This lot combines residential properties with a significant extent of commercial forestry, some in-hand farmland and a small let farm.

Houses and Cottages Balronald includes three houses and cottages which are summarised as follows:

Tillypronie Lodge Situated opposite the main entrance gates to Tillypronie House, this is a two-storey stone cottage under a steeply pitched gambrel-style slate roof with three bedrooms. Forming part of this building is the room used historically as the estate office.

Behind the cottage is a recently built timber framed shed and a range of kennels.

Balronald House and Kennels Further to the west is Balronald House. This is an attractive and traditionally designed stone-built, three-bedroom house with an excellent outlook across Deeside.

There is a general purpose shed, small larder, a large detached stone-built kennel as well as a more modern set of kennels.

Ladieswell Cottage Situated on the edge of this lot, this is a south-facing three-bedroom stone-built cottage with a private and pretty setting on the edge of Balronald Wood.

Knocksoul Farmhouse With a fine southfacing position and access via a track leading directly from the A97, this is a farmhouse of traditional construction.

The setting, views and location make Knocksoul an ideal site for the construction of a new house to serve as the core of this lot.

Buildings Situated close to Tillypronie Lodge is the site of the former estate sawmill. Whilst no longer in active use as a sawmill, this consists of a range of buildings used for storage of vehicles, machinery and equipment. The vendor has identified this as a potential site for a general purpose building to accommodate machinery and equipment associated with the grouse moor (to include game larder and chilling facilities) and has previously commissioned the preparation of plans for such a facility.

At Knocksoul, there is a small range of mainly traditional stone farm buildings which, like the farmhouse, currently form part of the subjects of a secure agricultural lease but will be available with vacant possession from 28 November 2016.

Forestry and Woods The majority of this lot comprises a block of commercial forestry called Balronald Wood. The main species are Scots pine, larch and lodgepole pine. There are also compartments of other mixed conifers.

Balronald Wood is planted on sloping ground between 200 metres and 450 metres above sea level with a southern aspect. The soils are relatively free draining, with ideal conditions for growing commercial timber.

The wood is managed as part of an extensive woodland management plan. Parts of Balronald Wood were thinned in 2008 and there has been further thinning and clearfelling taking place in 2016. There are other compartments identified for felling and thinning in the next five to 15 years.

There is good access into and throughout the wood for management and extraction purposes.

There is a population of red squirrels in Balronald Wood and the habitat is suited for both blackgame and capercaillie. There are several small watercourses through the wood feeding into Kinaldie Burn. There is also, amongst various other monuments on the estate, a recumbent stone circle above Ladieswell Cottage called ‘The Blue Cairn’, dating from around 1800 BC.

Farming Extending to about 94 acres and combining both arable land and permanent pasture, Knocksoul is a small livestock farm lying between Balronald Wood and the A97. Following pre-sale negotiations, the farm will be available to a purchaser with vacant possession from 28 November 2016.

Situated at the north-eastern edge of this lot is Sunnybrae, a smallholding extending to about 30 acres which is let under a Secure Agricultural Tenancy under the terms of the 1991 Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act.

The subjects of let include a small traditional farmhouse with adjoining steading and about 30 acres of rough grazings/permanent pasture.

Sportings Balronald Wood provides exciting and challenging roe deer stalking and also some rough shooting. In addition, there are two duck flight ponds within this lot near Ladieswell Cottage.

This property has 792 acres of land.