[NewToThis]

Hello - newbies here, so be gentle - done plenty of reading over the years, but no practical experience other than a few courses...

We are in the lucky position to be able to start viewing smallholdings with a view to purchasing 

We have both purchased properties in the past, but never any with land that we hope to use for more than a garden...

We are looking for at least an acre (2 would be perfect), we are not expecting to be self sufficient, but would like to be able to keep chickens for both eggs and meat, along with a couple of weaners as well as growing as much veg as possible

I was wondering if anyone has any advice on what to look out for, questions to ask etc

[devonlady]

Well, the first thing I would advise would be to take your time and not grab the first thing that comes along, however tempting.
Stand on the land and ask yourself " Does this feel right, do we feel at home here?"
Then consider if the land would be suitable for your aims and dreams (the house can be modified to suit you but land can be more of a problem) so, you will probably want land that is south or south west facing, maybe gently sloping for free drainage.
And, look at John and Helen's plans for forward planning. They are a lesson to us all!
Good luck with your search, it took us three years and a bit of luck to find our few acres but well worth the wait

[Marches Farmer]

Fairly close neighbours can be a blessing ..... or a curse.  Our farming neighbours are great but I'd avoid like the plague any neighbours with brick pillars and wrought iron gates or stables with heavily poached ground.  These are folks that just don't get it!   If you've always lived in town up to now having a small town close enough for basic shopping, doctor and dentist can help the transition.  Viewing land in winter is a good idea - you can see how good the drainage is.  East side of high hills will be drier but the sun will set early.  Hilltops have great views but you'd better not mind windy days too much.  Check out water supply, cesspit/septic tank and nearby footpaths (the further away the better - the next County is just fine).

[NewToThis]

Thanks for the reply - all very good info

We had our first viewing at the weekend and it ticked most of the boxes:

Good location
Land south facing
Good drainage
Perfect size
No footpaths
All services connected
Not too remote

House needs a lot of work, but wouldn't be too worried about this as would be ok for our needs for the time being

Now we need to remember to not be tempted and take our time 

More viewings this weekend

[Fleecewife]

No one has mentioned checking out the soil.  This is going to be fundamental to what you can grow on your land. Look up how to assess soil both by hand and by using a soil kit, and take a spade with you to dig a few holes around the place.  Look what grows in the locality, whether folk have big burgeoning gardens or just strip of miserable grass, and see what wild plants grow, what crops surrounding farmers grow, what livestock they keep.

I agree with devonlady when she says to stand on the land and feel if it feels right to you. When we came to see our place the first time, I stood at the back door of the house, looking out across the valley, and asked myself if I could see myself living here for the rest of my life.  I was able to see that I could - and we're still here 20 years later 

[Backinwellies]

Where are you looking? Maybe someone on here could point you towards a potential or two.   Yes take your time but you will know when you find it!  Don't under estimate the time and money needed for house renovation... Will seriously eat into smallholding budget in both.

[pgkevet]

If you haven't already done so then sit bck and seriouslyy think about why you're buying and the financial implications.
Is it 'cos you want to bury yourself in the countryside and avoid traffic
Do you need to try and make money out of things
Is it just playtime with plenty of alternate resources
A few years or long term.. will your health be up to it
Thse sorts of questions.

I bought as much with my heart as my head. a great view, bags of open space and dead quiet but with a village 2 miles away. We lookd at plenty and i walked around digging trowel holes to assess soil type and depth, fencing etc. Fortunately i had the resources after the event to throw money into this beautiful money pit but a small 1 acre property shouldn't have the need for the amount of 'unforseen' issues that can crop up - a tumbledown barn that did and needed clearing, the physical work in ditching and hedging and woodland edges and trees that came down in a  severe winter and the accumulation of stray extras and my other half rescuing stuff...then stoning trackways, redoing the house. building glasshouses and hobbysheds etc. And in my case surplusses but so quiet there's no passing trade (not that i need it but it would have been nice). And now i need a climber to top out two huge oaks that might just be an issue to outbuildings if we had another severe winter (climbing trees with a chainsaw where there isn't a clear drop zone isn't a job for solo pensioners) .. so another significant expense looms.

Would i do it again? You betcha!

[devonlady]

pgvet and others!!!! PLEASE do not climb a tree with a chainsaw unless there is someone there with you!!  I lost a dear friend due to this

[pgkevet]

pgvet and others!!!! PLEASE do not climb a tree with a chainsaw unless there is someone there with you!!  I lost a dear friend due to this

I hoped that was rather the point I was making. And whether up a tree or on the ground make sure someone knows where and what you're doing and how long to wait before they come check on you.. I had a tree stump roll on my leg and completely trap me last year... but since i was working with a mate he was able to cut me free.... or I'd have been there a while before wifey might have come looking.

[Backinwellies]

pgvet and others!!!! PLEASE do not climb a tree with a chainsaw unless there is someone there with you!!  I lost a dear friend due to this

Personally I'd go one stage further ..... NEVER take a chain saw up a tree unless fully trained.   

[Fleecewife]

pgvet and others!!!! PLEASE do not climb a tree with a chainsaw unless there is someone there with you!!  I lost a dear friend due to this

Personally I'd go one stage further ..... NEVER take a chain saw up a tree unless fully trained.

And don't be in the same field when someone else does it  Trees are known to take their revenge, and chainsaws can fling themselves quite a long way.

[NewToThis]

Thanks everyone - so good to know this board is such a friendly and helpful place 

Our motivation (if somewhat cheesy), is to escape the rat race, we are both lucky enough to be able to work from home, so we would need to make any serious money from the adventure - probably just selling a few bits to friends and family (at a loss most likely).

Location wise, we are open to anywhere really if there is usable land - if anyone knows of any possibles that would be amazing (bonus points for being within 2-3 hours of Manchester

Point noted on chainsaws - scary

[shygirl]

I agree with devonlady when she says to stand on the land and feel if it feels right to you. When we came to see our place the first time, I stood at the back door of the house, looking out across the valley, and asked myself if I could see myself living here for the rest of my life.  I was able to see that I could - and we're still here 20 years later 

and would you be happy walking round in the dark/at night? do need to feel safe.

[stufe35]

Chase your dream , I did and now couldn't be happier. We are both professionals and work full time, so our small holding is purely a hobby and a release at weekends.  It's great to get out and do physical labour at the week ends after a week staring at a computer screen. It's great to have no financial expectation as realistically from a smallholding you really have to do something extraordinary to make a profit, let alone a living.

My word of caution to is to be wary of properties with shared private access tracks.(or any kind of right of way across it)
I would not say don't buy one, just make sure you fully understand easements and the potential problems and make sure you are prepared to deal with the situation/ take the risk before you do. We bought ours some what blindly, and by luck we are water tight...but we have had considerable issues which have given us a lot of stress.

Enjoy your search, and good luck.

[Buttermilk]

This is probably too big for you but also has a holiday let and planning for a second one.  http://www.rmenglish.co.uk/property-details.html?action=list&searchtype=buy&locationtype=placename&locationtypeID=109597&sort=distance_a&page=1&pagesize=10&view=list&keywords=Harswell%2C+East+Riding+of+Yorkshire&radius=40&min=0&max=2000000&bedrooms=&branchList=&keywords_rent=Harswell%2C+East+Riding+of+Yorkshire&radius_rent=40&min_rent=0&max_rent=10000&num_beds=&branchname=&id=3134648&bid=2347