Torpenhow Cheese Company, Cumbria

The following words and photographs shines a light on the progressive work of The Torpenhow Cheese Co - pronounced 'Tra-penner' - in the rural setting of North Cumbria. Follow writer and photographer, Angus D. Birditt as he visits the farm and dairy to see how they make their Pasture for Life Certified cheeses, meaning that their animals are 100% pasture-fed certified.

The Torpenhow Cheese Company is located near the northern Lake District fells in Cumbria, and was founded in 2019, by the Lee family to turn their rich pasture fed milk from their Jersey/Friesian herd into creamy delicious cheese.

On the journey northwards from, which took a good 3 hours setting off from North Wales, I managed to stick into memory the proper pronunciation of Torpenhow (pronounced ‘Tra-penner’), which I had to get right before meeting the hosts of the farm and most recent their on-farm Cheese Festival.

Mark and Jen Lee run The Torpenhow Cheese Company, and it was the first time they had hosted the festival. The day was a triumph, one of celebration, good food and building community. I had never been to North Cumbria before, and sure enough, the weather on arrival was muggy in summer with a relentless cold wind and intervals of showers, the latter, one local described as, 'there's nothing quite like a bit of Cumbrian rain to wake you up'!

I arrived for lunch, a three-course spectacle that the Lee's had produced with Ben Queen-Fryer, local Michelin-starred chef and co-owner of The Dog and Gun Inn pub in Skelton, Penrith. We had cheese soufflé made with their cheese for starters, sirloin from Pasture for Life Certified Gowbarrow Hall Farm for the main and apricot tart with thyme ice cream, again using the farm's milk. The whole menu was delicious and impressively sourced within a 20-mile radius of the farm.

The rest of the day was filled with walking around the various stalls, listening to great bands, and hearing from local vet, Rob Howe, on the benefits of dung beetles. And of course, the day was interjected with various dairy delights, including their award-winning cheeses, which are all Pasture for Life Certified.

If you want to find out more about The Torpenhow Cheese Co and their annual festival, find out more here.

Words & Photographs by Angus D. Birditt @angusdbirditt

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