Cornwall Escape to the Country


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The striking castle behind me was home to one of this country's

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most creative but least well-known inventors.

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Not only did he design this - the world's first permanent structure built on sand,

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he also invented the first steam-powered motor vehicle

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used for passengers.

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Intrigued? Well, join me in a moment

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for another innovative Escape To The Country.

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In today's show, I'll be helping a get-up-and-go couple

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uproot from a town in the north and head 300 miles south

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to a new life in the country.

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It looks like they're going to settle right in!

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That's my type of house. That's lovely, that's gorgeous.

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Home, sweet home!

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But then our mystery house sends them into a spin.

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I'm sorry. I'm totally fazed by it!

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Today I'm on the north coast of Cornwall

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and this is Castle Bude,

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former home of forgotten genius

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the Victorian inventor Sir Goldsworthy Gurney.

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Locals scoffed when he decided to build his home right here, between the sand dunes.

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But undeterred, Gurney devised a pioneering concrete platform

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that sat above the sand,

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providing a stable foundation for this magnificent home.

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Perched on England's south-western peninsula,

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Cornwall's landscape spans the remote moorland villages

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of Bodmin Moor and nearly 300 miles of dramatic coastline.

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The county has a rich folkloric history

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and stretches back to the times of Arthurian legend,

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inspired by its deep-rooted Celtic heritage.

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Indeed, St Michael's Mount started life as a Celtic monastery

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long before it was granted to the Benedictine monks

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after the Norman Conquest.

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Much of Cornish folklore is also bound up in tales of smugglers

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who, up until the 19th century,

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ransacked the shipwrecks on these rocky shores,

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hiding their contraband goods in the sheltered coves.

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Today, it's the tourist industry that's rife,

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with around 4.5 million people

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coming to enjoy its natural spoils every year.

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Let's find out what's drawn today's buyers to this county.

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Husband and wife duo Andy and Marie

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have lived in their four-bedroom detached home in Chorley, Lancashire

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for four years. They run an internet business selling guitar accessories

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but they've become victims of their own success.

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This is the garage we work from. It's far too small, as you can see.

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There's stock on every inch of wall space here.

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We have two other units we have stock in, which are half a mile away

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so we need a place with an outbuilding or large double garage

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or a plot of land we can build something on,

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more purpose-built, to house the stock.

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Business needs aside, there are other factors drawing them to the south coast.

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I do want two big dogs

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that I can run along the beach or along the cliff tops.

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I want to do it before I get too old

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because it is going to be, hopefully, our final destination

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so we've got to get it right.

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So, what kind of property is going to strike the right chord?

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Our ideal house, as I see it, would be cosy,

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elegant,

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and, forgive me for saying, a little bit showy!

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Yes, I'd say that's right for yourself.

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For me, probably a beautiful natural setting, with a real chill factor.

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That would do for me. I like something quite traditional.

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I'm a joiner by trade, maybe that's what it is,

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but I love timber and I prefer stone rather than brick-built properties.

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I wouldn't want to live in a terraced property.

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It really wants to be a detached property in its own little plot.

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What are their top priorities for the house?

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We need ideally two reception rooms,

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three bedrooms - one for ourselves,

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one for guests and one as a music room.

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One of the two reception rooms could also become the office.

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Probably the most important thing for me

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is to have a kitchen large enough for a big family table,

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so we can all sit round it together.

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And also outside, maybe even up to half an acre.

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They're looking for a village location within easy reach of Bude.

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But there's one amenity they can't live without.

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The post office is pivotal to the business.

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We ship in the region of 1,000 items a week at the moment.

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With their property now on the market, how much do they have to spend on their move?

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Our budget for this move would be ?450,000.

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So today our top priority is to find a large open work space

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so that Andy and Marie can run their business from there.

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They're also after a three-bedroomed period cottage/house.

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That shouldn't be too hard to find on their budget.

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But the one area I'm slightly concerned about

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is finding a home with a big enough personality

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that will match this colourful couple!

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Andy and Marie want their house search to take in

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the coastal villages and countryside around Bude.

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We'll be showing them three creme de la creme Cornish properties

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but I won't reveal the price of each until they've had a guess first.

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Finally, there's our mystery house,

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which comes with a compromise attached.

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Andy and Marie, welcome to Cornwall.

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Hello. This is where you want to finish,

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this is your final house? This is our forever house. Forever home.

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Well, not only a home for the two of you,

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we also have to remember your business

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and find you suitable premises for that.

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Definitely. There's three of us with the business! Budget-wise,

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still looking around the ?450,000 mark?

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I think so - given that we might have to do some renovation,

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I think that's a realistic figure for us.

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I think so. Do you? Yeah.

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Shall we get started? Absolutely. Can't wait!

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For their ?450,000,

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Marie and Andy are looking for a Cornish home with character.

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Plus a nearby village post office

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to take care of their deliveries.

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Let's hope they're as flexible when it comes to our property search,

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which starts in the village of Altarnun on the edge of Bodmin Moor.

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Set among the attractive cottages, its impressive 15th-century church

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is dubbed the cathedral of the moors.

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Along with the local pub, there's that must-have post office,

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and the good news is, it's within a stone's throw of our first house.

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And here it is.

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Wow! That's long.

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Um... I'm not sure about the side building.

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This house dates back to the early 1900s and the building on the side

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was the original post office.

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Wow. Which I know is close to your hearts cos you need that for your business. Spooky!

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That could make the perfect solution to your office and storage problems.

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Yeah. You could be right there.

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They seem intrigued by this detached property, which combines character with a spacious interior.

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Mmm!

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It is actually a very nice kitchen.

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Yeah, it's just nice and straight and square.

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Being at the front of the property, not only do you get loads of light,

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you can keep an eye on your postman going past with your deliveries.

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Let's keep going!

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Fingers crossed, they'll warm to the next room.

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Here's your reception room. OK. OK. Woodburner.

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Fantastic. Multi-fuel. Look at the granite lintel over the fireplace.

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Andy loves his stone! I like my stone.

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Ah, so that really is a feature for you. It's great.

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What about the size of the room? It's pretty big. A good square room.

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You could do a lot to it. For sure.

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On the other side of the sitting room is a self-contained guest wing

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made up of a double bedroom served by its own bathroom.

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It's a perfect retreat for family and friends when they come to stay,

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with its own separate entrance.

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Downstairs seems to hit the mark in terms of layout.

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Let's head upstairs and see if the remaining three of the four bedrooms this house offers measure up.

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There's a light, spacious double and a single room.

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The family bathroom has a great walk-in shower.

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But what would they make of the master bedroom?

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Nice, square room. Good size, yeah. So far, for me, it's definitely a house

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that you could put your own mark on it.

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It's not structural. It's cosmetic and a little bit of joinery.

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And because you're a joiner, or were a joiner, it's something you could do. It doesn't faze me.

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Very achievable. Anything cosmetic I get quite excited about. Yeah.

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Get to the shops. I love it.

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I'm loving their upbeat reaction to this property.

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But I think we can build on that with what's behind this door.

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Not only do we need to find a decent property for the two of you,

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we have to find a property for your business.

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Yes. It's a maze!

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It is a maze, this property. Yeah.

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This would be fantastic for us because it's important that although we work from home,

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we want to feel as though we're going to work.

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It's a physical thing, closing that door.

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Even though the kitchen's next door, that's home, this is business.

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Exactly. The most important part for your business is the storage. Yeah.

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The good news is, you haven't got far to go. It's just next door.

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So, how many guitar parts for your business could you keep in here?

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Quite a few! I have to say,

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I'm starting to see real potential here.

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It looks like we're right on track with this property.

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Outside offers up yet more scope if they need to develop further.

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We've got a massive double garage - which could be storage.

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And also this outbuilding, this lean-to, with additional storage.

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And then the garden, a pretty country courtyard garden.

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Again, I just see potential here.

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I really can see that it could be a grand residence, yes.

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Fantastic. Yeah. So, you've seen everything now.

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Time to guess how much it's on the market for.

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My gut reaction would be 379.

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Marie? I'll go a bit higher and say 395.

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Marie, you're on the money.

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It's just come on the market, it's been on about four weeks.

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?395,000.

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I'm right for once! Perfect!

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At that price, this house does have fantastic potential.

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Under budget at ?395,000, our first property is a great opening gambit.

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All set in a beautiful village

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with a strong community

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and that all-important post office.

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All right? Seen enough? Yeah. Yeah. A lot to see.

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Yeah. You've come out smiling, so that's a good sign.

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More to show you. Let's keep going.

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Cornwall's mild, wet climate provides the perfect conditions for grass-rich pastureland,

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making it ideal terrain for dairy farmers.

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Since 1985, Helsett Farm near Boscastle has been making its own ice cream.

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I've come to meet mother and daughter team Sarah Talbot-Ponselby and Isla Allen,

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who, thanks to their laser-guided milking robot,

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don't have to spend hours in the milking parlour.

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It's fascinating to stand here and see them

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patiently waiting to be milked and fed.

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They really are quite happy with it.

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How many can this computer, this robot, do in one day?

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You can have about 65 cows,

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so they can come three or four times,

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depending on how much they have.

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What happens to the milk they produce?

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Quite a lot of it we turn into delicious organic dairy ice cream.

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Over the past ten years,

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the farm has honed an organic ice cream recipe,

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using that local delicacy, Cornish clotted cream,

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one of the UK's 42 products with EU-protected food name status.

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Ooh! I just want to eat this!

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The same home-made principles apply over in the dairy,

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where they produce the ice cream commercially.

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This is where it happens? Here we make it for real.

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There's a vat, where we put all the ingredients in,

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and it gets heated and mixed and cooked and pasteurised

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and then it's transferred into this machine, where it's aged

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and drawn off after three hours.

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Next, the vanilla extract is added and stirred in.

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My goodness! It smells absolutely divine!

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Then, this heavenly mixture is poured into the giant freezer,

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giving us the finished product in ten to 12 minutes.

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Mmm! That is delicious!

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Against the backdrop of the fiercely competitive ice cream market,

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it's heartening to see that local food champions here in Cornwall

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can build a viable and, in this case, sustainable farming business.

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We continue our property search on the outskirts of Morwenstow,

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within easy reach of Bude's beaches.

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Less than a ten-minute drive away,

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the village of Kilkhampton serves up useful amenities,

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including a post office.

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Set in a delightful semi-rural location,

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this detached Edwardian house really makes a statement.

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Here is... Wow! Wow! ..your second property.

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Now, that's a house. Take a step up.

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That is what I call a house. That's a my type of house.

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That's lovely. That's gorgeous. Yeah.

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I was going to ask what your first impressions were,

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but I think you've answered it!

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It's a big wow factor for us. It is a very imposing house. Edwardian.

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Yes. But I hope you've both got imagination.

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Because this is a blank canvas, and as we step inside,

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you'll see what I mean. Great.

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The property is currently empty, and ready for Marie to add her own interior design flair.

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Home, sweet home!

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It is like coming home, isn't it? Home, sweet home, yeah.

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Good enough. I love it. Yeah. It's taken my breath away.

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I can see myself in here.

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What a fabulous start! Yeah.

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Let's start with the first reception room. Lead on!

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We're still at the front of the property. Lovely.

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Nice-sized room. Looking at the chimney breast, is that active?

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Not at the moment. You'd have to re-open it.

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The flues have been closed off.

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That goes throughout the whole of the house. I see.

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But it cries out for a real fire, doesn't it? Yeah. Yes, it has to have that.

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You may notice, all the windows have been replaced

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with sash-style windows.

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I love the windows. It's sympathetic.

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They look just like the original sash windows. Mmm. That's great.

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A fire.

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No problem with the room. A sofa, a coffee table.

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Couple of lamps, we'll be well away. Cosy.

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'The second reception room next door is just as generous.'

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So another good-sized sitting room.

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I think I'd sit in this room. Yeah?

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It's beautiful. It's at the back of the house.

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You've got these beautiful windows.

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You could even have a window seat in that alcove.

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I love the light in here. It's very bright.

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Fantastic. Let's keep exploring the downstairs... Superb.

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This property gives them a third reception room,

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which they could use as a large family dining room,

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although there's plenty of space for a table in here.

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I know you both wanted a large kitchen/dining area.

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Here it is! Yeah. A good size.

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It's a really social area here.

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And it leads beautifully into the kitchen. Great.

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I always said I'd love a fireplace in a kitchen.

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Through the doors, you've got a utility room and a boiler room at the back with storage space.

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Fantastic.

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'There's no doubt they're liking the amount of space on offer downstairs.

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'Let's head upstairs and see if they get the same inspiration from the bedrooms.'

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This house is as generous upstairs as it is downstairs.

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Yeah. And it has five bedrooms.

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Fantastic. I think the choice is endless.

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The combinations that we can do with this.

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Having the luxury of thinking, "What do I use all these rooms for?"

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Instead of, "What can I shove in here to make do?"

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'There's another room, perfect for guests, as it has a lovely modern en-suite.

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'The two remaining bedrooms are both large enough to be doubles

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'and benefit from those sash windows.

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'Also on this floor is another stylish room.'

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And at the end of the corridor, the family bathroom.

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Lovely. A roll-top bath. Look at the feet on it!

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Look at the feet on that!

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Wow! And check out that view from the window!

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Fabulous. Fabulous. I'm in love!

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There's a fifth bedroom upstairs, but I'm going to take them outside,

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where the wrap-around garden offsets the property with mature trees providing privacy.

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So the house has delivered, the garden has delivered,

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but we can't forget the business, because that's the whole point of moving.

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You bring the business with you. Sure. You have a triple car-port here.

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Fantastic. That's a good size. It's workable again.

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The room within there is probably... Perfect. ..fine.

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So, property - tick. Garden - tick. Outside space - tick. Yep.

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Business - tick. All looking very good. You've got it together.

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Ah. Crunch time now, though.

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How much does it cost? There's a price to all of this.

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Of course. I think it's, to me, ?450,000.

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Um... I'm going to say ?430,000.

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It's just gone on the market - ?450,000. Right. Cool. Wow.

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Bang on budget at ?450,000,

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our renovated Edwardian property is ready for their personal touch.

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OK, you two? Yeah, absolutely fine.

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Good. Look at those grinning smiles!

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Let's hit the road. Come on.

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As the sun sets over the Cornish coast,

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it marks the end of the first day of our property search.

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We're back where we started for our mystery house

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in the traditional Cornish village of Altarnun, which was inspiration

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for Du Maurier's novel, Jamaica Inn.

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And our historic mystery farmhouse is totally in keeping.

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But can they get over it being attached?

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Here is your third and final property, the mystery house.

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OK. Facing us is quite a lot of buildings,

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but this is the one we're looking at, the old farmhouse.

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300 years old.

0:20:550:20:57

We picked this mystery house because this is a farmhouse

0:20:570:21:00

you probably wouldn't have looked at because it is attached. Ah.

0:21:000:21:03

What are your thoughts before we step inside?

0:21:030:21:06

We would never have asked for a brochure with a house attached to another house.

0:21:060:21:11

But that might have stopped us from seeing something that we think, "Wow!"

0:21:110:21:16

You know? So I'm very interested, actually.

0:21:160:21:20

I'm pleased they're being open-minded about the fact that our mystery farmhouse is attached.

0:21:200:21:26

But let's see if they can meet the additional challenge of putting their own mark on the interior.

0:21:260:21:31

Here's your sitting room, with the imposing fire. Oh, wow.

0:21:310:21:35

Looking around from a building background, there's not a lot to be done.

0:21:350:21:39

I get a nice feeling here, a warm feel.

0:21:390:21:42

And the work doesn't faze me, personally. Marie? However...!

0:21:420:21:46

I'm sorry - I'm totally fazed by it! Are you? Yeah.

0:21:460:21:50

Walking in here, what first springs to mind for you?

0:21:500:21:55

It's too masculine for me.

0:21:550:21:58

Not elegant enough. That's how I would describe it, yeah.

0:21:580:22:02

Well, this is only the first room. OK.

0:22:020:22:04

So keep an open mind. Definitely, yeah.

0:22:040:22:07

And I'll keep a closed mouth! Yeah.

0:22:070:22:09

We've got you covered!

0:22:090:22:11

You have a huge dining room here,

0:22:150:22:18

with this original slate floor.

0:22:180:22:21

Ideal floor. That's a priceless floor. That is so nice.

0:22:210:22:24

It's got a lot of light in the room.

0:22:240:22:27

The inglenook is lovely. I love the oak beam and the granite lintels at either side.

0:22:270:22:32

Are you getting a better feeling in here? Yeah,

0:22:320:22:35

it's still a bit too masculine for me,

0:22:350:22:38

but perhaps I need to use my imagination - or Andy's! I think so.

0:22:380:22:42

So this leads through into your kitchen.

0:22:440:22:47

This really is a farmhouse country kitchen. The original.

0:22:470:22:51

It certainly is. I love the original features

0:22:510:22:54

Look at the age of that range. I love it.

0:22:540:22:57

I'm afraid I'm probably going to let you all down

0:22:570:22:59

by saying I do like the farmhouse kitchen with all the new equipment!

0:22:590:23:03

That's fair enough.

0:23:030:23:05

But this kitchen is large enough to do what you want,

0:23:050:23:08

but there's also a 300-year-old dairy,

0:23:080:23:11

which they've kept. You can see the old floor with the slate coming through.

0:23:110:23:15

I like it for its pure charm.

0:23:150:23:17

I don't know about the practicalities and what it could be used for,

0:23:170:23:21

but it's absolutely charming.

0:23:210:23:23

The traditional layout of our mystery farmhouse continues upstairs,

0:23:240:23:28

where there are five bedrooms.

0:23:280:23:30

One is a very spacious double.

0:23:300:23:33

Another has a more cosy feel.

0:23:330:23:37

The third is currently used as a single

0:23:370:23:39

with the fourth decked out with bunk beds.

0:23:390:23:42

What's more, there's a shower room and a separate bathroom.

0:23:420:23:45

But we'll check out the fifth bedroom and see if Marie has had a change of heart.

0:23:450:23:50

I actually like the feel up here.

0:23:500:23:53

And there's not as much to do up here as there is downstairs.

0:23:530:23:57

I do love that window. Yeah.

0:23:570:24:00

Yep.

0:24:000:24:01

We shall see!

0:24:010:24:03

Although I'm not convinced that Marie is warming to our mystery farmhouse,

0:24:050:24:09

maybe the potential outside for their business might sway her.

0:24:090:24:13

Just across from the farmhouse, they get a first-floor room in this barn conversion.

0:24:130:24:18

This bit belongs to your farmhouse.

0:24:180:24:21

OK. Right. I'm thinking business.

0:24:210:24:24

It could make a huge office.

0:24:240:24:26

As an office, yeah. I'm thinking of stock now. Yep.

0:24:260:24:31

Have no fear, Andy. To the side of the barn are two large storage rooms

0:24:310:24:37

with heaps of space for their deliveries.

0:24:370:24:39

Next door to the house is a separate garage block where the first floor has been converted into an office.

0:24:390:24:46

The outside space gives them a secluded lawned garden close to the house

0:24:460:24:50

which leads to a surprise one acre of land.

0:24:500:24:52

All in all, our mystery property is a substantial offering.

0:24:520:24:56

But at what cost?

0:24:560:24:58

So you've seen the land. How much do you think this farmhouse is on the market for?

0:24:580:25:03

Well, I'm going to put a value of 300,000 on it.

0:25:030:25:07

I'm going to say 400,000.

0:25:070:25:09

Andy, you're the closest, but you're still slightly out.

0:25:090:25:14

The current asking price for the farmhouse is ?425,000.

0:25:140:25:18

Right.

0:25:180:25:20

So, Marie, 125 out!

0:25:200:25:22

Under budget at ?425,000

0:25:260:25:29

our mystery farmhouse may be attached,

0:25:290:25:32

which was one of their definite no-no's.

0:25:320:25:34

But it oozes historic charm and gives them two reception rooms

0:25:340:25:39

with original stone fireplaces,

0:25:390:25:41

five bedrooms and outbuildings

0:25:410:25:43

giving them an office and storage space for deliveries.

0:25:430:25:48

Given they want to get the business off the ground straightaway,

0:25:550:25:59

is the work they'd want to do on the house a project too far?

0:25:590:26:02

Time for you to collect your thoughts. Yeah.

0:26:020:26:05

See what the next step's going to be. Come on. OK.

0:26:050:26:07

I think we may have got close with two out of the three properties we showed them.

0:26:150:26:20

But do Andy and Marie feel the same? Let's find out.

0:26:200:26:24

So, guys, let's start off with the very first house we saw.

0:26:280:26:32

I was very unsure when I first saw the outside of the property.

0:26:320:26:36

I didn't like the idea that it had a shop front attached to the house.

0:26:360:26:40

Because it's going to be a home and a business,

0:26:400:26:43

we have to have those two defined areas. It kind of all mushed together for me.

0:26:430:26:47

As far as a home, I wouldn't have felt comfortable there, no.

0:26:470:26:51

We travelled north of the county, and saw our second property,

0:26:510:26:55

that very imposing Edwardian home.

0:26:550:26:58

It looked grand and showy, which was what I'd asked for!

0:26:580:27:04

The Marie appeal! Yes! And that was it, I think.

0:27:040:27:07

I cut everything else off after that.

0:27:070:27:09

As soon as we looked at that, I thought this was the house

0:27:090:27:13

that we'd feel comfortable with owning,

0:27:130:27:16

and it had a lot of potential for the business.

0:27:160:27:18

Last but not least, we saw the mystery house.

0:27:180:27:21

It just wasn't doing it for me at all.

0:27:210:27:24

A reason we picked it was because it was attached.

0:27:240:27:27

Often that puts people off. I was close-minded at first,

0:27:270:27:31

but I realised, having seen the way it was arranged,

0:27:310:27:34

I could live with that. So what is the next step?

0:27:340:27:37

We're going to look at property two again tomorrow.

0:27:370:27:41

Well, that really is the best news.

0:27:410:27:43

I really hope you get the Edwardian property.

0:27:430:27:47

I hope it goes right for you. Fingers crossed. All the best.

0:27:470:27:50

It's been such fun. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much.

0:27:500:27:54

Well, that magnificent Edwardian property delivered on all fronts.

0:27:580:28:03

Let's hope the second viewing seals the deal.

0:28:030:28:06

If you've enjoyed this Escape To The Country,

0:28:060:28:09

then do join us again. Bye-bye!

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