Thank you for all of the replies so far!
Firstly, I'd just like to add to/clarify my initial post, as I was in a bit of a rush when typing it and missed some important info - apologies!
RW - Digger is 2.7 tonne (w/out buckets/mud/fuel/oil etc) and trailer weighs in at 600Kg, so I'm just under the 3.5T limit (luckily), but obviously this doesn't help me with my non "B+E" licence
, hence like you say, I'd be safer and legal with a decent tractor. I'd love a 13 tonne excavator, but funds don't allow unfortunately, - beggars can't be choosers and all that haha. Saying that, I missed out on a PC120 excavator not so long back for under £5k. The only thing that put me off was the sheer size and weight of the thing. There are some areas that my LR only just gets through plus I've quite a bit of tarmac/concrete yards dotted about the place which the tracks would ruin. Hmm, maybe I could do the delicate stuff with my 3 tonne, sell it, then buy a 12T+ for the cut & fill??? You've got me intrigued now haha!!!
Digits and Scrumble - Regarding the hiring of a dumper; it won't just be used for the cut and fill exercise. I've got quite a bit of work to do around other parts of the land also, so hiring one out on a weekly basis wouldn't be cost effective. I'll be needing one every week for the foreseeable future. Thanks anyway.
Odin - thanks for all of the info! It didn't occur to me that some were collectors items and others weren't. I assumed all the old machines were wanted by collectors. I'll keep my eye out for Fords, David Browns, Internationals and Leylands. The silly thing is, there is a IHC 1055 sat on the other side of our boundary, which a retired farmer doesn't use any more. It's a shame it is so big, otherwise I'd be asking if he'd like to sell it. I'm meant to be down at a local farm tomorrow evening, so may ask him if he knows of anything suitable for my needs.
I think I'm going to keep my options open to both dumpers and tractor and go from there. Although the latter is my preferred option.
Thanks again,
TCS