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An opportunity to showcase hydraulics and engineering arose due to The Cragend Farm Hydraulic Silo building at Cragend Farm. Created as a 'demonstration centre' for innovative machinery to demonstrate how it could assist in the produce of agricultural fodder and processes that were labour heavy it was used by Lord Armstrong of Cragside to take dignitaries around the farm and ...

Booking a Tour with us in 2026   You can book direct or through Invitation to View with Historic Houses. Cost £15p.p. includes light refreshments and the chance to picnic in the grounds afterwards. Tour details: This ancient farm was re-modelled and transformed to use hydraulic engineering by Northumbrian industrialist Lord William Armstrong of Cragside in the 1880s. It h ...

Cragend Farm is opening its gates for 3 one day visits to walk the new Tree Trail that has been created over the past 15 years. With a collection of  specimen trees planted by Lord Armstrong of Cragside and newer plantation and The Great Northumberland Forest additions, Cragend Farm is offering the opportunity to see parts of the Estate not usually open to the public, ...

New for 2026 This idyll is Cragend Farm, B&B and self catering cottage for you and your family right next door to Cragside National Trust property in Northumberland.  We have set up new ways to pay direct when you book make it easier for you to select your holiday with us at the click of a button. Any questions feel free to contact us via email or phone.   For summe ...

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.

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