A new page is about to be written on the history book of Tarryblake Estate.
Situated on the banks of the River Isla and close to the village of Rothiemay, the estate was established in the 1890s. It has been owned by the same family for four generations, but now, a new name will be added to the list of owners as the estate has been put on the market by the Riddoch Family.
The attractive and manageable estate includes a main house, four further residential properties and farm steadings, forests with numerous woodland walks and a sawmill business.
Deciding to sell has been a difficult decision for the family who have a long association with the area, as present owner, Graeme Riddoch, explained: “Tarryblake Estate was purchased by my great-grandfather, George Riddoch, from the Duke of Fife in the 1890s. He continued to run the sawmilling business started by his own father, another George, on the Millegan (Shiel) Burn.
“After the First World War, his sons, Alec and Willie, formed the company AG & WJ Riddoch. This grew to be one of the largest timber businesses in Scotland, with several forests and sawmills. After Willie died in 1969, the company was sold. Tarryblake Estate has remained in the family, managed by my late uncle Peter until 1999, and by me thereafter.”
Graeme’s family are now settled in Tasmania, but summer months are always spent at Tarryblake. And while sad to be leaving, they will depart with many fond memories.
Tarryblake House, nestled in generous grounds and surrounded by mature woodland, is a spacious family home with generously proportioned rooms.
Accommodation here includes, on the ground floor: three reception rooms, a library, dining room/kitchen with Aga, utility room, shower room/WC, while the first floor has four double bedrooms, two bathrooms and a study. There’s also a spacious floored attic with easy ladder access.
The house has secondary glazing and a biomass central heating system, mains water and electricity with private drainage, and sits in mature gardens including a picturesque walled garden. Outbuildings include a boiler house with workshop and storage to the rear of the house.
Other properties on the picturesque estate include Home Farmhouse, a traditional stone-built farmhouse with two reception rooms, four bedrooms and solid-fuel central heating; Auchenbrae Farmhouse, a traditional stone-built farmhouse with two reception rooms and two bedrooms and oil central heating; Viewfield Farmhouse, a traditional stone-built farmhouse with two reception, two bedrooms and a solid-fuel heating, and The White Cottage, a traditional stone-built farmhouse with one reception room, two bedrooms and oil central heating.
There is also scope for the new buyer to consider the possibility of house plots on the land, while the three traditional stone farm steadings on the estate may be suitable for conversion to become homes, subject to gaining all the necessary consents and permissions.
Tarryblake Estate is largely given over to forestry and the emphasis has been to produce a diverse mix of commercial and amenity woodland, highly scenic but with an underlying, income-producing bent.
The result is nothing but impressive. Mature Scots pine trees, sporadic areas of young spruce, stands of older mixed conifers, all complemented by recent plantings of mixed broadleaves and smaller areas of open ground.
This provides a rich tapestry of habitat for wildlife, while maintaining a commercial element to the woodland has been at the heart of the estate’s objectives.
This assorted woodland also undoubtedly has sporting potential that a buyer could develop. Sporting rights are included in the sale. Deer are shot for forestry management purposes only at present, but there are opportunities for developing the deer stalking.
The land offers the ability to develop sportings, particularly for pheasant, while fishing rights in the River Isla are also included in the sale.
The Riddoch family’s connection with sawmilling has also been continued with the small Tarryblake Sawmill business situated on the estate providing high-quality timber products, firewood and biomass woodchip, all of which provides a nice income stream.
Ed Dunbar, of Peter Graham & Associates LLP, joint selling agent for the estate, said: “‘There are a number of key selling points that make Tarryblake an inviting prospect. In addition to Tarryblake House, there is an ample chunk of 60 acres of good grazing ground, ideal for equestrian use or for a budding lifestyle hobby farmer.
“Four further residential properties and the sawmill also provide income in addition to the commercial forestry operations. The situation is stunning and there is an abundance of well-maintained paths to enjoy throughout the estate. Located only an hour from Aberdeen, it also makes commuting a realistic prospect by road or rail.”
Tarryblake Estate is on the market in three lots or as a whole at offers over £2,500,000.
The estate is just over two miles from the village of Rothiemay, six miles from Keith and nine miles from Huntly. It is set in attractive rolling countryside and just 12 miles from the stunning Moray Firth coastline, dotted with picturesque fishing villages.
The area is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts offering an abundance of hiking and biking options and is also within easy reach of the Cairngorm National Park and Royal Deeside.
Nearby Speyside is home to more than 40 whisky distilleries including the world-renowned Glenfiddich, Glenlivet and Macallan. There are numerous local visitor attractions, while the towns of Keith and Huntly offer a good range of national and local shops and amenities.
Contact: joint selling agents Peter Graham & Associates LLP on 01343 862969 and John Clegg & Co on 0131 229 4827.
