If you dream of getting out of the rat race, buying a doer-upper in a rural idyll with sweeping views of the countryside could be the way to go.
Yes, it’s daunting and, yes, problems would invariably crop up, but in the end you’d have a property surrounded by acres of space and nature all around.
This is Money is throwing the spotlight on three rural plots going up for auction via Savills on 19 November.
It is worth being aware that, due to changes in the Budget, the full 100 per cent relief from inheritance tax will be restricted to the first £1million of combined agricultural and business property from 6 April 2026.
Scrithwaite Farm, Boughton Mills, guide price £645,000
What a setting: This 72-acre site in Cumbria is going up for auction via Savills in November
All yours: The project site requires modernisation throughout and has bags of potential
Potential: The doer upper site has an auction guide price of £645,000
Character: Buyers or developers with buckets of imagination will have a field day
Nooks and crannies: Scrithwaite Farm is brimming with period charm
Restoration time: The new buyer of Scrithwaite Farm will have a great project to get stuck into
Character: The main farmhouse at Scrithwaite Farm could become a gorgeous family home
Space: Scrithwaite Farm has a farmhouse, barns, pasture land and rough pasture
If space, nature and privacy are your idea of heaven, it’s worth taking a closer look at this vast 72-acre site in Broughton Mills, Cumbria, with an auction guide price of £645,000.
The site includes a farmhouse, barns, pasture land and rough pasture.
The main farmhouse is in need of full modernisation, but could be a great project for the right buyer.
The site also has development potential, subject to planning permissions being granted.
It boasts a stunning setting, yet is a short drive away from the amenities of Broughton Mills, home to the historic Blacksmiths Arms pub.
Get your imagination, cash and creative juices flowing and you could be the ideal buyer for this rural hub.
Blue House Farm, Peterstone Wentlooge, Cardiff, guide price £400,000
History: Blue House Farm is 400 years old and brimming with potential
Easy living: Blue House Farm requires some TLC, but remains in good condition
Features: There’s a huge fireplace and beam details in one of the rooms at Blue House Farm
It’s got it all: Blue House Farm is located at Peterstone Wentloog and is is situated within the historic Gwent Levels
Outdoor space: Blue House Farm has a driveway, garden and land to the rear
Four-bedroom Blue House Farm in Wales is going up for auction via Savills on 19 November, with a guide price of £400,000.
It is a 400-year-old traditional farmhouse, in the style of a Welsh longhouse, with many original features.
The freehold premises, which is in need of some modernisation, is set in just over an acre of grounds, including an orchard.
The property and site, situated in the historic Gwent Levels, is in good condition throughout and could be turned into a dream home.
Barn and land, Chapel Amble, Wadebridge, Cornwall, guide price £485,000
What’s your vision? The Barn at Middle Amble plot has an auction guide price of £485,000
Be ambitious: The Barn at Middle Amble, Cornwall, has swathes of potential
Location: The Barn at Middle Amble and the adjoining land are situated on the western edge of the village of Chapel Amble
Use your imagination: The plot going up for auction in Cornwall spans more than 19 acres
Time to buy? The plot would suit developers, investors and ambitious homeowners
Land: The plot in Cornwall comes with three parcels of arable land
This barn and land auction lot in Cornwall has a guide price of £485,000.
The barn at Middle Amble and the adjoining land are situated on the western edge of the village of Chapel Amble in north Cornwall. The nearby town of Wadebridge is roughly two miles south of the property.
Tourists hotspots like Rock, Trebetherick and Polzeath are also fairly nearby.
In need of renovation and development, the site houses a two-storey traditional stone barn, a modern open-sided barn and three parcels of arable land.
In total, the plot spans a hefty 19.06 acres. It is a great blank canvas to prospective developers or investors. It could also become an idyllic family home and farm once again.
Jeremy Lamb, a director in Savills auctions, told This is Money: ‘Buying a “doer upper” can offer a buyer complete creative licence when it comes to renovations.
‘However, it’s important to take into consideration that planning permission may need to be applied for and there may be limitations with what can be achieved, especially if a property is listed.
‘At auction, you may pick up a well-priced property with spectacular views, and with the right vision, could be transformed into a family home or even a business venture. For those inspired by a “Grand Designs” project, this can be a really exciting prospect.’