0:00:02 > 0:00:05I wandered lonely as a cloud that floats on high o'er vale and trees
0:00:05 > 0:00:10And all at once I saw a crowd, a host of golden properties.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12Find out where we are in just a moment.
0:00:24 > 0:00:30In today's show, I'll be helping a couple ditch their urban life and head for the hills.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33This is a really, really nice country kitchen, isn't it?
0:00:33 > 0:00:37We'll be sizing up a series of desirable homes... Look!
0:00:37 > 0:00:40- This is exactly what we asked you for.- Yes.- How did you find this?
0:00:40 > 0:00:46And there's a Mystery House, which will add a twist to the mix.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50Today, Escape To The Country is coming from the beautiful Lake District in Cumbria.
0:00:50 > 0:00:55Back in the late 18th century, Wordsworth and the Lake Poets made this area so famous.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58Wordsworth, alongside writing some very long and beautiful poems,
0:00:58 > 0:01:01wrote a guide book in which he said that the Lake District
0:01:01 > 0:01:05was a national treasure in which every man hath a right.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Whether they have a right to buy
0:01:07 > 0:01:10is something we shall explore on the show today.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14Cumbria takes up position at England's most north-westerly edge,
0:01:14 > 0:01:16snug up against the Scottish border.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20The county is famously home to the Lake District National Park,
0:01:20 > 0:01:24which attracts 8.3 million visitors every year, who gather to walk
0:01:24 > 0:01:30on the rugged peaks or take in the striking scenery from the stunning lakes.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34This region has provided inspiration for generations of artists, poets
0:01:34 > 0:01:38and writers, such as William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter,
0:01:38 > 0:01:41who have partly been responsible for making this area such a draw
0:01:41 > 0:01:46for tourists, netting Cumbria a £1 billion tourist industry.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49Tourism alone, however, doesn't bring in all the bucks.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52Farming is hugely important to the Cumbrian economy,
0:01:52 > 0:01:56where the pastures are predominantly given over to sheep and dairy farming.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00Away from the peaks and lakes, much of the region's beauty
0:02:00 > 0:02:06is characterised by the buildings, which take full advantage of the rich variety of local materials
0:02:06 > 0:02:10that provide this area with its distinctive identity.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13The Lake District is awash with second homes.
0:02:13 > 0:02:18In Keswick, a little town on Derwent Water, 11% of properties fall into that category.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20You'd think, in this time of economic crisis,
0:02:20 > 0:02:25that second-home owners would want to sell up and release a bit of liquidity,
0:02:25 > 0:02:27but that's not the case. Why?
0:02:27 > 0:02:31Because their second homes can be a nice little earner as a holiday let.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35According to the Tourist Board, the number of requests for accommodation
0:02:35 > 0:02:39has gone up 47%, so people are holding on and not selling.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Which is bad news for us cos we're trying to find properties to buy,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45but we did manage to dig up a few beauties. Take a look.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51If you have a cool £2 million to spend, then how about this barn
0:02:51 > 0:02:54and coach-house conversion in Cockermouth?
0:02:54 > 0:02:56The five-bedroom property exudes character and
0:02:56 > 0:03:00it's easy to imagine those graceful carriages sweeping under the stone arches.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04But best of all is the spectacular view of the formal gardens
0:03:04 > 0:03:08and the Lakeland fells beyond.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11Or if your budget is hovering around £545,000,
0:03:11 > 0:03:14you could pick up this barn conversion in Rusland.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17It's been renovated to a high standard
0:03:17 > 0:03:21in a contemporary style, and shows off the stunning original oak beams.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23Or if you fancy two for the price of one,
0:03:23 > 0:03:27then this three-bedroom cottage with an attached two-bedroom annexe
0:03:27 > 0:03:31is on the market at Beanthwaite for £375,000.
0:03:31 > 0:03:38The 17th-century character shines through, and the view would have inspired any poet.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42You see, despite the scarcity, some real beauties, but will they please
0:03:42 > 0:03:48today's buyers who are, by all accounts, Lake District experts?
0:03:48 > 0:03:52They are neuro-psychiatrist William and clinical-trials manager Gail
0:03:52 > 0:03:55who live in Ponteland in Northumberland. They're lucky enough
0:03:55 > 0:03:59to be taking early retirement and can't wait to indulge in a new lifestyle.
0:03:59 > 0:04:05Here we are with our much-loved mountain bikes, but currently under-used,
0:04:05 > 0:04:09so I'm hoping, when we go to the Lake District, that we'll be able to use them much more.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12And I'm hoping to finally replace this bike
0:04:12 > 0:04:17for a brand-new one and break it on some of those gentle Cumbrian fells.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20This young-at-heart, outdoor-loving couple
0:04:20 > 0:04:23have made this three-bedroom property their family home
0:04:23 > 0:04:26for the last 22 years but, with the children all grown up
0:04:26 > 0:04:29and retirement looming, it's time for change.
0:04:29 > 0:04:36The ideal, if we can achieve this, is a slower pace than I'm doing now,
0:04:36 > 0:04:41a pace at which I can decide each day whether I do something or not,
0:04:41 > 0:04:44before I decide what it is that I'm going to do.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47I think that's a perfect description
0:04:47 > 0:04:51- of how we'd like to spend the next few years, isn't it?- Yes.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55But after an 18-month house search and 12 viewings under their belt,
0:04:55 > 0:04:58they've not been successful in finding their Lakeland dream.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01I think maybe we are being a little bit too fussy.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05And I think the problem is that I want an £800,000 house
0:05:05 > 0:05:06for half the price!
0:05:06 > 0:05:11It's a wonderful dream, but what are William and Gail looking for?
0:05:11 > 0:05:17A really pretty Lakeland-style home
0:05:17 > 0:05:19with some Lakeland slate.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23I would ideally love to have something with a view of the fells,
0:05:23 > 0:05:27but I appreciate that that might be asking too much.
0:05:27 > 0:05:28What about inside?
0:05:28 > 0:05:33I would like a nice, community sort of feeling to it,
0:05:33 > 0:05:37a nice living area where everyone was together, cooking, watching TV,
0:05:37 > 0:05:40reading, planning our next day's walking or cycling.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43Although they're moving to the other side of the country,
0:05:43 > 0:05:47they're hoping their married children will make plenty of visits,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50so they're ideally looking for a three-bedroomed house.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52They're not looking for a large garden.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55A small, low-maintenance one will do just fine.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58My fantasy is to have a pub on the corner that I can walk to.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03I've never lived anywhere that I could walk to the pub and walk back,
0:06:03 > 0:06:05so that's the top of my list.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09But, in reality, what we're really thinking about is somewhere that's
0:06:09 > 0:06:13close enough that we can walk to the shop but rural enough that we can
0:06:13 > 0:06:18- go out from the door to run, cycle, to just be in the countryside.- Yeah.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22William and Gail are in the luxurious position of not having
0:06:22 > 0:06:25to sell their current house to be able to afford their new home.
0:06:25 > 0:06:30If we found our dream house that was perfect in location and outlook,
0:06:30 > 0:06:35and it had everything we wanted, and it was next door to a pub,
0:06:35 > 0:06:39I think we would be prepared to pay £450,000.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42The budget may be sorted, but are they together with their thoughts?
0:06:42 > 0:06:46I think the only slight difference might be that I would prefer to be
0:06:46 > 0:06:49in a bigger area, perhaps in a town like Keswick itself,
0:06:49 > 0:06:52whereas you'd rather be in a smaller, rural area.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55- Yeah, I think that's true. - But it's not a big issue.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01To make things clear, Gail and William seem to be looking for
0:07:01 > 0:07:04a three-bedroom house in the Lake District
0:07:04 > 0:07:06with a nice community around, maybe a pub.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09That's not too difficult but what slightly worries me
0:07:09 > 0:07:13is they've already looked at 12 properties here and not liked any of them.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16And Gail's sort of admitted that, although she only wants to spend
0:07:16 > 0:07:21£400,000, what she really wants the house to be worth is £800,000.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Now, the only way out of that is to make a few compromises,
0:07:24 > 0:07:27so let's see if we can nudge them in that direction.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31William and Gail are keen to be in the Northern Lakes
0:07:31 > 0:07:34but well away from the tourist hot-spots,
0:07:34 > 0:07:37so we're targeting the area to the north of Keswick.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41I'll be taking them on a tour of three tantalising Cumbrian homes,
0:07:41 > 0:07:46but I'll be keeping them in the dark as to the prices until after the viewing.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48The last of the three will be the Mystery House
0:07:48 > 0:07:51which will challenge their perception of their Lakeland dream.
0:07:51 > 0:07:56I know you're biased, but this is probably one of the most beautiful places in Britain.
0:07:56 > 0:07:57- Oh, yes.- We think so.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00- And you're going to live here. - Well, we hope so.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03The pool of property here in the Lakes is very small.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07It's constricted largely by the fact that there are not that many properties.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11Also, a lot of them are taken as holiday lets and are not being sold.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13And also, there's local occupancy laws
0:08:13 > 0:08:16- which mean that local people are preferred here.- Yes.
0:08:16 > 0:08:21- So we're taking you on a bit of a magical mystery tour.- OK.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24- So we might be going to places you haven't thought of before.- Right.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28And showing you properties you haven't probably considered before.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31- Good.- Are you up for that? - We're up for that.- Definitely.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35- Shall we get looking?- Yeah. - That would be great, thanks. Let's find the car.
0:08:36 > 0:08:41William and Gail have £450,000 to spend and are ideally looking for
0:08:41 > 0:08:44a minimum of three bedrooms, an open-plan kitchen-diner
0:08:44 > 0:08:48for when the family gather, a small, easily-maintained garden
0:08:48 > 0:08:51and, top of William's wish list, a village pub.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59Stunning countryside. Are you excited to be actually moving here?
0:08:59 > 0:09:01I know you've been here lots and lots, but
0:09:01 > 0:09:04it's different, isn't it, when you decide to move somewhere?
0:09:04 > 0:09:10Oh, yes. I mean, we... One of the problems with coming over here is that you have to go home again,
0:09:10 > 0:09:17so...being here means that we can do what we like and stay here to live.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21Yeah, I think so too. Just having this great opportunity
0:09:21 > 0:09:25of having taken early retirement, and we're both fit and healthy,
0:09:25 > 0:09:28to come over here and have this life every day
0:09:28 > 0:09:32- is just what most people dream of. - Yes.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36They certainly do, and I for one am very envious.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38The first house on our list
0:09:38 > 0:09:41is in the village of Wythop Mill, eight miles from Keswick,
0:09:41 > 0:09:44and tucked just inside the Lake District National Park.
0:09:44 > 0:09:50The fells in the Wythop Valley are the Lakeland's final outpost on its north-west edge.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54The landscape is more gentle than the rest of the dramatic Lake District.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58It's a lush patchwork of sheep pastures and peaceful villages.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Our first house is the epitome of a Lakeland cottage
0:10:01 > 0:10:03and lies in an idyllic rural setting.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06We're looking at this house here.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11- This one on the left.- Lovely. - Pretty little cottage.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Pretty little cottage. It's a mill cottage. That's the old mill.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16Yeah, you can hear the water going by.
0:10:16 > 0:10:21The mill race. So the lovely local brick that you wanted, the stone that you wanted.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25Yes, and the very traditional-looking Cumbrian cottage. Yeah, well done.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28Ten-minute walk to the pub. Can you manage that?
0:10:28 > 0:10:30Ten minutes there, twenty minutes back!
0:10:30 > 0:10:31THEY LAUGH
0:10:31 > 0:10:33You might need to get a bicycle.
0:10:34 > 0:10:39- Shall we look inside? - I'd love to, yes.
0:10:39 > 0:10:44We'll go in the back door, as good country-style people do.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48In you come.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50Downstairs loo and utility room.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55This is the kitchen.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57- Lovely.- This is lovely.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01This is a really, really nice country kitchen, isn't it? Nice eating area.
0:11:01 > 0:11:06And this is perfect for cooking while sitting and talking at the same time.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09- Do you spend a lot of time in the kitchen? - That is our plan, very definitely.
0:11:09 > 0:11:15At the moment, we've got a separate living room and kitchen, and we find we're in separate rooms.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18The layout of this kitchen is traditional Lakeland.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21It looks like a nice cottagey kitchen.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25And picking up from your brief about wanting kind of open-plan living,
0:11:25 > 0:11:29this house has this because...it steps straight out into this.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33- Oh, my goodness!- This is excellent. - Oh, wow.- A really good family room.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37It's not a massive property. This is the whole of the downstairs,
0:11:37 > 0:11:40but it does flow just as one big space from the kitchen.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43Yes, with lots of windows and lots of light.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46- There seems to be lots of light. - Yeah, yeah.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49And sheep running on the hills outside!
0:11:49 > 0:11:53It's got the feel of a cottage which is really what we would like.
0:11:53 > 0:11:59There's no point in coming to the Lake District and living in glass and chrome, to be honest.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Drat, must take those other three houses off the list!
0:12:03 > 0:12:07There are some nice features, including the wood-burner behind you.
0:12:07 > 0:12:13It gives off an enormous amount of heat, and this fireplace has got a very nice beam here, reclaimed.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15But also, this is Cumbrian red sandstone.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19That is very, very impressive, a log-burning fire, isn't it?
0:12:19 > 0:12:22- It is, yes. - It's really, really good.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24And it will keep you incredibly warm.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27In those cold Cumbrian winters.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29After all that fell-walking.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32- Upstairs, you're looking for three bedrooms?- Yes.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34- If at all possible.- We've got that.
0:12:34 > 0:12:39This cottage with its cosy feel is deceptively large, and I think it's appealing to them.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43Heading upstairs, I'm going to start with the largest bedroom.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47Some of the bedrooms upstairs may be in need a bit of remodelling.
0:12:47 > 0:12:52- I think perhaps upstairs, the wood's a little bit dark.- It is quite dark.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55If you lightened the wood up, it would make the room look bigger.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57You could live with this for a little while,
0:12:57 > 0:13:00but I think you'd want to stamp your own style onto this.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02It's a really nice size for a cottage.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05It will be you and your children, presumably, coming to stay.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08Yes, we've got two married daughters.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12We have a fantasy in our head of Christmas with the six of us here,
0:13:12 > 0:13:14in the snow, walking back from the pub.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18It's amazing how many people buy their houses on the basis of that one day a year.
0:13:18 > 0:13:23There are other bedrooms and, of course, the bathrooms, so let's check those out.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30I'm sure their family would be very happy with the second double bedroom next door.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Time to size up the bathing quarters.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35It's a very good-sized bathroom.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37Mmm, yes.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39- Cos you've got a huge double shower, look.- Yes.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42- Yeah.- And a nice corner bath.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46- Yes.- I'm not sure how they found enough room to put this bathroom in.
0:13:46 > 0:13:47It is strange, isn't it?
0:13:47 > 0:13:52I think because it's all one space downstairs, you think it's going to be tiny upstairs.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55- Yes, you do.- It is really a very nicely sized bathroom.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58I don't think you'll be disappointed by the third bedroom either.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01- That's through there. - Lead the way.- Thank you.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04I think this the nicest room or the biggest room.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08It's a big difference from the other room, the lighter colour. It's really lifted the room.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11You haven't got built-in wardrobes
0:14:11 > 0:14:15and mirrors and things. It looks more cottagey with the pine.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18You've got a lovely little Victorian maid's fireplace.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20- That is pretty, isn't it? - It's pretty.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23Now, I know outside space is not an important thing for you.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27Well, when there's all the Lake District to explore, why do you need a garden?
0:14:27 > 0:14:30We do have a garden. Let's have a look at it.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33This cottage certainly delivers ample room for their needs,
0:14:33 > 0:14:36and I think we have it spot on with the garden.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38- Lovely mill stream.- Oh...
0:14:40 > 0:14:43The sound of running water. And it's a very small
0:14:43 > 0:14:46but very manageable garden.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48That's exactly what I want - a nice sitting area.
0:14:48 > 0:14:53It's a perfect little garden that just needs a bit of maintenance, but no lawns to mow.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57- A guilt-free garden. - It's a guilt-free garden.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01It gets all the afternoon sun, which is really nice, so you can come out here with your G&T.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03- Yes.- Sun-downers.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06- Yes.- A little bit overlooked from this property here.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08- I don't think so too badly. - Not too bad.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11I think it's a perfect little garden. Very pretty.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13- Yes, isn't it?- What about the price?
0:15:13 > 0:15:16Obviously we are IN the Lake District National Park,
0:15:16 > 0:15:19- It's difficult to find properties in here.- Yes.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21What do you think it's on the market for?
0:15:21 > 0:15:26The three double bedrooms is a good selling point for the house,
0:15:26 > 0:15:30but I think the one bathroom would be an issue
0:15:30 > 0:15:33if you had six people staying in the property,
0:15:33 > 0:15:40so I would think, or possibly hope, it would be about £360,000.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43I'd put it a little higher than that because I think it is
0:15:43 > 0:15:47done to a high quality, and with the big bedrooms.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51I probably think it would be going for about £390,000.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54Well, it's on the market for £430,000,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57which is maybe a hangover from the good old days when everything
0:15:57 > 0:16:01was absolutely sky high because it's been on the market for a while.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04So why don't you have a little snoop around without me,
0:16:04 > 0:16:07and then we'll meet out the front and then we'll power on.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09- OK. Thank you, Alistair.- Pleasure.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13This lovely cottage is on the market for £430,000.
0:16:13 > 0:16:18It has the kitchen diner they were eager to have, a spacious lounge
0:16:18 > 0:16:22with character features, three bedrooms for when the family visit
0:16:22 > 0:16:25and a low maintenance garden which suits their needs.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Properties in the National Park come at a premium.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32If this house was further inside, on the outskirts of Keswick,
0:16:32 > 0:16:35it could easily be marketed for £500,000.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38- I can see us spending a lot of time in the kitchen.- Yeah.- A lot.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42I like the way it just sort of flows through into the living room.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45- I think that's what we were looking for, wasn't it?- Yep.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48I really like the house. I think it's a really pretty house.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51It's quaint and pretty from the outside, and you don't
0:16:51 > 0:16:56expect the rooms to be quite as big and open as they are.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00It's a pretty, nice house, the sort of house I would like to live in.
0:17:00 > 0:17:01A nice, quiet area.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05Inside, it's very well appointed and very well maintained.
0:17:05 > 0:17:11The only thing that I'm a little bit unsure about, whether it would work for us, is only one bathroom.
0:17:11 > 0:17:16With three double bedrooms, I could see that might cause a queue in the mornings.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19It's a little bit further out from the town than I would like,
0:17:19 > 0:17:21but that's a compromise I'd be prepared to take.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25On balance, it's the sort of place that we are looking for,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29and it would definitely be one of the properties that we'll look at.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33- Hello!- Hi. How was it? It's good.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35- Oh, good. - Yeah, it's a lovely little property.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37- Excellent, but there's more.- Good.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39The lakes are waiting.
0:17:45 > 0:17:50The Lake District has been the favoured holiday destination of William and Gail for many a year.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53They aren't too familiar, however, with Keswick,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56so earlier in the week they set out to explore.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58And tourist officer, Linda Furniss, was on hand.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02- Hi.- Hi, welcome to Keswick!- Thank you.- I'm sorry the weather's so bad.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05It's a bit rainy and grey, but that's what makes the Lake District what it is,
0:18:05 > 0:18:09that's why we've got the lakes and that's why it's so green and beautiful for our visitors.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11Shall we just walk up the town?
0:18:11 > 0:18:16- I'll just tell you a little bit about the history, especially the Moot Hall.- Thanks.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20It was in the 18th century that tourists began to trickle into the area,
0:18:20 > 0:18:23after writers and artists like Wordsworth and Constable
0:18:23 > 0:18:26drew attention to the landscape in their work.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29But its place in the history books began in the 13th century
0:18:29 > 0:18:34when Keswick - which is said to mean cheese farm - started its life as a market town.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Moot Hall itself has got loads of history.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38That started off as our market town.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42On a Thursday and a Saturday we have really good markets with local produce,
0:18:42 > 0:18:45but the Moot Hall was the original market,
0:18:45 > 0:18:47then it moved to be a court house and a prison,
0:18:47 > 0:18:49and it's now the tourist information centre.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52It has a chequered history itself!
0:18:52 > 0:18:54Today, Keswick is a major tourist destination,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57attracting climbers and fell walkers,
0:18:57 > 0:18:59and catering to their every need.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02But, if it's a more gentle stroll you're looking for,
0:19:02 > 0:19:05Hope Park offers a haven of tranquillity.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07And just a ten minute walk from here,
0:19:07 > 0:19:09the scenery changes dramatically
0:19:09 > 0:19:12and opens up to deliver the jewel in this area's crown.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15This is Keswick's lake, Lake Derwent Water,
0:19:15 > 0:19:18which is classed as the queen of the lakes, really.
0:19:18 > 0:19:19It's three miles long,
0:19:19 > 0:19:24and we have a launch on here which has several times a day which is used as a bus.
0:19:24 > 0:19:29Get on it, drop off, go for a walk, come back, catch it again. It's fabulous.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32- Beautiful lake, isn't it? - Yeah, it's absolutely stunning.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36The hills in the background and the peacefulness of the lake.
0:19:36 > 0:19:41- It's just so beautiful. - Yeah, really, really lovely.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43Can't wait to get here!
0:19:48 > 0:19:52Our next house is at Raughton Head, a 30 minute drive from Keswick,
0:19:52 > 0:19:55but just seven miles outside the national park.
0:19:55 > 0:20:00Dalston, just a few miles north, is the focal point for the surrounding smaller villages.
0:20:00 > 0:20:05It has a small selection of shops, housed in the fine array of Georgian buildings,
0:20:05 > 0:20:08and the area is enveloped by the abundance of dairy farms,
0:20:08 > 0:20:10which are vital to the economy.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14- Look at that. Now, you wanted views. - I did, yes.- I give you views!
0:20:14 > 0:20:17- You certainly have. - This is a great view.- Stunning.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19Obviously this is not the Lake District.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23I mean, it is the Lake District but we've come a lot further north.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26But I wanted to bring you here because you get a lot more for your money.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30- And I want to show you this property.- It looks lovely.
0:20:30 > 0:20:35Yes, this whole forecourt with the views is just beautiful.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38William, what are your thoughts about the location?
0:20:38 > 0:20:41It's a little bit further out than we wanted to be.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45I appreciate what you're saying about getting more for your money
0:20:45 > 0:20:47when you come out of the national park.
0:20:47 > 0:20:52It depends on what the house is like inside and whether it's worth that compromise.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56- Certainly does. Shall we have a look inside?- I'd love to, yes.- OK.
0:21:02 > 0:21:03Come on in.
0:21:05 > 0:21:11- First impressions?- Lovely country kitchen. Lovely beams.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14Everything has been redone, right from top to bottom.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17- You've got these lovely quarry-tiled floors.- Yes.
0:21:17 > 0:21:22- Teak worktops here in the kitchen. - It's a lovely kitchen, separate from the rest of the house.
0:21:22 > 0:21:27It's a good working kitchen, I think is what it's best described as.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31Couldn't really eat or do anything else in here.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35- It's got a nice quality feel about it, hasn't it, the kitchen?- Oh, yes.
0:21:35 > 0:21:40Yeah, the whole house has, actually, if we look into the main room.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45We're into the main body of what was the barn.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48It's a really, really lovely room, isn't it?
0:21:48 > 0:21:52- It's been well thought through and designed.- Yes, very nice.
0:21:52 > 0:21:57- I like the two windows either side, gives it a nice open feel about it. - Yes.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02These beautiful Georgian stripped-down double doors,
0:22:02 > 0:22:06lead us into the living room, the drawing room.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08- Yes.- It's a really nice room.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12- Lovely big fireplace.- Yeah. More sandstone.- More redstone, yes.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15- A lovely log burner there. - Yes, you've got the log burner.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17- Keep you nice and warm.- Great.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20Well, you can see it's getting quite cosy in here at night time,
0:22:20 > 0:22:24- closing these doors and getting the fire on.- Yeah.- After a long day off.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27I think they've done a fantastic job on this house.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29It's going to be hard to resist.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32I get this impression that you're quite muted about it?
0:22:32 > 0:22:33No, the house is wonderful.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37I have nothing to say about that, except it is a wonderful house.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40The thing that's concerning me is its location.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44Again, this is going to be the compromise all the way through is,
0:22:44 > 0:22:47how near do you have to be to the Lake District?
0:22:47 > 0:22:50You're damping your enthusiasm because you know...
0:22:50 > 0:22:55I'm trying to control my feelings for the house, because I think the house is just stunning.
0:22:55 > 0:23:00But I agree with you, that the location is just outside where we thought we wanted to be.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03That's always going to be where we'll have to compromise.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Either on the house, or on the location.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10This is part of the reason that we wanted to bring you here,
0:23:10 > 0:23:16because it's fascinating to see how much more quality you get for your money.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18Yes, so you're wanting to see us tussle with this?
0:23:18 > 0:23:21- I'm wanting to make you spin in anguish!- Yes, right.
0:23:21 > 0:23:26You're going, "No, it's so beautiful, but I can't have it, I can, I can't, I can!"
0:23:26 > 0:23:27That sort of thing.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30- I think we will be doing that with this house.- OK, great.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Marvellous. Wait till you see upstairs.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36It's clear that no expense has been spared on the renovation,
0:23:36 > 0:23:40and even the staircase is made from the local red sandstone.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44Upstairs there are three bedrooms, and the first one is quite special.
0:23:44 > 0:23:49- This is a master bedroom!- Oh! This is wonderful.- Isn't it wonderful?
0:23:49 > 0:23:50- Yes!- It really is, yeah.
0:23:50 > 0:23:55- Absolutely wonderful, just as you walk into it... knocked out by it.- Yes.
0:23:55 > 0:24:00A lot of character. Unlike some houses, where all the rooms are pretty much the same,
0:24:00 > 0:24:03each one is like, "Wow! It's a great room."
0:24:03 > 0:24:06They've really thought about keeping it light and fresh.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10And they've made it look like a really country sort of home,
0:24:10 > 0:24:15with the checked curtains and the bare wood floors, and the style of furniture.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18A lovely bonus in this room...
0:24:18 > 0:24:22- is quite the most special en-suite I've ever seen.- Really?
0:24:25 > 0:24:28GAIL LAUGHS
0:24:28 > 0:24:30Oh, I love it!
0:24:30 > 0:24:31Isn't it great?
0:24:31 > 0:24:34I never thought we'd find a sunken bath in here.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38- Isn't it extraordinary? Very wacky. - It is lovely.- It is incredible.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42- Which is lovely. You've got a double shower, just very stylish. - It's very lovely.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44Then there's another two bedrooms.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50They're much smaller, these ones, but that's fine, I think,
0:24:50 > 0:24:52to have a big master bedroom and then smaller...
0:24:52 > 0:24:54Yeah, it's still a double bedroom.
0:24:54 > 0:24:59- Features again, like the slip windows.- Beautiful. - It's lovely. Really lovely.
0:24:59 > 0:25:04As if that en-suite wasn't enough, there's a very nice family bathroom, too.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09Here's your second sunken bath!
0:25:09 > 0:25:13- Look at this! Fantastic, another one.- Good, isn't it?- Yes!
0:25:13 > 0:25:16- I wasn't expecting... - A pair.- A second.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20Is this going to answer your wish about having two bathrooms?
0:25:20 > 0:25:22You've got the en-suite and then this one.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26- Yes.- I think you've slightly bettered the property this morning.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30- That's right, this is lovely. - And added two sunken baths into the deal as well.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33- Yeah, was that on your list? I don't think so. - No, but we'll deal with it!
0:25:33 > 0:25:40A third bedroom was, however, on the list and I think you could squeeze in a double bed in this room.
0:25:40 > 0:25:45This tasteful house, with its superb views, is providing a conundrum for William and Gail.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47And I'm not done yet!
0:25:47 > 0:25:49When I said that it's just this property,
0:25:49 > 0:25:51I wasn't quite telling the truth.
0:25:51 > 0:25:56It's not that property, but it's this property and that property.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01- The whole building?- The whole building is yours.- Wow.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04You've got a car port, a very, very posh garage,
0:26:04 > 0:26:09and then, you can see they've converted the whole upstairs of that building into a rumpus room.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16- With a little log burner.- We need to go and look at that.- Let's go!
0:26:16 > 0:26:20You can explore that later. But that's a lot of stuff extra.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22- Yeah.- It's a lot of extra.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25In terms of garden, you've got this little space here,
0:26:25 > 0:26:30- and a little bit behind the house, which is not too much to tend. - Right.- OK.
0:26:30 > 0:26:31How much do you think it is?
0:26:31 > 0:26:33I'm struggling with that, a little bit.
0:26:33 > 0:26:39Partly because it's such a wonderful property, real quality features and fixtures,
0:26:39 > 0:26:42but it's slightly outside the national park,
0:26:42 > 0:26:44so I think I'm going to go for about 425.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48Yeah, I think that, because it's outside the national park,
0:26:48 > 0:26:54then you'd expect the price to be lower, but given the quality of the place and the build in it,
0:26:54 > 0:26:57then I'd agree that around 420,000.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00You're both spot on the money, it's on at 425.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04That's, uh...you've set us a real dilemma now.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06I like doing that! I like doing that.
0:27:06 > 0:27:11Ha, go inside and have a scrap. Yes, you can use the rumpus room.
0:27:11 > 0:27:16At £425,000, this stunning barn conversion is £25,000 under budget.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20It's been renovated to a high standard, it has a large lounge,
0:27:20 > 0:27:26ideal for those family Christmases. Three bedrooms, with master en-suite,
0:27:26 > 0:27:30and it takes in superb views of the Cumbrian countryside.
0:27:30 > 0:27:35It might not be the location they had in mind, but if this property
0:27:35 > 0:27:38was on the outskirts of Keswick, with a view of the Fells,
0:27:38 > 0:27:41it could be on the market for a whopping £600,000.
0:27:41 > 0:27:45Well, you've set us a real problem. Set ME a real problem.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47This is a fantastic house. I could live here.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51- It would answer everything I wanted. - It's absolutely bowled me over.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54It's a beautiful property, with a lovely outlook,
0:27:54 > 0:27:56and everything inside the house is perfect.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59There is nothing in the house that I don't like,
0:27:59 > 0:28:02and I could very well see myself living here.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05The big disadvantage is it's not where I want it to be.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09It's too far out from the Lake District. I could manage that,
0:28:09 > 0:28:14I could drive in to do the walking, but there's nothing else around, it's too isolated.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21So this is what a rumpus room is!
0:28:21 > 0:28:22Yeah, right!
0:28:22 > 0:28:25- This could be anything, couldn't it? - It could actually, yeah.
0:28:25 > 0:28:29- Be a perfect music room.- It would, wouldn't it?- Separate from the house.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33- Yeah.- Make as much noise as I wanted to.- Yeah.- It's excellent.- Yeah.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35It's to be considered,
0:28:35 > 0:28:39but it's got to be thought about very carefully, in my view.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43- Going to have to drag you away. - OK, right.
0:28:51 > 0:28:56The Lake District is home to the beautiful raw material of natural slate,
0:28:56 > 0:28:58which is used throughout the region
0:28:58 > 0:29:00and helps give it its trademark look.
0:29:00 > 0:29:05William and Gail are keen to buy a property that incorporates this beautiful product,
0:29:05 > 0:29:10so we're visiting the last working slate mine in England to discover more.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12The 400-million-year-old green slate
0:29:12 > 0:29:15is the product of compacted volcanic ash
0:29:15 > 0:29:19and has been extracted from this mine for 300 years.
0:29:19 > 0:29:24Behind the dramatic entrance lies eleven miles of tunnels
0:29:24 > 0:29:26of this strong and durable material.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29John Taylor, who's been mining for over 40 years,
0:29:29 > 0:29:32tells us about his love affair with the mines.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35How old were you when you started working here?
0:29:35 > 0:29:37- Er, 15.- 15?- Yeah.
0:29:37 > 0:29:39Did you enjoy being underground?
0:29:39 > 0:29:41- Oh, I love it.- Really?- Yes, aye.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44You're in a different world altogether, you know.
0:29:44 > 0:29:48John, how do you get the rock out of the face? Do you use dynamite?
0:29:48 > 0:29:50Gunpowder for good rock,
0:29:50 > 0:29:54and any rock we don't want, we dynamite it.
0:29:54 > 0:29:58How long do you have to wait for the dust to settle after the explosion?
0:29:58 > 0:30:03Well, old rock hands fire at night so that she can settle all the fumes
0:30:03 > 0:30:08and then, when we come in next morning, we can put our ladders up
0:30:08 > 0:30:13to test our roof with iron poles to make sure she rings.
0:30:13 > 0:30:17If it doesn't ring, it means we've got a problem.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20It means we've got to stick another stick of dynamite in to get it down.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23- You know, so... - So it's a slow process?
0:30:23 > 0:30:25It is a slow process, yes, aye.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28- OK, so we're going to take some slate out and split it?- Right.
0:30:30 > 0:30:34Once the slate is at the surface, machines are used to cut it
0:30:34 > 0:30:37into more manageable-sized pieces, but even today,
0:30:37 > 0:30:41the final stage is in human hands.
0:30:41 > 0:30:46- So, John, this is where we split? - Yes.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49So this has to be done by hand. You can't do this with machines?
0:30:49 > 0:30:51No, no, you can't!
0:30:51 > 0:30:56It takes a skilled craftsman with many years' experience
0:30:56 > 0:30:58to identify where the slate can be split,
0:30:58 > 0:31:01and it will take one minute to split a slab like this.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06Ohh!
0:31:08 > 0:31:11Look at that!
0:31:11 > 0:31:14- It just splits like that. - I know, it's amazing.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17So these have been together for millions of years.
0:31:17 > 0:31:18- For millions of years, aye!- Wow.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21And they've just seen the light of day.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24Wow. Can we have a go?
0:31:24 > 0:31:28- Oh, most certainly, yes.- Gail, do you want to have a go?- I'd love to.
0:31:28 > 0:31:30John is clearly a dab hand at this,
0:31:30 > 0:31:34but I wonder if it'll be so clear cut for a novice.
0:31:34 > 0:31:35So, John,
0:31:35 > 0:31:39from your 60 years of experience, give me a couple of quick hints.
0:31:39 > 0:31:45Just keep it dead centre all the time and quite a nice hit.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47- A nice sharp tap.- Yes, that's right.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55You've done it!
0:31:55 > 0:31:57THEY CHEER
0:31:58 > 0:32:01Woo-hoo! Look. 40 million years...
0:32:01 > 0:32:04Some fresh air, thanks to you.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06John, thank you so much. That's amazing.
0:32:06 > 0:32:10Who would have thought that slate was so fascinating?
0:32:15 > 0:32:18As the last of the afternoon light fades,
0:32:18 > 0:32:22William and Gail head back to the hotel to collect their thoughts.
0:32:22 > 0:32:26What did you think about the house with the mill stream?
0:32:26 > 0:32:30- I thought it was a lovely little house and it was deceptively spacious.- Yeah.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33It looked quite small on the outside, but when you got inside...
0:32:33 > 0:32:37- What I really liked about it was where it was.- Yeah. - The location of it.
0:32:37 > 0:32:39I thought it was a lovely house.
0:32:39 > 0:32:43Little bit small with the one bathroom, but you could live with that.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46- And that lovely sort of flow of the downstairs.- Yeah.
0:32:46 > 0:32:50- It really was a good start to the day, wasn't it?- I think so, yeah.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53So, what are your thoughts on the barn conversion?
0:32:53 > 0:32:56Well, I thought it was a beautiful house.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59Fantastic, had everything we wanted, as far as I was concerned,
0:32:59 > 0:33:03except for one very important thing, and it's not in the Lakes.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06It was isolated, it wasn't part of the community.
0:33:06 > 0:33:08- I'd feel a bit lonely there, I think.- Yeah.
0:33:08 > 0:33:10I think I have to agree with that.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14I was absolutely blown away by the house itself, it was just a bit remote.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18- Put that house two miles from Keswick, it would be perfect.- Yeah.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21- Except we wouldn't be able to afford it!- No, that's a shame.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24- It is.- We've had a really interesting day, haven't we?
0:33:24 > 0:33:28- Oh, yes.- Seen two great houses in two very different locations.- Yeah.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31- So, it's going to be interesting to see what tomorrow brings.- Yes.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34- Hope they can come up with something just as good!- Yeah, hope so!
0:33:43 > 0:33:46William and Gail are looking forward to early retirement
0:33:46 > 0:33:49and a new lifestyle in the Lake District.
0:33:49 > 0:33:56They have £450,000 to spend, but are chasing a three-bedroomed house with room for the family to stay.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59So far, they've seen one house and, coming up...
0:33:59 > 0:34:04That's just like the cherry on top of a very big cake. Wonderful.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06And there's a Mystery House,
0:34:06 > 0:34:09our risk-taking choice that could swing either way.
0:34:14 > 0:34:18I think I might have got to the bottom of our couples buying technique,
0:34:18 > 0:34:22because Gail is very, very strong about what she wants inside the house -
0:34:22 > 0:34:24that's very important, of course -
0:34:24 > 0:34:27but William is digging his heels in on two things.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30One, it's got to be inside the Lake District National Park,
0:34:30 > 0:34:32and, two, it's got to be near a pub.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36And who can blame him, because if you want a happy retirement
0:34:36 > 0:34:39with lots of walking, those are very important.
0:34:39 > 0:34:43So, today I'm going to show them a beautiful property in a village in the Lakelands.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46William and Gail will be delighted to know
0:34:46 > 0:34:49that we're heading back inside the national park,
0:34:49 > 0:34:51to Caldbeck, for our first house today.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54This quiet area is not as well known as the other parts
0:34:54 > 0:34:58of the Lake District but still boasts stunning scenery.
0:34:58 > 0:35:00The village has achieved conservation status,
0:35:00 > 0:35:02but the best thing of all for William is the pub
0:35:02 > 0:35:05which is just a stone's throw away.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09And the house I want to show you is...
0:35:09 > 0:35:11- this one!- This one.
0:35:11 > 0:35:12- Lovely.- It is.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15- Lovely Cumbrian-looking house. - Absolutely.
0:35:15 > 0:35:21It was the gatehouse to the mill. There's a mill complex behind the mill house to the right,
0:35:21 > 0:35:25and this is where the workers would come to get their pay, for example.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27Right. It's full of Lakeland character.
0:35:27 > 0:35:32It's exactly the sort of thing that you want to walk up to and open the front door of.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36Well done for finding this. We're really interested to go inside.
0:35:36 > 0:35:37We can't go inside, I'm afraid.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41Just from the outside, do you want to buy it or not? Just teasing.
0:35:45 > 0:35:46Come on in.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48- Thank you.- Proper hallway.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50Yeah, with a beam running down the middle.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52Yeah. We're going left.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55- OK.- After you.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58There's a little plaque on the door, cos this house has history.
0:35:58 > 0:36:02This is where the composer of D'ye Ken John Peel lived.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05- John Woodcock Graves lived here for all his life.- Wow.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08- And he's buried in the local churchyard.- Uh-huh.
0:36:08 > 0:36:09- It's a historic house.- Yes.
0:36:09 > 0:36:14- We shall sing that in close harmony before we leave.- Perhaps not.
0:36:14 > 0:36:18Now, I'm quite interested to know how you feel about the feeling of this house.
0:36:18 > 0:36:23- It feels cosy, it feels welcoming, it feels at one, really.- Yeah.
0:36:23 > 0:36:27I was a bit concerned from the outside, with having small windows,
0:36:27 > 0:36:31that it might be quite dark inside, but this room certainly isn't dark.
0:36:31 > 0:36:33It's well decorated.
0:36:33 > 0:36:35It's quite symmetrical, so you have this room
0:36:35 > 0:36:39and then you have almost exactly the same on the other side.
0:36:42 > 0:36:47- Another lovely room.- Yeah. - A lovely view.- Yes, straight into the village green.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49This one's got a lovely little window seat.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52- Nice little cupboards underneath. - Yeah.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55Yes, you can imagine settling down here on a cold, wet evening
0:36:55 > 0:36:59with the fire blazing and being very, very comfortable indeed.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01- Yeah.- So do you like it so far? - I do. I love it.
0:37:01 > 0:37:03Well, wait till you see the kitchen!
0:37:11 > 0:37:13Ah.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15Come in.
0:37:15 > 0:37:17Now, this is exactly right.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20- Oh, this is lovely.- Yeah.
0:37:20 > 0:37:21- Yeah.- Look!
0:37:21 > 0:37:25This is exactly what we asked you for. How did you find this?
0:37:25 > 0:37:27If I could've drawn what you were asking for,
0:37:27 > 0:37:30- this is what I would've drawn. - Yes. Perfect.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33A lovely big working kitchen at this side, and the dining area,
0:37:33 > 0:37:36- so you could use this room as a family room.- Yeah.
0:37:36 > 0:37:40You've got the big range which has a system where it clicks in for
0:37:40 > 0:37:43- three minutes and clicks off, so it doesn't waste oil.- Yes.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45Lovely features in this kitchen.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48Yeah, really tastefully done and thoughtfully done.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52- Yeah, it's a really lovely kitchen. - All in keeping with the cottages.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54It just makes you smile when you're in here.
0:37:54 > 0:38:00- Doesn't it? The minute you come in here, you're like, "Ohh, yes, I want to have a cup of tea!"- So homely.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02Excellent. It's top marks for this kitchen,
0:38:02 > 0:38:08and there's the bonus of a porch area for the coats and muddy boots, just next door to a cloakroom.
0:38:08 > 0:38:12I'm hoping the upstairs impresses them just as much.
0:38:12 > 0:38:16Let's take a look at the bathroom first, cos it's beautiful!
0:38:16 > 0:38:18Oh, it is nice.
0:38:18 > 0:38:22- Yes.- Isn't it sweet? - Yeah.- Yes, lovely bath.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25It does feel nice, doesn't it? Makes me want to have a bath.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28If you just want to look round, I'll just run a...
0:38:28 > 0:38:31Let's look at some of the bedrooms. If you turn right...
0:38:33 > 0:38:35This is a nice big room, isn't it?
0:38:35 > 0:38:40- It is. Isn't that lovely?- You keep finding space in this cottage. - Absolutely. Nice, isn't it?
0:38:40 > 0:38:45And the beams add a lot of character, and also the lovely stone casements around the window.
0:38:45 > 0:38:50Yes, it's really nice when people leave them unpainted like that. It really makes a property lovely.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53There are four bedrooms in total, all of which are a good size,
0:38:53 > 0:38:56providing plenty of space for when the family visit.
0:38:56 > 0:39:00This is the master bedroom.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03- Oh, wow!- It's huge.- Yeah.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06- And you've got two window seats looking out into the village.- Yes.
0:39:06 > 0:39:11- And a very nice en-suite with a shower.- Perfect. Fulfils requirements.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14- Very pretty again. - Oh, a lovely, lovely room.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17So, does it feel somewhere you could imagine living in?
0:39:17 > 0:39:21This seems such a lovely village, in an area that we're not
0:39:21 > 0:39:24that familiar with at the Lakes, but I'm sure we'd enjoy exploring.
0:39:24 > 0:39:27So, yeah, it's got a lot of positives.
0:39:27 > 0:39:32This is great news, and there's still more to come outside.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39It's a postage stamp of a garden, which is perfect for you.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41- Exactly.- Yeah, well done.
0:39:41 > 0:39:45Usually, that's the kiss of death when I show a property but, for you, that's just perfect.
0:39:45 > 0:39:51It's a little patch of lawn and lots of beautiful slate wherever you look.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54This would be perfect for us - low-maintenance.
0:39:54 > 0:40:01It's surrounded but not enclosed because it's raised. The sun will come over the top of the buildings.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04- It feels like a little, enclosed, secret garden.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:40:04 > 0:40:08Now, obviously we are inside the Lake District and we're in a very popular village.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11How much do you think it costs?
0:40:11 > 0:40:14- I'm finding this one quite hard to judge...- Good.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17..because you've given us more than we asked for,
0:40:17 > 0:40:19as well as everything that we did.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21I'm going to go slightly higher,
0:40:21 > 0:40:24and think about £450,000 for this one.
0:40:24 > 0:40:29I think I'd go even higher than that. I think 560.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31- 460.- 460.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35- It's on at...380.- No! Really?
0:40:35 > 0:40:38- My goodness.- Then that's incredible.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41You have exceeded yourself.
0:40:41 > 0:40:46- That's just unbelievable. I can't believe that. - It's good news, isn't it?- Yes.
0:40:46 > 0:40:50- It really is, yes.- That's just like the cherry on top of a very big cake.
0:40:50 > 0:40:52- Yeah.- Wonderful.
0:40:52 > 0:40:56- It's a find, it's a real find. - It is. Well done.- So you probably want to look around.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59- Yes, I think so.- Yeah, I think so.
0:40:59 > 0:41:00- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:41:00 > 0:41:02So pleasing when that happens,
0:41:02 > 0:41:06when they guess way over the estimated price and then I can tell them
0:41:06 > 0:41:08that it's £60,000, £70,000 less!
0:41:08 > 0:41:10And I think this is a fantastic bargain.
0:41:10 > 0:41:14It's got four bedrooms, fantastic location, lovely feel to the house.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16Where's the cheque book?
0:41:16 > 0:41:23The £380,000 price tag for this handsome property was a superb surprise for William and Gail.
0:41:32 > 0:41:36At £70,000 under budget and just a stone's throw from the pub,
0:41:36 > 0:41:39it's a property that could fit them like a glove.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43This is a pretty living room, sitting room.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45- Yes, it's a really nice...- Log fire.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48Really nice snug little square room.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51- More sandstone.- I'm getting used to the sandstone idea.
0:41:51 > 0:41:56Yeah, it really feels in keeping with the area and fits very nicely.
0:41:56 > 0:42:01Well, walking up to the house and from outside, I thought, "This is the perfect place."
0:42:01 > 0:42:05It just looked so right. And coming inside the house didn't alter that at all.
0:42:05 > 0:42:09It's warm, it's a family house. I could really live here.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13I think the property is absolutely lovely.
0:42:13 > 0:42:19You've fulfilled everything that we asked you to find in a property - in a village,
0:42:19 > 0:42:22all the bedrooms, all the bathrooms.
0:42:22 > 0:42:28I was happily surprised at the price and I think that this is definitely top of my list.
0:42:28 > 0:42:32The fact that it's a Grade 2 listed building and all its historical associations
0:42:32 > 0:42:37just makes me feel very privileged that we're in a position to consider buying this house.
0:42:37 > 0:42:41And perhaps most importantly, I can see the pub from the window.
0:42:42 > 0:42:44It's a contender. Tell me it's a contender.
0:42:44 > 0:42:48Alistair, at the moment, this one has to be high on the list.
0:42:54 > 0:42:58The dramatic landscape of Borrowdale lends itself superbly
0:42:58 > 0:43:02to one of this region's top sporting activities - fell running.
0:43:02 > 0:43:07William and Gail are already keen road runners, running up to four times a week
0:43:07 > 0:43:11and having completed over 34 half-marathons between them.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13They're always eager to try something new,
0:43:13 > 0:43:17- 'so we've arranged to meet competitive fell runner Roger Atkinson...'- Good morning.
0:43:17 > 0:43:22..who runs a local club which meets regularly at its beautifully placed club house.
0:43:22 > 0:43:25- Welcome to High House.- What is this place? It's very grand.
0:43:25 > 0:43:29High House is the K Fell Farers' club hut in Borrowdale,
0:43:29 > 0:43:35- one of the oldest huts in the Lake District, actually.- And we're at the head of a beautiful valley...
0:43:35 > 0:43:38- The head of the Borrowdale Valley, the last building in the valley. - Right.
0:43:38 > 0:43:43And the little hamlet, Seathwaite, is the wettest inhabited place in England!
0:43:43 > 0:43:45But not today.
0:43:45 > 0:43:47No, you've caught us on a good day.
0:43:47 > 0:43:53Roger is unfortunately out with an injury at present, so he has enlisted the help
0:43:53 > 0:43:57of two of his club members to give William and Gail a taster session.
0:43:57 > 0:44:01Richard and Cheryl have been running these fells for over 20 years,
0:44:01 > 0:44:04and know the terrain like the back of their hands.
0:44:04 > 0:44:08Lakeland weather is extremely changeable, so it's important
0:44:08 > 0:44:14runners have suitable clothing, sturdy footwear, and know how to navigate with a map or a GPS.
0:44:14 > 0:44:20There are no rules or regulations, but common sense and a good level of general fitness are a must.
0:44:20 > 0:44:25The sport has long been popular, with races and championships being held throughout the year,
0:44:25 > 0:44:30and Borrowdale hosts what is considered to be one of the toughest races in the fell-running calendar.
0:44:30 > 0:44:34The 70-mile race covering some of the roughest ground in England
0:44:34 > 0:44:41takes in 6,500 feet of ascent and is strictly reserved for experienced fell runners.
0:44:41 > 0:44:45William and Gail, however, are just finding their feet
0:44:45 > 0:44:48so, after a steady climb, it's time to head down.
0:44:48 > 0:44:50Well!
0:44:50 > 0:44:53Welcome back. Cup of tea ready for you all.
0:44:53 > 0:44:55Thank you very much.
0:44:55 > 0:44:57- Wonderful.- And how was that?
0:44:57 > 0:44:59- Did you enjoy it?- Certainly did.
0:44:59 > 0:45:01It was brilliant. Very invigorating.
0:45:01 > 0:45:06Bit tough but, with a bit of practice, when we join your club, we should do great.
0:45:08 > 0:45:13And with this wonderful scenery on the doorstep, who wouldn't want to hot-foot it into the fells?
0:45:15 > 0:45:18Personally, I think that last house will be hard to beat
0:45:18 > 0:45:22but for our wild card Mystery House, we're bringing our couple to Cockermouth.
0:45:22 > 0:45:24Cockermouth is the biggest town in the Western Lakes,
0:45:24 > 0:45:28and the Western Lakes are a secret bit of the Lake District
0:45:28 > 0:45:31that is often overlooked but very, very beautiful.
0:45:31 > 0:45:35Cockermouth is a busy Victorian and often very beautiful town,
0:45:35 > 0:45:39but it's a town nonetheless, and not always as tranquil as this part of it.
0:45:41 > 0:45:44So our final stop is Cockermouth,
0:45:44 > 0:45:46just outside the National Park.
0:45:46 > 0:45:49The town is best known for being the birthplace
0:45:49 > 0:45:52of poet William Wordsworth, yet hasn't attracted the tourist crowds.
0:45:52 > 0:45:57With its proximity to the peaceful lakes and fells, it's a good option for William and Gail,
0:45:57 > 0:46:00and will provide them with fantastic value for money.
0:46:00 > 0:46:05William has expressed an interest in living in a town, and as Keswick
0:46:05 > 0:46:11is extremely pricey, we thought Cockermouth would be an alternative option worthy of consideration.
0:46:11 > 0:46:13How do you feel about town houses?
0:46:13 > 0:46:17- Not exactly what we were looking for.- No.- No?- No.
0:46:17 > 0:46:19Definitely not?
0:46:19 > 0:46:21I'll give it a chance inside.
0:46:21 > 0:46:26- It's something a bit different.- We are willing to have a look at it. - It's the brief of the Mystery House.
0:46:26 > 0:46:30It is. We were expecting something different,
0:46:30 > 0:46:31so let's give it a shot.
0:46:31 > 0:46:36This may be a town house, but I'm keen to show them how much they can get for their money
0:46:36 > 0:46:41and challenge their town house preconceptions to boot.
0:46:42 > 0:46:44Come on in.
0:46:45 > 0:46:48- So a classic Victorian vestibule. - Yes.
0:46:48 > 0:46:51Coloured glass. High ceilings.
0:46:51 > 0:46:56- It looks like a very typical town house.- It is a town house.- Yes.
0:46:56 > 0:47:00- It's not a cottage. This is the Mystery House. It's something different.- Yeah.- OK.
0:47:00 > 0:47:03A face like thunder! It's only a house!
0:47:03 > 0:47:07- We'll go and have a look round.- Yep. - I won't force you to buy it at the end.
0:47:11 > 0:47:14- It's beautifully done up.- It's a nice house. Don't get us wrong.
0:47:14 > 0:47:18It's a pretty house. It's a well thought through and decorated room.
0:47:18 > 0:47:23It's a nice sitting room. We can sit in here and watch the world go by.
0:47:23 > 0:47:26The view across the field is really quite nice.
0:47:26 > 0:47:30Well, let's have a look at the kitchen cos that's obviously a possibility.
0:47:35 > 0:47:37Here's the kitchen!
0:47:37 > 0:47:39- It's very modern.- Mmm.
0:47:39 > 0:47:43- Yes, it is.- Not really to our taste, I think.- Speaking for both of you?
0:47:43 > 0:47:47- Absolutely, yeah.- Everything I show you is like a nail in the coffin.
0:47:47 > 0:47:49- Yeah.- Breaking my heart.
0:47:49 > 0:47:55- Sorry, Alistair.- No, it's fine. A lot of people would love this sort of style but it's not your style.
0:47:55 > 0:47:59I think it's a very good example of a Victorian terraced house, you know,
0:47:59 > 0:48:04- and it's very nicely done but, for me, it doesn't appeal at all.- Right.
0:48:04 > 0:48:08Oh, dear. After the last house, the mood has definitely sunk.
0:48:08 > 0:48:13Nevertheless, I'm going to hold strong and continue to the dining room.
0:48:13 > 0:48:16- So you're probably familiar with this layout,- Yes.
0:48:16 > 0:48:18- Yes.- The Victorian town house goes back.
0:48:18 > 0:48:22This probably would've been the scullery and then the kitchen at the back.
0:48:22 > 0:48:26- Yes.- And they swapped it around. That was the dining room, they turned that into the kitchen.
0:48:26 > 0:48:31- This is now the dining room, and then you've got a boot room toilet at the back.- Yes.
0:48:31 > 0:48:36The owners have certainly made best use of the space and the decoration is first class.
0:48:39 > 0:48:44- Now, on a purely academic level, you've got to like this. - This is a lovely bathroom.
0:48:44 > 0:48:48- It really is, yes.- Thank the Lord!
0:48:48 > 0:48:52They've done a really nice job in this bathroom. It's really lovely.
0:48:52 > 0:48:57- This is possibly the nicest shower I've seen in a long while.- Yes. - Quite unusual, isn't it?
0:48:57 > 0:48:59That's a work of art. Mmm.
0:48:59 > 0:49:01It really is a lovely room.
0:49:01 > 0:49:04Yeah, lovely colours that they've used.
0:49:04 > 0:49:08It's immaculately done, as are the three bedrooms in this house.
0:49:08 > 0:49:10This first one is a small double, and up in the eaves
0:49:10 > 0:49:14is a large twin room that would easily take a double bed.
0:49:14 > 0:49:16Last for us, is the master.
0:49:19 > 0:49:22- What a big bedroom. - It's a lovely big bedroom.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25It's a very charming little property for a young family.
0:49:25 > 0:49:27They've got two kids.
0:49:27 > 0:49:34Yeah. Nicely proportioned rooms and two lovely big windows with the sashes still intact.
0:49:34 > 0:49:38- It's a shame the road's quite busy. It's the main road into Cockermouth. - Yeah.
0:49:38 > 0:49:43- But, as often happens, the most beautiful houses were built on the thoroughfares...- Yes.
0:49:43 > 0:49:46..which was just a few carriages. Now it's a main arterial road.
0:49:48 > 0:49:53Well, that's it for the inside. All that's left for us is the outside space.
0:49:54 > 0:49:56Now, I know you don't like gardens.
0:49:57 > 0:49:59And, really, this is it.
0:49:59 > 0:50:03- That's a plus.- Yes, it's a plus, you see. That's reason enough to buy it.
0:50:03 > 0:50:05You wouldn't have to do any gardening at all.
0:50:05 > 0:50:08So just for academic interest, really,
0:50:08 > 0:50:12how much do you think a house like this costs in Cockermouth?
0:50:12 > 0:50:15Um...it's hard for us to make an estimate on this.
0:50:15 > 0:50:19It's not what we've been looking at, so we're not familiar with prices.
0:50:19 > 0:50:21It's nice, and if you wanted to live in Cockermouth,
0:50:21 > 0:50:26it's the sort of house you would be looking for, so I think it would be sought after.
0:50:26 > 0:50:31I'd guess, and it would be a guess, a price of around £360,000.
0:50:31 > 0:50:34I'm going to go for about 345.
0:50:34 > 0:50:40Right, that's very interesting because, actually, this house is on the market for £240,000.
0:50:40 > 0:50:44- Ah.- We were hoping that, if you fell in love with it,
0:50:44 > 0:50:48- you could spend all that extra money on something delightful.- Yeah.
0:50:48 > 0:50:50- But it wasn't to be.- No. - Interesting, though.
0:50:50 > 0:50:52It's a very good price for it,
0:50:52 > 0:50:56and I think with the other properties, we've certainly got some food for thought.
0:50:56 > 0:51:00And talking of thinking time, that's what we've got coming up.
0:51:03 > 0:51:08At £240,000, this house would offer William and Gail the space they're seeking
0:51:08 > 0:51:12for a whopping £210,000 less than their budget.
0:51:24 > 0:51:26Well, it's quite a nice, light bedroom, isn't it?
0:51:26 > 0:51:32- Used as a child's room at the moment but you could turn this into a really nice double bedroom.- Yes.
0:51:32 > 0:51:34With the light coming from the back.
0:51:34 > 0:51:36Yeah, it's a nice L-shaped room.
0:51:36 > 0:51:43It's a very fine example of a Cumbrian Lakeland terraced town house. It's really nicely presented.
0:51:43 > 0:51:45It's got some lovely features inside,
0:51:45 > 0:51:50but it doesn't have the extra bathroom that we were looking for, and it doesn't have the flow of
0:51:50 > 0:51:54the rooms downstairs, with the big sort of family kitchen and things.
0:51:54 > 0:51:58Well, I have to be honest. It's not for me. It's not the house that I want.
0:51:58 > 0:52:03It's a nice house and, if I wanted to live in a town, it's the sort of house that I'd be looking at,
0:52:03 > 0:52:06but I want to be in a village or
0:52:06 > 0:52:09further away in a rural area.
0:52:10 > 0:52:13Ah, this is a nice sitting room at the front of the house.
0:52:13 > 0:52:16Yeah, it is. The fire's lovely.
0:52:16 > 0:52:18Yeah, I like the fireplace.
0:52:18 > 0:52:21It hasn't got the log-burning stove that we were hoping to find, has it?
0:52:21 > 0:52:25- No, but it is pretty. - It's got space for one, though.- Mmm.
0:52:25 > 0:52:28For me, in spite of the fact that the property is well under budget,
0:52:28 > 0:52:31it's not really the house that I was looking for.
0:52:32 > 0:52:35I know what you're going to say. Don't say it.
0:52:35 > 0:52:39You've changed your mind and you want to put an offer in.
0:52:39 > 0:52:40I'm afraid not, Alistair.
0:52:46 > 0:52:52William and Gail's property search has had its ups and downs, and there's plenty to consider.
0:52:58 > 0:53:02I'll wager a bar of Kendal mint cake which property they're NOT going to buy,
0:53:02 > 0:53:05but I have been known to be wrong in the past, so let's find out.
0:53:11 > 0:53:13- All over now.- Yes.- Good.
0:53:13 > 0:53:15No more town houses to show you.
0:53:17 > 0:53:22Let's look at the houses, cos we've seen quite a few, and I know it can be exhausting and a bit dizzying,
0:53:22 > 0:53:26but can you cast your mind back to the mill property that I showed you?
0:53:26 > 0:53:30- What do you think about that property now, in retrospect? - I really liked that.
0:53:30 > 0:53:36I said that at the time. It's the first one we saw, but I really liked the location of it.
0:53:36 > 0:53:39It was smaller than we ideally would want,
0:53:39 > 0:53:46but I think that that was liveable with, and particularly for where it was - closer to the fells.
0:53:46 > 0:53:52For me, the lack of a second bathroom would be a downside to it, but apart from that, it was a lovely property.
0:53:52 > 0:53:55Stylistically, that was quite different from the next house I showed you,
0:53:55 > 0:53:58which was a fair bit outside of the Lake District National Park,
0:53:58 > 0:54:01but was pretty impressive, the barn conversion.
0:54:01 > 0:54:06Absolutely stunning property. For me, the location was not really
0:54:06 > 0:54:12where we wanted to be, but it was an absolutely gorgeous property, yeah.
0:54:12 > 0:54:13Yeah, lovely property.
0:54:13 > 0:54:18Huge, really, particularly with the extra building and the rumpus room,
0:54:18 > 0:54:22which could be used for all sorts of different things.
0:54:22 > 0:54:24But it was in the wrong place for me.
0:54:24 > 0:54:29- How about the "D'ye Ken John Peel" house?- That was a superb property.
0:54:29 > 0:54:32There are two things that you look at in a house.
0:54:32 > 0:54:38One is the actual house itself, and the other is the location, and that had both going for it.
0:54:38 > 0:54:43The location was a village with a pub and shops. It was perfect.
0:54:43 > 0:54:47The house itself had everything, and more besides, that we asked you
0:54:47 > 0:54:51to find for us, so your really get top marks for that property.
0:54:51 > 0:54:55- We try.- Well, I felt myself... It was the house that I felt myself living in.
0:54:55 > 0:54:58As soon as I walked in, it felt very comfortable.
0:54:58 > 0:55:02I could see myself there without any alteration to it.
0:55:02 > 0:55:06I agree that the location was beautiful, the village...
0:55:06 > 0:55:10You know, I could feel myself integrating into the village life.
0:55:10 > 0:55:14A little bit further from the fells, but that's easily dealt with
0:55:14 > 0:55:17- for the village life that I really would crave.- Mmm.
0:55:17 > 0:55:19So that's top of my list without any doubt.
0:55:19 > 0:55:23Sure the house in Cockermouth hasn't grown on you?
0:55:23 > 0:55:30No, it hasn't, I'm afraid. It was a good Lakeland terraced house
0:55:30 > 0:55:34but, for me, it was the wrong layout and it was in the wrong location.
0:55:35 > 0:55:39Yeah, it was in the town. A nice house if you want to live in a town. I don't want to,
0:55:39 > 0:55:43- so that was it.- All right, already! I get the fact that you don't want to live in a town!
0:55:43 > 0:55:46Are you going to proceed on the house in the village?
0:55:46 > 0:55:49I think we're going to have a second viewing
0:55:49 > 0:55:53and seriously consider putting an offer in for that property.
0:55:53 > 0:55:56Great. Well, I'm delighted, I think it's a wonderful opportunity.
0:55:56 > 0:56:00And I hope that you move to the Lake District very soon.
0:56:00 > 0:56:04Thank you, and it's been a great experience looking at the houses with you.
0:56:04 > 0:56:06- Yeah, thank you, Alistair. - Our pleasure.
0:56:09 > 0:56:13Looking at this beautiful landscape, you can understand why Gail and William
0:56:13 > 0:56:18really want to live smack-bang in the middle of the Lake District.
0:56:18 > 0:56:21Part of me wants them to continue looking until they find
0:56:21 > 0:56:24their dream property, right on the edge of Derwent Water,
0:56:24 > 0:56:27but the other part of me wants them to go and put an offer on that house
0:56:27 > 0:56:31in Caldbeck as soon as possible, cos it was a beautiful opportunity.
0:56:31 > 0:56:34If you've enjoyed our jaunt in the Lake District,
0:56:34 > 0:56:37do join us again for another edition of Escape To The Country,
0:56:37 > 0:56:39cos we will be somewhere equally beautiful.
0:56:40 > 0:56:42If you'd like to escape to the country
0:56:42 > 0:56:46and would like our help, please contact us through our website at:
0:56:56 > 0:56:59Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:56:59 > 0:57:03E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk