9:47am Wednesday 5th May 2010
Deciding to take on a smallholding of any size can be daunting. Moving to a new area to do so can be worse. But how about taking on a real challenge and moving to somewhere many may not consider and to many, what could be termed another country – Scotland?
Prices of property and land can certainly be much lower than in the south of the UK and you can get an awful lot for your money. Go way upmarket and you could almost buy an estate. But all sorts of concerns would have to be taken into consideration if moving to such a beautiful area not least the special property buying laws that exist in Scotland – they are very different to the rest of the country and can be daunting.
The country can also be remote, the weather can be very changeable and winters can be long and severe. Whatever your criteria may be for moving, Scotland is well worth considering.
Here we take a look at what is currently available with a couple of specialist firms, Rural Scene and CD Properties. Braehead, Lanarkshire In Braehead, Lanarkshire, there is approximately three acres available with private equestrian facilities set in a favoured rural location with views over the surrounding countryside The detached bungalow has lounge, dining room, fitted kitchen, open plan with living room, utility room, separate cloakroom, five bedrooms, two with en suite facilities and family bathroom, pleasant lawned grounds plus timber sundeck The outbuildings includes stable yard with three boxes, double garage, garden shed and greenhouse The land adjoining the residence and stableyard arranged in four main paddock areas and the price is offers in excess of £380,000 with rural scene.
Wigtown In Wigtown there is a 13 acre holding with B&B business. This is a period lodge house with four bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, utility room, living room, garden room and attractive gardens.
The outbuildings include numerous livestock houses, workshop, garage, greenhouses and polytunnel.
The land a mixture of level grazing land and woodland with a stream to the south-east border. Offers in excess of £375,000 also with Rural Scene.
Buckie, in Morayshire At Buckie, in Morayshire, 2.25 acres, which comprise a pair of refurbished cottages with large barn and two pony boxes. One cottage has entrance hall, kitchen, utility, dining room, lounge, conservatory, bedroom hallway, family bathroom and three bedrooms. Mature lawned garden with timber decking The second cottage has entrance hall, lounge/kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. Enclosed garden. Offers in Excess of £315,000.
Sutherland at Brora In Sutherland at Brora, a ten acre property which has been restored is on the market with an optional building plot as well.
It is a refurbished croft cottage with two bedrooms on the first floor and bedroom three/study, bathroom, breakfast/sun room, lounge, farmhouse style kitchen/diner, inner hall and conservatory on the ground floor.
Lawned garden, two broadleaf woodland coppices/shelter belts including orchard (approx 300 trees planted).
Outbuildings include a stone built workshop and stable. The land is divided into five gently sloping post and railed paddocks. Price is in excess of £295,000 and the optional building plot of half an acre £65,000.
Cornhill, Banffshire Nine acres in Cornhill, Banffshire includes a property and a range of outbuildings and stables.
A cottage has lobby, bathroom, kitchen, conservatory/dining room, hall, lounge and three bedrooms (en-suite to master bedroom). Extensive gardens The Outbuildings include two stables, traditional steading, two kennels. The land adjoins the property and comprises gently sloping pastureland divided into three paddocks plus a coniferous copse. Guide price is £287,500.
Shetland Isles How about going further north onto the Shetland Isles.
At Papa Stour is 180 acres a property has recently changed hands but as a guide if was a coastal farm with traditional farmhouse, a chalet with two bedrooms, a range of outbuildings including loose boxes, workshop, lambing pens, machinery sheds and greenhouse and barn.
The final price is not known but the property is an indication of the type that became available on the islands from time to time.
Thurso in north east Scotland Back on the mainland at Thurso in north East Scotland, is five acres with property currently used for B&B. and self catering. Outbuildings include two stables, agricultural shed and byre/garage.
The land lies in two paddocks, one immediately to the rear of the property and the other across the road. Guide price is £250,000 Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway Here there is an eight acre holding with detached bungalow with porch, hallway, kitchen/dining room, lounge, utility room, three bedrooms and bathroom and gardens The outbuildings include three loose boxes and tack room, American style barn incorporating ten stables, manege with rubber surface.
The land adjoins the property comprising mainly level/gently sloping pastureland. Guide price is £245,000.
Lybster in Caithness Twenty acres may be more than enough but at Lybster in Caithness, this croft has a detached bungalow with three bedrooms, family bathroom, inner hall, kitchen, lounge and entrance hall; oil central heating; lawned gardens.
The range of outbuildings include four modern barns. The land is laid to pasture in three main enclosures with a natural water supply. A lot for the money, Guide price is £220,000.
Four acres in the same area is available but with work.
A chance to convert a former mill into a three bedroom house together with pasture paddock adjoining. Guide price is £145,000.
Orkney Other islands off the Scottish coast is Orkney where at a place called Sanday is 17 acres with detached three-bedroom farmhouse together with a versatile range of outbuildings and mainly good grazing pasture.
The property is suitable for any small livestock enterprise. Guide £120,000.
Kilnknowe Farm, Lockerbie With CD Properties based in Cumbria, Kilnknowe Farm, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, is a proper farm of 345 acres with a detached three bedroomed farmhouse, a detached three bedroomed cottage and two separate farm steadings with predominantly modern portal framed farm buildings.
The land is made up of about 284 acres (114.93 hectares) of grassland and about 56 acres (22.66 hectares) of scattered woodlands and amenity areas.
Offers Over : £1,500,000.
At 20 acres how about a diversified residential farm with a three bedroomed farmhouse, two two-bedroomed cottages and a one-bedroom cottage within a courtyard setting, two two-bedroomed chalets with planning permission for a further chalet together with a range of modern agricultural buildings.
A Further 45 acres of permanent pasture is available by separate negotiation. This a lot of property and investment at offers over : £930,000 Down at £450,000 is a smallholding with a five-bedroomed house incorporating a useful cottage annexe plus gardens, agricultural buildings with planning consent for conversion and grazing land extending to approximately 10.55 acres (4.27 hectares) overall.
Parkgate, Dumfries.
Parkgate is a rural village north of the market town of Dumfries and close to the Forest of Ae which provides vast areas of open access woodland which is ideal for riding, cycling and walking.
Easter Parkgate is an excellent family house with business and alternative use potential to include B&B, leisure, holiday letting, equestrian, development or smallholding. Guide Price: £450,000
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