Vajrasadhu is our main property hunter. He recently sent us this update on the land search. I thought you might like to read it as it offers some sense of the challenges and issues amidst potential opportunities.

“Since the last meeting of the Steering Group in Birmingham I have completed the following:

1. Redrafted the spec. for estate and land agents to make it easier for them to come up with appropriate properties
2. Completed contact with both estate and land agents so that we have one or more people looking for us in all parts of the “search area”
3. Widened the search area to include the Home Counties, Dorset and Wiltshire
4. Carried out a four day trip to meet agents and see properties in North Yorkshire, Lake District, Linconshire and Leicestershire
5. Seen two properties in Buckingham and Northamptonshire
6. Seen three properties in Norfolk
7. Rung round to see how our “agents” are progressing

Trip up North

We took in Bagshaws and Derbyshire on way up to Harrogate where I had good meetings with Strutt & Parker and KFR and asked two land agents to start searching and approaching. We then visited Knaresborough to confirm that Niddersdale was very promising area before appointment at Widdington Manor in Vale of York with Strutt & Parker with excellent 200 acre ring fence but apart from Ouse rive frontage land flat and dull, much planning opportunity for redevelopment, suitable accommodation but certainly not much real “beauty” and no “sublime”.

Then to KFR property near Boltby and Thirsk, 76 lovely acres pasture and woodland but accommodation on small side so awaiting KFR finding us another adjacent farm. Finally on the first day we visited Ripon area saw Joplings and Beadnall Copley as agents for North Yorks Dales and visited Sherrif Hutton in 86 acres with Blenkin and Savills which was nice but boring however the area has great promise.

The next morning we could not have spoken to a better land agent who will now cover the East Lakes and rest of North of England. He recommended both the Eden Valley and Northumberland as underestimated gems and reasonable prices. We then toured to further define the area of search and visited three unspoilt valleys of great grandeur and good access to M6 and Rail where two to three farms would do the job nicely and will be followed up. The Lakes seemed very tied up by the super rich and is too wet west of Keswick to Windermere in the loveliest fells. Most potential is in the marginal leisure sector in camp sites, caravans, golf courses, equestrian and holiday homes complexes, the YHA and Outward Bound Trust and again will be followed up.

I visited an astonishing activity centre on the Penrith to Keswick Road in 200 acres and owner may be willing to look at an offer however their business is successful and they will need a premium to go and landscape was not stunning. Hotels in 40-60 acres along Windermere, Rydal etc stunning but very tied up and little room for longer term expansion. Far more promising were the stately homes and country houses in South Lakes and sea road along Morecambe Bay where Manjushri Institute is located is awesome combining mountains and sea. I am discussing a property pre-market, Aldringham House and a lovely place in Coniston, which are homes for the elderly and High Lorton in wet old Cockermouth where Wordsworth was from, whose future is uncertain only five miles from Manjushri. The meeting with them was valuable. They had terrible struggle for ten years but are now solid business wise. They have received huge grants from English Heritage and the Lottery for repairs and new build.

Then across the Pennines and back to Knaresborough and York after seeing amazing 200 acre moorland farm now off the market but still available but adjacent hamlet is too close and potentially intrusive. Good sessions with agents in York and Masham before driving south.

More recent visits closer to home

I have done two visits since. Great Hockham Hall stately but unstately despite much restoration and has potential if ring fence land can be extended to protect us from hunting and fishing. Great potential for garden centre and new village in walled garden like Sawston and Worlingham Hall whose beauty was excessive as was road noise so it is out of the question. Finally a pre-market property with considerable potential between Snettisham and Ingoldisthorpe. Awesome long distance views of the Wash, lovely 50 acre land area, great house eminently dividable into three or four communities and four cottages but little room for longer term expansion. Visits to Bragenham Farm near Leighton Buzzard with Savills in attractive 120 acres with great redevelopment potential but too much road and rail hum so non starter and Sedgebrook Farm with Bidwells in 50 acres with interesting relationship with adjacent conference centre…watch this space.”