West of Scotland Escape to the Country


West of Scotland

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Today I'm in a region which has gained a worldwide sporting reputation

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thanks to the tiny island behind me.

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So where am I? Find out in just a moment.

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On today's show, we'll be following our animal instincts

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as we help an artistic couple find a new home for them and their many pets.

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But there's an unexpected response in one kitchen.

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-Do either of you cook?

-Not really.

-No, we're terrible.

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And a surprise revelation means they could be moving in sooner rather than later.

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-This is...

-I'm declaring squatters' rights!

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Definitely.

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Today I'm in the West of Scotland and this island is Ailsa Craig.

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Now, the extremely hard blue hone granite, which is unique to this island,

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has been used to make curling stones since the early 1700s,

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and even today carries such a high pedigree that only stones sourced from this island

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are deemed good enough to use in the Olympics.

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Now, the origins of curling here in Scotland can be traced back to 1511,

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but it's now become so popular overseas, it's played in around 45 countries.

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I'm going to be find out more about this historic game later in the programme,

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but first let's find out what else this area is famous for.

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Situated on the western coast of Scotland, the counties of Renfrewshire and Ayrshire

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provide some of the country's most dramatic and historic backdrops.

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To the north, the rural areas of Renfrewshire unfold

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with rolling countryside and atmospheric moorland.

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Then, further south, into Ayrshire, the village of Alloway is celebrated

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as the birthplace of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns.

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Ayrshire's western coastline is fringed by craggy headlands that descend to meet the rocky shores,

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looking out over the Firth of Clyde.

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And the sparse ruins of Turnberry Castle, once home to Robert the Bruce,

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have, like him, been defiantly resisting defeat for over 700 years.

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The sheltered quiet waters present an ideal starting point

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to explore the county's rich coastal geography by boat,

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and, for landlubbers, the 100-mile-long Ayrshire Coastal Path

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features magnificent views across to the Isle of Arran every step of the way.

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The average price of a detached home in Scotland is just under £228,000,

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and if you're particularly keen on the West of Scotland, you could be on to a winner.

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For example, a typical home in Argyll is around £17,000 below the national figure.

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However, it's not all plain sailing.

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If you fancy moving further south to Renfrewshire or South Ayrshire,

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the price of a detached home there is the highest in the region.

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In fact, you could pay more than the national average.

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But whatever your property desires, one thing's for certain...

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the West of Scotland offers a wealth of different property styles

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that reflects its rich architectural heritage.

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Dating back to the 1800s, single-storey stone-built farm workers' cottages

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are peppered throughout the region,

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with prices starting around the £150,000 mark for a three-bedroom home.

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On the coast, there are a number of resorts which sprang up in the Georgian and Victorian eras,

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and a four-bedroom period villa with a sea view in Ayr could cost you upwards of £400,000.

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However, if you'd like to realise that fairytale dream of owning a renovated castle

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with acres of land,

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then don't be surprised if you're quoted prices in the region of £2 million.

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There's certainly a varied mix of property styles in this beautiful part of Scotland.

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But what are our buyers after? Let's meet them and find out.

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Civil partners Jackie and Fiona met 20 years ago

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when they were both training to be occupational therapists at university.

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They currently live in a very crowded home in a busy Hampshire town

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down on the English South Coast.

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We live in a four-bedroom house in the centre of Lymington

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and, at the moment, we share our house with my mum who, sadly, has Alzheimer's disease.

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We also share our house with many pets.

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Well, we've got six cats, a squirrel, four rabbits, two hedgehogs...

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..and Jackie!

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Well, Jackie aside, they've certainly got their hands full!

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But with retirement on the cards, they're hoping they can use their new-found freedom

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to fulfil their dream of running an animal sanctuary.

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We're actually running out of space here for our animals.

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We would like to develop the wildlife-rescue side of things

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and our garden just isn't big enough.

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They've decided to start up their new venture on Scottish soil,

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and it's a place with which Fiona has long-held ties.

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Well, we'd like to live in Argyll, Inverclyde or Ayrshire.

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It's where I used to live and was brought up.

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Despite moving many miles, their key requirements for this relocation are small but perfectly formed.

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I think the three essential things for our new property would be...

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the land for our rescue...

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ground-floor facilities for my mother

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-and, for us, I think it would be important to have an art room or a studio.

-Yeah.

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We've concentrated on our artwork, I think, for about the last ten years or so.

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I enjoy doing painting and Fiona also paints.

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-And I like to paint people. And you like to paint animals.

-Yeah.

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So I paint a lot of animals, wildlife and cats. No surprises there!

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Their current house is on the market so they've got a clear idea of their budget.

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However, their funds will have to cover more than just their own needs.

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The budget for our property is a maximum of £350,000,

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basically because we'd like to have a little bit of money left over so that we can renovate a property,

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and also build some of the cages and pens that may be required for the animal sanctuary.

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Upping sticks by some 450 miles is a massive change,

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but for our buyers it's a transition that will improve their lives for many years to come.

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It will give us a lot more time to focus on our animals

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-and also, I think, it will make us feel a lot more relaxed...

-Yeah.

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-..And sort of happy as people.

-Yeah.

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For their move to Scotland, our buyers want a location close to Fiona's extended family in Greenock,

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so our house hunt will stay within an hour's travelling time of her relatives there.

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Time for me to meet up with them to finalise the details of their cross-border relocation.

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Well, girls, here we are on the West of Scotland. Looking forward to the next few days?

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-Yes.

-Yes, I can't wait.

-But what is it about this part of Scotland that so appeals to you both?

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Well, I think the scenery is lovely, and we're both painters.

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The colours are amazing. If you just look, you know, you get lots of purples

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and very strong colours for painting.

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-So it's not just land, it's the artistic side of it as well.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

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So, the property up here, what's on your wish list?

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It's got to be detached, ideally, with some land to it.

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It's got to lend itself to have an annex and also we'd like something to do our artwork, so...

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a studio or a room... a loft room that would lend itself to that sort of thing.

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-Any bedrooms, kitchen-diner?

-Bedrooms would be helpful.

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Three bedrooms probably or more. We're not great cooks, so we don't really worry about the kitchen,

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but as long as it's got a kitchen of some sort.

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-Something quirky and unusual.

-Well, Fiona and Jackie,

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we've got three fantastic properties lined up for you to see,

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one, of course, being our mystery property that I think might test you a little bit.

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-We'll see how you get on. So shall we get started?

-That's great. Lovely.

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We've got some wonderful properties for our buyers

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and I'll be asking them to guess the price of each one before I reveal it.

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As ever, our final option is the mystery house

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which today could really see Fiona and Jackie opening up new horizons.

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So you both currently work as occupational therapists,

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but in a way you want to give up looking after people to look after animals.

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We primarily want to look after animals now because that's just our love

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and that's what we want to do.

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We're starting our house search in Renfrewshire

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and we're heading for the rural outskirts of Lochwinnoch

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which is about 25 miles from Greenock.

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Lochwinnoch is a medium-sized village

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with a range of essential amenities.

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It's believed its name means loch of the birds,

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rather fitting as there's a bird sanctuary and nature reserve on the wetlands

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where our animal-loving buyers would be welcome as volunteers.

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Our first property is a short drive out of the village and set amongst glorious unspoilt countryside.

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Well, ladies, welcome to Renfrewshire and your first property.

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-Wow! That looks fabulous.

-Yes, very nice.

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-It's beautifully kept up.

-Yes.

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-It does actually date back to the 17th century.

-Wow!

-Does it?

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-Yeah. Original farmer's cottage, stone and slate.

-Yes.

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About ten years ago, extended quite extensively, actually, to the side.

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-But the main property itself, it is listed, category B.

-Right.

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-So a lot of history there.

-That's nice.

-Yeah.

-A good first impression?

-Yeah, it's lovely.

-Looks quirky.

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-Shall start the tour?

-Yeah. Lovely.

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This L-shaped cottage is mostly laid out on one level but does have some quirky features

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that I hope will appeal to our buyers' artistic flair.

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We're starting the tour in the heart of the house which is situated in the original part of the property.

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-Wow! What a lovely kitchen.

-Isn't it?

-Lovely windows.

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-Really spacious, isn't it?

-Yeah, big kitchen, isn't it?

-Yeah.

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-Do either of you cook?

-Not really.

-No, we're terrible.

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-So this space is going to be wasted?

-Yeah.

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As long as it's got the fridge for the bottle of wine!

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-A toaster and that's it.

-No, it's perfect.

-It's a lovely kitchen.

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-Perfect.

-Good. Shall we continue?

-Yes.

-OK.

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-Let's go through.

-I like the doors.

-The doors are lovely.

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So these steps lead down to the original cottage.

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-Come on in.

-Ooh!

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So this is the oldest part, over 300 years old.

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-The kitchen was the cattle shed before it was all converted.

-Right.

-Oh, I see.

-Yeah.

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-The low ceilings and the staircase going up makes it feel really cosy.

-Yeah. It's lovely.

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This side of the property also houses two double bedrooms.

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There's one directly off the sitting room that could be used as an art studio,

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or, as an alternative, they could transform the larger double

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which also has a brand-new en-suite bathroom.

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Located on the mezzanine level is another bedroom

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which is accessed from the staircase in the sitting room.

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It's an unusual configuration, but Fiona and Jackie want something a bit leftfield,

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so I'm hoping they'll especially appreciate this feature.

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There are three further bedrooms in the extended wing, all with their own en-suite.

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One is a small single, but next to that is a good-sized double, perfect for guests.

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Finally, there's the largest bedroom which is what we're checking out next.

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-This is the final one, this makes five.

-What a fabulous room.

-It's big, isn't it?

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Potentially this could be right, we're thinking, for Mum.

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-Yeah, it would make a great bed-sitting room, cos that's what she's got at the moment.

-Yeah.

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We have an impressive amount of cupboard space here,

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-but again it's not what it seems.

-No?

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Ladies, just poke your head in there.

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-Wow!

-That's amazing, isn't it?

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-There's the en-suite.

-Wow! That's amazing.

-A secret en-suite!

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-So you've got the en-suite, you've got all this space...

-Yeah.

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Is this the type of thing that you had in mind for Mum? Because I know it's important to get it right.

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-Yes.

-Yeah. It's perfect.

-It's perfect.

-It's perfect. It's got lots of space.

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Yeah, and very well cared for, and the floors are lovely as well. It's lovely.

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My goodness! And it's only the first property that we're showing you.

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We've had great responses so far, and I'm getting the sense that this house is a real contender.

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All that's left now is to find space for the animals, so let's see what's in store for them outside.

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So, looking at the land, I mean, it does need a little bit of work,

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as you can see, because where the building work's gone on in the house,

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perhaps it needs to be laid back to grass again.

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-But you do have three acres.

-Uh-huh.

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And you do still feel like you're in the country because you're surrounded by trees,

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it's not all on one flat level. What were you thinking of?

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You know, you said, you wanted a little bit of land for the animals. Is this enough?

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-Yes.

-Yes, it's about the size we would envisage, isn't it? Yeah.

-Yeah, it's great.

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-It's manageable.

-Manageable, yeah.

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-All good?

-All good, yeah.

-All good.

-Yeah, lovely.

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I'm looking at you both to try and gauge reactions, but you're not giving too much away.

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-No, it's brilliant. Just trying to sort of work out...

-Just working out money in my head.

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You've cued that up beautifully for me, Fiona. How much do you think this property is on the market for?

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-Well, I'd say about 340, because of the land which needs a lot of work on it.

-OK.

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And I would think about 335.

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You're both under...

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-Oh!

-Oh!

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Now, I know we're looking at £350,000 as our budget.

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-It's slightly over.

-Right.

-£360,000.

-Right.

-Right.

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And it has come down quite considerably in the last few months.

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-Right.

-They're very keen to sell. But it is 10,000 over your budget.

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-A good start, thought?

-Yeah, brilliant. Beautiful.

-It's been fantastic.

-Good.

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Well, have a think, have another wander around,

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start off with the property and then I'll let you look around the grounds.

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-And then I'll catch up with you two when you're ready.

-Thank you very much.

-See you.

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Although it's £10,000 over budget,

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our first house does a very good job of delivering what Fiona and Jackie are looking for.

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The unconventional layout offers...

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all with en-suite bathrooms.

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-Lovely wooden staircase.

-It is, isn't it?

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-This is a good room, isn't it?

-This is a nice room.

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I mean, this would have to maybe be the art studio.

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I really like the look of the property. It's our sort of style, it's cottagey,

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and quirky as well.

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Inside it's beautifully kept and it needs nothing doing to it at all.

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So, again, very impressed.

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It's lovely that you get more than what you asked for.

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All the bedrooms are lovely and they've all got en-suite, and they're all done up beautifully.

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So that was nice surprise. The house is perfect, lovely and quirky,

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and, yeah, it would just be putting the money into the land, really.

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-Right, ladies, have you seen enough?

-Yes, yes, that was absolutely fabulous, that house.

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-A good start, then?

-A really good start. It's going to be difficult to compare, really.

-Yeah.

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Let's see how we get on. Come on!

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Standing proudly some nine miles offshore in the Firth of Clyde

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is the iconic Scottish landmark of Ailsa Craig.

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The rock covers over 200 acres

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and geologists believe it was formed from an extinct volcano over 500 million years ago.

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Today, Ailsa Craig is principally a seabird colony,

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home to the third-largest population of gannets in Britain.

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With Fiona and Jackie's passion for animals,

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earlier in the week, we sent our wildlife enthusiasts to the old fishing port of Girvan

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to meet Paul Tarling from the RSPB

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who monitors the colourful varieties of breeds on the island.

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And by far the best way to appreciate the spectacular sight and sounds of the seabirds

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is to take to the water.

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This is the north side of Ailsa Craig

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and this is where the main colony of birds are.

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There's 20,000 or more gannets up on the cliffs.

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All the gannets have got a six-foot wingspan. They really are quite amazing.

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Ailsa Craig supports over 70,000 breeding seabirds

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and has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

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Species include guillemots, razorbills, puffins and peregrines.

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So what attracts so many of these birds to the island?

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It's where the Gulf Stream or North Atlantic Drift comes up

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from out of the Gulf of Mexico. That drift that comes up

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is bringing nutrient-rich waters up here and it's great for fish in this area.

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And this close-up experience provides a wonderful opportunity

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for Fiona and Jackie to exploit their artistic talents with some challenging new subject matter.

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There are puffins in the water over here.

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Aw, lovely.

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-They're very pretty, aren't they?

-Yeah.

-Gorgeous, aren't they?

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When they finally make their move up here,

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our buyers will certainly be hoping to take advantage of Scotland's many burgeoning natural habitats,

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but for now it's time to return to dry land as we continue our house hunt.

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Our next stop takes us to the village of Kilbarchan

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which is within a half-hour car journey of Fiona's family in Greenock.

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The most prominent landmark gracing the centre of the village

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is a towering steeple, and there's a range of useful shops and businesses.

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Our second property is a colourful character home which started life as a humble farmhouse.

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So what do you think?

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-It's lovely, isn't it? It's a very traditional cottage.

-It dates back to 1688.

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-Right.

-Well, that's when either it was built or the couple that moved in got married,

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because it's written just above the door and they're not sure, it's either one of the other.

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-Oh, right.

-Lots of history.

-Very old. Lots of history.

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It's awful weather. Shall we just step inside and I'll tell you more as we do the tour?

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-Come on!

-Thank you.

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Well, our buyers seem really taken with this property's heritage,

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so let's see what they make of the accommodation which is all on the ground floor.

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It's so cold out there! Bring you into a nice, warm country kitchen.

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-It's lovely.

-Yes.

-Lovely feel to it.

-A nice square room.

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-Very nice.

-Lots of space.

-Nice ceiling height.

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-Really high ceilings.

-It's pretty nice, isn't it?

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A lot of light coming through.

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-It's nice, especially if you can have a table in the kitchen as well.

-Yeah.

-To your taste?

-Yes.

-Good.

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There's a door through there and at the moment it's a TV room, but it could be a good hobby room.

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Probably not good enough for easels and paints and everything, but a nice snug for you.

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Let's continue through.

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OK.

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-So here is your rather grand drawing room.

-Wow! This is lovely, isn't it?

-Oh, yes, it is.

0:21:360:21:43

-Very nice.

-Yeah, and I like all the windows.

-I like the space. Yeah, the windows are lovely.

0:21:430:21:48

When your family invades, there'll be plenty of seats for all.

0:21:480:21:52

They'll be so pleased to have you on their doorstep, won't they, when you make the move.

0:21:520:21:54

And there really is plenty of space for all of them.

0:21:540:21:58

This home has a total of four bedrooms.

0:21:580:22:01

One is currently being used as a dining room,

0:22:010:22:04

while another is a lovely bright twin, perfect for sharing.

0:22:040:22:08

There's also the master bedroom with an en-suite shower,

0:22:080:22:11

but perhaps most important is the potential bedroom for Jackie's mother.

0:22:110:22:15

-Come on in, girls.

-It's big, isn't it?

-It is big.

0:22:160:22:19

-That's a fantastic size, isn't it?

-Uh-huh.

0:22:190:22:23

-And it's got its own en-suite.

-Oh, so it'll be good for Mum.

-Yeah.

0:22:230:22:27

So, yes, in a way, the best bedroom will perhaps be suitable for Mum,

0:22:270:22:34

cos not only does it have the en-suite, but also through there, there's another room...

0:22:340:22:39

-Is there?

-..Yeah, which has a sink, and it could be a sitting room,

0:22:390:22:44

-and there's access outside as well.

-That's good.

-Right.

0:22:440:22:47

-So it's like a little annex almost, isn't it..?

-Yeah.

-..With its own door.

0:22:470:22:52

-That's lovely.

-I'll let you explore this house on your own in a little bit,

0:22:520:22:57

because I know you're keen to see outside and what land is available.

0:22:570:23:00

-Are you ready to face the elements one more time?

-Yes.

-Jackie, after you.

-Thank you.

0:23:000:23:05

Outside the majority of the land is given over to stone-chip courtyards,

0:23:080:23:13

one to the front, creating a large driveway,

0:23:130:23:16

and another at the back of the property which could be grassed to make a more traditional garden.

0:23:160:23:21

-This is it. If you wanted additional acres...

-Right.

-..You'd need to try and find a local farmer,

0:23:230:23:30

-because this is the land that comes with the property.

-Right.

0:23:300:23:33

That's actually a shame, because I do think we would need a bit more land than this.

0:23:330:23:39

For the safety of the animals, we would need the land close to the property,

0:23:390:23:42

rather than sort of rented down the road.

0:23:420:23:45

Well, you've seen everything now,

0:23:450:23:47

and you realise this is the total amount of land you're going to get with the property,

0:23:470:23:51

which does bring us on to guess the price.

0:23:510:23:54

-Right...

-Who wants to go first?

0:23:540:23:57

-Er...

-I'll say about 325,000.

-OK.

0:23:570:24:03

-And I think about 275.

-Shall we go in the middle?

0:24:030:24:07

The asking price is...

0:24:080:24:10

-£295,000, and offers over.

-Right.

-Right.

0:24:100:24:16

-That's the starting point, but as we're in Scotland they say offers over.

-Yeah.

0:24:160:24:19

So we wanted to show you a property that did have a lot of space inside for you.

0:24:190:24:26

It does have sort of minimal land for your requirements,

0:24:260:24:29

but it gives you quite a lot of money to play with.

0:24:290:24:33

-The first property was over, this is quite a bit under your budget.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

0:24:330:24:39

-Just so that it gave you something also to think about.

-Yes.

-Yes.

0:24:390:24:43

Well, go and have another look around the property anyway.

0:24:430:24:45

-It's so cold and damp! You loved the house itself?

-Yes.

-Yeah.

0:24:450:24:49

-And I'll catch up with you in a little while.

-OK, thanks, Nicki.

0:24:490:24:52

On the market for offers over £295,000,

0:24:530:24:57

this property is more than £50,000 under Fiona and Jackie's top budget.

0:24:570:25:02

This is a great space, isn't it? I think this would work well for Mum.

0:25:180:25:22

-Yes, it's fine.

-And that room is such a nice big room, it could turn into a bed-sitting room for her.

-Yes.

0:25:220:25:30

-With the en-suite bathroom. I think it works really well.

-Yeah.

0:25:300:25:34

The dining room would have been really good for an art room. Just the right size and the right light.

0:25:340:25:40

So that would be perfect, but of course the land which is the whole reason for moving,

0:25:400:25:47

or part of the reason for moving, there just wasn't enough land.

0:25:470:25:51

I felt it was a lovely-looking property, very traditional,

0:25:510:25:55

and it actually offered us, I felt, all that we wanted in terms of sort of annex potential for my mother,

0:25:550:26:03

and art room and studio...

0:26:030:26:06

but the sad thing was that it really doesn't have enough land.

0:26:060:26:13

-Right, girls, that's it for today.

-It's freezing out here!

-It is cold.

0:26:150:26:20

-I think it's time for a hot toddy.

-Oh, yes.

-That sounds great.

-We deserve it, don't we?

-Yes.

-Come on.

0:26:200:26:24

As the sun sets on the horizon, turning the sky crimson,

0:26:380:26:43

the first day of our property hunt draws to a close.

0:26:430:26:46

With a budget of £350,000, Fiona and Jackie from Lymington in Hampshire are seeking a Scottish sanctuary

0:26:510:26:59

for themselves, Jackie's mother and, of course, their menagerie of pets.

0:26:590:27:03

So far we've shown them two lovely period properties, but each time the amount of land has fallen short.

0:27:030:27:10

However, have we hit the jackpot at the mystery house?

0:27:100:27:14

-No way!

-You're kidding?

0:27:140:27:16

-You're kidding?

-No way!

0:27:160:27:18

And I get cold feet playing an Olympic Scottish sport.

0:27:190:27:22

Well, yesterday we got some very positive comments about both the houses,

0:27:240:27:28

but I can't help feeling we didn't quite deliver on the land,

0:27:280:27:31

something that's so important to Jackie and Fiona.

0:27:310:27:34

But today with the mystery house, well, land is something the girls certainly won't be short of.

0:27:340:27:40

I just hope they're not all at sea with the journey to get there.

0:27:400:27:43

Our final stop of this wonderful West Scotland house search takes us even further west.

0:27:450:27:51

The mystery property destination is Glenstriven,

0:27:510:27:54

and not only is it cross-county into Argyll,

0:27:540:27:56

but to get there you also have to go across the water.

0:27:560:28:00

The ferry departs from the port of Gourock and takes us across to Dunoon in Argyll.

0:28:000:28:05

-Oh, great! We're going on the ferry. Look!

-We certainly are!

0:28:060:28:10

-Got your sea legs?

-Yeah!

0:28:100:28:13

Bulk tickets purchased in advance start at just under £20 return for a car plus driver,

0:28:130:28:20

and there are at least two sailings every hour throughout the day.

0:28:200:28:23

This short ferry crossing offers the perfect opportunity to soak up the breathtaking views

0:28:230:28:29

and discover what our buyers think.

0:28:290:28:31

So how well do you know Argyll?

0:28:320:28:34

-Not very well at all.

-Jackie?

-No. Not at all.

-That makes three of us.

0:28:340:28:39

We're going to explore it together.

0:28:390:28:42

The mystery property in Glenstriven is reached by a 40-minute coastal drive

0:28:440:28:49

and our buyers have certainly had a lot of time to let their imaginations run riot.

0:28:490:28:54

So, ladies, I hope the journey's been worth it, because two steps forward...

0:28:570:29:02

we can now reveal your mystery house.

0:29:020:29:05

You can look up now.

0:29:050:29:07

-Wow! How fabulous is that?

-Ah!

0:29:080:29:12

-That is a dream!

-And then...

-Look!

0:29:120:29:14

Look at that as a view!

0:29:140:29:17

What a beautiful place, isn't it?

0:29:170:29:19

It's like heaven, isn't it? It's like heaven.

0:29:200:29:23

That's Loch Striven and we're actually in Glenstriven here.

0:29:230:29:26

So, Dunoon, which is where the ferry landed,

0:29:260:29:30

is about 12 miles away, so that would have two supermarkets, it's got a hospital, all your shops.

0:29:300:29:37

-This is your rural retreat.

-It's beautiful, isn't it?

0:29:370:29:41

-Absolutely beautiful.

-Just like heaven.

0:29:410:29:44

I think it's safe to say that the location has really captured their hearts, and it's no wonder.

0:29:450:29:51

The setting would be hard to beat.

0:29:510:29:53

The mystery house is very special too as it's a unique timber-framed home

0:29:530:29:58

that takes the idea of woodland living to new heights.

0:29:580:30:01

So, taking your eyes away from that amazing view for just a few minutes,

0:30:020:30:06

what do you think about the property itself?

0:30:060:30:08

-It's...it's nice...isn't it?

-Yes.

-It's very different.

-It's very, very different.

0:30:080:30:14

It is unusual. So you've got a dining area here, obviously, your seated area here.

0:30:140:30:20

You can see stairs going up and down which we'll explore in a minute.

0:30:200:30:24

-Again the house has been designed really with those views in mind.

-Yes.

-Yeah.

0:30:240:30:31

-Just dumbstruck!

-I don't think houses like this come up for sale very often, do you?

-No!

0:30:310:30:36

-OK.

-It's fantastic.

-OK. All right, let's continue.

0:30:370:30:40

So, a fair size.

0:30:410:30:43

-Yeah, it's great. It's fine for us.

-Yeah, it is.

0:30:430:30:48

-We don't do an awful lot of cooking.

-No.

-You're such a refreshing change, you two!

0:30:480:30:52

-It's got a cooker and fridge and sink and that's all we need, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

0:30:520:30:56

And next door there's a large double bedroom

0:30:560:30:59

which you could use as a double bedroom or perhaps as a hobby room for art.

0:30:590:31:03

This property has three floors. On the top level is the family bathroom

0:31:030:31:09

which sits between two double bedrooms.

0:31:090:31:11

But I have a clever idea which could help our buyers realise a much better vision.

0:31:110:31:16

So...

0:31:160:31:18

-..here we have...

-Oh, my!

-..A very impressive master bedroom.

0:31:190:31:25

But, ladies, just go and stand by the window

0:31:250:31:29

-and tell me would this not make a fantastic art studio?

-Yes!

0:31:290:31:36

Gosh, yes!

0:31:360:31:38

Oh, gosh! I'd never come out of here.

0:31:380:31:40

So who needs an amazing bedroom when you've got a view like that?

0:31:400:31:44

It doesn't matter about the bedroom.

0:31:440:31:47

-This is...

-I'm declaring squatters' rights!

0:31:480:31:51

Definitely.

0:31:510:31:53

I would want to stay in here all the time.

0:31:530:31:55

-So this could be the perfect art studio for you?

-Mm-hm.

-Yes.

-Great.

0:31:550:31:58

Well, we've certainly set their artistic flames alight

0:31:580:32:03

with a stunning view that almost leaps into the room.

0:32:030:32:06

That just leaves Jackie's mum, so we're going to head down two flights of stairs to the ground floor

0:32:060:32:12

to see the last of the four bedrooms.

0:32:120:32:14

And in a way Mum has her own separate living quarters down here.

0:32:150:32:21

-That's lovely.

-This is lovely, isn't it?

-But what about the stairs?

0:32:210:32:25

-There's patio doors just through there.

-Oh, uh-huh.

0:32:250:32:28

You could actually build... There is a semi path outside from where the cars are parked,

0:32:280:32:33

and you could just make that a little bit more sturdy,

0:32:330:32:35

and then she could actually come that way,

0:32:350:32:37

and if she's ever in a wheelchair or anything like that, you could have access that way for her.

0:32:370:32:42

-She's got her own en-suite.

-Yes.

-Yes, she'd love that.

0:32:420:32:47

-And she can also sit outside.

-Oh, yeah, she'd like that.

-That's a bonus, isn't it?

-Yeah.

0:32:470:32:52

That wraps up the accommodation in here,

0:32:530:32:55

but I know they're desperate to get a feel for the outside land

0:32:550:32:59

and where better to take it all in than the huge first-floor balcony off the sitting room?

0:32:590:33:04

-And look at that! The Scottish sun has come out for us as we look at the land.

-Yes.

0:33:050:33:10

Guess how many acres you think this property comes with.

0:33:100:33:13

Er...about an acre maybe...?

0:33:130:33:17

A little bit more.

0:33:170:33:19

-A little bit more?

-A little bit more.

-One and a half?

0:33:190:33:22

Just under eight.

0:33:220:33:23

-Eight?

-Just under eight acres, but quite a lot of it is woodland,

0:33:230:33:27

-which means low maintenance. There's just under eight acres in total.

-My goodness!

0:33:270:33:32

That...that's more than enough.

0:33:320:33:35

So, for your little bit of paradise here in Glenstriven,

0:33:350:33:39

how much do you think this mystery house is on the market for?

0:33:390:33:42

-Ooh...

-I'd say about 550.

0:33:430:33:46

And I think maybe about 425.

0:33:460:33:50

Your budget is 350... Are you ready for this, girls?

0:33:500:33:55

The asking price

0:33:570:33:58

-is £265,000.

-No way!

-You're kidding? You're kidding?

-No way!

0:33:580:34:05

I wonder whether you two want a second tour on your own this time?

0:34:050:34:10

-Yeah, that would be great.

-Yes, please.

-OK.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-See you in a little while.

0:34:100:34:15

What can I say? What a fantastic reaction to the most amazing property...

0:34:170:34:22

with views like that on your doorstep.

0:34:220:34:25

Significantly under budget at...

0:34:270:34:30

I've never been over here from Greenock.

0:34:570:35:00

-I never thought about looking over this side, but it's absolutely magnificent, isn't it?

-Yeah.

0:35:000:35:05

-You've got the real beauty of Scotland, haven't you, here.

-That's right...

0:35:050:35:09

-It would be just beautiful to paint here.

-Mm-hm.

0:35:090:35:13

I thought it was absolutely breathtaking. I couldn't believe it.

0:35:130:35:17

The inside of the house had a nice sort of cosy feel to it, all the natural wood...

0:35:170:35:24

I couldn't believe the price, I thought it was virtually going to be double what the asking price is,

0:35:240:35:30

because of the location.

0:35:300:35:32

Well, I just couldn't believe it. I thought I was dreaming.

0:35:320:35:35

It looks like a cabin in Switzerland or somewhere like that.

0:35:350:35:39

And I'd never thought about that kind of house before to look at.

0:35:390:35:45

It's a bit of heaven here.

0:35:450:35:47

Couldn't dream of anything more, really.

0:35:470:35:51

Right, girls? All finished. So that's it.

0:35:530:35:56

-You've seen all three properties.

-Mm-hm.

0:35:560:36:00

-Have you enjoyed it?

-Yeah.

-Great.

-It's been wonderful.

-It's been a great experience.

0:36:000:36:03

-Have we got you thinking?

-Yes.

0:36:030:36:05

Well, we're going to need to find somewhere quiet where we can sit down and have a chat

0:36:050:36:08

and you can tell me whether you're going to be making that 450-mile journey

0:36:080:36:13

from the South Coast of England to live here in Scotland.

0:36:130:36:15

Right, come on.

0:36:150:36:17

The island of Ailsa Craig of the West Coast of Scotland is not just a sanctuary for seabirds.

0:36:280:36:34

It also quite literally forms the bedrock for one of Scotland's national sports.

0:36:340:36:39

It's the granite from this small island that's used to make over 70% of the world's curling stones.

0:36:390:36:45

But there's just one company, established way back in 1851,

0:36:450:36:50

that has the exclusive rights to manufacture Ailsa curling stones.

0:36:500:36:55

So during the week I visited the Ayrshire factory to meet director Donald Macrae

0:36:550:37:00

and find out more about the island's precious commodity.

0:37:000:37:03

So, Donald, Ailsa Craig produces the perfect granite to make curling stones,

0:37:030:37:08

but what's so unique about this granite?

0:37:080:37:12

Well, it may surprise you but there's actually two types of granite used in making the curling stone.

0:37:120:37:17

One, common green, which is for the outer cheese or body of the stone,

0:37:170:37:23

and that's found in the south of the island,

0:37:230:37:26

and the other is Ailsa Craig blue hone which is used for the running edge of the stone,

0:37:260:37:31

and that's found at the north end of the island.

0:37:310:37:33

I can see we've got two huge slabs of granite behind us.

0:37:330:37:36

How many stones can you get out of a size this big?

0:37:360:37:40

It's hard to answer that question.

0:37:400:37:43

Maybe if I say we took of 1,800 tons of granite over ten years ago,

0:37:430:37:49

and we use a yield factor of five-and-a-half completed stones each ton.

0:37:490:37:56

Only loose rocks can be harvested from the island as quarrying is no longer permitted.

0:37:560:38:01

And once the rocks are transported to the factory, diamond cutters bore through to create each stone

0:38:010:38:07

which is then shaped, polished and fitted with a handle.

0:38:070:38:11

The whole process is highly specialised with each completed stone weighing exactly 40lbs.

0:38:110:38:17

So, now I've done with the theory, let's see how good I am in practice,

0:38:170:38:22

under the guidance of Sarah Reid who once held the title of Junior World Curling Champion.

0:38:220:38:27

-So we're going to just push forward slightly, now you're going to bring your hips up.

-Yeah.

0:38:270:38:32

Back slightly and then just push off.

0:38:320:38:34

After a demonstration from Sarah, it's time for me to have a go.

0:38:390:38:43

In Scotland, the sport of curling dates as far back as the early 1500s.

0:38:430:38:48

It's a game of skill and strategy, rather than speed and strength,

0:38:480:38:52

so it can be played by all ages,

0:38:520:38:54

and involves two teams sliding their stones towards a target

0:38:540:38:58

whilst trying to knock their opponents' stones out of the way.

0:38:580:39:01

Looking good. You're going to take that one out.

0:39:030:39:05

I'm going to knock your stone out.

0:39:050:39:07

Well done!

0:39:070:39:09

-I've knocked you into the middle.

-Really good shot.

0:39:090:39:11

-Oh, I'm pleased with that one.

-That's good.

0:39:110:39:14

With origins dating back to medieval Scotland,

0:39:140:39:17

curling is now enjoyed throughout the world

0:39:170:39:20

and is officially recognised as a Winter Olympic sport,

0:39:200:39:24

and I can really see the attraction.

0:39:240:39:26

Well, I gave it my best shot, but I don't think I'm going to make the national curling squad soon, do you?

0:39:290:39:35

So that's it. Our tour of the West of Scotland is over,

0:39:350:39:39

but what did Fiona and Jackie think of the three properties we showed them?

0:39:390:39:43

Let's find out.

0:39:430:39:45

So we've finished our tour of the West of Scotland by the coast,

0:39:500:39:53

the beautiful Isle of Bute behind us. Well, shall we start with the very first property we showed you?

0:39:530:39:59

It was inland from here, in Renfrewshire.

0:39:590:40:01

-It was the old cottage.

-Mm-hm.

-It was quite quirky, it was very cosy.

0:40:010:40:06

It offered good accommodation for my mother,

0:40:060:40:10

-and for ourselves there was a question mark over the sort of studio/art room.

-Mmm.

0:40:100:40:16

The land... it had a small sort of area of land,

0:40:160:40:21

I think it was about an acre or so,

0:40:210:40:23

-and I guess that was the bit we were slightly disappointed with.

-Yeah.

0:40:230:40:27

-But a good start.

-Oh, yes.

-A good start. It was a really quirky house.

0:40:270:40:31

-Beautifully presented, wasn't it?

-It was.

-Lovely part of the world.

-Yeah.

0:40:310:40:35

So we decided to not take you too far to our next cottage which was just down the road, wasn't it?

0:40:350:40:40

It was five minutes away, still in the same shire,

0:40:400:40:43

-and again it was another farmer's cottage, dating back to what... 1688 or something?

-Mm-hm.

0:40:430:40:48

Give me your thoughts on that one.

0:40:480:40:52

-Well, it was a lot lighter which was good.

-Yes.

-Wasn't it?

0:40:520:40:56

And it was quirky as well.

0:40:560:40:58

And it had plenty of space for Mum and a lovely art studio of course... if you made the dining room into it.

0:40:580:41:07

But, of course, the disappointing thing was that there wasn't any land

0:41:070:41:11

-which is why we're moving up.

-It's that balance, isn't it?

0:41:110:41:15

Trying to find the property with the land for your budget as well.

0:41:150:41:18

Well, we came even further west and our mystery house...

0:41:180:41:22

-well, it was planes, trains and automobiles practically to get here, but worth the journey...

-Yes.

0:41:220:41:28

..For that stunning property. Well, that's what I thought. You tell me what you thought.

0:41:280:41:32

It was absolutely stunning, wasn't it? It was set in, what, eight acres of land

0:41:320:41:39

which was ideal for us.

0:41:390:41:41

Plenty of light in the property, very sort of cosy feel to it...

0:41:410:41:45

We really did love it, superb, it was dream house.

0:41:450:41:49

And this huge move from the South of England to Scotland is for retirement,

0:41:490:41:54

being close to your family, Fiona, spending time together, painting...

0:41:540:41:57

-and looking after your menagerie of animals.

-That's right.

0:41:570:42:01

And do you think the mystery house could satisfy all of that?

0:42:010:42:04

-Yes, I think it could.

-Yeah, yeah.

0:42:040:42:07

Yeah. It was so beautiful.

0:42:070:42:09

What's going to be your next step?

0:42:090:42:11

-We'll definitely be back to look at the mystery house again.

-Really?

-A second viewing.

0:42:110:42:17

-So we might have hit the jackpot, girls.

-Yes.

-I think you have, definitely.

0:42:170:42:21

-Let us know how you get on, won't you?

-Will do.

0:42:210:42:23

Thank you. It's been fantastic. I've enjoyed it so much.

0:42:230:42:26

-We have as well.

-We have as well.

-Have you?

-Yeah, it's been great.

-Yeah.

0:42:260:42:29

-Delighted. And even the weather hasn't put you off?

-No!

0:42:290:42:32

Result!

0:42:320:42:34

-Those views make up for it, don't they?

-They do, they do.

0:42:340:42:37

-Well, girls, thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you.

-Thank you, Nicki.

0:42:370:42:40

Well, I have to say it's been a real pleasure showing Jackie and Fiona this beautiful part of Scotland.

0:42:440:42:51

And it seemed when they opened their eyes, the mystery house captured their hearts

0:42:510:42:55

and the location? Well, it sealed the deal.

0:42:550:42:59

I really hope it works out for them and their new home is that amazing rural retreat.

0:42:590:43:05

Until next time, bye-bye.

0:43:050:43:08

After careful consideration, Jackie and Fiona decided that the mystery house was too remote,

0:43:100:43:16

but they're still set on making the move up to Scotland,

0:43:160:43:19

so we wish them all the best with their continued house search.

0:43:190:43:23

If you'd like to escape to the country

0:43:230:43:25

in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland or England and need our help,

0:43:250:43:29

please apply online at...

0:43:290:43:31

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0:43:370:43:41

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