Navidale, Helmsdale, Sutherland

Lot 2 – Navidale Beach Farm extending to approximately 278.62acres (112.75 Ha)

Navidale Beach Farm has approximately 278 Acres with over 1.6 miles of Jurassic coastline containing several named bays and beaches, including 3 waterfalls. The farmland comprises a mix of ploughable and pastureland together with rough grazings and extensive woodlands and shoreline.

Planning permission has been granted to open a new farm entrance directly from the A9 public to the farm steading. The new farm entrance is known as Seaweed Road and has been used for centuries to transport seaweed from the beaches to fertilise the fields.

This coastal stretch of land has a vast and un-investigated archaeology. The Glasgow University excavated on site at the Ord and produced the map on the following indicating sites worth excavating.

Farm Buildings:
There is a range of buildings located to the north of Lot 1, the house and cottage.

Cattle court / general purpose building (32.5m x 11.7m) of steel portal frame construction under a corrugated roof and with concrete base. Sides enclosed by reinforced concrete panels with timber slat above. The front elevation is open and equipped with a feed barrier and trough.

Straw shed (21.1m x 5.9m) of steel frame construction with a hardcore base and corrugated cladding. Sheep shed (22.4m x 8.8m) of timber frame construction under a corrugated roof. Sides enclosed with timber slats and cladding.

The traditional buildings are of stone construction under either a slate or corrugated roof. Extending to approximately 223sq.m in total, they include a series of useful stores, a workshop and the southwestern range houses stabling for three horses in loose boxes with concrete floors. They feature fine architectural details including crow stepped gable ends and arched cart bays and are arranged around a courtyard with a timber framed sheep shed in the middle (14.6m x 9.6m).

Navidale is situated on either side of the main Inverness to John O Groats Road (A9) immediately to the north if Helmsdale. It occupies a superb sheltered position occupying the land from the seacoast up to and beyond the visible ridgelines.

Sutherland is one of Scotland s most beautiful counties with spectacular landscapes ranging from the rugged coastline to wild moorland and mountains

As well as its own sport Navidale is well placed for sport and recreation. The Helmsdale, one of the most renowned and most prolific rivers in the world for producing Atlantic salmon, lies a short distance to the south of the farm. Rods can be taken on the town water and by arrangement from estates adjoining the river. Grouse shooting, red deer stalking and driven pheasant shooting can all be taken on nearby estates. The area also has appeal for the golfer with links courses including the Royal Dornoch championship golf course (28 miles), Royal Dornoch Struie, Golspie, Brora and Helmsdale (9 holes) itself.

The most expansive and best example of blanket bog in the world, the Flow Country in the far north of Scotland has joined the Serengeti, the Galapagos Islands and the Great Barrier Reef in securing prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site status for its globally important nature.

This is a global first, as the Flow Country is the only World Heritage Site inscribed specifically for its peatlands.

The 4,000 sq. km area is home to a hugely complex and fragile ecosystem with a vast array of plants that act as an important defence against climate change. The carbon stored by a 9,000-year accumulation of dead vegetation in the form of peat acts as a carbon sink. This sequesters (traps)and stores carbon, preventing it being released into the atmosphere, helping to prevent further emissions. It is also an internationally important place for wildlife, including upland breeding birds like red-throated diver, golden plover and greenshank.

World Heritage Site status is predicted to help realise a wide range of environmental, social, cultural and economic benefits for the north of Scotland including the creation of skills and job opportunities in landscape restoration and conservation, growth in sustainable tourism and hospitality, and the potential of added value to new green finance models to attract global investment to the area.

Helmsdale is a delightful Highland town which was developed as a fishing port in the nineteenth century by the Duke of Sutherland. The planned village, which was started in 1814, remains intact and by 1819, 204 fishing boats were based in the harbour. Today only a few boats operate from the harbour however Helmsdale remains a most attractive town with good local shops and facilities.

The A9 gives fast access by car to Inverness and its busy airport where flights are available daily to London’s Gatwick, Heathrow and Luton airports, Bristol Airport, Manchester airport. Wick Airport is 30 miles to the north with regional flights. For those wishing to travel at a slower pace there is a railway station in Helmsdale with regular services to Inverness, Thurso and Wick.