Wiltshire Escape to the Country

This Grade I listed pumping station is Georgian civil engineering at its very best.

Thanks to this clever innovation, by the late 1830s,

up to the equivalent of 40 lorry loads of goods,

from coal to timber to tea, were shipped through here daily.

So if that's whetted your appetite,

join us in a moment for a very refreshing Escape To The Country.

Our couple today are hunting for a home to house their horses

and to satisfy their penchant for a period property.

-Beautiful.

-Always dreamt about roses round the door.

-Yeah.

-Very impressive.

I think you're selling this house to ME!

Land is key to their grand plan.

No, I don't think we're going to get much better than this.

But will their ponies take a back seat when they see the property of their dreams?

-Ponies!

-That's all right. Pop them down the lawn, down there.

-Ponies.

Today, I'm in Wiltshire and this is the Crofton Pumping Station.

Installed alongside the Kennet and Avon canal in 1812, it houses this...

the oldest working beam engine in the world.

And it was the mighty power of this machine

that pumped 600 tonnes of water an hour over the brow of the hill

that stood in the way of connecting the busy port of Bristol with the City of London.

Now this new commercial route brought great prosperity to the county in the 19th century,

the legacy of which is still visible today in the many beautiful towns and villages.

Situated in the south-west of England, Wiltshire is made up of wide, flat chalklands,

charming, medieval riverside towns and untouched farmland.

5,000-year-old obelisks and burial sites

such as Avebury and Silbury Hill sit in-between huge tracts of agricultural land.

Surrounded by corn fields, the Salisbury Plain takes up 300 square miles of the county

and although much of Wiltshire is considered an area of outstanding natural beauty,

92,000 acres have been given over to the Ministry of Defence as a training range.

In-between the agricultural land and the famous white horses that look over the plains,

prosperous towns like Salisbury grew up through the Middle Ages thanks to the wool industry.

Given its charter in 1226, to this day the cathedral, with its magnificent spire,

is home to the grandfather of charters, one of the four surviving copies of the Magna Carta.

Nearly half of Wiltshire's landscape is protected

under the area of outstanding natural beauty umbrella, but what exactly does that mean?

Well, to put it simply, the purpose of the AONB is to conserve and to protect the countryside

and one of the ways of doing that is with restricted planning,

so many of Wiltshire's market towns, villages and pastures will remain pristine.

But conservation does come at a price.

For a four-bedroom detached property in one of these protected areas,

you'd pay on average £644,000.

That's £200,000 more than a similar property elsewhere in Wiltshire.

So you really have to weigh up the location pros and cons.

But let's take a look at what's currently on the market countywide.

In keeping with the equine theme, this six-bedroom 18th-century barn

in Corsham has been immaculately restored.

On the market for £1.25 million, the property is surrounded by magnificent gardens.

Inside is equally impressive.

The reception rooms make the most of the garden views,

the kitchen is inviting

and the bedrooms have plenty of period features.

A few rungs down the property ladder,

this Grade II listed thatch is on the market for £425,000.

Located near Stapleford, this 17th-century property has a stunning garden.

The three bedrooms and the kitchen are bathed in natural light

and the inglenook fireplace sets off the dining space.

And finally, for £325,000,

this three-bedroomed thatched cottage in Pewsey is picture-postcard perfect.

The garden is laid to lawn, the living room has a feature fireplace

and the kitchen is sympathetic to the style of the property.

So there's an excellent range of properties on offer here in Wiltshire.

But what are today's buyers after?

Well, it's time to find out.

Meet Peter and Carol.

They met via a dating website four years ago and have been living in Carol's three-bed semi in Hampshire.

But now they're seeking a country escape they can both call their own.

-It's always been my house as opposed to our house.

-Yeah.

And I think we're stuck with each other now, aren't we?

Oh, I think so.

So they're saddling up and moving to Wiltshire to pursue their favourite hobby.

We have now got two Exmoor ponies.

I grew up with ponies and, unfortunately, at the moment, we rent a field.

What we'd like to have is a place of our own and, hopefully, expand and get a herd.

Peter and Carol want land so they can have a pint with their four-legged friends more often.

But what should the house offer those on two legs?

It's got to have three bedrooms, a bathroom upstairs...

-That would be a novelty, wouldn't it?

-Yes, definitely.

A decent lounge...

With a fireplace, with a real fire.

With a real fire, yes. A garden, which has got to be south or west facing.

Luckily, Peter doesn't mind a project, just in case we can't quite find everything they're looking for.

I've done building work before,

so what I can't do, I'll get an expert in to do it.

With Peter and Carol pooling their resources, how much do they have to spend?

So budget-wise, we are working on...

£500,000.

Yeah.

-For the house and garden.

-Yes.

Well, the house part of this hunt sounds totally manageable.

A character property with a country kitchen, feature fireplaces

and a good-size garden, but there has to be a catch, doesn't there?

And with this search, it's land for their ponies.

I get the feeling it won't be perfection they'll stretch their budget for, but paddocks.

Peter and Carol love hacking through the hills

in and around the Vale of Pewsey,

so we'll be casting our property net to the north of Wiltshire

between Chippenham, Swindon and Pewsey.

We'll be showing our house hunters three fabulous properties, but I won't be telling them

how much to make the cheque out for until after the tours.

Last on the list is the mystery house,

a property specifically chosen to challenge their idea of a country escape.

Carol and Peter, welcome to Wiltshire.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-So you're first-time buyers really, together?

-Yes, together, yes.

This move, though, isn't just about the two of you, is it?

We've also got to remember your beloved Exmoor ponies.

We've got to take them into consideration. What are their names?

-Poppy and Honey.

-And how much land are you looking for for these ponies?

Hopefully, a minimum of two acres.

It's usually an acre per pony.

Well, let's talk budget for this property and the land you're after.

So minimum of sort of two acres.

Remind me of the budget again.

-500,000.

-So are you aware we might have to slightly compromise with this budget,

if we are looking for land and a decent property as well?

Yes, yes, we are aware on that.

-We're happy to compromise on the house as such.

-Yes.

Excellent. We've got some fantastic properties lined up, so are you ready to get started?

-Yes, please.

-Oh, yes, please.

With a top budget of £500,000,

Peter and Carol want a character property

with a minimum of three bedrooms.

They'd like a large country kitchen

and a spacious living area with a real fire.

A garden is essential and so is land for their Exmoor ponies.

North-west of Chippenham, our first property is in Sutton Benger.

For a small, rural village,

it's surprisingly well catered for in the amenities department,

with a local post office, a restaurant for those special nights out

and a couple of village pubs, although taking the horses for a drink may not be allowed!

The village centres around a Grade II listed 13th-century church.

Once owned by the church, we're exploring the house right next door.

This is your first property.

-Ooh!

-What are your impressions?

-Not bad.

-It's different, isn't it?

-It is different, yes.

-It is very different.

That's character, yeah.

-Do you like what you see to start off with?

-Yes...

-Yes, I think so, yes.

-Intrigued?

I'd like to see inside, yes.

Now looking at the building, you've probably guessed.

It's sort of full of character but it wasn't originally a house.

It was an old stagecoach and stables.

-Oh, right. Yeah.

-Fantastic.

Let's go and have a look.

'Well, they wanted a property with character and, built in the 1800s, this has character on the outside,

'but all the benefits of modernisation inside.'

So come on through.

How's this for an entrance?

Very impressive. Very impressive.

-Very high-vaulted ceiling for you as you walk through.

-Yes.

It's nice. Then that gives it a bit of space and everything to the building.

So upstairs is the mezzanine, so that would be good for a hobby area, a little office.

-It's actually got a day bed.

-I'll have that as my office.

-Ah, we'll fight about that!

It's already decided!

But downstairs here on this floor you've actually got a bedroom and it's sort of divided into...

-It could actually be two, but there's a big-sized bedroom down here.

-Right.

It does have four in total. OK. Let's continue through.

Now I know the kitchen is important, especially for you, Carol.

-First impressions, very nice.

-Very nice, yes.

-Very nice indeed.

There's plenty of storage. Again, it's got character.

-It's not something that's just out of one of the showrooms.

-No.

-It's different.

You've also got a utility room right behind you, which has got your white goods.

It's got your boiler in there and you can store foods, so plenty of space.

-Let's go next door.

-OK.

So here's your sitting room with that magnificent window.

That is lovely, absolutely lovely.

You've got your wood burner and stone fireplace, which I know was on the wish list.

-Oh, definitely.

-Yes, yes.

And how about the dimensions of this room? It seems pretty generous to me.

It's a nice-sized room, very nice-sized room.

Peter, I'm going to follow you.

-We're going to go back through the hallway and I'm going to take us upstairs.

-OK.

Not a bad result so far.

The rest of the downstairs is made up of a bathroom for cleaning up after hacking through the countryside

and accessed from an exterior door, there's a workshop and office

that could easily be converted into a tack room.

So, we've got three bedrooms upstairs.

-You probably remember we've got the fourth bedroom downstairs.

-Yes.

You've got two through this door that are interconnecting.

-Right.

-Right, to...

-Which is unusual.

But they have maximised the space, so you do get a fourth bedroom in.

And importantly, or most importantly, is your bedroom through here,

again, which has been sort of divided into two.

This is the dressing room and again, it's very unusual.

-It's just a dressing room.

-This is just a dressing room.

-I thought it was a small bedroom.

-They've used it as another office as well.

-OK.

-Let's show you the actual bedroom itself.

The whole space is enormous, but obviously you've got the dividing wall there.

The actual bedroom isn't that big.

Yes. They're smaller windows, aren't they?

Particularly the one on the front.

Well, there's still more to see with this property,

so let's head back down the stairs and go out to the garden. Peter, after you.

All right.

'The layout upstairs is certainly not orthodox, but it is spacious and benefits from another bathroom.

'And outside, the 120ft garden is impressive.'

So you've got a magnificent garden here.

All the way back to the drystone wall.

-Very nice.

-But I want to take you through this gate first.

-Yeah.

So through the garden leads us to this area.

Come on over here, you two.

-Now this property has a substantial back garden, about a quarter of an acre.

-Right.

It doesn't have any additional land.

-Right, OK.

-However, what it does have is this paddock,

which could be possible to lease from the church,

which is run as a charity, and they've intimated they're very keen

for it to be continued to be leased out for grazing.

Absolutely ideal, yes.

So it's given you plenty to think about, because it is now time to consider how much this is all worth.

So back through the garden gate.

Who wants to go first?

-You can.

-Oh, thank you(!)

I reckon about 450,000.

OK. Peter?

I think it's a little bit more. I think it's very much up near our budget price of 500,000.

So I'll go 500,000.

Out of the two of you, one of you is very close.

It's Peter.

It's currently on the market for £499,950,

so £50 change out of your budget.

I thought it might be a little bit more, given the character of the place, the size of the garden.

-Do you fancy taking another look around the property?

-Please.

Go on. And then check out this beautiful garden. Off you go. I'll catch up with you a bit later.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

At just £500,000, this property delivers four bedrooms,

a large living area and a spacious country kitchen.

There's space for a workshop and tack room, an impressive 120ft garden.

But will renting the land be enough for our horse-loving couple?

I do like the idea of coming through this gate and seeing the ponies.

Yes, I do as well.

I could actually see myself living here.

Yes, it would work, but there would be compromises.

OK, guys? Have you seen enough?

-Yes, we have.

-Yes.

-Good start.

-Good start.

-Good. Excellent. OK, we've got more to show you.

From Stonehenge to Avebury, Wiltshire is an ancient county,

so it's no surprise it's home to England's oldest borough, Malmesbury.

In the seventh century, a monk by the name of Aldhelm built a monastery here.

Replaced by an abbey in the 12th century,

Malmesbury became one of the most important religious centres in the country.

So Peter and Carol made a pilgrimage here earlier in the week

to meet local chancellor Charles Vernon at the famous abbey to find out more.

It was a huge building originally with a spire where we're standing,

45ft taller than Salisbury Cathedral's spire.

It's huge, yeah.

As you might imagine, it was slightly unstable,

so it fell round about 1475 and it demolished two-thirds of the building.

In the 1920s, restoration work took place on the interior, including fitting stained-glass windows.

One curious depiction is of Eilmer, possibly the world's first flying monk.

In 1010,

he leaped from the west tower of the abbey church at that time,

which was a wooden structure, and he flew for 200 yards before he crashed.

He broke his legs in that crash, but he did recover.

But unfortunately, the abbot told him he couldn't try again, which he wanted to do.

An important strip of land for the monks of the abbey was Conygre Mead.

Carp was kept in the ponds,

rabbits thrived here and the abbey used both as a food source.

After the abbey was dissolved, Conygre Mead wasn't maintained

and by the mid-20th century, the area had become a dumping ground.

In 1992, the River Valleys Trust bought Conygre Mead with an aim to reclaim and reinvigorate the land,

to remind tourists and locals of the importance of local flora and fauna.

Hedgerows have been planted, ponds have been built and biodiversity is returning.

Trustee Lesley Bennett was on hand to show Peter and Carol around.

This type of habitat doesn't actually exist sometimes unless it's managed.

-Exactly, exactly.

-Otherwise it would all be forest.

Some people have said, "Why don't you cut the grass? Why don't you manage it?"

They don't realise that we do manage it, you do have to manage it.

It would be forest. Things would just grow and grow. There'd be trees.

The thistle would... We must do something about the thistles. The thistle would take over!

-Don't worry, we know a horse who'll deal with that.

-Oh, right.

Now that's a seriously good idea.

And they'd do it properly and delicately and they'd leave...

-That's great.

-They'll only eat what they want.

They'll leave the rest of it and they'll leave you with a good sward.

That's excellent.

I really hope you move here and I really hope you bring your ponies here.

-Now you go off and be charmed by the rest of Conygre Mead.

-Thank you.

Well, they found somewhere to put the ponies on a temporary basis, but we still have a property to find.

So the search must go on.

Right in the heart of north Wiltshire,

we find our second property in Little Somerford.

Although it is centrally located for shopping in nearby Chippenham, Swindon and Malmesbury,

Little Somerford does have a choice of pubs, a convenience store and a post office.

And here is your next property.

-Very, very different from the one we saw earlier.

-It certainly is.

It is very, very different, yes.

-In total, it has four bedrooms, if you use it as one house.

-Right.

At the moment, it's been separated into two. And what this property does have is land.

-Ah.

-Land actually comes included.

-Let's go in.

-Right.

'Originally a cow barn, the building was converted eight years ago

'and inside there are plenty of options for Peter to practise his DIY skills.'

So as you come into the house and through the hallway, turn left into this part and right into the kitchen.

But I wanted to start off in the dining room.

-OK, yeah.

-It's a nice-size dining room.

Very nice size, isn't it?

-It is. Like the curved wall.

-Yes.

-Yes, unusual, isn't it?

-Very unusual.

This leads through into the reception room...

..which again is a good size.

It is a good size.

-Nice, yes.

-Very nice.

-I like the fireplace.

-So what about the dimensions to this room?

Big enough for you? Sort of the size that you had in mind?

Oh, I think so, yes.

The other thing that might be worth considering is that huge driveway.

Obviously, that's all your land.

This room looks out onto it and it's actually a lovely view, should you make that into a garden.

-You wanted a project! I've got a few in mind.

-Yeah, I was going to say...

-Follow me.

-Start the list!

Again.

'The all-important fireplace went down well.

'Next up is the heart of every house...'

The kitchen with the range.

You have got a conventional oven over there with a hob.

-Of course, yeah.

-So do you like it?

Is this big enough for you?

-It's...

-Yes, I do like it.

-Yeah.

-Wouldn't want it any smaller.

-No.

From my point of view.

And it's west facing, so you get the sun all afternoon, into the evening.

-Yes. If that's converted into a garden, the outlook would be...

-Lovely. Absolutely lovely.

Excellent. OK. Well, walk with me through here.

So how about this for size?

-Not a bad size.

-Yeah, it's got a double bed in it.

That fits in quite nicely. You're not stuck for space

round the sides of it or so.

There's storage behind the room.

-There's storage, yes.

-It's a very reasonable-size room, yes.

This half of the barn conversion has a further bedroom opening out into the courtyard and a shower room,

but we're going to explore the space to the rear of the property.

So into the second half of the property.

When it was built, or "converted", I should say, this was the master bedroom.

Oh, this is the master bedroom.

-Yes.

-And you can see why.

-It's bigger.

-Yes. A lot bigger.

-If you did want to convert it back to how it was done

-originally...

-Yeah.

This would be your master.

-Behind me is currently a kitchen.

-Mm.

Used to be the en-suite. Down the corridor, you've got the family bathroom

and you've got the other bedroom, so there are four in total, if you make this a bedroom as well.

-Sounds good.

-Looks really good, yes.

And I haven't shown you, perhaps some might say, the best bit. Follow me.

Although Peter and Carol originally said they don't mind renting land, based on the last house,

owning the land has become a priority, which is where this property really delivers.

-Now is this the part of the property that I was really excited about showing you both.

-Ah.

-Aah!

-Yes.

I can start to see why!

Very much so.

The double garage, was that what's exciting you?

Erm, might be that. Yes, yes.

Triple stable block there.

Excellent, yeah.

-And you've got well over two acres.

-Now that is more like it.

So if you're thinking of horse boxes, you don't need that gravel drive at the front.

You've got access to your property through the gate and straight up here.

-Now, you are both potty about your ponies.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Is this the sort of set-up that you had in mind?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Yes.

We might have to train them to go into the stables.

-Oh, do they not like stables?

-No...

-They're not used to it.

Cross it off the list!

You don't know how hard we hunted for those stables.

So I'm going to ask you that question. How much is this worth?

-Oh...

-That's a big sigh.

It is, yeah. I suppose it's my turn to go first this time, cos I made you go first last time.

I'm going to go for 485, at a guess.

Well, I was going to go for the 500.

-Were you?

-500,000. Mm.

-We've swapped round again.

One of you is on the nose.

-Right.

-And it's Carol.

Exactly on your budget. 500,000.

-One-all!

-One-all, yes.

-So, pleased? Or how do you feel?

-I'm pleased.

-It's lovely. It is.

I'm waiting for the catch, Carol.

Erm... I'd like to have a look round.

Go on then. Go and investigate.

Take as long as you like and I'll catch up with you later.

Thank you very much.

I think I've shocked them into silence, but in a good way.

For £500,000, this property has a large living area

with a great fireplace and there are four bedrooms.

But it's outside that this property comes into its own, with

two acres and three stables, this really is a horse-lovers' paradise.

A menage, stables and paddocks.

It's beautifully fenced, everything.

I don't think we're going to get much better than this.

The house...yes, we'd be making some compromises on it.

No two ways about that.

But it's got potential and they're compromises that we're happy to make.

I love it. I really do like it.

Well, the sun's shining and I'm feeling quietly confident.

-Happy?

-Yes.

-Yes?

-Oh, I think so.

The question is, would Poppy and Honey, your ponies, be happy?

-Oh, you're not going to give anything away, are you?

-No.

-No.

-Come on.

As night falls after our first day, horse-loving house hunters Peter and Carol have plenty to consider.

Today, our buyers are looking for their first house together in Wiltshire

and we are not horsing around,

because they're after a period property and a place for their ponies.

What this property does have is land.

-Ah!

-Ooh!

-It actually comes included.

We've shown them some prime property in great locations.

I love it. I really do like it.

But will it be the mystery house that gets them galloping to the country?

Cheque book in your pocket at the moment?!

We all know the Brits are a nation of animal lovers

and Carol and Peter have taken this to the nth degree.

So our search yesterday was dictated by land for their beloved ponies.

But what if we found them their perfect dream home?

Bring on the mystery house.

So, driving through this beautiful countryside, we're on our way now to the mystery house.

Carol, what are you hoping in your heart we're taking you to see?

Ooh, I think a beautiful thatched cottage with a huge field.

A real character place.

Well, if it's a period thatched cottage Carol's after, then she's in for a treat,

because today's mystery house is in the charming village of Urchfont

in the Vale of Pewsey.

In the heart of the village is an impressive church dating back to the 13th century.

Along with a local pub and convenience store,

there's a community hall, built by the locals in the 1930s

and a peaceful pond, surrounded by period properties.

Carol should be pleased because thatching seems to be the roof of choice.

A wonderful location for our mystery house...

a property perfectly suited to the area.

Now, this move

isn't just about the ponies. Come over here. This move is about the two of you,

and, as this is the mystery house, we've found you this little gem.

-And it's got thatch.

-And it's got a thatch. It's beautiful.

-Roses round the door as well.

-Yes.

-I mean, it's beautiful.

-Always dreamt about roses round the door.

-Have you?

-Yes.

-Built in the early 1700s, it was actually two cottages.

-Oh, wow!

-Oh, right, and it's been...

And over the years it's been amalgamated into one.

-Well, shall we take a step inside?

-Yeah, lovely.

Thatched in 2008, with proper care it should last at least 25 years.

And inside, the charm offensive continues.

So the front door leads straight into the sitting room.

That is lovely, absolutely gorgeous.

-Look at that fireplace.

-We've got a fireplace.

-Yeah,

but this is a large fireplace with the inglenook-type thing to it as well.

-And you've got the fabulous beams.

-Yes.

-Well, let's continue through the cottage.

-OK.

So in a way, the kitchen is in two halves.

-And it's bigger than what you'd expect.

-Much bigger.

-Yes.

-I like it.

-Are you liking it?

-I like it, yes.

-So shall we look at the main body of the kitchen?

-OK.

-Lovely.

-Oh, wow!

-Oh, brilliant.

This is beautiful, absolutely...

-Yeah.

-I like a "wow"...

It's stunning, absolutely stunning.

-A proper country kitchen.

-Isn't it?

-It is, yes.

-Superb.

-So you've got granite and maple worktops.

-Ooh.

-Oh, nice.

Is this the sort of thing that you had in mind?

-Yes.

-This will do very nicely. Very, very nicely.

How does this flow for you?

Cos you go straight into the conservatory, so plenty of space.

Obviously, at the moment, being used as a dining room.

I'm not sure I'm going to be in the kitchen.

-I'll be in the conservatory!

-Do you like it?

-I think it's absolutely fabulous.

-Yes, with a cold glass of wine.

-Yes.

While I do the cooking.

I think you're selling this house to ME!

THEY LAUGH I'm loving your... Well, it is very quirky.

It is very different.

Obviously, being the two original cottages merged into one.

I think that's reflected upstairs.

Oh, I think it might be.

Let's check out the bedrooms.

It may be quirky but it's certainly appealing to Peter and Carol.

And upstairs, the period features continue.

Coming up here, I feel like we really are stepping back in time.

-It's very spacious, isn't it?

-Cor, it is, isn't it?

-Beautiful.

-Wouldn't have thought it would be so big.

-No.

So it's a good sort of hobby room or an office, a reading room, or a huge landing.

Yeah. I think this could be an office.

Through there you've got a double bedroom with a small en-suite to the right.

-It's got an en-suite in there?

-Yeah.

-Well, I never.

-Let's go through

because I want to show you the family bathroom just here.

-Right. Oh, wow!

-This is lovely, absolutely gorgeous.

-Brilliant.

-Fantastic.

-Beautiful bath, that roll-top.

-Isn't it stunning?

-Absolutely fabulous.

-With the claw feet.

-Yeah.

And the panelling as well.

That was all done by the current owner and he did it because

he wanted it to be in keeping with the rest of the property.

So the detail that's gone into this place...

Yeah. Everything that I've looked at.

You know, even the window sills, everything, is well fitted, well made.

It's a labour of love, isn't it? They obviously adore this property.

Peter, you lead the way. We're going to go up the stairs. After you, Carol.

Although there is another bedroom on the first floor,

the next level up is where I think Carol and Peter will end up parking their slippers.

So, right up into the eaves.

Got a double bedroom through there.

That's nice.

-Look at that.

-I've lost you two on this tour, haven't I?

That's a good sign.

And this is the master.

Fantastic.

-We could live like this, couldn't we?

-Very easily!

We could live like this.

-It's fabulous, isn't it?

-It's wonderful.

-You've got plenty of cupboard space, loads of storage.

-Yeah. I like that.

-I like the way that's been done.

-Yes, very much so.

And what really tickles me

is the huge A-frame just behind you as you walk up the stairs.

I love this. Whenever I've watched any programmes on housing, having

this type of woodwork in them has always been what I've been after.

You feel you really are in the rafters. So you've seen the cottage.

I think you should step outside and look at the garden.

There's more, is there?

This is superb.

Although there is no space for the horses, the house

is set on more than half an acre and the gardens have plenty to offer.

Oh, brilliant.

He's spied it already.

-Fish pond.

-Absolutely amazing.

That garage, as you saw so quickly, has been converted

into a tool room.

-So you've got a workshop, perfect for all your bits and pieces.

-Yeah.

-I know you both love gardens.

-Definitely.

So let's go and explore what's down here.

Gently rolling down to a stream, the garden is simply idyllic.

And look at that for a view. That...

-Aw!

-That's your garden.

-What, that?

-That, all the way down.

-That windy path.

-Yes.

-Yes, I'd clocked that already.

-Excuse me while I just pop my jaw back.

-It is absolutely...

It's just beautiful. Beyond my wildest...

Absolutely beyond my wildest... Yeah, genuinely. I mean, I...

That's absolutely what I want in a garden.

But there's one thing we haven't mentioned once today.

-Ponies.

-Ponies?

-Ponies.

-Pop them on the lawn, down there!

-Ponies.

-Yes.

We've spoken to the local farmer.

About a five to ten-minute walk in that direction is a paddock that you can rent.

It's about two acres. It works out at £40 a week for the two ponies.

-Aaah!

-Ooh!

-I love you, Nicki. I love you, Nicki!

-Talking of money...

-Oh, no!

-Back to reality, guys.

Yeah, that's going to be the downside, isn't it?

-It is. Cos you've got to decide how much all this is worth.

-Well over budget.

-Yes, I know.

-Easily.

-And I don't even know where to start.

-No, I don't either.

-I'm going to have to rush you now.

-Right...

-Pressure's on.

-Er, 650.

-OK.

-600. That's being optimistic.

-Yeah.

It is a marvellous property.

I mean, the garden speaks for itself.

The current asking price...

-is £479,950.

-You are joking?

-We're buying it. We're buying it. End of story.

-I can't believe that.

-Cheque book.

Have you got your cheque book in your pocket at the moment?

-Really?

-Have that now. Really? Oh, well done!

-Yes.

-Yes!

-Perfect.

It's perfect. Absolutely perfect.

-Absolutely perfect. Yep.

-You're really emotional, aren't you?

I am, actually.

This is such a beautiful house.

-It is the mystery property because we wanted to find something for the two of you.

-Yeah.

-And it sounds like we've cracked it.

-You've done more than that.

-It is brilliant.

-Absolutely brill...

-Fantastic.

-I'm delighted. Well, go and explore.

Have some fun, cos all this really could be yours.

Take as long as you like. Go on, off you go.

-Thank you very much.

-I'll catch up with you later.

Peter may be emotional, but they've both fallen in love with our mystery house.

For a shade under £480,000, this is a classic period property full of character,

boasting four bedrooms, a spacious lounge with a feature fireplace,

stunning kitchen and an impressive garden.

I cannot believe this property.

It's everything I've ever, ever dreamed about.

This is absolutely amazing, isn't it?

-Fantastic. I can't believe it.

-Oh!

I think very shortly the cheque book will be coming out for this property.

I don't think I've ever had a reaction like that.

All right? Happy? Look at those smiling faces.

Let's take you somewhere quiet where you can gather your thoughts and decide your next step.

-Yeah.

-Super.

Peter and Carol have chosen Wiltshire for the abundance of riding trails,

but the county is also famous for the quality of its pork.

The town of Swindon actually means "pig hill"

after the herds of pigs that used to graze there,

and one important by-product of pork is lard,

the key ingredient in Wiltshire's most famous dish,

the aptly named lardy cake. Served up in many of the county's bakeries,

this sweet cake has been a favourite for nearly three centuries.

So I've come to discover the traditional recipe from food expert Karen Cooper.

You're a big champion, aren't you, of great English food?

I love all things that are locally produced

and fresh, and particularly the old recipes, because they're dying out.

I mean, people just aren't making them any more, which is so sad,

because they are absolutely incredible.

Thought to have been the brainchild of a local baker in the 17th century,

the cake was traditionally eaten at harvest festivals.

It takes about three hours to prepare, so no time to waste.

So, Karen, first things first.

What ingredients do we use?

Well, it's really important to use the right ingredients

and the best ingredients if you can, and local ingredients.

So, wherever possible the ingredients are from Wiltshire.

First up, the bread mixture is prepared.

You simply add the olive oil into the flour...

-..and then start pouring in... Using your hands...

-Yep.

Make a little well in the middle and start pouring in

-the mixture of yeast. Do you want to have a go, Nicki?

-Yep.

I haven't done this since school.

You make it look easy and already it's a bit...

Just move it a bit more quickly.

Once the mixture is kneaded on the bench top,

Karen puts it back into the bowl and leaves it for about an hour, so the yeast has time to activate.

Here we are, after one hour. Look.

My goodness!

-Amazing.

-That really has risen.

-So it's doubled in size, virtually.

-Yeah.

And that's just because it likes to be warm,

the perfect sort of ambiance to let the yeast develop.

-I can smell it.

-Yeah.

Once it's turned out, it's time to add the guilty pleasures.

-Basically, we're going to roll this out.

-Yep.

And smear lard and butter and fruit and spices on it, roll it up and then roll it out again.

Spices were only introduced for cooking from the 17th century onwards

and they really help give this cake its distinctive flavour.

-You fold that over once.

-Yep.

-And then you pick it all up and fold it over again.

You turn it round once and then you roll.

So it literally is layers that you're creating.

It's layers of fat and lard and fruit and spice.

After repeating the folding and the rolling and adding the ingredients

and leaving for one more hour to prove, the cake is baked for 45 minutes.

So it's absorbed most of the lard that would have been running out of it when it was hot.

Look how easily that comes out!

Hardly anything in there at all. And that's it.

It's ready to eat, really.

We just slice it and serve it.

Although lardy cake is made in other areas of the country, Karen assures me this recipe

is particular to Wiltshire and we are using Wiltshire pork lard, which leaves me with just one thing to do.

The proof, as they say, is in the eating.

That has definitely been worth the wait. Karen, thank you very much indeed.

That's a pleasure.

Now that they've had time to discuss the pros and cons, it's time to

find out what Peter and Carol thought of our Wiltshire offerings. Hi, guys.

-Hello.

-Well, I have to say, I have thoroughly enjoyed our last few days in Wiltshire.

-I hope you feel the same.

-Very much so, yes.

-Definitely. Really enjoyed it.

So, we kicked off, the very first property was the former coach house that had been converted.

-What did you think of that?

-I think my initial reaction was, "It's beautiful".

I loved the entrance. I loved the kitchen.

And then to me it went downhill.

When you say "downhill", sort of referring to the upstairs of the property, aren't you?

-It just didn't have the right feel for you.

-No.

The second property we saw was the former cowshed, actually.

Quite a large property, but not only that.

It had over two acres of land, the three stables, the menage and the double garage.

Oh, absolutely perfect. I mean...

-You couldn't fault it.

-No.

Couldn't fault the land.

-But what about the property itself?

-Er, yes...

We would have been compromising on the house itself to gain the benefit for the horses.

So, let's talk about the mystery house, that beautiful cottage.

As we walked through it, it got better and better and better.

You stand outside a property like that

and you look at it and you think, "Mm, right. It's thatched."

-It means usually it's going to be small on the inside.

-And dark.

And character places are small and dark. But it wasn't.

Two extra floors upstairs and the kitchen. Absolutely superb.

And I have to mention the garden.

-That just went on...

-And on and on...

And then got bigger.

So we got a reaction that we don't often get after guess the price, which was rather lovely.

We'd already discussed the ponies and we'd got that all sorted.

So lots of options there and lots of answers, hopefully, for their sort of stabling in the paddocks.

-Yes, there are, yeah.

-But what is the next step?

I think it's got to be an offer.

I think it's definitely, yes, on the mystery property.

-In fact, now I think it will be an offer.

-It will be.

That is fantastic news.

So we wish you all the best of luck.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you so much.

-Put that offer in very quickly and let us know how you get on, won't you?

-Of course we will, yes.

-All the best together.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you so much.

Well, what a fantastic way to end our few days in Wiltshire.

The mystery house certainly worked its magic on Carol and Peter and,

if their offer's accepted, they're going to be moving to this county very soon. We wish them all the best.

Join us again on Escape To The Country.

Although Peter and Carol did put in an offer on the mystery house,

sadly, they were outbid, so their search in north Wiltshire continues.

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Wales, Scotland or England,

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