Watch as a pack of hounds fly over the stone wall as they set off on a 10mile race acoss the fells. The “Shepherds Meet” at Wasdale Head has been going on for over 100 years. Home to Joss Naylor, MBE, fell runner and sheep farmer, this popular show attracts people from all over the county.

The show is a time for country folk to gather, compete & celebrate. Wasdale, with its stunning mountain scenery has a strong fell running and mountain climbing tradition. The fell races are tough & hard fought over, from juniors to seniors.

It is believed that the “Shepherds Meet” started off with farmers from Wasdale meeting the farmers from the adjoining valleys of Ennerdale, Buttermere, Borrowdale, Eskdale and possibly Langdale, who walked their Tups (Rams) over to Wasdale Head to trade them, swap them or hire them. This is why the show is held so late in the year, Tup Lousing (Letting the rams loose with the ewes) in the valleys being in November so lambs being born in April.

In all probability the showing of sheep also started in the early years and possibly also the showing of shepherd’s dogs, Hound Trailing would also have been introduced in these early years.