THE CATTLE
A richer flavoured beef comes from the exceptionally long and varied life of our Dexter herd.
Our small suckler herd of Dexter cattle is raised to produce outstanding beef whilst conserving and improving the Dillay’s unique environment.
Half the year they graze in our hidden valleys, moving from one pasture to another, browsing low branches and foraging in mixed woodland, trampling bracken and knocking back nettles.
In the autumn we walk together up to the top pastures where they remain on well-draining soil, munching on hay and haylage from the Dillay and neighbouring meadows.
Surrounded by wildlife reserves, woodland, wetland and wildflower meadows, they range a pesticide-free environment and eat only what nature provides.
We cherish our cattle and everything they provide, which is why they stay at the Dillay for a minimum of four years, twice as long as the average herd stock.
WHAT MAKES DILLAY BEEF SO DELICIOUS?
Our Dexter* beef is from stock animals which are raised with great care and consideration, entirely on pasture and hay. Extraordinarily, they remain with us until at least four years of age, resulting in beef with delicate marbling and incredible depth of flavour.
Our mission is to honour and celebrate this exceptional product by treating it with the utmost respect until it is presented to you: from dry-aging and butchering through to freezing and presentation. That is why we use specialist butchers Marcus and Poppy Cole to dry age the beef to perfection (28 days) and provide expert cuts. For those who cannot receive the beef fresh on delivery, we use a blast freezer to lock in its gorgeous texture and preserve your beef for longer.
*It begins with the breed. Dexter beef is renowned for its incredible taste, winning a Country Life steak tasting competition (October 2nd 2025 edition) for the best native-breed beef.
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
BEEF 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.
We work with Broomhall, a small local family-run abattoir, and nearby artisan butchers Polly and Marcus Cole, who carefully select & dry-age each cut of Dillay beef to perfection, for up to five weeks, bringing out a deep, balanced flavour.
From split marrow bones to picanha, sirloin to brisket, ox cheeks to bavette, our cuts range from the familiar to the rare, all prepared to our exact specifications.
Each piece is vacuum-sealed, wrapped in peach butchers paper, and finished with a handwritten label. Boxes are packed using sustainable materials like our 100% wool liners & eco-friendly chilled or frozen packs.
Every order includes a personal note and a few thoughtful extras. We can deliver anywhere in the UK - either fresh on the day of reception or 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 DILLAY BOXES
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 includes a personal note and a few thoughtful extras.
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.
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.
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 8 pairs of steaks, 2 packages of stir-fry strips, 4 packages of 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. 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 4 large roasts, 4 packages of braising steak, 4 packages of mince as well as some speciality cuts such as shin, oxtail or ox-cheek. Our special jar of smooth tallow is also included in this box. Also each box includes 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 DILLAY CHRISTMAS BOX
Celebrate the season with a gift that tells a story of craftsmanship, flavour & place. Our bespoke Christmas boxes bring together a hand selected range of our exceptional Dexter beef, a special jar of smooth Dillay Tallow & a sample of plum jam. It also encloses a beautiful limited edition shou sugi ban Salt Well, formed from our larch by neighbouring wood turner Bob Watson. Finished with our recipe cards & a hand-written note, this is a truly special gift.
Orders are now open with limited availability.
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-made 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 spun 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.
