0:00:02 > 0:00:05Now, of course, we all know what the Romans did for us,
0:00:05 > 0:00:06but what did we ever do for the Romans?
0:00:06 > 0:00:10Well, for one thing, we gave them these little boats.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13It's said that when Julius Caesar came here in the 1st century BC,
0:00:13 > 0:00:16he saw them for the first time, and he was so impressed,
0:00:16 > 0:00:18he got his troops to manufacture them
0:00:18 > 0:00:21and use them in subsequent campaigns right across Europe,
0:00:21 > 0:00:24but what are they called and where are we today?
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Well, join me in just a few moments and I'll tell you.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48On today's show, I'll be helping an adventurous couple find
0:00:48 > 0:00:51the perfect pitch in the country for their luxury camping business,
0:00:51 > 0:00:56- and they approach our house search with real gusto.- Oh, that's cute!
0:00:56 > 0:00:58That's cute! It's really cute!
0:00:58 > 0:01:02But, with our Mystery House, no-one will hear them scream.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04- Whoa!- Ohh!
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Well, today I'm in Carmarthenshire on the River Teifi,
0:01:12 > 0:01:15and this little thing is called a coracle.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18Now, coracles have been in the UK for thousands of years,
0:01:18 > 0:01:20but they've always been particularly popular
0:01:20 > 0:01:22here on the rivers of south-west Wales.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25You know, back in the day, hundreds of fishermen would have used
0:01:25 > 0:01:29these to catch their daily supper. Now, as you can appreciate,
0:01:29 > 0:01:30the nice thing about them is that
0:01:30 > 0:01:32they're very simple to make and very light.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35When you've finished your day's work, you simply come ashore,
0:01:35 > 0:01:37put it on your back, and go home for tea.
0:01:37 > 0:01:38Now, a little later on in the show,
0:01:38 > 0:01:42I'll be back here at Cenarth learning a little more about them,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45but, before then, here's a little taster of what
0:01:45 > 0:01:48the rest of this gorgeous county has to offer.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56Carmarthenshire shares its borders with Ceredigion to the north
0:01:56 > 0:01:57and Powys to the east.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01The county is the third largest in Wales and is often dubbed
0:02:01 > 0:02:04the Garden of Wales, and it seems with good reason.
0:02:04 > 0:02:05From the lush pastures
0:02:05 > 0:02:08and meandering river that make up the Teifi Valley, to the
0:02:08 > 0:02:11remote wilder landscapes on the edge of the Brecon Beacons,
0:02:11 > 0:02:15this county remains wonderfully unspoilt.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Toward the coast, the numerous medieval castle ruins
0:02:18 > 0:02:21such as those at Llansteffan and Llan remain as vivid reminders
0:02:21 > 0:02:24of this region's turbulent past.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26But, with swathes of sandy beaches
0:02:26 > 0:02:30and a population of just 170,000 people,
0:02:30 > 0:02:34it's easy to find a peaceful retreat in this glorious part of Wales.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37It's no surprise that today's buyers want to be here.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48David and Latvian-born Madara currently live at
0:02:48 > 0:02:51David's mother's house in Stoneleigh, Surrey,
0:02:51 > 0:02:55having spent the last two-and-a-half years restoring and living on
0:02:55 > 0:02:58a 25ft schooner boat in Spain.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01But now, this dynamic duo are ready for their next challenge
0:03:01 > 0:03:04and have decided that a house in the Carmarthenshire countryside
0:03:04 > 0:03:06is the new way forward.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Depending on the property that we find,
0:03:08 > 0:03:12this really is going to dictate what we do, um, certainly campsites
0:03:12 > 0:03:16and tepee or yurt villages, um, something eco-friendly, growing
0:03:16 > 0:03:21our own food, raising animals, chickens, um...that sort of thing.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25If we are close to the coast then, I'm a yacht master instructor,
0:03:25 > 0:03:27so, I'd like to get back to doing some sort of yachting.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29As well as business interests,
0:03:29 > 0:03:32they want to buy into a completely different way of life,
0:03:32 > 0:03:34which will give them the opportunity to live
0:03:34 > 0:03:37out their dream of being surrounded by wildlife.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40We would like to move to the countryside
0:03:40 > 0:03:43because we like the lifestyle, being close to nature, surrounded
0:03:43 > 0:03:47by animals, perhaps of our own or just if there is nature parks.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51- It would be nice just to get out of the rat race, wouldn't it?- Yes.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55After the project of restoring a boat, they're not keen on doing
0:03:55 > 0:03:58up a house, but other than that, they're pretty open-minded.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02We're so flexible about the type of property, something is just going to
0:04:02 > 0:04:05come along and smack us in the face and we're going to go, "That's it.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08"That's got everything we require."
0:04:08 > 0:04:11So, it could be love at first sight when they see their new home,
0:04:11 > 0:04:13but there are some boundaries.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17For our next house, we would like it to be completely detached...
0:04:17 > 0:04:22- At least with an acre of ground. - A minimum of two bedrooms.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25- Large kitchen though. - Reception room...- Yes.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29- Some water features, maybe a pond... - Some trees.- Yeah.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32A few outbuildings.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34Yes, that would be nice.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36With money from the recent sale of their boat going
0:04:36 > 0:04:40towards their move, they're flexible on their finances.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42We've got a budget of about £250,000,
0:04:42 > 0:04:46but if we're buying something that's already generating an income,
0:04:46 > 0:04:47a small business,
0:04:47 > 0:04:51then we could probably push that to about £300,000.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Well, there's no doubt that David and Madara
0:04:59 > 0:05:00are the adventurous types.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02After all, they've sold their boat
0:05:02 > 0:05:06and chucked it all in to come here to Wales to start a whole new life
0:05:06 > 0:05:08and a business in the tourism industry
0:05:08 > 0:05:11and they've certainly picked a good county in which to do it.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15Every year, Carmarthenshire attracts about three million people,
0:05:15 > 0:05:17spending between them £332 million,
0:05:17 > 0:05:21and with views like this to spoil them, it's not surprising.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28As David and Madara are happy to be flexible on their precise
0:05:28 > 0:05:31location, we're going to cast our net wide and even cross the odd
0:05:31 > 0:05:34border to give them the best options for their budget.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37We'll be serving up three very different properties for them
0:05:37 > 0:05:40to consider, but, as ever, I won't reveal the price of each
0:05:40 > 0:05:42until they've had a guess first.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45Our final offering is, of course, the Mystery House, and I can
0:05:45 > 0:05:50safely guarantee you'll never have seen a property quite like this one.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Hi, guys. Nice to see you. How are you, Madara?
0:05:54 > 0:05:56- Nice to meet you, David. - Hi, Jules, nice to meet you.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58Now, in terms of the sort of property you're after,
0:05:58 > 0:06:01- your requirements are fairly flexible, aren't they?- Yes.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04Yeah, really flexible. You know, if you show us something...
0:06:04 > 0:06:07equestrian, you know, it'll lead us in that direction.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10If you show us something, you know, camping and that sort of thing,
0:06:10 > 0:06:13we'll go in that direction. Why restrict what we want to do?
0:06:13 > 0:06:16I mean, Carmarthenshire, I think, does offer
0:06:16 > 0:06:19fantastic value for money, which is great with your budget.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21So, yeah, I'm relatively optimistic, but, again, we are
0:06:21 > 0:06:24going to have to work quite hard to get you
0:06:24 > 0:06:26- the sort of accommodation and land in particular...- Yes.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29- ..that you're after. But let's give it a go.- Fantastic.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31- Really looking forward to it. - Follow me.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38With a baseline budget of £250,000, David and Madara
0:06:38 > 0:06:42would stretch to 300,000 if the business proposition was right.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45They're looking for a home that gives them a large kitchen
0:06:45 > 0:06:48and living room and two bedrooms.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51Critically, the house must sit in at least a one-acre plot
0:06:51 > 0:06:54in the right natural setting to develop their new venture.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05For our first property, we're taking our buyers to
0:07:05 > 0:07:08the Carmarthenshire village of Llanllwni.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Set back from the road, it was built in the 1950s,
0:07:11 > 0:07:14but has recently been tastefully renovated,
0:07:14 > 0:07:18and, crucially, it sits on a very generous plot.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Normally, we like to keep land as something of a surprise,
0:07:21 > 0:07:23actually, but, because it's important to you,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26I'm going to tell you that this has got a couple of acres with it...
0:07:26 > 0:07:29- Right.- OK.- ..which is all that way behind the house.- Mm-hm.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31Madara, what are you thinking?
0:07:31 > 0:07:35Um, I'm going to reserve judgment at this point in time.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37Oh, OK, fine! Well...
0:07:37 > 0:07:39My first impression is it looks like
0:07:39 > 0:07:42the sort of place we could retire to.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46It does have that rather sort of post-war retirement bungalow feel.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49- Yeah.- True, but, inside, I think you'll find it quite surprising.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51If you look at the roof space, I mean,
0:07:51 > 0:07:54- that's completely redundant at the moment, that's just loft.- Yes.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57- It doesn't always have to be a bungalow.- No.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59You could, potentially, push up into that.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03- You know how much I like attic rooms.- Yes. Yes, you do.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07Well, let's get inside and see what you think. Fantastic, let's go.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13We had quiet initial reactions to the exterior of this bungalow,
0:08:13 > 0:08:16but the room sizes are surprisingly generous inside.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18Let's start in here then.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20Obviously, it being a bungalow,
0:08:20 > 0:08:22all the bedrooms are on the ground floor.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24- So, we've got two bedrooms for you.- Yes.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27This one is mirrored across the hallway with another one.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29- The same size?- Same size. Exactly the same size.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32- I mean, it's a square box, basically.- It is.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35For the two of us, I mean, this size room is fine.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37But it's nice and tall.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40- Yes.- Oh, yes!- You've got the ceiling height there.- Good.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42All right, come on, follow me.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48And then this sort of opens up into your main, you know,
0:08:48 > 0:08:52- living space, as it were.- It's a cute little room, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55- That multi-fuel burner, I think, really sets it off.- It does.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58- Isn't that nice?- Your requirements in terms of bedrooms are modest...
0:08:58 > 0:09:00- Absolutely, yeah. - ..which is the good thing.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03Whatever we buy house-wise is going to be bigger than the boat we've
0:09:03 > 0:09:06- been living on for the last two years.- Well, there you go.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08Behind us is a second reception room, which is
0:09:08 > 0:09:11currently used as a separate dining space.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15Also, leading off the hallway is a sleek, modern family bathroom,
0:09:15 > 0:09:17so no work needed in here.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20But let's see if the next room lives up to their expectations.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23This is the kitchen, obviously.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25- You're thinking it's not big enough...- Yes!
0:09:27 > 0:09:29There are things that could be done.
0:09:29 > 0:09:34Well, that means that we have to go into renovation and...
0:09:34 > 0:09:36- It's that mess and dust again, isn't it?- Yes.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39Perhaps they'll change their opinions about the property
0:09:39 > 0:09:41when they see the potential of the land.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44Along with the rear garden stocked with fruit trees
0:09:44 > 0:09:48and a polytunnel, there are also two stables.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50All they need to buy are the horses.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Right, then, here we are in the middle of your two acres.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58- It goes right up to that hedge line at the back.- Yes.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00- You get the field with the ponies in it.- Right. No ponies?
0:10:00 > 0:10:03- You don't get the ponies. - Unfortunately.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05- But you do get the view.- But look at the view, isn't it fantastic?
0:10:05 > 0:10:09- Oh, it's really nice.- Spectacular. - There's Carmarthenshire for you.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12How much do you think this is on the market for, Madara?
0:10:12 > 0:10:13Go with him first.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18No, I'm going to put you on the spot. Go on, you go first.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22OK, since I have no idea, I'll just say 238.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26238. £238,000, yeah?
0:10:26 > 0:10:29- David?- 220.- 220.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32You're sort of in-between, actually, the pair of you,
0:10:32 > 0:10:34it's just under 230.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36It's 229,950.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38- OK.- All right?- OK. - So, giving you, well,
0:10:38 > 0:10:4220,000 underneath your proposed budget of 250...
0:10:42 > 0:10:44er, if you wanted to improve it.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47If we wanted to extend...we could do that.
0:10:50 > 0:10:55Priced just shy of £230,000, this spacious bungalow, on paper,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58addresses many of the elements on their wish list,
0:10:58 > 0:11:01and includes a good-sized sitting room with a wood burner,
0:11:01 > 0:11:04a well-furnished kitchen, two bedrooms,
0:11:04 > 0:11:07and a two-acre plot of land, which would give them
0:11:07 > 0:11:10lots of scope for their business aspirations.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14- It's a good start, yeah. - OK, we've set ourselves a benchmark.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- Absolutely.- Let's see if we can better it. Come on.- Thank you.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31At the edge of the Brechfa Forest lies the Teifi Valley with
0:11:31 > 0:11:33a river that has been navigated and fished
0:11:33 > 0:11:38since the pre-Roman era using small, lightweight boats known as coracles.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42I've come to the National Coracle Centre near Cenarth Falls to
0:11:42 > 0:11:46meet expert and museum curator Martin Fowler.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48- Nice to see you!- And you.
0:11:48 > 0:11:49Wow! Look at this.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53It's a great treat for me to get a real chance to see how these
0:11:53 > 0:11:56- boats are actually produced and what their history is.- Yeah.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59It really is a basket made from the local wood, which they
0:11:59 > 0:12:01would have covered with one animal skin,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04- and then tied together with horsehair.- Yeah?
0:12:04 > 0:12:06And covered with animal grease.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Most of the main rivers in Wales, including the River Teifi,
0:12:10 > 0:12:13were navigated using their own unique design
0:12:13 > 0:12:16and Martin's going to let me get to grips with his.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21Animal skins have now been replaced by a covering made of calico cotton,
0:12:21 > 0:12:24which is then waterproofed with a hot pitch paint.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27'Used as a fishing vessel, the Teifi coracle has
0:12:27 > 0:12:30'a willow and hazel frame and is flat-bottomed.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34'Now I've carried it, the challenge is to get in and not get wet.'
0:12:36 > 0:12:40So, put your foot in the middle. That's it. Hold the handle.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44Now, bring the other foot in with it. Turn...that's it.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48Now, transfer your weight so that you've got a foot in each corner.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50OK, now. JULES LAUGHS
0:12:50 > 0:12:54- Now, you ready for this? - Yeah, go for it. OK.- All right!
0:12:54 > 0:12:57- JULES LAUGHS - Oh, my...! How about that?
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Now, you need to scull across the front of you.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04- Right, hang on. There we are. - There, that's more like it.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07- That's it.- Ah!- Yeah?- OK. - And now you're moving forward.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10When you think that the man in the next village crossed
0:13:10 > 0:13:12the English Channel in one of those...
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Do you know, I'll be lucky to cross the river,
0:13:14 > 0:13:16- let alone the Channel, Martin! - MARTIN LAUGHS
0:13:16 > 0:13:17Help!
0:13:22 > 0:13:24It's time we returned to the house-hunt.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29We're hopping over the border into neighbouring Ceredigion
0:13:29 > 0:13:31to the village of Llandysul,
0:13:31 > 0:13:34with a useful array of amenities on its high street.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37Situated in a rural spot outside the village,
0:13:37 > 0:13:40and approached by a driveway, is our second property,
0:13:40 > 0:13:43which comes in the form of this beautiful detached cottage.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47OK, now, this is property number two,
0:13:47 > 0:13:50- and I think this is a bit more like it, isn't it?- Oh, that's cute!
0:13:50 > 0:13:52That's cute! That's really cute!
0:13:52 > 0:13:55Well, we've just pressed a button, haven't we? Look at your smiles!
0:13:55 > 0:13:58- Absolutely.- I think this is the sort of character that you were
0:13:58 > 0:14:01- perhaps dreaming about.- Absolutely hit the nail on the head, mate.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05- Fantastic.- Happy?- Yeah.- Yeah!- Course you're happy. Have a look inside.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07- Oh, by the way... - Yes.- It is a cottage.- Oh, no!
0:14:07 > 0:14:11- Ceilings are a bit low. OK?- OK.- So, you might need to duck a bit.- OK.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13- Come and have a look.- Come on.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16This house has been refurbished to a very high spec
0:14:16 > 0:14:18and the inside is a real eye-opener.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25Now, like I said, Madara, you'd better duck.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28JULES LAUGHS
0:14:28 > 0:14:31- Oh, wow!- Yeah?- Whoa!- Oh, wow!
0:14:31 > 0:14:36- It's a great space, isn't it?- Yeah! - Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39- The mezzanine's lovely, stairs obviously going up to it.- Yeah.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41They've got it as something of an office space,
0:14:41 > 0:14:43- but it'd make a great little den. - That's perfect.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47A nice twist of, you know, old feel, but modern open-plan living.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50It's great. In terms of sort of heating,
0:14:50 > 0:14:52you've got that multi-fuel stove there, which is...
0:14:52 > 0:14:54- DAVID GASPS - ..going to give you lovely focus.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56- Oh, to die for.- Yeah.- Fantastic.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59Yeah? Good. Right. Follow me through here, have a look at this.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03Now, I love the way this...
0:15:03 > 0:15:05operates in its own little world, if you like.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08- You've got the old stone wall of the barn here...- So, that's original?
0:15:08 > 0:15:11- That's original. Two bedrooms here. That's one of them.- Oh, wow!
0:15:11 > 0:15:15- Look at the size of this!- Yeah? - And the view!- Yeah! How about that?
0:15:15 > 0:15:18- It's a view to die for.- Wow.- And then at the end of the corridor...
0:15:18 > 0:15:20- No way!- Come on!
0:15:20 > 0:15:23At the end of the corridor, we've got you a double shower,
0:15:23 > 0:15:26- bathroom and so forth in there. - That's good.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28And then a second bedroom in here.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34- They've both got the views.- Yes. Fantastic views. It's just right.
0:15:34 > 0:15:39Even from the outside, it just looks right, as a country house should be.
0:15:39 > 0:15:40And it feels right.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43It feels right rather than just looking right, it feels right
0:15:43 > 0:15:45when you walk in here.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47It seems like this house is pushing the right buttons,
0:15:47 > 0:15:51so we'll head to the other end of the cottage where, next to a very
0:15:51 > 0:15:52stylish bathroom, is the kitchen,
0:15:52 > 0:15:55which will hopefully keep those warm reactions coming.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59- This...- Oh, my God!- ..I'm quite excited about you seeing. Yeah?
0:15:59 > 0:16:01- What do you think?- Two cookers!
0:16:01 > 0:16:03You've got the range there, that's oil-fired.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07- So, you've also got this dual-fuel range cooker there.- Wow!
0:16:07 > 0:16:10Two for the price of one. Fantastic.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13The property is set in a stunning one acre of land
0:16:13 > 0:16:16and also includes a woodland glade.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19At the end of the drive is a readymade veggie plot
0:16:19 > 0:16:20and polytunnel.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24Or, they could replace it with a purpose-built washing facility
0:16:24 > 0:16:26for their guests, if they wanted to get
0:16:26 > 0:16:30their business idea for camping with yurts off the ground.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33So, let's check out where these yurts might go.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38So, you've got all this area right in front of the property itself
0:16:38 > 0:16:40and that lovely woodland area and so forth...
0:16:40 > 0:16:42- Well, this is a lovely little area as well.- Yeah.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46I mean, it's not acres, let's face it, but, you know,
0:16:46 > 0:16:50it would allow you to at least have a go with certainly one yurt...
0:16:50 > 0:16:52- Absolutely, yeah.- ..if not two. Um...
0:16:52 > 0:16:55- Oh, no, I think we'd get half a dozen on here.- Really?- Yeah.
0:16:55 > 0:16:56Well, you're packing them in.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59No...especially with the small area up there, without a doubt.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01It's going to be Happy Valley here, isn't it?
0:17:01 > 0:17:04- By the time you two have finished! - That's the whole idea.
0:17:04 > 0:17:05OK, well, um...
0:17:05 > 0:17:08As you were so good at guessing the price last time, I'm going
0:17:08 > 0:17:12- to let you go first again on this one, Madara.- Beginner's luck!- Yeah.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15I will say...
0:17:15 > 0:17:20- 247.- 247? OK, interesting. David?
0:17:21 > 0:17:23- 275?- 275.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26- Bearing in mind you've said you'd go to 300,000...- Yeah.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30..if it had business potential, would you pay 275 for this?
0:17:30 > 0:17:32I would be incredibly tempted.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34Well, let me tempt you with this then,
0:17:34 > 0:17:37cos this could be yours for just under 250.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39Oh! Wow!
0:17:39 > 0:17:41- MADARA LAUGHS - Yeah?
0:17:44 > 0:17:45So, our second offering has just
0:17:45 > 0:17:49sneaked in under their £250,000 budget,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52and is an attractive proposition, as it would provide them
0:17:52 > 0:17:55with a fantastically presented home.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58The huge reception area with mezzanine floor is
0:17:58 > 0:18:00a real show stopper and, along with the farmhouse kitchen,
0:18:00 > 0:18:03gives them two spacious bedrooms.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07What's more, the one acre of land is a beautiful natural setting
0:18:07 > 0:18:10for their luxury camping business.
0:18:10 > 0:18:11- Very impressed.- Good.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Well, so you should be, it's a nice one, but, it's not over yet.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Of course, the Mystery House is still to come!
0:18:17 > 0:18:18- BOTH: Woo!- Follow me.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20THEY LAUGH
0:18:25 > 0:18:27Well, the introduction of the Mystery House is always
0:18:27 > 0:18:30one of the most anticipated parts of any Escape to the Country,
0:18:30 > 0:18:32and, of course, this one is no exception.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36David and Madara can't wait to see what we've got in store for them,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39but, I have to say, I think this one is rather special.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46For our mystery property,
0:18:46 > 0:18:50we head towards the tiny village of Gwernogle set deep in the heart
0:18:50 > 0:18:54of the Brechfa Forest, a natural haven for wildlife and walking.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58Our Mystery House is hidden away in complete seclusion
0:18:58 > 0:19:01and the only way to find it is across a footbridge.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06In terms of isolation...
0:19:06 > 0:19:09- and being away from it all... - Spot-on. Absolutely spot-on.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12- The view is giving me goose bumps. - Goose bumps?
0:19:12 > 0:19:14Well, wait till you see the Mystery House.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17Now, to get to it, we're not using a four-by-four,
0:19:17 > 0:19:19but we're going to go for a three-minute walk.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Yeah, the longer the better. JULES LAUGHS
0:19:21 > 0:19:24What they're about to see is truly spectacular.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28OK, come here. All right, come here. Keep them shut.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30- Now, turn around to your right... - OK.
0:19:30 > 0:19:31Open your eyes.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35THEY GASP
0:19:36 > 0:19:40- I don't believe it!- Now, you said you like timber houses.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43- Yes.- There's your timber house.
0:19:43 > 0:19:44And as a boat-builder,
0:19:44 > 0:19:47we thought you could look after this one quite well.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50- Speechless.- Wow! Me too.- Yeah?
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Our Mystery House comes with a unique architectural style
0:19:55 > 0:19:59of its own, comprising two linked hexagonal timber buildings.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02The oldest section, built back in the 1960s, is in need of a bit
0:20:02 > 0:20:06of attention, but I'm hoping that won't put them off.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10Right, let's start in here.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14This is the original bit, the original hexagon.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16Words cannot describe this, this is just...
0:20:16 > 0:20:20- That's what I'm thinking.- It's home! - (I can't speak!)
0:20:20 > 0:20:22She can't speak! You're lost for words!
0:20:22 > 0:20:25Yes, I don't know if to be really happy or to be like,
0:20:25 > 0:20:27this needs so much work.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29Well, you know, it does need a bit of attention,
0:20:29 > 0:20:31but the thing about it is, it is all timber.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34- It's all there.- It's all easy to do.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38The quirky hexagonal dimensions continue upstairs on the
0:20:38 > 0:20:41mezzanine floor, where there's one of the three potential bedrooms.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45There's also a bright, modern family bathroom back downstairs,
0:20:45 > 0:20:48but we'll check out the six-sided rooms in the newer wing.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Now, you wanted a big kitchen.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55I think this is big enough.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58- Wow!- Oh! DAVID LAUGHS
0:20:58 > 0:21:01- It's not only big...- It's huge! - ..it's beautiful!
0:21:01 > 0:21:05I mean, it's a huge family room! It's anything you want it to be.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08'Leading off the kitchen is where they would sleep.'
0:21:09 > 0:21:12OK, now, I would love this. I have to say.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15- Wow is all I can say. - It's lovely, yeah.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18You've got these double doors there and these...
0:21:18 > 0:21:20- Huge sliding sash box windows.- Yeah!
0:21:20 > 0:21:22Imagine waking up and just having that,
0:21:22 > 0:21:26literally having wildlife right outside your front window.
0:21:26 > 0:21:31- That's exactly what we were looking for.- Happy?- Yes.- So, we like it?
0:21:31 > 0:21:34- Oh, yes.- No, no, "like" doesn't even come close.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37- You see, I think the best bit's yet to come.- I love this.- What?
0:21:37 > 0:21:38Upstairs.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40- JULES LAUGHS - Come and check this out.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Yes, they'd better compose themselves,
0:21:43 > 0:21:47because upstairs takes those windows to a new level.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Well, come and check this out, cos I think this is rather good.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53SHE GASPS
0:21:53 > 0:21:55Come over here.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57- Look over here.- Look at that!- Yeah.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59Now, we've got another kind of mezzanine here...
0:21:59 > 0:22:01Another mezzanine floor above?
0:22:01 > 0:22:04..with a double bed on it and this amazing kind of...
0:22:04 > 0:22:07you know, elevated position to, you know,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09have a look at what's around you.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12- We can isolate ourselves on this side of the house...- Yeah.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15- ..and let the other side immediately and generate some income.- Yeah.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17You'd have to think about bathrooms.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19You'd need another bathroom, I suspect.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21There's a river at the bottom.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24THEY LAUGH Details, details.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26Details, details, indeed,
0:22:26 > 0:22:31but one thing that is a dead cert is the beauty of the outside space.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33THEY LAUGH
0:22:33 > 0:22:35It just goes on and on, doesn't it?
0:22:35 > 0:22:37Out there, you've got...
0:22:37 > 0:22:39three acres.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41- MADARA GASPS - Oh!
0:22:41 > 0:22:43- This is perfect!- It's flat as well.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45Yeah, you've got three acres over there,
0:22:45 > 0:22:48but, with a bit of management, you could, you know,
0:22:48 > 0:22:52carve yourself some fantastic locations for yurts and camps...
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Yeah, I mean, that's it. That's perfect.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59Dare I say it, they seem bowled over by the endless opportunities that
0:22:59 > 0:23:03come with our Mystery House and Madara's early concerns about
0:23:03 > 0:23:05home improvements have been completely forgotten.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09They may have fallen in love with the beautiful, natural setting
0:23:09 > 0:23:12enhanced even further by a wildlife pond.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15But now it's time to get back to reality.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18- Now then, the difficult bit, I'm afraid...- I don't want to know.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20..is upon us and it's the, erm,
0:23:20 > 0:23:22it's the guess-the-price moment.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26Now, you've done them all so far in terms of going first, so, David?
0:23:27 > 0:23:29- Go on, then.- 350?
0:23:29 > 0:23:32- £350,000.- 290.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35If I told you that it was...
0:23:35 > 0:23:39£240,000...?
0:23:39 > 0:23:43- I wouldn't believe you. - Have you got a pen?
0:23:43 > 0:23:44LAUGHTER
0:23:44 > 0:23:48Well, you should believe me because that's what it's on the market for.
0:23:48 > 0:23:49- 240?- 240.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54Speechless. Everybody's speechless.
0:23:58 > 0:24:03Under budget at £240,000, our Mystery House is one of a kind.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06And comes with an adaptable layout which includes...
0:24:20 > 0:24:23It's all wrapped up in the spectacular setting
0:24:23 > 0:24:24of the Brechfa Forest.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27Let's go and, erm, relax somewhere and, erm...
0:24:27 > 0:24:30- figure out what happens next, shall we?- Yeah, absolutely.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43We've given David and Madara the chance to sleep on it
0:24:43 > 0:24:45just in case they were tempted to make a hasty decision.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48So there is one final part of the show to come here on this
0:24:48 > 0:24:52glorious morning in south-west Wales, we just need to ask them
0:24:52 > 0:24:55if we have indeed managed to find them their escape to the country.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05I think it's been a really exciting house search, actually.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08- Complete roller-coaster ride. - Yeah, absolutely. 100%.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11Let's talk briefly about the properties that we saw
0:25:11 > 0:25:14cos I think we all know where we're heading with this one.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18Our first property, a kind of toe in the water really,
0:25:18 > 0:25:20- in terms of what the market had to offer you.- Yes.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22What did you reckon to that one?
0:25:22 > 0:25:25Well, just didn't have that feel for us.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28- Had no feel to it at all, really. - Yeah.- Too small.- Yeah.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31- And the road, of course.- Road right outside.- In the middle of the road.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35OK, well, let's not labour it, erm, because then we took you off
0:25:35 > 0:25:38to our second property, which - I have to say - I had great hopes for.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40I think you really responded to it rather nicely.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42That lovely little stone cottage.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44It certainly had potential, I think we all agreed that.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Yes, it was certainly a step in the right direction.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49There wasn't quite enough land there for what
0:25:49 > 0:25:51we want to do to generate some business.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54But the house, it was a lovely house.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56Well, let's cut to the chase, shall we? And, erm...
0:25:56 > 0:25:59talk about the Mystery House, cos that's what we've all been
0:25:59 > 0:26:01waiting to do this morning.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05Erm, what were the thoughts that were coursing through your mind?
0:26:05 > 0:26:07It was a flood of emotion...
0:26:07 > 0:26:09for me and for you, wasn't it? You...
0:26:09 > 0:26:14It was really... You know, to find something like that, in that location.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18We're a quirky couple, really, and to find a quirky property that
0:26:18 > 0:26:21matches us and our personalities and, you know...
0:26:21 > 0:26:22just awesome.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25It was just like a fairy-tale house.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28- I thought it was a very enchanted place.- It was!
0:26:28 > 0:26:31It wasn't a Mystery House, it was a mystery tour.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33- It was an absolute one-off.- Yeah.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36- I know you've fallen in love with it for all the right reasons.- Yes.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39I couldn't sleep last night, phoned the mortgage company first thing this morning.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42- You phoned them this morning?- Yeah, yeah.- That was an early phone call.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45- Yeah, absolutely. - Where are we now, then?
0:26:45 > 0:26:47Are we ready to go and pick up the keys?
0:26:47 > 0:26:48It's an odd construction.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51It's not standard, it's not brick with a slate roof,
0:26:51 > 0:26:56so we have to talk about raising the mortgage on a wooden structure.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58- Yeah.- And I'm hoping to get an answer this afternoon.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00- You're waiting for a call...- Yeah.
0:27:00 > 0:27:05- ..which will get you into your perfect...- Our dream house.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07- You've done it.- You've done it. You've done it.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09I am absolutely delighted.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15Well, this is one of my favourite bits
0:27:15 > 0:27:17of the Carmarthenshire coastline.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20It's where the great River Towy meets the sea
0:27:20 > 0:27:23overlooked by the ruins of Llansteffan Castle behind me.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25It's one of the places I first visited
0:27:25 > 0:27:28when I moved to South Wales over 20 years ago.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31And it's therefore fitting, I think, that it's where David and Madara
0:27:31 > 0:27:33should have decided to start their new life here.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35We've had some fantastic countryside,
0:27:35 > 0:27:38some great properties and a Mystery House which, quite frankly,
0:27:38 > 0:27:41has surpassed all of our expectations.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44And on top of that, there's a very good chance that I am going
0:27:44 > 0:27:48to have some new neighbours and I am very, very happy about that.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54Although David and Madara loved the Mystery House, sadly they found
0:27:54 > 0:27:58that raising a mortgage on a timber building proved too tricky for them.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01So in a surprising move, they've since bought a place
0:28:01 > 0:28:03with 250 acres of forest
0:28:03 > 0:28:05in Madara's homeland of Latvia.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08If you would like to escape to the country
0:28:08 > 0:28:11in England, Northern Ireland, Wales or Scotland,
0:28:11 > 0:28:14and need our help, you can apply online at...