Estate land for sale or rent
Estate land for sale or rent
RETIREMENT and bereavement have brought about a partial restructuring of one of Scotlands largest estates.
In total 3000 Dumfriesshire acres, part of the 280,000-acre Buccleuch Estate, are now available either for sale or for rent.
Mosspeeble Farm, in the Ewes Valley near Langholme, is being sold following the death of tenant Graham Murray and the subsequent decision of his widow to retire from farming.
The 1134-acre farm comes with a 6-bed house and two cottages and all the land qualifies for hill farm allowance. Joint agents Cluttons and C&D Property Services are guiding the unit at in excess of £390,000.
However, selling off estate properties is not official policy according to factor Nick Waugh. "This is the first sale for many decades, but given the pressure from foot-and-mouth it was vital to release capital to fund the estates recovery.
"We need to look forward past F&M and find new ways to be inventive and create a sustainable business," he adds.
Prospective tenants of another estate holding, currently available on a nine year lease after incumbent John Maxwells retirement, will certainly need to look past the ongoing F&M crisis – Coshogle Farm, Thornhill, which runs to 1789 acres, comes complete with a 641-strong flock of bound Scottish Blackface ewes and lies within a restricted area.
Ironically, Mr Waugh believes the outbreak may not be a severe hindrance. "Taking into account the current bio-security issues I think Coshogle could be a desirable option for a lowland producer who wants to implement a totally closed breeding policy in order to combat future welfare issues."
Given the devastation wreaked on the regions livestock industry it remains to be seen if many will share the factors view but he maintains there has already been plenty of interest. "We have sent out over 70 sets of particulars, mainly to existing stock farmers."
No guide prices have been released, but £10/annum per ewe and £60-80/annum per suckler cow could be a realistic figure according to one industry source (Scottish rental values tend to be based on a livestock per unit basis rather than on acreage). *