Description

Summary
Lot 2, Gapshield sits in an elevated position with superb far reaching views over the attractive rolling countryside northeast of Brampton, below the southern tip of Northumberland National Park on the Cumbrian-Northumbrian border. The village of Gilsland is close by and the A69 provides superb wider connectivity. The sale is an opportunity to acquire a significant block of upland, with potential for further development in the direction of a purchasers’ choosing, be that agricultural, environment restoration and habitat creation (subject to consents).

Description
The land lies south of the A69, gently rising to Wain Rigg and is surrounded by upland countryside interspersed with woodlands.

Land
The land gently undulating between 200m and 290m above sea level of rough fell/moorland and a small woodland coppice of c. 2 acres. The land benefits from an expansive internal track system and is stockproof, bound by dry stone walls and post and wire fences. The land is classified as predominantly Grade 5 under the Agricultural Land Classification.

The soils are from the ‘Brickfield 3’ series, being slowly permeable fine loamy over clayey soils. ‘Wilcocks 1’ a slowly permeable fine loamy over clayey upland soil with a peaty surface horizon and the ‘Longmoss’ series, a typical peatland soil. The farmland offers the opportunity to focus on commercial production, alternatively there is potential for natural capital and habitat conservation to take prominence.

Peatland
The vendors have commissioned a peatland survey from Bowland Ecology, which is available on request. The survey provides an assessment of the potential viability for peatland restoration or similar conservation-based projects in the future over the upland areas forming part of Lot 2.

Areas of deep peat (greater than 30 cm) were identified on site, with 65% of survey points exceeding 30 cm in depth. Numerous manmade drainage grips and gullies were observed, as were features indicative of peatland erosion, including peat haggs and peat pans. All drainage and erosion features were largely coincident with areas of deep peat. The presence of these features in combination with areas of deep peat suggests that the site has peatland restoration potential.

Wind Energy
The vendors and neighbouring landowners have historically been approached by potential wind farm developers, looking to site a commercial wind farm on the land to the south of the farmstead. No option or exclusivity agreement has been signed but discussions are ongoing. This could provide a significant income for a future owner of the farm.

Overage
The property will be sold subject to a large scale energy scheme overage (50Kw + schemes) set at 20% of the landowner income derived as the result of the planning consent and implemented scheme, for a period of 50 years from the date of completion of the sale.

Lotting
The farm is offered for sale as a whole or in two lots, as outlined below:

Lot 2 (red on plan) as described forms the southwestern portion of the land and extends to approximately 255.04 acres of predominantly rough grazing land and fell with Peat Soils. If this is sold in isolation, a right of access would be granted to the purchaser over the eastern access to Lot 1.

In addition to Lot 2, there is a equipped farmstead for sale (blue on plan) - Lot 1 comprises the farmstead, grazing and mowing land with excellent road frontage and internal access tracks, in all approximately 198.29 acres.