A rare opportunity to acquire 218.53 hectares (539.98 acres) or thereby of land in the popular agricultural area of West Watten. Crofts 18 and 19 are owner occupied crofts and comprise a 3-bedroom croft house and a range of buildings. There is income potential by way of an option agreement and lease which would provide a significant long term income stream.

18 and 19 West Watten is situated in Caithness which is a historic county in the far north of Scotland, known for its rugged coastline, rolling landscapes, and rich history. Crofts 18 &1 9 offer a wonderful lifestyle opportunity with stunning landscapes, clean air, and proximity to nature.

The village of Watten offers a range of shops, primary school and churches. A wider range of shops and facilities can be found in both Wick and Thurso.

Watten benefits from being on the local bus route between Wick and Thurso, where train stations provide links to the south.

Access

The crofts benefit from access directly from the public road with access tracks leading from an unclassified public road, northwest of the crofts.

Description

The Property comprises Crofts 18 and 19 West Watten and extends to 539.48 acres (218.53 Hectares) or thereby in total. Crofts 18 and 19 are registered owner occupied crofts and are marketed for sale as a whole.

Croft 18 croft house is of traditional single storey construction and has been sympathetically renovated over the last 3 years with newly installed kitchen, shower room and solid fuel central heating. Croft 18 enjoys a southerly aspect and benefits from useful adjacent buildings including workshop, stabling, Nissen Hut, storage sheds and stabling. There is an attractive garden with a summer house and greenhouse/potting shed.

Croft 19 extends to the south of Croft 18 complete with a stone barn with lean-to (currently used for hay storage), with adjacent shower & WC and eating area (currently used by campers).

There are currently five fields extending to 30.5 acres or thereby that are cut for hay production, providing valuable winter livestock feeding.

The Croft House accommodation briefly comprises the following.

Entrance Porch

Front Hall

Kitchen with Rayburn, oven and hob, plumbing for dishwasher and washing machine

Living room with wood burning stove

Master Bedroom

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

Shower Room with WC and wash hand basin

Should any prospective purchasers have queries regarding crofting, we recommend that they contact the Crofting Commission.

Council Tax

This property is in Council Tax Band B.

Fixtures & Fittings

All fixtures & fittings are included in the sale at no extra charge. No warranties are given for the fitted appliances.

Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) & IACS

The land is IACS registered, and the BPS entitlements will be included in the sale. These currently amount to an annual payment of approximately £10,200 for Croft 19. The payment for 2024 will be retained by the Vendors.

Planning & Development

We are not aware of any current planning applications on the land. Prospective purchasers should make their own investigations into any planning and building consents and seek relevant professional advice.

Services

The Property benefits from a solid fuel heating system.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Part of Croft 19 is covered by the Shielton Peatlands Site of Special Scientific Interest amounting to 143 acres (58 hectares) or thereby and the Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands Special Protection Area and Special Conservation Area. This area is now within the UNESCO World Heritage Site forming part of The Flow Country, stretching across Caithness and Sutherland is a vast expanse of blanket bog comprising a complex set of interlinked pool systems and micro features that not only host an eye-catching flora and fauna but also play a vital role in our defence against the effects of climate change.

The Flow Country is an area of deep peat, dotted with bog pools, that forms the heart of the Caithness and Sutherland peatlands. The Flow Country is the world’s first peatland World Heritage Site, a place of global significance in the fight against climate change and has joined the Serengeti, the Galapagos Islands and the Great Barrier Reef in securing prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site status for its globally important nature.

SSSI Agreement with Nature Scot

There is an existing agreement with Nature Scot in respect of the management of the land.

Option and Lease Agreement

In relation to Habitat Management at 18 and 19 West Watten associated with the proposed Watten Wind Farm, Caithness, there are negotiations ongoing for an Option and Lease Agreement. These negotiations could generate additional income. Further details are available from the Selling Agents on a strictly private and confidential basis.

Sporting Rights

Any sporting rights are included in the sale in so far as they are owned.

Mineral Rights

The mineral rights are not included in the sale.

Solicitor

Harper Macleod

Alder House

Cradlehall Business Park

Inverness

IV2 5GH

Viewing

By strict appointment with the Selling Agents: Davidson & Robertson Ltd. Telephone: 0131 449 6212 or via email: sales@drrural.co.uk