It depends on what you wish to make but the absolute best for saddlery type things (and bags etc.) is J and F J BAKER which is in Devon. Oak bark tanned leather made in the traditional way. see their website: https://www.jfjbaker.co.uk. Also, very smart coloured leathers from HARMATAN: https://www.harmatan.co.uk/ which I use for all my bookbinding and also leather goods. They will also pare your leather down if necessary. Please do mention my name (LAURA WEST: https://www.laurawest.com) at either tannery for good effect.
Thank you very much, Laura. I will have a look at Harmatan. I am looking to get some calf leather of a particular colour and so far I have only found a supplier in Italy, which isn't ideal. Since we have left the European market, things have got rather difficult in that regard and I would rather buy closer to home.
Hi Geraldine, depending on where in the UK you are based, you may even be able to visit their tannery. Marc & Rosie (who mainly run the place) are very friendly and I have been using them for at least 25 years. The colours (mainly in the fine goatskin range) are amazing, but I am not sure what they can offer in the way of calf. Good luck anyway and happy to pass on the info.
It depends on what you wish to make but the absolute best for saddlery type things (and bags etc.) is J and F J BAKER which is in Devon. Oak bark tanned leather made in the traditional way. see their website: https://www.jfjbaker.co.uk. Also, very smart coloured leathers from HARMATAN: https://www.harmatan.co.uk/ which I use for all my bookbinding and also leather goods. They will also pare your leather down if necessary. Please do mention my name (LAURA WEST: https://www.laurawest.com) at either tannery for good effect.