Thriving B&B business on popular North Coast 500

A thriving B&B business on the popular North Coast 500 route is up for sale, offering a rare opportunity for buyers looking for a lifestyle change.

Aptly names, Bonnieviews, the property is an eight-bedroom, eight-bathroom B&B near Latheron between Thurso and Wick, set in seven acres of grazing land with uninterrupted sea views. Bonnieviews is on the market with premium rural estate agents, Bell Ingram for offers over £400,000.

Situated on the internationally renowned North Coast 500 scenic touring route, which takes in some of Scotland’s top beauty spots, the B&B is well placed for welcoming guests all year round.

A ready to go business opportunity, the property already has an outstanding rating on all major holiday let channels, making it the perfect business opportunity for those looking to hit the ground running.

On top of this, as the property’s land is not classed as croft land, which is unusual for the area, and could be used for further development or sold to generate additional income.

Meanwhile, with additional outbuildings which could be used for stabling, equestrian enthusiasts may see the opportunity to use the land for livestock, that could offer another arm to the business.

Bell Ingram, estate agent, Joanne Stennett comments: “Bonnieviews offers a rare and unique opportunity to purchase a ready to go business in a beautiful part of the world. We are seeing increasing interest in Highland properties from buyers looking to relocate and we anticipate great interest in the property from buyers interested in a complete change of lifestyle following lockdown.

“The property has undergone a recent extension with the addition of four bedrooms and three bathrooms upstairs, offering huge growth potential for the business.

“The business also benefits from the luxury of seven acres of land that offers buyers the potential to expand their business offering or sell for development.”

Situated in an elevated position, Bonnieviews enjoys far reaching views of the surrounding countryside and Moray Firth. The property has bright and spacious rooms and has been decorated in neutral colours. It has a stylish kitchen and modern bathrooms with almost every bedroom benefitting from far reaching sea views.

For more information or to arrange a viewing contact Joanne Stennett on 01463 717799 or email joanne.stennett@bellingram.co.uk

Article posted on 19/11/2020

Stunning Highland Perthshire home set to ‘wow’ potential buyers

A rare opportunity to purchase an elegant country house in a highly sought-after area of Perthshire has arisen with premium rural estate agents, Bell Ingram.

Upper Farrochil is a stunning five-bedroom family home with far reaching views over the valley to Strathtay, one of the most desirable areas in Highland Perthshire.

On the market with Bell Ingram for offers over £650,000, Upper Farrochil is set in mature country grounds of 0.82 acres, offering a true taste of Scottish rural life while benefitting from amenities in the nearby hub of Aberfeldy.

With access to the property’s three family rooms, the large conservatory is the hub of the home. New buyers will be able to take in the glorious surroundings from the gorgeous room, which even comes with its own billiard table that retracts into the floor to create more space for entertaining or relaxing.

Bell Ingram Estate Agency, Moira Webley comments: “This is a gorgeous forever home in a truly desirable location that we believe will be much loved  by its future owners. Buyers will be equally wowed by the surroundings and stature of the home and its cosy living areas that are perfect for all the whole family to enjoy.”

“Given its highly prestigious location, we are anticipating huge interest in Upper Farrochil, not only from the local market but with those looking to relocate to a gorgeous part of the country with the best that rural life has to offer, while not far from a small town such as Aberfeldy.”

The entrance porch opens into a welcoming reception hall with a turning staircase leading to a gallery first floor. Also off the reception hall is a coat room with window, radiator, parquet flooring and a further door through to the downstairs loo.

To the right is the family room which overlooks the garden and has a glazed door to the garden room which has a tiled flooring, surrounding double glazed windows, exposed stone wall and a very pleasant outlook over the abundantly stocked garden and from which the outside can be accessed via a glazed door.

The formal dining room has double doors opening through to the large conservatory. The sitting room has a feature corner fireplace, with a Jotel Scandanavian wood burning stove, overlooks the mature rear garden.

The conservatory can also be accessed from here. The conservatory was constructed by Mozolowski and Murray and is currently being used as a billiard room. It has dwarf walls, deep hardwood window cills, surrounding double glazed windows and a glazed roof. A particularly unique feature allows the three-quarter size Reily slate-bed billiard table to be recessed into the floor by means of a mechanised lift. From here are doors to the garden and a door returning back through to the kitchen.

The dining kitchen was installed by Perth Kitchens and has ample place for a table and chairs. A walk-in cupboard has shelving and garment hooks and there is a pantry cupboard and a further unit with plumbing for an automatic washing machine and space for a tumble dryer. The Travertine stone floor has under floor heating. The cream coloured base and wall mounted units have Corian worktops and there are shelved cupboards, pantry units, inset sink and mixer tap, twin oven oil fired Aga with two hotplates, an induction hob, a combi microwave oven, separate DeDietrich oven, integrated dishwasher and large American style fridge freezer with wine cooler.

The upper floor hallway has two double size linen cupboards. Bedroom five, which is a single room with a window to the front, would also be ideally suited for use as an office. The master bedroom has a dressing room which in turn leads through to the recently completed en suite bathroom with WC, wash basin, shaped bath and corner shower. There are elevated views over the garden from the master bedroom.

There are a further three comfortable double bedrooms, two of which have en suite shower rooms. Completing the accommodation on the upper floor is a recently completed shower room with WC and wash basin.

For more information or to arrange a viewing contact Moira Webley on 01738 621121 or email moira.webley@bellingram.co.uk

Article posted on 13/11/2020

Scottish coastal getaway in stunning location attracts international interest

A traditional Scottish bothy on the stunning Angus coastline with uninterrupted sea views is attracting intense interest from national and international buyers.

Boddin Bothy is on the market with agents Bell Ingram at offers over £75,000 and is generating interest from those looking for a secluded coastal getaway as a second home or holiday let.

Located on the coast just two miles south of Montrose, on a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the bothy once formed part of a salmon fishing station that dates back to the 1800s. The ruins of the station are still standing and are included in the sale.

The historical site is perfect for holidays exploring rocky shorelines and rockpools, enjoying wild coastal scenery and wildlife with exceptional sea views on the doorstep.

Ideal for keen walkers, the northern boundary of the bothy is located on a core path and is a popular route for visitors to the Boddin Lime Kilns, which lie just south of the site. In the other direction is the Elephant Rock, a naturally formed coastal arch of volcanic rock nestling in a steep, secluded bay that has been shaped by the elements and closely resembles the shape of an elephant’s head and truck.

If bird watching is top of the agenda, also close by is the Montrose Basin, an enclosed estuary of the river South Esk covering 750 hectares, home to over 80,000 migratory birds – including pink-footed geese, Arctic terns, knots and sedge warblers.

Although situated in a beautiful rural location, the bothy benefits from good access to Dundee, Aberdeen and beyond. Montrose and Arbroath have railway stations and are on the main east coast line with regular services north and to the south, including a sleeper service to London.

Agent Catherine Lawson comments: “With its exceptional location it is no wonder we have seen such great interest in Boddin Bothy from buyers far and wide looking for their own slice of the Scottish coastline.

“As Scotland continues to enjoy a tourism boom and staycations also on the rise, we are seeing interest from not only the local and national market but international buyers too. The site represents a great rural getaway as a second home, or an attractive business opportunity as a holiday let.

“We would encourage those interested to be quick off the mark to arrange a viewing.”

For more information or to arrange a viewing contact Malcolm Taylor on 01307 462516 or email malcolm.taylor@bellingram.co.uk / Catherine Lawson on 01307 462516 or email catherine.lawson@bellingram.co.uk

Article posted on 21/10/2020

Scottish farmers urged to take advantage of new equipment grant scheme

The Scottish Government has opened a new grant scheme available for the next five weeks to all registered farming businesses to help equip farms to increase efficiencies.

The ‘Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant Scheme’ provides farmers with the opportunity to part finance a set list of eligible capital items. Listed items include stock handling equipment, precision farming equipment such as GPS systems and yield monitors, slurry store covers and very flexible tyres.

As the grant scheme is only open for five weeks, time is of the essence for Scottish farmers wishing to apply. There is no requirement to obtain quotes as the application is based on standard costs which should ease the application process. 

Applications will be scored against the scheme’s environment and sustainability aims. While there is no requirement to provide a business case for the items, having a carbon audit, nutrient management plan or vet plan will help your case. 

Bell Ingram Land Agent, Rhona Booth comments on the new scheme: “I would urge farmers to consider what they may need for their business in forthcoming years in terms of equipment and if the list contains an item which is likely to be required in the near future then they should apply for the grant.” 

Successful applicants require to make a claim with supporting receipt by 31 March 2021. The maximum grant is £20,000 and the list of items range in value from £250 for a fence energiser to £24,666 for a slurry injection system, therefore suiting a range of budgets.

Our land management team manage a large number of farms, estates and corporate properties, providing bespoke advice and management services to ensure our clients maximise their assets and achieve their aims.

Find your nearest Bell Ingram office to discuss any aspect of your land management needs.

Article posted on 09/09/2020

Alasdair Reynolds retires after 35 years at Bell Ingram

After over 35 years at Bell Ingram, Alasdair Reynolds, Director and Renewables & Utilities Consultant, officially retired on Tuesday, April 30.

Bell Ingram Chairman Graham Lumby said: “On behalf of everyone who has worked with you over the years and those who work with you currently, I’d like to thank you for your loyal service and say that we will miss you enormously.”

Staff gathered in the boardroom to wish Alasdair a fond farewell and Graham (left) presented him with a number of gifts including a lovely etching by artist Norman Wilkinson and framed photograph of Taransay.

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Article posted on 01/05/2019

Bell Ingram announces new Managing Partner Mark Mitchell

Bell Ingram – one of the UK’s largest independent firms of Chartered Surveyors – has announced that Mark Mitchell will become its new Managing Partner on 1st April 2019. Graham Lumby will continue to represent the firm as Chairman.

The Rural Land and Property experts have professionals spanning a range of services, from forestry and mapping to architecture and farm sales. The firm has a rich heritage and will celebrate its 120th year in November.

Mark joined the firm as a trainee in 1993 and has subsequently fulfilled various senior management roles, latterly as Partner in charge of Estate Agency and Health and Safety. A Rural Leader and current Vice Chair of the Perthshire Agricultural Society, Mark is a stalwart of the local community with an unwavering commitment to the sector.

Commenting on his new role, Mark said: “The future is bright for Bell Ingram. The change in leadership signals a new direction for the firm; with ambitious plans for growth underway for the next five years spelling exciting times ahead for the business.

“The current economic and regulatory environments continue to present land-based businesses with opportunities and challenges in areas on which Bell Ingram is ideally placed to advise.

“I look forward to the challenges of being Managing Partner, working with my colleagues to continue to deliver the outstanding service that sets us apart, while providing an environment where our people can flourish.

“Graham’s tenure has been very impressive, and I am delighted that he will continue to contribute to the implementation of our strategy and our future growth. Thanks to his leadership, the firm is in an excellent position. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to build on this success and see us go from strength to strength.”

Bell Ingram revolutionises woodland mapping techniques

Bell Ingram is shaking up traditional woodland mapping techniques with its ground-breaking new Cloud-based system which marks a significant change to the way the company works.

In a presentation which was widely shared on Twitter (#AGIScot19), Bell Ingram’s Head of Mapping Chris Duncan gave the sector an exclusive preview of the Forestry Cloud at the recent AGI Conference in Stirling.

The system, which rolled out to Bell Ingram’s Forestry team this month, allows access from virtually anywhere and on any device to view the company’s forest management records at the click of a button.

Additionally, the team is moving forward with a paperless approach to site work with rugged tablets, offline working and shortly will record all H&S, work instructions and site inspections electronically without the need to take paper records.

Chris Duncan explained: “Bell Ingram has used geographic information system (GIS) and digital mapping for Forestry for many years. Several years ago, it became abundantly clear that storing individual datasets for each property was not a sensible approach as we manage many forests from multiple offices across Scotland. We required a more integrated approach and the solution we have developed is a Cloud-based geodatabase built on the open-source software PostgresSQL and QGIS.”

Bell Ingram’s system allows all its foresters to have secure access to the company’s forest database for any office or any other internet-connected location. The company is also able to publish information online, via a secure service, allowing its clients to access their own forest records.

2019 re-writes the property rulebook says Carl Warden

The Perth and Kinross property market enjoyed a record-breaking start to 2019 despite uncertainty over Brexit.

It was inevitable that the fall-out from the mini budget and its controversial tax cuts would manifest itself in the housing and mortgage markets because the cost and availability of credit is a significant driver of the market.

Therefore, it comes as no big surprise to see mortgage lenders suspend many rates and deals as they gather their breath before attempting to reprice the market.

It goes without saying that any big jump in the mortgage rate is a major concern for those who are buying houses at the moment. But, if you like the house, you can afford it and are confident you can continue to afford it, then there is no reason not to go ahead with your purchase.

What is fairly certain is that we can wave goodbye to the historically low interest rates that we have grown used to and brace ourselves for a return to the higher levels we last saw in 2012.

There’s also been much speculation that we could be facing a housing market crash. But while prices could fall over the longer term, there is no evidence that they will collapse like they did during the global financial crisis of 2007/8. The market in Scotland is still functioning well despite the uncertainty.  I am seeing a small number of buyers pulling out of deals as we wait for this immediate uncertainty to pass, but I don’t see this continuing and especially so at the top end of the market.

From a Scottish perspective, it will be interesting to see if the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Kate Forbes MSP, replicates Kwasi Kwarteng’s Stamp Duty cuts for the Land & Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) bands in Scotland.

On September 23, the UK Government announced a permanent cut to stamp duty in a bid to boost economic growth. The announcement means that in England no stamp duty will be paid on the first £250,000 of any property, up from £125,000 previously.

For first-time buyers in England the threshold is now £425,000, up from £300,000. The maximum value of a property on which first-time buyers’ relief can be claimed will also rise from £500,000 to £625,000.

While first-time buyers in Scotland do not pay LBTT on property purchases up to £175,000, a 2% LBTT rate is paid on property valued between £145,001 and £250,000.

It would be a big worry for the property sector should the Scottish Government not bring us more into line with the rest of the UK.  A reduction in LBTT would go a long way to giving the Scottish housing market a boost, particularly for the lower bands, as we navigate this period of economic uncertainty.

For advice on your house move, or for a free market appraisal contact Carl Warden, Head of Estate Agency on 01738 621121 or email carl.warden@bellingram.co.uk

Article posted on 22/03/2019