A wildlife centre packed with 200 animals is on the market for £1.5million as estate agents call the park the ideal home for people seeking the ‘perfect work-life balance’.
Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre, in Perthshire, central Scotland, is surrounded by picturesque countryside, mountains, glens, lochs and rivers.
The 131-acre rural park is home to animals including alpacas, wildcats, meerkats and otters which are all being sold by the current owners who are retiring.
According to Galbraith estate agents, the wildlife centre includes a five-bedroom farmhouse, the Torlum Coffee Shop, two indoor play areas and an outdoor adventure playground.
There is also an array of exotic and farm animal enclosures, a hatchery and animal feeding pens, as well as four bait and fly-fishing ponds, stocked with rainbow trout from Easter until October.
Loch Earn is located a short distance to the west and is renowned as a haven for watersports, fishing is also available on the River Earn and the famous River Tay. The Loch Lomond and Trossach National Park lies to the west and is known for its outstanding beauty and is a major visitor attraction.
The A85 which runs through Crieff and Comrie and lies a short distance to the north of Auchingarrich Wildlife Park is a major tourist route linking Perthshire to the West Highlands.
Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre, near Crieff, Perth and Kinross, is on the market for £1.5million
Tia the one-week-old female Alpaca cria born at Auchingarrich Wildlife Park with her mother, two-year-old Lola
According to Galbraith estate agents, the wildlife centre also hosts a five-bedroom farmhouse for the new owners
The new owners of Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre will also be buying the Torlum Coffee Shop (interior shot)
Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre in Perthshire is being sold with two indoor play areas and an outdoor adventure playground
The new owners of Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre will also be buying the Torlum Coffee Shop (exterior shot)
The 131-acre park is home to some 200 animals including alpacas, wildcats, meerkats and otters
The centre, which includes the five-bedroom Auchingarrich Farmhouse, gets more than 60,000 visitors year round and has a three-year average turnover of £585,000.
Wildlife centre owner and father-of-eight Andrew Scott, 58, hopes to sell the business on to ‘enthusiastic’ new owners seeking the ‘perfect work-life balance’.
He said: ‘We used to visit the park with our own children over the years when they were growing up, and having always been in the hospitality industry we jumped at the chance of owning it when it came up for sale ten years ago. It represents the perfect work-life balance and fitted in with our outdoor lifestyle.
‘Over the years we have invested much time and effort in creating a destination well-liked locally and enjoying many repeat visitors as well as welcoming visitors from further afield.
‘The time has now come for us to retire and pass on Auchingarrich to its next set of enthusiastic owners, who I’m sure will enjoy living here as well as running this fun-filled family business as much as we did.’
According to Galbraith estate agents, the wildlife centre also hosts a five-bedroom farmhouse (living room pictured)
According to Galbraith estate agents, the wildlife centre also hosts a five-bedroom farmhouse (kitchen pictured)
The centre gets more than 60,000 visitors year round and has a three-year average turnover of £585,000
Tia the one-week-old female Alpaca cria born at Auchingarrich Wildlife Park with her mother, two-year-old Lola
Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre is home to some 200 animals including alpacas, wildcats, meerkats and otters
The 131-acre wildlife centre is being tipped as the ideal home for people seeking the ‘perfect work-life balance’
Senior associate in commercial property Harry Stott, said: ‘We also believe there are good prospects of further diversification on the park in the form of developing self-catering accommodation on-site, such as chalets or glamping pods, subject to obtaining the necessary consents.
‘Many improvements have been made under the current ownership, not least the development of a network of internal roads and pathways leading to the animal enclosures and attractions.
‘The park has been immaculately maintained and is very well presented. The sale of Auchingarrich Wildlife Park will very much appeal to the lifestyle buyer seeking their next adventure in a stunning part of rural Perthshire.’
The park once found an unusual way to entertain American tourists when manager Maxine Scott spray-painted sheep in a brightly coloured tartan design.
Last year, five newborn lambs were kitted out with knitted jumpers to keep them warm. Two Scottish Wildcats were born at the centre in June 2018.