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  andy @Doughty Garden Maintenance August 1, 2011 at 10:20pm

  I look after a churchard, i have always used my old faithful Honda HR214, does a grand job and gets around the headstones nicely. The grass was long when i first took it on and like you i cut it high first then low, once it's short though it's kept short. so i've not had to do that again.

  I cut it every 2 weeks. 
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  Kieran Ray August 1, 2011 at 10:30pm

  How about one of these? We use one to cut some rough areas as it will cut what a flail does and a bit more.

   

  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Scag-Humus-10hp-24-spiral-flail-pedestria...
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  Colin Hunt August 1, 2011 at 10:38pm

  We had a Churchyard contract for years and used a Haytor Condor for larger areas a Hayterette around the graves with careful dribble of Roundup around the stones. 
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  Adam Pilgrim August 2, 2011 at 3:06pm

  I suppose a lot depends on how densely packed the headstones are, but i would probably use my Hayter Double 3 on mulch and my Hayterette on any difficult bits - Ride on's are good if the head stones are in straight lines, but in many of my local churchyards they aren't.
  
  A Condor is only really a bigger, self propelled Hayterette - just make sure you have room to turn around and get between things before committing... If there was a reasonable distance between headstones I would contemplate using my rear engine 28" Snapper ride on mulch setting as it turns on a sixpence...
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  Martyn Howe August 2, 2011 at 5:06pm

  We use a Scag 36 for this type of work. It cuts large areas quickly and gives a quality finish too. Its easy to use and maintain and is great in tight spaces with its zero turn capability. Good used machines are easy to find for reasonable money. Our machine has saved us loads of time and money cutting areas in less than half the time as our previous walk behind machines. Hope this helps
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  Dan Frazer Gardening August 2, 2011 at 8:37pm

  As Martyn says above, my machine though is a Ferris commercial 36. Good machine, reliable as you could ever want with a good kawasaki engine, obviously zero turn, decent finish, speed is a fast walk, great no-fuss machines, both ferris and scag. They will cut long grass too. I often use it to cut a paddock area with thick, clumpy long grass 2-3ft high and it does a good job.
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  Sean @ Eclipse August 2, 2011 at 10:50pm

  Thanks for all your replies.

  Headstones are a problem, the more recent ones are more or less lined up, but the older ones are are all over the place. Some have tipped over due to rabbits undermining them. I have some monster rabbit holes and a generous helping of mole hills too (and of course all the stones and flint that are dug up too). And to top it all, I discovered a wasp nest in tall grass.

  My Double 3 has been cutting through grass thats taller than the mower, but it is struggling, and it has also bottomed out a few times in some of the smaller unseen rabbit holes.

  I am looking for a machine that will ride the holes and uneven surface, but which is yet still manoeuvrable, and gives a good clean cut.

  How much is a machine like the condor/scar/ferris likely to cost me?

  Thanks again
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  Dan Frazer Gardening August 3, 2011 at 7:17am

  You can get a good used ferris/scag for around £600-700 if you keep an eye out. Some dealers have them on ebay well over £1k though which I think is a little much.
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  Richard Gregory August 3, 2011 at 8:54pm

  We look after a couple of churchyards.  Strim around headstones and then us the lawnflite pro 533 and honda izzy 19in.  No problems.  They are village churchyards so not massive.  But as stated once grass under control easy. 

   
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  briggsandscrapem August 4, 2011 at 7:25pm

  Double wheels could be good on the bumpy ground.
  
  Dan Frazer Gardening said:

  You can get a good used ferris/scag for around £600-700 if you keep an eye out. Some dealers have them on ebay well over £1k though which I think is a little much.