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Wednesday, 6th August 2003

Guide to finding a home away from the rat race

Lizzie Gething

DO you want to escape the rat race? Fed up with your two-up-two-down and keen to live somewhere very different and perhaps a bit quirky? From barges to holiday homes, there are many alternatives to traditional bricks and mortar.

Barges range from £20,000 to £80,000. The Barge Association www.barges.org has information of all kinds.

If you prefer to stay on dry ground, check out www.farmsearch.co.uk  and escape to the countryside. The site has details of farms, country estates and agricultural premises such as saddleries for sale.

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Farmers' Weekly www.fwi.co.uk lists countryside properties for sale. Also try www.spab. org.uk (The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) and www.savebritainsheritage.org which detail derelict but historic properties for sale.

For converting a barn or rural farm building, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors www.rics.org.uk and Royal Institute of British Architects www. architecture.com both have information on firms with specialist skills.

The National Caravan Council www. nationalcaravan.co.uk  has information about who makes vehicles, where you can buy them, where you can stay and the suppliers of specialist products and services.

Also worth looking at are park homes - try the National Park Home Council at www.theparkhome.net and www.ukparks.com.

If you can't make up your mind, go to www.theperfectlocation.co.uk  for inspiration.

A timber hut in Dorset recently went for £12,000 and www.beachhuts.co.uk has beach huts for sale, information and contacts.

Also trywww.mudeford-beachhuts.co.uk .

Finally, www.liveinquarters.com  offers prefabricated city centre homes which come fully-furnished and self-contained, for as little as £70 a week.