We used to have a large garden with a sloping area, that took about sixty minutes to cut with a hover mower. We got a small self-propelled petrol engined mower, and it took 25 minutes. We now have a much smaller garden, and the petrol mower is still going strong. So long as the slope is too steep for the drive wheels to get a grip, I recommend petrol, self-propelled.

If anything untowards happens, you let go of the accelerator lever, and everything stops - just like with an electric. I used to be nervous of petrol as well - now I wouldn't use anything else on a large lawn.

Coop Bau sell them - as do Jumbo and Ovi.