Self guided Whidbey Island cheese tour
A few weeks ago, we decided to combine two of our favorite things: cycling and cheese tasting. Ben and I had a free Sunday while our daughter was with friends and decided to use it to take a self-guided bicycle tour to Glendale Shepherd, a sheep farm and cheese producer on Whidbey Island.
We’ve been looking for more opportunities to bicycle together, and as we planned the trip, we realized we could make it a full day trip from Seattle, driving up to the Mukilteo Ferry, parking, and then riding our bikes onto the ferry. Glendale Shepherd is about 7 miles from the ferry terminal in Clinton, a great distance for my legs which haven’t cycled in a while.
On our way to Glendale Shepherd, we stopped at Possession Sound Preserve, open space we’d seen on the map when planning our route. We took a 1 mile round trip hike on a steep trail through the forest down to the beach below the bluff. The skies were blue and the vistas were lovely – this spot is a treasure that’s been preserved by the Whidbey Camano land trust and definitely worth a visit. The hike also gave my legs an opportunity to stretch and rest after the stretch of rolling hills we’d bicycled over.
Cheese: Whidbey
Producer: Glendale Shepherd, Whidbey Island WA
Purchased from: Glendale Shepherd
About Glendale Shepherd
We continued on, bicycling another few miles on quiet roads to Glendale Shepherd. When we arrived and entered the Farm Store, I followed the instructions we found to call Stan, who arrived shortly after I spoke with him by phone. Stan Swanson’s family has owned the land since 1949, and we heard the pride and commitment he has to the property in the stories he shared. He and Lynn transitioned to sheep farming about 15 years ago when they began making fine sheep milk cheese alongside pasture-raised lamb. Stan shared details of the cheeses produced by Glendale Shepherd and how the farm has evolved since his parents purchased the land. Then he took us to see the baby lambs in a nearby barn!
Currently, they raise 3 sets of lambs a year. The best milk producers are integrated into the herd and the lower milk producers are butchered and sold for meat. With the milk that’s produced they make yogurt and artisanal cheeses, both fresh and aged.
I wanted to purchase all of the cheeses available, but in the end narrowed it down to three: Whidbey, Woodsman, and White Cap. We enjoyed Whidbey with our picnic that day, and Woodsman and White Cap at home later. This post will focus on Whidbey and I’ll review Woodsman and White Cap in the future.
On our way back to the ferry, we stopped at another park along the water, Glendale Beach. Glendale Beach was once a busy commercial area: it was a Mosquito Fleet port and the terminus of a logging railroad. In 2014, it was protected as open space by the Whidbey Camano Land Trust and Island County. Now it’s a lovely picnic area with an accessible shoreline. We look forward to returning on our next Whidbey Island cheese tour adventure.
Tasting notes & pairings
Whidbey is a semi-firm, raw milk sheep cheese with an edible rind. The texture reminds me of an aged cheddar but creamier, since sheep milk has a higher fat content than cow’s milk. We ate it with our picnic lunch that afternoon. It was delicious — creamy, crumbly, and buttery initially, with just the right amount of salt. Then come the savory notes at the end that really add depth of flavor. As a cheese enthusiast, I also noted ‘musky, animal, acidic, chalky’ as I tasted Whidbey — I’ll be curious to learn what flavors surface for you when you try it. Our cracker of choice was a seedy crisp bread from Trader Joe’s, which added crunch and texture to each bite. (They also travel well – key for any adventure!)
On a cheese plate
Whidbey is a cheese that can stand on its own on a cheese plate – at room temperature, the complexity of the cheese emerges and it should be savored.
Looking for even more depth of flavor? I tried it with two pairings on my seedy crackers once we got home: sun dried tomato in oil and the plum butter I make every summer. The sun dried tomato brings a bit of acid and more fat, which was too much for my palate. With the plum butter, though, I experienced a combination of tart and sweet flavors, which I enjoyed more than the tomatoes. But, what I went back to again and again was Whidbey on its own or with a cracker, to really enjoy all of the notes of the cheese.
I would definitely buy this artisanal cheese again, and expect that I’ll be visiting the Ballard Farmers Market for this Pacific Northwest cheese on a regular basis.
Where to buy Glendale Shepherd cheese
- Glendale Shepherd Whidbey Farm Store, Monday – Sunday, 11am – 4pm
- Glendale Shepherd also sells at farmers markets throughout Western Washington.
Seattle Day Trip Itinerary: Whidbey Island cheese tour
This self-guided Whidbey Island cheese tour will take a full day from Seattle, or a half-day if you’re already on Whidbey Island.
- Whidbey Island is accessible by ferry. The Mukilteo-Clinton route runs every 30 minutes – schedule and pricing information is available here.
- Hike: Possession Sound Preserve
- Cheese: Glendale Shepherd
- Picnic / Beach Walking: Glendale Beach Preserve
- Want to visit additional farm stands while you’re on south Whidbey Island, to create a farm-to-table picnic? Check out this list of Clinton Farm Stands, which is updated annually. Be sure to note the rules of the road when visiting these hyper local stands: “Many farm stands are unstaffed and run on the honor system. Having cash and small change on hand will help! Farm stands are often located at private homes. Please respect privacy, don’t litter, and wait until you’re at home or a public area to enjoy your bounty.”
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