[Troubled Waters]

Hey, here's one for Scotland too.  I told you we were looking at lots of places.

Apologies as this will be very similar to the others

We want to move and buy some land for a smallholding, we obviously want the best we can get for our pennies.  But we need to research.  We can't property hunt over a huge area so narrowing down of choices is good!

So...Scotland?

Looking at pref West Coast I think, mayhap the Islands, but open to suggestions for all the areas.  We're coming up for two weeks in Spt to have a look around.

Why is it a good place for a small holding?
What are the drawbacks? Just how wet is it??? And the midges...tell me how bad they really are???
Length of growing season/climate?
Good for livestock?
Ease of integration to community?

Sorry for the barrage of questions but although I am scouring the net info can be hard to come by in a concise form and nothing compares to the experiences of those there doing it!

Thanks to you all!!! 

[HappyHippy]

Hi there, I'll try to give you some answers to your questions
West coast location - if you're ON the coast it might not be too bad, but the west is where the midges are !!! Midgies are hellish, they get everywhere - in your ears, eyes, hair etc etc but avon's green skin so soft works a treat for keeping them at bay - as long as you don't mind being 'oiled up'! LOL! East coast doesn't have the same problem. Also west coast always seems wetter than east coast.
The growing season is shorter than down south - you can have late frosts well into May & sometimes beyond, early frosts can happen as early as September - it's just your luck on that particular year. But croping in polytunnels will extend the season.
As for land & livestock - choose your smallholding carefully, check for evidence of flooding and poorly drained land, examine condition of grass/crops growing there and make your judgement as to whether it looks fesible.
And as for why Scotland would be good ?
It's the most beautiful country in the world !!! 
Rugged mountains, tartan coloured moorland, dramatic coastlines, clean, fresh air, friendly locals (as long as you're nice to them) makes it a wonderfull place to live !
I'm totally biased, but hope this helps a bit.
I think every area you're looking at will have it's pros and cons - you'll just have to try & get a gut feeling of where's right for you.
Goodluck with your search and do let us know how you get on
Karen

[doganjo]

Karen is 100% correct.  East coast would be best for you.  And she is also correct that it is the most beautiful place on God's earth.  But then I am biased too!    Perhaps you need to ask someone who has moved here from Englandshire 

[gallovidian]

We live on the southwest Coast, which is a fantastic part of the world - much quieter than a lot of the more commercialised bits higher up, and generally a bit cheaper propertywise, yet lovely countryside and coast ....  and fewer midges!!
Another advantage is that with the Gulf Stream we have one of the mildest climates in the UK (Wigtownshire potatoes are the earliest on the mainland!).  It is quite wet - though if, like us, you are West of the Galloway Hills, the worst of the rain tends to pass you by.

We can also point you in the direction of a really nice property - our nearest neighbour is reluctantly selling up. Its a lovely 2 bed barn conversion (may need a bit of updating if you like your home comforts) with about 1 1/2 acres of land (possibly not as much as you wanted?) including a well-established organic veggie plot and apple orchard, plus 2 good-sized hen runs.

[Pigtails]

Hey, here's one for Scotland too.  I told you we were looking at lots of places.

Apologies as this will be very similar to the others

We want to move and buy some land for a smallholding, we obviously want the best we can get for our pennies.  But we need to research.  We can't property hunt over a huge area so narrowing down of choices is good!

So...Scotland?

Looking at pref West Coast I think, mayhap the Islands, but open to suggestions for all the areas.  We're coming up for two weeks in Spt to have a look around.

Why is it a good place for a small holding?
What are the drawbacks? Just how wet is it??? And the midges...tell me how bad they really are???
Length of growing season/climate?
Good for livestock?
Ease of integration to community?

Sorry for the barrage of questions but although I am scouring the net info can be hard to come by in a concise form and nothing compares to the experiences of those there doing it!

Thanks to you all!!! 

You should read what Annette has to say, she too, did what you are proposing to do;
http://www.isleofcoll-cottage.com/CROFTING-STRESSED-OUT-TOWNIES-TAKE-UP-CROFTING

[ukag0972]

I live on the west coast..................

The midges are just as bad here as anywhere else, but, budget for a midgie eater or two, dependant on size of garden! They do work!!!

[Fluffywelshsheep]

I think it is warmer up here that in my home town in south wales.

Almost the same geographics just on a different coast.
(scotland east coast not far from the forth)

(wales west coastnot far from the severn)

if you understand what am trying to say

[Rosemary]

The quality of life is better; public services are better than England. It's beautiful - it's God's country.

But I'm biased.

[sellickbhoy]

as much as i love scotland, it wouldn't be my startig point if i was looking at being a smallholder

the climate isn't particularly helpful - too short a growing season and the constant rain is never fun for working outdoors

i'm fancying a move to france myself!

[doganjo]

We thought about France some years ago - but the weird beasties and funny regulations put us off.

[sandy]

I used to love going to rural France and could live there apart from the language and culture barrier as I love to talk, personally I like rugged, unspoilt places and now I am in Central Scotland I find I like the cool weather much better, I like where I am as it is handy to the city, yet surrounded by countryside

[Troubled Waters]

Hi guys, so much to take in!  We very nearly emigrated to NZ but decided we couldn't be that far from family.  For us Scotland has that rugged beauty and isolation without the 1000's of miles of separation.

Interesting what you say about the rain sellickbhoy, where we are living now is so much wetter than when we were in Kent and not sure how we would do in a wetter place still as it does get us down from time to time.  But it's just one of the many things we have to consider.

Thank you all so much.  I am sure there will be more q's to follow.

HFW 

[doganjo]

It's not THAT wet   Not a cloud in teh sky last two days and in the twentys!

[sellickbhoy]

get somewhere on the east coast, the difference in rainfall between east and west is staggering

I'm originally form Nairn and it's supposed to have the least rainfall of anywhere in britain. and super long days in teh summer too!!

though it's cold in the winter!!!!! brrrrrr - polar bears running around the town stealing scarves of the locals cold!!

[doganjo]

Rubbish, you're colour blind - it's them brown bears that guy wanted to re-wild the Highlands with, along with the Elk and the wolves!