THE CATTLE
A richer flavoured beef comes from the exceptionally long and varied life of our Dexter herd.
Dexters are one of Britain’s oldest native cattle breeds. Characterful, they are prized for their hardiness and ability to transform rough pasture and forage into delicious beef and milk. Their smaller frame means they tread lightly on the land, helping to protect steep valley soil cover and damp areas.
As a Pasture for Life–certified farm, you can be assured that our Dexters are 100% pasture-fed from birth. The land and our animals benefit mutually from this approach, flourishing as a regenerative whole.
For much of the year, the herd grazes our hidden valleys, moving often, from pasture to pasture. Surrounded by pesticide-free woodland, wetland and wildflower meadows, they browse low branches, trample back bracken and top the nettles—playing an active role in managing the landscape while encouraging biodiversity.
In autumn, we walk together up to the high pastures, where the cattle remain on free-draining soils throughout the winter months. Here they are fed hay made from the Dillay’s and neighbouring meadows, thus maintaining full traceability and nutritional integrity through the colder season. Our Dexters are kept outside over winter because this is where they are healthiest and happiest.
We cherish our cattle and everything they give in return. That is why our stock animals remain at the Dillay for a minimum of four years—over twice as long as the UK average—allowing them to mature slowly and become familiar with our rhythms. The result is beef of exceptional integrity and depth of flavour, nutrient-dense and delectable.
WHAT MAKES DILLAY BEEF SO DELICIOUS?
IT BEGINS WITH THE BREED
Dexters produce exceptional, fine-grained beef with a deep flavour that is unique to the breed. In a recent steak tasting competition organized by Country Life, the Dexter-breed steaks were voted the most delicious!
Read more: “Raising the steaks: Which native animal produces the best beef?"
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
Our Dexters are 100% pasture-fed their whole lives, grazing a wide variety of plant species in our diverse pastures and woodland edges. This approach provides natural nutrition and allows our herd to express instinctive foraging behaviours — selecting different plants according to their needs. As a result, their beef is full of nutrients and contains relatively high levels of beneficial omega-3 fats and naturally occurring antioxidants.
The herd’s natural, diverse diet contributes to our beef’s flavour profile.
Read more: Pasture Fed Meat and Health
Pasture-Fed Beef a Source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Benefits of a low-input ruminant system
PATIENCE AND CARE
At the Dillay, our stock animals live a peaceful and happy life outdoors for at least four to five years. This allows them to grow at a natural pace and in step with the seasons. Long, slow growth develops proper muscle structure and deep marbling, making the beef naturally more tender and flavourful.
Our mission is to honour and celebrate this exceptional product by treating it with the utmost respect until it is presented to you. That is why we use specialist butchers, Marcus & Poppy Cole, who provide expert cuts and dry age (hang) the beef for 28 to 35 days. This is the ideal time for moisture to slowly evaporate and for natural enzymes to refine the texture of the breed's small primal cuts. Our beef’s natural flavour and tenderness are intensified.
THE DEER
Sourced from the woodlands and quiet deep valleys of the Dillay - in essence a natural deer park - our venison is wild and seasonal. Herds of fallow and roe deer roam freely here. Muntjac too proliferate.
In the absence of predators, we fulfil our role of maintaining a healthy population responsibly and humanely. We cull carefully, according to strict criteria, with the aim of maintaining a strong genetic pool, for their future and ours.
Hugo the game dealer carefully butchers the venison. Lean, flavourful and rich in heritage, this is meat with a true provenance. Whether for a rich stew or simple pan fried supper, our venison is a celebration of place, nature and the abundance of the Dillay.
The Woodland box comes with a special edition “Dillay guest cook" recipe card, by artist George Irvine, a jar of our blackberry preserve & a unique spoon rest hand formed by Cotswold-based artist Amanda Coldridge.
VALLEY PRODUCE
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Our exceptionally mature Dillay Dexter cattle are raised exclusively on pasture, woodland, and local hay. This smooth tallow, slow-rendered in small batches from their rich suet, is a tribute to the herd’s full and varied life at the Dillay. It enhances cooking with a rich, savoury depth and delivers golden textures thanks to its naturally high smoke point.
Available in select Dillay boxes.
WEIGHT PER JAR: 150g
BEEF TALLOW
Our blackberry jam is made in small batches using the wild fruit we gather from our hedgerows. Bursting with rich, tangy sweetness, it captures the taste of late summer. Pair it with our venison for the full woodland experience.
Available in the Woodland box.
WEIGHT PER JAR: 180g
BLACKBERRY PRESERVE
THE BEES
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From their hives at the heart of the Dillay, our bees forage the surrounding carr, pasture and woodland for pollen. They distill the essence of the Dillay into delicious, creamy honey.
The hives are thoughtfully placed in small numbers across the valley, allowing each space to thrive in harmony with its environment.
When the time comes, the honey is harvested with care, gently warmed to hive temperature, and spun, preserving its natural flavour and texture while brought to its creamy finish.
Celebrate this sweet treasure every morning with a unique honey pot and spoon, born of collaborations with Cotswold-based artists.
Available in the Beehive box & a box set of 2 jars.
VALLEY OBJECTS
INSPIRED BY THE VALLEY
Our special edition boxes always include a unique object that began its story here in the valley. The Dillay’s woodlands and pastures provide most of the natural materials needed to create these pieces: clay dug in small quantities from the banks, wood collected from pruned and fallen branches, and other materials sustainably found and foraged.
Valley Objects are an expression of our approach to the Dillay: cherishing what the valley offers and shaping its gifts with craft and care, so to imbue every day with authenticity and beauty.
THE OBJECTS
Each piece is created slowly and intentionally, revealing the allure of natural materials: spoon rests and honey pots formed from wild clay; salt and pepper wells from burnt and brushed larch; spoons turned and carved from pruned apple branches . No two pieces are ever alike.
Please see our Dillay boxes content for a list of Valley Objects.
SALT WELL
BARK HONEY POT
CARVED SPOON
SMOOTH HONEY POT
SALT & PEPPER
WELL
SPOON REST
HAND TURNED SPOON
RESPECT FOR PLACE AND PROCESS
These are not mere decorative objects, but considered, enduring pieces made for everyday use: to be held, cherished, and passed on. The Valley Objects collection varies, depending on what the land offers and inspires. It evolves with the seasons, much like the valley itself.
We collaborate with local artists, including Amanda Coldridge and neighbour Bob Watson, who share our respect for place and process. Every object is unique, every surface tells its own story - of earth, weather, and human touch.
THE DILLAY BOXES
Our care & respect for tradition is reflected in every part of what we do, from the way we craft our meat to how each box is prepared.
Our carefully selected venison and exceptionally mature dry-aged beef is vacuum-sealed fresh, wrapped in reusable peach butchers paper and finished with a handwritten label. Boxes are packed using sustainable materials like our 100% wool liners & eco-friendly chilled and frozen packs.
Every order is bespoke. We do our best to include your favorite cuts, then we add a few thoughtful extras and finish with a personal note. We can deliver anywhere in the UK - either fresh on the day of reception or blast frozen at your convenience, via 24-hour courier. For yourself or as a truly memorable gift, each box honours its contents and is a joy to open and discover.
THE MIXED BEEF BOX
Our signature box has a selection of steaks, roasts, casserole and mince, as well as some of our more exciting slow-roasting cuts and a special jar of our smooth Dillay tallow. Let us know which cuts you love best and we will try to include these in your box. In addition, each box includes several of our Dillay recipe cards.
BOX: 8 kg
HALF BOX: 4 kg
THE FAST BEEF BOX
Our fast-cooking box includes a selection of steaks, our signature mince and a special jar of our smooth Dillay Tallow. Let us know if you would like to add a fast roasting joint as well, we can tailor the box to match your requests. In addition, each box includes several of our Dillay recipe cards.
BOX: 7 kg
HALF BOX: 3.5 kg
THE SLOW BEEF BOX
The Slow Beef Box includes large roasts, braising steaks or casserole cuts, our signature mince plus some speciality cuts such as shin, oxtail or ox-cheek. We can tailor the box to match your requests. Our special jar of smooth tallow is also included in this box and several of our Dillay recipe cards.
BOX: 8 kg
HALF BOX: 4 kg
THE WOODLAND BOX
Our seasonal box of sustainably sourced wild Dillay venison comes with a special edition “Dillay guest cook" recipe card by artist George Irvine. In addition, we have included our delicious wild blackberry Dillay preserve and a sculptural spoon rest hand-formed by artist Amanda Coldridge.
BOX: 2.5 kg
THE WINTER BOX
Nestled within are three delicious dinners for 4-6 people. Discover our signature mince, delectable casserole cuts and astonishingly tender topside. Each cut is accompanied by its unique Dillay recipe and a jar of tallow.
BOX: 2.5 kg
THE BEEHIVE BOX
From their hives at the heart of the Dillay, the bees distill its essence into our spun honey. Creamy and utterly delicious. The Beehive box includes a beautiful “smooth" or a “bark" Dillay honey pot created by artist Amanda Coldridge, paired with a hand turned honey spoon by Bob Watson and 2 jars of Honey.
WEIGHT PER JAR: 250g
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THE HONEY JAR BOX
Our Dillay spun honey in a convenient 2 jar box set... because one jar is just not enough! Our hand turned honey spoon can be added as an optional extra to make the perfect honey gift.
WEIGHT PER JAR: 250g
THE BESPOKE VALLEY BOX
Choose from our carefully selected Dillay meat in addition to our hand crafted Valley Objects created by local artists. Contact us for a full list to create your unique Dillay box.
