Lower Oykel Fishings 2 Salmon Fishing Rights and Oykel Bridge Hotel, By Lairg, Sutherland

A rare opportunity to acquire Salmon Fishings on one A well-known and newly refurbished Fishing of Scotland’s premier salmon rivers Hotel overlooking the River Oykel

Inverness 56 miles . Ullapool 26 miles

Guide Price £300,000

Lower Oykel Fishings The fishings comprise a pro-indiviso share in the Lower Oykel fishings held through the Tuiteam Company Limited entitling the shareholder to fish three beat weeks annually on the Lower River Oykel.

Location The River Oykel is situated within the County of Sutherland approximately 50 miles north west of Inverness. It forms the principal tributary of the rising in the basin of Ben More to the west and running to the Kyle of Sutherland at in the east.

Description The Lower Oykel Fishings extend from the Oykel Falls above Oykel Bridge and the Einig Falls on the River Einig tributary to the tail of the Inveroykel Pool at the head of the Kyle of Sutherland.

The fishings are seven miles in length including 64 named pools and runs fished in four beats with each beat having a three rod limit. The beats have a daily rotation changing at 6pm and moving down one beat each day. The statutory season runs from 11th January to 30th September.

The subjects include the rights of salmon and sea trout angling by rod and line together with the solum of the river and both river banks in varying widths other than the Inveroykel Pool where only the left bank is owned. The A837 public road runs the whole length of the fishings with vehicular access by private gravel tracks to each beat and footbridges providing access to both banks.

In October 2012 the Lower Oykel Proprietors concluded the purchase of the fishing rights on the Kyle of Sutherland downstream to the confluence with the River Carron together with 169.38 hectares of grazing land adjacent to the river at Tournaig and the solum of the Tuiteam Burn. Substantial salmon netting rights within the Kyle of Sutherland at and in the Dornoch have also been acquired by the Kyle of Sutherland District Salmon Fishery Board as a conservation measure. These acquisitions will further protect salmon returning to the Oykel system and might be expected to increase annual catches on the Lower Oykel in future years.

Ownership and Management The fishings are owned in five pro-indiviso shares and are managed as a whole. Each one-fifth share, which may be sub-divided into no more than two one-tenth shares, carries a single vote in the administration of the fishings and is a signatory to an Agreement registered 26th February 2003 between the Proprietors of the Lower Oykel Fishings and the Trustees of the Oykel Trust setting out the Conditions, Regulations and Rules under which the fishings are managed and exercised. Each one fifth share is entitled to fish four three-rod beats in every five week period, providing not less than twenty-four weeks fishing each season.

The seller’s interest in the Lower Oykel Fishings comprises a shareholding in The Tuiteam Company Limited. The Company holds a seventy five per cent interest in a one-fifth pro- indiviso share. The Tuiteam Company comprises six ‘A’ shares and twelve ‘B’ shares. The seller’s interest extends to a holding in the Company of three ‘B’ shares, equating to a one-eighth interest in a one-fifth pro-indiviso share and providing the right to fish not less than three beat weeks annually.

Fishing Records Lower Oykel Fishings

Year No. of fish

2010 1254

2011 893

2012 1037

2013 821

2014 448

5 year average 890

In addition some sea trout are caught.

Maintenance Under the supervision of the Fishery Manager the river has been subject to an ongoing and annual programme of bank maintenance and pool improvement. The works have been carried out having regard to the amenity of the river environment using traditional techniques and natural materials to the extent that both the river and its infrastructure are well maintained throughout.

Letting The fishings are let weekly by the beat with rents varying with the time of year. In the 2014 season rents ranged from £980 per beat week in February to £3,990 per beat week in late June early July. The total annual rental received for a one-fifth share in 2014 was 4 £78,024.

Oykel Bridge Hotel The subjects of sale are 13,000 £1.00 shares in Oykel Bridge Hotel Limited. Reg. SC413078.

Location A well-known landmark to regular travellers on the A836 between Bonar Bridge and Lochinver/Ullapool, the Oykel Bridge is centrally situated in Sutherland making it an ideal base from which to enjoy salmon and trout fishing on the many local rivers and lochs or to tour the Highlands and West Coast. The many attractions within easy travelling distance of the hotel include Dornoch and its world famous golf course on the east coast, Lochinver and Ullapool on the west.

Description The Oykel Bridge Hotel is an attractive traditional Highland fishing hotel situated overlooking the River Oykel at Oykel Bridge. It is a well-known and popular location for anglers fishing the River Oykel and surrounding hill lochs which since its purchase by the company has been substantially refurbished and upgraded under the guidance of an experienced and enthusiastic board of directors. The hotel operates from March to the end of September each year to coincide with the salmon and brown trout fishing seasos and has also seen an increase in bed nights and bar and dining room business from other visitors to the area.

The hotel has 16 En-suite bedrooms and a Dining room with 30 covers. There is a Public Bar, Rod Room, Drying Room and Staff & Manager accommodation. Hotel wide wi-fi and a Biomass Central Heating System have been added. The company owns or leases brown trout fishing rights on a number of local lochs.

Ownership and Management Incorporated in 2011, Oykel Bridge Hotel Limited is a company owned by the many fishermen, friends and owners of the Lower and Upper Oykel Salmon Fishings.

The sellers interest in the Oykel Bridge Hotel comprises 13,000 £1.00 shares in Oykel Bridge Hotel

Important Notice

These sale particulars were prepared on the basis of information provided to us by our clients and/or our local knowledge. Whilst we make every reasonable effort to ensure that they are correct, no warranty or guarantee is given and prospective purchasers should not rely upon them as statements or representations of fact. Furthermore neither Bell Ingram Limited or its directors or employees assume any responsibility therefore. In particular: i) prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves as to the structural condition of any buildings or other erections and the state of repair of any services, appliances, equipment or facilities; ii) any photographs included in these particulars are for general information only and any furniture or contents shown in these photographs are not included in the sale unless this is expressly stated in these particulars; and iii) any descriptions, measurements or dimensions quoted are approximate only and references to conditions, planning permissions, services, usage, construction, fittings & fixtures and moveable items are for guidance only.

22 Market Brae, Inverness IV2 3AB Tel: 01463 717 799 Fax: 01463 716 699 bellingram.co.uk Email: [email protected]