0:00:03 > 0:00:08Today I'm in a county that's home to one of the UK's least known but most traditional country sports,
0:00:08 > 0:00:11hound trailing. It's been taking place on these hills
0:00:11 > 0:00:14for around 200 years, and, just like our house-hunt,
0:00:14 > 0:00:16this race is off!
0:00:36 > 0:00:40In today's show, I'll be helping a couple move back to their homeland,
0:00:40 > 0:00:43but can we meet their grand aspirations?
0:00:43 > 0:00:45Yeah, it's a good size. I could go even bigger.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47SHE LAUGHS
0:00:47 > 0:00:50Is this big enough for you? It's big enough for me.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53'And will the mystery house suit their style?'
0:00:53 > 0:00:56They got their wallpaper from the same place I got my shirt from!
0:00:59 > 0:01:03I'm in Cumbria, a county renowned for its incredible scenery
0:01:03 > 0:01:06but also home to dogs like Hunter's Dazzler here,
0:01:06 > 0:01:08who, on most days between April and October,
0:01:08 > 0:01:12can be found hound trailing. The sport is a legacy
0:01:12 > 0:01:16to the days when hunting dogs would be exercised during the off season,
0:01:16 > 0:01:19but nowadays it's as much an event in itself,
0:01:19 > 0:01:22and it's almost exclusive to the Cumbrian fells.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25At these meets there's a real sense of local identity,
0:01:25 > 0:01:28and that's a feeling that can be found
0:01:28 > 0:01:32in almost every corner of this most spectacular of counties.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36Cumbria is the most north-westerly of England's counties,
0:01:36 > 0:01:39and is bordered to the north by Scotland.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42Its dramatic mountainous terrain and 16 major lakes
0:01:42 > 0:01:45fall within the Lake District National Park,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48which covers over 880 square miles of the county.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52The scenic splendour that inspired the likes of William Wordsworth
0:01:52 > 0:01:56and Beatrix Potter continues to attract a high volume of day trippers in the peak season,
0:01:56 > 0:02:00drawn for the most part to lakeside towns such as Windermere.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Yet the remote fells and quiet Lakeland villages
0:02:02 > 0:02:06are an irresistible option for many aspiring escapees.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Wordsworth's home county could entice anyone,
0:02:12 > 0:02:16and today's buyers are swapping tulips for the hosts of golden daffodils.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18So let's meet them!
0:02:18 > 0:02:21Rhys and Angela have spent the last ten years
0:02:21 > 0:02:23working in the Netherlands for an oil company,
0:02:23 > 0:02:27but have recently decided to make a permanent move back to the UK,
0:02:27 > 0:02:30and are biding their time renting a five-bedroom house in the Wirral.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Their three children are a key factor in why they've opted for the Lakes.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38We'd really like to be within about an hour's drive of Sedbergh,
0:02:38 > 0:02:42where our two elder children have just started boarding school.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46'Ideally I'd like to be in the Lake District side,
0:02:46 > 0:02:49'because I'm a very keen hill-walker.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51If we had a place in the Lake District,
0:02:51 > 0:02:54we could spend more time with the children at weekends and holidays.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57Having lived in seven houses during their marriage,
0:02:57 > 0:03:01what kind of property is going to persuade them to finally put down roots?
0:03:01 > 0:03:07My ideal property would be a large Edwardian/Victorian-type house
0:03:07 > 0:03:11that had an impressive hallway when you walk through the door
0:03:11 > 0:03:14but was also warm and welcoming, and a family feel to the house.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17We're open to absolutely everything -
0:03:17 > 0:03:21old houses, listed buildings, bespoke architectural designed houses.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25So what specific requests are on their wish list?
0:03:25 > 0:03:29We would really like a house that's got at least three reception rooms.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Also we need one study that we can share,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35because we both work at home at least part of the time.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39'For me, I'd like to have a large kitchen,
0:03:39 > 0:03:41'and to be able to eat in the kitchen
0:03:41 > 0:03:45'would be a really essential item for me.'
0:03:45 > 0:03:48We're really looking for five bedrooms at least.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52We're looking for a garden to be an interesting garden,
0:03:52 > 0:03:56maybe on different levels, lots of trees, shrubbery,
0:03:56 > 0:03:59so really, you know, not a square piece of land,
0:03:59 > 0:04:01but looking up to about an acre.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05And finding the right location is going to be a real balancing act.
0:04:05 > 0:04:11We're looking for a location that's either in a small rural village,
0:04:11 > 0:04:14or it could be on the outskirts, because I'd like the opportunity
0:04:14 > 0:04:16to walk into the village.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19We're really not looking for a tourist destination
0:04:19 > 0:04:22that, in the summertime, is inundated.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24So we're looking for an authentic village.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28To finance the move, they need to sell their house in the Netherlands
0:04:28 > 0:04:31or a property they currently rent out in Buckinghamshire.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34With that in mind, how much do they have to spend?
0:04:34 > 0:04:37We're looking at a budget of about ?900,000,
0:04:37 > 0:04:40but we don't necessarily have to spend all of that.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44It's more important to us that we get a house that meets our criteria,
0:04:44 > 0:04:48so let's say, for instance, ?750,000,
0:04:48 > 0:04:52and then maybe use the remainder of the budget to renovate or change the house.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58After years of following their work around the world,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01Rhys and Angela are waving goodbye to the windmills
0:05:01 > 0:05:04and heading back to the UK with their three children
0:05:04 > 0:05:08to find a real family home. Since they've lived abroad for so long,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11they really want to find a community they can get involved in.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14All of that's doable with their healthy budget,
0:05:14 > 0:05:17but, with the children already enrolled in school,
0:05:17 > 0:05:21the question is, can we find that perfect house within an hour's drive,
0:05:21 > 0:05:25and is there a property out there that could help them to end their nomadic ways?
0:05:25 > 0:05:27Let's find out.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34Rhys and Angela's search area hinges on being within an hour's drive
0:05:34 > 0:05:37of their children's school, which lies 30 miles from Kendal.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40So we'll be focusing our search in the south of Cumbria,
0:05:40 > 0:05:43within close range of the Lakes.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47We'll be showing them three properties that might fit the bill,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50but I won't reveal the prices until they've had a guess first.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53And there's more to our mystery house than meets the eye.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01Rhys and Angela, thank you very much for bringing me to the Lakes.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04So why have you chosen here? I've always loved the Lakes,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07ever since I was in the Scouts as a boy and started hill-walking,
0:06:07 > 0:06:10and that began my passion for hill-walking.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13How important is location for you, proximity to the school?
0:06:13 > 0:06:15The children come home at the weekends,
0:06:15 > 0:06:19so we don't want a huge drive to go back and forth to school.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23It would be great to be really close. Certainly within an hour.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26And apart from location, how far are you willing to go
0:06:26 > 0:06:30to get the dream home? Would you do some work?
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Do some work. The house we had in the Netherlands we did renovate.
0:06:33 > 0:06:38But it wasn't structural renovation. How flexible are we on the price?
0:06:38 > 0:06:40How much money have we got to play with?
0:06:40 > 0:06:44We're looking to spend probably up to 900,000.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47Maybe a little less, maybe a little more.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Really it's more important getting the right property.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52And that's what we're here to help you with.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54We've got, as ever, fantastic properties,
0:06:54 > 0:06:57a mystery house as well. We've got the Lakes to take in.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00I say we get in the car and get going. Good idea.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08Angela and Rhys are happy to spend from ?750,000 to ?900,000
0:07:08 > 0:07:13on a grand period property with three reception rooms,
0:07:13 > 0:07:17a large kitchen/dining room, five bedrooms along with a study,
0:07:17 > 0:07:20and outside, they'd like a one-acre garden.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24It must located within an hour's drive of their children's school,
0:07:24 > 0:07:26and have amenities close by.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35We kick off our property search on the outskirts of Ulverston,
0:07:35 > 0:07:38under an hour from their children's school.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41It's a thriving market town with all the amenities they could ask for,
0:07:41 > 0:07:46and it's the birthplace of luminaries Stan Laurel and Sir John Barrow,
0:07:46 > 0:07:48a founding member of the Royal Geographical Society,
0:07:48 > 0:07:51whose commemorative monument overlooks the town.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54A mile away from the centre, we find our first house.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59So, property number one, and we've brought you up here
0:07:59 > 0:08:01just to the south of the Lakes.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03And this is the house.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05So, what do you think?
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Yeah. Um, I quite like the look of the house.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11It's the sort of thing we're looking for, countryside, cottagey.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15Property-wise, this property dates back to the 16th century,
0:08:15 > 0:08:20but it's not listed. In fact it's been extended quite a bit.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24So it's a sizeable property, and when you get inside,
0:08:24 > 0:08:27I think you'll understand why we wanted to show it to you,
0:08:27 > 0:08:30and then you'll be able to take everything into consideration.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32Let's go. OK. Let's have a look inside.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36'Although the farmhouse has 16th-century origins,
0:08:36 > 0:08:39'it's been totally refurbished inside.'
0:08:39 > 0:08:41Entrance hallway. OK.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Very impressive. It's quite a big one, isn't it?
0:08:44 > 0:08:47I like the beams. Yeah. I like the height.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50Lots of this is reclaimed materials, reclaimed from old ships.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53It's a ship mast up there.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58Step on in! OK. Thank you.
0:08:58 > 0:08:59Yeah, great!
0:08:59 > 0:09:03Yeah. It's really light. That's the first thing that strikes me,
0:09:03 > 0:09:06and it's got windows all the way around the room,
0:09:06 > 0:09:08which is really nice.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10Yeah. And it's...it's big.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14Indeed. And the fireplace and the split level are excellent features.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16So this could work.
0:09:16 > 0:09:17Yeah, it's good. It's good. OK, we're on a roll.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19Let's go see the kitchen.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27I think this might be another surprise for you.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31Oh, right! Mmm!
0:09:31 > 0:09:32What do you think of the size?
0:09:33 > 0:09:37Er, yeah. It's good. Yeah, it's a good size.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39I could go even bigger.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41THEY LAUGH
0:09:41 > 0:09:44Angela! I think this is a pretty big kitchen.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Really, you'd want it even bigger? Yeah, if I was going to eat in it.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50How do you feel, Rhys?
0:09:50 > 0:09:55I love the feel of the floor. I like the Aga.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58There is planning permission already to extend that way,
0:09:58 > 0:10:01a two-storey extension. OK.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04Let's have a look upstairs now, and then you can make your mind up.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06All right. Good.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11Tucked away off the kitchen, there's a handy utility room
0:10:11 > 0:10:15and a well-decorated guest bedroom, one of five this property offers,
0:10:15 > 0:10:17with its own en suite.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20The impeccable interior of our traditional farmhouse
0:10:20 > 0:10:23seems to get a thumbs-up, but as Angela is still after more space,
0:10:23 > 0:10:27I have high hopes that the size of the master upstairs will deliver.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31Is this big enough for you?
0:10:31 > 0:10:34Big enough for me, yeah. This is a good-sized master.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Huge bed. You've got a walk-in wardrobe there.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41OK. Very good. and a lovely en suite... Indeed. ..which is quite big,
0:10:41 > 0:10:43with roll-top bath, separate shower.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45A fantastic view. Look at that, yeah.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47That is a really good view.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49Well, there are three others up here.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51Let's have a look at the one on the other end of the landing. Excellent.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Leading off the landing are two bedrooms,
0:10:56 > 0:11:00one large enough to be a double, with the other currently set up as a study.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04And the roll-top bath in the family bathroom is a real showstopper.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08So you have another very big bedroom over this side.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10OK. Yeah. With an en suite yet again.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14The problem would be that the children would fight over this.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17I was going to ask. Because you've got the smaller ones,
0:11:17 > 0:11:20it would be who would get this. Yeah. Yeah.
0:11:20 > 0:11:21OK. Excellent.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24'Maybe the potential two-storey extension could solve that issue.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28'Outside, the double garage also has planning permission,
0:11:28 > 0:11:31'and could be converted to serve as their office.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35'The raised patio and gardens look out over the wonderful countryside
0:11:35 > 0:11:37'and two and a half acres of paddock.'
0:11:40 > 0:11:43We're standing now in what really is your garden.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47The time has come to tell me how much you think this house is on the market for.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50I'd say 600, 625,
0:11:50 > 0:11:52so I'll go for the 625.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56I would say... I'd go with the 600, actually.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58OK. I'm impressed.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01That's very good, considering you've been out of the market.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05It's on at 599,500. Oh, OK. Yeah.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08So it's quite a way under your top budget.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10True. True. Sets the scene for you. Indeed it does!
0:12:10 > 0:12:12OK?
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Priced at just under ?600,000,
0:12:16 > 0:12:20our substantial farmhouse addresses many of the criteria
0:12:20 > 0:12:23on their wish list, and gives them a huge reception room,
0:12:23 > 0:12:27a large kitchen/diner, five bedrooms
0:12:27 > 0:12:29with planning for a two-storey extension,
0:12:29 > 0:12:32and scope for converting the garage into an office,
0:12:32 > 0:12:34and it's all set in two and a half acres
0:12:34 > 0:12:37and located within an hour's drive of their children's school.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42I could stand here all day, but we've got to go. OK! Let's go.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52I couldn't pass up the chance to catch the end
0:12:52 > 0:12:56of one of Cumbria's oldest sporting traditions, hound-trailing.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00Dating back to the 1800s, this is a sport with humane bait.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04So to find out more, I went to Bower House in Eskdale
0:13:04 > 0:13:07to meet Maurice Bewley, who's been out laying race trails
0:13:07 > 0:13:09since he was a young boy.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12So, what have you got in your hand there, Maurice?
0:13:12 > 0:13:17Right. This is the official rag. It's got to be two foot long,
0:13:17 > 0:13:19six inches wide, made of wool.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22And that is steeped with aniseed and paraffin.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25And it still relies on local farmers and landowners
0:13:25 > 0:13:28to give up their land for the sport?
0:13:28 > 0:13:30Otherwise we have no sport.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34There are stringent rules around hound-trailing
0:13:34 > 0:13:39that start with the rag mixture, which has to be formulated by an appointed chemist,
0:13:39 > 0:13:41and the people entering their specially bred hounds
0:13:41 > 0:13:44need to be registered with the Hound Trail Association.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46DOGS BARK
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Typically, at a day's meeting,
0:13:48 > 0:13:51there will be a series of trail races,
0:13:51 > 0:13:54including a five-mile course for the under-twos,
0:13:54 > 0:13:57which takes them 15 to 20 minutes, and a ten-mile trail
0:13:57 > 0:14:00which the senior hounds complete in around half an hour.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02DOGS BARK
0:14:02 > 0:14:06Amazingly, these hounds can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour,
0:14:06 > 0:14:09with the best not being deterred by rabbit scents
0:14:09 > 0:14:11or even pausing for a drink.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17WHISTLING Oh, and now the whistling starts.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21What's all this about? That's to encourage the dogs on the finish,
0:14:21 > 0:14:23and then, when they get over to their owners,
0:14:23 > 0:14:27they get a treat. It could be chicken, rabbit,
0:14:27 > 0:14:30gingerbread, anything.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33'This sport is a prime example of a surviving tradition
0:14:33 > 0:14:36'that continues to define the Cumbrian countryside.'
0:14:44 > 0:14:46As the sun sets over the Lakes,
0:14:46 > 0:14:50it marks the end of the first day of our property search.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58I think we got off to a positive start with Angela and Rhys,
0:14:58 > 0:15:02but two things have become very clear - they need a bigger property,
0:15:02 > 0:15:04and after so long away,
0:15:04 > 0:15:06they really do want to be in the heart of a community.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09And that's what we're going to address today.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13With location firmly in mind,
0:15:13 > 0:15:16we're continuing our house search in Ravenstonedale,
0:15:16 > 0:15:19just a 15-minute drive from their children's school
0:15:19 > 0:15:21and close to the National Park.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24Along with St Oswald's church, dating back to the 18th century,
0:15:24 > 0:15:27the village has a local pub and its own shop.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30Among the period properties dotted about is our next house,
0:15:30 > 0:15:33located on the edge of the village.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36And this is property number two.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40Oh, this is very nice. Yeah. Really like the look of this one.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Ah! It's a Georgian property.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45It dates back to 1820, but actually,
0:15:45 > 0:15:49it was taken over by a very wealthy landowner around about 1890,
0:15:49 > 0:15:52and he added lots of Victorian features
0:15:52 > 0:15:54which you'll really appreciate once you get inside.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57So far, so good? It's looking good. Indeed.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00All right. Let's have a look inside. OK. Good.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03'One of the later Victorian additions
0:16:03 > 0:16:05'is the attached coach house to the rear,
0:16:05 > 0:16:07'which is now a separate property.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10'But let's see if the inside makes a grand impression.'
0:16:12 > 0:16:15We've entered the house probably what feels like a strange way,
0:16:15 > 0:16:19but from that side you could see that the property's attached.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23You probably picked up that it's a bed-and-breakfast at the moment.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27We have walked into what is the guest living room at the moment,
0:16:27 > 0:16:30and this is the third of the reception rooms. OK.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32You do get three reception rooms with this property.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34How are you feeling so far? Good. Good.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38'These Victorian safes used to hold the estate's deeds
0:16:38 > 0:16:40'back in the 1890s, and really set the tone
0:16:40 > 0:16:42'for the grand interior.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45'The main drawing room has lots of character,
0:16:45 > 0:16:47'with a splendid fireplace as the focal point,
0:16:47 > 0:16:51'and the third reception room serves up similar grandeur.'
0:16:53 > 0:16:55Yeah. That's a... It is a big room.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57THEY LAUGH
0:16:58 > 0:17:02I love this. I love the floor, again, the decor and the features.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05Um... Look at that fireplace!
0:17:05 > 0:17:07That one's even better than the other room.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10So, you've seen three good-size reception rooms.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12Tick-tick-tick, Rhys? Yep.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16Kitchen. I know we have issues about the size of kitchen.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20Let's see if this one's big enough for you, Angela. After me.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26Yeah. No, yeah. This is... This is a great kitchen.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28THEY LAUGH
0:17:28 > 0:17:33I don't think it's much bigger than the one I showed you yesterday.
0:17:33 > 0:17:34It feels bigger,
0:17:34 > 0:17:36so maybe that's to do with the decor.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38It feels very homely.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40Well, we'll head upstairs
0:17:40 > 0:17:44and see if we can continue that feeling with the bedrooms.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49'The lower floor gives them a cellar currently fitted with a mini-gym,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52'along with the workshop. But we'll head upstairs
0:17:52 > 0:17:55'to the main landing, off which lead five of the six bedrooms
0:17:55 > 0:17:57'this property offers.'
0:17:57 > 0:18:01Right. This is a fine example, I think,
0:18:01 > 0:18:04of one of the bedrooms up here. Great-size double.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06And that - I mean, they call it an en suite,
0:18:06 > 0:18:09but it's huge. Poke your heads in. Have a look.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12Oh, right! Great. I love these kind of baths.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15Never had one. Always wanted one. It's a really big bathroom.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17Very good.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20'Their children won't need to fight for a big room,
0:18:20 > 0:18:22'as the remaining ones are just as generous.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26'There's a double which makes a real feature of its bay window,
0:18:26 > 0:18:28'and has the benefit of its own en suite,
0:18:28 > 0:18:31'and another double room served by its own bathroom.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35'A period fireplace and high ceiling are a feature of the fourth,
0:18:35 > 0:18:39'with the family bathroom next door. They'll be pleased with the fifth,
0:18:39 > 0:18:41'set up as a study for two.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44'But we'll go upstairs again to the second floor,
0:18:44 > 0:18:46'which could be their domain.'
0:18:49 > 0:18:50This could be your bedroom.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Oh, wow! This could. This is a big room.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56This is a big room. I like this, cos it's unusual. Definitely.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58You're sort of self-contained, aren't you, up here?
0:18:58 > 0:19:00The bathroom.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04Now time to go out and check out the beloved gardens. OK.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07I'm going to try and please you. I'm easily pleased.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10I don't know about that. You're a tough cookie. Come on.
0:19:11 > 0:19:16'It's exciting that this property so far seems to fit the bill.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18'And outside shouldn't disappoint,
0:19:18 > 0:19:22'with gardens that stretch to two acres.'
0:19:22 > 0:19:25You wanted a garden with features. What do you think, Rhys?
0:19:25 > 0:19:28Is this what you were looking for? Exactly what I was looking for.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32It's the right size, it's the right feel. It's great!
0:19:32 > 0:19:35How much do you think you'd have to pay to get all of that?
0:19:35 > 0:19:39I would have thought it's in the area, maybe lower, of 800,000-ish.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43I'm going to go a bit lower and say 750.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47You could get your hands on this property
0:19:47 > 0:19:50for ?699,000.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52OK! Wow!
0:19:52 > 0:19:55It's a big house. That is a lot of house for that money.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58And a lot of land. Shocked you?
0:19:58 > 0:20:00THEY LAUGH I'm shocked!
0:20:02 > 0:20:05Comfortably under their budget at just shy of ?700,000,
0:20:05 > 0:20:09this country house would give them the ultimate family home -
0:20:09 > 0:20:12three reception rooms packed with period features,
0:20:12 > 0:20:14an enormous kitchen/diner,
0:20:14 > 0:20:17six bedrooms, five of which are en suite,
0:20:17 > 0:20:21and two acres of mature gardens, all set in a village location
0:20:21 > 0:20:24within easy reach of their children's school.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Hello! Hi. I've counted.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30It's about 25 paces from here to the pub.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33That's not bad, is it? No, that's really good! Come on.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35We've got one more house to see. OK. OK.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44So far on our property search,
0:20:44 > 0:20:46we haven't got that close to the Lakes,
0:20:46 > 0:20:51and after all, that is why Rhys and Angela want to move to this part of the world.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54So for our mystery house, we're coming right to the heart
0:20:54 > 0:20:58of the National Park, but the property may take some vision.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07For our mystery house, we're taking them right into the National Park
0:21:07 > 0:21:10to the village of Satterthwaite, just a 45-minute drive
0:21:10 > 0:21:13to their children's school. Set in the Grizedale Valley,
0:21:13 > 0:21:16there's a welcome pint on tap in the local pub,
0:21:16 > 0:21:19and a parish church which dates back to the 16th century.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22In the heart of this typical Lakeland setting,
0:21:22 > 0:21:25our mystery house comes in the form of a handsome period property,
0:21:25 > 0:21:28which serves up a surprise challenge inside.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32Funnily enough, your mystery house - the show in the Lakes,
0:21:32 > 0:21:36we've brought you to a property that actually is in the Lakes!
0:21:36 > 0:21:39We're in the National Park here. OK, good.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42You're in the centre of everything. And this is it.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45It's Georgian. It dates back to about 1834.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49You have said you don't mind doing a little bit of work. OK. This is a project.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52Has it got an inside? It has. There is an interior.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55It's one where you will have to use your imagination
0:21:55 > 0:21:59to see how it would work for you, but it's worth considering. OK.
0:21:59 > 0:22:00Good. Come on. Let's go.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04'So let's see quite how much of a project
0:22:04 > 0:22:07'lies behind these listed walls.'
0:22:09 > 0:22:12Right! Oh! First reception room.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15Oh! It's in need of some work.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17THEY LAUGH Yes.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19I'd go with that. However,
0:22:19 > 0:22:22you've got a pretty good template to work with.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26Sash windows. Yeah, period features. Shutters...
0:22:26 > 0:22:28OK? Let's keep looking. OK.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31'So let's see if they can see the potential
0:22:31 > 0:22:32'in the second reception room.'
0:22:32 > 0:22:36The living room's got a nice shape, but what I want you to look at
0:22:36 > 0:22:39is that view. That's really good, isn't it?
0:22:39 > 0:22:41It's spectacular.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Let's see what you think of the kitchen. Lead on.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48'Next door there's a third reception room,
0:22:48 > 0:22:50'which also benefits from those fabulous views.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54'But let's see what creative vision Angela has for this room.'
0:22:55 > 0:22:58OK, the kitchen has a warm glow to it!
0:22:58 > 0:23:01I think it's the orange walls. Don't let that put you off.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03You've seen the downstairs now.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Could you do anything here to make this work?
0:23:06 > 0:23:09It depends what you can do on the listing side.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11You could extend at the back,
0:23:11 > 0:23:13I'd move the kitchen to the back of the house.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15That, I think, could work.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17That's it for the downstairs.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19Let's have a look upstairs. And the good thing up there
0:23:19 > 0:23:22is that you've got plenty of bedrooms. OK. OK.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28Off the back of the kitchen is a large utility room
0:23:28 > 0:23:29and a separate larder.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32'Our mystery house requires a complete decorative overhaul,
0:23:32 > 0:23:34'but can they apply the same imagination
0:23:34 > 0:23:37'to the five bedrooms upstairs?'
0:23:37 > 0:23:40This is one of the five bedrooms on this floor,
0:23:40 > 0:23:43and there are two bathrooms. None of the rooms are en suite.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45Yeah. OK? OK.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47What you do get, yet again, is the stunning view,
0:23:47 > 0:23:51and you can see it even better up here, in the elevated position.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53It's excellent. Yeah.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56They got the wallpaper from the same place I got my shirt!
0:23:57 > 0:24:00The other four bedrooms on this floor are all well proportioned,
0:24:00 > 0:24:03with a spacious double, and another offset by a bay window,
0:24:03 > 0:24:06with light streaming in the third double bedroom,
0:24:06 > 0:24:09and the fourth serving as a study. There may be no en suites,
0:24:09 > 0:24:12but there are two separate family bathrooms,
0:24:12 > 0:24:15and what's more, there's a second floor
0:24:15 > 0:24:18which is crying out for their creative touch.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21Final room...
0:24:21 > 0:24:23and probably...some of the most potential for change.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25You could change it into a bedroom,
0:24:25 > 0:24:28and you could probably put an en suite in it,
0:24:28 > 0:24:30reconfigure the walls.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34You might even get two bedrooms. That's such a great attitude.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38I'm glad you've enjoyed looking at the inside of the house. Let's have a look outside. Yeah.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41'Outside, the 0.7 acre of a garden
0:24:41 > 0:24:45'that wraps around the property is a real sweetener,
0:24:45 > 0:24:48'what with its landscaped areas, vegetable patch
0:24:48 > 0:24:50'and glorious views of the countryside beyond.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52'But at what cost?'
0:24:52 > 0:24:57OK, it's the moment. You've seen what the house has to offer.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00You know the location. But what do you think the price is?
0:25:00 > 0:25:02Um...
0:25:02 > 0:25:04600. OK.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07Er, I'm going to say 650.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10This is on the market at 850.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12Wow! ?850,000.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Well, that just shows you, it's where it is. Yeah.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18Absolutely. We are in the National Park. Yeah.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23Priced at ?850,000,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26our mystery house really highlights the premium paid
0:25:26 > 0:25:30for living within the National Park. However, it is under budget,
0:25:30 > 0:25:34and throws down the gauntlet for them to get stuck into a renovation.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38It includes three reception rooms, five bedrooms,
0:25:38 > 0:25:41a large garden that offers fabulous Lakeland views,
0:25:41 > 0:25:44and it's set in a desirable village location.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47But even with their generous budget, is it a challenge too far?
0:25:49 > 0:25:50Seen enough? Yep.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53Yeah. You've seen all the houses, that's for sure.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57Time for you to find somewhere to sit down and have a think. Good.
0:26:04 > 0:26:09From Holland to the Lakes, it's a big move for you and your family,
0:26:09 > 0:26:12and we have seen three interesting properties.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14It's been a bit of a journey, hasn't it?
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Let's go through them one by one and reflect on what you've seen.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20The first one, when we got inside, I was quite surprised
0:26:20 > 0:26:23to see how beautifully renovated it had been,
0:26:23 > 0:26:27and the taste was impeccable, I have to say.
0:26:27 > 0:26:32I think on the downside, it wasn't big enough for us downstairs.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36And whilst it had the two acres of agricultural land,
0:26:36 > 0:26:40I didn't really see how that could easily be turned into a garden.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42From a rural property, we took you to something
0:26:42 > 0:26:44that was smack-bang in the middle of a village.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46What did you think of that?
0:26:46 > 0:26:49I just loved the look of it, and it had the most fabulous garden.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52In the house itself, I liked the rooms.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56The hallway and the staircase I felt was a bit dark and gloomy,
0:26:56 > 0:27:00so it didn't draw me in in the way that the first house did.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03So our final property, the mystery house.
0:27:03 > 0:27:04It was a bit of a project.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08I think the house itself was full of character,
0:27:08 > 0:27:11and the views at the back of the house were stunning.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14The mystery to me was why it's been priced at that level.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17I'd expect that in certain areas of the National Park,
0:27:17 > 0:27:20but I didn't expect it in that particular village,
0:27:20 > 0:27:23because it didn't seem to me a touristy hot spot,
0:27:23 > 0:27:25so I was quite surprised.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27OK. So, what next? What will you do next?
0:27:27 > 0:27:31Keep looking, yeah, and start spending our weekends
0:27:31 > 0:27:33trekking round the countryside.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36Thank you, guys. I've really enjoyed spending some time with you.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39Welcome back to the UK. Thank you. Cheers.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47There's no doubt about it - Cumbria is stunningly beautiful,
0:27:47 > 0:27:51and it's easy to see why Angela and Rhys are so keen to move here.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53We may not have found them their dream home,
0:27:53 > 0:27:56but with the children already settled in the area,
0:27:56 > 0:27:58I'm sure they're going to follow on soon.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02And although, as we've discovered, surroundings like this do come at a price,
0:28:02 > 0:28:06it may just be a price worth paying. I'll see you next time
0:28:06 > 0:28:08on Escape To The Country.
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