Crammed with history
The village of Crosby Ravensworth has evidence of human habitation dating back to prehistoric times. Remains included the White Hag stone circle. In the C19th a pair of La Tène Celtic spoons, dating from the Iron Age, were found in Crosby Ravensworth. They are now in the British Museum.
The remains of a moat surrounding Crosby Hall, a farm in the village, suggest a more violent past in this now peaceful valley. A monument at Black Dub commemorates the visit of Charles II of England in 1651 and the fell has one of several sites in England that is claimed to be Robin Hood’s grave.
The Farm
Crake Trees Farm is a traditional Westmorland Holding made up of three smalls farms which were brought together in the 1960s. The farm is a working farm, so guests are likely to see a variety of animals and birdlife. We farm a small flock of rare Border Leicester Sheep, dark faced pure Suffolk Sheep which are becoming increasingly rare, free range Pigs, usually oxford sandy and black x tamworth. Also we are starting to graze Cattle again as part of our regenerative agricultural principles. These may be Galloway, Angus or Longhorn. A variety of crops including Barley, Oats, Green manure Rape and Kale, Wild bird seed mix and old indigenous Grasses. To the rear of the converted Westmorland Barn, are the ruins of Crake Trees Tower House, once a grand 14th century Manor, with evidence of pre-Christian occupation.
Tower House
This lovely building was built in the C14th. Crake Trees Tower House was the residence of the Lancaster family. Tower Houses were a type of defensible home built in the 13-16th centuries and this is a fairly fine version of one. Remnants of fireplaces and a 14th century trefoiled ogee-head window mean this is a lovely architectural quirk on the land. Around the Tower House are signs of medieval field enclosures as well as a fishpond.
Our Story
This is our family’s farm, it has been with us for generations. It is our home and we have filled it with love – our love of nature and of farming. Thirty years ago, when we started having visitors stay, we always wanted to provide more than a holiday.
Our children and grandchildren have grown up with guests from all over the globe, visiting our beautiful part of the world, away from the hustle and bustle.
We run a working farm with stock managing our fields. Our commitment to providing good local food is as strong as our commitment to nature.
Our Ethos
We are passionate about farming with nature. Our landscape is deep in our bones and all that lives upon it is important to us. We are committed to providing space for wildlife, which is why you won’t see manicured grass around the camping pitches and why we allow space for nature all around our farm.
Rare breeds of sheep are fed on our wildflower rich meadows and indigenous Galloway and Blue Grey cattle can be seen grazing our land.
Since we married, we have planted over 3000 trees on our land, filling out our hedgerows, providing shelter belts to our stock and wildlife alike. We keep on moving forwards for wildlife and we are always looking for ways to increase opportunities for our local wildlife to thrive.