A TWO THOUSAND-ACRE forest in the Borders is on the market for offers over £18 million.

Priesthaugh Forest, at Teviothead near Hawick, is described as a "productive commercial conifer forest with strong yield classes and extensive mature timber ready for harvesting".

Extending to 1,917 acres – or 776 hectares – on a sheltered site with fertile upland soils, the forestry comprises 83 per cent Sitka Spruce.

The Borders is renowned for its high-quality commercial forests, which benefit from excellent ground and climatic conditions along with fast and easy access to major timber processing facilities.

The area is regarded by forestry purchasers as the ultimate location within Scotland and Priesthaugh lies in its centre. The forest is located 10-miles due south of Hawick.

According to the sales brochure, Priesthaugh Forest comprises a ‘jaunty tick shape’. The bottom of the tick forms a gentle bowl, which is sheltered from the prevailing wind. The remainder comprises easily worked land with mostly mild gradients most appropriate to commercial conifers and timber production. There are some steeper areas.

Originally hill ground, it was acquired by the Forestry Commission and the forest planted between 1977 and 1982. The property returned to the private sector in 1996.

The original design and layout of the forest was created under a Landscape Design Plan ensuring best practice at the time.

There is an excellent network of forest roads and rides linking with the upland watercourses to ensure maximum use of the planting area. Hilltops, unscheduled and Scheduled Ancient monuments such as the Tinlee Stone, Catrail and Peelbraehope were all left unplanted.

The forest is currently managed with the primary objective of timber production under a Long-Term Forest Plan (LTFP) dated February 2014. The plan is in accordance with the UK Forestry Standard and the UK Woodland Assurance Standard.

Sporting Rights pass with the property. There is Roe deer present in the property and occasional Sika. An average of 36 beasts have been shot per annum in the last five years.

Further details available from GOLDCREST Land & Forestry Group.