0:00:03 > 0:00:04Welcome to today's Escape To The Country.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06On our travels through the Great British countryside,
0:00:06 > 0:00:08we do come across a few strange things
0:00:08 > 0:00:12but this has to be one of the most bizarre that I've ever come across.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14It's an yew tree and it was used to meet out punishment.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17But what kind of punishment and where?
0:00:17 > 0:00:19Join me in just a few minutes and I'll show you.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50In today's show, I'll be helping a sporty couple
0:00:50 > 0:00:52who are looking for a cosy, Welsh property.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55- Cosy springs to mind.- Cosy.- Yeah.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58Well, cosy, this is what we were talking about.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Proper cosy, I think this is.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03And I threw them a curveball with our mystery house.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06- Jules, I think you may have excelled yourself.- It's nice, isn't it?
0:01:06 > 0:01:09- First impressions.- It's lovely.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13Well, today we're in Powys in Wales
0:01:13 > 0:01:17and this is the now famous whipping yew tree in Llanelieu
0:01:17 > 0:01:19The idea was simple.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21Back in the day, criminals or ne're-do-wells
0:01:21 > 0:01:25would have their hands placed into these slots inside the trunk and.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29An iron bar was then passed through and of course they couldn't then get away.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31They'd be flogged or indeed left here overnight.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35Fortunately, the criminal justice system in these parts has moved on somewhat.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39As for the rest of Powys, there's plenty on offer which is just as arresting.
0:01:40 > 0:01:45On the border with England, Powys is the largest county in Wales.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49Covering an area of over 5,000 square kilometres,
0:01:49 > 0:01:52it's home to the Brecon Beacons National Park in the south
0:01:52 > 0:01:55of the county and the Black Mountains which are on the border.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57At the heart of Powys is Llandrindod Wells,
0:01:57 > 0:02:02the county's administrative centre and once popular spa town
0:02:02 > 0:02:04with both the Romans and later the Victorians.
0:02:04 > 0:02:09The latest figures reveal that Powys is the most sparsely populated area in Wales
0:02:09 > 0:02:15and according to a recent well-being survey, it's also the happiest place in the UK.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19So, if it's space and tranquillity you're after, Powys is the place to be.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25When it comes to house prices in Powys,
0:02:25 > 0:02:28the stats do make for some interesting reading.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Your average detached will set you back about £205,000.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33You may think that's pretty reasonable
0:02:33 > 0:02:36but bearing this in mind, it's still £30,000 higher
0:02:36 > 0:02:39than the national average for the rest of Wales.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43So why is Powys so expensive relatively speaking?
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Basically, there aren't enough houses to go around here.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50If you want to move, you'll get a lot of peace and quiet for your money
0:02:50 > 0:02:54and some gorgeous, frankly epic landscapes, to spoil yourself with.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57So, let's take a look at what's on the market.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01This modern, three-bedroom, detached property in the village
0:03:01 > 0:03:04of Evenjobb is priced at just under £300,000.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08It has a light, open plan layout and a newly added conservatory,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11with views over the surrounding countryside.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15Or you could buy this seven bedroom, 17th-century farmhouse in Taliesin.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19It has a feature stone fireplace, traditional kitchen,
0:03:19 > 0:03:21outbuildings and a swimming pool.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25It could be yours for £495,000.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30And if you have a bigger budget, £650,000 would buy you this
0:03:30 > 0:03:32five-bedroom former rectory in Machynlleth.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36It offers spacious reception rooms with original sash windows
0:03:36 > 0:03:38and two acres of beautifully maintained grounds.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42Well, with properties like that on offer,
0:03:42 > 0:03:46it's no surprise that today's buyers want to move to this part of the world
0:03:46 > 0:03:50so let's meet them and find out just exactly what they're after.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Policeman Craig and his wife, Sophie,
0:03:52 > 0:03:56who works in marketing are planning to make the move from Surrey
0:03:56 > 0:03:58to Wales, where Sophie was born.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02They're hoping to rediscover the outdoors lifestyle she had there
0:04:02 > 0:04:06as a child and share it with their two daughters and their spaniel, Oscar.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09While Craig will be commuting back to work in Windsor,
0:04:09 > 0:04:13for each of his four-day shifts, Sophie is looking to make changes
0:04:13 > 0:04:16to her business life in order to spend more quality time with her family.
0:04:16 > 0:04:21When we move to the country the type of lifestyle we want is more relaxed,
0:04:21 > 0:04:25I would like eventually to cut down my working hours.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Um...
0:04:27 > 0:04:32And just to get more involved in the rural way of life, I guess.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35I was brought up on a farm in Wales,
0:04:35 > 0:04:40so I know it's like to live there and what it's like as a child,
0:04:40 > 0:04:44so I think it would afford our daughters a good way of life.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47We'd be looking for a place with a small piece of land maybe,
0:04:47 > 0:04:51which would enable us to maybe have not so much a smallholding
0:04:51 > 0:04:56but maybe a miniature pony or a couple of sheep,
0:04:56 > 0:05:01which is going to be a totally new venture for us, really.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Craig and Sophie are ready to fully embrace rural life
0:05:06 > 0:05:09and they've got plenty of ideas about what would appeal.
0:05:09 > 0:05:14When I move to the country, I'm definitely looking forward to being outdoors more.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17We've got a dog, so the dog needs walking.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19To have longer, more varied walks.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22Also as a family as well to do more things together,
0:05:22 > 0:05:24horseriding for example.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27We both did horseriding as children
0:05:27 > 0:05:30and we'd like to do that as a family.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34And also, we both cycle quite a bit as well
0:05:34 > 0:05:37and the girls now, being the ages of seven and four,
0:05:37 > 0:05:40they've now discovered the joys of cycling.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43Again, that's something we'd like to do as well.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Of course, there's an array of Welsh hills to ride and cycle
0:05:47 > 0:05:52but it's family ties which have been the real pull for their preferred location.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56We're looking to be within an hour of Sophie's parents in Builth Wells
0:05:56 > 0:06:01and that area allows an easy commute back to the south east.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06And Sophie has clear thoughts on what she wants from her new home.
0:06:06 > 0:06:11We do like period or character properties, fireplaces,
0:06:11 > 0:06:12love wooden floors.
0:06:12 > 0:06:17From the new property, we'd like a minimum of three bedrooms,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20three reception rooms, definitely need to have a study.
0:06:20 > 0:06:26- And we need a lot more outside space.- A minimum of an acre, really.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31All that matters now is to firm up the finances.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35Our maximum budget for the perfect house is £425,000.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46Craig and Sophie have asked us
0:06:46 > 0:06:50to focus on properties within a radius of one hour's drive
0:06:50 > 0:06:53from Builth Wells, which gives us access to areas ranging
0:06:53 > 0:06:57from Newtown in the north, Knighton in the east and Brecon in the south.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00We've found some great properties to show them and as ever we'll be
0:07:00 > 0:07:04asking them to guess the price of each before I reveal it.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08Last but by no means least is our mystery house which might
0:07:08 > 0:07:11prove to be a whole new ballgame for this fun-loving couple.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16Guys, here we are, back in your neck of the woods, Sophie.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20Yes, was born in Builth Wells which is only a short distance from here.
0:07:20 > 0:07:21Nice to be back?
0:07:21 > 0:07:24It is, yeah. I always look forward to coming back.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27In terms of the property that you're after,
0:07:27 > 0:07:30give me a kind of picture of what it would look like.
0:07:30 > 0:07:36- Well, our eldest daughter first and foremost says it's to be cosy.- Cosy?
0:07:36 > 0:07:38That has to be a criteria.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41- That could be anything, I guess.- OK.
0:07:41 > 0:07:47Outdoor space is definitely one of the prerequisites really.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49Remind us of the budget.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52The max that we're looking to spend is £425,000.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Well, this money is burning a hole because you've just sold.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58Yeah, we've sold so we need somewhere to live.
0:07:58 > 0:07:59We need you to find us a house.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02Well then, quickly, because the year is moving on.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06- We're halfway through, now. It's what, May?- Yes.- The school year.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10Yes, one's due to start school, the other's due to change
0:08:10 > 0:08:14so we have a window of opportunity and we need them to be in school by September.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16Better get cracking.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19We'd better get cracking! No pressure, OK.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24With a maximum budget of £425,000,
0:08:24 > 0:08:27Craig and Sophie want a character property
0:08:27 > 0:08:31with at least three bedrooms and three reception rooms.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Also on the wish list is a study, so Sophie can work from home
0:08:34 > 0:08:36and a spacious kitchen/diner.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40Outside, they'd like at least an acre of garden so they can fulfil
0:08:40 > 0:08:45their dream of having a pony for the girls and maybe a sheep or two.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52We're starting our property search 24 miles north-east
0:08:52 > 0:08:56of Builth Wells on the edge of the village of Llangunllo.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00Nestled in the upper Lugg Valley, this location offers perfect
0:09:00 > 0:09:03opportunities for riding and walking.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06The village derives its name from the Celtic Saint Cunllo,
0:09:06 > 0:09:10and the church erected in his name was substantially rebuilt in the 19th century.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14Our first property is an old vicarage dating back
0:09:14 > 0:09:17to the early 18th century with plenty of original features
0:09:17 > 0:09:19that are on their wish list.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23This is what I want you to have a look at as our first offering of the week.
0:09:23 > 0:09:24What do you reckon?
0:09:24 > 0:09:28- It's nice, very pretty. - Yeah, very nice.- The old vicarage.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31- I'm reliably informed that we know there was a vicar here in 1772.- OK.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35- OK.- As you can see, it's been added to relatively recently.- Very nice.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39Is this the sort of date and period that you were contemplating?
0:09:39 > 0:09:41- Yeah, definitely.- Very much.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45- OK, well your daughter said cosy. - Yes, she did. Let's have a look.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47'Well, the pressure's on.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50'Will the vicarage be snug enough to pass the cosy test?'
0:09:50 > 0:09:53- In you come. What you reckon? - It's nice.- Yeah, it's nice.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57- Cosy.- Well, cosy. This is what we were talking about, isn't it?
0:09:57 > 0:09:59It's lovely, it really is cosy.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02The current owner has described this as a reading room
0:10:02 > 0:10:04so it's a spare reception room, if you like.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07But this is the new extension of course. The old bit is really cosy.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09Come and have a look at this.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16Now, watch your head. Come on in. Do duck. So, there we are.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19- That's lovely.- That's nice.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22This is the original part of the house.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25This is, yeah, and that's why we all ducked.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29- It's very...- Very modern fitted kitchen as you can see.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32- It's quite quirky, actually, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35It's not massive but the way it's been done is quite clever really.
0:10:35 > 0:10:40But the old bit of the house I think is retained in the architecture and you get a real sense of it.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43This is the first bit that reveals it.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47Through here, this looks quite exciting. Come and look at this.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51- First of all, this is the larder. - Oh, yeah.- Yeah, that's great.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53- They are terrific.- Lots of space.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58- And this is set up as a dining room. - Very nice.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02Lots of lovely features in here. Beams and so forth.
0:11:02 > 0:11:071700 or so when this was put up, it does go back.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09A wood burner.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Yeah, and quite cosy in the winter
0:11:11 > 0:11:14because you've got the fire going, everybody around the table.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18It's got more of a sense of a living room, in the sense of a lounge,
0:11:18 > 0:11:21rather than a dining room.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25Ah! Let's see what you think of the living room because that's through here.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27- OK.- Yeah, it goes on.
0:11:30 > 0:11:35- So, this is it. And, you know... - This is lovely, Jules.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39This is what our daughters meant by cosy, proper cosy, I think this is.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41This is the picture that most people would imagine,
0:11:41 > 0:11:45I suppose, if they're coming to a cottage in mid-Wales.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49- A nice big inglenook with a wood burner in it, stone.- It's huge.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52- Do you notice the floor level here? - Yes.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56It's quite odd, the whole thing is sat up on this stone bench.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00The story goes that way back when, one of the Vickers
0:12:00 > 0:12:05married a lady who was a little bit of a higher station
0:12:05 > 0:12:09and so in order to make the room feel bigger, he lowered the floor.
0:12:09 > 0:12:10No. What a great story!
0:12:10 > 0:12:14Which probably accounts for some of the odd levels which are going on around the rest of it.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16That would make sense.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19I quite like the story anyway. So, OK, right, come on. Follow me.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25'Before we head upstairs, we pass the shower room and utility room,
0:12:25 > 0:12:29'somewhere for spaniel Oscar to get his wash and brush up, perhaps.'
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Now, the great thing about up here...
0:12:32 > 0:12:36is that we haven't got you just three bedrooms, we've got you five.
0:12:36 > 0:12:41- Five?- Five doubles. - That's incredible.- Five doubles...
0:12:41 > 0:12:43Two of which are en suite.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46- Oh, fantastic! - And this is one of them.- OK.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50You can see, just poking through the door there, the en suite. A nice bath arrangement there.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54Loads of storage and so forth and views out to your garden.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58- And the church beyond it.- And the church beyond it, yeah, yeah.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01- The vicar's view.- Yes.- It's amazing.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05'The other en suite bedroom offers lots of natural light and the girls
0:13:05 > 0:13:09'won't be short of space in the three remaining good-sized double rooms.
0:13:09 > 0:13:14'There's also the opportunity for Sophie to use one of them as a ready-made office.
0:13:14 > 0:13:19'Those bedrooms without an en suite are served by this airy family bathroom.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23'This property really does offer an incredible amount of space
0:13:23 > 0:13:27'and that continues outside with one and a half acres of land,
0:13:27 > 0:13:29'made up of a formal garden and a paddock,
0:13:29 > 0:13:31'perfect for that pony for the girls.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34'The outbuilding, currently set up as a workshop,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37'could prove to be a great stable for a pony
0:13:37 > 0:13:39'and there would still be room for Oscar's kennel.
0:13:39 > 0:13:44'That should keep everyone happy. But will Craig and Sophie be as happy with the price?'
0:13:44 > 0:13:49We've got quite a lot on offer here. So, where are we at on the budget?
0:13:49 > 0:13:52- Gosh, I think about 405.- 405.
0:13:54 > 0:13:59- I was thinking more in the region of about 415.- 415.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03You're sort of close to it. It's 405 but not in that order.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06- It's 450.- Oh, is it? - It's £450,000.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10But, and this is an important and real but,
0:14:10 > 0:14:14- I do know that 425 would get it.- OK.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17I think it's an adjusting one because it gives you the extra
0:14:17 > 0:14:20two bedrooms, very manageable plot of land in a pretty good spot.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23Of course, the plot of land, didn't think about that.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27- Yeah, you've got a lot of outside space, haven't you?- Yeah.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30But go and explore it. There's printing more for you to nose around in.
0:14:30 > 0:14:35- I'll catch up with you probably at the bottom somewhere.- OK. - Off you go.- Thanks, Jules.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38In the meantime, I think I shall sit here and enjoy the view.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42'Above their budget but potentially achievable,
0:14:42 > 0:14:46'our first property certainly meets their requirements.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48'It has five generous size bedrooms,
0:14:48 > 0:14:51'enough office space for Sophie to work from home,
0:14:51 > 0:14:55'loads of room downstairs, the girls will love the cosy fireplace,
0:14:55 > 0:14:58'an old barn which could be used as a stable
0:14:58 > 0:15:01'and sufficient land to graze a pony.'
0:15:01 > 0:15:04This is great, isn't it? Lot of storage space in here.
0:15:04 > 0:15:09- Which is nice.- Yes, use as garage, workshop.- Brilliant space.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12- I like this area. - There's a wood store through there.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14Could be a little stable.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18From the outside, it didn't seem too much at all, really.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20Come inside, a TARDIS, in many ways.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23The only potential downside
0:15:23 > 0:15:28is the kitchen area. We were really looking for a kitchen/breakfast/family room,
0:15:28 > 0:15:31but I think we would be able to overcome that.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35Lovely. Well, I think that went pretty well.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37Hey. How'd you get on?
0:15:37 > 0:15:41- Yes, good start.- Very nice. - Excellent. One down, two more to go.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44- OK.- Come on, then, I'm starving.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57Flowing through the county of Powys
0:15:57 > 0:16:01is the second longest river in Wales, the River Wye,
0:16:01 > 0:16:05which covers 135 miles from its source in the Welsh mountains.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09It's renowned as the canoeing capital of Europe.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11And, due to its relatively slow-flowing water,
0:16:11 > 0:16:13is especially good for beginners.
0:16:13 > 0:16:18So what better place to give Craig and Sophie a taste of the outdoors lifestyle they're seeking.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21- Welcome to Black Mountain Activities.- Nice to meet you.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24My name's Mike, I'm taking you canoeing today.
0:16:24 > 0:16:29- We'll go through these doors and get you kitted out for the canoeing. - Thanks.- Follow me.
0:16:29 > 0:16:34Canoe Wales, the Welsh body for governing paddle sports, has 1,800
0:16:34 > 0:16:37individual members and more than 2,000 affiliated club members.
0:16:37 > 0:16:42They advise that the best way to take to the water first time is under supervision.
0:16:42 > 0:16:47They also suggest canoeists should always wear a good buoyancy aid.
0:16:47 > 0:16:52OK, so we've come to the canoes. Any questions before we start?
0:16:52 > 0:16:56They look very unstable. What's the chance of us capsizing?
0:16:56 > 0:16:57A slim chance today.
0:16:57 > 0:17:02The canoes have quite a flat bottom, so they tend to not go upside down
0:17:02 > 0:17:06- as much as the kayaks which are more rounded.- OK.- Have you got any tips
0:17:06 > 0:17:10- for paddling technique?- It's best to use your whole body.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14Grabbing the paddle, you reach your whole body forwards,
0:17:14 > 0:17:17place it in the water, drag it back, take it out again.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19Try to get it as vertical as possible.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23We really twist and rotate our trunk, using all our muscles,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26- not just our arms.- OK. - OK, excellent.
0:17:26 > 0:17:31The River Wye is one of the least spoilt rivers in the United Kingdom.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34In the 17th century, an act of parliament confirmed it
0:17:34 > 0:17:37as a free and open navigation up to Hay.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41It became an important waterway in the early industrial era.
0:17:41 > 0:17:47However, with the development of canals and railways, the commercial traffic disappeared.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50Over the last century, fishermen became its main users,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53along, of course, with canoeists.
0:17:53 > 0:17:59Mike Smith is taking Craig and Sophie on a five-mile trip down the Wye from Glasbury to Hay,
0:17:59 > 0:18:02where they'll have to negotiate a small rapid.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08They seem to have taken to it like ducks to water.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Clubs are the heart and soul of Welsh canoeing.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15They're a great opportunity to meet other enthusiasts,
0:18:15 > 0:18:20find equipment to use, improve your paddling and get out on the water.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23But enough of messing about on the river,
0:18:23 > 0:18:27it's time to dry off and get back to our property search in Powys.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37One of the many tributaries of the River Wye which run through Powys
0:18:37 > 0:18:42is the River Ithon, which runs through the village of Llanbadarn Fynydd.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45Our second property is a mile and a half outside the village,
0:18:45 > 0:18:48which boasts a popular pub and restaurant and a shop
0:18:48 > 0:18:50that's run by the community.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53The house itself is set in a spectacular location
0:18:53 > 0:18:59and was originally a 200-year-old stone drover's cottage with an adjoining barn.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02Now it's been converted into one.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04What do you reckon?
0:19:04 > 0:19:05- Fantastic.- Yes.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09- Very nice.- Completely different to what I expected.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13- This is completely different to our first property.- Yes.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17But this is gorgeous. In terms of remoteness,
0:19:17 > 0:19:21the only issue is winter and snow, and just buy a big freezer.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25No, if you're going to get snowed in, this is the place to do it.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28- It's a nice house.- Yeah? Come and have a look.- Great stuff.
0:19:34 > 0:19:35Right.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38- Check this out.- Cor, this is nice!
0:19:38 > 0:19:41Beautiful. Done a lovely job in here.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45- Again, I mean...cosy springs to mind.- Well, look, you've got...
0:19:45 > 0:19:48- A wood burner again. - Lovely burner running away.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52It's open plan, but very much divided into its own zones.
0:19:52 > 0:19:57- Yeah.- Yes.- So, clearly dining end over here, and then here we've got
0:19:57 > 0:20:02- this lovely sitting area, living area.- Open plan can feel a bit cold sometimes, but...
0:20:02 > 0:20:06- No, this works well. - Above us is this mezzanine
0:20:06 > 0:20:11and if you step over here to the wood burner, it's more obvious what's going on here.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13There are three bedrooms on offer.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17- One of them - the master - is up there.- Oh, right.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20- And the other two are above the farmhouse.- Right.- OK.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22The arrangement here is interesting,
0:20:22 > 0:20:25so we'll do this house tour differently.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29Having done living space, we'll jump ahead and look at the master bedroom
0:20:29 > 0:20:33- because you should check this out. Then we'll carry on with the rest. - OK.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35- OK, super.- Right, up here.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Off this little landing, you've got your own en suite.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43In there. And then, if you duck,
0:20:43 > 0:20:46and come in here, this is the master.
0:20:46 > 0:20:47Oh, great, what a room!
0:20:47 > 0:20:49Lovely views out there.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51- Fantastic.- Yeah.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54- It's very light, isn't it?- The neutral furnishing and paint,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57it's just very simple, very uncluttered.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59It is lovely.
0:20:59 > 0:21:04- We've done this unusually because we've gone downstairs, then up to the master bedroom.- Yeah.
0:21:04 > 0:21:09- We've yet to see the kitchen.- Yes. - Mm.- Yes?- OK.
0:21:09 > 0:21:16'After a long wait, I'm hoping Sophie will be pleased when she sees the kitchen that's on offer.'
0:21:16 > 0:21:20- There we go, Sophie. - Oh, better, isn't it?- I think this is the sort of thing.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22- Yes, better.- Yeah?- Fantastic.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24- Yeah, it's lovely.- Yes. - Good kitchen.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28- Hm?- Yeah. - Yeah? This is the sort of thing?
0:21:28 > 0:21:32Yes, this kitchen/dining/living space is good.
0:21:32 > 0:21:38Well, because it all flows quite nicely, we've almost finished our house tour itself.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40But let's go up that staircase and...
0:21:40 > 0:21:43- Well, you tell me if you think the girls would be happy.- OK.- OK.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47'Just tucked away behind the kitchen there's a small office space,
0:21:47 > 0:21:52'something which should appeal to Sophie. But now let's look at the layout upstairs.'
0:21:52 > 0:21:54So that's the shower room there.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56There's bedroom two.
0:21:56 > 0:22:01Then this is the final one. It's the biggest of the two in this half.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05- Yeah. It's a lovely room. And inbuilt storage.- Yes.- A real bonus.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08They may want to share that storage.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11- Yes.- Next door doesn't have any built in.
0:22:11 > 0:22:16- OK.- But again, you get this nice feeling, the beams and stonework...
0:22:16 > 0:22:19- Such character. - Floorboards, you know.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23But again, beautifully furnished. One of the successes of this house
0:22:23 > 0:22:26- is the way it's presented and furnished.- Yeah.
0:22:26 > 0:22:31- It really defines the kind of style of life one would have here.- Yes.
0:22:31 > 0:22:36The lifestyle our buyers are after is all about the outdoors.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39So let's look at the surrounding grounds to see
0:22:39 > 0:22:43if this property fits the bill as a smallholding for livestock or ponies.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47Amongst the 10 acres of land, there's a stream and a small lake,
0:22:47 > 0:22:50both of which are havens for wildlife.
0:22:50 > 0:22:55They could also keep chickens, should they fancy having their own taste of the good life.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59- Behind us, something of a market garden.- Wow!- It is, isn't it?
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Terraced and well developed vegetable beds.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04With the polytunnel and so forth.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07So you could almost become self sufficient.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10- Absolutely.- Yeah. - It's also got its own water.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14- Oh, has it?- Has it?- Yeah, and it has its own bio-tank which gets rid of
0:23:14 > 0:23:18- all the septic stuff.- Ah.- Right. - So you are completely eco here.
0:23:18 > 0:23:19Gosh.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22Obviously, price is important.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24Let's have a think then.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26- £420,000?- £420,000.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29- Yeah. Craig?- I lost out on the last one,
0:23:29 > 0:23:33but I feel more confident on this one, so I'll go for £399,950.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37£399,950? Where did you get that figure from?
0:23:37 > 0:23:40Well, I just...I'm just playing around, really.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44- Just a stab in the dark, really, but...- Ever the optimist.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46He's the one who said it wouldn't rain.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50And guess what - you're almost right. OK, well, not bad, sir.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54This is on the market for £399,500.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56- Oh!- Ohh! - I'll give you that one.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59- £450.- I'll give you that one.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02- That's good.- So, yeah, 500 quid short of £400,000.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04- That's fantastic. - That's a lot for you money.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08- I would say so.- That's incredible. - Yeah.- Plus, you've also got
0:24:08 > 0:24:12what some would describe as either a very large pond
0:24:12 > 0:24:16- or a very small lake.- Oh, really? - And it's down there.- OK.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18- Go and explore.- OK. - We'll go and have a look.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22- We'll go fishing.- Don't get your feet wet.- Right, OK.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26At just under £400,000, this property not only leaves them
0:24:26 > 0:24:31with money left over, but it easily delivers on their demands.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35Three good-sized bedrooms, a family-sized kitchen/diner
0:24:35 > 0:24:37spacious and cosy reception rooms,
0:24:37 > 0:24:41and 10 acres of eco-friendly land.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44- I don't think you'll get many fish in here, would you?- No.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48- Is it too reedy? - No, you could put stuff in here.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50- It's lovely, isn't it?- Really nice.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52It's much more remote than the last one.
0:24:52 > 0:24:57In terms of the actual plot, I think you get an awful lot for your money.
0:24:57 > 0:25:03I mean, I'm amazed that you've got 10 acres, plus all the house, plus the little lake.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06I mean, it would be a completely new thing
0:25:06 > 0:25:10to Sophie and I. If you want to do the whole self-sufficiency thing,
0:25:10 > 0:25:14it's here on your doorstep, all there for you,
0:25:14 > 0:25:15all set up, ready to go.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18A nice end to our first day of house hunting.
0:25:18 > 0:25:23- It's getting a bit nippy.- Yeah.- Time for a drink, come on.- Definitely.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31As the sun sets over the Welsh hills,
0:25:31 > 0:25:35it's the end of the first day of our property search.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Police officer Craig and wife Sophie are looking to move
0:25:47 > 0:25:52from Surrey to the green, green grass of Sophie's childhood home in the Welsh county of Powys.
0:25:52 > 0:25:57The two cosy character properties they've seen so far went down well,
0:25:57 > 0:26:02but coming up, can they have their cake and eat it in our mystery house?
0:26:02 > 0:26:05- That's fantastic.- Yeah. - That's really good news.- Wow!
0:26:05 > 0:26:09- That's a worthy contender. - That's made my day, that has.
0:26:09 > 0:26:10Excellent, brilliant!
0:26:10 > 0:26:15And I watch a water vole make its new home on Llangorse Lake.
0:26:16 > 0:26:22As we've learnt so far, Craig and Sophie are most definitely looking for a whole new change of lifestyle.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25But the whole thing has to be paid for somehow.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28And while Sophie can work from home at the moment,
0:26:28 > 0:26:32poor Craig has to commute from Wales to London during the week.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34So, for our final property, the mystery house,
0:26:34 > 0:26:36we're going to offer them a different solution -
0:26:36 > 0:26:39a property where they could both work together from home
0:26:39 > 0:26:42and create the new lifestyle they're looking for.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49We're on our way to our final property,
0:26:49 > 0:26:52which is very different to what we've shown you before.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55But there are one or two other aspects I'd like to explore.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57In particular, this notion of holiday lets.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00It's not an uncommon wish for people on Escape.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03It's something we have thought about.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05Eventually, I'd like to reduce the hours
0:27:05 > 0:27:07I'm doing in my current job.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11And if we find a property that had a holiday let either ready to go
0:27:11 > 0:27:17or maybe a barn we could convert, then it's something we'd definitely look at doing.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Well, the mystery house is some way ahead of us
0:27:20 > 0:27:23but I think it might offer you new ideas
0:27:23 > 0:27:28- to get you living and working in the same place.- That's great. Look forward to that. Fantastic.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34For our mystery house, we're heading just outside the village of Carno.
0:27:34 > 0:27:39The surrounding area is predominantly Welsh speaking and reliant on livestock farming.
0:27:39 > 0:27:44Our final property is a detached, three-bedroom traditional farmhouse,
0:27:44 > 0:27:46set in half an acre of mature gardens.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49Here it is, our mystery property.
0:27:49 > 0:27:54- Jules, I think you may have excelled yourself.- Nice, isn't it?- First impressions, very good.- Lovely.
0:27:54 > 0:27:59Really, really pretty. It's a good couple of hundred years old.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03There's the main body of it. It's had an extension added on,
0:28:03 > 0:28:06but an historic one, probably 150 years old itself.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08- Right.- So that's what's on offer.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10But why is it the mystery house?
0:28:10 > 0:28:14Well, we've thought about this holiday let thing, I've teased you about it in the car.
0:28:14 > 0:28:20- Yes.- Well, we've got you two really well-appointed holiday lets next door.- Oh, great.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23- Brilliant. So they're ready... - They're ready to go.- OK.
0:28:23 > 0:28:28- So we have to see if we can fit you and the girls...- In there. - Excellent, let's go for it.
0:28:28 > 0:28:29- Come on, have a look.- OK.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37Now, what do you think of this?
0:28:37 > 0:28:39- It's lovely.- This is good.
0:28:39 > 0:28:41- Yeah?- Nice and cosy. - LAUGHS
0:28:41 > 0:28:43I knew somebody would say cosy.
0:28:43 > 0:28:45- It's the word of the week.- Yeah.
0:28:45 > 0:28:49Very cosy, clearly dominated by that lovely great big inglenook.
0:28:49 > 0:28:53- Really nice feature.- Lovely wood-burning stove.- Lovely room.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55- So, nice first impression.- Yes.
0:28:55 > 0:28:57Right, come and look at this.
0:28:57 > 0:29:01This is the dining room, just off the main living room.
0:29:01 > 0:29:05- It's a lovely room.- Good size. - Huge.- It's got a lovely feel
0:29:05 > 0:29:07to this room, with the sun streaming through it.
0:29:07 > 0:29:12Next door is a traditional kitchen with some lovely period features.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15- Now, then.- Oh, gosh.- That's nice.
0:29:15 > 0:29:19It's sweet, it is what it is - it's a galley kitchen.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22- It's got some nice features. That oil-fired range is lovely.- Yeah.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24That stable door goes out to a utility area,
0:29:24 > 0:29:28another door out to the garden. Your thoughts, Sophie.
0:29:28 > 0:29:32I quite like it, actually. It's not as big as the one we saw yesterday.
0:29:32 > 0:29:36But you could improve on it. These units would make a big difference.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39- Touch them up a bit, change them. - Bit of updating.
0:29:39 > 0:29:43- Room for a table as well, which is nice for breakfast.- Absolutely.
0:29:43 > 0:29:49- The nice thing about this one is that it contains the makings of tea and cake.- Oh.- Isn't that lovely?
0:29:49 > 0:29:52That's a nice touch for anyone looking round a house.
0:29:52 > 0:29:56- Hopefully we'll get back to the cake later.- OK.- We'll come back.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58- Let's go upstairs first.- OK.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03On the first floor is a family bathroom
0:30:03 > 0:30:06and two bedrooms which could provide loads of room for the girls
0:30:06 > 0:30:08as they get older.
0:30:08 > 0:30:11But there is one room we have not seen yet
0:30:11 > 0:30:13and that's where Craig and Sophie might be.
0:30:13 > 0:30:17Of the three bedrooms up here, this is by far the biggest one.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19I think this would be obviously yours.
0:30:19 > 0:30:20The master one, yeah.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23- And built-in wardrobes and stuff, as well.- Yes.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25They're all over the place.
0:30:25 > 0:30:27And, of course, views out over the garden.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30- It's a pretty room. - A good size room.
0:30:30 > 0:30:31Good, OK.
0:30:31 > 0:30:35I can see we're all itching to go have a look at those holiday lets.
0:30:35 > 0:30:36Let's go.
0:30:36 > 0:30:38- And cake!- And cake, yeah.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42The idea of the holiday lets seems to have really
0:30:42 > 0:30:43captured their imagination.
0:30:43 > 0:30:47I hope there is keen once they've seen the barn conversion.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51Here we are, your sort of business complex
0:30:51 > 0:30:53and this wonderful converted barn.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56Through that door there we have some storage space.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58Then there's a stair up to some office space.
0:30:58 > 0:31:02Not completely finished at the moment but there's bags of it.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05So, you working from home and running the lets from there
0:31:05 > 0:31:07would be absolutely ideal.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10And then we have these two lets on two floors,
0:31:10 > 0:31:13so one at the bottom, and one of the top.
0:31:13 > 0:31:14Let's go through the bottom one.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19'So far, so good. Having the office space has gone down well.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22'But will the interior live up to their expectations?'
0:31:23 > 0:31:26Now these are enormous.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29- Yes, gosh.- What a surprise.
0:31:29 > 0:31:34You have two very good double bedrooms there, twin in this one.
0:31:34 > 0:31:38And then, in here, if you will.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41- Oh, this is pretty. - What a lovely room.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44And then the kitchen tucked around the corner there.
0:31:44 > 0:31:48And this floor plan is replicated upstairs.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50Oh, gosh. A lot of thought's gone into this.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53The interesting thing is they're not really pushing these.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56They have only got them with one agent, in Newtown.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59And the prices, I think, are pretty modest,
0:31:59 > 0:32:02anything from 150 to 350 week, depending on the season.
0:32:02 > 0:32:07In a good year, there's no reason why shouldn't be doing 30 weeks
0:32:07 > 0:32:11a year, so with a bit of extra marketing I think you could up the prices a bit
0:32:11 > 0:32:13and generate quite a healthy income.
0:32:13 > 0:32:18I guess if you did a bit more cosmetically and went for that five-star rating, perhaps,
0:32:18 > 0:32:22- then charge that bit more.- Yeah. - Fantastic
0:32:22 > 0:32:25How do you feel about running these lets now you've seen them?
0:32:25 > 0:32:28I'd quite like to do it, actually.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31- Have we really whetted your appetite?- It has, yes.
0:32:31 > 0:32:37It's great news that Sophie can see herself running this new venture.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40Let's head outside and see we can seal the deal with the price.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43So, that's what's on offer.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47Two lovely holiday lets, lovely three-bedroom period cottage,
0:32:47 > 0:32:51and, all in all, half an acre of gardens and grounds.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53I know what it's going to be. Next question.
0:32:53 > 0:32:58Next question is going to be, how much is it worth?
0:32:58 > 0:32:59Our final thought about this.
0:32:59 > 0:33:03- I think it's going to be quite a lot over our budget, this one.- How much? - 475.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06- 475, so 50,000 over.- Yes.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09I'm going to take a wild guess.
0:33:09 > 0:33:15- Hopefully one that is going to be spot-on, at 420,000.- £420,000.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18That, of course, is very much the top end of your budget.
0:33:18 > 0:33:23If it were 420, given that you could offset the cost with the lets,
0:33:23 > 0:33:26would you think about doing it?
0:33:27 > 0:33:30- Yes, it's a definite option. - Yes, absolutely.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33That's very, very good news, because this is
0:33:33 > 0:33:37- actually on the market for £390,000. - It's not, you're joking!
0:33:37 > 0:33:39- Really?- Oh, wow.
0:33:39 > 0:33:44390. It was over four, it's been reduced and is now 390.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46That is fantastic, really good news.
0:33:46 > 0:33:50- Wow.- A worthy contender. - That's made my day, that has!
0:33:50 > 0:33:51Excellent!
0:33:51 > 0:33:54Off you go, go and check out the other let.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57I'll catch up with you later. Off you go.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02So, this traditional three-bedroom cottage with barn conversion
0:34:02 > 0:34:05could be just what Craig and Sophie are looking for.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08Way below the price they thought they would have to pay
0:34:08 > 0:34:12at £390,000, this is a real contender.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16It has a kitchen/diner, perfect for tea and cake.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20A good-sized study, two spacious holiday lets,
0:34:20 > 0:34:24and half an acre of land for the girls and Oscar the dog to play in.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29- I think it would be fantastic. - Yeah, no, I agree.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32And I think, as you said, it will be a project for you,
0:34:32 > 0:34:36with your experience and commitment,
0:34:36 > 0:34:40it is something you would really enjoy, I think.
0:34:40 > 0:34:41It's great.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44I think the real surprise for me today is the price.
0:34:44 > 0:34:48I really, really thought this was going to be way over our budget.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50It has made my day in that respect.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53I didn't think we'd be able to get a holiday let ready to go
0:34:53 > 0:34:57and a house to live in for that amount of money, to be honest.
0:34:57 > 0:35:02When we first saw this house I just hoped this was going to be
0:35:02 > 0:35:04THE house, really, out of the three.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07I mean, it is superb.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10- What do you think? - I like it, it's a lovely house.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12- Very pretty.- Ah, there you are. - Hi, Jules.
0:35:12 > 0:35:16- Look what I found.- I hope there's some left!- This is fabulous.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19I tell you what, if you can make cake as good as this,
0:35:19 > 0:35:21I will definitely come back to see you.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24- Fabulous. Have you seen enough?- Yes.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28- Taken it all in? There's a lot of it.- It's fantastic.
0:35:28 > 0:35:30- Let's go and find a cup of tea to go with this.- Lovely.
0:35:41 > 0:35:45In the south of Powys is the Brecon Beacons National Park,
0:35:45 > 0:35:50containing over 500 square miles of jaw-dropping scenery with
0:35:50 > 0:35:54historic sites such as Neolithic standing stones and Norman castles.
0:35:54 > 0:35:59No wonder around 3.8 million people visit here each year.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02Sadly, in spring, it was devastated by what's been
0:36:02 > 0:36:05described as some of the worst grass fires in 30 years.
0:36:05 > 0:36:09Hundreds of creatures such as grouse and voles were killed
0:36:09 > 0:36:12and vegetation vital to their habitat was lost
0:36:12 > 0:36:14'as 2,000 acres were burned.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17'Judith Harvey, the Western Area manager,
0:36:17 > 0:36:19'took me for a walk to show me the damage.'
0:36:19 > 0:36:22I can smell the burning that has been going on.
0:36:22 > 0:36:26Just looking at my feet, from a distance it looks relatively green,
0:36:26 > 0:36:29but as soon as you look down you can see it's all black and brown
0:36:29 > 0:36:32and this is absolutely devastating to the ecosystem.
0:36:32 > 0:36:33It is.
0:36:33 > 0:36:39As national park wardens, we do burn common, every year, if we can, if we get dry weather.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42- But it is controlled.- Controlled, and during the winter months.
0:36:42 > 0:36:46This has been after a very early spring
0:36:46 > 0:36:50and then obviously we have had these fires
0:36:50 > 0:36:53so birds nests and everything have been completely burnt.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56Also, the peat has burnt, the soil has burnt,
0:36:56 > 0:37:00and it will take a long time some of these areas to come back.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03In terms of the ongoing research that you do in the park,
0:37:03 > 0:37:06how much of a setback is an event like this?
0:37:06 > 0:37:07It is a setback.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10We will try to turn it into an opportunity
0:37:10 > 0:37:14and monitor how the vegetation and stuff does come back.
0:37:14 > 0:37:19But, you know, we are really upset, we really are.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22While hundreds of mammals have been tragically lost on
0:37:22 > 0:37:25one side of the Beacons, over to the east, on Llangorse Lake,
0:37:25 > 0:37:28one of the UK's most endangered species,
0:37:28 > 0:37:30the water vole, is being reintroduced.
0:37:30 > 0:37:34Once common in the UK, their numbers declined in the 1990s
0:37:34 > 0:37:40and by 2005, 90% of them had disappeared, mainly due to land drainage
0:37:40 > 0:37:44and the introduction of the North American mink to our shores.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48Their preferred habitat is near open water as they can dive
0:37:48 > 0:37:49and swim with great ease.
0:37:49 > 0:37:54They make their homes in burrows dug in the banks of waterways,
0:37:54 > 0:37:57such as slow flowing rivers, ditches, dykes and lakes,
0:37:57 > 0:38:01feeding on grasses and waterside vegetation.
0:38:01 > 0:38:05400 water voles have set up home on Llangorse Lake over the past year
0:38:05 > 0:38:09and there are plans to release a further 100 in the coming months.
0:38:09 > 0:38:14Warden Gareth Ellis filled me in on this valuable conservation work.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17We know that voles have been in trouble for some time,
0:38:17 > 0:38:19but just how bad is it?
0:38:19 > 0:38:22The vole population in the UK has been decimated.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25We think it is down to 5% of the population used to be
0:38:25 > 0:38:27perhaps 100 or 150 years ago.
0:38:27 > 0:38:31It's important to provide the right habitat for them,
0:38:31 > 0:38:35it's important to make sure that habitat managed in the right way so it's secure.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38But we're hoping if we can protect the populations in these areas,
0:38:38 > 0:38:42somewhere like here with the lake, eventually population numbers will expand
0:38:42 > 0:38:45and they'll start moving out into the wider countryside.
0:38:45 > 0:38:49Do you think they're robust enough as a species to do that?
0:38:49 > 0:38:53Given a chance, given the right habitat management, given controls of mink numbers,
0:38:53 > 0:38:57which a lot of people have been supportive of, then, yes, they have a fighting chance.
0:38:57 > 0:39:02Selwyn Eagle is the warden giving these water voles their first
0:39:02 > 0:39:04taste of freedom after being bred in captivity.
0:39:04 > 0:39:08I went to watch him moving one new tenant onto the lake.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10They are very lively animals.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14If you try and get him out of the case, he's liable to leap out.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16They can still leap out over my shoulder.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18But once they are in the tub,
0:39:18 > 0:39:20and if you put some straw in the bottom,
0:39:20 > 0:39:22they'll tend to hide in the bottom in the straw.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25I don't think I've ever seen one in the flesh.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29- Look at that.- There you are, little fellow.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32Hello, mate! Extraordinary.
0:39:32 > 0:39:33Where have these come from?
0:39:33 > 0:39:36They've been bred specifically for the Environment Agency
0:39:36 > 0:39:39by a guy called Derek Gow, the country's leading expert.
0:39:39 > 0:39:43He makes sure through captive breeding to mix up all the genetics
0:39:43 > 0:39:46and make sure they're strong individuals when they're released.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49Brilliant, well, let's release him, shall we?
0:39:49 > 0:39:51In he goes, look at that!
0:39:51 > 0:39:55So he will now go off and look to find a little burrow
0:39:55 > 0:39:56and create his burrow.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58That's it, he's found himself
0:39:58 > 0:40:01somewhere nice and tucked away immediately there.
0:40:01 > 0:40:02It's a good spot.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05He'll feel nice and safe there and take in his new surroundings
0:40:05 > 0:40:08and start finding himself somewhere to set up home.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12This reintroduction project has far reaching and long-term benefits
0:40:12 > 0:40:16for the biodiversity of the lake area and, provided
0:40:16 > 0:40:19the water voles continue to thrive, the Environment Agency will be
0:40:19 > 0:40:23looking to release more of them at other suitable sites across Wales.
0:40:23 > 0:40:28And just like water voles, we're hoping that Craig and Sophie
0:40:28 > 0:40:32have found their ideal habitat here, because it's time for them
0:40:32 > 0:40:34to reflect on the three properties they've seen.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37Well, here we are, have you enjoyed yourselves?
0:40:37 > 0:40:40- It's been great, A really good experience.- Very good.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42Let's get back to our first property.
0:40:42 > 0:40:46We started with the old vicarage with an acre-and-a-half of paddock
0:40:46 > 0:40:48and wonderful period features.
0:40:48 > 0:40:52That was a nice property, and the edge of village location
0:40:52 > 0:40:56which we asked for, had the outside space,
0:40:56 > 0:40:59and had lots of character, as you say.
0:40:59 > 0:41:03- And, of course, it came with five bedrooms.- Incredible.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05And the two en suite as well.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07One of those extra rooms could be used for the study
0:41:07 > 0:41:10or playroom for the girls.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12To be honest,
0:41:12 > 0:41:16I guess it was probably a little bit too big for our needs, in many ways.
0:41:16 > 0:41:21Then we took you to, I thought, a very interesting conversion,
0:41:21 > 0:41:22with 10 acres attached to it.
0:41:22 > 0:41:24What did you make of that one?
0:41:24 > 0:41:27Yeah, it was a lovely setting
0:41:27 > 0:41:29and obviously the ground around it was incredible.
0:41:29 > 0:41:33In terms of the house, a little bit different.
0:41:33 > 0:41:37It had the kitchen, diner, living room area which was fantastic.
0:41:37 > 0:41:38All open plan.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41The whole thing really did flow together and it gave you
0:41:41 > 0:41:44three bedrooms, but the master suite being very separate.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47But it was a touch too remote.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52Then we took you to our final property, the mystery house.
0:41:52 > 0:41:56It's big selling point was that it had those fantastic holiday lets.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58But let's talk about the house itself.
0:41:58 > 0:42:00Could that work?
0:42:00 > 0:42:01Yes, I think it could.
0:42:01 > 0:42:06I mean, it's not my ideal property, but the fact that you've got
0:42:06 > 0:42:10the holiday lets with it, and a lovely garden.
0:42:10 > 0:42:14Those holiday lets, we can really put our stamp on those
0:42:14 > 0:42:17and I think we would get a really good income of those.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20Let's think about it. Are you going to buy it?
0:42:20 > 0:42:24We'd definitely like to have a look at it but we'll soon need to check out the schools.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28If the schooling checked out then I think we definitely go back
0:42:28 > 0:42:30and have a second viewing on that one.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32- Great. So watch this space.- Yes.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42Of course, every house search is different,
0:42:42 > 0:42:46but the longer I work on Escape To The Country, the more I understand
0:42:46 > 0:42:50that there's a growing divide between people who simply want to live in the country
0:42:50 > 0:42:52and those who want a country life.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55And somewhere in the middle are people who want a country lifestyle.
0:42:55 > 0:42:59That is exactly what we have been trying to achieve for Craig and for Sophie.
0:42:59 > 0:43:01With any luck, in the mystery house,
0:43:01 > 0:43:04they've found the opportunity to do just that, complete with
0:43:04 > 0:43:09a growing menagerie of dogs, ponies, sheep, and goodness knows what else.
0:43:11 > 0:43:15If you'd like to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales,
0:43:15 > 0:43:17Northern Ireland or England, and would like our help,
0:43:17 > 0:43:23then please apply online at:
0:43:39 > 0:43:41Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:41 > 0:43:44E-mail us at subtitling@bbc.co.uk