0:00:02 > 0:00:05Does this market town of 400 inhabitants look familiar to you?
0:00:05 > 0:00:09You may know it better by its fictional name of Darrowby.
0:00:09 > 0:00:15If that doesn't ring any bells, stay tuned. All will be revealed on today's Escape To The Country.
0:00:26 > 0:00:32'On today's show, I'll be helping an intrepid couple put their best foot forward
0:00:32 > 0:00:37'to start a new life in the country and it looks like we're on the right track.'
0:00:37 > 0:00:39- That's perfect.- Perfect.
0:00:39 > 0:00:46- Was that a tear you were wiping away?- Yes.- Really? Do you really like it that much?- It's lovely.- Aw!
0:00:46 > 0:00:50- Oh, I love it when... That's wonderful.- Oh, don't!
0:00:50 > 0:00:54'But will the mystery house have them running for the hills?'
0:00:56 > 0:01:02Today, we're in North Yorkshire and this is Askrigg, made famous by the televised James Herriot novels,
0:01:02 > 0:01:06written by James Alfred Wight, Yorkshire's most famous vet.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10But in these parts, being a vet is not just a fictional business.
0:01:10 > 0:01:16In some parts of Yorkshire, in the rural uplands, 50% of the workforce are agricultural
0:01:16 > 0:01:20and that means the vet is a vital link for these rural communities.
0:01:20 > 0:01:25Spanning some 3,000 square miles, North Yorkshire is the largest county in England,
0:01:25 > 0:01:2840% of which is covered by its two national parks -
0:01:28 > 0:01:33the rugged North York Moors and the lush, green valleys of the Yorkshire Dales
0:01:33 > 0:01:39which, although predominantly a working landscape, attracts over eight million visitors a year.
0:01:39 > 0:01:44The county is home to wonderful architecture from the Ribblehead Viaduct,
0:01:44 > 0:01:47a triumph of Victorian engineering,
0:01:47 > 0:01:50to the medieval twin towers of Skipton Castle.
0:01:50 > 0:01:55And its robust Yorkstone buildings stand proud throughout its towns and villages
0:01:55 > 0:01:59with places like Skipton holding on to their strong sense of identity.
0:01:59 > 0:02:05So, whether you're seeking out rural solitude or want to be in the hub of a community,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08this magnificent county has it all.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Take a look at that. Not a house to be seen for miles!
0:02:13 > 0:02:18In fact, 1,762 square miles of North Yorkshire is national park.
0:02:18 > 0:02:25As you can imagine, planning restrictions are pretty stringent - not too many new builds round here.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29And that brings us back to the old economic law of supply and demand.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33Everybody wants a beautiful, idyllic house framed by this countryside,
0:02:33 > 0:02:37but not many come up for sale and when they do, they're expensive.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41The average detached house here costs 7% above the national average,
0:02:41 > 0:02:46but when they do hit the market, wow, they're beautiful!
0:02:46 > 0:02:48For top-notch grandeur,
0:02:48 > 0:02:52this five-bedroom barn conversion in Mayfield Valley
0:02:52 > 0:02:55could be yours for £1.35 million.
0:02:55 > 0:03:00Its reception rooms offer up original features and light, contemporary spaces.
0:03:00 > 0:03:05Outside, the five acres of fields give way to beautiful countryside views.
0:03:05 > 0:03:10On the market at £700,000, this six-bedroom Georgian farmhouse in Roche Abbey
0:03:10 > 0:03:17has a raft of quirky reception areas to relax in from a below ground, vaulted cinema room
0:03:17 > 0:03:22to a beautiful conservatory which overlooks the extensive lawned gardens.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25If a rustic barn conversion is more your style,
0:03:25 > 0:03:30£450,000 gets you this three-bedroom property near Hood Green
0:03:30 > 0:03:33with an exposed stone wall offsetting the living room
0:03:33 > 0:03:39and a slate-tiled country kitchen with original beams, all set in three-quarters of an acre of garden.
0:03:39 > 0:03:45You see, when God's Own County comes up with property, it comes up trumps
0:03:45 > 0:03:50and we have a couple who, wisely, are hotfooting it up north to buy.
0:03:51 > 0:03:58Alan and Linda have lived in their four-bedroom, detached family home in Taunton, Somerset, for 27 years.
0:03:58 > 0:04:03Their grown-up children have flown the nest, so they want to downsize
0:04:03 > 0:04:06and head north to the Yorkshire Dales.
0:04:06 > 0:04:12We're both energetic, active people. We may be retired from our work, but we're still young
0:04:12 > 0:04:17and I hope we could get a good 10 to 15 years of good, active involvement
0:04:17 > 0:04:21in an area that we really love and feel passionate about.
0:04:21 > 0:04:27Here we are walking around a very large house which is really a family home
0:04:27 > 0:04:33and I think we'd both like something a bit more cosy and a little bit more rural than we have at the moment.
0:04:33 > 0:04:39They already know the Dales will allow them to indulge their passion for the outdoors.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43We fell in love with the Yorkshire Dales the first time we went there.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47It's the only place that we've had a holiday three years running.
0:04:47 > 0:04:53One of our favourite pastimes is walking, just enjoying the views and the countryside.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56We would like to be able to look out of the window
0:04:56 > 0:05:01and to be able to walk from home almost, but not be too remote.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05But also high on their agenda is contributing to community life.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09If we move to an area near a national park, for example,
0:05:09 > 0:05:14I know there are all sorts of opportunities for volunteering.
0:05:14 > 0:05:19It would be great to support a local community, so we don't want to be in the middle of nowhere.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23We want to be able to be part of that community.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27They've got a clear idea what their Yorkshire home must give them.
0:05:27 > 0:05:34I think the three must-haves for a new property in the country would be a large, square lounge,
0:05:34 > 0:05:37a large kitchen with a dining area
0:05:37 > 0:05:39and three bedrooms
0:05:39 > 0:05:43and my shower cubicle, please. That would be great.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47I love gardening and enjoy pruning the shrubs and landscaping it,
0:05:47 > 0:05:54but I don't really want a large garden in a new property. I don't want to be a slave to the garden.
0:05:54 > 0:06:00With the property search about to begin, Alan and Linda are keen to put their house on the market,
0:06:00 > 0:06:05so we've asked a local estate agent to value their current property.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09This house is in an ideal family location a mile from the town centre.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12Excellent condition from top to bottom
0:06:12 > 0:06:15and I would value the house for around £335,000.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21So how much have they set aside for the move?
0:06:21 > 0:06:27What we would like to actually spend in terms of our budget on a new property is around £350,000.
0:06:29 > 0:06:35Even though they're downsizing, I'm hoping that Alan and Linda can keep flexible
0:06:35 > 0:06:41because house prices in North Yorkshire are 5% higher than back home in Somerset for them,
0:06:41 > 0:06:45so I'm hoping that their £350,000 is going to get them what they need.
0:06:45 > 0:06:52Those houses aren't going to find themselves, so I've got my map, I've got my walking boots... Let's go.
0:06:52 > 0:06:57As Alan and Linda want to walk from their front door, we've got to get the geography right,
0:06:57 > 0:07:03so we'll focus our house search in the heart of Dales territory with Skipton to the south.
0:07:03 > 0:07:09I'll show them some prime properties in the area, but I won't reveal the price until they've had a guess.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13And let's hope our mystery house makes them feel on top of the world.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17- Oh, I found you!- Hello.- Hi.
0:07:17 > 0:07:23- Good morning.- Good morning. - Look at this - North Yorkshire laid out for your delectation.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26- Fantastic view. - Absolutely stunning this morning.
0:07:26 > 0:07:32- You're both big hikers, aren't you? - We do a lot of walking. That's our main hobby.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36- We love walking.- It's a big move from Somerset up to Yorkshire.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41- How long did it take you to drive up?- Five hours. - You've got family still there.
0:07:41 > 0:07:47Yes, my parents live five minutes from where we live at the moment, so I'm reluctant to leave them.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51We've got a daughter in Taunton, but she's pushing us this way
0:07:51 > 0:07:56because she's looking forward to some nice holidays in this beautiful area.
0:07:56 > 0:08:02- Talk about budget because North Yorkshire is not cheap.- No. - Especially near the national park.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06What is your budget? You mentioned 350. Can you up that at all?
0:08:06 > 0:08:11- Slightly.- 350 would be ideal, but we could go up to £375,000.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15I'll take £375,000. We love a little bit more to play with.
0:08:15 > 0:08:20- All this natural beauty comes at a price, even if you are downsizing. - It can make a difference.
0:08:20 > 0:08:26Rather unusually, but good for us because you're hikers and I've got my walking boots on,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29- we can walk to the first property. - Brilliant.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33We've got a footpath that takes us right to our first house. Let's go.
0:08:34 > 0:08:39'We're setting off with their wish list firmly in mind.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42'For £375,000, Alan and Linda want to downsize
0:08:42 > 0:08:45'to a country home that will give them...'
0:08:58 > 0:09:02You say you do a lot of walking. How often do you go walking?
0:09:02 > 0:09:06When the weather's good, we'll try and go out two or three times a week.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09- So it's not just holiday walking? - No, no.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12It's very much our favourite pastime.
0:09:12 > 0:09:19'We're gambolling across the open fields to our first house in Hardraw in Upper Wensleydale.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23'Sitting on the Pennine Way and with a good pint on tap at the local pub,
0:09:23 > 0:09:27'the village is renowned for its awesome waterfall - Hardraw Force,
0:09:27 > 0:09:32'which, cascading over 100 feet, is England's longest unbroken waterfall.
0:09:32 > 0:09:37'Back in the village, this cottage could be a great option for entry level downsizing.'
0:09:37 > 0:09:41This is the property I want to show you, this one in front of us.
0:09:41 > 0:09:46- It's a nice...- Yeah, looks like a typical...- Stone Dales cottage.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49- It was built in the '70s. '79, it was finished.- Really?
0:09:49 > 0:09:55It makes such a difference when they build in local Yorkshire stone. It is compact.
0:09:55 > 0:10:00- OK.- It's not a sprawling house, but you wanted to downsize. - We wanted cosy.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04And as you say, it's deceptively old-looking.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06- I can't believe it's '70s.- No.
0:10:06 > 0:10:11- It looks more modern inside. Shall we look?- Yeah, OK.- Lovely.
0:10:11 > 0:10:17'Our traditional stone cottage gets a warm reception which I hope continues inside.'
0:10:18 > 0:10:21Now, you wanted a cosy house, so it's not huge.
0:10:21 > 0:10:27- This is lovely.- This is a good sized room.- Yeah.- Great. That's what I wanted to hear.
0:10:27 > 0:10:33Our worst nightmare would be a really narrow lounge where you can't do anything with the room.
0:10:33 > 0:10:39- It's got a lovely focal point as well.- And the window and the view. Look at that. It's incredible.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42- Everything is about sitting down and going, "Oh!"- Yeah.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46It's in two halves. You've got the downstairs sitting room, then...
0:10:48 > 0:10:50And the kitchen/dining area is here.
0:10:50 > 0:10:55This is nice. Lovely, modern kitchen in a nice sort of square format.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59- It's very nice.- How much space do you need to create culinary delights?
0:10:59 > 0:11:04- I don't think we need a huge area. - I think the kitchen area will be fine.- Yeah.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09- If I look towards the dining room area, I'd probably say on the small side.- Yes.
0:11:09 > 0:11:15OK for the two of us, but if we do have people staying, then it starts to get a little cramped.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19With a full house, how many people have you got?
0:11:19 > 0:11:26When the grandchildren come over from Mexico and other members of the family, it could be 10, 14.
0:11:26 > 0:11:32- If everyone came to stay.- You'd be pushing your luck if I was going to show you a dining room that sat 14.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36- It's a house for two people. - It is, yeah.
0:11:36 > 0:11:42I'm not saying we want a huge kitchen/diner, but something a bit bigger than that would be ideal.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46- Yeah. Let's take a look upstairs cos that's also quite snug.- OK.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50'I'm pleased Alan and Linda are embracing its light, airy feel,
0:11:50 > 0:11:56'but they're mulling over the considerable downsize they'd be making with this cottage.
0:11:56 > 0:12:01'Let's see if the three bedrooms upstairs can help them cement their thoughts.'
0:12:01 > 0:12:07- Let's take a look at this. This is the largest bedroom. - The largest, right.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11- There's no wardrobes in here.- That'd be the first thing I would notice.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15- There's a really nice feel about the room.- The whole house so far.
0:12:15 > 0:12:21I just think a fundamental of a bedroom is to have some wardrobe space and there isn't any in here.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25Yeah, space is an issue because it's a small house.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29- There is quite a lot of loft space for storage.- Yeah.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32- But it's definitely snug. - Mm-hm.- Yeah.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36- Let's take a look at the bedroom with the view.- OK.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42Wow, look at that view!
0:12:42 > 0:12:47This one has the view, so you might want to make this your main bedroom.
0:12:47 > 0:12:53- This also has storage. - Oh, right, yes.- It goes quite deep. It's double depth.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58It's small, but I think I'd rather sleep in here than the front room.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02- To see that every morning would be lovely.- Yeah.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06- This is really why you're buying the house.- Yes.- To get to see that.
0:13:06 > 0:13:11- It's beautiful.- It's glorious. It's what you've always wanted, isn't it?
0:13:11 > 0:13:14I just think to wake up and look at a view like that,
0:13:14 > 0:13:21- then to be able to walk out the house and just walk on to the Dales from here...- The footpaths.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23- ..is heaven, really.- Hmm.- Hmm.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27- Wherever you go, you've got a view, even from the bathroom.- Right.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32'Opposite is the third bedroom, a small double with built-in storage
0:13:32 > 0:13:36'and next door, a small bathroom, which has no separate shower,
0:13:36 > 0:13:40'but offers beautiful views to soak up from the bath.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44'They seem to have given a thumbs-up to the ambience of this house,
0:13:44 > 0:13:48'but how much space do they need to accommodate visiting family?
0:13:48 > 0:13:53'Let's step into the sunshine and see if the garden and views can sway them.'
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Throw open the patio doors and this is what you get to see.
0:13:57 > 0:14:02- It's a fantastic view.- It's lovely. - This is where the view fell on the other side of the Dale.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05Is this part of the property, this garden here?
0:14:05 > 0:14:09- This is where it gets complicated. Step down and I'll show you.- OK.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15- So, essentially, this is your garden.- Right.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19- That is your neighbour's garden. - Oh.- Right.- Hmm.
0:14:19 > 0:14:25- So it's very low maintenance, but also...- I've got no problem with the size of the garden.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29- I may have an issue with somebody else being behind you.- Yeah. Yes.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31- It's quite unusual.- It is unusual.
0:14:31 > 0:14:37- OK, so what do you think it costs cos we haven't talked about budget? - Oh, heavens...
0:14:37 > 0:14:40It's in a lovely, popular village.
0:14:40 > 0:14:46- It's got amazing views.- It's very difficult.- I'd say £345,000.
0:14:46 > 0:14:51- Right up at the top. What do you think, Linda?- Well, 320 maybe?
0:14:51 > 0:14:56Well, the property is on the market for just a shade under 300,000.
0:14:56 > 0:15:02- Right.- Right.- And it's been on for about eight months, so they've just reduced it to that price.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06That is a good price for the type of property we want.
0:15:06 > 0:15:12Have a look round inside and collect your private thoughts, then we'll meet outside and press on.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15- OK.- Thank you.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17Priced at just under £300,000,
0:15:17 > 0:15:22this stone-built cottage leaves them £75,000 for their retirement pot
0:15:22 > 0:15:27and would be a perfect, low-maintenance bolthole for an intrepid walking couple.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39It has the spoils of Wensleydale right on their doorstep.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41But is it a downsize too far?
0:15:41 > 0:15:45This property ticks a lot of the boxes that we had, really.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48It's beautiful outside.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52And the stone finish gives the appearance of being an older house.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56I never expected a newer house to look so good.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00I have some concerns about the upstairs being a little bit small.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02The garden is a big concern.
0:16:02 > 0:16:07You really do want this part to be part of your garden.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10It's such a shame to be sitting here,
0:16:10 > 0:16:16then having somebody else gardening in front of you before you actually look at the view as well.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20I really love this house. It feels so cosy.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23This room is lovely and light and airy.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26The kitchen is lovely.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28The dining room, I feel happy with it.
0:16:28 > 0:16:33Obviously, it would be a squeeze with friends and family staying,
0:16:33 > 0:16:39but I think overall, most of the time we'd be on our own and we always wanted this cosy cottage.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42It just feels really right.
0:16:42 > 0:16:47The location of the property is in a smaller village than I probably hoped for.
0:16:47 > 0:16:52I think, ideally, I would like to be able to walk to the local shops.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55- All done?- Thank you.- Brilliant.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59- I'm still looking at the view.- Yes. - Let's press on.
0:17:03 > 0:17:09Over the centuries, sheep farming has shaped the distinctive Dales landscape
0:17:09 > 0:17:15and been supported by important trading centres such as Masham in Lower Wensleydale
0:17:15 > 0:17:17which dates back to medieval times.
0:17:17 > 0:17:23Masham's prosperity is echoed in its architecture with over 60 Grade 2 listed buildings in the town,
0:17:23 > 0:17:27many of which lie in the market square, the largest in Yorkshire.
0:17:27 > 0:17:34Alan and Linda are meeting town guide Susan Cunliffe-Lister to find out more about its past.
0:17:34 > 0:17:41We're really lucky. We've got this lovely, big square which has never been developed over the years.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45We've still got the old houses. It's not turned into shop fronts.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48And Masham really owes its size to sheep.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52Every year in September, we still have a sheep fair in the town.
0:17:52 > 0:17:57All this square gets filled up with sheep and we have a great time.
0:17:57 > 0:18:02It dates back to the old days when they'd bring all the sheep down from the hills.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06They had up to 80,000 sheep in the square and up and down the streets.
0:18:06 > 0:18:13The farmers made a lot of money out of the sheep. The wool was very valuable, as well as the lambs.
0:18:13 > 0:18:19The farmers had to pay a tithe to the church, which was a tenth of the money they made on their farms,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22so Masham became a very rich church as well.
0:18:22 > 0:18:28Still dominating the town today, Masham's Norman church fell on hard times during the Reformation
0:18:28 > 0:18:32when Henry VIII seized the revenues from Masham Church
0:18:32 > 0:18:38to finance his building of Trinity College, Cambridge, whose legacy resides in the name - College Lane.
0:18:38 > 0:18:45Just over a mile's walk from Masham, Alan and Linda can put their walking boots to use in Hackfall Woods,
0:18:45 > 0:18:49which, as well as being mentioned in William Wordsworth's tourist guide,
0:18:49 > 0:18:53was an inspiration for Turner who sketched and painted here.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Now it's a Grade 1 listed garden.
0:18:56 > 0:19:02If you live in Masham, you can walk along the River Ure. The river runs through the bottom there.
0:19:02 > 0:19:07You can walk down here, then walk around the gardens, then walk back up to Masham.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11Along with beautiful landscapes, Alan and Linda's move will mean
0:19:11 > 0:19:16that they have thriving Dales towns like Masham right on their doorstep.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20And they could find themselves living in the heart of one
0:19:20 > 0:19:26if they go for our second property in the market town of Settle on the border of the Dales National Park.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29It's already familiar holiday territory for them
0:19:29 > 0:19:35and has tremendous appeal with its 17th century market square and listed buildings.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Upper Settle has a quieter, more villagey feel
0:19:38 > 0:19:42and just a short walk from the green is where we find our next property.
0:19:42 > 0:19:48There are several houses for sale around the village green. Which one am I going to show you?
0:19:48 > 0:19:52- It's this one.- This looks nice. - That looks lovely.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56- I like the colour of the stone. - It's a really interesting property.
0:19:56 > 0:20:02Unlike the one that I showed you which looked old, but was actually from the '70s, this is old.
0:20:02 > 0:20:07The main body of the building is from the 1840s. Do you like the house?
0:20:07 > 0:20:12From the outside, it looks really nice. It's in a lovely position.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16- It's a solid-looking building. - It won't fall down any time soon.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20- I think you'll love the inside. - OK.- Let's hope so.
0:20:20 > 0:20:25'Confident words indeed, but as we go inside, let's see if I'm right.'
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Come on in.
0:20:30 > 0:20:36- Oh, wow!- What do you think about this?- It's a fantastic kitchen. I absolutely love it.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38- And the dining area...- Yeah.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40- It's a nice size.- It's so light.
0:20:40 > 0:20:46- It's a much more upmarket version of what we saw this morning.- Right.
0:20:46 > 0:20:52There's a lot more space. It's finished to a much higher quality. You've got lovely kitchen units.
0:20:52 > 0:20:57- Yes.- And it's light and bright and been beautifully done up.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01- I love it.- Really nice. - You're speechless, Linda.- I am.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05- And... Was that a tear you were wiping away?- Yes.- Really?
0:21:05 > 0:21:09- Do you really like it that much? - It's lovely.- Aw! Aw!
0:21:09 > 0:21:13- Oh, I love it when... That's wonderful.- Oh, don't!
0:21:13 > 0:21:17'Great. Linda looks like she's smitten already.
0:21:17 > 0:21:22'Just off the kitchen, there's a utility room to store those white goods and walking boots.
0:21:22 > 0:21:27'On the other side of the kitchen is a very inviting living room.'
0:21:27 > 0:21:30- This is the older half of the house. - Cosy.- Mm-hm.- Cosy feel.
0:21:30 > 0:21:36This was the external wall of the old part and it goes out into the newer, Victorian part.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38- What do you think?- Very nice.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42- It's a lovely cosy feel. - A nice size room for two.
0:21:42 > 0:21:48- This is the totality of your downstairs space. - I could live with that.- Yeah.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52- Not crying in this room. - No, no. I'll contain myself.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56- The combination of the two rooms is ideal.- What we wanted.
0:21:56 > 0:22:02A light and airy modern space and a cosy, older style feel in the lounge.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06- Upstairs?- Yeah. - Looking forward to it.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09'All smiles so far, and a few tears,
0:22:09 > 0:22:14'so hopefully the three bedrooms and bathroom will measure up.'
0:22:14 > 0:22:19- Just take a little stop off at the bathroom.- This is lovely.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23- You've got your...- Shower cubicle! - ..shower cubicle.- Wow.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27- This is a really good use of space. - It is. It's lovely.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30- Brilliant.- That's perfect.- Perfect.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34We've had perfect, we've had tear. It's very good.
0:22:38 > 0:22:44- This is the master bedroom. - We've got the wardrobes as well.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48- It's really made a good use of the space.- And the view.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51The beginning of the Dales.
0:22:51 > 0:22:56- It's lovely.- A really nice size. We don't want a massive bedroom.
0:22:56 > 0:23:02- You want room for a bed and some wardrobes.- Yeah. It's got everything we'd want.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06'Next door is another bright double bedroom.
0:23:06 > 0:23:13'And then a single bedroom with light streaming in, but I want to see what they make of the garden.'
0:23:13 > 0:23:15Come on in.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22- So it's not massive.- No.- No. - It's not massive at all.
0:23:24 > 0:23:29- But look at this open aspect. - And it is all yours.
0:23:29 > 0:23:36- That's a bargain for this bit! - You don't have to negotiate. - It's not a private garden.
0:23:36 > 0:23:43- But it is in a way because this open view seems like part of the garden to me.- Yes.
0:23:43 > 0:23:48- It's a property with character. - Certainly is.- It is.
0:23:48 > 0:23:53- It's got history, charm and been beautifully restored. - Modernised. It's got everything.
0:23:53 > 0:23:58- You don't feel you're in an enclosed dark cottage in there.- No.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01- But can you afford it?- I hope so!
0:24:01 > 0:24:02Yes.
0:24:02 > 0:24:09I vastly overestimated the last property, which was in a nice location. This is a lovely location.
0:24:09 > 0:24:14Perhaps if I pitch this one at the value I had the last one - £340,000.
0:24:14 > 0:24:22- I'm inclined to say about 340 as well.- You're both being very optimistic. It's on the market
0:24:22 > 0:24:27- for £365,000.- Mm.- Right. - But have a look round.- Yeah, OK.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31- Do you want a hankie? - No, I'm all right now.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33- I'll meet you out front.- OK.
0:24:34 > 0:24:40Judging from their overwhelming reaction, this Yorkshire stone house could be a real contender.
0:24:40 > 0:24:46Under budget at £365,000, it would give them a cosy living room with character features,
0:24:46 > 0:24:50a large, convivial kitchen/diner, three bedrooms
0:24:50 > 0:24:54and a garden set in the quieter reaches of lively Settle
0:24:54 > 0:24:59with a strong community and the Dales National Park on their doorstep.
0:24:59 > 0:25:05We both love this house, don't we? It just feels right. This is what downsizing is about.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08This is a really lovely property.
0:25:08 > 0:25:14It's in a wonderful location. We do know Settle and this is the best bit of it,
0:25:14 > 0:25:16on the upper village green.
0:25:16 > 0:25:23The garden, I suppose, is unusual. It's almost like it's been stuck on and is part of the village green.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26But I don't think it's a problem.
0:25:26 > 0:25:31We've got the village green next to us, all the Dales next to us.
0:25:31 > 0:25:36It's just an extension of the lovely environment in which we find ourselves.
0:25:36 > 0:25:44I think this property is perfect for both of us. I feel so comfortable it's like it's home already.
0:25:44 > 0:25:49The kitchen is beautiful, so modern and clean and airy.
0:25:49 > 0:25:56And the views out of the windows are spectacular. And the bathroom was just perfect.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00I've got my shower cubicle and a bath. It's just all we want.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03I can smell an offer in the air!
0:26:03 > 0:26:05So?
0:26:05 > 0:26:11- This is fantastic.- Really? - Yeah, we've moved in. - You look like it!
0:26:11 > 0:26:17- You have to come this side. You haven't bought it yet.- Lovely. - You like it?- It's perfect.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21- Are you talking to the agents? - I think we will be.- I think so.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25- Don't rush, though. We've still got the mystery house.- OK.
0:26:25 > 0:26:30- Everything could change. Let's go and relax.- Right.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37As the day draws to a close over the Yorkshire Dales,
0:26:37 > 0:26:41it marks the end of the first day of our house search.
0:26:48 > 0:26:56Alan and Linda want to shrug off life down south and make the Yorkshire Dales their new home.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00They've been bowled over by one of the two properties.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03- It's lovely.- A bit emotional?
0:27:03 > 0:27:06And our mystery house will certainly expand their horizons.
0:27:06 > 0:27:11- It's quite remarkable. - It is a remarkable mystery house.
0:27:14 > 0:27:19I can really understand wanting to wake up to this every morning.
0:27:19 > 0:27:24And it looks like the house yesterday really fit the bill.
0:27:24 > 0:27:29They seemed completely in love. It's really hard to improve.
0:27:29 > 0:27:36But one thing they might not like is being quite so overlooked, though they didn't seem to mind.
0:27:36 > 0:27:42But the mystery house, one thing the mystery house is is not overlooked.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46Our mystery property takes them into near solitude
0:27:46 > 0:27:49as we head into the hills to the small hamlet of Chapel le Dale.
0:27:49 > 0:27:55Close by, the Ribble Head Viaduct stretches across this glorious landscape
0:27:55 > 0:27:59with the quiet pubs of Ingleton 7 miles away.
0:27:59 > 0:28:05With no real community close by, the emphasis is on the fabulous entertaining space
0:28:05 > 0:28:07for their visiting family.
0:28:07 > 0:28:13This is the house. Not all of it. Just this front end, the big bit.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16It's from about 1820.
0:28:16 > 0:28:21It's a farmhouse. There are three dwellings. One of them could be yours.
0:28:21 > 0:28:28- What do you think of the location? I know you weren't keen on being so isolated.- It's very remote.
0:28:28 > 0:28:34- Beautiful on a day like this. It actually feels quite warm. - It's always like this here. Always.
0:28:34 > 0:28:40- Every single day, 365 days a year. - I can rely on you for that. - We'll hold you to that!
0:28:40 > 0:28:47- If you hear anything that contradicts that, don't believe it. Let's have a look inside.- Lovely.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51'We're taking them out of their comfort zone,
0:28:51 > 0:28:56'but as we'll see, it's the largest of the houses we're showing them.'
0:29:00 > 0:29:06- Here's your living room. - Wow. Look at that cosy fire. - This is the old part.
0:29:06 > 0:29:10It's the 1820s part. Incredibly thick walls.
0:29:10 > 0:29:14- You can see they're a foot thick with window seats.- Lovely.
0:29:14 > 0:29:20- And the hallway is the back wall of the house. The original stone.- Beautiful.
0:29:20 > 0:29:26- It's got real character, hasn't it? - Yeah.- And yet it feels reasonably modern.- Lovely flooring.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29- it's very nice.- Nice room.
0:29:29 > 0:29:33Let's look at the kitchen. I think you'll really like that.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41Oh, wow. Look at this.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45A nice area for the table. And a fantastic view.
0:29:45 > 0:29:50- Perfect size, isn't it?- It is. It's a really good size.
0:29:50 > 0:29:55- Of all the kitchen/diners, this is the most generous.- Yes!
0:29:55 > 0:30:01- And it's got these amazingly beautiful Victorian floorboards. It's nice and bright and sunny.- Yes.
0:30:01 > 0:30:06- You're not shedding a tear. - I'm not, but I'm really surprised
0:30:06 > 0:30:10- at how lovely it is. - So this is your downstairs.
0:30:10 > 0:30:14There is a fantastic cellar so there's a lot of storage.
0:30:14 > 0:30:19With an entrance in and out through the garden
0:30:19 > 0:30:26- so you can put bikes in.- That's useful.- Upstairs we have not one, two, three, but four bedrooms.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30- Four, wow!- On two levels.- OK.
0:30:30 > 0:30:35'They seem quite surprised by the space the farmhouse offers,
0:30:35 > 0:30:39'but upstairs things get curiouser and curiouser.'
0:30:39 > 0:30:43So coming up here is a little bit Alice In Wonderland.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48Oh! the ceilings are quite low!
0:30:48 > 0:30:54- Did you manage?- Yes, I can just about fit under there. - I can just about graze my head.
0:30:54 > 0:31:01- So this is one of the three bedrooms on this floor. - Quite a fantastic view.
0:31:01 > 0:31:07- Yeah, it's all about this view. - For an old property, again, it's very light.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11We've got three good-size bedrooms on this floor and a bathroom.
0:31:16 > 0:31:22- Here they did something clever. They took out the attic space to give you some headroom.- Wow.
0:31:22 > 0:31:28- It's a fantastic bathroom. - You'd spend all your time in the bath!- Exactly.- To get the view.
0:31:28 > 0:31:33- It's beautiful, isn't it?- It's all you could want for a bathroom.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36It hasn't got a separate shower, but it's integrated.
0:31:36 > 0:31:41No separate shower, but... maybe somewhere else does have one?
0:31:43 > 0:31:47'Of the other two bedrooms, one is large enough to be a a double
0:31:47 > 0:31:52'and the other is currently a study, complete with window seat.
0:31:52 > 0:31:56'But let's go up again and seek out Linda's shower.'
0:31:56 > 0:31:58From the very small...
0:32:00 > 0:32:02Ah, look at this.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05Not a bedroom as such.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07Wow!
0:32:07 > 0:32:12- See? It goes from the very small to the very big.- That's amazing.
0:32:12 > 0:32:18It's an amazing house. Very light and airy, isn't it?
0:32:18 > 0:32:22- This would be the place to sleep. - Oh, yes.- And...
0:32:24 > 0:32:27- Ta-ra!- A shower!- Your shower.
0:32:27 > 0:32:29- Oh, look.- An en-suite.
0:32:29 > 0:32:35- That would definitely make this our room.- Our space, yes. The bedroom with en-suite shower.
0:32:35 > 0:32:38- A real good use of space. - It is. Lovely.
0:32:38 > 0:32:45You were talking about your grandchildren coming from Mexico for a week or two.
0:32:45 > 0:32:51I thought that second floor, which is low-ceilinged, could be the children's floor
0:32:51 > 0:32:56- and you could retreat...- Up here. They've done a really good job.
0:32:56 > 0:33:01For an old house, it has a really nice feel about it.
0:33:01 > 0:33:06- It's quite remarkable. - It is a remarkable mystery house.
0:33:06 > 0:33:12- And the views are best from the garden.- Right.- That's been a sticking point on some properties.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16'The mystery house does seem to have impressed them.
0:33:16 > 0:33:21'The garden seating areas are well-placed to soak up the scenery,
0:33:21 > 0:33:27'but despite the generous size, would they contemplate such splendid isolation?'
0:33:31 > 0:33:35I think in terms of garden, we've come up trumps here.
0:33:35 > 0:33:39By far the largest of them all we have to show you.
0:33:39 > 0:33:44- A definite boundary.- THIS is a private garden.- Not overlooked.
0:33:46 > 0:33:50- Only by the sheep. - So obviously the mystery is
0:33:50 > 0:33:57would you buy a house that is this remote? To know that, you need to know how much it costs.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00- Which is also a mystery. - That's difficult.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03We are inside the National Park.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05Ah.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08340?
0:34:08 > 0:34:11I was going to say £350,000.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13£350,000.
0:34:13 > 0:34:15Again, you're slightly optimistic.
0:34:15 > 0:34:20- It's at just under £370,000. - Is it?- Oh, wow.- Right.
0:34:20 > 0:34:27If nothing else, it might focus your mind on how much you like the one that's not in a remote location.
0:34:27 > 0:34:31This house in another location would be an even higher price.
0:34:31 > 0:34:35I suppose a lot of people will pay because of where it is.
0:34:35 > 0:34:40- They want to be isolate.- It's unique.- Have a wander inside.
0:34:40 > 0:34:47- OK.- And share your private thoughts to one another and we'll meet at the front.- Right.
0:34:48 > 0:34:52Sneaking in under budget at just shy of £370,000,
0:34:52 > 0:34:58our mystery farmhouse could be a wonderful rural retreat for large family gatherings,
0:34:58 > 0:35:03offering a beautiful large living room, an enormous light-filled kitchen/diner,
0:35:03 > 0:35:10four bedrooms with a master en-suite and a generous garden with panoramic views over the Dales.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14I think this is my favourite room in this house.
0:35:14 > 0:35:19- It's just what we wanted in terms of size.- It is. A real square.
0:35:19 > 0:35:26Lovely view. A central focal point with a fire. If you combine this lounge with the kitchen/diner,
0:35:26 > 0:35:30- it exactly fits what we want. - It is, yes.
0:35:30 > 0:35:36This is a really imposing house. In terms of meeting what we wanted from a property,
0:35:36 > 0:35:39it does tick a lot of the boxes.
0:35:39 > 0:35:44And it's got a nice private garden, probably the best one we have seen.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46You could do a little bit with it.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50This house has been quite an eye-opener for me.
0:35:50 > 0:35:54The location, it's very remote,
0:35:54 > 0:36:00but on the other hand the actual house is very spacious inside and quite modern.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02On we go.
0:36:16 > 0:36:22The great majority of the farms here are cattle or sheep. Some are pretty remote here in the Dales.
0:36:22 > 0:36:28One of the key figures in keeping them all together and up-to-date with what's going on in the world
0:36:28 > 0:36:34is the local vet, so I'm going to meet one of these modern-day James Herriots.
0:36:38 > 0:36:44'Neil Roberts has lived in this area his entire life and devotes most of his working day to giving farmers
0:36:44 > 0:36:52'up-to-date advice on disease prevention and administering vaccines. I met him on a TB check.'
0:36:52 > 0:36:56Fortunately, this part of the world is still relatively clear of TB.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59That is a very big plus point.
0:36:59 > 0:37:06- The farms are on routine four-yearly testing and we get very few breakdowns.- Right.
0:37:06 > 0:37:12The breakdowns we do have are invariably cattle brought from outside the area.
0:37:12 > 0:37:18'But the life of a vet is never straightforward and, mid-job, a more urgent call comes in.
0:37:18 > 0:37:22'Elsewhere on the farm, an injured pregnant cow is in distress.'
0:37:22 > 0:37:28- How did you get to be a vet? Just because your dad was? - That was a big factor.
0:37:28 > 0:37:32My father was a vet and I would go round with him quite a lot.
0:37:32 > 0:37:39This particular part of the countryside, the land is suitable for livestock farming.
0:37:39 > 0:37:41It isn't suitable for arable.
0:37:41 > 0:37:46So the land will hopefully always be farmed.
0:37:46 > 0:37:50As long as the land is farmed, there will be a need for vets.
0:37:50 > 0:37:55'Neil's practice looks after about 400 sheep farms and 100 dairy farms,
0:37:55 > 0:38:01'which adds up to 100,000 ewes and over 10,000 dairy cows.
0:38:01 > 0:38:07'This 11-year-old cow has a back injury, which for an animal of this age has serious implications.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09'She may not make it.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13'The problem has been compounded by the weight of her unborn calf,
0:38:13 > 0:38:17'so Neil will have to carry out an emergency Caesarean.'
0:38:21 > 0:38:24- Just keep going with the calf. - Wow!
0:38:30 > 0:38:34It's amazing. It just came out so fast.
0:38:37 > 0:38:40A big burst of calf! Extraordinary.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43That's pretty intense.
0:38:43 > 0:38:47It's amazing. I've never seen an animal be born before.
0:38:48 > 0:38:54'Unfortunately, even without the weight of the calf, Neil felt the mother wouldn't stand again
0:38:54 > 0:38:58'and it was the kindest option to put her to sleep.
0:38:58 > 0:39:04'But the calf has been saved and although he's a bit premature, Neil is pleased.'
0:39:04 > 0:39:08It's an excellent sign for the calf to hold its own head up.
0:39:08 > 0:39:12And if he blinks when you just touch onto the corner of the eye,
0:39:12 > 0:39:15that is also a very good sign.
0:39:15 > 0:39:21And some sort of suck reflex if you put the finger in the mouth is also a good thing.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24- Has he got that?- He has.
0:39:24 > 0:39:29That shows it isn't brain-damaged and hasn't been starved of oxygen.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31It's healthy.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33It's trying to get up.
0:39:33 > 0:39:41- All in a day's work for you. - All in a day's work.- Covered with blood. It's a proper job.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43Well done!
0:39:45 > 0:39:51'Farming life is fraught with harsh realities and although, sadly, the mother couldn't be saved,
0:39:51 > 0:39:57'the calf will go on to be bottle-fed and soon become a fully-fledged member of the herd.'
0:39:59 > 0:40:05Not sure our mystery house really persuaded Linda and Alan to the solitary life on a fell,
0:40:05 > 0:40:09but as far as I was concerned it was all settled in Settle.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13When Linda saw that kitchen and started crying, it was all sewn up,
0:40:13 > 0:40:19although I have been wrong before. Let's find out what their final decision is.
0:40:19 > 0:40:25Ah, good. Genning up on the details. And you've made me my cream tea.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28- It's a home from home.- Certainly is.
0:40:28 > 0:40:32So spin back to the very first property we saw yesterday morning,
0:40:32 > 0:40:37- which was the modern house. - Yes, that was a real surprise.
0:40:37 > 0:40:45- I'd never have believed it was modern.- That first house made us realise we could downsize.- Yeah.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49We felt quite cosy. There were a few issues about storage,
0:40:49 > 0:40:54and it might have been a little small in retrospect.
0:40:54 > 0:41:00The biggest letdown... It had this wonderful view, then you took us out to the garden
0:41:00 > 0:41:04and we realised it was a back garden inside somebody else's garden!
0:41:04 > 0:41:08- How did the house on the green feel? - Oh!- Hot flash, hot flash!- Yes.
0:41:08 > 0:41:13It was just unbelievable. The position on the green was lovely.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17When we walked inside, the downstairs...
0:41:17 > 0:41:24- You saw Linda's reaction. - It was perfect. I don't know how you managed to conjure it up.
0:41:24 > 0:41:30- It was obviously waiting for you. - It was.- It had been really well renovated, hadn't it?- Yes.
0:41:30 > 0:41:35They'd made the best of the space, a nice mixture of old and new.
0:41:35 > 0:41:39Let's talk about the mystery house. This was a wild card.
0:41:39 > 0:41:45- A beautiful house, but in a very remote location.- Quite a surprise!
0:41:45 > 0:41:49- It's a really imposing building. - It was lovely and so spacious.
0:41:49 > 0:41:54- The most spacious out of the three. - And for the third property running,
0:41:54 > 0:41:59it showed that a cottage could be light.
0:41:59 > 0:42:03It's a different style of cottage up here to the south west,
0:42:03 > 0:42:10which tend to be much more small, cosy, but very dark. But the location was a step too far.
0:42:10 > 0:42:15- A long way to the shops. - Yeah.
0:42:15 > 0:42:21- What happens next? Are you going to revisit the house on the green? - Definitely.- Definitely.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24- And put an offer in?- Definitely!
0:42:24 > 0:42:26Ah! I like that. "Definitely".
0:42:26 > 0:42:31It's been wonderful. You really knew what you wanted,
0:42:31 > 0:42:37- you were very amenable to getting what you wanted, even though it is a massive change for you.- It is.
0:42:37 > 0:42:44- And you clearly love this area. Everything points to you moving soon.- I hope you'll come and visit!
0:42:44 > 0:42:50I certainly will. I'm sure we'll be here again. Now let's get down to tea.
0:42:53 > 0:43:01I have a sneaking feeling that Alan and Linda will be firmly ensconced, or should I say settled,
0:43:01 > 0:43:03in North Yorkshire very soon.
0:43:03 > 0:43:08If you've enjoyed the show and would like to see more,
0:43:08 > 0:43:12tune in next time for more Escape To The Country.
0:43:12 > 0:43:19After going back to view the house in Settle for a second time, Alan and Linda's offer was accepted.
0:43:19 > 0:43:26So they should be moving in very soon. If you'd like to escape to the country and need our help,
0:43:26 > 0:43:29please apply online:
0:43:43 > 0:43:47Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2010
0:43:48 > 0:43:50Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk