Hi Bionic. I love my Herdwicks. First batch came from the Llandovery coloured breeds sale (I still have the catalogue if you want me to send you the details of the breeders who were there) and the second from Bolton. All were from big flocks and were pretty wild when I got them and it took a while to get their confidence, but they were soon following me round like dogs (and following my dogs round, too).
I would say they would make great "forever" sheep - big and tough to withstand our harsh wet weather, good feet (I've had no footrot problems at all, even with all the filthy weather we've had this past winter), and they lamb really easily.
Half the battle is getting some from a flock which are bucket-friendly. As with pigs, the mother's personality and confidence seems to be passed on to the offspring. One of the many nice things about Herdies is that their size makes them less flighty and kangaroo-like than some of our native Welsh breeds. They are more difficult to turn with brute force if you haven't mastered the "twist and tip over" skill, but once you learn it, they're easy to manage.
If you're at the May or July Royal Welsh shows, come and find me for a chat. If I'm not near my pens, ring the number on the sign, because I definitely won't be far away!