Glen Farm, High Road, Isle of Arran, KA27 8SF

Perched in an elevated, private and utterly peaceful setting, Glen Farm sits in landscaped grounds of circa 1 acre and is is a traditional 3/4 bedroom farmhouse that has been lovingly and thoughtfully upgraded to offer a rare blend of period character, modern eco-credentials, and true self-sufficiency.

Enjoying outstanding, uninterrupted views over the surrounding countryside towards Pladda and Ailsa Craig, this is a genuinely special property for those seeking a tranquil island lifestyle without compromising on comfort or sustainability.

Alongside the main farmhouse, the property benefits from a spacious stone barn, currently divided into three sections and offering huge scope for further development subject to the necessary planning permissions, along with stabling and an adjoining one-bedroom annexe, making this an exceptionally versatile home for multi-generational living, guests, or rental income.

The Farmhouse The main house is entered via a welcoming vestibule and sun room, both enjoying lovely views over the gardens towards Ailsa Craig and Pladda, an immediate taste of the vistas this home has to offer.

The lounge is a cosy and characterful space, warmed by an Esse wood-burner, while the heart of the home is undoubtedly the open-plan farmhouse kitchen and dining room, where an eco-friendly Everhot electric stove sits alongside an Esse Ironheart wood-burning range cooker, complemented by an integrated fridge freezer and dishwasher, creating a wonderful space for cooking, entertaining and family life alike.

A conservatory, home to two established grapevines, provides a further bright and versatile living space.

Upstairs, the principal bedroom benefits from its own en-suite shower room, while two further bedrooms are served by the main bathroom.

The Annexe/Studio Flat Adjoining the main farmhouse is a highly adaptable annexe and studio flat, complete with independent heating and hot water should it be required, including zoned underfloor heating and a Chili Penguin wood-burning stove and oven.

The annexe also comprises its own shower room, kitchen, and a covered outdoor dining area.

With both internal and external access, this space could easily be incorporated into the main house or run entirely independently, ideal for accommodating family members, or as a superb rental opportunity subject to appropriate consents.

Council Tax & Running Costs The property falls within Council Tax Band C, at £1,498.52 per annum, and there are no water or wastewater annual fees to pay, thanks to the property's own spring-fed water supply, filtered through a 20 and 5 micron system plus uv filtration, providing a safe, reliable, off-grid water source.

The property also benefits from a sepa-registered septic tank, with the reference car/R.1016028, Ballymeanoch Glen.

Recent Upgrades & Specification Glen Farm has been extensively and sympathetically upgraded to combine traditional character with excellent energy efficiency.

The property has a new traditional slate roof, fitted with 4" additional Kingspan insulation on top of already generous loft insulation, along with new triple-glazed windows and doors throughout.

The East gable has been finished with 4" external cladding, and the exterior has been coated using Climatised Coatings, which carries a 10-year guarantee and an expected lifetime of up to 30 years in this maritime environment.

The property is equipped with a comprehensive renewable energy system, comprising 10 SunPower MAX3 400W solar panels carrying a 25-year guarantee, together with a Fronius inverter, an Eddi Immersion Controller, a Zappi smart EV charger, and a Tesla Powerwall 2 offering 13.5kWh of battery storage.

This installation was carried out by Ceiba Renewables, an accredited, Which? Trusted Trader firm based in Glasgow.

Heating is provided by an electric system with characterful cast iron feature radiators and an electric boiler installed in December 2021, supported by two immersion hot water tanks.

The Grounds — Approximately 1 Acre of Landscaped, South-Facing Gardens The gardens at Glen Farm are a true labour of love, designed and developed over nine years by a qualified garden designer and horticulturalist specialising in planting that is as beautiful as it is productive.

Gently sloping, well-drained and blessed with high-quality topsoil, the land is rich with wild orchids, a natural indicator of healthy soil structure, and is sheltered by belts of native Scottish trees and hedging.

The gardens are divided into a series of distinct and thoughtfully planted areas.

A walled orchard shelters a considered range of top and soft fruit, including apples, pears, plums, damsons, and a variety of currants and gooseberries, offering an almost year-round harvest, underplanted with comfrey and nitrogen-fixing species such as lupins to nourish both soil and trees.

A wildlife pond is surrounded by aquatic and waterside planting that supports a thriving ecosystem of frogs, toads, newts, lizards, dragonflies, water boatmen and pondskaters, and even attracts the occasional visiting heron.

A picket-fenced, sheltered bee area houses natural, bee-friendly Warre hives, with planting selected to sustain bees throughout the year.

Stream and bog areas are home to giant Gunnera, hostas, marshmallow, ferns and edible watercress, protected within a grove of Aspen and Willow, while a dedicated coppicing area produces hazel, chestnut, willow and bamboo for creating garden structures.

Two willow beds complete this part of the garden, one a developing collection of fifteen to twenty varieties grown for basket weaving, the other a five-year coppiced rotation of vigorous Viminalis willow grown to supplement firewood and kindling.

A developing agroforestry area features a nut grove including cobnut, hazel, hickory and walnut, alongside cherry, apple, plum, damson and almond trees, underplanted with Russian olive, elder, currants and wild strawberries, and interspersed with nitrogen-fixing alder, lupins and comfrey.

An allotment plot, enclosed by willow and espaliered fruit trees, features a Keder polytunnel measuring 3m by 6m, perennial beds of artichokes, rhubarb, blueberries and Jerusalem artichokes, nine vegetable and salad growing beds, and a dedicated area for medicinal and dye plants.

Nearby, a protected nursery area contains raised Hugelkultur beds, hotbeds and cold frames.

For quieter moments, a chamomile lawn offers a tranquil, protected spot with a firepit and locally-sawn log seating, perfect for relaxed gatherings, while a south-facing gravel garden to the front of the house features statement planting around a natural sundial centrepiece, along with a further dining and firepit area close to the kitchen.

Finally, a circular area has already been prepared, ready for a possible off-grid, independent eco-cabin, with its own separate access.

Location & Access Glen Farm enjoys a wonderfully private and elevated position, with a rear gate providing access to Loch Garbad, around a twenty-minute walk away and popular for wild swimming and trout fishing, as well as nearby forestry ideal for dog walking and cycling, and the Eas Mor Ecology Centre with its woodland walks, library and thirty-foot waterfall, plus café.

The surrounding fields are alive with skylarks and hares.

The front gate leads out onto the farm's private track, half a mile from Kildonan High Road, with the beaches and the Community Hall, café and shop of Kildonan village a further 0.3 miles beyond, roughly a twenty to twenty-five minute walk in total.

Directions Travelling clockwise on the A841 from the ferry terminal, Glen Farm is situated approximately 12 miles from Brodick and 5 miles from Whiting Bay.

About 4 miles beyond Whiting Bay, ignore the signposted left turn to Kildonan, marked by a small green tin hut with yellow-painted windows, which leads down to the village and beaches.

Instead, continue along the High Road for 1.1 miles, where Pladda and Ailsa Craig come into view to the left, along with the distinctive shape of Bennan Head further along the coastline.

Passing Drumla Farm on the left, continue through a small stretch of ancient woodland, past Whin Farm and Woodside Farm, until reaching a track crossing the road marked by wheelie bins.

The entrance track for Glen Farm is on the right at this point, precisely 1.1 miles from the green tin hut.

The private drive rises gently from the sea, past the entrance to Columbkille, towards a clump of pines forming part of an sssi.

Continue along the track at a gentle pace for around half a mile, keeping to the right where possible due to a drainage ditch on the left.

Following the track around two bends near the pines, the peaceful, secluded, south-facing setting of Ballymeanoch Glen comes into view after a further 250 yards.

The address is Glen Farm, Ballymeanoch Glen, High Kildonan, Isle of Arran, KA27 8SF.

The turn off the A841 can be located using the what3words reference serve.middle.redefined, while the farm gate itself is marked by aims.attitudes.exit.

Ample parking is available alongside the large barn, and an EV charging point is located just inside the farm gate on the barn wall for visitors who require it.

Summary Glen Farm offers a truly unique opportunity to acquire a self-sufficient, sustainably-powered farmhouse in one of Arran's most peaceful and scenic corners.

With its extensive eco-upgrades, off-grid water supply, versatile annexe accommodation, substantial barn ripe for development, and beautifully established productive gardens, this is a home built for those who value privacy, sustainability and connection to the land, all set against a backdrop of some of the finest views the island has to offer.

Area Description ‘Glen Farm’ has an elevated position within High Kildonan, with far-reaching southerly views, which overlook the islands of Pladda and Ailsa Craig.

This detached home is situated on the south of the Isle of Arran, very close to the village of Kildonan. It has a sandy beach within and a bar/restaurant, which is a short distance from the property.

Kildonan is a haven for otters, seals and a wide range of other wildlife. Kildonan also boasts Yellowport harbour, a sheltered mooring for small boats, opposite Kildonan village hall.

‘Glen Farm' is 4 miles from Whiting Bay, with shops, pubs, restaurants and other amenities including a primary school, village hall, garages, golf course, bowling and putting greens.

Four miles further on, Lamlash has a secondary school, hospital, police, fire and coastguard stations and sheltered mooring facilities in Lamlash Bay.

The main ferry port at Brodick (12 miles) has a selection of shops including leisure facilities at Auchrannie Hotel, including swimming pools, a sports hall and spa.

There is also an 18-hole golf course, primary school, banks and hotels. Brodick Castle, a National Trust for Scotland property, sits 2 miles to the north and over looks Brodick Bay.

Brodick is the port from which regular sailings throughout the day, serviced by Caledonian MacBrayne, lead to the mainland at Ardrossan/Troon.

Commuters and travellers now benefit from Road Equivalent Tarrif (ret) ferry fares, which are substantially lower than before.

Ardrossan& Troon both have a mainline rail station, with trains to Glasgow that connect with the ferry times, and is approximately 30 miles from Glasgow City Centre.