Sheep Breeds in Focus - Hebridean

The Hebridean is a and ancient breed and would be considered a small sheep, but bold and brave.  Pretty much unaltered since before the medieval times.  They usually sport attractive curled horns alongside a dense black fleece.  It is their looks which boosted their popularity in the 19th century. 

A very hardy sheep, the fleece is crimped and layered so that it protects them from the rain and keeps them warm.  As grazers they are very careful and thrive in the wild.  They are typically seen in the north of Scotland and other mountainous areas.  Often they are used for conservation grazing.

They have very small feet almost goat like in nature and as result are adept at moving around steep hillsides (and scrambling over stone walls!).  They have small pointed faces which gives them a permanent look of concentration.  You would be hard pressed to find a more traditional breed, however unlike some of the other older breeds they have maintained their popularity.