Shedpark and Blackpark, Whauphill, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire, DG8

A versatile farm with woodland, sporting and environmental appeal

Description

Barrachan Estate has been in the same family’s ownership since 1948. Shedpark House was redeveloped between 2014 and 2017 creating a welcoming three bedroom dwelling and a detached self-contained bothy with a further two bedrooms and a bathroom. There is also a wood store and a workshop, adjoining the bothy.

Sitting centrally to the land are the traditional farm buildings at Blackpark, and towards the western boundary is a further derelict cottage and steading known as Backmoor.

The land is predominately permanent pasture interspersed with ancient woodlands, wetlands, and a recently established native plantation on the northwestern boundary with open areas and a half-acre pond (approximately). Shedpark House has served as a holiday residence for the family while the farmland has been leased seasonally to local farmers. Over many years, the family has reared pheasants and engaged in rough shooting over Barrachan; the landscape and vegetation are well-suited to this activity and to birdwatching and foraging. Traditional farming practices have been maintained with minimal use of chemicals to preserve biodiversity. There is a wide range of habitats sustaining a remarkable variety of wildlife.

Clear traces of historic Wigtownshire remain on the land with several ancient crofting sites of archaeological interest. These include ruined homesteads, horse engines and field patterns marked by drystone dykes from the early 1800s.

The original dwelling at Shedpark is thought to date back to at least 1839 and is of traditional stone and slate construction. This building was refurbished and extended between 2014 and 2017 with accommodation presented on the ground floor. The main entrance accesses the porch area where there are shelves for pantry storage and an internal door leading in to the dining kitchen. This forms part of the original dwelling and as part of the refurbishment has been redeveloped to a modern standard with underfloor heating and insulation, finished with traditional lime plaster to the walls. The modern fitted kitchen with floor and wall units is situated at one end, allowing room for a large dining table and a seating area with woodburning stove at the other. An internal hallway provides access to a family bathroom, a bedroom and the sitting room. The sitting room benefits from dual aspect windows framing the surrounding countryside and offering views to the Galloway hills. A woodburning stove provides a focal point, complemented by recessed, joiner-made bookshelves. A second hallway features a further external door, and also provides access to the principal bedroom which features a large window with views to the north towards Cairnsmore and the Merrick. The hallway also accesses a shower room, utility room and a third bedroom. The house benefits from tile flooring throughout.

Shedpark is enclosed by a ringfenced garden with a gravel driveway providing car parking space for a number of vehicles. The house is surrounded by lawned areas with a range of shrubs, bushes and fruit trees. Adjacent to the house is a stone and slate barn (used as a log store) in addition to the detached Bothy, which includes two bedrooms, a shower room and a separately accessed workshop.

Located in the centre of the farm is a small range of traditional stone / brick buildings with slate and corrugated iron sheet roofs. One of the buildings would have originally been Blackpark Cottage but all three buildings are currently utilised for general storage and create a central point on the farm for cattle and sheep handling. There is potential to develop the cottage back into residential use subject to obtaining the necessary consents. Similarly, the traditional buildings could be converted into attractive artisan workshops.

The land extends to about 92.10 hectares (227.58 acres) in total (including the woodlands, roads, hedges, buildings etc), comprising 12 enclosures within a ring fenced block rising from 63 metres to 82 metres above sea level. The land is generally undulating and classified predominantly as class 5(1), with a small parcel of 3(2) adjacent to Barrachan Hill and 4(1) at Backmoor, on the James Hutton Institute Land Capability for Agriculture scale. The land is enclosed by post and wire fencing, hedges or stone dykes and is watered from natural sources and mains water to troughs within some enclosures. The fields are accessed from the farm track which runs from the public road towards Backmoor and also provides access to neighbouring Glenmein farm (not owned).

Our clients applied for a Forestry Grant in 2021 to assist with the creation of Backmoor Woodland which extends to 6.43 hectares (15.89 acres) and was planted in 2022 with a mixture of native broadleaves, Scots pine and shrubs. This complements the other areas of woodland, also predominantly native species, which create amenity and shelter to the farm. Of particular note is the ancient woodland known as Meadowpark Plantation, adjacent to Blackpark. This contains the clear remains of two crofts and their policies which existed before the woodland. One is called Primrose Croft. In spring, they are carpeted with primroses and then bluebells. The area is a rich, natural conservation area and one of several accessible and sustainable sources of firewood on the estate.

Location

Shedpark, Blackpark and Backmoor were formerly part of what historically was Barrachan Estate, situated on the Machars peninsula in Dumfries and Galloway, southwest Scotland. The property is located about 5 miles inland from Port William, a seaside village with a harbour, local shop, playgroup and primary school.

Wigtown, Scotland’s National Book Town, is about 6 miles from the property and boasts more than a dozen bookshops along with an annual book festival taking place every autumn. The town also provides a small supermarket, playparks, bowling green, golf club, numerous community facilities, cafes and restaurants as well as nursery and primary schooling.

Newton Stewart is the largest town in the area, located about 13 miles to the north by road, where there is secondary schooling, leisure and sports facilities and a wider range of business services, supermarkets and shops. The town also serves as the gateway to explore the Galloway Forest Park which covers a vast and sparsely populated landscape stretching to the north and east and is one of only a handful of parks in the western world to have official Dark Sky status. There is a visitor centre at Kirroughtree where one of the world class 7stanes mountain bike destinations is located, featuring a variety of green, blue and red graded trails for mountain biking or walking.

Wigtownshire is a genuinely rural area of Scotland, well known for dairy and livestock farming with rolling landscapes, extensive woodlands and an unspoilt coastline. Country sports in the area include fishing on the nearby rivers Bladnoch and Cree, as well as pheasant and partridge shooting on surrounding estates. The quiet country roads are popular with walkers and cyclists, and there are local golf courses at Monreith, Wigtown and Newton Stewart. Cairnsmore of Carsphairn and the Merrick provide two challenging climbs for hiking enthusiasts whilst the Southern Upland Way runs 214 miles from Portpatrick on the west coast to Cocksburnpath on the eastern coast of Scotland. The coastline offers excellent sailing and sea fishing, with safe anchorages at Port William, Garlieston and the Isle of Whithorn. There are livestock markets at Newton Stewart, Castle Douglas (35 miles), Ayr (47 miles), Dumfries and Carlisle (86 miles).

The nearest railway stations are in Stranraer (27 miles), Barrhill (30 miles) and Dumfries. The A75 can be accessed at Newton Stewart, linking to the M74 (about 84 miles) to the east. The nearest international airports are at Prestwick (about 71 miles) and Glasgow (about 103 miles). Cairnryan lies about 30 miles to the west and is the main ferry terminal for Northern Ireland with services to both Larne and Belfast.




Acreage: 227.58 Acres

Directions

From the A75, follow signs to Newton Stewart. At the Newton Stewart roundabout, exit the A75 onto the A714 towards Wigtown on the A714. After about 6 miles take the right hand fork, signposted for Port William, on to the B7085. Once through the village of Bladnoch and over the Bladnoch Bridge you take the next right hand junction on to the B7005. After 3 miles take the junction on the left hand side for the B7052 then a right hand junction after half a mile signposted for Mochrum and Port William. The entrance to Shedpark is approximately 1.5 miles on the right hand side. The postcode is DG8 9NG. what3words: ///blossom.fault.trappings (to Shedpark driveway)

Additional Info

Viewing - Strictly by appointment with Savills. Given the potential hazards of a farm, we request you take care when viewing the property.

Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) - The farm is registered for BPS, however for the avoidance of doubt there are no Basic Payment Entitlements available as part of the sale.

Less Favoured Area Status Scheme (LFASS) - The farm has wholly LFA status.

Services - Mains water and electricity, septic tank and oil fired central heating.

Mineral and Timber Rights - In so far as they are owned, the mineral rights are included in the sale. All standing and fallen timber is included in the sale.

Servitude Rights, Burdens, Wayleaves And Statutory Public And Other Access Rights - 1. The property is sold subject to and with the benefit of all servitude and wayleave rights, including rights of access and rights of way, whether public or private. The property is also sold subject to the rights of public access under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. The purchaser will be held to have satisfied themselves as to the nature of all such servitude rights and others. 2. The neighbouring property, Gledmein, is accessed via the track past Shedpark with appropriate rights of access and maintenance on a user basis.