FOR SALE

SMALLHOLDING IN SCOTLAND

We are regretfully selling our very desirable residence in Scotland, having a desire to be with our childen and grandchildren
who all live in Wales! So we are going to go to Wales. We love living here - the neighbours are so friendly, and everything is so relaxed and peaceful.
When sitting in our great box window, or in the garden, about half of all the traffic passing has a wave for us. Some stop for a chat, blocking the road (but nobody comes!)

What we have to offer is outlined below, with a link to the local Estate Agent who is handling the matter. Further description might help
to get your mouth watering, and send you to your emails to contact the Agent.

The place used to be a farm - Balmesh Farm, a grassland farm of 250 acres or so, in Glenluce, Wigtownshire. The owner sold us the farm buildings, 4 acre field
and very nice house. Whole is 6.25 acres. The steading buildings constitute a 4-sided courtyard, with an old water-mill in one corner. We are about 15 miles from Newton Stewart and 10 from Stranraer. The sea, at Stairhaven, is about a mile away, in Wigtown Bay - a beautiful inlet in the Solway Firth.
Balmesh means "provider of goods for the Steward" (of the Abbey of Glenluce, about 500 yards away) and the word includes the "Bal" which means township - or "Clachan". The "mesh" means provider and the Abbey bit is assumed from the fact that the farm was, like Boreland Farm, nearby, a provider for the Abbey (built 1290 AD). The original stone-built farm buildings are very old indeed. They appear on the oldest map we have seen which is 1790, but were obviously there much earlier - the courtyard is in the classic defence style with no windows or doors on the outside and a yard in the middle to muster the stock when threatened by raiders. Running through the upper yard is a very old road track which may have led to the ancient grave-site at Mid Gleniron, about a mile away. It points in that direction, and looking back, is produced from the old "Military road" that runs from Glenluce along the Water of Luce and pre-dates the present road.
The property now has the new farmhouse (1912), the courtyard and water-mill and a 4-acre field, within which is about half-an-acre of orchard and woodland recently planted and fenced. Down the Southern boundary, and wholly within the property, is the Camrie Burn, with its Salmon run. There are plans to re-introduce Salmon to this river. There are 2 waterfalls on the stretch within Balmesh making the feature very scenic and peaceful and having grass banks both sides.
The courtyard consists of the old farmhouse, now reduced in height to single story and forming a "Potting shed" and a Workshop having both lighting and power points. Next to it is the old Dairyman's Cottage, re-roofed and forming a garage for two cars, and workshop (power and light being in here, as well). The next side is formed by the "Calf Shed" as we call it, but it used to be the stable and cart shed, with light and power. Along the top is the old double-byre, now reduced to a single byre open in front and forming an implement shed. The Mill is in the corner. Down the Western side is the Byre, formerly holding 32 cows, and complete with stalls, mangers, ties and drinkers. It is now a Woodshed and holds the firewood for the open fires. This also has light and power. Outside the Mill is the chicken run, a steel frame building now clad in netting and with a small hen-house attached.

The wildlife here is very interesting. We have seen in the area (not necessarily on the steading) Foxes, Badgers, Fallow Deer, Hares and Red Squirrels. Birds we have seen include:- Oyster-catchers, an Osprey, Herons, Buzzards, Kestrels, Greater Spotted Woodpeckers, Linnets, Wagtails, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Tits, Warblers, Pheasants, Wrens, Owls, Bats, Thrushes, Blackbirds, Swallows, Martins, Sparrows and Starlings.
The property is in a very quiet area where all the noise is people at work, (daytime) and birds and animals (night-time). The skies have to be seen to be believed! They are so thick with the stars that you cannot see in more built-up areas! There is an un-written agreement with a neighbouring farmer for him to keep sheep on the property's grassland and use the Mill for lambing. This keeps the grass down, saves mowing and generates goodwill which is most useful when some help is needed. A tractor, digger or forklift - no problem, and a pair of strong arms even less so! This agreement could be continued under the new owners if they desired.
Garden plants include - more than 20 varieties of Hydrangea, many Roses in their own Rose Garden, Daffs, Tulips, Crocuses galore, Eucalyptus and Buddlea, Flowering Cherry and many others. In the courtyard are 3 Fig trees and a Peach, and in the orchard are Apples, Pears, Damsons, Plums, Greengage and a wide variety of hard-wood trees and 5 scots Pines. The Gorse has been mostly removed and the Broom (which also has pretty yellow flowers) has been encouraged all over the steading. Down the drive, between Balmesh and Balmesh cottage, a hedge of trees and bushes has been planted. All these plants and trees are just beginning to really thrive.
Balmesh Smithy, across the road, is a very friendly and useful neighbour. Involved in Agricultural Engineering, they fabricate sheet metal, mend machinery (even your mower on a good day!) tend your car in an emergency and are general suppliers of all sorts of things from Motor oil, through paint, to nuts and bolts. Roofing is a speciality, and needless to say, advice is always available and free! I bought my "Wee tractor" from them, and it has been worth its weight in gold! If you are not at home they will take stuff from the postman or parcels van (and we return the compliment if necessary).

Possible development
We understand from the planning department that development of the Mill would be sympathetically received. The old farmhouse and dairyman's cottage could not be refused, as they are both intact up to the level of the first floor. They would make ideal holiday letting accommodation.

If you are at all interested, go to the Agent's site, study the brochure there, and get in touch via the agent - you wil sure of a warm welcome, and buy or not, a cup of tea!