The Victorian Fernery has four new arrivals thanks to a great Christmas Present from a family friend. Athyrium niponicum var. pictum Athyrium filix-femina subsp. angustum f. rubellum: Lady in Red Dryopteris filix-mas: Cristata Biechnum brasiliense: Volcano (PBR) They are too sleepy at the moment to show their heads but will be beautiful by the autumn. ...
Bookings for 2018
We are now taking bookings for 2018 at Cragend Grange. 'The Armstrong Wing' and 'The West Room' are B&B ensuite rooms and East Cottage is a self-catering house that sleeps 4 adults near National Trust property 'Cragside' . Dogs are welcome. Call us or send us a n email to book a relaxing visit to Northumberland. Other websites may charge commission to sell you the same dat ...
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year from Cragend Farm. 2018 is already busy with new plans for further enhancements to the farm and we are looking forward to another beautiful year in Northumberland. Shaun & Lou Renwick hope you will enjoy a relaxing stay at Cragend Farm at East Cottage (self catering accommodation) or in one of our Bed and Breakfast rooms in Cragend Grange. Book direct or ca ...
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 seasoned wood?
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.
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