Its lambing time in Hadrian’s Wall Country

Families in search of an authentic country experience are being encouraged to pull on their wellies and stay on a real working farm in Hadrian’s Wall Country this spring.

With new-born lambs gambolling around and daffodils bursting into bloom, there’s no better time to introduce your little ones to rural life in one of Britain’s most dramatic landscapes, steeped in generations of farming history.

The Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site, spans the north of England from Ravenglass on the Cumbrian coast to South Shields in the North East, taking in the Border City of Carlisle and the cosmopolitan NewcastleGateshead.

The official Hadrian’s Wall Country website - hadrians-wall.org – is full of top tips on choosing the best farm-based accommodation and attractions along the Wall, including farms where families can come face to face with spring lambs and other farm animals.

Wydon Farm B&B, Haltwhistle, Northumberland

Wydon Farm is a 366 acre working farm on the National Trust Bellister estate and an ideal base for touring Hadrian's Wall and Haltwhistle - the 'centre of Britain'. Footpaths and a bridleway run through the farm yard and Hadrian’s Cycleway runs through part of the farm. Wydon Farm is the only National Trust farm in Northumberland to offer B&B. Lambing time at Wydon Farm continues until the 30th of April. There is also a large lambing shed for people to view the animals.

wydon-haltwhistle.co.uk

Gibbs Hill Farm, Self-catering Farm Cottages, Bed & Breakfast and Bunkhouse, Bardon Mill, near Hexham, Northumberland

Gibbs Hill Farm is a traditional working hill farm dating back to before the 17th century. There are 50 suckler cows and calves and over 500 Swaledale cross ewes and lambs. There is also a small fold of Highland cattle to admire. Bicycles may be hired for all the family, by the hour or for a full day.

gibbshillfarm.co.uk

Willowford Farm B&B, Gilsland, Cumbria

Willowford is a 100 acre working farm containing one of the longest unbroken stretches of Hadrian's Wall along the Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail. The farm itself was built using stone found in Hadrian's Wall. Lambing time at Willowford Farm starts from mid-April onwards. The breed of sheep at the farm is the Hexham mule - Swaledale crossed with Blue-faced Leicester. There are also two dozen chickens and some Ayrshire cows from the dairy herd of neighbouring Slack House Organic Farm. They also have a hive of bees, numerous cats and a very entertaining sheepdog called Millie.

willowford.co.uk

Kellah Farm B&B and self catering accommodation, Haltwhistle, Northumberland

Kellah is a 280 acre hill farm run by the same family for over 160 years. They lamb 300 sheep, mainly Scottish blackface ewes with a few bluefaced Leicester’s and mules. The farm offers three 4 star self-catering cottages and a newly renovated 4 star silver rated B&B. Lambing time at Kellah Farm runs from the 1st of April until the 6th of May. The farm is 4 miles south of Haltwhistle, just off the Pennine Way.

kellah.co.uk

Grindon Cartshed B&B and self catering accommodation, Grindon Farm, Haydon Bridge, Hexham, Northumberland

Grindon Farm is nestled within 600 acres of the Northumberland National Park, commanding spectacular long distance rural views. They have a small flock of coloured Ryeland sheep and lambing time continues until mid-April. Grindon Cartshed offers B&B in high season (Easter to end of October) and self-catering in low season (November to Easter).

grindon-cartshed.co.uk

For a great family day out on the farm in Hadrian’s Wall Country, there are a variety of indoor and outdoor activities on offer at Walby Grange Farm Park:

Walby Grange Farm Park, Crosby-on-Eden, Carlisle, Cumbria

‘Meet the animals’, see how fast you can pedal the go-karts and enter the ‘Tractor Tower’ for more pedal action! There’s also an off-road Land Rover driving course and a display from Barnaby Bowman, member of the Devil’s Horsemen stunt riding team, riding ‘Athos’ who was ridden by Angelina Jolie in Tombraider 2.

walbyfarmpark.co.uk

Hadrian's Wall, Britain's longest monument, was built in AD122 by the Roman army on the orders of the emperor Hadrian. It is 73 miles (or 80 Roman miles) long and was once 15 feet high and up to 10 feet thick. Today the surviving masonry of the Wall is only a small part of the visible archaeology, which also includes earthworks, milecastles, turrets and forts.

The region has 14 major Roman sites, forts and museums, the Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail, Hadrian’s Cycleway and a range of historic towns and villages to explore.

For more information about Hadrian’s Wall Country and to plan your farm break, visit hadrians-wall.org.