I would suggest that for starting out you could do worse than buy;
8x56 Hungarian Schmidt & Bender Scope @ £550 ( I just paid £450 for an ex-demo one)
Minox 8x44 BD BP @ £269.00 (although these are nice
http://www.rmacleod.co.uk/optics/5722.htm)
Then you will need cleaning equipment and a rifle cleaning rest @ £100/ish
A rifle sling (wide neoprene) and a rifle slip @ £100/ish
Giving you a total of £1,019 but call it £1,000. Leaving you £500 for a rifle (and ammo) for which you can look on Guntrader.
Good hunting!
ft