Herefordshire Escape to the Country


Herefordshire

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This is Roaring Meg,

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the mighty mortar responsible for bringing this medieval Norman castle

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to its knees back in 1646.

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Find out which castle and where I am in just a moment.

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Our couple today have already crossed the continent

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and are now crossing counties in their quest

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for some countryside calm.

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And we deliver quantity...

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Does this all come with the house?

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..as well as quality.

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-Nice.

-It looks cute, yes.

-Well, it's better than "not bad"!

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LAUGHTER

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I'm in Herefordshire, and this is Goodrich Castle.

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This magnificent edifice was begun in the 11th century

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and guards the point where the River Wye

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enters the valley of Symonds Yat,

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giving a huge strategic importance for any military commander.

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Today, these impressive ruins still stand

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as one of the best examples of castle-building in the country,

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and visitors get to enjoy some of the best views

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of this beautiful county.

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Nestled up against Wales, Herefordshire shares its borders

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with the Welsh counties of Powys and Monmouthshire

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and the English counties of Shropshire, Worcestershire

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and Gloucestershire.

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One of the most rural areas in the country,

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Herefordshire's patchwork landscape has been shaped by agriculture,

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with over 5,000 farms and 3,000 orchards.

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Boasting one of the lowest population densities in England,

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the pleasant pastures here could provide a perfect place

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for those chasing a truly peaceful escape.

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But will our buyers agree?

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Well, let's meet them and find out.

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Arthur Goosen, known to his friends and family as Goose,

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and his wife Judy relocated from South Africa to England

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nearly 30 years ago. And for a long while,

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home has been this five-bed semi in the Buckinghamshire town of Marlow.

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But they long to get away from the rat race

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and break free from their suburban surroundings.

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We've been here 17 years,

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which is a long time to stay in one place anyway.

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And I think now that our children have grown up, it's now our time,

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'so we can do the things that we want to do.'

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Both Goose and Judy were raised abroad

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and the commuter climate is a far cry from the environment

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they experienced growing up.

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We both grew up in Africa.

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And both grew up in a rural sort of...you know, lifestyle.

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And I think now is the time that we'd like to really recreate that.

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Where I grew up, it was very tranquil and calm

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'and very little traffic.

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'In fact, if a car came by on'

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some days, it was a real eye-opener.

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Um...if an aircraft flew over, it was a miracle!

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But there's a more profound motive

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that's prompted this proposed chapter.

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The reason we want to go to Herefordshire particularly

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is because our daughter is there. She's married to a farmer.

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We do travel there quite often for weekends,

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really enjoy it, and the farm life as well.

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We're pretty busy people. We work full-time.

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I'm a trainer in the pharmaceutical industry

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and Arthur is a key accounts manager,

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so our lives are busy during the week.

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But we're looking forward to, in a couple of years, retiring

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and really being able to make the most of it.

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So, with retirement on the horizon,

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a new lease of life in a new location

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should afford them more time for their passions.

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I think my main hobbies are, um...cooking and painting,

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which I don't do very much of at the moment.

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'I just don't get the time.'

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'I've been playing golf for about 35 years now. I started playing'

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in South Africa.

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'And I play virtually on every weekend.

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'I play in the inter-club matches,

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'really enjoy it'

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and really enjoy the social life

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in the golf club as well.

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Arthur does play a lot of golf,

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which means, particularly at weekends,

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I'm often on my own during the day, which is actually fine,

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because I love cooking, so I'll spend the day cooking

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or doing something that I enjoy.

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It doesn't worry me. I quite actually enjoy being on my own.

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And if we have a garden as well that I can potter around in,

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that'll keep me busy.

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With so much time at home alone and after a long day teeing off,

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they want a more inspiring house to relax in.

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We would like a house with character,

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so something a bit different, something a bit quirky,

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something that's not just a square box.

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But before we can start looking for their new home,

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we need to find out how much money there is to play with.

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Our maximum budget for this move is £400,000.

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The fundamental incentive for Goose and Judy's relocation

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is the desire to be within half an hour's drive

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of their daughter in Dinedor.

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Time for us all to meet up and finalise the details of their move.

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-Now, Arthur, you're called Goose, right?

-My nickname's Goose.

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Everyone calls me Goose.

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-Can I call you Goose?

-Yeah.

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-Except Judy, when's she's annoyed with me, she calls me Arthur.

-OK.

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We'll see how that goes.

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If I call you Arthur, it means you've walked into the wrong room!

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So, run me through your top three assets

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that the property must have for you.

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Must have a minimum of three bedrooms,

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because we will have quite a few friends to stay.

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It must have a decent-sized garden, but not too huge,

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but a good size that we can have some veggies

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and maybe have some chickens.

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-Are you going to keep chickens? Are you going to grow veggies?

-Yeah!

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Who's going to do that? Goose, are you pretty handy?

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I can see myself looking after the chickens

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and eating them!

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No, we're not eating them!

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I take it, Judy, you want the eggs and you want the meat.

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Coming from a South African background,

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-you've got to be into barbecues, right?

-Big time.

-Oh, yes.

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So, this garden - for you, is it an extension of the house,

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-an entertaining space?

-Absolutely, yes.

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So you don't want what you live in at the moment - a 1970s...

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box, if you like.

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I don't want a dark and gloomy interior.

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-Right, OK.

-I'd love the house to be fairly airy and sunny.

-Yes.

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We've got some cracking houses lined up.

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-Great.

-Can't wait.

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With a top budget of £400,000,

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our buyers are looking for a characterful and quirky property

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with light, spacious rooms.

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They need three bedrooms to accommodate visiting friends

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and a roomy kitchen in which to entertain them.

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Outside, they want a decent-sized garden for barbecues,

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and, ideally, the location should be within a 30-minute drive

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from their daughter, as well

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as a good golf course.

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And we'll be taking Goose and Judy

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to view some of the finest homes on the market,

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but I won't be revealing their price tags

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until they've had a guess first.

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As ever, our final choice is the Mystery House,

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which should open their eyes

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to something we hope they might never have considered.

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We're starting off about 15 miles south

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of Judy and Goose's daughter in Dinedor,

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where our first destination is the village of Goodrich.

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A golf course is within a 15-minute drive of Goodrich,

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which is a small village that developed around

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the now ruinous 11th century red sandstone castle.

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And just a five-minute stroll away

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and up at the top of Coppet Hill,

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our first property is perfectly positioned

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to command an incredible 180-degree panorama

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of the Wye Valley and beyond.

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Look at the snow at the top of the mountains.

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Wonderful. Well, this house is all geared up to enjoy that view.

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Look at the way it faces.

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And this is us.

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-First impression?

-Nice.

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Er...not a square block.

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It's got a lot of character to it.

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-It was a barn.

-Oh, was it?

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With a cider press inside it. I'll tell you a bit more inside.

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Let's go and have a look.

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On the site of a mid-19th-century cider mill,

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this property was built into the hillside on a gradient,

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and as such, the internal layout is a little unconventional.

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But our buyers specifically requested quirky character,

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'so I hope this one does the trick.'

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So in you come. Mind that step there.

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I like the kitchen. Very nice.

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This was a barn, but the farmer, the guy that owned it,

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used to have this room as a cider press.

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-I think it's quite nice, to be honest with you.

-Yeah. I like it.

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Size-wise, it's not huge.

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I mean, to be honest, I'd prefer the kitchen to be a bit bigger.

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If I'm completely honest.

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I like the kitchen, I like the style of kitchen.

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It's got a nice feel about it.

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-Now, your room is the living room, isn't it?

-Absolutely.

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Let me show you that.

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Right then.

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I'm trying to picture you, Goose,

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reading or maybe watching your sport in this room.

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It is a nice room. Beautiful view. Lovely windows.

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-We're used to having a bigger room where we live now.

-Right.

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But I do realise we are probably going to have to downsize our rooms

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and I honestly believe this is ample. This is fine for us.

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-We don't need a room much bigger than that.

-Good.

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Now then...three bedrooms.

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I think one of the guest bedrooms is on this floor,

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but the good thing about that is it's got a shower

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and a loo next door to it. So your guests...

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Even your day guests won't have to go traipsing through.

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Downstairs, I think, is where you'll be sleeping.

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-OK.

-Wonderful.

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Coming down the stairs,

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it feels like we're in the bowels of the building,

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-but actually, you're almost on the ground floor.

-OK.

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Is this the master bedroom?

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It's what you want it to be, but, yeah.

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The three bedrooms you've got are of similar size.

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This has got all the power points, telephone points, what-have-you.

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And it's got the bathroom opposite.

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-So it feels like this would be your master.

-Yes.

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-OK.

-Yeah.

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Cupboard space...?

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Where would you put your clothes?

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It's smaller on the downstairs. This is built into a hill.

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Right, OK. It is a small room.

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I would struggle to think of actually living here,

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-because I don't know where I'd put my clothes.

-OK.

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It was all going really well,

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but it seems we've hit a stumbling block over space.

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But seeing as the house needs to accommodate just our buyers,

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they could use the second downstairs bedroom for extra storage.

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There's also a useful utility room down on this floor.

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But we're going to weave our way back up and out of this property

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to check out the garden

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and find out just how many quirks Judy and Goose can take.

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So...

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All in all, including where the house sits itself,

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you've got around three-quarters of an acre.

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So...

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what do you think of the garden?

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The garden's a big disappointment to me.

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Yeah, it's a bit slope-y.

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You'd have to terrace it if you were going to do anything with it.

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It depends what you want to do with it.

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I mean, yeah, you'd need to terrace part of it

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-for growing some veggies, maybe in raised beds.

-Yes.

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

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I reckon about...

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349.

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OK.

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I'm going to go higher.

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I would say it's about 365.

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Right, OK.

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Well...not high enough.

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This place is on the market

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for offers around £399,995.

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Right. OK.

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Just £5 short of their maximum budget,

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property number one is a detached stone-built home

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with a topsy-turvy layout,

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that lends itself to a beautiful fitted kitchen/diner,

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an inviting sitting room and three bedrooms.

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And though the three-quarter-acre plot

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may not present the ideal garden for veggies or barbecues,

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it does boast terrific, far-fetching views.

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-So, all done inside?

-I think so.

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I think we're all done inside, seen enough.

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-Good. Let's go to the next one.

-OK.

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If there's one thing synonymous with Herefordshire,

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it has to be agriculture.

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And the largest agricultural sector in the country

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is dairy farming, worth over £3 billion a year,

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with an annual milk production around 13 billion litres.

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But the UK dairy industry is in crisis,

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as farmers struggle to break even.

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So much so that over the last five years,

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some 1,500 farms have stopped producing milk.

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However, on Lower Buckholt Farm here in Herefordshire,

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third-generation farmers Oli and Ed Partridge

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are successfully adopting innovative methods

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to ensure their family's 60-year-old farming pedigree

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continues to thrive.

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-Morning, chaps.

-Morning.

-Morning.

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How are you? You are Ed... Oli, how are you?

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-Who's this?

-That's Merlin.

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Welcome to the farm.

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-Come and meet the cows.

-I'd love to.

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Come on, Merlin!

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Brothers Oli and Ed work across two sites

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and have a herd that currently stands at

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250 Holstein Friesian milking cows.

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So, Ed, why are dairy farmers finding it so tough at the moment?

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The feed price has been high

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and the milk price has been volatile.

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We grow a lot of maize,

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which provides starch for the high-yielding cows.

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Basically, we had a third of a crop, so that's run out early.

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We're buying in extra silage, and it's very expensive.

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It still amazes me that you buy a pint of milk cheaper

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than you buy a pint of water.

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I mean, the amount of work that goes into a pint of milk,

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-and you give it away, essentially, don't you?

-Yes.

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It's incredible. It's such a lot of attention to detail and effort,

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the skill that goes into dairy farming.

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Our philosophy is, if we look after the cows,

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then they'll look after us.

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Despite the national drop of dairy herds,

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recent figures show the average milk yield

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has increased to about 241 litres per cow.

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And the brothers have invested in a state-of-the-art milk parlour

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to cater for their high-yield cows.

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Each animal is given a number, which correlates to a computer programme

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that individually calculates the feed and nutrients

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for each and every cow.

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First, the teat is prepared with an iodine disinfectant.

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OK, up you go. There you go, love.

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Then the computerised system distributes the feed.

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5...8...3...

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-Enter.

-Enter.

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Listen to the cake drop.

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Once she's happily feeding,

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'the pumps are attached.'

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And the milking begins.

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-It's coming out straight away - look at that!

-There you go.

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The welfare of their animals is the top priority for Ollie and Ed

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and the sophisticated management and frequent milking they employ

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not only keeps the cows in great condition,

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but also provides more milk, and so optimises their profit.

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Vets and nutritionists also visit regularly

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to ensure the cows they've nurtured from birth

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are as healthy and happy as possible.

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So what are these cows doing in here?

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These cows are about to be milked,

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but we thought we'd show you some nice, quiet cows -

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a few of the pets we've got on the farm.

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-Do you name them?

-Yes.

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-THEY LAUGH

-They've got names!

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-Yeah!

-Go on, then.

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That's Jezza over there.

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Wet-Nose is over there.

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Tufty's there, that red one there.

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She's nice. You can see why.

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And Fringina, 177.

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Bouffant's over there somewhere.

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But this shows just how close you are to your animals, doesn't it?

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Which is great to see.

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And you're certainly bucking the trend, so long may that continue.

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Thanks very much for your time.

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-Thanks very much.

-Good to meet you.

-Cheers.

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The second property takes us closer to the water

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as we're headed for the village of Staunton-on-Wye,

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approximately half an hour's drive from Dinedor.

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And in the rural outskirts of the village,

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we find property number two.

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So, for the second house...

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Different position.

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A different proposition as well.

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OK, 1800s again, early 1800s,

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but very different look.

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May very well have been a farm worker's cottage,

0:16:120:16:15

could even have been two.

0:16:150:16:17

-I honestly think it looks really nice.

-It looks cute.

0:16:170:16:20

-Good.

-You like that, don't you?

-I do, yeah!

0:16:200:16:23

Well, it's better than "not bad"!

0:16:230:16:25

LAUGHTER

0:16:250:16:26

OK. This is all very positive.

0:16:260:16:28

-It IS positive so far.

-Shall we go inside? Follow me.

0:16:280:16:32

I must confess my relief that Goose and Judy are attracted

0:16:340:16:37

to the external period character

0:16:370:16:39

of this timber-framed property, for the black

0:16:390:16:42

'and white theme is a serious feature continued inside.'

0:16:420:16:45

Here we are.

0:16:470:16:49

Judy?

0:16:490:16:51

Um...I like the sort of openness.

0:16:510:16:54

It feels big.

0:16:540:16:56

It IS big. It's a lot bigger than the living room of the first house.

0:16:560:16:59

A lot bigger. It's still very nice and airy.

0:16:590:17:02

Very nice of the owner - they lit the fire for us!

0:17:020:17:05

It's a big, long room, but it feels cosy.

0:17:050:17:09

That obviously helps. It's a beautiful feature, isn't it?

0:17:090:17:11

-I've always wanted one of those.

-It's really nice.

0:17:110:17:14

So, good first impressions.

0:17:140:17:16

-Let's go through to the kitchen.

-OK.

0:17:160:17:18

Just off the sitting room, there's a downstairs WC and shower room,

0:17:190:17:23

as well as the dining room that looks out over open fields.

0:17:230:17:26

Then, across the back of the building,

0:17:260:17:28

a large dual-aspect study sits right next to the kitchen/breakfast room.

0:17:280:17:34

-I like this.

-You do?

-Lovely, yeah.

0:17:340:17:36

I like that.

0:17:360:17:37

The great thing about this house is -

0:17:370:17:39

and a lot of people have them these days -

0:17:390:17:42

they'll have a range, especially for the winter,

0:17:420:17:45

but for the summer, they'll have an electric hob and oven.

0:17:450:17:48

-So best of both worlds, really.

-Yeah.

0:17:480:17:50

-Onwards and upwards. Let me take you to the master bedroom.

-OK.

0:17:500:17:54

The staircase in the dining room leads to two first-floor bedrooms,

0:17:550:17:58

both of which share the modern family bathroom.

0:17:580:18:01

One of the bedrooms is a good-sized double,

0:18:010:18:03

featuring exposed timbers and built-in cupboards.

0:18:030:18:06

But we've earmarked the other bedroom for our buyers.

0:18:060:18:09

So, the master bedroom.

0:18:110:18:13

I think it's just that bit bigger, essentially, than the first house.

0:18:130:18:17

That makes it work.

0:18:170:18:19

It does seem to have quite a lot more room,

0:18:190:18:21

especially around the beds,

0:18:210:18:23

and...a lot of storage space, with the drawers across there.

0:18:230:18:26

-It's big enough, I think.

-Yes.

0:18:260:18:28

I can see myself waking up in the morning here.

0:18:280:18:31

Well, that sounds good.

0:18:310:18:32

-I mean, so far, you love the living room.

-Yes.

0:18:320:18:35

You like the kitchen, and what that could give you

0:18:350:18:38

in the future as well, opening those doors out to the garden.

0:18:380:18:41

-Absolutely.

-And upstairs, we've got two bedrooms upstairs

0:18:410:18:43

and a small third bedroom downstairs on the ground floor.

0:18:430:18:46

It seems to be going well.

0:18:460:18:49

-Mmm.

-I think it is going well.

0:18:490:18:51

I do think it's going well, yes.

0:18:510:18:52

I think that's full marks for the accommodation

0:18:520:18:55

and this time, I'm confident that the outside space

0:18:550:18:58

should deliver the goods too.

0:18:580:19:00

With a paved cottage garden and an orchard,

0:19:000:19:02

the grounds here require more than just a few green fingers.

0:19:020:19:06

But there's a couple of extra features

0:19:060:19:08

I want to show Judy and Goose.

0:19:080:19:10

Now, when you said you'd like a bit of land...

0:19:100:19:13

-I like to take things to the next level.

-Wow!

0:19:130:19:17

-How about that?

-Wow! Does this all come with the house?

0:19:180:19:21

-The whole lot.

-Wow!

0:19:210:19:23

All the way over towards those silver birches.

0:19:230:19:26

But the very best thing, the thing I love the most -

0:19:260:19:28

that little chalet/lodge thing there has electricity,

0:19:280:19:33

running water, and already a bedroom and kitchenette set up in there.

0:19:330:19:36

-Wow!

-I don't believe it!

-That's amazing!

0:19:360:19:39

That IS a surprise.

0:19:390:19:40

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

0:19:400:19:43

Oh, it's in my mind...

0:19:430:19:45

I had it in my mind and I changed my mind!

0:19:450:19:48

-I'll go first.

-OK.

0:19:480:19:49

I reckon right at the very top end of our budget.

0:19:510:19:53

399...

0:19:530:19:55

-Maybe even slightly more.

-OK.

0:19:550:19:57

Then I'll be really optimistic and say 380.

0:19:570:20:01

-I cannot believe 380.

-No.

0:20:010:20:04

You did say you'd be prepared to push your budget

0:20:040:20:06

-for the right property.

-We did say that.

0:20:060:20:08

Is this the right property?

0:20:080:20:10

It could very, very well be.

0:20:100:20:12

This place is on the market for offers around...

0:20:120:20:15

..£395,000.

0:20:150:20:18

-That does surprise me.

-Wow!

0:20:180:20:19

-That's amazing.

-That does surprise me.

0:20:190:20:22

I would have thought it would be more than that.

0:20:220:20:24

Five grand under budget,

0:20:240:20:26

the second property is an historic black-and-white cottage,

0:20:260:20:29

brimming with character.

0:20:290:20:31

It comes with a living and family room,

0:20:310:20:33

a kitchen/breakfast room

0:20:330:20:35

and three bedrooms,

0:20:350:20:36

one of which is in the separate guest annexe.

0:20:360:20:38

And surrounded by unspoilt countryside,

0:20:380:20:41

the whole plot claims over two acres

0:20:410:20:43

of rural Herefordshire splendour.

0:20:430:20:45

Well, I did think the sun would be going down,

0:20:490:20:51

-but there was so much to see, wasn't there?

-There was. Brilliant.

0:20:510:20:54

-Did you met the hens?

-We did.

-Good. Still want to keep some?

0:20:540:20:57

-Definitely.

-Yes, definitely.

0:20:570:20:59

Let's discuss it in the car on the way back. That's all for today.

0:20:590:21:02

-OK.

-Wonderful.

0:21:020:21:03

The final stop on Goose and Judy's property tour

0:21:200:21:22

is in Burghill,

0:21:220:21:24

which is our closest location to their daughter in Dinedor,

0:21:240:21:26

being just about 20 minutes' drive away.

0:21:260:21:29

So...here we are.

0:21:290:21:32

It's really sweet.

0:21:320:21:34

-Lovely.

-You could see it on a box of chocolates.

-Yes!

0:21:340:21:37

-Chocolate box.

-It's a country house if ever I've seen one.

-Yeah.

0:21:370:21:40

The second part is what it looks and feels like inside.

0:21:400:21:44

-So let's find out.

-OK.

0:21:440:21:46

'I've chosen this listed part-thatched cottage

0:21:470:21:49

'because it's definitely not

0:21:490:21:51

'the light and roomy home our buyers asked for.

0:21:510:21:53

'And it's packed to the rather low rafters

0:21:530:21:55

'with traditional features.'

0:21:550:21:57

-Righty-ho. Another island for you, Judy.

-Another island.

0:22:000:22:04

-Nice kitchen.

-So...

0:22:040:22:05

-Very nice kitchen.

-I like it.

0:22:050:22:08

-Isn't it really nice?

-It is really nice.

-Lovely.

0:22:080:22:10

This kitchen was built back in 2001.

0:22:120:22:15

Is it your taste? Because it would be a shame to rip anything out.

0:22:150:22:19

-It is. I like the colour.

-Good.

0:22:190:22:23

-OK.

-I hope there might be another area.

0:22:230:22:26

Two reception rooms to have a look at.

0:22:260:22:28

Which one do you want to have as a dining room?

0:22:280:22:30

Oh!

0:22:300:22:31

Oh, lovely!

0:22:330:22:35

-This is lovely. It's really nice.

-I like this room.

0:22:350:22:37

Are these ceilings OK?

0:22:370:22:39

Fine for me!

0:22:390:22:41

They're not fine for me, to be honest!

0:22:410:22:43

Just through that doorway, they've put a downstairs loo,

0:22:430:22:46

so your guests don't go traipsing through the rest of your house.

0:22:460:22:49

-Good.

-All these guests of yours.

-All these guests.

0:22:490:22:51

Now, a room just for you two. I think you'll love it. Follow me.

0:22:510:22:55

So...

0:22:580:22:59

I think this is for you.

0:22:590:23:01

-This is cosy. That's nice.

-A real fire.

0:23:010:23:03

-Yep.

-Imagine sitting on a winter's evening...

0:23:030:23:06

-Quick look at the master bedroom?

-Yeah.

-Follow me.

0:23:060:23:10

'The stairs are in the corner of the sitting room

0:23:110:23:13

'and go up to the first-floor landing,

0:23:130:23:14

'where there are three bedrooms and a family bathroom.

0:23:140:23:17

'Two of the bedrooms are similar-sized doubles,

0:23:170:23:19

'one of which is presented with a single bed.

0:23:190:23:22

'And the final bedroom is, of course, the master suite.'

0:23:220:23:25

So there are height restrictions up here, to an extent.

0:23:260:23:29

This is nice. I like it.

0:23:290:23:31

Nice and bright.

0:23:310:23:32

-Bit of storage there.

-Have a look at that storage.

0:23:320:23:35

Have a quick peek.

0:23:350:23:37

Aha!

0:23:370:23:38

-Quite sneakily put in there.

-En suite.

0:23:400:23:43

-It's not massive up here.

-No, it's not, but...

0:23:430:23:47

-it's not too poky.

-It isn't?

-And it's light and airy.

0:23:470:23:51

It obviously overlooks the garden,

0:23:510:23:53

which I'm really keen on showing you, because again, very different,

0:23:530:23:56

but I think there's upsides to it as well.

0:23:560:23:58

Garden-wise, there's a gravelled patio

0:23:580:24:00

and a large lawn, as well as some raised beds.

0:24:000:24:02

But there's also a little something just for Judy.

0:24:020:24:06

You mentioned, when you do get the chance to retire,

0:24:060:24:09

maybe taking up your art again.

0:24:090:24:11

-Yeah.

-Those two sheds are actually joined up.

0:24:110:24:14

-They'd make a lovely little artist's studio.

-Excellent!

0:24:140:24:17

-OK.

-So...

0:24:170:24:18

village location...

0:24:180:24:21

Yet you've got the right-sized garden,

0:24:210:24:24

your quirky but hopefully the right-sized house...

0:24:240:24:28

It is the right-sized house.

0:24:280:24:30

What do you think it's worth?

0:24:300:24:31

395.

0:24:310:24:33

OK.

0:24:330:24:34

OK. I'm going to go lower.

0:24:340:24:37

Why have you got this funny expression on your face?

0:24:370:24:40

Because I think I know what this property costs.

0:24:400:24:42

-Have you seen it?

-I've seen it on the internet.

0:24:420:24:46

-OK.

-I actually wanted to come and see it.

-Cheating!

-Did you?

0:24:460:24:49

-I did.

-That's good, then.

-Yeah.

0:24:490:24:51

So if we hadn't have shown you this house,

0:24:510:24:53

you might have looked at it anyway?

0:24:530:24:54

-I probably would have come and seen it anyway.

-OK.

0:24:540:24:57

Go on, then - how much do you think this place is on the market for?

0:24:570:25:00

-Or how much do you know it's on the market for?

-£365,000.

0:25:000:25:03

This is Smug Judy, isn't it?

0:25:030:25:05

I've just met Smug Judy.

0:25:050:25:06

You're absolutely quite right - it's £365,000.

0:25:060:25:09

For you, you thought it was...

0:25:090:25:10

-More.

-A lot more.

0:25:100:25:13

Our lowest priced option, the Mystery House

0:25:130:25:16

is a Grade II listed timber-framed and clad cottage.

0:25:160:25:19

It has a stylish country kitchen/breakfast room,

0:25:190:25:22

two separate reception rooms

0:25:220:25:23

and three bedrooms, including a master en suite.

0:25:230:25:27

Outside, there's a large, well-tended garden

0:25:270:25:30

and the property is located

0:25:300:25:31

smack-bang in the centre of the village,

0:25:310:25:33

right next door to a golf course.

0:25:330:25:36

I must say, whilst you were walking around inside, I thought,

0:25:390:25:42

when the sun comes out,

0:25:420:25:43

this would be the perfect place to have a glass of wine.

0:25:430:25:46

-Absolutely.

-Nice cold beer.

0:25:460:25:48

Let's go somewhere for a chat and see where we're up to, shall we?

0:25:480:25:52

-Let's do that.

-Off we go.

0:25:520:25:54

How are we feeling?

0:26:030:26:04

-Yes.

-Feeling quite excited.

0:26:040:26:06

Well, this is very positive.

0:26:060:26:08

It's no surprise, actually.

0:26:080:26:10

Last night you were quite excited after the second property.

0:26:100:26:14

You felt just as excited, if not more so, after the Mystery House.

0:26:140:26:17

So, what's your decision?

0:26:170:26:18

Well, I think...

0:26:200:26:22

-I think I'd like to go back and see the Mystery House again.

-OK.

0:26:220:26:25

-Brilliant news!

-The three days have been a great progression,

0:26:250:26:28

because we started with the first house. As you know,

0:26:280:26:30

it was nice, but not our house at all.

0:26:300:26:32

And the second house, we liked.

0:26:320:26:34

And we thought that was great,

0:26:340:26:36

but today was a revelation for us.

0:26:360:26:39

Ideal location,

0:26:390:26:41

in a lovely area

0:26:410:26:42

-and we both really liked the house, didn't we?

-Lovely house.

0:26:420:26:45

It sounds like a distinct possibility that you're moving to

0:26:450:26:48

some of the best-looking countryside

0:26:480:26:49

and real estate you're likely to find.

0:26:490:26:51

I tell you what, if I am anywhere nearby,

0:26:510:26:53

I will be imposing myself to try out these famous barbecues.

0:26:530:26:56

You're welcome.

0:26:560:26:57

I wish you, honestly, genuinely, the very best of luck.

0:26:570:27:00

It was a pleasure spending the last few days with you.

0:27:000:27:03

-Thank you very much.

-Thanks.

-Thanks.

0:27:030:27:04

Well, what a turnaround from Goose and Judy

0:27:060:27:09

raving about that second property.

0:27:090:27:10

But I think that's more because

0:27:100:27:12

they had their head turned by that paddock.

0:27:120:27:15

But, really, when you come to think about it,

0:27:150:27:17

it wasn't exactly what they asked for.

0:27:170:27:19

So when we showed them the mystery property,

0:27:190:27:21

which seemed to be set in exactly the location

0:27:210:27:23

they said they were after,

0:27:230:27:25

well, I think the decision was made.

0:27:250:27:28

So all that remains now is hopefully that second viewing

0:27:280:27:30

goes according to plan and then, hopefully,

0:27:300:27:33

their dream of escaping here to the Herefordshire countryside

0:27:330:27:36

will soon become reality.

0:27:360:27:38

See you next time.

0:27:380:27:39

And I'm delighted to report

0:27:410:27:42

that Judy and Goose did go back to see the Mystery House

0:27:420:27:45

and they put in an offer that was accepted.

0:27:450:27:47

So we wish them all the very best for the new chapter of their lives

0:27:470:27:51

in Herefordshire.

0:27:510:27:53

If you would like to escape to the country in England,

0:27:560:27:59

Northern Ireland, Wales, or Scotland

0:27:590:28:01

and need our help, you can apply online at...

0:28:010:28:03

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