"Herdwick are a breed of domestic sheep native to the Lake District in North West England. (I'd love to visit there.) Though low in lambing capacity and perceived wool quality when compared to more common commercial breeds, Herdwicks are prized for their robust health, their ability to live solely on forage, and their tendency to be territorial and not stray over the difficult upland terrain of the Lake District. They are a dual purpose breed, producing strongly flavored lamb (meat from a sheep younger than a year) and mutton (meat from a sheep older than one year, up to three years) and a coarse, grey wool not easily dyed and is best suited for carpet wool."
Weavers use Herdwick for warp and weft.
At first appearance Herdwick looks more hair-like than wool. It is a very coarse, hard wearing wool, between 30 and 40 microns and a staple length of 3 to 3.5 inches.
These hairs would make a next to the skin garment 'prickly',
but it would make a very sturdy outerwear sweater. It is softer in the hand than it appears.
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