Big opportunity as Spott Estate goes on the market for £25m

MORE than a decade has passed since the pension funds unloaded their investment portfolio and put a number of large scale properties on the market.

Now one of Scotland's most valuable rural properties is up for sale, with a 25 million tag being placed on the 2,463 acre Spott Estate at Dunbar.

"It is a very big package but it provides opportunities for a wide range of potential buyers. There is nothing else like it. It is attractive to someone wanting a country estate. It is equally attractive to farmers wanting a large business," according to Tom Stewart-Moore of selling agents, Strutt & Parker, Edinburgh.

The Danish couple who bought the 600-acre Spott Farm and the main house in 2000 have increased the acreage by taking over adjacent properties and the estate now includes almost 1,800 acres of category 2 or 3 land capable of giving wheat yields of 10-11 tonnes per hectare.

There is also some 350 acres of woodland which is an important contribution to the high reputation that Spott has as having a top quality pheasant and partridge shoot.

In addition considerable investments have been made in upgrading the various properties, including the nine bedroom main house which is listed as a building of historic and architectural interest.

There is planning permission for some 14 houses on a redundant steading on the estate and there are a further 14 cottages and houses in the sale.

Stewart-Moore said that the sellers, who are returning to their native land for family reasons, were keen to sell the property as a single unit but he accepted that a consortium might get together and make a single bid prior to breaking up the estate.