Business restructure puts Scottish land on the market
A portfolio of mixed Ayrshire farms is on the market after the decision of a Stranraer family to concentrate on expanding the contracting side of its business.
In total, the Ramsays are selling 756 acres, including land which they have owned since 1922.
The four neighbouring farms at Drummore, near Stranraer, plus Ballaird farmhouse, near Girvan, are being sold as a whole or in individual lots with a guide price of offers over 3.3m.
The 426-acre Mid Muntloch and High Drummore Farm is a productive arable and dairy unit with a new herringbone parlour, currently milking 300 cows.
Priced at offers over 1.9m, it includes a four-bedroom farmhouse and two three-bedroom cottages.
Neighbouring Cardryne is a 214-acre farm with an asking price of 980,000.
This traditional arable and stock farm, bought by the Ramsays in 1985, has views of the Isle of Man and includes a cattle shed that last year over-wintered 90 beef cows and calves plus 120 fattening bullocks.
Another neighbouring farm is 116-acre Knowes Farm.
The mixed unit, which comes with a derelict house, is guided at offers over 260,000 and has been farmed by the family for 10-15 years, but is owned by relative Charles Ramsay.
The decision to sell is a business move which the Ramsays and their two sons have been contemplating for some time.
“We are looking for an arable farm to buy in Scotland if possible,” said John Ramsay, who with his two sons, intends expanding the agricultural contracting side of their business.
Alistair MacMillan of selling agent, H&H Bowe said this was the largest privately-owned block of farmland to come on the market for some time and there had already been a great deal of interest from Northern Ireland.
“These are exceptionally good quality farms from a well-respected farming family,” said Mr MacMillan.
There were also some other very good Ayrshire farms in the pipeline, he added.