The ‘original home of the Aberdeen Angus breed’ - an exceptionally attractive livestock and arable farm

Description

Cairnhill Farmhouse sits centrally in Lot 2 in a private position enjoying far reaching views over the surrounding countryside and beyond to the heather moors. The house sits within a generous enclosed south facing garden mainly laid to lawn with ample parking and a traditional stone outbuilding currently used for storage. Access is provided from the public road by a shared, internal farm track.

Cairnhill Farmhouse is a traditional granite, under pitched slate roof farmhouse with accommodation laid out over two floors.

Internally, the house is well appointed with a large dining kitchen with modern fitted units, larder/ utility room and ample storage to the rear of the house. The reception room to the front of the house is spacious and benefits from dual aspect windows providing ample natural light. There are three spacious well-proportioned double bedrooms and a family bathroom. The accommodation is well laid out for practical country living.

Land - Lot 2 extends to a total of about 350 acres and comprises 292 acres of arable and temporary pasture land, 35 acres of permanent pasture and rough grazing and 19 acres of woodland. Historically Cairnhill was a standalone farm but in more recent history has been farmed as part of the wider Tillyfour holding.

The fields are generally large, easily worked and regular in shape. All enclosures can be utilised for grazing and the vast majority can also be used for the production of silage and cereal crops. All fields are fenced and have a combination of water troughs or natural water supplies. The internal farm tracks are also fenced which allows for easy movement of stock to and from the centrally located steading.

The farmland is classified by the James Hutton Institute for Soil Research as mainly Class 3.2 and rises from 250m above sea level to 270m above sea level. The soils are of the Tarves series which comprise brown forest soils and some humous iron podzols which are well suited for arable and permanent leys.

Location

Tillyfour has an enviable position in rural Aberdeenshire. Private, yet accessible from the unclassified public road, Tillyfour occupies a slightly elevated position with far reaching views towards the Howe of Alford to the northwest and Craigievar Castle to the southwest. The landscape is typified by beautifully undulating farmland, punctuated with the occasional broadleaf tree copse and shelter belts, barley fields and grazing livestock.

Located in the northeast of Scotland, Aberdeenshire is one of Scotland’s largest and most diverse counties and extends from the North Sea coastline inland to the Cairngorm mountains which rise majestically to the west. Alford lies about 45 minutes’ drive west of Aberdeen (25 miles), nestled in the most attractive gently rolling countryside. Boasting fertile farmland, the area is renowned for producing award-winning livestock and all arable crops including malting barley which supplies many whisky distilleries in the region.

Aberdeen is a vibrant city with its oil and gas corporate headquarters, universities and colleges and provides all the services expected of a major city. Private schools include Robert Gordon’s College, the Hamilton School, St Margaret’s and The Albyn as well as the newly built International School of Aberdeen. Tillyfour is also well placed for easy access to Gordonstoun (private co-educational, day and boarding) which lies 42 miles to the northwest.

More locally, the small but growing town of Alford (5 miles) provides everyday facilities including a convenience store, doctor’s and veterinary surgeries, bank, post office, hotel, primary school and a new secondary school. The town also boasts a dry ski slope and the Grampian Transport Museum. The regional towns of Inverurie to the northeast and Banchory to the southeast, both 17 miles from the property, host additional amenities and facilities.

Aberdeenshire is a popular tourist destination for both the domestic and international market. Famous for first-class field sports including driven pheasant and partridge days, there are also a number of well managed grouse moors close by with hill and deer-forest stalking also available. The nearby rivers of Don and Dee, along with the rivers Deveron and Ythan to the north of the county, offer renowned salmon and sea trout fishing.

Tillyfour is well positioned to access a wealth of walking, hiking and cycling opportunities, including those offered within the Cairngorms National Park that attract many national and international visitors to the region each year. Away from the hills, there are distillery trails to follow and numerous golf courses in the county, with a local golf club at Alford, along with Trump International at Balmedie and Royal Aberdeen




Acreage: 350 Acres

Directions

From Alford take the road signposted for Kingsford and travel southwest for approximately 1 mile. Turn left onto the Old Military Road and travel for approximately 3 miles. Turn left onto the A980 and travel about 3.7 miles to the sign for Kintocher. At this point turn left and follow the minor road and turning left at the Cairnhill sign. Follow this track for 0.7 miles and the farmhouse is on the left hand side.

For satellite navigation purposes the postcode is AB33 8JJ

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Additional Info

History - Tillyfour has a longstanding history with Aberdeen Angus cattle and is proclaimed to be the birthplace of the breed. The connection dates back to 1805 when William McCombie was born at Home Farm, Tillyfour. William McCombie was educated locally followed by further education at Marischal College in Aberdeen. He returned to the family farm working as an employee within the family business which involved transporting cattle to the borders of Scotland and England for fattening. During the 1820s McCombie took on the lease of Tillyfour from his father and began to build up his own herd. McCombie combined Angus ‘Doddies’ with Aberdeen ‘Hummlies’ to produce the black, hornless Aberdeen Angus cattle we know today. The two breeds were combined for their resistance to harsh weather, their undemanding and adaptable good nature and for their nicely marbled beef. McCombie referred to the date he founded his herd as 1832 which was the year his cattle won first prize at exhibitions. McCombie won over 500 prizes throughout the UK and Europe. In 1867 there was a Royal visit by Queen Victoria to Tillyfour to officially recognise the Aberdeen Angus as a breed. Prior to her visit a new wing was added to Tillyfour House and it is reported that she sat in the drawing room (now the principal bedroom) to watch the cattle being paraded in the field (known as the Bull Field) to the front of the house. McCombie was reported to be the most renowned breeder, feeder and exhibitor of cattle in Europe and amongst the best in the world. This reputation also stretched to the farm itself with Tillyfour regarded by many to be the original home of the Aberdeen Angus cattle.