0:00:02 > 0:00:06Today I'm in the northern county that's home to Castle Howard.
0:00:06 > 0:00:12This resplendent baroque-style masterpiece was first designed back in 1699 by a playwright
0:00:12 > 0:00:17with no previous experience of architecture. Now it's better known
0:00:17 > 0:00:23from the TV and film adaptations of Evelyn Waugh's classic novel Brideshead Revisited.
0:00:23 > 0:00:28So join me as I soak up the sumptuous decadence and we escape to the country.
0:00:40 > 0:00:47'In today's show, I'll be helping a couple dreaming of the good life make their move to the country.'
0:00:47 > 0:00:50This is just astounding.
0:00:50 > 0:00:56- 'I'll be showing them some stunning properties...' - I just want to get my apron on!
0:00:56 > 0:01:01'And there's the Mystery House, which might broaden their horizons.'
0:01:01 > 0:01:06I'm in North Yorkshire, England's largest rural county,
0:01:06 > 0:01:12and home to some of the finest stately homes in Britain. Where better to start than here?
0:01:12 > 0:01:14Castle Howard.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18Big certainly means beautiful in this part of the country.
0:01:18 > 0:01:24North Yorkshire is the largest of the four counties that make up the entire Yorkshire region.
0:01:24 > 0:01:30Much of the rugged landscape falls within the county's two National Parks.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34With 680 square miles of dramatic scenery to enjoy,
0:01:34 > 0:01:38it's no wonder the Dales attracts 9 million visitors a year.
0:01:38 > 0:01:44'Besides tourism, the land is also home to a large and thriving farming community.
0:01:44 > 0:01:52'Typically, the housing stock is built from Yorkshire stone, giving a rich architectural heritage.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56'With such beautiful properties and landscape,
0:01:56 > 0:02:00'it's easy to see why North Yorkshire is an attractive option.'
0:02:00 > 0:02:08Detached properties in North Yorkshire cost 4% less than the national average at £226,000.
0:02:08 > 0:02:14The area's commutable proximity to both York and Leeds makes it highly desirable.
0:02:14 > 0:02:20I think perhaps because of both of these reasons, the property market is thriving.
0:02:20 > 0:02:25Estate agents say they are selling up to 14 houses a week, since January.
0:02:25 > 0:02:31That's pretty impressive in the current climate. We'll have to be quick off the mark today.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34Before we get started on our search,
0:02:34 > 0:02:39take a look at this selection of properties in North Yorkshire.
0:02:39 > 0:02:47For £875,000, this Grade 2-listed, six-bedroomed country house in Normanby is bang up-to-date
0:02:47 > 0:02:51with its large family kitchen and tasteful reception rooms.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55From its hilltop location, you can survey its 15 acres.
0:02:55 > 0:03:01This four-bedroomed house near Markington could be yours for £625,000.
0:03:01 > 0:03:08As well as those late-1920s formal rooms, there's a modern kitchen with breakfast bar.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11Outside, a stream runs through the mature gardens.
0:03:11 > 0:03:18For a waterside retreat, this three-bedroomed house in Ripon could be a catch at £350,000.
0:03:18 > 0:03:23Downstairs offers light, spacious reception rooms and modern kitchen.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27Upstairs doesn't disappoint, with views overlooking the lock.
0:03:27 > 0:03:33With such desirable homes on the market, the signs are good for today's house hunters.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35So let's meet them.
0:03:36 > 0:03:43Paula, a dog breeder, and Philip, an operations manager, live in Kings Langley in Hertfordshire.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47Paula bought the house in the mid '90s for £130,000.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Having lived together for a year, they want a dramatic change.
0:03:51 > 0:03:56We're in a three-bedroom, semi-detached property, large garden, smallish kitchen.
0:03:56 > 0:04:02This house isn't ideal for us now. It doesn't meet our future needs.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06What dreams are they looking to realise with a move to the country?
0:04:06 > 0:04:11The lifestyle that we dream of is going to be completely different.
0:04:11 > 0:04:16It's going to be living off the land, it's keeping livestock,
0:04:16 > 0:04:19growing our own vegetables.
0:04:19 > 0:04:26Paula's no stranger to keeping animals. Her six Afghan hounds are a major factor in her move.
0:04:26 > 0:04:32One of my great passions is my dogs. I can't wait to love to the country and take them for big, long walks
0:04:32 > 0:04:37through the countryside and hills. We're all going to benefit from it.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39I just can't wait to do it.
0:04:39 > 0:04:45Dogs will be a key part of this move and a moneyspinner if she can set up a kennel business.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48But what's the appeal of Yorkshire?
0:04:48 > 0:04:52Partly because I fell in love with the place years ago.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57I'm talking about when I was 15 or 16. It would fulfil our dreams.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01And they've got a definite idea of what they want.
0:05:01 > 0:05:08- Key features are that real, cottagey, Olde Worlde-type property. - Cosy, low ceilings...
0:05:08 > 0:05:15- Beams.- Inglenook fireplace. - Yeah, absolutely.- Nice views over rolling hillside.
0:05:15 > 0:05:22The land, obviously, is most important. And we want a really nice big kitchen, don't we?
0:05:22 > 0:05:27I love cooking, but we just need more space in the kitchen.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30- A farmhouse-type kitchen.- Log fires.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32Goosepimply!
0:05:34 > 0:05:38And Paula has her own room requirements.
0:05:38 > 0:05:43One of the most important things to me is a nice, big utility room like we have here.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46This is where my dogs tend to live.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50That helps me keep them a little bit separate from the house
0:05:50 > 0:05:54with not so much housework as if they're running around!
0:05:54 > 0:05:57This is quite an important aspect.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01Are they ready for a huge challenge?
0:06:01 > 0:06:07- We're halfway through our lives, essentially. If we don't do it now, we will never, ever do it.- No.
0:06:07 > 0:06:13Before they can move to the country, they need to find out how much money they have to play with.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17- We've got Paula's house valued. - It's a well-presented family home.
0:06:17 > 0:06:22It's a very popular location. I value this at £395,000.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26I was quite pleased with the estate agent's valuation.
0:06:26 > 0:06:34With the current situation, I thought the house prices would have come down quite a bit.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37So I was quite pleased with that.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40And what's the budget for their next property?
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Our budget is £550,000.
0:06:48 > 0:06:53So our dog lovers are looking for a characterful, three-bedroom property with original features
0:06:53 > 0:07:01and a large kitchen, but I think the key will be the outside space particularly how much they need.
0:07:01 > 0:07:06They need at least 1-6 acres for this dream of self-sufficiency
0:07:06 > 0:07:12and there's Paula's dogs to consider. They've got a good, healthy budget of £550,000,
0:07:12 > 0:07:18but depending on how much land they need, they may have to compromise on that house.
0:07:18 > 0:07:24Paula and Philip want to find a country home with land, so our search will radiate out from Ripon,
0:07:24 > 0:07:29close to the Yorkshire Dales. I'll take them to three great properties.
0:07:29 > 0:07:36I won't reveal the prices straight away. The last will be the Mystery House for some blue sky thinking.
0:07:37 > 0:07:42- Hello, Phil and Paula.- Hi. - Welcome to scenic Yorkshire.
0:07:42 > 0:07:48Beautifully sounding as well - sheep bleating and birds tweeting. Is this what it's all about for you?
0:07:48 > 0:07:53Absolutely. The open space, it brings back childhood memories.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57- So you've chosen North Yorkshire. - Very much so.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59- A childhood memory.- Yeah.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03- How important is it to you to have land?- Very important.
0:08:03 > 0:08:09I know it sounds a bit cliched, but we want to own our own livestock, live off the land,
0:08:09 > 0:08:16- grow our own vegetables. - That's a HUGE lifestyle change, going from 9 to 5.
0:08:16 > 0:08:21- Absolutely.- Ready for that?- Yeah. - And you work with dogs at the moment.
0:08:21 > 0:08:28I've done that for about 30 years now. So to move here to have some space and set up a smallholding
0:08:28 > 0:08:30and some boarding kennels.
0:08:30 > 0:08:36So we need to find not just a property, but enough land for livestock and a kennel business.
0:08:36 > 0:08:41- How much money do we have? - The budget is £550,000.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43That's not bad at all. Thank you.
0:08:43 > 0:08:50North Yorkshire is pretty popular. It has wonderful scenery. I'm sure we'll find wonderful properties,
0:08:50 > 0:08:54including the Mystery House, which will shake things up a bit.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58- Lots to do, a lot of ground to cover. Shall we hit the road?- Yeah.
0:08:58 > 0:09:04With a budget of £550,000 Paula and Philip want a detached property that has:
0:09:17 > 0:09:20This is a big change, really.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22It's massive. No doubt about it.
0:09:22 > 0:09:29You know, I think we're at that stage in our lives where if we don't do it now, we'll never do it.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31So just embrace it is my motto.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35How much do you know about having a smallholding, raising pigs...?
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Nothing, pretty much.
0:09:38 > 0:09:44- No, absolutely.- Are you scared? - Not really.- It is... I find it quite scary.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47Excitably scary.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51'I'm not sure they know what they are letting themselves in for!'
0:09:53 > 0:09:58We'll start in the quiet village of Galphay, five miles from Ripon.
0:09:58 > 0:10:05If they're after local amenities, there's nearby Kirkby Malzeard, built from Yorkshire limestone.
0:10:05 > 0:10:11It sits in an area of outstanding beauty, offering perfect dog-walking territory for our couple.
0:10:11 > 0:10:17On the edge of the village, we find two limestone weavers' cottages knocked into one.
0:10:17 > 0:10:22- This place is, I think, ideal for you.- OK.- Great village community.
0:10:22 > 0:10:28There's a local village hall where they have quiz nights and you can get as involved as you want to.
0:10:28 > 0:10:34But it's more important that you like the property. Come this way.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37- And have a look at this.- Wow. - Lovely.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41- Is this what you pictured? - Looks good, really nice.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45- Let's get in!- Let's have a look. - You like it that much?
0:10:45 > 0:10:47- It's nice.- Let's go.
0:10:47 > 0:10:53'Well, it's a great first impression, which I'm sure will continue inside.'
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Ohh!
0:10:57 > 0:11:02- That is the reaction I thought I would get. Big smile.- That's nice.
0:11:02 > 0:11:07- First thoughts?- This bit is lovely. - This is just the entrance hallway!
0:11:07 > 0:11:11- It's a generous size, isn't it? - Isn't it just?
0:11:11 > 0:11:15- It used to be the kitchen.- Did it? - It's got beams, character.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19- Lovely. I want to see it all. - Well, you need to see a bit more.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23- If this isn't the kitchen, what is? Come this way.- OK.
0:11:23 > 0:11:30Come down here. Got some lovely beams. But this is what it's really all about.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32Oh, look!
0:11:34 > 0:11:39- Wow. That was a big, big sigh or deep intake of breath there.- Yeah.
0:11:39 > 0:11:44- That's impressive.- Flagstones. - And the range cooker.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46- And that lovely view.- Lovely.
0:11:46 > 0:11:51- So what do you think?- Fantastic. - The size is perfect for us.
0:11:51 > 0:11:56- No more complaining about not enough work surface.- As if!
0:11:57 > 0:12:02- Kitchen thumbs up?- Definitely. - 10 out of 10.- 10 out of 10?!
0:12:02 > 0:12:08- And we haven't shown you the other side yet. Let's get over and see the other cottage.- After you.
0:12:08 > 0:12:13'This property has all the character of a cottage, but is twice the size.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16'We'll take a peek at the dining room.'
0:12:16 > 0:12:21You have dining space in the kitchen and a dining room here.
0:12:21 > 0:12:28- What do you think?- Lovely.- Lovely. - It's really nice. - It's so welcoming.- Warm.
0:12:28 > 0:12:33A great room for entertaining, but you've got another living room. Come through here.
0:12:33 > 0:12:38We're in the other cottage now. Look at this.
0:12:38 > 0:12:43- Oh, this is cosy.- Isn't it cosy? - Everything you expect from a cottage.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47- Let's have a look at the upstairs. - Sure.- OK.
0:12:47 > 0:12:52A fairly short staircase, but it comes up into...
0:12:52 > 0:12:54..this area.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58- Oh, isn't this cute? - Isn't it lovely?- Unexpected.
0:12:58 > 0:13:04- It used to be a bathroom.- Did it? - Look at the window. - We'll head in there in a second.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08Down that corridor you've got three good-sized bedrooms.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12'Upstairs is deceptively spacious.
0:13:12 > 0:13:17'There are two good-sized, light rooms, one with extra loft space,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21'ideal for storage or as a small office.
0:13:21 > 0:13:27'Next to the single room is a small, but adequate bathroom. Now what could be their bedroom...'
0:13:27 > 0:13:30- This is gorgeous.- Oh.- Isn't it?
0:13:30 > 0:13:36- This could be your master bedroom. - It's fantastic.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40- Yeah.- More big... - I just don't know what to say!
0:13:40 > 0:13:43- I think they're good.- They are.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45Oh, it's just...
0:13:45 > 0:13:52- It's gorgeous. - And those deep windows. They've created a window seat.- I love that.
0:13:52 > 0:13:57- Only one thing could make this room even better.- A bathroom?
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Mmm! Come this way.
0:14:00 > 0:14:06- Oh, a dressing room! - You didn't even notice there was no storage space!
0:14:06 > 0:14:12I don't know if I'd keep this like this. Maybe we'd convert one of the other bedrooms.
0:14:12 > 0:14:17- It all leads through to this. - Astounding. Another fabulous room.
0:14:17 > 0:14:23- It's pretty generous for an en-suite in a cottage.- Yeah.- Wonderful.
0:14:23 > 0:14:29- And nothing to do.- You could move straight in. We've still got to look at the outside space.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33- Good point.- I hope that all lives up to what the house has.
0:14:33 > 0:14:39- Is it still very important? If the house was perfect, would you compromise on land?- I don't think...
0:14:39 > 0:14:44Only a certain amount to be able to do what we want to do.
0:14:44 > 0:14:49There's no point in you doing this without being able to do both.
0:14:49 > 0:14:55Then we need to have a look. We'll see how much you get and what you can do with it.
0:14:55 > 0:15:01'Time to scope the outdoors. Fingers crossed there's enough space for the dogs.'
0:15:05 > 0:15:09- Step back outside. It's such a gorgeous day.- It is.
0:15:09 > 0:15:14Come through... into this lovely lawned area.
0:15:14 > 0:15:20- The current owners have planning permission to build a family room extension here.- Right.- OK.
0:15:20 > 0:15:25- So perhaps that could be changed to a utility space.- Yeah, perfect.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30Down here...we have the rest of what could be your land.
0:15:30 > 0:15:35- OK.- Is that a stream?- Yes! A little added extra for you.
0:15:35 > 0:15:41- That's lovely. Where's the boundary? - Well, see that fence there? And that chicken coop?
0:15:41 > 0:15:47- You've got about an acre in total. Down to the fence there.- OK.- Space for chickens, a couple of pigs...
0:15:47 > 0:15:51- Yeah.- And I don't know - is it enough for your kennels?
0:15:51 > 0:15:54Em... I hope so!
0:15:55 > 0:15:57- You're going to find a way!- Yeah!
0:15:57 > 0:16:04- That all depends, of course, on whether you can afford it.- Don't. - Here we go.- Give me a figure.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08- Come on, Paula.- I think you've really pushed the boat out here
0:16:08 > 0:16:15and I think it must be really right on our budget. So I'd say about 550.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17I'll go...520.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19520?
0:16:19 > 0:16:25This one goes to you, Phil. It's actually on the market for £525,000.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29- Wow.- One-nil! - What do you think of that?
0:16:29 > 0:16:33- What do you think?- Good price.- Good. - It's under budget.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37- A bit of money to play with to build kennels.- Yeah.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39Hmm?
0:16:39 > 0:16:45- It just gets better and better. - It does. I think you need to go and have a little exploration.
0:16:45 > 0:16:51- Have a look around, see if it could work for you and I'll find you both later.- Lovely, OK.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53- Back that way.- OK.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59A great start! 525. That is under their budget.
0:16:59 > 0:17:04They could certainly afford it, but how much land do they really need?
0:17:04 > 0:17:10There's potentially enough to accommodate their lifestyle change. There's space for the kennels,
0:17:10 > 0:17:16which Paula could set up in a residential area, providing she gets planning consent.
0:17:16 > 0:17:22There's room for Phil to kick-start his dream of self-sufficiency with a few chickens and a pig or two.
0:17:22 > 0:17:27So, at £525,000, these two cottages knocked into one
0:17:27 > 0:17:31make a lovely, spacious, character property offering.
0:17:41 > 0:17:47- This is lovely, this kitchen. It's your dream kitchen.- It is. It's my favourite room by far.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53- This is one of my favourite rooms. - Yeah, it's probably your favourite.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56I just love the ceiling.
0:17:56 > 0:18:02This house has been absolutely beautiful. I've fallen in love with it.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06Every room has been a surprise and is full of character.
0:18:06 > 0:18:13The house in itself is absolutely fantastic and ticks every single box for Paula and I.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16The only reservation I have is the land,
0:18:16 > 0:18:24inasmuch as is it enough land really to have kennels and livestock?
0:18:25 > 0:18:31- Hello!- Hiya.- I've just been making myself very comfortable in what could be your new home.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35- So much to think about.- I know. - And there's so much more to see.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39Don't get too comfortable. Let's keep going.
0:18:45 > 0:18:50Over the years, we've seen some houses that need a little work,
0:18:50 > 0:18:55but imagine the upkeep involved in looking after this.
0:18:55 > 0:19:01castle Howard in North Yorkshire is one of the most spectacular stately homes in England.
0:19:01 > 0:19:06It was built at the end of the 17th century by Sir John Vanbrugh,
0:19:06 > 0:19:11the playwright and architect for the 3rd Earl of Carlisle.
0:19:11 > 0:19:16'Castle Howard is open to the public and attracts over 200,000 visitors a year.
0:19:16 > 0:19:23'The current owner, the Honourable Simon Howard, has agreed to give us a private tour of the residence,
0:19:23 > 0:19:26'the place that he calls home.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30'Looking after a building like this is a lifetime's work.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34'Restoration is something the Howard family take very seriously.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38'Back in the 1940s, a catastrophic fire swept through the building
0:19:38 > 0:19:46'and they're even now dealing with the consequences, although the Main Hall is a breathtaking spectacle.'
0:19:46 > 0:19:47Wow.
0:19:47 > 0:19:54We say wow a lot on this show about rooms, but I've never seen something so splendid. Magnificent.
0:19:54 > 0:20:01It is wonderful. Vanbrugh's great masterpiece. He was a playwright, and a stage designer,
0:20:01 > 0:20:07- and that's what this is. - It really is pure theatre. The drama in this room, and detail.
0:20:07 > 0:20:13- And it was ravaged by fire. - The fire started over in that wing and ripped through these rooms.
0:20:13 > 0:20:21It took the dome out. It crashed in and you can still see on the floor where some of the damage occurred.
0:20:21 > 0:20:27There's still smoke damage in here on the frescos. All of them need restoration at some stage.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31That's a job I'd love to do to really bring this room alive.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35It's a project I hope I can do before I keel over!
0:20:35 > 0:20:42'Restoring Baroque masterpieces is a costly business, but much has been paid for by film companies
0:20:42 > 0:20:46'keen to take advantage of such an exquisite location.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50'It has twice played host to Brideshead Revisited.
0:20:50 > 0:20:55'The latest film version left some architectural heritage of its one,
0:20:55 > 0:21:00- 'although not in materials Vanbrugh would be familiar with.' - Perspex. MDF.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04But it's a film set. That's what this room is.
0:21:04 > 0:21:09You do question should we keep it, should we get rid of it?
0:21:09 > 0:21:16- It makes sense to keep it as a Brideshead set.- Can we have a look at a room that's been restored?
0:21:16 > 0:21:18Yes, let's go.
0:21:20 > 0:21:26This then is Lady Cawdor's room. It's been totally redone. It was derelict in here.
0:21:26 > 0:21:34A new fireplace, the mirror I bought in an antique shop in London with the two candelabras.
0:21:34 > 0:21:39So you really are involved in the details. You haven't handed it over.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43This is very much my wife and myself.
0:21:43 > 0:21:48This is really my wife's choice of fabric and wallpaper.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52Do you actually use this as a bedroom?
0:21:52 > 0:21:58Very much so. It's one of our main guest bedrooms and occasionally it is open for groups to see.
0:21:58 > 0:22:03- Crikey!- But not to the general public?- Not generally. Partly because of the carpet!
0:22:03 > 0:22:07How do you feel about future generations looking after this?
0:22:07 > 0:22:11I hope they'll be able to. That is the biggest problem we face.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15It's whether families will be able to continue to live in these houses.
0:22:15 > 0:22:22What I'm so thrilled about is that during my lifetime I've seen this house resurrected from the dead.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26It's a bit like the phoenix coming out of the ashes.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29And what I think we've achieved is tremendous.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32It's really exciting that it's vibrant and living.
0:22:32 > 0:22:38'Castle Howard is an inspiring example of the passion and dedication that's needed
0:22:38 > 0:22:44'to keep wonderful buildings like this alive and accessible for generations to come.
0:22:49 > 0:22:55'As the sun sets over the Yorkshire Dales, the first day of our property hunt is at an end.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11'Paula and Philip want to up sticks from Kings Langley in Hertfordshire
0:23:11 > 0:23:14'and start a completely new life in North Yorkshire.
0:23:14 > 0:23:20'With a budget of £550,000, they want a country cottage with land for Paula's kennel business
0:23:20 > 0:23:23'or to realise Phil's dream of a smallholding.
0:23:23 > 0:23:28'So far, they've seen one house, but coming up, it's time to pause for thought.'
0:23:28 > 0:23:33I can see some chin-stroking going on here. The man is thinking.
0:23:33 > 0:23:39'In the mystery house, we serve up a kitchen for Philip that could be a ready-made way to earn a crust.'
0:23:39 > 0:23:42I can't wait to see the rest of it.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46It's the start of another gorgeous day here in idyllic North Yorkshire,
0:23:46 > 0:23:52but if Paula and Phil are going to enjoy this lovely countryside, they need to find a way to pay for it.
0:23:52 > 0:23:58'Our next property takes us 20 miles from Ripon to Leyburn in the heart of Wensleydale.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02'It's a thriving market town with some impressive architecture
0:24:02 > 0:24:06'and is well-served by its range of good, independent shops.
0:24:06 > 0:24:11'There are spectacular views from The Shawl, a natural limestone outcrop just above the town.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15'Our next house is built from the local limestone
0:24:15 > 0:24:19'and could accommodate the kennel business and the smallholding.'
0:24:19 > 0:24:22- We are looking at a barn conversion. - Oh, right.- Ah!
0:24:22 > 0:24:25- Wow!- What does that say to you?
0:24:25 > 0:24:29- It looks good, actually. It looks really nice.- You see a cattle barn.
0:24:29 > 0:24:34- First impressions?- Good. - Let's get in there.- Yeah.- Now!
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Let's go.
0:24:36 > 0:24:41'It's all smiles so far, which I hope will continue as we take a closer look.'
0:24:42 > 0:24:45Right, step inside.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48- Oh, look!- This is nice, isn't it?
0:24:49 > 0:24:52- This is the original cattle barn. - Right.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56- It's a big, spacious room. - It is very large.
0:24:56 > 0:25:01- But has it got enough character for you?- With a little bit of work, certainly, yeah.
0:25:01 > 0:25:06Fantastic. Come this way. Let's see how you feel about the next room.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12- This is all right.- I thought it might be to your liking.- Yeah.
0:25:12 > 0:25:18- You are the chef.- Apparently so. - What do you think of this layout? - It's good.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22It'll probably need a bit of updating, but that's just our taste.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26- Yeah, just change it to your taste. - Yeah.- Good.
0:25:26 > 0:25:32- So, so far, the downstairs of this house is doing well?- It is.- Yeah. - But there's more. Come this way.
0:25:32 > 0:25:37'On the far side of the kitchen there's a small bathroom with walk-in shower,
0:25:37 > 0:25:44'a handy utility room, a further light, bright bathroom and a single bedroom with office space.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46'Now let's head upstairs.'
0:25:46 > 0:25:52- Up here, you have a toilet, so you don't have to run downstairs in the middle of the night.- That's handy.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56- Second bedroom...- OK. - And, of course, the master.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00- Wow!- Wow! And look at those views!
0:26:00 > 0:26:02- Great, huh?- Isn't it fab?- Crikey!
0:26:02 > 0:26:07- Looking out over the whole of Yorkshire, it feels like. - Waking up to that every morning!
0:26:07 > 0:26:12With a view like that, the rest of it pales into insignificance. Nice, comfy bed.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16Enough room for storage. Another room that seems to work for you.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20- Inside of the house, we've done well.- Looking good.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24But we need to address the land. Let's get outside and have a look.
0:26:24 > 0:26:29'Overall, they seem to like the house, so I hope the land outside will clinch it.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32'Let's take a tour of the garden.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36'There's the sun trap of a patio area, a small vegetable garden,
0:26:36 > 0:26:41'and at the far end, there's even more space for growing your own with a second greenhouse.'
0:26:41 > 0:26:48- They've divided it up quite nicely - your own space to grow vegetables, be self-sufficient.- Yeah.
0:26:48 > 0:26:53- This is ideal.- This bit's sorted. The house is sorted.- Yeah.
0:26:53 > 0:26:58What about the land? I'll put you out of your misery. How does 4.5 acres sound to you?
0:26:58 > 0:27:01- That'd be excellent.- That is ample.
0:27:01 > 0:27:06That could be yours because the land stretches right the way from behind there
0:27:06 > 0:27:10- all the way around to the other side of the house.- Blimey!- God!
0:27:10 > 0:27:16"Blimey" indeed! It's quite a lot for you to look at. Let's have a closer look.
0:27:16 > 0:27:21'As we walk up to the main field, there's a chance to take in the stunning views of the Dales.'
0:27:21 > 0:27:25But all of this could be yours.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29- And all of that.- Wow, look at that! - And all of that.- Blimey!
0:27:29 > 0:27:35- This plot represents your dream coming to life. - It's getting quite exciting.- Yeah.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37But the big question is, as ever,
0:27:37 > 0:27:42how much would you be willing to pay to get this to make your dream come true?
0:27:42 > 0:27:46The house itself is not hugely large.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49The land, there's a fair bit of it.
0:27:49 > 0:27:54I think we're still perhaps slightly under budget on 525?
0:27:54 > 0:27:57- OK.- I think that's over the top, actually.
0:27:57 > 0:28:02- 475.- 475... I'm afraid this one goes to Phil. Good guess.
0:28:02 > 0:28:08This is on the market at a delightful £468,000.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10- Blimey!- Wow!
0:28:10 > 0:28:15That gives you a fair chunk to do quite a lot with.
0:28:15 > 0:28:20I can see some chin-stroking going on here. The man is thinking.
0:28:22 > 0:28:27We're gonna need to do some maths in terms of what it's gonna cost to build the kennels.
0:28:27 > 0:28:33There's clearly lots that's going round your head and lots of land for you to investigate.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37- So have a wander round.- Will do. - And start to pull it all together.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40- We'll catch up later on.- OK. - Off you go.- Cheers.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46468? Two, four, six, eight! It's brilliant!
0:28:46 > 0:28:50It's a great price. It's a cracking property.
0:28:50 > 0:28:56This allows them to make their dream and it's making them a bit nervous. Let's see what they come up with.
0:28:56 > 0:29:03So, at £468,000, this barn conversion could be the answer to the house/land conundrum.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16Plenty of space for a smallholding and the kennels.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19This property is a definite contender.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22I say that because it's got so much potential,
0:29:22 > 0:29:27it brings together all of the elements that we were originally looking at -
0:29:27 > 0:29:30the large kitchen, the cottage style.
0:29:30 > 0:29:34OK, it's not quite there, but the fact that it's under budget
0:29:34 > 0:29:40just allows us that little bit more financial manoeuvring to actually realise our dream.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43The things I would change would be easily done.
0:29:43 > 0:29:49The amount of land is just absolutely fantastic and would give us plenty
0:29:49 > 0:29:52to be able to do all that we wanted to do,
0:29:52 > 0:29:58so we would definitely think about this very, very seriously. Yeah.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06'Phil and Paula have no experience of raising livestock,
0:30:06 > 0:30:11'so we'll give them a wake-up call for running a smallholding.
0:30:11 > 0:30:16'They're here to meet Terence Laheney who escaped to the Yorkshire Dales 12 years ago.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20'He juggles his job as a teacher with running a smallholding
0:30:20 > 0:30:24'where he rears all creatures great and small.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29'Phil and Paula love the idea of raising rare-breed pigs,
0:30:29 > 0:30:34'so Terence takes them to look at his Gloucester Old Spot sow and piglets.
0:30:34 > 0:30:40'It all looks perfect, but being self-sufficient means facing up to raising animals for meat.'
0:30:40 > 0:30:44How did you feel about your first pigs going to slaughter?
0:30:44 > 0:30:50If you don't feel anything, you shouldn't be doing it. You've got to look after your animal.
0:30:50 > 0:30:54There's nothing wrong with loving it, then you take it to slaughter.
0:30:54 > 0:30:58How do you fit it all in in a day, working full-time and doing this?
0:30:58 > 0:31:02You've got to have an early start. You finish when everything's done.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04But it's a good way to de-stress.
0:31:04 > 0:31:11'Definitely some food for thought there, but before Phil and Paula can bring home the bacon,
0:31:11 > 0:31:13'they need some land to rear them.
0:31:13 > 0:31:17'Let's hope our house search will serve up their perfect property.'
0:31:18 > 0:31:25It's mystery house time. Up until now, Phil and Paula have been hung up on the idea of a kennel business,
0:31:25 > 0:31:31so why don't we show them something which might just test Phil's culinary skills instead?
0:31:33 > 0:31:39So, finally, the mystery property. I know everything is a little bit mysterious for you,
0:31:39 > 0:31:44but this is designed to really make you think outside the box a little bit.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46- OK.- Are you nervous?
0:31:47 > 0:31:51Yeah, kind of. I just really don't know what to expect.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54How much work are you willing to do?
0:31:54 > 0:31:57- If it feels right... - Good question, Paula.
0:31:59 > 0:32:04I'm getting to think that I'm going to be doing a lot of it.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07I don't think that bothers us.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10'Let's see if they're game for some entrepreneurial thinking.
0:32:10 > 0:32:14'Our mystery property is tucked away near the village of Gayles.
0:32:14 > 0:32:18'It's a pretty village made up of characteristic stone cottages
0:32:18 > 0:32:25'and the surrounding countryside would offer some of the best walking territory in North Yorkshire.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28'Our mystery house is in a secluded spot outside Gayles
0:32:28 > 0:32:31'with a different business proposition for our couple.'
0:32:31 > 0:32:37- This is just something else, isn't it?- It's a stunning house, but it's more than that.
0:32:37 > 0:32:43We thought for our mystery house we would show you an alternative way of living. How about a B&B?
0:32:43 > 0:32:47This would keep you very busy, cooking up some wonderful meals.
0:32:47 > 0:32:53- We were talking about that this morning.- Ah!- You wrote it down, didn't you?- Yeah.- Oddly.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55Could be an omen.
0:32:55 > 0:33:01- What do you think of the property from the outside?- Absolutely beautiful.- It's a barn conversion.
0:33:01 > 0:33:07- Made from local limestone. Fits in really, doesn't it?- It does. - In the character of the landscape.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10- Let's go and have a look inside. - Yeah.
0:33:10 > 0:33:15'They seem ready to toy with the B&B idea as a way to earn a living.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18'Hopefully, they'll be convinced by the inside.'
0:33:18 > 0:33:21This is it.
0:33:21 > 0:33:27- Wow!- Blimey!- It's a great space, isn't it?- It is staggering. - For cooking and entertaining.
0:33:27 > 0:33:32It'll be up to you how you arrange this house and how you use it, but it's set up as a B&B.
0:33:32 > 0:33:38- I can't wait to see the rest of it. - It's a good start.- Brilliant. - Shall we keep moving?- Yeah.
0:33:38 > 0:33:45'They seem smitten by the kitchen. Down the far end of the hallway we find the other living areas.'
0:33:45 > 0:33:49- So this is the dining room? - Well, yes, potentially.
0:33:49 > 0:33:54At the moment, the current owners have set it all up to be a B&B.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57They've just got four-star rating.
0:33:57 > 0:34:02They've got bookings, but they haven't taken any customers yet.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06Money-wise, they estimate making about £45,000 to £50,000 a year,
0:34:06 > 0:34:09- so it's not a small business necessarily.- No.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12- Quite a lot to consider.- Yes, sure.
0:34:12 > 0:34:17- Shall we have a look at this room, then we'll check out where you'll put your guests?- OK.
0:34:17 > 0:34:22'I can see this house is winning them over, so through to the sitting room.'
0:34:23 > 0:34:26- Oh, this is superb!- Come in.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28That's gorgeous, isn't it?
0:34:28 > 0:34:32- Big feature fireplace.- Hmm. - It's done very well.
0:34:32 > 0:34:38- I think it'll be very easy for you to move in and slot in your own furnishings.- Easily.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42- Let's check out the guests' accommodation.- OK.- Hmm.
0:34:42 > 0:34:48'They seem to see the B&B business potential, so let's find out why it's got a four-star rating.'
0:34:48 > 0:34:53This property has five bedrooms, four of which are big doubles with en-suite.
0:34:53 > 0:34:57- You've got two out here. Let's take a look at one of them.- Crikey!
0:34:57 > 0:35:00"Crikey" is your word, isn't it?
0:35:00 > 0:35:02These are fantastic.
0:35:02 > 0:35:06And this is an example of what they all look like pretty much.
0:35:06 > 0:35:11- They're all like this?- They're all like this.- I can't believe it. It's out of this world.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15- They are beautiful. - Superb, isn't it?- Hmm.
0:35:15 > 0:35:20- Good space. Wonderful if you were coming to stay. - You wouldn't want to go home.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22That's the idea.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26'The other two guest rooms on this floor are similar in style,
0:35:26 > 0:35:32'one an equally high spec double with en-suite, and a bright, modern single room.
0:35:32 > 0:35:38'Upstairs, there's the fourth comfortable guest room with en-suite and what would be their bedroom.'
0:35:38 > 0:35:41Here is what could be your master
0:35:41 > 0:35:43with a big bathroom there.
0:35:43 > 0:35:49- And all of this space.- Beautiful. - It is pretty beautiful. - Really nice.- And there's a door.
0:35:49 > 0:35:55Yes, there's a door going straight outside, so if you wanted to not see your guests,
0:35:55 > 0:36:00you could come straight up to your own room. How do you feel about this house in general?
0:36:00 > 0:36:08We're sort of coming to a career change from boarding kennels to looking after people, basically.
0:36:08 > 0:36:14- But it just feels... It does feel good.- Hmm.- And the only consideration possibly is the land?
0:36:14 > 0:36:17- Hmm.- Let's go and have a look.
0:36:17 > 0:36:22- You know what's coming next!- Yeah. - Let's go have a look. Come on.
0:36:22 > 0:36:27'I think they're giving the house and B&B business some serious thought,
0:36:27 > 0:36:32'but it's the land that will swing it, especially for Paula, so, fingers crossed.'
0:36:35 > 0:36:37Oh, it is gorgeous out here.
0:36:37 > 0:36:41- This courtyard, I think, is fantastic.- Yeah.- It is lovely.
0:36:41 > 0:36:48Your guests, should you choose to have any, would get the benefit of this and all of that.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51- That is stunning.- Gorgeous views. - Absolutely stunning.
0:36:51 > 0:36:57So you've got the courtyard and you've also got an acre and a third of land.
0:36:57 > 0:37:02- OK.- And it all comes at a price. Now, I'm going to start with you.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04Give me a number.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07It's over our budget.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11- 580.- OK.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14Paula?
0:37:14 > 0:37:16I'm gonna say 6...
0:37:16 > 0:37:19- Go for it.- ..20.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22- 620.- Ooh! - How much would that upset you?
0:37:22 > 0:37:25- 620?- Hmm.- A lot.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28Well, if it's any consolation,
0:37:28 > 0:37:33it's on the market, you're right, it is over your budget, at £575,000.
0:37:33 > 0:37:39- So it's not as bad as you thought. - Blimey!- It's not hugely.- No.
0:37:39 > 0:37:44But if there's a workable business here, even at that price, this could be a possibility.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48If there is that income, it will allow us to increase our mortgage.
0:37:48 > 0:37:54Maybe when people come to a place like this, it's so beautiful, you want to go for walks with your dogs.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58You don't want them in kennels miles away from where you are.
0:37:58 > 0:38:05Maybe we could do a small kennels where people with dogs could come, leave their dogs in the kennels,
0:38:05 > 0:38:11so they're not actually staying in their rooms. Maybe we can fit the kennels in in that line.
0:38:11 > 0:38:15- A B&B for dog lovers?- Yeah.- I love this about the mystery house.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19It's just opened up a whole new train of thought for you, hasn't it?
0:38:19 > 0:38:25- Yeah.- Fantastic. Go and have a meander around. Decide how much you're gonna charge your guests.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27- Let me know later.- All right.
0:38:27 > 0:38:31Fantastic. This is what I love about the mystery house.
0:38:31 > 0:38:37They've opened their minds to a new possibility, but is it the property for them?
0:38:39 > 0:38:43At £575,000, the mystery house is over budget,
0:38:43 > 0:38:47but with the B&B business ready to go, it could be within their grasp.
0:39:01 > 0:39:06We can do with less land if we're not gonna do the kennels on such a large scale.
0:39:06 > 0:39:08There's enough for the livestock.
0:39:08 > 0:39:12And there's an established business that's bringing in the income.
0:39:12 > 0:39:16- This is just such a lovely room. - It's lovely, isn't it?
0:39:16 > 0:39:22It would be a lovely place to come and stay if you were looking for a B&B in the country, wouldn't it?
0:39:22 > 0:39:27One reservation for me is how we could divide the property
0:39:27 > 0:39:32separate from our living quarters to the B&B guests, really.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36But I think we would be really quite interested.
0:39:36 > 0:39:42The kitchen is out of this world. There is enough land to keep livestock.
0:39:42 > 0:39:46We've still got the kennel option, so it ticks all the other boxes.
0:39:46 > 0:39:52- Hello.- It's so peaceful out here. I could sit here for ever, but we haven't got the time to do that.
0:39:52 > 0:39:56- You need to find somewhere to sit down and mull all of this over.- OK.
0:40:00 > 0:40:07'So our tour is at an end and I think it's given our house-hunters plenty to think about.'
0:40:07 > 0:40:11Paula and Phil have both long held dreams of moving to the countryside
0:40:11 > 0:40:17and have reached that point in their lives where they can make it a reality, but what do they want?
0:40:17 > 0:40:21Is it a cosy country cottage? Do they want to run a kennel business?
0:40:21 > 0:40:24Or self-sufficiency? Or even run a B&B?
0:40:24 > 0:40:30And have we helped them at all to move closer to that dream? Well, it's time to find out.
0:40:31 > 0:40:36I've got to say, after this roller-coaster journey of a property search,
0:40:36 > 0:40:42I am none the wiser as to which way you're gonna go, so let's go through all the properties.
0:40:42 > 0:40:49We started with the weavers' cottages, two into one, down in Galphay. What were your thoughts?
0:40:49 > 0:40:53- You were wowed by the kitchen. - The kitchen was just fabulous.
0:40:53 > 0:40:59No doubt about that. I could see myself in there immediately, but not just in the kitchen.
0:40:59 > 0:41:05- As soon as I walked in the door, it just felt right.- It would be perfect, all bar that one factor.
0:41:05 > 0:41:09It was too near houses for dog kennels.
0:41:09 > 0:41:15I would go and buy it tomorrow if I could do that, yeah.
0:41:15 > 0:41:21Let's talk about the next property, the barn conversion. Now, we saw that in Leyburn.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24That, I think, could work very well for us.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27Let's face it, it had the land,
0:41:27 > 0:41:29the views.
0:41:29 > 0:41:33It had the carcass almost for the kitchen,
0:41:33 > 0:41:38which I'd love to stamp my mark on it and say, "Yeah, this is what we've done."
0:41:38 > 0:41:41And it came in way below budget.
0:41:41 > 0:41:47The opportunities for the kennels which is obviously something that we'd have to do first.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50Yeah, it ticked all the right boxes.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52Let's talk about the mystery house.
0:41:52 > 0:41:57We'd been going down this track of looking for a place to run kennels
0:41:57 > 0:42:00and suddenly, there was the option of a B&B.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02A complete career change.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06That was very, very, um...
0:42:06 > 0:42:08surprising, wasn't it?
0:42:08 > 0:42:12The property was phenomenal. It was breathtaking.
0:42:12 > 0:42:17The fact that they have gone that far down the route
0:42:17 > 0:42:23of the four-star rating for a B&B and they've already got bookings is encouraging.
0:42:23 > 0:42:29The word that I hear is "options". You have so many and not just with that mystery house.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33- Have you come to any decisions? - The options are the barn conversion or the B&B.
0:42:33 > 0:42:40So there are two properties you are seriously interested in. Hopefully, this journey has been another step.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44- It has.- Most definitely. It has been so informative and helpful.
0:42:44 > 0:42:49And as I say, it has really stamped on to us that we are going to do it.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53Great. Well, I hope to see you do it very soon.
0:42:53 > 0:42:58- Best of luck. Let us know how you get on.- Will do. - Thanks a lot.- Pleasure.
0:43:00 > 0:43:04I think that Phil and Paula have got a lot of courage.
0:43:04 > 0:43:10They're moving home, they're moving county and they're setting up a whole new lifestyle together.
0:43:10 > 0:43:16We may not have found them the ideal business, but I think at the end of this journey,
0:43:16 > 0:43:21they're a step closer to realising their dream of escaping to the country. See you next time.
0:43:21 > 0:43:26If you would like to escape to the country and would like our help,
0:43:26 > 0:43:29please apply online at:
0:43:49 > 0:43:53Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd 2009
0:43:53 > 0:43:56Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk