Went for an afternoon stroll through the anticipated area where land can be purchased. Plenty of options are likely to arise, but being France no-one is actively advertising land for sale. Lots vary enormously, from cultivated vineyards and olive groves to derelict former agricultural land. Stone walls are in various stages of decay unless there is active agriculture, while the land itself is either cleared or wild scrub.

The planning rules are quite strict as this is a protected area within a regional park. No habitation is allowed, while the type of structure allowed is likely to be a simple hut or shelter used by local farmers/vignerons when out all day before they owned motor transportation. No on line services are available, but rain water could be collected and a small generator would be necessary to run trains, etc.

The climate is hot and dry in summer and cold and very windy in winter, so the "shoulder months" would be the ideal time to clear, build and run an outdoor layout.

The height of a layout above ground level could be limited to around 50 cm, with the possibility of ground level track work as well (though this would be liable to splash back of soil during occasional heavy rain storms). Landscaping would be possible but nothing grows quickly without water!

The weather was cloudy today and not suitable for photography, but I will attempt to post some photos in the days ahead.