North Cumbria

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0:00:02 > 0:00:03"I wandered lonely as a cloud

0:00:03 > 0:00:06"That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

0:00:06 > 0:00:10"When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils."

0:00:10 > 0:00:13"The great Romantic poet William Wordsworth

0:00:13 > 0:00:16was inspired by this spectacular landscape

0:00:16 > 0:00:19when he penned his celebrated Daffodils poem.

0:00:19 > 0:00:22So where am I? Find out in just a moment.

0:00:52 > 0:00:56On today's show, I'll be helping a couple of rambling enthusiasts

0:00:56 > 0:00:59set up home together for the very first time.

0:00:59 > 0:01:02We've got plenty of great properties for them to fall for.

0:01:02 > 0:01:06- Oh, wow, yes. That's brilliant, isn't it, Kevin?- Yeah.

0:01:06 > 0:01:10But will the mystery house make them want to take a step into the unknown?

0:01:10 > 0:01:14- Yeah.- Kevin, it's glorious. - I'm almost speechless for once.

0:01:17 > 0:01:21Today, I'm in Cumbria and this is Ullswater,

0:01:21 > 0:01:25one of the largest lakes in the county's spectacular Lake District.

0:01:25 > 0:01:28It was along the shores of this lake in 18O2

0:01:28 > 0:01:31that Wordsworth stumbled upon his famous daffodils.

0:01:31 > 0:01:34He once described Ullswater as "the happiest combination of beauty

0:01:34 > 0:01:37"and grandeur that any of the lakes affords."

0:01:37 > 0:01:40Looking round today, it's very hard to argue otherwise.

0:01:43 > 0:01:46Cumbria is the third largest county in England

0:01:46 > 0:01:49and one of the most beautiful and diverse.

0:01:49 > 0:01:53Flanked by the Scottish border to the north,

0:01:53 > 0:01:55Lancashire and North Yorkshire to the south

0:01:55 > 0:01:58and County Durham and Northumberland to the east,

0:01:58 > 0:02:02it's largely a rural region which is sparsely populated.

0:02:02 > 0:02:06Less than 10% of Cumbria's residents live in the Lake District National Park,

0:02:06 > 0:02:09which covers around a third of the entire county.

0:02:09 > 0:02:11But the dramatic landscape

0:02:11 > 0:02:15that inspired the likes of Beatrix Potter and Arthur Ransome

0:02:15 > 0:02:18attract tourists and walkers by the busload.

0:02:18 > 0:02:21The region contains some of the country's finest footpaths

0:02:21 > 0:02:23and is perfect for rambling,

0:02:23 > 0:02:27water-skiing or just sitting back and letting it all wash over you.

0:02:27 > 0:02:3015 million visitors a year can't be wrong.

0:02:33 > 0:02:35With such a great selection of properties on the market here,

0:02:35 > 0:02:37things look promising for today's buyers.

0:02:37 > 0:02:41The question is, what type of house will suit their needs?

0:02:41 > 0:02:43Let's meet them and find out.

0:02:44 > 0:02:48Meet Kevin, an ex-company director, and Carol, a social worker.

0:02:48 > 0:02:51They have a shared love of the Lake District,

0:02:51 > 0:02:54having met there on a rambling holiday.

0:02:54 > 0:02:57Kevin is now planning to sell his house in Leamington Spa

0:02:57 > 0:02:59and move up to Cumbria, where Carol already lives,

0:02:59 > 0:03:02so they can buy their very first home together.

0:03:02 > 0:03:06I've beaten Kevin because I'm already up in the Lake District.

0:03:06 > 0:03:10- I moved about a year ago. - You're so competitive.- Yeah.

0:03:10 > 0:03:12So competitive!

0:03:12 > 0:03:15They have fixed ideas on location.

0:03:15 > 0:03:19The area we're looking to move to is the Penrith area

0:03:19 > 0:03:22of the Lake District, which is just outside the National Park.

0:03:22 > 0:03:25And with Carol's insider knowledge of the area,

0:03:25 > 0:03:28they're already clued up about what's on offer.

0:03:28 > 0:03:31It's got very good access into the Lake District

0:03:31 > 0:03:34and the Yorkshire Dales, and also it's got a mainline railway station

0:03:34 > 0:03:36so it's got access to the south as well.

0:03:36 > 0:03:39Carol's already making the most of Cumbria,

0:03:39 > 0:03:41and she's hoping Kevin will do the same.

0:03:41 > 0:03:45Currently, I volunteer in the Lake District National Park as a walk leader.

0:03:45 > 0:03:50I've been doing this for a couple of years now and I really, really enjoy that.

0:03:50 > 0:03:52In fact, that's where I met Kevin.

0:03:52 > 0:03:55I'm going to hopefully rope him in in the near future

0:03:55 > 0:03:57to become a volunteer himself.

0:03:59 > 0:04:01As for their new home,

0:04:01 > 0:04:04they've got very clear ideas about what they want.

0:04:04 > 0:04:06We'd like a similar sort of space to what I've got here

0:04:06 > 0:04:09at the moment, which is around about 3,000 square foot.

0:04:09 > 0:04:13We'd like four or five bedrooms because we'll get lots of visitors.

0:04:13 > 0:04:16- Friends and family, definitely. - Absolutely.

0:04:16 > 0:04:18A lovely view from the lounge.

0:04:18 > 0:04:21- A log burner.- Definitely. Nice big kitchen.

0:04:21 > 0:04:24These two are certainly practical,

0:04:24 > 0:04:26but they're also mindful of some of the finer details.

0:04:26 > 0:04:31We'd like a combination of new and old with character, really.

0:04:31 > 0:04:34Ideally, eco-friendly as well, really.

0:04:34 > 0:04:37Ideally, we'd like solar panel heating,

0:04:37 > 0:04:41air source heat pump heating system, that sort of thing,

0:04:41 > 0:04:44which is going to be very efficient in future.

0:04:44 > 0:04:47Probably a small garden. We don't want a huge amount of land, do we?

0:04:47 > 0:04:51- We don't.- The fells are going to be our garden, aren't they?- Yes.

0:04:51 > 0:04:55So with the dream of the fells as their playground, Kevin and Carol

0:04:55 > 0:04:58are more than ready to embark on the next stage of their life together.

0:04:58 > 0:05:03There's only one thing to nail down - how much they're willing to spend on their new home.

0:05:03 > 0:05:06Our maximum budget for this move is £600,000.

0:05:09 > 0:05:15So, our keen walkers have £600,000 to spend on a home that mixes old with new.

0:05:15 > 0:05:17This quite healthy budget should easily stretch

0:05:17 > 0:05:19to maybe a four- to five-bedroom house,

0:05:19 > 0:05:23especially as they're looking outside of the National Park boundary.

0:05:23 > 0:05:28My only concern is, this size of home normally comes with a pretty big garden.

0:05:28 > 0:05:32Oddly enough, that's just what they don't want. Let's see how we get on.

0:05:35 > 0:05:37Kevin and Carol have set their hearts

0:05:37 > 0:05:40on a new home together in Cumbria.

0:05:40 > 0:05:42As Carol currently lives in the area,

0:05:42 > 0:05:44they've already got great insider knowledge

0:05:44 > 0:05:47and they've decided they want to be as close as possible to the lakes.

0:05:47 > 0:05:50We'll be focusing our search around Penrith.

0:05:50 > 0:05:54We've uncovered three fantastic properties for our buyers to look at.

0:05:54 > 0:05:58But I won't be telling them the price until they've had a guess first.

0:05:58 > 0:06:02I'm hoping our mystery house won't have our ramblers

0:06:02 > 0:06:04walking in the opposite direction.

0:06:07 > 0:06:12- At the moment, pretty good start to the day, isn't it?- Definitely.

0:06:12 > 0:06:14This must be very exciting for a couple of reasons.

0:06:14 > 0:06:18First of all, you're buying your first house together.

0:06:18 > 0:06:19We are indeed.

0:06:19 > 0:06:22You've both chosen your target area,

0:06:22 > 0:06:25just to the north of the Lake District proper, if you like.

0:06:25 > 0:06:27Just outside the National Park boundary. Why is that?

0:06:27 > 0:06:31We're conscious that we're going to get far more for our money,

0:06:31 > 0:06:34hopefully, outside of the National Park because, obviously,

0:06:34 > 0:06:35it's a lot more expensive within.

0:06:35 > 0:06:40Also accessibility. It has a good motorway and train links, north and south as well.

0:06:40 > 0:06:42- To go back home.- Yeah, definitely.

0:06:42 > 0:06:45- The budget. - Maximum is probably 600,000.

0:06:45 > 0:06:48We wanted to see what we can get for the price

0:06:48 > 0:06:51- I'll be getting for my house back in Leamington.- OK.

0:06:51 > 0:06:54What's interesting, really, really interesting about today,

0:06:54 > 0:06:56is the fact that, obviously,

0:06:56 > 0:06:59the first house I learn a lot about what you really want.

0:06:59 > 0:07:03- OK.- I think you're going to learn a lot about each other and what they really want.

0:07:03 > 0:07:07- Indeed.- Let's all start learning together with the first house.

0:07:07 > 0:07:09- Excellent.- Sounds great.- This way.

0:07:14 > 0:07:19With a budget of £600,000, Kevin and Carol want an eco-friendly home

0:07:19 > 0:07:23with a minimum of four bedrooms and a mix of old and new.

0:07:23 > 0:07:26They want to be close to a village but not too remote,

0:07:26 > 0:07:28and they don't need much outside space

0:07:28 > 0:07:32as they're hoping the fells will provide their garden for them.

0:07:34 > 0:07:37We're starting our property search in Blencarn,

0:07:37 > 0:07:42which is a short drive from the village of Culgaith, located in the beautiful Eden Valley.

0:07:42 > 0:07:46Culgaith, meaning corner wood, is a modest village

0:07:46 > 0:07:48and has been around since medieval times.

0:07:48 > 0:07:51It owes its current existence to the Settle-Carlisle railway,

0:07:51 > 0:07:54which dates back to the 1870s.

0:07:54 > 0:07:58It's got a 17th-century pub, a fishing lake

0:07:58 > 0:08:01and a local community hall.

0:08:01 > 0:08:03A short drive away is the village of Blencarn,

0:08:03 > 0:08:07which lies in the shadow of Cross Fell, the highest point in the Pennines.

0:08:07 > 0:08:12Our first house is a converted barn situated on a new development.

0:08:12 > 0:08:15This is the property we're going to have a look around.

0:08:15 > 0:08:18- OK.- What are your first impressions? - Looks interesting.

0:08:18 > 0:08:21It looks quite olde worlde.

0:08:21 > 0:08:25This was originally a barn for a huge farm complex.

0:08:25 > 0:08:30Now, this was built back in 1763 but it was all converted,

0:08:30 > 0:08:33pretty much razed to the ground and rebuilt in 2006.

0:08:33 > 0:08:35- Right, OK.- Do you like that?

0:08:35 > 0:08:38- Do you like the old?- Yeah, I do. Definitely.- Yes.

0:08:38 > 0:08:41If you like this, hopefully you'll see there's little to do.

0:08:41 > 0:08:45- Brilliant.- Come with me and I'll show you.- Excellent.

0:08:45 > 0:08:48With little work needed, I've got high hopes for this house.

0:08:48 > 0:08:50It's the perfect mix of old and new,

0:08:50 > 0:08:52just what our buyers are looking for.

0:08:52 > 0:08:55Now, I think you, Carol, for one,

0:08:55 > 0:08:58said you liked the idea of maybe something open plan.

0:08:58 > 0:09:04- Yes.- And the kitchen was the heart of the home, I think your words were.

0:09:04 > 0:09:09- Yes, that does look very nice. - Does it?- Yes, it does.- Good.

0:09:09 > 0:09:11Good size, isn't it? Good-sized room.

0:09:11 > 0:09:17- I like the beam as well.- This is the old and new, isn't it?- Yes.

0:09:17 > 0:09:20- I think it's lovely. - It's a nice size.- OK.- Definitely.

0:09:20 > 0:09:21Let's keep looking around,

0:09:21 > 0:09:25- and hopefully it remains spacious and light for you.- OK.

0:09:27 > 0:09:29Well, that's a positive response.

0:09:29 > 0:09:32Let's hope I'm on track with the rest of the house.

0:09:34 > 0:09:37This is the first of a couple of reception rooms.

0:09:37 > 0:09:39I want to point out these wonderful beams.

0:09:39 > 0:09:41That's good, isn't it? That's nice.

0:09:41 > 0:09:43This is always going to be a through room,

0:09:43 > 0:09:46so have a think about what you're going to use this for.

0:09:46 > 0:09:53- This is obviously more of a formal or full-time living room.- OK. Yes.

0:09:53 > 0:09:56- Good size, isn't it? - It is a good size.- It is.

0:09:56 > 0:09:59- You've got your wood-burning stove, which you wanted.- That's right.

0:09:59 > 0:10:00Now, at the end,

0:10:00 > 0:10:03you'll notice these doors are all pushed back at the moment.

0:10:03 > 0:10:05You could, if you wanted to,

0:10:05 > 0:10:08just put those doors across and that could be a part-time bedroom.

0:10:08 > 0:10:11- Oh, yeah, that's ideal. - Definitely.- Good idea.

0:10:11 > 0:10:14The downstairs has the benefit of a utility room

0:10:14 > 0:10:16and a ground floor shower room,

0:10:16 > 0:10:20should they decide they do want to turn the study into a part-time bedroom.

0:10:20 > 0:10:23And upstairs, I think the master's a really good size.

0:10:25 > 0:10:28Is this the room that you'd want to come and lay your head at night?

0:10:28 > 0:10:33- It's very light. It's very big as well.- A good size, isn't it?

0:10:33 > 0:10:37- It is. I like the skylight as well. - It's got a bit of light, hasn't it?

0:10:37 > 0:10:41Just peek your head round the corner there. You've got an en suite.

0:10:41 > 0:10:43- OK.- Right.

0:10:43 > 0:10:47Is this house a potential home for you?

0:10:47 > 0:10:51- A potential first home for both of you?- Yeah.

0:10:51 > 0:10:55- This wing, both downstairs and upstairs, feels very homely, doesn't it?- It does.

0:10:55 > 0:11:00This house offers a further three bedrooms,

0:11:00 > 0:11:04all of which are a good size and two of which share an en suite shower room.

0:11:04 > 0:11:07Plus there's a further family bathroom.

0:11:07 > 0:11:10Outside, it has the benefit of a large garage

0:11:10 > 0:11:13which could be turned into a workshop or a games room.

0:11:13 > 0:11:15Now, they don't want a massive garden,

0:11:15 > 0:11:19and I think the size of this one should suit them.

0:11:22 > 0:11:25Now then, I think, Carol, you in particular said you wanted

0:11:25 > 0:11:29a fairly modest-sized garden, but a garden nonetheless.

0:11:29 > 0:11:33- Definitely.- It's a good size, isn't it?- It is.

0:11:33 > 0:11:35It's just about right, isn't it?

0:11:35 > 0:11:40- How much do you think this house is on the market for at the moment?- OK.

0:11:40 > 0:11:45- Maybe 550,000?- 550,000. Kevin?

0:11:45 > 0:11:47520.

0:11:49 > 0:11:51- Brutal.- Ooh!

0:11:51 > 0:11:56- This place is on the market for £570,000.- Right, OK.

0:11:56 > 0:11:57- Oh!- Right.

0:11:57 > 0:11:59When you go back inside the house,

0:11:59 > 0:12:02have a look at some of the other bedrooms

0:12:02 > 0:12:05- OK, That's great. Thanks, Jonnie. - Catch you in a minute.- Thanks.

0:12:05 > 0:12:09So, £570,000 provides our buyers

0:12:09 > 0:12:12with four good-sized double bedrooms,

0:12:12 > 0:12:17three large reception rooms and a tasteful mix of old and new.

0:12:17 > 0:12:19The garden is the right size, too,

0:12:19 > 0:12:21but will this property be their dream home?

0:12:21 > 0:12:27I like the old beams and the originality of the property

0:12:27 > 0:12:31as well as the wood-burning stove, I love that.

0:12:31 > 0:12:33The kitchen is fantastic.

0:12:33 > 0:12:37I actually like the house - it's actually warmed on me.

0:12:37 > 0:12:40If I'm honest, it's probably the location

0:12:40 > 0:12:43rather than the house itself which is putting me off a little bit.

0:12:51 > 0:12:57Let's hope that our next property is a step in the right direction to finding their new home.

0:12:57 > 0:13:00We continue our search towards Greystoke, a village on the edge

0:13:00 > 0:13:05of the Lake District National Park, about four miles west of Penrith.

0:13:05 > 0:13:09At the heart of Graystock is a village green

0:13:09 > 0:13:13which still retains an ancient market cross dating back to the early 1600s.

0:13:13 > 0:13:17The village has a pub and a post office

0:13:17 > 0:13:21and excellent access to cycle routes around the nearby fells.

0:13:21 > 0:13:24Tucked away in a rural location a short drive from the village

0:13:24 > 0:13:29is our next property, situated at the end of a quiet country lane.

0:13:31 > 0:13:33Now, for property number two,

0:13:33 > 0:13:37you are literally on the edge of the National Park boundary.

0:13:37 > 0:13:41- OK.- Because we're maybe a little more remote,

0:13:41 > 0:13:43you get a lot of property.

0:13:43 > 0:13:47What you get here is again, hopefully,

0:13:47 > 0:13:49this fusion of old and new.

0:13:49 > 0:13:52You get some really nice period features,

0:13:52 > 0:13:56but you do get this open space and good-sized rooms.

0:13:58 > 0:14:01This house is a large and sprawling home,

0:14:01 > 0:14:04and I hope the size won't be too daunting for them

0:14:04 > 0:14:08because it has some great original features I think they could fall in love with.

0:14:10 > 0:14:13OK. What do you make of this room, then?

0:14:13 > 0:14:16Wow, I like the stunning wood-burning stove there.

0:14:16 > 0:14:20- First thing you see, isn't it? - It is, yeah.

0:14:20 > 0:14:22There's lots of little touches

0:14:22 > 0:14:26and the bits of the original character coming through.

0:14:26 > 0:14:30Also, I noticed the first time I've heard "Wow," which is encouraging.

0:14:30 > 0:14:34Now, I think this is pretty clever, what they've done here.

0:14:34 > 0:14:36Obviously, it was two rooms.

0:14:36 > 0:14:38They've opened it up but still kept some separation.

0:14:38 > 0:14:45- It makes it a nice big open room, doesn't it?- Does indeed, yeah. - Brought the one into the other.

0:14:45 > 0:14:49Well, I think whatever you decide to use this for will be influenced

0:14:49 > 0:14:53- once you've seen the next room.- OK.

0:14:56 > 0:15:02- Now, this room is deceptively large. - Gosh, it is.- It's a good size.

0:15:02 > 0:15:05- It is. Look at this here. - That feature there.

0:15:05 > 0:15:08- These are probably 200 years old, these mullioned windows.- Right.

0:15:08 > 0:15:12But used to good effect because through this window,

0:15:12 > 0:15:14and there's a lovely doorway here,

0:15:14 > 0:15:16there's a really nice living room or snug.

0:15:16 > 0:15:21Now, open fires after a hard day's walking, you come and relax in here.

0:15:21 > 0:15:27- Right.- Oh, wow. That's brilliant, isn't it?- It is. It's lovely.

0:15:27 > 0:15:30- Again, you've got a lot of light coming through.- Deceptively so.

0:15:30 > 0:15:33That's right.

0:15:33 > 0:15:35And this isn't the only lounge on the ground floor.

0:15:35 > 0:15:38Past the utility room,

0:15:38 > 0:15:42there's another living room which is also packed full of character.

0:15:42 > 0:15:46The current owners, I believe, did a lot of the work here.

0:15:46 > 0:15:48- Wow.- It speaks volumes.

0:15:48 > 0:15:50The quality of the workmanship,

0:15:50 > 0:15:54- you can see as soon as you walk in, can't you?- You can.

0:15:54 > 0:15:56Well, to try and get you on side even more,

0:15:56 > 0:16:01- I want us to pop our heads around this doorway here.- OK.

0:16:04 > 0:16:09- I know you've mentioned a games room, Kevin.- Now we're talking.

0:16:11 > 0:16:15- Kevin!- That's a decent size, isn't it?- That's ideal, isn't it?

0:16:15 > 0:16:19- Perfect.- Yeah?- Best room so far.

0:16:20 > 0:16:24There's an extra guest bedroom and a wet room on the ground floor,

0:16:24 > 0:16:26but now I'm going to show them upstairs.

0:16:26 > 0:16:29I wonder what they'll make of the room that could be theirs.

0:16:29 > 0:16:33- This is your master, I think.- OK.- Right.

0:16:33 > 0:16:37- It's a good-sized room, isn't it? - It is, yeah.- Big enough?- I think so.

0:16:37 > 0:16:40A bit too big, even.

0:16:40 > 0:16:43I know you'll find it hard to believe I'm saying that, really.

0:16:43 > 0:16:45I'll find it hard to take!

0:16:45 > 0:16:50I get what you mean because it sprawls around on the ground floor.

0:16:50 > 0:16:53Upstairs, I think the house becomes a little smaller,

0:16:53 > 0:16:55a little bit more manageable.

0:16:57 > 0:17:00It's certainly more manageable, but this house still has

0:17:00 > 0:17:04a further four bedrooms upstairs including two singles and two doubles,

0:17:04 > 0:17:07one of which features a nice touch of exposed stone.

0:17:07 > 0:17:10There's also two more bathrooms up here as well,

0:17:10 > 0:17:13but if Kevin thinks the house might be a bit too big,

0:17:13 > 0:17:15what will they both think of the garden?

0:17:21 > 0:17:25- Now, slightly bigger garden than the first house.- It's enormous.

0:17:25 > 0:17:29- It's massive.- It's a park.- You're sat in about an acre plot size.

0:17:29 > 0:17:32If you want a four or five bedroom house,

0:17:32 > 0:17:36it's going to sit on a decent size plot of land.

0:17:36 > 0:17:42How much do you think this lovely farmhouse is on the market for?

0:17:42 > 0:17:46I think this is going to be towards the top end of our budget.

0:17:46 > 0:17:49I would say 595.

0:17:49 > 0:17:51595 from Kevin.

0:17:51 > 0:17:57- Carol?- 590,000, I think.

0:17:57 > 0:18:03Well, this house is on the market for £600,000.

0:18:03 > 0:18:06- Yes!- Oh, wow.- Why don't you go back inside the house,

0:18:06 > 0:18:10have a look around all the rooms, might take you some time.

0:18:10 > 0:18:14- I will catch you when you finish at the front.- Thanks, Jonnie.- Cheers.

0:18:14 > 0:18:19Priced at £600,000, this spacious extended period cottage

0:18:19 > 0:18:22on the edge of the Lake District National Park

0:18:22 > 0:18:26has a whopping six bedrooms, four reception rooms,

0:18:26 > 0:18:29a host of original features and about an acre of land.

0:18:29 > 0:18:33It is stunning, but is it too much for our buyers?

0:18:33 > 0:18:39Certainly location-wise, this house is a little bit more than what we were hoping for

0:18:39 > 0:18:44and obviously right on the very edge of the Lake District National Park, which is perfect.

0:18:44 > 0:18:50The house for me is very spectacular with the old stonework and the beams.

0:18:50 > 0:18:55Downstairs is lovely, when I first walked in,

0:18:55 > 0:18:59but I don't feel as though it's home to me.

0:18:59 > 0:19:02I don't feel that I could be at home here.

0:19:11 > 0:19:13As night falls over the Lakes,

0:19:13 > 0:19:17our buyers have a chance to reflect on the properties they've seen so far

0:19:17 > 0:19:20and speculate on what surprises the mystery house has in store.

0:19:23 > 0:19:27Yesterday seemed to be a battle between house and location.

0:19:27 > 0:19:31I really don't know what side of the fence Kevin and Carol will fall.

0:19:31 > 0:19:33Today, we're off to see the mystery house.

0:19:33 > 0:19:36As ever, it's here to challenge our housebuyers' expectations

0:19:36 > 0:19:39and it, as normal, comes with a compromise.

0:19:39 > 0:19:42Although the upside, this gives them elements

0:19:42 > 0:19:44of what escaping to the country is all about.

0:19:44 > 0:19:47And for Kevin, it's also got a trick up its sleeve.

0:19:50 > 0:19:52- So today is a new day.- Yeah.

0:19:52 > 0:19:56- Obviously we're on our way to the mystery house.- OK.

0:19:56 > 0:20:00This is where I would normally ask you what you think it might be

0:20:00 > 0:20:03and hope you get it completely wrong.

0:20:03 > 0:20:05- Right.- What do you think it could be?

0:20:05 > 0:20:10I've been thinking that it's going to be an apartment.

0:20:10 > 0:20:13- It could be, couldn't it?- You think it could be an apartment?

0:20:13 > 0:20:17- No garden.- No garden of our own. - Of our own.- Yeah.

0:20:17 > 0:20:19With the mystery house, you never know.

0:20:19 > 0:20:22- I might have found you something to do.- Right, OK.- Oh!

0:20:22 > 0:20:23Or not.

0:20:23 > 0:20:26A really big games room, you mean?

0:20:26 > 0:20:29Well, Kevin might have plenty of times for games

0:20:29 > 0:20:33once he's put the finishing touches to our mystery house,

0:20:33 > 0:20:36which lies in the village of Great Musgrave in Upper Eden,

0:20:36 > 0:20:39close to the small market town of Brough.

0:20:39 > 0:20:44In the 19th century, Brough was renowned as a coaching stop between England and Scotland.

0:20:44 > 0:20:47A number of inns catered for passing trade,

0:20:47 > 0:20:49and buildings from this period can still be seen.

0:20:49 > 0:20:53The remains of Brough Castle date back to the 12th century

0:20:53 > 0:20:57and sit on an old Roman fort.

0:20:57 > 0:21:01Our mystery property certainly offers more than meets the eye.

0:21:01 > 0:21:02This is the mystery house.

0:21:02 > 0:21:04A bit outside your target area,

0:21:04 > 0:21:08but you mentioned a couple of things to me yesterday morning

0:21:08 > 0:21:12- that none of the houses have yet provided you with.- Right.

0:21:12 > 0:21:15- One was views, you said you wanted at the top.- Yes.

0:21:15 > 0:21:20- Without saying too much, you mentioned you'd like the house to be quite eco-friendly.- Absolutely.

0:21:20 > 0:21:25- This house gives you both of those. - Oh, wow, yes. It looks smashing.

0:21:25 > 0:21:26I think this is fantastic, actually.

0:21:26 > 0:21:29You might even get my first proper "Wow" today.

0:21:29 > 0:21:32I'll keep my fingers crossed for that. Let's see inside.

0:21:32 > 0:21:35What a fantastic first reaction to our mystery house,

0:21:35 > 0:21:38which I hope we can build on inside,

0:21:38 > 0:21:40although they'll need to use their imagination

0:21:40 > 0:21:44as this property is newly converted and currently unfurnished.

0:21:44 > 0:21:48OK, in we come. Downstairs living there.

0:21:48 > 0:21:51I want to bring you into this first reception room.

0:21:51 > 0:21:56- Straight away, it gives you the views, Carol.- It does, yes.

0:21:56 > 0:22:00- That's magical.- It's a little on the small side, isn't it?

0:22:00 > 0:22:05- Yes, but I'd be quite happy... as our living room here.- Yeah.

0:22:07 > 0:22:11- Here I was thinking could be a dining room.- OK.

0:22:11 > 0:22:16- There's planning consent for a conservatory facing west.- Is there?

0:22:16 > 0:22:18- All right.- But wait till you see this room here.

0:22:18 > 0:22:21Wow, look at this. Gosh.

0:22:21 > 0:22:24But this is where I think, another reason why

0:22:24 > 0:22:28it's a great mystery house, is that you get your chance to put

0:22:28 > 0:22:31your own stamp on it without having to do a lot of the work.

0:22:31 > 0:22:33This is just a choice of fit-out.

0:22:33 > 0:22:36- The kitchen fitters come here and fit it for you.- Yeah.

0:22:37 > 0:22:41Our mystery house also has a great eco feature in place,

0:22:41 > 0:22:43harnessing heat from the Earth.

0:22:45 > 0:22:48- Kevin, prepare yourself.- OK.- We're about to talk about a boiler room.

0:22:48 > 0:22:50- Right.- OK?

0:22:50 > 0:22:58- Now, this is a geothermal ground source heating system.- OK.

0:22:58 > 0:23:04Top systems can save you anything up to 75% off your fuel bills.

0:23:04 > 0:23:08The ground floor also has a WC, a shower room

0:23:08 > 0:23:11and a room which could be used as a bedroom or study.

0:23:11 > 0:23:14The first floor is a blank canvas just waiting

0:23:14 > 0:23:18for Kevin and Carol to put their very own mark on it.

0:23:18 > 0:23:22Now up here, you have all the bedrooms you will need.

0:23:22 > 0:23:25You've got five bedrooms in total,

0:23:25 > 0:23:28a great family bathroom with a separate shower there.

0:23:28 > 0:23:32- Bedroom number four has a walk-in wardrobe.- Right.

0:23:32 > 0:23:36The master bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe the size of a single bedroom.

0:23:36 > 0:23:39That would be OK for your clothes, wouldn't it?

0:23:39 > 0:23:41- Look at the size of this. - That's great.

0:23:41 > 0:23:44- Even get your big bed in here. - Yeah, that's incredible.

0:23:44 > 0:23:45It's fantastic.

0:23:45 > 0:23:47Everywhere you look,

0:23:47 > 0:23:51you've got fells or hills or rolling countryside.

0:23:51 > 0:23:55- Kevin, it's glorious. - I'm almost speechless for once.

0:23:55 > 0:23:57This room has a bathroom attached,

0:23:57 > 0:24:02and there are also a further three light and airy bedrooms on the first floor.

0:24:02 > 0:24:06This house really does offer everything our buyers put on their wish list.

0:24:06 > 0:24:10And the views, well, they're simply spectacular.

0:24:12 > 0:24:14Look at this for an aspect here.

0:24:15 > 0:24:20- Wow.- Wow, that's fantastic. - Brilliant, isn't it?- That is great.

0:24:20 > 0:24:22How much acreage is it, then?

0:24:22 > 0:24:24Well, you know you asked for a small garden?

0:24:24 > 0:24:27- Being a mystery house, it obviously gives you three acres.- OK, right.

0:24:27 > 0:24:32- Now the tough bit is trying to value it.- OK, right.

0:24:32 > 0:24:36- 575,000.- OK.

0:24:36 > 0:24:40- A little bit lower. 565.- OK.

0:24:40 > 0:24:44Well, it is a true mystery house

0:24:44 > 0:24:46because it's on the market for £495,000.

0:24:46 > 0:24:50- Wow.- Wow, gosh!- Amazing.

0:24:50 > 0:24:51Have a look at all the bedrooms.

0:24:51 > 0:24:57- Then we've got bigger decisions to make later on.- Indeed. Great stuff. - I'll give you a bit of time.- Thanks.

0:24:57 > 0:25:01Significantly under budget at £495,000,

0:25:01 > 0:25:05this house offers our buyers everything they've asked for,

0:25:05 > 0:25:08and would leave plenty of money for changes.

0:25:08 > 0:25:10It's got five great-sized bedrooms,

0:25:10 > 0:25:14lots of potential for them to put their own stamp on it,

0:25:14 > 0:25:17fantastic views and an eco-friendly boiler.

0:25:17 > 0:25:18The only downside is

0:25:18 > 0:25:21that they are not quite as close to their preferred location.

0:25:21 > 0:25:23Again, lots to think about.

0:25:23 > 0:25:26I guess the compromise is that we are further away

0:25:26 > 0:25:29from the National Park, further away from the Lake District,

0:25:29 > 0:25:31but I guess that may be something we could live with,

0:25:31 > 0:25:34given the house and the views we've got here.

0:25:34 > 0:25:37I'm smitten with it. I hope that Kevin is.

0:25:37 > 0:25:42It's eco-friendly, and it's a fabulous mystery house.

0:25:49 > 0:25:51After looking around all of the properties,

0:25:51 > 0:25:55I think Kevin and Carol have three distinctly different possibilities.

0:25:55 > 0:25:58Of course, none of our properties gave them absolutely everything

0:25:58 > 0:26:02they asked for, but we did get some fantastic reactions in all of them.

0:26:02 > 0:26:04Let's find out what they think.

0:26:09 > 0:26:12OK, cast your mind back to yesterday morning.

0:26:12 > 0:26:15I remember you stood outside the first property and immediately,

0:26:15 > 0:26:19Kevin, you had a few issues over maybe the size of that house.

0:26:19 > 0:26:21From the outside, certainly. Yes.

0:26:21 > 0:26:24It didn't look to be very big at all from the outside.

0:26:24 > 0:26:28It didn't, but it was a very pleasant barn conversion.

0:26:28 > 0:26:31Most definitely, in a very rural setting.

0:26:31 > 0:26:34Actually, when you went inside, it was a good-sized property.

0:26:34 > 0:26:39In the afternoon, we got right on the edge of the Lake District.

0:26:39 > 0:26:41- Yeah, absolutely.- Location-wise, how was that for you?

0:26:41 > 0:26:45Although obviously closer to the Lakes, it was very isolated.

0:26:45 > 0:26:48I think that put us off a little bit, didn't it, really?

0:26:48 > 0:26:51I got quite a nice feel when I went into the house there.

0:26:51 > 0:26:53The kitchen and the snug room.

0:26:53 > 0:26:58This morning, it was time to go and see the mystery house.

0:26:58 > 0:27:00Plenty of time to settle into the idea,

0:27:00 > 0:27:02because it was a bit of a commute, wasn't it?

0:27:02 > 0:27:03It was.

0:27:03 > 0:27:05But when we got there,

0:27:05 > 0:27:08you were met with an amazing setting, weren't you?

0:27:08 > 0:27:10It was spectacular.

0:27:10 > 0:27:14The views from the front of the house, and the back and the sides.

0:27:14 > 0:27:16It was just absolutely a dream.

0:27:16 > 0:27:21So, overall, have you discussed what your favourite property might be?

0:27:21 > 0:27:25- It would be definitely number three, the mystery house.- Absolutely.

0:27:25 > 0:27:29- That's right, yes.- No contest. - No contest?- None at all.

0:27:29 > 0:27:32So what's your next step?

0:27:32 > 0:27:35I think the next step is hopefully to talk to the owner

0:27:35 > 0:27:37and see where we can go with it, really.

0:27:37 > 0:27:40- Well, best of luck and please let us know how you get on.- OK.

0:27:40 > 0:27:44- Thank you very much and thanks for all your help this week. - A pleasure.

0:27:49 > 0:27:52Well, that was quite some gamble, wasn't it?

0:27:52 > 0:27:57I must admit, Kevin and Carol were rather quiet on that 40-minute drive over to the mystery property.

0:27:57 > 0:28:01But by the sounds of it, that gamble genuinely paid off.

0:28:01 > 0:28:03That was in no small part to those fantastic views.

0:28:03 > 0:28:07Fingers crossed their second viewing goes according to plan,

0:28:07 > 0:28:11and then hopefully Carol and Kevin could have found their very first house together

0:28:11 > 0:28:15close to the Lake District but also the Yorkshire Dales.

0:28:15 > 0:28:17See you next time.

0:28:17 > 0:28:20If you'd like to Escape To The Country in Scotland, Wales,

0:28:20 > 0:28:24Northern Ireland or England and would like our help,

0:28:24 > 0:28:25please apply online.

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