Sciberscross Forest was established on former hill ground in two primary planting phases, in 1989 and 1990. The forest features a conifer crop predominantly composed of Sitka spruce, planted in a self-thinning mixture with Lodgepole pine, Scots pine, and Larch. Additionally, there are pockets of pure Sitka spruce and attractive areas of mixed broadleaves.

The majority of the forest is now reaching maturity with an approved Long-Term Forest Plan in place providing the opportunity for immediate tax free income from harvesting over the plan period and beyond.

Growth within Sciberscross Forest is good, attributed to soil conditions dominated by peaty podzols and pockets of peaty gleys. The timber crop is of excellent quality on the free-draining sloping ground, which has self-thinned to produce well-formed stands of Sitka spruce with excellent sawlog content and yield classes in the region of 20 and above. Naturally, as you move onto the upper slopes, growth becomes more variable and would benefit from an additional period of maturity before harvesting.

Sciberscross Forest offers an incoming purchaser with a significant opportunity to generate a swift return on investment from tax free timber sales over the next 10 years and beyond, along with the potential to improve the yield classes of the next rotation.

The forest also offers opportunity for wind energy development, subject to consent. Peatland restoration potential exists, and more broadleaves will be introduced in the second rotation allowing a purchaser to enhance the biodiversity within the forest.

This property has 2366.25 acres of land.

Outside

WIND ENERGY POTENTIAL Sciberscross is located in an area renowned for its excellent wind energy development potential. There is significant opportunity for a large scale wind energy project, subject to planning permission.

A Standard Security is to be granted by the purchaser in favour of the seller for a clawback of 30% of the value resulting from any renewable energy development granted planning permission. The clawback shall apply for a period of 20 years from the date of entry.

SPORTING RIGHTS The sporting rights are included in the sale with the topography and landscape at Sciberscross offering some excellent and exciting roe, red and sika deer stalking.

There is also the opportunity to develop some wild fowl flighting ponds and enjoy rough shooting of game in season.

The shooting rights are currently let to a third party under an arrangement which comes to an end on 31 March 2025. Further information is available from the selling agents.

MINERAL RIGHTS Mineral rights are excluded and have been reserved by a previous proprietor of the land as per the Title. Further details are available from the selling agents.

WAYLEAVES AND THIRD PARTY RIGHTS Please note that a 10-metre wide strip on either side of the Ben Armine Estate road between points A2 - A3 has been reserved by Sutherland Estates. Access from the road is permissible for forest operations.

The forest is sold subject to, and together with, all existing rights of way, servitudes, wayleaves, and any other rights as outlined in the Title Deeds. Purchasers will be deemed to have satisfied themselves in all respects thereof.

BOUNDARIES The forest boundary is enclosed with stock and deer fences in varying condition, and it is the responsibility of the forest owner to maintain any deer fences at their own expense.

Situation

LOCATION Sciberscross Forest is located in the highly scenic and rugged county of Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands. The property lies in an elevated position about 10 miles northeast of the popular coastal town of Brora and runs parallel to the Black Water, a tributary northwest of the Brora River.

Sutherland is renowned for its wild and dramatic scenery with rugged coastlines, heather-clad hills, prominent lochs and sweeping glens occupying the sparsely filled landscape. The area is also famed for its excellent fishing and deer stalking and for its good road network to the east and west coast of Scotland, linking with the North Coast 500 route and all major timber haulage routes.

Brora offers a range of local amenities with the city of Inverness, 60 miles to the south, providing access to an international airport, selection of accommodation, access to timber mills and all major timber transport routes across Scotland.

Please refer to the location and sale plans to locate the property and use the what3words reference whistle.spouting.repelled to locate the forest access point at A1.

ACCESS To access Sciberscross Forest from Inverness, head north on the A9, following the signs for Wick for approximately 60 miles. When entering Brora take the first left after the bridge crossing the River Brora.

Follow this road, designated as a consultation route by the Timber Transport Forum Group, for approximately 9.7 miles and the entrance to the forest is on the right-hand side. This is shown at A1 on the sale plan.

The forest benefits from having over 10 km of interconnected internal access roads, forming a circular loop around the property. With minor upgrades, this road network would be ideal for timber harvesting and transport. Additionally, the forest contains an ample supply of readily usable stone in various locations, which can be utilised for both road building and maintenance of the existing forest road network.

The property also benefits from a right of access over the private Benarmine Road marked between points A2-A3 as indicatively shown by an orange broken line on the sale plan.