Adventures of the Yorkshire Shepherdess

by Amanda Owen

In Adventures of the Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda takes us from her family’s desperate race to save a missing calf to finding her bra has been repurposed as a house martin’s nest, and from wild swimming to the brutal winter of 2018 that almost brought her to her knees. As busy as she is with her family and flock though, an exciting new project soon catches her eye. Ravenseat is a tenant farm and may not stay in the family, so when Amanda discovers a nearby farmhouse up for sale, she knows it is her chance to create roots for her children. The old house needs a lot of renovation and money is tight, so Amanda sets about the work herself, with some help from a traveling monk, a visiting plumber and Clive. It’s fair to say things do not go according to plan! Funny, evocative and set in a remote and beautiful landscape, this book will delight anyone who has hankered after a new life in the country.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Audiobook, Animals, Nature, Biography Memoir

320 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2020

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Petra X]

I was reading A Year in the Life of the Yorkshire Shepherdess as light relief from the sickly and hypocritical Finding Freedom: Prince Harry and the Goddess withour Flaw,, Duchess Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family. It was marvellous. So I dl an episode of the tv show. This is a real superwoman! She's 6'2" with a beautiful fce, and looks amazing in miniskirts but generally wears wellies and heavy duty moors wear for looking after her flock of 1,000 sheep, quite a few cows, hens, 1 slightly-deaf husband and 9 children (she gave birth to one on the carpet in front of the fire, quietly so as not to wake anyone). She never has labour pains No wonder she didn't mind having so many! So I have to review that book and I'm looking forward to reading this one.

[Leila · Rating 4 out of 5]

After watching and really enjoying the TV series all about this unusual family I bought this book but to be honest I did struggle at times when Amanda went into rather long and boring background details about the mechanics of farming. I was more interested in the family, their lives and the individual personalities of Amanda, Clive and each of their children.

[Tanja Berg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before college I had a stint working as a horse groom on Ireland, as a summer job. I wasn't sure of what I wanted to study and could consider a year or two doing something completely different. I was a hard worker and could have stayed on the horse groom job, but I declined. The hard manual labor involved in keeping horses - and it's not any easier with cows or sheep - plus the long, irregular working hours had me realize that a nine to five desk job was my thing. Of course, I have worked insanely long hours in the office for years on end - but at least I've been warm and dry and mostly unbruised in the process. This book gives insight to a life I decided I did not want.

The author buys an own farm to keep in addition to the one on which they are tenants, has a ninth child and various mishaps with animals. There are some truly horrendous stories of animal demise in this book that I could have done without - but accidents happens, it's life. It's fascinating to take part in a life so different and far from my own, from the comfort of a chair by the fireside.

[Margaret James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a huge fan of Amanda Owen for years, so I was delighted to be offered a review copy of her latest book, which is as wonderful as the previous titles.

It was so lovely to be back at Ravenseat, hearing about everything that has happened since the last volume: the birth of little Nancy Grace (in an ambulance), the purchase of The Firs (an almost derelict farmhouse which the Owens have now refurbished as a holiday let), the arrival of the Mad Monk whose decorating talents were definitely not appreciated by the Owens, and the miraculous survival of a newborn calf whose mother had mysteriously died.

Amanda writes with such engaging charm that I found myself reading in a Yorkshire accent (a bit of a challenge, that, since I was born in Hereford and now live in Devon), and living her amazing life by proxy as I read.

Yes, as everyone says, she is amazing, but she and her family are so warm and so kind that readers can't help falling in love with the entire Clan Owen. Well, I can't, anyway. Do buy this book. It's a great, uplifting read, something we all need in these troubled times.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely wonderful sharing of a life on the land in the high dales of England with all its weather events and trials and tribulations woven into an astounding family life.
What an family - 9 children in modern times is enormous and it does my head in to think about the energy this mum exudes as she herds her flock of kids, hubby, animals and visitors.
What an amazing person she must be and she must so love life and the life she has created around her.
Read as an audio book and perfectly suited to the narration style required and the chosen narrator.
Audio books have become a feature in my life currently as it is the only way I can fit reading (a life long passion) and all my other activities into my days.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

gives real sense of the hectic life of author, with farm, family, guest business and presumably writing.

felt the phonetic accented speech at times a bit jarring, author's voice seeming to change depending on who she was talking to

does feel like an honest account of her life

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third Yorkshire Shepherdess book and every bit as good as the previous two.

Life on the farm with its joy and sadness continues.
Amazing couple and amazing resilient children.
I've always admired hard workers and this family is most certainly that.

I love the Yorkshire Dales. 😁

[Katy Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again loved this 3rd book. I don’t know how she fits everything in. I enjoyed the informative bits about farming inter dispersed with stories of the children and the tasks they do without fuss. I’ve not watched the TV series yet but look forward to catching up with those.

[Georgie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, a joy to read.

[Gretchen Bernet-Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful ramble across the dales, written almost diary-style, by Yorkshire lass Amanda Owen which details the ups and down of living in the countryside with husband Clive, raising children, sheep and other animals while running a guest house and supplying cross-country hikers with scones, jam and cream. Over a period of time, Amanda almost casually gives birth to nine children while continuing the daily farm chores.

This book wasn’t quite what I expected, but the locals are certainly full of character. The main focus becomes apparent quite early on when Amanda begins to search for a larger home for her family. They live in Ravenseat which is very old and does not sound like a cosy cottage, so when nearby The Firs farmhouse comes up for sale, Amanda and Clive work a deal and buy what appears to be the ideal property. Well, not exactly.

Crossed between Restoration Home with Caroline Quentin, Kevin McCloud’s Grand Designs, and a dash of James Herriot All Creatures Great and Small, Amanda soon finds The Firs proves to be a money pit and lots of back-breaking hard work. The Owen’s are lucky in their friendships and acquaintances and get help to restore The Firs. Naturally there are glitches, one in particular is an unsatisfactory wall-painter monk.

There are lovely family photos and scenery in the back of the ebook and plenty of dog drama, tourist dilemma, calf issues, antiques, local stories and more which are interesting reading and an insight into a strong woman whom I knew nothing about. The Owen family star in a real-life television docuseries on UK Channel 5 “Our Yorkshire Farm”. A good read if you want a change of pace and very different to the Australian lifestyle.

[Annie Leadley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always Amanda Owen gives us the true Grit of High Hill Farm living ,along with her husband Clive , her amazing brood of children, who all from a tender age learn the meaning of life & death nothing is hidden from them. As a result even the youngest is building their own unique character & Skill set ,plus they all help to care for all the animals too , both Farm & wild.
Like the Sheep & other Livestock the children along with the amazing Amanda & Clive learn all the nooks & crannies of the magnificent landscape in which they live. All of Amanda's books are backed up by the Television programmes `Our Yorkshire Farm' drawing us even deeper into the rugged yet amazing life they lead. #NetGalley,#FB,#Instagram,#Amazon.co.uk,#Goodreads

[Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

ohhhh where can I start!!! For some reason, I have such a connection to our Yorkshire farm. I love the family, the way of life and the way it felt like home, with sharing jumpers and hats and getting up and out for school on even the greyest of mornings.
In Lockdown, I found solace in the Ravenseat dales with our Yorkshire farm, so when Amanda wrote a book sharing more beautiful and heartwrenching stories, I jumped at the opportunity to fall into that world again.
Filled with emotion, this book reminds me of the simple pleasures and the attitudes I wish to take into my future. This book might not be beautifully written, but it has heart, love, and good... excellent stories.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fascinating insight into a life far far different from my own. I do wonder if I would have been more invested had I watched the family's TV show as I found it quite easy to be distracted away from what was happening. Overall though incredibly interesting and the type of book I enjoy on audio.

[Ophelia Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

So brilliant, lovely and poetically written.
Everything I love about Yorkshire. Can't wait to pick up another one. 10/10

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved this book so much i’ve spent ~5 hours this week looking at houses in the yorkshire dales on zoopla. (spoiler: i can’t afford it)

[Lexie Conyngham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having heard a good deal about the series on television, I felt well-disposed to this lady and her family, and was not disappointed. Apparently this isn’t the first book, but it was very enjoyable: you could be there with the family in their disappointments, sorrows and laughter. I might even look out some more in the series!

[Jasmine's · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming read. All about day to day life on a farm in Northern England and family life.

[Stacey Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely, light and interesting read. 4 stars for her energy alone!

[Alison D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reading, makes me want to go see some of places myself also reminds me of my childhood the moors the beauty timeless

[Schlo Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this whole trilogy so so much. Reading it makes you feel like you’re right there in Ravenseat with the Owen clan and flock, through the ups and downs of a real life united with nature. It’s absolute adventure to be a part of; I couldn’t put it down.

[Mr Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daily trials and joys of family life on an upland hill farm

Ordinary day to day events of a Yorkshire family on a hill farm are captured in an engaging way by the Yorkshire shepherdess. The tough life is described through the eyes of a large young family determined to tackle whatever life throws at them. Thoroughly absorbing tale, so different from the life of a city dweller like me!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book from a wife, mother of 9, shepheress. She is also at present going around the country giving Talks on country life.
This book made me laugh in places and it others I had a very big lump in my throat, Amanda talked about how the people lived in the Yorkshire Dales many years ago and how hard the life was for them, yet at times it is still a hard life, but her Clive and their children thrive and have such lovely family values, helping with everything that needs done on the farm.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda Owen on mu suur lemmik - avastasin ta täitsa kogemata ühe ta eelmise raamatu kaudu ja nüüd on temast saanud ainus inimene, kelle laste pilte sotsiaalmeedias ma tõesti huviga jälgin. sest ta kasvatab Yorkshire'i nõmmedel üheksat last ja ma ei väsi vaatamast, millistel imelistel viisidel annab kombineerida printsessikleite ja (eri paaridest) kummikuid, taustaks hingematvad avarused, statistideks lambatalled ja ponid.

selles raamatus juhtub veel vähem kui eelmistes, st kogu aeg midagi juhtub, aga läbivat narratiivi justkui polegi suuremat. alguses tundub, et selleks on uue maja otsimine, ostmine ja renoveerimine, aga see lugu saab poole raamatu peal otsa ja siis edasi on peatükk koertest, teine hobustest, kolmas lehmadest jne. aga pole sel kõigel nii ka viga.

lastest on isegi vähem kui eelmistes raamatutes, sest olgem ausad, kui mitu korda ongi mõtet üle rääkida seda lugu, et "olin jälle rase, ootamatult hakkas laps sündima, haiglasse ei jõudnud, beebi tuli ilmale kaminavaibal/teeäärses parklas/kiirabiautos". ma kordan, neid lapsi on nüüdseks üheksa :) aga mulle nii sobibki, et vanemad neist on täitsa asjalikud tegelased farmi igapäevaelus, aga kolm-neli noorimat on "pisemate" nime alla kokku võetud ja antakse lihtsalt enamvähem aimu, et kuskil keegi hoiab neil silma peal. mulle meeldis enim see koht, kus ema uuris laste pärastlõunaplaanide kohta ja selgus, et noorematel tüdrukutel oli plaanis lõket teha, nii et ema ütles: "selge, kui te tulega mängima hakkate, siis ma Nancy võtan ise kaasa". Nancy oli nii umbes aastane, ülejäänud aktivistid vanuses 3-8 ehk.

sellest perekonnast on tehtud ka teleseriaal, aga seda ma pole näinud. pole päris kindel, kuidas kogu selle elu kõrvalt (peetakse ikkagi töötavat lambafarmi ju) jääb aega kaameratele naeratada, raamatuid kirjutada ja Instagrami kvaliteetsisuga täita, aga nii palju ei olegi vaja teada.

nagu ikka, on mul plaanis ükskord sinna majapidamisse ise ka külla minna (nad asuvad sobivalt keset üht matkarada, mis mul nagunii kavas on läbida, ja pakuvad teed ja küpsetisi).

[Gail Amendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps it's because I started to read this book while sitting in a pasture waiting for the trucks to return for the next load of cows, but I can really relate to this woman! It is so much fun for a Canadian farmer to read about farming in another part of the world. This book sees the very busy Owen family add another child and another business to their already full lives. Amanda and Clive buy and renovate an old farm house to operate as a vacation rental, and meet some very interesting characters in their quest to accomplish this on the cheap. Meanwhile their farm responsibilities continue on through some very challenging times. I don't know how Amanda and Clive find the time to raise nine children, run two vacation rentals, serve teas to the people who pass by on a nearby walking trail, and care for a thousand or so sheep, a small herd of cows and sundry other livestock. And Amanda manages to write books, and maintain an active social media presence. Like many farmers, they somehow manage this with the most minimal investment in equipment, which means they have to be inventive... I can certainly relate to that. Their methods of coping with winter weather boggle the mind of this Canadian. I would so love to have her here to show her that cows and horses are so much more durable than she thinks. I love the fact that she tells it like it is, and doesn't gloss over the realities of farming. As we always say on our farm, if you're going to have livestock, you're going to have dead stock, and I was amused to see Amanda say it also. I have come to love this family over the course of three books, and am sad that there isn't another one waiting for me. I guess I will have to find a few episodes of their TV show on the web, and hope that another book comes along. And if you have read to the end of this rambling review, you really should check out Amanda's Instagram account, yorkshireshepherdess, as the pictures are amazing!!

[Dora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this third book by Amanda Owen. I love this family and their lifestyle and how they all muck in together. Amanda and Clive are great parents - as different as chalk and cheese and their nine children are truly a credit to them.

I did think this book concentrated rather too long on the renovations at The Firs, the house they bought to do holiday lets. I guess most readers want to hear more about their day to day life, the countryside and stuff like how big is their housekeeping bill, do the kids ever fight and argue and what always intrigues me is why we never hear anything about Amanda’s own family. Surely with such a big family her Mother and siblings must visit occasionally or help out somewhere along the line.

This family are now getting massive coverage on TV and clearly it has made them a lot of money and they deserve every penny. I just hope that all this fame does not spoil Amanda too much because she was a natural and people liked her because she was so down to earth. I notice on TV she has altered her accent completely and almost done away with her lovely Yorkshire accent but she uses it a lot in the book. I am also really surprised that she has given in to the trend of having fake eyebrows (which look like they are microbladed) and also of wearing much more off the shoulder or very low cut tops all the time. Please don’t change too much Amanda! Dear old Clive still ambles along in his shirt (never a T shirt) and his mucky old Dad jeans.

[Jo Fountain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent read!
Amanda is a born story teller and makes you live, see & breath all she describes. Her obvious love of her way of life as a upland hill shepherdess and her love for Ravenseat & the mostly old traditional ways of farming, as well as her love for the bleak beauty & remoteness of her area of Yorkshire shines through on every page.
Not only do you get a glimpse into her large, amazing family. You get the day to day challenges of living & farming in such a remote place. You also get loads of history, stories & fables of bygone days, ways & people!
Such a hard working family, with not just Ravenseat to farm but rented fields elsewhere. The cream teas & the shepherds hut b&b. The full renovation of The Firs & subsequent turnover of work which comes with letting it for holidays. As well as bringing up those amazing 9 kids/young adults. Amanda also somehow finds time to write books, articles, be a guest speaker at events, appear on tv shows, as well as the programmes made at Ravenseat.
What a family!!!
I have loved every page of her 3 books and have just discovered she has released a 4th book which I will wait for on paperback, as my arthritic hands don't work well with hardbacks!!
Highly recommend, 5* from me!

[Sarah Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF: This isn’t a bad book, but for me it just appears to be lacking something.

I was hoping for something akin to the James Herriot books - which are a favourite of mine! A whimsical and picturesque journey into rural Yorkshire life!

This was delivered - but it seemed to lack a bit of heart! I feel the author is just telling us the surface details of her story. I wanted more details of the thoughts and feelings leading to her life choices (these may become apparent later in the book, but at half way through when I stopped, I still had no answers).

- Why is she a shepherdess, what made her choose that career path?
- What made her fall for her husband?
- Where does their money come from? Tennant farmers aren’t usually considered to be well off, yet after struggling to raise more than 80k for the Church, they suddenly manage to buy The Firs (valued close to half a million). This is all whilst taking care of 8/9 children!
- Why so many children?

I know these seem like pretty shallow questions, but these are the deep details which would give the reader greater insights into the author and her family.

I felt like I was watching this story through the window as opposed to being invited in.

[Sarah Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read and enjoyed both Amanda Owen’s previous books, so I was looking forward to reading Adventures of the Yorkshire Shepherdess. Again it is a lovely book, very well written with lots of tales about Amanda’s family and life on their farm. Amanda lives and works on a remote hill farm in Yorkshire, with her husband Clive, and nine children. Life is not easy but appears to me to be very rewarding for the family. I admire Amanda and Clive, love the way they have chosen to live and how they bring up their children. Never a dull moment with such a large family and the responsibilities of looking after the farm and animals. In this book, we learn that they have decided to buy a nearby farmhouse to renovate and set down firm roots (Ravenseat, the farm they work is a tenant farm). A really great read about life on the farm, family life and renovating the new farmhouse. Well written, interesting and informative. Looking forward to the next installment of Amanda and the Owen family.

[Chris Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't do book reviews.....


I don't do book reviews like you keep seeing, as I find that some give too much of the plot away and I personally hate that, as it makes the book not worth reading. I much prefer to take the authors back cover write up as a review as it can either intrigue you enough to read the book of provide you enough information to make you decide that the book is not for you.
My review rules are: The more stars, the more I liked it.
If there are too many typos or errors the less stars I give
If the storyline or plot is poor or contains too many errors, the characters are too weak, the ending lacking something, then the less stars I give.
Simple, uncomplicated and to the point without giving anything away.
Some of the books I read have been given to me by the author as a pre-release copy and this does not bias my reviews in any way

[johnanimalantics.net, Margaret G Conlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing

Another good read which completes the adventures thus far unless there’s more to come which would be great to keep up to date with this superb family. It’s truly heart warming to read of their adventures. It must be wonderful to live their life. The only failing is the profanity contained therein which I did it like hence 4 stars. The other two books had a little too. However saying that it still found me wanting to turn the pages quickly to see what would unfold. I’ve recently watched the update on your family a few days ago in filmed around July 2020. I await the next instalment of your children’s progress along with your further adventures of a shepherdess together with Clive’s too. Thank you for sharing your life with us.