South-west sea views to set sale

Sea-loving farmers looking for stunning coastal views in the south-west have two options to choose from.

In Cornwall, Stags’ Gordon Millar is selling Norton Barton at Launcells, near Bude.

Although the 339-acre farm could appeal to amenity buyers, the keenest bidders would probably be farmers, he said.

“I’m expecting an offer in the next week or so.”

Those interested included a farmer wanting to set up a dairy operation and a stock farmer looking for a unit for his son, added Mr Millar.

Run by the Mill family for the past 40 years, the farm has revolved around a 250-head beef herd.

Spring-born calves from Bodmin Moor, renowned for their hardiness, were bought in the autumn and fed on cereals grown on 130 acres of the farm.

Including a seven-bed house, Mr Millar is guiding the farm at £1.85m-£2m for the whole.

“It is such a good farm I decided not to split it up, you would lose a lot of the attraction and the viability.”

This valued the land at £3000/acre, he said.

“All the land I’ve sold this year has gone for at least £3000/acre, there’s been a hell of a demand and I’ve not the faintest idea why.”

Seacombe House at Worth Matravers, near Corfe Castle, Dorset, is being sold by Savills’ on behalf of keen amateur astronomer David Strange.

Two mini observatory domes even come as part of the £1.75m guide.

Even without the aid of a telescope, Mr Strange says it is possible to see the lights of Cherbourg at night time.

France is so close mobile telephones tend to lock into a cross-channel signal adding a further Gallic flavour to the 167-acre livestock unit.

The land is farmed by a neighbour under a profit-for-pasturage agreement for £5-£10/acre.

However, the single farm payment will be worth about £19,000, while Countryside Stewardship adds another £12,000.

An annex to the six-bed house, let as a holiday cottage, generates a further £360/week.

There is also an air raid shelter underneath the house, which was built due to the proximity of RAF Worth Matravers where the use of RADAR was pioneered during WWII.