0:00:02 > 0:00:05I'm standing in front of the highest unbroken waterfall in England.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09Inspiration for poets and painters, from Wordsworth to Turner
0:00:09 > 0:00:14and all this amazing cascading water carves out a basin in the limestone
0:00:14 > 0:00:17that forms all the Dales that surround us in this area.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21And if that's not a big enough clue as to where we are, keep watching.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37In today's show I will be helping a couple break free from city limits
0:00:37 > 0:00:40and make a one-way trip to the country.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43It's not long before they grab our house hunt by the horns...
0:00:43 > 0:00:46- Fabulous.- That is AWESOME!
0:00:46 > 0:00:49..but our mystery house could put them in a quandary.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52- That's a very nice office.- Dining room.- Office, very nice office!
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Today I'm in north Yorkshire and this is Hardraw Force,
0:00:59 > 0:01:06whose 100ft sheer drop is one of the many spectacular sites you can see in the Yorkshire Dales National Park
0:01:06 > 0:01:10and the Dales were scooped out of the landscape by glaciers two million years ago,
0:01:10 > 0:01:12leaving all these wonderful sites.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15It's not just landscape that brings people here,
0:01:15 > 0:01:17the Yorkshire folk are pretty colourful too.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Every year they troop up into this rocky amphitheatre
0:01:20 > 0:01:22and have a brass band competition.
0:01:24 > 0:01:29As England's largest rural county, spanning some 3,000 square miles,
0:01:29 > 0:01:32north Yorkshire is often dubbed, "God's Own County," by its people
0:01:32 > 0:01:34on account of its vast landscapes,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37many of which fall within its two national parks,
0:01:37 > 0:01:39the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43Stretching over 680 square miles,
0:01:43 > 0:01:47the Dales scenery has been shaped by farming past and present,
0:01:47 > 0:01:51with its rich pasture land bounded by the distinctive dry-stone walls
0:01:51 > 0:01:53and the locally hewn limestone is a strong feature
0:01:53 > 0:01:56of the county's solid and impressive buildings,
0:01:56 > 0:02:00which sit harmoniously in the surrounding countryside.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04And with beautiful vistas like these,
0:02:04 > 0:02:08it's easy to see why north Yorkshire is such a compelling place to escape to.
0:02:09 > 0:02:14Regular viewers of this show will know that buying a beautiful bit of Yorkshire is never cheap,
0:02:14 > 0:02:19particularly if you're looking in the golden triangle around York, Harrogate and Leeds.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22So, it's a wonderful idea to move out into the Dales.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25Firstly, property is significantly cheaper,
0:02:25 > 0:02:27secondly, there's an amazing stock
0:02:27 > 0:02:30of fantastic stone buildings to choose from
0:02:30 > 0:02:35and thirdly, planning and regulation is very strictly controlled in the Dales National Park,
0:02:35 > 0:02:40which means you're not going to get a flyover or bypass spoiling your view.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44If that's not reason enough, take a look at what's on offer.
0:02:44 > 0:02:45For £1.4 million,
0:02:45 > 0:02:49this listed four bedroom country house in Marton cum Grafton
0:02:49 > 0:02:52has a lavish sprawl of reception rooms,
0:02:52 > 0:02:54a rather plush games room and a garden room,
0:02:54 > 0:02:59complete with exercise pool, which looks out over landscaped gardens.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03And this 400-year-old four bedroom converted barn,
0:03:03 > 0:03:08on at £575,000 at Appletreewick, still has its character in tact.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12Beamed ceilings and inglenook fireplace in the living room
0:03:12 > 0:03:14and a beamed master bedroom.
0:03:14 > 0:03:20Outside the dry-stone walled gardens look out over the pastures of Upper Wharfedale.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24This three bedroom barn conversion in Aldbrough St John,
0:03:24 > 0:03:26for just under £400,000,
0:03:26 > 0:03:30has been carefully restored to offer surprisingly light living areas,
0:03:30 > 0:03:33a welcoming country kitchen
0:03:33 > 0:03:36and a tastefully refitted bathroom upstairs.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Well, there are plenty of beautiful properties to buy out there,
0:03:39 > 0:03:42but can we find something here in, "God's Own Country,"
0:03:42 > 0:03:46that will stir the hearts of today's buyers? Let's meet them.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50Brian, a business consultant and Anne, a clinical nurse specialist,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53have lived beneath the suburban skies of Liverpool,
0:03:53 > 0:03:57a stone's throw from the famous Penny Lane, for the last 22 years,
0:03:57 > 0:04:01but now that their three grownup children have left home,
0:04:01 > 0:04:04Brian and Anne want to leave this five bedroom semi-detached house
0:04:04 > 0:04:07and move on to pastures new.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10It's a good time for us to move now because I've semi-retired,
0:04:10 > 0:04:14the children are settled at university, or in their careers,
0:04:14 > 0:04:18Brian can work from wherever we are, and although we've loved Liverpool,
0:04:18 > 0:04:21we just feel we'd like to experience something different
0:04:21 > 0:04:23and would like a move to somewhere more rural.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27It just seems to beckon us though, really, doesn't it?
0:04:27 > 0:04:31You go there for a weekend and it just seems to say, "Come back and have some more."
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Although they're hankering after rural life,
0:04:33 > 0:04:36they're not cutting off all their ties to Merseyside.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39We're in the fortunate position that we don't need to sell.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43It's our choice not to sell. We love the house and we want to keep it,
0:04:43 > 0:04:44so we're going to rent it out.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49We're looking for a place that is no more than an hour and a half drive from Liverpool
0:04:49 > 0:04:53because it is the intention that short-term, Anne will carry on working in Liverpool.
0:04:53 > 0:04:58Without needing to sell, our couple are in a powerful position as they are chain free,
0:04:58 > 0:05:02but what kind of property is going to convince them to up sticks?
0:05:02 > 0:05:04When we think of leaving our current house,
0:05:04 > 0:05:08you think of all the memories created in 22 years living in this house,
0:05:08 > 0:05:10but wherever we move we'll create new memories
0:05:10 > 0:05:13and that's what we're looking forward to.
0:05:13 > 0:05:18I think it is difficult, not just talking about moving house, this is our home
0:05:18 > 0:05:22- and it's replicating that feeling of home somewhere else, really.- Yes.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26Finding a dream home that measures up to years of cherished family memories
0:05:26 > 0:05:29is going to be a challenge for our property search.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Putting emotions aside, what are these two looking for?
0:05:33 > 0:05:37I think if I think of the absolute must-haves for the move
0:05:37 > 0:05:39I would look at five bedrooms.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43I would love a water feature, either the sound of water from a stream,
0:05:43 > 0:05:46or a water feature. A large kitchen.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48Ideally, we'd have a detached property
0:05:48 > 0:05:50and I think, wrapping the whole thing up,
0:05:50 > 0:05:54- it's got to be a place that gives us those country views.- That's right.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57We have a lovely garden here, it's done us well for 22 years,
0:05:57 > 0:06:01but now I want a bigger garden where I'm looking at hills, not roofs
0:06:01 > 0:06:08and I can grow vegetables and just enjoy the scenery and the setting.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11One of the things I really do need is having a space inside.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13My office is too small,
0:06:13 > 0:06:16this is just a small sample of the books that I've got.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18I need more space.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21And if we can find them that perfect country pile,
0:06:21 > 0:06:25Brian and Anne are clear about what this move will mean for their life.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29I think, for me, it is a complete lifestyle change.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32Erm, you know, we escape to the country of a weekend
0:06:32 > 0:06:35and I really want more of that seven days a week.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40For me that really does mean just being able to chill in the garden
0:06:40 > 0:06:44and listening to country sounds, not city sounds.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46I want to be involved in village life,
0:06:46 > 0:06:50there's things I'd like to do and to be part of that life.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54Get involved in pensioners' lunches, mother and toddler groups.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56Just general village life community.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00And now the big question, what's the budget for this move?
0:07:00 > 0:07:04Our budget for the next property is £650,000.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09OK, it seems like we are looking for a big traditional country house
0:07:09 > 0:07:12with at least four bedrooms, space for Brian to have his office
0:07:12 > 0:07:15and also a lovely set of views for Anne to appreciate
0:07:15 > 0:07:19and I think that's probably feasible within their £650,000 budget.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23However, where I think the real work is going to be is persuading them
0:07:23 > 0:07:26to leave their emotional ties to their house in Liverpool
0:07:26 > 0:07:29and really to commit to living in the countryside.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33Our house search will be centred on the tiny Dales town of Ingleton,
0:07:33 > 0:07:37where Brian and Anne have holidayed for years.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40And some of our properties are close to the Lancashire border,
0:07:40 > 0:07:43which brings Liverpool into easy striking distance.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47I'll be showing them some attractive homes around the Yorkshire Dales
0:07:47 > 0:07:52and there's our mystery house, which they could get very attached to.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56- Here we are, the Yorkshire Dales. - Fabulous!
0:07:56 > 0:08:01- But this is not an unknown quantity to you, is it? You know it quite well.- We certainly do.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05We do, we've been holidaying in a particular area around here called Ingleton.
0:08:05 > 0:08:10- We've been coming here for 20 years. - Ingleton's a bit further west, isn't it?- It is, yes.- That's right.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13- It's a lovely big area.- Fabulous.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17- And you're moving, but you're not selling your house.- That's right. - We're not, we're not.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19Now, let's talk about that,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22is that because you've got cold feet about moving to the countryside?
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Not at all, no. It's not the best of times to be selling houses
0:08:25 > 0:08:28and we absolutely love our house,
0:08:28 > 0:08:32so we thought it would be a good idea not to sell it and to rent it out.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34Are you committed to the country life?
0:08:34 > 0:08:38- Or are you, do you have any reservations?- We'd like to experience it.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41We've never been here for more than a long weekend, or two weeks
0:08:41 > 0:08:45and it'd be nice not to go home to Liverpool after two weeks.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47It'd be nice just to stay a bit longer.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51What happens after three weeks, you're like, "Ah, I want to go back to the city!"
0:08:51 > 0:08:54That's a possibility, but I don't think three weeks.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57I think we'd go a bit longer than three weeks.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00- I have a feeling that it will be a move for life.- Good, OK.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02Well, that's kind of what we want to explore
0:09:02 > 0:09:08because, obviously, it's unusual for people to have both options, so, it's nice for you,
0:09:08 > 0:09:12but we want to explore whether we can really persuade you to commit to the countryside.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14- Hopefully you can!- Mmm.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16Now, your budget, has that gone up?
0:09:16 > 0:09:21- Our budget is 650,000.- Right, and is there any leeway at the top of that?
0:09:21 > 0:09:23Erm, if you find the right property
0:09:23 > 0:09:27with just that little intriguing thing that says, "Come here, come here."
0:09:27 > 0:09:28- Come hither property.- Absolutely.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33- Well, shall we go and look at some? I've got some nice ones lined up. - That would be great.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37With a budget of £650,000,
0:09:37 > 0:09:41Anne and Brian would like a detached house with at least four bedrooms.
0:09:41 > 0:09:46A large kitchen is important, as is an office for Brian.
0:09:46 > 0:09:47Along with views,
0:09:47 > 0:09:50they want a couple of acres of garden to grow vegetables
0:09:50 > 0:09:53and it MUST be around an hour and a half's drive from Liverpool
0:09:53 > 0:09:55for Anne's work.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03Our first property takes us close to the village of Malham.
0:10:03 > 0:10:04Set in the dramatic landscape
0:10:04 > 0:10:07of the southern Yorkshire Dales, this is a walkers' paradise,
0:10:07 > 0:10:10dominated by the limestone cliff of nearby Malham Cove.
0:10:10 > 0:10:16Five miles down the road in a gloriously rural setting
0:10:16 > 0:10:19is this stone farmhouse on the doorstep of the Dale.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22So here we are,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25- first property.- Yes.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28- What do you think? - I like the daisies!
0:10:28 > 0:10:32Like the daisies, they're just the flowers. What about the bricks and mortar?
0:10:32 > 0:10:34It, it looks a bit odd from the outside.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Whether that's compensated for on the inside, we'll see.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41- Why do you think it looks odd? - I just think it looks like two separate houses.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44The building is in two parts, as you can see.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47This is probably from about 1850, and then the farmhouse
0:10:47 > 0:10:51is turn of the century, it's rebuilt in sort of the 1900s.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54What about the aesthetics? Are you looking for dry-stone walls...
0:10:54 > 0:10:57- Yes, this is fabulous.- Lovely. - Beautiful.- And the views?
0:10:57 > 0:11:01- The views tick the box.- It's second to none, it's absolutely stunning.
0:11:01 > 0:11:06- Excellent. Lovely views. - Shall we have a look inside? - Yes, please.- That'd be good.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09Brian and Anne love the location, so let's see if the internal space
0:11:09 > 0:11:14of this combined farmhouse and renovated barn can work its magic.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16- Come on in.- Thank you.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20This is the farmhouse side of the cottage, of the house, rather,
0:11:20 > 0:11:24and this would've been the living room, and is indeed their living room.
0:11:24 > 0:11:30- It's square.- Yeah, it's a good-sized room.- It's a reasonable size. Fabulous views.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32They've certainly got the view.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34It's a blank canvas in some ways, isn't it,
0:11:34 > 0:11:40looking at the whole package and saying, "How do we live? And how would we live here?"
0:11:40 > 0:11:44- How would you live here? - That remains to be seen if we look at the rest of the house.- Ah.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47'Good point, Anne, so let's keep exploring.'
0:11:47 > 0:11:50- Come in here.- This is nice.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53- I thought you'd like this. - This is a nice size.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Come through into the kitchen, to get a view of all parts.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59- This is a lovely room.- Yes.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02- It is, yeah.- I imagine this would be the heart of the home.- Very much so.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04- I'm sure.- This is nice, this is a nice area.
0:12:04 > 0:12:09- It's wonderful. You've got fabulous views.- Yeah. - To the garden, and down the Dale.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12- Can you imagine having your family in here?- Oh, certainly.
0:12:12 > 0:12:13- Yes, definitely.- Yes.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Hooray, things are picking up.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Brian and Anne are starting to imagine themselves living here.
0:12:19 > 0:12:25And there's yet more useful space in the pantry and the large utility room.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27'So, with a resounding thumbs-up on the kitchen,
0:12:27 > 0:12:32'we'll go through to the living space on offer in the converted side of the house.'
0:12:34 > 0:12:37We're coming into the part of the house that was developed.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41- Right.- This was where the barn and the agricultural bit of the property was,
0:12:41 > 0:12:45- and a sort of snug, really, off the kitchen.- Yes.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47- Your lovely wood-burning stove. - Fabulous.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50And there's also the hall that goes upstairs with the second staircase.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54When you describe a snug I expected something quite small,
0:12:54 > 0:12:56but this is bigger than I thought.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59- There's still another half of this building undeveloped.- Right.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02- Right.- They have it as a sort of store room, but it's,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05- it's got planning permission to be developed into another room.- Right.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09- And it's a good-sized room. - That sounds interesting.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13So there is the potential, if you don't do it, of getting someone in to do it.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17- That would be the potential for an office, a study.- That'd be good. - For you to base yourself.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20Yeah. There are potentials upstairs for studies.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Oh, right. We're getting ahead of ourselves.
0:13:22 > 0:13:27- OK. We could go up here, but I want to take you up the main stairs. - Oh, right, OK.- OK, thank you.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31'There's also a cloakroom tucked away behind the family snug.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35'But we'll go back through to the main staircase on the farmhouse side to the first floor.
0:13:35 > 0:13:40'At the top of the stairs is the first of five bedrooms,
0:13:40 > 0:13:43'a nice-sized double, and the family bathroom.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47'But I want to show Brian and Anne this bedroom.'
0:13:47 > 0:13:49This might make a nice study.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51This would be a very nice office and study.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55- Lined with bookshelves for all your books.- Yes.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57'With Brian sorted, we'll move on.'
0:13:59 > 0:14:01- Another very good-sized room.- Yes.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06- This is actually... You walk through, you can lock this door, there is the back staircase.- Right.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10- Uh-huh.- I'll just take you through. - Oh, right.
0:14:10 > 0:14:16'This third bedroom leads through to the back staircase, and just off it is yet another bedroom.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19'Down a few stairs further to the master bedroom.'
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Aha!
0:14:23 > 0:14:25- Oh, right.- Oh, fantastic.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29Just in case you were worried about the size of the rooms,
0:14:29 > 0:14:31this is your playing field bedroom.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34- Dear me.- This is nice. - A bedroom with several postcodes.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Absolutely, absolutely.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39And you've got a lovely en suite.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41- Oh, excellent.- Have a look inside.
0:14:41 > 0:14:46- Oh, excellent. Nice size. - It is, isn't it?- Shower.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50And you've also got this incredible walk-in wardrobe, which I'm sure you'll want to have a look at.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52We certainly do.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56- It's huge!- Oh, wow. It's lovely!
0:14:56 > 0:15:00- We'd soon fill those. - I think we would. - So that's all the space inside.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02How does that sit with your kind of dreams?
0:15:02 > 0:15:06- It's got better as we've gone through.- Yes, definitely.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09- You've warmed up, you've started smiling. - Definitely.- I like that.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12- Yes.- This is super. It really is.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14Well, let's see if the outside space
0:15:14 > 0:15:18makes this property an even rosier prospect.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22- Step into the garden.- Wow. - Nice big garden you've got here,
0:15:22 > 0:15:24but very workable.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27You've got quite a lot of land, that paddock is yours.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29- Oh, right!- Right. - Right up to the side of the thing.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33- Good grief.- And then this fence at the top, that's all yours too, and this little chunk of wood.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36- Excellent.- Wow!
0:15:36 > 0:15:39So it's a good old plot of land you've got. Certainly space for a veggie plot.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43And there's a nice little stone-built garage as well. So yes.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45You've always wanted a sit-on tractor, Brian.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48I think I'd need to really, wouldn't I?
0:15:48 > 0:15:50- If you wanted to keep it trim.- Yes.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52This is the plot. It's a very sizeable property.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56- I think it's more attractive from the back than from the front. - Much more so, much more so.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00I love the stone lintels round the windows, they're beautiful.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03- I should have brought you in the back.- Perhaps so!
0:16:03 > 0:16:08- How much do you think it's worth? - I think probably just under. Shall I go first?
0:16:08 > 0:16:12- Go on, you go first. - I'm going to pitch in at £640,000.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18I'm going to say £655,000.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20- Well, you're both wrong.- Right.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24- But pleasingly wrong, because it's actually on at £635,000.- Oh, right.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26Oh, right. So you were fairly close.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28- I was, I was.- Right!
0:16:28 > 0:16:30So why don't have a look inside, wander round without me,
0:16:30 > 0:16:36- and then we'll meet at the front and talk about what happens next. - We will.- That's excellent, thank you.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40Thank goodness, I thought they were going to hate it when they first walked in,
0:16:40 > 0:16:42but it seems like the house has won them over.
0:16:44 > 0:16:50Under budget at £635,000, our first property delivers the space inside
0:16:50 > 0:16:52and out that Brian and Anne are looking for,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55with money left over for them to make their own mark.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58It offers them a large kitchen/dining room,
0:16:58 > 0:17:02two sitting rooms with a large storage area ready for conversion
0:17:02 > 0:17:06into more living space, five bedrooms with a master en suite,
0:17:06 > 0:17:08and over two acres of land,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11and incredible countryside views.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14- Oh, wow, it's a good-sized space, isn't it?- It is, isn't it?
0:17:14 > 0:17:16Have you thought of having a study, an office...
0:17:16 > 0:17:18This would be really good.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20My first impressions of the house,
0:17:20 > 0:17:24as I walked towards it was, it was quite a mixed bag.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27When we came through the front door into the living room,
0:17:27 > 0:17:30no doubt the views are spectacular, but the living room was,
0:17:30 > 0:17:31it was a living room.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34We walked through into the kitchen, lovely. It was good.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37There were a few light bulbs starting to go on then.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39It's an interesting house.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43It's a house that I could see we could use as a family, and that we could live in.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46The house has really grown on me. It really has.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Right, the first impressions, not great here.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51But it's a hidden secret.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53It certainly is, it certainly is.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55Come on, let's press on.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03Brian and Anne have holidayed regularly in the Dales,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06and Hawes in the Wensleydale Valley is a favourite spot.
0:18:06 > 0:18:12But today they're in uncharted territory, on one of the historic paths leading into Hawes,
0:18:12 > 0:18:18with local farmer William Lambert, to find out its significance in days gone by.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20Well, here we are on the, the main road from Swaledale
0:18:20 > 0:18:23over to Wensleydale, known as the Buttertub Pass.
0:18:23 > 0:18:28And the Buttertubs are, it's a rock formation where the rock
0:18:28 > 0:18:33is vertical, and we have these deep crevasses, almost, between the rocks.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36Traditionally, farmers would come here with butter and cheese
0:18:36 > 0:18:40that they'd have made in the farmhouse kitchens to sell on the local market,
0:18:40 > 0:18:44and this being the midway between the two dales it'd be a rest point.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48They would lower them down into these holes in a basket with some rope,
0:18:48 > 0:18:51and it would stay cool while they waited.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54So what sort of temperature does it get to down there?
0:18:54 > 0:18:56It's like almost being in a cave or a mine
0:18:56 > 0:19:00where it's ambient temperature throughout the year, it doesn't change,
0:19:00 > 0:19:04so it's about eight or nine degrees colder than the surface.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06So a bit like having a fridge on the moor.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10And it's still going on. It's market day today, so we can go and have a look at the market.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12Great.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16It's time to head into the centre of Hawes, whose streets are filled
0:19:16 > 0:19:20with limestone buildings and a raft of independent shops.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22The rain hasn't dampened the spirit of visitors
0:19:22 > 0:19:27to the local market, which dates back over 300 years.
0:19:27 > 0:19:33No trip to Wensleydale is complete without sampling the local delicacy, Wensleydale cheese,
0:19:33 > 0:19:38whose recipe was originally developed by local 12th century Cistercian monks.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42Today, around 20 cheese varieties are made here in Hawes.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44This is where you can taste Wensleydale cheese.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47This is Wallace and Grommit's favourite bit of the shop.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51There's a range of flavours, they put all sorts of different flavours into the cheese.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55Wensleydale were the first people to put fruit in cheese as an additive
0:19:55 > 0:19:58to give it a special flavour, so Wensleydale with cranberries
0:19:58 > 0:20:03- is one of the best cheeses they've made and it's the best seller. - Excellent. And they won first prize.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06Yes, it wins awards all over the country.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14- Mm, that's excellent. - That's beautiful.- Beautiful, it's like sweet, isn't it?
0:20:14 > 0:20:18- You must take some home with you. - Oh, yes.
0:20:18 > 0:20:23'Well, hopefully we can whet Brian and Anne's appetite with our line-up of properties.'
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Our next house takes us to the village of Thoralby
0:20:30 > 0:20:32in the heart of the Dales national park.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Surrounded by magnificent countryside,
0:20:35 > 0:20:39Thoralby's country lanes are lined with traditional sturdy stone cottages
0:20:39 > 0:20:42and a handy post office and village inn.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45There's a very active local community
0:20:45 > 0:20:49and our next property would put Anne and Brian right at the centre of village life.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53I've brought you into the heart of a village just for a change.
0:20:53 > 0:20:54- All right.- A-ha.
0:20:54 > 0:20:55Before we were out in the fields.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59Which of these houses do you think I'm going to show you?
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Um, not sure really.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06- Where is it? Where is it? It's there.- Ah.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09- All of it.- Right. - All of it is yours.
0:21:09 > 0:21:13- What do you think from the outside of this one?- Looks nice. - I'm impressed with this.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15- Shall we take a look?- Yes, please.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19This Grade II listed Georgian house certainly occupies
0:21:19 > 0:21:20an impressive position.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24I hope inside has that feel of home that Brian and Anne are looking for.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29This is the sitting room, I suppose you'd call it.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33The end room, would have been the formal room of the house.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36This fireplace looks a bit later, sort of Victorian.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39- But it's a very fine house. - Yes.
0:21:39 > 0:21:45- First impressions are very good. - I like it.- What about you, Anne?- Yes.
0:21:45 > 0:21:46SHE LAUGHS
0:21:46 > 0:21:49- Bit quieter. - It's the first room.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53I'm hoping that you're going to warm up. We're going to go left here.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04- This one's for you, Brian.- Wow!
0:22:04 > 0:22:07Wow! This is great.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09Your own personal library.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14- Excellent.- This is a surprise, really.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18A lot of these long houses are quite long and narrow,
0:22:18 > 0:22:20they extended ten years ago, beautifully done.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24- Lots of light. Views out into the garden.- It really is superb.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28- Can you imagine working here - as your office? - Oh, I can. I really can.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32This is great. I'm taken.
0:22:32 > 0:22:33What about you, Anne?
0:22:33 > 0:22:37It's a nice room, I'm not sure I'd let him have it as his office,
0:22:37 > 0:22:39but it's a very nice room.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41There are other options for you.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45Let's take a look at the main body of the house. OK?
0:22:45 > 0:22:50'I think Anne might be more convinced by the next room we see.'
0:22:50 > 0:22:52We're back to the long part of the house.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55- This is the dining room.- Nice size. - It is, yeah.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Big arch over the fire.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01Often dining rooms fell like they're a bit trapped off on their own,
0:23:01 > 0:23:03it's quite a big spacious room.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05Nice room, this is a nice room.
0:23:05 > 0:23:12'And the dining room conveniently leads through to the kitchen.'
0:23:12 > 0:23:14It's a reasonable size. It's got some nice details.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17This inset for the stove is very nice.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21- Fabulous views when you're washing your dishes.- Absolutely, yes.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24- Or loading the dishwasher. - There's lots of potential.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26And it continues through here.
0:23:26 > 0:23:27'Off the back of the kitchen,
0:23:27 > 0:23:30'there's a whole host of rooms leading off the rear hallway.'
0:23:30 > 0:23:33Including a large pantry and cloakroom with WC.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37There's an annex which holds one of the five bedrooms
0:23:37 > 0:23:40in this house with its own en suite.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44Next door there's a useful laundry room, and a good size garage.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47Now we'll go upstairs on this side of the house
0:23:47 > 0:23:49to size up the master bedroom.
0:23:49 > 0:23:55Now, you have to remember that this is an older house.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59It's been lived in for a long time and it hasn't been updated.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03- This is the master bedroom.- It's a good size room.- A good size room.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06- And you've got an en suite here. - It's got a bath with a shower.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09Can you see yourself tackling a project like this,
0:24:09 > 0:24:12it's a lot of re-styling.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15Thinking of the house as a blank canvas, as it were,
0:24:15 > 0:24:20I think we could certainly do something with here. For sure.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24- What about you, Anne?- I'm not quite as sure. It's interesting.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27It's looking at the potential and trying to visualise
0:24:27 > 0:24:31your own things that are important to you in that environment.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34- I'm trying.- Try harder.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38Come on, Anne, see that potential.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41There would be plenty of space for the children to stay.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44At the other end of the house is a large twin room.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47A good size double with an equally floral en suite
0:24:47 > 0:24:52and a further bedroom currently used as an office.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54So, with the house covered, we'll go outside now
0:24:54 > 0:24:58and explore the gardens which stretch to just over an acre.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02- And this is all yours.- Right.
0:25:02 > 0:25:08- A ready-made veggie garden. - Excellent.- Very good.
0:25:08 > 0:25:15Around the back of this building, you've got this paddock that goes up the right-hand side of this field.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19- Up to the dry stone wall at the top. - And what's this building here? - This is an old outhouse.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23It goes all the way back. There's a chicken run at the end.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26- They just use it for storage of garden equipment.- That's useful.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30It is, but better than all that, you get your own walled garden.
0:25:34 > 0:25:40- A little orchard there with an apple tree and plum tree. - This is fabulous.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42You can see the back of the house more clearly.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46Is this the sort of space you were thinking about?
0:25:46 > 0:25:48- This is lovely.- Really good. - Great.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51- Look at the views. - Amazing, aren't they, yes.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54- Superb. - What do you think it's worth?
0:25:54 > 0:25:58I think this is probably under budget.
0:25:58 > 0:26:03So I think 625.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07I think a little more than that, I'll go for 630.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11You'll be surprised to know it's on at 595.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14- Really?- Oh, right. - Very surprised.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18And that would leave you quite a lot of money in your pot
0:26:18 > 0:26:21to really substantially renovate inside and, I think,
0:26:21 > 0:26:25turn it into a beautiful property.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28Whether you'd be up for that...
0:26:28 > 0:26:31We all look at Anne at this stage.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35Why don't you walk around with those figures rattling in your head
0:26:35 > 0:26:37and that might make you think differently.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40- We will do. Thank you.- There we go.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46Well, I have to say, this is a very handsome property.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48For that money, £50,000 in your pocket,
0:26:48 > 0:26:52you could completely gut the inside and make it absolutely beautiful.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56I think they'll be missing a trick if they don't see the potential of that.
0:26:56 > 0:27:02Under budget at £595,000, this superb Georgian property
0:27:02 > 0:27:05has some great selling points starting with its location
0:27:05 > 0:27:09in the heart of Thoralby village which will enable our couple
0:27:09 > 0:27:11to get stuck right into village community life.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14Something that Anne is keen to embrace.
0:27:14 > 0:27:19The house itself has two fabulous reception rooms with period features.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22An office/library for Brian and his books.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25The five bedrooms they wanted
0:27:25 > 0:27:29and over an acre of land with spectacular views over the Dales.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31I think the outside space is fantastic.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34The setting is beautiful.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36First impressions were superb.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39I was really taken with the ground floor.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43Probably a little less so when we came upstairs and had a look around
0:27:43 > 0:27:46but when we came back downstairs and out into the garden that, for me,
0:27:46 > 0:27:50was bringing it back above the threshold again.
0:27:50 > 0:27:55- So, this is the annex room?- It could be a really good guest annex.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59It's a lot of house. It's got a lot of potential.
0:27:59 > 0:28:05It's whether I'm up for developing it in the way that I would want to live.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09Yorkshire - so beautiful - wherever you look it's just like,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12perfect views.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15- I was just saying - amazing views here.- Fabulous views.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18- Everywhere in the Dales, but particularly this house.- Yes.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21Not that I'm putting any pressure on you.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28And so, with our first day of house-hunting over
0:28:28 > 0:28:34Brian and Anne can take a well-deserved rest and reflect on what they've seen so far.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36Well, it's been a good day, hasn't it?
0:28:36 > 0:28:38Been a fascinating day.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40So, go on, let's have the verdict.
0:28:40 > 0:28:44What was your sort of feelings about the converted farmhouse?
0:28:44 > 0:28:47I have to say, when we first arrived and we looked at the outside,
0:28:47 > 0:28:50I thought, "No, this doesn't do it for me."
0:28:50 > 0:28:52It just didn't tick the box at all
0:28:52 > 0:28:56but then when we started to go through the property it just got better and better.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00So, I've been very pleasantly surprised with the first one.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03That kitchen, that living area.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07The snug, the potential for the end room.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10The bedrooms I thought were great and that master bedroom
0:29:10 > 0:29:12was just really the piece de resistance.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14I thought that was excellent.
0:29:14 > 0:29:20The setting, the views. You've got no-one to sort of invade your privacy
0:29:20 > 0:29:24but there are people close by. There were houses nearby.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27- I have to say I like that bit.- Yeah.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30So, what were your views on the house in the village?
0:29:30 > 0:29:34That, for me, was a real surprise cos I thought beforehand
0:29:34 > 0:29:38that I can't really imagine us living actually in a village
0:29:38 > 0:29:42but the actual house itself, certainly looking from the outside,
0:29:42 > 0:29:44I thought was great. I was really surprised.
0:29:44 > 0:29:48I think the first time that I went in, I just thought, "hm",
0:29:48 > 0:29:56but as I went round it and thought how it was but then how I could make it and how we could have it
0:29:56 > 0:30:01to suit how we live. I think it grew on me. I think I liked it better.
0:30:01 > 0:30:05I thought the garden, I really thought that was something special.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08I think the garden was superb and I have to say I'm really intrigued
0:30:08 > 0:30:12- to see what we're going to see tomorrow. - Yeah, it should be a good day.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15- I'm really looking forward to it. - Me too.
0:30:19 > 0:30:24Anne and Brian have spent 22 happy years in their large family home in Liverpool.
0:30:24 > 0:30:29But now their children are grown up, it's time to head for the hills of North Yorkshire.
0:30:29 > 0:30:34For £650,000 they want a four-bedroomed detached country home,
0:30:34 > 0:30:38with a large kitchen, an office for Brian and land to grow vegetables.
0:30:38 > 0:30:44So far they've seen one house, but coming up, it all gets a bit overwhelming.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47- You're welling up, aren't you?- No!
0:30:47 > 0:30:50Some places give you a warm handshake when you come in.
0:30:50 > 0:30:51This place is giving you a warm hug.
0:30:51 > 0:30:56And there's our magnificent mystery house, which comes with a catch.
0:30:57 > 0:31:02I think yesterday went quite well. Handsome properties, under budget, very attractive.
0:31:02 > 0:31:07The only thing that slightly worried me was that Anne didn't seem able to look through the cosmetics
0:31:07 > 0:31:10to the bones of the property and that's a bit of a problem.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13I wonder whether it's a symptom of her reluctance to commit
0:31:13 > 0:31:17to the countryside and is hankering after her lovely house in Liverpool.
0:31:17 > 0:31:21Brian's much better at it so I'm hoping that he's going to
0:31:21 > 0:31:24hold the day and that today goes swimmingly well.
0:31:24 > 0:31:30Our next house is in the small hamlet of Hawkswick, deep in the Littondale Valley.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33Hawkswick bears all the hallmarks of a traditional Dales village.
0:31:33 > 0:31:37Close by is Arncliffe, and no prizes for guessing which soap opera
0:31:37 > 0:31:42was first filmed here, and whose name was inspired by its village hall.
0:31:42 > 0:31:48Our property is on the edge of Hawkswick, looking up the sweeping slopes of the Dales.
0:31:48 > 0:31:53This is the property I want to show you. But rather unusually there's a feature here
0:31:53 > 0:31:56that I can't resist showing you straightaway.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58Right.
0:31:58 > 0:32:03'So we'll take a slight detour round to the back of this Grade II-listed conversion,
0:32:03 > 0:32:08'and I think they'll be hooked by what I'm about to show them.'
0:32:08 > 0:32:12Take a look what's at the bottom of your garden.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14- Oh, fabulous.- That is awesome.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17- I love the sound of water. - Absolutely fantastic.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19- It's the river Skirfare.- Skirfare.
0:32:19 > 0:32:26- Skirfare.- It's not the most famous river in Yorkshire, but I think pretty beautiful.
0:32:26 > 0:32:28- Amazing.- Stunning, it really is.
0:32:28 > 0:32:33And that's the key feature of this whole house, which I have to say looks absolutely beautiful.
0:32:33 > 0:32:39- It's beautiful.- I think you've hit the jackpot.- Beautiful.- I really do. It's beyond description.
0:32:39 > 0:32:43- It really is fantastic. - Good. So I'm glad I've got you on side from the outside.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47- Oh, you have.- Now, inside you need to get your X-ray specs on and look through the decor,
0:32:47 > 0:32:53- and see what you can do with it. Let's have a look and see what you think.- OK.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56'Anne will be pleased to know that this early Victorian coach house
0:32:56 > 0:32:59'has played a historical part in community life
0:32:59 > 0:33:03'as the venue for the local village dances in the late 19th century.'
0:33:03 > 0:33:07- Look, you've got a hot tub as well. - Oh, excellent.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09Very nice, even more water.
0:33:09 > 0:33:14'The village hasn't flooded in the last hundred years, so they'll be warm and dry inside.'
0:33:14 > 0:33:16Oh, right.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20- So this is the kitchen.- Uh-huh.
0:33:20 > 0:33:21This is nice.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24- It's nice.- Nice size.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26Nice views, nice location.
0:33:26 > 0:33:31What's lovely about it is, you're right, you've got triple aspect all the way down the river, yes.
0:33:31 > 0:33:35You can see it in the morning, you can hear the river, you can see the river.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38What a way to take breakfast, to have that as well.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40- Yeah, yeah.- Fantastic.
0:33:40 > 0:33:44I think that's the thing about this house, that it's, a lot of it is about the views out.
0:33:44 > 0:33:49- Yes.- And the bones of the house are so good that you could do almost anything with it.- Yeah, yeah.
0:33:49 > 0:33:53I think sometimes when a house is right you make it fit how you live.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56- Sure. - When everything else comes together.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59- Sure. Is that how you're feeling about this?- So far, yes.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02We love that! That's great.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05Some places give you a warm handshake when you come in.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07This place is giving you a warm hug.
0:34:07 > 0:34:09- That's good.- Aw.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11Better write all this down, it's wonderful.
0:34:11 > 0:34:16Just off the kitchen is a small utility room and cloakroom with a WC.
0:34:16 > 0:34:22There are also two more rooms downstairs, waiting for Brian and Anne to take them into their arms.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25In true Yorkshire style we've come in through the back door.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28Cos this is the front of the house, obviously, onto the street.
0:34:28 > 0:34:32And this arch... I told you it used to be the coach house for the farmhouse,
0:34:32 > 0:34:36- this is where they bring the coaches and the agricultural vehicles in.- Uh-huh.
0:34:36 > 0:34:41A lot of the house, it would have been just one big space, so it's been remodelled in a certain way,
0:34:41 > 0:34:44but there's lots of remnants of the agricultural,
0:34:44 > 0:34:47you can see down in the hallway here, these huge slabs.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49- Yeah.- Yes.- Great.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52This is the main room.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54This is the living room.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56Oh, wow. This is nice.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59- This is a lovely room.- Nice size.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01- Great proportions, isn't it? High ceilings.- Yeah.
0:35:01 > 0:35:07Thinking of it as a blank canvas, the detail, the windows, the views out of the windows,
0:35:07 > 0:35:10- this is a nice-sized room. - It's a lovely room. It is.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14You can see how thick the walls are, and these lovely sills, and beautifully made wooden windows.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16They are, they're really nice.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19I'm very impressed with what I've seen so far, very impressed.
0:35:19 > 0:35:24- And I think what's nice about this is that they're, the outside space is very accessible.- Yes, yes.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27So that for great chunks of the year, you know, you'll be able to
0:35:27 > 0:35:31just open those, and use the kind of the patio, use the barbecue.
0:35:31 > 0:35:35Yes. I can see myself enjoying living in this room. It's a lovely room.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39It feels nice. It has a nice feel to it.
0:35:39 > 0:35:41The hug's getting a bit tighter now,
0:35:41 > 0:35:43- I'm well taken.- Well, the hug's good.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46Now, upstairs, let's head upstairs.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48OK.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54'It all seems very positive so far.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56'We'll go back through to the main reception hall
0:35:56 > 0:36:00'and head up to the fist floor, and see if we can make that hug a little bit tighter.'
0:36:00 > 0:36:07- It's interesting, there's probably a stone staircase underneath here. - Right.
0:36:07 > 0:36:12Years ago all this was remodelled when it was, it was converted 20 years ago.
0:36:12 > 0:36:16- Pity I don't, I'm not so keen on this type of wood.- Yeah.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20And the open staircase, I would prefer that all filled in.
0:36:20 > 0:36:26Yeah. This is where I think you need to have your remodelling hat on.
0:36:26 > 0:36:30Off the landing are four of this property's five bedrooms,
0:36:30 > 0:36:33including a twin room, a light double room with wonderful views...
0:36:35 > 0:36:41..another double currently used as an office, and a family bathroom with shower cubicle and bath.
0:36:41 > 0:36:45Brian and Anne may need to give these rooms a new decorative lease of life
0:36:45 > 0:36:48to suit their own personal taste, but are they up for it?
0:36:48 > 0:36:51We'll find out as we take a look at the master.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54It's a bit of a disappointment coming upstairs.
0:36:54 > 0:36:56There's plenty of space here,
0:36:56 > 0:37:00it just doesn't feel as though it's been thought through as well as downstairs, perhaps.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03The expensive things like the windows are all good.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06You have got an en suite all plumbed in, again you might want to remodel it.
0:37:06 > 0:37:12It's a good size again, nice window, and I think, you know, the size is everything, really.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15You could easily change the fittings.
0:37:15 > 0:37:17One thing you can't get normally in a master bedroom
0:37:17 > 0:37:22- is the sound and the view out of the master bedroom window, such as that. That is just beautiful.- Exactly.
0:37:22 > 0:37:28'And upstairs again in the attic is a potential fifth bedroom, currently used as storage.
0:37:28 > 0:37:31'But we'll retrace our steps and go out into the garden
0:37:31 > 0:37:36'for Brian and Anne to take stock of what this property gives them.'
0:37:36 > 0:37:39Back outside.
0:37:39 > 0:37:43- It's definitely the high point of this property.- Oh, yes, for sure.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45How much do you think it costs?
0:37:45 > 0:37:49Well, to put a figure on it, I think for all that's involved,
0:37:49 > 0:37:53despite the issues we've got, particularly with the upstairs in here, I think
0:37:53 > 0:37:58you've probably gone slightly above our budget, and I'm going to put a figure of £660,000 on this property.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04I think you're probably just on budget, so I think 650.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07Well, that's very interesting, because this property,
0:38:07 > 0:38:12for all its amazing setting, is on the market for 595.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15- 595?- Oh, right! - I'm amazed, I really am.
0:38:15 > 0:38:20And that's where, you know, does that extra 55 grand,
0:38:20 > 0:38:23convert the inside to something that you want.
0:38:23 > 0:38:27Get back inside, start sketching some plans about what to change
0:38:27 > 0:38:30and what it's going to cost, and then we'll meet outside.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32- Sounds like a plan.- Thank you!
0:38:32 > 0:38:38Under budget at £595,000, this impressive listed Georgian property
0:38:38 > 0:38:44leaves Brian and Anne a £55,000 chunk of funds for the internal refurb work they'd like to do,
0:38:44 > 0:38:48and offers them two large reception areas, a spacious kitchen,
0:38:48 > 0:38:52which was at the top of Anne's wish list, five bedrooms,
0:38:52 > 0:38:54with a master en suite,
0:38:54 > 0:38:56and gardens with a river running by,
0:38:56 > 0:39:00and amazing views up the Littondale Valley.
0:39:00 > 0:39:04I think the setting is just stunning, it really is.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06I, you can't put a figure on that.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09The garden, again, immaculate.
0:39:09 > 0:39:14As we went through the house and went upstairs I didn't feel it, it fulfilled its promise.
0:39:14 > 0:39:20The benefit of it being under budget is that it gives us some money to be able to spend on it,
0:39:20 > 0:39:25and so there is the potential to make it the house, the house of our dreams.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27- I can see how we could make this work.- Yeah.
0:39:27 > 0:39:29I can easily see us living in here.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31This is a really nice room.
0:39:31 > 0:39:35I personally believe it can and would give us what we're looking for.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38The question is, can we do that within the budget we have remaining.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40That's what we would need to discuss.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43But I hope we can, because what a setting, it's tremendous.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48Hey, hiding in the arch.
0:39:48 > 0:39:50- You all done?- Mm-hm.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52Let's move on.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03Anne and Brian are keen walkers, and as the Dales National Park
0:40:03 > 0:40:09will be on their doorstep, they might need to find their way around this vast landscape.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12Besides the map and compass in their pocket,
0:40:12 > 0:40:15they could also use the countryside as a natural compass,
0:40:15 > 0:40:21using the skills of natural navigation - something expert Tristan Gooley knows all about.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24Natural navigation is the art of finding your way
0:40:24 > 0:40:28using only nature. The sun, the moon, the stars,
0:40:28 > 0:40:32the wind and weather, the plants, the animals, the land, and the sea itself.
0:40:32 > 0:40:37So the first place we'd probably start to try and find our way
0:40:37 > 0:40:40is to look up into the sky.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43- And we've chosen quite a day for it! - THEY LAUGH
0:40:43 > 0:40:45Haven't we just?!
0:40:45 > 0:40:47We won't get too many clues from the sky today,
0:40:47 > 0:40:51but don't despair, because the elements leave marks on the land itself,
0:40:51 > 0:40:54and it's these clues that we'll be looking for.
0:40:54 > 0:41:00So if I explain to you that the prevailing wind in Britain comes from the southwest,
0:41:00 > 0:41:03I'd like you to just step up here and have a look at these trees.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06What are you seeing when you look at these trees?
0:41:06 > 0:41:10- They're leaning.- Yeah. Excellent. - They're blowing in this direction.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12Great. So, what conclusions could you come to?
0:41:12 > 0:41:16- Well, if the winds are blowing south-westerly...- Yeah?
0:41:16 > 0:41:19- ..then that's south-westerly. - Very, very close.
0:41:19 > 0:41:23- What are you going to say, Anne? - That's south-westerly!- Excellent!
0:41:23 > 0:41:25That's why I follow Anne!
0:41:25 > 0:41:28Yeah, so we've got our first piece of the jigsaw.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31- Natural navigation is really a jigsaw puzzle.- Right.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34You can with the sun find exact directions,
0:41:34 > 0:41:38but for the most part, we're trying to get lots and lots of little pieces,
0:41:38 > 0:41:40little clues, put them together,
0:41:40 > 0:41:46then we can find our way without looking at a map, looking at a compass or a GPS. It's a good idea
0:41:46 > 0:41:49to have them with you - and I've got them on me to be safe -
0:41:49 > 0:41:51but every time you look at a map, a compass, or a GPS,
0:41:51 > 0:41:57- you've stopped looking around you, and that's why we go for walks. Shall we head off?- Let's follow you.
0:41:58 > 0:42:03And the general lie of the land could help point them in the right direction too.
0:42:06 > 0:42:10OK, we use the trees to get our bearings,
0:42:10 > 0:42:14but whether you've used the sun and the sky, the trees or the ground,
0:42:14 > 0:42:19once you've got some idea of direction, you need to have a really good look at the land around you
0:42:19 > 0:42:22and try and build a picture of the lie of the land.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25So, the land drops away into a valley here
0:42:25 > 0:42:28and it rises up on the other side of the valley,
0:42:28 > 0:42:30and the valley runs along in a line in front of us,
0:42:30 > 0:42:35- what do you think the alignment of that valley is, then?- I got that completely wrong last time,
0:42:35 > 0:42:39- so ask Anne.- OK, Anne, you're on the spot.- I think it's west to east?
0:42:39 > 0:42:41Exactly. Perfect.
0:42:41 > 0:42:46Yes, we've got the Wensleydale itself, the valley running all the way
0:42:46 > 0:42:49west to east. And it stretches for miles down there.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53So we've a compass in front of us that stretches for miles and miles.
0:42:53 > 0:42:57We talked before about the wind as a provider of clues,
0:42:57 > 0:43:02- can we use water as well?- We can, yes. We can see in front of us
0:43:02 > 0:43:08- the results of that heavy rain we were enjoying earlier! - Yes!- And flowing downhill,
0:43:08 > 0:43:11so that will meet the River Ure down in the valley.
0:43:11 > 0:43:16There's a lovely quote by one of the past masters of this rare art - Harold Gatty.
0:43:16 > 0:43:21He said, "Nine times out of ten, if a river doesn't lead to your home, it will lead to somebody else's."
0:43:21 > 0:43:26So if we follow this water that's come from all the heavy rain we've been enjoying,
0:43:26 > 0:43:31we're likely to find the river, and the river should take us to somewhere we can get a cup of tea!
0:43:31 > 0:43:35- Excellent.- Shall we go for that, then?- Why not? Why not?
0:43:35 > 0:43:38Maybe we're a step closer to bringing Anne and Brian home and dry,
0:43:38 > 0:43:42as our house hunt continues.
0:43:42 > 0:43:47Brian's been very polite about the houses we've shown him so far, Anne much less so,
0:43:47 > 0:43:53which is probably good, because now we know that we have to pull out all the stops with the mystery house.
0:43:53 > 0:43:57It's a bit of a gamble, because in many ways it's exactly what they're not looking for,
0:43:57 > 0:44:00but desperate times call for desperate measures.
0:44:02 > 0:44:05What do you think the mystery house might involve?
0:44:05 > 0:44:09Well, I guess that by the very nature of the title,
0:44:09 > 0:44:14it's going to take us out of our sort of normal comfort zone, whether it is going to be something
0:44:14 > 0:44:20that is the opposite of everything that we've described to you, and therein lies the challenge maybe.
0:44:20 > 0:44:22What would that be, the opposite?
0:44:22 > 0:44:26I guess it would be small, attached, with no land.
0:44:26 > 0:44:31That's not mystery, that's just a rubbish house.
0:44:31 > 0:44:34And our mystery house is a far cry from that.
0:44:34 > 0:44:37It's just outside the village of Burton in Lonsdale,
0:44:37 > 0:44:40right on the county's border with Lancashire.
0:44:40 > 0:44:46Burton in Lonsdale has a community-owned post office and shop, one of only 150 in England,
0:44:46 > 0:44:51which forms the hub of village life, and would be a great place for Anne to meet the locals.
0:44:51 > 0:44:55There are some beautiful country houses dotted around, and five minutes' drive away,
0:44:55 > 0:45:02our mystery property is just that, a lovingly restored 17th-century listed farmhouse.
0:45:02 > 0:45:05- Oh...- Oh, wow!
0:45:05 > 0:45:07That looks incredible.
0:45:07 > 0:45:11- Ah, it's a goodie, isn't it? - It certainly is, yes.- Intriguing.
0:45:11 > 0:45:14And pretty. It looks fascinating.
0:45:14 > 0:45:17- You're welling up.- No! Shh!
0:45:18 > 0:45:23Got tears. So it is attached. How do you feel about that? Cos you share at the moment, don't you?
0:45:23 > 0:45:25That's right, yeah.
0:45:25 > 0:45:31But I guess that's one of the things we were looking for, more of a detached property.
0:45:31 > 0:45:36But hadn't been banking on something this unusual and unique.
0:45:36 > 0:45:38- So that's the mystery.- Aha.
0:45:38 > 0:45:40There's always a catch.
0:45:40 > 0:45:42Let's look inside.
0:45:42 > 0:45:46'Our mystery house is something they never would have considered on paper.
0:45:48 > 0:45:53'We'll venture inside this beautifully restored farmhouse and take a look at the sitting room.'
0:45:56 > 0:46:01I have to say this whole house has been a complete labour of love for the present owner.
0:46:01 > 0:46:02Oh, you can tell.
0:46:02 > 0:46:05This is incredible,
0:46:05 > 0:46:08- it really is. - Beautiful mullion windows,
0:46:08 > 0:46:12and all this oak, you see the oak sills here,
0:46:12 > 0:46:16and these oak beams, these all come from the forest just down the road.
0:46:16 > 0:46:20So everything has been locally sourced and made to measure.
0:46:20 > 0:46:23- It's beautiful.- It's just amazing.
0:46:23 > 0:46:26I'm sure we're supposed to speak now, but I feel speechless.
0:46:26 > 0:46:29What's nice about it is that it's not old-fashioned.
0:46:29 > 0:46:32If you go through here, you'll see what I mean.
0:46:36 > 0:46:39Wow!
0:46:39 > 0:46:43- Good grief! - And this is a good-sized room.- Yeah.
0:46:43 > 0:46:47It was an old lean-to, and it's only in the last year, actually,
0:46:47 > 0:46:50that they've opened all up, put these beams in, taken it right up.
0:46:50 > 0:46:53- These would have been the upstairs windows.- Oh, right.
0:46:53 > 0:46:55- Right. - So they've lifted the whole ceiling.
0:46:55 > 0:47:00Somebody's put their heart and soul into this place, and it comes through in the craftsmanship.
0:47:00 > 0:47:03- Yeah.- It's a really very nice room.
0:47:03 > 0:47:06I really wouldn't have a snooker table in here.
0:47:06 > 0:47:09This'd be a living area where you're out into the garden.
0:47:09 > 0:47:11It's bright, it's light, it's spacious.
0:47:11 > 0:47:14It really is very impressive.
0:47:14 > 0:47:17Good, very good. Let's continue the tour downstairs.
0:47:17 > 0:47:21'Well, I hope there won't be squabbles over this third reception room.'
0:47:21 > 0:47:24Lovely travertine marble through here.
0:47:27 > 0:47:29Oh, right.
0:47:29 > 0:47:33- Ah.- Very nice. This is a very nice office.
0:47:33 > 0:47:36- Dining room.- A very nice office!
0:47:36 > 0:47:38Office, I was thinking.
0:47:38 > 0:47:42- For sure.- But it would make a nice dining room as well.
0:47:42 > 0:47:44It would make a much nicer office.
0:47:46 > 0:47:51I mean, look at the wood above the windows, the detail, it's just lovely.
0:47:51 > 0:47:53This is great, it really is.
0:47:53 > 0:47:55So it's ticking boxes upside down.
0:47:55 > 0:48:01- Well, it's ticking boxes I didn't have before, so...- The sound of ticking is overwhelming.
0:48:04 > 0:48:06Here's the kitchen.
0:48:06 > 0:48:09- Oh, my goodness.- Oh, wow.
0:48:09 > 0:48:11It just gets better and better, doesn't it?
0:48:11 > 0:48:14- Just unbelievable. - It's certainly big.
0:48:14 > 0:48:16Beautiful kitchen. This is unbelievable.
0:48:16 > 0:48:21A log burner, beautiful features, lovely work surface.
0:48:21 > 0:48:26'Just off the kitchen is a utility room which is practically a kitchen in its own right.
0:48:26 > 0:48:30'So, with top marks for the downstairs of our mystery house,
0:48:30 > 0:48:34'we'll head upstairs, where there are some more splendid features to admire.'
0:48:34 > 0:48:38So if you look to your right, Brian, you'll see the windows I was talking about.
0:48:38 > 0:48:44- Oh, right, yes.- Oh. - And, rather quirkily, they continue into your guest shower room.
0:48:44 > 0:48:51- Oh, wow! So you can actually watch snooker while you're in the shower. - Shout comments.
0:48:54 > 0:48:58Off the landing are all the four bedrooms, a nice-sized double room,
0:48:58 > 0:49:03a twin room, and another which could easily be a double.
0:49:03 > 0:49:06But we'll take a peek at where Anne and Brian would sleep.
0:49:06 > 0:49:08Oh, wow!
0:49:08 > 0:49:11It's what you wanted, huh? Space for a four poster.
0:49:11 > 0:49:13Certainly did.
0:49:13 > 0:49:15That's incredible, it really is.
0:49:15 > 0:49:18- It's a beautiful room. - So thumbs up for upstairs here?
0:49:18 > 0:49:19- Oh, yes.- Certainly.- For sure.
0:49:19 > 0:49:23Well, I think outside might seal the deal.
0:49:23 > 0:49:26Wow.
0:49:26 > 0:49:29'Attached it might be, but they love this house so far,
0:49:29 > 0:49:34'and I'm confident that Anne and Brian are going to be bowled over by what's on offer outside.'
0:49:37 > 0:49:40Outside's quite a package.
0:49:40 > 0:49:43- It certainly is. - Voila, the veggie beds.
0:49:43 > 0:49:47- A vegetable garden. - Voila, the greenhouse.
0:49:47 > 0:49:49Voila, the formal gardens.
0:49:49 > 0:49:54But beyond the wall, that's still your land, all the way along,
0:49:54 > 0:49:57all the way along to the forest...
0:49:57 > 0:49:58- Good grief!- ..which is also yours.
0:49:58 > 0:50:01- Oh, my goodness.- In total, you've got about four-and-a-half acres.
0:50:01 > 0:50:03Four-and-a-half acres?
0:50:05 > 0:50:06Shall we explore some more?
0:50:06 > 0:50:08Yes, please!
0:50:08 > 0:50:13'We'll take a stroll over the stream that Anne wanted to the pond and have a think about the price,
0:50:13 > 0:50:18'and whether they can overlook the minor snag of such a fabulous house being attached.'
0:50:18 > 0:50:24- From here, you get the real view of the whole house. - I think it's amazing.
0:50:24 > 0:50:26It's breathtaking. It really is.
0:50:26 > 0:50:32Well, there is one minus, or at least it seemed a minus when we arrived, that it is attached.
0:50:32 > 0:50:36- How do you feel about that?- I think that's become less of an issue
0:50:36 > 0:50:39as we've gone round the house and as we've seen outside,
0:50:39 > 0:50:44and in some ways because of the solitude of the place,
0:50:44 > 0:50:47I feel it actually could have some pluses to have a close neighbour.
0:50:47 > 0:50:50I suppose the big question is, can you afford it?
0:50:50 > 0:50:54I think you've shown us a premium property, I fear there's a premium price attached to that as well,
0:50:54 > 0:50:58and I think this is going to go comfortably over our budget.
0:50:58 > 0:51:05So, with that in mind, I'm guessing this property is 675.
0:51:07 > 0:51:11I actually think it would be higher than that.
0:51:11 > 0:51:15I'd say 695, but I think it could even be higher.
0:51:15 > 0:51:19Well, it's interesting that you say that, because, brace yourselves,
0:51:19 > 0:51:24this property is on the market for £695,000.
0:51:24 > 0:51:25- Oh, right.- 695.
0:51:25 > 0:51:28But...
0:51:28 > 0:51:31that includes two enormous outhouses,
0:51:31 > 0:51:35- which is where the present owner runs his business from.- Yes.
0:51:35 > 0:51:38They can be detached from the property
0:51:38 > 0:51:44and the property would then be worth £650,000.
0:51:44 > 0:51:48And at £650,000, I can say yes.
0:51:50 > 0:51:52Well, I'm delighted to hear that.
0:51:52 > 0:51:56- Maybe you'd like to stroll round and mull it over.- I think so.
0:51:56 > 0:52:00- And then we can see where we go from there.- Thank you.- Let's go.
0:52:02 > 0:52:05With the outbuildings out of the equation,
0:52:05 > 0:52:09our mystery house is bang on budget at £650,000.
0:52:09 > 0:52:12And Brian and Anne are giving it a great big bear hug,
0:52:12 > 0:52:15despite it being an attached property.
0:52:15 > 0:52:18This stunningly restored listed farmhouse would give them
0:52:18 > 0:52:20three reception rooms,
0:52:20 > 0:52:24a large beautiful kitchen-dining room, four bedrooms,
0:52:24 > 0:52:27and over four acres of garden and woodland.
0:52:27 > 0:52:31Look at this, Anne, they've even got their own stream and bridge across it.
0:52:31 > 0:52:33- It's fabulous, isn't it? - It really is.
0:52:33 > 0:52:34It was just overwhelming.
0:52:34 > 0:52:40I think it was impressive, interesting, special, unique.
0:52:40 > 0:52:43I was really bowled over.
0:52:43 > 0:52:45It's a dining room, it really is the dining room.
0:52:45 > 0:52:49No, dear, it's just, it's got office written on the door.
0:52:49 > 0:52:55I could really see us, our family, our friends, having, you know, some fantastic times together
0:52:55 > 0:52:58in the kitchen. It's idyllic.
0:52:59 > 0:53:03I have to ring them out of this house, I think. Grown too attached.
0:53:03 > 0:53:05Can I drag you out?
0:53:05 > 0:53:07Reluctantly, yes.
0:53:07 > 0:53:10Like winkling out a shell.
0:53:16 > 0:53:20Now that Brian and Anne have seen all our properties,
0:53:20 > 0:53:23they need to get down to some serious thinking about where to go from here.
0:53:26 > 0:53:30As mystery house viewings go, that probably counts as one of our most successful.
0:53:30 > 0:53:33But we can never rest on our laurels.
0:53:33 > 0:53:36Let's find out what they really think.
0:53:36 > 0:53:40- Hello, guys. So we're in from the Dales.- Yes.
0:53:40 > 0:53:43- Yes.- And now we have to think about all the properties we've seen.
0:53:43 > 0:53:45It seems like a long time since we started.
0:53:45 > 0:53:50Can you throw your mind back to the very first property we saw? That was the converted farmhouse.
0:53:50 > 0:53:53I think we were quite disappointed when we saw it from the outside,
0:53:53 > 0:53:58but as we started to move through the property, particularly the kitchen, the snug, and we moved our way
0:53:58 > 0:54:03up the stairs to the master bedroom, which was the piece de resistance, that was a lovely room.
0:54:03 > 0:54:07- The garden was lovely, it was really nice.- I think
0:54:07 > 0:54:09there's a lot of potential as well to put our mark on it.
0:54:09 > 0:54:15- So, overall, from that initial disappointment, I felt we got to quite like that house.- Mmm.
0:54:15 > 0:54:20And then the house on the green, what are your thoughts about that?
0:54:20 > 0:54:26It was a very surprising house, just how big and grand it looked from the outside. It drew me in.
0:54:26 > 0:54:30Going into the property, we saw some lovely rooms downstairs.
0:54:30 > 0:54:36They were really enchanting rooms that we went through. Upstairs, it did seem a bit higgledy-piggledy.
0:54:36 > 0:54:41- Disjointed.- It took a bit of a shine off, but I do recall the office.
0:54:41 > 0:54:44That was a stunning room, it was a lovely room.
0:54:44 > 0:54:48Brian's making an assumption that the office would be his!
0:54:48 > 0:54:51I could potentially have other plans for that.
0:54:51 > 0:54:55My initial reaction was not favourable, but I have to say,
0:54:55 > 0:54:59the actual garden, the walled garden, the vegetable garden,
0:54:59 > 0:55:03that was beautiful, it really was. That was... That was stunning.
0:55:03 > 0:55:06- But I've got a few reservations about the actual house.- Yeah.
0:55:06 > 0:55:13- The converted coach house that we looked at got a very big thumbs up from the outside.- Yes.
0:55:13 > 0:55:19I thought, "This is it, this is just beautiful." The setting, the garden, the river.
0:55:19 > 0:55:23And I really wanted the property to say - come inside, and let me seal the deal.
0:55:23 > 0:55:28A warming reception in the kitchen, but just as we went through the property, particularly
0:55:28 > 0:55:30as we went upstairs, it just let go.
0:55:30 > 0:55:33- And then we saw the mystery house. - Ah.
0:55:33 > 0:55:38- Boy, what a mystery house that was. - That was really something special.
0:55:38 > 0:55:41And it was really not what we expected.
0:55:41 > 0:55:45It was just a real wow factor, initially.
0:55:45 > 0:55:51I think for me, there was a disappointment when I found out it was attached,
0:55:51 > 0:55:53but I have to say as we went through the house,
0:55:53 > 0:55:57I actually started to feel quite positively about having such close neighbours.
0:55:57 > 0:56:02And it's something I don't think we'd have even thought of looking at, to be quite honest.
0:56:02 > 0:56:08- I'm sure we wouldn't have done.- No. - It really did say welcome. I mean, the kitchen was just unbelievable.
0:56:08 > 0:56:13I'm still in heated debate over an office, but we're in no doubt over the kitchen.
0:56:13 > 0:56:16I don't know if I need to ask, but which of the houses do you feel that
0:56:16 > 0:56:19you have most affinity with, and would you proceed on any of them?
0:56:19 > 0:56:22I think certainly, we'll be going back to look at the mystery house.
0:56:22 > 0:56:27That's wonderful, I'm so pleased, because it is interesting that the mystery house
0:56:27 > 0:56:30- does turn things on their heads, because it's not what you asked for. - Not at all.
0:56:30 > 0:56:35But it's been wonderful showing you round, you're so enthusiastic, and such a lot of joy.
0:56:35 > 0:56:39- Thank you.- And I hope to see you in the Dales very soon.
0:56:39 > 0:56:41Thank you, and thank you for all your help.
0:56:43 > 0:56:47I think we did a pretty good job in helping Brian and Anne
0:56:47 > 0:56:52make their move from the blue suburban skies of Penny Lane to this, the delights of the Dales.
0:56:52 > 0:56:55And if you've been inspired by our rural ramblings,
0:56:55 > 0:56:58make sure you tune in next time for more Escape To The Country.
0:56:58 > 0:57:00See you then.
0:57:00 > 0:57:03If you'd like to escape to the country and would like our help,
0:57:03 > 0:57:06please apply online.
0:57:24 > 0:57:27Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:57:27 > 0:57:31E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk