Farms marketed from Scottish Borders, N Yorks and Merseyside

A 3,172-acre upland farm in the Scottish Borders, where one of the UK’s largest private native tree planting schemes has been established, is about to come on the market.

Over Kirkhope at Ettrick Valley – grazed by a hefted flock of 750 Blackface and North Country Cheviot breeding ewes – is ideally suited to regenerative livestock farming, according to GSC Grays consultant James Denne.

See also: Cornwall and Devon offer choice of farmland properties

The farm has scope to increase its sheep numbers significantly, support a herd of cattle and invest in a regenerative system, he says.

“It’s very rare that an impressive upland sheep farm of this size in the extraordinary landscape of the Scottish Borders comes to market.”

There is also considerable potential to add further to Over Kirkhope’s natural capital and biodiversity, he says.

Mix of grazing and extensive woodland

The farm, launched at offers of more than £4.585m, has about 2,189 acres of productive hill ground, in-bye grassland and wildflower meadow, and more than 935 acres of managed broad-leaf woodland. 

The woodland – with more than 500,000 native broad-leaf trees – is undergoing a Woodland Carbon Code audit this year and, as a consequence, there are significant offsetting opportunities, says GSC Grays.

Plans for further planting

Discussions are under way to add 170 acres of new native woodland to the farm, with other areas to follow, opening the pathway to voluntary carbon markets.

The holding also has more than three miles of single bank trout fishing on the Ettrick Water and six acres of trout ponds.

There are modern and traditional farm buildings with accommodation provided by a refurbished six-bedroom farmhouse and two two-bedroom cottages, one let on an assured shorthold tenancy and the other vacant.

Over Kirkhope is for sale as a whole or is available in up to three lots.

North Yorkshire arable

Rush House Farm © Savills

In North Yorkshire, a 161-acre ring-fenced farm with Grade 3 arable land and modern farm buildings is being launched.

Rush House Farm, near Thirsk, is predominantly arable and capable of producing high yields, says selling agent Savills.

The land is currently in a Mid Tier Stewardship scheme, which expires in December 2025.

There is also a three-year Sustainable Farming Incentive agreement which will terminate when the farm is sold.

A good range of farm buildings includes an open-fronted cattle shed and a general-purpose building, each with six bays.

There is also a stable block with six loose boxes and a floodlit outdoor arena with a drained sand surface.

The stone-built farmhouse has five bedrooms.

Rush House Farm is being marketed at a guide price of £2.8m for the whole or is available in two lots.

If sold as a whole, the vendor will also offer the buyer the opportunity of a further 20 acres of arable land by separate negotiation.

Rare Merseyside offering

Garswood Gates © Fazakerley Sharpe

On Merseyside, a region where it is rare for land to be offered for sale on the open market, bereavement sees the launch of Garswood Gates Farm at Haydock, near St Helens.

The farm has 111 acres of Grade 3 arable land which is currently on farm business tenancy agreements, with these ending in September 2026.

There will be an overage clause, details of which are to be confirmed.

The property comes with a four-bedroom detached farmhouse in need of modernisation, and a range of traditional red brick and modern farm buildings.

Garswood Gates Farm is available as a whole at offers above £1.875m through selling agent Fazakerley Sharpe, or in up to five lots.