Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Celebrating the Seasons with the Yorkshire Shepherdess: Farming, Family and Delicious Recipes to Share

Rate this book
A stunning audiobook from Amanda Owen – shepherdess, wife, mother of nine children, bestselling author and star of C5’s Our Yorkshire Farm – that brings her world to life in glorious colour.

In Celebrating the Seasons, Amanda shares funny and charming stories about life with her family and their many four-legged charges and describes their activities at Ravenseat, from lambing and shearing to haymaking and feeding the flock in midwinter. Her gorgeous photographs showcase the famous Swaledale landscape she writes about, from the sweeping moors to rare wildflowers and the elusive hares glimpsed in the field.

She lives in tune with nature and Amanda's attitude to food is the same. She believes in buying good, seasonal ingredients when it comes to feeding her family and includes her favourite recipes here, from wild garlic lamb with hasselback roast potatoes to rhubarb and custard crumble cake and Yorkshire curd tart.

As inspirational as Amanda herself, this is a beautiful audiobook that will delight everyone who has followed her adventures so far.

Audible Audio

Published October 28, 2021

24 people are currently reading
147 people want to read

About the author

Amanda Owen

11 books124 followers
Amanda Owen grew up in Huddersfield but was inspired by the James Herriot books to leave her town life behind and head to the countryside. After working as a freelance shepherdess, cow milker and alpaca shearer, she eventually settled down as a farmer's wife with her own flock of sheep at Ravenseat. Happily married with nine children, she wouldn't change a thing about her hectic but rewarding life. She and her family are the subject of Channel 5's Our Yorkshire Farm and have appeared in ITV's The Dales and in Ben Fogle's New Lives in the Wild. Voted Yorkshirewoman of the Year by the Dalesman magazine, she is also the author of the top-ten bestsellers The Yorkshire Shepherdess and A Year in the Life of the Yorkshire Shepherdess.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
205 (47%)
4 stars
147 (33%)
3 stars
69 (15%)
2 stars
10 (2%)
1 star
4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Melindam.
886 reviews408 followers
August 31, 2023
I listened to the audiobook version (3h 20 m) -which is currently not included in the available editions here (but I guess GR Librarians have their hands full as it is, so this is not criticism on my side- narrated by the author herself.

It was a nice little book, almost pastoral despite the obvious hard work and taxing conditions that go hand-in-hand with farming sheep, a nice little breakaway in thought from my very urban (and not regretted!) lifestyle. Everyone to their own tastes.

Maybe it wasn't ideal that I started with this particular book by Amanda Owen, so maybe later, when I am in the mood for another breakaway, I will read another one by her.
Profile Image for Natalie.
687 reviews11 followers
December 2, 2021
What a stunning book! I admit I saw Amanda was releasing a new book and didn't even look what it was I just reserved at the library as I have read all her previous books and loved them, and love watching them on TV. I didn't know that it was a bit of biography/photography and recipes all in one.

The images in the book are absolutely stunning, the recipes sound delicious and the book was great. A very quick read, but I really enjoyed the way she wrote this with each month being a kind of chapter, explaining about the goings on in that month for the family, the crops, the animals and it was all relevant to whichever month the chapter was about.

The book was hugely based on photography from each season of the children and the landscape surrounding their beautiful home and the images were just amazing. She should be very pleased to have so many photos and such beautiful scenery to keep the photos for memories for years to come of the children growing up in those surroundings. What a gorgeous book!
Profile Image for Kathryn.
188 reviews4 followers
December 31, 2021
What a lovely journey through the seasons at Ravenseat Farm. Some great recipes to try too
1 review
January 10, 2022
Loved this book! It’s great to get more of an insight in to what it is like at Ravenseat Farm. I loved the program and fell in love with the family so this book did not disappoint. The pictures are gorgeous and it is an easy, short read which is definitely worth it!
Profile Image for Sinead.
975 reviews11 followers
November 21, 2021
Beautiful book! The photos are gorgeous and the recipes are varied and interesting. Loved it.
54 reviews4 followers
December 19, 2021
At the beginning of this month I had never heard of the Yorkshire Shepherdess, nor heard of her popular TV show in England, nor read any of her books. And now I can say I've read all the books and am at a loss of where to turn next. You know that sinking feeling when you finish a great book, or read everything a wonderful author has written! Now what??

Amanda Owen is an insightful and creative writer. She is a complex woman. She is an attractive, slender, beautiful person who could be modeling for a high class agency. In reality she is the mother of nine kids, living with her husband and family and a hundreds of sheep, cattle, chickens, horses and dogs, on one of the highest and most remote farms in England's Swaledale area of Yorkshire. Brutal winters, hours from hospitals and stores and school, Amanda and her family are passionate about their animals, their 200 year old house and farm and the history of this place.

I learned so much... What are tups, gimmers, yows; what it takes to care for hundreds of animals when so much is done on foot and by hand; how to love the land.... Amanda's most recent book, "Celebrating the Seasons..." (With recipes and amazing photos of kids, animals, landscapes and food) came out just in time for me to pick it up and continue to story as I finished book 4. But now what since I've finished book 5?
Profile Image for Julia.
3,075 reviews93 followers
December 21, 2021
Celebrating The Seasons With The Yorkshire Shepherdess by Amanda Owen is a most beautiful book that is the perfect accompaniment to the television series Our Yorkshire Farm.
The book is split into twelve months of the year as the reader learns what happens each month at Ravenseat Farm.
There are many beautiful photographs of the landscapes, the animals and the Owen family. I love to see the young girls wearing pretty dresses and wellies as they go about their chores.
To tempt the tastebuds there are recipes each month – one sweet and one savoury.
I am an avid viewer of Our Yorkshire Farm right from season one, episode one. I love and admire the Owen family. The nine children have an idyllic childhood outdoors, working hard and full of life and love. I admire Clive and Amanda Owen for their parenting and life skills they teach their children.
Celebrating The Seasons is a beautiful book for anyone but for an absolute ‘must-have’ for viewers of Our Yorkshire Farm.
Profile Image for Jamie.
289 reviews
May 24, 2022
4.5 stars
Another lovely volume from Amanda Owen, The Yorkshire Shepherdess!
Amanda’s books are my comfort reads, and this one is no exception.
Gorgeous photographs, mouth-watering recipes, and Amanda’s always delightful descriptions of her home at Ravenseat and the life she and her family love on the Yorkshire moors.
If you’ve read Amanda’s previous books and follow her on social media (or watch Our Yorkshire Farm) this book isn’t necessarily full of new information, but who cares. If you love the Owens, you’ll love this book!
Profile Image for Choopie.
348 reviews11 followers
October 20, 2024
I wonder where she finds the time to write a book/books, do reality tv shows, run airbnb amidst all the farming responsibilities 50 chickens and umpteen lambs and cows etc etc. and oh let’s not forget she has 9 kids too.
PS this part is not in the book but from a news article so not a spoiler. Sad to hear amidst all the success and busy-ness… she and her husband even found time to split up! But all is not lost..he moves next door and her son started his own tv reality show too.👍🏾
Profile Image for Annie Leadley.
489 reviews7 followers
December 14, 2021
As always Amanda Owen has brought the Farming life of Swaledale into our lives , but this beautiful Book is also blessed with amazing & stunning photographs of the Landscapes she ,her husband Owen & their amazing Nine Children live & work in . The Book also has some delicious Recipes too many of which my husband & I are looking forward to trying out together .
Profile Image for Ophelia Gold.
Author 7 books
January 21, 2022
What a lovely lovely book. There's everything from tales on the farm to hearty recipes and stunning photographs along the way. This book covers every month in the year with a personal insight into everyday farming and all the trials and accomplishments that come along with it. I'd definitely recommend for anyone with a love of Yorkshire to read this book.
90 reviews1 follower
February 12, 2022
The book is interesting however I would imagine the target audience to be of the farming community for this reason I felt it alittle tedious at times as I already knew a lot of what happens on a farm however it’s a great insight to those who don’t.
I would happily read more by The Yorkshire shepherdess for a easy kind read.
1 review
October 12, 2022
Loved the story’s , didn’t like the fact a lot of the book was taken up with recipes. If I had wanted a cook book I would have bought one for that purpose. I must say I have followed the series on tv and totally enjoyed it. My wife and I just loved the way the family were learning about life. A credit to Clive and Amanda . 👍🏼
Profile Image for Tracey.
3,005 reviews76 followers
January 3, 2023
A really nice read , I loved the way it was written by seasons and monthly chapters . The added bonus of the recipes was good. I know there are some I’m
Keen to try and I can see a friend would like a lot of them too.
It was nice to be up in the Yorkshire farm again with Amanda and her family . It was like revisiting old friends for first time in ages.
117 reviews1 follower
November 17, 2025
This is the first book by Amanda Owen that I have read but it won't be the last! I really enjoyed reading about her farming life and family and the way it was set up, to take you through the farm tasks and features on a monthly basis worked really well. It is well written and enjoyable for anyone who wants to know more about agriculture, nature, cooking and family life.
Profile Image for Jenny Littlewood.
76 reviews
December 6, 2021
Another fantastic book from Amanda Owen. Such light hearted good natured tales from the farm and this time with gorgeous recipes can’t wait to try these out, they look so yummy. Definitely recommend this lovely book.
338 reviews1 follower
January 19, 2022
I really enjoyed this short book. Very uplifting and natural approach, delightful stories and well observed view of the countryside and wildlife. This was my first time reading Amanda Owen or hearing about her life as a shepherdess at Ravenseat Farm in the wilds of Yorkshire but I loved it.
304 reviews
January 27, 2022
A wonderful journey through the year at Ravenseat Farm with the Owen family. Plus some hearty recipes thrown in.
I love watching Our Yorkshire Farm, so to read this was just enchanting. I could visualise the places Amanda wrote about and hear the voices of the children. An absolutely lovely read.
Profile Image for Stewart Cotterill.
280 reviews3 followers
April 18, 2022
This is a wonderful book from beginning to end.

Not only do we learn about how the yearly rhythm of work on the farm is affected by the months and their weather, we are also treated to some seriously stunning photographs.

As a bonus we also get monthly recipes which get the tastebuds going.
28 reviews
October 18, 2022
Very interesting and enjoyable read. This was my first Amanda Owen book. I thought it was nice that the book was separated by the months of the year, which included photos and recipes too. A lovely read
77 reviews
December 5, 2021
I read this book quite quickly but i did find it boring. The only thing I loved was the addition of recipes, some I will be making.
Profile Image for mrs anne coates.
3 reviews
December 17, 2021
Happy Christmas

I intend to read all the books in the series. I have watched the TV series whenever possible. The family are fantastic, the children adorable.



25 reviews1 follower
January 9, 2022
A lovely book. Full of recipes, gorgeous photos of the children and the animals and tales of the seasons at Ravenseat.
1 review
January 15, 2022
Lovely heartwarming book about life at Ravenseat. Enjoyed trying out some of Amanda’s seasonal recipes too.
8 reviews
January 30, 2022
Romped through this in a day. Very light read, lots of lovely photos. Was mostly recycled from the show but I didn’t mind. A feel good read.
Profile Image for Rebekah.
2 reviews
February 11, 2022
Really enjoyed this, very relaxing read taking you off to hills, with lots of recipes to try!
23 reviews
April 21, 2022
Well written. Interesting short chapters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.