Bemersyde Farm, Melrose, Scottish Borders

Assignation of secure Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1991 tenancy - Available to those who qualify as a New Entrant or Progressing Farmer.

5 bed detached farmhouse | Farm steading with a range of traditional and modern buildings | 3 cottages (2 with permission to sub-let) | Extending to approx. 197.49Ha (488 acres) of arable and permanent pasture | Annual Rent £35,000


General Information
Bemersyde West End & Bemersyde East End Farms, known locally as simply Bemersyde Farm, has been farmed by the tenant’s family for over 60 years. The current tenant has decided to retire and has undertaken the formal Tenancy Relinquishment process. A Notice of Declinature to the process has been served by the landlord therefore allowing the Assignation of the tenancy to those who classify as a New Entrant or Progressive farmer. The assignation of the lease of Bemersyde Farm offers a unique opportunity to take on a secure heritable tenancy.


Situation
Bemersyde Farm lies in the hamlet of Bemersyde within the historic county of Berwickshire located in the Scottish Borders. This tranquil location enjoys rolling countryside and beautiful views towards the Eildon Hills. The farm is found approx. 4 miles north of St. Boswells, 6 miles east of the town of Melrose and 10 miles west of Kelso with these towns offering a wide range of services, facilities and amenities.

The A68 trunk road, 2½ miles, provides easy access to the City of Edinburgh, 38 miles. The nearby A699 also provides easy access east and west to Kelso and Selkirk. Train links to Edinburgh are available at nearby Tweedbank station.


Land
Bemersyde Farm is a mixed cattle and arable farm extending to approx. 197.49Ha (488 acres) with farmhouse, cottages, steading and land divided into good size field parcels of manageable area with good access.

Traditionally the farm operated as a mixed holding carrying approx. 80 suckler cows plus followers with a rotation of arable and grass.

The land is predominantly Grade 3.1 (National Land Capability for Agriculture) and the majority of the farm is described as Brown soils with some Aluvial and Mineral gley soils. The farm is located within an NVZ area and an SSSI adjoins the eastern boundary.


Bemersyde Farmhouse
The farmhouse is a detached stone, with render finish, under slate property located next to the farm steading which briefly comprises a hallway, sitting room, dining room, cloakroom with shower room off, kitchen with Aga, larder, back porch and office to the ground floor. The first floor has a landing leading to five bedrooms and family bathroom. All windows are wood framed and single glazed and heating is by way of wood pellet biomass boiler and open fireplaces to the ground floor rooms. A front porch leads to an enclosed garden predominantly laid to lawn with a stone drive to the front of the house and a garage. The farmhouse could benefit from some modernisation. The current EPC rating is F and the Council Tax Band is E.


The Smithy
A detached 2/3-bedroom stone under slate cottage with single glazed windows. The accommodation briefly comprises hallway, sitting room with wood burner, kitchen with sunroom off and office/downstairs bedroom to the ground floor and a landing, two bedrooms and family bathroom to the first floor. Externally there is an attached garage and a garden to the side and rear. The current EPC rating is E and the Council Tax Band is D.


Harvest Cottage & Shepherds Cottage, 2 & 3 Bemersyde
Semi-detached brick, part rendered, under slate 2/3-bedroom properties located a short distance from the steading. comprising of a hallway, sitting room with small kitchen off, bathroom and bedroom/office to the ground floor and two bedrooms to first floor. There are lawned gardens also. The properties have landlord consent to sublet and are let by way of SAT tenancy and PRT tenancy. The current EPC rating is G and the Council Tax Band is C for both properties.


Steading
The steading is a range of modern and traditional buildings, as identified on the steading plan:

Traditional range buildings, stone construction, with EV charge point attached.
Steel frame general purpose building
Steel frame general purpose building
Concrete framed former drying shed
Cattle court
Steel frame straw shed
General purpose building
Grain store

There are shipping containers located within the steading which do not form part of this sale but may be available by separate negotiation.


Location
what3words: ///buying.caressed.races
Postcode: TD6 9DP


Tenancy Detail
It is proposed the current secure Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1991 tenancy will be assigned to the successful purchaser. The current rent is £35,000 and was agreed in 2026. The rent is payable half yearly in arrears. A Tenants Improvement Amnesty was completed, and it is confirmed that there is no Record of Condition.


Information Pack
An information pack will be made available to genuine prospective assignees upon their signing of a confidentiality agreement. The information pack will allow access to a data room which contains further information in respect of the lease, property and signed tenant improvement amnesty agreement.


Services
All properties and the steading are served by mains electricity and mains water with drainage to a septic tank. There is a water supply to all fields, although not all fields have troughs.


Basic Payment Scheme
The farm has historically been claimed under the Basic Payment Scheme and is understood to be in an eligible area of 195.55ha classified as Region 1. There are no BPS entitlements included within the sale and the 2026 payment will be retained by the current tenant in full. The BPS entitlements will be available by separate negotiation.


Environmental Stewardship
There is a current AECS contract in place which runs until 2027. The incoming tenant will be expected to take on the scheme and guarantee to comply with the scheme from the date of entry to the farm.


Ingoing Valuation
In addition to the purchase price, the successful assignee will be required to take over any fodder or crop in store. Any valuation required will be undertaken by Oates Rural Ltd whose opinion will be final and binding to all parties.


Viewings
Viewings are strictly by prior appointment and on pre-arranged private viewing days being 10th and 17th June between 10am and 2pm. There will be no access to the properties on the viewing days and residential viewings will only be available to shortlisted applicants.

Please be aware this is a working farm and therefore they may be potential associated hazards. All viewers are asked to be as vigilant and careful as possible when viewing.


Offers
Further to viewing the farm tendered offers should be submitted to Oates Rural. All offers must be clearly marked Bemerysde Farm and emailed to or posted to Oates Rural, Whaupee House, Glanton, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 4BQ.

All offers must consist of written confirmation of the potential assignee, confirmation of agricultural experience, confirmation of finance, confirmation of agent or legal representative.


Closing Date
A closing date may be fixed. All interested parties are to notify their interest to Oates Rural in writing to be advised of a closing date, should one by fixed. The assigners will not be obliged to accept the highest or indeed any tender offer. The assigners will not be liable for any costs incurred by interested parties.


Legal advice
It is advised potential assignees appoint a legal or professional advisor to ensure a full understanding of the criteria for assignation and their rights and responsibilities under the tenancy agreement.


Conditions of tender
Persons intending to make an offer are advised to inspect the holding and take all factors in to account before submitting their application.


Plans, Areas and Schedules
All are produced in accordance with measurements taken and areas provided by Ordnance Survey and are for reference only. All applicants are deemed to have satisfied themselves as to the description of the property and any errors shall not annul the assignation nor entitle either party to compensation in respect thereof.


Disclaimer
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Oates Rural Ltd does not seek to avoid our criminal and civil liabilities by the use of cleverly worded small print. We follow set procedures, but it is not possible for us to guarantee that everything written in our particulars is accurate. Please note that unless stated otherwise:

These particulars have been prepared in all good faith to give a fair and overall view of the property. If any points are particularly relevant to your interest in the property, then please ask for further information/verification. These particulars were prepared in May 2026 and photographs were also taken in 2026. These particulars are set out as a general outline only for the guidance for interested parties and do not constitute, nor constitute a part of, an offer or Contract. All descriptions, dimensions, measurements, distances referred to, are given as a guide only and are NOT precise. If such details are fundamental to let, interested parties must rely on their own enquiries. All statements do not constitute any warranty or representation by the Landlord or their Agents. We have NOT been instructed to carry out a physical survey of the property, a structural survey nor to test any of the services, fixtures, fittings or appliances which pass through, in, on, over, under or attached to the property (whether or not referred to in these particulars). Any equipment appliance or service mentioned, has not been tested by us, nor is it the subject of any guarantee. Any plans may not be to scale and are for identification purposes only. Items included in the written text are included in the let. All others are excluded regardless of their inclusion of any photograph. You should place no reliance on anything stated verbally unless the matter is confirmed by us in writing. If any issue (included or not in these particulars) is of major importance to your interest in this property, please ask us for further information.

In the event of any grievance, via our in-house complaints procedure we will consider why we may not have given you the high standards you have a right to expect from us. Should you then still be dissatisfied, we will advise you of the options of mediation, arbitration or civil action which you may pursue your complaint.