Sherberton Farm Hide Rugs - information and pictures

About our rugs
What could be more luxurious, whilst still being so down to earth, than a beautifully marked Galloway hide rug? These hardly native cattle have evolved to withstand the wettest of windblown climates, and hence their coat is famously soft and long. Belted Galloways you probably recognise, but the 'Riggit' variant you might not. They are an exceptionally rare strain of Galloway, recently recovered from near extinction. Their skin pattern varies from Black with a white stripe running down the spine, to white all over, with blue black spots across both flanks. They are often the most strikingly marked hides. For more information on Riggit Galloway Cattle go to their website - Riggit Galloways.
Occasionally available are lustrous all over Black hides, Red belted (that's red either end, with a white band across the middle), dun belted - sandy brown with a white belt, all over solid Dun, and Orange/Red, from the local South Devon breed.

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The moral issues of buying our hides
Don't confuse these with imported cattle hides, often from smooth coated animals, reared on cleared South American rainforest land, or in North American feedlots.
Our rugs are from thick-coated hill cattle, grazing in extended family groups, on unimproved moorland pasture.
Unlike wild animal hides, these come from domesticated farm animals. There are no issues about poaching, endangered species or dubious chains of custody. The Coaker family have raised cattle on the same Dartmoor farm for over 160 years, with many of the cattle being descended from the original herd. The soft flowing coat of the Galloways allow them to survive out on the wind swept moors, and then, in turn, lends itself to their further use as gorgeous cured hides.
It is no coincidence that many of the most sought after furs and skins are derived from wild animals that live in extremes of climate. Nowadays, of course, such sources often carry a certain amount of political baggage. Another reason to use domesticated hill livestock.
You are welcome to visit the farm (having first given us a ring to check we're here!), and see how the animals are raised.

Each hide is patterned slightly differently, and variations of colour and markings are often available (See picture gallery). After selection for slaughter, surplus steers are delivered a local abattoir, travelling for only twenty minutes to half an hour. There, they are despatched for processing into our highly acclaimed Galloway beef . The hides are then transported to a top quality tannery, and tanned to a very high standard.

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Why have hide rugs?
The hides can be used as centrepiece rugs, striking wall hangings, or tactile, sensual throws. Kids love to snuggle into them, and are often asleep on them before you know it! It is widely suggested that contact with natural animal hides is usually non-allergic.
Having hide rugs around us is just about the most original interior décor the human race has, vying in our ancestral behaviour with making fire and keeping domesticated dogs. Try one, you'll realise it reaches something in your soul you didn't know was there!

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Sheep skin rugs
We also stock sheep and lambskins, from our hill flocks of Scotch and Cheviot sheep. Occasionally we carry lustrous sheepskins from the rare White-faced Dartmoor's, and skins from young John Coaker's black Scotch sheep, and Black Welsh Mountain.
Like the cattle hides, these are a tactile and natural skin to have around the home.

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How and where?
We generally have a stock of hides here at the farm, and often display at Powdermills Pottery, Postbridge and Pixieland, Dartmeet.
We can arrange freight, if you wish to select from the stock via the website and photo gallery, and have a hide rug delivered.

	Sherberton Farm Hide rugs
	You can either read the page in full or click on a heading below for information about a specific topic. About our rugs The moral issues of buying our hides Why have hide rugs? Sheep skin rugs How can I buy and where?
	About our rugs What could be more luxurious, whilst still being so down to earth, than a beautifully marked Galloway hide rug? These hardly native cattle have evolved to withstand the wettest of windblown climates, and hence their coat is famously soft and long. Belted Galloways you probably recognise, but the 'Riggit' variant you might not. They are an exceptionally rare strain of Galloway, recently recovered from near extinction. Their skin pattern varies from Black with a white stripe running down the spine, to white all over, with blue black spots across both flanks. They are often the most strikingly marked hides. For more information on Riggit Galloway Cattle go to their website - Riggit Galloways. Occasionally available are lustrous all over Black hides, Red belted (that's red either end, with a white band across the middle), dun belted - sandy brown with a white belt, all over solid Dun, and Orange/Red, from the local South Devon breed. Back to top The moral issues of buying our hides Don't confuse these with imported cattle hides, often from smooth coated animals, reared on cleared South American rainforest land, or in North American feedlots. Our rugs are from thick-coated hill cattle, grazing in extended family groups, on unimproved moorland pasture. Unlike wild animal hides, these come from domesticated farm animals. There are no issues about poaching, endangered species or dubious chains of custody. The Coaker family have raised cattle on the same Dartmoor farm for over 160 years, with many of the cattle being descended from the original herd. The soft flowing coat of the Galloways allow them to survive out on the wind swept moors, and then, in turn, lends itself to their further use as gorgeous cured hides. It is no coincidence that many of the most sought after furs and skins are derived from wild animals that live in extremes of climate. Nowadays, of course, such sources often carry a certain amount of political baggage. Another reason to use domesticated hill livestock. You are welcome to visit the farm (having first given us a ring to check we're here!), and see how the animals are raised. Each hide is patterned slightly differently, and variations of colour and markings are often available (See picture gallery). After selection for slaughter, surplus steers are delivered a local abattoir, travelling for only twenty minutes to half an hour. There, they are despatched for processing into our highly acclaimed Galloway beef . The hides are then transported to a top quality tannery, and tanned to a very high standard. Back to top Why have hide rugs? The hides can be used as centrepiece rugs, striking wall hangings, or tactile, sensual throws. Kids love to snuggle into them, and are often asleep on them before you know it! It is widely suggested that contact with natural animal hides is usually non-allergic. Having hide rugs around us is just about the most original interior décor the human race has, vying in our ancestral behaviour with making fire and keeping domesticated dogs. Try one, you'll realise it reaches something in your soul you didn't know was there! Back to top Sheep skin rugs We also stock sheep and lambskins, from our hill flocks of Scotch and Cheviot sheep. Occasionally we carry lustrous sheepskins from the rare White-faced Dartmoor's, and skins from young John Coaker's black Scotch sheep, and Black Welsh Mountain. Like the cattle hides, these are a tactile and natural skin to have around the home. Back to top How and where? We generally have a stock of hides here at the farm, and often display at Powdermills Pottery, Postbridge and Pixieland, Dartmeet. We can arrange freight, if you wish to select from the stock via the website and photo gallery, and have a hide rug delivered. Back to top
	If you are interested in our Hide Rugs please go to our Hide Rug Gallery or ring Alison on 01364 531276 or email Alison
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