Cameron estates prompt some ‘incredible interest’
One of the hot topics for debate at last week’s Royal Highland Show was the launch of two neighbouring Perthshire estates, previously owned by former NFU Scotland president John Cameron and his wife Margaret.
Invermearan and Glenlochy, near Killin, which total almost 32,000 acres, were sold to Edinburgh-based Edinmore Properties, along with most of the Camerons’ farming empire, in January this year.
The two estates are now back on the market at offers over £5.5m.
The decision by Mr Cameron, once dubbed Europe’s largest sheep farmer, to sell most of his farming enterprise as a whole to Edinmore mystified Scottish farmers.
They anticipated the break-up of the unit by the firm, which provoked a storm of controversy in 2004 when it bought, then split up, the 16,500-acre Gannochy Estate in Angus.
Edinmore has also placed three Fife farms previously owned by the Camerons – Lochty, North Baldutho and West Killie – on the market.
The Fife units went on sale in late May with offers over £2.75m invited, making the combined sales of the land at Killin and Fife set to gross at least £8.3m.
A closing date of 6 July has now been set for the Fife properties, which, says Strutt & Parker, have generated an “incredible” level of interest, from Scotland, south of the border and Ireland.
In the first week of the Perthshire estates being put up for sale, Strutt & Parker says there also been plenty of interest in Glenlochay and Invermearan, which carry a flock of 8000 ewes and include the entire catchment of Loch Lyon and the upper stretches of the River Lochay.
Strutt & Parker’s Anders Kennedy said:
“The property has been split into six lots, ranging from £125,000 for a cottage to £2.5m for the largest lot (the 12,860-acre Mamlorn Forest Estate).
It is not surprising there has been so much interest given the lots will appeal to a wide range of people.”
Potential buyers ranged from the UK, Ireland and overseas, including from across the Atlantic, added Mr Kennedy.