This smallholding comprising pretty semi-detached red brick cottage with three bedrooms, 1.5 acres of land and outbuildings is currently for sale in Beccles, Suffolk.

The cottage comprises of three bedrooms and bathroom on the first floor and entrance porch, sitting room, dining/sun room, kitchen and utility room on the ground floor. The property also benefits from double glazing, oil fired central heating and woodburning stove.

The property comes with 1.5 acres of land with two polytunnels and two greenhouses complete with grapevine, apricot and peach trees established within them. There is a well established vegetable plot and soft fruit with a highly productive bramley apple tree. A very sweet potting shed with a little veranda and various pens for dogs, chickens and livestock are situated around the property.

There are two wooden, purpose built stables with lighting, water and rubber mats onto a post and rail fenced concrete yard. Field shelter/barn in the paddock measuring 24′ x 12′. An old wooden, pan-tiled outbuilding with concrete floor and electric connected, a wood shed next door. The double garage is block built with pan tiled roof and finished with wooden feather board.

The cottage is on a level site on a small country road and is accessed via a five bar wooden gate leading to a gravelled drive to the side and the garage. The property has beautiful views from the front and the rear, with plenty of pretty walks, horse riding and countryside to explore.

The property offers an ideal opportunity for someone seeking a greener and more rural lifestyle and is being promoted on Greenshifters.

Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine

This Organic Registered Smallholding is to be sold at auction on Wednesday the 28th July at The Pavilion, Banbury Cricket Club, Whitepost Road, Bodicote, Banbury Oxon, Guide Price £150,000-£200,000.

The property has 7.8 hectares/19.25 acres of woodland and pasture with a substantial timber lodge and is situated in a private and secluded location on the Bucks/Oxon border close to Oxford and M40.

For further info on this property please contact Duncan Lang or Andrew Ranson at Fisher German by telephone on 01844 212 880, or via e-mail at thame@fishergerman.co.uk

To visit the Fisher German website to learn more about this property please Click here.

Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine

This refurbished, fully furnished and ready to move into 4 bedroomed property is currently for sale in Galicia, Spain.  This beautiful property offers the perfect chance to start your own smallholding and live a self-sufficient lifestyle in Spain, in a private and secluded but not isolated location.

Galicia is situated in the Northwest corner of Spain, just above Portugal. It is considered to be the “Green Heart of Spain” with the sunshine and rain. Rural Galicia is very much like Wales and rural France.

With rich lush soil, mild climate and the most truly stunning countryside, it is a good area for growing, polytunnels are popular here. This area produces most of Spain’s milk, beef and cheese. It is famous for it’s bread cooked over wood ovens, and due to the mild climate, its exceptional red and white wines.

The property consists of a country farmhouse of approximately 120m2 with 4 bedrooms and a complete bathroom on the top floor, and on the lower, a large semi covered courtyard /patio, traditional kitchen with wood burning cooking range, lounge/ dining room, and an additional room to be restored which could be another lounge.

The property has it’s own parking, an older stone house with animal pens, large original bread oven and a small wine cellar, approximately 100m2, to be restored, good now for barn/stables.  There is an enclosed garden, chicken house with walled run and adjacent land of approx 1 Acre, with good drainage, Well with pump, beautiful views with apple, pear and sweet chestnut trees.

There are some lovely natural rivers nearby and it is a good area for fishing. The property and land are surrounded by wonderful countryside and forests, excellent for walking, horse riding and fishing. This is a rural area with a relaxed pace of life.

Services to the property include: mains electricity, village mains water, well with pump, telephone and ADSL and the property is  situated 88km from the nearest airport, Santiago de Compostela (approx 1 hour drive with regular flights into London).

The Nearest town is 10 minutes drive with a health centre, chemist, schools, supermarkets, banks, vets, hotel, library, hairdressers, restaurant, cafes and bars. The village has weekly deliveries of fresh bread, wine, frozen fish, mobile supermarket and the school buses collect the children from the villages Monday to Friday.

The current owners of the property are selling due to job relocation and the property is priced to sell at 98,000 Euros (approx £85000 at today’s exchange rate.) 

This property offers an ideal opportunity for those seeking to start their own smallholding and live a more self sufficient lifestyle in a stunningly beautiful location and is currently being promoted on Greenshifters.co.uk. 

(Click here to view full particulars and contact details.)

Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine

This traditional croft smallholding with cottage, barn conversion, various outbuildings, sheds, 30ft hardwood greenhouse, orchard and 13 acres of land is currently for sale in Aberdeenshire.

Situated 30 miles from Aberdeen and located between the towns of Turriff and Aberchider, both providing excellent amenities and in the beautiful Forglen area, the property is in the middle of the Castle route and just 10 miles from the coast.

The Cottage is bordered on two sides by mixed hedging giving privacy and sheltering the garden for the more tender plants, the mature garden is well established with mixed beds, rockerys, herb garden, waterfall and ponds, trellises abound with mixed Clematis and Roses, creating a truly beautiful rural idyll.

The 2 bedroomed Barn Conversion is suitable for a wide variety of uses and offers the opportunity for a second income through holiday and rental let.

The land comprising approximately 13 acres is laid down to permanent pasture and cut most years for hay, and includes a small woodland and a burn bordering one side of the property.

The property offers an ideal opportunity for the smallholder seeking self sufficiency and is being promoted on Greenshifters.co.uk.
(View full particulars)

Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine

Firstly, we would like to thank everyone at Rural Smallholdings Magazine for publishing the original article about our Eco Hamlet project in Croatia, the response has been fantastic!

Within three months of the article being published, we received over a hundred enquiries and they are still coming in each month, it certainly seems as though we have hit on an idea that appeals to many people.

By the end of October we have already welcomed some twenty people to Croatia interested in viewing the Eco Hamlet project and the first three properties have been sold, with one couple having already moved over, and several more planning to do so early in the New Year.

There are three more properties available for sale within the hamlet itself, as well as nine others very close by, so any interested readers are still welcome to get in touch.

At the moment anyone with general building skills would be of great benefit, as would those with marketing and business development experience in the rural tourism sector.

A recent development has been the opening of a small hotel, restaurant, horse riding centre and fishing lake complex, just down the road from the eco hamlet, so people are really getting on board with the Eco tourism aspect of the project.

Thanks to the success of this first project, we have now found another village ideal for creating a similar community, which we hope to get under way by the summer of 2010, just as Croatia is likely to join the EU and a very special party is sure to be had!

Thanks once again to all at Rural Smallholding Magazine, your help is much appreciated.

Keith Pierce

Please click here to visit the Inland Croatia site.

This post was submitted by Keith Pierce.

The current recession and ‘credit crunch’ has led to more and more people seeking smallholdings in order to live a more self sufficient lifestyle and escape the confines of city life.  But with smallholdings and property with land for sale being more popular than ever, how do you get ahead of the game and find one for yourself?

With the number of people looking for smallholdings far outnumbering the number currently available, any advantage you can give yourself in your search will help to ensure you are at the top of the list of potential buyers or tenants.  So what can you do to gain that advantage? 

First, ditch the mainstream property portals as many owners of smallholdings and properties with land are seeking a more direct approach to finding a buyer or tenant for their property.  You could waste hours searching through the property listings on these sites, with only a slim chance of finding the kind of property you are looking for.  Owners of smallholdings and properties with land are far more likely, particularly in the current climate to advertise on specialist smallholding property portals such as www.greenshifters.co.uk.  Websites such as Greenshifters.co.uk specialise only in smallholdings, equestrian properties and property with land and so are far more targeted than mainstream property sites who may only list the occasional property of this type.

On Greenshifters.co.uk owners of smallholdings, farms and properties for sale with land place an ad for their for sale and for rent property and there are also ads  for anyone looking to exchange a property, an alternative to consider if you are having trouble selling your current property.  You can sign up for regular updates by email which will let you know as soon as a new property is listed in any of the smallholdings for rent, smallholdings for sale or for exchange listings.  This will give you an immediate advantage unlike others who are searching for a smallholding who just visit the sites regularly hoping to spot their dream smallholding, because you will be notified instantly when a property is listed.

As well as signing up for updates you can place a ‘Wanted’ ad listing the type of property you are looking for and your requirements and let potential sellers and landlords know a little about yourself and your smallholding experience and plans.  This can be an added advantage because often owners of smallholding properties do not advertise their properties and instead do the research themselves to find a potential buyer or tenant.  Placing a ‘Wanted’ ad on Greenshifters.co.uk means those smallholding owners or owners of  property with land can contact you directly, giving you an even greater chance of securing the smallholding of your dreams and the fact that you have placed a ‘Wanted’ ad shows you are actively looking and are less likely to be a timewaster or ‘daytripper’.

Give yourself the best possible chance of finding your dream smallholding property by placing a ‘Wanted’ ad on Greenshifters.co.uk and/or signing up for regular updates on newly listed properties. 

Please click here to visit the site.

Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine

An opportunity to buy a 3 Bedroom Traditional Cumbrian Farmhouse, with an attached 1 Bedroom Holiday Cottage and all set in approximately 2 acres of land.

Situated within the Lake District National Park, on the popular Coast-to-Coast route. With Stunning Views of Ennerdale Lake and the Western Fells, Swinside is a traditional Cumbrian farmhouse which has been recently redecorated throughout.

Swinside is situated inside the Lake District National Park about 7 miles from the historic Port of Whitehaven, which is famous for it’s Maritime Festival. Also, there is instant access to the Lake District fells surrounding the tranquil Ennerdale valley. The property is ideal for someone wishing to enjoy the beautiful countryside, with the added bonus of a regular income from the rental of the attached holiday cottage.

The property boasts many period features including exposed beams, original meat hooks in the kitchen and wood-burning stoves in the 2 downstairs public rooms .  In addition the property has a LPG Central Heating System.

The property comprises of a slate tiled Entrance Hall, a large Lounge (4.8 x 4.6m),  Sitting Room/Dining Room (4.5 x 3.7m), Farmhouse Kitchen (5 x 4m) including a fitted kitchen with a dual fuel, 8 ring double oven stove, Utility Room which could also be used as a study / office (3 x 2m), Downstairs toilet with washbasin (2 x 1m), and under stairs wine cellar.

Upstairs the property comprises  Bedroom 1 (5.2 x 4.5m), Bedroom 2 (5 x 4.1m), Bedroom 3 (5 x 3.3m), a Family Bathroom (3 x 3m) with Corner Bath.  There is also a large attic, (partially floored area 25m2) which is accessed from Bedroom 2. Upstairs rooms are all accessed from the stone staircase.

There is also an attached Holiday Cottage, which currently generates a substantial annual income. The cottage comprises of Lounge (4.5 x 4m) with multi fuel stove for Central Heating System and hot water, an open plan stairway leads to a gallery bedroom (5 x 3m) exposed beams and wooden floor, Hallway (3 x 1m) and fitted Galley Kitchen with electric hob (3 x 2.2m), and a shower room, with washbasin and toilet (2 x 2m).

The property also includes: Driveway with parking for several cars. · Animal Shed with 4 pens (5.3 x 2.8m), a Potting Shed (1.5 x 1.1m), · Large Workshop (3.8 x 3.8m), 2 Wood Stores.  Mature Gardens to the front, side and rear of property with trees, shrubs, flowerbeds, fruit trees and bushes, vegetable plots, hedges and a wildlife pond. The property has private water supplies from spring and borehole (no water rates) and a septic tank.

The property is set in approximately 2 acres of land with Chicken Coop, Animal Shelter and planning permission granted for an Animal Shed (8 x 4m) currently under construction.

A great opportunity for someone seeking a more rural, self sufficient lifestyle, with the added bonus of an income from the attached holiday cottage.

The property is being promoted on Greenshifters.co.uk (view full particulars).

Article by Rural Smallholdings Magazine

Set on a hillside above Monmouth, The Yew Tree offers fantastic views, versatile accomodation and a glorious garden.  The property backs onto woodland in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  It has previously been run as a nursery garden and since that time more of the garden has been levelled into terraces.

There is easy access to the M50 and the M4. There are excellent schools in Monmouth, and a bus service between Chepstow and Monmouth runs past the grounds. 

The main property has very flexible accommodation. At present the rooms are used as two reception rooms, farmhouse kitchen/dining room, 4 bedrooms, and office, a library area, and two bathrooms and an entrance hall.

The heart of the house is the large farmhouse kitchen, with a Rayburn. Stone steps lead up from it into the rest of the original cottage and 2/3 bedrooms, sitting room and bathroom. Then a beautiful new oak staircase also leads from the kitchen into a single storey extension, with another two bedrooms, sitting room and (illustrated) bathroom, with a library area and a hall.

In addition, there is a new architect designed building with a lovely central room, with two rooms and a shower room leading off it. This could be used for holiday lets (stpp) or as an office, or as further accommodation.

The property also offers a spacious stone shed with electricity, an additional stone shed currently used as a wood store.  Both of these buildings have recently been reroofed and rewired.

There is also a detached garage and polytunnel, and there are two car parks as the garden was previously an RHS open garden and open to the public.

The garden has many specimen trees including a large handkerchief tree (Davidia), areas of lawn and wildlife meadow, and a long water garden in need of some TLC. It has about an acre of bluebell woods, mostly oak and sweet chestnut.

The property could be ideal for a variety of uses, subject to planning permission, such as a return to it’s previous use as a nursery garden, a B & B or holiday let, for those looking to run a business from home as the annex would make an excellent office or those looking for self sufficiency and looking to set up a smallholding.

The property is being promoted on Greenshifters.co.uk (view full particulars).

Article by Rural Smallholding Magazine

A fabulous opportunity to purchase a beautiful smallholding in the picturesque village of Llithfaen. Bryn Dirwest (Temperance Hill) is a delightful roadside detached registered smallholding of character set within some three quarters of an acre of gardens with copse of native trees and which also benefits from six acres of accomodation land, poly tunnel, orchard and chicken coop.

The property boasts panoramic views of Cardigan Bay and the Snowdonia and Rivals mountain ranges and is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB). The area is popular for walking with the Pilgrims Trail passing close by and the historic Tre Ceiri Hill fort within a short walk.

The village of Llithfaen offers a Post Office and corner shop and a Public house with restaurant and is set in an elevated position some 7 miles from the market town of Pwllheli. Pwllheli offers a wide range of shops, cafes, junior and secondary schools and leisure facilities including a golf course and yachting marina.

The property briefly comprises: Entrance porch, hall, lounge, dining room, farmhouse kitchen, rear hall, shower room, study, utility room, 2 bedrooms, one with attached nursery and family bathroom. The property also benefits from hardwood framed double glazing, gas fired central heating and oil fired Rayburn.

Externally the driveway extends to the side of the property and around to the rear to the yard, approx 100′ x 70′, providing hardstanding, turning area, affording parking for several vehicles, trailers etc and is suitable for the erection of agricultural buildings/ stables etc subject to the usual consents. There is access off the yard to the land which is in two enclosures with a ring fence and natural water supply.

To the rear of the house is a flagged patio area with rockery and steps up to the top lawn and gate to side to the lower garden and outbuildings. The patio can be secured making it ideal for pets and young children. A copse of native trees flanks the top of the garden area making it a private and sheltered area. There are many mature trees and shrubs, along with apple and pear trees and some soft fruit bushes. There is also a rough paddock of approx a quarter of an acre which has been planted with native trees to provide more shelter to the yard area.

The garden extends to approximately three quarters of an acre over split levels offering lawned and patio areas for seating and entertaining and a productive vegetable garden. The lower level of the garden benefits from a steam boundary. There are many water butts around the property to harvest rainwater and 2 fed by the stream. There is also a polytunnel, stone barn and open fronted stone building with concrete floor and an attached brick built Potting shed also with concrete floor.

The current owners also rent a small paddock over the road which makes an excellent starvation paddock and a 3 acre field 2 mins walk away. The area provides fantastic walking and outriding and there are many off road riding opportunities within a short distance of the house.

The property is being promoted on Greenshifters.co.uk (view full particulars).

Article by Rural Smallholding Magazine