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.'
0:00:44 > 0:00:48How do you think your mum and dad would feel about living in the pigsty?
0:00:48 > 0:00:49They'll get used it, I think!
0:00:49 > 0:00:52They'll need space for her indoors.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55- I'll put you in there when you're naughty.- Thanks.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59'And they'll need space for some boars.' Pigs! how about that?
0:00:59 > 0:01:01Country life, there it is.
0:01:05 > 0:01:10Well, today I'm in Cumbria and the glorious Lake District, and John and Richard here
0:01:10 > 0:01:14are engaged in the tried and tested sport of Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling,
0:01:14 > 0:01:17and I've got a feeling that Richard just won that one.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20It's thought that back in the day men would compete for a month's wages.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23I'm not quite sure what's at stake on this bout, but while these two
0:01:23 > 0:01:27continue to battle it out, I'm going to go and explore the local area.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Cumbria is England's third largest county,
0:01:32 > 0:01:35tucked away in the north-west, with Scotland to the north
0:01:35 > 0:01:37and the Irish Sea on its west coast.
0:01:37 > 0:01:42And with the Lake District at its heart, it's a feast for the eyes.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47England's ten highest mountains rise over this beautiful corner of the country
0:01:47 > 0:01:52and its shimmering lakes reflect the most exquisite of scenery.
0:01:52 > 0:01:57Generations of artists from Samuel Taylor Coleridge to Beatrix Potter
0:01:57 > 0:02:01have all drawn inspiration from these magnificent surrounds.
0:02:01 > 0:02:07Although over eight million tourists stream here every year, it still holds onto its agricultural roots,
0:02:07 > 0:02:13with much of Cumbria given over to sheep and dairy farming. But it's not all countryside.
0:02:13 > 0:02:18There are many beautiful towns and villages to explore, such as the pretty market town of Keswick
0:02:18 > 0:02:24in the heart of the lakes with its wide range of shops, restaurants and galleries.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29The author and poet John Ruskin once said that Keswick was a place almost too beautiful to live in,
0:02:29 > 0:02:35but the thousands of lucky residents who DO live there have proven that you can have your cake and eat it.
0:02:37 > 0:02:42Well, most people coming to this part of the world want views and there are plenty to choose from,
0:02:42 > 0:02:47but if you want a view of one of those, you'd better get your chequebook ready because
0:02:47 > 0:02:54anything that looks out on to a lake can go up by as much as £50,000 to £100,000 above a normal asking price,
0:02:54 > 0:03:01but with this on your doorstep, whatever you decide to buy - well, trust me, it's worth every penny.
0:03:01 > 0:03:07Set at the foot of the Newlands Valley, this Grade II listed residence has neighbours
0:03:07 > 0:03:10you would want to be overlooked by - the Skiddaw mountain range.
0:03:10 > 0:03:15Inside there are four bedrooms, a contemporary bathroom and an elegant sitting room.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17It's being sold for £1.2 million.
0:03:18 > 0:03:24But you don't need to be as minted to own this Kendal property,
0:03:24 > 0:03:31as this former 16th century farmhouse with attached peel tower is on the market for £600,000.
0:03:31 > 0:03:37It has three bedrooms, a large kitchen and garden with great views.
0:03:37 > 0:03:42And, finally, there's this three-bedroom barn conversion packed to the rafters with, well, rafters!
0:03:42 > 0:03:49There are joists, lintels and crosspieces galore, and you'll be beaming when you hear the price -
0:03:49 > 0:03:51£365,000.
0:03:51 > 0:03:57Well, as you can see, there are some wonderful houses to be had up here,
0:03:57 > 0:03:59but today's buyers haven't just fallen in love
0:03:59 > 0:04:05with the area's properties, they've also started a long-term love affair with Cumbria itself.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10Today's buyers are blissfully happy newlyweds Ben and Sarah,
0:04:10 > 0:04:16who live together in this three-bedroom, semi-detached 1930s house in Chester.
0:04:16 > 0:04:22And not much has changed from when they first met on a blind date ten years ago.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24We just hit it off really well.
0:04:24 > 0:04:25- Yeah.- I think Sarah just got...
0:04:25 > 0:04:29Drunk all my alcohol and then put the lips on me!
0:04:29 > 0:04:33I didn't throw the lips on you at all!
0:04:33 > 0:04:34She didn't.
0:04:34 > 0:04:40Sarah wants to kiss goodbye to the city and put down some new roots in the country,
0:04:40 > 0:04:44while Ben, a dentist, wants to pull some new roots of his own at a fresh practice.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49We decided now is a good time to move because we've lived in a city all of our lives.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53We want to live in a larger house with a bit more space.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55Which we can fill with children, I think!
0:04:55 > 0:04:59And I think it's just time to reassess our lives.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02So which part of Cumbria are they looking to escape to?
0:05:02 > 0:05:08We've decided that we want to move to the lakes, the reason being that it's somewhere
0:05:08 > 0:05:12that's special to both of us. We've been going up there for about ten years, since we first got together.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15It was the location of our very first weekend away together
0:05:15 > 0:05:20and it's also where we got married, so a very special location for us.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23I think our life in the country may take a bit of a step back.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26- A bit more relaxed.- Yeah, absolutely more outdoor focused.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30We hope to move to a small village, somewhere in the area around Keswick,
0:05:30 > 0:05:34maybe a 10, 15 minute commute to the town would be perfect.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37You'd like somewhere, wouldn't you, with a village pub and a few amenities, but...
0:05:37 > 0:05:43- Maybe a post office or... - But not in town, nor isolated in the middle of nowhere would be perfect.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47But how will they feel about leaving their current house behind?
0:05:47 > 0:05:53We do love the house itself. If we could lift it up and transplant it to the lakes, that would be lovely.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58Actually, if we could lift it up, transplant it and add a few rooms, that would be lovely!
0:05:58 > 0:06:01So, as well as more rooms, what else do they want?
0:06:01 > 0:06:06It's very important to me that, in the new house, we have a spacious kitchen which I can fit
0:06:06 > 0:06:09either a substantial island or a large kitchen table in.
0:06:09 > 0:06:14I'd also like a range cooker, and that's something I've been nagging Ben about for years and years.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16We need a lot more storage.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19At the moment, one of our bedrooms is just full of cricket kit,
0:06:19 > 0:06:23climbing kit, walking kit, so we've nowhere to put that at the moment.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26If we had a child it would have to sleep in the shed!
0:06:26 > 0:06:33As you can see, I'm very tall, at 6ft 6, so in the new property we need nice high ceilings,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36no low beams or anything that I can bang my head on.
0:06:36 > 0:06:41And with their budding art collection they might need some high walls, too.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45- But, wait, there's more. - My parents plan to retire sometime in the near future,
0:06:45 > 0:06:48so there's a chance that they'll follow us to the Lake District soon.
0:06:48 > 0:06:54So, if we could find a house with an annex or with some outbuildings with scope for conversion in the future,
0:06:54 > 0:06:59that would be really helpful, and ideally we would set the lot in one to three acres of land.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Before they make the move, we've asked an agent to value their house.
0:07:03 > 0:07:09This is a beautifully presented and spacious three-bedroom family home.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12It's located in a very desirable district of Chester
0:07:12 > 0:07:16and I would recommend marketing the property at £250,000.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21So how much do they have to spend on their new property?
0:07:21 > 0:07:25Our budget for this move will be £650,000.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29I think if we found the perfect property, though, that we could probably stretch that somewhat.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32We could probably go up to around 700,000.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Yeah.
0:07:37 > 0:07:42So, Ben and Sarah are keen to find something with a bit more space and keen to start a family.
0:07:42 > 0:07:48I think they're going to want something with a least four bedrooms, a big kitchen would go down well,
0:07:48 > 0:07:52and, if possible, a couple of acres outside in which to play around in.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54But there's also a bit of a twist to this one.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57They're keen also for something that could offer
0:07:57 > 0:08:01some annex potential so that Ben's parents could come and stay long-term.
0:08:01 > 0:08:07Now, all of that for £650,000 may challenge the budget a little bit, but I'm pretty optimistic.
0:08:09 > 0:08:15Having explored the region well, they've told us the area around Keswick would be ideal
0:08:15 > 0:08:17and who are we to argue?
0:08:17 > 0:08:21In today's show, we have three fantastic houses lined up, each one offering
0:08:21 > 0:08:25something really special and, as ever, the last of the three, the mystery house,
0:08:25 > 0:08:30which could offer them something they would not have considered themselves.
0:08:31 > 0:08:36- Hi, guys. Nice to see you! - Hi.- Hello.- Welcome to Cumbria.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40- Thank you.- Well, I say welcome, you know this area probably better than I do in some respects, don't you?
0:08:40 > 0:08:43- Quite well.- How much time do you get to spend up here?
0:08:43 > 0:08:47We've been coming here for about ten years, probably sort of two or three times a year
0:08:47 > 0:08:52for either a week or a long weekend and most of that time is usually spent out on the hills.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56Now what are we looking for in terms of size of property?
0:08:56 > 0:09:00I think four bedrooms, Sarah thinks five, so...
0:09:00 > 0:09:03- Does that depend on how many kids you're having?- Yeah.- Yeah, exactly!
0:09:03 > 0:09:06- So four or five would be perfect. - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10In terms of style, you're looking for something that is going to fit in with the landscape,
0:09:10 > 0:09:11something quite traditional?
0:09:11 > 0:09:15We definitely want something with some character, perhaps a nice period property would be lovely.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19All very exciting. Let's have a think about the budget. How much have we got to spend?
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Our budget is about £650,000.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24- Which is pretty handsome.- Yeah.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27It is, and I think if we found the absolute perfect property,
0:09:27 > 0:09:31- then we'd probably cripple ourselves and go higher, towards 700.- Wow!
0:09:31 > 0:09:36Well, it's a gorgeous area as you can see, great budget, let's see what we can find you.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52They need space for their growing art collection and space for Ben's head!
0:09:55 > 0:09:58And they need an annex to accommodate Ben's parents
0:09:58 > 0:10:01who might be following them to Cumbria.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10So, does it feel quite strange finally committing your idea
0:10:10 > 0:10:13to action and coming out here looking for properties?
0:10:13 > 0:10:15It's quite exciting.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17It's quite daunting in some ways, isn't it?
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Why daunting?
0:10:19 > 0:10:22I think it's going to be such a change from what we're used to,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25and from the city lives that we've been enjoying for so long...
0:10:25 > 0:10:31It'll be a complete shock to the system, I suppose.
0:10:31 > 0:10:37For our first house, we've travelled to the rural area of Overwater
0:10:37 > 0:10:40which is overlooked by the majestic Skiddaw Mountain,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43England's fourth highest.
0:10:43 > 0:10:49Set in the northern lakes, Overwater boasts an idyllic, unspoiled feel, but for amenities,
0:10:49 > 0:10:52the village of Ireby is just 2.5 miles away.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56Ireby is an ancient market town dating back to the 12th century
0:10:56 > 0:10:59which sits just over 500 feet above sea level.
0:10:59 > 0:11:05Today there's a watering hole, a village hall, a 19th-century church and a primary school,
0:11:05 > 0:11:10which should please Ben and Sarah who are looking to start a family very soon.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12What about this?
0:11:12 > 0:11:18- What a beautiful entrance!- It's pretty.- It's lovely.- It's gorgeous, isn't it? Come on through the gate.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21There!
0:11:21 > 0:11:24Isn't that quite sweet?
0:11:24 > 0:11:26- It's beautiful. - That is absolutely stunning.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28Now it's described in the spec as a cottage,
0:11:28 > 0:11:34but it's technically an old lodge that was once part of the Overwater estate, which is just down the road.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38- Built 1873, so we're right on... - You've got the "old", then.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43You know, kind of the period charm for you and recently completely renovated
0:11:43 > 0:11:47- to a really, really high spec. And you get that.- Look at that view!
0:11:47 > 0:11:50- Amazing.- Now, you walk around here a lot, don't you?- We do.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53- You may have been up there, that's Skiddaw.- Yeah, we have. - Yeah, we climbed that.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55So, are we on the right lines?
0:11:55 > 0:11:57- I think so.- I think so.- Good start.
0:11:57 > 0:12:02- Interested to see what it's like on the inside.- Oh, it's stunning. Come and have a look.- Brilliant.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12- Wow!- Squeeze in.- It's beautiful. - Isn't it?
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Interesting little snug for you in there.
0:12:15 > 0:12:16- Oh, that's great, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19- Really good.- Boys' den in there, but look at this place!
0:12:19 > 0:12:22All renovated. This was all wallpaper when the current owners took it over.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25- They've exposed all the stone. - Oh, this looks great.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28Come in here. This has got you written all over it.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31- Oh, this is gorgeous.- That's a really good sized room, isn't it?
0:12:31 > 0:12:33- Fantastic.- Yeah? - Yeah.- A really good size.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35I love the log-burning stove.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39They've really gone to a lot of trouble to try and keep some of the features that were here originally.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43That view is beautiful, absolutely beautiful.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45Good. So, we like?
0:12:45 > 0:12:48- We like!- Yeah, great start. A really good start.- OK, kitchen.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51- Kitchen.- What kind of kitchen are you really after?
0:12:51 > 0:12:52Probably quite a big one.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55A big kitchen.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57Let's see...
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Now, is this big enough?
0:13:00 > 0:13:03This is big enough!
0:13:03 > 0:13:04This is absolutely stunning!
0:13:04 > 0:13:09I love all of it. There's a seating area and a beautiful big table.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11- It's got a range cooker. - And a range cooker!
0:13:11 > 0:13:14It's absolutely fantastic.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18They've done something really clever with allowing light to pour in and make the best use of this
0:13:18 > 0:13:20- cos you need a tall house.- I do.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Is this tall enough?!
0:13:22 > 0:13:26Yeah, there's plenty of headroom here. I think I'll be OK, yeah!
0:13:26 > 0:13:29This is fantastic. I could see myself never moving from this room.
0:13:29 > 0:13:35- Through there we've got you a huge utility room.- Fantastic.
0:13:35 > 0:13:40Downstairs wet room and a boot room, so if you come in off the hills muddy etc,
0:13:40 > 0:13:41it can all go out there.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44- On the way in, you may have noticed two staircases.- I did, yeah.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46Come and have a look at these.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48OK, there they are.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51What is at the top of them...?
0:13:51 > 0:13:53- I know!- You are wondering!
0:13:53 > 0:13:57- What we've got for you are four beds and four bathrooms.- Right.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00- Wow.- They're all en-suite. - Fantastic!
0:14:00 > 0:14:04- Let's start with this one, cos up here is the master.- OK.
0:14:07 > 0:14:13Now then, Ben, this is what you need to look out for, but I think it's well worth it.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16Think we could get our big bed in here?
0:14:16 > 0:14:20- Yeah, it would fit, wouldn't it? - Is it bigger than that one?
0:14:20 > 0:14:23- It's a super-king size. - It's probably...- It's huge.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26- Quite a complicated roof space... - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30..has been adapted to give you something of a little sitting area.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32The views out, of course... But check this out.
0:14:35 > 0:14:36- Wow!- Yeah, wow!- Look at that shower.
0:14:36 > 0:14:41- It's just the standard of the finish is awesome, isn't it?- Absolutely.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43It's a top-quality finish.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46And remember this is but one of four.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48- Yeah.- Yeah?
0:14:48 > 0:14:50- Come on.- Let's see the rest. - Let's keep exploring.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52Thank you.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57They love the high spec finish in the master, but I think they're being a bit polite about its proportions.
0:14:57 > 0:15:04Next door is another beautifully finished double with - like all the other bedrooms - its own en-suite.
0:15:04 > 0:15:09'Up the other set of stairs is another nicely decorated double with great views
0:15:09 > 0:15:15'over Skiddaw Mountain. The fourth double, that's plenty of space for the children, when they arrive.'
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Now, of course you haven't got a family bathroom as such, so...
0:15:20 > 0:15:22But they are all en-suite.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24But you can live with that, really, when everyone's got their own!
0:15:24 > 0:15:27Plus there's the shower room downstairs, as well.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29- Exactly.- So...- A small concession.
0:15:29 > 0:15:35- Outside space, you had a glimpse at it. Let's go exploring.- OK.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46- Wow!- Now, what have we got for you out here?
0:15:46 > 0:15:52- As well as the house itself, you also get quite a bit of ground with this, two acres.- Gosh.- That's good.
0:15:52 > 0:15:59- Now, most of it's woodland up here, but you also get quite an interesting little bit of formal garden.- Right.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03Loads of areas for growing things, some mature hedging, this yew and all the rest of it.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05You've also got something of a greenhouse there
0:16:05 > 0:16:09which could probably have a little bit of renovation itself, but I don't know...
0:16:09 > 0:16:11- I think it's quite sweet, it's quite charming.- Yeah.- Isn't it?
0:16:11 > 0:16:15- Beyond it there's a vegetable patch as well, which you can explore a little bit later.- Gosh!
0:16:15 > 0:16:17Which also overlooks all of that.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20I've rarely seen a property on Escape with such a view, I have to say.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24- It's amazing, absolutely amazing, isn't it?- It's beautiful.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28So, the key thing is going to be the price of this little number.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30- Well, your top end is 650.- Yeah.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34- You said you could go some way above that.- I think you've gone way over.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38I think... I think this is more like sort of 725.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40725, yeah.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43I'll be the optimist and say 625.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46625, that IS optimistic! If only!
0:16:46 > 0:16:53- OK, it does begin with a six, that's the good news, the bad news is it ends with a 90.- Right.
0:16:53 > 0:17:00- £690,000, so we are very much pushing what you want to spend.- Yeah.
0:17:00 > 0:17:06- Certainly. But that, of course, is reflected in the fact that we are in the National Park.- Yeah.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10- Yeah.- Because that view isn't going to change forever.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14Well, look, there's plenty more for you to explore. There's lots of ground, two acres of it.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16- Go and have a look. I'll catch up with you later.- Lovely.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18- OK.- After you.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24At £690,000, this house is on the outer limits
0:17:24 > 0:17:27of Ben and Sarah's budget, but that's the price you pay
0:17:27 > 0:17:29for being inside the National Park.
0:17:29 > 0:17:34With its huge kitchen/diner, the large downstairs almost sold itself,
0:17:34 > 0:17:37but I'm afraid that the four bedrooms, each with en-suite,
0:17:37 > 0:17:41might be just a bit too small for 6ft 6 Ben.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43If anything can swing it,
0:17:43 > 0:17:47it'll be the magnificent views over Skiddaw Mountain.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51I could actually cry because I love this property.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55We could not ask for more than to be able to walk out of our front door and on to the hills.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57That's exactly what we're after.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00From the outside I thought it was fabulous, I loved the land.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04I adore the kitchen and I felt like every box was being ticked.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08This must be the boot room. Oh, Ben, this is fantastic.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Imagine dumping all of our muddy kit in here.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13Once we got to the top of the stairs,
0:18:13 > 0:18:17despite how excited I tried to keep myself with the bedrooms,
0:18:17 > 0:18:20I kept thinking to myself, "Oh, no, this isn't going to work for Ben."
0:18:20 > 0:18:25Up here, I've just got a big problem with headspace.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29Because it's stretching our budget and it's right at the top end of what we're prepared to spend
0:18:29 > 0:18:32I would want a master bedroom which is... Which is perfect.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36Ah, now then, I thought you'd be enjoying the view. Why not?
0:18:36 > 0:18:38- We are.- Isn't it just stunning?
0:18:38 > 0:18:41I don't think I'm going to be torn away from this bench.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44You have to be because the search goes on.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46There is plenty more out there.
0:18:46 > 0:18:47- Come on.- OK.
0:18:53 > 0:19:00Ben and Sarah know Cumbria really well, but they've never visited the village of Hawkshead.
0:19:00 > 0:19:06With its whitewashed cottages and picturesque courtyards and cobbled squares,
0:19:06 > 0:19:12the village has a great literary connection as this is where Romantic poet William Wordsworth lived.
0:19:12 > 0:19:17They've come to find out more from Edward Miller who retired up here 25 years ago.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21- I'm Ed, good to meet you.- Good to meet you.- Welcome to Hawkshead.
0:19:21 > 0:19:27- Know much about the village?- Not really.- Well, we've landed here, at Ann Tyson's cottage.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29This is where Wordsworth lived as a boy.
0:19:29 > 0:19:34Some people call this the prettiest corner, but there's a lot to see in this village.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37- Would you like to see a bit more? - Lovely!- Right, follow me.
0:19:39 > 0:19:44Back in the late 18th century, Wordsworth was educated here at Hawkshead Grammar School,
0:19:44 > 0:19:46before heading off to Cambridge University.
0:19:46 > 0:19:53- They would start at 8am and were only allowed to converse in Latin or Greek.- OK.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57Couldn't drink water, but they were allowed three pints of diluted beer.
0:19:57 > 0:19:58- Sounds good.- Aye.
0:19:58 > 0:20:06The poet also used to walk up to Hawkshead's 13th-century church for its beautiful panoramas.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10- Wordsworth's favourite view, so it is said.- It's beautiful.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14You'll see the entire central mountain range.
0:20:14 > 0:20:19There are many, many thousands of people walk that range throughout summer.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22He was also a keen walker,
0:20:22 > 0:20:27and it was during a stroll with his sister that he penned the line, "I wandered lonely as a cloud".
0:20:39 > 0:20:43For the next property, we're heading out of the park to the small hamlet of Unthank,
0:20:43 > 0:20:47set against the magnificent backdrop of the Pennine mountains.
0:20:47 > 0:20:52But for provisions, Ben and Sarah will have to head to Melmerby, two miles away.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Named after a 9th-century dame,
0:20:55 > 0:20:59it's a picturesque fell-side village full of red sandstone buildings.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01There is a 13th-century church,
0:21:01 > 0:21:07a bakery and a village hall, with its own pre-school - handy for when Ben and Sarah's family expands.
0:21:07 > 0:21:13And it's not just the kids who could be arriving soon, it's Ben's folks too.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17This sprawling property should fit the lot.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21Now, what have we got you here? Ha ha! Come on in.
0:21:21 > 0:21:27- What have you got?- You said you wanted something with some potential.- Yep.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31- So we thought this might fit the bill.- Which bit?
0:21:31 > 0:21:34- All of it.- Crikey.
0:21:34 > 0:21:40- So, that side and...- That side and that side, all these outbuildings ripe for conversion.
0:21:40 > 0:21:45- What do you think?- I'm amazed actually. There's so much of it.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48How much of a renovation project would you be up for?
0:21:48 > 0:21:54Um, nothing absolutely major, but I'll have a go at some things.
0:21:54 > 0:21:59- The good news is there is a house that comes with it.- Something to live in in the meantime.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02Yeah, right through here.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07Wow. Fruit trees!
0:22:07 > 0:22:09There! There's a house!
0:22:09 > 0:22:14Oh, it's beautiful! Really lovely. I love the stone walls
0:22:14 > 0:22:17and the ivy on the side. It's absolutely gorgeous.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21- Were you thinking I was going to get you to convert a barn? - Yes, basically!
0:22:21 > 0:22:24"This is it. It's massively under-budget, but..."
0:22:24 > 0:22:30Yeah, you get all those farm outbuildings, and you get a pukka farmhouse.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34And that means it's got loads of space.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36- Come and have a look. - I can't wait.
0:22:38 > 0:22:45- Come on in.- Wow.- What about this, then?- It's like a garden room.
0:22:45 > 0:22:50The door there goes through to the barn so you can see how it all ties together.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53Wait till you see in here.
0:22:53 > 0:22:59- Come on in.- Oh, wow. This is gorgeous.
0:22:59 > 0:23:04- Cast-iron range for you. - Nice and hot. I can feel the heat coming off that!
0:23:04 > 0:23:08This is the classic farmhouse look, as it's a classic farmhouse.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12It's absolutely fabulous. I love the floor, I love the tiled worktop.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15- Very happy.- Very happy so far with the outside.
0:23:15 > 0:23:21Well, there is so much to show you. It's going to be a whistle-stop tour. But come through here.
0:23:25 > 0:23:31After that glorious kitchen, you've got this. Very attractive. Some nice original features.
0:23:31 > 0:23:36- Love the fireplace, yeah.- Yeah.- As wood burners go, that's a whopper.
0:23:36 > 0:23:42- In terms of height, Ben, this is going to be comfortable.- Good size, nice high ceilings. I like it.
0:23:42 > 0:23:50Right, come with me. The rest of the house continues through here via this area which would make a good study.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54There is all sorts of space, you can explore it at your leisure.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56- But let's go upstairs.- OK.
0:23:56 > 0:24:01Well, they certainly seem pleased with what's on offer downstairs.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05Let's hope it continues up here. Off the main landing are four bedrooms.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08One double with views over the countryside.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10Another very spacious double.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14A third single bedroom - so that's the kids sorted.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16Now it's time to see the master.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20- What do you think?- I think the proportions are lovely.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24They're exactly what I would like to have. Plenty of room for a big bed.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26It's a good size. Nice big, square room.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Loads of storage space and the views out there are terrific.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32- It's more than adequate. - And it goes on.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36Come and have a look through here.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39More room than you know what to do with really.
0:24:39 > 0:24:45This is the family bathroom. It could do with a bit of updating,
0:24:45 > 0:24:52- but it's still charming. I love the bath surround.- It's nice. Maybe a new suite, possibly a shower.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55Down there, I've described four bedrooms to you.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57There is a fifth, which is here.
0:24:57 > 0:25:03Because through here, is a whole other end to this property.
0:25:03 > 0:25:09And if the five bedrooms in the main house are not enough. There are still all those outbuildings to see.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14The first of which is back through the garden room.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18- This is quite unusual, outside your back door.- Yeah, a barn.
0:25:18 > 0:25:25But again, like all the other outbuildings, this could be converted into something useful.
0:25:25 > 0:25:30Opposite the barn and back through the courtyard is another much bigger outhouse,
0:25:30 > 0:25:34which I think would be ideal for Ben's parents.
0:25:35 > 0:25:40This, clearly, was some kind of parlour, probably a milking parlour at some stage.
0:25:40 > 0:25:45- Amazing space.- A lot of potential. - In terms of the folks, if they were going to come full-time,
0:25:45 > 0:25:51- do you think a space like this would give them the accommodation they'd be happy with?- I think so.
0:25:51 > 0:25:56I think you could do something with this space, and there's more space through there.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58- There's a bit more there. - And more space though there.
0:25:58 > 0:26:03- You've got another two-storey outbuilding through there. - There's plenty of room.
0:26:03 > 0:26:08Now, outside space. Have we got some land for you? Have a look at this.
0:26:13 > 0:26:18You've got an interesting mixture on the plot. All in all, four acres.
0:26:18 > 0:26:24You get that paddock, the stream, the bridge, and that paddock over there.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28- There's just so much of it.- Wow. - It's huge, absolutely huge.
0:26:28 > 0:26:33- Four acres is a lot of space, isn't it?- Wait till you walk through it! Haha!
0:26:33 > 0:26:37Come with me! You'll see what four acres is really all about.
0:26:37 > 0:26:43I think this farmhouse offers more than enough space for Sarah, Ben and everyone they plan to fill it with.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45'But will the price fit the bill?'
0:26:45 > 0:26:47Come on in!
0:26:48 > 0:26:52- So this is the flat bit.- Really? - This is great!
0:26:52 > 0:26:58- Question is, how much is it worth? - It's so hard!
0:26:58 > 0:27:03Even though it's outside the park, you've got so much land. I'd pay 625?
0:27:03 > 0:27:08- 625, interesting. - I'm going to say higher than that. I'm going to say 675.
0:27:08 > 0:27:14- 675. If it were 675... - I think that it's worth that.
0:27:14 > 0:27:19- I don't feel that's overpriced. I think you're getting an awful lot. - I agree with you.
0:27:19 > 0:27:26I would say that 675 was a fantastic price. I'd say 630 was a magnificent price.
0:27:26 > 0:27:32- Wow.- That's what it's on the market for, £630,000.- That's fantastic. - That's a brilliant price.
0:27:32 > 0:27:37- Isn't it?- Only £5,000 out as well. - That's what he's really pleased about!
0:27:37 > 0:27:39ALL LAUGH
0:27:39 > 0:27:42- Go and explore and I'll see you later.- Thank you.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50At 630,000 this farmhouse falls well within budget.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59And a range of outbuildings with development potential.
0:27:59 > 0:28:04And it comes with all the room Ben and Sarah wanted and more.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07I'm a little bit scared though, all this space.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11Wow, so another log burner. What's through here?
0:28:11 > 0:28:15First impressions, couldn't really tell what is was about,
0:28:15 > 0:28:20but then the more we saw, the more it opened up and the more impressed I became.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23Wow, this place just keeps going.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27- It does. I'll put you in there when you're naughty.- Thanks.
0:28:27 > 0:28:32I can see us spending hours and hours planning what to do with those outbuildings.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36And there's so much garden, I'm not sure we'll be able to upkeep it.
0:28:36 > 0:28:41I think being outside the National Park is making the massive difference.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43You're getting a lot more for your money.
0:28:43 > 0:28:47- You found one of the residents. - Hopefully, it might come with the price of the house.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51You never know! Everything's negotiable. Isn't he sweet though?
0:28:51 > 0:28:55- He's lovely.- Right, I'm going to tear you away and we'll leave the pony to the field.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58- OK.- After you. JULES CHUCKLES
0:29:03 > 0:29:09When asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest, George Mallory famously said, "Because it's there."
0:29:09 > 0:29:15'Keen climbers Ben and Sarah have much the same outlook and were eager to scale some rock faces,
0:29:15 > 0:29:20'so it was time for me to face my fears and join them on Upper Scout Crag,
0:29:20 > 0:29:25'where Stuart Carter, a trained guide, has come to show us the ropes.'
0:29:25 > 0:29:27This is the man we're looking for.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29Hi, Stuart, nice to see you.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32- Nice to meet you.- How are you? - All right?- Sarah and Ben.- Sarah. - Hi, Stuart.- Nice to meet you.
0:29:32 > 0:29:37Now then, these guys have done a bit of climbing, they say, but indoors.
0:29:37 > 0:29:41- OK.- Never in the great outdoors. Where are you going to take us?
0:29:41 > 0:29:43We're going to head up to this cliff here.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47It's called Upper Scout Crag, and we'll show you all you need to know.
0:29:47 > 0:29:54'Like us, over 100,000 people every month are grabbing their kit and taking to the rocks,
0:29:54 > 0:29:58'yet in its early days, the idea of using equipment was seen as cheating.
0:29:58 > 0:30:05'Purists climbed unaided - still true of some climbers today.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08'But for us it's undoubtedly safety first.'
0:30:08 > 0:30:11You've got the harnesses on, so I'm going to be able to attach you with a rope to those
0:30:11 > 0:30:15and I'll climb up and build an anchor, attach myself to the rock,
0:30:15 > 0:30:20and then I'm going to bring you guys up, basically just holding the ropes tight for you.
0:30:20 > 0:30:25So if you slip off, the rope will be straight up above you and you'll just kind of hang into the rope
0:30:25 > 0:30:28and you kind of get back on and crack on again.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30And does it matter how heavy we are?
0:30:30 > 0:30:36No, these ropes will hold 22 kilonewtons, which is basically 2.5 tons static load, so...
0:30:36 > 0:30:38I'm a bit less than that!
0:30:40 > 0:30:45Now, you've all got your helmets on, and mine has got a camera on it.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48How exciting is that? So, a nice shot of your backsides!
0:30:48 > 0:30:50- Yeah.- There we are!
0:30:50 > 0:30:54'Stuart's first to head up the crag, carefully placing a trail of anchors as he goes
0:30:54 > 0:30:57'and, crikey, does he make it look easy!'
0:30:57 > 0:30:59Stuart pretty much walked up there.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02Like a mountain goat, he tore up there! Brilliant!
0:31:02 > 0:31:04Ben, you're going to come first.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07- When you get past that first clip, Sarah, you can set off.- Yeah.
0:31:07 > 0:31:09- OK, guys, go for it.- Excellent.
0:31:11 > 0:31:15This should be fun cos Ben and I are competitive with each other,
0:31:15 > 0:31:18- so it's going to be a case of who can get to the top quickest. - Why doesn't that surprise me?
0:31:21 > 0:31:24- Out to your right now, Ben. - Yeah, I'm trying.- I've got you.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27'Ooh, now Ben has set off with confidence,
0:31:27 > 0:31:30'but it's harder than it looks, and he's struggling to find his footing.'
0:31:30 > 0:31:34You've got to be more precise with your toes, that's it.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36'Sarah is next up.
0:31:36 > 0:31:37'How will she get on?'
0:31:39 > 0:31:41How are you getting on, Sarah?
0:31:41 > 0:31:45I'm good, thank you. Just doing a little bit of route finding.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48- Well done, Sarah. - Sarah's making this look very easy.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50I have got a fairly tough act to follow, I think.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53- Before you get past it, Sarah, just stop there.- Yeah.
0:31:53 > 0:31:57'And if I wasn't scared enough, Sarah is handling my safety rope.'
0:31:57 > 0:32:00- Do you trust me, Jules? - I've got no choice!
0:32:00 > 0:32:02THEY LAUGH
0:32:02 > 0:32:05- OK, here we go. - Keep pulling in. That's it.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08You'll have to go steady, Jules, because Sarah is new to this.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10- Was I ever ready? - That's it, keep pulling it through.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13Just don't get flustered with it. Lean it forward as you do it.
0:32:15 > 0:32:20- So, how are you finding it, Jules? Is it a bit...?- I'm getting there.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27I know, I know, I do look like a bit of an expert,
0:32:27 > 0:32:32but that's because I mastered rule number one, don't look down!
0:32:32 > 0:32:36- Stuart, you've done us proud, it's a really good introduction. And what a view, guys.- Yeah.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39- It's amazing, isn't it?- Isn't it?
0:32:39 > 0:32:42- Well, we're only halfway up, a bit more?- Onwards and upwards!- That way?
0:32:42 > 0:32:45- That's right, yeah.- Come on, then!
0:32:51 > 0:32:58So, as the sun sinks behind the Cumbrian mountains, Ben and Sarah reflect on what they've seen so far.
0:33:01 > 0:33:05So, Victorian lodge? What did you think?
0:33:05 > 0:33:09I loved the outside. I thought it was absolutely visually stunning.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11- The view was the wow-factor of that property.- It is.
0:33:11 > 0:33:17There was another wow-factor for me and that was that kitchen with the range. It was just magnificent.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20I could've really seen myself in there. I loved it.
0:33:20 > 0:33:25The big negative for me was the upstairs. The master bedroom was a big let-down.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29The beam was in such an obvious place as well. It would be a huge problem for me.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32So what did you think of the farmhouse in the end?
0:33:32 > 0:33:36Big surprise, the sheer scale of the property, the land.
0:33:36 > 0:33:40The outbuildings were a big positive.
0:33:40 > 0:33:47I loved the huge vegetable garden and the orchards. That's what I'd be looking for.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50It was certainly amazing value for money.
0:33:50 > 0:33:58- So tomorrow, are you excited? - Excited, a little nervous cos I've seen the contrast today.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02- Apart from that, I'm really excited about it.- Yeah, I'm excited.
0:34:12 > 0:34:18Having recently married, Sarah and Ben have decided to kiss goodbye to the city and move to Cumbria
0:34:18 > 0:34:21where they spent their first weekend together.
0:34:21 > 0:34:28With a budget of £700,000, we've seen one properties inside and outside of the National Park.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31Coming up, we find a house that seems to meet the brief.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34- And this is working?- This is working very well.- It's working well.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37- But are we just papering over the cracks?- I love it.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40We'll have a debate over that!
0:34:44 > 0:34:47It's the start of another busy day's house-hunting in Cumbria.
0:34:47 > 0:34:52Yesterday, we had two interesting properties. Both beautiful, one inside and one outside the park.
0:34:52 > 0:34:58Value-for-money-wise you have to go outside the park to get what you want -
0:34:58 > 0:35:02particularly for this budget. So, with that in mind, we'll continue.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08For our next house we're driving to the village of Newbiggin
0:35:08 > 0:35:13outside the national park 25 miles east of Keswick.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16It's a pretty village in a tranquil location, so, for more life,
0:35:16 > 0:35:21Ben and Sarah could head to Temple Sowerby just a mile away.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25Named after the Knights Templar, the village has a school and a medical practice,
0:35:25 > 0:35:29something that might interest Ben who is looking to establish his own dental surgery.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36Now I think this is a very nice way to start any day's house hunting.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38- What do you think?- I love that.
0:35:38 > 0:35:40It's stunning from the outside. Beautiful.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42Absolutely gorgeous, it really is.
0:35:42 > 0:35:44Now, we do see a lot of village locations on this show,
0:35:44 > 0:35:50as you can imagine, but I have to say I think for my money this is one of the best.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53It's fabulous. I love the stone fronting, I love the windows, love everything.
0:35:53 > 0:35:57- This does kind of say to me country dentist.- Yeah, it does, doesn't it?
0:35:57 > 0:36:01It's a bit of All Creatures Great And Small really, isn't it, you know?
0:36:01 > 0:36:03Can we see it?
0:36:03 > 0:36:04Yeah, all right.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13- So now we're a little bit closer, are we getting more excited?- Yeah.
0:36:13 > 0:36:15I love the stone. Really nice.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17- This is technically your back door. - Right.
0:36:17 > 0:36:22Bear in mind this structure as well, this will become more apparent as we go through.
0:36:22 > 0:36:26- OK.- OK. - I've got a few ideas for you there, but I think you're going to love it.
0:36:30 > 0:36:34- Right, let's start in the kitchen, straight through the back door.- Yeah.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37- Yeah.- What do you reckon?
0:36:37 > 0:36:41I like it. It's certainly a good size. It's...
0:36:41 > 0:36:43- Well finished. - Yeah.- A really nice finish, oak.
0:36:43 > 0:36:44The oak panels are lovely.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48- Yeah. I mean, there are options with reconfiguring this.- Yeah.
0:36:48 > 0:36:50I think the key thing to consider is the space in which it sits...
0:36:50 > 0:36:52- Absolutely. - ..and how you would change that.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55- Obviously, the island is taking up a lot of space.- Yeah, it is.
0:36:55 > 0:37:00In general, I think you get the idea that the finish throughout this property is pretty good.
0:37:00 > 0:37:01It looks really good. Good start, yeah.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04- So, how about a bit of Victorian opulence?- OK.
0:37:04 > 0:37:08- This way.- Excellent.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11- See what I mean?- Oh!
0:37:11 > 0:37:14- Come on in.- This is a lovely room. - Come on in, look at that.- Oh!
0:37:14 > 0:37:17- That's lovely.- That's original.
0:37:17 > 0:37:19- It's fantastic. Is the surround original?- Yeah.
0:37:19 > 0:37:20- The whole thing is original.- My gosh.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23- And it works. A nice working fire. - The tiles are beautiful.
0:37:23 > 0:37:26- I love the windows in here.- Yeah. - That's just gorgeous.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28The kind of feel that I like.
0:37:28 > 0:37:32If you like this, you're going to love what's through here. Come and look at this.
0:37:34 > 0:37:38Oh, this room is absolutely gorgeous!
0:37:38 > 0:37:41- What do you think, Ben?- Yeah, the fireplace, the window, it's just...
0:37:41 > 0:37:43Oh, it's absolutely awesome.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46- That's fabulous. Are they the original tiles?- Yeah, yeah.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49- I mean, it's just gorgeous. - It is.- Just the way...
0:37:49 > 0:37:53Nothing's been changed, has it? The windows are even more impressive.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55And the view out to your front garden.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57- Yeah.- It's not bad that, is it?
0:37:57 > 0:38:00In terms of a sojourn in Victoriana, this is working?
0:38:00 > 0:38:03This is working very well. Very, very well.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05Yeah, this is working well. I'm loving the high doors.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07High doors, high ceilings.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09Does it continue upstairs?
0:38:09 > 0:38:11- Let's hope so.- Let's hope so.
0:38:11 > 0:38:15Well, so far, so good, but we have been in this situation before.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19Let's hope the upstairs can sustain their enthusiasm.
0:38:19 > 0:38:24Off the landing are three double bedrooms, one with exposed wooden floors,
0:38:24 > 0:38:30- another with an en-suite shower room and the master. - Oh, I actually love this wallpaper.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33- What about it? - It's like Chinoiserie, isn't it?
0:38:33 > 0:38:36- It's got that Victoriana feel.- Yeah. - Obviously the paper's not original.
0:38:36 > 0:38:40- A good sized room. The wallpaper's not to my taste.- I love it.
0:38:40 > 0:38:44- I was waiting for you to pick up on that. - We'll have a debate over that.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47Right, let's continue that way.
0:38:47 > 0:38:49After you, Ben. And he doesn't have to duck!
0:38:50 > 0:38:54- OK.- Oh,
0:38:54 > 0:38:58- it's a big bathroom.- It's... It's big enough.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01Again, whether Ben would go for the paper, I wonder.
0:39:01 > 0:39:05- Actually, in this room, the paper's nice, I like it.- Hurray!
0:39:05 > 0:39:09- Yeah.- I like that wood panel. - Yeah.- I like the finish.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12I think I'd be tempted to change it and put a roll top bath in here.
0:39:12 > 0:39:17- And then you can lie in the bath and look out at the garden.- Exactly. Just see that lovely big bath.- OK.
0:39:17 > 0:39:22- Let's go back downstairs and continue inside. There's more.- Ooh!
0:39:22 > 0:39:25- Yeah.- After you. Down the stairs.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28I'm getting a really good feeling about this house.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32I think it's hitting just the right spot.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36So, back through off of the kitchen we've got this.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38Oh, I wasn't expecting this!
0:39:38 > 0:39:40- No. A staircase?- Here's your snug.
0:39:40 > 0:39:45Yeah. The snug here and up there we've got you a fourth bedroom.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47- Guests.- Yeah.- Kids.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49- Yeah. - You know, that would work a treat.
0:39:49 > 0:39:56Off the snug there is also a utility room, a small study and a spacious garage.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59But it's time to head outside to explore the outbuilding
0:39:59 > 0:40:04which I think would make an ideal annex for Ben's parents.
0:40:04 > 0:40:07So, there is this barn. It's very pretty, actually.
0:40:07 > 0:40:11- It's lovely.- It used to have a pigsty under it.- Yes.- Yeah.
0:40:11 > 0:40:16It's great. How do you think your mum and dad would feel about living in the pigsty, Ben?
0:40:16 > 0:40:18They'll get used it, I think.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21I mean, would you be interested in converting this in some manner?
0:40:21 > 0:40:23- I think so. - Yeah, I think if it was nice.
0:40:23 > 0:40:26Kids, you know, that would work a treat.
0:40:26 > 0:40:29Considering the reasons we're thinking of converting, I think it would be.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31And you've got loads of space...
0:40:31 > 0:40:34- Yeah, there's still tons of space behind. - Come and have a look.- Fantastic.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40Well, family house, family garden.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42- Look at this!- Great sized lawn.
0:40:42 > 0:40:44Brilliant lawn. I mean, you know,
0:40:44 > 0:40:48whether you have sons or daughters in the future they're going to love playing around up here.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51This is great. Absolutely glorious.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53So, um...
0:40:53 > 0:40:55how much do you like it?
0:40:57 > 0:40:58I like it a lot.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01This is the hardest part of the whole thing, I think.
0:41:01 > 0:41:03- It's kind of a difficult one to price in some ways.- Yeah.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06I think it must be pretty much close near the budget.
0:41:06 > 0:41:10- I'll say this time, what, bang on, 650,000?- 650,000.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13I'm going to say 685.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15685.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18You are going to love this.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20565.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23- No!- That is...
0:41:23 > 0:41:24No!
0:41:24 > 0:41:27Where do we sign?
0:41:27 > 0:41:32That is amazing because that would give us loads of scope as well to finish that barn off,
0:41:32 > 0:41:36maybe put a huge kitchen in there and it would still be under budget.
0:41:36 > 0:41:40- That would be phenomenal. - I'm astounded.- Way under budget. - Fantastic.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42- Go and explore. I know you can't wait to get back in there.- I can't.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46Go and enjoy. Figure out what you're going to do with all that change!
0:41:47 > 0:41:54At £565,000, this house is over 100,000 under budget.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57This would give Sarah and Ben plenty of cash to convert the barn
0:41:57 > 0:42:01into something more liveable for Ben's parents.
0:42:01 > 0:42:06There's an attractive kitchen diner and many fine period features in the sitting and dining room.
0:42:06 > 0:42:11Upstairs are the requisite four bedrooms, one with en-suite,
0:42:11 > 0:42:17and outside there's a garage, the barn and all of it set within one acre of land.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20Brilliant first impressions of the house.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22The stonework is absolutely to die for.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25This is the original barn, isn't it?
0:42:25 > 0:42:28- Upstairs.- It's absolutely brilliant.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30It's absolutely ideal. This could be a great living space.
0:42:30 > 0:42:36I think the outside barn building has got absolute bags of potential and obviously with the house being
0:42:36 > 0:42:39quite a long way under budget, it gives us loads of scope,
0:42:39 > 0:42:42not too much pressure, to actually do that to a really high standard.
0:42:42 > 0:42:44I really like this property.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47I think I've fallen a little bit in love with it.
0:42:47 > 0:42:53Each room is individual, it has a purpose and all good sized, as well.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56When Jules told us how much the property was, I just wanted to know where to sign.
0:42:56 > 0:43:01I think it's fantastic at the price that it's at and also with the potential that it's got.
0:43:01 > 0:43:04Ah, Sarah and Ben!
0:43:04 > 0:43:08- I seem to have spent my entire time this week tearing you away...- Yeah.
0:43:08 > 0:43:10..and this is no exception, is it?
0:43:10 > 0:43:13- I think this is the toughest one. I absolutely love this house.- Yeah.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16- I really do. - Good. Well, it's not over yet.
0:43:16 > 0:43:18- Come on.- OK.
0:43:26 > 0:43:32Throughout the centuries, great artists like John Ruskin and JMW Turner
0:43:32 > 0:43:37have drawn inspiration from this breath-taking landscape.
0:43:37 > 0:43:42Art-lovers Ben and Sarah are keen to fill their new home with original pieces.
0:43:42 > 0:43:47So they've come to a spot that doubles up as an unlikely gallery - Grizedale Forest.
0:43:47 > 0:43:53Hayley Skipper, the Arts Development Officer has come to take them into the woods.
0:43:53 > 0:44:01Grizedale was the first forest to create trails and invite visitors to use the forest for recreation.
0:44:01 > 0:44:04Now, we have a network of walking and cycling trails.
0:44:04 > 0:44:09Covering 6,000 acres, this is the largest forest in Cumbria,
0:44:09 > 0:44:12attracting around a quarter of a million visitors a year.
0:44:14 > 0:44:18They come to admire the work of sculptors like Richard Harris,
0:44:18 > 0:44:25and gaze at exhibitions like this one consisting of 19 giant photographs hung between the trees.
0:44:25 > 0:44:30Here we are in the Ghosts In The Wood exhibition by Mike Smallcombe.
0:44:30 > 0:44:33It's a fascinating way of exhibiting art.
0:44:33 > 0:44:35It's different, isn't it?
0:44:35 > 0:44:40Given the vagaries of the weather in the Lakes, how do these pictures survive?
0:44:40 > 0:44:44They're all printed on a special waterproof canvas. It's an industrial process.
0:44:44 > 0:44:50And the artist developed a special hanging system, so when the trees move in the wind,
0:44:50 > 0:44:54the whole thing can move enough that it doesn't get blown away.
0:44:54 > 0:45:00I'm hoping to blow Sarah and Ben away as it's time to take them to the mystery house.
0:45:04 > 0:45:08Well, at long last it's time to reveal the mystery house to Sarah and to Ben.
0:45:08 > 0:45:14Now, so far we've been completely spoiled with the really high quality of property on offer here in Cumbria,
0:45:14 > 0:45:18but it's the mystery house so we're looking to try something a little bit different.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21We've seen an awful lot of old, now for a bit of new.
0:45:23 > 0:45:27So, what have we got for you for the mystery house, I wonder?
0:45:27 > 0:45:31I'm quite excited about this. A little bit apprehensive, but quite excited.
0:45:35 > 0:45:38The mystery property is located in the hamlet of Park Head
0:45:38 > 0:45:42about two miles from the village of Kirkoswald.
0:45:42 > 0:45:45Named after St Oswald, the King of Northumbria,
0:45:45 > 0:45:52Kirkoswald lies over the River Eden and is a former winner of Cumbria's Best Kept Village competition.
0:45:52 > 0:45:56Overlooking its two pubs, primary school and cobbled Market Square,
0:45:56 > 0:46:01the village has a rather unique feature, a bell tower detached from its church.
0:46:01 > 0:46:07Perched on top of a hill, it was used to warn villagers of an approach from Scots raiders.
0:46:10 > 0:46:13Right, now, the mystery house.
0:46:14 > 0:46:16Something slightly different.
0:46:16 > 0:46:18- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:46:18 > 0:46:23- Very different. - Quite new. We've gone for a slightly contemporary twist here.
0:46:23 > 0:46:26- Can you hear that? Pigs.- Yeah, pigs.
0:46:26 > 0:46:28Pigs, look at them!
0:46:28 > 0:46:31Pigs, how about that? You see, country life, there it is, OK?
0:46:31 > 0:46:34- They want feeding.- Well, what we've got is this structure here.
0:46:34 > 0:46:38Now, buried in amongst all that is a 1900 barn.
0:46:38 > 0:46:40- Right.- All will become clear as we go through it,
0:46:40 > 0:46:44but not only do you get that, but you also get this structure, too.
0:46:44 > 0:46:47- This is an enormous studio.- Wow!
0:46:47 > 0:46:49- Yeah, it's a house by itself. - Well, it is.
0:46:49 > 0:46:52And obviously the thinking here is really to give you something
0:46:52 > 0:46:55- that does have aesthetically a very different feel, as well.- Yeah.
0:46:55 > 0:46:59It's certainly aesthetically got a very different feel!
0:46:59 > 0:47:01Ben?
0:47:01 > 0:47:03Location, yeah. The views are beautiful.
0:47:03 > 0:47:08The modern feel of the house isn't something I wouldn't have thought of,
0:47:08 > 0:47:10but let's give it a chance.
0:47:10 > 0:47:12- Trust us.- Yeah.- Go with it.- OK.
0:47:12 > 0:47:14Come on.
0:47:14 > 0:47:21Now I know Sarah and Ben are keen on period properties, but the mystery house is all about pushing boundaries
0:47:21 > 0:47:27- and this property does just that by mixing old and new to stunning effect.- Thank you.
0:47:27 > 0:47:30Come into the mystery house. Grab the door, Ben.
0:47:30 > 0:47:33Let's... Let's start in here. In you come.
0:47:33 > 0:47:37The kitchen is lovely. I like the layout.
0:47:37 > 0:47:40A really nice modern kitchen. Great view out over the valley.
0:47:40 > 0:47:44It is actually a lot more modern than the kind of thing I was after,
0:47:44 > 0:47:46but actually very appealing.
0:47:46 > 0:47:49- This is all pretty recently added... - Yeah.- ..this chunk we're in now.
0:47:49 > 0:47:54There's a bedroom behind there and a downstairs family bathroom and above us there's another bedroom,
0:47:54 > 0:47:58but if you come through here, this is quite interesting.
0:47:58 > 0:48:01- Now, this is a pod.- Right.
0:48:01 > 0:48:05Known in the trade as a pod, a self-supporting steel structure
0:48:05 > 0:48:08that's been added to the old building, which is through there, which we'll explore in a moment,
0:48:08 > 0:48:12but what it gives you is this huge light airy room.
0:48:12 > 0:48:15- Yeah.- Again, with a bit more decking out there and so on.
0:48:15 > 0:48:18That window, that wall is beautiful, really nice.
0:48:18 > 0:48:22And the way you can just walk out on to the deck and see into the valley, I'm really pleased with that.
0:48:22 > 0:48:25This is sort of proper open plan...
0:48:25 > 0:48:29- Yeah.- ..living in a way. That's quite interesting, though.- OK.
0:48:29 > 0:48:31There's a mezzanine which is...
0:48:31 > 0:48:33I think originally been open and now they've kind of boarded it in
0:48:33 > 0:48:38and glazed it to provide one of the five bedrooms that are on offer here.
0:48:38 > 0:48:41- OK.- Let's have a look. Come on, follow me.
0:48:44 > 0:48:46Right, come on in.
0:48:46 > 0:48:49The view from up here, down there.
0:48:49 > 0:48:51- Wow!- That's quite cool, isn't it? - It is, yeah.
0:48:51 > 0:48:55- It's quite different, isn't it? - Yeah.- I really like that.- Quite a fun way to wake up.
0:48:55 > 0:48:57- Yeah, that would be nice. - This is the new bit.- Right.
0:48:57 > 0:49:02- You're dying for a fix of old, aren't you?- Yeah, please.- Come on.
0:49:04 > 0:49:08I suspect that Ben and Sarah aren't so keen on the modern parts of this house,
0:49:08 > 0:49:14so we're going to step back in time and cross into the old barn which I hope will win them over.
0:49:16 > 0:49:18Right, Sarah, come on in.
0:49:18 > 0:49:21- Deep breath.- Ah, stone!
0:49:21 > 0:49:23This is more like it!
0:49:23 > 0:49:26It just feels a bit older.
0:49:26 > 0:49:28- Yeah.- Yeah.- Yeah. Something of a split level.- Yeah.
0:49:28 > 0:49:33- Now, the whole thing is configured currently as a holiday let.- Right.
0:49:33 > 0:49:34- It's quite a cosy little... - I like this.- Spot.
0:49:34 > 0:49:36- This feels good.- Yeah, I like this.
0:49:36 > 0:49:39Well, let's explore a bit more of this, then.
0:49:39 > 0:49:41- OK.- Seeing as we're liking it.- Yeah.
0:49:41 > 0:49:43- Down there.- Lovely.
0:49:43 > 0:49:48Along the corridor is the family bathroom as well as two light and airy bedrooms.
0:49:49 > 0:49:53Ben and Sarah certainly seem happier in the older part
0:49:53 > 0:49:58of the mystery property, but I think they're being a bit poker faced when it comes to the full house.
0:49:58 > 0:50:04I'm hoping the timber clad property next door will force their hand.
0:50:04 > 0:50:06OK.
0:50:07 > 0:50:11This bit's really nice. A really new feel to it.
0:50:11 > 0:50:16What you've got is this suspended floor in the middle, which offers living area.
0:50:16 > 0:50:18There's a couple of beds up there at the moment and a bit of storage.
0:50:18 > 0:50:22It's definitely got some potential. Gloriously light space.
0:50:22 > 0:50:26- It's almost like a one bedroom apartment.- OK.- OK.
0:50:26 > 0:50:31Let's get done with the buildings, let's go and have a look at that view.
0:50:31 > 0:50:36I'm convinced many young buyers would snap up this creative and unusual property, but I don't think
0:50:36 > 0:50:43Ben and Sarah have been won over, but if nothing else hopefully it may have reaffirmed what they're looking for.
0:50:44 > 0:50:49So, we've seen all the property that there is on offer. Land-wise it all sits in about an acre.
0:50:49 > 0:50:53- OK.- You've got this little orchard area, the paddock beyond,
0:50:53 > 0:50:58- right down to the stone wall and the area including the pigs.- Excellent.
0:50:58 > 0:51:01- So, how much...- How much? - ..is the mystery house worth?
0:51:01 > 0:51:05I'm not very good at this, so I'm going to say 575,000.
0:51:05 > 0:51:07575.
0:51:07 > 0:51:12I'm going to say a little bit more. I'm going to say 605.
0:51:12 > 0:51:18- 605?!- Your figures are just randomly plucked from nowhere, aren't they? - Interesting figure.
0:51:18 > 0:51:22OK, well, you're both not far off, really.
0:51:22 > 0:51:26- You've straddled it.- Right, somewhere in the middle.
0:51:26 > 0:51:29- 595.- 595.- 595.
0:51:29 > 0:51:31- So comfortably under budget. - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:51:31 > 0:51:33Whether it's your kind of property,
0:51:33 > 0:51:37- we'll have to wait and see, won't we? - Yeah.- You will.
0:51:37 > 0:51:42- Go and have an explore again, your final one, and I'll catch up with you later.- Thank you.- Off you go.
0:51:45 > 0:51:52Coming in under budget at £595,000 this is a unique property combining old and new.
0:51:52 > 0:51:56There's a stylishly fitted kitchen diner leading out on to a decked area
0:51:56 > 0:52:00and full height living area with a glazed wall.
0:52:00 > 0:52:04There are five bedrooms, one with an en-suite wet room and two bathrooms
0:52:04 > 0:52:09and outside there is the timber clad studio.
0:52:09 > 0:52:11When we first arrived, quite a shock.
0:52:11 > 0:52:17I didn't like the finish of the outside, but I was quite pleased with some parts of the interior.
0:52:17 > 0:52:20There were some things that I liked about the mystery property.
0:52:20 > 0:52:27The feature glass wall in the pod was stunning visually, a great view out onto the hills.
0:52:27 > 0:52:32So, this cladding, then, do you think we could change this at all?
0:52:32 > 0:52:34Well, you could obviously paint it and change the colour,
0:52:34 > 0:52:39but I think the actual structure of the cladding would be something that you'd have to live with.
0:52:39 > 0:52:40I'm not really sure I could.
0:52:40 > 0:52:43- Found some friends here, Jules? - Oh, they're great, aren't they?
0:52:43 > 0:52:47I love them. Rare breed pigs, they're absolutely gorgeous.
0:52:47 > 0:52:50- Now then, house tours are over.- Yeah.
0:52:50 > 0:52:55- We should get you somewhere where you can have a think about everything that we have shown you.- Yeah.
0:52:55 > 0:53:01- 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!
0:53:05 > 0:53:09Sarah and Ben's tour of Cumbria and its properties is drawing to a close
0:53:09 > 0:53:11and they have plenty to think about.
0:53:13 > 0:53:18Well, as you can see, the harvest is over up here in Cumbria, they're already ploughing in the stubble,
0:53:18 > 0:53:22and indeed our show is pretty much over, too, apart from one last crucial moment.
0:53:22 > 0:53:25It is of course decision time for Ben and for Sarah.
0:53:25 > 0:53:28What are they going to do next? I wonder.
0:53:37 > 0:53:39Well, chaps, here we are. It's decision time
0:53:39 > 0:53:43and where better place than there, look at that, the Pennines?
0:53:43 > 0:53:47Not where we started, though. We started in the heart of the Lakes in Cumbria.
0:53:47 > 0:53:50That's where you thought you wanted to be, have we changed your mind?
0:53:50 > 0:53:55I think so. Seeing the houses outside the National Park has been a massive eye opener.
0:53:55 > 0:53:58Yeah. Well, let's just revisit the tour we've taken.
0:53:58 > 0:54:02It started in the park with that old lodge underneath Skiddaw, the mountain.
0:54:02 > 0:54:04What did you think of that one?
0:54:04 > 0:54:06I thought it was absolutely beautiful.
0:54:06 > 0:54:11The outside was everything I like in a house. That kitchen diner just absolutely blew me away.
0:54:11 > 0:54:15For me, upstairs was quite a large anti-climax.
0:54:15 > 0:54:20Not much headroom and I just felt it was like a different house almost.
0:54:20 > 0:54:24Then we went into something altogether different, the farmhouse.
0:54:24 > 0:54:27Much bigger rooms. Much bigger spread.
0:54:27 > 0:54:32I was amazed when we drove into that farmyard and we said, "Which bit's ours?"
0:54:32 > 0:54:38And to get the response, "All of it", and then four acres was astounding.
0:54:38 > 0:54:43I was quite drawn to it and I was amazed at what you could get for your money. Fantastic.
0:54:43 > 0:54:49Our final day's house-hunting began with that extraordinary old hunting lodge on the village green.
0:54:49 > 0:54:52- Yeah. Yeah, I loved that house. - Yeah, we did.- Loved it.
0:54:52 > 0:54:56If you asked me to draw a picture of a house when I was a child, I'd have drawn that.
0:54:56 > 0:55:01It was absolutely gorgeous. The use of space was absolutely beautiful.
0:55:01 > 0:55:07The barn and the garage had bags of potential, plenty of room for the folk to come up.
0:55:07 > 0:55:10There was one more to come and that was the mystery house, very different.
0:55:10 > 0:55:12Very controversial, I think.
0:55:12 > 0:55:15Yeah, very different. There were certain things about it I really liked.
0:55:15 > 0:55:19The studio itself I thought was really nice, loads of light,
0:55:19 > 0:55:22- but we had a problem with the actual house itself.- Yeah.
0:55:22 > 0:55:27Not so much the inside, but more the actual exterior of the house.
0:55:27 > 0:55:29Well, we now need to draw this to a close.
0:55:29 > 0:55:32I suspect it's going to be of no surprise to anybody watching
0:55:32 > 0:55:38what you are going to do next, but go on, you tell me, let's hear it from the horse's mouth, as it were.
0:55:38 > 0:55:43- Of all the houses we saw the hunting lodge was our favourite by quite a distance.- Yeah.
0:55:43 > 0:55:48- We're certainly considering placing an offer on the house. - You are?- Yeah.
0:55:48 > 0:55:53- We loved it. It was just beautiful. - We're just having a big debate now over what kind of...
0:55:53 > 0:55:55what kind of price to actually go in at.
0:55:55 > 0:55:59If that's how strongly you feel about it, I suspect that is going to be your new future home.
0:55:59 > 0:56:02- Hopefully.- Fingers crossed. - Well, guys, well done.
0:56:02 > 0:56:05Very best of luck and, as ever, let us know how you get on.
0:56:05 > 0:56:07- We will.- Thank you.
0:56:10 > 0:56:14There is nothing quite like messing around in the countryside.
0:56:14 > 0:56:18It's said that up here in Cumbria you can get four seasons in one day,
0:56:18 > 0:56:22but I'm delighted to say that on this trip we've had sunshine all the way,
0:56:22 > 0:56:26and in more ways than one because we've had that classic combination
0:56:26 > 0:56:29of great houses, good budget and, as you can see,
0:56:29 > 0:56:35glorious countryside, all of which has combined, I think, to produce a very likely happy ever after
0:56:35 > 0:56:41for Ben and for Sarah, and as far as I'm concerned, frankly it really doesn't get much better than that!
0:56:43 > 0:56:48I'm pleased to say that Ben and Sarah have been back to see the lodge and are still very keen.
0:56:48 > 0:56:53They're now looking into dental practice opportunities for Ben before putting in an offer.
0:56:53 > 0:56:56So, if you want to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales,
0:56:56 > 0:57:01Northern Ireland or England and need our help, please apply online at...
0:57:18 > 0:57:20Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:57:20 > 0:57:22Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk