Peak District Escape to the Country

Today's Escape to the Country has a somewhat

military feel about it, in more ways than one.

The body of water behind me was once the training area for what became

one of the most audacious airborne operations of the Second World War.

It was based on a very simple principle,

a child skimming a stone over the surface of the water.

It's an incredible story,

so stick around and I'll tell you more about it.

'In today's show,

'I'll be helping some housebuyers who take a lot to be impressed.'

This is the first "wow" I've heard, actually!

'But when we go large, their responses get better and better.'

It's big. Very big. LAUGHTER

-That is a surprise.

-First impressions, that seems good value.

Today we're in Derbyshire and this is Derwentwater

and the mighty dam that contains it.

Back in 1943, this valley and the skies above me

would have reverberated to the sound of RAF Lancaster bombers,

training for what became known as the Dams Raid.

It was daring, yet simple.

Drop a bomb from just 50 feet over the surface of the water,

watch it skim up to the dam, sink and then explode.

Their target were a great dams

that dominated Germany's industrial heartland, the Ruhr.

The raid itself was a fantastic success.

It gave the country a much-needed morale boost

and for all those involved,

they became immortalised as The Dambusters.

Situated mainly within Derbyshire's borders

but nudging over into neighbouring counties,

the Peak District became Britain's first designated National Park

back in 1951.

The area comes with a two distinct geological landscapes.

To the north, there are the wilder moorlands of the Dark Peak,

which rear up, creating a rugged skyline, while in the south,

you'll find the much gentler limestone slopes of the White Peak.

The wooded dales, pretty villages

and network of walking trails across this part of the South Pennines

are a huge draw for around 8.5 million visitors a year.

One of the Peak District's most renowned locations

is the spa town of Buxton, which has been on the map since Roman times.

One of the great attractions for them

was the supposed health benefits of the town's thermal springs.

And the fine Regency and Victorian buildings in its centre

are testament to the town's fortunes over the centuries,

thanks to this natural resource.

With villages and a landscape that inspired writers

such as Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte,

it's no wonder the Peak District

remains an appealing option for aspiring escapees.

Across Derbyshire, in general, your average detached

will set you back £200,000.

It's a lot of money, but £55,000 beneath the national average.

Step inside the National Park, a real hotspot,

and that figure can jump to £300,000.

But when you're surrounded by gorgeous countryside such as this,

can you really put a price on it?

For just shy of £400,000,

this two-bedroom detached stone cottage in Winster is worth a look.

Dating back to the 1650s,

the living room holds on to its stone fireplace

and exposed beams,

which also run through the open plan kitchen/diner.

Outside provides a generous 1.5 acres of land

with delightful countryside views.

Or what about this extensive four-bedroom

stone property in Calton,

on the market for £585,000?

The pale oak wood of the roof beams and the wood burner

add a warm, rustic feel to the sitting room.

There is also plenty of space and light in the characterful kitchen.

Outside, the half-acre of grounds

really offset the property's elevated position.

For a budget stretching to £795,000,

this former water mill in the Hope Valley

has been refurbished to provide high-spec contemporary living areas.

These include a show-stopping central island

in the magnificent kitchen/diner

and, of its four bedrooms,

the spacious master has a rather luxurious en suite.

As you can see, a glittering bag of properties on offer,

if ever I saw one.

Let's get on and meet today's buyers

and find out what all the fuss is about.

David and Fiona have spent the last 15 months

living in Prestwood, Buckinghamshire,

in this four-bedroom rental property with their two sons.

The move here was just one of many over the years

as David works for the Royal Navy, a career that has seen them

regularly living in military housing.

But with Fiona having recently completed a PhD,

the couple feel that now is the perfect time

to at last buy their own home in a rural setting.

We want to move to the country

essentially because we've enjoyed life here,

we've also had a number of holidays in the Peak District.

Living in the Chilterns for a year-and-a-half has made us realise

that we quite like the peace and quiet tranquillity.

It's essentially trying to lead a reasonably active life,

-certainly outside of work.

-Yes, yeah.

It's about opportunities to be outside in the countryside,

whether it's walking or bike riding,

you're surrounded by greenery, really, isn't it?

Despite being in rental accommodation for so long,

they have a clear vision of what their own future home needs to give them.

In our next property, ideally, we are looking for four bedrooms,

but we would consider three.

We want a detached property.

We'd like to have a large kitchen/diner, a square lounge?

A large, square lounge.

We would prefer fewer rooms, but larger rooms,

and as light as possible.

And it seems their love of bright, square rooms,

has put them off traditional country houses.

We're not very keen on thatched properties, are we?

Or properties that are made of wood.

Although we like barns, we don't like wooden barns.

Probably don't like beams or olde worlde properties.

We would go probably more for a modern, airy, roomy property.

And outside space is important to David,

who is after a half-acre garden,

so he can have a kickabout with his sons.

All this should be possible, as living in military quarters

for over ten years has allowed them to save up a handsome amount

for their move to the Peak District.

Our maximum budget is £700,000.

The good news is that Fiona and David

are in the very enviable position of being able to move

pretty much anywhere they like in the country,

but they have picked the Peak District,

which for me, is a very good choice, indeed.

But I'm somewhat concerned about their list of wants.

The large kitchen/diner, that goes without saying,

but they seem slightly obsessed with having square rooms,

in particular, a square living room.

I'm just hoping they don't get bogged down in the detail

and lose sight of the bigger picture.

Otherwise, quite frankly, I could have my work cut out.

David and Fiona are keen for us to base their house search

within the borders of the Peak District National Park,

giving them access to traditional market towns, such as Bakewell.

We've lined up three Derbyshire dwellings to show them,

but I won't be revealing the price of each

until they've had a guess first.

The last property is our Mystery House

which, if they are ready for something rather unique,

is a magnificent proposition.

-Guys, it's lovely to see you up here in Derbyshire.

-Thank you.

Over the last few years,

you have moved goodness knows how many times, due to service life.

That's right. We've spent quite a bit of time in Portsmouth

and we are now at RAF Halton in the Chilterns,

but we are looking now to move and settle down

and lay down permanent roots.

-I bet you can't wait, Fiona?

-I am quite excited, actually.

We like this part of the world. We like the hills.

The Chilterns are beautiful, but we really like the wildness

of this area when you get up to the moors and things.

The good thing about being in this position is you are ready to move,

so if we find you the perfect house today or tomorrow,

-you could be in within weeks.

-Yes, we could.

-Good to go.

Let's have a think about the budget.

£700,000 is a nice sum to have,

the best part of three-quarters of a million,

if you think about it.

Near enough.

Have you had a good look at anything up here so far?

Not really.

We have done some searches online

and last summer we did view a property in the area, didn't we?

But we weren't really serious at the time.

So no, I wouldn't say we have looked at it.

-This is the start of a good look, isn't it?

-So, gloves are off?

Yes.

We're terrified about this square living room.

We've been searching Derbyshire high and low

for a house with a square living room.

But we have got, I think, three fantastic properties.

Your budget does go quite a long way up here,

as I'm sure you will appreciate.

The weather is with us.

We've got some beautiful landscape to drive through.

-Let's get going.

-Excellent.

-Follow me.

For their £700,000 budget,

David and Fiona would like a detached property

which gives them large, square living rooms,

even if it's at the expense of character.

A generous family kitchen/diner,

ideally four bedrooms

and enough garden space for David to play football with the boys.

They want it wrapped up in a rural setting in the Peak District.

As we get our house search started,

we're going all-out for location

and heading close to the hillside village of Youlgrave.

Set in the heart of the National Park,

it's home to around 500 residents

and civic landmarks, including its marketplace and church,

which, although it dates back to Norman times,

was largely restored in the late 19th century.

'Our first property is made from local stone

'and comes in the form of a 17th century barn conversion.'

-That looks big.

-It's very big. You get everything that you can see.

And it's peaceful. It's nice. Very interesting.

I'm interested, actually,

-to go inside and see what they've got.

-Follow me.

'This conversion is laid out in a U-shape around a central courtyard.

'The bones of the old part are well-preserved, while inside

'has been sympathetically designed with modern living in mind.'

-Let's start in here. Nice, cosy kitchen for you.

-Yes, yeah.

I mean, it's not a massive kitchen/diner.

The rest of the house does go on.

There is an opportunity for a breakfast bar here.

It's hand-built, it's locally made. You've got a dishwasher in there.

Everything is integrated.

You know, it's very, very cosy.

You've got an oil-fired range, there.

Your classic sort of country look.

Yes, no, it's very nice.

I just think it is possibly a little bit small,

but I accept we've got quite a bit more to see.

Come and have a look at this.

-Come on in.

-Yep, much better.

-Space.

-That is lovely, yeah.

-I really like this.

-Terrific.

-You've got a lovely feature, there.

-Yeah, that is a super feature.

It hints at the local architecture, but actually, it's quite unusual.

It's very unusual. This is a lovely space.

It feels light and airy and it's big enough, isn't it?

'The stairs lead up to a mezzanine drawing room,

'which makes impressive use of the roof space.

'Flowing off the other end of the sitting room

'is a further reception room with flagstone flooring.

'This leads onto a beautiful timber-built conservatory, looking out over the courtyard.

'Round the corner from here,

'there's a useful office, which has stairs that lead up to a cosy snug.'

This is a spot that the current owners

used as a den for their children,

who have now grown up and left home.

They've now got a, sort of, little, impromptu dining area.

Right then, David.

There is a corridor there, head that way.

'The warren of bedrooms all file off this rear hallway

'and altogether, give them four doubles,

'enough to accommodate their two sons and visiting guests.

'There is also an attractive Victorian-style bathroom.

'In contrast, next door is this modern high-spec shower room which,

'in effect, gives them an en suite to the bedroom,

'which would be theirs.'

Come and have a look at this one. This is the current master.

For you, size-wise at the moment, how is it?

It's probably a little bit smaller than we're used to at the moment.

-But it's nice and airy.

-Nice and airy, absolutely. I like the light.

This door opens out into the courtyard.

That is a very nice feature.

-And of course, you are only overlooked by you!

-Yes, absolutely.

I think it's a sufficient size, isn't it?

-Let's pop outside and finish up and talk about the money.

-OK.

-It will be interesting to see what you think of this one.

-Yes.

'This spacious property definitely gives them

'a raft of living areas for them and their children to spread out in.

'And it's in perfect decorative order, so no work needed.

'Outside, there's an integrated double garage

'and although the immediate garden doesn't give their sons

'their football pitch, we do have a solution.'

-Effectively, what you see is what you get.

-Right.

-The courtyard.

However, there is a very small little paddock.

It is now much overgrown, but it has in its time been

a very well-cared for vegetable plot, tennis court.

You name it, they've used it. £70 a year is what it costs to rent it.

It's ongoing, still let by this property.

It's something you would pick up along the way.

The nice thing about that is you're not having to buy it.

You've got £700,000 or so to spend.

David, what's this on the market for?

Well, it's a gorgeous location and fairly substantial property.

I think it's close to our upper end.

-I'd say 685.

-£685,000, yeah.

-Fiona?

-Erm...

Yes, I was thinking a bit less, actually,

because there is not a lot of land with it.

Erm, so I was maybe thinking 649.

-649?

-Yeah.

This is on the market for £750,000.

We haven't brought you here to tease you with something

we think is out of range.

You are cash buyers, effectively.

They want to move and can move immediately.

I think this is open to a very sensible period of negotiation,

if you wanted it. Is it going to be for you?

I wonder? Go and have a look around.

This gorgeous barn conversion is over-budget at £750,000

but it highlights the premium paid for a large property

in a desirable location.

However, David and Fiona are cash buyers and could make an offer

which reflects their strong position to move quickly.

It provides them with a quirky mix of five reception areas,

a high-spec, but rustic, kitchen/breakfast room

and four double bedrooms.

It's all wrapped up in a stunning rural setting

within the National Park borders.

We spent time in the village on holiday before, so we are familiar

with the location and I don't think you can get a nicer location.

It's really quiet, away from traffic and lovely and rural.

Overall, I like this barn conversion.

I think it's the main living area which is so large and light,

that's the bit that sells it for me.

Other aspects, such as the kitchen, the study

and some bedrooms, are perhaps a little bit dark and a bit small.

But the main living area is absolutely wonderful.

I really liked the old part of the property,

which surprised me, because I usually go for modern buildings.

Ideally, I'd like a bigger kitchen

and I would like more outdoor space, in terms of lawn.

-Aha!

-Hi, there.

-How are we doing?

-Fine.

-Yeah great, thanks.

-Has this one grown a bit on you, David?

-It has grown on me, yeah.

Initial reactions were slightly negative,

but I can appreciate the setting and the space.

Good. I love it. I think it's a good one to start with,

-but we've got plenty more to see. Follow me.

-Thank you.

The Peak District's beautiful and protected landscape

has drawn David and Fiona to spend many a happy holiday here,

which is why they now want to make a permanent move to the area.

Its towns and villages also have a preserved heritage of their own,

a fine example being Bakewell,

granted its Royal Market Charter in 1330.

Sat on the banks of the River Wye, its distinctive five-arch bridge

dates back to the 13th century and is Grade 1 listed.

The town is also the birthplace of the traditional home-grown treat,

the Bakewell pudding.

Earlier in the week, we arranged for David and Fiona to drop in

on Gemma Pheasey, a local shop owner, to find out more.

-Hello!

-Hi, Gemma. I'm Dave.

-Hi.

-You want to know the difference between a Bakewell pudding and a Bakewell tart?

-Please.

This one is the Bakewell pudding, traditional Bakewell, the original.

Puff pastry base, a layer of strawberry jam, eggs, almond,

sugar and butter in this one.

And this is what we know as the Bakewell tart,

which doesn't actually come from Bakewell.

Whereas the cherry-topped tart is now mass produced,

the Bakewell pudding comes from far more humble beginnings.

It's believed it was created in the 1860s by a lady called Mrs Greaves, in the kitchen of a local inn.

The recipe features an egg mixture that was spread onto the jam, rather than mixed into the pastry.

Under Gemma's watchful eye,

our pudding novices are about to see if they can match up

to her high standards and make their own pudding.

The first step is to work air bubbles out of the pastry base.

-How are we getting on?

-What do you think?

-I think you're perfect.

You're both about there. You need to add it to your foil.

Then, strawberry jam is added.

-Does that look all right?

-That looks fine. Over the top.

That's excellent.

And lastly, a spoonful of the eggs, almonds, sugar and butter mixture.

Marvellous.

So into the baking tray.

Then we'll get those baked off.

-20 minutes, moderate oven.

-400 degrees, is it?

-400, yeah.

-Wow!

But as we all know, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

So there's only one way to find out if they've risen to the challenge.

Traditionally, you'd eat this warm, with cream or custard. I'm a custard girl, myself.

To secure the identity of the Bakewell pudding,

as originating from the area, Gemma is currently campaigning

for it to be awarded the status of Protected Geographical Indication,

meaning it couldn't be produced anywhere, but in the region.

-Mm.

-Mm.

-The pastry is so light.

-I know. It tastes so good, doesn't it?

-Mm.

-Very sweet.

Judging by David and Fiona's reaction,

it looks like they'll be providing a ringing endorsement once they move to Derbyshire.

Are you now Bakewell pudding fans or Bakewell tart fans?

-Bakewell pudding.

-Bakewell pudding.

-Excellent.

-I always love a conversion.

-Mm. It's really nice.

As our hunt continues, we're going to try and redress the issue of land

by heading towards the village of Baslow.

Set in the Derwent Valley, Baslow's array of original stone buildings

house some flourishing independent retailers and a choice of pubs.

Less than a ten-minute drive away, our second property

not only gives them amazing panoramic views

but space in abundance.

OK, here we are. Property number two on a blustery peak.

-Yeah.

-Yeah. It's very attractive.

-First impressions, it looks really nice. Yeah.

-It does look attractive.

-That sort of thing does grab me and think, yeah, wow.

-Ah.

This is, this is the first "wow" I've heard, actually! Good.

What you can see here is just a part of it.

-It's like an iceberg.

-Really?

We're going to go in via the back door

and let us see what you make of it.

-Come on.

-OK.

'The great thing about this robust house is that the modernised interior gives them the big rooms

'and clean lines they were after.'

Right. Come on in. Squeaky door.

That's a nice size, isn't it?

This is huge. Lovely flooring, as well. Super.

You've also got a little sort of day area.

They've got a couple of sofas in. And of course, you've got the range.

Oil-fired. That does everything. Central heating, hot water.

Granite tops. You know.

-They're beautiful, aren't they?

-I really like this.

-Yes.

It's a very nice kitchen, yeah.

'The enormous kitchen leads on to a separate dining room,

'complete with a working fireplace.

'But we'll take a look at the spacious main sitting room.'

Now David, I'm thinking, being a football man,

this would be a room that you'd really enjoy.

-Yeah. Absolutely.

-Look at the TV!

-Yes.

-Surround sound already built in.

-Ah.

-I think I could make myself at home.

-Yeah. It's not bad, is it?

-This is nice.

-And the fire.

-Multi-fuel burner there, as well.

The conservatory we saw on the way in. This is it, here.

And this sort of flows nicely through back to the kitchen.

And it gives you the views that we had a glimpse of on the way in.

-It's lovely.

-Really nice.

-And it's nicely built.

A mixture of wood, glass and you've got the nice texture

of the exterior wall of the house, as well.

-It's very nice, isn't it?

-I like this.

-It's a good space.

-OK.

-Looking good.

-Looking good.

-Are we scoring more points on this?

-Definitely. I like it a lot more.

'The property keeps on giving and there's another reception room

'which could make a snug for the children or a study for Fiona.

'There's also a handy cloakroom

'tucked away off the main entrance hall.

'The large rooms downstairs seemed to have measured up

'to their exacting standards and the space on offer upstairs

'shouldn't disappoint them either, as there are five bedrooms in total.

'One is a large double and elegantly furnished,

'while another is dual aspect with a more modern decor.

'The third bedroom features a more country feel,

'while the smallest makes for a good-sized study.

'All the bedrooms have access to the large family bathroom,

'which has a quality finish and a stylish modern feel.

'As we're about to see, the master takes things to a whole new level.'

-So this is yours. Your room.

-Crikey.

-That's good, yeah.

-Nice size. Yeah.

-Like this a lot.

-Once again, three windows.

Good part of the house to have the bedroom, as well.

-You've also got an en suite, which is here.

-OK.

-Now you've got to be happy in here.

-Gosh! That's an en suite?!

-It's not even purple, is it?

-It's not purple, no.

Wow! That could be a family bathroom, couldn't it?

In any other place, it would be, but here, it's just yours.

That's amazing. It's lovely.

-It's lovely and light.

-I like this a lot.

So you'd be happy in your master bedroom?

Yeah. And the kitchen.

-And the living room?

-Yeah.

-And the conservatory?

-Yes.

Yeah, very positive.

It's big! Very big. LAUGHTER

'And outside gets bigger, because the lawned part of the garden,

'as I hinted earlier, is just the tip of the iceberg.'

Now I kind of fibbed earlier when I said all you got was the garden.

-Because you also get this.

-Ah.

All in, it's about 2.5 acres, this plot.

Plenty of room to kick a football around.

-You know what's coming next, don't you?

-I do, yeah.

-What's going to happen now?

-You're going to ask how much it's worth, Jules.

-I am. Are you going to tell me?

-I can't see this being less than £750,000.

-£750,000. Yes.

-I'll go £740,000.

-You're right. You're both absolutely right to go over-budget.

-Right.

But the good news is that this has been reduced

to just under your budget.

-Really?

-This could be yours for £695,000.

-Gosh! Yeah, that is a surprise.

-First impressions, that seems good value!

-Yeah.

-I would say so.

Go back inside and figure out what you are going to do

with all this new space we've found you.

-Off you go.

-Thank you.

Ah, happy days!

I do love it when a plan comes together.

Under budget at £695,000,

our second property gives them acres of house and land.

Along with four possible reception rooms,

the kitchen/diner is of a size and style that Fiona loved.

Amongst its five bedrooms,

the master comes with a fabulous en suite and let's not forget,

they get 2.5 acres of land -

plenty of space for football practice!

The kitchen was "wow", actually.

It was even bigger than I could have imagined and beautifully done,

lots of windows, lovely granite worktops, beautiful flooring.

Very impressive. Really liked that. I could see us eating there.

The layout works. It seems to flow from room to room.

There's a separate dining area.

The main living room is great, it's got a surround sound system

so you could play movies there and then going upstairs,

there is plenty of space up there for everyone.

This seems a lot of house for the money and from the sight we had, it seems very good value.

Now, would I be sticking my neck out

if I said that this property had really touched a nerve with you two?

It's very close to what we're looking for, isn't it?

It's captured our imagination, yeah.

In many ways, it's exactly what we are looking for.

-So have we done it? Do we need look any further?

-No, we've got the Mystery House!

We have got the Mystery House, yes! Come on, then.

As the evening draws in over the countryside,

it marks the end of the first day of our property search.

After renting in military quarters for over ten years,

David and Fiona want to up sticks from their temporary home in Buckinghamshire

and put down permanent roots with their two sons in rural Derbyshire.

The two properties we've seen so far

have highlighted their preference for clean lines and square rooms.

So it's a real gamble as to whether the quirks and character

of our mystery house will pay off.

-And I like the beams.

-Yey! Happy days. Right.

'And I hop aboard some historic transport from days gone by.'

BELL RINGS

Our first day of house-hunting was definitely a game of two halves,

two very different properties and two very different reactions.

As David said when we left the second property,

there is one more to come.

It's Mystery House time. What, I wonder, will they make of this?

If you didn't like the Mystery House,

would you go back and have another look at property number two?

-Yes, we would.

-Definitely, yes.

And I think we'd come back up again in the next couple of weeks

and bring the boys up and look round the local area, because they we don't know that area.

Let's hope that our Mystery House also encourages you to come and have another look at it.

You never know, we might just throw a spanner in the works.

We're travelling to the Peak District village of Parwich,

a gorgeous location, with limestone cottages and a church

set around the village green.

And it's just a stone's throw from the glorious Derbyshire hills.

David and Fiona said they wanted modern, spacious, square rooms

with outside space, in a rural setting.

But for our mystery house, we're turning things on their head

as it's a traditional property

with only a small front garden, set right in the middle of the village.

Nevertheless, I think this could make a grand impression.'

-Come and see what we've got as our Mystery House.

-Wow!

That's beautiful. That's a beautiful looking property, isn't it?

-Absolutely gorgeous.

-Isn't it?

-It is, yeah.

This is a real historic gem.

It's all been done, there's nothing you need to do to it.

The community centre is over there, that's just been finished.

This community is very much alive and kicking

and this property is in the middle of it.

-It's lovely.

-A beautiful location. It looks nice.

What we haven't got our acres. That's the garden.

But we've got the village green and the rest of the Peak District on your doorstep.

I can't wait to show you this one. Come on, have a look.

'This 18th Century farmhouse is listed is Grade II listed

'with plenty of character and traditional quirky features.

'But David and Fiona have really taken to the exterior.

'So let's see if we can keep up the momentum inside.'

Come on in, Fiona.

-Grab the door, David.

-Lovely.

-Yeah?

-Yeah, that's nice, actually. I do like that.

The fridge is behind that purpose-built cupboard.

Everything in here has been hand-made. It's a nice, solid wood kitchen.

You've got a wood burner in the corner

and a little every day dining area there.

Our table would fit lovely there, our kitchen table.

-I think that's nice, actually.

-Nice and simple, but very tasteful.

'Great responses. So time to check out the utility room.'

-This, I think, is quite exciting.

-Yeah.

-There aren't many like this.

-That's an amazing utility, actually.

-Isn't it just?

-Yeah.

-It's as big as the kitchen, almost!

-It's great, isn't it?

-That is another kitchen, basically, isn't it, really?

-Yeah.

-And I like the beams!

-Happy days!

'Happy days indeed, and those beams continue back through the kitchen in the formal dining room.

'But next, we'll take a look at the main reception room on the other side of the hallway.'

Lovely hallway. We're going to go up those stairs in a moment.

But this is, I don't know, serene, I think.

-That's nice.

-Really nice.

-Another lovely fireplace.

-Yes.

My fear was that, based on our first property,

would this be a bit too historic?

-No, I don't think so.

-Not the way it's presented and how it looks.

It's been presented incredibly tastefully.

'The regular Georgian proportions of the sitting room

'have measured up to their expectations.

'That sense of historic grandeur continues upstairs

'in the four bedrooms which are spread out over two floors.

'First stop, the master.'

OK. This is the main bedroom.

-OK.

-Wow!

You've got four to choose from, but this is currently the owner's bedroom.

There's a door over there, which leads to an enormous walk-in wardrobe.

-Right.

-Twenty-something feet of hanging space and all that.

'And the ensuite comes with a splash of luxury.'

-It's 'wow', isn't it?

-That's big enough, isn't it?

-It's very elegant.

-Yeah.

-Yes, absolutely. Yeah, I really like that.

-This really works, doesn't it?

-Yeah.

'Also on this floor is a good sized double bedroom,

'which also has a beautifully furnished shower room.

'On the next level, there's another palatial double room with a bathroom next door,

'as well as a fantastic fourth room, which makes great use of the roof space.'

So this is the very top. Now, what about this?

-OK. Wow!

-Yeah?

-Yes.

-That's interesting, isn't it?

-Lovely and spacious.

-So how's our mystery house doing?

-Very well, actually. Very well.

-Thumbs up, so far. It's good. It really is.

-Good.

'Our historic mystery house has worked its magic,

'but the rub comes outside, as the garden doesn't serve up enough space for a football pitch.

'However, along with the stone built garage across the road,

'there's a two storey barn to throw into the mix,

'which they could convert into a great play space for the children

'or use as a separate dwelling with the right planning consent.'

Our Mystery House appears to have hit the spot.

-Yeah, really like this.

-It's caused confusion, I think, now.

Good. That's a good thing. Choice is a great thing.

So let's have a think about the money, then.

It's our final price guess of our property search.

Fiona. £700,000 is what you've got to spend.

I can't see it being within our budget,

but I don't believe you'd go too far over.

Erm...

-I'm going to guess 725.

-725.

-I'll go 730.

-730.

-You just got a PhD, didn't you?

-I did, yeah.

And you're right.

-On the nail?

-£725,000.

-How about that?

-Excellent.

It was worth studying, wasn't it?

-"Offers in the region of...", obviously.

-Right.

But to be frank, even if you had to go that little bit over,

I think this is a property you could spend the rest of your lives in

quite happily and get your feet into a fantastic community, here.

-It's super, actually, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-This is a real-life star, I think,

-given where we are.

-Yes.

And you haven't seen all of it yet!

Although our Mystery House is currently priced

over their budget at £725,000,

the vendor is open to lower offers

and let's remember that our couple can move quickly.

It gives them spacious reception rooms with lovely Georgian features,

a kitchen/diner with an equally large utility room,

four double bedrooms with a fantastic master en suite

and while it may not have the football pitch garden they wanted,

it does give them a separate barn, which has huge

development potential, if they can get the right planning permission.

The layout of the rooms is terrific, actually.

The way the kitchen moves to the utility

and then moves to the dining room, I think, is really practical

and functional and I think all the rooms are a good size.

Dave and I don't usually go for older properties

but looking at this one... The exterior is full of character

and on the interior, it's full of character, but also pretty modern.

And it's been modernised in keeping with the building,

so it's really attractive.

Overall, the Mystery House has given us a lot to think about.

Yeah, I liked it a lot, I really did.

These are some of the original deeds that relate to this house

and this set are dated 1834.

-Wow!

-The owner left them out. I just found them. Aren't they fascinating?

-Excellent.

-They could be yours one day, if you buy it!

-That would be good.

-Lots to think about, eh?

Let's go and put these somewhere safe and get out of here.

Situated high on the edge of the peaks,

overlooking the Derwent Valley,

this lofty location is perhaps not the first place

you'd expect to see street trams in service.

But this is the site of the National Tramway Museum in Crich,

which holds over 70 trams, spanning 150 years,

and is one of the largest collections anywhere in the world.

Earlier in the week, I paid it a visit

to find out more about this wonderfully nostalgic

mode of transport from the museum's curator, Glynn Wilton.

Give me a potted history, if you can, of the tram.

Sadly, for many of us today, we no longer see it on our streets

but here you can tell the story from beginning to end.

You can. The tram was a response to a big social problem.

The Industrial Revolution had brought people from agriculture to inner-city

but that caused massive overcrowding and disease, so they needed a form of transport

so that they could build houses further afield and move people in.

-Is that where this horse-drawn version comes in?

-That's right.

Because, of course, in those days, horse-drawn transport was the only means. Horse power was it.

In order to be able to pull more people with fewer horses,

to make more money, you would lay steel rail on the floor, which meant it was more efficient,

because the roads then weren't tarmacked, they were rough.

'Britain's first permanent street tramway was opened

'in Birkenhead in 1860

'by an American aptly-named, George Train.

'The Edwardian era saw a boom in the building of electrified

'tram routes in towns and cities throughout Britain,

'so that by 1910, more than 300 tram networks had been created.

'However, the two World Wars brought a halt to further growth

'and by the 1950s, tram travel had been replaced by buses.

'But the passion for restoring these beautiful vehicles is alive and well

'among the 200 volunteers working behind the scenes here,

'one of whom is Ian Ross.'

-Nice to see you.

-Good morning. Hello.

-This is an absolute beauty, isn't it?

-It is.

How long has it taken you to restore this to what we can see now?

We are working now in the seventh year of a five-year project.

Some of it, really, has been trying to source

materials and suppliers,

to produce the sort of finish that we want.

What is it about trams that makes you want to give up your free time?

I'm enjoying it and having the chance to work

on something like this must be fantastic.

I think it goes back a very long way with me.

I grew up in London and when I was very young,

the trams in London were still running.

This is a London tram. We've got Hammersmith, Brentford, Twickenham, Hampton

and Hampton Court advertised on the side.

That's right.

The trams I rode on, unfortunately, were not as elegant as this one.

But the detail on this is absolutely beautiful, isn't it?

-It seems a bit over-the-top for a bus, effectively.

-Yes.

This company, which started around about 1900,

-ran their trams on the west side of London.

-The posh end.

-The posh end.

And so they went for a very elegant tram, both on the outside

and on the inside.

-I mean, it's like a royal train, isn't it?

-Yes.

'Back in 1914, tram operators across the London area

'made up the largest tram network in Europe.

'Since the 1990s, there has been a renewed interest in use of trams

'as a way of solving traffic problems and pollution,

'showing this historic means of transport still resonates in the modern age.'

BELL RINGS

But now, time to return to our house buyers

and see if they are on board with any of our properties.

As you've probably noticed, I love house hunting here in Derbyshire.

This week we've had the chance to show Fiona and David, I think,

three very strong properties.

When we left the Mystery House, David himself said that he was a little bit confused.

So have they managed to resolve the wrangle, I wonder?

Let's go and ask them.

-So, Derbyshire. Still on the cards?

-Absolutely.

-Yes.

Let's remind ourselves of the properties we showed you.

Property one, now you've had a chance to mull it over, what do you think of that one?

The big living area was really nice.

Probably the nicest of the three properties.

But as we transited through, it seemed to work less for us.

Too many small, little rooms.

I think I'd agree with that. It didn't suit our purposes, really.

Our second property was a different proposition.

You wanted views, you wanted height. We certainly had that.

We were both taken with that, weren't we?

What surprised us was how spacious it was.

If anything, bigger than something we really wanted

but left us feeling, yeah, we could live there.

-And that kitchen?

-That was amazing, actually. That kitchen was enormous.

It was really nicely finished. I liked that.

-When we left there, I thought, that's it.

-So did we!

We were very taken with it.

I think you said, quite rightly, David,

that the Mystery House would have a lot to compete with.

-So how did the Mystery House do?

-It competed.

-It certainly did.

Yes, I mean, I think it would be our favourite, wouldn't it?

I like that has a lot. Comparing the Mystery House to property two,

it made us realise how much we would probably prefer

to live in a village, so the location became more important

and property three, or the Mystery House,

the property itself was very nice, so the two combined together. I think that's what edged it for us.

And on top of tremendous living accommodation,

there's the potential with the barn, the future possibilities there.

Well, yeah, the possibilities there are many and various.

In terms of extending your living space, it offers a lot of scope.

What happens next?

I think we going to go back and have a second viewing

of the mystery property and consider that seriously.

-That is definitely our preferred property out of the three.

-Good.

Guys, you've been an absolute pleasure. Best of luck.

Let us know how you get on.

I hope to see you in the Mystery House in the not-too-distant future.

Thank you. Thanks very much.

You know, when we first met Fiona and David

we learnt that this move had been some ten years in the making.

A decade of dreaming about living here in Derbyshire.

Now with any luck, they are just that little bit closer

to turning those hopes and aspirations into a reality.

All in all, I think it's turned out rather well.

I'll see you next time.

Although David and Fiona really liked the mystery property,

in the end, they decided the balance of a large house

with a smaller garden wasn't quite right for them,

so their house hunt in the Peak District continues.

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