Shields Farm is a ring-fenced, stock rearing farm with land extending to about 636 acres in total.

A highly productive in-hand hill farming enterprise is run on the farm, which has been under the vendor’s ownership for 20 years. It comprises a 6-bedroom farmhouse, an elevated site with potential to create a further dwelling house, a range of farm buildings, 7 acres of ploughable pasture, 107 acres of permanent pasture suitable for silage, 152 acres of permanent pasture and 361 acres of rough grazing.

The land ranges in quality from good quality ploughable and permanent pasture to rough grazing and hill ground.

The surrounding landscape is characterised by undulating grassland backing onto the foot of the dramatic slopes on the Campsie Fells. The falls of the Burnbrae Burn and the expansive views are particular features of the farm.

Farming System Shields is farmed in-hand as a beef and sheep rearing unit with a registered farm code of 827/0015.

The farm presently is run at its full capacity and carries 670 hefted purebred Blackface ewes, with lambs sold through the auction marts.

Shields also carries 40 Blue Grey and Shorthorn-cross suckler cows which are out-wintered and run with a Continental bull, with calving taking place indoors in March. Calves are sold through the ring in October. Replacement heifers are bought in and out-wintered.

One field is normally reseeded annually and one cut of silage is taken and baled. An additional 800 acres of adjoining hill have been rented in recent years.

LOT 1: Shields Farm (About 634.59 acres)

Potential House Site Situated to the east of Shields Farmhouse and buildings, is a site which has an elevated position with excellent views. A separate hardcore road leading to the farm buildings and site, and bypassing Shields Farmhouse, has been laid. Planning permission had previously been obtained to construct a residential dwelling, subject to an agricultural occupancy restriction. The permission has now lapsed; however, the vendor has recently held positive discussions with the local planning authority and has submitted an application to have the planning permission reinstated.

Outbuildings Situated to the east of the farmhouse is a range of farm buildings with private water and mains electricity supplies. They provide winter accommodation for stock, as well as storage, and comprise the following:

1. Atcost Cubicle shed (22.78m x 13.07m) 5 bays, concrete portal frame, corrugated roof, brick walls, concrete floor. Contains 39 cubicles, calf creep, bull pen and feed passage.

2. Dutch barn (22.95m x 6.52m) 5 bays, steel frame, corrugated roof and cladding, brick walls and hardcore base. Used as a calving shed.

3. Atcost General purpose shed (27.11m x 13.40m) 6 bays, concrete profile frame corrugated roof and cladding, brick walls and concrete floor. Contains workshop and 10 cubicles with calf creep.

4. Triple span, general purpose shed (33.97m x 17.80m) 3 bays, steel frame, corrugated roof, part Yorkshire boarding, part stone and block walls, hardcore floor. Contains kennels (10.47m x 5.80m).

5. Double garage (33.97m x 17.80m) Block walls with corrugated roof and up and over door.

• Feed bins 2 Collinson feed bins each with a capacity of 7.5 tonnes. • Outdoor sheep fank with dipper. • Outdoor stock pen.

Land The land at Shields Farm extends to about 635 acres, is relatively free draining and has a southerly aspect. It has wholly LFA status and lies in a ring-fenced block. The land can be analysed as follows:

Ploughable pasture: 7.31 acres Permanent pasture (suitable for silage): 107.23 acres Permanent pasture: 150.70 acres Rough grazings: 361.32 acres Roads/buildings/miscellaneous: 8.03 acres Total: 634.59 acres

The farm road continues east through the farm buildings and beyond the site, terminating in the easternmost field. Further internal farm tracks provide access to a number of the low-ground fields.

All of the fields are stock proof by a combination of stone dykes and post and wire fences, and are served by a natural water supply. A number of burns pass through the farm including Burnbrae, Red Cleuch and Spouthhead.

The best quality land lies to the south of the farm and is gently undulating, rising from 100 metres above sea level to 300 metres above sea level. It is laid out in a number of enclosures which are of a good shape and size for modern agricultural techniques.

The upland grazings are to the north of the farm, the majority of which is green hill and rough grazings. The hill ground rises more steeply up to a high point of 527 metres on the northern boundary. The narrow shape of the hill ground eases the job of gathering the sheep flock and the whole hill can be gathered by quad bike.

Sporting There is currently no organised sporting on the farm but its topography and size, with a series of burns and steep gullies combined with suitable ground cover, provide scope for a walked-up rough shoot.

LOT 2: Shields Farmhouse (About 1.30 acres)

Shields Farmhouse Shields House is accessed off the main farm road, via a private tarmac road which terminates in a parking area immediately to the east of the house. It is constructed of brick with a white painted harled finish, beneath a pitched tile roof.

It is understood that the house was constructed in circa 1964 and originally contained an annex which has since been incorporated within the main accommodation.

Situated in a private and elevated position with fantastic southerly views, the accommodation is laid out as follows: Ground floor: porch, hall, sitting room, dining room, bedroom with en suite shower room, rear porch, bedroom, kitchen, side porch and WC.

First floor: landing, bath and shower room, three further bedrooms, linen cupboard and study/bedroom.

Attic: Two floored areas and floored eaves storage.

The house is served by mains electricity, a private water supply, oil-fired central heating and private drainage. It is fully double glazed and has cavity wall insulation. The sitting room has an open fire with a back boiler and there is an oil-fired Rayburn cooker in the kitchen. The private water supply is via a bore hole, with the water coming off the famous Campsie Fells.

Garden Externally, there is a garden area surrounding the house and predominantly laid to lawn with planted borders and a gravel path. It is enclosed by a timber fence. Two small areas of conifer trees are to the west and north, providing shelter. There is a chicken run.

Land The land extends to about 0.82 acres of useful grazings and comprises two small paddocks to the front and side of the house.

This property has 635.89 acres of land.

Situation

Shields Farm has an elevated position with expansive and uninterrupted views of the surrounding countryside, over Glasgow city and towards the Tinto Hills. The farm has a private situation, yet is only 13 miles from Glasgow city centre and just 6 miles to the west of the M80, which connects with Scotland’s national motorway network.

Milton of Campsie is one mile to the south of the farm and provides everyday amenities including various general stores, a small supermarket, post office, pharmacy, hotel and a primary school. There are secondary schools at Kirkintilloch (3 miles) and Kilsyth (5 miles). Private education is available in Glasgow.

For outdoor enthusiasts this area provides a wealth of activities. Campsie Golf Club, an 18-hole parkland course at Lennoxtown, is 4 miles distant, while pheasant shooting and roe deer stalking can be rented locally. There are a number of leisure facilities in the area including a swimming pool in Kilsyth and a leisure centre in Kirkintilloch.

The Campsie Fells offer extensive hill walking, climbing, mountain biking, trekking and other outdoor activities.

Glasgow has an extensive range of retail, higher educational, leisure and professional services.

Glasgow Airport is 22 miles to the west, with Edinburgh Airport 39 miles to the east, both of which offer a wide range of flights to domestic and international destinations.

There are two livestock marts at Stirling and an abattoir at Bridge of Allan.

Directions

Travelling from the south and west, exit the M80 at Junction 3 onto the A806, signposted for Kirkintilloch. After a short distance, take the first exit at the roundabout onto the A757 and signposted for Lenzie. Continue through Lenzie and at the roundabout, take the first exit onto the A806, signposted for Kilsyth. Continue to the traffic lights at the T-junction. Turn right onto the A803 signposted for Milton of Campsie and then immediately left onto the B757, also signposted for Milton of Campsie. Travel for about 1.5 miles and continue straight at the crossroads (passing the post office). Turn left onto Craighead Road and continue for 1 mile, where the entrance to Shields Farm is signposted.

Travelling from the north and east, exit the M80 at Junction 7 onto the A803 and signposted for Kilsyth. After about 8 miles turn right onto the A891 signposted for Milton of Campsie and continue for about 1.5 mile. In Milton of Campsie turn right at the post office and continue as above.