House & Croft, Toft, Muness, Uyeasound, Unst

 

Unique opportunity to acquire a three bedroom/two reception room detached house together with a 100m² agricultural building, separate commercial property, and a 48 hectare (120 acre) owner-occupied, registered croft at Uyeasound in the south-east corner of the island of Unst.

The house enjoys panoramic sea views whilst the commercial building which has previously been used as a workshop/retail outlet, offers scope for a variety of uses including continuing existing use, as a studio, or conversion to residential, subject to consents.

Although offering a remote ‘get-away-from-it-all’ location, Unst benefits from a wide range of amenities including a school, leisure centre, health centre and several shops. A regular ro-ro ferry provides a link with mainland Shetland via the neighbouring island of Yell.

This property offers a great lifestyle opportunity with huge potential.

 

The House

The house comprises the original stone-built croft house with later timber frame/extensions clad with concrete blockwork added to the north and west sides. Windows are double glazed except for the front porch.

Entry is via a triple glazed front door which opens to a hallway with tiled floor. To the left is the kitchen/dining room which leads through to the main living room, and the second reception room, whilst to the right is the bathroom, a bedroom, and an office. Ahead a stair leads to two further bedrooms on the first floor.

The tiled flooring in the hall extends into the kitchen/dining room, a substantial space with kitchen and dining areas both with windows facing west. The kitchen has ample fitted units including an integral microwave and concealed fridge, and a 1½ bowl sink, and the freestanding cooker will be included in the sale. A peninsula unit separates the kitchen from the dining area which is lit by a ‘rise and fall’ light fitting over the table.

Off the dining area is a large utility room with the same flooring as the kitchen, and further fitted units including a second sink, plus space for a freezer, washing machine etc. (appliances not included).

Also off the kitchen is the carpeted main living room, a lovely bright space with a wide picture window enjoying the fantastic view eastwards over the surrounding land towards a beach and the sea.

Back off the hall is the second reception room which also enjoys the view east, exposed ‘beams’ and wood panelling to one wall adding character. The solid-fuel ‘Wamsler’ stove provides a cosy heat source as well as supplying radiators throughout the house, the radiator system being supplemented by additional electric storage radiators, and the hot water tank housed in the roof space. A door off this room opens to a small lobby with access to storage space under the stairs, and door a single glazed front porch providing a second entrance to the house.

On the other side of the hall is a large carpeted double bedroom also facing east, a handy, dual-aspect office, again carpeted, and a bathroom with three-piece suite and tiled floor.

The stair to the first floor which is lit by a Velux window, leads to two coombe-ceilinged double bedrooms each also lit by a Velux window facing east, and carpeted, ‘v’-lining along the centre incorporating spotlighting. There is access from the room to the left to plenty of storage space in the loft.

There are grassed garden areas around the house, and a large parking area.

Some of the furniture is available by separate negotiation.

 

The Croft

As noted, the croft land is estimated to extend in total to around 48 hectares (118 acres) as shown on the plan (not to scale), comprising the owner-occupied registered crofts of Toft (Taft) & House of Toft (Taft) (33.4 hectares (82 acres)) Register No. Z2106 (note this area includes an owned apportionment), and Ham & Little Ham (8.1 hectares (20 acres)) Register No. Z2099, plus the 6.6 hectare (16 acre) Midfield tenanted apportionment.

The house is situated on Toft & House of Toft, this land being situated to the north, west and east where it extends down to the shore. Ham & Little Ham lies a short distance from the house by the beach at the south end of the inlet of Ham of Muness. Midfield tenanted apportionment lies adjacent to Toft & House of Toft to the east (blue outlined area on plan).

There is a grazing share.

Included on the croft is a large agricultural shed and a separate commercial property, both situated by the house.

The agricultural shed is of steel portal frame construction clad with metal sheeting above a rendered concrete blockwork base. It measures approximately 13.4m long by 7.45m high with access by two large roller shutter doors and a separate side door. It has mains water supplying a sink unit, and ample power points.

The detached single storey commercial building is understood to have been built in 1990 originally as a knitwear workshop and retail unit. The property is of timber frame/timber clad construction with double glazed windows and doors, heating being provided by electric storage/panel heaters. It has a gross internal floor area of approximately 121m² or thereby comprising a substantial, very light and airy display/retail space area with extensive floor-to-ceiling windows to two sides, this space leading to a further similar large space again with floor-to-ceiling windows. Off the second room is an office and separate storeroom, plus a further staff area with its own separate entrance and fitted kitchen units including a sink (with its own hot water supply), with shower and toilet with WC and wash hand basin off. A hatch with loft ladder provides access to storage space in the loft.

Planning permission was granted in 2013 (reference 20/228/PPF) for a change of use of this building to part class 4 business/part class 1 shop use, and part residential, as shown on the attached plan although no alterations were carried out at the time. It is however thought that the building would suit a variety of uses either carrying on an existing commercial use, ideal for a home business, or as an artist’s studio perhaps, or conversion to part or wholly residential, although any change of use would be subject to the usual consents being granted and prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves in this regard by contacting the local planning and building standards departments of the Council directly.

As the croft is registered it is subject to crofting tenure. Prospective purchasers requiring more information in this regard should discuss with their own agents or contact the Crofting Commission directly at Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness, IV3 8NW. Further general information on crofting can be found on the Commission’s website at https://www.crofting.scotland.gov.uk/crofting-development.

Assignation of the tenancy of the Apportionment and the grazings share to the successful purchaser will require the approval of the Crofting Commission.

Entitlements are not included but may be available by separate negotiation. Around 30 sheep are available by separate negotiation.

Note none of the croft land has been decrofted (including the house site and commercial building) and therefore cash only offers can be considered.