'Breathtaking' ancient woodlands and estate on shore of Loch Lomond hits market for £4m

A rare opportunity has come up to purchase a 1,200-hectare conservation area rich in stunning ancient and native woodlands.

Cashel Estate, which sits close to the eastern shore of Loch Lomond, has come on the market for over £4 million.

The estate boasts 300ha of native woodland, one of the largest and oldest of the ‘new’ native woodlands in Scotland, including oak, birch, ash, aspen, alder, gean, hazel, holly, juniper, willow and Scots pine. They stand alongside significant areas of ancient oakwood, the advert said.

An occupied farmhouse with outstanding views over Loch Lomond and the right to launch a boat on the loch is included in the sale. A proportion of the revenue generated by a hydroelectricity scheme on the estate is paid to the owner of Cashel.

The area boasts 300ha of native woodland, one of the largest and oldest of the ‘new’ native woodlands in Scotland, including oak, birch, ash, aspen, alder, gean, hazel, holly, juniper, willow and Scots pine. | GOLDCREST Land & Forestry Group

Land agents said the area offers “diverse natural capital assets” which include peatland, mixed ecosystems, biodiversity and carbon storage opportunities.

The estate is owned and managed by Cashel Forest Trust which bought it in 1995 with a grant from the Millennium Forest for Scotland Trust.

The trust established the large new native species woodland on a former hill farm as a demonstration forest for best practice. The estate is managed for the benefits of conservation, leisure and public access and there are five picturesque walking trails, of which three are wheelchair-accessible. There is also a visitor centre which includes education displays and recent works have included the rebuilding of a wildlife dipping pond and installation of a viewing hide for red squirrels.

A peatland restoration project has already been carried out on 80 hectares of degraded peatland with phase 2, involving a further 140 hectares, due to start in September. The project is expected to generate around 28,000 Pending Issuance Units (PIUs) - which are effectively a 'promise to deliver' a Peatland Carbon Unit in the future - which the advert said will be issued later this year. It is thought there is further potential for peatland restoration and corresponding carbon credits, subject to validation tests.

Jon Lambert, partner of Goldcrest Land & Forestry Group, which is managing the sale, said: “Cashel is a breathtaking property with wonderful ancient and native woodlands in a fantastic setting close to the shore of Loch Lomond with fabulous loch views.

“It is much loved by the local community and there is scope to develop it further as a tourist destination, from a café/restaurant and/or retail offering to glamping opportunities, subject to consents.

“This is an exceedingly rare and desirable opportunity to purchase a stunning wild estate that has international importance and continue the excellent stewardship shown by Cashel Forest Trust.”

Nander Robertson, operations director of Cashel Forest Trust, said: “We are immensely proud of the woodland we have created at Cashel, transforming it over 25 years from a bracken covered farm into the stunning amenity it is today. This has only been made possible with the unstinting support of volunteers, funders and trustees.

“However, we feel we have taken it as far as we can. We hope stewardship will pass to a buyer who will be equally passionate about this land and build on the conservation work carried out to date. We are looking for a custodian who will further enhance this legacy and protect it for the future.”

Cashel also comprises low ground grazing, moorland and the 0.97ha Jubilee Orchard, planted to commemorate the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy Scheme.