A prominent farmer and best-selling writer has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Cumbria. 

Proud Cumbrian James Rebanks left school as a teenager to work on his family’s farm in Matterdale. 

He headed to Carlisle College to study A Levels at evening classes before enrolling at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he achieved a double first in history. 

Now in his 50s, he has played a significant role in raising awareness of the challenging realities of agricultural life within the Lake District and beyond. 

His first book, The Shepherd’s Life, was published in 2015 and became a Sunday Times Number 1 bestseller. 

An Honorary Doctorate is the most prestigious award the university can confer upon an individual.

On receiving the award, James said: “It’s a proud day.

“I’m a super proud Cumbrian who has written about Cumbria and I tell people all the time about how important this part of the world is, so that anyone here thinks I’m worthy of any kind of recognition is a very nice thing indeed.

“I’m here with my mum, my mother-in-law, my wife and my youngest son. To get that recognition in front of them is very nice as well.”

Asked whether he had a message for current University of Cumbria students and graduates, he said: “In the address I do in the cathedral in a few minutes, I’m going to tell them to not worry.

“Do your best, keep plodding through life, find the right people to put around yourself, but don’t beat yourself up if you have bad days or failures or moments when you’re bang average because that’s going to happen to absolutely everybody.

“Life isn’t Instagram.

“It’ll have ups and downs and challenges, setbacks and that’s just part of life.

“In those moments where it isn’t going perfect, I’d just urge them to keep a sense of context on that, keep their heads up, keep plodding through.

“We’re just lucky to be alive at the end of the day.”

Following his degree, James returned to work on the family farm.

Alongside that, he created a consultancy focusing on heritage, culture, economics and tourism issues. 

He has served as an expert advisor to UNESCO’s World Heritage Sustainable Tourism Programme and helped the Lake District secure World Heritage status.  

His farm, Racy Ghyll, now managed with his wife Helen and their four children, is known for regenerative grazing and nature-friendly management. 

The farm hosts workshops, training courses and educational visits focused on regenerative farming, nature and rural heritage.

James is very proud of his Herdwick sheep and Belted Galloway cattle. 

Sheep bred in his flock have achieved significant show success and record prices, while a bull from the herd matched the record for the breed, making 20,000 guineas. 

His first book, The Shepherd’s Life, explores the relationship of his family to farming and the Cumbrian landscape. 

It was well received, picking up the Lakeland Book of the Year accolade and being shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize. 

He also penned English Pastoral: An Inheritance, which examined how the modern world has impacted negatively on rural landscapes and ways of life. 

The book won the Wainwright Prize for UK Nature Writing and the Fortnum & Mason Food Book of the Year.

It was in the mix for the Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize and the Orwell Prize for Political Writing. 

More than 1,500 students from across the globe have been celebrating their academic achievements at the University of Cumbria’s graduation ceremonies this week.

Speaking to guests at Thursday’s ceremony, Professor Brian Webster-Henderson OBE, Deputy Vice Chancellor of University of Cumbria, said: “James has played a significant role in shifting public awareness and perceptions of the challenging realities of agricultural life within the Lake District and beyond. 

“His is an authoritative voice on the rural economy and the lives of farming families. 

“It is immensely important that we should honour a proud Cumbrian who has made such a global impact.”

Are you interested in starting your journey with the University of Cumbria? You can find information about Clearing here: Clearing 2026 – University of Cumbria