Balfour Castle EstateShapinsay, Orkney, ScotlandA8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0815:31Page 1A8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:43Page 2Balfour Castle EstateShapinsay, Orkney, ScotlandKirkwall 4 miles, Kirkwall Airport 7 milesA Spectacular Island Estate with an A Listed Castleand World Class WildfowlingCategory 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 kitchen11 bedrooms (5 en suite) and 3 separate bathroomsTwo integral flats (2 bedrooms and 1 bedroom)Two estate cottages, and third cottage available as a separate lotProductive walled garden (over 1 acre) with former Garden Bothy, potting sheds and glasshousesAncient woodland (about 30 acres) with woodland walks, two paddocks (about 6 acres) and extensive lawns28 acre field to the shore with Dishan Tower, available as a separate lotBalfour Mains farmhouse (5 bedrooms) and recently refurbished stockmans house (3 bedrooms)Range of traditional stone farm buildings including former cottage, all with development potentialModern farm buildings and about 657 acres farmland including 383 acres arable/ploughableExcellent 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 & variousHelliar Holm island (92 acres), Muckle Green Holm island (87 acres) and additional land on Shapinsay available by separate negotiationAbout 312 hectares (771 acres)For sale as a whole or in lotsA8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:43Page 3Historical & Architctural NotesBalfour Castle is the creation of two distinguished men:DavidBalfour, 4th Laird of Balfour and Trenaby, and Scotlands pre-eminent Victorian architect David Bryce, the leading exponent of theScots Baronial style. It is a rare example of a calendar house,planned to incorporate seven turrets for the days of the week, 12exterior doors for the months of the year, 52 rooms for the weeks ofthe year, and 365 panes of glass for the days of the year.The Balfour family had held land in Orkney since 1560, originally inWestray.In 1782, Colonel Thomas Balfour, a younger son of theJacobite William Balfour, 2nd of Trenaby, bought the estate ofSound in Shapinsay, and became a Laird in his own right.Hecleared the area where Balfour Castle now stands, established anestate village, then called Shoreside, and built a fine Georgian villa,Cliffdale House, around 1784. A remnant of the original House ofSound 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 Balfourand Trenaby. A Writer to the Signet in Edinburgh, he inherited notonly the estate on Shapinsay, by then covering the whole island,but also the immense wealth of his great uncle John Balfour, 3rd ofTrenaby, 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.Theprevious year, Bryce had formally dissolved his partnership withWilliam Burn.Balfour Castle is thus a significant early work forBryce in his own right, and has features which he was to re-use inmany of his houses.Bryce copied many of his architecturalfeatures from old castles; for example the square corner towers onthe second floor are taken from Pinkie Castle (Musselburgh).As Dr Ray Fereday writes in The Orkney Balfours the castlestowers and battlements loom over a landscape that David Balfourcompletely refashioned and modernised.He and his agentscreated the present checkerboard pattern of enclosed fields andencouraged tenants to adopt the most advanced farmingmethodsThese dramatic and unsettling economic changesmade David Balfour think it all the more necessary to reinforce thetraditional structure of society, with himself as the old-fashioned,hospitable and paternalistic superior, surrounded by a loyalpeasantry.Thus, he was determined that his own new house withall its modern comforts and conveniences should have an imposingpseudo-feudal faade well calculated to convey an image ofancient 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 originalhouse of Cliffdale, a plain three bayed building on three storeys,formed the familys private apartments at the core of the newcastle.A new wing to the south contained public and guestrooms and a service wing was added to the north-east.Meantime, Mr and Mrs Balfour visited Italy to acquire works of artfor their magnificent new home.The castle grounds, which had been laid out by Colonel ThomasBalfour over 50 years earlier, were also remodelled by David Brycein association with the garden designer Craigie Inglis Halkett ofCramond.David Balfour also turned his attention to remodellingthe village, part of which was demolished to allow a new approachto the castle.Bryce designed the grand gateway with its corbelledparapet and mock portcullis. David Balfour was not only one ofthe foremost agricultural improvers of the age, but also a notablephilanthropist, founding the Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall.Heenthusiastically supported the Orkney Volunteer Artillery, earningthe honorary title of Colonel.As Provost of Kirkwall, he wasresponsible for the installation of proper drains and a safe watersupply for the burgh.A keen antiquarian and historian, he stroveto preserve Orkneys archaeological heritage, and also preservedin a published volume many of the old songs and ballads he hadheard as a child.Colonel David Balfour died without issue in 1887 and wassucceeded by his half-brother, James.After the death of Jamesson William in 1934, the estate passed to a cousin, John HubertBampfield, who resigned his claim, placing the estate in trust.Eventually, in 1951 his son, David Hubert Balfour, took up theinheritance and came to live at Balfour Castle.By the time of hisdeath in 1961, the castle had lost much of its former glory.However, it was rescued by Captain Tadeusz Zawadski, a Polishcavalry officer, who had escaped the massacre at Katyn Forestand walked across Europe to reach Britain in 1941.He joined thePolish Army in exile and was posted to Orkney, falling in love withhis new home.He bought the farm of Balfour Mains and thecastle. With his Scottish wife and their four children, he restoredthe castle, which the Zawadski family now run as an hotel (seewww.balfourcastle.com).Attracting visitors from all over the globe,it is marketed as the most northerly castle hotel in the world.Thesellers have for many years run the castle very successfully as acountry house hotel, generating useful income. It is run inconjunction with the also successful wildfowling enterprise,with sporting tenants staying in the castle.The family havehowever taken great care not in any way to detract from theprivate, family nature of the castle and have gone to great painsto retain its original style and character.Balfour Castle thusremains first and foremost a family home.A8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:43Page 4A8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:43Page 5SituationOrkney lies about 20 miles to the north of the Scottish mainland.Shapinsay is about six miles long by three miles wide, and has apopulation of about 300. It is a beautiful and peaceful islandwhere doors are never locked, even those to Balfour Castle. Theisland is peppered with wonderful walks along a coastline whichincludes 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 isbreathtaking.Whilst visible in the distance on the approach to Kirkwall Airport,and from Kirkwall itself, the estate seems a long way off frommainland Orkney yet it is astonishingly quick and easy to reach.From the airport arrivals gate, a 7 minute car journey to the ferryport and 25 minute car ferry crossing, or 10 minutes by privateboat, delivers the visitor directly to Shapinsay harbour and themain castle gates.The flight from Inverness is only about 45minutes.In common with the rest of Orkney, Shapinsay has anabundance of wildlife.There are numerous places on the island tosee gull and tern colonies, shellducks, hen harriers and arctic skua,and puffins nest from May to early June.Common seals can beseen on several beaches, there are some grey seals, and ottershave also been seen.In summer, Shapinsays verges are carpetedwith wild flowers. There are various archaeological sites includinga 1,500 year old Pictish broch a circular stone structure. The long sunny summer days and warm current of the GulfStream ensure Orkneys waters are a rich feeding ground for fish.There is plenty to be caught by anglers of all abilities, whether justoff-shore in the castle bay or further afield where mackerel, cod,pollock, coalfish and ling may be caught.The castle also sinklobster pots.The estate keeps a private motor boat in theharbour which is used for guests for sea fishing, and trips tomainland Orkney and other islands.Balfour Castle has title to thesite of a former boathouse at the harbour.The islands offerwonderful opportunities for sailing and there is a sheltered harbourand good mooring in the bay below the castle for a yacht, and anew marina at Kirkwall.Balfour village, overlooking Elwick Bay, is some distance from thecastle, though close enough for the convenience of its generalstore and restaurant.Generally however it goes un-noticed fromthe grounds owing to the ancient woodland that surrounds thecastle, reportedly Orkneys largest woodland at around 30 acresand the key to the castles privacy. Shapinsays farms specialise inquality beef and lamb, reportedly exporting over 1,500 cattle and2,000 sheep each year.A feature of the landscape, evident fromthe estate plan, is the square ten acre fields and straight roads.These are the result of the activities of improvers in the 1850sunder the guidance of Colonel David Balfour who completelychanged the face of farming on the island.In the 26 yearsbetween 1848 and 1874, the area under cultivation went from 700acres to over 6,000 acres.There are no crofts on Balfour Estate.There are two 18-hole golf courses on the Orkney Mainland atKirkwall and Stromness, but Balfour Estate itself would havewonderful potential for a course for anyone not inclined to farm theland.LottingThe estate is offered for sale as a whole or in lots as follows:Lot 1a Balfour Castle, two cottages, walled garden, woodlandand paddocks (about 39 acres)Lot 1b Sound Cottage & field to shore (about 28 acres)including Dishan TowerLot 2 Balfour Mains and shoot (about 703 acres)Offers for Lots 1b and 2 will only be considered separately if anoffer has been received and accepted for Lot 1a. Also ownedwith sporting rights and available in addition, are the following: The island of Helliar Holm (about 92 acres) lies just off thesouthern tip of Shapinsay opposite the harbour and thecastle.Currently unoccupied, it has two ruined bothies withdevelopment potential.The lighthouse and lighthousekeepers houses are not owned and would be excluded fromany sale. Muckle Green Holm is a Site of Special Scientific Interest(SSSI) owing to its grey seal colony.It lies about three milesnorth 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 28acres). Land at Easthill (about 19 acres). Heather hill with cliffs toshore. Proposed Nature Reserve. Various plots of land in Shapinsay Village are owned. Balfour Castle Gate House is owned, but is let on a 99 yearlease.Formerly the state entrance to the castle and theresidence of the gate-keeper, it is let for use as a publichouse, and has in the past been operated as such, thoughnot currently.A8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:43Page 6A8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:43Page 7Morning /Dining Room6.60 x 5.40*21'-8" x 17'-9"(* min)Gun Room5.30 x 4.1017'-5" x 13'-5"Billiard Room7.50 x 5.5024'-7" x 18'-1"Office5.57 x 3.4618'-3" x 11'-4"Ante Room4.80 x 4.0015'-9" x 13'-1" Chapel4.80 x 3.3015'-9" x 10'-10"Tea Room / Shop7.40 x 5.6024'-3" x 18'-4"UPCupb'dUP UPUPWCPendPotting ShedDiningKitchenPrivateKitchen GarageOpenCourtyardWineCellarKitchenSitting RoomLinen RoomButler'sPantryKitchenMainEntranceVestibuleHallUtilityWorkshopStoreStoreStoreStoreStoreStoreUPStoreShowerRoomBedroomUPCupb'dWCWCWest FIatGround fIoorLots 1a and 1b Balfour Castle & GroundsBalfour Castle commands the southern tip of Shapinsay Island,standing guard to the island and a prominent landmark on arrivalby ferry at Balfour Village.The woodlands and the castle formdistinctive components of the landscape, identifiable from aconsiderable distance.The private drive winds through policy fields, past the Dishan orDouche Tower, a 17thcentury circular tower perched on the seasedge (situated on Lot 1b).Formerly a salt water shower toppedwith a dovecot, it marks the entrance to Shapinsay Harbour and isas prominent a landmark as the castle itself.A gravelled parking area at the castle front door lies at the end ofthe drive.Laid out over three principal floors, the accommodationis as shown by the accompanying photographs and layout plans.The drawing room offers wonderful views over Kirkwall Bay, withKirkwall itself only distantly visible despite being a short boat tripaway.The adjoining conservatory is on a grand scale, and enjoysthe same fine views. These two adjoining rooms have been usedfor 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 ahaven for bookworms and a peaceful room for a pre-dinner drink.The dining room typically seats 24 for dinner, whilst on the floorbelow, the morning room hosts a more modest dinner for up to10. There is a nearby kitchen to service both dining rooms.Off the dining kitchen are the family kitchen, utility room and storeswhich continue out into a private and sheltered castle courtyard.Other rooms on the ground floor include a billiard room, an officeand tea room or gift shop with a varnished stone floor, and achapel where wedding ceremonies have been performed if not bya registrar in the drawing room upstairs.The first floor has three bedrooms (one en suite and two with ashared bathroom), and the second floor has four en suitebedrooms, four further bedrooms and two bathrooms.The fourprincipal bedroom suites enjoy fine views over the castle groundsand sea and are decorated to a high standard. Above the secondfloor is a small room at mezzanine level with access by a furtherflight of spiral stairs to an observatory tower with panoramic viewsover the surrounding countryside and south to Kirkwall.On the ground floor is a self-contained one bedroom flat (WestFlat).The East Flat has two bedrooms and three access points viaa spiral staircase from the ground floor, a back stairs from thecourtyard or a door from near the Balfour Suite.A8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:43Page 8For identification only. Not to scale.Balfour Castle, Shapinsay, Orkney, KW17 2DYNConservatory7.76 x 4.4525'-6" x 14'-7"TheAviaryDrawing Room9.02 x 6.0129'-7" x 19'-9"Bedroom5.08 x 4.8016'-8" x 15'-9" Office4.80 x 2.4015'-9" x 7'-10"Sitting Room5.40 x 3.6017'-9" x 11'-10"KitchenWC1.89 x 1.166'-2" x 3'-10"Bedroom5.00 x 5.0016'-5" x 16'-5"Bathroom3.70 x 2.4412'-2" x 8'-0"Hall2.50 x 2.508'-2" x 8'-2"BalfourSuiteBedroom7.60 x 5.2024'-11" x 17'-1"Bedroom4.50 x 4.2014'-9" x 13'-9"WCLibrary7.54 x 4.6924'-9" x 15'-5"Dining Room8.67 x 5.4028'-5" x 17'-9"Gallery3.25 x 13.5010'-8" x 44'-3"DNHallBathroomUPUPDNDNUPUPDNSecretPassageEast FIatFirst fIoorAtticBedroomDNLaird's Bedroom5.60 x 5.2018'-4" x 17'-1" Canopy Bedroom6.50 x 6.0021'-4" x 19'-8"Ship Bedroom5.70 x 4.3518'-8" x 14'-3"BrassBedroomEnSuiteRoseBedroomBedroom4.20 x 4.1013'-9" x 13'-5"Bedroom4.80 x 2.7115'-9" x 8'-11"DNDNBedroomSitting Room4.27 x 4.1514'-0" x 13'-7"BathRoomDNEn SuiteDNUPBathRoomEn Suite3.50 x 2.5011'-6" x 8'-2"EnSuiteEast FIatSecond fIoorA8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:43Page 9A8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:43Page 10A8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:43Page 11A8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:44Page 12A8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:44Page 13Policies and Walled GardenA series of three sunken gardens are laid out to the west of thecastle.These are enclosed by earth embankments topped bypaths with flights of stone steps leading down into them.Eachgarden was formerly laid out with a scheme of flower beds,though two have now been planted with trees. Within thedesigned landscape are a series of footpaths and drives, includingthe Ladies Walk which has an accentuated camber to preserve adry walking surface.An important component of Balfour is thewoodland, believed to have been planted around 1800 andtherefore over 200 years old.Species are various and includesycamore, horse chestnut, alder, larch, rowan, whitebeam, willowand elm.The shelter provided by these ancient trees is anessential characteristic of the Balfour designed landscape as itprovides an amenable micro-climate for the walled garden andwalks through the policies. Crucially to the castle owner, it alsoaffords privacy.A pleasant stroll from the castle through the woodland leads tothe walled garden, still used today to supply fruit and vegetablesfor the hotel guests.The Garden Cottage (2 bedrooms) formspart of the gardens eastern boundary.An ornamental glasshousestands outside the garden, at its south eastern corner, and is stillin use.The adjacent former garden bothy requires renovation butwould be an exciting project for a new owner.The castle and itsimmediate grounds are separated from the parkland by a ha-ha,which defines the edge of the lawns.The field to the shore (Lot1b) extends to about 28 acres from below the ha-ha.There aretwo fields within Lot 1a which together extend to about 6 acresand which would provide grazing for horses or other domesticstock.CottagesSound Cottage (Lot 1b) and Shepherds Cottage (Lot 1a) eachhave two bedrooms and are both traditional stone built detachedcottages which have been recently modernised.Lying near oneanother, each with their own walled garden, at the western edgeof the castle policies, they are out of sight of the castle and do notimpinge on its privacy.Sound Cottage also has a traditional stonebuilt garage and store.Lot 1b Sound CottageLot 1a Garden CottageWalled GardenA8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:44Page 14Lot 2 Balfour MainsShapinsay once relied on the export of kelp to the alkali industryfor its economy but as cheaper alternatives became available fromthe continent after the Napoleonic wars, agriculture became themain industry under the stewardship of David Balfour.At the time,the Balfours estate encompassed the whole of Shapinsay andDavid Balfour set about trebling the arable area of the island anddividing the land into easily managed 10 acre fields, served bystraight roads and an extensive steading at Balfour Mains.BalfourMains today extends to about 703 acres including 383 acres offertile, well-drained arable/ploughable land and 274 acres pasture.There are in addition 14 acres woods and several lochs includingtwo of over five acres (Vasa Loch and Loch of Westhill).The farmhouse at Balfour Mains was built in 1924 and is anattractive stone and slate farmhouse providing comfortable familyaccommodation over two floors. On the ground floor the roomsinclude a spacious living room, family kitchen/dining room, guestbedroom and bathroom whilst on the first floor there are a furtherfour bedrooms and bathroom. The garden grounds are generousand 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. TheStockmans House has recently been completely renovated andprovides useful accommodation with three bedrooms, twobathrooms, kitchen and two reception rooms suitable for amanager or letting out. There is an additional semi-derelict twobedroom cottage in need of complete renovation. The steading at Balfour Mains retains much of its original designwith a traditional layout of cattle courts, silage pits, hay sheds,byres, stables and storage sheds.In keeping with thearchitectural merit of the castle, it features an attractive bell towerand stonework which adds to its attractiveness for development.In addition there are a number of more modern agriculturalbuildings including two additional cattle courts and a grain store.Farming SystemGrass is let out for grazing and silage and stock is overwintered insheds.Cropping is rotational, the main crop is spring barley,though spring oil seed rape has been grown.Contractors areused to plough and harvest, with the remaining work being donein hand.The farm would typically carry 150 suckler cows and 400ewes.All fields have a water supply. Field boundaries are acombination of good condition dry stone walls and well maintainedstock fencing.Certain fields are included in the Rural Stewardship Scheme andthe Habitats Scheme which allow for certain annual payments tobe paid for the management of grassland for birds.Farm HousesFarm DriveBalfour MainsA8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:44Page 15WildfowlingThe estate shoot was established in 1976 and is now arguablyamongst the finest wildfowling in the world. Guests travel fromall over the UK and the continent Kirkwall from Paris is aboutan hour and 50 minute long flight - and many have beenreturning for years, staying at Balfour Castle for three to fivenights.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 duckflighting in the evening.There are currently exciting pre-dawnboat trips to the two offshore islands for duck flighting andwalked-up snipe shooting.Most of the sport takes place on the estate, although there aresporting rights on other parts of the island which may beavailable to a purchaser (see description under excludedproperty).Orkney lies on the main migration route for birdsmoving to and from Iceland and Scandinavia, and speciesencountered are wigeon, mallard, teal, greylag, pink-footedgeese, snipe, woodcock and golden plover.There are alsolocally wild bred pigeons, ducks and pheasants.There are seven ponds and lochs on the estate which areregularly fed and which provide excellent and varied flighting inall winds.There are over 60 sunken butts on the estatepositioned to provide comfortable cover at all the best flightinglocations.There are a further ten ponds on other land ownedon the island and on the two offshore islands, most of whichalso have sunken butts.Stubble fields attract greylag geese in good numbers, andsome areas of crop are left un-harvested to attract goodconcentrations of birds.The woods around Balfour Castle arehome to pheasants, pigeons and woodcock and driven daysare possible from November onwards.Annual shoot records are available on request.Whilst anestimated 70% of the records are from the estate (Lots 1 and2), it should be noted that the totals recorded include gameshot on land currently available to the seller.A8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:44Page 16Agri-Environmental Grant SchemesThe 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 annuallyuntil 2011. Habitat Scheme - entered into in 1996 with 8 years to run.Affects Lot 2 only. The farm qualifies for the Less Favoured Area SupportScheme (LFASS).Forestry Grant Schemes and TimberAll standing and fallen timber is included in the sale.There are twoactive Woodland Grant Schemes applicable to the woodlands, asfollows: Annual management and Woodland Improvement Grant(14.05ha) entered into in 2001 for woodlands surrounding thecastle.Expires 2007. Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme.2.54ha new planting.770.49 will be claimable in 2010/2011 subject to satisfactoryestablishment.Sporting RightsInsofar as they are owned, the shooting rights are included in thesale.EmployeesThe following staff are employed by the estate and theiremployment would fall to be transferred to a purchaser under the1981 TUPE regulations.They are highly recommended by thesellers: 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 shootMineral RightsThe minerals are included within the sale insofar as they are notreserved by statute or common law to third parties.Fire Safety StandardsBalfour Castle is fully compliant with the current regulations for itsoperation as a hotel.Environmental StipulationsThe following structures are listed as Buildings of Historic orArchitectural Interest: Property ListingBalfour Castle and terraced gardens AGate Lodge BGate piers CDovecot (Douche Tower) CGeneral RemarksViewingStrictly by appointment with Savills (0131 247 3720) or CKDGalbraith (01463 224 343).DirectionsFrom Kirkwall Airport (www.kirkwallairport.info) on the Orkneymainland, take a taxi to the harbour, and the car ferry to Shapinsay(Orkney Ferries 01856 872 044) or a private boatThere areferries to the Orkney Islands from Thurso, Gills Bay and JohnoGroats.See www.balfourcastle.com for more information.For private flights, Kirkwall Airport Air Traffic Control may becontacted on 01856 886205.The runway PCN is 15, and canaccept up to 21 ACN. Entry & PossessionBy arrangement.OffersOffers in Scottish Legal Form are to be submitted to either of thejoint selling agents.A closing date for offers may be fixed, andprospective purchasers are advised to register their interest withthe selling agents following inspection.Fixtures and FittingsCurtains and fitted carpets in the castle and farmhouse areincluded.The original castle contents including some fine piecesdepicting the Balfour family crest will be available to purchase atvaluation.Some farm machinery and equipment will also beavailable to purchase at valuation in addition.Single Farm Payment Entitlement (SFPE)Entitlement is available to purchase in addition.Currently BalfourMains receives about 19,500 per annum.Further details areavailable from the selling agents on request.Definition of Agricultural LandArable land is only referred to as such where it was formerlyclassified under the AAAPS.Ploughable pasture is defined asland deemed capable of being ploughed for either forage crops orre-seeding, but which is classified as permanent grass bySGRPID.Neither classification is warranted; it is based oninformation provided by the estate office and on inspection notes,and has been collated without recourse to SGRPID.Services, Occupancies & Council TaxUnless otherwise stated, each property has mains water (metered) and electricity, and private drainage.There is a back up private watersupply for the castle which is rarely used.Property Occupancy ServicesBalfour Castle Vacant Partial oil fired central heating (new boiler installed 2007)Shepherds Cottage Life Electric night storage heatersSound Cottage Under negotiation Oil fired central heatingGarden Cottage Service (cook)Balfour Mains Farmhouse Vacant Oil-fired central heatingStockmans House Vacant Oil-fired central heatingBalfour Mains Cottage Semi-derelict On siteGrass is let seasonally, and some sheds are let for over-wintering stock.A8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:44Page 17Castle Repairs & MaintenanceAn extensive improvement programme comprising roof andstructural repairs, with assistance from Historic Scotland, hastaken place over the past 20 years.The castle conservatory iscurrently undergoing refurbishment which will be completed by theend of 2008.Castle Business/BookingsThe castle will continue trading as a country house hotel until theend of January 2009.Accounts would be made available toparties who have viewed and who have an interest in taking overthe hotel business.SolicitorsHerd Law Practice, 21 Bridge Street, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1HR.Tel:01856 870787.Drever and Heddle, 56a Albert Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW151HQ.Tel:01856 872216.StipulationsPurchase PriceWithin 7 days of the conclusion of missives a non-returnabledeposit of 10% of the purchase price shall be paid. The balanceof the purchase price will fall due for payment at the date of entry(whether entry is taken or not) with interest accruing thereon at therate of 5% above Bank of Scotland base rate.No consignationshall be effectual in avoiding such interest.DisputesShould any discrepancy arise as to the boundaries or any pointsarise on the Remarks, Stipulations or Plan or the interpretation ofany of them, the question shall be referred to the arbitration of theselling agents whose decision acting as experts, shall be final.Plans, Areas and SchedulesThese are based on the Ordnance Survey and are for referenceonly.They have been carefully checked and computed by theselling agents and the purchaser shall be deemed to have satisfiedhimself as to the description of the property and any error or mis-statement shall not annul the sale nor entitle either party tocompensation in respect thereof.Overseas PurchasersAny offer by a purchaser(s) who is resident outwith the UnitedKingdom must be accompanied by a guarantee from a bankwhich is acceptable to the sellers.LottingIt is intended to offer the property for sale as described, but theseller reserves the right to divide the property into further lots, or towithdraw the property, or to exclude any property shown in theseparticulars.GenerallyShould there be any discrepancy between these particulars, theGeneral Remarks and Information, Stipulations and the Missives ofSale, the latter shall prevail.Servitude Rights, Burdens, Wayleaves and Statutory Public AccessRightsThe property is sold subject to and with the benefit of all servituderights, including rights of access and rights of way, whether publicor private.The property is also sold subject to the rights of publicaccess under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.Thepurchaser(s) will be held to have satisfied themselves as to thenature of all such servitude rights and others.ApportionmentsThe Council Tax and all other outgoings shall be apportionedbetween the seller and the purchaser(s) as at the date of entry.Important NoticeSavills, CKD Galbraith and their clients give notice that:1. They are not authorised to make or give any representations orwarranties 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 bemade in these particulars.These particulars do not form part ofany offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements orrepresentations of fact.2. Any areas, measurements or distances are approximate.Thetext, photographs and plans are for guidance only and are notnecessarily comprehensive.It should not be assumed that theproperty has all necessary planning, building regulation or otherconsents and Savills have not tested any services, equipment orfacilities.Purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection orotherwise.Neither these particulars nor any subsequentcommunication relative to the property shall be binding uponSavills or the Sellers (whether acted on or otherwise) unless thesame is incorporated within a written document signed by theSellers or on their behalf satisfying the requirements of Section 3 ofthe Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995 or is granted inpursuance of any such document.A8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:44Page 18A8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:44Page 19CKD GalbraithReay House17 Old Edinburgh RoadInverness IV2 3HFTel:01463 224343Fax: 01463 243234Email:inverness@ckdgalbraith.co.uk Wemyss House8 Wemyss PlaceEdinburgh EH3 6DHTel: 0131 247 3720Fax:0131 247 3724Email: edinburghrural@savills.comwww.savills.co.ukA8553 Balfour Castle:Layout 128/7/0814:44Page 20