Blaithwaite Estate, Wigton, Cumbria, CA7

Superb diversified Country Estate with significant further potential.

Description

Blaithwaite Estate centres around a wonderful late 19th Century principal House set in beautiful gardens and parkland. There is a significant range of ancillary buildings, which have been converted to create additional accommodation and event spaces. The property is now run as a diversified leisure business which also incorporates a substantial touring caravan site as well as consented and part developed lodge park and ancillary woodlands. The property also benefits from a positive pre-planning application to significantly increase the lodge park provisions, to almost 100 units.

Blaithwaite House
This substantial historic property sits in the centre of the Estate and has been the focal point for many generations of the owners and family. The property was predominantly constructed in the late 19th and early 20th Century and now provides extensive accommodation for visitors. The property retains many wonderful period features such as ornate coving, cast iron and marble fireplaces, oak paneling, and exposed beams. The rooms are well-proportioned and provide grand entertaining spaces. The accommodation briefly comprises formal entrance hall, drawing room, dining room, study and breakfast room. There are commercial standard kitchens, reception/office area and staff kitchens. The first floor extends to 13 bedrooms in all, of which all are en-suites (one excepted). The property sits at the entrance to a wonderful traditional courtyard and to the front elevation is a terraced area, walled garden and lawn area which falls away to a water feature with Grade II Listed stone gazebo / folly. This area is flanked by specimen trees and herbaceous borders. The area by the lake has a gravel seating area and is fully licensed for weddings.

The Stables
This complex of buildings sits behind the principal house and across the historic cobble courtyard. It comprises a well thought out conversion of the former stable block, part of which has a second floor. This provides a further 8 bedrooms of which 7 are en-suite and two have been designed to provide disabled access rooms.

Blaithwaite Barn and Conservatory
Adjacent to the stables and courtyard is a large traditional stone barn which provides an entertainment space. This is a fantastic venue to hold events, parties, weddings and other celebrations which can be booked together with the ancillary accommodation. There is also a commercial kitchen which has enabled the owners to use the space as a restaurant and café. Beyond the building is a wonderful garden room/conservatory with steps to a sun terrace and orchard garden area with a small mini golf course.

Ellrigg
This large traditional barn has been converted to provide dormitory style accommodation space to be utilised by school parties, other children’s organisations and large groups. The ground floor is given over to a large lounge space and entrance hall with two dormitories providing bunk-bed style accommodation for circa 52 potential visitors. Both dormitories also have separate facilities with showers and a range of WCs for the guests. The first floor of the property is an outstanding open space, this comprises a commercial style kitchen and counter arrangement, together with a wider open space and lounge area.

The Coach House
This property is currently occupied by the owners and their family, sitting slightly off-lying from the main courtyard of the property. It has been converted to provide six bedrooms (one ensuite) and ground floor living space which includes a wonderful extension, complete with bifold doors to the garden area. The open plan kitchen with AGA leads into the dining living space. This property has a private garden area with panoramic views over the Solway Firth and should it not be required for an owner, would provide an excellent additional accommodation space to the wider business.

Lodge and Caravan Park
The wider grassland and surrounding areas of the property have been integrated into the wider leisure business operated at Blaithwaite. Permission has been granted for 9 lodges on the estate with 12 month use, with 4 sited and hired at present. This includes two bespoke designed two bedroom lodges, which sit to the west of the property and provide accommodation space adjacent to a large open field with hardcore track which provides camping space. There are a series of bespoke built en-suite WC and shower rooms which service guests staying in the touring caravan and campsite area, as well as a play park area.

Further development
Overall the properties and business are a quite unique proposition, being diversified with accommodation and complimentary events space as well as the ability to host large events. The property has significant space for camping and caravanning yet there are further options to refine and develop the business. Pre-planning application advice has been sought from the Local Authority. This focused on the amendment of the current site provisions, increasing lodges by 37 and reducing the number of touring and camping pitches. The advice also extended to a further development of an additional 55 lodges. Both would be looked upon favourably (subject to formal planning consent). The second phase of development would involve 73 further pitches and was again positive with appropriate phasing and impact assessment.

Location

The Blaithwaite Estate is situated in the heart of the Cumbrian countryside on the fringe of the Lake District, west of the market town of Wigton. The Estate is set in rolling countryside and centred around the historic Blaithwaite House, which sits in an elevated, yet sheltered position, set back from the road and accessed via private tree lined drive.

The property has magnificent uninterrupted views over the surrounding farmland and towards the Solway Firth. The immediate surroundings comprise traditional livestock farms and undulating grassland, interspersed with attractive woodlands and framed to the south by the spectacular Lake District Fells.

There are good transport connections, with Carlisle only 16 miles away via the A595 and A596 where you can access the M6 motorway and the West Coast mainline. There are regular train services to London Euston taking approximately 3.5 hours.




Acreage: 53.57 Acres

Directions

Post Code - CA7 0AZ

Additional Info

Woodlands - To the south of the property, accessed via a hardcore drive, are various woodlands, providing further amenity space and woodland walks for visitors. The woodlands are predominantly mature and have been well managed and provide an excellent recreational and events base, adding to the synergy of the wider business. These could be further developed with a woodland lodge scheme (subject to consents). Notwithstanding the recreation and leisure opportunities, the woodlands have commercial potential, with substantial stands of quality timber and carbon sequestration possibilities. The species mix is a mixture of coniferous and deciduous native trees.

Additional Land - The adjacent farmland shaded grey on the sale plan may be available by separate negotiation. This comprises grassland subject to short term tenancy agreements, which could form additional land for the expansion of the leisure business and accommodation at the property (subject to consents).

Tenure - The freehold is offered for sale with vacant possession on completion, subject to advance bookings taken.

Rights of Way, Easements & Wayleaves - The property is sold subject to, and with the benefit of all existing wayleaves, easements and rights of way, public and private whether specifically mentioned or not. There are private rights reserved over third-party land, similarly rights are reserved over the Estate for access and services to the benefit of third party land. A public footpath and local electricity line cross the land.

Fixtures and Fittings - All items normally designated as fixtures and fittings including curtains, carpets and light fittings are specifically excluded from the sale. Furnishing and chattels many be available by separate negotiation.

Services - Mains electricity, mains water, private drainage systems and Biomass district heating system.

Renewables - The biomass district heating system is centrally located and serves most parts of the property. This scheme is also registered for the renewable heat incentive, which provides a useful income.

Designations - Blaithwaite House – Grade II Listed – UID: 1212800. Stable block, Dovecote and former barn south of Blaithwaite House - Grade II Listed - UID: 1144582. Gazebo north of Blaithwaite House – Grade II Listed - UID: 1327181 North Park Wood is designated Ancient and Semi Natural Woodland.

Employees - The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (as amended by the Collective Redundancies and Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2014) may apply to employees working on the Estate.

Subsidies & Grants - The woodland is registered with the Rural Land Registry and are subject to English Woodland Grant Schemes.

Sporting Rights - The sporting rights are in hand and included in the sale insofar as they are owned.

Mineral Rights - The mines and minerals are reserved to a third party.

VAT - We are not aware of an option to tax being taken.

Business Rates - Blaithwaite House as a collective business unit has a rateable value of £38,000.

Method of sale and lotting - The Estate is offered for sale as a whole, additional land may be available by separate negotiation.

Viewing - Strictly by appointment through the sole selling agents Savills.