Craigdow Forest, Maybole, South Ayrshire

A desirable and highly productive, commercial forest of meaningful scale, with strong amenity appeal.

High yielding crops
Sitka spruce accounts for 78% of the commercial forestry
Loch frontage with old stone pump house
3,690 validated Pending Issuance Units (carbon credits)
Excellent location with easy access to competitive timber buyers
Access direct off the public highway
Large scale forest
Location

Craigdow Forest is located 3 miles south of Maybole in Ayrshire. It enjoys an attractive and accessible location in the South West of Scotland, a region highly regarded for its productive forestry. The area benefits from reliable transport links to major processors, a favourable growing climate, and good underlying soils. Combined with generally easy terrain, these factors will support efficient management and future harvesting and extraction.

Strong regional demand for timber, together with the stable and well-established forestry fundamentals, underpins the long-term commercial appeal of this property.

The property is shown on the location and sale plans within these particulars. The nearest postcode is KA19 8LX. What three words investors.clipped.shovels



Access

The A77 trunk road bypasses Maybole to the west, it then heads in a south west direction. At Kirkoswald turn south onto the unclassified county road. The main access into the forest, shown as point A1 on the sale plan, is 1.5 miles to the south on the east side of the road.

There are two further entrances to the forest shown located at points A5 and A6 on the sale plan. The ATV tracks shown within the property from A2 – A3 and A2 – A4 could easily be improved to forest road standard.



Description

The property benefits from an attractive and well structured mix of planting ages, established across three principal phases. The earliest crop, planted in 2009 extending to 72.7 hectares of commercial conifers, is performing particularly well, growing at Yield Class 20 with strong timber form.

Subsequent planting phases have also been successful. The 2014 planting extends onto the best ground at lower elevations in the south, where growth rates continue to be vigorous.

The most recent 2021 planting shows good establishment where soils and drainage allow, while also adding a significant improvement in internal access to the 2014 phase. This area includes a substantial borrow pit providing good quality stone for future road upgrades. 4.76 Hectares in Cpt 22G, 22I & 22W will be restock and this will be carried out and paid for by the Seller.

In addition, the 2021 planting comes with 3,690 verified Pending Issuance Units (PIUs) under the Woodland Carbon Code. The project runs for 45 years, with a project end date of 27 May 2066, and the first conversion of PIUs to verified Woodland Carbon Units (WCUs) scheduled at age 15.

With good access to national sawmills, red and roe stalking and reservoir frontage, the property is highly attractive as both an amenity and investment opportunity.

The forest benefits frontage to Craigdow Loch allowing the launching of a boat and the right to fish, A stone and slate redundant pump house lies close to the waters edge.

The property offers a well-balanced commercial crop, combining thinning age timber with recently planted ground including carbon credits, and presents an easy to manage, attractive opportunity for purchasers seeking both short-term returns and longer-term productive potential.

The sale is subject to a clawback agreement in favour of the seller in respect of any future renewable energy development. The Agreement will require the purchaser to pay 15% of income derived from any renewable energy development (excluding any timber compensation payments) for a period of 20 years from the date of sale. A first ranking standard security on the property will be required.



Sporting Rights

Sporting rights are included in the sale. The current owner has in place a deer management agreement with a professional stalker.

Boundaries

The property is mostly bounded by a stock fence. Maintenance is on 50:50 basis with the neighbouring land owners.

Mineral Rights

Mineral rights are included so far as the seller has right thereto.



Wayleaves & Third-Party Rights

The property will be sold with the benefit of, and subject to, all existing rights and burdens with the Titles. There is an Overhead Powerline wayleave through Craigdow from Kirk Hill Windfarm.

Designations

There are three locally designated archaeological sites within the property – Canmore Number: 40811 Drummochreen Cairn, Canmore Number 169796 Green Well Farmestead and Canmore Number 169792 Newlands Farmstead. Interested parties should carry out their own searches.



Forest Grants & Management

The property is managed by Euan Wilkie of Scottish Woodlands.

The latest phase of woodland creation was planted under 20FGS49203. An FGS plant health claim was made in 2019 under 19FGS43763. For information on current grants available, please visit the following websites:





Viewing

There is a padlock on the gate. Viewing is possible at any time. Please contact Goldcrest Land & Forestry Group to arrange a viewing. For your own personal safety, please be aware of potential hazards when viewing.