'Rolls-Royce' spruce woodland could be yours for just £19.5million

by · Mail Online

A sprawling spruce forest deemed the 'Rolls-Royce' of Scottish woodlands and spread over more than 900 'desirable' hectares of natural beauty has gone on sale for £19.5million.

Norwood Forest is a well-regarded 939-hectare property near Hawick in the Scottish Borders that yields hundreds of tonnes of high quality timber each year and offers an attractive prospect for wind farms.

The estate also includes a significant stone quarry with a stock pile of crushed stone, additional borrow pits and twin hills cheekily named 'Maiden Paps' - because they are shaped like breasts.

The predominantly Sitka spruce forest is now on sale after being held by the same family since the 1970s.

Norwood also includes more than 12 miles of a 'high-quality internal forest road network', other burns, ponds and a section of the Catrail - an 11.5-mile long ditch and bank cutting across the upper Teviot Valley that is thought to have been constructed in the 4th and 5th centuries.

A sprawling spruce forest deemed the 'Rolls-Royce' of Scottish woodlands and spread over more than 900 'desirable' hectares of natural beauty has gone on sale for £19.5million
Norwood Forest is a 939-hectare property near Hawick in the Scottish Borders famed for its natural surroundings
The predominantly Sitka spruce forest near Hawick is now on sale after being held by the same family since the 1970s

Sporting rights are included in the sale and are unlet. Deer are currently professionally controlled by an in-house wildlife management team.

Jon Lambert, partner at Goldcrest Land & Forestry Group, said: 'Norwood is the Rolls Royce of large-scale commercial forestry. It is rare to come across a forest of this size that is of such superb quality.

'Possibly the most desirable, extensive operational forest in the south of Scotland, it has more than 200ha of mature high quality timber ready for felling and offering immediate income potential. 

'With timber prices increasing, this will generate substantial revenue for the foreseeable future.

'Add the premium location, an excellent forest road network, a diverse age class structure, the outstanding quality of the forestry and Norwood ticks every box. 

Norwood also includes a section of the Catrail - an 11.5-mile long ditch and bank cutting across the upper Teviot Valley that is thought to have been constructed in the 4th and 5th centuries
The estate includes more than 12 miles of a 'high-quality internal forest road network' cutting through the dense woodland
Planting began more than 50 years ago, with the widespread forest now renowned in the area for its size and quality
A long term forest plan for Norwood Forest was agreed in May 2024 with felling approved for the next 10 years
Large volumes of high quality timber have been harvested - with some coupes producing over 500 tonnes per hectare
The estate includes twin hills cheekily named 'Maiden Paps' - because they are thought to be shaped like breasts

'It is an exemplary forest that has been managed to an exacting standard and I expect it to attract considerable attention.'

Conifers comprise 735 hectares and felling of the first crops restructuring started in early 2010.

Large volumes of high quality timber have been harvested - with some coupes producing over 500 tonnes per hectare.

A long term forest plan was agreed in May 2024 with felling approved for the next 10 years.

Managed by the same firm since planting began more than 50 years ago, the aim has been 'to maximise timber production and sequester carbon while also enhancing the amenity and conservation value of the forest where possible', the advert said.

Scottish Power Energy Networks has just commenced a consultation process for a proposed 400kV steel tower overhead power line to run from Gala North Substation to the Scottish Borders route which may affect Norwood, according to the advert.