0:00:02 > 0:00:03Take hold, wrestle!
0:00:03 > 0:00:07Now, these two aren't fighting over a woman or indeed a spilt pint of beer.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11In fact, they're practising an ancient sport that's thought to have been brought to this border county
0:00:11 > 0:00:15over 1,000 years ago by the Vikings, so stick around
0:00:15 > 0:00:20for a fairly tough Escape To The Country and we'll find out who wins.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36'In today's show I'll be helping some newlyweds
0:00:36 > 0:00:40'leave their marital home in the city and settle down in the country.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43'So they'll need some space for the in-laws.'
0:00:43 > 0:00:46Is this tall enough?
0:00:46 > 0:00:48'They'll need space for her indoors.'
0:00:48 > 0:00:52How do you think your mum and dad would feel about living in the pigsty?
0:00:52 > 0:00:53They'll get used it, I think!
0:00:53 > 0:00:58'And they'll need space for some boars.' Pigs! how about that?
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Country life, there it is.
0:01:04 > 0:01:09Well, today I'm in Cumbria and the glorious Lake District, and John and Richard here
0:01:09 > 0:01:12are engaged in the tried and tested sport of Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling,
0:01:12 > 0:01:15and I've got a feeling that Richard just won that one.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19It's thought that back in the day men would compete for a month's wages.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22I'm not quite sure what's at stake on this bout, but while these two
0:01:22 > 0:01:25continue to battle it out, I'm going to go and explore the local area.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30Cumbria is England's third largest county,
0:01:30 > 0:01:33tucked away in the north-west, with Scotland to the north
0:01:33 > 0:01:35and the Irish Sea on its west coast.
0:01:35 > 0:01:40And with the Lake District at its heart, it's a feast for the eyes.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46England's ten highest mountains rise over this beautiful corner of the country
0:01:46 > 0:01:51and its shimmering lakes reflect the most exquisite of scenery.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Generations of artists from Samuel Taylor Coleridge to Beatrix Potter
0:01:55 > 0:02:00have all drawn inspiration from these magnificent surrounds.
0:02:00 > 0:02:06Although over eight million tourists stream here every year, it still holds onto its agricultural roots,
0:02:06 > 0:02:12with much of Cumbria given over to sheep and dairy farming. But it's not all countryside.
0:02:12 > 0:02:17There are many beautiful towns and villages to explore, such as the pretty market town of Keswick
0:02:17 > 0:02:22in the heart of the lakes with its wide range of shops, restaurants and galleries.
0:02:22 > 0:02:27The author and poet John Ruskin once said that Keswick was a place almost too beautiful to live in,
0:02:27 > 0:02:33but the thousands of lucky residents who DO live there have proven that you can have your cake and eat it.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41Well, most people coming to this part of the world want views and there are plenty to choose from,
0:02:41 > 0:02:45but if you want a view of one of those, you'd better get your cheque book ready because
0:02:45 > 0:02:52anything that looks out on to a lake can go up by as much as £50,000 to £100,000 above a normal asking price,
0:02:52 > 0:03:00but with this on your doorstep, whatever you decide to buy - well, trust me, it's worth every penny.
0:03:00 > 0:03:05Set at the foot of the Newlands Valley, this Grade II listed residence has neighbours
0:03:05 > 0:03:09you would want to be overlooked by - the Skiddaw mountain range.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13Inside there are four bedrooms, a contemporary bathroom and an elegant sitting room.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16It's being sold for £1.2 million.
0:03:17 > 0:03:22But you don't need to be as minted to own this Kendal property,
0:03:22 > 0:03:29as this former 16th century farmhouse with attached peel tower is on the market for £600,000.
0:03:29 > 0:03:35It has three bedrooms, a large kitchen and garden with great views.
0:03:35 > 0:03:41And, finally, there's this three-bedroom barn conversion packed to the rafters with, well, rafters!
0:03:41 > 0:03:48There are joists, lintels and crosspieces galore, and you'll be beaming when you hear the price -
0:03:48 > 0:03:50£365,000.
0:03:50 > 0:03:55Well, as you can see, there are some wonderful houses to be had up here,
0:03:55 > 0:03:58but today's buyers haven't just fallen in love
0:03:58 > 0:04:03with the area's properties, they've also started a long-term love affair with Cumbria itself.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09Today's buyers are blissfully happy newlyweds Ben and Sarah,
0:04:09 > 0:04:15who live together in this three-bedroom, semi-detached 1930s house in Chester.
0:04:15 > 0:04:20And not much has changed from when they first met on a blind date ten years ago.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22We just hit it off really well.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24- Yeah.- I think Sarah just got...
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Drunk all my alcohol and then put the lips on me!
0:04:27 > 0:04:31I didn't throw the lips on you at all!
0:04:31 > 0:04:33She didn't.
0:04:33 > 0:04:38Sarah wants to kiss goodbye to the city and put down some new roots in the country,
0:04:38 > 0:04:43while Ben, a dentist, wants to pull some new roots of his own at a fresh practice.
0:04:43 > 0:04:48We decided now is a good time to move because we've lived in a city all of our lives.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51We want to live in a larger house with a bit more space.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Which we can fill with children, I think!
0:04:54 > 0:04:57And I think it's just time to reassess our lives.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00So which part of Cumbria are they looking to escape to?
0:05:00 > 0:05:06We've decided that we want to move to the lakes, the reason being that it's somewhere
0:05:06 > 0:05:11that's special to both of us. We've been going up there for about ten years, since we first got together.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14It was the location of our very first weekend away together
0:05:14 > 0:05:18and it's also where we got married, so a very special location for us.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21I think our life in the country may take a bit of a step back.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24- A bit more relaxed.- Yeah, absolutely more outdoor focused.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29We hope to move to a small village, somewhere in the area around Keswick,
0:05:29 > 0:05:32maybe a 10, 15 minute commute to the town would be perfect.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36You'd like somewhere, wouldn't you, with a village pub and a few amenities, but...
0:05:36 > 0:05:42- Maybe a post office or... - But not in town, nor isolated in the middle of nowhere would be perfect.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46But how will they feel about leaving their current house behind?
0:05:46 > 0:05:51We do love the house itself. If we could lift it up and transplant it to the lakes, that would be lovely.
0:05:51 > 0:05:56Actually, if we could lift it up, transplant it and add a few rooms, that would be lovely!
0:05:56 > 0:06:00So, as well as more rooms, what else do they want?
0:06:00 > 0:06:04It's very important to me that, in the new house, we have a spacious kitchen which I can fit
0:06:04 > 0:06:08either a substantial island or a large kitchen table in.
0:06:08 > 0:06:13I'd also like a range cooker, and that's something I've been nagging Ben about for years and years.
0:06:13 > 0:06:14We need a lot more storage.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18At the moment, one of our bedrooms is just full of cricket kit,
0:06:18 > 0:06:22climbing kit, walking kit, so we've nowhere to put that at the moment.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25If we had a child it would have to sleep in the shed!
0:06:25 > 0:06:32As you can see, I'm very tall, at 6ft 6, so in the new property we need nice high ceilings,
0:06:32 > 0:06:34no low beams or anything that I can bang my head on.
0:06:34 > 0:06:39And with their budding art collection they might need some high walls, too.
0:06:39 > 0:06:44- But, wait, there's more. - My parents plan to retire sometime in the near future,
0:06:44 > 0:06:47so there's a chance that they'll follow us to the Lake District soon.
0:06:47 > 0:06:52So, if we could find a house with an annex or with some outbuildings with scope for conversion in the future,
0:06:52 > 0:06:57that would be really helpful, and ideally we would set the lot in one to three acres of land.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01Before they make the move, we've asked an agent to value their house.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07This is a beautifully presented and spacious three-bedroom family home.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11It's located in a very desirable district of Chester
0:07:11 > 0:07:14and I would recommend marketing the property at £250,000.
0:07:15 > 0:07:20So how much do they have to spend on their new property?
0:07:20 > 0:07:23Our budget for this move will be £650,000.
0:07:23 > 0:07:28I think if we found the perfect property, though, that we could probably stretch that somewhat.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31We could probably go up to around 700,000.
0:07:31 > 0:07:32Yeah.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41So, Ben and Sarah are keen to find something with a bit more space and keen to start a family.
0:07:41 > 0:07:47I think they're going to want something with a least four bedrooms, a big kitchen would go down well,
0:07:47 > 0:07:50and, if possible, a couple of acres outside in which to play around in.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53But there's also a bit of a twist to this one.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56They're keen also for something that could offer
0:07:56 > 0:08:00some annex potential so that Ben's parents could come and stay long-term.
0:08:00 > 0:08:06Now, all of that for £650,000 may challenge the budget a little bit, but I'm pretty optimistic.
0:08:08 > 0:08:13Having explored the region well, they've told us the area around Keswick would be ideal
0:08:13 > 0:08:15and who are we to argue?
0:08:15 > 0:08:19In today's show, we have three fantastic houses lined up, each one offering
0:08:19 > 0:08:23something really special and, as ever, the last of the three, the mystery house,
0:08:23 > 0:08:28which could offer them something they would not have considered themselves.
0:08:28 > 0:08:33- Hi, guys. Nice to see you! - Hi.- Hello.- Welcome to Cumbria.
0:08:33 > 0:08:38- Thank you.- Well, I say welcome, you know this area probably better than I do in some respects, don't you?
0:08:38 > 0:08:40- Quite well.- How much time do you get to spend up here?
0:08:40 > 0:08:45We've been coming here for about ten years, probably sort of two or three times a year
0:08:45 > 0:08:49for either a week or a long weekend and most of that time is usually spent out on the hills.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53Now what are we looking for in terms of size of property?
0:08:53 > 0:08:57I think four bedrooms, Sarah thinks five, so...
0:08:57 > 0:09:01- Does that depend on how many kids you're having?- Yeah.- Yeah, exactly!
0:09:01 > 0:09:03- So four or five would be perfect. - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07In terms of style, you're looking for something that is going to fit in with the landscape,
0:09:07 > 0:09:09something quite traditional?
0:09:09 > 0:09:13We definitely want something with some character, perhaps a nice period property would be lovely.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17All very exciting. Let's have a think about the budget. How much have we got to spend?
0:09:17 > 0:09:20Our budget is about £650,000.
0:09:20 > 0:09:21- Which is pretty handsome.- Yeah.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25It is, and I think if we found the absolute perfect property,
0:09:25 > 0:09:28- then we'd probably cripple ourselves and go higher, towards 700.- Wow!
0:09:28 > 0:09:33Well, it's a gorgeous area as you can see, great budget, let's see what we can find you.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49They need space for their growing art collection and space for Ben's head!
0:09:53 > 0:09:56And they need an annex to accommodate Ben's parents
0:09:56 > 0:09:59who might be following them to Cumbria.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07So, does it feel quite strange finally committing your idea
0:10:07 > 0:10:10to action and coming out here looking for properties?
0:10:10 > 0:10:12It's quite exciting.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14It's quite daunting in some ways, isn't it?
0:10:14 > 0:10:16Why daunting?
0:10:16 > 0:10:19I think it's going to be such a change from what we're used to,
0:10:19 > 0:10:23and from the city lives that we've been enjoying for so long...
0:10:23 > 0:10:28It'll be a complete shock to the system, I suppose.
0:10:28 > 0:10:34For our first house, we've travelled to the rural area of Overwater
0:10:34 > 0:10:37which is overlooked by the majestic Skiddaw Mountain,
0:10:37 > 0:10:40England's fourth highest.
0:10:40 > 0:10:46Set in the northern lakes, Overwater boasts an idyllic, unspoiled feel, but for amenities,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49the village of Ireby is just 2.5 miles away.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53Ireby is an ancient market town dating back to the 12th century
0:10:53 > 0:10:56which sits just over 500 feet above sea level.
0:10:56 > 0:11:02Today there's a watering hole, a village hall, a 19th century church and a primary school,
0:11:02 > 0:11:08which should please Ben and Sarah who are looking to start a family very soon.
0:11:08 > 0:11:09What about this?
0:11:09 > 0:11:15- What a beautiful entrance!- It's pretty.- It's lovely.- It's gorgeous, isn't it? Come on through the gate.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19There!
0:11:19 > 0:11:21Isn't that quite sweet?
0:11:21 > 0:11:23- It's beautiful. - That is absolutely stunning.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25Now it's described in the spec as a cottage,
0:11:25 > 0:11:31but it's technically an old lodge that was once part of the Overwater estate, which is just down the road.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35- Built 1873, so we're right on... - You've got the "old", then.
0:11:35 > 0:11:40You know, kind of the period charm for you and recently completely renovated
0:11:40 > 0:11:44- to a really, really high spec. And you get that.- Look at that view!
0:11:44 > 0:11:47- Amazing.- Now, you walk around here a lot, don't you?- We do.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51- You may have been up there, that's Skiddaw.- Yeah, we have. - Yeah, we climbed that.
0:11:51 > 0:11:52So, are we on the right lines?
0:11:52 > 0:11:55- I think so.- I think so.- Good start.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59- Interested to see what it's like on the inside.- Oh, it's stunning. Come and have a look.- Brilliant.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09- Wow!- Squeeze in.- It's beautiful. - Isn't it?
0:12:09 > 0:12:12Interesting little snug for you in there.
0:12:12 > 0:12:13- Oh, that's great, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16- Really good.- Boys' den in there, but look at this place!
0:12:16 > 0:12:20All renovated. This was all wallpaper when the current owners took it over.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22- They've exposed all the stone. - Oh, this looks great.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Come in here. This has got you written all over it.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28- Oh, this is gorgeous.- That's a really good sized room, isn't it?
0:12:28 > 0:12:30- Fantastic.- Yeah? - Yeah.- A really good size.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32I love the log-burning stove.
0:12:32 > 0:12:37They've really gone to a lot of trouble to try and keep some of the features that were here originally.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40That view is beautiful, absolutely beautiful.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42Good. So, we like?
0:12:42 > 0:12:45- We like!- Yeah, great start. A really good start.- OK, kitchen.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48- Kitchen.- What kind of kitchen are you really after?
0:12:48 > 0:12:50Probably quite a big one.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52A big kitchen.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54Let's see...
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Now, is this big enough?
0:12:57 > 0:13:00This is big enough!
0:13:00 > 0:13:02This is absolutely stunning!
0:13:02 > 0:13:07I love all of it. There's a seating area and a beautiful big table.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09- It's got a range cooker. - And a range cooker!
0:13:09 > 0:13:11It's absolutely fantastic.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15They've done something really clever with allowing light to pour in and make the best use of this
0:13:15 > 0:13:17- cos you need a tall house.- I do.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20Is this tall enough?!
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Yeah, there's plenty of headroom here. I think I'll be OK, yeah!
0:13:23 > 0:13:27This is fantastic. I could see myself never moving from this room.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32- Through there we've got you a huge utility room.- Fantastic.
0:13:32 > 0:13:37Downstairs wet room and a boot room, so if you come in off the hills muddy etc,
0:13:37 > 0:13:38it can all go out there.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42- On the way in, you may have noticed two staircases.- I did, yeah.
0:13:42 > 0:13:43Come and have a look at these.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45OK, there they are.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48What is at the top of them...?
0:13:48 > 0:13:50- I know!- You are wondering!
0:13:50 > 0:13:54- What we've got for you are four beds and four bathrooms.- Right.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57- Wow.- They're all en-suite. - Fantastic!
0:13:57 > 0:14:02- Let's start with this one, cos up here is the master.- OK.
0:14:05 > 0:14:10Now then, Ben, this is what you need to look out for, but I think it's well worth it.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14Think we could get our big bed in here?
0:14:14 > 0:14:17- Yeah, it would fit, wouldn't it? - Is it bigger than that one?
0:14:17 > 0:14:21- It's a super-king size. - It's probably...- It's huge.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23- Quite a complicated roof space... - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27..has been adapted to give you something of a little sitting area.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30The views out, of course... But check this out.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34- Wow!- Yeah, wow!- Look at that shower.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38- It's just the standard of the finish is awesome, isn't it?- Absolutely.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40It's a top-quality finish.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43And remember this is but one of four.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45- Yeah.- Yeah?
0:14:45 > 0:14:47- Come on.- Let's see the rest. - Let's keep exploring.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49Thank you.
0:14:49 > 0:14:54They love the high spec finish in the master, but I think they're being a bit polite about its proportions.
0:14:54 > 0:15:01Next door is another beautifully finished double with - like all the other bedrooms - its own en-suite.
0:15:01 > 0:15:06'Up the other set of stairs is another nicely decorated double with great views
0:15:06 > 0:15:12'over Skiddaw Mountain. The fourth double, that's plenty of space for the children, when they arrive.'
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Now, of course you haven't got a family bathroom as such, so...
0:15:17 > 0:15:19But they are all en-suite.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22But you can live with that, really, when everyone's got their own!
0:15:22 > 0:15:24Plus there's the shower room downstairs, as well.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26- Exactly.- So...- A small concession.
0:15:26 > 0:15:32- Outside space, you had a glimpse at it. Let's go exploring.- OK.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43- Wow!- Now, what have we got for you out here?
0:15:43 > 0:15:49- As well as the house itself, you also get quite a bit of ground with this, two acres.- Gosh.- That's good.
0:15:49 > 0:15:56- Now, most of it's woodland up here, but you also get quite an interesting little bit of formal garden.- Right.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00Loads of areas for growing things, some mature hedging, this yew and all the rest of it.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02You've also got something of a greenhouse there
0:16:02 > 0:16:06which could probably have a little bit of renovation itself, but I don't know...
0:16:06 > 0:16:08- I think it's quite sweet, it's quite charming.- Yeah.- Isn't it?
0:16:08 > 0:16:13- Beyond it there's a vegetable patch as well, which you can explore a little bit later.- Gosh!
0:16:13 > 0:16:14Which also overlooks all of that.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18I've rarely seen a property on Escape with such a view, I have to say.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21- It's amazing, absolutely amazing, isn't it?- It's beautiful.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25So, the key thing is going to be the price of this little number.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28- Well, your top end is 650.- Yeah.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32- You said you could go some way above that.- I think you've gone way over.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36I think... I think this is more like sort of 725.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38725, yeah.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41I'll be the optimist and say 625.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43625, that IS optimistic! If only!
0:16:43 > 0:16:51- OK, it does begin with a six, that's the good news, the bad news is it ends with a 90.- Right.
0:16:51 > 0:16:57- £690,000, so we are very much pushing what you want to spend.- Yeah.
0:16:57 > 0:17:04- Certainly. But that, of course, is reflected in the fact that we are in the National Park.- Yeah.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07- Yeah.- Because that view isn't going to change forever.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11Well, look, there's plenty more for you to explore. There's lots of ground, two acres of it.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14- Go and have a look. I'll catch up with you later.- Lovely.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16- OK.- After you.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21At £690,000, this house is on the outer limits
0:17:21 > 0:17:24of Ben and Sarah's budget, but that's the price you pay
0:17:24 > 0:17:27for being inside the National Park.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31With its huge kitchen/diner, the large downstairs almost sold itself,
0:17:31 > 0:17:35but I'm afraid that the four bedrooms, each with en-suite,
0:17:35 > 0:17:39might be just a bit too small for 6ft 6 Ben.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41If anything can swing it,
0:17:41 > 0:17:44it'll be the magnificent views over Skiddaw Mountain.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48I could actually cry because I love this property.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52We could not ask for more than to be able to walk out of our front door and on to the hills.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54That's exactly what we're after.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58From the outside I thought it was fabulous, I loved the land.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02I adore the kitchen and I felt like every box was being ticked.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06This must be the boot room. Oh, Ben, this is fantastic.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08Imagine dumping all of our muddy kit in here.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Once we got to the top of the stairs,
0:18:11 > 0:18:14despite how excited I tried to keep myself with the bedrooms,
0:18:14 > 0:18:18I kept thinking to myself, "Oh, no, this isn't going to work for Ben."
0:18:18 > 0:18:22Up here, I've just got a big problem with headspace.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26Because it's stretching our budget and it's right at the top end of what we're prepared to spend
0:18:26 > 0:18:28I would want a master bedroom which is...
0:18:28 > 0:18:30Which is perfect.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34Ah, now then, I thought you'd be enjoying the view. Why not?
0:18:34 > 0:18:35- We are.- Isn't it just stunning?
0:18:35 > 0:18:39I don't think I'm going to be torn away from this bench.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41You have to be because the search goes on.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43There is plenty more out there.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45- Come on.- OK.
0:18:50 > 0:18:56When asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest, George Mallory famously said, "Because it's there."
0:18:56 > 0:19:03'Keen climbers Ben and Sarah have much the same outlook and were eager to scale some rock faces,
0:19:03 > 0:19:08'so it was time for me to face my fears and join them on Upper Scout Crag,
0:19:08 > 0:19:12'where Stuart Carter, a trained guide, has come to show us the ropes.'
0:19:12 > 0:19:14This is the man we're looking for.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16Hi, Stuart, nice to see you.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19- Nice to meet you.- How are you? - All right?- Sarah and Ben.- Sarah. - Hi, Stuart.- Nice to meet you.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24Now then, these guys have done a bit of climbing, they say, but indoors.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28- OK.- Never in the great outdoors. Where are you going to take us?
0:19:28 > 0:19:30We're going to head up to this cliff here.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34It's called Upper Scout Crag, and we'll show you all you need to know.
0:19:34 > 0:19:41'Like us, over 100,000 people every month are grabbing their kit and taking to the rocks,
0:19:41 > 0:19:45'yet in its early days, the idea of using equipment was seen as cheating.
0:19:45 > 0:19:51'Purists climbed unaided - still true of some climbers today.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55'But for us it's undoubtedly safety first.'
0:19:55 > 0:19:58You've got the harnesses on, so I'm going to be able to attach you with a rope to those
0:19:58 > 0:20:02and I'll climb up and build an anchor, attach myself to the rock,
0:20:02 > 0:20:07and then I'm going to bring you guys up, basically just holding the ropes tight for you.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11So if you slip off, the rope will be straight up above you and you'll just kind of hang into the rope
0:20:11 > 0:20:15and you kind of get back on and crack on again.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17And does it matter how heavy we are?
0:20:17 > 0:20:23No, these ropes will hold 22 kilonewtons, which is basically 2.5 tons static load, so...
0:20:23 > 0:20:25I'm a bit less than that!
0:20:27 > 0:20:31Now, you've all got your helmets on, and mine has got a camera on it.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34How exciting is that? So, a nice shot of your backsides!
0:20:34 > 0:20:36- Yeah.- There we are!
0:20:36 > 0:20:41'Stuart's first to head up the crag, carefully placing a trail of anchors as he goes
0:20:41 > 0:20:44'and, crikey, does he make it look easy!'
0:20:44 > 0:20:46Stuart pretty much walked up there.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Like a mountain goat, he tore up there! Brilliant!
0:20:49 > 0:20:51Ben, you're going to come first.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54- When you get past that first clip, Sarah, you can set off.- Yeah.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56- OK, guys, go for it.- Excellent.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02This should be fun cos Ben and I are competitive with each other,
0:21:02 > 0:21:05- so it's going to be a case of who can get to the top quickest. - Why doesn't that surprise me?
0:21:07 > 0:21:11- Out to your right now, Ben. - Yeah, I'm trying.- I've got you.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13'Ooh, now Ben has set off with confidence,
0:21:13 > 0:21:15'but it's harder than it looks, and he's struggling to find his footing.'
0:21:15 > 0:21:19You've got to be more precise with your toes, that's it.
0:21:21 > 0:21:22'Sarah is next up.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24'How will she get on?'
0:21:26 > 0:21:28How are you getting on, Sarah?
0:21:28 > 0:21:32I'm good, thank you. Just doing a little bit of route finding.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35- Well done, Sarah. - Sarah's making this look very easy.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37I have got a fairly tough act to follow, I think.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39- Before you get past it, Sarah, just stop there.- Yeah.
0:21:39 > 0:21:44'And if I wasn't scared enough, Sarah is handling my safety rope.'
0:21:44 > 0:21:46- Do you trust me, Jules? - I've got no choice!
0:21:46 > 0:21:49THEY LAUGH
0:21:49 > 0:21:52- OK, here we go. - Keep pulling in. That's it.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55You'll have to go steady, Jules, because Sarah is new to this.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57- Was I ever ready? - That's it, keep pulling it through.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00Just don't get flustered with it. Lean it forward as you do it.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06- So, how are you finding it, Jules? Is it a bit...?- I'm getting there.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14I know, I know, I do look like a bit of an expert,
0:22:14 > 0:22:18but that's because I mastered rule number one, don't look down!
0:22:18 > 0:22:23- Stuart, you've done us proud, it's a really good introduction. And what a view, guys.- Yeah.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26- It's amazing, isn't it?- Isn't it?
0:22:26 > 0:22:29- Well, we're only halfway up, a bit more?- Onwards and upwards!- That way?
0:22:29 > 0:22:32- That's right, yeah.- Come on, then!
0:22:37 > 0:22:44So, as the sun sinks behind the Cumbrian Mountains, the first day of our house hunt draws to a close.
0:22:48 > 0:22:53Having recently married, Sarah and Ben have decided to kiss goodbye to the city and move to Cumbria
0:22:53 > 0:22:57where they spent their first weekend together.
0:22:57 > 0:23:04With a budget of £700,000, so far we've seen one property inside the Lake District National Park.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07Coming up, we find a house that seems to meet the brief.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10- And this is working?- This is working very well.- It's working well.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13- But are we just papering over the cracks?- I love it.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16We'll have a debate over that!
0:23:19 > 0:23:23It's the start of our final day's house hunt with Ben and with Sarah.
0:23:23 > 0:23:29Now they have undoubtedly been wowed by what's on offer in the park, but it does come at a price.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31So in order to get them a bit more value for money
0:23:31 > 0:23:35we're going to step outside of that and head over towards the Pennines.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41For our next house we're driving to the village of Newbiggin
0:23:41 > 0:23:46outside the national park 25 miles east of Keswick.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49It's a pretty village in a tranquil location, so, for more life,
0:23:49 > 0:23:53Ben and Sarah could head to Temple Sowerby just a mile away.
0:23:53 > 0:23:58Named after the Knights Templar, the village has a school and a medical practice,
0:23:58 > 0:24:02something that might interest Ben who is looking to establish his own dental surgery.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09Now I think this is a very nice way to start any day's house hunting.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11- What do you think?- I love that.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13It's stunning from the outside. Beautiful.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15Absolutely gorgeous, it really is.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17Now, we do see a lot of village locations on this show,
0:24:17 > 0:24:23as you can imagine, but I have to say I think for my money this is one of the best.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26It's fabulous. I love the stone fronting, I love the windows, love everything.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30- This does kind of say to me country dentist.- Yeah, it does, doesn't it?
0:24:30 > 0:24:34It's a bit of All Creatures Great And Small really, isn't it, you know?
0:24:34 > 0:24:35Can we see it?
0:24:35 > 0:24:37Yeah, all right.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46- So now we're a little bit closer, are we getting more excited?- Yeah.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48I love the stone. Really nice.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50- This is technically your back door. - Right.
0:24:50 > 0:24:55Bear in mind this structure as well, this will become more apparent as we go through.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59- OK.- OK. - I've got a few ideas for you there, but I think you're going to love it.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07- Right, let's start in the kitchen, straight through the back door.- Yeah.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10- Yeah.- What do you reckon?
0:25:10 > 0:25:14I like it. It's certainly a good size. It's...
0:25:14 > 0:25:16- Well finished. - Yeah.- A really nice finish, oak.
0:25:16 > 0:25:17The oak panels are lovely.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21- Yeah. I mean, there are options with reconfiguring this.- Yeah.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23I think the key thing to consider is the space in which it sits...
0:25:23 > 0:25:25- Absolutely. - ..and how you would change that.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27- Obviously, the island is taking up a lot of space.- Yeah, it is.
0:25:27 > 0:25:32In general, I think you get the idea that the finish throughout this property is pretty good.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34It looks really good. Good start, yeah.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37- So, how about a bit of Victorian opulence?- OK.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40- This way.- Excellent.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44- See what I mean?- Oh!
0:25:44 > 0:25:47- Come on in.- This is a lovely room. - Come on in, look at that.- Oh!
0:25:47 > 0:25:50- That's lovely.- That's original.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52- It's fantastic. Is the surround original?- Yeah.
0:25:52 > 0:25:53- The whole thing is original.- My gosh.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56- And it works. A nice working fire. - The tiles are beautiful.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59- I love the windows in here.- Yeah. - That's just gorgeous.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01The kind of feel that I like.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05If you like this, you're going to love what's through here. Come and look at this.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11Oh, this room is absolutely gorgeous!
0:26:11 > 0:26:14- What do you think, Ben?- Yeah, the fireplace, the window, it's just...
0:26:14 > 0:26:16Oh, it's absolutely awesome.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19- That's fabulous. Are they the original tiles?- Yeah, yeah.
0:26:19 > 0:26:20I mean, it's just gorgeous.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22- It is.- Just the way...
0:26:22 > 0:26:25Nothing's been changed, has it? The windows are even more impressive.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28And the view out to your front garden.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30- Yeah.- It's not bad that, is it?
0:26:30 > 0:26:33In terms of a sojourn in Victoriana, this is working?
0:26:33 > 0:26:36This is working very well. Very, very well.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38Yeah, this is working well. I'm loving the high doors.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40High doors, high ceilings.
0:26:40 > 0:26:41Does it continue upstairs?
0:26:41 > 0:26:44- Let's hope so.- Let's hope so.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48Well, so far, so good, but we have been in this situation before.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Let's hope the upstairs can sustain their enthusiasm.
0:26:51 > 0:26:56Off the landing are three double bedrooms, one with exposed wooden floors,
0:26:56 > 0:27:03- another with an en-suite shower room and the master. - Oh, I actually love this wallpaper.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06- What about it? - It's like Chinoiserie, isn't it?
0:27:06 > 0:27:09- It's got that Victoriana feel.- Yeah. - Obviously the paper's not original.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13- A good sized room. The wallpaper's not to my taste.- I love it.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17- I was waiting for you to pick up on that. - We'll have a debate over that.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Right, let's continue that way.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22After you, Ben. And he doesn't have to duck!
0:27:23 > 0:27:26- OK.- Oh,
0:27:26 > 0:27:31- it's a big bathroom.- It's... It's big enough.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Again, whether Ben would go for the paper, I wonder.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37Actually, in this room, the paper's nice, I like it.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39Hurray!
0:27:39 > 0:27:42- Yeah.- I like that wood panel. - Yeah.- I like the finish.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45I think I'd be tempted to change it and put a roll top bath in here.
0:27:45 > 0:27:50- And then you can lie in the bath and look out at the garden.- Exactly. Just see that lovely big bath.- OK.
0:27:50 > 0:27:55- Let's go back downstairs and continue inside. There's more.- Ooh!
0:27:55 > 0:27:58- Yeah.- After you. Down the stairs.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01I'm getting a really good feeling about this house.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05I think it's hitting just the right spot.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09So, back through off of the kitchen we've got this.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11Oh, I wasn't expecting this!
0:28:11 > 0:28:13- No. A staircase?- Here's your snug.
0:28:13 > 0:28:18Yeah. The snug here and up there we've got you a fourth bedroom.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20- Guests.- Yeah.- Kids.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22- Yeah. - You know, that would work a treat.
0:28:22 > 0:28:29Off the snug there is also a utility room, a small study and a spacious garage.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32But it's time to head outside to explore the outbuilding
0:28:32 > 0:28:37which I think would make an ideal annex for Ben's parents.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40So, there is this barn. It's very pretty, actually.
0:28:40 > 0:28:44- It's lovely.- It used to have a pigsty under it.- Yes.- Yeah.
0:28:44 > 0:28:49It's great. How do you think your mum and dad would feel about living in the pigsty, Ben?
0:28:49 > 0:28:51They'll get used it, I think.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54I mean, would you be interested in converting this in some manner?
0:28:54 > 0:28:56- I think so. - Yeah, I think if it was nice.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59Kids, you know, that would work a treat.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02Considering the reasons we're thinking of converting, I think it would be.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04And you've got loads of space...
0:29:04 > 0:29:07- Yeah, there's still tons of space behind. - Come and have a look.- Fantastic.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13Well, family house, family garden.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15- Look at this!- Great sized lawn.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17Brilliant lawn. I mean, you know,
0:29:17 > 0:29:21whether you have sons or daughters in the future they're going to love playing around up here.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24This is great. Absolutely glorious.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26So, um...
0:29:26 > 0:29:28how much do you like it?
0:29:30 > 0:29:31I like it a lot.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33This is the hardest part of the whole thing, I think.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36- It's kind of a difficult one to price in some ways.- Yeah.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39I think it must be pretty much close near the budget.
0:29:39 > 0:29:43- I'll say this time, what, bang on, 650,000?- 650,000.
0:29:43 > 0:29:46I'm going to say 685.
0:29:46 > 0:29:48685.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51You are going to love this.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53565.
0:29:53 > 0:29:55- No!- That is...
0:29:55 > 0:29:57No!
0:29:57 > 0:30:00Where do we sign?
0:30:00 > 0:30:05That is amazing because that would give us loads of scope as well to finish that barn off,
0:30:05 > 0:30:09maybe put a huge kitchen in there and it would still be under budget.
0:30:09 > 0:30:13- That would be phenomenal. - I'm astounded.- Way under budget. - Fantastic.
0:30:13 > 0:30:15- Go and explore. I know you can't wait to get back in there.- I can't.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19Go and enjoy. Figure out what you're going to do with all that change!
0:30:20 > 0:30:27At £565,000, this house is over 100,000 under budget.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30This would give Sarah and Ben plenty of cash to convert the barn
0:30:30 > 0:30:34into something more liveable for Ben's parents.
0:30:34 > 0:30:39There's an attractive kitchen diner and many fine period features in the sitting and dining room.
0:30:39 > 0:30:44Upstairs are the requisite four bedrooms, one with en-suite,
0:30:44 > 0:30:50and outside there's a garage, the barn and all of it set within one acre of land.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53Brilliant first impressions of the house.
0:30:53 > 0:30:55The stonework is absolutely to die for.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58This is the original barn, isn't it?
0:30:58 > 0:31:01- Upstairs.- It's absolutely brilliant.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03It's absolutely ideal. This could be a great living space.
0:31:03 > 0:31:08I think the outside barn building has got absolute bags of potential and obviously with the house being
0:31:08 > 0:31:12quite a long way under budget, it gives us loads of scope,
0:31:12 > 0:31:15not too much pressure, to actually do that to a really high standard.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17I really like this property.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20I think I've fallen a little bit in love with it.
0:31:20 > 0:31:25Each room is individual, it has a purpose and all good sized, as well.
0:31:25 > 0:31:29When Jules told us how much the property was, I just wanted to know where to sign.
0:31:29 > 0:31:34I think it's fantastic at the price that it's at and also with the potential that it's got.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37Ah, Sarah and Ben!
0:31:37 > 0:31:41- I seem to have spent my entire time this week tearing you away...- Yeah.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43..and this is no exception, is it?
0:31:43 > 0:31:46- I think this is the toughest one. I absolutely love this house.- Yeah.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49- I really do. - Good. Well, it's not over yet.
0:31:49 > 0:31:51- Come on.- OK.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03Well, at long last it's time to reveal the mystery house to Sarah and to Ben.
0:32:03 > 0:32:09Now, so far we've been completely spoiled with the really high quality of property on offer here in Cumbria,
0:32:09 > 0:32:13but it's the mystery house so we're looking to try something a little bit different.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16We've seen an awful lot of old, now for a bit of new.
0:32:18 > 0:32:23So, what have we got for you for the mystery house, I wonder?
0:32:23 > 0:32:26I'm quite excited about this. A little bit apprehensive, but quite excited.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34The mystery property is located in the hamlet of Park Head
0:32:34 > 0:32:37about two miles from the village of Kirkoswald.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40Named after St Oswald, the King of Northumbria,
0:32:40 > 0:32:48Kirkoswald lies over the River Eden and is a former winner of Cumbria's Best Kept Village competition.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51Overlooking its two pubs, primary school and cobbled Market Square,
0:32:51 > 0:32:57the village has a rather unique feature, a bell tower detached from its church.
0:32:57 > 0:33:02Perched on top of a hill, it was used to warn villagers of an approach from Scots raiders.
0:33:05 > 0:33:08Right, now, the mystery house.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11Something slightly different.
0:33:11 > 0:33:14- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:33:14 > 0:33:19- Very different. - Quite new. We've gone for a slightly contemporary twist here.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21- Can you hear that? Pigs.- Yeah, pigs.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23Pigs, look at them!
0:33:23 > 0:33:27Pigs, how about that? You see, country life, there it is, OK?
0:33:27 > 0:33:30- They want feeding.- Well, what we've got is this structure here.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33Now, buried in amongst all that is a 1900 barn.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36- Right.- All will become clear as we go through it,
0:33:36 > 0:33:39but not only do you get that, but you also get this structure, too.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42- This is an enormous studio.- Wow!
0:33:42 > 0:33:44- Yeah, it's a house by itself. - Well, it is.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47And obviously the thinking here is really to give you something
0:33:47 > 0:33:51- that does have aesthetically a very different feel, as well.- Yeah.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54It's certainly aesthetically got a very different feel!
0:33:54 > 0:33:56Ben?
0:33:56 > 0:33:58Location, yeah. The views are beautiful.
0:33:58 > 0:34:03The modern feel of the house isn't something I would have thought of,
0:34:03 > 0:34:05but let's give it a chance.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08- Trust us.- Yeah.- Go with it.- OK.
0:34:08 > 0:34:09Come on.
0:34:09 > 0:34:16Now I know Sarah and Ben are keen on period properties, but the mystery house is all about pushing boundaries
0:34:16 > 0:34:22- and this property does just that by mixing old and new to stunning effect.- Thank you.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25Come into the mystery house. Grab the door, Ben.
0:34:25 > 0:34:29Let's... Let's start in here. In you come.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32The kitchen is lovely. I like the layout.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35A really nice modern kitchen. Great view out over the valley.
0:34:35 > 0:34:39It is actually a lot more modern than the kind of thing I was after,
0:34:39 > 0:34:41but actually very appealing.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45- This is all pretty recently added... - Yeah.- ..this chunk we're in now.
0:34:45 > 0:34:50There's a bedroom behind there and a downstairs family bathroom and above us there's another bedroom,
0:34:50 > 0:34:53but if you come through here, this is quite interesting.
0:34:53 > 0:34:57- Now, this is a pod.- Right.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00Known in the trade as a pod, a self-supporting steel structure
0:35:00 > 0:35:04that's been added to the old building, which is through there, which we'll explore in a moment,
0:35:04 > 0:35:08but what it gives you is this huge light airy room.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11- Yeah.- Again, with a bit more decking out there and so on.
0:35:11 > 0:35:13That window, that wall is beautiful, really nice.
0:35:13 > 0:35:18And the way you can just walk out on to the deck and see into the valley, I'm really pleased with that.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20This is sort of proper open plan...
0:35:20 > 0:35:24- Yeah.- ..living in a way. That's quite interesting, though.- OK.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26There's a mezzanine which is...
0:35:26 > 0:35:29I think originally been open and now they've kind of boarded it in
0:35:29 > 0:35:34and glazed it to provide one of the five bedrooms that are on offer here.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36- OK.- Let's have a look. Come on, follow me.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42Right, come on in.
0:35:42 > 0:35:44The view from up here, down there.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47- Wow!- That's quite cool, isn't it? - It is, yeah.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50- It's quite different, isn't it? - Yeah.- I really like that.- Quite a fun way to wake up.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53- Yeah, that would be nice. - This is the new bit.- Right.
0:35:53 > 0:35:57- You're dying for a fix of old, aren't you?- Yeah, please.- Come on.
0:36:00 > 0:36:04I suspect that Ben and Sarah aren't so keen on the modern parts of this house,
0:36:04 > 0:36:09so we're going to step back in time and cross into the old barn which I hope will win them over.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14Right, Sarah, come on in.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16- Deep breath.- Ah, stone!
0:36:16 > 0:36:19This is more like it!
0:36:19 > 0:36:21It just feels a bit older.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24- Yeah.- Yeah.- Yeah. Something of a split level.- Yeah.
0:36:24 > 0:36:28- Now, the whole thing is configured currently as a holiday let.- Right.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30- It's quite a cosy little... - I like this.- Spot.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32- This feels good.- Yeah, I like this.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34Well, let's explore a bit more of this, then.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36- OK.- Seeing as we're liking it.- Yeah.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38- Down there.- Lovely.
0:36:38 > 0:36:43Along the corridor is the family bathroom as well as two light and airy bedrooms.
0:36:44 > 0:36:49Ben and Sarah certainly seem happier in the older part
0:36:49 > 0:36:54of the mystery property, but I think they're being a bit poker faced when it comes to the full house.
0:36:54 > 0:36:59I'm hoping the timber clad property next door will force their hand.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01OK.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06This bit's really nice. A really new feel to it.
0:37:06 > 0:37:11What you've got is this suspended floor in the middle, which offers living area.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14There's a couple of beds up there at the moment and a bit of storage.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17It's definitely got some potential. Gloriously light space.
0:37:17 > 0:37:22- It's almost like a one bedroom apartment.- OK.- OK.
0:37:22 > 0:37:27Let's get done with the buildings, let's go and have a look at that view.
0:37:27 > 0:37:32I'm convinced many young buyers would snap up this creative and unusual property, but I don't think
0:37:32 > 0:37:38Ben and Sarah have been won over, but if nothing else hopefully it may have reaffirmed what they're looking for.
0:37:39 > 0:37:45So, we've seen all the property that there is on offer. Land-wise it all sits in about an acre.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48- OK.- You've got this little orchard area, the paddock beyond,
0:37:48 > 0:37:53- right down to the stone wall and the area including the pigs.- Excellent.
0:37:53 > 0:37:57- So, how much...- How much? - ..is the mystery house worth?
0:37:57 > 0:38:01I'm not very good at this, so I'm going to say 575,000.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03575.
0:38:03 > 0:38:07I'm going to say a little bit more. I'm going to say 605.
0:38:07 > 0:38:13- 605?!- Your figures are just randomly plucked from nowhere, aren't they? - Interesting figure.
0:38:13 > 0:38:18OK, well, you're both not far off, really.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21- You've straddled it.- Right, somewhere in the middle.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24- 595.- 595.- 595.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26- So comfortably under budget. - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28Whether it's your kind of property,
0:38:28 > 0:38:32- we'll have to wait and see, won't we? - Yeah.- You will.
0:38:32 > 0:38:38- Go and have an explore again, your final one, and I'll catch up with you later.- Thank you.- Off you go.
0:38:40 > 0:38:48Coming in under budget at £595,000 this is a unique property combining old and new.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52There's a stylishly fitted kitchen diner leading out on to a decked area
0:38:52 > 0:38:55and full height living area with a glazed wall.
0:38:55 > 0:39:00There are five bedrooms, one with an en-suite wet room and two bathrooms
0:39:00 > 0:39:04and outside there is the timber clad studio.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07When we first arrived, quite a shock.
0:39:07 > 0:39:13I didn't like the finish of the outside, but I was quite pleased with some parts of the interior.
0:39:13 > 0:39:15There were some things that I liked about the mystery property.
0:39:15 > 0:39:22The feature glass wall in the pod was stunning visually, a great view out onto the hills.
0:39:22 > 0:39:27So, this clapping, then, do you think we could change this at all?
0:39:27 > 0:39:30Well, you could obviously paint it and change the colour,
0:39:30 > 0:39:34but I think the actual structure of the cladding would be something that you'd have to live with.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36I'm not really sure I could.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38- Fond some friends here, Jules? - Oh, they're great, aren't they?
0:39:38 > 0:39:42I love them. Rare breed pigs, they're absolutely gorgeous.
0:39:42 > 0:39:46- Now then, house tours are over.- Yeah.
0:39:46 > 0:39:51- We should get you somewhere where you can have a think about everything that we have shown you.- Yeah.
0:39:51 > 0:39:57- Then we'll have a chat and see if you've made your mind up.- OK.- After you.- Let's go.- OK.- See you, pigs!
0:40:00 > 0:40:04Sarah and Ben's tour of Cumbria and its properties is drawing to a close
0:40:04 > 0:40:07and they have plenty to think about.
0:40:08 > 0:40:13Well, as you can see, the harvest is over up here in Cumbria, they're already ploughing in the stubble,
0:40:13 > 0:40:18and indeed our show is pretty much over, too, apart from one last crucial moment.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21It is of course decision time for Ben and for Sarah.
0:40:21 > 0:40:23What are they going to do next? I wonder.
0:40:32 > 0:40:34Well, chaps, here we are. It's decision time
0:40:34 > 0:40:38and where better place than there, look at that, the Pennines?
0:40:38 > 0:40:42Not where we started, though. We started in the heart of the Lakes in Cumbria.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45That's where you thought you wanted to be, have we changed your mind?
0:40:45 > 0:40:50I think so. Seeing the houses outside the National Park has been a massive eye opener.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53Yeah. Well, let's just revisit the tour we've taken.
0:40:53 > 0:40:57It started in the park with that old lodge underneath Skiddaw, the mountain.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59What did you think of that one?
0:40:59 > 0:41:01I thought it was absolutely beautiful.
0:41:01 > 0:41:06The outside was everything I like in a house. That kitchen diner just absolutely blew me away.
0:41:06 > 0:41:11For me, upstairs was quite a large anti-climax.
0:41:11 > 0:41:16Not much headroom and I just felt it was like a different house almost.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19Then we went on to that extraordinary old hunting lodge on the village green.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22- Yeah. Yeah, I loved that house. - Yeah, we did.- Absolutely loved it.
0:41:22 > 0:41:26If you asked me to draw a picture of a house when I was a child, I'd have drawn that.
0:41:26 > 0:41:31It was absolutely gorgeous. The use of space was absolutely beautiful.
0:41:31 > 0:41:36The barn and the garage had bags of potential, plenty of room for the folk to come up.
0:41:36 > 0:41:40There was one more to come and that was the mystery house, very different.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42Very controversial, I think.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45Yeah, very different. There were certain things about it I really liked.
0:41:45 > 0:41:49The studio itself I thought was really nice, loads of light,
0:41:49 > 0:41:51- but we had a problem with the actual house itself.- Yeah.
0:41:51 > 0:41:56Not so much the inside, but more the actual exterior of the house.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59Well, we now need to draw this to a close.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02I suspect it's going to be of no surprise to anybody watching
0:42:02 > 0:42:08what you are going to do next, but go on, you tell me, let's hear it from the horse's mouth, as it were.
0:42:08 > 0:42:13- Of all the houses we saw the hunting lodge was our favourite by quite a distance.- Yeah.
0:42:13 > 0:42:18- We're certainly considering placing an offer on the house. - You are?- Yeah.
0:42:18 > 0:42:22- We loved it. It was just beautiful. - We're just having a big debate now over what kind of...
0:42:22 > 0:42:24what kind of price to actually go in at.
0:42:24 > 0:42:29If that's how strongly you feel about it, I suspect that is going to be your new future home.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32- Hopefully.- Fingers crossed. - Well, guys, well done.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35Very best of luck and, as ever, let us know how you get on.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37- We will.- Thank you.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44There is nothing quite like messing around in the countryside.
0:42:44 > 0:42:48It's said that up here in Cumbria you can get four seasons in one day,
0:42:48 > 0:42:52but I'm delighted to say that on this trip we've had sunshine all the way,
0:42:52 > 0:42:56and in more ways than one because we've had that classic combination
0:42:56 > 0:42:59of great houses, good budget and, as you can see,
0:42:59 > 0:43:05glorious countryside, all of which has combined, I think, to produce a very likely happy ever after
0:43:05 > 0:43:11for Ben and for Sarah, and as far as I'm concerned, frankly it really doesn't get much better than that!
0:43:13 > 0:43:18I'm pleased to say that Ben and Sarah have been back to see the lodge and are still very keen.
0:43:18 > 0:43:23They're now looking into dental practice opportunities for Ben before putting in an offer.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26So, if you want to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales,
0:43:26 > 0:43:31Northern Ireland or England and need our help, please apply online at...