Barmeal Smallholding, Whithorn, Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway, South West Scotland, DG8

LOT 1: BARMEAL SMALLHOLDING

DESCRIPTION
Barmeal Smallholding comprises Barmeal Farmhouse and steading, set within 21.91 acres of land and aided by the inclusion of a wind turbine and solar panels.

Barmeal Smallholding is being sold as Lot 1. Also available is Lot 2 (191.84 acres of bare land) and the Whole, Barmeal Farm (213.75 acres Lot 1 & 2 together).


Barmeal Farmhouse
Barmeal Farm Farmhouse is a traditional stone built farmhouse under a slated roof enjoying a southerly aspect. The original farmhouse pre-dates 1788, and the building has been extended and improved over the years to create a comfortable spacious family home. The front porch opens through to a boot room with wall mounted floor units and worktop, ideal additional storage space for outdoor coats and boots. The traditional breakfast farmhouse kitchen provides a sociable yet functional space. Well equipped for cooking with Rayburn Cooker, five ring Miele gas hob and a Neff fan oven and grill, also benefiting from an integrated dishwasher, fridge and freezer have all been installed above floor height for ease of use. The worktop and sink are Corian, smooth and non-porous and very hard wearing. The living room is the heart of the property with a warm and welcoming multi-fuel stove, high wood panelled ceiling and doors opening to the hall on either side and to the adjacent study. The study provides views across the fields, providing the perfect ‘working from home’ space. The sitting room is a spacious double aspect room, with a multi-fuel stove, and a formal dining room provides a further reception room, ideal for entertaining extended family & guests. The master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom and walk in wardrobe which continues through to a utility room with a washing machine, tumble dryer, fridge and a wc. Wooden steps lead up to an office above the utility room with a Velux window and shelving for storage. Bedroom 2 is accessed by the main staircase to the first floor where there are also two walk in wardrobes and a family bathroom. Barmeal Farmhouse has gas central heating and the Rayburn heats the hot water via a Dunsley equaliser. Electricity costs are off-set by the solar panels and wind turbine, and excess energy generated is sent to the grid providing a small annual return.

The accommodation over two floors comprises:
Ground Floor: Porch, Boot Room, Kitchen, Living Room, Study, Dining Room, Master Bedroom, Bathroom, Walk in Wardrobe, Utility Room, Bedroom 3, Shower Room, Sitting Room.

First Floor: Bedroom 2, Bathroom, 2 x Walk in Wardrobe. Office.

Garden
The garden behind Barmeal Farmhouse is very private, mainly laid to lawn with rockeries, patio and access to the neighbouring field. The garden continues round the side of the house, where there is a second patio, and the gas tank for the central heating nestles in behind the garage. Directly across from the farmhouse there is an orchard with a potting shed, raised beds and a greenhouse.

Outbuildings
Barmeal Farm has a range of buildings including a traditional stone built U-shaped steading which has been maintained well. There is potential to convert the buildings into one or more residential properties subject to the necessary consents. Please see particulars for further detail.

The Land
The land at Barmeal Smallholding extends to approximately 21.91 acres (8.87 ha). The land is principally classified as Grade 5.1 and 5.2 by the James Hutton Institute. Across the whole farm (Lot 1 & 2), there are troughs in six of the fields nearest the farmhouse, with the fields to the north supplied by natural sources. Additionally, there is one trough serving the farm steading, another beside the field shelter, and another at Bruce’s Broch which is part of the garden. There are at least three other water points where troughs have been removed, but could be reconnected if required. The fields are enclosed with a mixture of dry stone dykes and electric fencing. The land has been let out in recent years on summer and winter grazing agreements and has supported cattle and sheep grazing on the holding, but the land would also support horse grazing. There is scope to add modern agricultural sheds subject to the appropriate permitted development right approvals. There are small areas of woodland throughout the farm which provide shelter to grazing livestock.

Renewables
The farm benefits from having both solar panels and a wind turbine. The Proven 6kW wind turbine is located in field 2 and the solar panels are located closer to the farmhouse in field 7. Fields 2 & 7 are part of Lot 2 and are not included in Lot 1 - Barmeal Smallholding. A servitude right of access would be granted for the purchasers of Lot 1 to access the renewables. The wind turbine was installed in May 2008, with the solar panels following in 2010. They have been maintained well with the wind turbine recently serviced in March 2024. They both supply the holding with electricity, with surplus going to the grid where the proprietor receives payment on a deemed 50% of amount generated. They are on a rolling contract with the current energy company.


SITUATION
Barmeal is situated less than two miles from Monreith, a small coastal village in the Machars area of Wigtownshire. Monreith has a nine hole golf course, St Medan, and the nearby harbour villages of Port William, the Isle of Whithorn and the Royal Borough of Whithorn have a number of local amenities. Whithorn and Port William have primary schools, village shops and GP’s surgeries. The Isle of Whithorn has a hotel, restaurant and community run St Ninian’s Hall which has a shop, function room, conference room, cinema and tearoom, where you can relax and watch both fishing boats and leisure boats sail in and out of the harbour. The nearest town is Newton Stewart which is known as the Gateway to the Galloway Hills. It has a number of primary schools, the Douglas Ewart High School, a museum, leisure centre, three supermarkets, a post office which offers all postal and banking services, a cinema, and a wide range of shops, offices, businesses, hotels and restaurants. The area is well known for outdoor pursuits and sports. Kirroughtree Visitor Centre is situated approximately 4 miles from Newton Stewart and is part of the Seven Stanes range of mountain biking trails. Fishing, shooting, golf and equestrian facilities are all readily available throughout the area. Trains to Ayr and Glasgow are available at Stranraer, about 27 miles from Barmeal Farm, and ferries to Northern Ireland sail from nearby Cairnryan. Trains also run from the regional centre of Dumfries, 67 miles to the east. Domestic and international flights are available at Prestwick Airport, 70 miles north, and Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports, 103 and 137 miles respectively. Motorway links and trains are available at Lockerbie, 62 miles east, and Kilmarnock, 77 miles north.

EPC Rating = E