For the first time in over 650 years, the Rothbury Estate, a historic property spanning nearly 10,000 acres, is up for sale. The estate, which is valued at £35 million, includes 23 properties and 12 farms.

The Percy family, who have owned land in Northumberland since the 14th century, are the current proprietors of the estate. Their land ownership began with Lord Henry Percy’s acquisition of the Barony of Alnwick and Alnwick Castle from the Crown in 1309. Subsequent acquisitions included the Baronies of Warkworth and Rothbury and the manors of Newburn and Corbridge. The Percy family’s holdings, which span 100,000 acres across Northumberland and the Scottish Borders, are managed by Northumberland Estates.

The Rothbury Estate, located near the market town of Rothbury and on the fringe of the Northumberland National Park, is a picturesque mix of farming and sporting land. The estate is being sold by Lord Max Percy, the youngest son of the Duke of Northumberland, who now resides in the South of England.

The estate includes 12 operational farms, 23 residential properties, a caravan park, and the Crown & Thistle Inn. It also boasts natural assets like 424 acres of woodland and 2,184 acres of moorland. The estate’s sale is seen as the largest ring-fenced carbon-offsetting opportunity to hit the open market in England.

The Rothbury Estate offers a variety of sporting opportunities, including fishing on the River Coquet, one of England’s most important salmon rivers, and grouse hunting on Lordenshaws, one of Northumberland’s finest driven grouse moors. The estate’s sale is expected to allow the local rural community to continue to thrive and maintain its historic identity.