A well-known sheep farm is the site of this 4-bed farmhouse smallholding for sale in Widdrington, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 5PN.
With over 30 acres of good quality pastureland and a large 4-bedroom house, this smallholding presents an attractive opportunity.
House
The farmhouse property is generously proportioned with good decor and south-facing views. Central heating is oil-fired and there is UPVC double glazing throughout.
Outbuildings
There is a combination of both traditional and modern outbuildings ranging from cattle sheds & hay sheds to stone stables, workshops and stores.
There is a conversion appeal to the buildings and would likely do well as lets, subject to planning.
Land
The offer is divided into two lots but can be bought as one with 6 individual parcels and adjacent. The farmstead itself being some 1.73 acres.
The grassland is permanent pasture but could be used as arable too.
What could it be used for?
It’s actually a fully functioning sheep farm – aerial footage in the sale brochure show flocks grazing throughout.
Lamb, mutton, wool are the production classes you would naturally follow with this acquisition.
However, with the right planning consents – a change of use could also apply.
Price?
Subject to auction.
Making a living off sheep is becoming more challenging and the economic outlook post-2020 and Brexit may dampen enthusiasm for some prospective buyers.
However, you have outlined the opportunities for income diversification here especially as the stone outbuildings could undergo residential conversion.
With 30 acres available sheep and a quad bike seem like the way to go. It is still possible to eke out a profit sheep farming. Most farmers find sheep will just about maintain themselves in terms of meat and wool and there are a fair number of overheads involved.
Running sheep on the Northumberland lowlands will have an annual cost of around
£100 per year per ewe.
This includes:
+vets
+silage and hay (a bad winter can wipe you out)
+dosing can get pricey if conditions are poor
+jabs
+insurance
+farm operating costs like machinery or contractors for haymaking if you don’t do it yourself.
The lambs that are raised are grass-finished but prices do fluctuate so you may see only £60 to £80 back in your pocket per lamb. If ewes are good breeders then…
Most ewes bring in an av of £120 per year in lamb so you may only have £20 to play with…
Perhaps use the grassland for mixed farming with lambs, calves, hay, and silage off it and using the sheds for lambing and cattle.