Shotton Farm, Mindrum, Cornhill on Tweed, TD12

AGRICULTURAL INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

Fully equipped mixed farm beautifully located in the Bowmont Valley and let on a Farm Business Tenancy terminable as at 11 November 2044.

836.28 acres (338.43 hectares) or thereabouts in total.

For sale by Private Treaty as a whole and subject to Lease.

SHOTTON HOUSE
Grade II Listed - three reception rooms, five bedrooms.

THREE FARM COTTAGES (one in-hand)

FARM STEADING
With modern range of mainly livestock buildings.

LAND
377.4 acres arable and temporary grass, 245.0 acres permanent grass, 104.8 acres hill and rough grazing.

WOODLAND (in-hand)
98.7 acres.

SPORTING RIGHTS (in-hand)
With scope to develop a quality driven shoot.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Situation
Shotton Farm is located in the picturesque Bowmont Valley in the foothills of the Cheviots within an excellent mixed farming area devoted principally to livestock.

The farm is bordered on its west side by the Bowmont Water, an indirect tributary of the Tweed, and on its south west side by the border with Scotland. The eastern two thirds of the farm lies within the Northumberland National Park.

Shotton enjoys considerable privacy but is very accessible. A minor unclassified public road runs through the farm and connects to the A697 and A698 at Cornhill on Tweed (7 miles) and these in turn provide direct access to Newcastle and Edinburgh, both of which have international airports. Additionally, there is a mainline railway station on the east coast route at Berwick upon Tweed (19 miles) with direct connections to Edinburgh (45 minutes), Newcastle (45 minutes) and London (3¾ hours). Cornhill, together with the local villages of Kirk Yetholm and Town Yetholm, provide good local facilities, whilst the larger centres of Kelso and Berwick upon Tweed offer all the services normally associated with thriving market towns.

More generally, North Northumberland and the Scottish Borders has a rich and colourful history. It remains an area of low population and remarkably unspoilt and one which offers wonderful scenery, excellent leisure and sporting opportunities and a first class quality of life.

Directions
Drive to the centre of the village of Cornhill and, at approximately the mid-point between the hotel and the roundabout, take the minor road which is signed to Learmouth and Mindrum. Stay on that road for 4 miles before turning left at the Mindrum Mill crossroads and, after a further 400 metres, turn right following the sign to Pawston and Shotton. After ¾ mile turn right at the sign to Yetholm reaching Shotton after a further 2 miles.

From Wooler take the A697. After 2¾ miles turn left on to the B6351 (signed to Kirknewton and Yetholm). Follow that road, keeping on the south side of the Bowmont Water, for 9 miles to Shotton.

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General Description
Shotton is a lovely mixed farm with a well presented principal house, a productive farming enterprise and significant sporting potential. The farm is well shaped and lies within a single ring fence divided only by the minor public road which runs through it.

It's sale offers an interesting investment opportunity with the prospect of vacant possession in 2044. No 1 Cottage, the woodland and sporting rights are all in-hand.

The land lies between the 85 metre and 280 metre contours and is classified as grades 3, 4 and 5 under the Ministry Land Classification Plan.

The lower lying fields to the west of the road are devoted principally to arable cropping and here soils mainly comprise free draining sandy-medium loams (Wick Association). There is a flood bank running down the west side adjacent to the Bowmont.

The central third of the farm immediately to the east of the road is relatively steep in comparison to the higher ground which is easier worked. Although some of the land to the east of the road is in arable rotation, the majority comprises permanent grass or hill, much of which has been improved. Soils vary but generally comprise relatively free draining mineral soils (Malvern Association) of medium consistency, frequently with significant stone content, and with, on the higher ground, areas of peat admix running to pockets of pure peat.

A number of internal hard tracks, together with the public road itself, enable direct access to most fields. Field drainage is generally good. There is a limited field trough system and much of the land is reliant on natural water.

Shotton is farmed by the Tenant, Mr Harvey, in conjunction with other land. The Harveys have occupied Shotton since 1966. Approximately 200 acres are cropped annually and the farm carries roughly 700 mainly mule ewes with all lambs sold fat and 100 suckler cows with most of the progeny sold store at 12-14 months. Some of the livestock is summered elsewhere.

The farm steading provides good modern cover, principally for livestock.

Shotton House is a handsome traditional family house dating from 1829. It is situated approximately 80 metres from the public road and a short distance to the east of the farm buildings and commands good open views to all aspects.

Nos 1-4 Cottages form an open sided courtyard style complex some 175 metres to the south west of the farmhouse. No 4 Cottage is owned by Mr Harvey. No 1 Cottage is in hand.

The farm woodland combined with the natural topography provides the scope to develop an interesting driven shoot.

Woodland
The woodland extends to approximately 98.7 acres, all of which is located above the road. The main plantation (55 acres - compartment 48) was felled approximately 17 years ago and has been partially replanted with mixed amenity hardwoods and some sitka together with natural regeneration. It provides excellent natural habitat and sporting utility. Compartments 32 and 40a comprise good stands of mature sitka now ready for harvesting whilst compartments 35, 40b and 43 are decent young to medium aged mixed broadleaf woodlands. Most of compartment 27 is unplanted.

There are no Grant Schemes in place and no Forestry Authority involvement. It is thought that there is scope for some further planting if required.

Sporting
The shooting is currently let to the farm tenant on an annual basis and is terminable at the end of each season. The land above the road offers the potential to develop a high quality driven shoot.

The Bowmont Water has a run of migratory fish and an indigenous brown trout population.

The farm also offers excellent stalking and has a good stock of roe deer.

The Tenancy Agreement
The farm is let by virtue of a Farm Business Tenancy Agreement dated 28 November 2003 and is terminable, subject to notice, on 11 November 2044.

The rent is reviewable in accordance with the 1986 Act. It was last reviewed in November 2023.

The Landlord is responsible for repairing main walls, roofs and main timbers together with most of the woodland fences and for paying the property insurance premium.

There are standard reservations on behalf of the landlord to include sporting, woodland and minerals.

Rights, Easements and Outgoings
The property is sold subject to and with the benefit of all rights of way, whether public or private, and any existing or proposed wayleaves, easements, servitude rights, restrictions and burdens of whatever kind, whether referred to in these particulars or not. The Purchasers will be held to have satisfied themselves on all such matters.

Lotting and Method of Sale
The property is offered for sale as a whole by private treaty and subject to the Farm Business Tenancy Agreement in favour of Mr I Harvey.

A closing date for offers may be fixed and interested parties are advised to register their interest with the Selling Agents.

The Vendors shall not be bound to accept the highest or indeed any offer.

Offers
Offers in writing should be submitted to the Selling Agents.

Viewing
Strictly by appointment with the Selling Agents.

Council Tax Band: G (Northumberland County Council)
Tenure: Freehold