Overgrown garden. Where do I start?

[TheScottishPlay]

Our new garden is overgrown, neglected and big.
The grass has been cut now but the borders have brambles, rose bushes and weeds galore. Theres an orchard part with pear and plum trees and dense undergrowth.
What's the best way to tackle it and once we do can anyone recommend plants and shrubs to grow?
We are just north of Dundee.

One thing at a time. Are you sure they're all weeds? Some plants look pretty naff until they flower later in the season.

Dig brambles out. With gloves, secateurs etc. Or treat with a tough weedkiller like SBK- but you'll still need to dig the roots out.

Leave rose bushes be for now, they'll need pruning next winter.

Same with fruit trees. Although they may take a few years to get them to shape without doing them harm.

See what blooms. Mark what you like.

As for recommendations, depends what you like, whether you're after cottage garden/ modern/ grow food/ refresh wwith annuals regularly or build up something that just needs maintenance each year with perennials. How much time? How much money? How big is big?

I've got a similar sounding garden and have been tackling sections of it for a few years now. It is exhausting!

I've tried to focus on a section at a time but am finding that quite hard so I focused on one type of job instead. Last year I went round the whole lot cutting down thick branches of large shrubs - one or two types in particular, then cut all the roses right back/down. This year I'm aiming to get the brambles up by the roots. I had cut most of them back last year so they are more manageable this year.

My borders are mostly in small sections so I was going to try and clear one patch at a time but some are so riddled with brambles that I broke my fork so am rethinking that tactic! At the moment DH is very tempted to buy a mini digger to clear sections.

We had a new section of fence put in recently so I've put a few climbers against it and have cleared a small border near the house for a lavender hedge. I'm looking for a place to start a box hedge next. I've found the best thing to do is to wait and see what's in the garden and get to know it for a year if you can wait that long!

Thanks, food for thought. Definitely after cottage garden look (mix of perennials and annuals sounds good) with a section to grow rabbit friendly grub. It's approx an acre, bigger than we've had before.
Budget wise, I'm willing to spend on things we like.

If you have the budget I would hire a mechanical digger by the day. It is backbreaking and heart breaking to spend months and months clearing by hand. Especially when all the stuff comes back next season.

We are in a similar position. Tackling a section at a time and planting up as we go. If you haven't seen it through a year yet it's worth watching it and doing the minimum, seeing what comes up when and where the light falls over changing seasons. The better you get to know the land, the easier to work out what you want to do.

Oh if you're willing to spend, get contractors in to at least get you down to base on the stuff you don't want (they might have a licence for tougher weedkiller for example, and a rotorvator)

My mistake though has been not planting as soon as I've weeded.
We're in our fifth year in this house and it's a biggish garden, only just starting to get to look respectable and be maintenance rather than fresh start.