0:00:02 > 0:00:04'Making the move from city to countryside
0:00:04 > 0:00:06'is often a momentous step.'
0:00:06 > 0:00:09Never in a million years I would imagine I would be seeing a house
0:00:09 > 0:00:11like this. Never, ever.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14'But for many years, Escape to the Country has been supporting
0:00:14 > 0:00:18'countless people on the hunt for their new rural home.'
0:00:18 > 0:00:20- What do we think of this?- Oh, my!
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Chocolate box.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25'We've travelled to the most picturesque pockets of Britain...'
0:00:25 > 0:00:28- Take a look at that killer view. - That's amazing.
0:00:28 > 0:00:33'..and showcased thousands of exquisite country properties...'
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Oh! How pretty is that?
0:00:35 > 0:00:38'..our buyers just couldn't resist.'
0:00:38 > 0:00:39Joe!
0:00:39 > 0:00:42- Seriously, get your chequebook out now.- Really?
0:00:42 > 0:00:46'Join us as we catch up with those who bought their dream home...'
0:00:46 > 0:00:49Such a huge living space.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52'..to find out how the move changed their lives
0:00:52 > 0:00:54'when they... escaped to the country.'
0:01:12 > 0:01:16Today, I'm in the east of England, and these are Grantchester Meadows,
0:01:16 > 0:01:19which is just a short punt away from the university city
0:01:19 > 0:01:23of Cambridge, and it was here in the early 20th century that
0:01:23 > 0:01:27the poet Rupert Brooke lived, and he invited his friends Virginia Woolf,
0:01:27 > 0:01:31EM Forster, Bertrand Russell and the like to come picnic
0:01:31 > 0:01:33and talk about all things literary.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Now, I love a good story,
0:01:35 > 0:01:37particularly one with a happy ending,
0:01:37 > 0:01:41and that is why I'm here today - to catch up with house buyers
0:01:41 > 0:01:44who escaped to the country and find out what happened next.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46So, are you sitting comfortably?
0:01:46 > 0:01:48Then I shall begin.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52I'll be covering the counties of Cambridgeshire
0:01:52 > 0:01:54and later, its northern neighbour Lincolnshire.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58I'll be checking in on Rebecca, Will and their daughter Esme,
0:01:58 > 0:02:00who we helped find a family home back on Will's home turf
0:02:00 > 0:02:04in Lincolnshire, close to the family farm.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07First though, I'll be catching up with former globetrotters
0:02:07 > 0:02:09Jacqueline and Alistair,
0:02:09 > 0:02:14who I helped make the leap from city life to a Cambridgeshire village.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18Let's turn our attention to the matter at hand.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21Let's reacquaint ourselves with Jacqueline and Alistair -
0:02:21 > 0:02:23good name -
0:02:23 > 0:02:27who I met here in Cambridgeshire back in 2014.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30The London-based teachers had recently returned from the trip
0:02:30 > 0:02:32of a lifetime -
0:02:32 > 0:02:35a year navigating the world without using a single flight.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37But with their sabbatical over,
0:02:37 > 0:02:41this adventurous duo were keen to put down routes, close to Cambridge.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45We were really looking for a county that would allow us to still work,
0:02:45 > 0:02:48and Cambridgeshire is perfect because of is Cambridge,
0:02:48 > 0:02:50the university, as well as all of the schools,
0:02:50 > 0:02:53will give us the same sort of variety,
0:02:53 > 0:02:56we hope, as we have at the moment in London.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58I think the move will be a dramatic change for our lives.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00It will change where we work,
0:03:00 > 0:03:02where we live and very much the sorts of things we do
0:03:02 > 0:03:06on a daily basis will change as well.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Their property search was focused on villages within
0:03:08 > 0:03:10half an hour's drive of Cambridge.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13They were after a period home with a fireplace,
0:03:13 > 0:03:16two to three bedrooms and a manageable garden.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19To find all this close to a sought-after city,
0:03:19 > 0:03:23they had a maximum budget of £325,000.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30We started our house-hunting journey in the small village
0:03:30 > 0:03:36of Weston Colville, where I showed them a classic Victorian cottage.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38Come in, through your own white picket fence.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40- Thank you!- Wonderful, lovely.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43I love it. It's double-fronted, a lovely little garden at the front.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46- The door with the knocker. - Yeah, that's fantastic.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49- It looks absolutely lovely, doesn't it?- It's a terraced building.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51- These were farmers' cottages back in the 1860s.- Yes.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55- A lovely period property.- Yes. I love the detail above the windows
0:03:55 > 0:03:57- on the ground floor. - Let's look inside.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02Come on into the warm.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04- Wow. Gosh!- See if you can take it all in.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06It's a lot to take in straight off the road.
0:04:06 > 0:04:07It's wonderfully cottage-y.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09- It's lovely, isn't it? - Yeah.- I love the beams.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12- Yeah.- And the fireplace.- Mm.
0:04:12 > 0:04:13- Is that open?- Yes, it works.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15- OK.- It's an open, working fireplace.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17This would be a lovely living space, I think.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19- Yes, it certainly would.- Yeah.- Mm.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22- Definitely.- If this is indeed the only living space.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25- Oh!- Ooh!- Come on then!
0:04:25 > 0:04:28You can't just say that and do nothing!
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Well, it is the only living space.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34- Shall we explore a bit further? - Yes, please.- Absolutely.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40- Ta-da!- Oh, my goodness. - Oh, my word.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44That's a huge living space!
0:04:44 > 0:04:46- That's absolutely incredible. - This is extraordinary!
0:04:46 > 0:04:49- Wow. And there's a range. - Oh, yeah.- And another living room.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51- A second living room. - Isn't it great?
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Is this somebody else's place?
0:04:53 > 0:04:55This is way bigger than I expected.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Extraordinary. It's got a lovely feel to it, hasn't it?
0:04:58 > 0:05:00Yeah.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03'This was a deceptively spacious ground floor, and although upstairs
0:05:03 > 0:05:06'was smaller, it still gave them three bedrooms.'
0:05:06 > 0:05:09There were two to the front of the property and a cosy master
0:05:09 > 0:05:11with en suite bathroom.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14I'm really thinking about this place and would I live here.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16- It's really making an impression. Yeah.- That's what we like.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20Well, there's one more thing to see and that's the garden.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22- Right.- OK.- Let's go and see that.
0:05:25 > 0:05:30The layout and space outdoors didn't disappoint either.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32- Oh, it's gorgeous! - It's quite a long garden.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34- It is.- Wow! - Great, vegetable patch.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38- Yes, I can see it all.- Yes.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40But let's turn back to the house and talk about the price,
0:05:40 > 0:05:43- the all-important price! - Oh, yes.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45- Crunch time.- Crunch time.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48So, how much do you think this is on for?
0:05:48 > 0:05:50- OK. So...- You go first.
0:05:50 > 0:05:56I'm going to be an optimist and say £310,000.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58I actually think it might be slightly more than that,
0:05:58 > 0:06:00- so I'm going to go for £315,000. - Right.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02- 315?- Mm.- Oh, fingers crossed. - Fingers crossed.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04This is good news for you,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07cos this is on the market for...£300,000.
0:06:07 > 0:06:12- Excellent. Great.- Oh, fantastic. - OK.- That's really good to know.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16Coming in £25,000 under budget and catering for all their needs,
0:06:16 > 0:06:20it was clear this first property was the one to beat.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23I think the highlight is just the amount of living space.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26There's an embarrassment of living space in this cottage.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29We couldn't believe it when we came through from the living room
0:06:29 > 0:06:34at the room to the living space behind at how much there is.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38- OK, guys. You all done?- OK, yeah. Absolutely.- Yeah.- Wunderbar!
0:06:38 > 0:06:39So, pull the door behind.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42- OK.- Because we have got another house to visit.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44- Great!- Wonderful.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50Next, our property search took us westwards,
0:06:50 > 0:06:53to the small village of Waresley. A half-hour commute from Cambridge,
0:06:53 > 0:06:58where we found a house right next door to the local watering hole.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01- Look at that.- So, what do you think about the location next to the pub?
0:07:01 > 0:07:05- That really is a stagger away. - Five-star.- It's fantastic, isn't it?
0:07:05 > 0:07:08- It's better than we could have hoped for, I think.- Yeah.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10Well, this is a thatched property.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13It's a big thatched property
0:07:13 > 0:07:15and it is actually a semidetached property.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18- Right.- OK. Right.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21The 200-year-old farm worker's cottage had a modern L-shaped
0:07:21 > 0:07:26kitchen-dining room, but the rest of it was packed with period features.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28So, step back 200 years.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31- Wow.- Gosh. This is very different from the kitchen, isn't it?
0:07:31 > 0:07:34- Isn't it! Yeah.- Lovely proportions in this room, aren't there?
0:07:34 > 0:07:37- Yes.- So, is this a bit more in terms of the scale
0:07:37 > 0:07:40- that you're looking for?- Yeah.- What I felt about the other place was
0:07:40 > 0:07:44that the space downstairs was overwhelming, in a way.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47It was more than we could possibly have hoped for, which was great,
0:07:47 > 0:07:50but we would also be happy with less, I think.
0:07:50 > 0:07:51Is that fair to say?
0:07:51 > 0:07:55- I think so, yeah.- It is cottage-y, it ticks that box, definitely.- Yeah.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57And then, round the corner you've got, sort of,
0:07:57 > 0:07:59a big study area and the staircase.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01- Fantastic study area, isn't it? - It is!
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Even though it's a much smaller property, you seem to be more sort
0:08:04 > 0:08:06- of taken by the periodness of it. - Yeah.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09A friend of mine commented the other day,
0:08:09 > 0:08:11said Jacqueline, "What you're basically looking
0:08:11 > 0:08:13"for is your nan's house." And although it's a different age,
0:08:13 > 0:08:18there are lots of things like curved wood and not rendered walls
0:08:18 > 0:08:22and things that remind me of my nan's house in here.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25When it came to bedrooms, there were two upstairs to choose from.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29One presented as a twin... and a cosy double.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32But with Jacqueline's nostalgia making her fall in love with
0:08:32 > 0:08:33the property more than Alistair,
0:08:33 > 0:08:37I was hoping the garden might swing it for him.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40- So, the outside layout is quite unusual in this property.- Yeah.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42You've got the tail end of this outside building
0:08:42 > 0:08:45and then you have this, which is one of your gardens.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47- One.- Gardens.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49- OK.- Gardens!- We like a house with gardens.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52- We do.- So, if you take a long walk through these woodlands,
0:08:52 > 0:08:57you get to your own quarter acre. It's actually an allotment space.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00- Yeah, a veggie plot. - Fantastic! Yes.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04What do you think the price of this puzzling property is?
0:09:04 > 0:09:09I reckon this is probably on the market for 285,000.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12I hope it's under budget as well.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14£280,000.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Well, you're in the right ball park, but perhaps a little optimistic.
0:09:17 > 0:09:23It's actually on the market for five English pounds short of £290,000.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25- OK.- Oh, OK.- Interesting.
0:09:25 > 0:09:30- Interesting.- Lots of food for thought.- Yeah, absolutely! Yes.- Mm.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33So, the second option was another lovely period cottage.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Again, under budget, with more land than our first.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40It conjured up powerful family memories for Jacqueline.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42It's a warm, quirky old house,
0:09:42 > 0:09:49that somehow reminds me of my nan's house and that is a big plus for me.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51See, this house all done.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53- In fact, all our house tours for the day done.- Right.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55- Now it's time to mull it all over. - Yes,
0:09:55 > 0:09:57- I think we need lots of time for that.- Yeah, absolutely.
0:09:57 > 0:09:58Come with me.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07You know, I do appreciate that I have a great job strolling
0:10:07 > 0:10:10along riversides, introducing lovely people to beautiful properties,
0:10:10 > 0:10:13but I think the high point of it all is when I witness someone
0:10:13 > 0:10:16walk into a house and have that light bulb moment,
0:10:16 > 0:10:19where they think, "Yes, this could be the one."
0:10:19 > 0:10:21And I think that happened with Jacqueline and Alistair
0:10:21 > 0:10:25when they saw house number one, but the show wasn't over.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29We still had one property up our sleeve, so cue the mystery house.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35That mystery offering was 25 miles north of Cambridge
0:10:35 > 0:10:37in the Hamlet of Alconbury Weston.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39By taking them further away from the city,
0:10:39 > 0:10:43the plan was to offer them more house for their money,
0:10:43 > 0:10:47but character can come with challenges.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50Coming into the mystery house.
0:10:50 > 0:10:55It's about a 36-minute drive into Cambridge city centre.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58- Right, OK.- But, look what you get!
0:10:58 > 0:11:01- This is a detached property. - Looks extensive.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04- It's big, it's old, it's quirky. - How old is it in fact?
0:11:04 > 0:11:07- Goes back to the 1600s.- OK.- Although this extension is only 15-years-old.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09I like all the other cottages around and about.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11- And the ford's quite charming, isn't it?- It is.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14It was interesting yesterday that it became apparent that actually
0:11:14 > 0:11:17space, usually everyone wants space, space, space.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Actually you're not interested in space, more cosy.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21For me, cosy rooms are lovely,
0:11:21 > 0:11:24but there needs to be just enough space, because I'm quite tall.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27So, having to stoop for low ceilings and that sort of thing
0:11:27 > 0:11:31is an issue for me. I don't want to do too much of that.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34- Right.- It will be interesting to see what this property offers.
0:11:34 > 0:11:35It will.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37THEY LAUGH
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Inside, the house was unfurnished.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41I'm having to say mind your head.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43I really don't want to say that, but...
0:11:43 > 0:11:46- Right.- It is quite low beamed downstairs.
0:11:46 > 0:11:47- Wow.- Gosh, it is.- Look at that!
0:11:47 > 0:11:51They are lovely beams, but on the low side, definitely.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54- It's incredible.- It's a fantastic fireplace, though, isn't it?
0:11:54 > 0:11:57One of the best I've ever seen. It's gorgeous.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59- Well, it is very period.- Indeed. - Yes, thank you.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03- It's not period everywhere. So, let's continue.- OK.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06- Finally, you can stand up straight. - Yay!
0:12:06 > 0:12:10- This is a good size, isn't it? - It's a lovely size kitchen.- Great.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12We could quite easily put a table in here or an island or something,
0:12:12 > 0:12:15- like this.- Without feeling you're inching around.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17You'd have loads of space. Yes, I'd love a kitchen like this.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20As you came in through that hall way, it would be an awesome,
0:12:20 > 0:12:22- ideal dining space.- Yes.- Yeah.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25There were three further areas on the ground floor,
0:12:25 > 0:12:28including a lovely garden room in the modern extension -
0:12:28 > 0:12:30leaving Alistair and Jacqueline spoilt for choice
0:12:30 > 0:12:33when it came to space.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Upstairs, the footprint was smaller, with just two bedrooms,
0:12:36 > 0:12:40including the obvious choose for their master.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42- Wow.- The little window! - What a room. Yeah.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45- It's adorable, isn't it? - It is.- Charming.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48- And what does it overlook? - It overlooks the river.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50- Fantastic.- The ford as well.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53I'd be tempted to put the bed this side, so you could just lie in bed
0:12:53 > 0:12:56- and watch the ford.- I love the brick work of the fireplace,
0:12:56 > 0:12:59- the chimney breast.- What's great, of course, is the chimney breast would
0:12:59 > 0:13:02- heat up.- Yes.- So, this would then act as a giant radiator.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05- Keep us warm.- Yeah.- Absolutely. - It's really good.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08The period charm and practical features here were starting to
0:13:08 > 0:13:11generate some warm reactions.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14The outside space was smaller than our second house,
0:13:14 > 0:13:19with garden areas to the front and side, complete with a hot tub.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22I wouldn't say no to a hot tub.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24You could have a lot of fun in there, couldn't you!
0:13:24 > 0:13:26What is it on the market for, do you think?
0:13:26 > 0:13:28I'm going to go quite low.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31I'm going to say £275,000.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33I think probably a bit more than that, maybe, because it's quite big,
0:13:33 > 0:13:35- so maybe £285,000.- Yeah.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38This is actually on the market for £325,000.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41- Oh, really?- We were way off!
0:13:41 > 0:13:43Despite being off the mark on price,
0:13:43 > 0:13:47there were elements of the mystery house they loved.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51No question, this inglenook fireplace is absolutely stunning.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53So, which one did they choose?
0:13:53 > 0:13:55Was it the first character cottage?
0:13:55 > 0:13:59Or did the warm nostalgia of the second win through?
0:13:59 > 0:14:02And let's remember, it's not uncommon for the mystery house
0:14:02 > 0:14:05to prompt a complete U-turn.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09So, in the end,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12house number one knocked the other two properties out of the water,
0:14:12 > 0:14:14because it was this white cottage that stole
0:14:14 > 0:14:17Alistair and Jacqueline's hearts.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20You see, a story with a happy ending.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25- Hey, Alistair!- Great to see you. - So nice to see you.- Come in.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Two-and-a-half years on, and our couple have taken to country life
0:14:32 > 0:14:35in the pretty village of Weston Coleville,
0:14:35 > 0:14:38commuting to their teaching jobs in Cambridge.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40It's so nice seeing you here.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43- Just walking through, it just brings back so many memories.- Mm.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45- How's it been?- It's just been absolutely fantastic.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47Haven't looked back, quite honestly.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Tell me about the house, because it doesn't feel like you've done a lot,
0:14:50 > 0:14:52certainly not structurally. Have you changed much?
0:14:52 > 0:14:54- No, not at all.- No.- What did we do?
0:14:54 > 0:14:57- We decorated the bedroom that we're in.- Bits of decoration.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00But in terms of the structure of the house, nothing at all.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02- It didn't really need it.- No.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05So, what's it like? What is the kind of difference
0:15:05 > 0:15:08between the Isle of Dogs and this beautiful Cambridgeshire village?
0:15:08 > 0:15:10I think the first thing that's so different is that
0:15:10 > 0:15:14we know all our neighbours. Our neighbours are our friends now.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17And we've made lots of friends in the village,
0:15:17 > 0:15:20so we have a real local community of friends and neighbours
0:15:20 > 0:15:23that we get on well with, that we spend time with and so on.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26The afternoon we were moving the lady next door said,
0:15:26 > 0:15:30"I'll just introduce myself, if there's anything you need at all."
0:15:30 > 0:15:33And then two days later, the people from the other side came.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36Invited us for drinks and that sort of set the tone, really.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39Everyone's been wonderful. And it has a really warm feeling
0:15:39 > 0:15:42living in Weston Coleville.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44When Alistair and Jacqueline first saw the cottage,
0:15:44 > 0:15:47they were surprised by the extensive living areas.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50It's a far cry from their London flat.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53The lovely thing about this cottage is it effectively has
0:15:53 > 0:15:55two wonderful living rooms. The room
0:15:55 > 0:15:57we're in now tends to be our day time room.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59It's lovely and light and sunny.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01So, we spend all our days here when we're here
0:16:01 > 0:16:04and then in the evening, we decant to the front room,
0:16:04 > 0:16:06which is much cosier and in the winter, we get the fire going.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10So, we have this kind of sense of progression through to the evening.
0:16:10 > 0:16:15I notice that you have replaced the faux books with some real books.
0:16:15 > 0:16:16- Yes!- How long did that take?
0:16:16 > 0:16:19Well, actually, building the bookcases took quite a while,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22but actually filling the shelves, not very long at all.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24No, it's lovely to have them and just pluck one off the shelf
0:16:24 > 0:16:27- when you want to. - And this is a nice quote,
0:16:27 > 0:16:29"This cottage, it wraps itself around you."
0:16:29 > 0:16:31My dad sat where's Alistair's sitting one day,
0:16:31 > 0:16:34with his cup of tea in front of him and said just that that.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36I just thought it was so warm and lovely.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38He's not given to these sort of poetic utterances.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40But, I think this place, he just likes coming here
0:16:40 > 0:16:45and that's how he feels, so that went up on the wall.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47As well as adding some home comforts,
0:16:47 > 0:16:50they've also been making progress in the garden
0:16:50 > 0:16:53and it seems Alistair has a natural talent.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56I've got the veg going quite well.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58I've got some runner beans out, which need picking right now.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00I've got some ripe tomatoes out there.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04- We've had potatoes, curly kale. - You missed out a bit.- Cabbage.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06That you won first prize for your runner beans this summer.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09- I did.- Alistair! Modesty does not become you!
0:17:09 > 0:17:10This is true. Yes.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14He's also a dab hand at making his own beer,
0:17:14 > 0:17:16whereas Jacqueline enjoys producing her own jam -
0:17:16 > 0:17:19using locally grown fruit.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Her fruit picking location is a closely guarded secret,
0:17:22 > 0:17:25but she's allowing me to tag along.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27- This is a good patch. - It's brilliant.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Look at them all up here, like black gold!
0:17:30 > 0:17:34For a couple who had circumnavigated the globe without using a plane,
0:17:34 > 0:17:36their lifestyle now moves clearly at a slower pace.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38Because you're very well travelled.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40You've been around the world for a year.
0:17:40 > 0:17:41You've been in the centre of London
0:17:41 > 0:17:43and then you're coming to the sleepy...
0:17:43 > 0:17:46You know what, now we're in our cottage, we don't want to go away.
0:17:46 > 0:17:47We go and stay in a B&B and think,
0:17:47 > 0:17:50"Oh, we're looking forward to going home already."
0:17:50 > 0:17:53Oh! And do you find yourself becoming more, you know,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56you're looking longingly at horses
0:17:56 > 0:17:58and thinking about country pursuits?
0:17:58 > 0:18:02Or are you still quite metropolitan in your outlook?
0:18:02 > 0:18:03Not metropolitan. I mean, we love walking.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06We love seeing the change of the seasons.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09I don't think we're going to take up horse riding or anything.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11We definitely like being out and about
0:18:11 > 0:18:14and seeing the changes and this kind of thing.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16We pick sloes and blackberries and apples.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19We know where the apples are that we can pick.
0:18:19 > 0:18:24So, it's much, much nicer than going to the supermarket now.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28Jacqueline and Alistair have made a success of their move by
0:18:28 > 0:18:31throwing themselves into village life.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33In Weston Coleville's reading room,
0:18:33 > 0:18:35they help organise an evening weekly pub quiz.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37They are teachers after all.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41I've been invited to take part.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43It's a chance for me to catch up with some of their neighbours
0:18:43 > 0:18:46and assess the competition.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49How do you rate your chances in the pub quiz?
0:18:49 > 0:18:51Erm...
0:18:51 > 0:18:52we're reigning champions.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54Are you?!
0:18:54 > 0:18:58- But we're missing a major team player.- Oh.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00Jacqueline and Alistair, how are they doing at integrating
0:19:00 > 0:19:05- in the village?- They've been like a breath of fresh air, I think.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08Well, best of luck with the... Especially you two.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10- Thank you very much. - Reigning champions.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13We're going to get knocked off our perch. I can feel it!
0:19:13 > 0:19:17- Not going to happen.- I'm going to get my team-mates.- OK.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20Helping me is one of my local friends, Carrie.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23- Hey, teamie.- Hey.
0:19:23 > 0:19:24Time to see if that university degree
0:19:24 > 0:19:27was worth three years of my life.
0:19:27 > 0:19:33Are we ready? More than half of the United States entire coastline
0:19:33 > 0:19:36is situated in which state?
0:19:37 > 0:19:39Hm!
0:19:39 > 0:19:42I wish I paid more attention in geography lessons.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44I might have to rely on Carrie for this one.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47It goes like this and I thought goes all the way down like that.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51- So, that's probably... Yes. Right.- Well, I'm always wrong.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53OK! Maybe not.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55I'm doing very well with the crisps!
0:19:55 > 0:19:58- Good!- Perhaps the next question will be more favourable.
0:19:58 > 0:20:04So, question number two, what is the nickname of West Bromwich Albion FC?
0:20:04 > 0:20:08Ah! Football, not my specialist subject.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11The answer is the Baggies, apparently!
0:20:11 > 0:20:14But it's clear to see that whether it's setting quiz questions for
0:20:14 > 0:20:18the locals or making home produce, they haven't looked back.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21By immersing themselves in the community, Alistair and Jacqueline
0:20:21 > 0:20:25have established a fulfilling new life in the country.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28Are there any, sort of, downsides? It seems like you are very happy.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32But are there any things that you miss about London, or...?
0:20:32 > 0:20:35I think, frankly, the only thing I miss is friends that we have there
0:20:35 > 0:20:37and perhaps not seeing them as frequently
0:20:37 > 0:20:39as we would have done beforehand.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41But they love coming up here, don't they?
0:20:41 > 0:20:44They love coming up here, and we pop down there to see them ourselves.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47And often when we do, it's great to see the friends,
0:20:47 > 0:20:50but London itself, no, I don't miss it at all.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59Right across the British countryside we've seen house buyers,
0:20:59 > 0:21:01all with very different lifestyle ambitions,
0:21:01 > 0:21:05fall in love with the properties we've shown them.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09It's always fantastic to hear when they make that all-important offer
0:21:09 > 0:21:12which goes on to be accepted.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Coming up, a couple of highlights from
0:21:14 > 0:21:18our house-hunting success stories in this eastern part of the country.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21Back in 2015,
0:21:21 > 0:21:25newlyweds Louisa and Zubin wanted to trade in their London flat
0:21:25 > 0:21:29and carve out a new life for themselves in Cambridgeshire.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32With an £800,000 budget, they were after a characterful and quirky
0:21:32 > 0:21:36four-bedroom home, and Jules Hudson showed them
0:21:36 > 0:21:40a brand-new barn conversion that caught their eye.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42I think we're both intrigued, aren't we?
0:21:42 > 0:21:44Both intrigued, we love conversions.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46It sounds like it might be right for us.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49Part of a development of eight converted barns
0:21:49 > 0:21:51dating to the early 1700s,
0:21:51 > 0:21:55the renovations had only been completed three months before.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58- Wow!- This is very impressive. It's fantastic.- This is me.
0:21:58 > 0:21:59It's you. It's very you.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03This is brilliant. This is stylish, sophisticated, just like me!
0:22:03 > 0:22:06If you say so yourself!
0:22:06 > 0:22:10There was a sleek new kitchen-diner, with all the mod cons.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12It's even got a wine fridge.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14They knew I was coming.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16And a massive family space for entertaining.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19What a fantastic size! It's brilliant. You've done well.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21Hurrah!
0:22:21 > 0:22:23It offered them four large bedrooms,
0:22:23 > 0:22:25including a ground-floor master suite,
0:22:25 > 0:22:28with wooden flooring and high ceilings.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32Outside, there was a newly turfed lawn and a separate paddock.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34With all this space,
0:22:34 > 0:22:37would it still leave them change from their £800,000 budget?
0:22:37 > 0:22:40It was £725,000.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43- Wow!- Wow!
0:22:43 > 0:22:46That's great.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48Louisa and Zubin loved the character
0:22:48 > 0:22:51and huge proportions of the barn conversion.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53I love this house.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56It's got everything that we've been looking for.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00The good news is, they loved it so much they put in an offer.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09Our next highlight was in the spring of 2013 when Nicki Chapman struck
0:23:09 > 0:23:12property gold with civil partners
0:23:12 > 0:23:14Barry and Bart from south-west London.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17They knew that life fulfilment ultimately lay
0:23:17 > 0:23:22in the West Sussex countryside - for one key reason.
0:23:22 > 0:23:27I am an extreme dog lover and I really want to have another dog
0:23:27 > 0:23:30and we cannot have a dog in this apartment.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33And so, yeah, we're both very keen to have that.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36For their budget of £900,000,
0:23:36 > 0:23:39they were hoping Nicki would show them an impressive property
0:23:39 > 0:23:43for them and a future four-legged friend.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46- How we doing so far?- Fantastic! - This is scoring pretty high.
0:23:46 > 0:23:47Fantastic, yeah.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50House itself, built in 2000.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52Wow, you wouldn't think that.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55- No.- Stunning. Now let's see the kitchen-diner.- Itching to get in?
0:23:55 > 0:23:58- Yes.- The kitchen-diner. Right, we'll start off there then.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00Follow me, boys!
0:24:02 > 0:24:05So, Barry, I said we'd start with the kitchen-diner
0:24:05 > 0:24:08- knowing how important this room is. - Nice!
0:24:08 > 0:24:10That's much more like it, isn't it?
0:24:10 > 0:24:13- Character.- I can see there's place for the doggies.- Yes.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17This is sort of place we would have been looking for.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19- Is it?- Yeah, this is very close to the bull's-eye.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21That's what we try and achieve.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25- Yes.- Yeah, quite amazed.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29This oak-framed house also delivered a wonderful dining area,
0:24:29 > 0:24:32charming sitting room and a conservatory.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36The study also offered a secret sleeping option.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39How about if I took a step backwards and opened that door?
0:24:39 > 0:24:40- Oh, for goodness' sake!- Ah!
0:24:40 > 0:24:43- Ta-da!- Magic! For goodness' sake!
0:24:45 > 0:24:48Upstairs, the exposed roof timbers were a theme
0:24:48 > 0:24:50across all three bedrooms,
0:24:50 > 0:24:53along with a welcome ensuite in the master.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57It was all wrapped up in a beautiful garden.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00So, would Bart think this textbook country home
0:25:00 > 0:25:03was under their £900,000 threshold?
0:25:03 > 0:25:07I'm going to go for £880,000.
0:25:07 > 0:25:12- OK.- I was going to say something like that.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Round about the £900,000 region, I would have thought.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17I'm being optimistic here, I think.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19- Are you hoping?- Yeah.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23£895,000.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26- Almost spot on!- Yes!
0:25:26 > 0:25:29And spot on it certainly was,
0:25:29 > 0:25:33because Barry and Bart put in an offer and it was accepted.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36Another perfect property match.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42We've crossed the border from Cambridgeshire to Lincolnshire
0:25:42 > 0:25:44and I'd like to take a moment to talk about
0:25:44 > 0:25:47the public service remit of Escape to the Country.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49It's been pointed out that moving house
0:25:49 > 0:25:53is one of the most stressful things that we do,
0:25:53 > 0:25:56and I like to think that we reduce that stress
0:25:56 > 0:25:59by carefully curating a selection of houses
0:25:59 > 0:26:02right at the start of the search process.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06And that is exactly what the lovely Nicki Chapman did
0:26:06 > 0:26:09with a great young couple who were moving back from Australia
0:26:09 > 0:26:12and wanting to put down routes in this beautiful,
0:26:12 > 0:26:14dark Lincolnshire soil.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19It was in the spring of 2015 when former civil engineer Will
0:26:19 > 0:26:23and full-time mum Rebecca wanted us to help them find a place for
0:26:23 > 0:26:27their family where Will grew up.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30Their two-year-old daughter, Esme, was born in Perth, in Australia,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33and they were keen to raise her in the English countryside.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36I think, for Esme, it will be really important
0:26:36 > 0:26:39that she has the upbringing similar to what we had.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42She loves nature. She loves animals. She loves getting dirty.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44She's a real outdoor girl.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46Yeah. People tend to go back to their roots and that's something
0:26:46 > 0:26:50I definitely want for us and want for our family.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53As Will was joining the family farm business,
0:26:53 > 0:26:56they wanted a character property in a rural location,
0:26:56 > 0:26:58with spacious interiors and four bedrooms.
0:26:58 > 0:27:04Outside, they were after a large garden for Esme to play in.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08To achieve this, they had a top budget of £425,000.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14In terms of location,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17they asked to be fairly close to Will's work near Wragby.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19Our first stop was in the village of Upton,
0:27:19 > 0:27:22where Nicki showed them a handsome Victorian property
0:27:22 > 0:27:23with period features.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25I like the front of the property.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29It's got nice symmetry and the front door.
0:27:29 > 0:27:30Yeah, it's got presence.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32I think it looks like a really substantial house,
0:27:32 > 0:27:34nice big windows, so it should be light inside.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37Quite an established garden with some big trees,
0:27:37 > 0:27:38so quite a bit for me to do, I think.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40- Going to keep you busy, aren't we? - Yeah.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42Right, well, I think it's time we explored our first house.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44Let's go!
0:27:48 > 0:27:50High ceilings. Nice size.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Yeah, nice old features.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54Definitely an impressive fireplace, I have to say.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56I didn't think we could probably get this in the countryside.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00It's got that proportion that you more associate with a big townhouse.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03That's right. It's not farmhous-y, is it?
0:28:03 > 0:28:04It's definitely got the townhouse appeal.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07This spacious property had another reception room
0:28:07 > 0:28:09and a large country kitchen.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12Really stunning kitchen, actually. Lovely and light.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14- And if this wasn't big enough...- Oh.
0:28:14 > 0:28:20..across the hallway, you have a scullery/kitchen/utility room.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23Wow! Never thought in a million years we'd have anything like that,
0:28:23 > 0:28:25so that's wonderful.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28- So, you're liking what you see? - Yes, I can see dogs.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32I can see mess, muck, children, chaos, noise,
0:28:32 > 0:28:34but that's what we want.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37Upstairs were four double bedrooms, including a master suite,
0:28:37 > 0:28:39all with high ceilings.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42- Do you think it's got character, Will?- Yeah, definitely.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45- In bags. In bags. - Lots of nice quirky features.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48Yes, we could work with this, definitely.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51The house seemed to win them over,
0:28:51 > 0:28:53so there was just the garden to explore -
0:28:53 > 0:28:56with toddler-friendly decking overlooking a large lawn.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59I can see Esme running around, she's got loads of space here.
0:28:59 > 0:29:00That wouldn't be a problem.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02It's nice and protected from the road as well.
0:29:02 > 0:29:03- It's quite separate.- Yeah.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06Well, let's go back to the actual house itself,
0:29:06 > 0:29:07cos we've got to put a price on it.
0:29:07 > 0:29:13- OK.- How much do you think this house is on the market for?
0:29:13 > 0:29:15I think £395,000.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18I think I'm going to go... I'll go £400,000.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22The asking price is £330,000.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25OK! We're off the mark.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28Well under their £425,000 budget,
0:29:28 > 0:29:31both Will and Rebecca seemed surprised by what their money
0:29:31 > 0:29:33could get them in Lincolnshire.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38The next day, Nicki took them to our second property
0:29:38 > 0:29:40in the hamlet of Atterby,
0:29:40 > 0:29:43a half hour's drive from Will's family farm.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45She had a barn conversion up her sleeve,
0:29:45 > 0:29:48but Rebecca needed convincing.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50- Wow!- Looks stunning.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52- Really characterful.- Will's always wanted a barn conversion.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54- Yeah.- I'm hesitant.
0:29:54 > 0:29:58- What are your concerns about a barn? - I just assume they're modern inside.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01So, if it's not too contemporary, that's fine.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04- I think we should get in, don't you? Come on.- Let's do it.
0:30:06 > 0:30:10So, come straight in. It's nice and dry in here.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12- Impressive high ceilings. - Yeah, nice.
0:30:12 > 0:30:16Now, it is done in a contemporary more modern style.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20Yes. Can't really see in here where we would put our stamp on,
0:30:20 > 0:30:22to be honest.
0:30:22 > 0:30:26Let's see what you make of the rest of the property.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29So, this is one of the sitting rooms,
0:30:29 > 0:30:32- currently used as a rather lovely music room.- Ah!
0:30:32 > 0:30:35And this leads us to the second sitting room.
0:30:35 > 0:30:39- This is nice. I'm surprised.- Bright.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41- Really bright.- Well, it's open.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44This is warmer. It definitely has that warmer homely feel.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47I can see closing that door to all Esme's clutter
0:30:47 > 0:30:50and this being our space, and Esme has her own playroom.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52I can really see that.
0:30:52 > 0:30:54Rebecca was warming to the barn conversion,
0:30:54 > 0:30:57which also gave them three double bedrooms -
0:30:57 > 0:30:58with two upstairs in the eves
0:30:58 > 0:31:01and one just the other side of the sitting room.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03That's a good-size dressing room.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05Became really used to those in Australia,
0:31:05 > 0:31:08- lots of the houses have the walk-in robes.- Which is so nice.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12- Very practical. And a good-size ensuite.- Yeah.
0:31:12 > 0:31:14And it doesn't bother me it's on the same level,
0:31:14 > 0:31:17because we're sort of used to that from Australia as well.
0:31:17 > 0:31:22Nicki then surprised them with the bonus of a self-contained annexe.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24Rebecca had a great idea.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26It's a big annexe, actually.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29So, would this work for your friends and families if they came to stay?
0:31:29 > 0:31:33Funnily enough, I think my mother would put her stamp on this.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35- Really?- Yes. She's often joked about a granny flat,
0:31:35 > 0:31:38- so she'd be more than happy with this.- Ooh!
0:31:38 > 0:31:41Finally, they checked out the playground potential
0:31:41 > 0:31:45in the generous garden, which even looked good in the rain.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47I have to say, Esme would love that.
0:31:47 > 0:31:49And I can see that this garden is just practical,
0:31:49 > 0:31:52and I could see putting up a little Wendy house
0:31:52 > 0:31:54and bits and pieces to play for. So, really, in practical terms,
0:31:54 > 0:31:55this works.
0:31:55 > 0:31:57Can we put a figure on it?
0:31:57 > 0:31:59I think I'd say £360,000.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05Well, I was going to say a bit lower than that. I will say £345,000.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08Well, you are both under the asking price.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10- Will by not too much.- OK.
0:32:10 > 0:32:14- It is on the market for £365,000. - OK.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17Despite being under their £425,000 budget,
0:32:17 > 0:32:20it didn't seem to hit the mark.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24I feel like it would be a fantastic holiday home,
0:32:24 > 0:32:26but not a home for my family.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29Rebecca and Will were after even more space.
0:32:29 > 0:32:32Barn conversions do generally appeal to me.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35I like the big open-plan spaces they tend to give inside.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37This house has got that in the two living rooms
0:32:37 > 0:32:39that are connected together,
0:32:39 > 0:32:41but the rest of the house doesn't really give
0:32:41 > 0:32:43any of that big, grand open-plan.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49Like a masterclass in how to show houses to their best potential,
0:32:49 > 0:32:51but Nicki's work was not done.
0:32:51 > 0:32:57No. Could she crown it all with the mystery house?
0:32:57 > 0:33:00The final property took us to the hamlet of Goltho,
0:33:00 > 0:33:03a five-minute drive from Will's family farm.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07We threw down the gauntlet with this 19th-century property,
0:33:07 > 0:33:10which had a modern wing to the side.
0:33:10 > 0:33:12Wow! OK!
0:33:12 > 0:33:14- Wow.- It's impressive.
0:33:14 > 0:33:19- Yeah, very big.- I think what strikes me the most is how peaceful it is.
0:33:19 > 0:33:20Lovely and quiet.
0:33:20 > 0:33:24Yeah, it's very kind of grand looking over the pine trees there.
0:33:24 > 0:33:25Yeah.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28Vacated by the owners, it would require Rebecca and Will
0:33:28 > 0:33:31to use their imagination to make it work for them.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34- So, please, enter.- OK.
0:33:36 > 0:33:37Wow!
0:33:37 > 0:33:41So, as you walk in, you've got this huge area, which could be used
0:33:41 > 0:33:46as a sitting room of sorts, and then you've got this room as well.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48Tell me, was this what you were expecting?
0:33:48 > 0:33:51No, very different on the inside to the outside.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54- Very clean.- It's open.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57So, the grandeur of it, yeah, it's impressive, I think.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59I'm already sort of imagining what new furniture
0:33:59 > 0:34:02I could buy for this room.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06I could see us putting our own stamp on a property like this.
0:34:11 > 0:34:14Now, how is this for a kitchen-diner?
0:34:14 > 0:34:15Wow!
0:34:15 > 0:34:17Now, is this big enough?
0:34:17 > 0:34:21- Erm, yeah.- This is so Australian.
0:34:21 > 0:34:26So open-plan and so just ready for you to move in to.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29- The layout of this is you've got utility.- Yeah.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31You've got a downstairs cloakroom there,
0:34:31 > 0:34:37but you've also got another reception room/bedroom,
0:34:37 > 0:34:40which is what they had earmarked it for with the dressing room,
0:34:40 > 0:34:42because you've got a family bathroom, literally,
0:34:42 > 0:34:44that we've just walked past.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46I wasn't expecting this.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49So, the old and the new is beginning to work.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52In this case, yes.
0:34:52 > 0:34:56As it should, our mystery property was confounding their expectations
0:34:56 > 0:35:00with its impressive open-plan living spaces.
0:35:00 > 0:35:04Upstairs revealed three double bedrooms in the older part,
0:35:04 > 0:35:08including the master suite.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10They're all of quite a modest size.
0:35:10 > 0:35:11- They are.- OK.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15But what you do have is a really large ensuite,
0:35:15 > 0:35:17with a stud wall. So if you wanted to,
0:35:17 > 0:35:20you could take at least two or three more foot going into there.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22If the family bathroom's right next door,
0:35:22 > 0:35:23we don't need a massive ensuite.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25I think if that makes this space bigger,
0:35:25 > 0:35:27than that would work far better.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30Don't really need that many bathrooms.
0:35:30 > 0:35:32With the mystery house reeling them in,
0:35:32 > 0:35:34it was time to venture outside and speculate
0:35:34 > 0:35:37on the potential price tag.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42Now, I think this is an exceptional space.
0:35:42 > 0:35:43- Blank canvass.- Definitely.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46I mean, you've much space and potential to... Yeah.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49It's just stunning. It's really special.
0:35:49 > 0:35:51OK.
0:35:51 > 0:35:56How much do we think this property is on the market for?
0:35:56 > 0:35:58£410,000.
0:35:58 > 0:36:02OK. I think it's top of the budget, so I'm just going to say £425,000.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04Because that is the very top of your budget, isn't it?
0:36:04 > 0:36:06It is the top of our budget.
0:36:06 > 0:36:12OK, asking price, £399,995.
0:36:12 > 0:36:16So, £5 off the £400,000 mark.
0:36:16 > 0:36:21- Yes. It's definitely worth considering.- Yeah, I think so.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24£25,000 under their budget, the mystery house seemed enticing
0:36:24 > 0:36:26at the time.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29The building's not something I would usually go for.
0:36:29 > 0:36:33Yes, it is contemporary, but I think it's got enough of old meets new
0:36:33 > 0:36:37for me to feel comfortable here.
0:36:37 > 0:36:40Have we ended on a high, I wonder?
0:36:40 > 0:36:41- Yes.- Yeah?
0:36:41 > 0:36:45- You liked it?- Yes. Yeah. Really impressive.
0:36:47 > 0:36:51So, which property did Will and Rebecca go for?
0:36:51 > 0:36:54Did the traditional character of house one win through?
0:36:54 > 0:36:57Or did they bring the renovated barn conversion back into the frame with
0:36:57 > 0:37:01that bonus annexe?
0:37:01 > 0:37:03Finally, there was our sprawling mystery property,
0:37:03 > 0:37:06which needed them to put their mark on it.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10But would their initial enthusiasm translate into a purchase?
0:37:12 > 0:37:15As you've probably guessed, they totally fell in love
0:37:15 > 0:37:17with the mystery house and bought it.
0:37:17 > 0:37:19So, I have returned to see what they did.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21Because back then, it was literally just a house.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23No furniture, bare walls.
0:37:23 > 0:37:25I want to see what Rebecca and Will have done
0:37:25 > 0:37:29to turn it into their home.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31After putting in their offer in June of 2015,
0:37:31 > 0:37:34it took six months to complete.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36Now, the family have settled into their new Lincolnshire home
0:37:36 > 0:37:40and one of them's pleased to see me.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42- Hey!- Hi. - Hello. You must be Esme.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44This is Esme. Nice to see you.
0:37:44 > 0:37:46- Oh, a bit shy?- Not really.
0:37:46 > 0:37:52- Going to say boo? Come on then, let's go inside.- Ah!
0:37:52 > 0:37:54Without doubt, the highlight of the house tour
0:37:54 > 0:37:58was the empty open-plan living space,
0:37:58 > 0:38:01but, even with their furniture in, it's still huge.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06I remember watching with Nicki and thinking, "That's a massive room!"
0:38:06 > 0:38:09It still looks enormous, even with all your furniture in it.
0:38:09 > 0:38:10Well, I think when we saw the programme,
0:38:10 > 0:38:12it looked particularly large.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15But I think definitely now you've got some furniture in.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17But it still has... Everybody comes in and says
0:38:17 > 0:38:19what a cosy room it still is.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22What's nice is actually, because I can see this fantastic view
0:38:22 > 0:38:25into the garden, which wasn't so clear on the telly.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28Yeah, no, it's nice. On a sunny day like today, it's nice.
0:38:28 > 0:38:30It's fantastic to look over there.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33We do use those doors in the summer for Esme's parties and things.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36Open them up, bouncy castle, that was really good.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39I remember when you walked in here you were, "It's amazing."
0:38:39 > 0:38:42And, Will, you were probably trying to be a bit of a voice of reason.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46Yeah, I was trying to reign Rebecca back a little bit, I think.
0:38:46 > 0:38:50Was that just out of habit, or you genuinely had concerns?
0:38:50 > 0:38:51Probably.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54No, I just think it was quite a surprise to find the house, really.
0:38:54 > 0:38:57To find something so good on the show.
0:38:57 > 0:38:58I wasn't really expecting it.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01Even I could tell we were going to live here, I think.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03I was just trying to be a little bit more level-headed.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06I know Esme was a big motive for the move.
0:39:06 > 0:39:07How has she settled into Lincolnshire?
0:39:07 > 0:39:10Really well. We think she's so comfortable here.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14She loves the outdoors. She's so comfortable in the house.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17It just feels like home to her already.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20And Esme has been the way into community life.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23While Will's has been busy at work on the family farm,
0:39:23 > 0:39:27Rebecca has met other parents through Esme's school.
0:39:27 > 0:39:29You seem like you've settled in really well.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31- Have there been any downsides? Any regrets?- No.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33I don't think so, so far.
0:39:33 > 0:39:38- No.- Touch wood.- No, I think it's, we are quite decisive, aren't we?
0:39:38 > 0:39:41And we know when it's the right thing for us.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43I think when you're doing with the right intentions.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46We just want a nice place for our family to grow up.
0:39:46 > 0:39:47So...
0:39:47 > 0:39:50It's the reality of being able to do things.
0:39:50 > 0:39:51When we saw the house and you first move in,
0:39:51 > 0:39:53you want to do everything at once.
0:39:53 > 0:39:57There's a reality in financially as well. You've got to stage things.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00Yes. So, that's what we're doing.
0:40:00 > 0:40:01A long-term project.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03One of the couple's long-term projects
0:40:03 > 0:40:05is to extend their property to create larger bedrooms
0:40:05 > 0:40:07in the older part of the house.
0:40:07 > 0:40:11Particularly now that Rebecca is expecting baby number two
0:40:11 > 0:40:13to arrive in a couple of months.
0:40:13 > 0:40:15So, talk me through, what are the plans?
0:40:15 > 0:40:17Well, there are a couple of things we'd like to do -
0:40:17 > 0:40:20a double garage, I think, is a must really for the house.
0:40:20 > 0:40:22Connecting to a utility room and through into the house.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24- It will be even bigger.- I think so.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27I mean, the downstairs is obviously the biggest part of the house,
0:40:27 > 0:40:29but it doesn't have a pantry.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32I wouldn't mind a separate laundry room and we can go that way,
0:40:32 > 0:40:35cos that space isn't really being used for anything at the moment.
0:40:35 > 0:40:37And what were the plans for the bedroom?
0:40:37 > 0:40:40I mean, ideally we've got a large hallway entrance at the moment,
0:40:40 > 0:40:44but it's only single storey so, the idea was to make that double storey.
0:40:44 > 0:40:48So, will you keep the pink?
0:40:48 > 0:40:50- Red?- Careful!
0:40:50 > 0:40:54It's red. Originally, I think it was one of those things when you first
0:40:54 > 0:40:57buy a house, got to change that immediately.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00And of course, there are a million other more important things to do.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03So, we've sort of got used to it and we forget about it until people come
0:41:03 > 0:41:05and mention it and call it pink.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07Call it Lincolnshire pink.
0:41:07 > 0:41:12Lincolnshire pink. So, I think it kind of makes it stand out.
0:41:12 > 0:41:13Whatever the colour,
0:41:13 > 0:41:16Will and Rebecca have done a great job turning an empty property
0:41:16 > 0:41:18into a stunning family home.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21And with Will's farm a short drive away,
0:41:21 > 0:41:25he's been able to spend more time at home when he's not fixing tractors.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27So, Will, this is it? This is what you came back for?
0:41:27 > 0:41:29Yeah, this is it. I left the glamour of Perth
0:41:29 > 0:41:31- for the mud of Lincolnshire. - You don't make tractors,
0:41:31 > 0:41:34it's the replacement bits, isn't it?
0:41:34 > 0:41:36Yeah. It's the spare parts for machines like this
0:41:36 > 0:41:39that we kind of sell all round the country to various farmers.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41- So, is this literally your workplace?- Yes, it is.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44Very glamorous. I left my nice shiny office in Perth on the 20th floor
0:41:44 > 0:41:48- to come back to a farm shed. - How has that been?
0:41:48 > 0:41:49Obviously, I'm familiar with farming.
0:41:49 > 0:41:53Grew up farming and using the machines, so that's helped,
0:41:53 > 0:41:56but it's been about 15 years I've been doing civil engineering.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59So, it's been a learning curve, but a good one.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02Are you going to take over the business lock, stock and barrel?
0:42:02 > 0:42:03Yes, that's the idea.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07My dad's getting older now, so the idea is he's handing it over to me.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09So I'll be in charge, taking it forward.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12But I've got a lot of other things as well, with the house,
0:42:12 > 0:42:14the outside and the new baby on the way.
0:42:14 > 0:42:18- I'll be a busy man.- A very busy man. Well done! It's a great move.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20- Thank you. - Really nice to come and visit you.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22You're welcome. Any time.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29Isn't it a treat to follow up on our house buyers on
0:42:29 > 0:42:32Escape to the Country and see how they've settled
0:42:32 > 0:42:34into their new country lives?
0:42:34 > 0:42:37The way Jacqueline and Alistair used the cultural networks
0:42:37 > 0:42:39in Weston Coleville to integrate,
0:42:39 > 0:42:42and although they've been here a much shorter time,
0:42:42 > 0:42:45the way that Rebecca and Will used his job
0:42:45 > 0:42:47and Esme's schooling to find their feet.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50Of course, most remarkable how they turned those properties
0:42:50 > 0:42:52into real homes.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55I hope you've enjoyed it as much as me,
0:42:55 > 0:42:57and you'll join us next time for more.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01If you dream of escaping to the country in England, Scotland,
0:43:01 > 0:43:04Wales or Northern Ireland, and would also like our help,
0:43:04 > 0:43:06why not apply online at...