Farmhouse for sale in Beaminster DT8

A fine commercial 170.23 acre livestock/arable farm set close to Beaminster. 4 bedroom farmhouse with annexe, versatile farm buildings and productive arable/pastureland (currently registered organic) serviced by excellent farm tracks.

Situation

Kitwhistle Farm is situated in the rolling West Dorset countryside just over 2 miles from the popular town of Beaminster in the West Dorset National Landscape. The farm is quietly situated off a minor road, yet only a short distance from the A356 Maiden Newton to Crewkerne Road providing good access. Beaminster has a wide range of shops, pubs and restaurants, as well as a medical centre and veterinary surgery. The coastal town of Bridport also provides a range of amenities including a twice weekly market, regular farmers markets and a Waitrose supermarket. There are a range of cultural activities including a cinema, arts centre and newly refurbished leisure centre. The Jurassic Coast is just a short distance away and offers excellent opportunities for walking, fishing and swimming. Crewkerne and the county town of Dorchester, each with a mainline rail service to London Waterloo, are within easy commuting distance.

The Property

The farm comes to the open market following the vendors decision to retire after 35 years, having purchased in 1989. Formerly run as a dairy, it offers prospective purchasers the rare opportunity to acquire a superb commercial farm in this sought after area of West Dorset. The farmhouse provides spacious residential accommodation together with a substantial range of farm buildings and an excellent block of productive land making this a very versatile property.
Please see floorplan for accommodation and measurements.

Outside

The farmhouse is set back from the road and approached by a short drive that sweeps around to the parking area in front of the house. The surrounding gardens are mostly laid to lawn, with a conservatory to the rear of the property and patio doors opening onto the garden. A two-bedroom mobile home is located near the farm buildings and has been on site more than 14 years.

Lot One

Lot One - Farmhouse, farm buildings and about 24.59 acres (9.95 ha)
Kitwhistle Farmhouse is at the heart of the farmstead. It is an attractive, detached house constructed of reconstituted stone under a tile roof built in about 1969 subject to an Agricultural Occupancy Condition (aoc). It provides a spacious, well-proportioned family home, the kitchen which has an oil-fired
Rayburn, opens to a family room with patio doors to the conservatory and the terrace. There is a large more formal sitting/dining room with views to the south over the property’s land. At the other end of the house is the annexe currently with one bedroom, a further bedroom/sitting area and ensuite shower room. The vendors have successfully run a B&B business from the farm for over 30 years. The farmhouse could also provide the perfect multi-generational living accommodation for families.
Upstairs there are four spacious bedrooms including the master bedroom with ensuite bathroom and dressing area. The level gardens to the rear of the house provide privacy and separation from the surrounding farm and are laid mainly to lawn.

Farm Buildings
A range of adaptable farm buildings arranged around expansive concrete/hardcored yards, they comprise: -
1. Calf Housing (5.94m x 18m). Steel framed clad with block walls and a concrete floor.
2. Machinery Shed (6m x 17.09m) Steel framed.
3. Former Dairy/Collecting Yard (23.73m x 47.08m) Steel framed umbrella farm building with concrete/chalk floors.
Attached lean to (7.22m x 19.34m) and office/storage room which adjoins the dairy.
4. Machinery Store/Workshop (14.62m x 38.3m) Steel framed umbrella building with part block walls and part Yorkshire Boarding.
5. Concrete floor Silage Pit (13.73m x 18.57m)
6. Slurry Lagoon (16m x 31m)
7. Former cow kennels (delapidated)

The Land
Surrounding the farmstead is an excellent block of productive arable/pastureland offered in good heart, registered Organic with the Soil Association since 2006. The land has good access from the farmyard and the highway. Mature hedges and trees form the boundaries. Lot One extends to about 24.96 acres (10.10 ha) in all.

Lot Two

Lot Two - Land at Kitwshistle Farm about 117.05 acres (47.37 ha)

Adjoining Lot One, is a superb block of pasture/arable land that extends to 117.05 acres (47.37 ha) lying within a ring fence. It is well served by concrete tracks and long road frontage enabling easy access. The fields are all a good shape and size, being Grade 3 on the Agricultural Land Classification Scale. The soil is free draining loam over chalk, has been farmed in an arable rotation and is capable of growing good crops, much of the land is currently down to a Red Clover Leys. The land is level or gently sloping and divided into eight main enclosures. If sold in lots, the purchasers of Lot One will be granted a Right of Way over the main farm track between Lots One & Two.

Lot Three

Lot Three - Land at Corscombe Cross about 28.59 acres (11.57 ha)

An off lying block of quality, level arable/pastureland land, currently down to a Red Clover Ley. The land benefits from good access and road frontage, again with free draining soil of a chalk loam. Mature hedges and trees form the boundaries.

Services

Lot One – Main electricity and water. Private drainage.
Lot Two – Water troughs are located in most fields, if sold separately from Lot One a right to water will be required.
Lot Three – No water currently connected.

Tenure

Freehold with vacant possession upon completion.

Sporting

All rights are understood to be owned and included in the sale. Hunting with the Cattistock Hunt. Racing at Taunton or Wincanton. Golf at Yeovil or Bridport. Sailing on the coast at West Bay.

Rights Of Way

A public bridleway runs north to south along the main farm track. No Public Footpaths cross the property.

Education

State primary at Evershot and primary/secondary schools at Beaminster. Independent schools in the area include Perrott Hill, Leweston and the Sherborne Schools.

Local Authority

Dorset Council. Tel: Council Tax Band: E

Agricultural Schemes

Delinked payments will be retained by the current owners. The land is entered into an Organic Countryside Stewardship Scheme ending in 2026, the purchasers will be required to take this scheme over. No application to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (sfi) has been made.

Designations

Kitwhistle Farm is located in Dorsets area of National Landscape (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). The whole farm is located in a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (nvz) and has no Sites of Special Scientific Interest (sssi).

Planning

Interested parties are advised to make their own enquiries in respect of any planning consents and matters. The Local Authority is Dorset Council. Tel: /

Fixtures And Fittings

All freestanding equipment other than equipment not specifically mentioned in the details are excluded.

Ingoing Valuation

The purchaser shall in addition to the purchase price pay for any growing crops and other acts of husbandry in accordance with caav costings. Costs of stores including seeds, chemicals, fertilisers and fuel will be charged at cost. Silage and straw remaining in the holding will be paid for at market value. Should the valuation not be agreed within four weeks of completion, the matter will be referred to a single independent expert appointed by the vendors. Subject to timings holdover maybe required and early entry will be permitted for a purchaser to conduct tillages and sowing crops at their risk and cost.

Farm Dispersal Sale

The vendors reserve the right to hold a dispersal sale of farm machinery on site between exchange of contracts and completion.