Do you dream about living the ‘good life’ and farming your own land?
Devon County Council has this week revealed that four of its farms across Devon are available to let.
The farms, which sit throughout the area, are part of Devon County Council’s ‘Council Farm Estate’, made up of 65 farms and spanning 9,570 acres.
The properties to let include Lomans Farm in Broadhempston near Totnes, Lower Uppacott Farm in Mariansleigh near South Molton, Middle Yeo Farm in Down St Mary near Crediton, and Perriton Barton Farm in Whimple near Exeter.
They are a mix of starter livestock farms and dairy farms, which require a valid milk contract for tenancy.
Lomans Farm, in Broadhempston, is a livestock farm, with 65.18 acres of land and a three bedroom house.
There is also a garage and a garden surrounding the farmhouse, plus parking.
The land includes various parcels of permanent pasture, orchards and arable land, while farm buildings include loose boxes, a cattle shed, stores, a hay barn and a former pump house.
Lower Uppacott Farm, in Mariansleigh, is also a livestock farm, with a two-storey farmhouse and 85.4 acres of land.
The house comprises a living room with a wood-burner, a kitchen with a larder, a dining room, three bedrooms and a bathroom, plus a garden to the side and rear.
The land is primarily permanent pasture, with some areas of arable land, and farm buildings including stables, a workshop, a cake bin, and a former parlour with a cake loft and a dairy.
Middle Yeo Farm, in Down St Mary, is primarily a dairy farm, with approximately 90.6 acres of land and a three-bedroom bungalow farmhouse.
The land and buildings are made up of arable land, permanent pasture, a parlour and dairy, feeding areas, a workshop, sheds and cubicle houses.
The property currently has a milk contract with Crediton Dairy.
The final farm to let, Perriton Barton Farm in Whimple, is another dairy farm, spanning 55.34 acres and including a three-bedroom farmhouse.
The current tenant supplies milk to Rivermead Dairy Ltd, on a Jersey contract.
The land includes areas of permanent pasture, orchards, copses and two ponds, with farm buildings including a parlour and dairy, a loose box, a shed, a barn, and a covered feed yard.
The properties are being let via South West Norse on behalf of Devon County Council, with rental prices available on application.
The County Council said: “When selecting new entrants to farm the County’s Estate, we look for enthusiasm for and dedication to the agricultural industry, sufficient available tenant’s capital, a proven background in farming with a thorough understanding of not only the practical side but also the financial management and business side, such as budgets and cash flows.
“A successful applicant would have had suitable agricultural experience which may include a period of time spent at a further education agricultural institute, [and] the foresight to identify and exploit new rural or land based enterprises and business opportunities.”