as may bank holiday fast approaches, the beautiful weather has seen an uptake in gliders in the sky above us.

we are still holding our prices to pre pandemic levels. 

2 nights £150 per cottage

3 nights £180 per cottage

full week £350  welcome pack including breakfast items, off road parking and no hidden extras.

we are unable to use a card reader as our present one is 3g and this area now operates in 5g.

cheques, bank transfer or cash are all accepted.

the cottages have refurbished kitchens and newly carpeted throughout.

we look forward to welcoming new guests and returning guests over the next few months.

august bank holiday week is now fully booked.

christmas 2022

 well hasnt it been a strange few years?

we are now reopened 365 days a year. But where possible keeping 72 hours between guests, changing pillows as well as bedding and sanitising as much as possible for everyones safety. 

the cottages had their kitchens and appliances fully refurbished during lockdowns and are very smart now as you will see on the website.

we have held our prices to pre lockdown and still discount regular guests.

full week £450, including welcome pack as usual, £180 for a 2 night stay extra days at £60 each,

trying hard not to increase with energy price increases.

our courtyard currently has christmas trees in the churns awaiting my very non skilled hands at decorating!!

we have a new dog, Tess.. supposedly a sheepdog.. i dont think that is going to happen anytime soon haha

she seems to be training me not the other way around.

well everyone i hope you have a very merry and happy ,safe christmas.

from audrey and jim

spring is here at last!! no matter how tired I get during lambing I love to see the new lambs. they play chase and tag, and until you have watched them I don't think people realise what fun these lambs have!!!
they really do make a game, including a touch base article, I have watched them and its almost like a playground from  a few decades ago before we were not allowed to run and jump over simple everyday objects.
we really hope a few people will take us up on the weekend offer we have running of 2 people 2 nights, cottage and all the extra's as usual just £99,  pets an extra charge of £10.
our very own 'easter ' eggs included!!

summer at last

we finally seem to have summer arriving. the bookings for the cottages are looking up, though there are still some spare weeks in july and august surprisingly.
The lambs are all getting bigger and changing colour now.
We have hatched quite a few runner ducklings which is just as well as 4 of the adults have disappeared last week.
I have been doing some fabulous walks in our surrounding woods with the dogs,

 its so peaceful and quiet, our guests love it.

 

lots of fruit appearing in the orchard so looking forward to picking the cherries soon.

Valentines day

As you can see we have had a lot of snow this January.The woodland walks that surround us have been like winter wonderlands, our collies and our GSD have absolutely loved chasing snowballs.
The sheep have not been so enamoured. We now have 4 portland lambs, Cracker, born 1st january, Clyde,Charlotte and Clementine. We are expecting another little arrival any day now, mum is in the maternity sheltereating sheep nuts, munching fresh hay and generally enjoying the attention!
The heavy snows and subsequent melt have left our fields very wet, but the sun and wind are drying them now.The runner ducks are loving the new 'ponds' that have been created by the melt!!
Our herdwicks are due to start lambing in March,so there will be some beautiful little black lambs to contrast the apricot coloured portland lambs that look like little fawns.
We have had the cottage bathrooms re-tiled and refurbished all bright and new for this years guests.
We have had a couple of bookings for a cottage and use of the cat chalet,which is all up and running with its own thermostatically heated bed and lighting, and a view of the fields. The chalet is away from our own cats, and has a padlock for secuity, and easy access from the cottages.
We have been having a lot of  casseroles with herby dumplings, and roast lamb dinners. The herdwick lamb meat, is proving popular for our visitors to purchase and take home with them.
Our Valentines weekends are coming up, so the cottages are ready with their sparkling wine,chocolates and rose petals, in addition to the usual welcome pack that we include.
We have just had our YTB inspection and passed with flying colours, maintaining a well above 3* standard.
We are looking forward to meeting some new guests from the Netherlands who have already booked for the forthcoming year, and seeing our regulars as usual.
valentines day is also my birthday, so i wonder has Jim anything romantic in mind? ....Hmm maybe some chocolates that he will eat hah hah!!

we have the most wonderful scenery imaginable. the snow is deep and crisp.
we have had 4 portland lambs born (rare breed) they are all tucked up in their field shelter tonight with soft straw and lights on.
our siberian girl, Diva had 7 kittens on tuesday, so i have been busy being midwife most of the week.
really looking forward to St Valentines day, we have some special deals on for couples including wine and chocolates. We hope to be booked up in the next couple of days, just £125 for the cottage for 2 nights inc all electric,bedding, welcome pack etc etc.

Jim and I on our holiday in Norway, we were at Holo Farm up in the mountains, what a lovely place. we were made very welcome and had traditional food in their holiday house. the holiday was all too soon at an end, and we are home again and back to reality.
The tups have gone in with the ewes so we are on countdown to lambing once again.
we are presently refurbishing the cottage bathrooms, the tiler is booked and some modern tiles have been chosen to replace the white ones that have served well for the last few years.
The cold weather is creeping in now, so we are preparing to relight the AGA, i cannot wait to get back to that type of cooking, it tastes so much better than the when cooked in the fan oven.

June is nearly over

And what weather havnt we had!!!! Rain, torrential and continual, then glorious sunshine, strong winds then deadly calm.. whatever next!! The poor lambs do not know what to do for best. We have had the sheep sheared and they are hiding under hedges now to keep dry.
We had a visit from a lesser spotted woodpecker to our bird table this morning, this shy bird is so so beautiful.
the swallows are all nesting in and around our buildings as are the house martins, its such a lovely time with all the new life around us.
The cottages have been quite quiet, I think everyone is feeling the pinch of the austerity punch from the government.Tightening belts is one thing but i believe we are in a stranglehold now.
Our mare scarlet is recovering from her metabolic syndrome and is now back in work, i never though i would see her between the shafts ever again, i am so proud of her... i do so hope July is more settled!!then we can drive all the ponies more regularly.

I have made my first Pork Pies, i got the hang for the hot water crust pastry on the second attempt, and they are so delicious we ate them before they were cool!!

It has been a very busy month, with flooding , then mega hot. we have had to treat the sheep and lambs early for blow fly strike.
several runner ducklings have hatched and i am busy being mum to them.
the sheep shearer was here yesterday, so they are far more comfortable now, although on a less cheerful note, the weather is set to change to much cooler...
the ponies are working well together as a pair now, and scarlet is much improved in her metabolic syndrome illness.
the holiday cottage season is starting and we are all hands on to get the grounds tidy and pretty again.

April showers

We have had a wake up call as april started,we were without power for 3 days and nights.. what a nightmare. when we lose the electric we also lose our water supply as the water has to be pumped up from a bore hole. We switched to the spring water, but needed to boil it before use. we had just a 1 ring calor gas stove to do this on. we are presently feeding 5 orphan lambs on bottles around the clock, and the only heat we could provide for our cats and kittens was from hot water bottles,both the old stone ones and the traditional rubber ones. with no lights from 6 till 6 each day, it was a gloomy and very tiring time. everything survived except the 40 ducklings ready to hatch in the incubator, there was nothing we could do to maintain the correct temperature, so very sad, there was only 4 days left till they were due to hatch.

we were totally exhausted after that episode, and doesnt it make you realise how reliant we all are on the click of a switch for instant light and heat?

well we are back on track now hopefully and looking forward to spring returning to us!! the lambs are doing well 23 in total, and a few more late ones due soon.

Unexpected Arrivals

We were due to start lambing mid-febriary with the Manx girls.....then i went out to the fields yesterday and there was a new little portland lamb!!!! and this morning a little ewe lamb born to another portland...these two girlies must have sneaked into the ram while we were away in august!!! mums and babies doing well. I have checked the rest and only one other is looking a bit portly for her due date hmmm.... will have to watch her closely. the 2 newborns are in the field shelter all tucked up and cosy. watch this space for the next little lambs to arrive!!

November weather Brrr

The weather is certainly changing now. we have had some really wintery showers today. The sheep are now needing some hard feed as the grass loses its goodness.

we are trying to get the ponies out as a pair at least once a week still. All the outdoor tidying has started and a few trees need to come down as they have outgrown their position. Lots of heavy work ahead.

We were showing 2 of our pedigree cats last weekend at the NEC at Birmingham.. it was the Supreme cat show, we did really well taking 1st and best of breed with both.

There is a warm mulled wine basted venison casserole in the AGA cooking away slowly all ready for tomorrow... yum yum!!

August Holidays

We have 2 weeks left available in Bramble cottage during August, so special offer, a week for two people in a cosy cottage, no hidden extra's and we accept well behaved dogs...£325 !!! all electric/bedding/towels etc included.

our fruit trees are laden with plums and cherries, come and pick your own, delicious fruit not chemically sprayed. Eggs from our free range hens and ducks.

Herdwick lamb joints sometimes available too. tel 0774 094 8024/01845 597309

Borrowby Show Winners

What a fabulous day we have had. Up at 5am and all animals fed,watered etc.. then off to the Borrowby show with our sheep. The Herdwick shearlings took 1st and 2nd place, then our wicked manx laughtan got 3rd place. The portland ewe lamb took second place, and the herdwick ram lamb also got a second. we met old friends and new and had a wonderful time.....back home now and happily weary!!

JULY AT ROSE COTTAGE FARM

Meet our new sheepdog, Bran, she is 4 years old and a great asset to us. she and our old girl 'Lass' keep our rare breed flock on their toes.

The manx loaghton ewe reared her triplets successfully, they are a mischievous bunch with crazy horns, that give the two dogs a merry chase about.

we are showing our Portland lambs and possibly the Herdwicks at 2 local shows, Thornton le dale and Borrowby. The holiday Bookings are steady, and the visitors are enjoying the saturday sheepdog demonstrations i am giving.

We have paired the two black ponies up and are driving them frequently at the Sutton Bank top area.

Siberian Kittens Born

we have had 2 beautiful litters of siberian kittens born during our busy lambing period. These semi long haired cats are often able to be tolerated by allergy sufferers, we had 11 born and already 9 are booked and they are just 4 weeks old.. but are'nt they gorgeous!!

Special Springtime Recipe from Rose Cottage Farm

We are increasing lamb numbers thick and fast at the moment, so not a lot of time for cooking, which brought me to having a baking session to see us through. One special cake I make is a Granny Audrey's Spiced Cake. I make is with gluten free flour as my daughter is allergic to wheat flour and gluten, but any self raing flour will suffice.
12oz self raing flour.1 teaspoon mixed spice,1 teaspoon cinnamon. 8oz butter(or healthy alternative) 8 OZ light brown sugar.8oz mixed fruit, I use my own mix without peel or cherries in. 6 pieces of crystallised ginger chopped small.2 eggs, and milk to mix approx 2/3 of a beaker usually.
Sieve flour and spices together,rub in the butter until mixture looks like breadcrumbs.add sugar,fruit and ginger,stir to mix evenly then add beaten eggs and milk a little at a time until mixture nice and sticky,or claggy as my mum would have called it!! Put into a greased and floured round tin 7 or 8inch diameter. Bake in centre of a moderate oven. gas mark 4-5 for approx 1 hour for 8inch tin or 1 1/4hours for 7 inch tin. reduce heat after 45minutes to approx mark 3-4.test by pressing quite hard on top, the cake will be quite firm to touch when cooked.Delicious, and keeps well.Do try and Do enjoy.

Manx Triplets!!

Lambing is well under way. Dolly the Portland ewe has one gorgeous ewe lamb, 32 the Herdwick has one ram lamb, Snowdrop the herdwick has twins and hates them, so the steriliser is on....and then matilda the manx girl had triplets today. I am feeling a little sleep deprived, but I adore the new lambs.

Just another 12 to go.........

Our First Portland Lamb

What a suprise at 5am this morning when I went to do my second check of the night, there was Dolly the Portland ewe with the most beautiful ewe lamb all tucked up and clean, she looks like a little fawn, so cute.

The herdwick sheep are all due any day and the manx girl in about a week.

I am starting to feel a bit sleep deprived, but when the lambs are born its all worth it.

We are getting ready for the Easter bookings and expecting to be busy, people love to visit when we have lambs and chicks around.. we also have some siberian kittens born, they are delightful fluffy bundles of fun.....

Spring breaks special low prices

We are having a spring into spring special at the cottages. Today has been fabulous and sunny, I drove the carriage and bramble(the little black pony) all the way to kilburn village, and had a pleasant cuppa and chat at the Foresters Arms,before driving the 4 miles home again.

The manx ewe is due anytime now, and is only allowed out for a few hours a day.

We are having weekend breaks for 2 people for just £100 per cottage, or 3 weekdays for 2 people for just £120, this offer will end by 14th march so hoping lots of our followers will bag a bargain.

There are lots of wild birds coming down for tit bits, we have long tailed tits, coal tits, sparrows, lesser spotted woodpeckers, and chaffinchs... and still lots of cheeky robins!!

Just about to start cooking tea... kedgeree, home produced free range eggs, from rare breed poultry, traditionally smoked haddock, and organic rice and onions... yum, delicious, come and try it here at Rose Cottage Farm!!