The potential of the land associated with your chosen smallholding will vary greatly with area, but however good it is there will always be room for improvement. If the pasture has been badly neglected a complete programme of drainage, ploughing and re-seeding may be in order. Often, however, this does not need to be done [...]
The out-buildings need careful scrutiny. Look for drainage. Do they have concrete floors? Do they have any hard standing outside them? Which way does the water run when it rains? All these things can affect the usefulness of a barn. If, for example there is no hard standing in front of a barn any movement [...]
If you stay in a bed and breakfast this throws you into contact with the local people and it is from them that you will learn most about the district. It is a good plan to visit the estate agents with whom you have been in touch so that they put a face to a [...]