A rare opportunity to purchase a significant area of forestry at the confluence of the Rivers Tay and Tummel in Central Perthshire<br /><br /><br /><br /> <b>Description</b><br /><br />The forest forms part of the famous Atholl Estates, one of the principal landowners in Central Scotland. The woodlands have a long history of stewardship and are some of the oldest examples of managed commercial forestry. Situated in a fertile tree growing area the forests offer a rare chance to combine a fantastic timber investment opportunity with woodlands of diverse character, species and age structure, but also steeped in history. <br /><br />The managed softwood forests around Perthshire are amongst some of the oldest plantation woodlands in the country. Killechangie was bought by the 3rd Duke of Atholl in 1767 and Drumbuie by the 4th Duke in 1774. The 4th Duke, known as 'Planter John', was so enthused by planting Larch he was reputed to have asked for a cannon to fire seeds at inaccessible areas, and was a pioneer in the move to more commercial planting and timber production systems. The Dukes are reported to have planted some 27 million conifer trees, many of them Larch for future ship building, and developed a method of tree planting on mounds rather than in holes, the precursor to today's modern establishment practices. <br /><br />The Duke’s intention was to provide an income stream for the family well into the 19th Century and beyond. Estate timber was sought after due to its quality, and timber was used to build Dunkeld Cathedral, Forest Lodge and as scaffolding sections for the Dunkeld Bridge over the River Tay. At the onset of WW1 estate timber was in great demand, but lack of skilled staff away fighting on the western front required foresters to travel from Canada to fell timber. <br /><br />The estate has remained innovators in commercial forestry practice being early adopters of mechanisation and new planting techniques in the twentieth Century.<br /><br />Ready access to the A9 means the property has relative ease of access to a range of timber milling and processing facilities with many recognising the quality of timber produced on the estate.<br /><br /><br /> <br /> <br />Acreage: 708.1886 Acres<br /><br /><b>Directions</b><br /><br />Lot 1 - From the A9 take the A827 turnoff for Aberfeldy. The entrance to the service road (A1 on the sale plan) is 250 metres beyond the River Tummel bridge to the north, which leads to a junction at point A2. The main entrance to the forest is located at point A7 approximately 350 metres north of point A2. <br /><br /><b>Additional Info</b><br /><br />Lot 1 Killiechangie Forest - Killechangie is a diverse conifer forest situated to the west of the River Tummel. The forest extends to 286 hectares. Access is off the A827 just west of Ballinluig, over a newly constructed private tarmac road serving commercial assets belonging to Atholl Estates. The forest is split into two sections by a mine access road to Duntanlich Mine that is being retained by the seller, but is essentially a single forest block for management purposes. <br /><br />The forest is mixed rotation with a diverse age structure following successive felling and replanting. The woodland has two distinct characters – the older timber trees include impressive stands of mixed conifer. The younger timber trees are mainly Sitka Spruce which is present at various age classes. The current weighted average age is 39 years old. <br /><br />Growth rates vary across the forest, principally as a function of the timber species planted. Much of the southern part of the site is young or midrotation Sitka Spruce and growth is very good, with Yield Classes recorded at up to YC26. The forest includes 35ha of felled land and the purchaser will be responsible for restocking. The current forest design plan is for restocking with a mix of 80% Sitka Spruce with 20% Scots Pine. A detailed compartment schedule is available on request from the Selling Agents. <br /><br />The property has a main access for timber transport at grid reference NN970526 onto the minor road that leads north from Logierait, and benefits from the new private access spur constructed onto the A827 avoiding the village. The public road is a consultation route for timber haulage. <br /><br />Within the forest there is a network of tracks serving most areas. The seller is retaining an access road to the working Duntanlich Barytes mine that passes through the forest, although the purchaser will have rights to use it subject to operational controls. Full details are contained in the dataroom, but essentially the purchaser will be bound to abide by the road operating code which sets out procedures for access over the road and in emergencies. Purchasers should note that the mine road is suitable for secondary (non-HGV) timber haulage only and recent timber operations have seen timber hauled by tractor and trailer down to a transfer area near the forest gate at A7 on the sale plan. <br /><br />Viewing - May be undertaken unaccompanied during daylight hours so long as viewers are in possession of a set of these sale particulars and have advised the Selling Agents of the date they intend to view. There are locked gates at A7 and A8 viewing parties will need to obtain the padlock codes from the Selling Agents. For your own personal safety please be aware of potential hazards within the forests when viewing. Viewers are required to use hazard warning lights when driving on the mine access road, stick to the sign posted speed limit and should safely give way to all traffic in a designated lay-by. Viewers are not allowed through the mine operators compound which is between A4 and A5. The forest tracks are generally suitable for 4x4 only.