Lambing Season Breaks: Farm Visits and Stays in Spring

Seeing newborn lambs is one of the great pleasures of a spring trip to the countryside, and for children it is often the highlight of the year. Lambing happens across Britain from late winter to late spring, and many farm parks and working farms welcome visitors to watch, and sometimes to help bottle-feed.

At a glance

When: from February in lowland farms to April and May in the hills. Where: farm parks, open farms and working farms with accommodation. Cost: farm park admission; farm stays vary. Best for: young families.

When lambing happens

Lambing times vary with the farm and the land. Lowland farms with indoor lambing sheds often lamb from February and March. Hill farms in places like the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and Wales lamb later, in April and into May, when the weather on the fells is kinder.

Farm parks with lambing events

Cotswold Farm Park

One of the biggest lambing events in the country, near Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water, with hundreds of lambs born over the season and a lambing barn included in the day ticket. In 2026 lambing ran from mid February to mid April.

Other farm parks

Many open farms and farm parks across the country run lambing events in March and April, often with bottle-feeding sessions. Check what is on near where you plan to stay, and book for the Easter holidays, when they are busiest.

Staying on a working farm

A farm stay, in a farmhouse B&B or a cottage on a working farm, can give a much closer view of lambing than a farm park, and children may be able to help with feeding. It depends entirely on the farm, so ask before you book. Our guide to farm stays has more.

Lambs in the hills

In April and May, walks through hill country in the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, the Peak District and Wales pass fields full of ewes and lambs. It is a lovely sight, but it needs care.

Visiting responsibly

Dogs and livestock

Keep dogs on a short lead around sheep, especially at lambing time. Worrying by dogs causes ewes to miscarry and can kill lambs, and farmers are legally entitled to protect their livestock.

Do not touch lambs in fields

A lamb on its own in a field has usually not been abandoned; the ewe is nearby. Handling it can cause the mother to reject it. If you think a lamb is in trouble, tell the farmer.

Hygiene

Pregnant women are advised to avoid close contact with sheep at lambing time, because of infections that can be passed from ewes. Everyone should wash their hands after touching animals, especially children.

Close gates

Leave gates as you find them, and keep to paths through fields with livestock.

Making a trip of it

A lambing visit fits naturally with the Easter holidays and a cottage in farming country. For more, see our guides to Easter staycations, family staycations and spring staycations.