Buying Land - Questions

You can see footpaths and bridleways on OS maps, or online for example www.streetmap.co.uk. Never assume the footpath goes round the land, even if some walkers are happy to be diverted that way to avoid arable land they are very likely to complain if you fence them off the path. You can divert footpaths but it's a long and costly option with no guarrantees of success.

If the land is arable do take into account the extra cost of re-seeding and the subsequent delay before the land is ready for grazing (usually 12 months).
 
Thankies :D

I spoke to the seller today and left him with a long list of questions (well, ten) :D

Interesting re the pylon thing. Given its location, we can run a wide pathway to it, which will hopefully deal with that issue :) There will be padlocks on the gates and they won't be able to access via any other route, so that might be okay.

The footpaths go across the land. I think we can fence to take them into account, without causing us too much hassle :)
 
It does sound very exciting!

Never under-estimate the militancy of a dog walker/hiker who thinks their right of way is in doubt!!

Moving a footpath is a mission in itself and I think requires planning permission or at least permission from the local council.

Padlocked gates are no obstacle to the determined types who seem to walk their dogs with enough equipment to outfit a small SAS troop. Although the paths do not seem used have you seen walkers up there and if so are they actually on the paths? Some of them seem to believe they have a god-given right to walk exactly where they like and no amount of notices, fencing or padlocks will stop them from walking 'their' paths.
 
the only thing I would be wary about would be the fact no-one is on site and it is a considerable distance from home. we have our own land about 1 mile from home but because no-one is on site we cannot keep anything of value at the stables. Padlocks etc are no match for someone determined to have a nosy about and pinch anything not concreted to the floor - as we have found to our cost on more than one occasion. Even wheelbarrows and poo pickers are attractive to some! You will find you will need to cart tack etc backwards and forwards every day - and 20 miles is a long way to pop back home cos you've forgotten something.
On the other hand, there's nothing like having your own land and being able to do exactly as you please with no "input" from others.
 
It would also be a good idea to aske the vendor about the sporting and mineral rights on the land, whether they are transferred with the land or if they are owned by someone else.
 
With water & electric costing a fortune to connect I would consider only having water connected in the first instance. The lack of electricity is not a major problem, a generator will not cost a fortune & will provide you with ample power to fire up lighting, kettle & microwave?

I bought one for my lorry, it was about £300 & was 2KW so I have no problem powering most appliances, although not all at the same time. Primarily the lighting is important & with a 2KW generator you could have 30 x 60w bulbs running........but I'd advise the low energy ones where 11w give equivalent of the old 60w bulb.

Good Luck in your venture. :)
 
We bought our own land (3 acres) 3 years ago this September...A dream come true after 15yrs of looking. It's 2 mile away from our house. It already had mains water in and we 'managed' without mains electricity for 2 winters but now have mains connected. The cables only had to run approx 50 metres and we carried out all the ground work...it still costs us a few thousand! In addition to that you also have to pay an electrician to install an isolator switch and choose an electricity company to install the meter. A costly business but so worth it. We now have movement sensor security lights installed, an alarmed tack room and it just makes everything so much easier to do....and quieter without the generator running!

There are a few houses around our land but we have still had our Ifor Williams trailer stolen and now I don't keep my new one there. I pay for it to be kept in secure storage. We have just put our lovely house on the market in the hope of moving nearer to the land....not a big move obviously! I just wish I could put the land and house together! Good luck, its a very exciting time!
 
Thank you :D It's helped a lot coming and asking the question :D

Yes, I think of the two, the water would be the first connection. We're working on a budget of £20k, any more than that and it would have to wait a while! We have a beastie generator! Far too big for most needs lol, but would hopefully be okay.

I don't expect the answers back straight away, but will be talking to our solicitor on Monday, just to get a feel for what we should be talking about, prices, etc.

We have a secure place for our gear and a Disco, so it's no hardship taking things to and from :). The distance really isn't an issue. I know the people who live close to it :). Ideally we would buy a house nearby (ideally we'd get planning permission for a house, but we don't think that's likely, so thats on the back burner for now).
 
I'm sorry to be negative (genuinely so) but 20 miles away is a heck of a drive once, if not twice each day.

If it was me I'd add up how much you will spend on petrol over say a 5 year period, add that to what you are paying for the land and approach some local famers with, what I suspect, would be an offer they can't refuse. Just because there is nothing for sale locally doesn't mean there isn't a deal to be done lol

Also re footpaths, they are an almightly pain in the butt. Even worse if they are bridleways :D Diversions are mega tricky and take a lot of time/money and then the walkers have old maps so are completely unaware (or don't want to see) the sign posts pointing in a different direction

Again I'm sorry to rain on your parade, but I'd search locally I'm afraid
 
Brought mine over 20 years ago, and have never had electric.Head torches work well, but we now have solar with a battery that stores the power, and has a regulator to stop overload. Seems to work well, and lasted us till mid february this winter when there was a lack of sun,and the charge ran out! But, the nights were lighter then so we have managed.Its now charged after the last few sunnier days.
As to water, ask the vendor if they would consider having you on a sub meter.This is a private arrangement,and ours is included in the deeds, and you can plumb it all in yourselves thus saving tonnes of money.As it is legally binding you can't be cut off(except for non payment). Has worked very well for me. It is quite common on rural land this way as makes a neccessity affordable.
Think most things have been covered, but I personally would not buy land with a public right of way over it.If you do, fence off the way with more permanent horse netting,as that also prevents dogs running into your horses fields.Dogs, especially terriers and small ones, will still go under electric fence.:(
 
Another warning about footpaths - don't assume that all the footpaths are marked on the map.

The law says 'once a highway, always a highway' and if the path/bridleway/byway has been used consequetively for a 20 year period anytime within legal memory, it can be successfully claimed as a footpath. It is a complete pain and takes years of annoyance to decide.

I have regretfully become a bit of an expert in this, so would suggest just checking whether it is likely there maybe some unregistered footpaths crossing the land.
 
Interesting point re. the water, thank you. Will investigate further. D is looking into solar panel options :)

Hm. I'll ask the local land owners re. the possibility of other paths.

Fencing. Post and rails with the small-holed stock wire I think :)
 
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