A RARE chance to buy a 400-acre Lakeland farm is being offered at a guide price of more than £1.8 million.

The mixed beef and sheep Moorend Farm at Matterdale in Eden is to be auctioned next month in 11 lots - but agents H&H Land and Property say there will be an opportunity to buy the farm as a whole.

The cropping and grazing land extends to 427 acres and the lots include a four-bedroom detached farmhouse.

Selling agent Thomas Armstrong said: “This is a very exciting and unique opportunity, as mixed beef and sheep farms of this size and quality are very rare to come to the market in the UK never mind in this area.”

Also included in the sale of Moorend Farm are a range of traditional and modern farm buildings.

The property by public auction at Rheged, Penrith, on May 29. It will be offered for sale freehold with vacant possession given on completion.

Mr Armstrong said: “In recent years nothing of this calibre has come on to the market - we have just seen bare land. Therefore we are anticipating that it will interest a broad range of potential buyers.

"The farmstead will be offered in three individual lots and then offered as a whole. The whole will comprise of approximately 185.34 acres. This is a ring fenced block of excellent permanent pasture land, with approximately 80 acres of cropping land.

"The buildings on the property offer excellent cattle accommodation and crop storage with a useful set of sheep handling pens. The remaining 242.25 acres of land throughout the Lake District National Park will be offered in eight further lots."

Mr Armstrong said the farmhouse, modern and traditional farm buildings and agricultural land in lots 1 – 3 would provide an excellent opportunity to own and work a mixed farm, and lots 4 – 11 would be suitable for farmers looking to extend their existing acreage or even purchase as additional land for the main steading if required.

"We know that there is good demand for people wanting to graze this area, so lots 4 – 11 would also provide any investor with a good income,” said Mr Armstrong.

The land is registered for Basic Payment purposes, and the entitlements are included in the sale and will be transferred to the Buyer. The land is currently subject to an attractive Entry Level plus Higher Level Stewardship Scheme which is due to expire on 31st May 2024. The income for this is £13,273.20 p.a.

The sporting and mineral rights are included in the sale so far as they are owned by the Seller.