bi6 Autumn Issue 2021

AUTUMN 2021
INSIGHT
bellingram.co.uk
Electric
dreams
Is now the time
to join the EV
Revolution?
P4
INGRAM
Selling your farm?
Demand outstrips
supply in buoyant
market across UK P6
Game on for 2022
Rural events are back
with a bang at GWCT
Scottish Game Fair P8
Living the dream
Do you want to quit
the rat race for a new
life in the country? P12
summer spring bi2019 bi2021 1

news
www.bellingram.co.uk
Your AMC agents for straightforward farm finance.
A name you can trust, covering the whole of Scotland.
in brief
Plant a tree for The Queen’s
Platinum Jubilee in 2022
Bell Ingram will be working
with our clients and associates
to support The Queen’s Green
Canopy (QGC) project. This is a
unique tree planting initiative
created to mark Her Majesty’s
Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which
invites people from across the
United Kingdom to “Plant a
Tree for the Jubilee”.
The Woodland Trust is
supplying three million trees for
schools, youth groups and local
communities and applications
are now open. Saplings will
be posted to those who apply
on a first come, first served
basis. Trees are also available to
purchase from The Woodland
Trust, or local suppliers, and
advice about planting your
trees is also available online.
From this month, details of any
Jubilee trees can be uploaded,
together with a photograph,
onto the Queen’s Green
Canopy map. Official plaques
to mark the occasion for
generations to come are now
available to order online.
As well as inviting the planting
of new trees, The Queen’s
Green Canopy will dedicate
a network of 70 Ancient
Woodlands across the United
Kingdom and identify 70
Ancient Trees to celebrate Her
Majesty’s 70 years of service.
Find out more at www.
queensgreencanopy.org n
Sarah Tyson
07710 308614
James Petty
07974 934301
Malcolm Taylor
07715 609325
SACGS claim
window extended
The Scottish Government has
extended the deadline for claims
to be submitted under Scotland’s
Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant
Scheme (SACGS) to 31st December
2021. This further extension was
announced in response to delays in
the supply of certain capital items.
Farmers are required to supply proof
of purchase and payment (an invoice
and bank statement) when they
submit their claim and are reminded
that items must be delivered and
fully operational by this date to be
eligible for payment.
Failure to submit your claim and/
or all the necessary supporting
information by 31st December will
result in non-payment of claims and
grant offers will be withdrawn.
The SACGS is a pilot capital grant
scheme that offers farmers funding
to purchase specific items of
agricultural equipment to help cut
greenhouse gas emissions from
farming operations. n
Helping It
Happen
finalists
announced
The finalists of the
SLE Helping it Happen
Awards 2021 have
been announced, with
nominations for those
who have contributed to
Scotland’s rural economy,
enhanced the environment
or made a success of
their business despite the
pandemic.
Bell Ingram is delighted
to sponsor the Education
Award and we’re looking
forward to joining the
virtual ceremony on 27th
October. A huge well
done to all the finalists,
but especially Bells Brae
Primary in Lerwick, Fresh
Start in Cumnock and
Ringlink Scotland Ltd
in Laurencekirk in our
Education category.
Now in its fifth year, the
Helping it Happen Awards
have become firmly
established in recognising
the role of estates, rural
businesses and community
groups who are helping
rural Scotland thrive.
The full list of finalists
is available on the SLE
website now www.
scottishlandandestates.
co.ukguidance. n
Careers
advice
from
our land
agents
Bell Ingram
land agents
Rhona Booth,
Tom Rust,
John Kennedy
and Louise
Finnie will be
sharing their
knowledge at an
SRUC Careers
event in Perth’s
Huntingtower
Hotel on 7th
October. Rural
Business
Management
students from
both the
Aberdeen and
Edinburgh
campuses will be
attending to find
out more about
careers in the
rural sector. n
2 bi2021 spring winter bi2019 1
autumn spring bi2021 3

enewables
renewables
l Far left and left, Head
of Estate Agency Carl
Warden is pictured
charging his Tesla Model
3 at Bell Ingram’s Perth
HQ. Below: The Tesla’s
dashboard display
screen.
Joe Fergusson
Renewables
Consultant
joe.fergusson@
bellingram.co.uk
Bell Ingram has joined the electric
vehicle revolution by installing
workplace charge points at
company HQ in Perth.
Our Head of Estate Agency Carl Warden
is leading the charge in his Tesla 3 which
has so far chalked up over 4,000 miles on
company business.
If you too are thinking of replacing a petrol or
INGRAM
Our friends
electric:
Is now the time to join the EV revolution?
diesel car with an electric model there are a
number of pros and cons to consider before
making the leap.
On the plus side, electric cars can greatly
reduce your carbon footprint and save you
hundreds of pounds each year in tax and
fuel costs. The choice and abilities in the
range of EVs on the market is expanding
quickly, and the charging infrastructure is
definitely improving. In fact, there are over
1,800 Chargepoint Scotland public points
(out of over 2,500 installed across Scotland
and 24,600 across the UK) offering free
charging at up to 50kW, which gives around
100 miles of travel for a 30 minute plug-in.
Additionally, there is still ‘hay to be made’
by taking advantage of grants from both
the UK’s Office for Low Emissions Vehicles
(OLEV) and from Transport Scotland
towards the installation of new charge
points at workplaces and at homes. And
the tax system remains generous towards
businesses making the switch, allowing year
1 100% capital write down of new vehicles
and 1% of value benefit-in-kind for users.
n the flip side however, EVs still have
Oa shorter range than petrol/diesel
vehicles and recharging the battery takes
time and planning. Added to this, the
upfront cost of buying these vehicles is
still much higher than their traditional
equivalents, although that gap is steadily
narrowing.
To become ubiquitous the EV must be as
convenient as its petrol/diesel equivalent,
with costs on a par, both new and second
hand, and the charging infrastructure must
catch up, enabling urban street-dwellers to
charge from lamp posts and bollards, etc.
What is for certain is that the writing
has been on the wall for the internal
combustion engine (ICE) ever since SONY
commercialised the Lithium-Ion battery for
by Carl Warden
The Tesla is a real
talking point when
out meeting clients
How does a petrolhead feel
about electric cars? Bell
Ingram’s Head of Estate
Agency Carl Warden has
been driving a Tesla Model 3
for almost a year and shares
what it’s really like to own
one of these pioneering EVs …
I’ve always been a petrolhead,
so it came as much of a
surprise to myself as it was to
my colleagues that I was the
first to drive a fully electric
vehicle.
its mobile telephone in 1991. In the 1910s,
Thomas Edison spent much more time
eeking out more miles from his lead-acid
powered EV than he did on his electric
lightbulb; what held him back was energy
density – or kilowatt hours per tonne.
ven without the Kyoto Protocol, all the
Esubsequent COPs and the focus on air
quality in our vehicle-clogged cities, the EV
– sometimes described as ‘a mobile phone
with wheels’ – was only ever waiting for the
battery with sufficient energy density to get
its driver from A to B without having to stop
to re-charge before it suited them to do
so – now achievable with today’s Lithium-
Ion chemistry and continuously-improving
variations on it.
The beautiful simplicity of the EV – body,
battery, computer, motor, wheels –
compared to the fantastically complex
supply chains for the hundreds of
Tesla have made significant
advances in technology and
battery life (estimated range is
360 miles in theory, but more
like 300 in practice on the
Model 3) so I felt the time was
right to take the plunge.
Once I made my decision, Bell
Ingram installed two electric
charging points at our Perth
HQ, and I installed a charger
at home. I also make good
use of local authority charging
points which, in my area, are
currently free after payment of
an annual £20 subscription to
activate the service. This allows
for fast charging and the car
can be topped up quickly
within 30-40 minutes while I
catch-up on paperwork.
Many new EV drivers suffer
from what is called ‘range
anxiety’ and if you are a
‘glass half empty’ character,
you may find this difficult
to deal with initially. I
found myself watching the
battery charge and the
estimated range almost
more than watching the
speedometer! However,
once you understand the
vehicle and how it operates
and performs on everyday
driving, then you soon
readjust and get into the
way of things.
The complete silence from
the initial start is a strange
experience but once you
gather speed and there is
both wind and road noise,
things settle down to a more
normal environment.
additional whizzing, rubbing, grinding
and exploding elements of an ICE vehicle,
means that EVs are the future of personal
transport, like it or not. Their electricity
may come from a fuel cell fuelled by
green hydrogen, catalysed from water by
renewable energy, but with ranges and
charging times improving quickly, in a
decade or so the ICE will become a rare
and specialised thing. n
➤ Want to know more? Renewables
Consultant Joe Fergusson provides
a feasibility appraisal service to any
organisation pondering the viability of
joining in the EV revolution, and can be
contacted at joe.fergusson@bellingram.
co.uk or 07711 552693.
My Tesla 3 is a long-range,
four-wheel drive model and
having driven 4,000 miles
in the vehicle since January,
I am not only amazed with
the overall experience, but
also my own attitude to the
vehicle.
I had not anticipated the
conversations that are
generated by the Tesla - most
of my clients are keen to talk
about the car as it may be the
first time they have got up
close and personal with the
technology.
With technology, battery life
and mileage range improving
all the time, it won’t be long
before EVs cease to be a
novelty and become the
norm on UK roads.
4 bi2021 spring autumn autumn winter spring bi2019 bi2021 35

farm sales
farm sales
North of England
Aberdeenshire
Strong demand outstrips
supply In a buoyant
farm sales
market
Bell Ingram’s
farm sales
team
continues
to see
a high
demand
for all
land types
throughout Scotland, with
farming properties selling fast
and often for well over the
guide price.
Volumes have remained tight
this year, although there are
possibly a few more offerings
now than at this point in 2020.
Strong demand means that
what does come on the market
moves quickly to a closing date
and we seeing farms achieving
anything between five to 30%
over the asking price.
Private sales continue to be
popular and have resulted from
both competitive closing dates
and one-to-one negotiations.
Farmers who bought land
to the market in the first two
quarters were rewarded with
strong prices.
We are seeing traditional farms
snapped up by local buyers,
often a neighbouring farming
business looking to expand
its area of operations. In this
market, sales are being driven
by death and inheritance,
retirement or a desire to get out
of the business entirely.
Conversely, we are seeing
growing interest in rural
property and farms from buyers
who want out of towns and
cities and are looking to move
into the agricultural sector
for the first time. We are also
seeing farmers selling up in
the south-west of England
with a view to moving north of
the border. Elsewhere, we are
also seeing buyers seeking out
development potential and
some corporate clients looking
for portfolio expansion.
Traditional farms are often
split into individual lots with
the residential element sold
separately. Serious farm
buyers want the land only and
generally aren’t particularly
interested in farmhouses or
steadings, as the latter often
can’t accommodate modern
farming machinery. For
example, one recent buyer in
Perthshire asked if Bell Ingram
would sell the farmhouse as
soon as the farm sale was
completed.
It is interesting to see arable
land and the best pasture
land values rising, proof of the
limited supply and continuing
demand, especially where
neighbours have the chance
to buy. Purchasers are often
also pursuing AMC finance,
taking advantage of longterm
loans on competitive
terms and low interest rates,
whether for traditional
farming or diversified rural
businesses.
I
Rob Whitson
Head of Farm
Sales
07703 822739
01463 717 799
n addition, the forestry
sector is still very strong
with good timber
markets at present. The
unprecedented demand from
investors for land suitable
for tree planting continues
and is now expanding due
to the impact of carbon
sequestration, although values
are very site specific making it
Gartmain Farm on the Isle of Islay is
for sale at o/o £685,000. For more
information about this or our other
listed farm and land properties
please go to our website www.
bellingram.co.uk
difficult to apply averages.
Values for sporting interests
remain steady, but again vary
depending upon the particular
estate, location and facilities -
for stalking estates a modern
deer larder that meets current
regulations is essential to
support the sporting asset.
ooking ahead to the
rest of 2021, we expect
Lvolumes to remain at
a low level with demand for
quality farmland staying high.
However, if Scotland follows
the patterns seen in the
English market, we could see
more acres brough to market
in 2022. Factoring in the
adjustments to trade following
Brexit and the lack of detail
around the future subsidy
support scheme to Scottish
farming post 2023/24, we
expect the market for farmland
to remain price sensitive.
It’s a similar picture in the North of England
with demand outstripping supply, says
Derek Tyson from Bell Ingram’s Thirsk
office.
He continues: “While Bell Ingram Thirsk has
seen four farms complete this year, which
is more than we would normally handle,
the general market is short of supply with
demand is outstripping volume and being
driven mainly by rollover and IHT.
“Interestingly, most sales are being
brought to the market due to retirement
or bereavement, and complete farms are
selling in the region of £15,000 to £16,000
per acre.
“Bare arable land is generating a lot
of interest but is again dependent on
demand, with Grade 1 in a desirable area
achieving £15,000/acre while Grade 3 in an
area of less neighbouring demand can be
much lower at £8,000 per acre.”
Interest in rural property and farms for
buyers who want to move out of towns
and cities to work remotely has seen
some farmers sell up in the south-west of
England and move to Scotland, says James
Petty from Bell Ingram’s Aberdeen office.
He continues: “While not previously
unknown this has been a noticeable recent
trend with one of our sales resulting in
such a move.
“Strong demand means that what does
come on the Aberdeenshire market moves
very quickly to a closing date and I am
not expecting any significant increase in
volume as we move into the second part of
the year.
“Demand from lifestyle and amenity buyers
has risen, while forestry demand is very
strong and putting a level in the market as
high as upland livestock buyers can pay.”
6 bi2021 autumn spring autumn winter spring bi2021 bi2019 73
Angus
Malcolm Taylor from Bell Ingram’s Forfar
office is feeling optimistic about the market
and is advising both sellers and buyers to
make the most of the current conditions.
He says: “Soaring demand means that first
class farms and good quality arable land are
selling fast across Angus with ‘off-market’
private sales becoming more common in this
competitive market.
“Arable is generating a lot of interest but is
again dependent on demand, with the Angus
average around £10,000 - £14,000 per acre.
“We are seeing farm sales driven by
retirement, usually in families where the
next generation has no interest in farming.
Meanwhile neighbours or those with rollover
funds to invest are still the main buyers.
“Farmers are looking for alternative
finance attracted by low interest rates and
competitive terms on long-term loans offered
by lenders like the Agricultural Mortgage
Company (AMC).”
Argyll and Bute
One of the most noticeable developments
is the rise in clients looking for rural lifestyle
opportunities, says Andrew Fuller from Bell
Ingram’s Oban office.
He says: “The Oban office has certainly been
busier with farm and land sales over the
last 18 months. We are setting closing dates
for many farms and achieving up to 30%
over asking prices in some cases. There are
a mixture of circumstances behind our
farm listings, everything from retirement
and bereavement to inheritance and
lifestyle change.
“Elsewhere, corporate clients looking for
portfolio expansion are becoming more
common and we are also seeing a strong
demand for amenity farms and rural
lifestyle properties with purchasers seeking
development potential. For example,
we have Barmore Farm Cottage and
Steadings, a wonderful blend of property
offering substantial income potential
with the added advantage of five prime
development plots.”
● Agricultural businesses have faced significant change over the last few years. If you need
financial help and support for any project, Bell Ingram’s specialist team of AMC Agents is on
hand with an understanding of agriculture’s unique funding needs.
James Petty – 01224 621 300 ❘ Malcolm Taylor – 01307 462 516 ❘ Sarah Tyson – 01738 630904

events
events
Game On!
l Managing Partner Mark
Mitchell addresses the audience
at SLE’s Chairman’s Breakfast
which was sponsored by Bell
Ingram.
It’s showtime for Bell Ingram
l Fiona Van
Aadrt, North
East Regional
Support
Officer, SLE
and Lucy
Laidlaw,
Director, SLE. l Sarah
Alison Lowson
Associate Marketing
Manager
01738 621121
07584 093354
Covid has hastened the speed of digital change at a
pace none of us could have predicted, and it’s been
inspiring to watch the rural sector adapt to new
ways of working over these past 18+ months.
The way in which many events switched from live
to digital platforms to unite and showcase the
sector during 2020/21 has been particularly remarkable. The Royal Highland Showcase
organisers have even managed to create a complimentary product that looks likely to
survive the pandemic and run in tandem with future shows!
Tyson, Partner
and Head of
Valuations,
Bell Ingram
(left).
Yet, no matter how clever the technology, I would argue that these virtual shows and
conferences are no substitute for the real thing.
From Farming Scotland in February to the Royal Highland Show in June, from the
Game Fair in July right through to AgriScot in November, these industry staples are the
lifeblood of relationship building and brand awareness for rural professional services
companies like Bell Ingram and a much-missed part of our yearly calendar.
These are occasions when we can meet and entertain our clients and contacts, as well
as catching up with colleagues in a more relaxed and informal setting. In short, they are
both a fun and highly effective way of doing business in our sector.
So, when I heard that the GWCT Scottish Game Fair was going ahead this year, I felt a
mixture of excitement tempered with a certain amount of trepedation.
Excitement … because it’s one of the highlights of Bell Ingram’s events calendar when we
partner with our friends at Scottish Land & Estates on their ringside marquee to sponsor
their Chairman’s breakfast.
l Mark Tennant (left),
Chairman of Scottish
Land and Estates, and
Ian Robertson (right),
Executive Director,
Countryside Learning
Scotland.
l From left to right: Murdo
Fraser MSP, Marcus Humphrey,
GIS Manager, Bell Ingram, Ian
Robertson (right), Executive
Director, Countryside Learning
Scotland and Stephen Young,
Head of Policy, SLE.
l Mark Mitchell,
Managing Partner,
Bell Ingram, and Mark
Tennant, Chairman
of Scottish Land and
Estates.
Trepidation … because after two years without attending any sort of live gathering I was
nervous about the potential ramifications of exposing colleagues and contacts to large
crowds and social interactions.
At first glance, however, the so-called “new normal” felt a lot like the “old normal”. The
hunting, shooting and fishing brigade were all present and correct, alongside the main
ring and the usual shopping and foodie attractions.
But scratch beneath the surface, and the organisers had obviously spent a great deal of
time and effort behind the scenes ensuring they complied with Covid protocols and that
the public felt safe.
Fast track entry, track and trace, hand sanitisers, improved toilet and washing facilities,
face masks and elbow bumps (instead of hugs and handshakes) were very much
in evidence around the showground which had been sensibly reworked to avoid
bottlenecks and allow for much wider avenues between stands and marquees.
But whether it was the slick organisation or the outdoors nature of the Game Fair (the
weather was unseasonably warm and sunny for late September!), I felt considerably safer
at Scone than I often do at my local supermarket.
Bottom line is that the success of the Scottish Game Fair bodes well for next year and
although there’s still a question mark over some indoor events, I’m hopeful that the
usual calendar of outdoor agri shows will return to some sort or normality.
That said, the pressure will be on events’ organisers to continue to make both exhibitors
and attendees feel secure in this post pandemic landscape. It’s not enough to talk the
talk, you have to walk the walk and ensure that protocols are observed.
Bell Ingram staff are
hoping to attend a full
calendar of events next
year. Watch our social
medial channels
for details.
l From left to right: Louise Finnie (Assistant Land Agent, Highland), Carl Warden (Partner, Estate Agency), Rob Whitson (Partner, Highland), Mhairi Walker (GIS Technician),
Marcus Humphrey (GIS Manager), Sarah Tyson (Partner and Head of Valuations), Mark Mitchell (Managing Partner), Carrie McLelland (Assistant Land Agent, Highland), Moira
Webley (Estate Agent), Murray Chisholm (Property Assistant).
• 8 bi2021 spring autumn
winter spring bi2021 bi2019 93

land agency
renewables
estate agency
Land agency
isn’t a job,
it’s a vocation
Mhairi Walker
GIS Technician
Rural Land
Management
01738 621121
I wanted a career where I
could continue to learn and
gain practical experience in
the GIS field
Bell Ingram welcomed Dundee University
graduate Mhairi Walker to our GIS mapping team
this month. GIS technician Mhairi will be based in
Perth but covering client work UK-wide.
Charlotte Gilfillan
Senior Associate Highland
charlotte.gilfillan@
bellingram.co.uk
01463717799
Bell Ingram is currently
recruiting for qualified chartered
surveyors for positions across
Scotland. Please check out our
website for more details of these
positions www.bellingram co.uk
A
pivotal shift in how land is being
managed means it is an exciting
time to join the vibrant and growing
rural land management sector.
The Climate Change Emergency and
Biodiversity Crisis have been major
catalysts in developing new ideas, new opportunities and new technologies.
Natural Capital, Carbon Offsetting and the Green Recovery are at the heart of
this and are driving the demand for more professionals, specifically qualified
chartered surveyors and foresters, who have the knowledge and expertise to
help clients maximise their assets.
There is perhaps a misconception that the only route to becoming a
qualified chartered surveyor and securing chartered status, involves having
an RICS accredited degree and undertaking the Assessment of Professional
Competence while working for a firm. In fact, there are many routes available
through the RICS, including senior professional, specialist or academic
assessment, direct entry and preliminary review for those with more than five
years relevant work experience with any degree. These alternate routes are
increasing in popularity and helping facilitate changes in profession later in life.
I
myself did not consider moving into land agency until my late twenties,
having worked on a number of sporting estates in Scotland prior to
joining Bell Ingram. My experience on the ground gave me an intimate
understanding of how the land and the people worked and provided a crucial
foundation on which I would build (and continue to build) future knowledge
and expertise. Many of my rural colleagues have also come from different
backgrounds including farming, military, commercial surveying, insurance and
health and safety. This diversity of life experience coupled with professional
competence is something that adds a lot of value to the work we do for our
clients.
One thing we all have in common though is our passion for managing land.
From meetings with lawyers in smart Edinburgh offices looking at Option
Agreements for a new windfarm, to bumping out the hill in a Land Rover
to look at a deer fence with a keeper, no two days are same. We travel to
some of the most beautiful places in Scotland, places that others may only
ever see on a screen, and we get paid to do it. One of my colleagues likes to
call it ‘professional tourism’. We manage people as much places, cultivating
relationships with clients, staff, tenants, guests, visitors, statutory bodies,
communities, and everyone in between. We are problem solvers, lateral
thinkers, entrepreneurs and innovators. Land agency is not just a job to us, it’s
not just a career, it’s a vocation. n
Talking about her route into this fast-growing
sector, Mhairi says: “I have always been interested
in understanding the significance of geographical
patterns and interactions in both human and
physical environments from studying geography
in school and going on fieldtrips to Peru, Tanzania
and within the UK.
“I became particularly interested in GIS during
my undergraduate BSc Honours Geography and
Environmental Science degree at the University
of Dundee. For my dissertation, I travelled to a
remote cloud forest in Honduras to complete
fieldwork measuring trees with the aim of
determining total carbon stocks across the forest
using remote sensing techniques. This experience
made me curious about the other uses of GIS for
displaying and analysing geographic data.
“I furthered my knowledge and understanding
of GIS by undertaking postgraduate study in
MSc Geographical Information Science at the
University of Edinburgh. During this year I also
completed an internship within the GIS team of
an energy company to gain experience of GIS in
practice.
“Following completion of my Masters, I wanted
a graduate job where I could continue to learn
and gain experience in the GIS field. Bell Ingram’s
variety of expertise attracted me to the company
since I saw the opportunity to work across
multiple fields to gain widespread knowledge of
GIS applications.
“At Bell Ingram, I will be providing GIS services to
clients including estate management, forestry
and utility companies, assisting with GPS surveys
and supporting and developing GIS services
throughout the company. n
Bell Ingram is currently recruiting for
qualified chartered surveyors for positions
across Scotland. Please check out our
website for more details of these positions
www.bellingram co.uk
Bell Ingram: A special agent
for your special property
When it comes to
these extraordinary times.
presenting your home
for sale, a special
property needs a
special agent to
navigate the market in
From market appraisal to conclusion
of missives, Bell Ingram’s estate agents
always go the extra mile to ensure your
expectations are not just met but exceeded.
We have residential property teams in
Perth, Beauly, Oban, Ayr, Aberdeen, Forfar,
and Thirsk, covering Scotland and the North
of England. Specialising in desirable rural
properties, we also have extensive expertise
selling farms, estates, crofts, commercial,
lifestyle, plots and woodland.
So, whether it’s a grand Victorian shooting
lodge or a high-end retirement apartment,
a farmhouse with attached holiday
cottage lets or an historic thatched island
blackhouse, we are perfectly placed to find
you the right buyer or the right property.
At Bell Ingram, our agents pride themselves
on a highly personal approach, outstanding
service and attention to detail. The high
levels of staff retention also mean that our
clients can be sure of dealing with highly
qualified and experienced people at all
times.
Drawing on over 100 years’ experience
in the prime property market, we offer
our clients an extensive database which
provides relevant, comparable evidence
for market appraisals when marketing
properties and matching buyers to
suitable homes.
And our in-depth understanding of
regional and national markets enables
our team to achieve the best possible
result for your sale or purchase.
ead of Estate Agency Carl Warden
says: “Bell Ingram’s estate agents
Hhave seen unprecedented housing
market activity across Scotland during
the last 18 months of the pandemic.
“High buyer demand coupled with
a shortage of stock has driven up
valuations with residential properties
achieving anything between 5% to 30%
over the asking price, and I expect this
upward trend to continue.
“It’s 100% a sellers’ market at the
moment with properties being
snapped up within days of going live
on the market, particularly if they are in
desirable locations like Perth and Kinross,
Highlands and Islands, or Argyll and
Bute.”
The pandemic is also driving a race for
space. Larger detached properties at the
upper end of the market with plenty of
outside space and spare room that could
be used as an office are in high demand
as hybrid and work-from-home changes
mean buyers are no longer tied into city
locations.
arl Warden continues: “Lifestyle
properties have also been
Cattracting a lot of attention from
buyers looking for a beautiful home
with a business attached. Bell Ingram is
currently marketing a number of such
opportunities which tick all the boxes for
purchasers wanting to quit the rat race
for a new life in the country.
“The rise in house prices has meant buyers
were able to pay off the LBTT due on
properties above £400,000, with equity.
And with interest rates expected to rise
a little earlier than previously predicted,
I’d advise buyers to take advantage of the
current low rates,” he adds.
➤ Based in key locations across
Scotland, Bell Ingram’s estate
agents will provide a comprehensive
marketing service. For a free market
appraisal of your property, please
contact our team on 01738 621 121
or email perth@bellingram.co.uk
10 bi2021 summer spring autumn summer autumn spring winter bi2021 bi2019 111
l Bell Ingram’s
Head of Estate
Agency Carl
Warden.

estate agency
estate agency
Four of the best homes with
lifestyle businesses attached
Lifestyle properties have been attracting
a lot of attention from buyers looking for a
beautiful home with a business attached.
Bell Ingram is currently marketing four such
opportunities which tick all the boxes for
purchasers wanting to quit the rat race for a
new life in the country.
We speak to the sellers and find out why
they are moving and what drew them to buy
their unique properties in the first place …
If you are spiritually
inclined, Inverliever
Lodge has a natural
healing ambience
After 16 blissful
years running the
internationally
renowned Yoga
retreat Ecoyoga at Inverliever
Lodge near Lochgilphead,
Nick and Rachel Loening are
embarking on a new chapter.
They’re selling up and moving
back to the big city.
What’s clear though is that a
piece of their hearts will always
remain at this hidden gem
where they embarked on an
incredible journey in 2004.
“Back in the early noughties I
used to run a busy city centre
yoga studio in Edinburgh,”
explains Nick (pictured below).
“When Rachel and I began a
family, we loved the idea of
running a retreat centre. We’d
visited centres all over the world
and there wasn’t anything like it
in Scotland, so we decided we
wanted to start our own one.”
The first time they saw
Inverliever Lodge they knew
they’d found the perfect place
for their business and to build
a family home. Since then, the
Loening family have welcomed
visitors from all over the world,
from California to China.
Today, the retreat, on the
market with Bell Ingram, has
27 bedrooms with options to
expand, private three-bedroom
owner’s accommodation as
well as a fully equipped yoga
studio with massage room and
renewable energy to power the
place.
“Many of our visitors come
to Ecoyoga, then go touring
Scotland,” says Nick. “The
incredible location is just so
special and makes visiting
all the more memorable for
people. If you’re spiritually
inclined, there’s a natural
healing ambience to the place
which people often comment
on when they visit.”
Nature is at the heart of
Inverliever. It’s an incredibly
“Nature is at
the heart of
Inverliever”
pure natural environment. The
water is freshly sprung from
the mountains nearby and the
air is fresh. There are hot baths
next to a spectacular waterfall
which many repeat visitors
come back for year-upon-year.
With the rise in popularity of
wild swimming, guests like
to enjoy the hot baths before
plunging into the cold fresh
water beneath the waterfall,
then back into the hot baths.
“After visiting, it’s like emerging
from a cocoon,” says Nick.
“People genuinely look and
feel better. People comment
on this time and time again. A
feeling of rejuvenation. We are
very unique in that respect and
it’s something people only fully
appreciate when they come to
visit.”
ith serene natural
surroundings that
Wlend themselves to a
retreat style of business, Nick
believes the space could be
used for all sorts of retreat-style
businesses. “There are so many
opportunities for expansion
or introducing new activities
to this special space. Group
activities around mindfulness,
meditation or perhaps arts,
crafts or writing retreats. There’s
so much potential here.”
In the time Nick and Rachel
have developed Egoyoga,
their babies have grown
into teenagers, which has
prompted their move back
to Edinburgh, but the place
will always be special to the
Loenings. “Above all else, it
has been a wonderful family
home for us and we know it
could be again for another
family or couple looking
perhaps looking for a lifestyle
change. Living and working
here is ideal for the kind of
person who is up for living in
the countryside. It’s 12 miles
to the nearest shop so it really
is exceptionally peaceful
and remote here. A genuine
retreat.” n
We don’t look at the clock…
that’s the beauty of
Ardnamurchan
When Richard and
Vicky Pollock
decided to
holiday on the
West Coast of
Scotland, they
were looking
for an escape.
Having lived and worked in some of the
UK’s busiest cities, a peaceful change of
pace was in order. Little did they know
that their trip north would take them on a
journey to a new life.
“Six years ago we went on holiday to
Scotland and discovered Ardnamurchan,”
says Richard. “To get there, it’s a single
track road which is 35 miles one way and
far away from Route 500. People don’t
stumble upon Ardnamurchan, they seek
it out.”
Richard and Vicky instantly fell in love with
the place. “The beautiful surroundings,
incredible wildlife, friendly community and
the relaxing way of life really appealed to
us.”
At the time, they were looking for a second
home. Then, when the Ardnamurchan
Natural History Visitor Centre came onto
the market, it proved an easy decision for
the couple to relocate. “After working in
London, you reach a point where you want
to leave the rat race, the pollution and
find somewhere to escape to. People who
come here can get away from the hustle
and bustle, and that’s exactly what we did.”
Running the visitor centre and a coffee
shop has never felt like a job to Richard
and Vicky. “It really isn’t work at all talking
to customers and making friends. We don’t
look at the clock. We often don’t know the
time or even the date. That’s the beauty of
Ardnamurchan.”
The couple have built lasting friendships in
the area too with many locals coming to
visit for coffee and a catch-up every week.
“It’s a real community hub. The people
here are wonderful and so welcoming. It’s
“The people
here are
wonderful and
so welcoming”
not always like that when you move to a
new place, so it’s very special here in that
way.”
Closing every year from the end of October
until just before Easter means Richard and
Vicky can take the time to visit friends and
family during the off-season. In the past,
they have travelled abroad, exploring the
world during the winter months, but have
always been ready to return home. “Where
we are in the world, it would never beat
Ardnamurchan. It’s an absolutely stunning
place to be.”
12 4 bi2019 bi2021 winter autumn spring autumn spring winter bi2021 bi2019 13
5
N
ow looking to retire fully, Richard
and Vicky are selling the visitor
centre and home, but have no
intention of leaving the area - they couldn’t
imagine being anywhere else now.
They are hoping that another couple
looking for an escape to a more peaceful
and relaxed way of life will take the
opportunity to take over the business.
“We’re not just selling the business. We
are selling a lifestyle – a way of life. People
really need to come here and experience
the place and the way of life to fully
appreciate how beautiful it is.” n
➤ For more information or to arrange
a viewing of any of these properties,
please get in touch with our agency
team on 01631 566 122 or email
oban@bellingram.co.uk

estate agency
estate agency
There are few places in Scotland or, in fact,
in the world, more breathtaking to see than
the coastline along the Isle of Mull. Matthew
and Julia Reade have been admiring the
spectacular view for over three decades.
As the owners of Calgary Café on the
north-west point of the island, the Reade
family have been welcoming visitors to this
exceptional spot to soak up the landscape,
wildlife and sense of peacefulness for the
past 34 years.
Now, after many joyful years, Matthew
and Julia are retiring and selling the
business. “We felt it was the right time to
give somebody else the opportunity to live
and work here,” says Matthew. “We’re not
moving far as we’ve built a house nearby
overlooking the bay. We couldn’t imagine
living anywhere else.”
When Matthew ventured to Mull as a
teenager, he had no idea the lifelong
connection with place he was about to
forge. “I grew up working on a dairy farm
in Somerset,” says Matthew. “When I was
about 16, my father sent me and my
brother to start a dairy farm on Mull. Then
I met Julia and eventually we bought
Calgary Farmhouse together.”
A derelict farm originally, Matthew and Julia
renovated the space into a seven-bedroom
hotel and restaurant, combining Matthew’s
passion for woodwork and sculpture for the
furnishings and Julia’s catering background
for the restaurant. “We were accidental
hoteliers,” Matthew remembers. “I was
22-years-old and had barely any experience
of staying in hotels, so it was a real learning
curve.”
After 22 years as a hotel and restaurant, and
once their two sons, Tom and Charlie, were
older, Matthew and Julia converted the
hotel into self-catering accommodation.
Is there anywhere else in
Scotland you can finish
your day with a swim in the
Atlantic?
The one constant has been their café. “It’s a
very busy spot,” says Matthew. “We welcome
a lot of day trippers and many people who
return to Mull every year. There’s people
who have been coming here all the years
we have been here.”
Right next to the Calgary Café is Calgary
Art in Nature, a popular woodland trail
featuring sculptures that celebrate the
beauty of nature. Even on a wet day people
come to enjoy the Art in Nature trail which
brings many visitors into the café.
Situated next to the beach, Matthew says
it's one of the best places for a family
to live. “Our boys grew up here with the
beach on our doorstep which they just
loved. We employ seasonal staff in the
summer and when they finish a shift they
run down to the beach and swim in the
sea. Is there anywhere else in Scotland
you can finish your day with a swim in the
Atlantic?”
The Reades are excited to see what the
next owners of Calgary Café do. “It doesn’t
necessarily need to be a café,” Matthew
adds. “It could be a licensed restaurant, or a
yoga retreat, or a recording studio. It’s such
a versatile space.” n
We can’t wait to see
what adventures
the next owners of
Barmore Farm go on
W
hen listening to
Graeme and Liz
Scott talk about
Barmore Farm,
their home and
business for the
past 36 years, it’s
a story of family,
hard work and an unwavering passion for
the building and its history.
A stunning converted farm steading and
detached residential cottage with five
premium development plots sitting in
10 acres of land near the popular coastal
village of Tarbert, Graeme and Liz originally
bought Barmore Farm 1983 when they
worked at nearby Stonefield Castle.
The buildings were derelict at the time,
having not been inhabited in over
50 years. Since then, the couple have
redeveloped the steading, from digging
the floors out to insulating the two feet
thick walls. In the early days they opened
a restaurant before developing the
business into six beautiful self-catering
cottages, each completely unique from
the next, which they let today.
“The steading is a listed building featuring
the same sandstone as Stonefield Castle,”
says Graeme. “In the courtyard you can
see it was a dairy farm and we haven’t
changed anything. Externally, it is still as it
would have been in the late 18th into early
19th century.”
Graeme and Liz raised their family at
Barmore and have many fond memories
of living there. “We’ve been here for 36
years which tells a story in itself,” Graeme
continues. “We’ve spent a huge amount
of our lives here. Our children went to the
excellent school nearby in Tarbert and had
a wonderful childhood here. For kids, it’s
absolutely idyllic.”
ow, after more than three decades
at Barmore Farm, Graeme and Liz
Nare looking to retire, but aren’t going
far. “We love the area, always have, so we
are planning to build a new home nearby,”
adds Graeme. “It’s time to take things a
little easier and enjoy spending more time
with our young grandchildren.”
They are excited to see what the next
owners do with the space. “Being older
now, we can see a younger individual or
couple really seizing an opportunity here,”
Graeme concludes. “There’s so much
potential. As self-catering holiday lets,
the occupancy rates are extremely high,
so somebody could walk straight in and
continue that, but it really is a blank sheet
for whatever anyone wants – it’s all there.
We can’t wait to see what adventures the
next owners of Barmore Farm go on.” n
➤For more
information or to
arrange a viewing please
get in touch with our
agency team on
oban@bellingram.co.uk or
01631 566 122. Go to
www.bellingram.co.uk
for more details about
these and Bell Ingram’s
other properties
for sale.
“The steading is a listed building
featuring the same sandstone as
Stonefield Castle”
14 bi2021 spring autumn autumn spring winter bi2021 bi2019 15
3

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