Spirit of the Wild

Nestled between the River Coquet and Simonside hills in beautiful Northumberland, lies Hepple Wilds, a landscape of restoration and rejuvenation.

Since 2020, this 4000 acre estate has embraced natural processes, and is on a journey of ecosystem restoration by encouraging wildness, with gentle intervention where required. Free-roaming Longhorn cattle, Highland cattle and Exmoor Ponies have been introduced. These magnificent animals help to create diverse ecosystems by creating openings, transporting seed and nutrients which encourages more diverse plants, scrub and trees, supporting a wealth of wildlife including moths, beetles, birds and bats.

There is another, delicious benefit to nature restoration – the produce that we can enjoy from a healthy landscape. There are few that manage to capture the unique character of a wilder landscape more truly than the Hepple Spirits Co.

Our “Spirit of the Wild” experience is an exploration of the wild and delicious benefits that are created by nature and Hepple Spirits Co and strengthened by the nature-led ethosand light-touch management of the Hepple Estate.

The evening will begin with a walking sunset safari in Hepple Wilds, at the magical time of day when birds come home roost, and crepuscular wildlife begins to emerge. 

The richness of plants and restored wetland on the Hepple Estate supports an impressive stock of food for nocturnal wildlife. The wilder land offers opportunities for small mammals to manoeuvre away from Tawny Owls and Barn Owls, frequently observed hunting on the estate, along with Red Foxes and Badgers. The rich moth and insect life also supports bats including Common and Soprano Pipistrelles, which hunt the diverse habitat edges.

After exploring Hepple Wilds, you will be guided in a fascinating tour and tasting at the Hepple Spirits distillery by Walter Riddell, Founder of Hepple Spirits and Cultivator of Hepple Estate . You will discover how art, science and nature combine in the distillery to produce spirits which hold the character and flavour of the botanicals used – many of which are harvested on the Hepple Estate. Aftersampling some of the drinks, will have the opportunity to buy bottles to take home with you, from the creator of Hepple Spirits himself.

We are incredibly proud to support the work of Hepple Wilds through our Spirit of the Wild experience.