Land

LOT 4: MILL FARM (About 51 acres)

Accessed from the main road is a traditional derelict steading and cottage. In addition, there are 8 fields and approximately 51 acres of grass leys and pasture. This lot provides excellent potential for residential conversion to create a small lifestyle farming property subject to obtaining the necessary consents.

The former steading has a mains water supply and and electric on site.

The land is stock proof and benefits from mains water troughs. It can be summarised as follows:

Arable/grass leys - 18 acres
Permanent pasture - 32 acres
Miscellaneous - 1 acre

Durran Mains is situated approximately 7 miles to the south east of the town of Thurso in the heart of the most northerly county of mainland UK, Caithness. It is situated in an area of Caithness which is well known as a productive farming district on account of the quality of soils, favourable climate, relatively low rainfall, and moderately level ground.

Thurso has a population of around 9,000, and provides a good range of retail, commercial and education facilities. Its railway station offers daily services to Inverness. The Port of Scrabster at Thurso Bay is a gateway to the north, with daily ferry services to Orkney and is a port of call for visiting cruise ships.

16 miles to the east is the town of Wick. The town benefits from good transport links, with a railway station offering services south, and Wick Airport which offers regular domestic flights to Aberdeen.

The well-established agricultural area has a good range of suppliers and contractors. The Caithness Machinery Ring is situated at Halkirk (6 miles). There is a local livestock market at Quoybrae which has regular sales throughout the year. Alternatively, there are also weekly sales in Dingwall, which is approximately 98 miles to the south.

In contrast to the mountainous county of Sutherland to the west, Caithness is a land of open, rolling farmland, moorland and scattered settlements. The area is fringed to the north and east by dramatic coastal scenery and is home to large, internationally important colonies of seabirds. The surrounding waters of the Pentland Firth and the North Sea hold a great diversity of marine life.

Amongst salmon and trout fishermen, Caithness is held in very high regard. The River Thurso, which runs for 20 miles from Loch More in the heart of the County to the sea at Thurso, is one of the most prolific salmon rivers in Britain. Rods can be rented on either a daily or a weekly basis. Flowing southeast for several miles from Loch Watten to the sea, the River Wick is also a well-regarded salmon river with rods available on a daily basis throughout the season.

There are a further seven salmon rivers lying to the south and west of Durran Mains within a one-hour drive, including famous rivers such as the Helmsdale, Halladale and Naver.

Nearby the lochs of Scarmclate and Watten have a reputation as being some of Scotland’s best wild brown trout fisheries. With an underlying seam of limestone, Loch Watten is famed for producing consistently large trout. In addition to Loch Watten (the second largest loch in Caithness), there are several hundred trout lochs of all shapes and sizes scattered throughout Caithness and Sutherland, offering almost endless opportunities for the keen angler, within close range of the farm.

Sea angling off the Caithness coast is well renowned. Bait and lure fishing for cod, coley, ling, wrasse, mackerel and even fly-fishing for pollock can make for some fantastic sport.

For surfing enthusiasts, the north coast is well recognised amongst Europe's premier heavy water destinations. Good solid ground swells and southerly winds combine to create ideal surf conditions, which have attracted the attention of some of the world’s top surfers. Known as the ‘North Shore’, the surf can be huge and is relatively consistent. The quality of the surfing in Caithness is such that Thurso East (together with venues in Canada, Tasmania, South Africa and California) is one of the venues for the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series.

Caithness is well known for its royal connection with the Castle of Mey, one of the former homes of the late Queen Mother, now owned by her grandson, Prince Charles. It is situated 11 miles north east of Durran Mains. Prince Charles enjoys an annual holiday at the castle, which is open to visitors, together with its fabulous garden, from May through to September.

Golf is a feature of the area with 18-hole links courses locally at Wick and Reay, an 18-hole parkland course at Thurso and a 9-hole course at Lybster, south of Wick. In addition, the internationally regarded Championship Course at Royal Dornoch is about 68 miles to the south of Durran Mains.