0:00:02 > 0:00:04This beautiful part of the countryside
0:00:04 > 0:00:07was the inspiration for one of the great books of the 19th century.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10It's a fictional tale of romance and dastardly deeds,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13and its heroine's name became synonymous
0:00:13 > 0:00:14with this lovely landscape.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17Find out who she was, and where I am, in just a moment.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37Today, I'll be helping a dynamic pair of young retirees find
0:00:37 > 0:00:39a remote country retreat.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43And we're off to a cracking start with our first house.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46If you were to design a perfect country house,
0:00:46 > 0:00:49it would be like this.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53And our mystery property steals the show before they even step inside.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55This house is absolutely awesome.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58I don't really care what it looks like inside.
0:00:58 > 0:00:59It's good enough for me.
0:01:02 > 0:01:03Today we're in north Devon.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06And this is Lorna Doone Country,
0:01:06 > 0:01:11named after the famous novel by RD Blackmore, published in 1869.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13Lorna, of course, is the central character.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16She is kidnapped at the beginning of the book
0:01:16 > 0:01:18by the wicked Doone clan.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20Then, through the twists and turns of the plot,
0:01:20 > 0:01:23over years, she falls in love with a local farmer,
0:01:23 > 0:01:27before the dramatic climax where her true identity is revealed.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30The book was such a hit that it's transcended its fictional roots,
0:01:30 > 0:01:33and become synonymous with this beautiful landscape.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36In fact, it's even called Lorna Doone Country
0:01:36 > 0:01:37on most modern maps.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41But, north Devon is more than just Lorna.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45The county of Devon is England's third largest,
0:01:45 > 0:01:47but one of its least populated,
0:01:47 > 0:01:50with about half a million people sharing
0:01:50 > 0:01:522,500 square miles of land.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54It's a county of great variety,
0:01:54 > 0:01:58from the craggy headlands on the north coast,
0:01:58 > 0:02:01to the deep water and natural harbours of the south coast.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03Agriculture dominates in Devon,
0:02:03 > 0:02:07with a workforce of approximately 25,000.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10And about 11,000 farm holdings.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13A majority of the county's farming production centres on livestock,
0:02:13 > 0:02:16with a focus on dairy, cattle, and sheep.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20In the early 19th century, the wild expanse of Dartmoor,
0:02:20 > 0:02:24which covers some 368 square miles,
0:02:24 > 0:02:26was home to the tin and granite quarrying trades,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29which used ponies as working animals.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31But now, just the ponies remain,
0:02:31 > 0:02:33roaming wild and free on the moorland.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43Who are the lucky couple planning to move here?
0:02:43 > 0:02:44Let's meet them.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Former business consultant Dominic,
0:02:47 > 0:02:50and Spanish-born translator Placi,
0:02:50 > 0:02:54moved into their four bedroomed house in York in 1997.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57And a year later, they tied the knot at Gretna Green.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01Having achieved their ambitions with successful international careers,
0:03:01 > 0:03:03they've now given up work,
0:03:03 > 0:03:06and are ready to start the next chapter of their lives.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10This house means a lot to me, because I have decorated it all.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14I've learned how to DIY through all the little projects in this house,
0:03:14 > 0:03:19so I am going to be very sad to leave it, but it's time to move on.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23Their pastimes are many and varied.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25They'll need a lot of space for each one.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29As you can see, I'm into a lot of different crafts,
0:03:29 > 0:03:31like mosaic making and sewing.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34Everything takes up so much space
0:03:34 > 0:03:37that I would love a room just for my things,
0:03:37 > 0:03:40so I don't have to tidy up every single time.
0:03:40 > 0:03:41I do a lot of kickboxing,
0:03:41 > 0:03:45and I train in here pretty much every day, so wherever we go,
0:03:45 > 0:03:47I definitely want to have a place like this.
0:03:47 > 0:03:48It's a lot of fun.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51The countryside is a particular draw for Placi.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54It reminds her of her childhood in Spain.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56We'd like to move to the country
0:03:56 > 0:03:59because I grew up in a farm in Spain.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02And I love working the garden,
0:04:02 > 0:04:05and possibly creating a meadow,
0:04:05 > 0:04:07rescuing animals and all that.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09I've done animal rescuing in the past,
0:04:09 > 0:04:11so I'd like to carry on doing that.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14But I can't do it here, because I haven't got enough space.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17After viewing over 100 properties online,
0:04:17 > 0:04:20they've narrowed their search area to north Devon,
0:04:20 > 0:04:23and have a good idea what they'd like us to find them.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26The ideal home would have a minimum of two bedrooms,
0:04:26 > 0:04:29ideally three or four.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32It would be in a private valley, with a bit of land around it,
0:04:32 > 0:04:36and quite a peaceful place, where there was no possibility
0:04:36 > 0:04:38of any developments around it.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41It would ideally be maybe five to ten miles
0:04:41 > 0:04:43from the nearest town or village.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46We'll consider anything that's detached,
0:04:46 > 0:04:48whether it's a character property...
0:04:48 > 0:04:50A church?
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Yeah, we do like churches, yeah.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55A cemetery.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58People are often put off by churches with cemeteries...
0:04:58 > 0:05:02- I look after the ghosts. - What quieter place could you get?!
0:05:02 > 0:05:04Well, that's plenty to go on.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07As cash buyers who can move quickly, there's no time to waste.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Luckily, the finances are all set.
0:05:09 > 0:05:14The budget for the property is £500,000.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17If the property was £500,000, and there was renovation work
0:05:17 > 0:05:21to be done to it, we would probably fund that separately.
0:05:23 > 0:05:28'Dominic and Placi have decided they'd like a house in north Devon.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31'So, we're focusing our search in the countryside
0:05:31 > 0:05:33'around Barnstaple and Tiverton.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36'We've got some very impressive properties to show them.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39'And I'll be asking them to guess the price before I reveal it.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42'Our last property is, as ever, the mystery house,
0:05:42 > 0:05:45'which I think will push their imaginations to the limit.'
0:05:45 > 0:05:48Welcome to north Devon. Here we are.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51I've spared you the rain by keeping you inside.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55- Neither of you have actually been to north Devon.- We've been through it,
0:05:55 > 0:05:58but never been to spend any time in it.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02But we do have a lot of friends who have lived and worked,
0:06:02 > 0:06:04or holidayed here.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07When we were looking at the whole of the UK,
0:06:07 > 0:06:13we simply asked for advice, and the constant theme was, for what we want to do,
0:06:13 > 0:06:14you want to go to north Devon.
0:06:14 > 0:06:19The place we're living now is our 25th home,
0:06:19 > 0:06:20so I think it's time we settled down.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24Not much pressure on us, then, just to find the forever home(!)
0:06:24 > 0:06:27The dream home! It IS a dream home.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31There are lots of beautiful properties here with lots of land.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34But, we need to look at the houses, so let's get going.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37With a budget of half a million pounds,
0:06:37 > 0:06:40and some additional funds for renovation work,
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Dominic and Placi are seeking a secluded property
0:06:43 > 0:06:45with three or four bedrooms,
0:06:45 > 0:06:46a craft room for Placi,
0:06:46 > 0:06:49space for a kickboxing gym for Dominic,
0:06:49 > 0:06:51and plenty land for growing plants
0:06:51 > 0:06:53and keeping animals.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01'We're heading towards the village of Cheriton Fitzpaine,
0:07:01 > 0:07:05'which is just ten miles south of Tiverton.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07'The village has many 15th century houses,
0:07:07 > 0:07:11'including the longest thatched house in England.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14'Amenities include a pub that's been serving the residents
0:07:14 > 0:07:16'for the past 150 years.
0:07:16 > 0:07:21'Our first property is a traditional farmhouse, dating back to the 1850s.
0:07:21 > 0:07:26- 'Here we are. House number one.' - This is fabulous.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29Looks like a jigsaw puzzle house.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32- It's awesome.- I think it looks beautiful, it's great.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34It's got character and personality.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37How do you feel about thatch? That wasn't on your wish list.
0:07:37 > 0:07:42I think it gives character to the house and it's a plus, if anything.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46'The inside of this property very much continues
0:07:46 > 0:07:47'on the old world theme.'
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Come into the main sitting room.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53Oh, it's a real country feel in here, isn't it?
0:07:53 > 0:07:55It's lovely. You've got the stone fireplace.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59- You've got the log-burning fire. - Are you keen on the beams?
0:07:59 > 0:08:03I'm not a fan of beams, certainly dark beams,
0:08:03 > 0:08:07because they tend to make a house look more claustrophobic.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11I love the thick walls, and the colour of the walls.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14'Also on the ground floor is a cosy snug area,
0:08:14 > 0:08:16'perfect for those winter nights.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19'And a definite contrast to the bright feel of the garden room.'
0:08:19 > 0:08:21- Oh, wow!- Oh, that's nice!
0:08:21 > 0:08:23I do like that.
0:08:23 > 0:08:28This is an older extension, but it's in keeping with the beams,
0:08:28 > 0:08:30but much higher, much lighter.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32This sort of beams, we love.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35And you can look out onto the garden and see the trees.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38- This could be your craft room.- Absolutely, yes.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41You've got lots of light, so you don't have to squint.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43'With Placi's craft room sorted,
0:08:43 > 0:08:46'we're heading past the dining area, and on to the kitchen.'
0:08:46 > 0:08:48The kitchen is the heart of the home.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51- Oh!- Oh, very cute!
0:08:51 > 0:08:54- It's baby blue. - Eggshell blue throughout.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57One of my favourite colours, as you can see.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00It's a very modern-looking kitchen.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03We're not massive cooks, so we don't need a huge kitchen.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05So, for me, this is ideal.
0:09:05 > 0:09:06If we were to live in a place like this,
0:09:06 > 0:09:10we would almost certainly have breakfast, have meals here.
0:09:10 > 0:09:11Quaint little space.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14And you've also got a shower room at the end,
0:09:14 > 0:09:18and a utility cupboard with your washing machines and stuff.
0:09:18 > 0:09:23- It's got bags of character. - It's picturesque. - It's ticking all the boxes.
0:09:23 > 0:09:30'With the downstairs rating so highly, can the upstairs match up? Off the landing,
0:09:30 > 0:09:33'there's a bathroom with freestanding bath.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35'Along with three very characterful bedrooms.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38'In keeping with the pastoral charm of this house.'
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Mind your head, this is a low door sill.
0:09:41 > 0:09:42Perfect for me.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45I had to duck for that one.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48This is the master bedroom. What d'you think?
0:09:48 > 0:09:50It's not huge, but it's enough for us.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52We don't have a lot of things, so...
0:09:52 > 0:09:55I think it's lovely. I like the wood cupboards.
0:09:55 > 0:10:00It's quirky. I think it's exactly what we're looking for.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03- And amazing views. Look. You can wake up and look at the horses.- Oh!
0:10:03 > 0:10:06- Look at that!- Beautiful.
0:10:06 > 0:10:11- Oh, my word. Look at the horses! - That's beautiful, isn't it? - Absolutely. Wow!
0:10:11 > 0:10:13'For our buyers,
0:10:13 > 0:10:16'the outside is as important as the interior,
0:10:16 > 0:10:18'due to Placi's dreams of creating a meadow,
0:10:18 > 0:10:20'and keeping rescued animals.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23'I think she'll find there's more than enough space
0:10:23 > 0:10:26'for all of that out here.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28'We might be able to discover somewhere for Dominic
0:10:28 > 0:10:31'to indulge in his sporting pastimes, too.'
0:10:31 > 0:10:34Here's your kingdom of the rescued animals.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36Three quarters of an acre. Is it big enough?
0:10:36 > 0:10:39- It's big enough, isn't it?- It is.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43And, behind you, you may have noticed this discreet building,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46which is a brand-new wooden timber structure
0:10:46 > 0:10:50- But this is specially designed as a...- Kickboxing. Excellent.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53How much d'you think it all costs?
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Well, I'm going to opt for 499.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57I'm going to say 450.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59- 450?- Yes.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04To be honest, this property's a little over your budget.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08- It's on at 525.- OK.- Right. - But they're very keen to move,
0:11:08 > 0:11:11so why not offer 500?
0:11:12 > 0:11:14'So, at £525,000,
0:11:14 > 0:11:18'but with offers potentially considered
0:11:18 > 0:11:20'around their maximum budget of 500,
0:11:20 > 0:11:24'this property meets many of the demands on their wish list.
0:11:24 > 0:11:25'It has three bedrooms,
0:11:25 > 0:11:29'a bright room ideal for Placi's craft work,
0:11:29 > 0:11:32'gym space for Dominic's kickboxing,
0:11:32 > 0:11:35'plenty of land for rescuing animals,
0:11:35 > 0:11:37'and gardening adventures.'
0:11:37 > 0:11:40- I'm going to have to tear you away, I'm afraid.- OK.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43- We've got another property to look at.- Brilliant! Let's go.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52With its source on Exmoor,
0:11:52 > 0:11:55the River Exe flows south through Devon before eventually
0:11:55 > 0:12:00reaching the Exe Estuary on the county's southern coast.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04The estuary here is a Site of Special Scientific Interest,
0:12:04 > 0:12:07but it's also a busy fishing harbour,
0:12:07 > 0:12:09with mackerel and bass
0:12:09 > 0:12:13being the main catch for anglers off Exmouth Beach.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Setting a course through the carefully protected environment
0:12:16 > 0:12:21is Miles Blood Smyth, who's been a mussel farmer since 1996.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26Is there something particularly good about the Exe in terms of mussels?
0:12:26 > 0:12:29I think...the biggest thing with mussels is protection.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32They're physically protected because it's enclosed.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35So although it gets a bit wild in here it's nothing like out to sea.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39'The boat used by Miles and his team is a French oyster barge,
0:12:39 > 0:12:42'which hovers over the sea bed and uses water pressure
0:12:42 > 0:12:47'to knock the mussels off the mud and up onto their elevator.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50'It's the antithesis of the invasive process of dredging
0:12:50 > 0:12:55'and helps to protect the sensitive environment of the Exe Estuary.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59'Over a year, Miles handles around 400 tonnes of mussels,
0:13:00 > 0:13:05So what we want to do now is before we put it in the cleaner, to clean all the barnacles and everything off,
0:13:05 > 0:13:10we pick out anything that's still alive, any of the cockles or crabs or anything, and they go back in.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13So it's a completely natural process. Then it goes through the grader.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17So we want a 60mm mussel, nicely clean, shiny and black,
0:13:17 > 0:13:20no barnacles on it, that'll be absolutely perfect and ready for the chef,
0:13:20 > 0:13:24so with confidence, you can just stick it in the pan and eat it.
0:13:24 > 0:13:29So, with a successful catch, we head to the floating cafe for lunch.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31- There we go, gents.- Ah!- Get stuck in.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35The great thing with mussels is they provide their own cutlery.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Have you eaten better or fatter mussels than that before?
0:13:38 > 0:13:41Of course not, Miles.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45- They're really good. - That's the Exe for you. Fantastic.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Now it's time to return to our house hunt.
0:13:55 > 0:14:00We've travelled three miles southeast of Barnstaple to the village of Landkey,
0:14:00 > 0:14:03home to around 2,300 residents.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05It has a 15th-Century church,
0:14:05 > 0:14:09along with the usual amenities of pubs, school, and a post office.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Set in an idyllic edge of village location,
0:14:12 > 0:14:18our second property is a former barn, converted in the 1990s.
0:14:18 > 0:14:23- So, house number two.- Right. - This is a very different offering.
0:14:23 > 0:14:24This is the house,
0:14:24 > 0:14:29but, most excitingly, this is your land.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31Oh, my goodness!
0:14:31 > 0:14:35The paddock right down to the trees where the river is.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37- Wow! - That's a fantastic view, isn't it?
0:14:37 > 0:14:39A river runs through it, along the edge of it.
0:14:39 > 0:14:43- How much land is there for this? - Five acres.- Five acres? Wow!
0:14:43 > 0:14:44What are you first impressions?
0:14:44 > 0:14:47I like it! I like the remoteness of it.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50I like all the woodlands coming up.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54Very magical. And I like the paddock right in front.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57- There's a lot of positives there. - When can we move in?
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Maybe you should look at the house first!
0:15:00 > 0:15:03'The huge amount of land certainly fits the bill for Placi
0:15:03 > 0:15:08'and Dominic, but can the inside of this conversion do the same?'
0:15:08 > 0:15:11- Ooh, very big room!- Great big room.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13It's a much more modern house,
0:15:13 > 0:15:16but it still has a lot of character.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19I like it. Yeah, I like the open space
0:15:19 > 0:15:22and the fact that it opens up to the garden.
0:15:22 > 0:15:23If we step down here,
0:15:23 > 0:15:26you can see how everything is built around your view.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30- Yes, fabulous. - Now, that's exceptional, isn't it?
0:15:30 > 0:15:33You can see the whole valley from here. I can see why they built this.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36I can even see myself sitting here, even in the rain!
0:15:36 > 0:15:39There's not a lot of space downstairs. There's this big space,
0:15:39 > 0:15:41then there's the kitchen space the other side.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45'The kitchen isn't the most important room for these two,
0:15:45 > 0:15:49'but I think they'll appreciate the social aspect of this one.'
0:15:49 > 0:15:52Here we have the kitchen - much more open plan.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55This is a big kitchen. It's certainly bigger than ours.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58- Yes, it is.- Again, it's more modern than the last one.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00Breakfast bar here.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03- I do like the fact there is a lot of light coming in. - And then you've got
0:16:03 > 0:16:06French doors that go out to a nice courtyard terrace at the back.
0:16:06 > 0:16:11Upstairs, off the landing, are four rather generously-sized bedrooms.
0:16:11 > 0:16:17One of which is currently being used as a study, not just for the cat.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19There's a bright family bathroom, but we're heading
0:16:19 > 0:16:23for the biggest room, which has an en-suite shower room attached.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25Again, the whole width of the building.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29It's a nice surprise, with the sloping roof.
0:16:29 > 0:16:30It's quite unusual, isn't it?
0:16:30 > 0:16:33It's also unusual to have the windows so low down.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35I do think this would be perfect for Placi's crafts
0:16:35 > 0:16:37and things that she does like that.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40- There's so much light. - Yeah, the light.- And the view!
0:16:40 > 0:16:42To inspire you.
0:16:42 > 0:16:47'With the bedroom confirmed as Placi's craft area,
0:16:47 > 0:16:50'we need to find a space for Dominic's kick boxing gym.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53'So we're heading outside to show him what's on offer.'
0:16:55 > 0:17:00- Ta-da!- My goodness!- Now. - This is big!- This is big.
0:17:00 > 0:17:05It's a huge iron-framed garage.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08It's perfect size. It might need a little bit of work,
0:17:08 > 0:17:15- but it certainly could make a really nice place to train, yeah. - A hidden gem!
0:17:15 > 0:17:19A hidden gem indeed, but what does it all cost?
0:17:20 > 0:17:24- Let's get a little view of the house, and let's talk money.- Yes.
0:17:24 > 0:17:30How much does five acres of prime north Devon countryside,
0:17:30 > 0:17:33and a house, obviously, and a big garage, cost?
0:17:33 > 0:17:38Well, it is very impressive, especially the land and the view.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40The property itself I was less attracted to,
0:17:40 > 0:17:43so I'm actually going to say less than last time.
0:17:43 > 0:17:44I'm going to say 450.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48And I'm going to say 410,000.
0:17:48 > 0:17:53This is on at £50 under £550,000.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57- OK. Right.- I wasn't expecting it to be over 500,000.
0:17:57 > 0:18:02It might be way over their budget, at a fraction under £550,000,
0:18:02 > 0:18:05but this property does have plenty to offer...
0:18:21 > 0:18:24- Well, that's our lot for the day. - OK.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28- Shall we go and digest all that we've seen?- Yes.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40As dusk falls over the north Devon countryside,
0:18:40 > 0:18:43it marks the end of the first day of our property search.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52We've travelled nine miles south of Barnstaple,
0:18:52 > 0:18:54close to the village of High Bickington.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58The village is situated at the top of the River Taw valley,
0:18:58 > 0:19:02and has a pub, post office and a local shop.
0:19:02 > 0:19:08Set within extensive grounds, our mystery property is an 18th-Century coach house conversion
0:19:08 > 0:19:10that has lots of potential,
0:19:10 > 0:19:16but could test our buyers' desire to carry out renovations to the absolute limit.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20- Whoa! Look at the view! - That's a nice view.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22- Oh, my word!- Oh, yes.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26- Now...- That's the best view we've seen so far.- Now we're talking!
0:19:26 > 0:19:31I'm glad, because this house has it.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33- It's a project.- Uh-huh.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35But I'm glad you love the view
0:19:35 > 0:19:38cos really, it's all about the view
0:19:38 > 0:19:40and what you two are going to do with it.
0:19:40 > 0:19:45- My word! - It needs your special touch,
0:19:45 > 0:19:48- particularly yours, Placi... - OK, I'm happy to go with that.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51..to create something wonderful with it.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55- But there are a few complications about this property.- Oh!- Always!
0:19:55 > 0:19:59One is that it's going to need a lot of your imagination
0:19:59 > 0:20:01to really bring it to life, I think.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03And two is that this part, the stables,
0:20:03 > 0:20:07which is the most substantial part,
0:20:07 > 0:20:09is, at the moment, two self-contained flats.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12- We could work with that. - Great. The house is impressive.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15It looks like it needs a little bit of work,
0:20:15 > 0:20:18and that's really what I'd be interested to have a look at,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21- but it's got character, it's got style.- I like it.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23This house is absolutely awesome
0:20:23 > 0:20:26and I don't really care what it looks like inside. It's good enough for me.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30While Placi is very positive before she's even seen it,
0:20:30 > 0:20:36I'm wondering whether Dominic will have the same feeling once he views the inside of this property.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39Oh, my word! Look at the floor!
0:20:39 > 0:20:41- Yes.- That's a grand entrance. - It's a grand entrance.
0:20:41 > 0:20:46- Ooh!- And these are the original Victorian stable tiles.- Great.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49It is an unusual space
0:20:49 > 0:20:51- because it's not obviously a home. - Yes.
0:20:51 > 0:20:56- Could you imagine making it homely? - You could turn it into a marvellous family home,
0:20:56 > 0:21:00And you've only seen the first room. I can't wait to see what you think about the rest of the rooms.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05Oh, the floor continues.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07The floor does continue.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10And here's your bigger room.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12- This would have been where the carriages came.- OK.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15It's a really big room, so that's nice.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18It does feel quite dark in here,
0:21:18 > 0:21:23even though there's a lot of windows, so it's something we'd have to lighten up a little bit more.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Sorry, I just spotted the old sewing machine.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30- My great grandmother had one of those and I still have it. - It's a sign.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34- You have to buy the house! - Yes, that's actually the third sign I've seen.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38- What were the other two? - The first one is I actually have a Castilian sign
0:21:38 > 0:21:41- that says "The Old Coach House". - So it's literally a sign?- Yes.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45- I've got exactly the same table that we've seen in the other room. - Oh, it's spooky now.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49- And then my great grandmother's sewing machine.- Wow!
0:21:49 > 0:21:51- Is it haunted, as well?- Of course(!)
0:21:51 > 0:21:54Well, actually, I can't promise them a ghost.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57But there is a good-sized kitchen which could lift their spirits.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00However, I'm showing them the upstairs,
0:22:00 > 0:22:02which has a small boxroom,
0:22:02 > 0:22:04and three other bedrooms of varying sizes,
0:22:04 > 0:22:07some lighter than others.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10They all flow off a landing with a long corridor
0:22:10 > 0:22:14which leads to the family bathroom, ripe for renovation.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17But we're heading for the fourth bedroom.
0:22:17 > 0:22:22This room used to be one huge room that's been divided into two.
0:22:22 > 0:22:27- It's a bit dark and spooky. - It's like walking back in time.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31So you've got four rooms here, but remember,
0:22:31 > 0:22:34you've also got all the rooms in the front of the house and the stable, as well,
0:22:34 > 0:22:37so there's probably seven or eight bedrooms, all told.
0:22:37 > 0:22:42You have to classify this as the mystery house of all mystery houses!
0:22:42 > 0:22:43Aw, thank you!
0:22:43 > 0:22:48I was a bit worried that it might be a bit overwhelming for you, cos there's a lot to do.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50No, it's not overwhelming. I love it.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54There is, but there's an awful lot of history here,
0:22:54 > 0:22:57- a lot of nostalgia.- The bones of the property are amazing.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01- It's really exciting. - # She's excited! #- I'm so excited.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04And if Placi's singing the praises of the interior,
0:23:04 > 0:23:08I think both of them will be thrilled by the potential of what's outside.
0:23:08 > 0:23:13- Wow!- Here you can see, this is all extra agricultural buildings tacked on the back,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16- but with amazing stone and brickwork.- Yeah.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19Here we have another very charming outhouse and, behind it,
0:23:19 > 0:23:22another vast set of agricultural buildings.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24Yeah.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27So what are your thoughts about this?
0:23:27 > 0:23:29That's the rescue centre, isn't it?
0:23:29 > 0:23:31I love you! You get it all so quickly.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34Horses, cows, kittens.
0:23:34 > 0:23:39- Does this inspire you to have visions beyond?- Yes, absolutely.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42With Placi still enthused by this project of a house,
0:23:42 > 0:23:48Dominic might still need a bit of convincing. I'm hoping that the breathtaking views
0:23:48 > 0:23:51around the back of this property will be just the thing to do it.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54That's the best part of the whole trip, that view.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57- Yep.- You've got the river down here. - The River Taw, yes,
0:23:57 > 0:24:01that flows through. That's, sadly, not quite your land,
0:24:01 > 0:24:05but this property comes with 11 acres of land.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07- No?!- Wow, that's good!
0:24:07 > 0:24:10It's a LOT of work on the outbuildings.
0:24:10 > 0:24:15How much do you think it's going to cost to start it off?
0:24:15 > 0:24:18Well, this couldn't be within budget,
0:24:18 > 0:24:21so I'm going to say £600,000.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25I see the state that the property's in, so I think it's going to be well below budget.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28But I'm then thinking about the cost of renovation.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31I'm going to say something like £350,000.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34- Oh, that's quite a spread. - Oh, a big difference. Yes.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37Well, split the difference.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41It is exactly on-budget. It's £500,000.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45So, right at the top end of their budget of £500,000,
0:24:45 > 0:24:48this project offers a real challenge.
0:24:48 > 0:24:53They have said they could come up with extra funds for renovation work if needed and, with that in mind,
0:24:53 > 0:24:58this property is an excellent proposition.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00It has four bedrooms.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04Plenty of space inside for Placi's crafts.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08Extensive outbuildings, one of which could be renovated and turned into a gym,
0:25:08 > 0:25:10and 11 acres of land,
0:25:10 > 0:25:13so easily enough space for all those rescued animals.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16Ah. How are the views from up there?
0:25:16 > 0:25:19- Oh, they're absolutely gorgeous. - Good, good.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22Well, I'm going to take you away from the mystery house for some decision making. Come with me.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26It's time to find out if Dominic and Placi have come to a decision
0:25:26 > 0:25:29about treating themselves to a north Devon hideaway.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35It's been lovely showing you around north Devon. The sun's come out, which is very nice,
0:25:35 > 0:25:38Can you remember back to the very first one?
0:25:38 > 0:25:42- Yes.- It was perfect, wasn't it, in so many ways?
0:25:42 > 0:25:46- That sounds pretty positive. - Ready to move in, nothing to do.
0:25:46 > 0:25:47Fantastic.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50That was, as you say, one that you could move straight into.
0:25:50 > 0:25:55- Obviously there wasn't much space for you to put your mark on it. - Mm, yeah.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58The second one, much more potential for putting your mark on it.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00What were your thoughts about that?
0:26:00 > 0:26:03I liked that one because of the five acres.
0:26:03 > 0:26:08It gives you more flexibility to have larger animals, maybe.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11Er, and you could put your mark on the house.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15The second one was a little bit overshadowed by the first.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17The first had a lot more character.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19The second, we loved the land and the view,
0:26:19 > 0:26:23but obviously it had a lot of work to do to beat the first property,
0:26:23 > 0:26:27in terms of style and character, which we both liked.
0:26:27 > 0:26:32- And it was expensive.- And it was over budget, as was the first one!
0:26:32 > 0:26:37The mystery house was right on budget, although it was complicated in all sorts of other ways.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40- What are your thoughts about that? - What a cracker!
0:26:40 > 0:26:42That's all I'm going to say!
0:26:42 > 0:26:44It's absolutely fantastic,
0:26:44 > 0:26:48but obviously the renovation costs may be too high.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52It's just a question of, do we have enough money to renovate it?
0:26:52 > 0:26:53It was an amazing house.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56It really was a head-and-the-heart type of property.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58Did the heart or the head win out?
0:26:58 > 0:27:01What are your thoughts about what happens next?
0:27:01 > 0:27:04Yeah, we need to talk about it, seriously.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07We're very good at stepping back and saying, "OK, right,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10"let's discuss the emotions, let's discuss the practicalities."
0:27:10 > 0:27:12You know, can we afford it?
0:27:12 > 0:27:15So do you think that the mystery house is something that
0:27:15 > 0:27:16you could seriously proceed on?
0:27:16 > 0:27:19- Yeah, I think so. Yeah. - More than the first house?
0:27:19 > 0:27:22I think they're both worth investigating further.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Excellent. Well, I do hope that your cool, analytical stepping back
0:27:25 > 0:27:31doesn't dampen the enthusiasm that you've both shown and that we see you very soon here in north Devon.
0:27:31 > 0:27:32Oh, thank you very much!
0:27:37 > 0:27:41Considering that Placi and Dominic had never actually been to north Devon,
0:27:41 > 0:27:43I think we can claim this as a great triumph.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47They may well have turned down 100 properties on the internet
0:27:47 > 0:27:51but here, in situ, I think they may have slightly fallen in love with the place,
0:27:51 > 0:27:54and I'm crossing my fingers for the mystery house.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58I really want to see what Dominic's business brain does with that place.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01If you've been intrigued by our adventures in rural Britain
0:28:01 > 0:28:06then make sure you tune in next time for more Escape To The Country.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08Well, with the mystery property,
0:28:08 > 0:28:12Dominic's head won out over Placi's heart,
0:28:12 > 0:28:15and so their north Devon house hunt continues.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18If you want to escape to the country in Wales, Northern Ireland,
0:28:18 > 0:28:22England, Scotland or even further afield to the Continent,
0:28:22 > 0:28:25and need our help, please apply online at...