  She was a gentle giant and was so good all through her stay. A new breed to add to our Rogues Gallery of wonderful dogs who are brought by their owners on holiday ere. ...

Brilliant news so far, that we have 3 bull calves born this week. ...

Lambing has started and although we have had some rain the weather is warm, and on the whole they are doing well. We have had plenty of twins and a few triplets. ...

Things to do this Summer:   Call the Midwife! Tours at Cragend Farm have started with unexpected new  information coming to light on the very first day, when Eileen Telfer and her daughter Justine, told the amazing story of her great-grandfather.   Joseph Gall, lived at ‘Craghead’ a small dwelling on the south side of the River Coquet opposite Cragend Farm. He worked for L ...

New arrivals fr April are 3 bagot goat kids. Two billys and a doe. ...

This is Cassie an 18 week old Labrador who came  to visit last week with her owners. She was such a good girl, and loved running about the farm and fields. We would like to thank her owners for taking  this great photo of her for our Rogues Gallery! Dog friendly accommodation has its perks and we absolutely loved having her stay with us. ...

Shaun Renwick is owner of Cragend Farm; a working rare-breeds farm, country holiday destination, and plantation wood of just over 40 acres in Northumberland.   In 2012 over 1000 mixed deciduous trees, including alder, rowan, beech and oak were planted, and a Scots Pine stand of 10 new trees was planted in 2019 dedicated to the loved ones of people who live, and holiday in The ...

Hidden Gem in the heart of Northumberland Stay in The Armstrong Wing=, and Super King Size bed with ensuite bath and shower room. Dog friendly, with country walks and near the beach and plenty of open spaces to enjoy. Self-catering accommodation also available. ...

A winning photo! Our Bagot goats looking amazing with the fantastic backdrop of The Coquet Valley. A very proud moment for us. Cragend Bagot Goats win Best Herd Photo in the Bagot Goat Society competition. The photographer, Shaun, also needs a mention as although we know our goats are fabulous, without this shot, we would not have won! You can stay in our self-catering or B&a ...

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to your fantastic farm on the Historic Houses tour on Tuesday. We both agree that it was the most interesting HHA visit we have ever done - and we have done many over the years! We had no idea of the extent of the Armstrong connection or what you have there, having visited Cragside on so many occasions in the past 50 years or so. And indeed looked down on the farm from the walks at Cragend quite recently. We particularly enjoyed ascending and descending the ladders to look at the hydraulic equipment and get an idea of how it all functioned, the beautiful and unusual buildings which had housed the cattle, and were intrigued by the contents of your "underground " loo! Peacocks and chicks, hens and a beautiful pet lamb added to the feel of the farm.

Shaun & Lou Renwick are keen to harness the farm's natural resources, using wood to heat their water, to cook with on a wood burning range, and to heat the houses on the Farm. Even if your house is not equipped to totally run on wood there are things you can do to make sure you are using the best quality wood for your fires.

Why use Seasoned Wood?

Seasoned wood is a definition for 'wood drying'. About 5% of the energy of the log is wasted through evaporation and heating the water vapour of damp logs.

Moisture effects the burning process with unburnt hydrocarbons going up the chimney, which can in time create 'sooting' in the chimney, with the possibility of a chimney fire, all of which requires specialist sweeping.

Drying the wood before burning reduces moisture content in the wood before it is used for burning,

Air drying is the most traditional method, and it takes time. usually over and above 2 years! The fire will use less energy to burn the log if the water content is below 20%. Therefore is can give OUT more energy in the form of heat!

Cragend Farm endeavours to provide their customers with the best seasoned wood possible.

if you would like further information on the process of burning wood please contact us and we will be happy to help.

Why seasoned wood?

Thank you so much Lou and Shaun for a great holiday break on your farm at Cragend last week. East Cottage was a super place to stay. Very comfortable accommodation with everything we needed for self-catering and situated next to the beautiful Cragside National Trust gardens. It was super for our dog with fields to walk across as well as a secure fenced place for her to run off lead! Such interesting history too about the farm and how you have restored the buildings, the Victorian silo and so much else of the past farming life at Cragend. We look forward to returning! J&M Nottingham.

Award Winning Accommodation