High Borrans Farm

The Hodgson family run a 1000 acre working hill farm, just outside of Windermere. We specialise in the production of mule lambs from Swaledale sheep and Blue faced Leicester Rams.

Explore Our Lodges

Our Family

The Hodgson family run a farming partnership between three brothers. Jonathan and his wife Cathy live and run High Borrans Farm. They have three children; Bertie who works full-time shepherding and is married to Heather, Rory a land agent based near Thirsk who is engaged to Emily, and Eliza a farming officer at the LDNPA who is engaged to Shane who also works full time on the partner farms. The partner farms are located in Rydal, Hartsop and Cockermouth.

Our Location

High Borrans Farm is a 1000-acre working hill farm with a land height that rises to about 1300 feet on heather-clad fell tops. Out on the fells, you may glimpse red and roe deer, and closer to the farm, there are tawny and barn owls, red kite and many varieties of bats living in the old barns. White-clawed crayfish and the critically endangered Fresh Water Pearl Mussel can be found in the River Gowen and reservoirs nearby.

Our Animals

The main animals on the farm are a flock of around 1200 Swaledale ewes, these are crossed with Blue-faced Leicester tups to breed North of England Mule lambs which are then sold on to other farms for breeding stock. There is also a herd of 36 beef suckler cows and a smaller herd of the rare breed Whitebred Shorthorn that graze up on Mickle Moss. The family are very keen on maintaining traditional English breeds, and so along with the Whitebred Shorthorns, there are also two Cumbrian fell ponies named Carrie and Roberta.

Our Furry Friends

There are 4 working sheepdogs on the farm; Panda, Pie, Roxy and Floss who work full time. Heather also owns a corgi who helps to herd sheep at busy times of the year, you can see what she gets up to on her Instagram page @thefarmcorgi. Cathy has two house dogs Binky the rescue and Sydney the terrier, who are never far from her side.