HIGHLY ACCESSIBLE BLOCK OF HILL GROUND IN THE LOWTHER HILLS WITH COMMERCIAL FORESTRY OPPORTUNITIES

Description

LAND - Birkcleugh extends to about 775 acres in total and includes 17 acres of inbye grazings and 745 acres of rough grazing and hill. The land is bounded by the B740 to the west and by the Lanark / Dumfries border to the south and is classified as being in a Less Favoured Area (LFA) for the purpose of grants and subsidies. The land lies between 260m and 424m above sea level and is classified as predominantly Class 5(2) with a strip of Class 6(3) to the southeast by the James Hutton Institute of Soil Research.

The land is principally managed as a sheep unit and currently carries approximately 600 black face ewes. In addition there are 25 suckler cows that graze the hill. Birkcleugh offers an excellent opportunity for local farmers to add additional acres to an existing unit. The land is also highly suitable to the production of commercial timber, offering a unique investment opportunity to potential purchasers.

FORESTRY - Birkcleugh lies in southwest Scotland, an important region for commercial timber production and processing, with several of the most advanced sawmills and wood processors situated within one hour’s drive. The land benefits from direct access of the B740 which is an Agreed Route for timber haulage on the Timber Transport Forum.

Whilst no surveys have been undertaken by the seller, the land appears to be suited to timber production. The terrain is moderate to steeply sloping, providing good drainage over the soils which are predominantly peaty gleyed podzols with brown earths scattered throughout. The land flattens to the southern march where future land use is likely to remain as open hill.

There are no conservation designations over the land and it is classified as having the potential or preferred status for new woodland creation. This is supported by the land capability for forestry map series that shows the land as having F5 and F6 capability for forestry.

Based on desktop mapping and an initial field survey, it is considered that c. 565 acres of the land may offer potential for commercial woodland creation subject to the requisite application process.

Location

Birkcleugh is a productive parcel of hill farmland situated on the Lanarkshire / Dumfriesshire border, an extensive area of hill country in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. The land lies along the Crawick Pass, the most northerly and shortest of the three hill passes in the Lowther Hills, in an area renowned for its livestock and forestry production.

The hamlet of Crawfordjohn is about 3 miles away and the market town of Biggar lies 18.5 miles to the northeast. Birckcleugh is in a genuinely rural area, yet travel connections are excellent. The M74, the main route from England to Scotland, lies only 7 miles to the northeast providing easy access to Glasgow (41 miles), Edinburgh (50 miles via the A702) and Carlisle (65 miles). Edinburgh offers all of the cultural, professional and shopping facilities that you would expect of a capital city as well as a mainline railway station with links to London every 30 minutes and an international airport.

The Southern Uplands is a geographically rural and agricultural region stretching across the Scottish mainland from St Abb’s Head on the east coast to Corsewall Point on the west. The area is well suited to forestry with large tracts of land dedicated to timber production, as well as vast areas of rolling hill land. The Southern Uplands is an attractive landscape offering a variety of country pursuits including some of the best grouse and pheasant shooting in the country, fishing on the Rivers Nith, Clyde and Esk, hill walking and cycling.




Acreage: 775 Acres

Directions

From Edinburgh, follow the A702 southwest towards Abington. At the Abington Interchange, take the 3rd exit at the first roundabout and then the 2nd exit on the second roundabout onto the B7078 signposted towards Douglas. After 2.5 miles turn left onto the B740, follow the signs towards Crawfordjohn. Follow this road for 4 miles and the land will be on the left hand side. The postcode for sat nav purposes is ML12 6SU.

From the south follow the M74 north and leave at Junction 13. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the B7078 signposted towards Douglas. After 2.5 miles turn left onto the B740, follow the signs towards Crawfordjohn. Follow this road for 4 miles and the land will be on the left hand side.

What three words: ///stream.connects.installs