CLOSING DATE SET FOR TUESDAY, 28 November 2023 AT 12 NOON.

SITUATION
Whitlaw Farm is situated in a private position about 2 miles to the north west of Lauder, a popular small Borders town located in the upper valley of the Leader Water. The town benefits from a good range of amenities including a modern and well regarded primary school, church, shops, hotels, petrol station and modern health centre. Secondary schooling is at the popular and highly regarded Earlston High School with further school options at St Mary’s Preparatory School in Melrose or via the wider range of independent schools in Edinburgh.

This desirable and highly accessible area of the Scottish Borders is only 20 miles south east of the Edinburgh City By-pass and is within very easy reach of nearby Earlston (9 miles), Galashiels (12 miles) and Kelso (20 miles) which provide an excellent range of business services and recreational facilities. Edinburgh City is highly accessible either via the A68 through Lauderdale or rail travel via the Edinburgh-Borders railway which is 7 miles away in Stow.

Edinburgh Airport (35 miles) offers a wide range of domestic, European and international flights and Berwick-upon-Tweed lies 35 miles to the east and offers a regular rail service on the main east coast line to London King’s Cross (journey time approximately 3 hours 40 minutes). Traditionally this area of the Borders is known for its mixed farming units combining fertile land capable of producing excellent yields of a range of crops and extensive areas of pasture and grazing land well suited to the rearing of livestock. The area is also renowned for its spectacular countryside and its many rural pursuits including hill walking, mountain biking, horse riding and the sporting opportunities afforded by local Estates and the River Tweed and its tributaries.

Agriculturally, the local area is well provided for by merchants and suppliers, with the nearby St Boswells Mart (13.5 miles), Stirling Mart (67 miles) and the Borderway Mart at Carlisle (75 miles) used as outlets for livestock which the area is renowned for producing.

DESCRIPTION
Whitlaw Farm comprises a mixed farming unit benefitting from a substantial and traditional farmhouse set within a private area of garden ground, an excellent range of modern and traditional farm buildings which are located centrally within the holding, and an area of farmland extending to approximately 33.66 Ha (83.17 Acres) in total. The farmland has been classified by The James Hutton Institute as Grade 4.2 and 5.1 with smaller areas of Grade 4.1 and 3.2. The fields have access from an internal network of farm tracks and are down to a mix of pasture and grazing ground. There are several areas of amenity woodland which comprise a mixture of commercial and amenity trees which have been sympathetically planted to provide shelter and environmental benefits. The farm benefits from a right of access over a shared access road which leads from the minor public road adjacent to Lauder Fire Station.

METHOD OF SALE
The farm is offered for sale as a whole or in 3 lots.

LOT 1: WHITLAW FARMHOUSE, GARDEN, OUTBUILDINGS AND PADDOCK 2.27 HA (5.61 ACRES)

Whitlaw Farmhouse
The farmhouse is situated centrally within the holding and to the east of the range of farm buildings. The farmhouse benefits from a private and elevated position with south easterly views over the surrounding countryside. The property is of traditional stone construction set under a pitched slate roof and provides spacious accommodation over two floors. The accommodation and room dimensions are set out in more detail in the floor plan contained within the particulars.

Garden Ground
The property is surrounded by an attractive area of garden which is mostly laid to lawn with a large area of gravel to the west providing a sufficient area for parking a number of vehicles. There is also a patio and outdoor dining area located to the east of the house. The garden is enclosed to the north and south by areas of mature broadleaved trees, which provide shelter and privacy from the adjacent properties. Located immediately adjacent to the farmhouse there is a former Walled Garden area which separates the farmhouse from the adjoining third party property known as Ladypart House.

Outbuildings
Adjoining the farmhouse to the west are several traditional outbuildings set under slate roofs comprising wood and coal stores and an outdoor WC.

Boiler Shed (5.13m x 3.32m)
Located to the rear of the farmhouse, of block construction, under a tin roof with a concrete floor. The building houses a domestic biomass boiler which was installed in 2016 and serves the farmhouse.

Nissan Hut
Located to the rear of the Walled Garden, of steel portal frame under a tin roof with an earth floor.

Land & Grounds
The land area accompanying Lot 1 extends to approximately 2.27 Ha (5.61 Acres) in total and comprises a mix amenity woodland to the north and south of the house with a small paddock to the east extending to approximately 1.1 Ha (2.72 Acres). The paddock has principally been classified as Grade 4.2 by The James Hutton Institute. The paddock can be easily accessed from either the shared access road or the farmhouse and would be well suited for the grazing of livestock or equestrian use. The land sits between approximately 236m to 249m above sea level at its highest point on the northern boundary directly above the residential dwelling.

LOT 2: LAND EXTENDING TO 25.72 Ha (63.55 Acres)
The farmland within Lot 2 extends to 63.55 Ha (63.55 Acres) and comprises of 7 enclosures which lie to the south of the farmhouse. The farmland has been principally classified as Grade 4.2 by The James Hutton Institute with some smaller areas of Grade 3.2 to the north and 4.1 to the south east. The majority of the land is down to pasture and used for grazing purposes, and overall the land in Lot 2 rises from approximately 223m to 305m above sea level at its highest point on the south western boundary of the lot. The shared access road provides direct access to Lot 2, and the enclosures benefit from a natural source water supply. There is a small area of woodland located to the east of the subjects which extends to about 1.12 Ha (2.77 Acres).

LOT 3: FARM BUILDINGS AND LAND 5.67 Ha (14.01 Acres)

Traditional Buildings
Located to the west of the farmhouse there are number of traditional farm buildings, of stone and slate construction which are currently used for storage. Although largely redundant for agricultural purposes they may present the opportunity for development for alternative use subject to obtaining necessary planning consents. The buildings comprise:

Traditional Barn / Stables (30.30m x 5.12m)
Of traditional stone construction under a slate and corrugated roof with part concrete and cobbled floor. The building is split into a former mill room and stable with two loose pens.

Traditional Stable/Store (31.79m x 5.55m)
Of traditional stone construction under a slate roof with a stone floor.

Modern Buildings
Located to the north and south of the traditional building there is a further range of more modern and adaptable buildings which comprise:

Cattle Court 1 (36.7m x 20.47m)
Of steel portal frame construction under a box profile roof with an earth and stone floor. There is a cattle race to the rear of shed and feed barriers along front of the building.

Store Shed (23.30m x 17.70m)
Of steel portal frame construction under a corrugated roof with a concrete floor and stone walls. There is former grain intake pit at one end of the building which is now redundant.

Cattle Court 2 (27.16m x 14.96m)
Of steel portal frame construction under a corrugated roof with brick walls and a stone floor which is split on two levels.

Cattle Court 3 (48.80m x 19.99m)
Of steel portal frame construction under a box profile roof with concrete panel walls and a stone floor.

Pole Barn (12.90m x 6.54m)
Of timber frame construction under a tin roof with an earth floor.

Straw Shed (12.9m x 11.7m)
Of steel portal frame construction under a corrugated roof with a stone and earth floor.

Sheep Shed (14.9m x 4.63m)
Of timber frame construction under a corrugated roof with a concrete plinth.

Grain Tower
100 tonne moist Grain Tower.

Yard Area
There is an area of hard standing located to the north and south of the farm buildings which provides ample space for fodder and machinery storage.
The purchaser of Lot 3 will benefit from a right of access over the area of ground to the south of the modern cattle shed shown in green on the sale plan.
In addition, please note the Modern Straw Shed and part of the yard area to the north of the farm steading (outlined in yellow on the sale plan) will be subject to a licence to occupy arrangement in favour of the Sellers until 30th of April 2024.

Farmland
The land within Lot 3 extends to approximately 5.67 Ha (14.01 Acres) in total including roads, yards and buildings. The farmland principally lies to the south of the farm steading and has been classified as Grade 4.2 and 5.1 by The James Hutton Institute. The land is currently split into 3 enclosures and sits approximately 236m to 262m above sea level at its highest point on the south eastern boundary of the property. The fields can be easily accessed from the steading and access roads and would be well suited for the grazing of livestock and other forms of amenity use.

EPC Rating = F