Place and People

Barbreck sits amid rich low-lying pasture at the head of Loch Craignish, around 20 miles south of Oban and 15 miles northwest of Lochgilphead.

If you look north (away from the loch) from the main A816 road as you drive past, you'll see our sheep and cattle grazing in the foreground with the fine 18th century Barbreck House (the big mustard-yellow mansion) in the middle distance. The farm and shop is right next door. Come and visit us we're just a few minutes up the track.

Barbreck is one of the few farms in Argyll to raise and finish its own cattle. The calves are bred from hill cows crossed with a Limousin bull. In the summer the calves graze the low hills overlooking Loch Craignish and are suckled by their mothers until they are 10 months old. In winter they are housed in a large airy shed, bedded on straw, and fed home-produced silage supplemented with cereals, essential natural minerals and vitamins. This process ensures a good sturdy growth and lean flavoursome meat.

Barbreck lambs are reared on their mother's milk and herb-rich hill pastures. The lambs are bred from Lleyn ewes, a pure Welsh native breed, crossed with a Texel tup - originally from Holland. This cross produces a lean and tasty lamb with a low fat to muscle ratio.