What To Expect On Paddockhall Farm
Paddockhall is a working farm, which means when you visit you will have the opportunity to see a wide range of livestock. As a well renowned arable and stock farm, Paddockhall have produced prize winning malting barley, Texel, Jacob, and Valais sheep.
Our rural surrounding plays host to a diverse range of wildlife, giving visitors a chance to see wild birds and animals in their natural habitat. Brown hare are a fairly common sight around Paddockhall, and if you happen to be awake very early there are Roe deer to be spotted.
The avian population consist of the rare skylark, partridge, pheasants, swallows, house martins, pairs of buzzards, pairs of crow and pink footed geese. Visitors in the autumn have the chance to spot Barnacle Geese from October through November and they take a well-earned rest from their southern migratory trip from the tundra.
Dutch Spotted Sheep
First recorded around the 1880s, the Dutch Spotted Sheep is thought to have evolved from hardy sheep that grazed peat bogs. In the 1950s, farmers began crossing the Dutch Spotted with other breeds to develop crossbred ewes and prime lambs. Nowadays, the Dutch Spotted Sheep is a valuable addition to any farm. These sheep have excellent milk yield, hard feet, and an easy temperament, making them the ideal choice for a number of farming situations. Today, they are considered pure breeds and the Netherlands, Germany, and Spain are home to the largest Dutch Spotted Sheep flocks.
Jacob Sheep
The Jacob is a domestic sheep breed from Great Britain, which has an unusual coloration of piebald. Typically polycerate and multi-horned, the Jacob most commonly have four horns and a long, thick neck. Jacobs can reach up to 100 pounds and are widely available as pets. The fleece of a Jacob sheep is described as a medium-weight wool, with dark brown spots at the tips. This wool is usually medium-weight, and may be a blend of varying shades of grey.
Valais Sheep
Valais Sheep are a breed of Alpine sheep native to the Alps. Their short, round head, black rimmed eyes, long tail, and thick, straight back are characteristics of this hardy mountain breed. They also produce wool that’s suitable for felting and carpets and their fleece is white with fluffy white look. A little-known fact about this breed is that they are extremely friendly and make excellent pets. The Valais Blacknose Sheep originated in the mountains of Switzerland. They’re a hardy, prolific breed that produces both wool and meat. While they were not recognized as a breed until 1962, they are now common in Germany and parts of the United Kingdom. The breed is also widely available in New Zealand.
Texel Sheep
The breed originated on the island of Texel in the Netherlands. Texel sheep produce a fine wool that has a micrometer thickness of 32 micrometres. They have a unique appearance, with short necks and lean, heavily muscled bodies. Because of this, they produce less carcass fat than many other breeds. Their distinctive look is easy to identify. Its long, slender legs and black nose help distinguish it from its stockier cousins. Although it doesn’t have much wool on its legs and head, Texels produce high-quality white wool that is often used in knitting and fine yarns.
Horses
Sheep Livestock
Contact Us
For enquiries about our sheep livestock, please contact us directly by phone.
Bruce
Things To Do
Paddockhall is a perfect location to explore all Edinburgh and central Scotland has to offer, at your own pace.
Livestock Gallery
Dutch Spotted Sheep
Jacob Sheep
Valais Sheep
Check Our Luxury Cottages
Set on a working farm in the fertile West
Lothian countryside, Paddockhall Holiday
Cottages are the perfect luxury base for
family and friends to relax and enjoy this
fascinating area.
