South Wales

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0:00:04 > 0:00:09and they have been immortalised by some of the nation's greatest artists, such as JMW Turner.

0:00:09 > 0:00:12Where are we? Stick around and I'll show you.

0:00:41 > 0:00:46'In today's show I'll be trying to help a couple realise their country dream.

0:00:46 > 0:00:48'But expectations are high...'

0:00:48 > 0:00:49It does feel nice, doesn't it?

0:00:49 > 0:00:54It does, and obviously it depends how the rest of the house fits in with it.

0:00:54 > 0:00:57- Yeah.- But yeah, still open-minded.

0:00:57 > 0:01:01'..so I take a risk with the mystery house.

0:01:01 > 0:01:02'But it could go down the pan.'

0:01:02 > 0:01:05I mean that's the - we'll call it an en suite, loosely.

0:01:05 > 0:01:08- It doesn't have a loo, fortunately. - Just as well.

0:01:10 > 0:01:12Well, today we are in South Wales,

0:01:12 > 0:01:16and these are the spectacular Aberdulais Falls.

0:01:16 > 0:01:20Their potential for generating energy was realised back in 1584,

0:01:20 > 0:01:25when they became the driving force behind the growing copper industry here in the valleys.

0:01:25 > 0:01:29What's more, there's been a water wheel on this site for centuries.

0:01:29 > 0:01:35It's thought this is the largest electricity-producing water wheel anywhere in Europe.

0:01:35 > 0:01:41It's easy to see why the natural beauty of South Wales inspired poets such as William Wordsworth.

0:01:41 > 0:01:46Stretching along the coastline there are Riviera-style beaches,

0:01:46 > 0:01:51but head inland and you'll discover valleys that give way to dramatic mountain ranges.

0:01:51 > 0:01:54Once dominated by rural landscapes,

0:01:54 > 0:01:59the region dramatically changed during the Industrial Revolution,

0:01:59 > 0:02:03when it was exploited for its coal and iron reserves.

0:02:03 > 0:02:05But despite this, many areas remain untouched,

0:02:05 > 0:02:09and are as beautiful today as they were in Wordsworth's time.

0:02:12 > 0:02:16Today's property hunters are looking for a complete change of scene.

0:02:16 > 0:02:22Diana's lived in this three-bedroom Victorian terrace in Teddington, Middlesex, for over ten years,

0:02:22 > 0:02:25and Charles moved in with her 14 months ago.

0:02:25 > 0:02:28But where Diana's a townie through and through,

0:02:28 > 0:02:31the same can't be said of her other half.

0:02:31 > 0:02:36I only intended to come to the city for a brief adventure, two years perhaps.

0:02:36 > 0:02:3930 years later, here I am, I'm still here.

0:02:39 > 0:02:41The move is certainly overdue,

0:02:41 > 0:02:43so having found his princess,

0:02:43 > 0:02:46Charles is keen to whisk her back to his kingdom.

0:02:48 > 0:02:51I was born in South Wales, near a lovely little town called Porthcawl.

0:02:51 > 0:02:53I still have relatives there.

0:02:53 > 0:02:56My mum and sisters are there. It's a beautiful area.

0:02:56 > 0:02:57I have lots of family there.

0:02:57 > 0:03:00Funnily enough, I have a connection to Wales anyway.

0:03:00 > 0:03:03My mother and father actually met in Wales.

0:03:03 > 0:03:05They were evacuated there in the wartime.

0:03:05 > 0:03:08I still have letters from my mother to my father

0:03:08 > 0:03:12that she wrote in 1943, '44,

0:03:12 > 0:03:15all this I've rediscovered since meeting Charles.

0:03:15 > 0:03:18- It has brought it together, hasn't it?- It has.

0:03:23 > 0:03:28Charles recently retired from the police force, and is already indulging in his hobbies.

0:03:28 > 0:03:32Plus Diana plans to leave her career in marketing when they up sticks.

0:03:32 > 0:03:34But it's not just the quiet life they crave.

0:03:34 > 0:03:37Moving to the country is going to change our lives.

0:03:37 > 0:03:40I can see us gardening two or three days a week, surfing, golfing,

0:03:40 > 0:03:43so I think we'll be busy in a different way.

0:03:43 > 0:03:47So the potential to surf and play golf is on the list,

0:03:47 > 0:03:51but there are plenty more requirements to get their house-hunting hearts racing.

0:03:51 > 0:03:54We've talked about our dream home a lot.

0:03:54 > 0:03:57We want it to be a period property, lots of traditional features.

0:03:57 > 0:03:59A big kitchen-diner.

0:03:59 > 0:04:01I'd like a walk-in pantry,

0:04:01 > 0:04:05to fill it up with homemade preserves and lemon curd.

0:04:05 > 0:04:09A utility area, so we can wash our dog, Henry, so he stops getting mud everywhere.

0:04:09 > 0:04:12Outbuildings, with the potential of holiday lets

0:04:12 > 0:04:15to have a small income stream coming in.

0:04:15 > 0:04:18And land. Minimum one acre, probably two.

0:04:18 > 0:04:22We'd never consider buying a property on a main road.

0:04:22 > 0:04:24All that noise. Just no, no, no.

0:04:24 > 0:04:27So they'd rather not have close neighbours,

0:04:27 > 0:04:29but want to be near Charles's family

0:04:29 > 0:04:31in his home town of Porthcawl.

0:04:31 > 0:04:32It's big ask,

0:04:32 > 0:04:36and whether it's achievable depends on how many pennies they have in their pockets.

0:04:36 > 0:04:39Our budget for the move is £450,000.

0:04:39 > 0:04:43However, if we find the potential for holiday lets, we could go up to £500,000.

0:04:47 > 0:04:51Well, Charles and Diana's move has, it seems to me,

0:04:51 > 0:04:54got less to do with relaxing and taking it easy, as it has with

0:04:54 > 0:04:58filling time with their hobbies, and embracing an outdoor lifestyle.

0:04:58 > 0:05:04Now, their £450,000 isn't bad, but they are prepared to go to 500,000,

0:05:04 > 0:05:07if we can find them a holiday let as well.

0:05:07 > 0:05:09That will certainly keep them busy.

0:05:11 > 0:05:15Charles and Diana want their dream property to be within

0:05:15 > 0:05:18an hour's drive of his family in Porthcawl.

0:05:18 > 0:05:21But to deliver on the other things on their wish list,

0:05:21 > 0:05:25we're going to have do a bit of border hopping into the county of Carmarthenshire.

0:05:25 > 0:05:29Over the next couple of days, we'll show them three fantastic houses.

0:05:29 > 0:05:32But before I reveal how much they cost,

0:05:32 > 0:05:34they'll need to guess the price.

0:05:34 > 0:05:37And then there's our mystery house,

0:05:37 > 0:05:40ready to challenge what they think they want from their new home.

0:05:43 > 0:05:45Well, guys, welcome back to Wales.

0:05:45 > 0:05:47Now relatively speaking, you've only just met,

0:05:47 > 0:05:51about 18 months, two years ago, but from the get-go,

0:05:51 > 0:05:54you've decided that you want a place in the country.

0:05:54 > 0:05:58How did that conversation come about?

0:05:58 > 0:06:02On one of our first dates Charles was saying he wanted to go back to Wales.

0:06:02 > 0:06:07I thought, well, to be fair, I always wanted to go somewhere like the Lake District,

0:06:07 > 0:06:10or somewhere more...just open and away from the towns.

0:06:10 > 0:06:15So when he talked about Wales, I thought, yeah, that counts as countryside.

0:06:15 > 0:06:16Well, there's a lot of it here!

0:06:16 > 0:06:19Give us a sense about the house.

0:06:19 > 0:06:23How important is the property over location?

0:06:23 > 0:06:24It is very important.

0:06:24 > 0:06:26I think we've described the house in detail,

0:06:26 > 0:06:30about what it would be like and what it wouldn't be like.

0:06:30 > 0:06:34So we have said the house and garden probably trumps over location,

0:06:34 > 0:06:36depending on when you go and see it.

0:06:36 > 0:06:39So if you walk up and fall in love with it, that will do it.

0:06:39 > 0:06:43Yeah. I think we've said, we'll know it when we see it.

0:06:43 > 0:06:46We've got three fantastic properties for you to look at.

0:06:46 > 0:06:50- The weather couldn't be better. Let's get cracking.- Brilliant.

0:06:55 > 0:06:57Charles and Diana's budget is flexible.

0:06:57 > 0:07:02£450,000 is the minimum, but there's the potential to go up to £500,000

0:07:02 > 0:07:07if we can find them a property with a holiday let as well.

0:07:07 > 0:07:11Neighbours are a no-no, but they want a house with character,

0:07:11 > 0:07:14that has a big kitchen and some land to play with.

0:07:14 > 0:07:18Location-wise, Charles' home town of Porthcawl is all-important,

0:07:18 > 0:07:22and they want to be within an hour's drive.

0:07:26 > 0:07:29We're starting our journey just 20 minutes from Porthcawl,

0:07:29 > 0:07:33in the village of Taibach, in West Glamorgan.

0:07:33 > 0:07:35With popular coastlines nearby,

0:07:35 > 0:07:38the busy village is a desirable place to live,

0:07:38 > 0:07:43and it's just a short seven-minute drive away from our first property.

0:07:43 > 0:07:48Although the neighbours are fairly close, this house is set on the edge of 12,000 acres of prime forest,

0:07:48 > 0:07:51giving it a lovely rural feel.

0:07:51 > 0:07:57Converted in 1996, this is a rather distinctive home.

0:07:57 > 0:08:01Here we are. House number one. What do you think?

0:08:01 > 0:08:03- It's in a fantastic location.- Small.

0:08:03 > 0:08:08Don't be deceived. It's currently set up as a yoga retreat.

0:08:08 > 0:08:09That's interesting.

0:08:09 > 0:08:10So there's a lot of space

0:08:10 > 0:08:13to accommodate not just you, but an annexe, should you wish.

0:08:13 > 0:08:17- OK.- The question is, how are you going to arrange it?- We'll see.

0:08:17 > 0:08:20I can't wait for you to figure it out. Come and have a look inside.

0:08:22 > 0:08:24Right, in you come.

0:08:24 > 0:08:29- Right.- Yeah, wow.- It's yellow!

0:08:29 > 0:08:34It's a little yellow, to be fair. I'm sure you can see through that.

0:08:34 > 0:08:37The main thing is what space we have to offer you.

0:08:37 > 0:08:40- So open mind?- Open mind. - Good, right.

0:08:42 > 0:08:48- Hm.- The yellow theme continues, as you can see.

0:08:48 > 0:08:51You haven't got to spend any money on this at the moment.

0:08:51 > 0:08:54But let's say somebody had bought it, a friend of yours,

0:08:54 > 0:08:57and they asked what you would do, that's the way to look at it.

0:08:57 > 0:09:02- OK.- You can't give up just yet! Come on! Have a little faith.

0:09:02 > 0:09:07'Not quite the reaction I wanted. Let's hope we can do better in the next room.'

0:09:07 > 0:09:13This is currently set up as the principal living room, OK?

0:09:14 > 0:09:18It is lovely. It is nice. It's got a nice, relaxed feel about it.

0:09:18 > 0:09:20- It's getting cosier, isn't it?- Yes.

0:09:20 > 0:09:23- It does feel nice, doesn't it? - It does feel nice

0:09:23 > 0:09:27and it depends how the rest of the house fits in with it.

0:09:27 > 0:09:30But yes, still open-minded.

0:09:30 > 0:09:35- The key thing is how you fit in with the rest of the house.- Good point.

0:09:35 > 0:09:38'So before going upstairs, I'm going to show them

0:09:38 > 0:09:41'some of the other opportunities to be had on the grand floor.'

0:09:41 > 0:09:45This curved archway is where the annexe thing might come to life.

0:09:45 > 0:09:47You've got a downstairs shower room and loo,

0:09:47 > 0:09:51then in there a little utility room. Then it gets you into here.

0:09:54 > 0:09:57Your guests would potentially have another door there

0:09:57 > 0:10:00- out to the yard. - I see what you mean.

0:10:00 > 0:10:05- So just by shutting that door... - It would be self-contained.- Exactly.

0:10:05 > 0:10:08But this door here...

0:10:10 > 0:10:14- This is quite surprising. This would really make the annexe begin to work.- OK.

0:10:17 > 0:10:18Come in here.

0:10:18 > 0:10:20THEY CHUCKLE HAPPILY

0:10:20 > 0:10:23- What a fantastic space.- Yeah!

0:10:23 > 0:10:26The idea would be that you've got these two doors here,

0:10:26 > 0:10:29- if you put a wall across there... - I see where you're going.

0:10:29 > 0:10:33Your guests potentially have got bedroom/living room,

0:10:33 > 0:10:35whatever you want it to be.

0:10:35 > 0:10:38How you arrange those two rooms is up to you.

0:10:38 > 0:10:41It means that upstairs is not encumbered by your guests.

0:10:41 > 0:10:43- You would get the whole thing. - Excellent.

0:10:45 > 0:10:48On the first floor, there are three bedrooms

0:10:48 > 0:10:52currently made up as dormitories for yoga retreat guests.

0:10:52 > 0:10:55There's also a bathroom with a shower.

0:10:55 > 0:10:58- Come on in.- OK.

0:10:58 > 0:11:01I would suggest that this would probably be the best master bedroom.

0:11:01 > 0:11:05I would say I agree. Again, I think potential.

0:11:05 > 0:11:09You've also got this, which is quite nice.

0:11:09 > 0:11:11- A little thing in there.- En suite.

0:11:11 > 0:11:15I think this gives you more of an idea of what you could do with it

0:11:15 > 0:11:18because the decor here is more homely.

0:11:19 > 0:11:21Diana seems unconvinced,

0:11:21 > 0:11:25but I reckon I've saved the best till last.

0:11:25 > 0:11:29Look at that view. Isn't that amazing?

0:11:29 > 0:11:32And this is the garden. This is what you've got.

0:11:32 > 0:11:36Your area extends pretty much within the fenced area.

0:11:36 > 0:11:40Lovely view surrounded by 12,000 acres of forestry.

0:11:40 > 0:11:45- How wonderful.- The trees, the birds. - A beautiful panorama.

0:11:45 > 0:11:49Enough space here to create, well, more than one garden.

0:11:49 > 0:11:52Well, this is our first property

0:11:52 > 0:11:55so who's going to have the first price guess of the week?

0:11:55 > 0:11:59- Er...- Ladies first, I think.

0:11:59 > 0:12:05I think I'll go for £465,000.

0:12:05 > 0:12:08I'm going to say around £400,000.

0:12:08 > 0:12:14This is on the market for £425,000.

0:12:14 > 0:12:17- OK, that's doable.- It's very doable.

0:12:17 > 0:12:19Yes. Now you know what you have to spend

0:12:19 > 0:12:22and what you've got left over, go and have an explore.

0:12:22 > 0:12:26See what you might do with it and I'll catch up with you later.

0:12:26 > 0:12:27Great. OK, thanks.

0:12:30 > 0:12:33On the market at £425,000,

0:12:33 > 0:12:36this barn conversion is well under their budget

0:12:36 > 0:12:39but it's a tricky property to get your head around.

0:12:39 > 0:12:42However, there is plenty of space to turn it into a lovely home.

0:12:42 > 0:12:45There's also the opportunity to create

0:12:45 > 0:12:47self-contained holiday accommodation.

0:12:47 > 0:12:51The large gardens are set on the edge of 12,000 acres of forest,

0:12:51 > 0:12:54so there's somewhere for Charles and Diana to explore.

0:12:56 > 0:13:00It might need a bit of work so it's balancing whether or not

0:13:00 > 0:13:05we'd be prepared to carry out the work to make it the dream place.

0:13:05 > 0:13:10If we did the work to the house and got it exactly how we wanted,

0:13:10 > 0:13:15I think we would still have an issue over being so close to people literally across the lane.

0:13:15 > 0:13:18I think that might stop it being that dream house.

0:13:25 > 0:13:29Our property search has brought us to the county of Carmarthenshire.

0:13:29 > 0:13:30It's just 50 minutes from

0:13:30 > 0:13:32Charles's family in Porthcawl.

0:13:32 > 0:13:36The town of Llandeilo is an easy seven-minute drive from our second house,

0:13:36 > 0:13:40which boasts stunning views over the surrounding valleys.

0:13:40 > 0:13:42It all seems a world away

0:13:42 > 0:13:46from Charles and Diana's home back in Teddington, Middlesex.

0:13:46 > 0:13:50Originally, this cottage dates back to the Edwardian era

0:13:50 > 0:13:54and has been sympathetically refurbished to a very high standard.

0:13:55 > 0:13:59- Isn't this gorgeous? - Very nice.- That's so pretty.

0:13:59 > 0:14:05- Classic chocolate-box image, really. - Wow.- And it's immaculate.

0:14:05 > 0:14:09- Your face is an absolute picture, isn't it?- Can we go in?

0:14:09 > 0:14:12All right, if you ask so nicely. Come on.

0:14:12 > 0:14:18'So far, so good. With any luck, inside won't disappoint either.'

0:14:18 > 0:14:23- The closer you get, it's even more exciting, isn't it?- I love it.

0:14:26 > 0:14:28Right, grab the door, Charlie.

0:14:34 > 0:14:38- OK, Diana. Yeah?- Yeah.

0:14:38 > 0:14:42- That's nice. I like that. - Seating.- Place to cook.

0:14:42 > 0:14:46Yes. As a lovely cottage kitchen/diner goes...

0:14:46 > 0:14:49This is more like it for me.

0:14:49 > 0:14:54- It does come with a walk-in larder. - Ah, OK.- Tick?- Big tick.- OK.

0:14:54 > 0:14:56- And a lovely boot room and utility.- Big tick.

0:14:56 > 0:14:58It's all through that door there.

0:14:58 > 0:15:03You've only got to incorporate the kitchen into here.

0:15:03 > 0:15:07That's good because they were two of the things that we wanted.

0:15:07 > 0:15:12Across the hallway, there's also a small conservatory-cum-boot-room

0:15:12 > 0:15:16and opposite that there's a cosy dining room with exposed stonework.

0:15:16 > 0:15:20I'm heading straight to my favourite room of the house.

0:15:20 > 0:15:24- So this is the principal living room.- Nice.

0:15:24 > 0:15:27It's nice. It's got plenty of light.

0:15:27 > 0:15:29Love it. Beautiful window.

0:15:29 > 0:15:32- Huge picture window going out to the garden.- Yeah, with my seat in it.

0:15:32 > 0:15:36It does look like a beautiful room for relaxing, just having a flop.

0:15:36 > 0:15:42- Are we getting a sense that this is a warm property for you?- I think so.

0:15:42 > 0:15:45A better fit and a much better feeling when you walk in.

0:15:45 > 0:15:47It's immaculate as well.

0:15:47 > 0:15:52On the first floor, there are more immaculate interiors.

0:15:52 > 0:15:56Either side of the hall is a single bedroom, a good-sized double

0:15:56 > 0:15:59and a third room that's currently made up as a twin.

0:15:59 > 0:16:03Plus there's a modern family bathroom.

0:16:03 > 0:16:06So this is the master.

0:16:06 > 0:16:09I think for pretty obvious reasons, really. What do you reckon?

0:16:09 > 0:16:12Very nice indeed.

0:16:12 > 0:16:14Loads of storage here.

0:16:14 > 0:16:16It's a lovely room.

0:16:16 > 0:16:20- You're going to wake up and see the year passing there beautifully. - Fantastic.

0:16:20 > 0:16:23This house is gaining some great reactions.

0:16:23 > 0:16:25Let's hope they keep coming in the garden.

0:16:26 > 0:16:31This is quite quirky because that door comes off the upper floor

0:16:31 > 0:16:35and gets you out to this upper end of the rear garden.

0:16:35 > 0:16:40It's beautiful. It's really well maintained. Everything is immaculate.

0:16:40 > 0:16:44Let's go down to this bit of lawn over here.

0:16:44 > 0:16:48So, do you like it?

0:16:48 > 0:16:53Yes, we like it. It's a beautiful property.

0:16:53 > 0:16:56Look at it. You get a real sense of what those windows are doing.

0:16:56 > 0:17:00- They're just soaking in this gorgeous garden.- Absolutely.

0:17:00 > 0:17:02Let's think about the money.

0:17:02 > 0:17:05What do you think this is worth in this current setting?

0:17:05 > 0:17:10- I'm going for spot-on £450,000. - Yeah? Diana?

0:17:10 > 0:17:12- I think 465.- 465.

0:17:12 > 0:17:17I would not be surprised to see this on the market for £465,000

0:17:17 > 0:17:23but I am delighted that it's on the market for £435,000.

0:17:23 > 0:17:28Go and explore through that archway. See what else you get.

0:17:28 > 0:17:31- I'll catch up with you later. - All right.- Brilliant.

0:17:31 > 0:17:34There are no holiday-let options with this property

0:17:34 > 0:17:37but price-wise it sits comfortably under their minimum budget

0:17:37 > 0:17:41at £435,000.

0:17:41 > 0:17:44Beautifully refurbished, this cottage boasts a large kitchen

0:17:44 > 0:17:48complete with larder and a boot room for Henry their dog.

0:17:48 > 0:17:51There's also a well-maintained garden

0:17:51 > 0:17:55with stunning views of the neighbouring woodland and valleys.

0:17:55 > 0:17:59When we first saw this house in the lane, it was a delight.

0:17:59 > 0:18:03In the kitchen I could see that very quickly we could turn it around

0:18:03 > 0:18:05into something that would really suit us.

0:18:05 > 0:18:09I love the walk-in pantry. That's on my tick list, a big thing.

0:18:09 > 0:18:14All my homemade jams and chutneys filling it up come the autumn.

0:18:14 > 0:18:16A great space to wash the dog

0:18:16 > 0:18:19when he comes in muddy from the field, which would be good.

0:18:19 > 0:18:23At the moment I'm struggling to think of many downsides.

0:18:23 > 0:18:27The one main downside is that we don't want to be overlooked

0:18:27 > 0:18:31and we are overlooked here near the house.

0:18:31 > 0:18:34That could be a big sticking point.

0:18:40 > 0:18:45It's been a mixed day for our very own Prince and Princess of Wales,

0:18:45 > 0:18:48but as the sun sets, there's still much more to come.

0:18:56 > 0:18:59What style of property? Give me a sense, a picture.

0:18:59 > 0:19:02If you were to draw it, what elements would it comprise?

0:19:02 > 0:19:05It would probably be farmhouse style.

0:19:05 > 0:19:09It would have a big kitchen dining area with the range cooker

0:19:09 > 0:19:12and maybe the old bread oven in one side

0:19:12 > 0:19:15- and the dining room would have an inglenook.- Yes.

0:19:15 > 0:19:20Lots of light, light is important to us.

0:19:20 > 0:19:25Lots of light and lots of space to be able to move out into a beautiful garden.

0:19:25 > 0:19:29- What you're describing is effectively a small Georgian manor house.- Lovely.

0:19:29 > 0:19:32It would be lovely if we could get it for half a million!

0:19:32 > 0:19:35- Even better! - We've got one more property to come.

0:19:35 > 0:19:38- It's mystery house time. - Is it a Georgian manor house?

0:19:38 > 0:19:40- You'll have to wait and see. - With 25 acres!

0:19:40 > 0:19:42THEY LAUGH

0:19:42 > 0:19:44Still in the county of Carmarthenshire,

0:19:44 > 0:19:47we head to the village of Brechfa

0:19:47 > 0:19:50just over an hour's drive from Charles's home town of Porthcawl.

0:19:50 > 0:19:54Our mystery house is five miles outside the village itself,

0:19:54 > 0:19:57which has a local shop for all those everyday essentials.

0:19:57 > 0:20:00For anything else, you need to travel further afield.

0:20:00 > 0:20:04From the outset, Charles and Diana asked for around an acre of land

0:20:04 > 0:20:06and after two properties,

0:20:06 > 0:20:10I know how strongly they feel about being overlooked by neighbours.

0:20:10 > 0:20:12The scale and remoteness of the mystery house

0:20:12 > 0:20:15are not exactly what they've asked for,

0:20:15 > 0:20:17so I'm certainly taking a risk with this one.

0:20:17 > 0:20:19Set deep in the surrounding forest,

0:20:19 > 0:20:24this house is uncompromising in its rural character and situation.

0:20:24 > 0:20:28- A little more isolated, as you can tell.- Which is just what we wanted.

0:20:28 > 0:20:32- Is that what you want, though? This is the mystery house.- Lovely.

0:20:32 > 0:20:39- That's gorgeous.- There's a lot to it, this one.- I can see it's lovely.

0:20:39 > 0:20:42All the birds.

0:20:42 > 0:20:44Now, yesterday, that second property, I really liked it.

0:20:44 > 0:20:48- But you had a concern over the neighbour?- Yes.

0:20:48 > 0:20:51- Is that one too close?- A bit, yeah.

0:20:51 > 0:20:53OK. Supposing it wasn't a neighbour.

0:20:53 > 0:20:57- Supposing it was your holiday let? - That would good!- Just right.

0:20:57 > 0:21:01- Well, it is. That's your holiday let.- That's wonderful.

0:21:01 > 0:21:03'Perfect.

0:21:03 > 0:21:06'This holiday accommodation was a cattle barn in a previous life,

0:21:06 > 0:21:09'but now it's a comfortable cottage, with a double bedroom

0:21:09 > 0:21:13'and open-plan living area, complete with kitchenette and bathroom.

0:21:13 > 0:21:17'The current owners gain a reasonable income by letting it out

0:21:17 > 0:21:19'for 40 weeks of the year

0:21:19 > 0:21:24'to mountain bikers keen to explore the epic forest.'

0:21:24 > 0:21:27'The farmhouse itself is over 150 years old.

0:21:27 > 0:21:31'I really hope Charles and Diana like its rustic features.'

0:21:31 > 0:21:37- What do you think of this?- Yes. Perfect.- Isn't it cosy?- Lovely.

0:21:37 > 0:21:42It all rambles a bit, but it's got that really lovely...

0:21:42 > 0:21:44You've got the space to do stuff, haven't you?

0:21:44 > 0:21:47The range cooker over there - even if everything else went, you could reconfigure.

0:21:47 > 0:21:49And these are lovely,

0:21:49 > 0:21:51these fantastic butter-making slate troughs,

0:21:51 > 0:21:55which they have utilised as an additional sink-cum-drainer.

0:21:55 > 0:21:59- It's charming. I can see what we can do with it.- Let's continue.

0:21:59 > 0:22:04'Great responses. Let's see if the next room is as inspiring.'

0:22:04 > 0:22:09- So, off the kitchen is this. - Ah.- Look at the stairs.

0:22:09 > 0:22:13- The stairs are perhaps the feature of the room.- Quirky.

0:22:13 > 0:22:16Quite medieval in feel.

0:22:16 > 0:22:20I like it, I like the idea of it, the flagstones on the floor.

0:22:20 > 0:22:22Love this floor, beautiful.

0:22:22 > 0:22:26This is essentially one of the more historic parts of the building,

0:22:26 > 0:22:30but there is a generous two-storey extension through that door,

0:22:30 > 0:22:35which has provided downstairs two reception rooms.

0:22:35 > 0:22:37One is currently set up as a bedroom

0:22:37 > 0:22:40and there is also a shower room down there as well.

0:22:40 > 0:22:43Well, let's tackle those stairs and go up. Have a look.

0:22:45 > 0:22:47'On the first floor of this family home,

0:22:47 > 0:22:50'there are three good-sized bedrooms either side of the hall -

0:22:50 > 0:22:54'two singles, and one that is currently set up as a twin,

0:22:54 > 0:22:57'but would easily take a double bed. Plus, there is a bathroom.'

0:23:00 > 0:23:06- This is the master.- Wow. Good! Amazing. The bath!

0:23:06 > 0:23:12Yes, that... We'll call it an en suite, loosely.

0:23:12 > 0:23:14- It doesn't have a loo, fortunately.- Just as well!

0:23:14 > 0:23:16Yes, but it's got everything else.

0:23:16 > 0:23:18It's got a cottage feel,

0:23:18 > 0:23:20but not that crammed-in cottage look about it.

0:23:20 > 0:23:24It doesn't feel crammed in. It's got this nice high ceiling.

0:23:24 > 0:23:27- And lots of light coming in. - Lots of light.- And what a view.

0:23:27 > 0:23:30Well, let's explore that. Have a look - this is gorgeous.

0:23:30 > 0:23:34'Charles and Diana seem to love the view, and it's no surprise,

0:23:34 > 0:23:37'because open the French doors in the master bedroom

0:23:37 > 0:23:41'and you have the perfect vantage point to take it all in.'

0:23:41 > 0:23:43- Wow.- Not bad, eh?- Not bad at all.

0:23:43 > 0:23:48And this allows you to take in some of the other bits and pieces that come with it.

0:23:48 > 0:23:51Needless to say, you get this yard, and this paddock ahead of us

0:23:51 > 0:23:53is also a bit of it.

0:23:53 > 0:23:55A bit of it.

0:23:55 > 0:23:59'I say "just a bit" because with this property

0:23:59 > 0:24:02'you get a massive 11 acres of land to explore.

0:24:02 > 0:24:06'There are three fields, three duck ponds, some stables,

0:24:06 > 0:24:09'beautiful glades and the river,

0:24:09 > 0:24:12'which the owners of the property have rights to fish in.

0:24:12 > 0:24:14'So that is substantially more than Charles

0:24:14 > 0:24:18'and Diana's requested one acre of land for a veggie plot.'

0:24:18 > 0:24:22So, here we are at the end of our house tour of the mystery house.

0:24:22 > 0:24:24Let's have a think about the price

0:24:24 > 0:24:27and see if that also brings a smile to your faces.

0:24:27 > 0:24:31I think this has got to be right at the top end of our budget.

0:24:31 > 0:24:33I'd say 495.

0:24:33 > 0:24:36I'll go for £485,000.

0:24:36 > 0:24:40485,000, you are the eternal optimist, aren't you?

0:24:42 > 0:24:44OK, well, I can see how much you like this.

0:24:44 > 0:24:48The good news is that it is under budget, but only by 50 quid.

0:24:48 > 0:24:52So it's 499,950.

0:24:52 > 0:24:57But I do think it offers you, once again, fantastic value for money.

0:24:57 > 0:24:59Go and have a look around,

0:24:59 > 0:25:03see how you would mould this into your future home, I hope.

0:25:03 > 0:25:07- I'll catch up with you later. - Brilliant.- Thanks.

0:25:07 > 0:25:11This remote smallholding comes in at the very top

0:25:11 > 0:25:15of their budget at just under £500,000.

0:25:15 > 0:25:19But for that, they get a splendid holiday let with a potential

0:25:19 > 0:25:21income of £8,000 a year,

0:25:21 > 0:25:25along with 11 acres of land, including a river.

0:25:25 > 0:25:28The five-bedroom house has some splendid features,

0:25:28 > 0:25:31like a stone staircase in the living room,

0:25:31 > 0:25:33but will this remote haven win them over?

0:25:33 > 0:25:39It's a great house, a wonderful garden, and lots of room.

0:25:39 > 0:25:42The house itself is full of character.

0:25:42 > 0:25:46Most of the rooms are excellent,

0:25:46 > 0:25:51maybe a slight bit of tweaking. Apart from that, it's good.

0:25:51 > 0:25:55I love the mystery property, I think it has everything that

0:25:55 > 0:25:58we put on our wish list, and more besides.

0:26:04 > 0:26:09Well, here we are on the banks of the river at the end of our house search.

0:26:09 > 0:26:13- Have you enjoyed yourselves? - Enormously.- We had a fantastic time.

0:26:13 > 0:26:16Let's remind ourselves of the three properties that we looked at.

0:26:16 > 0:26:20We started off above Port Talbot in the hills. What did you think of that one?

0:26:20 > 0:26:24The location itself was quite splendid, amongst those beautiful mountains and forests.

0:26:24 > 0:26:28But your concerns were...what?

0:26:28 > 0:26:31Partly it was the fact there were some neighbours very close by.

0:26:31 > 0:26:35And once we'd worked through what we could fix, and then looked at what

0:26:35 > 0:26:38would be left, even the bits that were left were still not quite right,

0:26:38 > 0:26:40and we are after our dream.

0:26:40 > 0:26:44Well, I thought we'd found your dream with our second property,

0:26:44 > 0:26:48that gorgeous wisteria-covered cottage with a fantastic garden.

0:26:48 > 0:26:52Absolutely, it was a chocolate-box cottage.

0:26:52 > 0:26:54But you had a concern over the neighbour,

0:26:54 > 0:26:56which rather took me by surprise.

0:26:56 > 0:27:00I think what that helped us do was really figure out how important

0:27:00 > 0:27:03it was to have that exclusivity and feeling of privacy, and it really

0:27:03 > 0:27:07made us think that's one thing we didn't want to compromise on.

0:27:07 > 0:27:10Well, that I can certainly relate to, which is why

0:27:10 > 0:27:13I was very excited about taking you to our mystery house, with

0:27:13 > 0:27:19its 11 acres, with the holiday annexe - an absolutely delightful property.

0:27:19 > 0:27:22Beautiful house, very little needing to do with it.

0:27:22 > 0:27:25Fantastic potential for the garden, and all that beautiful land as well.

0:27:25 > 0:27:30We could picture ourselves in that property, and it was difficult to leave, wasn't it, really?

0:27:30 > 0:27:33We were going out and saying, "Look, that's probably ours, that's probably ours."

0:27:33 > 0:27:35It was a beautiful place.

0:27:35 > 0:27:38So what's going to happen next with Charles and Diana?

0:27:38 > 0:27:41Well, we're definitely going back for a second viewing

0:27:41 > 0:27:43- in the next week, and we'll go from there.- Brilliant.

0:27:43 > 0:27:46Well, I highly recommend living in this part of the world,

0:27:46 > 0:27:49and it would be a joy if you moved in. It's been a pleasure. Good luck.

0:27:49 > 0:27:52Thank you, thank you very much for your hard work and efforts.

0:27:52 > 0:27:54- Pleasure.- It's been great.

0:27:58 > 0:28:01Well, there's no two ways about it, when you're blessed with

0:28:01 > 0:28:04glorious weather, fantastic properties, and wonderful buyers

0:28:04 > 0:28:07like Charles and Diana, you know you're in for a treat.

0:28:07 > 0:28:10So this week has proven. We've seen some fantastic properties.

0:28:10 > 0:28:14But I have to confess, if they don't buy that mystery house,

0:28:14 > 0:28:17I just might.

0:28:18 > 0:28:21If you'd like to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales,

0:28:21 > 0:28:23Northern Ireland or England

0:28:23 > 0:28:27and would like our help, please apply online:

0:28:51 > 0:28:54Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd