Somerset Escape to the Country


Somerset

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Transcript


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This tiny hexagonal fort was part of a formidable defensive frontier

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that spanned over 50 miles

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and has been described as the Hadrian's Wall of the 20th century.

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But where is it, and what was it designed to defend?

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Find out in just a few moments.

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On today's show, it's a return to a rural setting

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for two recent retirees, and their pets.

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And our properties are full of surprises.

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-Ooh, very nice.

-Oh, yes.

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Oh, wow.

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I say, it's huge!

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Wow, a four-poster, woo-hoo!

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Today, I'm in the West Country above Burton Bradstock beach in Dorset.

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And you might recognise this brick and concrete construction

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behind me as a World War II fortification known as a pill box.

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But this is one of literally thousands built

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hastily across the south of Britain between 1940 and 1941 as part

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of the largest military construction programme in our history.

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Now, today, though, these wartime relics, like the one behind me,

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can be found peppered across the countryside

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in various states of decay.

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But they also serve as a poignant monument to a time

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when Britain's freedom, and indeed her existence, was under threat,

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and her long and enduring battle for survival and eventual victory

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was only just beginning.

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Dorset sits on the south-west coast of England

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and is bordered by four counties, including Wiltshire to the north

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with Somerset and Devon to the west.

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To the south, the distinctive 95-mile coastline borders

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the English Channel, and is made up of long sand and pebble beaches,

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white cliffs to rival those at Dover

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and rocky outcrops such as Durdle Door.

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But it's not just the magnificent shoreline

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that this county is known for.

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Inland, the coastal landscape gives way to picture-postcard vistas

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of rural England at its best, with narrow country lanes,

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high hedgerows and pretty villages lined with thatched properties

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like at Evershot.

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Heading towards the northern border with Somerset,

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the scenic beauty of Blackmore Vale was the setting for

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the opening passages of Thomas Hardy's Tess Of The D'Urbervilles.

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With atmospheric villages and beautiful landscapes,

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the Dorset/Somerset border

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offers those seeking a rural home the complete package.

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But, of course, all this history and beauty comes at a cost,

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especially in Dorset, where the average price of a detached house

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comes in at around £321,000,

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which is around £55,000 above the national average.

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But it's worth remembering, included within this figure

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is the hugely expensive area of Sandbanks near Poole,

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where price tags regularly hit well into their millions.

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So, if you want your budget to stretch further,

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you're better off heading inland and towards the north of the county,

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especially over the border into Somerset.

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But what part of this beautiful south-western countryside

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are today's buyers looking to find a house?

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Let's meet them and find out.

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It's a back-to-the-country venture for today's home-hunters

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Philip and Diana, who live in the town of Hook in Hampshire.

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They've been married for over 40 years and met

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when they were just 16 years old.

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I was going out with Diana's best friend,

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used to go out to the cinema,

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and Diana used to come along and chaperone.

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He would chase me.

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THEY CHUCKLE

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He used to meet me off the school bus.

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Philip recently retired as a resources administrator

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and Diana as a primary school teacher.

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They've lived in their current four-bedroomed property since 1987

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but over the years they've noticed a change in the neighbourhood.

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It is a busy place now.

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Like everywhere else, there's going to be a lot of development,

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you know, over about 600 houses they're planning.

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We are now both 63, both retired,

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and we thought that, whilst we've got the motivation,

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it was time to think about moving.

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And with their two grown-up children now having families of their own,

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they feel the time's right to move back to a part of the country they

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both know well, having lived in the West Country when they were younger.

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I mean, there are far more fields than we ever see here,

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and the roads are not so busy and the towns are not so busy.

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-Rolling hills.

-And no traffic!

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Joining Philip and Diana on the move will be their pets -

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Archie, an 11-year-old Scottish terrier,

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and Philip's parakeet, Percy.

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He thinks I'm his dad, because I fed him, literally, by hand,

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and he sits on my shoulder, and chatters away.

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Quite a companion and he's, you know...

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-Noisy.

-Fills the... the noise of the house.

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Having been married for four decades,

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Philip and Diana share many interests.

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We go to church together.

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We go away in our motorhome together.

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We go away in our motorhome together,

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which is a great pleasure to us.

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We both like gardening.

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Unfortunately, this garden has got too small for us,

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we'd really enjoy having a bigger garden.

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-And my wife likes to come fishing with me.

-Yes.

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With a book.

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THEY CHUCKLE

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And when he's finished reeling them in,

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Philip will be hitting the roads in his two classic cars,

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one of which is this 1934 Austin 7 Special.

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I have another car, which is a Wolsely 1500, 1958.

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He is affectionately known as Wally,

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whereas the other car is known as Willy.

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So, with Willy, Wally, Archie and Percy all in tow,

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Philip and Diana are looking forward to their new life in the country,

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but they're under no illusions that it's a big step.

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One of my concerns would be possibly losing contact with people

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that we have regular contact with,

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but, apart from that, I think if we go into it open-minded,

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and flexible, then I think, you know, we should make a go of it.

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Philip and Diana aren't set on a particular county

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but generally prefer the countryside inland,

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along the Dorset/Somerset border,

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so we're concentrating our search there.

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I'm meeting up with them in north-east Dorset

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to talk over their property wish list.

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So, here we are

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surrounded by beautiful Somerset/Dorset countryside.

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Now, why have you chosen this particular corner?

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We've lived in this part of the world.

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-You've worked here when you lived here before?

-Yes, yes.

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Completely different kettle of fish now you've retired,

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-how are you enjoying that?

-Oh, we're loving it.

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Absolutely loving it, yes.

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Well, you're in beautiful countryside now,

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cattle just beyond us, is that your dream?

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We obviously want a village close by,

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within walking distance if possible.

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-OK.

-So we can go off to walk and get his paper in the morning and, er...

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Get his paper?!

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Yeah, yeah, well, that's what it's all about when you retire.

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-And the community.

-Yeah.

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Let's talk about the house.

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-Your classic car, that needs a home first of all.

-Yes.

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You need a garage.

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-Couple of garages really.

-Couple of garages, right, OK.

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You like gardening, I know that.

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Yeah, you know, we really like a bigger plot.

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You've got grandchildren. How many? Is it five?

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Five, we've got grandchildren, yeah.

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So they'll be coming to stay.

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How many bedrooms do we need?

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Well, we say three, we don't want more than three.

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The house is really secondary to the garden, and a view, please,

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we'd love a view.

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-All right.

-And a conservatory.

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-And a conservatory, to take in that wonderful view.

-Yes.

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So let's talk about budget, what's the final budget here?

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Top whack, 460,000.

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Well, I know what we're looking for.

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It may not all come in one package,

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-that's the compromise sometimes.

-OK.

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We've got three fantastic properties lined up.

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Let's start with the first, this way.

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-Excellent, let's go.

-Lovely, thank you.

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For a budget of £460,000,

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Philip and Diana's perfect property needs to offer what

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they have in their current home, but in a countryside setting.

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They'd like at least three bedrooms, ideally a conservatory,

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a large garden with good views,

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and a couple of garages for Philip's classic cars.

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We've lined up three excellent rural properties for our buyers to view,

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selected with their wish-list in mind.

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I'll be asking them to put a price on each at the end of the tour.

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Our mystery house gives them another option entirely,

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but it's one they'll need to put their own stamp on.

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So, Diana, I understand you're really into community,

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and you live amongst neighbours now anyway, don't you?

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I do.

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What sort of things do you hope to get involved in

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down here in the countryside?

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Well, whatever's going on.

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At the moment, I help with a toddler group

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and I do a class, Pilates class, and we go to the local church.

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-You're people people, aren't you?

-We are people people.

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I taught young children

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so I like being involved with anything to do with children.

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-You just can't give it up, can you?

-No.

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Our first property is in Winterborne Stickland,

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in the north-east of Dorset.

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A village of around 600 people,

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it grew up around the church, which was built in the 13th century.

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There are several pretty cob and thatch cottages

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lining the main street, including an inn.

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There's also a village post office.

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Stickland remains a working village,

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with farming the main industry in the surrounding hills.

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Our first house is found on the edge of the village

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a mile from the thatched pub.

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OK, so our first foray into the local property market

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-starts right here.

-Wow.

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-Wow is a word I love to hear.

-Yeah, it's quite big.

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But don't worry, I know what's going through your head,

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you don't have to heat it all. What we...

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THEY LAUGH

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-What we're looking at, see the downpipe, the black downpipe?

-Yep.

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And see this protruding, well, sort of like gable if you like? OK.

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-Up to that.

-Mmm-hmm.

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-Well, it's different, isn't it? Very different.

-It is.

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-Yes, well, you're looking for a different life, aren't you?

-Yeah, we are.

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-First impressions?

-Yeah.

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-Intrigued, definitely intrigued, yes.

-Yes, very interesting.

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-I need to address the car issue.

-OK, yep.

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-You've got a double garage.

-Oh, wow.

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-Hey, excellent.

-Yeah, it's a good size.

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-So, armed with that knowledge...

-Yep.

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..let's go inside and see where you'll live, not your cars.

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Follow me.

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Part of a private development of six dwellings built on an old farmstead,

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our first property is only 16 years old, but is constructed using

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reclaimed materials including the brick and flint for the walls.

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Righty ho, so downstairs we've got...

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water closet as soon as you walk in.

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Now, tell me what you think of this room.

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Is it what you were expecting?

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-Oh, that's quite cosy, isn't it?

-Wow, very cosy.

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Log burner, I like it, I like it.

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How does this compare to the place you've got at home?

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It's very different.

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Yeah, I thought it would be.

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Well, we've got a conservatory on the end of our living room there.

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Well, you don't have that conservatory here,

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you could easily put one on,

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but you do get that sort of sun terrace area there, as you can see.

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-OK.

-Very nice.

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Just big enough, we don't want anything bigger than this.

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Yep, nothing huge.

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All right, now, we could have gone straight into the kitchen

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-when we went through that door there.

-Oh, right, yes.

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But I think it's quite a nice flow to do it this way.

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So, let me just show you the other side of it.

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Right then. So, a dining kitchen.

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-Ooh, very nice.

-Whoa, yes, excellent, that's fantastic.

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-Yeah, just about the right size.

-Yeah.

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Now, who does the cooking? Is it shared?

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-He likes cooking.

-Good, good to hear.

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But so far, I mean, these are pretty good reactions.

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I think one of the reasons why the kitchen seems of a decent size,

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-you get a good utility just through there.

-Oh, right. Oh, OK.

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OK, well, you can see the flow to this house now, can't you?

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Let me just squeeze past you here, we'll go upstairs to the bedrooms.

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Philip and Diana asked for three bedrooms,

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and they get potentially five with this house, spread over two floors.

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The top floor features a study/bedroom area

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and a further double bedroom behind that with an en-suite bathroom,

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somewhere for the grandchildren to play and sleep.

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The first floor is home to three bedrooms,

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including two smaller rooms as well as a fully tiled family bathroom.

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This is very much the master.

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-Come right in actually, Philip, to see what you've got.

-It's huge.

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It's not as light as I'd hoped for,

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it is quite dark, even these windows here.

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But then again, if you changed the decor...

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-Hmm, I suppose it's, you know, the style of the barn, isn't it?

-Yes.

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Again, it's en suite.

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Let me show you the garden

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and then I'll let you run around the whole place on your own.

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-OK.

-Is that all right?

-Yep, lovely.

-OK, follow me.

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In addition to the double garage,

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the outside space includes a large private rear garden

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which is mainly lawn and terraced,

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with steps leading up to a decked vantage point.

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Now, for climbing up the terrace, you're rewarded with this view.

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Oh, wow, I can cope with that.

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Yeah, very nice.

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Now, behind you, beyond the chickens,

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-you've got a footpath...

-Oh, right.

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-..with fantastic views so your dog Archie's well catered for.

-Yep.

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

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Well, lovely village, nice little community, lovely views.

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-About 450, I think.

-450?

-Mm-hm.

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I'm going to go a little bit more, I think. More 455.

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This place has just come on the market with another agent,

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and they've reduced it down to £465,000.

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OK.

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-No big surprise?

-No.

-No.

-No.

-No.

-You can see why.

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I think you should go back into the house.

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-OK.

-Have a think about how you would use that extra space,

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and I'll see you whenever you're done, but I might just take in

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this view for a couple of minutes. Is that all right?

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-OK, sounds excellent.

-Lovely. OK, thanks.

-OK, see you in a bit.

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Mind your step on the way down

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-and I'll catch you later.

-Yeah, thank you.

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£5,000 over budget,

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our first property gives Philip and Diana

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pretty much everything they asked for and more.

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The barn style design offers up five bedrooms -

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two more than they needed but somewhere for the grandkids

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to stay and play when they come and visit -

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a double garage for Philip's classic cars and a large garden with views.

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I love the community sort of aspect of it,

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and the sort of farmyard atmosphere, you know?

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They obviously were farm buildings before,

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I love that. I love the living room.

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There's probably quite a few more rooms than we expected,

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certainly interesting. I'm beginning to warm to it, definitely.

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So, have you figured out what to do with all that space?

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-Yes, I think so. We'll certainly talk about it.

-We'll spread out.

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Spread out? Yeah, quite, maybe buy some more furniture.

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-Well, that's the first one done.

-OK, that would be good.

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-On to the next.

-Excellent.

-Lovely.

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Dorset's heritage coast attracts millions of visitors a year,

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who are drawn to natural gems including the limestone arch

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of Durdle Door and the sheltered cove at Lulworth.

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Perched on a cliff top overlooking Poole harbour,

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it's the county's flora that's pulling in the crowds.

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The gardens of Compton Acres

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are visited by some 60,000 people a year.

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Covering ten acres of Dorset countryside,

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it features seven distinct garden styles,

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including a unique Japanese garden built in the 1920s.

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Since our couple are passionate about horticulture,

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we've brought them to Compton Acres

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to discover its history and see what it would take

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to develop and maintain a garden in this part of the world.

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They're meeting the gardens' curator, Gerry Clarke.

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So Gerry, how did these wonderful gardens come about?

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Well, the gardens were first established back in 1914.

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Thomas Simpson, who was a local businessman, bought the property

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as his seaside residence, and decided to create gardens

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which reflected his interest

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in horticulture and his worldwide travels.

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So, did Simpson construct and design it himself?

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Well, he employed a gardener called Middleton,

0:16:410:16:44

who was a very accomplished gardener in his own right,

0:16:440:16:48

and together they set about designing the gardens.

0:16:480:16:51

He employed a number of workmen with the skills necessary to

0:16:510:16:54

develop the gardens, and designed a Japanese garden, which is

0:16:540:16:58

probably one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan.

0:16:580:17:02

The different themed sub-gardens include a formal Italian garden,

0:17:050:17:08

complete with Roman villa, and an all-year-round heather garden.

0:17:080:17:12

But it's the 1920s Japanese garden

0:17:120:17:15

which Compton Acres is probably most famous for.

0:17:150:17:17

So, did Simpson use a Japanese gardener?

0:17:190:17:23

Well, no, he actually employed a Japanese architect

0:17:230:17:26

and together with Middleton, who was the chief gardener here,

0:17:260:17:30

they landscaped this whole area and built these fine

0:17:300:17:33

Japanese structures. And they were authentic structures.

0:17:330:17:36

You'll see many examples of the statuary

0:17:360:17:39

that was imported from Japan.

0:17:390:17:41

And over here, you get the stepping stones

0:17:410:17:44

which link to the other side of the garden here.

0:17:440:17:47

So back in the '20s, how much did it all cost?

0:17:470:17:50

Well, they spent over £200,000,

0:17:500:17:52

which in today's money is about £10 million.

0:17:520:17:55

-Wow.

-It was a huge investment in a private garden.

0:17:550:17:58

Their budget might be smaller, but Philip and Diana

0:17:590:18:01

are keen to develop their own garden,

0:18:010:18:03

so they're meeting Compton Acres' gardener, Ian Smith,

0:18:030:18:06

to find out about which plants thrive here in Dorset.

0:18:060:18:10

You've been inspired by the Japanese garden?

0:18:110:18:13

Definitely, definitely.

0:18:130:18:14

Because this is all the Japanese type things we have -

0:18:140:18:17

acers, pyrus, um, we've got rhododendrons, azaleas.

0:18:170:18:21

-OK.

-And also over here, we've got

0:18:210:18:25

something a bit more unusual which you might have seen in the gardens.

0:18:250:18:29

Oh, wow.

0:18:290:18:30

It's called a grevillea - "Canberra Gem". And basically that flowers

0:18:300:18:34

from January right up till, like, into the Autumn months.

0:18:340:18:38

And again, something like the mugo pine.

0:18:380:18:41

Mm, that's unusual, isn't it?

0:18:410:18:43

Again, in a pot, that would look

0:18:430:18:44

-just stunning in a pot...

-Yes, lovely.

-That's gorgeous.

0:18:440:18:47

So, if we had one of these, how easy is it to look after?

0:18:470:18:50

Well, they're quite easy. I think most people that buy this,

0:18:500:18:53

even though they can grow it in the ground here,

0:18:530:18:55

they would normally put this into a pot.

0:18:550:18:57

You'd just water it obviously so it doesn't dry out.

0:18:570:18:59

But maintenance-wise there's hardly anything to do,

0:18:590:19:03

because the climate here is just perfect, you know,

0:19:030:19:06

even if we have a wet season. A lot of plants seem to die because

0:19:060:19:10

of conditions of cold and wet, whereas here, because the soil is

0:19:100:19:13

so sandy as well, it drains freely

0:19:130:19:15

so, you know, the plants survive even the cold

0:19:150:19:19

because they're not in the wet as well. So it's lovely, yes.

0:19:190:19:23

Armed with tips on how to create their own Japanese garden,

0:19:250:19:28

our green-fingered couple just need to find their own

0:19:280:19:31

West Country plot, so it's back to the hunt to find them a home.

0:19:310:19:34

For our second option, we're hopping over the border into Somerset

0:19:410:19:44

and heading to the village of Compton Pauncefoot.

0:19:440:19:46

The closest amenities are spread across the neighbouring villages

0:19:460:19:49

of North and South Cadbury, a three-minute drive away,

0:19:490:19:52

and include a shop for Philip to buy his paper, and a pub.

0:19:520:19:57

House two is in the smaller village of Compton Pauncefoot.

0:19:570:19:59

A community of just 70 inhabitants, the centre point is

0:19:590:20:03

the 15th-century parish church, built from local golden hamstone.

0:20:030:20:07

Our next offering is almost opposite -

0:20:080:20:10

part of a development of six properties

0:20:100:20:13

created from former agricultural buildings.

0:20:130:20:15

As the last development went down quite well, having a few

0:20:170:20:19

neighbours around, we thought we'd stick with that theme for this.

0:20:190:20:23

-Right.

-And, yeah, it's another barn conversion.

0:20:230:20:26

-Oh.

-Wow.

0:20:260:20:28

What do you think of where we are now?

0:20:280:20:30

-Well, it's...

-Excellent. Excellent location.

0:20:300:20:33

-It's lovely, yeah.

-Quiet?

-Yeah.

-Quiet, yeah

0:20:330:20:36

What do you think of how it looks?

0:20:360:20:37

From here, fantastic, exceptional.

0:20:370:20:41

-Yeah, really good, really good.

-OK.

-Yeah, yeah.

-All right.

0:20:410:20:43

-Can't wait to go in.

-Let's do that.

0:20:430:20:45

Converted in the late-'90s, our second property is an old granary

0:20:480:20:51

and like the village church is also built from hamstone,

0:20:510:20:54

which is a feature of this part of southern Somerset.

0:20:540:20:57

The interior pays homage to the original fabric of the building,

0:20:570:21:01

revealing exposed timbers and vaulted ceilings.

0:21:010:21:03

Righty-ho, first impressions, Diana.

0:21:050:21:10

Ooh, quite small.

0:21:100:21:12

Not too high.

0:21:120:21:15

Very light, though.

0:21:150:21:17

-Yeah, it is light, but how big's that window.

-Room to...

-Yeah.

0:21:170:21:20

-Room to have breakfast?

-Yeah.

0:21:200:21:23

Can I make a suggestion?

0:21:230:21:25

-Get rid of that.

-Get rid of that,

0:21:250:21:26

you've got more than enough reception room.

0:21:260:21:28

-All right, OK, OK.

-All right.

-Space later on.

0:21:280:21:30

First of all you can see you've got this raised level here.

0:21:300:21:34

I think that would make a much better dining area, breakfast area.

0:21:340:21:37

Then this is just a kitchen, with a massive gas range.

0:21:370:21:41

Lovely.

0:21:410:21:43

-Just next door you've got a utility.

-OK.

0:21:430:21:46

And just here you can see this is made for a breakfast room or...

0:21:460:21:51

-casual dining.

-Yeah, so light, it's fantastic.

0:21:510:21:54

But then you've got a huge room just here.

0:21:550:21:58

-Oh!

-Follow me.

0:21:580:21:59

Amazing room.

0:22:030:22:05

Wow, I say, it's huge.

0:22:050:22:08

It's not too big, but it is big, and very light.

0:22:080:22:12

-..how much light they let in.

-Yeah.

0:22:120:22:14

-Oh, you could get a lovely table there.

-Gosh, and the beams.

0:22:140:22:17

Now, I know you like to have a fire -

0:22:170:22:18

you've got a lovely stove there, haven't you? Wood burner.

0:22:180:22:21

-It's a wood burner?

-Yeah.

0:22:210:22:23

So is this their main living room?

0:22:230:22:25

Yeah, this is...

0:22:250:22:26

It's not an upside-down house completely,

0:22:260:22:29

but, yeah, this is the only first floor we've got.

0:22:290:22:32

The bedrooms are downstairs.

0:22:320:22:34

-Oh, right, interesting.

-OK.

0:22:340:22:36

You've got that lovely area there -

0:22:360:22:37

what would you do with that?

0:22:370:22:39

-Oh, I think that's a cosy little area there.

-Chaise longue, maybe.

0:22:390:22:43

Oh, chaise longue!

0:22:430:22:44

Just being fed grapes by Diana?

0:22:440:22:46

I think, you know, the space up here lends itself

0:22:490:22:53

-to a nice table, doesn't it?

-Yep.

0:22:530:22:55

See, it's opening our minds to the possibilities.

0:22:550:22:59

With the dining arrangements covered,

0:23:000:23:02

we're turning our attention to the sleeping quarters.

0:23:020:23:05

This property has three double bedrooms,

0:23:050:23:08

two with full-height windows leading onto an outside terrace.

0:23:080:23:11

There's also a large, fully tiled family bathroom

0:23:130:23:16

with freestanding bath.

0:23:160:23:17

But then, the master - much bigger again.

0:23:190:23:21

-Oh!

-Wow, a four-poster! Whoo-hoo!

0:23:210:23:24

-I say!

-Yes, it's a good size, a very good size.

0:23:250:23:28

-And a whopper of an en-suite next door as well.

-Oh.

-OK.

0:23:280:23:31

-Very nice.

-Nice and light.

0:23:320:23:34

Look, I mean, this is so far so good.

0:23:340:23:37

What's going through your mind at the moment?

0:23:370:23:38

Obviously, we're over the border in Somerset.

0:23:380:23:41

-Yep.

-But you said you'd look at this whole area, didn't you?

0:23:410:23:43

Yep, we did, we did.

0:23:430:23:44

I'm thinking what's the garden like? That's what I'm thinking,

0:23:440:23:48

cos that could swing...

0:23:480:23:50

Yes, well, I tell you what, it could do, actually,

0:23:500:23:52

that could be the compromise.

0:23:520:23:54

Let's make our way out there,

0:23:540:23:56

-and on the way start thinking about price.

-OK.

0:23:560:23:59

In addition to the paved terrace,

0:24:010:24:02

there's a secluded L-shaped lawn area bordered by a small stream.

0:24:020:24:06

And Philip has a garage for his classic cars, as well as a workshop.

0:24:060:24:10

Now, the garden, sunny it might be,

0:24:120:24:15

-huge it is not.

-This is it, is it?

0:24:150:24:18

-This is it.

-Yeah.

0:24:180:24:19

Big compromise.

0:24:190:24:20

-Your boundary is that lovely little babbling stream there.

-Right.

0:24:200:24:25

-And then, well, it just goes round the corner, really.

-OK.

0:24:250:24:28

Yeah, no vegetable plot.

0:24:290:24:32

Yeah, that's the compromise.

0:24:320:24:34

Mmm, cos the view was really the important thing as well.

0:24:340:24:37

-The other important factor, wasn't it?

-You do get a view.

0:24:370:24:41

-Right.

-It's just there.

-Oh, yes.

-Oh, OK.

0:24:410:24:44

-I didn't see that.

-Tiptoes, you can see it.

0:24:440:24:47

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

0:24:470:24:50

Um, I'm going to go for £425,000.

0:24:520:24:57

And I think a little bit more, probably 430.

0:24:580:25:02

Philip, you're spot on.

0:25:020:25:03

-It's on the market for £425,000.

-OK.

0:25:030:25:06

-Mmm-hmm.

-You're not impressed now.

0:25:080:25:11

I mean, it was going so well, wasn't it?

0:25:110:25:13

Yes.

0:25:130:25:14

Yeah, I just think the garden completely killed it for us, really.

0:25:140:25:18

-Go back inside, have a good look around...

-Yep.

0:25:180:25:20

..and I will see you whenever you're finished, OK?

0:25:200:25:23

OK, brilliant, thank you.

0:25:230:25:25

Well, it was going so well - it's in such a lovely environment,

0:25:270:25:32

but by the sounds of it the garden is a must.

0:25:320:25:35

So we'll go from there.

0:25:350:25:37

Below budget by £35,000, our second property,

0:25:380:25:42

a charming barn conversion,

0:25:420:25:43

gives Philip and Diana light and spacious living areas,

0:25:430:25:47

the three bedrooms they asked for and a garage for the cars.

0:25:470:25:51

But it seems the garden, despite being pretty and secluded,

0:25:510:25:54

isn't quite large enough for our buyers.

0:25:540:25:56

When I first saw property two,

0:25:560:25:58

I thought, "Wow, what a beautiful position, lovely rural area,

0:25:580:26:03

"and lovely sandstone colour." It looked lovely.

0:26:030:26:06

Well, it's just the disappointing size of the garden.

0:26:060:26:09

We just can't compromise on that, really.

0:26:100:26:13

It was tastefully done,

0:26:130:26:14

and, you know, everything flowed in the house.

0:26:140:26:17

Property number two wasn't a property

0:26:170:26:19

that we would have thought of looking at.

0:26:190:26:21

It didn't tick all the boxes, it ticked quite a lot of the boxes,

0:26:210:26:24

but the main box it didn't tick was the size of the garden.

0:26:240:26:28

-All finished?

-Yes, thank you.

-Yes.

0:26:300:26:32

It's such a shame this garden isn't big enough,

0:26:320:26:35

-cos it is lovely, isn't it?

-Lovely outlook.

-Lovely spot.

0:26:350:26:37

But I still think we've got one property

0:26:370:26:40

that you're considering, hopefully,

0:26:400:26:42

so let's head back now and then tomorrow the mystery house.

0:26:420:26:45

-Lovely, thank you.

-Look forward to that, excellent.

0:26:450:26:47

'It's the second day of our property search

0:26:560:26:59

'here in the Dorset/Somerset borders

0:26:590:27:01

'and, on a budget of £460,000,

0:27:010:27:04

'we're helping retirees Philip and Diana from Hook in Hampshire

0:27:040:27:07

'find a rural home in the West Country.

0:27:070:27:10

'Coming up, it's back to the drawing board with the mystery house.'

0:27:100:27:13

-Yeah.

-All these things that were so important to you,

0:27:130:27:16

then suddenly you've forgotten about them.

0:27:160:27:19

'And I discover a new way to keep the vampires at bay.'

0:27:190:27:22

-You call it black garlic?

-That's right.

0:27:220:27:25

Wow, it's jet black, isn't it?

0:27:250:27:27

Whilst property number one went down pretty well yesterday,

0:27:290:27:32

I'm not convinced we've shown Philip and Diana a house

0:27:320:27:36

with a big enough garden to make them want to move down here.

0:27:360:27:39

Now, I do remember them both telling me

0:27:390:27:41

that if they could pick up the modern house that they live in

0:27:410:27:43

and move it down here, they'd be more than happy,

0:27:430:27:46

and I think the mystery property fits into that category,

0:27:460:27:49

but, of course, being the mystery,

0:27:490:27:51

it comes with a couple of compromises.

0:27:510:27:53

First of all, Philip,

0:27:530:27:55

well, he'll have to go two or three miles by bicycle every morning

0:27:550:27:58

to collect his morning paper.

0:27:580:28:00

Diana, well, she doesn't yet get a conservatory,

0:28:000:28:03

and they'll both need an imagination

0:28:030:28:05

when walking around the internals of the property.

0:28:050:28:08

But if they're prepared to overlook these...foibles, let's say,

0:28:080:28:12

then they'll get their garden,

0:28:120:28:13

enough outside space for a very active retirement.

0:28:130:28:17

Let's see how we go.

0:28:170:28:19

We're staying in Somerset for our third and final property,

0:28:240:28:27

which is in the village of North Barrow.

0:28:270:28:29

The small country town of Castle Cary, three miles away,

0:28:310:28:34

is the main hub for a large part of southern Somerset,

0:28:340:28:37

with a wide range of shops and cafes.

0:28:370:28:39

The historic centre features a market hall,

0:28:410:28:43

which is now a museum and a hotel,

0:28:430:28:45

which is one of the oldest buildings in the town,

0:28:450:28:48

partially built using stone from a nearby Norman castle

0:28:480:28:51

which was demolished in the 12th century.

0:28:510:28:54

Our mystery property is a ten-minute drive away,

0:28:540:28:57

located in a quiet setting.

0:28:570:28:58

It certainly has the land.

0:28:580:29:00

The house itself is a bit of a blank canvas,

0:29:000:29:02

but gives Philip and Diana the chance to put their stamp on it.

0:29:020:29:06

This mystery house,

0:29:060:29:08

-we've got more garden than we've seen already.

-Yep.

0:29:080:29:11

And it goes on, but what do we think of the house?

0:29:110:29:15

Mmm, very nice, actually, yeah.

0:29:150:29:18

Yeah, very nice, yep.

0:29:180:29:20

-How old's this one, then, is it...?

-Mid-'80s.

0:29:200:29:22

-Mid-'80s?

-Yeah, so it's a modern-ish house.

0:29:220:29:25

Now, first things first - your morning newspaper, Philip.

0:29:250:29:29

That's not a problem.

0:29:290:29:31

Oh, it's not a problem now!

0:29:310:29:32

-Well...

-Good!

-..I'm sure we can get it somehow.

0:29:320:29:35

It's three miles away, in Castle Cary,

0:29:350:29:39

but the grandchildren, what's great about this village,

0:29:390:29:41

is it's about three miles from the A303,

0:29:410:29:45

so you're really well connected by car for visiting,

0:29:450:29:48

-but also for your camper van.

-Yep.

0:29:480:29:50

Oooh, yes, hadn't entered my head about the camper van.

0:29:500:29:54

All these things that were so important to you,

0:29:540:29:57

then suddenly you've forgotten about them!

0:29:570:29:59

And as you can see, there's plenty of gardens.

0:29:590:30:01

-We'll look at that later.

-OK.

0:30:010:30:03

Now, what do you like,

0:30:030:30:05

in using your imagination, when you look around the house?

0:30:050:30:08

Yeah, fairly flexible, yep.

0:30:080:30:10

-Yeah?

-Well, the outside area's right.

0:30:100:30:12

-It's got to be right inside.

-Good, all right.

0:30:120:30:14

-Well, let's go and look inside and see what you think of it.

-OK.

0:30:140:30:17

As well as a generously sized garden,

0:30:190:30:21

which continues around the other side of the house,

0:30:210:30:23

there's a double garage for the two cars

0:30:230:30:25

and plenty of parking space for the motorhome.

0:30:250:30:28

-Let's start with the living room first of all.

-Oh, yeah.

0:30:290:30:32

-Oh, wow.

-Yeah, that's a reasonable size, isn't it?

0:30:320:30:35

It is, it's not a bad size at all.

0:30:350:30:36

-What have they got in the...?

-Fireplace as well.

0:30:370:30:40

-Yeah, it's big enough for us.

-Yeah, definitely.

0:30:400:30:43

Now, remember I said you need to use your imagination?

0:30:430:30:45

How would you have this room?

0:30:450:30:47

Oh, we like cosy. Yeah, but it's adequate, it's a nice size.

0:30:470:30:50

-Yeah, it's just a nice size.

-Yep.

0:30:500:30:51

Good, all right. Let me take you into the kitchen.

0:30:510:30:54

We'll have a quick duck into the dining room on the way through.

0:30:540:30:56

-Righty ho.

-So if you come in, just to the right-hand side,

0:30:560:30:59

-there is the separate dining room.

-Right.

0:30:590:31:01

OK, yeah.

0:31:010:31:03

Ground floor loo there and then a fairly compact kitchen.

0:31:050:31:09

-Come right in.

-Oh, big enough for me, I think.

0:31:090:31:12

Oh, it's not bad.

0:31:120:31:13

-But a lovely view of the garden.

-Oh, wow.

0:31:130:31:16

Yeah, definitely a wow factor, that.

0:31:160:31:19

I really do think this house is crying out for something

0:31:190:31:23

-that you said you're after, and that's a conservatory.

-Yeah.

0:31:230:31:26

-Either on the dining room, or on the kitchen or maybe both.

-Yes.

0:31:260:31:29

Well, you could do it off the dining room, couldn't you?

0:31:290:31:32

-Yeah.

-Yes, that would be lovely.

0:31:320:31:34

I know you liked the first house,

0:31:340:31:36

-but it was almost bordering on too large.

-Too large, yeah.

0:31:360:31:40

You seem to both fit in to this house quite well.

0:31:400:31:42

-I like it.

-Thank you very much. Can we see more?

0:31:420:31:45

We can see more. Let's have a quick look at the master bedroom, OK?

0:31:450:31:48

Can I just squeeze past there? Thank you very much. Up we come.

0:31:480:31:52

Upstairs there are four bedrooms -

0:31:540:31:56

two doubles and two singles,

0:31:560:31:58

as well as a family bathroom, all arranged off a central landing.

0:31:580:32:03

This is the master.

0:32:030:32:04

Not huge, but you get your storage.

0:32:060:32:08

-OK. Yeah, that's...

-It's not bad, is it?

0:32:080:32:10

-But this is absolutely adequate and, er...

-En suite, yep.

0:32:100:32:13

-E -suite.

-Yeah, en suite.

-Golly!

0:32:130:32:15

I really like it a lot.

0:32:150:32:16

There's huge potential, huge potential.

0:32:160:32:19

-Does that excite you, Diana?

-It does.

-It does.

0:32:190:32:21

Worries me a bit, because I don't know the price or anything!

0:32:210:32:24

No, but if you could afford this sort of house

0:32:240:32:26

and afford to do what you'd like to do to it, these cosmetic changes,

0:32:260:32:29

is this the sort of thing you had in mind?

0:32:290:32:31

-Absolutely, yeah, yeah.

-Definitely, definitely.

0:32:310:32:34

-This is good, isn't it?

-It is good.

0:32:340:32:36

It's got wow factor in a different way, in as much as that, wow,

0:32:360:32:39

yes, we love it, and we can do something with it.

0:32:390:32:42

Yeah, this could work for you.

0:32:420:32:43

The mystery property has worked its magic on our buyers,

0:32:450:32:49

who seem as impressed with the house as they were with the garden,

0:32:490:32:52

which extends to over half an acre and is mainly laid to lawn.

0:32:520:32:55

So, where would you have your veggie patch, do you think?

0:32:550:32:58

Well, I reckon the sun goes thataway,

0:32:580:33:01

so it would probably be in that bottom corner of the garden there.

0:33:010:33:06

-Garden. Fish pond?

-Fish pond, definitely.

0:33:060:33:09

Huge potential for a fish pond here.

0:33:090:33:11

Now, you did say you'd love the idea of a view -

0:33:110:33:13

now, that hedgerow at the back there,

0:33:130:33:16

you drop that down then you get a view over farmland.

0:33:160:33:19

-Would be fantastic.

-Yeah, yeah.

0:33:190:33:21

Let's talk about the price. Look back at the house.

0:33:210:33:23

-I'm going to be bold.

-Go on.

0:33:230:33:25

I'm going to say 350.

0:33:270:33:29

-Diana?

-I think you're way out.

-Do you?

0:33:290:33:31

Yeah, I think it's 450, 440.

0:33:310:33:35

It's on the market for offers in the region of

0:33:350:33:37

£435,000.

0:33:370:33:39

-Oh!

-So...

0:33:390:33:42

Why did you guess 350?

0:33:440:33:46

I was just being hopeful!

0:33:460:33:48

Now it's considerably more than 350,

0:33:480:33:50

what do you think of it, Philip?

0:33:500:33:52

Happy with that, I think. I think we could run with that, yeah.

0:33:520:33:56

I think you should go back into the house,

0:33:560:33:59

-really have a think about what you said you were after...

-Yep.

0:33:590:34:02

..and align this with all the things you said you wanted.

0:34:020:34:06

And then we'll have a chat after that. All right?

0:34:060:34:09

OK. Yep, lovely.

0:34:090:34:10

-Enjoy it, have a look at that double garage.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

0:34:100:34:14

That's kind of what I said, this house gives them

0:34:140:34:16

absolutely everything they said they are after.

0:34:160:34:19

It's a big move here to the countryside and I think they're starting to realise that.

0:34:190:34:23

Looking forward to finding out what they think.

0:34:230:34:26

£25,000 below their top budget,

0:34:280:34:31

the modern mystery property offers Philip and Diana essentially

0:34:310:34:34

the shell of a house they can modify to suit their tastes and needs.

0:34:340:34:38

It comes with four bedrooms, one more than they asked for,

0:34:380:34:41

a double garage and 0.6 of an acre of land.

0:34:410:34:44

There's another little bedroom as well.

0:34:460:34:48

-That's bigger...

-You could almost get a double bed in there, couldn't you?

0:34:480:34:51

A double bed? I don't know, a single bed.

0:34:510:34:53

Certainly a single, a big single.

0:34:530:34:55

-It's going to suit us, this, eh?

-It is.

0:34:550:34:58

I'm chuffed to bits with this.

0:34:590:35:01

Absolutely lovely, you know, room to spread ourselves in the garden,

0:35:010:35:05

and that's what we were looking for.

0:35:050:35:07

The downside is how much needs doing in the house, but, you know,

0:35:070:35:11

you can't have it perfect in every way, can you?

0:35:110:35:14

So, you know, it is, as my husband says, liveable in,

0:35:140:35:18

and, you know, we'll do it slowly.

0:35:180:35:20

Lovely garden, nice, relatively modern house,

0:35:200:35:25

the garden's brilliant, room for a veggie patch,

0:35:250:35:28

room for flower beds,

0:35:280:35:31

I think there's a lot of potential here.

0:35:310:35:33

Well, I'm hoping we might have found you a house.

0:35:330:35:37

I think you might.

0:35:370:35:38

Well, that sounds like you've got something to discuss,

0:35:380:35:41

something to think about, let's find you somewhere to do just that

0:35:410:35:44

-and we'll catch up later on.

-Brilliant.

-After you.

-Thank you.

0:35:440:35:47

Head inland from the rocky Jurassic Coast

0:35:560:35:58

and the Dorset landscape gives way to gently rolling hills

0:35:580:36:01

and wide valleys all the way up to the Somerset border.

0:36:010:36:05

Around three quarters of the Dorset countryside is agricultural.

0:36:050:36:10

17 years ago, one local sheep farmer, looking for a more

0:36:100:36:13

profitable business, sold up and tried his hand at growing

0:36:130:36:15

a crop more closely associated with the cultures of Spain and France.

0:36:150:36:20

Today, Mark Botwright's garlic farm near Bridport is going

0:36:200:36:23

from strength to strength, producing 900,000 bulbs a year.

0:36:230:36:27

He's also found a novel way to preserve the seasonal product

0:36:270:36:30

all year round.

0:36:300:36:32

I've come to meet Mark to find out more.

0:36:320:36:35

Garlic, it's not the traditional plant we'd have here, what,

0:36:350:36:39

50 or so years ago, why is it becoming so popular?

0:36:390:36:43

Er, I think our taste buds are changing,

0:36:430:36:45

I mean, normally you'd just see wheat and barley growing here.

0:36:450:36:49

It's a good cash crop, it's something that people like to eat.

0:36:490:36:52

Now, you're a traditional farmer by trade,

0:36:520:36:55

what made you start thinking, "Let's grow some garlic"?

0:36:550:36:58

Well, believe it or not, my wife, Wendy, gave me three bulbs

0:36:580:37:02

17 years ago as a birthday present.

0:37:020:37:05

We never ate any in the kitchen,

0:37:050:37:07

I just kept it back all the time, dried it and replanted it,

0:37:070:37:09

and from that, this is what you see after 17 years of hard work.

0:37:090:37:14

You are joking!

0:37:140:37:15

-This is the product of those three birthday bulbs of garlic?

-Yep.

0:37:150:37:18

You seem very passionate about this garlic,

0:37:180:37:20

I mean, is this all you do now?

0:37:200:37:22

Yep, this is all I do, I live, breathe

0:37:220:37:24

and have nightmares about it, everything I do is solely garlic.

0:37:240:37:28

Fresh garlic is in season between July and October.

0:37:300:37:34

And the dried bulbs have a limited shelf life of a couple of weeks.

0:37:340:37:37

Mark wanted to find a way to preserve some of his bulbs

0:37:370:37:40

so they could be eaten all year round.

0:37:400:37:42

A few years ago, he came across an ancient Korean method

0:37:420:37:45

for curing garlic bulbs, by exposing them to heat

0:37:450:37:48

and moisture over a 40-day period,

0:37:480:37:51

producing what is known as "black garlic", which lasts up to a year.

0:37:510:37:55

Now, you call it black garlic?

0:37:550:37:58

-That's right.

-It doesn't look particularly black.

0:37:580:38:01

No, it just looks like an aged, not very happy garlic, really.

0:38:010:38:04

If I found that in my fridge, I'd be thinking about throwing it out.

0:38:040:38:07

Yeah, you would do. Let me show you.

0:38:070:38:09

-You ready?

-Yep.

0:38:130:38:14

Wow, it's jet black, isn't it?

0:38:160:38:18

-There you go.

-Like tar!

0:38:180:38:20

It's got a real liquorice-y texture,

0:38:200:38:23

but a real balsamic, aged balsamic flavour.

0:38:230:38:26

Can I have a nibble?

0:38:260:38:28

Yeah, you can, there's one here you can try.

0:38:280:38:30

Thank you. So already, this looks dry and horrible

0:38:300:38:34

-and ready to throw out.

-Yeah.

0:38:340:38:35

But this is really moist, mulchy, if you like.

0:38:350:38:39

I put it in my mouth and I thought

0:38:400:38:42

that's like a liquorice allsort sort of thing,

0:38:420:38:45

and now, I'm getting the sort of balsamic vinegar,

0:38:450:38:48

and only now do I get the garlic, it comes in stages, doesn't it?

0:38:480:38:52

-Yeah, sweet, savoury...

-It's like a Willy Wonka sweet!

0:38:520:38:55

It's awesome. I can't get over its sort of

0:38:550:38:58

rubbery texture, it's amazing.

0:38:580:39:00

This is the nice thing about it, you don't have to actually

0:39:000:39:03

chop it up, so you actually put it down,

0:39:030:39:05

-and you can make a paste that easily.

-Goodness me!

0:39:050:39:09

Black garlic has twice the antioxidants of normal garlic,

0:39:110:39:14

is low in fat, rich in natural sugars, making it sweeter in taste

0:39:140:39:17

and, unlike its whiter version, leaves no smell or bad breath.

0:39:170:39:22

There are a variety of ways it can be used in everyday cooking,

0:39:230:39:26

in pastas, roasts and stir fries.

0:39:260:39:28

Or simply warmed with butter

0:39:280:39:31

and enjoyed on a piece of ciabatta toast, with ricotta cheese,

0:39:310:39:35

some scrapes of fresh garlic and a sprinkle of chilli flakes.

0:39:350:39:38

That is absolutely amazing,

0:39:430:39:45

I'm getting a really nice, smoky flavour, and that sweetness

0:39:450:39:49

from that garlic as well, that black garlic, oh, my goodness!

0:39:490:39:53

As Britain's only black garlic producer,

0:39:530:39:56

Mark has finessed the ancient curing process and has his own

0:39:560:39:59

special heating hut, which churns out 2,500 bulbs every 40 days.

0:39:590:40:05

He now supplies the country's top eateries with British black garlic -

0:40:050:40:08

it's a far cry from his days as a struggling sheep farmer.

0:40:080:40:12

So, the mystery house seems to be the clear favourite,

0:40:160:40:19

and I think that huge garden was certainly the deciding factor.

0:40:190:40:23

Time to catch up with Diana and Philip

0:40:230:40:25

and find out what they plan to do next.

0:40:250:40:27

-So, you've had some time to think?

-Yep.

0:40:350:40:37

I'm pretty sure I know your favourite house,

0:40:370:40:40

-the mystery property, am I right?

-That's right.

-Definitely.

0:40:400:40:44

-Do you want to buy it?

-We would like to buy it, yes,

0:40:440:40:47

we need to do a bit of homework first, though. OK.

0:40:470:40:49

Go back, have a look at the maps.

0:40:490:40:51

We might come back on Saturday if it's at all possible,

0:40:510:40:53

have another look around the area.

0:40:530:40:55

What is it about the mystery property that's, well,

0:40:550:40:58

captured your hearts, if you like?

0:40:580:41:00

Well, it's the size of the garden, obviously.

0:41:000:41:02

-Yeah.

-Definitely the size of the garden,

0:41:020:41:05

-and the garages, and...

-The view.

0:41:050:41:08

..the view, and the potential that the house has.

0:41:080:41:12

The potential for what?

0:41:120:41:13

Well, to make it our home, you know.

0:41:130:41:15

First and foremost, that's the most important thing.

0:41:150:41:18

Coming away from the place, have you thought about what changes

0:41:180:41:21

you might like to make to the mystery property?

0:41:210:41:24

Look to knock the wall down in the kitchen and dining room.

0:41:240:41:26

Nice big kitchen/diner.

0:41:260:41:28

Have a bigger patio door or think about the conservatory.

0:41:280:41:32

Yeah, these are all things

0:41:320:41:34

that would make it a tremendous family home.

0:41:340:41:36

Yeah, and it would be fun doing it.

0:41:360:41:39

So, we've got to think long and hard.

0:41:390:41:42

So, when is the second viewing? I'm going to push you on this.

0:41:420:41:45

-Saturday, hopefully.

-This Saturday?

-Yep.

0:41:450:41:47

That's encouraging, you're going to go away and come back?

0:41:470:41:50

Good for you. Whatever you decide,

0:41:500:41:52

and I hope it will be positive, let us know, won't you?

0:41:520:41:55

-Course we will.

-Yep.

-Well done.

-Thank you very much, thank you.

0:41:550:41:59

Well, Philip and Diana did go for the sort of house

0:42:040:42:06

you'd find in a town

0:42:060:42:08

that's actually situated in the countryside,

0:42:080:42:10

but I think that's because it gave them so much of what they said they

0:42:100:42:14

were after - the modern interiors, the village location, somewhere

0:42:140:42:19

to park their motorhome, and most importantly, that massive garden.

0:42:190:42:24

So much so, I think the only thing stopping them purchasing that house

0:42:240:42:28

is themselves, but then again, it's been so long since they've

0:42:280:42:32

bought a house, I can appreciate why they want to have a second viewing.

0:42:320:42:36

But when they do that and they look around the locality,

0:42:360:42:38

this weekend, I do hope it gives them the confidence

0:42:380:42:41

to take the plunge.

0:42:410:42:43

See you next time.

0:42:430:42:44

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

0:42:470:42:49

Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland and would like our help,

0:42:490:42:52

you can apply online at bbc.co.uk/beonashow.

0:42:520:42:57

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