Hebridean sheep like the wee black cattle of the Highlands (Highland cattle), were numerous in Scotland prior to 1750. However they were small and thrived on poor grazing conditions. The meat was sweet but their high butterfat content milk and fine fleeces resulted in them being kept by the Highlanders as much for their milk and wool as for their meat.

The highland clearances and introduction of larger sheep breeds such as cheviot and black-faced led to the near total demise of these sheep now known as Hebridean sheep. An unusual characteristic of them was that many had multi horns usually four but sometimes more and it was this characteristic that probably saved them from extinction for as can be seen from the photograph of our ram, they are fine looking animals.

The last survivors in the Hebrides were on the island of Uist from which some were taken to Windermere in Cumberland around the 1880s. From there they spread to other stately homes. In this way their survival has largely paralleled that of Highland cattle. The Borland flock has been built around Hebrideans from one such stately home, Harewood House with others from Uist and the island of Lewis. Our original and still going strong, four horned ram is from Windermere itself. The flock comprises 40 pedigree breeding ewes plus ewe lambs and wethers but we plan to increase to 100 ewes following the success of local promotion of their meat.