6th June 2006 - Pushing the boat out for a Caithness property

Aberdeen & Northern Estates are hoping that intending purchasers for a 265 acre farm which has just come on to the market in Caithness will be pushing out the boat when it comes to offering for this lifestyle property.

Numbers 18 and 17 Gelshfield comprise two adjoining small farms which are registered crofts and have been run as a single unit since the present owners acquired number 17 in 2000. The farms occupy an attractive location midway between Wick and Thurso on the south side of Loch Scarmclate and each of the properties has the right to fish one boat on the loch. The loch provides good brown trout fishing and there is wild fowling and goose shooting on the rough grazings surrounding the loch, which also form part of an SSSI.

Number 18 Gelshfield has the principal house and farm buildings which comprise a traditional single storey Caithness farmhouse with three bedrooms, sitting room, kitchen and bathroom and good range of modern and traditional farm buildings. 17 Gelshfield has a bungalow type farmhouse, also with three bedrooms and a smaller range of buildings.

The land extends to 264 acres in all comprising 168.61 acres of arable and 95.79 acres of rough grazing. The land extends across the A882 Thurso Wick main road and the land on the south side is offered for sale in two separate lots: 18 Gelshfield South extending to 69 acres together with outline planning consent for a single dwellinghouse and 17 South, 16 acres together with outline planning consent for two houses.

Caithness, often known as ‘the lowlands beyond the highlands’ is a beautiful county, comprising rich farmland and rugged scenery. It is renowned for breeding quality livestock and there is a modern livestock mart at Quoybrae, Watten. There is a local livestock marketing co-operative and a new marketing initiative has recently been set up to promote north highland produce including Caithness lamb and beef through Mey Select.

In the event of the farms being sold separately, the rights to one boat on the loch will be allocated to each of the main holdings. A public road serves both farms but the final section of the access to the loch, which leads to a small harbour, is on number 18. This access is also used by five adjoining properties which have the rights to boats on the loch

The farms are offered for sale in four lots with a total asking price of £485,000

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