Property description

Adaptable ring fenced former dairy farm in a wonderful rural location. Character five bedroom farmhouse with two reception rooms. EPC E. Versatile range of modern farm buildings including 90 cubicles Traditional stone barns and original cottage with conversion potential Super run of productive grazing land with some arable land and boundary woodland with sporting potential In all some 196.71 acres (79.58 ha).

Situation
Higher South Whiddon is situated in the Parish of Northlew and is located 2 miles from secluded village of the same name, which benefits from facilities including public house, school, village store, Methodist Chapel and Anglican Church. Halwill Junction, approximately 3 miles away provides further facilities, including primary school, village stores, public house, hairdressers and churches to include Baptist and Anglican. The farm falls within the school catchment area for Halwill Community Primary School, Okehampton College and Holsworthy Community College.

The historic market town of Holsworthy is only 11 miles away and offers a wide range of shops, including a Waitrose supermarket, primary and secondary schools and variety of recreational facilities such as a swimming pool and golf course. The town also boasts a thriving weekly livestock and pannier market and has a good range of agricultural merchants and suppliers.

The main A30 Truck road is only 12 miles away from the farm via the A386 and provides direct links to Cornwall and the City of Exeter, 37 Miles. The historic cathedral city of Exeter, regarded as the cultural capital of the southwest, has many attractions which include an excellent shopping centre. The city also provides access to national links by the M5 motorway, mainline railway station and bus terminal and easy international links by Exeter airport.

The farm provides stunning distant views of the Dartmoor National Park, which is renowned for its spectacular scenery, is situated east of the A30 and allows for access to excellent walking, riding and sporting facilities.


Introduction
Higher South Whiddon is a productive arable and livestock farm in all just under 197 acres with scope to be utilised as a dairy unit. Having been used for a number of farming enterprises over the years the main stay enterprise until 2005 was dairy with ample accommodation for dry cows, followers and young stock. The farm is complemented by a range of farm buildings, which include 9:18 parlour and 90 cubicles. It also benefits from a versatile silo which can also be used for wintering cattle. Some of the farm buildings, particularly the old stables and stone and cob garage, provide potential for conversion to ancillary residential accommodation, subject to the necessary planning consents.

The land is contained within two lots, the principal lot totalling approximately 176.88 acres (71.55 ha) in a ring fenced block adjoining the farmstead, and the off ground, north east of the main farmstead, amounts to approximately 19.83 acres (8.03 ha). The land is mainly level or gently sloping pasture and arable land, currently put to maize and spring barley, with good access.

The farm is easily accessible and located in a sought after location, set in the picturesque countryside surrounding Beaworthy. It has been in the ownership of the current family since 1960’s and provides good accommodation comprising a five bedroom farmhouse and two reception rooms. Higher South Whiddon offers scope for the buyer to modernise the property which has beautiful views over its own land and beyond.


Method of Sale 
Higher South Whiddon is available as a whole or in the following two lots; 
Lot 1 -  The farmhouse, associated buildings, farmbuildings and adjoining block of land extending to 176.88 acres (71.55 ha). 
Lot 2 -  Approximately 19. 83 acres(8.03 ha) of land to the north east of the main holding. 


The Farmhouse
A substantial property, full of character with beamed ceilings and open fireplaces in two of the reception rooms. The property benefits from oil fired central heating and double glazing throughout, the accommodation is as follows 

Approached from a tarmacadam parking area, the rear entrance of the property is primarily used. A door leads to the Rear Porch with doors to the boot room and rear hall. Adjoining the rear porch is an outside WC. From the Rear Hall there are stairs to the first floor, stairs leading down to the Cellar and doors off to kitchen, front hall and Utility Room with range of wall and floor cupboards, worktops and plumbing for a washing machine and vent for tumble dryer.   

The Kitchen/Breakfast Room has a range of matching fitted wall and floor units with work surfaces, partially tiled walls and stainless steel sink with drainer. An oil fired ‘Rayburn’, which heats the water, is set in a feature oak fireplace with a tiled surround. The kitchen has integral appliances such as a fridge, cooker, microwave and there is plumbing for a dishwasher. 

A door from the kitchen leads through to the Dining Room/Living Room which overlooks the garden and has an attractive open inglenook fireplace with a stone hearth, a multi-fuel burner/ woodburner and beamed ceiling. There is also a door leading through to the Front Hall with a second staircase and doors to sitting room and Sun Room overlooking the garden. The sizeable Sitting Room has a feature fireplace with an open working fire with stone surround and detail and elm mantle, taken from the farm itself. The sitting room has spectacular views over the adjoining farmland and garden. 

The second staircase leads to the First Floor Landing which gives access to Five good sized double Bedrooms and a family Bathroom with a matching suite of panelled bath with shower over, wash basin, WC and shower cubicle. The attic is also accessible from the landing via a ladder and the roof space is felted.


Outside the Farmhouse
The Farmhouse Gardens lie to the front and side of the property, overlooking the land and spectacular undisturbed views toward Dartmoor National Park in the distance. It is accessed to the side via a hand gate and a concrete drive leads directly from the parish road. They are mainly laid to lawn with mature shrub borders and flower beds, feature pond, well and rockery and a path leads to the front door/conservatory. The garden boundary adjacent to the parish road is in an ornate cast concrete wall.  

At the rear of the farmhouse is a concrete parking area which is partially enclosed by stone flower beds, currently in bloom, provide access to a 


TRIPLE GARAGE : 26' 9'' x 18' 0'' (8.15m x 5.49m) with three up and over doors and concrete floor.


The Farm Buildings
Comprising a superb range of modern buildings which work well and are ideally set up for the farms beef or dairy herd. There are ample concreted yards and the majority of the buildings have electricity connected with mains water troughs. 

Comprising;
OLD STABLES : 15' 3'' x 13' (4.65m x 3.96m) Stone barn with pitched slate roof. Double glazed, two storey building with feature fireplace and services to include electric, water and sewage. Potential for residential accommodation subject to the necessary planning consents. 

LOOSE HOUSE & WORKSHOP : 75' x 30' (22.84m x 9.14m) Steel portal frame, timber and box profile clad five bay shed. One bay enclosed workshop with servicing pit. 

LOOSE HOUSE : 75' x 30' (22.84m x 9.14m) Steel framed lean to with part block elevations with space boarding. Concrete barriers and feed passage.

TRADITIONAL BARN : Stone and cob with corrugated iron roof and lean to. Potential  for residential accommodation, subject to the necessary planning consents.

SILO : 75' x 45' (22.84m x 13.71m) Steel framed, part concrete panelled elevations with space boarding. Reinforced concrete floor compliant with regulations regarding effluent.

‘Devon Contractors’ COVERED YARD : 90' x 34' (27.41m x 10.36m) Concrete stanchion, portal frame building with 8 ft. panelled elevations. and two adjacent lean-tos 

‘Devon Contractors’ CUBICLE SHED 90' x 22' (27.41m x 6.70m) Concrete stanchion, portal frame building with 8 ft. panelled elevations with 48 cubicles. 

‘Devon Contractors’ CATTLE REARING YARD: 90' x 45' (27.41m x 13.71m) Concrete stanchion, portal frame building with 8 ft. panelled elevations with central feed passage and rear grain storage area.

Twin ‘Brice Baker’ SILOS : 1 x 50 tonnes and 1 x 32 tonnes. 

CUBICLES and CALF REARING PENS : 75' x 22' (22.84m x 6.70m). Steel frame with  75ft concrete stanchion and 9’’ concrete block wall. 22 cubicles and calf rearing pens to  the rear. 

COLLECTING YARD : Concrete walled and floored collecting yard. 

‘A.O Smith’ SLURRY STORE with 4500 gallon reception pit and ‘Eiseie’ pump with some  200,000 gallon capacity.

CUBICLES : Steel and timber framed lean-to with concrete block elevations and tin roof  housing 20 cubicles. 

PARLOUR: Partially housed in a former two storey stone cottage, part rendered, with corrugated iron roof. Housing 9:18 herringbone swing over ‘Boumatic’ direct line parlour  with a 6ft pit. Cake loft overhead with 20 tonne storage. 

A.I STORE/COTTAGE : Stone under a pitched slate roof.

Dairy : 18' x 17' (5.48m x 5.18m)  Rendered concrete block dairy with a box profile  roof with single phase electric directly adjacent to the Cottage. Housing two ‘Desco’  bulk tanks. 

Lean-to DAIRY STORE : Rendered concrete block lean-to with a box profile roof.

MANURE STORE : Concrete block façade and concrete floor adjacent to the parlour.

HAY STORE : timber frame with a tin sheet roof and two elevations also tin sheeted.


The Land 
The land at Higher South Whiddon Farm extends as a whole to 196.71 acres (79.58 hectares) acres and comprises an excellent run of well farmed grass and arable land. The land is available as a whole or in the following two lots

LOT 1 : Extending to approximately 176.88 acres (71.55 hectares) and is a superb ring fenced block of arable and grass land which surrounds the farmstead on three sides. It is divided into useful sized enclosures which are level/gently sloping with some steeper but workable slopes on the farms’ southern boundary. There is excellent access to the land from internal tracks or adjoining road. 

Substantial pockets of woodland run along the boundary of the farm and these have considerable shooting potential. 

The land has the capacity to grow excellent fodder and arable crops with a significant maize and spring barley crop having been planted this year. The grass land has also undergone a programme of reseeding and spraying.

The land is serviced by water troughs and the stream on the northern boundary.


LOT 2 : Extends to some 19.83 acres (8.03 hectares) and comprising an outstanding run of grass land with large gently sloping enclosures, showing good clover leys. Access is directly off the parish road. The land is fenced by pole and single strand barbed wire and is serviced by mains water.


Important Information
Single Farm Payment Entitlement : Single Farm Payment entitlements have been established over the land. Entitlements equal to the area of eligible land being sold will be transferred to the purchaser. The vendor will undertake to lodge any such documents with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) to allow the transfer of entitlements subject to RPA guidelines. Further details regarding these entitlements are available at the Agents office.

Nitrate Vunerable Zone  (NVZ) : At present the farm is NOT in an NVZ.

Tenure : The farm is freehold with vacant possession upon completion.

Valuation : The purchaser will be required to take over all silage, hay, straw, fodder, growing and standing crops at valuation to be prepared by Kivells and there will be no counter claim for dilapidations. Such valuations to be conducted in accordance with the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers.

Farm Sale : The vendor reserves the right to hold a farm sale on the farm before completion.

Farm Plan : The farm plan is based on ordnance survey extracts, and the areas are not guaranteed and purchasers must satisfy themselves as to their accuracy.

Easements, Wayleaves, Rights of Way : The Property is offered for sale, subject to and with the benefit of all matters contained in or referred to in the Property and Charges Register of the registered title together with all public or private rights of way, wayleaves, easements and other rights of way, which cross the property.

Boundaries : Any purchaser shall be deemed to have full knowledge of all boundaries and neither vendor nor the vendor’s agents will be responsible for defining the boundaries or the ownership thereof.  Should any dispute arise as the boundaries or any points on the particulars or plans or the interpretation of them, the question shall be referred to the vendors.

Services : Oil fired central heating for the Farmhouse 

Mains water and an independent cesspit for the Farmhouse

Mains and spring water for the Farm buildings.

Energy Performance Certificate Rating (EPC) : EPC rating is E (41).

Local Authorities : West Devon Borough Council, Tavistock. Phone 01822 813600. 

Council Tax :  Band E.

Photographs :  Main photos taken in July 2014. Aerial shots from May 2014.

Viewings : Please call the Farms & Land Office on 01409 259547 to make an appointment.  We are open from at least 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 4pm Saturdays.