Welsh rare land offering of ‘quality productive grassland’

Lord Newborough is selling about 1,000 acres of grassland from his estate in North Wales in what has been described as one of the most significant launches of farmland in the region in recent years.

The sale of the land at Glynllifon, Caernarfon, will be done in phases over several months, starting with the immediate launch of 265 acres marketed as three separate blocks.

The remaining grassland is to be released in stages through to spring 2026 to create a “pipeline of opportunity” for buyers, says Hugh O’Donnell, a partner at selling agent Carter Jonas.

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“Productive grassland of this quality and scale is rarely offered to the open market and, given the traditionally low supply of farmland in this area, we anticipate strong interest from across the farming community,” he adds.

During the past 18 months, there has been consistent interest across North Wales in improved grassland, particularly from the dairy sector, notes Mr O’Donnell.

“The sale of land from the Glynllifon Estate is set to take this to another level, and we are looking forward to some exciting weeks ahead as the first lots are launched,’’ he says.

The first 265 acres to be launched include 180 acres of improved grassland at Tyn Llan, Llandwrog, and 48 acres at Bachwen, Clynnog Fawr.

These are split into eight fields that have been regularly reseeded and are well suited for growing silage and arable crops.

A further 37 acres of grassland suitable for grazing and cropping are available at Caeathro.

The decision to sell comes from a desire to reshape his estate and open up opportunities for others to farm, says Lord Newborough.

He also owns the 12,500-acre Rhug estate near Corwen, which has a farm shop, café and meat cutting plant.

Strategically, it “makes sense” to sell around 1,000 acres at Glynllifon, he says, and it will free up resources to focus on the business’s core base.

The land is being sold by informal tender with a deadline of midday on Friday, 7 November 2025. Tenders should be submitted to Carter Jonas’ Bangor office.

Pretty in Pinck

Pinckneys Farm © Woolley & Wallis

A parcel of grassland, albeit on a much smaller scale, is also being launched in Wiltshire.

Retirement brings the 67-acre ring-fenced block of Grade 1 pastureland at Pinckneys Farm, near Marten, Marlborough, to the market.

The land was bought by the vendors 23 years ago, and they have since erected two general-purpose agricultural buildings.

It sits in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, has free-draining, stone-free soils, and has been used to produce hay and for grazing sheep and horses.

Enclosures have been created with stockproof fencing and water troughs installed. A Section 106 agreement prevents any residential development on the land.

One of the buildings has a hay store, six stables, a tack room and a concrete yard.

The other, has a large, clear-span building and could have a wide range of uses, says Sophie Clotworthy of selling agent Woolley & Wallis.

Woolley & Wallis is guiding Pinckneys Farm at £800,000.

Diversity in Scotland

Coldingham Loch © GSC Grays

Diversification opportunities are a key feature of 57-acre Coldingham Loch, on the Berwickshire coast in south-east Scotland, which has just been launched at offers over £2.19m.

The property is described by joint marketing agents GSC Grays and Paton & Co as a “unique and varied rural business”.

It has a trout fishery, 35 acres of grassland and woodland, plus a portfolio of eight holiday lets – three cottages and five timber chalets, three of which have been recently refurbished.

The trout fishery is centred on a 22-acre loch, which is the only naturally eutrophic loch in the Scottish Borders.

It currently operates from mid-March to the end of November, but that season could be extended as required.

John Coleman, head of farm agency at GSC Grays, says Coldingham Loch is a “perfect example’’ of rural diversification.