Otterburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE19

A great example of an equipped and substantial upland livestock farm, letting with a traditional farmhouse, a range of traditional and modern agricultural buildings extending to approximately 1,626.39 ac (658.19 ha). Accessible and located within Northumberland’s Rede Valley.

Available as a whole

• Comprising of a four-bedroom farmhouse, a range of traditional and modern agricultural buildings, and land extending to approximately 1,626.39 ac (658.19 ha)

• Available on Farm Business Tenancy (FBT) for an itital term of 10 years from July 2025.

• To be let as a whole by formal tender. Tenders to be submitted no later than 12 noon 16th June 2025.



DESCRIPTION
The Letting of Davyshiel Farm presents an opportunity for a successful applicant to secure a Farm Business Tenancy on a well-established upland livestock farm.

The property is a rare example of a substantial upland farm, the type of which rarely comes to the rental market. The landlord, being the MOD, seeks a tenant who will work within their well established and workable parameters, who in turn is offered an excellent opportunity to take on a well-equipped holding and to establish/expand their own farming enterprise.

Davyshiel Farm comprises of a workable steading with a range of traditional and modern buildings, a sizeable and comfortable four-bedroom farmhouse and approximately 1,626.39 acres (658.19 hectares) of agricultural land: the majority of which lies in a ring fence and comprises of a mix of meadow, pasture and hill ground. The farm is accessible and the land in the main is well served by a network of tarmac roads.

The farm as advertised has carried up to approximately 600 ewes plus followers and 30 suckler cows, with all fodder grown on the farm. The stock has typified the upland stratification system, with hefted Blackface flocks running across the holding. Up until very recently, the land was also grazed by Angus cattle with suckler calves sold throughout the local auction marts.

LOCATION
Davyshiel Farm lies in the Rede Valley and 2.9 miles to the North of Otterburn. The town of Ponteland lies approximately 26 miles to the southeast whilst the town of Hexham is approximately 27 miles to the south.

In terms of connectivity, the A696 and A68 are close to hand and provide excellent road links to the north and south of the country.

Otterburn being the nearest village has an village store, pubs and a primary school.

The local village of Bellingham has a larger array of services, schooling and a doctor’s surgery, whilst Hexham and Ponteland both offer a wider range of shops, amenities and leisure and professional services.

MILITARY TRAINING
The whole farm is within the Defence Training Estate of Otterburn Training Area and partly located within the range danger area, therefore military training will occur throughout the year so access to certain areas will be restricted during training exercises.

VIEWINGS
Due to the nature of the holding as a military training establishment, viewings will take place strictly by appointment via the agents. Any party found viewing without an appointment will not be considered for the tenancy.

The viewing days will be 27th and/or 28th May 2025.
To schedule a viewing and to register your interest, please contact youngsRPS Hexham Mart Office or email harry. or katie.

FARMHOUSE
The farmhouse is built from traditional Northumbrian Stone under a slate roof. It benefits from views both over the farm and the valley beyond.

The farmhouse offers generous and versatile living space throughout. The accommodation briefly comprises of a recently installed and fully fitted kitchen, a breakfast room which is the hub of the farmhouse with a wood burning stove within. Further accommodation on the ground floor includes two larger reception rooms, both of which are south facing and have open fires within. On the first floor, there are four well proportioned bedrooms and a family bathroom.

To the front of the property, there is a lawned garden, whilst to the rear there is ample car parking, with the farm steading further beyond.

The farmhouse is double glazed throughout, it benefits further from an oil-fired central heating system, a private septic tank, mains electric and mains water.

THE STEADING
The Steading is typical of the farm in general. It is ideal for its purpose and the nature of the property, with a useful range of traditional buildings which are ideal for storage, dog kennels, stabling and/or informal animal housing, as well as providing garaging and a workshop.

The primary modern building is steel framed under a sheet roof, with Yorkshire boarding and breeze block sides. It has a central feed passage for cattle and a part concrete floor. It is an excellent example of a sizeable and practical agricultural building. The additional modern building is a pole barn with tin sheet roof and sides and is currently used for storage of feedstocks and machinery. There is an additional timber framed and tin clad building at “Hopehead House” which is an outlying secondary steading.

LAND
The land extends in total to approximately 1,626.39 ac (658.19 ha). The land in general can be broken down as follows, approximately 1,498.66 ac (606.50 ha) of moorland and/or hill grazing, 100.22 ac (40.56 ha) of permanent pasture and 27.50 ac (11.13 ha) or grazing/ mowing land. There is a network of tarmac roads that provides excellent access to much of the farm, in particular the hill and grazing land. There are small areas of woodland across the holding, which although are excluded from the tenancy, do nevertheless provide excellent shelter.
The land ranges from a low of 210m above sea level to a high of 294m and provides a mixture of meadow land, permanent grassland and hill grazing. The benefits of all are well utilised. The differing land and grazing types have been traditionally managed and farmed, providing the ideal basis for any productive upland farm.

The land including the hay meadows have been farmed in accordance with the existing Higher Level Environmental Stewardship scheme. Further details on the scheme are available within the tender pack.

The boundaries of the property are stock proof and comprise of dry-stone walls and post and wire fences. The boundary responsibilities are as per the attached plan.
The land and the property in general is therefore ready to farm from the outset, with all the historic and current investments ready to be capitalised upon immediately.

DIRECTIONS
From Scottish Border/ Carter Bar travel for approximately 12.5 miles southeast along the A68, turn left onto Yatesfield Road signposted Otterburn Camp. From Otterburn travel Northwest along the A696 joining onto the A68 for approximately 3 miles.

Once on Yatesfield Road continue for approximately 0.5 mile, then take a right hand turn signposted Otterburn Camp. Continue along this road for approximately 2.5 miles, the entrance to Otterburn Camp Entrance will be located straight ahead, keep left and follow the farm track leading to Davyshiel Farm.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES
There will be no Basic Payment Scheme entitlements, or any residual delinked payments included within the letting.
The land is currently managed under an Entry Level plus Higher-Level Stewardship agreement until June 2028. The scheme currently generated approximately £40,000 per annum. Please note that the outgoing tenant will finalise the revenue claim by 15th May 2025 and will retain all payments associated with the 2025 claim year. The consequent payment will be apportioned to the incoming tenant from the first day of the tenancy to the end of the scheme year. The ingoing tenant will agree to fully comply with all scheme rules and requirements and will be responsible for any financial breaches arising from their own mismanagement of the scheme rules whilst they are in possession. Further details on the scheme are available with the tender pack.

At the relevant time, the stewardship agreement will be transferred to the ingoing tenant.

DESIGNATIONS
The land at Davyshiel Farm is designated within a Less Favoured Area, with the majority falling under moorland within a severely disadvantaged area and the rest as land within severely disadvantaged area (upland). The property also lies within various Sites of Scientific Interest impact risk zones

SPORTING, MINERAL AND TIMBER RIGHTS
These will all be reserved for the benefit of the Landlord or a third party.

SERVICES
The farmhouse benefits from a private water supply and mains electric, as well as benefiting from an oil-fired central heating system and drainage to a septic tank.

The agricultural buildings are serviced by mains water supply and mains electric. The land is serviced by a natural water supply as well as a private trough supply.

ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICTAES
The farmhouse has currently got an Energy Performance Rating of F.

COUNCIL TAX BAND
The farmhouse has a Council Tax Band of D. The Local Authority is Northumberland County Council.

INGOING/HOLDOVER
The successful tenant will be required to purchase the hefted sheep flock at a valuation to be agreed between the ingoing tenant and the outgoing tenant. There will also be approximately 175 bales of 2024 silage available to purchase, again the values are to be agreed between the ingoing and outgoing tenant.

The outgoing tenant reserves the right to hold a farm sale on the property. The date is to be confirmed, but it will be after 15th July 2025 and as soon as possible thereafter. The intention is that the date will coincide with the crop being taken off the meadow land in front of the house.

EASEMENTS, WAYLEAVES AND THIRD-PARTY RIGHTS
The holding is let subject to and with the benefit of all rights of water, drainage, water courses, light and other easements, quasi or reputed easements and rights of adjoining owners (if any) affecting the same and all matters registerable to any competent authority pursuant or statute.

AREAS
The areas and measurements stated have been assessed in accordance with OS data and digital mapping. Interested parties should though satisfy themselves in this regard.

TENANCY AGREEMENT
The successful applicant will be required to enter a Farm Business Tenancy as provided by the Ministry of Defence. The intention is that the farm will be available from 1st July 2025. The tenancy start date to be agreed between the Landlord and Tenant. The principal terms of the FBT will be as follows:
1. Term – 10 years with a break clause every three years.
2. Rent – Payable half yearly in advance on 10th May and 11th November with initial pro rata payment to cover period from the start of the tenancy to 10th November. The rent will be reviewed every three years.
3. Residency - The Tenant will be required to reside in the Farmhouse.
4. Repairs – The Landlord will be responsible for the building structure including the roof, water supply to the buildings and electrics to the distribution board. The Tenant will be responsible for all other repairs/maintenance.
5. Insurance – The Landlord will insure the buildings and fixtures, but the Tenant will be responsible for all other insurances.

TENDERS
Applicants intending to make an offer are advised to inspect he property thoroughly and to take all relevant factors into account before submitting a formal offer. Access to the farmhouse on the viewing day may be limited as the property is currently occupied. Tender Form available upon request.

Tenders should be submitted by no later than 12 noon on 16th June 2025 and should be emailed to harry. or katie.

Alternatively, tenders can be sent in an envelope marked:
“Davyshiel Farm – Private and Confidential” addressed to:
youngsRPS
Priestpopple
Hexham
Northumberland
NE46 1PS

Interviews for prospective applicants will be held at Otterburn Training Camp and applicants are forewarned that interviews will be scheduled for the week commencing. 23rd June 2025.

The MOD reserves the right not to accept the highest or indeed any of the tenders submitted. Tenders submitted on an escalating basis will not be considered.

INFORMATION PACK
A more detailed Information Pack containing further plans, schedules, a draft Tenancy Agreement and a Tender Form will be available to potential applicants upon request

ANTI MONEY LAUNDERING REGULATIONS
The successful applicant will be required to provide proof of identification to comply with Money Laundering Regulations in the form of a copy of the Purchasers’ passport, together with a copy of the Purchasers’ driving licence or a recent utility bill as proof of residence.
A more detailed Information Pack containing further plans, schedules, a draft Tenancy Agreement and a Tender Form will be available to potential applicants upon request.

WHAT3WORDS
Unwraps.briefing.pedicure

Particulars prepared: April 2025
Photographs taken: April 2025