North Yorkshire Escape to the Country

Today I'm in a county celebrated for its natural beauty.

It's also home to some of the most incredible rock formations found

anywhere in the country, including this gravity-defying one, known locally as Idol Rock.

So will it be a rocky road or simple stroll to property paradise this week?

Find out as we escape to the country.

In today's show, I'll be helping a couple make their move of a lifetime to the country.

But when the battle lines are drawn, it's clear who's gaining ground.

It's tough being you.

It is. I'm glad you know.

But maybe we can call a truce with a mystery house.

-Oh, it's stunning!

-It really is Lisa-land.

I'm in North Yorkshire, and all around me, the weird and wonderful Brimham Rocks.

For the last 320 million years, wind and water have sculpted

Yorkshire millstone grit into these bizarre structures.

They stand here, gazing out over God's own country, as named by the people who call this county home.

Covering 3,000 square miles,

the White Rose County is England's largest,

stretching between the Dales and the North Sea coast.

Set alongside its natural geological wonders

is a rich legacy of architecture.

From the ruins of historic abbeys to great estates,

with Castle Howard still standing after 300 years.

It's one of the most iconic stately homes in the country.

Its two National Parks, the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales, cover over a third of the county,

its hills and pastures forming the bedrock of its agricultural heritage.

North Yorkshire's history of quarrying is reflected in its housing stock, with an array

of impressive locally-hewn stone properties,

with real curb appeal, making it an attractive option

for those wishing to escape to pastures new.

North Yorkshire is the priciest county in the north of England.

An average detached house will set you back £276,000...

That's 20% above the average of the counties that border it.

That's down to the Golden Triangle.

So properties that fall between Harrogate, York and Leeds will go for a premium.

However, if the idea appeals, there's a wealth of properties on the market.

Priced at £370,000, this three-bedroom house in Flaxton

blends old and new with exposed beams

throughout its reception areas. It also has a bright, sleek kitchen.

On the market at £645,000, this glorious four-bedroom chapel conversion in Shaw Mills

raises the roof with its vaulted interior and striking Gothic windows.

The luxurious master bedroom and impeccable kitchen/diner are reason enough to shout, "Alleluia!"

But for ultimate new Georgian grandeur, this six-bedroom house in Knaresborough, on for 1.25m,

offers a generous assortment of entertaining areas and beautifully landscaped gardens.

It's clear North Yorkshire has enough beautiful property and scenery to entrance anyone.

Not that this week's buyers need convincing. Let's meet them.

Jane and Lisa, daughter Lexi and pet dog Muffin, are desperate to up sticks

from their four-bedroom house in Tiptree, Essex and make the leap to North Yorkshire.

Even though Lisa has a highflying job in London, it's a case of now or never.

I was born and bred in North Yorkshire,

and I feel this is the time to go back with the family.

Lexi's in year six now. She finishes school this year.

She's already been accepted for a secondary school in North Yorkshire,

although Lisa will be working in London.

The three or four quality-time days we get together will be the family days.

Time is of the essence, as they've already exchanged on their current property.

What's more, the location of their new home up North is key to their quality of life.

The area we're looking to move to is within a ten-mile radius

of York station because I'm going to be coming and going there every week.

It's very important that that's very easy, otherwise it becomes a bit of a nightmare.

'I quite embrace village life. I'm looking forward to it.'

I like to join in for the village hall and stuff like that.

Whereas me, because I'm actually only up in the area three days a week

because I'm in London for the four days,

I think I'd quite like to embrace the local pub and sort of really get into the community side of it that way,

and I'll leave the village life for Jane during the week.

I might even join the WI.

A convivial home is certainly top of their wish list.

We are looking certainly for a sort of four-bedroom property.

There are only three of us in the house,

but because we're moving so far away from family and friends, we'd like to have plenty of bedroom space

for people to come and stay for extended weekends, I'm sure.

A study area for me is very important, ideally somewhere slightly away from the house.

And Jane has other requests to factor in.

I'm looking for a social kitchen, a large area.

And also if I can get doors that open onto a garden

to look out onto, especially for the dog, it would be lovely.

I love gardening. I find it very therapeutic.

I'd like a little area so that we can plant vegetables, and Lexi and I can watch them grow together.

That will be fantastic.

So what style of property are they drawn to?

We'd like a property to be characterful.

'A brand-new house in a village location'

we wouldn't say no to, but it would have to be special.

'Barn conversions, we'll have to look at barn conversions...'

It can be anything. We can't sit here and say, this is what it will be,

but something we can just point at and say...

We'll know when we see it.

And how much do they have to spend on their Yorkshire property?

Our maximum budget for our new property is £500,000.

Given Jane and Lisa's particular location demands, the area we have to search in is very limited.

That's going to be the major hurdle in this house move.

As far as the house itself, there's nowt to worry about,

as long as Jane can have her large kitchen,

Lisa can have her study and Lexi can bag one of the four bedrooms, then I think the lasses will be happy.

This is about finding a house that all three of them can call a home in a county that Jane already does.

Let's see what we can do.

Jane and Lisa ideally want their new family home to be around ten miles northwest of York,

towards Knaresborough and Harrogate, so Lexi's school run

and Lisa's commute are as painless as possible.

However, we may need to look further afield

to get them everything they're looking for.

I'll be showing them three houses we've cherry-picked,

but I won't be revealing the price of each until they've guessed.

Lastly, we'll be going beyond limits and tempting them with our mystery property.

Welcome to Yorkshire, or I should say, welcome home.

-Yes, thank you. It is my home.

-It must be quite emotional.

It is. For the last year, I've sort of wanted to come home. I think the time is right.

Lexi changes schools, and you know, hopefully we'll find the property of our dreams.

We have looked at a lot so far. Some great houses, but sometimes the location just doesn't work.

Let's take you back a bit. "We have looked at a lot." How many?

Just over 30.

-Over 30 properties already?

-Yes. We've had a long look.

-Thanks(!)

-Probably more, actually, but we haven't listed the ones under offer or sold.

-So there's a few left out there.

-Are you excited about this?

Really excited, and more so because we move in two months' time.

-So the pressure's really on for you guys!

-The pressure's on.

We move in two months, so if we don't find a property, we have to rent somewhere.

So we are hoping you're going to find us something we can't find.

Yeah, I'm worried about you though.

-Why?

-You're going to be on the train all the time.

No, I'm going to be living in London during the week, then come up here just on the long weekends.

So it'll be like a holiday for me every weekend.

The location's going to be paramount for you...

-Ten to 12 miles away from York station is our boundary.

-What about 15?

Ten to 12 is good.

Is she always like this?

-Yes!

-You're going to get your way, aren't you?

-I hope so. That is the plan, yeah.

-Recap on the budget.

£500,000 and it is rather solid on that number because I'm actually buying a property in London as well.

So really, if it could be 500 or under, then whatever comes under it, I can put onto my property in London.

So it really is a deadline for us.

-Let's get cracking, shall we?

-Let's go. Perfect.

With a £500,000 budget, Jane and Lisa are chomping at the bit

to find a family home that will offer them

an open plan kitchen/diner, an office for Lisa to work from home,

four bedrooms and a generous garden set in a village,

with a short commute for Lisa to York

and within easy reach of Lexi's new school.

With a daily school-run firmly in mind, we're headed to the village

of Skelton-on-Ure for our first property.

Besides a strong community and some amenities,

there are nearby trains running straight into York for Lisa

and local school bus service for Lexi.

Among the well-tended properties is this Victorian housekeeper's cottage

built in the 1840s and attached to the main manor house.

So what do you think of the property? It's not detached.

Yeah, it's not detached.

-I think it's lovely. It's nice, very nice.

-Peaceful area, which is very nice.

Slightly off the road, which is great.

-Well, good. All positive.

-It is.

'Well, it's a good first reaction to the character exterior.

'Hopefully inside will hold the same appeal.'

Come on in.

The heart of the house.

You walk straight in from the front door into your living room. What do you think?

Yeah, I think because you've got this little area here, it's not straight into the lounge.

It's quite small, but it's got a nice feel to it.

It does. Nice.

It's quite a strange layout. It's a long house.

You know, you can go left towards the living spaces and right to your kitchen and dining room.

-Shall we see the kitchen and dining room?

-Yes, please.

'Well, let's see if they can imagine serving up family meals in here.'

You've a dining room now that you don't use much, do you?

No, not that much, really. The occasional dinner party

but it's very formal and that's not really where we are as a family.

Lexi's growing up now and she likes to spend time with us in the kitchen,

so a kitchen/diner is our preference, but if the house has got one, then why not?

You could actually open this up into one big space because behind here is the other side of the fireplace.

It's just been boarded up, so the fire could work both rooms,

-which would be quite a nice idea, wouldn't it?

-Absolutely.

If you don't want the dining room table, you can make it into

one big living space, with a piano or whatever as well.

Yes. We got one of those. That ticks the box there.

Well, I'll take you through to the kitchen because I know that's an important room for you. Come on.

So!

-It's a kitchen!

-You wanted a kitchen/diner.

This is just about a kitchen/diner, isn't it?

And interestingly, you've got this lovely, bright utility room back there,

so you'd probably put those in the utility room, so you'd have a lot more space, really.

-Yes.

-Yeah...I think it's probably just about...big enough.

It wouldn't be my ideal kitchen, but...

Not as it stands today, but that's not to say we can't change it.

I don't think they've been wowed by this house so far, but it's early days.

And I like the fact that they're trying to make these rooms work for them.

We'll go back through the lounge to explore the other side of the house.

So this is the 1995 conservatory.

Right, OK. It's very bright.

It is, isn't it? South-facing garden as well.

You won't be cold.

Good! Every weekend I come up.

-Yeah, it is nice.

-And you've got a double garage and a downstairs loo as well.

I'm just not sure what you do with this space, really.

At the moment, you can see there's a piano there,

but there is a potential to knock this wall down, so you'd make the living room bigger.

Is there a study here at the moment?

There could be a study upstairs.

-OK. If not, we could make it into a study.

-Would it work as a study?

Yes, I think it would. I think it could work as a study. Quite nice actually, with the light coming in.

So you're basically just taking charge of the conservatory as well.

That's right, yes. And so Jane would never be allowed in.

-See what she did there?

-It's got a view as well. So I've lost the conservatory..!

If I'm working during the day, I like to have a view as well.

-It's important.

-Well, so this would be ideal then.

-This would work.

So now they know who's going to go where downstairs,

we'll head upstairs and check out the four bedrooms, starting off with the master.

What do you reckon? Dual-aspect room...

Yeah, the dual aspect's nice. A nice, bright and sunny room is what we want.

-The size is not bad.

-But?

-A bit of updating.

-I think modernisation on the decor, again.

But that's all cosmetic. Cosmetic's never going to be a problem, we can always change it.

'Very true, Lisa. And there's a useful en suite here too.

'Now let's turn our attention to Lexi.'

This is an interesting room, isn't it?

It is! It's nice. Quirky.

-So would Lexi like this?

-She would love this room.

It's a good-sized room for her. A teenager's room.

-Isn't it?

-Nooks and crannies everywhere.

-You've got a sofa by the window there as well.

-She wanted a window box.

So she'd like that.

-A little window here. Yep, got Lexi written all over this one.

-Good.

'With Lisa's study taken care of downstairs,

'these two light, bright, single bedrooms could be set aside for their guests.

'There's also a modern family bathroom.

'Jane and Lisa certainly know their own mind, but has this house won their hearts?

'It's got the character for Lisa and village location for Jane,

'along with the opportunity to make their mark on the interior.

'Outside, the back garden is prettily landscaped with a greenhouse

'and little vegetable plot, but can it deliver on size?'

-Very peaceful, isn't it?

-It is. Very nice.

The back is as nice as the front.

It's a really nice style, the brickwork's lovely,

-the sash windows are great.

-And the wall as well.

-I love the wall.

There's something about a walled garden.

Every flower looks better against a walled garden. That's lovely.

But it would need to be a bit bigger for us because we have a dog.

We'll have plenty of people up to stay, we need space for socialising.

What do you reckon it's worth?

I think it would probably be about...£450,000.

I think it's probably valued higher than that. I think it's valued about 485 or 490.

It's been on the market for quite a while, so maybe they will take a bit off, maybe not.

But they're currently after offers in the region of £495,000.

So almost the top of your budget.

Well, go and have another look around.

-There's lots of little pockets you haven't even seen yet.

-I'm sure we'll find some more.

OK, thank you.

Under budget at £495,000,

and beneath the current four per cent stamp duty threshold,

the property is ideally located for Lexi's daily school run

and addresses many of the points on their wish list.

It offers them a decent sized kitchen flowing through to a separate dining room,

a conservatory with an adjoining study space for Lisa,

four bedrooms and outside, a double garage

and a garden with a vegetable plot.

All wrapped up in a very desirable village with an active community

on Jane's doorstep and a 20 mile commute to York for Lisa.

But for this are they prepared to compromise on the size of the house?

-Oh, it's got a good-sized garage.

-Yeah, that's good.

I'm looking for a bigger kitchen, a more sociable kitchen,

and the garden, the vegetable patch was great, the conservatory, the walled garden.

But size-wise, we need it a little bit bigger.

I was quite excited when we drew up. It's off the main road.

Very nice, the location's super, really spot on with that.

I think I could make the study just off the conservatory work for me.

Jane wouldn't be able to get in the conservatory for one day a week,

but it's a compromise she'll have to do as well.

Come on, ladies.

Now I've got something that's going to put a smile on Lisa's face.

We're going closer to York.

Let's go. Brilliant.

North Yorkshire's dramatic landscape has been forcibly shaped by the natural elements

and has inspired much of the county's historic architecture.

Knaresborough is a classic example, where its old townhouses and unique shops have grown up

above the banks of its awesome limestone gorge.

Earlier in the week, Jane and Lisa met local resident Adrian Sayers

to find out more about the fascinating landmarks that shape this town.

Knaresborough's quite an old town. People have lived here since Roman times.

-And what can we see here?

-That's the viaduct that carries the trains, built in 1853.

Bit of a story with that, it was actually the second viaduct. The first one collapsed.

A quick new design was built up, local stone sourced

and that was open in 1853 at the grand cost of £10,000.

At the time, there was quite an outcry about it, spoiling the gorge

with this hideous, modern construction, but of course now it's a scheduled monument.

And it isn't the only one.

Once a strategic fortress for mediaeval kings,

the protected 14th century ruins of Knaresborough Castle still rear up impressively over the River Nidd,

and within its ancient forests stands a stunning natural edifice, the Petrifying Well.

Basically the whole thing is a big mineral deposit, exactly the same as a stalactite or stalagmite.

It's made out of the minerals from the water, and the minerals are largely sodium sulfate

and calcium carbonate, and they blend together to form calcite.

So this is one large calcium deposit.

As far back as the early 1600s, these cascading waters were believed to hold magical healing powers.

Since the Victorian era, the well has become a mineral-soaked washing line of everyday items,

which has petrified the likes of John Wayne's hat and Agatha Christie's handbag.

And the tradition continues today.

The glove up there, that was donated by Jodie Kidd, former supermodel.

She came through a few months and left a glove to be petrified,

so it's been up there nearly two months now, and it in fact should be well done.

It's getting ready to be taken down.

So if you like, I could take that down and we could have a look at it.

And if you have anything to put in its place...?

Our daughter did give us something in the hope we might get it, but I said we probably wouldn't.

It's...just a little puppy.

I'm sure we can oblige, can't we?

-She would think it was great.

-No problem.

Over 3,000 litres of calcifying water flow over these objects every hour.

So a porous little teddy bear should become solid in around six weeks.

Here we are, one petrified glove.

Gosh, it really is, isn't it?

Yeah, it's solid.

Well, Lexi would be able to take down her puppy in person

if they go for our second property, which is only a 25 minute drive away in the village of Rufforth.

It brings them even closer to York, which is just six miles away

with a handy bus service and a 15 minute drive to Lexi's school.

Rufforth's attractive church looks out over open fields, as does this detached property,

set in a protected greenbelt area and built from locally reclaimed brick dating back 300 years.

In a way, this is kind of a new house that looks old.

It is, funny enough, and that was definitely a house no-no for me.

I like that they've used old bricks.

-So do I.

-They're super. I just don't know if the whole thing comes together.

-Size-wise it looks good.

-It does, doesn't it?

I like you, you're very positive.

-You can come again.

-One of us has to be.

-Shall we get in there?

-Yes, let's go.

'Well, Jane's safely on board already, and for Lisa,

I've got something up my sleeve that may please her.'

Come on in.

The current owners have been here since the house was built,

so some of the things might not be to your taste, but this is the room to keep Lisa happy.

Yeah, this is Mummy's room!

It's all broadband connected, all that business.

-The current owner works from here a couple of days per week, so it's up and running.

-That's perfect.

-Nice views as well.

-Exactly.

-Happy?

-Very! Yeah, that's good.

Perfect size. Great.

'Great! The study has fired up her interest, so we'll cross the hallway

'and concentrate on where they can hang out as a family.'

This is your living room/ dining room.

The bay window brings so much light in and the French windows here as well.

-Lovely view.

-Gorgeous view.

What would you do with this space?

Well, I'd take the arch down, and I'd actually try and open this up.

I'd take the dining room away and take it into one big room. Lots of lovely light coming through.

Fireplace down, arch opened up, modernisation. Very nice.

Brilliant. She'll have it as a study before you know it.

I know, and I've lost the lounge as well.

God, it's tough being you.

It is. I'm glad you know.

Yeah, but it sounds to me like there's potential here for you.

-I think there is.

-This has fabulous views.

Yes, it has some really good plus points. We're not dismissing anything at all.

Now so far, I think that you like it more than Lisa, but I might be wrong.

I could have put money on that, yeah.

Let's go see the kitchen because that could sway it.

'Lisa's being rational and reserving judgment,

'so I'm hoping for a heartfelt response to the next room from Jane.'

Now then, Jane, the million-dollar question is, could this be your kitchen?

Size-wise, it's not too bad.

Again, I think you rip it out and start again.

-And the view from the kitchen is lovely.

-And the size is fine.

-Good, isn't it?

-Yeah.

One thing I said I wanted was a door from the kitchen into the garden.

That was really important for us.

Great for the dog. So that's a nice feature, super views, again it's only updating, which is all cosmetic.

-So that's not a problem.

-Yeah, it's nice.

-Good!

'Just off the kitchen, there's also a handy utility room.

'The space and the views are impressing them both,

'and they're not shying away from redecorating, which is encouraging.

'Let's hope the four bedrooms upstairs also get their vote of confidence.'

-So I'm thinking this is probably the master bedroom.

-That's a good size.

It's big, isn't it?

Big...lovely view.

You've got loads of storage here, and you've got an en suite.

-A really good size en suite.

-OK, yeah. Perfect. Done. That was simple.

-You know what you like, don't you?

-Yeah, really.

'Two of the other rooms have light streaming in and are both large enough to be doubles.

'Great for guests and there's also a family bathroom.

'But let's think about Lexi, shall we?'

It's a little small but there's a lot of furniture, so once you strip all that out,

-there's only one person this room is going to belong to.

-Lexi.

She'd love it. I love the views.

It does make it.

I've seen a lot of houses, but that is...

Of course it's a greenbelt as well, and it's protected.

Let's go outside, shall we? I hope it's not going to rain.

-The weather's changed since we've been in here.

-It has.

By the way, if Jane had her way, this would be your office.

Well, there's plenty of space in there for an office(!)

Let's go outside.

Apart for the plan B for Lisa's office, this is a generously-sized family home.

But will the garden measure up?

You've got about 1,200 square foot of garden.

Big enough for you?

-Yes.

-It's a good-sized garden. Very nice. Nice and tidy.

Bigger, we could cope with, but...

I like it. I like the garden, it's a good size, tidy...

The garden's beautiful.

Dare I ask you, what do you think it's worth?

-I think it's probably on the market for about £530,000.

-OK.

I think it's slightly less than that, given the location and the views and the size,

I think it's probably about 520.

Well, let me tell you that it's actually on the market at the moment for £525,000

but the owner will take £500,000 with the stamp duty cut-off mark.

So does that change things?

I'm not sure it's characterful enough to make it into a real home for me.

-I love the view, though!

-Well, have another look round.

Try and persuade her. Go on.

I'll catch up with you.

I know it's a new build, but given its quiet village setting with only a 15 minute drive to Lexi's school

and a ten minute commute to York for Lisa, we couldn't resist showing it to them.

On the market for £525,000 but with a good chance of buying it

for their budget, this detached house would give them

flexible living spaces, which they could put their own mark on,

a kitchen/diner for Jane and dedicated office for Lisa,

four bedrooms and a large garden,

double garage and spectacular views to boot.

For me, it's still a box house with lots to do inside it, and I just don't get the feel.

I think the house is what it is.

It's a 20-odd-year-old house.

Some of the features are very much 20-year-old features as well, and that for me becomes very outdated.

Eventually I think Lisa and I will find a house that we agree on,

but I think it'd be a long way down the road, and for me this house

was very good in various areas, but if it's not what Lisa wants, we can't do it.

We've got to still keep looking.

Well, thank you for leaving me out here in the rain.

Sorry about that.

-No black eyes I see!

-Not yet.

-So who won the battle of wills there?

Who do you think?

-No, that's unfair, Aled!

-I think we need a drink. Come on, let's go.

As the sun sets over the North Yorkshire countryside,

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

Armed with £500,000, Jane, Lisa and daughter Lexi want to head back up to Jane's roots in North Yorkshire.

It's been a lot of fun showing them around the two properties so far

but a real challenge to find a house they both agree on.

Can our mystery property bring out some peace and harmony?

You can feel these positive vibes coming off here. It's amazing.

-You didn't know they were here!

-I didn't!

It's the first time in two days we've agreed on something!

It's a brand new day, and our search to find Jane and Lisa

their dream home here in North Yorkshire continues.

-They're two big personalities who know exactly what they

-don't

-want.

The problem is, will we ever find them something that they really do like?

They're set on the county, they've seen many properties here,

and it was actually good to see yesterday how flexible Lisa is when it comes to the exact location.

Is she flexible enough for the mystery property?

Let's find out.

For our mystery house, we're breaking out of their ideal search area

and heading northeast of York to the village of Barton-le-Willows.

We are pushing it, as it's 40 minutes from Lexi's school,

but 12 miles from York for Lisa.

The location certainly serves up plenty of character, with its fine stone-built properties,

and unlike our other houses, this barn conversion

has been modernised, having been completely refurbished back in 1998.

So what do you think of it?

-I think it looks very interesting. It's definitely not a box, which is fantastic.

-I like it.

It's a nice little village, isn't it? You've got the church right next door.

-The church is lovely next door.

-The WI meet there.

That's good for me. I haven't got far to travel.

-Exactly. Should we go in?

-Yes.

This property oozes character at its original core, which dates back to the 18th century.

You two almost pushed me out of the way.

-You can't wait to get in.

-Nice!

-What do you think?

-Nice hall.

-Yep, lovely.

Good size hall, nice and square.

-Nice wood.

-You've got oak flooring, bespoke oak doors.

And this is basically a taste of what you're going to have for the whole house.

You've got the exposed stone, you've got the beams.

It's nice.

That's the first genuine smile I've seen.

It's the first one I've given you. No, it's nice.

It's very welcoming, I think.

OK, let's go through to the living room. I think you'll like it.

'How exciting! It looks like the character inside our mystery house

'is already charming the socks off our Lisa.'

-Still smiling.

-You are, aren't you?

That lovely little seat there for Lexi,

and the exposed beam, as well. It's just gorgeous, isn't it?

If you'd have said to me, "Do you want beams?", I would have said no.

When I say "character", I don't just mean beams. But this just works.

It just makes it actually feel quite cosy.

Imagine this room in the winter with that fire going.

-I'm never going to want to leave it!

-Lexi'll be sat out there,

saying to herself, "I want to go build a snowman." Can't believe I mentioned snowmen.

I was going to do that! Can't believe you did!

Running through the downstairs part, you've got the oak flooring in here as well.

-Which has always been a favourite of Jane's.

-Yes, that's lovely.

You can feel these positive vibes coming off here.

-You didn't know they were here, did you?

-No, I didn't!

-But they were there.

-Dormant, but there.

-It just needed Barton-le-Willows to bring them out.

-It did.

Come on, there's loads more to see.

Now you weren't fussed if you had a dining room or not.

At the moment, this room is a dining room, but it could be a TV room, it could be a music room, anything.

Well, we have a family room today, which Lexi takes over, so this could be hers.

It would be ideal, really, because that's quite formal.

-Absolutely.

-This could be where you...

-It's a nice-sized room again.

That's excellent. Yes, I like that.

-You love it.

-I love it. I do.

Great! They're singing from the same hymn sheet.

Let's see if they agree on the next room.

Jane's kitchen.

-It's a nice size...

-I thought you were crying, then!

..a very nice size.

It's bright as well.

Lovely seating area,

dominated by the range of course.

-Which is nice.

-Do you like the parquet flooring?

-Love it.

I love the exposed beams, again.

Yeah, it's throughout. Really good sociable kitchen.

-But Jane's happy with here?

-Yes, very happy.

OK. Upstairs? Come on.

'Fantastic! Jane's given the kitchen the thumbs-up.

'What's more, there's an enormous utility room, a superb space for their dog and dirty boots.

''Off the hallway, there's also a useful cloakroom with toilet.

The downstairs of this barn conversion has been extremely well-renovated.

'What's more, our mystery house gives them five bedrooms in total,

'three of which are upstairs, and I think the girls will agree

'that the master certainly doesn't disappoint.'

-That's a very good size.

-This is interesting.

Anything you think this room's missing?

Normally, I would think you would have an en suite.

OK...this is serious en suite.

-Look at the bath!

-I just love the shape of it, as well.

And I'm not a big bath person, but even I'd go in there.

You've got a perfect choice here, a great shower and a great bath.

Yeah, that's a serious bath.

-You didn't expect it, did you?

-No.

-That's absolutely lovely.

-I like the sink. Good size.

-It's lovely.

-You like this place, don't you?

-BOTH: Yeah.

'There are two other bedrooms for Lexi to choose from, both big enough

'for a double bed, and with those characterful exposed beams.

'There's also a compact family bathroom. But it doesn't end there.

'Time to really hook Lisa in with what lies in the guest annexe.'

Welcome to Lisa-land.

We hope you have an enjoyable stay here.

Here's the study, at the moment, but why have that as a study, when you could have this as a study?

Yeah, I could have this as a study. I could basically just move in.

-It's great, isn't it?

-It's stunning.

It really is Lisa-land.

-Does Lisa like Lisa-land?

-Lisa loves Lisa-land.

'Great! That's the reaction I really was hoping for.

'The upstairs of this annexe is perfect for their guests, who can spread out

'in this bright bedroom, potentially a double, and this single room, with plenty of useful cupboards.

'And they'll be queuing up to use the beautifully modern bathroom.

'Lisa and Jane seem pretty sold on the house, so let's step outside.

'They also get a spacious garage with our mystery property.

'What ideas do they have for the garden?'

The only negative is, the garden's maybe not big enough.

Not I think as it currently stands, but there's a big gravel area there which could extend the garden.

-I think a two-tiered garden would be lovely.

-Yes.

Would that include my vegetable plot round there?

Easily, and a small greenhouse, should you want one.

Well, the million-dollar question is, can you imagine living here?

I can, yes. I get a very nice feel about the house. Yep.

-And I can.

-Never!

It's the first time in two days that we've actually agreed on something.

-Yes.

-So the good news is that you like it.

-I love it.

-You love it.

-It's got a lovely feel to it.

-And you like it?

-I like it.

-Do you love it, though?

-I'm quite scared to love it.

-Are you? Why?

-Because we've never talked about the price...

-We are going to talk about the price.

-..and that scares me.

-I think it's going to be over budget.

OK, how much do you think it's on the market for?

I would think it's on the market for about...525.

525, OK. £525,000...

That's £25,000 over-budget.

-OK, how about you?

-I don't think you're far off the mark.

I would say, because of the annexe, you're probably slightly under.

I would say about 535.

£750,000, it's on for.

-Never!

-Never!

No! Because you wouldn't bring us.

I wouldn't do that to you.

Actually you can carry on smiling.

You don't need to be scared. £500,000, it could be yours.

-On the nose?

-On the nose. You're still smiling. It's good news, isn't it?

-Yes, very good news.

-I'm surprised, which is what worries me.

Don't worry. You could be sat out there, with a nice drink in your hands.

Yes, in this lovely sunshine.

I can imagine you here, I really can.

-There's a load to take in, so you know, go to Lisa-land.

-And we'll never come out of there.

I'll be in the kitchen if you need me.

You start in the living room because it's a good place to start. There's a feel-good factor there.

Go on. Take your time, OK?

I'll do a bit of sunbathing, may take my top off.

-Please don't!

-What have they heard?

I love it when a plan comes together.

They wouldn't have looked in this area to start with, but by compromising on distance,

they found something they really like.

We could have a sale on our hands, or maybe I'm jumping the gun.

Bang on budget at £500,000 our stunning mystery barn conversion

seems to have hit the jackpot.

It offers them spacious character reception rooms,

a huge country kitchen/diner,

a guest annexe with a dream study for Lisa

and scope to create Jane's perfect garden.

Granted, it's 40 minutes to Lexi's school, which is further than they wanted to be.

But for this house, are they prepared to go the distance?

I love the lounge. Really homely, for some reason.

It is. It just feels nice. I could see Lexi running around.

I can. I can see her growing up in here with her friends.

It's just...got a good feel about it.

I was amazed at how much I liked the house.

I think there is a huge possibility we could end up living here.

I think this house fits all our needs

because Lisa gets her office, I get my fabulous kitchen and garden,

and Lexi eventually gets her own sort of separate part of the house.

Weather change, so I decided to get my clothes back on.

-Thank the Lord for that.

-Indeed.

You're very close to him. Well, hello, potential house owners.

Did you enjoy that second look round?

Yeah, it's amazing what you miss the first time round. Just more character.

You've got some major decisions to make, so take your time.

Change of scene, and I'll catch up with you later.

-We'll have a chat about it all.

-OK.

Much of Yorkshire's rural landscape has been shaped by generations of diverse farming activity,

celebrated every summer at the Great Yorkshire Show, a major event in the social and agricultural diary.

For the county's livestock and dairy farms, it's a chance to proudly showcase their animals.

The farmer here at Gunthwaite Hall Farm has had a successful career in showing

his prize-winning Holstein cows, and I'm meeting his daughter Francis Griffiths,

who's eager to follow in her father's footsteps.

Your family's been on this farm for quite a while, hasn't it?

Yeah, Dad's always lived here and been milking cows for quite a long time.

So the natural progression is for you to do the same?

Well, I've been showing cows for about four years.

So what is the whole idea behind shows, then?

For the exhibitors, it's showing the cattle to their best potential

and giving your herd a good reputation and doing well.

You want to take something that shows off the best of what you have at home.

What's the best bit?

The social side, and the buzz that you get when you walk into the ring.

Especially at big shows when it's full of people and... Getting ready before it as well.

Francis may be young, but she's ambitious, and last year at the Yorkshire show,

picked up first and third place for two prize heifers.

And she's clearly got an eye for picking a winner.

What are we looking for?

Dad says it's like a good lady - something that's classy, and stands out from the rest.

So we're looking for a cow that looks like a lady.

I wouldn't know where to start. They all look the same to me.

-Maybe that one?

-Right. Why?

Because there's a lovely balance of black and white in its colour and it's quite friendly,

and it's not me showing it in the ring, so I don't mind if I get it wrong.

-Fair enough.

-What do you reckon?

-Meh. Not bad.

-It's not the one?

-No, we've got that calf in mind more.

-How come?

Because it's quite big for it's age. It's bigger than the rest.

It's not very friendly!

It's always at the front, though. It's always there.

Oh, I see. So what will you do with it now?

We'll separate it from the rest and then tie him up and halter- break it.

Halter-break, what does that mean?

Walking with it and getting it walking at the right speed and educating it.

-So that could be a champion in the Yorkshire show?

-Maybe.

'Judges will be looking for angular features and poise,

'the heifer that holds her head high with a straight back.

'She also must be well-proportioned.

'Long and lanky heifers without a belly need not apply.

'This beauty named Faun has been halter-trained.

'Let's hope she'll let me put her through her paces.'

Look at that. It's like Strictly Come Dancing.

We're doing a cha-cha-cha together.

This is good.

-Good!

-Is this a fluke?

How do you stop the thing?

Push back on her.

-I can see that it can be a real art, can't it?

-Mm-hm.

She's so soft. Well, done, Faun.

-Marks out of ten?

-Not bad.

-Nine? Ten?

-Aw! Thanks! Bless you.

'It's really heartening to meet young people like Francis who are passionately keeping

'aspects of farming culture alive, proudly embracing their heritage.'

The countdown to Jane and Lisa's move to the country has begun.

They've only got two months to find a property here in North Yorkshire, and they've been majorly thorough.

They've seen houses galore, and nothing has hit the right mark.

Now the question is, are they just too picky?

Well, maybe, maybe, one of our homes will hit the mark. Let's find out.

-Hey, you two. You found a lovely spot to have a chat.

-We have, yes.

-How are you?

-All right.

-Have you enjoyed it?

-It's been interesting.

-Like a roller-coaster ride.

-Really?!

Emotionally it's been up and down.

Let's take it through chronologically. Start with the first house.

It had the character, it was old.

It had a very nice feel to it, but an awful lot of work needs to be done to it,

and it's just not big enough.

When we approached it, I loved it.

The back garden was nice but a little small.

I loved the walled garden. The kitchen wasn't big enough.

And you couldn't do anything with it.

Let's move on to the house with a view. You loved the view.

I loved the view, and I was prepared to sacrifice the house for the view.

The house wasn't wonderful. It needed a lot done to it, and Lisa didn't like it.

But I just fell in love with the view.

I think you're prepared to sacrifice the house for the view, that's too big a sacrifice for me.

Too big a compromise, and that's not where we need to be.

So this leads us to the mystery property.

-Yeah, I'd like to thank you for that.

-We got a very good feeling when we went into it.

I mean, it looked lovely, but there was a lot hidden inside.

It's amazing.

When you walk into that living room, there's a really lovely feeling.

-Yes, there is.

-So many pluses.

Yeah, we can see Lexi running through it and, sitting at the dining table.

And the garden is so private as well. It's maybe not as big as you wanted it, but it's manageable.

Yeah, we can see the garden furniture out there, enjoying a glass of wine.

-Barbeque in the corner - it's looking good.

-That sounds fabulous.

And then the annexe is just an added bonus, isn't it?

We'd seen the three bedrooms and the downstairs, and it was like, this is lovely.

But there were some bits missing, and the study was obviously a big one for me.

And then you took us out the back and there it was.

OK, what's going to happen? Are you going to put in an offer?

This afternoon we're going to put in an offer.

-This afternoon?

-Yeah, before we go home.

Well, why are we sitting here? This is ridiculous. Stop! Go do it.

And I'm so excited. I really am.

-Come for a drink.

-I can't wait. And I will stay in the annexe.

-OK!

-For a couple of months, maybe.

There I was at the beginning of this house hunt filled with trepidation.

After all, Jane and Lisa are serious house hunters,

and they'd failed to find anything suitable in this county.

The pressure was most definitely on us to succeed, and do you know what?

I think we did. By widening the catchment area just a little,

we've proved to them that their dream house can indeed be in God's own country.

Until next time, goodbye.

'Jane and Lisa made an offer on the mystery barn conversion, and the good news - it's been accepted.

'So they'll be moving in, in the next few weeks.'

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