Cornwall Escape to the Country

Today, I'm in a county famous for a landscape

bursting with reminders of its prehistoric past.

These mysterious stone circles date back over 4,500 years.

Where am I? Find out in just a moment

as we escape to the country.

On today's show, I'll be helping a couple

fulfil a dream they've had for 30 years

of retiring to the country.

It's just the right size.

-It's warming, isn't it? It's nice.

-It is.

But the more challenges we chuck at them, the more excited they become.

This is a potential nightmare. You like the look of this?

Absolutely, yeah. I'm really up for this.

-Why?

-It's just got everything we've been looking for

but we haven't been able to find. You've done it.

Today I'm in Cornwall, on the edge of Bodmin Moor,

an area rich in early prehistoric sites.

Now, there are over 15,000 of these dotted across the county,

but this one behind me here is one of the largest.

Known as the Hurlers,

it's thought that these stones were once local men

that were turned to stone for playing hurling on the Sabbath.

But ancient history isn't the only thing

this wonderful county has going for it.

With 300 miles of coastline wrapped around the country,

Cornwall's 165 beaches are in a league of their own

with Bedruthan Steps and its volcanic pillars

a spectacular sight.

Of Cornwall's 12 designated areas of outstanding natural beauty,

Bodmin Moor is the only one completely inland.

The granite that underlies this wild and rugged terrain

is a defining feature of the buildings

found in its moorland towns and villages.

This region offers up the perfect package of coast and countryside,

so understandably house buyers are keen to put down roots here.

David and June may now have retired, but they keep busy

by looking after the grandchildren

at their daughter's house on the outskirts of Fareham in Hampshire.

We are a really close family

and we spend holidays abroad together.

Every Christmas,

-they all congregate in our house.

-They descend on us, don't they?

Easter time.

We've just got a wonderful relationship

'with our two daughters and our grandchildren.'

I have said to our daughter,

if she'd like to sign the adoption papers, we'll take them on.

-We have them that often, but we love them to bits.

-Yes.

Although they have spent much of their lives in and around Fareham

and have strong family ties there,

they now want to act on an idea they hatched 30 years ago

and move down to Cornwall.

They have opted to look in the Launceston area

and have a clear picture of what their Cornish property must deliver.

On approach, I'd like to see granite stonework,

I'd like to see a nice slate roof, if possible,

and going through the front door, if it's got a beautiful entrance

so when people come, we can welcome them

and then we move on into the lounge -

nice size, because we always have the family with us.

They're often visiting. Christmas, we've had as many as 18 people.

June loves to entertain.

Three bedrooms. One bathroom's sufficient.

If a bedroom has an en suite, superb.

But the kitchen, if it could accommodate our table and chairs,

that would be nice.

'I would like perhaps a feature fireplace.'

Inside, quirkier the better.

And we'd like a garden which is wrap-around

so that any time of the day, we could sit in the sun if we wanted.

June and David have renovated many properties together

and are clearly quite a formidable team.

We've now been married for 44 years this year.

We read each other's minds.

We'll know exactly what we want together.

-It's...

-It's...

-We just know what we want, don't we?

-We complement each other.

-We do, yeah. Yeah.

It will be perfect.

-I've got the brains, you've got the brawn.

-Yeah.

So far, their house-hunting efforts in Cornwall have come up short,

but the money's already in the bank from the sale of their house,

and they've set their sights on how much they're ready to spend.

Our budget is £300,000.

Well, let's hope we can find a fantastic property

that matches June's brain with David's brawn.

For their budget of £300,000,

they're after a detached property with at least three beds,

maybe a renovation project,

and the house itself needs to be on the edge of or close to a village

with a good-sized garden or maybe even land.

With these strict requirements,

David and June have already come to Cornwall in the past

in search of their perfect property.

But they've gone home empty-handed.

Let's hope this time, we can do a bit better.

David and June want to focus their search inland

in the hope they'll get a bit more for their money.

At their request, we'll base our house search

around the market town of Launceston.

We've picked three very different properties to show our couple,

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

And there's always an outside chance

that our mystery house could be the answer to their prayers.

Well, David and June, welcome to Cornwall.

-Beautiful day, isn't it?

-It is.

-Yes, superb.

You've hand-picked the day for us.

Well, I try to sort everything out, to be honest.

-Exciting time, isn't it?

-It is, very.

-A complete move to a new part of the world for you guys.

-Yep.

Why Launceston area of Cornwall?

Well, it's mainly down to budget.

You get more for your money inland.

-Yep.

-And, you know, we've gone past the beachy stage of our lives

and it's only a half an hour, 45-minute drive anyway.

And I don't surf. I don't sail.

THEY ALL LAUGH

Let's not waste any more time. Let's get on with the first property.

For their budget of £300,000,

June and David want a detached period property

and would relish the idea of a renovation project.

However, it must give them

a large family living room

with a feature fireplace,

a kitchen, along with space for a family sit-down meal,

three bedrooms

and a wrap-around garden in the region of half an acre -

all lying within easy reach of a village.

We're kicking off our property search in the hamlet of Trekenner,

just five miles from all the amenities of Launceston

but with a good pub only 15 minutes' walk away in nearby Treburley.

Back in the heart of the hamlet,

we find our first property,

which comes complete with its own garage.

Now, the house, this rendered detached number,

what are your thoughts?

-I like it.

-Yeah, I like it.

-I really do.

There's a lot of history attached to this.

Now, 1650 was when it was built.

Initially, it was a two-up two-down cob house. In more recent times,

it's been a dairy, I think in the 1960s, it was even a post office.

You can still see hints of its past there.

Not too far to take the letters.

Does this house say David and June?

-Yeah, I think so.

-Yes.

-I think so.

-It's nice.

But I'll give you my decision when I've seen inside.

OK, let's not halt that decision any longer.

-Right, let's go.

-Thank you.

Well, I'm happy with that as a first reaction.

Inside, David won't find a project,

but there are lots of character features I hope they like.

Right, now, you'll instantly notice some 1650 proportions.

Yes! It's just the right size.

-It's warming, isn't it? It's nice.

-It is.

-Oh! There's...

-Our table would fit there.

-Yeah.

-You've pointed at something. What's that?

-That's the range.

Now, quite a treat. A lot of city people might think, "Gas, big deal."

Everything in this house is mains. Mains drainage, mains gas.

At the back, there's a useful cloakroom,

but will they settle for the unusual layout next door?

Now, what do you think of this bathroom?

-Oh, right.

-OK.

-You got a separate shower.

-Yes.

Is there one upstairs?

-Ah.

-Now, there's a potential hiccup.

-There isn't?

-No.

-OK.

Well, what do you think about having

-just a downstairs-only bathroom?

-I could live with that.

I could live with that.

It's great that they're being open-minded about the quirks

which inevitably crop up in an older property.

Time to head to the front of the house

and check out those character features.

Now, then, this is where I think

the real history of the building comes out

and it's illustrated here.

Now, what was one of the key features?

-Fireplace.

-Fireplace.

-That's lovely.

I read this would have been quite a small house. They've opened it up,

and you get a good-sized living space.

-It's a good size for us.

-Yes.

So downstairs...

-Good.

-Thumbs up?

-Oh, yes, definitely.

-Definitely.

Brilliant. Upstairs, let's see, shall we? OK.

'It looks like family Christmases around the fire are sorted,

'so let's see if they think there's enough space

'in the three bedrooms upstairs.'

-Children's bedroom.

-It is, yes.

Now, one of three, I thought, and this is the smallest.

-It's not a bad size for a cottage.

-No, it's good.

You could even put a double bed in there, couldn't you?

-You could.

-Or bunk beds if it's children staying here?

-Yes.

-Now, then, bedroom number one.

-I'll walk you past two and we'll go into three.

-Three, yes.

Now, mind your head, mind the step.

Bedroom two through there. I think that's definitely a children's room.

This is your master bedroom.

-Yes. Oh, beautiful floorboards.

-Yeah. Nice size.

And upstairs, big enough for you guys with guests staying?

-Yeah.

-Internally, it sounds like

this house is doing it for you guys,

-but outside was a big thing for you.

-It was.

-Nice big garden.

-Yeah.

-Let's see what do you think of that.

-OK.

Outside delivers the wrap-around garden they asked for, and all told,

amounts to about a quarter of an acre

with plenty of scope for landscaping.

There's a separate zone which David could develop for the grandchildren.

Now, what about the price?

So now you've seen the house, inside and out,

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

-Who wants to go first?

-June.

-I'll go first.

-You're good at this.

-Yes. Um...

295.

OK, June. 295.

Well, as the majority of the work's been done,

310.

310?

Good guesses, both of you.

June, you are good. It's on the market for £295,000. So well done.

Why don't you go back in? Have a look at the rest of the garden,

-look inside the house.

-Yes, thank you.

-Thank you.

-Catch you later.

Under budget at £295,000,

this charming cottage is a great retirement option,

as there's no work needed.

It's in great decorative order and gives them a spacious kitchen,

a large living room with traditional features,

three bedrooms

and that quarter-acre wrap-around garden

with far-reaching views over Dartmoor.

The outside is pleasing to the eye.

The inside is beautifully done.

The bedrooms are more than adequate for size.

The lounge is cosy, the kitchen is just the right size.

The garden is the right size.

I can do a lot with that.

The proximity of the neighbours might be an issue with us.

They're just too close.

We're continuing our house search

just half an hour's drive from Launceston,

near the historic market town of Bodmin.

Its grand civic buildings, made of local granite stone,

serve as a reminder that this was formerly Cornwall's county town.

A couple of miles away,

in a fantastically rural spot, is our second property -

an historic tin mine engine house, which really throws

down the gauntlet to David in terms of a renovation project.

Into this sleepy hollow

-we find a quirky house.

-Oh, my goodness me!

Oh, my goodness.

-Lovely slate roof.

-Yes.

-That is incredible.

Look at the size of the slates on that roof.

-Yeah.

-And also the roof looks...

-In good condition, doesn't it?

-It looks in decent shape.

-It does, yes.

-Looks can be deceiving.

There is a lot of work to be done to this place,

but first of all, let me explain what we've got here.

-Yes.

-You've got a home,

potential business,

and a huge, huge project.

Residential accommodation is the first half,

-just beyond those French windows.

-Yeah.

According to planning consent,

the next part of the building

is for letting accommodation - holiday lets, if you like.

Now, beyond that, that is your major, major project.

It's up to you what you do with it.

That could be a project to end of projects, couldn't it?

-It's ticking boxes.

-Good.

David really means business,

but it's no mean feat to transform this into a comfortable home.

Right, then.

Tell me what you think now.

-Oh, my goodness.

-Oh my goodness.

-This is just what we're looking for.

Not overdone with beams, still a bit of height.

It's amazing.

To a lot of people, this is a potential nightmare.

-You like the look of this?

-Absolutely, yeah.

-I'm really up for this.

-Why?

It's just got everything we've been looking for

but we've not been able to find. You've done it.

-Let's see more, shall we?

-Yes, please.

-Follow me.

-Yeah.

OK. Here's a good place to start

to get an idea of the geography of this place.

You've got a downstairs loo, bathroom and shower,

and, now it's up to you,

maybe a spare bedroom or an office,

whatever you want to use it for.

-A study? Yes.

-You don't have to walk straight into the kitchen.

-You've got this lovely entrance hall.

-That's nice.

In addition to the single bedroom downstairs,

there are two good-sized bedrooms upstairs, one with its own

en suite. It all needs a bit of a cosmetic overhaul,

but let's see if we can keep up the positive momentum in the next room.

I don't think size is an issue with this place.

My goodness, that's a good size.

It is.

Look, this has been done up.

-You can see it's been done up, post '60s.

-Yes.

There's quirkiness to it.

You look at that upright there, it's a railway sleeper,

but I don't think every piece of wood here has to stay.

-A lot of this is faux, tacked to the ceiling.

-Yeah.

So you can make it whatever you want it to be.

It's just a really good, adaptable space, isn't it?

I'm delighted that they're embracing this project with such enthusiasm.

June and David seem to be grabbing this amazing development

opportunity by the horns, so here's hoping they're not

fazed by the space and work needed outside.

-You can see a lot of land here, can't you?

-You can, yes.

Tell you just how much. Pretty much as far as you can see

on that fence line, there.

The other side of that lovely old oak,

all the way around,

just over 1.3 acres.

It's very hard to value this place, because it's fairly unique.

You've got a piece of Cornish history,

but you can live in it, but you get all this land as well.

-How much do you think it's on the market for?

-I think this is going to be cruel,

and I think it's way over our budget.

I'm going for 330.

OK. 330, David.

I'm going to be a real skinflint

and say 275.

When this first came on the market, it WAS 330.

It's now on the market for 309,950.

That's not a bad price, is it?

-No, well, in your eyes, I'll give you that.

-Yeah.

Now, this is a huge undertaking for anybody,

so why don't you go and have a look around the land?

I'm sure you're dying to get into that barn, as well.

Help yourself. You've got a short amount of daylight left.

Use it. And I'll catch you later.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you very much indeed.

Although this converted engine house is over their budget

by nearly £10,000, it could provide them with an income

from the holiday let possibility and is a one-off opportunity

to create a fantastic home from a local piece of Cornish history.

As it stands, it gives them a huge kitchen-diner,

an enormous living room, perfect for those family gatherings,

a potential earner from the holiday let annexe

and one and a third acres of land,

all set in a spectacular rural location

but with Bodmin just a couple of miles down the road.

This house has really given me food for thought.

There's a lot to take in, but I do love it.

I absolutely love this property.

I particularly want to do something up.

The potential is there, and there's a possible income from some of it.

As evening falls over the Cornish skyline,

the first day of our property search draws to a close.

Well, a good day yesterday, wasn't it?

We had wonderful weather and we had great properties.

Two very different properties, mind you.

But great reactions in both of them, nonetheless.

Although, having now slept on it, I've started to get the impression

that maybe David was more keen on that big project

that the second house gave them than June.

But another wonderful start to the day today,

and we've got the mystery house to look at.

As ever, it's here to challenge the expectations of our house hunters.

But one thing's for sure,

June and David should be getting their fair share of quirky.

What are you expecting now from the mystery house?

I don't really know.

-What would you like it to be?

-OK. I'll compromise.

I don't necessarily need a moat and portcullis.

-I can safely tell you that it's not a castle.

-OK.

But that's all I'm going to tell you.

There's history attached to this property.

One thing beginning with Q that this property has,

and that is something you've asked for, is quirky.

-So we're sticking with that theme.

-That's brilliant.

Everything else is off piste.

For our mystery property,

we're doing a complete U-turn on giving David his renovation project.

We are, however, heading closer to Launceston,

around eight miles from the attractive moorland village

of Altarnun with amenities that include

a pub, a post office

and a village shop.

Its 15th-century parish church

is known as the Cathedral on the Moor,

and this granite stone is a defining feature of the local architecture,

as we find with this Wesleyan chapel conversion dating back to 1875

where the hard work's already been done.

Ever thought about living in a church?

Didn't have it down as an option, but yeah, OK.

A couple of little bits and bobs which make this the mystery house.

Obviously, it's a converted church. It's very, very different inside.

-But also, your garden is split. You have a garden to the back.

-Yes.

You've also got a vegetable patch raised up there as well.

-That's novel.

-It is novel, isn't it?

Yes. Let's get in there, then.

Shall we? All right, come on, then.

'They may not have thought of hosting family gatherings

'in a chapel, but as they'll see, inside, it's surprisingly homely.'

The buzz word here is space.

This is huge, isn't it?

-Hasn't it been nicely done?

-It has.

-I really think it has.

-Very tastefully done, yes.

-I really do.

-The decor in here is how we would want to live.

-Is it?!

-Exactly.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Well, take the furniture out

and you do have what a lot of agents would call a blank canvas.

-But what they've kept here, I think, has been pretty clever.

-Yes.

-Obviously, you've got the pew.

-That's nice.

-But even the shelving is a pew with a top on it.

-Right!

Wow.

I think there's a new altar in town.

-There's a wonderful wood burner.

-That's large enough, isn't it?

-Yeah.

'I know downstairs space is really important to them,

'so let's see if the proportions of the kitchen measure up.'

-Now, then, another good-sized room, I think you'll agree.

-This is nice.

-Isn't it light?

-Yes, really light.

-Deceiving too, isn't it? Cos it's a good size.

-Yeah.

I'm glad you like the style of this,

-because if you didn't, it would be an awful waste.

-Yes.

-So two rooms down, still smiling?

-Yes, definitely.

-Yes.

'They've definitely warmed to the large,

'convivial living spaces downstairs,

'so let's head up the impressive wooden staircase

'and take a look at the two bedrooms.'

Now, the architect has had to box fairly clever

with this conversion, because it's always difficult

to get a wonderful, large living space downstairs,

but still get bedrooms above when you've got windows like that.

One of the reasons they've managed to get

this lovely, galleried landing

-is you've got windows on the other side of the building.

-Right.

And that's where the bedrooms get their natural light.

-Are they too small?

-Very deceiving.

-No. And it's not just a box, is it?

-No.

It's quirky. Definitely quirky.

Well, that is your new middle name.

It is.

Next door, there's a bathroom project in the making,

just ready for David if he wants to put his own mark on it.

And back downstairs to the rear of the kitchen is a utility area

and a small office which they could convert

into a very workable third bedroom.

Do they think they could transform outside into their Garden of Eden?

It's not the biggest garden in the world, I know.

But the bonus for you is, it needs some work, David.

Oh, yeah. I can do this, yeah. I can already see the plants,

where they're going to go.

-It's done its job, I think, as a mystery house.

-Yes.

-Definitely.

It's different, it's quirky,

but the big question is, how much is it on the market for?

Oh, cripes. I'd forgotten about that.

Well, keeping you on your toes.

290.

290 from June.

It's not large, is it? So I'm going to go 395.

£310,000.

-Bit of a surprise?

-Well, for the lack of garden...

I know the area is lovely.

What's the most important thing when we value property?

-It's the location.

-It is, yes.

We're back towards Launceston again.

-Let's not forget, you've got that vegetable patch over the road.

-Yes.

Go back inside, get to know it a little bit better. All right?

-OK, then.

-See you later.

-Yes.

Priced at the £310,000, a our mystery chapel conversion

may come in a surprise form,

but it does provide a huge living room with that a wood burner,

a great focal point for family get-togethers,

a sociable kitchen/dining room,

the potential for three bedrooms

and a garden with amazing views towards Dartmoor,

and all of this falling within their search area,

just eight miles from Launceston.

This house totally surprised us.

From the outside, you wouldn't expect so much inside.

I think we would consider a chapel conversion,

but then normally they would be out of our price range.

I could quite happily live in here and I think June could too.

This is actually, believe it or not, a contender.

So, after a couple of days and three property viewings,

I really feel that David and June

have seen the best of what their money can buy them in Cornwall.

I'm about to find out now

which of their three properties is their favourite.

But I've got the sneaky suspicion that David has already had

his heart stolen by one of the properties.

And I think you know which one I mean.

-So, it's been an eventful couple of days, hasn't it?

-It has.

Let's go back to the first day of property hunting, then, shall we?

The first house we looked at was a little detached cottage.

What are your thoughts on that now we've come away from there?

I liked the look of the property.

-Yeah?

-The lounge...

with the fire in it was lovely and quirky,

and the kitchen was a good space.

When we got outside of the first property,

it was your wrap-around garden,

but you didn't seem as enthused as I'd hoped you'd be.

-The size was fine.

-Right.

-It wasn't...

The slope was far too steep.

I would have had to have terraced it, I think.

I got the feeling it was a good start but just wasn't for you.

-That's right.

-And maybe, in hindsight, that was

-because there wasn't enough of a project there for you...

-Yeah.

..which there certainly was in the second property

that I showed you where you had...

-Well, it was a semi-converted tin mine, wasn't it?

-Yes.

You didn't seem daunted

-by the amount of work to be done there, June?

-No, no.

It was almost liveable. Once it'd had a good clean through

and perhaps carpets renewed and decorated,

it was liveable.

What do you think you'd want to do now, looking back on it,

in regards to the holiday letting part of that building?

-I think it would be a good idea.

-You'd keep it as it is?

-As a holiday let.

-Yes. You agree, June?

I would bring it into the main part of the house.

You have been on the same page in everything we've looked at,

but we've got a slight difference of opinion.

But if I hold my hands up, it's quite a way

out of your original search area around Launceston.

This was more the Bodmin area.

So today, it was mystery house time.

Back to the area of Launceston, at least.

And you stood outside a converted chapel.

-What were your first thoughts?

-It wouldn't have crossed my mind...

-No.

-..to look for one.

-I think you were exactly the same.

-Exactly, yes.

We walked in through those doors,

and then you were met with that huge expanse of living space.

-What did you think?

-That was just stunning, wasn't it?

It was good. That would suit our needs.

But there again, you started to talk about your family

and family coming down to spend time here, and I started to think,

they're considering this could be a potential home,

-which excited me, certainly.

-Yes.

-So...

have you had enough time to think about what your favourite

out of these three properties might be?

-I have.

-I have. We both have, yes.

I think my favourite was

the one at Bodmin.

Before we go back home, we're going to research the area.

-What a great idea.

-Yes.

-I think you're going to do some finances, aren't you?

-Yes.

I've had a thoroughly good time showing you round

and I've loved the fact you've been so open-minded as well.

-So best of luck with your research.

-Thank you very much indeed.

Thank you very much for making us feel so special.

Well, when I first met David and June,

I could tell they were really committed to a move to Cornwall

and rather excited about the fact.

But for me, well, I was rather daunted, to be honest with you.

I knew they'd already come down here before

and failed to find the right property.

That's because they had what I'd consider a rather limited budget

for all they wanted. But because they were able to compromise,

I was able to show them a property that gave them

the quirks and character they're after, a project for David

and all that land in a rural location.

What they need to do now, though, is go to Bodmin,

see if it's the town for them.

Fingers crossed it is

and then fingers crossed they can put an offer in

and maybe move into a new home

that will provide David with something to do in his retirement.

See you next time.

If you would like to escape to the country

in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland or England and need our help,

please apply online at...

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