Scottish land offering continues to expand

Scotland’s recent flush of farm sale launches continues with several new holdings this week. Knock Farm near Duns in Berwickshire is a mixed unit of more than 182ha (450 acres) with almost half of this arable ground.

There is 82 acres of ploughable pasture and 107 acres of permanent pasture, with the remainder in woodland, both hardwoods and mid-rotation conifers.

The four-bedroom main farmhouse is one of two modern red sandstone houses, with the separate cottage also having four bedrooms and both maintained and decorated to a high standard.

Property consultant CKD Galbraith’s Edinburgh office has set the guide price for Knock Farm at offers of more than £1.95m.

All round strong demand for arable farms contrasted with more local demand for purely livestock holdings, said the firm’s head of farm agency, Simon Brown. Good working farms were still selling well but that those which are top heavy with residential value may find the market more difficult.

Restructuring and anticipation of CAP reform featured alongside traditional reasons for sale, he said. (CKD Galbraith 0131 240 6960)

In South Ayrshire, Strutt & Parker is looking for offers of more than £825,000 for Dinmurchie Farm near Barr.

The 178ha (440-acre) ring-fenced stock unit has a range of traditional outbuildings and a large traditional farmhouse needing complete renovation. Several fields are suitable for silage production and the land is in good heart, split beween 169 acres of permanent pasture, almost 187 acres of rough grazing and 79 acres of woodland.

The farm’s infrastructure is good, with fences, gates and drains having been upgraded in recent years. The ring-fenced land rises from 100m (328ft) to about 250m (820ft) above sea-level. (Strutt & Parker 0141 225 388)