[Elizabeth]

Writing this from the sunny East Riding of Yorkshire, for the time being at least!
We are in the process of changing our lives and moving up to the Isle of Mull
 
I hope to get some milking goats, I will be a virgin goatkeeper but hope you all can point me in the right direction and pass on your experience. 
At the moment I keep chickens for eggs but with the extra space I hope to raise some meat birds for our own consumption. Exciting times ahead just need to sell my house!

[Dan]

Hello, and welcome to the forum from sunny Carnoustie! 

How exciting for you! I worked a while on Mull as a forester when I was younger and think it's a lovely island. Look forward to hearing about your progress. 

[Somewhere_by_the_river]

Hello from Carmarthenshire

What an exciting adventure. We had our honeymoon in Ardnamurchan and totally fell in love with the area, always planning to go back to Mull (not quite made it yet). I'll be very interested to hear how you get on with the goats as I'd love to keep them myself for the milk (and the characters) - I can't do cows milk these days and really want to make my own cheese. I've only got experience of pygmy goats so far, excellent escapologists! Post the good bits to help me persuade OH!! 

Good luck with the house selling - hope it happens soon for you!

Angela x

[Rosemary]

Hello and welcome from cold and damp Carnoustie 

[bloomer]

welcome from a very over cast Tullibody...


I love the islands haven't been to Mull yet...

[kelly58]

 :goat:Hi from Caithness  l have Anglo Nubian and British Alpine goaties. The Alpine l milk for myself and a friend.
They are great fun, such characters, very loving, mine dont try to escape so ld say they are easy to care for.
Keep an eye on their feet. Plenty of info on here. Hope all goes well for you 

[GuardianCroft]

Embarking on a very similar adventure ourselves; Cambridgeshire and the "rat race", to (slightly higher than you guys) North West Scotland.

Funny, the amount of people who keep saying how "brave" we are. Some might say they are braver staying, with all the risks of pollution, over-population, unknown & processed food and screen-zombie syndrome!   

Visited Mull a couple of years ago, right at the end of the Ross - Iona etc. A very beautiful place.

Sounds like a similar plan to us - with the chickens and goats. Plus growing as much as we can. Not sure if you've thought about it too, but we are going to offer some holiday accommodation (a yurt and camping), to top up the 'pot'.

When are you hoping to move? Everything (well almost) is in place for us to move on 1st April - thought that an apt date! 

If you are interested, and because I am a relentless plugger (sorry), I'm writing a blog of our preparations and experiences (at www.offgrid-online.co.uk). Would be great if you added your thoughts, experiences and preparations to it all too... 

Good luck.

[Dan]

If you are interested, and because I am a relentless plugger (sorry), I'm writing a blog of our preparations and experiences (at www.offgrid-online.co.uk). Would be great if you added your thoughts, experiences and preparations to it all too... 

Added to the Smallholding Blogs bit in our directory:

http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/links/smallholding-blogs/

A link back to TAS would be welcome but isn't compulsory. 

[GuardianCroft]

Thanks Dan

Yes, I'll defo get a link back to TAS, in an upcoming blog.   

[Bert]

Hi from the Isle of Mull 
 What, when, how, why, ect ect??

But to start with, Witch part of the island will you be moving to?
If there is anything you need to know about life on the island. Just ask I might be able to help  .
I don't know much about goats, but I do love my chickens . Mostly for eggs, but I have a few meat birds at times.
 Hope all goes well with the house sale and you get up here soon 

[plumseverywhere]

Hello and welcome from Worcestershire

we keep goats, in fact we had so much milk I built a little business out of it! (www.itsbaaathtime.com)  wonderful characters that will keep you on your toes  see if you can spend some time with other goat keepers prior to buying your own and you can learn to milk, look after their feet, give vaccines etc.   Make sure you buy healthy stock from  a known breeder if you can, that way you can be sure of introducing the best and not having to learn on unstable stock with dubious background
you'll get lots of support and help on here! 

[kelly58]

Guardiancroft,  l think you will find Caithness were l live near John O Groats is the end of the line then its the sea !
Which puts me higher than you  get your map out 

[Elizabeth]

Thanks everyone!
Our plot is a couple of miles out of Tobermory on the Dervaig road.
We have been holidaying on Mull for quite a few years now and just love the island. 

We have a second viewing on Friday so fingers crossed everyone
We will move up as soon as the house sells as there is a caravan on the plot.

[Simpsyla]

Hi from Sunderland - your plan sounds wonderful 

[Lesley Silvester]

  and welcome from Shropshire. As you may guess, I keep goats. I have two Sanaans, one I am milking, the other is in kid.