Scottish Highlands Escape to the Country


Scottish Highlands

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Welcome to Escape To The Country.

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Behind me are the rather impressive ruins

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of an early-18th century barracks that was so heavy fortified

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just 13 men held off an attacking army of some 200.

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So, where are we, and what's the story?

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Well, join me in just a moment and I'll tell you.

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Today's buyers are nature lovers who yearn for great views and

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open spaces, and they're willing to move 500 miles to find them.

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But as far as properties go, size is everything.

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It's smaller than I expected.

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And for one of our buyers, it all gets too much.

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Come back! You can have a cry with me. That's all right, come on!

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Come here.

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Well, today we are in the Highlands of Scotland,

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and these are the impressive remains of Ruthven Barracks

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in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.

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The barracks were constructed in 1719

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following the early Jacobite Rebellion

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and were originally designed to hold 120 English Redcoats.

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But fast forward to 1745 and the English troops stationed here

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numbered just 13.

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They had to defend it during the final Jacobite Rebellion

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against an attacking force of some 200,

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which they did with the loss of only one man.

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Now, a year later, the retreating Jacobite army fell upon it,

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set fire to it, leaving it as the ruin that you now see.

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But it is, I think, a telling reminder of the once torrid history

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that used to dominate this part of the Highlands.

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Located at the very top of the mainland, the Highlands is

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the sparse mountainous region lying in the northern part of Scotland.

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Cutting the landscape diagonally is one of the most famous lakes in the

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world, Loch Ness, which, in places, reaches depths of 700 feet,

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around the same height as the tallest tower

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at London's Canary Wharf.

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Perched on a headland overlooking the loch is the impressive

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Urquhart Castle, which has witnessed a turbulent history, changing

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hands many times during its 500 years as a medieval fortress.

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The region also hosts the largest national park in the UK,

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the Cairngorms.

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With its panoramic views of snow-capped mountains,

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the park is visited by 1.5 million tourists a year

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and is a favoured spot for skiers.

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With scenery ranging from dramatic glens to awe-inspiring mountains,

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this area radiates history, beauty

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and boasts some of the best views in Britain.

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Now, your average detached home here will set you back £213,000 and,

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when compared to the Scottish national average,

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that's a cool £20,000 underneath it for,

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frankly, some pretty above-average scenery.

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But it's also worth thinking about population density.

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Within the Highlands as a whole, the number is just 250,000 people,

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and that means you've got a pretty small property market

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to choose from for such a large area.

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Whatever your budget and whatever your plans,

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you are going to have to look quite hard for it,

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but it hasn't put off today's buyers.

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They can't wait to get here.

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Married couple David and Kathleen currently live in a four-bedroom

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property in Stoke Lodge, a suburb of Bristol.

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But over nearly four decades of living in the area,

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they've noticed a change.

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We've been here 35 years and it's just built up and grown,

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and grown, and grown in the last 35 years basically.

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It used to be right on the edge of Bristol

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but now it feels a bit inner city.

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Life moves at a bit of a hectic pace

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and it would be nice to just slow down a little bit.

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Kathleen is a retired school assistant and aromatherapist

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and Dave works as an offshore surveyor,

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travelling all over the world,

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but he's now planning to wind down and spend more time on dry land.

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We're moving now I'm semi-retired.

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I used to work 180, 200 days a year but I've just changed my contract.

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I work 90 days a year now, so we'll have lots more time,

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and also, I've worked away for 30 years.

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It's time we got a life together, basically.

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With their two grown-up children having flown the nest,

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they hope to start this next chapter of their lives by getting away

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from it all in the peaceful Scottish Highlands.

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It reminds me very much of home because I'm from Cumbria,

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and I think Scotland is just that little bit more rugged,

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the scenery is absolutely fantastic, the wildlife too.

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You can go a walk there and you can walk for two or three hours and meet

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nobody, whereas I can't walk for a minute here without meeting anybody.

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But we'll need to get our skates on

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as David and Kathleen have already sold their house.

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Well, David went off to work on a Tuesday,

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the house went on the market on a Wednesday

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and it was sold by the Thursday evening, which was quite unexpected.

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We didn't think things would move quite so quickly

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and, as you can see, everything is boxed up.

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There's no ornaments or anything on the walls, we're almost ready to go.

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Until they find their new home, David and Kathleen will be

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travelling around Scotland in their caravan,

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giving the couple of a chance to indulge in their hobbies.

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For Kath, top of the agenda is craft work.

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My love of quilting began a few years ago.

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I just love being able to put pieces of fabric together

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and make a pattern, and it's just lovely

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being able to create something out of what looks like nothing.

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Some people are lost without a watch on their wrist,

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but I'd be lost without my sewing machine.

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While Kathleen has it all sewn up,

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Dave will be adding to his portfolio.

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I like taking photographs of wildlife, you can

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get a lot closer to wildlife up there, it's a lot quieter.

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One thing I would love to photograph is a pine marten.

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I've only ever seen one, and if I've got lots of time,

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I can maybe devote a week, two weeks, three weeks,

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just to get a photograph of a pine marten, I would love to do that.

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But after nearly 40 years of living in Bristol,

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they're under no illusions that moving away is a big step.

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The only concern I've got is Kath's leaving a lot of friends here.

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I mean, I work away from home here. I've got friends here

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but I also work with a lot of people that actually live in Scotland

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and people that live all over the world,

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so I haven't got the same ties to Bristol as Kath's got.

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I do have a lot of friends but I know that where we move to

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I'll also make a lot of new ones.

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With the prospect of a new home and new friends, they're looking forward

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to seeing out Dave's eventual retirement in the rural Highlands.

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-We're so excited, we just can't wait to get there.

-Yeah.

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We've talked about it for so long, for so many years,

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but then you've got to do something about it, so now's the time.

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David and Kathleen would like us to concentrate our property search

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between Inverness and Aviemore,

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in and around the Cairngorms National Park.

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I'm meeting up with them in the village of Carrbridge,

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within the National Park, to go over the specifics of their house search.

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-Well, hello, guys. How are you?

-Fine, thank you very much. Yourself?

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I'm very well.

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So, formally, Dave and Kathleen, welcome to the Highlands.

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-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Many people coming on Escape To The Country

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want to move closer to family, but that's not the case with you two

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because your family's all over the place.

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Family's very spread out.

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Daughter in Singapore, sister in America, son in Wales,

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so, really, this is just about us.

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Brilliant. So just give us an idea, Kathleen,

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now that you are focusing on this move,

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what should your house comprise? What does it need to have?

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Ideally, minimum three bedrooms, a lovely big kitchen,

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a dining space, a big family room, perhaps, it would be lovely

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if there was a workshop where I could set up a sewing machine

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or use it as a study, possibly views to the front.

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-OK.

-That would be lovely.

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And what about you, Dave?

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Much the same. I'd like a garage workshop

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and a garden, somewhere between a quarter and a third of an acre,

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that ideally backs onto woodland,

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whether that's possible or not, I don't know.

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This rather feeds into your hobbies, doesn't it?

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Cos I know you're a very keen wildlife photographer.

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It is. Well, I intend to try and attract wildlife into the garden

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and it won't happen immediately,

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this could probably be a three, four, five-year project.

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But let's face it, wherever you are here

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you are surrounded by the most fabulous countryside,

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so I can understand that you don't really need an enormous garden

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because, actually, you've got...

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well, the Highlands to play in, really.

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Now, just remind us of the amount of money

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you're prepared to spend on this move.

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-The budget we have at the moment is around £325,000.

-OK.

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The pressure is absolutely on.

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You've upped the ante since we first met you,

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in the fact that you're now here in your caravan.

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So, yeah, we've got three properties for you.

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You've got £325,000

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and we've got a mystery house, of course, in the mix.

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-Wow.

-We can't quite afford Balmoral.

-THEY LAUGH

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Sadly, it's not for sale, but if it does come on the market,

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you'll be the first to know.

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-JULES LAUGHS

-Good. Well, look, drink up,

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-and we will see what we can find you.

-OK.

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For a budget of £325,000, Dave and Kathleen want their

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forever home to have a minimum of three bedrooms.

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They'd prefer a traditional property, Kathleen would like

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a large kitchen and family room and a workshop for her quilting,

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as well as good views from the front of the property.

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For Dave, it's all about the outside space,

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and he'd like at least a quarter of an acre of land

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to attract the local birds.

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We've arranged a selection of desirable Highland properties

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for Dave and Kathleen to view, but I'll keep them guessing

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on the price of each until after the tour.

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And finally, our mystery property opens a window of opportunity

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for our buyers to purchase a nature lover's dream.

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Our first property is located close to the village of Glenlivet

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on the doorstop of the Cairngorms National Park.

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Surrounded by unspoilt countryside and pasture land and with stunning

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views of the Cairngorm mountains, the area is a haven for wildlife.

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The village itself is probably most famous for its malt whisky

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distillery, and the nearby River Livet is a popular spot

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for salmon and trout fishing.

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Despite being a small settlement, there's an active village hall,

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which was donated to the people by the founder of the distillery

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in the 1920s, and now hosts a number of community clubs and events.

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House number one is located in an elevated position in a quiet setting

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around a mile from the village.

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So, here we are then, in the heart of malt whisky country,

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and that is property number one.

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-BOTH: Uh-huh.

-Nobody's really sure how old it is.

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I'm going to take a guess at about 1850...

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-Really?

-..or so.

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But as you can see, we are not short of views

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and wildlife here is plentiful.

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Red squirrels, roe deer, even an eagle they spotted from the garden.

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Really? Brilliant.

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-Hopefully it'll give you something to get your camera out for.

-OK.

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But what do you think of the property?

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Looks quite small from the outside but we'll wait and see,

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-we'll have a look.

-Can't wait to get inside and have a look.

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Come on, then, let's see what you make of it.

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We'll go round the back.

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'Our first property is an old crofter's dwelling,

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'which was extended at the rear in the 1980s,

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'and the current owners use this way in

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'as it leads into a boot room and then the dining room.'

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Now, it has been extended and this really is

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the meat of the extension, I suppose,

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and it gives you this dining space.

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Come over here and take it all in.

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It's not as large as I expected.

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-OK.

-It's a first impression, but it's very nice.

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The view is...view's incredible.

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Very old, rustic and, like Dave,

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it's not as large as I expected it to be.

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I think you could potentially extend this yet further if you wanted to...

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I'm sure you could, yeah.

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..in the future because, in a way, you can glimpse the views,

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but it'd be lovely to have something that was much more open here.

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-It would if you had a conservatory or something out here.

-Yeah.

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But it does all flow rather nicely into the kitchen,

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and I'm quite keen to show you this, Kathleen.

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And I know, Kathleen, that you do want one of those to have.

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-Oh, it's lovely.

-Huge range.

-It is, it's huge!

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Yeah, ever had one before?

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No, I wouldn't have a clue how to use it.

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Well, I have exactly the same one, and I can tell you

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-it's pretty straightforward.

-Oh, good.

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This, for me, is where the house really starts to come together

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because it does feel much bigger now, I think, once you get through

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here, cos it's all so open and it flows quite nicely through

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those double doors to the dining room.

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And you've got the nice features of the stone and so on.

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Yeah, I like the exposed brickwork, it's lovely.

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It's so cosy and so traditional... traditional Scottish.

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It's certainly a reasonable-sized kitchen, this here as well.

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Well, let's have a look at the living room, that's through here.

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Better reactions to the generously-sized kitchen space.

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Downstairs also features a small utility and shower room.

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How about this, then? A bit more cosy charm for you.

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-Hmm. Yeah.

-It certainly is.

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Lots of character to this room, isn't there?

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-Another gorgeous wood burner for you.

-Yes, lovely.

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It's smaller than I expected.

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The ceiling in here is quite low.

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I do like the exposed brickwork but it makes the room quite dark.

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I mean, I'm thinking of you two in here, during those long

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winter nights, fire roaring away and there you are, Dave,

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with a glass of the local good stuff.

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-I mean, you know, that's the picture I'm seeing.

-Yeah.

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Let's get upstairs and look at these bedrooms

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because that's all important too.

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The upstairs landing provides access to three decent-sized double

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bedrooms, with two situated in the older part of the house

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overlooking the front.

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There's also a family bath and shower room, as well as the master.

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And this is for you.

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-Yeah, this is a bit larger.

-Bigger than the caravan.

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I'll say. I'll say.

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-Yeah.

-Yeah, it's a lot bigger than the caravan.

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I've noticed every room we've been in has got the views. Every one.

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The last bit, really, is to finish off in the garden.

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Oh, that would be lovely, yeah.

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Let's go look more at those views and we'll talk about the price,

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-cos that may be quite interesting.

-OK.

-Come with me.

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The land comprises a well-maintained lawn, mature trees and a patio,

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but there's also an outbuilding

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which could make an excellent workshop for Dave.

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All in all, the land amounts to around a third of an acre.

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So, there is one final bit left - who's going to go first, then?

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Um, I would estimate about 270.

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270, yeah.

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I think I'd probably go a little higher than that,

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getting up to 290.

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If it was around the 290 mark, it would leave you with quite

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a lot left over from your £325,000 to make a few tweaks here.

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If it were closer to £210,000,

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you could go nuts here and keep a load in the bank.

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-We could, yeah!

-Goodness.

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£210,000, and all of that is for free.

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-On the doorstep.

-Goodness me.

-Oh, that's wonderful.

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Off you both go. I'll catch up with you a little bit later.

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Our first property leaves Dave and Kathleen at least £100,000

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to make further extensions to this former croft house.

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It gives Kathleen her big kitchen, two reception rooms and the three

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bedrooms they asked for, as well as land and those all-important views.

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-There's certainly a lot of room in here.

-There is, yeah.

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Well thought out, lots of shelves and very well organised.

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You could use it as your workshop or I could have it as a sewing room.

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And the views are spectacular, there's no doubt about that,

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360-degree view.

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Once we walked inside, I thought there is room

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in here but, again, it could be a little larger.

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With the price and amount of money left over,

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there's lots of work I could do on it.

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I think it's a lovely house.

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When I approached from the exterior of the property, it looked small

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but, inside, it's surprisingly quite big.

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I think more could be made of the property.

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The dining room could be extended along the back quite considerably.

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The garden is large enough to allow that. I think it could work.

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Well, my two happy house hunters. How are we doing?

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-Oh, it's lovely, plenty to see.

-Isn't there just?

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And I think this is a really nice one to start with,

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a classic bit of Highland architecture.

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So, the next one's got a bit of a view to beat, hasn't it?

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It's certainly got a view to beat, there's no doubt about that.

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-But we're not short of them in the Highlands.

-No.

-Come on.

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The spectacular Highlands landscape has borne witness to some of the

0:17:090:17:13

major events in Scottish history, not least the Battle of Culloden,

0:17:130:17:17

which was fought on moorland overlooking Inverness in 1746.

0:17:170:17:21

The Jacobite defeat was a disaster for the region and the

0:17:220:17:25

aftermath saw government forces effectively dismantling

0:17:250:17:28

Highland culture and society,

0:17:280:17:30

which included the outlawing of tartan and the kilt

0:17:300:17:33

for almost 40 years.

0:17:330:17:35

Today, the city of Inverness is the undisputed centre of Highland dress

0:17:350:17:39

and home to many kilt makers,

0:17:390:17:41

including the Highland House of Fraser.

0:17:410:17:44

With Kathleen's passion for textiles, we sent her and David

0:17:440:17:47

to find out more about the history and design of this

0:17:470:17:50

world-famous emblem of Scotland.

0:17:500:17:52

They're meeting manager Matthew MacAskill.

0:17:520:17:55

Hi there, welcome to Inverness

0:17:560:17:58

and the Scottish Highlands, which is the home of Highland dress.

0:17:580:18:02

As you can see, there are lots of different examples of tartan.

0:18:020:18:06

Are the colours of any relevance?

0:18:060:18:09

Yes, they are. Clans' tartans have changed over time

0:18:090:18:12

and the colours have gone from being quite light in colour

0:18:120:18:17

to a much deeper colour.

0:18:170:18:18

And the significance of that is that before the Battle of Culloden,

0:18:180:18:22

tartan was dyed using vegetable dyes.

0:18:220:18:25

And then, in 1747, after the Battle of Culloden had ended,

0:18:250:18:30

tartan was outlawed for a period of between 35, 36 years.

0:18:300:18:35

-Goodness.

-In 1782, when the abolition and proscription of Highland dress

0:18:350:18:41

was repealed, people then began to dye tartans with chemical dyes.

0:18:410:18:46

And you can see a good example of this just behind us.

0:18:460:18:49

The pattern has remained the same but, over time, with the vegetable

0:18:490:18:54

dyes producing such light colours, they now look very different.

0:18:540:18:58

Just as the tartan colours have changed through history

0:18:590:19:02

so too has kilt design.

0:19:020:19:04

This is an example of feileadh mor,

0:19:040:19:06

which is Scottish Gaelic, meaning 'great kilt'.

0:19:060:19:09

And this is the earliest example of kilts.

0:19:090:19:12

It originated in around about the 16th century

0:19:120:19:15

and it was made from about eight yards of material.

0:19:150:19:19

How is it all put together? I mean, I can't see any stitching.

0:19:190:19:22

No, you're right, there's absolutely no stitching.

0:19:220:19:24

You would have actually had to lie on the floor to put this on,

0:19:240:19:28

pleated it by hand and then it would be held in place with this belt.

0:19:280:19:33

Nowadays, we don't have this portion that we have at the top here.

0:19:330:19:38

And all the excess cloth that was from the bottom

0:19:380:19:41

would have been thrown over your shoulder

0:19:410:19:43

and held in place with a brooch.

0:19:430:19:46

Although kilts are still often made from once piece of material,

0:19:460:19:49

the introduction of tailoring in the 18th century

0:19:490:19:52

saw the kilt evolved into a fitted skirt-like garment.

0:19:520:19:56

In the 19th century, Queen Victoria's love of the Highlands

0:19:560:19:59

helped boost the kilt's popularity.

0:19:590:20:01

David is trying one on for size.

0:20:010:20:03

-Here we go.

-OK. Thank you.

0:20:040:20:06

So, Kathleen, has Dave ever worn a kilt before?

0:20:100:20:12

No, never, this is a first.

0:20:120:20:14

Oh, wow.

0:20:150:20:17

-How do you feel?

-I feel fine, it's quite comfortable.

0:20:170:20:19

You're almost finished, but there's a couple of finishing touches

0:20:190:20:22

which I've got in my sporran here, so we've got your sgian-dubh

0:20:220:20:26

and then we can move onto the kilt pin.

0:20:260:20:28

-OK.

-So those are the two finishing touches we need to make.

0:20:280:20:31

With the sgian-dubh, that's Gaelic and it means 'a black knife.'

0:20:310:20:35

Long ago, people would have been able to take one weapon with them

0:20:350:20:38

into somebody else's house, which sounds a bit silly nowadays

0:20:380:20:42

but, in those days, I'm sure it was needed.

0:20:420:20:45

And this just goes into your sock, so if you're right-handed,

0:20:450:20:49

you can just pop that into your right-hand sock there.

0:20:490:20:52

-OK?

-OK.

-And then the other part is your kilt pin.

0:20:530:20:55

-So I'll pop this on for you.

-Yeah.

0:20:570:20:59

With this final decorative flourish...

0:21:010:21:04

-And that's you.

-Perfect.

0:21:040:21:05

David looks every part the Scottish gent, so the pressure's on

0:21:050:21:09

to find our buyers a Highland home.

0:21:090:21:11

For our second property, we're heading southwest

0:21:150:21:17

into the National Park and the village of Laggan.

0:21:170:21:21

Surrounded by mountains, including the Cairngorm and Grampian ranges,

0:21:210:21:25

the village is most famous as the filming location for the popular

0:21:250:21:28

TV drama series Monarch Of The Glen, and is frequented by its many fans.

0:21:280:21:33

Amenities include a hostel and coffee shop.

0:21:330:21:36

Our second house is situated just outside the village,

0:21:360:21:39

in the small hamlet of Catlodge, and benefits from an elevated

0:21:390:21:43

position with far-reaching views of the Cairngorms.

0:21:430:21:46

And this is our property for you to feast your eyes on,

0:21:460:21:49

which I rather like, actually.

0:21:490:21:51

It's rather nice.

0:21:510:21:52

It was two cottages once upon a time,

0:21:520:21:54

and they were both sort of two up, two downs.

0:21:540:21:57

It's now one huge property.

0:21:570:21:59

It's all done, it's immaculate. Nice little garden behind with

0:21:590:22:02

some woodland surrounding it for the wildlife.

0:22:020:22:05

And we showed you views this morning,

0:22:050:22:07

but I think they're even better, actually.

0:22:070:22:09

Quite spectacular, aren't they?

0:22:090:22:10

They really are. Let's have a look, then.

0:22:100:22:13

The house was, at one time, the local shop and pub.

0:22:140:22:17

It has been fully renovated by the current owners,

0:22:170:22:20

who retained many original features

0:22:200:22:22

but also built an extension, replacing the old wooden garage.

0:22:220:22:26

So we'll start with the kitchen. Very much the kitchen-diner,

0:22:290:22:33

much more in the mode of what I think you've been thinking about.

0:22:330:22:36

It's very nice, but it's still smaller than I expected it to be.

0:22:360:22:40

-I haven't got much room for my head.

-THEY LAUGH

0:22:400:22:43

The kitchen is smaller than I expected, yes.

0:22:450:22:47

It's...you know, it's not bad.

0:22:470:22:50

It's not bad.

0:22:500:22:51

-You have got a separate dining room as well.

-Really?

0:22:510:22:54

Yeah, further down there. So maybe that will make a difference.

0:22:540:22:57

-So perhaps we need to explore more.

-We'll have a look, yeah.

-I think so.

0:22:570:23:00

This way.

0:23:000:23:01

-This is a lovely room.

-I was waiting for you to say something good, yes!

0:23:050:23:09

-It is a lovely room.

-Oh, I love that feature fireplace.

0:23:090:23:12

-Yes.

-It's lovely.

0:23:120:23:13

-It's got lots of features, there's no doubt about that.

-Yeah.

0:23:130:23:16

It wasn't built last week.

0:23:160:23:18

It certainly wasn't built last week. In fact, it was built about 1840.

0:23:180:23:21

-Really?

-There you go. So, probably a similar age

0:23:210:23:23

to property one, really. This is currently a sitting room.

0:23:230:23:26

It could be a dining room if you want it to be.

0:23:260:23:28

This and the room next door, which is currently the dining room,

0:23:280:23:31

are pretty interchangeable.

0:23:310:23:33

They've both got wood burners that are a similar spec.

0:23:330:23:35

So, you could have this right next to the kitchen as your diner

0:23:350:23:39

and put the living room beyond.

0:23:390:23:40

The ground floor also features a family room with a double-height

0:23:410:23:45

ceiling and a utility room, both housed in the timber extension,

0:23:450:23:49

as well as an additional shower room in the older part of the house.

0:23:490:23:53

Also on the ground floor is the main bedroom.

0:23:530:23:56

And then, as promised, this is your master.

0:23:560:23:59

-It's a nice, big room, isn't it?

-This is a good-sized bedroom.

0:24:000:24:04

It's really nice. Again, another wood burner...

0:24:040:24:06

THEY CHUCKLE

0:24:060:24:08

..and a really pretty en-suite, have a look at that.

0:24:080:24:10

Oh, my, it's huge!

0:24:100:24:12

-Yeah.

-Oh, very nice.

0:24:120:24:14

The first floor is home to three further bedrooms, including a

0:24:160:24:19

large triple-aspect room accessed by its own staircase.

0:24:190:24:23

One of the other two bedrooms could make an excellent sewing room

0:24:230:24:26

for Kathleen.

0:24:260:24:27

Outside, the grounds are mainly laid to lawn and bordered by

0:24:270:24:30

mature trees with views over the surrounding countryside.

0:24:300:24:34

Though I do happen to know, Dave, that, um...

0:24:350:24:37

you're quite keen to have some trees around your garden to attract

0:24:370:24:41

the wildlife to allow you to get the camera out.

0:24:410:24:44

Would this work?

0:24:440:24:45

This garden, I would say, is...

0:24:450:24:47

possibly as close to perfect as you can get.

0:24:470:24:50

-Really?

-Yeah.

-Why?

0:24:500:24:51

It just is. It's about the right size, there's two tiers,

0:24:510:24:54

you've got the trees around.

0:24:540:24:56

Excellent. Does it work for you?

0:24:560:24:58

-I thought Dave would have said it's a bit small.

-Ah.

0:24:580:25:01

Well, all in all, you've about 0.4 of an acre,

0:25:010:25:05

so actually a little bit more than property one, actually,

0:25:050:25:08

because there's a parking area through there.

0:25:080:25:10

So it's not as obvious, you can't see it all from one place.

0:25:100:25:13

No, probably because it's a different shape.

0:25:130:25:15

And, of course, you've got much more of a front garden here as well.

0:25:150:25:18

It's also got that building over there which, hopefully, might

0:25:180:25:22

give you somewhere in which to tinker around.

0:25:220:25:25

Fair enough.

0:25:250:25:26

So, is the price perfect, I wonder?

0:25:260:25:31

-I think you went first last time, didn't you?

-I did.

0:25:310:25:34

All right, Dave, your turn.

0:25:340:25:36

I was so far out last time, it's very difficult.

0:25:360:25:39

I'll stick to 290.

0:25:400:25:42

290, yeah.

0:25:420:25:43

I'll go just a tad lower and say 285.

0:25:430:25:46

285. A cheeky 285.

0:25:460:25:49

Actually, you're not far off the pair of you, it's offers over 295.

0:25:490:25:54

-Oh, so fairly close.

-Yeah, not far at all.

0:25:540:25:57

What do we think about that?

0:25:570:25:59

The garden really impresses me, that's just perfect.

0:25:590:26:02

Off you go. Go and explore.

0:26:020:26:04

-Thank you.

-And I will catch up with you a little bit later.

0:26:040:26:07

Interesting one, this.

0:26:080:26:09

I really like it and I sort of think they do too,

0:26:090:26:12

but there's a lot at stake here, it's a bit move

0:26:120:26:14

and it has to happen in hurry, but could this be the solution?

0:26:140:26:19

It might.

0:26:190:26:20

£30,000 under budget, our second property gives Dave and Kathleen

0:26:220:26:26

a larger kitchen than our first offering,

0:26:260:26:28

one more bedroom than they asked for,

0:26:280:26:30

three reception rooms, including a modern family room

0:26:300:26:33

and nearly half an acre of land.

0:26:330:26:35

This is a nice, light, airy room, isn't it?

0:26:360:26:39

Both are light, again. In natural light, yeah.

0:26:390:26:43

It's a nice guest room, or it could possibly be a sewing room.

0:26:430:26:47

In this house, there's lots of room downstairs

0:26:470:26:50

but, upstairs, I find it difficult

0:26:500:26:53

because I'm quite tall and I bang my head.

0:26:530:26:56

The view and garden are absolutely perfect.

0:26:560:26:59

As I say, I'm a bit concerned about the height.

0:26:590:27:02

I think it's a very lovely home.

0:27:020:27:04

There's certainly things you could do with the downstairs

0:27:040:27:07

in terms of chopping and changing what each room would function as.

0:27:070:27:14

Upstairs doesn't appear to have as much room.

0:27:140:27:18

I like the house but,

0:27:180:27:20

unfortunately, I don't think it's going to work for us.

0:27:200:27:23

Well, you know, I think we have been really spoilt today.

0:27:250:27:28

Beautiful views, fantastic houses.

0:27:280:27:31

Happy?

0:27:310:27:32

Brilliant day.

0:27:320:27:34

It's been a long day.

0:27:340:27:35

Who fancies a Scotch, then?

0:27:350:27:37

Come on.

0:27:370:27:38

It's the second day of our Highland property search

0:27:460:27:49

with Dave and Kathleen from Bristol, who have a budget of £325,000

0:27:490:27:54

to spend on their Scottish idyll.

0:27:540:27:56

Coming up, who's dropping in at the mystery house?

0:27:560:28:00

Red kites, oystercatchers, curlews, lapwings, plovers,

0:28:000:28:03

salmon dancing around in the water, sandpipers, house martens, owls.

0:28:030:28:09

And I sample a Scottish brew of a very different kind.

0:28:090:28:13

Very refreshing and, actually, as an iced tea,

0:28:130:28:15

I can imagine that's absolutely delicious too.

0:28:150:28:18

It's a great idea.

0:28:180:28:19

You know, in scouring the country for property

0:28:210:28:23

we also come across some fabulous bits of local history.

0:28:230:28:26

Take this, it's the old packhorse bridge at Carrbridge.

0:28:260:28:30

And since it was built in 1717,

0:28:300:28:33

an awful lot of history has passed over it and it survived some

0:28:330:28:36

potentially catastrophic floods, one of which took the parapet off.

0:28:360:28:40

But the good news, of course, is that it's still here,

0:28:400:28:42

as are we on our final day of house hunting here in the Highlands.

0:28:420:28:46

We've got an awful lot still to do. It's mystery house time.

0:28:460:28:50

For our last property, we're heading towards Inverness and to the

0:28:500:28:53

small village of Tomatin, which is around 16 miles from the city.

0:28:530:28:57

Situated on the banks of the River Findhorn, the Highland

0:28:570:29:01

mainline and the A9 cross nearby, and the village has a number of

0:29:010:29:04

amenities, including a shop with discreet signage.

0:29:040:29:09

The house itself is located just outside the village

0:29:090:29:11

in an elevated position, surrounded by woodland.

0:29:110:29:15

A more modern affair than our previous properties,

0:29:150:29:17

it's quirky to say the least, but offers one of our buyers the chance

0:29:170:29:21

to partake in their favourite pastime without ever having

0:29:210:29:24

to leave the comfort of their armchair.

0:29:240:29:27

There you go. What do you reckon?

0:29:270:29:29

Wow, unusual shape.

0:29:290:29:31

From the air, it's effectively an octagon, but they've removed

0:29:310:29:35

this central section to create a more sort of formal entranceway.

0:29:350:29:38

But, in effect, it's a bit like an enormous hide, because the wildlife

0:29:380:29:43

around here is extraordinary. Can you hear all the birds?

0:29:430:29:46

-I can.

-Uh-huh.

-Above us. I was talking to the owner, and one of the

0:29:460:29:49

beautiful things about it

0:29:490:29:50

is that, because it's an octagon, it has these huge picture windows

0:29:500:29:53

on most sides of it, designed to take in everything you can see.

0:29:530:29:56

The list of species here is so long I had to write it down.

0:29:560:30:01

-This is to whet your appetite, mate. You ready?

-Yeah.

0:30:010:30:04

Merlin, red kites, oystercatchers, curlews, lapwings, plovers,

0:30:040:30:08

salmon dancing around in the water, sandpipers, house martens, owls.

0:30:080:30:13

They have occasionally seen an otter,

0:30:130:30:16

-roe deer and, of course, red squirrels.

-Wow.

0:30:160:30:19

THEY LAUGH

0:30:190:30:21

Excellent. Well, we've got the reaction I was hoping for.

0:30:210:30:24

And wait till you get inside, I think there'll be one or two more

0:30:240:30:27

-'wows' as well, so think of it as a house that's a hide.

-Yeah.

0:30:270:30:32

Come on, let's have a look inside.

0:30:320:30:34

So, Dave and Kathleen can spy on their wild neighbours from

0:30:350:30:38

this uniquely designed octo-house which was built in the mid 1970s.

0:30:380:30:43

Due to its shape, the room proportions are somewhat

0:30:430:30:46

unconventional and arranged off a central hallway.

0:30:460:30:49

Wow, look at this, you've got this sort of galleried hallway.

0:30:510:30:55

And then, in here, we've got you a sort of dining entrance way.

0:30:550:31:01

-That's interesting.

-Isn't it?

-Interesting shape, isn't it?

0:31:010:31:05

All the rooms are that shape, which means you get these enormous

0:31:050:31:09

windows letting the light and the view in.

0:31:090:31:11

Oh, what a view. Oh, isn't that wonderful?

0:31:110:31:14

-Goodness.

-Gosh.

-Happy?

0:31:140:31:16

You can see the salmon jumping in that stream.

0:31:160:31:18

Well, they do regularly. I mean, that's the joy of it.

0:31:180:31:21

You can sit here all day long and just soak up the wildlife.

0:31:210:31:24

And through here, it's even lighter. Look at this.

0:31:240:31:28

A certain sort of...almost baronial feel to it

0:31:280:31:30

cos they've incorporated a nice bit of stonework there,

0:31:300:31:33

a nice kind of hint to the architectural heritage of the area.

0:31:330:31:37

But this lovely high ceiling

0:31:370:31:39

-and, you know, as much light as you could want.

-Uh-huh.

0:31:390:31:43

It's lovely.

0:31:430:31:44

Really lovely.

0:31:440:31:47

I get the feeling this is a house that you genuinely

0:31:470:31:50

could see yourselves enjoying?

0:31:500:31:52

I think I could.

0:31:520:31:53

Certainly up to now, yeah.

0:31:530:31:55

Yeah, from what we've seen so far.

0:31:550:31:57

Let's continue though here, back across to this lovely dining hall...

0:31:570:32:00

..and into the kitchen, Kathleen.

0:32:030:32:06

Nice range there for you again. So does this one work?

0:32:060:32:09

This is a lovely kitchen, especially the outlook as well.

0:32:090:32:12

It also leads on into a snug area there, which offers you a bit more

0:32:120:32:16

informality, I suppose, you know, supper on your lap or whatever.

0:32:160:32:20

And, of course, you've got the dining room next door.

0:32:200:32:22

Yeah, yeah, I think this would work.

0:32:220:32:25

Finally on the ground floor, there's a workshop and utility room,

0:32:260:32:29

somewhere for Dave to tinker.

0:32:290:32:32

And what's lovely is that the octagon shape, I think,

0:32:320:32:35

really reveals itself in the staircase and this hallway.

0:32:350:32:38

The upper landing gives access to five bedrooms, all with great views.

0:32:390:32:43

Two of those are doubles and then there are three singles.

0:32:430:32:47

The smallest is being used as an office

0:32:470:32:49

but could easily be turned into a sewing room.

0:32:490:32:51

There's also a family bathroom with three-piece suite.

0:32:510:32:55

And, of course, the master.

0:32:550:32:58

And this is your room, we're thinking,

0:32:580:33:01

because it has a lovely little en-suite in there.

0:33:010:33:03

-Lovely.

-And again, views for the wildlife.

0:33:030:33:07

Breathtaking.

0:33:070:33:08

-Stunning.

-This is incredible.

0:33:090:33:12

Nobody's interested in the en-suite, are they?

0:33:120:33:15

It's that that's really captured your imagination.

0:33:150:33:17

-Yes.

-Yeah, it's lovely, and it's a nice size.

-Yeah.

0:33:170:33:21

So I think this has all gone down rather well.

0:33:210:33:24

I think so.

0:33:240:33:25

But it is our mystery house. Can you afford it?

0:33:250:33:29

I don't know.

0:33:290:33:31

Let's go and see, come on.

0:33:310:33:33

The house is surrounded by a garden, which is mostly lawn,

0:33:340:33:37

with a selection of fruit trees providing privacy.

0:33:370:33:41

Now, in terms of outside space, it's 0.3 of an acre,

0:33:410:33:46

but what you own, I think, is kind of irrelevant

0:33:460:33:48

when you're surrounded by all of that.

0:33:480:33:51

So, it's our final price guess.

0:33:510:33:54

The all-important question.

0:33:540:33:56

Well, I think this one is particularly important for you two.

0:33:560:33:59

Kathleen, you've got £325,000 to spend.

0:33:590:34:02

How much of it would you need to let go to get our mystery house?

0:34:020:34:07

I think it must be pretty close to our max, so I would say 320.

0:34:070:34:12

I'd say we might even have to add a little bit to it,

0:34:140:34:17

so I'll say top of the range, 325 plus five, ten maybe.

0:34:170:34:21

OK. So, over budget?

0:34:210:34:23

Just about, yes.

0:34:230:34:25

-Well, here's the good news, it's not over budget.

-Really?

0:34:250:34:28

-Goodness.

-It's under budget.

0:34:280:34:30

And remember that we are in Scotland,

0:34:300:34:32

so it's offers over...

0:34:320:34:34

290,000.

0:34:340:34:36

(Good heavens.) JULES LAUGHS

0:34:360:34:38

How about that?

0:34:380:34:39

-Goodness.

-Yes.

-That's amazing.

0:34:390:34:43

And all this on the doorstep too? It's wonderful.

0:34:430:34:47

-That's incredible.

-CHOKED UP: Got to go off camera.

0:34:470:34:49

-JULES LAUGHS

-Oh, Kathleen, come back!

0:34:490:34:52

Come back. You can have a cry with me, that's all right.

0:34:520:34:54

Come on! Come here, come here, come here.

0:34:540:34:57

Come on. Come on.

0:34:570:34:59

Now, then, this is obviously a big move for you,

0:34:590:35:02

and it's quite an emotional thing buying a house.

0:35:020:35:04

It's OK to have a little bit of a tear, when it's a good tear.

0:35:040:35:07

All right?

0:35:070:35:08

Go and enjoy it, go and explore it

0:35:080:35:10

-and I will catch up with you a little bit later.

-OK.

-OK.

0:35:100:35:13

Brilliant.

0:35:130:35:14

Well, there we go, our mystery house could well have done it again,

0:35:140:35:18

and why not? For these two, who love their wildlife,

0:35:180:35:21

this could be the perfect hideaway.

0:35:210:35:23

Under budget by £35,000, our unique octo-house gives our buyers

0:35:260:35:31

panoramic views across unspoilt Highland countryside.

0:35:310:35:35

The accommodation is generous and gives Kathleen her large kitchen,

0:35:350:35:39

plenty of options for a sewing room in one of the

0:35:390:35:42

five bedrooms whilst, for Dave, there are windows all the way

0:35:420:35:45

around the house to capture the wildlife in the secluded garden.

0:35:450:35:49

I think the mystery house is incredible, pretty much everything

0:35:490:35:52

you want. You've got the views, the woodland, the location is ideal.

0:35:520:35:56

At the moment, I can't find anything wrong it.

0:35:560:35:58

It's basically what I'm looking for.

0:35:580:36:00

It's very unusual but it just flows inside, it's really lovely.

0:36:000:36:05

Lovely and homely, and we've got all that wildlife on the doorstep.

0:36:050:36:09

It's brilliant.

0:36:090:36:11

Well, I think it's fair to say

0:36:110:36:12

our house hunting has ended on something of a high?

0:36:120:36:14

I think it has.

0:36:140:36:16

And I think you've got lots of thinking to do.

0:36:160:36:18

-Lots of thinking.

-I think we have.

0:36:180:36:20

The rugged Highlands produce Scotland's

0:36:250:36:27

most famous liquid export

0:36:270:36:29

but as well as malt whisky, the region could soon be

0:36:290:36:32

adding a less potent dram to the menu - home-grown tea.

0:36:320:36:36

The Wee Tea plantation in Dalreoch is the first commercial tea

0:36:360:36:40

plantation in Scotland and is already home to 2,000 plants,

0:36:400:36:44

making it one of the largest in Europe.

0:36:440:36:47

I've come to the plantation to find out what's brewing

0:36:470:36:50

from tea blender Derek Walker.

0:36:500:36:52

Derek, when I think of tea, I don't think of Scotland,

0:36:530:36:56

I think of India or China.

0:36:560:36:58

So what is about the climate here that makes tea possible?

0:36:580:37:01

There's a lot of things that are engulfed in the plant

0:37:010:37:04

from the soil, the air, the actual...

0:37:040:37:06

the weather round about here.

0:37:060:37:08

All of these things contribute to this beautiful tea

0:37:080:37:10

that we grow here in Dalreoch Estate.

0:37:100:37:12

You could liken this place here to Darjeeling, couldn't you,

0:37:120:37:15

-in the Himalayas.

-There's the plantation.

0:37:150:37:17

Can we go and take a closer look at what you're growing?

0:37:170:37:19

Come on, let me show you.

0:37:190:37:21

Derek is also using growing techniques to ensure the tea plants

0:37:220:37:26

can survive the often extreme Scottish weather.

0:37:260:37:29

Plastic covers protect the plants from the frost until they're

0:37:290:37:32

big enough to cope with the harsh winters.

0:37:320:37:34

Now, Derek, these look like very young plants.

0:37:340:37:37

Are they big enough to be producing tea yet?

0:37:370:37:39

Well, sure, let's have a look at them.

0:37:390:37:41

These are about four years old,

0:37:410:37:43

and it's these fresh leaves that we are looking for

0:37:430:37:47

for our tea. It's what you do

0:37:470:37:49

once you've plucked the leaf that makes the tea.

0:37:490:37:52

Whether you add a flavour,

0:37:520:37:53

if you bake the leaf, for how long you leave the leaf to ferment

0:37:530:37:57

perhaps, or for how long you leave the leaf to oxidise.

0:37:570:38:00

And the longer you leave it, the more caffeine is actually formed

0:38:000:38:03

within the leaf itself.

0:38:030:38:04

What we'll do here in the plantation is we'll take these fresh leaves,

0:38:040:38:07

we'll leave them for a very short period of time,

0:38:070:38:09

we bake them and we have our Dalreoch white tea.

0:38:090:38:12

-White tea?

-Sure.

0:38:120:38:14

White tea is the least processed of all the teas

0:38:140:38:18

and has the highest levels of anti-oxidants

0:38:180:38:20

and the lowest quantity of caffeine.

0:38:200:38:22

Black tea, on the other hand, has been fermented and baked,

0:38:220:38:25

producing a stronger colour, but higher caffeine levels.

0:38:250:38:29

I'm joining Derek for a cuppa.

0:38:290:38:30

Now, we've got our white tea over here.

0:38:300:38:33

So that's just straightforward green leaves?

0:38:330:38:36

It looks very, very simple,

0:38:360:38:38

and I'm going to put in a nice heaped teaspoon.

0:38:380:38:41

Now, I'm not adding boiling water to this.

0:38:410:38:44

Because it's much more delicate, I'm going to add kind of tepid water.

0:38:440:38:48

We don't want to cook it, you know, we want to extract the flavour.

0:38:480:38:52

So, in a way, you're coaxing it out, you're not forcing the tea out?

0:38:520:38:54

That's exactly right.

0:38:540:38:56

With the white tea we want to give it a chance just to brew.

0:38:560:39:00

Three minutes later, it's ready to drink.

0:39:000:39:03

Now, it's a very pale-looking liquid in there, isn't it?

0:39:030:39:05

Let's take a look.

0:39:050:39:06

We're not putting any milk or any other nasties in here,

0:39:060:39:09

-it's just good old-fashioned tea?

-Absolutely.

0:39:090:39:11

The way it was designed to be drunk.

0:39:110:39:14

-Well, cheers.

-Cheers.

0:39:140:39:15

Here's to you.

0:39:150:39:16

Oh. Gosh.

0:39:200:39:22

A lot of people say they can taste almost like a nutty fragrance.

0:39:220:39:25

Very refreshing and, actually, as an iced tea,

0:39:250:39:28

I can imagine that's absolutely delicious too.

0:39:280:39:30

That's a great idea.

0:39:300:39:31

Well, here's to you. I absolutely love it.

0:39:310:39:34

I suppose the big question remains,

0:39:340:39:35

do you think you'll ever sell your tea in China?

0:39:350:39:39

-I think we should watch this space.

-THEY LAUGH

0:39:390:39:41

-Well, best of luck.

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

0:39:410:39:43

Well, there is one more important conversation

0:39:480:39:51

we need to have with Dave and Kathleen

0:39:510:39:53

and that is to find out if they have indeed made any firm plans

0:39:530:39:57

for their future,

0:39:570:39:58

and where better to have it other than at their place?

0:39:580:40:01

Let's hope they've got the kettle on.

0:40:010:40:03

Well, this is a first for me on Escape To The Country,

0:40:070:40:10

coming round to your place to have our final chat.

0:40:100:40:14

And now we see the problem.

0:40:140:40:16

-This is where we live.

-THEY LAUGH

0:40:160:40:19

How is it that any of our houses offered anything

0:40:190:40:21

that was remotely too small?

0:40:210:40:24

So, let's think about it.

0:40:240:40:25

Our first two properties - very traditional.

0:40:250:40:29

We thought they might fit the bill, but not quite, Kathleen?

0:40:290:40:33

Not quite. The first one, although the kitchen was lovely

0:40:330:40:37

and flowed straight into the dining room, they were a bit small.

0:40:370:40:41

And, Dave, you weren't convinced by number two?

0:40:410:40:44

Number two, I wasn't convinced.

0:40:440:40:46

My head was two inches below the roof

0:40:460:40:50

and when I walked upstairs to the upstairs, my head was in the roof.

0:40:500:40:53

-OK, but we kept, arguably, the best till last.

-I'll say.

0:40:530:40:59

Our mystery house has had quite a profound effect

0:40:590:41:01

upon both of you, I think.

0:41:010:41:03

It certainly did. It blew me away, for want of a better term.

0:41:030:41:06

I was really, really impressed.

0:41:060:41:09

And, Kathleen, it all got a bit too much didn't it, in the end?

0:41:090:41:11

Totally overwhelmed. Totally. Yeah, yeah.

0:41:110:41:15

It was a bit of an emotional time.

0:41:150:41:17

Now, you have suggested that you don't need to look any more?

0:41:170:41:21

And that maybe you're going to go and see it again.

0:41:210:41:24

That could possibly be our future home.

0:41:240:41:27

So, what happens next?

0:41:270:41:30

I think we've got to go down to the selling solicitor,

0:41:300:41:34

check out the home report, which is the Scottish equivalent of the

0:41:340:41:38

English surveyors report, and take it from there, see what happens.

0:41:380:41:42

In Scotland, the process is quicker than it is in England,

0:41:420:41:45

and they reckon you can...from saying, "Yes, I'll have the house,"

0:41:450:41:49

it's six to eight weeks to moving in.

0:41:490:41:51

What about you, Kathleen,

0:41:510:41:52

are you surprised that it may all happen now quite quickly for you?

0:41:520:41:55

I hope it does happen quickly.

0:41:550:41:57

I would be relieved not to have to spend a winter in the caravan,

0:41:570:42:02

and the thought of being able to unpack the boxes so quickly

0:42:020:42:06

would be a very welcome result.

0:42:060:42:08

Well, you do make a very fine cup of coffee, it has to be said, Kathleen.

0:42:080:42:11

-Thank you.

-But I hope, in due course,

0:42:110:42:14

you'll be drinking champagne.

0:42:140:42:16

-Hmm.

-Let's hope so.

-Well, here's to you, best of luck.

0:42:160:42:19

Cheers.

0:42:190:42:20

Well, our trip to Scotland with Dave and Kathleen has been

0:42:250:42:28

an awful lot of fun but we have had to work quite hard along the way.

0:42:280:42:32

We began we a couple of properties that were full of history

0:42:320:42:36

but, as it turned out,

0:42:360:42:37

it was the mystery they wanted and we gave that to them in spades.

0:42:370:42:41

So, all in all, our trip to the Highlands has ended on a high

0:42:410:42:45

and I am delighted. I'll see you next time.

0:42:450:42:48

Well, I'm delighted to say that Dave and Kathleen returned to our

0:42:490:42:53

mystery house for a second viewing and made an offer which was

0:42:530:42:56

accepted, so we wish them all the best for their new adventure.

0:42:560:43:00

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0:43:000:43:02

in either England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland,

0:43:020:43:05

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