Skip to the content

Menu

As well as having two new lambs to add to our flock, I have been busy planting autumn raspberry plants and blackcurrant bushes in the Farmhouse garden. I have potted some of the smaller specimens up ready for our Plant Sale when we have our Open Day on 14th June. It is a lovely time of year when the Daffodils are out and the weather is fair enough to start the summer planting. ...

We are thrilled that the first of our lambs arrived right on time, 25th March 2017. A ram and a ewe. Both mother and twins are doing well so far. See the video to your right. ...

The Sandstone Way is a new 120 miles (192km approx) mountain biking route between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Hexham along the Sandstone Ridge in North Northumberland linking numerous sandstone features, crags and outcrops. The route traverses through an amazing ever-changing landscape which is rich in history, geological features and iconic scenery. The Sandstone Way links numerou ...

We are pleased to be part of the non-profit making organisation "The Heart of Northumberland" promoting all good things Northumbrian. http://www.theheartofnorthumberland.co.uk/members/cragend-farm/ Discover our amazing heritage with an abundance of Castles and Historic Sites including Cragside House Gardens and Estate, the innovative home of Lord Armstrong, Alnwick Castle, Th ...

This morning we saw two deer gently grazing away at about 6.30am from our kitchen window. Despite the rain they seem to be very happy. ...

We are very proud to be licensed as a Grown In Britain Woodland Owner. The Coquet Plantation is approximately 40 acres of mature and new trees, and we have an on going Woodland Management Plan in place. We use our wood in a sustainable way to run our bio-mass boilers on the farm, and we sell logs for wood burners and fires locally. "Grown in Britain is for anyone who values ...

Ecology is a (political) movement concerned with protection of the environment. Hence the word ECO. 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 ...

Northumberland beaches and islands are among the most captivating and exhilarating in not only the UK but the world. When you stay here, the beaches are close by and there are plenty to visit whether you want a rocky cove or a vast sandy beach. Bamburgh Embleton Lindisfarne Farne Druridge Bay Sugar Sands Alnmouth Amble Tynemoouth Whitley Bay to name but a few. The Northumber ...

The Coquet Valley is renowned for its Dark Skies and a great deal of Northumberland has Dark Sky Status. On a clear dark night we have some amazing views of the stars and sky, and the moon often looks amazing too . Cragend Farm is on the border of the Dark Sky and National Park area. We are 20 miles from Keilder Water where there is an observatory for the earnest astronomer ...

Planting time We have planted the 'hydrangea petiolaris' today, on a north facing wall at the rear of the barns that will climb and give some beautiful flowers in due course. This area will eventually be a west terrace for evening sunshine up until approximately 9pm during the height of summer, and this north wall just falls short of any full sunshine so is ideal for this cli ...

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