The Massie family’s herd prefix ‘Blelack’ has been synonymous with the breeding of prize pedigree herds of Aberdeen Angus and Charolais cattle.

The current owner Graham Massie’s father, Neil Massie OBE, first established the herd at the farm in Aberdeenshire in 1970.

Bleleck achievements

The name has been recognised worldwide. Its champions have dominated sales over the last 50 years, and Bleleck has had more Aberdeen Angus Champions at the world famous Perth and now Stirling bull sales than any other herd in the breed’s history.

Bulls such as Bleleck Blackstock put the farm on the map at the turn of the century while in recent years Irish Charolais breeders would be familiar with Bleleck Dagger. In 2012, Bleleck Eyrie G197 sold for 32,000 guineas, an Aberdeen Angus record price for a female.

After having dispersed their Charolais cattle and adult section of the Aberdeen Angus herd, in what was a record breaking sale in 2016, Blelack’s Angus herd has since grown to 120 breeding animals. These will be dispersed through United Auctions in October.

The family have made a decision to sell the property with Savills marketing Blelack Farm.

Location

Available as a whole or in five separate lots, Blelack is a highly regarded, fully equipped holding situated in Deeside, Aberdeenshire, on the outskirts of the Cairngorms National Park. The 640ac farm is predominantly made up of arable and rotational grazing and is located in a scenic but accessible area. The town of Aboyne is eight miles away and just over an hour’s drive gets you to Aberdeen.

Farmyard

The yard consists of a wide range of large modern buildings including a new feed shed and indoor cattle handling system. There is housing capacity for over 300 cows. These buildings are situated conveniently towards the centre of the unit, allowing easy movement of stock around the farm. Historically, 200 cows have been out-wintered on the hill ground which benefits from good drainage and hardstanding.

Land type

The land at Blelack is farmed around the needs of the cattle unit, with cereals grown for feed and straw, although recent pre-sale downsizing has allowed for a contract agreement across the arable land, with spring barley being the principal crop.

Residences

The residence comprises of a recently renovated spacious family home. It has five bedrooms, three reception rooms and an expansive, modern kitchen. The house has spectacular views over open countryside and distant mountains, and is surrounded by a large enclosed garden. In addition there are three farm cottages, each with three bedrooms, and a studio flat at Blelack. The cottages have been beautifully refurbished and recently upgraded and are currently successfully let as self-catering holiday properties. The rental of these is a nice income generator alongside the farm.

The sale of Blelack marks a truly exceptional opportunity to own not only a first-class set-up with a charming farmhouse, income-generating cottages and high-quality land, but also the name itself

If the farm is not sold as a whole, three distinct parcels of land of varying sizes are available as separate lots. Also for sale, either as part of the complete farm or alone, is Balnastraid Steading, which offers a variety of conversion and development opportunities, and holds planning permission in principle for a residential dwelling.

Rory Galloway for Savills comments: “The sale of Blelack marks a truly exceptional opportunity to own not only a first-class set-up with a charming farmhouse, income-generating cottages and high-quality land, but also the name itself: a valuable brand from which any future commercial herds can only benefit.

“The success of the breed is testament to the quality of the land at Blelack. Not only do we anticipate great interest in Blelack Farm but also in its famous herd when it is brought to auction in the autumn.”

The lots

Lot 1 – Blelack Farm: Farmhouse (five bedrooms and three reception rooms), three self-catering cottages (3 bedrooms) and a studio flat/farm office. Farm buildings and approx 453ac of arable and rotational grass.

Lot 2 – Land at Mill of Newton: approx 56ac of arable land.

Lot 3 – Field at Carrue: approx 6ac of arable land.

Lot 4 – Land at Balnastraid: approx 121ac of arable land.

Lot 5 – Balnastraid Steading: A range of general purpose buildings, with planning in principle for residential development.