Hebridean
Hebrideans have a black face and legs with large heavily ridged horns that curve up and then back and outwards, sharing a similar ancestor with the Manx Loaghtan. Their fleece is mainly black though this might fade to brown with sunlight or turn grey with age.
Able to survive with little supervision and on poor grazing, they were the main breed of sheep in the Western Isles and Highlands of Scotland until the end of the eighteenth-century. As more commercial breeds found favour, however, their numbers dropped significantly and were saved primarily by their popularity with country estates – where they were romantically renamed St. Kilda sheep. The breed has since been restored and is no longer regarded as a rare breed.
During the summer months you can find most of the flock out at Orford Ness, before they return to us in winter.