Strong commercial farms launch in the South West

Good-quality commercial farms at scale rarely come to the market in Dorset, so this week’s launch of a versatile dairy and livestock holding is set to generate a high level of interest.

Lower Kingston Russell Farm, at Long Bredy, near Dorchester, is a 484-acre grassland farm that is home to a 350-cow, low-intensity grazing dairy enterprise.

Selling agent Will Wallis, of Symonds & Sampson, says: “The farm occupies a rural location within the unspoilt Bride Valley and enjoys fabulous views over its own land and beyond, along the Jurassic coastline.”

See also: Two prime English farming estates brought to market

The farm is ring-fenced, with Grade 3 land down to permanent pasture. Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements, including 260 acres entered in NUM2 legumes/improved grassland, and 114 acres in SAM3 herbal leys, are in place until March 2027.

There is a range of farm buildings to support the dairy and livestock enterprises.

The accommodation includes a five-bedroom farmhouse, a cottage and a detached barn conversion, which is subject to an agricultural occupancy condition.

A further cottage is let, with vacant possession due shortly.

Lower Kingston Russell farm has a guide price of £7.445m as a whole, or is available in three lots.

Mixed holding in Devon

Docton Farm © Savills

Also in the south-west of England, a 514-acre farm near Hartland, Bideford – sited in the North Devon Coast national landscape – has come to the market.

Docton Farm sits in a ring-fence and is a mixed holding with arable, beef and sheep enterprises on productive land, with free draining, loamy soils.

Marketing agent Savills says its scale and versatility open it to a diverse range of enterprises, including dairy, with potential to enhance environmental benefits and wildlife.

A range of modern and traditional buildings includes livestock housing, general purpose sheds and a steel portal-framed grain store.

The farm has extensive residential accommodation. This includes a vacant five-bedroom detached farmhouse, and a three-bedroom annexe, currently let on an assured shorthold tenancy (AST).

There are two holiday cottages – one with five bedrooms, the other with four – a one-bedroom cottage, and a pair of semi-detached, three-bedroom cottages, one of which is let on an AST.

Vacant possession of land and most buildings is available from 1 October 2025, but there is a holdover on the grain store until 31 December 2025.

It has a guide price of £6.5m as a whole, or is available in three lots.

Yorkshire poultry and arable 

Eldmire Hill © Savills

In North Yorkshire, 199 acres of mainly Grade 2 arable land with a poultry enterprise is being marketed by Savills.

The owner of Eldmire Hill, near Thirsk, is retiring from farming and has put the holding on the market at a guide price of £6m.

The land is in arable crops and comes with modern broiler poultry buildings covering 12,000sq m.

It has an integrated pollution prevention and control licence for 250,000 birds, and the poultry buildings are let until 2028.

There are general- purpose farm buildings, grain stores, and traditional buildings with potential for residential conversion, subject to planning consent.

Electricity is provided by a 48kW solar PV system. The telecommunications mast sited on the farm generates an annual income of £2,000.

A five-bedroom farmhouse and a three-bedroom cottage provide the residential accommodation.

Eldmire Hill is available as a whole or in five lots.