Local Produce At Our Campsite In Northumberland

Taste of Northumberland: Enjoying Local Produce at Herding Hill Farm 

One of the best parts of any camping holiday isn’t just the fresh air and starry skies — it’s the local food you get to enjoy along the way. And here at our Northumberland campsite, we’re spoiled for choice. You’ll find delicious local produce right on our doorstep — from artisan cheeses and homemade chutneys to freshly baked bread, farm-reared meats, and award-winning craft drinks. Supporting local is at the heart of what we do, and we love helping our guests discover the taste of Northumberland. Whether you’re planning a cosy BBQ by your tent, a romantic picnic overlooking the hills, or a hearty breakfast before a day’s adventure, here’s how to make the most of Northumberland’s local produce during your stay.

Why local produce tastes better 

When you buy from nearby farms, markets, and small producers, you’re not just getting fresh, seasonal ingredients — you’re also supporting the rural communities that make Northumberland such a special place to visit. The short journey from farm to fork means the food is bursting with flavour, grown sustainably, and often produced using traditional methods passed down through generations. Plus, it’s a wonderful way to connect with the region you’re exploring. Tasting local food is like tasting the landscape itself — from the rich pastures where our cheeses are made to the wild Northumbrian honey gathered from bees in the moors. Plus by eating local you can reduce your carbon footprint and support local businesses.

Local Produce to try during your stay 

Here are some of our favourite local Northumberland products to look out for when you visit Herding Hill Farm: 

• Northumberland cheese – Handmade on local farms, these award-winning cheeses are perfect for picnics or pairing with crusty bread and chutney
• Locally reared meat – From sausages and steaks for your BBQ to locally sourced bacon for your breakfast fry-up, you’ll taste the difference in quality and freshness
• Craster kippers - A type of smoked herring from the village of Craster in Northumberland, England, known for their rich, smoky flavor and traditional preparation
• Northumberland mead - Mead, the worlds oldest alcoholic drink, made by fermenting pure honey
• Northumbrian honey – Sweet, floral, and completely natural, it’s delicious drizzled on toast or stirred into tea
• Freshly baked bread and pastries – Available from village bakeries and markets, ideal for picnic lunches or morning breakfasts. 
• Craft beers, gins, and ales – Northumberland’s small breweries and distilleries are thriving. Try a bottle or two from a local producer for an authentic taste of the region

Local Shops, Farm Stores, and Markets Near Herding Hill Farm 

During your stay at our Northumberland campsite, you’re just minutes from some fantastic places to stock up on local produce: 

• Hexham Farmers’ Market – A twice-monthly market (second and fourth Saturdays) showcasing seasonal vegetables, artisan bakes, dairy products, and handmade treats
• Brocksbushes Farm Shop – Family-run farm shop and tearoom offering freshly picked fruit, homemade pies, chutneys, and a fantastic deli counter
• The Corbridge Larder – A foodie’s paradise filled with local preserves, speciality cheeses, and locally roasted coffee
• North Acomb Farm Shop – Known for its high-quality lamb, beef, and poultry, all reared on their own farm

Cooking up a feast at our family campsite 

One of the joys of staying at Herding Hill Farm is the chance to enjoy delicious meals in the great outdoors. With BBQs, fire pits, and well-equipped camping kitchens available, you can cook up a feast using the best local produce Northumberland has to offer. Whether you’re roasting sausages over the fire with the kids, grilling fresh vegetables under the stars, or enjoying a charcuterie board of local cheeses and chutneys in your hot tub lodge, eating local adds something truly special to your stay. We also have a BBQ Hut for hire, which seats up to 20 people.

Alcohol Products

We stock products from two different craft breweries in our campsite shop, Allendale and Muckle Brewing - both of which are small, family run businesses.

The strapline for Muckle Brewing is Mighty Beers of Northumberland. This “tiny Northumbrian brewery with big values and mighty flavours” is based in Haltwhistle, with the entire process of brewing, bottling, and labelling carried out in their very own garden brewery. All of their ales have been influenced by the local landscape and natural features of Hadrian’s Wall that surround this micro-brewery. None of their brews are filtered or carbonated, to ensure the fullest flavour possible. At Herding Hill Farm, we stock the following products from Muckle Brewing – 

Muckle Chuckle - an Amber Ale crafted around the sound of the Haltwhistle Burn Gorge which descends through an industrial heritage of wool, coal, lime and brick and is now home to red squirrel, roe deer, otter, heron and dipper. The Haltwhistle Burn is an easy walk from Herding Hill Farm Camping and Glamping Site.

Muckle Tickle - a Golden Ale crafted from the tranquillity and colour of the sunny hay meadows of nearby Hadrian’s Wall. You will often spot Meadow Buttercup and singing Skylarks hovering overhead.

Muckle Magic - a Star Light Ale with a honey aroma. A Dark Sky Friendly campsite, there is no better place than Herding Hill Farm to discover the magic of stargazing in the Northumberland Dark Sky Park.

Whin Sill Blonde - a refreshing Blonde Ale named after the Great Whin Sill, the narrow, north facing ridge of hard dolerite rock running across Northumberland. This rocky outcrop provides a dramatic backbone for Hadrian’s Wall.

Allendale Brewery is a multi-award-winning brewery based out of a former lead smelting mill in Allendale nestled on the banks of the River Allen. Allendale is located right on the Northumberland/County Durham border. As well as producing quality beers they also have some quirky and creative artwork packaging to boot! We stock the following products from Allendale Brewery: 

Wolf - A Strong Full-Bodied Ruby Ale

Adder - A Pilsner Lager

Wagtail - an English Bitter made using UK ingredients only.

Golden Plover - the brewery’s flagship Golden Ale

Pennine Pale - a Pale Ale with a refreshing citrus finish.

The third and final local Northumberland alcohol product we stock in our campsite shop is the phenomenal Hadrian’s Wall Gin, based in Alnwick. They handcraft every bottle of gin in small batches out of Roman herbs and botanicals to create a full, unique flavour brimming with local history. We stock the following products at Herding Hill Farm from Hadrian’s Wall Gin: 

Hadrian's Wall Gin - best served with blackberries and mint            

Hadrian’s Wall Pink Gin 

Hadrian’s Wall Gin Liqueur - Red Plum & Mint 

Hadrian’s Wall Gin Liqueur - Rhubarb & Apple

Food Products

We stock several different food products from local businesses in our campsite shop, from breakfast preserves to everything you need for a BBQ on a Summers evening. At Herding Hill Farm we hire BBQs and fire pits so you can always enjoy an al fresco meal in the Northumberland countryside.

Haltwhistle Butchers provides a friendly, high quality butchers service for the local town of Haltwhistle, courtesy of Paul Baugh and his 20 years of butchery experience. We are delighted to stock the following BBQ and breakfast meat packs from Haltwhistle Butchers which can be booked prior to your arrival or collected from the freezer on site.

Claire’s Handmade is an award-winning family business, focused on providing fantastic flavoured preserves, based at the edge of the glorious Lake District. The Lake District is less than an hour’s drive from Herding Hill Farm. Claire began with a plum chutney recipe from her grandmother, a Rayburn, and an Aga jam pan in her home kitchen, before high demand and love of Claire’s Handmade meant they had to transfer to a purpose-built kitchen unit in Wigton. We are proud to stock the following Claire’s Handmade products:

Cumberland Chutney with Jennings Sneck Lifter Ale

Raspberry and Strawberry and Blackcurrant Extra Jam

Fine Cut Orange Marmalade 

Cherry Berry Jam     

Northumberland Honey Co. began in 2015 when Suzie and Luke spotted an opportunity from their passion for bees, champagne and honey. They started out as hobby beekeepers and now have 200 colonies of bees. Their passion for safeguarding the future of the honeybee means that there are now an estimated 20 million extra bees in Northumberland. They are careful to only take any excess honey from their bees who live in lovely traditional wooden hives. 

We stock the fantastic Wildflower Honey, which is harvested during the summer months from the flowers that thrive in the Tyne Valley of Northumberland. Stirred for 24 hours before bottling - not only does it taste great, but it’s fantastic for hay fever sufferers!