Balfour Castle Estate

Balfour Castle Estate
Shapinsay, Orkney, Scotland

A8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 1 28/7/08 15:31 Page 1
Balfour Castle Estate
Shapinsay, Orkney, Scotland
Kirkwall 4 miles, Kirkwall Airport 7 miles
A Spectacular Island Estate with an A Listed Castle
and World Class Wildfowling
Category A listed Balfour Castle completed in 1848 by David Bryce as a Calendar House for the Balfour family incorporating earlier Cliffdale House (1796)
Reception rooms include main hall, drawing room, dining room, conservatory, library (with secret passage), morning room, billiard room, private chapel,
wine cellar, gun room and kitchen
11 bedrooms (5 en suite) and 3 separate bathrooms
Two integral flats (2 bedrooms and 1 bedroom)
Two estate cottages, and third cottage available as a separate lot
Productive walled garden (over 1 acre) with former Garden Bothy, potting sheds and glasshouses
Ancient woodland (about 30 acres) with woodland walks, two paddocks (about 6 acres) and extensive lawns
28 acre field to the shore with Dishan Tower, available as a separate lot
Balfour Mains farmhouse (5 bedrooms) and recently refurbished stockmans house (3 bedrooms)
Range of traditional stone farm buildings including former cottage, all with development potential
Modern farm buildings and about 657 acres farmland including 383 acres arable/ploughable
Excellent wildfowling and rough shooting with seven flight ponds with sunken butts and 8 year average bags (of which 70% from the estate) of 1950 mallard,
teal and wigeon, 420 geese, 130 pheasant, 60 woodcock & snipe and 360 pigeon & various
Helliar Holm island (92 acres), Muckle Green Holm island (87 acres) and additional land on Shapinsay available by separate negotiation
About 312 hectares (771 acres)
For sale as a whole or in lots
Historical & Architctural Notes
Balfour Castle is the creation of two distinguished men: David
Balfour, 4th Laird of Balfour and Trenaby, and Scotlands pre-
eminent Victorian architect David Bryce, the leading exponent of the
Scots Baronial style. It is a rare example of a calendar house,
planned to incorporate seven turrets for the days of the week, 12
exterior doors for the months of the year, 52 rooms for the weeks of
the year, and 365 panes of glass for the days of the year.
The Balfour family had held land in Orkney since 1560, originally in
Westray. In 1782, Colonel Thomas Balfour, a younger son of the
Jacobite William Balfour, 2nd of Trenaby, bought the estate of
Sound in Shapinsay, and became a Laird in his own right. He
cleared the area where Balfour Castle now stands, established an
estate village, then called Shoreside, and built a fine Georgian villa,
Cliffdale House, around 1784. A remnant of the original House of
Sound still stands in the castle garden in the form of a gateway,
dated 1674 and converted to house an ornamental seat.
In 1846, the estate, passed to David Balfour, 4th Laird of Balfour
and Trenaby. A Writer to the Signet in Edinburgh, he inherited not
only the estate on Shapinsay, by then covering the whole island,
but also the immense wealth of his great uncle John Balfour, 3rd of
Trenaby, who had made a fortune in India, doubled it in London,
and twice represented Orkney in Parliament.
In 1846, David Balfour engaged the Edinburgh based architect,
David Bryce, to design a new and splendid residence. The
previous year, Bryce had formally dissolved his partnership with
William Burn. Balfour Castle is thus a significant early work for
Bryce in his own right, and has features which he was to re-use in
many of his houses. Bryce copied many of his architectural
features from old castles; for example the square corner towers on
the second floor are taken from Pinkie Castle (Musselburgh).
As Dr Ray Fereday writes in The Orkney Balfours the castles
towers and battlements loom over a landscape that David Balfour
completely refashioned and modernised. He and his agents
created the present checkerboard pattern of enclosed fields and
encouraged tenants to adopt the most advanced farming
methodsThese dramatic and unsettling economic changes
made David Balfour think it all the more necessary to reinforce the
traditional structure of society, with himself as the old-fashioned,
hospitable and paternalistic superior, surrounded by a loyal
peasantry. Thus, he was determined that his own new house with
all its modern comforts and conveniences should have an imposing
pseudo-feudal faade well calculated to convey an image of
ancient lordship. Bryce was the ideal choice as architect.
.
Work started in 1847 and took more than three years to complete.
Much of the stone used was quarried on the island. The original
house of Cliffdale, a plain three bayed building on three storeys,
formed the familys private apartments at the core of the new
castle. A new wing to the south contained public and guest
rooms and a service wing was added to the north-east.
Meantime, Mr and Mrs Balfour visited Italy to acquire works of art
for their magnificent new home.
The castle grounds, which had been laid out by Colonel Thomas
Balfour over 50 years earlier, were also remodelled by David Bryce
in association with the garden designer Craigie Inglis Halkett of
Cramond. David Balfour also turned his attention to remodelling
the village, part of which was demolished to allow a new approach
to the castle. Bryce designed the grand gateway with its corbelled
parapet and mock portcullis. David Balfour was not only one of
the foremost agricultural improvers of the age, but also a notable
philanthropist, founding the Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall. He
enthusiastically supported the Orkney Volunteer Artillery, earning
the honorary title of Colonel. As Provost of Kirkwall, he was
responsible for the installation of proper drains and a safe water
supply for the burgh. A keen antiquarian and historian, he strove
to preserve Orkneys archaeological heritage, and also preserved
in a published volume many of the old songs and ballads he had
heard as a child.
Colonel David Balfour died without issue in 1887 and was
succeeded by his half-brother, James. After the death of James
son William in 1934, the estate passed to a cousin, John Hubert
Bampfield, who resigned his claim, placing the estate in trust.
Eventually, in 1951 his son, David Hubert Balfour, took up the
inheritance and came to live at Balfour Castle. By the time of his
death in 1961, the castle had lost much of its former glory.
However, it was rescued by Captain Tadeusz Zawadski, a Polish
cavalry officer, who had escaped the massacre at Katyn Forest
and walked across Europe to reach Britain in 1941. He joined the
Polish Army in exile and was posted to Orkney, falling in love with
his new home. He bought the farm of Balfour Mains and the
castle. With his Scottish wife and their four children, he restored
the castle, which the Zawadski family now run as an hotel (see
www.balfourcastle.com). Attracting visitors from all over the globe,
it is marketed as the most northerly castle hotel in the world. The
sellers have for many years run the castle very successfully as a
country house hotel, generating useful income. It is run in
conjunction with the also successful wildfowling enterprise,
with sporting tenants staying in the castle. The family have
however taken great care not in any way to detract from the
private, family nature of the castle and have gone to great pains
to retain its original style and character. Balfour Castle thus
remains first and foremost a family home.
Situation
Orkney lies about 20 miles to the north of the Scottish mainland.
Shapinsay is about six miles long by three miles wide, and has a
population of about 300. It is a beautiful and peaceful island
where doors are never locked, even those to Balfour Castle. The
island is peppered with wonderful walks along a coastline which
includes cliffs, caves and clean sandy beaches. The land is low-
lying, with its highest point being at 210ft at the top of Ward Hill;
the view over the other Orkney islands from the top of the hill is
breathtaking.
Whilst visible in the distance on the approach to Kirkwall Airport,
and from Kirkwall itself, the estate seems a long way off from
mainland Orkney yet it is astonishingly quick and easy to reach.
From the airport arrivals gate, a 7 minute car journey to the ferry
port and 25 minute car ferry crossing, or 10 minutes by private
boat, delivers the visitor directly to Shapinsay harbour and the
main castle gates. The flight from Inverness is only about 45
minutes.In common with the rest of Orkney, Shapinsay has an
abundance of wildlife. There are numerous places on the island to
see gull and tern colonies, shellducks, hen harriers and arctic skua,
and puffins nest from May to early June. Common seals can be
seen on several beaches, there are some grey seals, and otters
have also been seen. In summer, Shapinsays verges are carpeted
with wild flowers. There are various archaeological sites including
a 1,500 year old Pictish broch a circular stone structure.
The long sunny summer days and warm current of the Gulf
Stream ensure Orkneys waters are a rich feeding ground for fish.
There is plenty to be caught by anglers of all abilities, whether just
off-shore in the castle bay or further afield where mackerel, cod,
pollock, coalfish and ling may be caught. The castle also sink
lobster pots. The estate keeps a private motor boat in the
harbour which is used for guests for sea fishing, and trips to
mainland Orkney and other islands. Balfour Castle has title to the
site of a former boathouse at the harbour. The islands offer
wonderful opportunities for sailing and there is a sheltered harbour
and good mooring in the bay below the castle for a yacht, and a
new marina at Kirkwall.
Balfour village, overlooking Elwick Bay, is some distance from the
castle, though close enough for the convenience of its general
store and restaurant. Generally however it goes un-noticed from
the grounds owing to the ancient woodland that surrounds the
castle, reportedly Orkneys largest woodland at around 30 acres
and the key to the castles privacy. Shapinsays farms specialise in
quality beef and lamb, reportedly exporting over 1,500 cattle and
2,000 sheep each year. A feature of the landscape, evident from
the estate plan, is the square ten acre fields and straight roads.
These are the result of the activities of improvers in the 1850s
under the guidance of Colonel David Balfour who completely
changed the face of farming on the island. In the 26 years
between 1848 and 1874, the area under cultivation went from 700
acres to over 6,000 acres. There are no crofts on Balfour Estate.
There are two 18-hole golf courses on the Orkney Mainland at
Kirkwall and Stromness, but Balfour Estate itself would have
wonderful potential for a course for anyone not inclined to farm the
land.
Lotting
The estate is offered for sale as a whole or in lots as follows:
Lot 1a Balfour Castle, two cottages, walled garden, woodland
and paddocks (about 39 acres)
Lot 1b Sound Cottage & field to shore (about 28 acres)
including Dishan Tower
Lot 2 Balfour Mains and shoot (about 703 acres)
Offers for Lots 1b and 2 will only be considered separately if an
offer has been received and accepted for Lot 1a. Also owned
with sporting rights and available in addition, are the following:
The island of Helliar Holm (about 92 acres) lies just off the
southern tip of Shapinsay opposite the harbour and the
castle. Currently unoccupied, it has two ruined bothies with
development potential. The lighthouse and lighthouse
keepers houses are not owned and would be excluded from
any sale.
Muckle Green Holm is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
(SSSI) owing to its grey seal colony. It lies about three miles
north of Shapinsay and extends to about 87 acres.
Land at Housebay (about 53 acres).
Newlot Farm (about 74 acres).
Land at Ouse /Lairo Water with sporting rights (about 28
acres).
Land at Easthill (about 19 acres). Heather hill with cliffs to
shore. Proposed Nature Reserve.
Various plots of land in Shapinsay Village are owned.
Balfour Castle Gate House is owned, but is let on a 99 year
lease. Formerly the state entrance to the castle and the
residence of the gate-keeper, it is let for use as a public
house, and has in the past been operated as such, though
not currently.
Morning /
Dining Room
6.60 x 5.40*
21'-8" x 17'-9"
(* min)
Gun Room
5.30 x 4.10
17'-5" x 13'-5"
Billiard Room
7.50 x 5.50
24'-7" x 18'-1"
Office
5.57 x 3.46
18'-3" x 11'-4"
Ante Room
4.80 x 4.00
15'-9" x 13'-1" C
h
a
p
e
l
4
.8
0
x
3
.3
0
1
5
'-
9
"
x
1
0
'-
1
0
"
Tea Room / Shop
7.40 x 5.60
24'-3" x 18'-4"
UP
Cupb'd
UP UP
UP
WC
Pend
Potting Shed
Dining
Kitchen
Private
Kitchen Garage
Open
Courtyard
Wine
Cellar
Kitchen
Sitting Room
Linen Room
Butler's
Pantry
Kitchen
Main
Entrance
Vestibule
Hall
Utility
Workshop
Store
Store
Store
Store
Store
Store
UP
Store
Shower
Room
Bedroom
UP
Cupb'd
WC
WC
West FIat
Ground fIoor
Lots 1a and 1b Balfour Castle & Grounds
Balfour Castle commands the southern tip of Shapinsay Island,
standing guard to the island and a prominent landmark on arrival
by ferry at Balfour Village. The woodlands and the castle form
distinctive components of the landscape, identifiable from a
considerable distance.
The private drive winds through policy fields, past the Dishan or
Douche Tower, a 17
th
century circular tower perched on the seas
edge (situated on Lot 1b). Formerly a salt water shower topped
with a dovecot, it marks the entrance to Shapinsay Harbour and is
as prominent a landmark as the castle itself.
A gravelled parking area at the castle front door lies at the end of
the drive. Laid out over three principal floors, the accommodation
is as shown by the accompanying photographs and layout plans.
The drawing room offers wonderful views over Kirkwall Bay, with
Kirkwall itself only distantly visible despite being a short boat trip
away. The adjoining conservatory is on a grand scale, and enjoys
the same fine views. These two adjoining rooms have been used
for wedding receptions.
From the drawing room a secret passageway leads to the library;
the main entrance is off the hall. With shelves on every wall, it is a
haven for bookworms and a peaceful room for a pre-dinner drink.
The dining room typically seats 24 for dinner, whilst on the floor
below, the morning room hosts a more modest dinner for up to
10. There is a nearby kitchen to service both dining rooms.
Off the dining kitchen are the family kitchen, utility room and stores
which continue out into a private and sheltered castle courtyard.
Other rooms on the ground floor include a billiard room, an office
and tea room or gift shop with a varnished stone floor, and a
chapel where wedding ceremonies have been performed if not by
a registrar in the drawing room upstairs.
The first floor has three bedrooms (one en suite and two with a
shared bathroom), and the second floor has four en suite
bedrooms, four further bedrooms and two bathrooms. The four
principal bedroom suites enjoy fine views over the castle grounds
and sea and are decorated to a high standard. Above the second
floor is a small room at mezzanine level with access by a further
flight of spiral stairs to an observatory tower with panoramic views
over the surrounding countryside and south to Kirkwall.
On the ground floor is a self-contained one bedroom flat (West
Flat). The East Flat has two bedrooms and three access points via
a spiral staircase from the ground floor, a back stairs from the
courtyard or a door from near the Balfour Suite.
For identification only. Not to scale.
Balfour Castle, Shapinsay, Orkney, KW17 2DY
N
Conservatory
7.76 x 4.45
25'-6" x 14'-7"
The
Aviary
Drawing Room
9.02 x 6.01
29'-7" x 19'-9"
Bedroom
5.08 x 4.80
16'-8" x 15'-9" O
ff
ic
e
4
.8
0
x
2
.4
0
1
5
'-
9
"
x
7
'-
1
0
"
Sitting Room
5.40 x 3.60
17'-9" x 11'-10"
Kitchen
WC
1.89 x 1.16
6'-2" x 3'-10"
Bedroom
5.00 x 5.00
16'-5" x 16'-5"
Bathroom
3.70 x 2.44
12'-2" x 8'-0"
Hall
2.50 x 2.50
8'-2" x 8'-2"
Balfour
Suite
Bedroom
7.60 x 5.20
24'-11" x 17'-1"
Bedroom
4.50 x 4.20
14'-9" x 13'-9"
WC
Library
7.54 x 4.69
24'-9" x 15'-5"
Dining Room
8.67 x 5.40
28'-5" x 17'-9"
Gallery
3.25 x 13.50
10'-8" x 44'-3"
DN
Hall
Bathroom
UP
UP
DN
DN
UP
UP
DN
Secret
Passage
East FIat
First fIoor
Attic
Bedroom
DN
Laird's Bedroom
5.60 x 5.20
18'-4" x 17'-1" Canopy Bedroom
6.50 x 6.00
21'-4" x 19'-8"
Ship Bedroom
5.70 x 4.35
18'-8" x 14'-3"
Brass
Bedroom
En
Suite
Rose
Bedroom
Bedroom
4.20 x 4.10
13'-9" x 13'-5"
Bedroom
4.80 x 2.71
15'-9" x 8'-11"
DN
DN
Bedroom
Sitting Room
4.27 x 4.15
14'-0" x 13'-7"
Bath
Room
DN
En Suite
DN
UP
Bath
Room
En Suite
3.50 x 2.50
11'-6" x 8'-2"
En
Suite
East FIat
Second fIoor
Policies and Walled Garden
A series of three sunken gardens are laid out to the west of the
castle. These are enclosed by earth embankments topped by
paths with flights of stone steps leading down into them. Each
garden was formerly laid out with a scheme of flower beds,
though two have now been planted with trees. Within the
designed landscape are a series of footpaths and drives, including
the Ladies Walk which has an accentuated camber to preserve a
dry walking surface. An important component of Balfour is the
woodland, believed to have been planted around 1800 and
therefore over 200 years old. Species are various and include
sycamore, horse chestnut, alder, larch, rowan, whitebeam, willow
and elm. The shelter provided by these ancient trees is an
essential characteristic of the Balfour designed landscape as it
provides an amenable micro-climate for the walled garden and
walks through the policies. Crucially to the castle owner, it also
affords privacy.
A pleasant stroll from the castle through the woodland leads to
the walled garden, still used today to supply fruit and vegetables
for the hotel guests. The Garden Cottage (2 bedrooms) forms
part of the gardens eastern boundary. An ornamental glasshouse
stands outside the garden, at its south eastern corner, and is still
in use. The adjacent former garden bothy requires renovation but
would be an exciting project for a new owner. The castle and its
immediate grounds are separated from the parkland by a ha-ha,
which defines the edge of the lawns. The field to the shore (Lot
1b) extends to about 28 acres from below the ha-ha. There are
two fields within Lot 1a which together extend to about 6 acres
and which would provide grazing for horses or other domestic
stock.
Cottages
Sound Cottage (Lot 1b) and Shepherds Cottage (Lot 1a) each
have two bedrooms and are both traditional stone built detached
cottages which have been recently modernised. Lying near one
another, each with their own walled garden, at the western edge
of the castle policies, they are out of sight of the castle and do not
impinge on its privacy. Sound Cottage also has a traditional stone
built garage and store.
Lot 1b Sound Cottage
Lot 1a Garden Cottage
Walled Garden
Lot 2 Balfour Mains
Shapinsay once relied on the export of kelp to the alkali industry
for its economy but as cheaper alternatives became available from
the continent after the Napoleonic wars, agriculture became the
main industry under the stewardship of David Balfour. At the time,
the Balfours estate encompassed the whole of Shapinsay and
David Balfour set about trebling the arable area of the island and
dividing the land into easily managed 10 acre fields, served by
straight roads and an extensive steading at Balfour Mains. Balfour
Mains today extends to about 703 acres including 383 acres of
fertile, well-drained arable/ploughable land and 274 acres pasture.
There are in addition 14 acres woods and several lochs including
two of over five acres (Vasa Loch and Loch of Westhill).
The farmhouse at Balfour Mains was built in 1924 and is an
attractive stone and slate farmhouse providing comfortable family
accommodation over two floors. On the ground floor the rooms
include a spacious living room, family kitchen/dining room, guest
bedroom and bathroom whilst on the first floor there are a further
four bedrooms and bathroom. The garden grounds are generous
and laid mostly to lawn with a sheltered slate patio to the rear.
Outbuildings include a timber double garage and dog kennels.
In addition there are two cottages dating from the mid 1800s,
Balfour Mains Cottage and The Stockmans House. The
Stockmans House has recently been completely renovated and
provides useful accommodation with three bedrooms, two
bathrooms, kitchen and two reception rooms suitable for a
manager or letting out. There is an additional semi-derelict two
bedroom cottage in need of complete renovation.
The steading at Balfour Mains retains much of its original design
with a traditional layout of cattle courts, silage pits, hay sheds,
byres, stables and storage sheds. In keeping with the
architectural merit of the castle, it features an attractive bell tower
and stonework which adds to its attractiveness for development.
In addition there are a number of more modern agricultural
buildings including two additional cattle courts and a grain store.
Farming System
Grass is let out for grazing and silage and stock is overwintered in
sheds. Cropping is rotational, the main crop is spring barley,
though spring oil seed rape has been grown. Contractors are
used to plough and harvest, with the remaining work being done
in hand. The farm would typically carry 150 suckler cows and 400
ewes. All fields have a water supply. Field boundaries are a
combination of good condition dry stone walls and well maintained
stock fencing.
Certain fields are included in the Rural Stewardship Scheme and
the Habitats Scheme which allow for certain annual payments to
be paid for the management of grassland for birds.
Farm Houses
Farm Drive
Balfour Mains
Wildfowling
The estate shoot was established in 1976 and is now arguably
amongst the finest wildfowling in the world. Guests travel from
all over the UK and the continent Kirkwall from Paris is about
an hour and 50 minute long flight - and many have been
returning for years, staying at Balfour Castle for three to five
nights. Typically the morning is spent flighting duck and geese,
followed by some pheasant, woodcock and pigeon shooting.
Lunch is generally taken in the castle, and there is further duck
flighting in the evening. There are currently exciting pre-dawn
boat trips to the two offshore islands for duck flighting and
walked-up snipe shooting.
Most of the sport takes place on the estate, although there are
sporting rights on other parts of the island which may be
available to a purchaser (see description under excluded
property). Orkney lies on the main migration route for birds
moving to and from Iceland and Scandinavia, and species
encountered are wigeon, mallard, teal, greylag, pink-footed
geese, snipe, woodcock and golden plover. There are also
locally wild bred pigeons, ducks and pheasants.
There are seven ponds and lochs on the estate which are
regularly fed and which provide excellent and varied flighting in
all winds. There are over 60 sunken butts on the estate
positioned to provide comfortable cover at all the best flighting
locations. There are a further ten ponds on other land owned
on the island and on the two offshore islands, most of which
also have sunken butts.
Stubble fields attract greylag geese in good numbers, and
some areas of crop are left un-harvested to attract good
concentrations of birds. The woods around Balfour Castle are
home to pheasants, pigeons and woodcock and driven days
are possible from November onwards.
Annual shoot records are available on request. Whilst an
estimated 70% of the records are from the estate (Lots 1 and
2), it should be noted that the totals recorded include game
shot on land currently available to the seller.
Agri-Environmental Grant Schemes
The estate have subscribed to various grant schemes as follows:
Rural Stewardship Scheme (split between Lots 1 and Lot 2).
Land Management Contract (LMC). Affects Lot 2 only.
Entered into in 2007, the current arrangement runs annually
until 2011.
Habitat Scheme - entered into in 1996 with 8 years to run.
Affects Lot 2 only.
The farm qualifies for the Less Favoured Area Support
Scheme (LFASS).
Forestry Grant Schemes and Timber
All standing and fallen timber is included in the sale. There are two
active Woodland Grant Schemes applicable to the woodlands, as
follows:
Annual management and Woodland Improvement Grant
(14.05ha) entered into in 2001 for woodlands surrounding the
castle. Expires 2007.
Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme. 2.54ha new planting.
770.49 will be claimable in 2010/2011 subject to satisfactory
establishment.
Sporting Rights
Insofar as they are owned, the shooting rights are included in the
sale.
Employees
The following staff are employed by the estate and their
employment would fall to be transferred to a purchaser under the
1981 TUPE regulations. They are highly recommended by the
sellers:
Part-time chef (lives in Garden Cottage)
Part-time secretary/host (lives locally)
Two part-time cleaners/waitresses
Two self-employed gardeners
Part-time help for the shoot
Mineral Rights
The minerals are included within the sale insofar as they are not
reserved by statute or common law to third parties.
Fire Safety Standards
Balfour Castle is fully compliant with the current regulations for its
operation as a hotel.
Environmental Stipulations
The following structures are listed as Buildings of Historic or
Architectural Interest:
Property Listing
Balfour Castle and terraced gardens A
Gate Lodge B
Gate piers C
Dovecot (Douche Tower) C
General Remarks
Viewing
Strictly by appointment with Savills (0131 247 3720) or CKD
Galbraith (01463 224 343).
Directions
From Kirkwall Airport (www.kirkwallairport.info) on the Orkney
mainland, take a taxi to the harbour, and the car ferry to Shapinsay
(Orkney Ferries 01856 872 044) or a private boat There are
ferries to the Orkney Islands from Thurso, Gills Bay and John
oGroats. See www.balfourcastle.com for more information.
For private flights, Kirkwall Airport Air Traffic Control may be
contacted on 01856 886205. The runway PCN is 15, and can
accept up to 21 ACN.
Entry & Possession
By arrangement.
Offers
Offers in Scottish Legal Form are to be submitted to either of the
joint selling agents. A closing date for offers may be fixed, and
prospective purchasers are advised to register their interest with
the selling agents following inspection.
Fixtures and Fittings
Curtains and fitted carpets in the castle and farmhouse are
included. The original castle contents including some fine pieces
depicting the Balfour family crest will be available to purchase at
valuation. Some farm machinery and equipment will also be
available to purchase at valuation in addition.
Single Farm Payment Entitlement (SFPE)
Entitlement is available to purchase in addition. Currently Balfour
Mains receives about 19,500 per annum. Further details are
available from the selling agents on request.
Definition of Agricultural Land
Arable land is only referred to as such where it was formerly
classified under the AAAPS. Ploughable pasture is defined as
land deemed capable of being ploughed for either forage crops or
re-seeding, but which is classified as permanent grass by
SGRPID. Neither classification is warranted; it is based on
information provided by the estate office and on inspection notes,
and has been collated without recourse to SGRPID.
Services, Occupancies & Council Tax
Unless otherwise stated, each property has mains water (metered) and electricity, and private drainage. There is a back up private water
supply for the castle which is rarely used.
Property Occupancy Services
Balfour Castle Vacant Partial oil fired central heating (new boiler installed 2007)
Shepherds Cottage Life Electric night storage heaters
Sound Cottage Under negotiation Oil fired central heating
Garden Cottage Service (cook)
Balfour Mains Farmhouse Vacant Oil-fired central heating
Stockmans House Vacant Oil-fired central heating
Balfour Mains Cottage Semi-derelict On site
Grass is let seasonally, and some sheds are let for over-wintering stock.
Castle Repairs & Maintenance
An extensive improvement programme comprising roof and
structural repairs, with assistance from Historic Scotland, has
taken place over the past 20 years. The castle conservatory is
currently undergoing refurbishment which will be completed by the
end of 2008.
Castle Business/Bookings
The castle will continue trading as a country house hotel until the
end of January 2009. Accounts would be made available to
parties who have viewed and who have an interest in taking over
the hotel business.
Solicitors
Herd Law Practice, 21 Bridge Street, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1HR.
Tel: 01856 870787.
Drever and Heddle, 56a Albert Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15
1HQ. Tel: 01856 872216.
Stipulations
Purchase Price
Within 7 days of the conclusion of missives a non-returnable
deposit of 10% of the purchase price shall be paid. The balance
of the purchase price will fall due for payment at the date of entry
(whether entry is taken or not) with interest accruing thereon at the
rate of 5% above Bank of Scotland base rate. No consignation
shall be effectual in avoiding such interest.
Disputes
Should any discrepancy arise as to the boundaries or any points
arise on the Remarks, Stipulations or Plan or the interpretation of
any of them, the question shall be referred to the arbitration of the
selling agents whose decision acting as experts, shall be final.
Plans, Areas and Schedules
These are based on the Ordnance Survey and are for reference
only. They have been carefully checked and computed by the
selling agents and the purchaser shall be deemed to have satisfied
himself as to the description of the property and any error or mis-
statement shall not annul the sale nor entitle either party to
compensation in respect thereof.
Overseas Purchasers
Any offer by a purchaser(s) who is resident outwith the United
Kingdom must be accompanied by a guarantee from a bank
which is acceptable to the sellers.
Lotting
It is intended to offer the property for sale as described, but the
seller reserves the right to divide the property into further lots, or to
withdraw the property, or to exclude any property shown in these
particulars.
Generally
Should there be any discrepancy between these particulars, the
General Remarks and Information, Stipulations and the Missives of
Sale, the latter shall prevail.
Servitude Rights, Burdens, Wayleaves and Statutory Public Access
Rights
The property is sold subject to and with the benefit of all servitude
rights, including rights of access and rights of way, whether public
or private. The property is also sold subject to the rights of public
access under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. The
purchaser(s) will be held to have satisfied themselves as to the
nature of all such servitude rights and others.
Apportionments
The Council Tax and all other outgoings shall be apportioned
between the seller and the purchaser(s) as at the date of entry.
Important Notice
Savills, CKD Galbraith and their clients give notice that:
1. They are not authorised to make or give any representations or
warranties in relation to the property either here or elsewhere,
either on their own behalf or on behalf of their client or otherwise.
They assume no responsibility for any statement that may be
made in these particulars. These particulars do not form part of
any offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements or
representations of fact.
2. Any areas, measurements or distances are approximate. The
text, photographs and plans are for guidance only and are not
necessarily comprehensive. It should not be assumed that the
property has all necessary planning, building regulation or other
consents and Savills have not tested any services, equipment or
facilities. Purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection or
otherwise. Neither these particulars nor any subsequent
communication relative to the property shall be binding upon
Savills or the Sellers (whether acted on or otherwise) unless the
same is incorporated within a written document signed by the
Sellers or on their behalf satisfying the requirements of Section 3 of
the Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995 or is granted in
pursuance of any such document.
CKD Galbraith
Reay House
17 Old Edinburgh Road
Inverness IV2 3HF
Tel: 01463 224343
Fax: 01463 243234
Email: inverness@ckdgalbraith.co.uk
Wemyss House
8 Wemyss Place
Edinburgh EH3 6DH
Tel: 0131 247 3720
Fax: 0131 247 3724
Email: edinburghrural@savills.com
www.savills.co.uk

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Balfour Castle Estate

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Balfour Castle Estate

Shapinsay, Orkney, Scotland

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