We’re selling £11m estate... as none of our children want it!
3,800-acre property has been in family for 95 years
IT has been in the same family for almost a century.
But now a Scottish country estate has gone on the market for almost £11million – because the current owners’ children have no interest in taking it on.
Bolfracks Estate near Aberfeldy, Perthshire, has been owned by the same family since 1922.
The 3,790-acre estate features a ninebedroom principal house as well as renowned gardens, a contemporary fivebedroom house and a further ten houses and cottages.
In addition, the estate boasts an organic livestock farm and diverse and productive commercial forestry plantations.
It also has its own river-fed hydroelectricity scheme, a 1.5 mile salmon beat on the Upper river Tay, a driven pheasant, partridge and duck shoot, trout fishing, and outstanding roe deer stalking.
But last night the estate’s owner, Athel Price, said it was going on the market because his children have no desire to take it on.
He said: ‘The younger family have more interest in arable farming and that is not something this estate offers.
‘We’re now at an age to hand over the estate but they don’t want to take it on.’
While refusing to say he was disappointed that this was the case, Mr Price, 68, said it would have been his preferred option.
He said: ‘I would never use the word disappointed.
‘However, in an ideal world they would have. It would have been marvellous.
‘But they’re all down in the south of England now.’
Whoever buys the estate is getting it in fantastic condition, according to the father of four.
Mr Price said: ‘The house is in tip-top order. The farm is run organically and has won the royal Forestry Society Award for best organic farm in Scotland.’
Mr Price and his wife Annie, 73, will not be left twiddling their thumbs when the sale goes through, however.
He said: ‘We have a farm in New Zealand, so we will probably spend around 60 per cent of the year there. We will then come back to Scotland for a few months of the year.’
Bolfracks Estate is known for its walled gardens, which feature an impressive collection of rare and unusual plants.
The ornamental garden, currently open to the public between spring and autumn, was established in the mid-18th century.
Most of what can be seen today was initiated by the late Mr J Douglas Hutchison, uncle of the current owner.
robert McCulloch, from estate agent Strutt & Parker, said: ‘Highland Perthshire is among the most attractive and sought-after parts of the UK.’
Bolfracks Estate is for sale as a whole for offers over £10.9million, or available in 16 lots.
‘We’re at an age to hand over the estate’