0:00:02 > 0:00:06You really know that spring has sprung when these little chaps start showing their little yellow faces.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10Primroses, of course, are common all over the UK, but did you know which part of Britain
0:00:10 > 0:00:15has chosen them as their county flower? Well, you will in a moment.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47On today's show, I'll be hoping we can cook up a dream property
0:00:47 > 0:00:50for a pair of baking enthusiasts.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53And early on, one of our homes is almost the icing on the cake.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58Hmm, could be on to a winner here. THEY LAUGH
0:00:58 > 0:01:00But then the mystery house rises to the occasion.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02Wow!
0:01:02 > 0:01:05- I said I wasn't going to say "wow". - THEY LAUGH
0:01:05 > 0:01:07We always manage to get a wow out of people.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15Today, we're in north Devon, and it was here, 10 years ago, that the Devonians voted
0:01:15 > 0:01:18the humble primrose to be their floral emblem.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20And you understand why,
0:01:20 > 0:01:23because the hedgerows are thick with it in these spring months,
0:01:23 > 0:01:27and that's partly to do with the moist soil here and the very temperate climate.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31And here is an interesting primrose fact, cos I know you want one.
0:01:31 > 0:01:36There are 30 species native to the UK, but more than 1,000 worldwide.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40But there's more to Devon than just pretty flowers.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44Lying in the Southwest of England, Devon shares its Eastern border
0:01:44 > 0:01:47with the counties of Somerset and Dorset.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51The county is a Mecca for adventure lovers, and close to Devon's coast
0:01:51 > 0:01:56is the Tarka Trail, a 31-mile foot and cycle path.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59The trail runs from Braunton to Meeth,
0:01:59 > 0:02:00via Barnstable and Bideford,
0:02:00 > 0:02:05winding along old branch railway lines that were closed in the 1960s.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Further east,
0:02:07 > 0:02:11the Exmoor National Park covers an area of 267 square miles,
0:02:11 > 0:02:14making it one of England's smallest parks.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16However, it supports great diversity,
0:02:16 > 0:02:20with its landscapes ranging from moorland to green valleys.
0:02:20 > 0:02:25It's also home to the Exmoor pony, a breed which is thought to have roamed free here
0:02:25 > 0:02:27since the 11th century.
0:02:29 > 0:02:34Generally, in Devon, your money goes further up here in the north coast than it does down south.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37And that's largely to do with transport links.
0:02:37 > 0:02:42It's trickier by road and rail to get to pretty little coastal towns like this one, Instow,
0:02:42 > 0:02:48than it is their southern equivalents, because they have big railway links and motorways.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50Still, the whole county is pretty expensive.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52The average price for a detached house here
0:02:52 > 0:02:55is £290,000 at the moment.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58That's £35,000 above the national average.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00Still, it's a good time to be buying,
0:03:00 > 0:03:05because house prices are at their lowest since 2009.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Devon offers a varied mix of architectural styles.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12In the popular coastal villages and ports, the price of a two-bedroom period cottage
0:03:12 > 0:03:15can start at around £200,000.
0:03:16 > 0:03:22Of course, those prized houses with sea views can cost up to 50% more.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26Inland, the Devon longhouse is found throughout the county.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Often dating back to the 15th century,
0:03:29 > 0:03:32these invariably have thatched roofs.
0:03:32 > 0:03:38Prices for these historic homes can range from £500,000 to well over £1 million.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42But Devon is perhaps best known for the chocolate box-style cottages
0:03:42 > 0:03:44in the county's valleys and hamlets.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46For a slice of this rural dream,
0:03:46 > 0:03:53expect to pay from around £230,000 to about £500,000.
0:03:53 > 0:03:59Devon has many architectural riches, but are they riches that would interest today's buyers?
0:03:59 > 0:04:01Let's meet them.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05Bob and Sue, his wife of 17 years,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08met at work in the Ministry of Defence IT department,
0:04:08 > 0:04:12and have been living in their modern four-bedroom home in Bicester, Oxfordshire for over a decade.
0:04:12 > 0:04:17But their escape to the country has been on the cards for long while.
0:04:17 > 0:04:22We've been looking to move for probably about three years now.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25And we've looked at...
0:04:25 > 0:04:29Physically looked at about half-a-dozen houses,
0:04:29 > 0:04:32and on the internet, we've looked at hundreds.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36And having lived in towns and in sort of rural locations,
0:04:36 > 0:04:40it is definitely the countryside that we want to move into.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43Bob will continue to work from home for a while,
0:04:43 > 0:04:46but, as Sue has recently closed her cake decorating business,
0:04:46 > 0:04:49she's a free agent,
0:04:49 > 0:04:51and looking forward to a more peaceful lifestyle.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55I dream of a quieter life.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57Something with a bit less hassle, bit this traffic.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01I'd like to be able to walk my dogs on the beach compared with
0:05:01 > 0:05:06walking them around a busy MoD town.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10And it's the west of England that has cast its spell on them.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14We really love north Devon, because you drive along the road...
0:05:14 > 0:05:18Once you get off the M5, you drive along that road towards Barnstaple
0:05:18 > 0:05:21on the road between Barnstaple and Bideford,
0:05:21 > 0:05:25and you feel that all of your cares have gone. It's a real...
0:05:25 > 0:05:31- SHE SIGHS - ..sort of feeling. And that's the feeling I want to have every day.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35Along with a minimum of three bedrooms,
0:05:35 > 0:05:37there's a shortlist of priorities for their future home.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41I do need a study. Or the ability to make one.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44We dabble a bit in vegetable growing, though, but only on a small scale,
0:05:44 > 0:05:48so we want to expand the sort of vegetable growing.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52And the large garden also needs to be able to have either
0:05:52 > 0:05:57an outbuilding for Mum so that we can annexe it at some stage in the future,
0:05:57 > 0:06:01or be able to have a sort of lodge-style building.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04So, the size of the garden is very important to us.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06And growing veg aside,
0:06:06 > 0:06:10there are definite plans for making their hobbies work for them.
0:06:10 > 0:06:11I like making cakes.
0:06:11 > 0:06:16I have been doing that for 25 years as a business,
0:06:16 > 0:06:19and I've made over 20,000 cakes.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Mainly weddings, birthdays, christenings,
0:06:22 > 0:06:25but I will still be making cakes.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29One of the things that I've been getting into recently is bread baking.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33And that's one of the things that I definitely want to do when we move.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35And coupled with Sue's cake making,
0:06:35 > 0:06:38we think that we can get involved in farmers' markets
0:06:38 > 0:06:41and hopefully, you know, hobbies that we enjoy.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Also, that'll be getting involved in the local community,
0:06:44 > 0:06:48and maybe even they'll pay for themselves.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52With money in mind, it's time to pinpoint the budget.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55The budget for the new house is £400,000.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58If we found something that had an annexe already done,
0:06:58 > 0:07:03we may be able to push to £450,000.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Bob and Sue are particularly interested in finding a new property
0:07:11 > 0:07:14in the Bideford or Barnstable area of Devon.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17And I caught up with them in its wonderful landscape
0:07:17 > 0:07:19to discover more about what they're looking for.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25- So, Bob and Sue, welcome to lovely Devon.- Thank you!
0:07:25 > 0:07:27- You're a Devon boy, aren't you? - I am indeed, yes.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31I left Devon when I was 17 to join the army, and haven't been back.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34And I think it's about time I came home.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37And what are your sort of top priorities for the property?
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Erm, I'm looking for a bit of character, so, you know, from my Devon roots.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45I remember travelling around the countryside and seeing these beautiful Devon houses,
0:07:45 > 0:07:49so I'd like something with a bit of age, with a bit of character.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51And I'd really like a large kitchen/diner.
0:07:51 > 0:07:57We have an eating kitchen/diner at the moment, so I'd quite like to keep that.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59I mean, you've got a budget of how much?
0:07:59 > 0:08:05Well, £400,000 if you could find us something that's got
0:08:05 > 0:08:08an outbuilding that maybe we could convert later on.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10- That's for your mum? - That's for my mum, yeah.
0:08:10 > 0:08:15My mum will come and join us eventually, I think, but it's not essential now.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19- Does the budget stretch for that annexe?- It will stretch.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22- If we have an annexe already done, we can go to 450.- Right.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Well, that's a good, healthy budget for this part of the world,
0:08:25 > 0:08:27and there are some beautiful properties that we found for you.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31- So, come with me.- Oh, we're very excited.- Excellent, thank you.
0:08:31 > 0:08:36For their absolute maximum budget of £450,000,
0:08:36 > 0:08:39Bob and Sue would like a character property with a minimum of...
0:08:55 > 0:08:59We'll be showing them around three properties carefully selected with their demands in mind.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04And at each one, I'll ask them to guess the price before I reveal it.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07One of these is of course our mystery house,
0:09:07 > 0:09:12where, if they're lucky, they can have their cake and eat it.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14So, let's hit the road.
0:09:14 > 0:09:20Sue, the dog walking is quite a key factor in the whole lifestyle thing, isn't it?
0:09:20 > 0:09:21It is, yes. We've got two collies,
0:09:21 > 0:09:26so one who is fairly active and one who is very active.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29So, yeah, they definitely need two walks a day,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32so it is a consideration for us.
0:09:35 > 0:09:40We've made the journey around seven miles northeast of Barnstaple, to the village of Loxhore.
0:09:40 > 0:09:45Set in stunning countryside which is perfect for walking with the dogs,
0:09:45 > 0:09:49this location has a small but thriving community
0:09:49 > 0:09:51based around an active village hall committee.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55Our first property is a Grade II listed barn conversion,
0:09:55 > 0:09:59that was originally part of an 18th century dairy farm
0:09:59 > 0:10:03and is constructed from local stone and slate.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06Here we have house number one.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10- Wow.- It's lovely.- That's certainly got some character, hasn't it?
0:10:10 > 0:10:15- It has character.- Yeah, it's lovely and quiet.- I'm impressed.- Yeah?- Yes.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18It's lovely. I love the stone. The stone is beautiful. Can't wait to go inside.
0:10:18 > 0:10:23- Yeah.- Very excited.- I'm not going to make you wait.- Thank you.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26The inside of this property, which was fully renovated 15 years ago,
0:10:26 > 0:10:30still retains as much stunning character as the exterior,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33something I'm sure Bob and Sue will appreciate.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36Here we get the full...
0:10:36 > 0:10:38feeling of the property.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41- It's a nice size.- It's lovely. I love the beams.- Love the beams, yes.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Yeah, this is actually one piece of wood.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48- Of, well, a tree, basically, split in two.- Wow!- Amazing.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52It's got that mix of the modern with the old, with the beams especially.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55- So, it is a nice, symmetrical room. I like it.- And here, which is nice,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58this is where would've driven in the carriages,
0:10:58 > 0:11:01but it makes a nice, sunny window and you can open those out.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04- Beautiful.- It's lovely.- Hmm.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07- Gin and tonic in the evening on the terrace.- Exactly. - Yeah, yeah, sounds nice.
0:11:07 > 0:11:12They're already imagining relaxing here, which is a great start.
0:11:12 > 0:11:17And just past this games room area, which could work well as a home office,
0:11:17 > 0:11:20we come to the all-important kitchen.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23- Wow!- Oh, yes!- This is lovely. - Definitely.
0:11:23 > 0:11:29- Really nice.- This is gorgeous.- I like the floor. Great for the dogs. Love the cooker.
0:11:29 > 0:11:35- And there's lots of work space. - And we've got a large kitchen table,
0:11:35 > 0:11:39so plenty of room for that for dining, really. Our friends, and...
0:11:39 > 0:11:42We do a lot of socialising and always intend to go in the dining room,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45but always end up staying in the kitchen.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49- Well, there is quite a big sort of utility room, and that goes through into the double garage.- OK.
0:11:49 > 0:11:54So there's potential there about maybe expanding the floor plan a little bit.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56- Mm-hmm.- But that's pretty much the downstairs.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00- It's quite a simple layout. It's three big rooms really.- It's lovely.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03- Yeah.- Really nice. - As you say, it's compact,
0:12:03 > 0:12:05but it has everything we need.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07So, it's all positive on the ground floor.
0:12:07 > 0:12:13Meanwhile, upstairs, there are three generously-sized double bedrooms,
0:12:13 > 0:12:15two of which are currently being used for children.
0:12:15 > 0:12:20And one with plenty of storage with its built-in double wardrobe.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23There's also a spacious family bathroom.
0:12:23 > 0:12:28But we're heading for the room Bob and Sue who could call their own.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30- Oh, wow!- Oh, wow!- This is pretty. - Goodness!
0:12:30 > 0:12:34- Got some pretty wacky lights in the ceiling.- Oh, yeah!
0:12:34 > 0:12:38- I'm not sure about the work to take them out, but... - They do change colour.- Wow.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40Oh, might keep them then!
0:12:40 > 0:12:45- It's a lovely size. - It's a good space, definitely. Yeah.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47I mean, you've got three big-sized rooms.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50- This one does have an en suite shower room.- Mm-hmm.- And lots of...
0:12:50 > 0:12:54Lots of storage. I think I might get my clothes in there.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56- There's no room for yours! - Thank you!- No room for yours(!)
0:12:56 > 0:12:59You've got three other rooms, cos I know that you have a lot.
0:12:59 > 0:13:05- I need them, yeah!- But in terms of looking ahead to your mum moving in,
0:13:05 > 0:13:07that's a slight issue, because there isn't an obvious annexe.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11But, let's have a look on the outside and see what possibility there is,
0:13:11 > 0:13:13cos we can buy a lodge and place it on part of the land.
0:13:13 > 0:13:18- So, there's an option. - I like your thinking. That leads me neatly outside.
0:13:18 > 0:13:25Bob is spot on, and outside there's plenty of room for them to build a lodge and grow vegetables.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29Mainly laid to lawn, the garden has spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33And there's also a pond and a decked patio area,
0:13:33 > 0:13:35which is ideal for alfresco socialising.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37All of this up here is yours.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40So, there's about two thirds of an acre.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42It's a lovely size. And it's wonderful for the dogs.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45And certainly, it still gives us
0:13:45 > 0:13:49the option to put a lodge on one part of the land for Mum.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53- Mm. Definitely potential. - Depending on price, of course.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55So, what do you think the price is?
0:13:55 > 0:13:59- I'm going to be a bit conservative and say 385.- Sue?
0:13:59 > 0:14:06I would say it's probably closer to our first budget, so around 400.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09You've been watching the show more. You are exactly right.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11It's actually on the market for £400,000.
0:14:11 > 0:14:16But we knew that to get the annexe we would have to stretch our budget.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18So, why don't you have a look around inside,
0:14:18 > 0:14:22- and I'll see you at the front. - OK.- OK.- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:14:24 > 0:14:29A very good first house. Tested the water, I think they were very keen on the kitchen.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32I wonder whether the annexe will be a deal breaker.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36But we've got two more houses after this one, so wait and see.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39On the market at £400,000,
0:14:39 > 0:14:42this house has plenty of character as well as...
0:14:53 > 0:14:54Liked the flow of the house.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57The kitchen was lovely.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Lots of worktop, plenty of room for our table.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02There's plenty of options
0:15:02 > 0:15:06for bedrooms and studies etc that I would need.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09The one thing that it hasn't got, of course, is an annexe.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12We'd have to look into that.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14Up here, up in the corner, it's a bit secluded.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17- We could put the lodge for Mum here. - Definitely.- Clear this whole area,
0:15:17 > 0:15:21then she's got a large garden area that she could tend herself.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24She likes pottering around with her pots and things, doesn't she?
0:15:24 > 0:15:27Yeah, exactly. BELL RINGS
0:15:27 > 0:15:31Should be one of these in every house! Guys, are you done?
0:15:31 > 0:15:35- Yes, I think so.- Come on out, pull the door behind you.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38- Big smiles?- Yes.- Yes, good smiles? - Really good start.- Very nice.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41Good, well, let's go and see the next one.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58Many of the towns that hug north Devon's dramatic coastline
0:15:58 > 0:16:03became popular holiday destinations in the late Georgian and early Victorian era.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07A prime example is Ilfracombe,
0:16:07 > 0:16:11where the grand 18th and 19th century villas, terraces and whitewashed houses
0:16:11 > 0:16:15are a vivid architectural reminder of its mass expansion at that time.
0:16:16 > 0:16:21A few miles further along the coast in Hele Bay is a historic water mill,
0:16:21 > 0:16:25which today is still producing flour.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28We sent them along to get a taste of the flour production process,
0:16:28 > 0:16:32from current millers David and Kathy Jones,
0:16:32 > 0:16:36who escaped to the country themselves several years ago.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39I think you're very brave to take on such a mammoth task.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42It's quite a responsibility, isn't it, to safeguard this for future generations.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45Well, if it's your passion, then it's not such a chore.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49I look after the maintenance of the mill and its history,
0:16:49 > 0:16:52and Kathy, she looks after the tea rooms and the cottages.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56- And we're both enjoying our new roles.- Yeah, it's good.
0:16:56 > 0:17:01This Grade II listed water mill dates back to at least 1525.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04It became derelict after the Second World War,
0:17:04 > 0:17:09but was rescued in 1973 and is now a working museum.
0:17:09 > 0:17:14Its 18 foot cast-iron overshot water wheel runs on water that flows
0:17:14 > 0:17:18- from the local valley.- With all mills, one of the problems is that
0:17:18 > 0:17:21when there isn't enough water, there isn't enough wind,
0:17:21 > 0:17:24then you have to have other means of power to generate them.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28And in our case, we have a big old National engine from the 1920s,
0:17:28 > 0:17:31all connected with belts all the way through the mill
0:17:31 > 0:17:33via the water wheel, so it acts as a giant flywheel.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37Back to the stones, so we can mill when there is no water whatsoever.
0:17:37 > 0:17:42- Of course, that's going to add to your costs, because water is free. - Exactly, exactly.
0:17:42 > 0:17:47I don't think our mill will ever be one of the ones that actually makes its money out of flour.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50Because we use only organic grain,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53we have to go quite far afield to get our product.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56- Would you like to see the wheel turning round?- Would be fascinated. - Definitely.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58OK, let's open up the top gate.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01And now, after a couple of seconds, the water will come down.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04Hits the bucket, so you can just hear it in the background.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07- And after a couple of seconds, we're underway.- Well, there she goes!
0:18:07 > 0:18:11And now you can hear in the background, they're the drive belts.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13They would drive other pieces of machinery,
0:18:13 > 0:18:17so you'll be able to sieve the grain from all the wheat from the chaff.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21The grain is processed through shoots down into a hopper,
0:18:21 > 0:18:24and then into a device called a shoe.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28This is shaken at a speed of 110 revs per minute.
0:18:28 > 0:18:33The grain then slowly falls into the stones, where it's ground into flour.
0:18:34 > 0:18:39Keen baker Bob couldn't wait to get hands-on with the milling process.
0:18:39 > 0:18:44And what you're always looking for is if there's any small seeds
0:18:44 > 0:18:47that have made it through the sieving process.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50So, you're looking for something that doesn't look like wheat.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53- Will you be monitoring that all the time?- All the time. All the time.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57- Pour in a handful of grain, and then just check for seeds.- OK.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01Because, being an organic product, it hasn't been so heavily refined
0:19:01 > 0:19:03and you still find elements of the field
0:19:03 > 0:19:07which have still made it into the sack of wheat.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Once it's ready, Sue is standing by to collect the finished product.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14You're weighing to the yellow mark, and then we're going to bag that up.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20So, your very first bag of flour. Well done.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24David's wife Kathy has cooked up a treat with the flour in the kitchen,
0:19:24 > 0:19:28preparing a traditional Devon tea with wholemeal scones.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Proper Devon cream tea.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36From the mill to the mouth.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39Bob and Sue have definitely got a flavour of what it could be like
0:19:39 > 0:19:43to run their own small baking business right here in Devon.
0:19:50 > 0:19:51For our second property,
0:19:51 > 0:19:55we're travelling around ten miles southeast of Barnstaple
0:19:55 > 0:19:58to the edge of the village of Umberleigh,
0:19:58 > 0:20:00a community of pretty, whitewashed cottages
0:20:00 > 0:20:03sitting in the attractive rural setting of the Taw Valley.
0:20:03 > 0:20:08The local residents have access to nearby towns via the Tarka Line,
0:20:08 > 0:20:12an hourly rail service that joins Barnstaple and Exeter.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16And there's also a good range of amenities, such as a village hall for social gatherings,
0:20:16 > 0:20:19a post office and an antiques shop.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22Considering its proximity to the Tarka Line,
0:20:22 > 0:20:27our second house is unsurprisingly an old railway workers' cottage,
0:20:27 > 0:20:32which is constructed from local stone and dates back to 1880.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36- This is probably one of the best approaches that I've done on the show.- It's very pretty.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39Gorgeous, isn't it? It's absolutely stunning.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44- It's very, very pretty.- House number two!- Could be on to a winner here.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46It's quaint, it's...
0:20:46 > 0:20:50probably everything that I would tick from the outside.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54It's a beautiful property, but it also has options for the annexe.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58We'll talk about the ones in house, but it also has this amazing,
0:20:58 > 0:21:01beautiful old stone-built hay barn.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03And it's not listed.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05So, there's much more flexibility
0:21:05 > 0:21:08in what you can do here than in the first property.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10- Definitely.- Very pretty. - Definitely.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12- Shall we take a peek inside? - Yes, please.- Yes.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17'It would be hard to beat this home for kerb appeal,
0:21:17 > 0:21:21'and I think we could be on to a real winner with the kitchen/diner.'
0:21:21 > 0:21:24Come on in.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28- Straight into the kitchen/diner this time.- Oh!- Wow!
0:21:30 > 0:21:33- This is lovely.- Yeah, exactly what we're looking for.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36I mean, the island, I love.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39I can imagine, you know, baking bread and working on that surface.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42So, yeah, this is still a hit.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46- Yes, lovely. Yes.- You could do some good baking in here?
0:21:46 > 0:21:48Definitely. Nice big space here.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51And if you come this way, this is sort of a mezzanine floor
0:21:51 > 0:21:55above a sort of double height dining room.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57And then you've got this beautiful sort of astral glass.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01- Oh, yeah! Very clever. - Arched door there.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04- Makes it very light in here. - Very light.- Doesn't it?
0:22:04 > 0:22:07And then upstairs is a sort of TV room, sitting room.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11- Could make a nice study. - Could be. You're very quiet.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14Is that because you're bowled over, or because you're thinking?
0:22:14 > 0:22:16I'm just taking it all in.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21Hmm. OK! THEY LAUGH
0:22:21 > 0:22:24Could it be that Bob is keener on this property than Sue?
0:22:24 > 0:22:26Let's see if the sitting room can get her talking.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30Oh, it's very sweet.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33It is. Very cosy, isn't it? It's an interesting shape.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36I like the quirkiness of it.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38All the little nooks and crannies.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41Often, these railway cottages were just one single space.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44And they've divided it up and remodelled it over the years.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48- But I think we've done a really nice job keeping kind of quite spacious proportions.- Mm.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50Also on this floor is a boot room,
0:22:50 > 0:22:54handy after those long walks with the dogs.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58It adjoins a shower room with a lovely flagstone floor.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Along from here, there's another room with a log burner,
0:23:01 > 0:23:06which is currently being used as a bedroom. On the first floor,
0:23:06 > 0:23:12there are two further bedrooms with original oak flooring and enough space for a double bed in each.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16There's also a charming family bathroom with a freestanding bath,
0:23:16 > 0:23:21as well as a master bedroom for Bob and Sue.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24It's the biggest of the three upstairs.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29- That's not a bad size, actually. - No, it's not bad at all.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33So, there are three bedrooms upstairs and there is what they call a fourth bedroom downstairs.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37Which could be an office or... Well, up to you, really, what you want it for.
0:23:37 > 0:23:44Potentially a bedroom for Mum, especially while we're waiting to do the outside, if we do that.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46- Yeah.- That's an option.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49With Bob still mulling over the annexe possibilities,
0:23:49 > 0:23:53we're heading to the garden, which covers around two thirds of an acre
0:23:53 > 0:23:57and includes a walled vegetable garden.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00Out we step.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03- Now, what do you think of this sized garden?- This is ideal.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06Just the sort of veg gardening that I think I could handle
0:24:06 > 0:24:09- and enjoy as a hobby. - Now, let's talk about the annexe,
0:24:09 > 0:24:11because you can see here a couple of options.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15One possibility which I think might work is to extend out this way.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19There's no listing on the building, so you could extend out this way.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22That little lean-to there is where the downstairs bathroom is.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24If they don't want to extend the house,
0:24:24 > 0:24:27the other option for Sue's mum is the stone hay barn,
0:24:27 > 0:24:32which, with the right permissions and some imagination, could work as a living space.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34It's a beautiful building
0:24:34 > 0:24:36and it could easily be something quite spectacular,
0:24:36 > 0:24:38- but it's planning and cost.- Mm.
0:24:38 > 0:24:43But before you look round, I wanted to talk the price of this property.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45What do you think it's on the market for?
0:24:45 > 0:24:48I would think...
0:24:48 > 0:24:51it's around 395.
0:24:51 > 0:24:56I think this is a bit more than that, and I would say it's around 415.
0:24:56 > 0:25:01- Well, with uncanny accuracy, you are spot on again.- It's low! - It's actually on at 395.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05- It's only been on the week and there's been lots of interest. - I'm not surprised, it's very pretty.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08But why don't you have a look inside that building
0:25:08 > 0:25:13- and look around the house, indeed, and I'll see you out the front in the sun.- OK, thank you.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18On the market for £395,000,
0:25:18 > 0:25:21which is just within their budget for the house without that
0:25:21 > 0:25:25ready-made annexe, this impressive property offers a good-sized...
0:25:35 > 0:25:39..and an old hay barn, which is ripe for conversion
0:25:39 > 0:25:41if they can get the right planning permissions.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45The driveway is just gorgeous, and the property itself
0:25:45 > 0:25:47is very good-looking.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50And what a beautiful kitchen it is with that lovely island.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53Everything was ticking the boxes at that stage.
0:25:53 > 0:25:58The sitting room is OK. I could live with it.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02But I was a bit disappointed in the upstairs space.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04The outside space is fine
0:26:04 > 0:26:08and the potential for my mum was definitely there.
0:26:08 > 0:26:14- We could extend out here, to give us the room we needed for Mum.- Yeah.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17But also, I was thinking that if you really wanted to,
0:26:17 > 0:26:19because the upstairs, as we said, is a bit small,
0:26:19 > 0:26:23you could bring that all the way out and extend the whole house
0:26:23 > 0:26:27and then we could have a larger bedroom with maybe an en suite.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29Yeah, that's a definite option.
0:26:29 > 0:26:34- Hello!- Hello.- Are you done?- Yes. - Did you see everything?- I think so.
0:26:34 > 0:26:39- Yes, I think we saw the whole house. Yes.- Ready for a rest?- Yes. - Ah, that will be good!
0:26:47 > 0:26:51As the sun sets over the stunning north Devon coastline,
0:26:51 > 0:26:55we say farewell to a very promising first day of house-hunting.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06Bob the baker and Sue the cake maker are cooking up plans
0:27:06 > 0:27:09for a great escape from the town of Bicester to north Devon.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12While they'll both be spending a lot of time in the kitchen,
0:27:12 > 0:27:15Bob needs a study to work from home,
0:27:15 > 0:27:18and they'd like and annexe for Sue's mum to join them later on.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20So far, they've been bowled over by a barn conversion,
0:27:20 > 0:27:25but not quite so swayed by a country cottage.
0:27:25 > 0:27:26However, coming up,
0:27:26 > 0:27:30the mystery house could be just the place for them to loaf around in.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33- Imagine some cosy nights in here. - Yeah, it's just...
0:27:33 > 0:27:35I don't know what to say, really!
0:27:35 > 0:27:38And my carriage awaits,
0:27:38 > 0:27:41as I investigate a bygone transport of delights.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46We're having the most phenomenal spring weather in Devon.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50It's the sort of weather where I would buy any house that was put in front of me.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52But Bob and Sue are showing much more restraint.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55In fact, we were a bit surprised that they didn't love the house
0:27:55 > 0:27:57we all thought they were going to love yesterday afternoon.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00So, for the mystery house, we're swinging in a different direction.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Now, there are plenty of four-bedroom houses that they might like in Devon,
0:28:03 > 0:28:08but this property offers them a certain special something that's going to beef up
0:28:08 > 0:28:13their baking ambitions and also give their mum somewhere to live.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18What do you think the mystery house is going to be?
0:28:18 > 0:28:22At the moment, you've shown us two properties with annexe potential.
0:28:23 > 0:28:28I think you may look at something that has an annexe already done,
0:28:28 > 0:28:31which would probably either be at the top or maybe stretch our budget.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34- We may.- Yes!
0:28:34 > 0:28:38We've travelled 19 miles inland from Barnstaple
0:28:38 > 0:28:40to the large village of Lapford.
0:28:40 > 0:28:46Set deep in sheep farming country, but still only 30 minutes drive from the coast.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49This community has a range of pretty character cottages,
0:28:49 > 0:28:54and a versatile post office which also provides banking facilities,
0:28:54 > 0:28:57plants for sale, and dry cleaning.
0:28:57 > 0:29:01There's also a 16th century pub, which is within walking distance of our mystery house.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06This old bakery, dating back to 1790,
0:29:06 > 0:29:10was still in use right up to the 1960s.
0:29:10 > 0:29:14It could be perfect for Bob and Sue in so many ways, but there is one compromise.
0:29:14 > 0:29:17This used to be... Guess what?
0:29:19 > 0:29:22Think about what you do. What do you like to do?
0:29:22 > 0:29:25- A bakery.- It used to be the bakery!
0:29:25 > 0:29:28And we thought that, "Now, we can't resist showing them this."
0:29:28 > 0:29:31And the fascinating thing about this, or the great thing about this,
0:29:31 > 0:29:35for you is that it has a fully functional annexe.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37- Excellent.- Fantastic.- Excellent.
0:29:37 > 0:29:39- Very excited.- It's very pretty.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42It's not something I would've picked to look at, but yeah,
0:29:42 > 0:29:45it's very pretty and I love the village.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48Lapford and this old bakery seem to have hit the mark.
0:29:48 > 0:29:52'And as this home provides plenty of ingredients that Bob and Sue love,
0:29:52 > 0:29:56'I think we should start our tour in their favourite place - the kitchen.'
0:29:56 > 0:29:58Wow.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01- I said I wasn't going to say "wow". - THEY LAUGH
0:30:01 > 0:30:04- Ha-ha, we always manage to get a wow out of people.- Yeah.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06I really like this. That floor's lovely.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09It's gorgeous, isn't it?
0:30:09 > 0:30:11There's just so much to see. I'm just trying to take it all in.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15- Is it going to be big enough for you guys?- Yeah, I would say so.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17- I think so. - There's plenty of work surface.
0:30:17 > 0:30:22And an area for a table, if we needed it.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25So, yeah, at the moment, I'm very happy.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28It's the sweet smell of success for the kitchen,
0:30:28 > 0:30:31and the sitting room could keep those smiles coming.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34Wow. This is lovely.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37Really, really... I said I wasn't going to say wow!
0:30:37 > 0:30:40- Sorry. How many wows have you had already?- Twice in one house!
0:30:40 > 0:30:43And you do have some really spectacular beams running through.
0:30:43 > 0:30:48- They are just beautiful. - There are beautiful, aren't they? And a nice fireplace, an open fire.
0:30:48 > 0:30:52That looks like... Oh, imagine some cosy nights in here.
0:30:52 > 0:30:57- Yeah, it's just... I don't know what to say, really.- Can't stop smiling!
0:30:57 > 0:31:03And to ensure we keep them happy, I'm going to show them the three-storey annexe,
0:31:03 > 0:31:07a potential space for Mum accessible through the sitting room area.
0:31:07 > 0:31:09- Wow.- Goodness!
0:31:10 > 0:31:12- Mum would love this.- Mm.
0:31:12 > 0:31:16So you've got this kitchen sitting room with its own door onto the street.
0:31:16 > 0:31:20- OK.- And then upstairs there's a bathroom and bedroom, I suppose,
0:31:20 > 0:31:23and then above that, there's another room.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26The downside, I suppose, is that there are three sets of stairs for your mum.
0:31:26 > 0:31:30- But she's quite spry at the moment? - She is, yeah. Yeah, definitely.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33And until the time that she decides to come to Devon,
0:31:33 > 0:31:36you could also very easily rent it as a holiday let.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40- That's a really good idea.- A really good idea, yeah.- Yeah, I like that.
0:31:40 > 0:31:45Because it then doesn't say to Mum that there's something here waiting for her.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48You know, she can come on weekends whenever she feels like it,
0:31:48 > 0:31:51- then, when she's ready, it's hers. - Yeah, exactly.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54And I quite like the idea of a separate income as well.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57There are some really good options for our buyers in this property.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01The upstairs of the main house has three generous double bedrooms,
0:32:01 > 0:32:04with space for large wardrobes in each,
0:32:04 > 0:32:07along with the recently fitted family bathroom.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10And then this bedroom has an en suite.
0:32:11 > 0:32:16- So, they're not huge. - No, but it's big enough for us.
0:32:16 > 0:32:20This is not the one they use as a master, but it makes sense to have it with the en suite.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23- It's... I'm still happy.- Really? - Yeah, yeah.
0:32:23 > 0:32:27They both seem really smitten with this property.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30It's even got Bob dancing with glee.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34And before we go outside, there's a bit of a bonus in this next room just off the kitchen.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37So this, I think, is a really fascinating room.
0:32:37 > 0:32:38Oh, wow!
0:32:38 > 0:32:43- This was the old bakery.- Oh, right!
0:32:43 > 0:32:48And it was a STEAM oven bakery. Very unusual for the time, and very successful.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50People would come and they bring their food,
0:32:50 > 0:32:54it would be baked during the day and they'd come in the evening and pick it up at five pence.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57But you can see its still got the two ovens on both sides.
0:32:57 > 0:33:03That's an amazing feature, isn't it? Erm, the only thing that there isn't, at the moment, in my mind,
0:33:03 > 0:33:05is a study.
0:33:05 > 0:33:10- I'm not sure where I would work, seeing that I work from home quite a lot.- Mm.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14Well, this is an option, and then, let's go outside.
0:33:16 > 0:33:20This is, unfortunately, the kicker with this property.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25- Cos this is your garden.- Ah!
0:33:25 > 0:33:31- And it was all going so well.- Oh-h! - This is it? Just this space? - Just this?- This is it, I'm afraid.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34- Hmm.- Oh, what a shame.
0:33:34 > 0:33:38Yeah, erm, we really couldn't live with a garden this size,
0:33:38 > 0:33:41not with two pretty large dogs.
0:33:41 > 0:33:45- No.- Even just as a social space, it wouldn't work for us.
0:33:45 > 0:33:50- Even with the Lapford Steam Bakery sign?- Yeah, that's fab. - Can we move that somewhere else?
0:33:50 > 0:33:54How much do you think it's on the market for?
0:33:54 > 0:33:58If it had outside space, I would have said way over our budget.
0:33:58 > 0:34:03It had to be nearer 500. Without that, I'm going to say it's 450.
0:34:05 > 0:34:11I think it's a little bit less than that, but probably not much though. About 435?
0:34:11 > 0:34:18- Well, in this instance, you are both spectacularly wrong, cos it's on the market for £350,000.- Wow!
0:34:19 > 0:34:22- Somebody's going to get a bargain. - Yeah.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25Provided they don't need outside space. Such a shame.
0:34:25 > 0:34:31This unique property came frustratingly close to perfection,
0:34:31 > 0:34:36and is on the market for well below their budget at £350,000.
0:34:36 > 0:34:37It has...
0:34:44 > 0:34:50..and a courtyard garden, turning their thumbs up into a thumbs down.
0:34:50 > 0:34:54Walking into the kitchen, my heart skipped almost.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57It was like, "Yes, this is it!"
0:34:57 > 0:35:03I have to say, it was everything that we were looking for, I think.
0:35:03 > 0:35:09And to find out it had an annexe, you know, a ready-made annexe, was stunning.
0:35:09 > 0:35:12But such a shame about the outside space.
0:35:12 > 0:35:17It was just an absolute killer.
0:35:17 > 0:35:20There was no way we could deal with two dogs out there,
0:35:20 > 0:35:23let alone grow any sort of vegetables, and we probably
0:35:23 > 0:35:26wouldn't have much room for very many flowers either.
0:35:26 > 0:35:31It was such a shame, cos otherwise it's such a beautiful property.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34- Guys, are you done?- Hello!
0:35:34 > 0:35:36Are you, are you kind of...?
0:35:36 > 0:35:40- OK, deep breath.- Yes. - THEY BREATHE DEEPLY
0:35:40 > 0:35:45- Gutted. Pretty gutted.- Oh-h, don't say that! I don't want to... Come with me, we'll talk about it.
0:35:57 > 0:36:00As a designated area of outstanding natural beauty,
0:36:00 > 0:36:05the north Devon coast has a range of protected beaches, villages
0:36:05 > 0:36:09and historic houses. One such property
0:36:09 > 0:36:13is the grand Regency mansion of Arlington Court, near Barnstaple,
0:36:13 > 0:36:16which is set in a 2,700 acre estate in the River Yeo valley.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21Its stable block houses one of the best collections
0:36:21 > 0:36:25of 19th century horse-drawn vehicles in the country.
0:36:25 > 0:36:29'So I've come here to meet Ana Chylak to find out a little bit more
0:36:29 > 0:36:33'about this key chapter in our transport history.'
0:36:33 > 0:36:38This one is as good as it gets, but with carriages.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41This one belonged to the Earl of Craven,
0:36:41 > 0:36:47and I love it, cos it's yellow, it's bright, it's trimmed with silver.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50- It's a really grand vehicle. - So, what sort of period is this?
0:36:50 > 0:36:55- Is this very early or is it...? - These state coaches were around
0:36:55 > 0:36:56all through the 1800s.
0:36:56 > 0:37:00This one was built in the second half of the 19th century.
0:37:00 > 0:37:04- Oh, right!- This was a vehicle that you'd have used on grand occasions.
0:37:04 > 0:37:08So, the state opening of Parliament, society weddings.
0:37:08 > 0:37:12- But I always marvel how you actually get into these.- They're very high.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16- If you were fancy lady, that's not going to be elegant, is it?- Well, you know,
0:37:16 > 0:37:18you have to be elegant, and there is a cunning way to get in.
0:37:18 > 0:37:22- Shall we have a look inside? - Yes, do.- There we go.
0:37:22 > 0:37:25- And a very nice brocade. Look at the colour. It's amazing underneath.- Mm.
0:37:25 > 0:37:30And this here is a range of steps which we can just fold down.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32- Can I go on?- Do, yes.- Oh, look!
0:37:34 > 0:37:37Look at that.
0:37:37 > 0:37:41So, in your long, elegant frock, you'd be able to climb up very easily.
0:37:41 > 0:37:45'Also in the collection, you'll find some carriages familiar from historical literature.'
0:37:45 > 0:37:50For example, the barouche, which is mentioned in Jane Austen's novels.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54At the turn of the 19th century, this was the ultimate vehicle
0:37:54 > 0:37:57for taking the air and seeing society.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00'And then there's the hansom cab.'
0:38:00 > 0:38:05A common sight in the streets in Victorian times, these were dubbed "the gondolas of London,"
0:38:05 > 0:38:09and evoke vivid images of Dickens and Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13So, this is one of our two travelling chariots,
0:38:13 > 0:38:16and I think they're fascinating, really.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19You as a gentleman would have travelled inside,
0:38:19 > 0:38:22your servant would have gone on the back.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26And can you see the strange flap at the front?
0:38:26 > 0:38:30Well, this one, you can arrange it so that you can lie flat
0:38:30 > 0:38:34and stretch your legs into this area here.
0:38:34 > 0:38:39- So it's like a business class? - It is very much like business class, yes, with its recliner in there.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42If you wanted to go to Italy for the Grand Tour,
0:38:42 > 0:38:44that's quite a distance.
0:38:44 > 0:38:49And we just take it for granted, we can hop on a plane and fly there.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52If you wanted to go to Italy in the 1700s, 1800s,
0:38:52 > 0:38:56you'd have gone in a carriage like this.
0:38:56 > 0:39:00'Time for me to have a grand tour of my own around the estate here at Arlington.'
0:39:00 > 0:39:06I'm about to take the reins of a carriage led by two of their working horses - Erik and Mr Fips.
0:39:06 > 0:39:11I'll also have a little help from my own coachman, David Brookfield.
0:39:11 > 0:39:15- How are you doing?- OK. Are you OK with that?- Can I just hop up? - Yeah, find a way.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21- Ooh, there's a handbrake. That's good.- Yes, yes, handbrake is on.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25- Oh, you're very high up!- You need to be able to see where you're going,
0:39:25 > 0:39:29and as the horses are quite tall, you need to be even taller.
0:39:29 > 0:39:30- No seatbelt?- No!
0:39:30 > 0:39:34- Right, so, you're going to drive us up the yard.- So, walk on.
0:39:34 > 0:39:39Nice and steady. Bring that right rein right round there. That's it.
0:39:43 > 0:39:47- Really responsive. It's like power steering.- Yeah!
0:39:47 > 0:39:50'The age of the carriage came to an end at the turn of the 20th century
0:39:50 > 0:39:54'with the advent of the internal combustion engine,
0:39:54 > 0:39:57'making huge changes to the pace of everyday life.'
0:39:57 > 0:39:59HE SIGHS
0:39:59 > 0:40:02- It's not a bad job, is it?- Yeah! - DAVID LAUGHS
0:40:02 > 0:40:05'But, this wonderful mode of travel remains an important part
0:40:05 > 0:40:07'of our transport heritage.'
0:40:13 > 0:40:16Time to leave my coachmanlike ways behind and find out how
0:40:16 > 0:40:20Bob and Sue are doing thinking about those properties.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25Well, the heavens have certainly smiled on our week in Devon.
0:40:25 > 0:40:29It's been gorgeous. And I was just wondering how your week has been,
0:40:29 > 0:40:32and particularly what you thought of the houses we showed you?
0:40:32 > 0:40:35Let's start with the first one. What did you think of house one?
0:40:35 > 0:40:38I loved house number one.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40I think that was pretty close to what we need.
0:40:40 > 0:40:45It had lots of possibilities, possibilities for the annexe.
0:40:45 > 0:40:50The grounds were excellent, and I liked the flow of the house.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53Mm, yeah, I agree. I fell in love with it,
0:40:53 > 0:40:55and it just feels right.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58The second house was...
0:40:58 > 0:41:01- The great approach. - It looked beautiful.
0:41:01 > 0:41:05The downstairs kitchen/dining room was lovely.
0:41:05 > 0:41:08But the more we went around the house,
0:41:08 > 0:41:11I didn't feel that it flowed the same as the first house,
0:41:11 > 0:41:17and the upstairs was definitely smaller than I expected.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21There were possibilities there for an extension.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24There are lots of options with that house, without a doubt.
0:41:24 > 0:41:29- But it's about time and money. - What about the mystery house?
0:41:29 > 0:41:33I think, had that house have had the outside space,
0:41:33 > 0:41:36we would've seriously considered it.
0:41:36 > 0:41:42It was just the outside space that really killed it for me, completely.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45- You nearly killed me too with your...- Sorry!- ..heartbreaking,
0:41:45 > 0:41:49crestfallen faces as we walked out into the courtyard.
0:41:49 > 0:41:52Yeah, we do realise that we have to compromise somewhere,
0:41:52 > 0:41:55but that's just a compromise a bit too far.
0:41:55 > 0:41:59So, what happens next? Are you going to visit any of the properties again, or...?
0:41:59 > 0:42:02Yes, we think we'll go back and see property one.
0:42:02 > 0:42:04That one opened my eyes and I'd like another look.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07Best of luck. I mean, you'd be a welcome addition to the county.
0:42:07 > 0:42:11- I'm sure they're desperate to have you here.- Oh, thank you very much for all your efforts
0:42:11 > 0:42:13and all the team's efforts. We've had a really fun time.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17- We have.- Thank you.- Devon scone? - Thank you very much. Yes, why not?
0:42:22 > 0:42:25It's a bitter blow when we show lovely houses and none of them -
0:42:25 > 0:42:29and I understand why - but none of them quite add up to
0:42:29 > 0:42:32the dream house that we hoped we would find for Sue and Bob.
0:42:32 > 0:42:36But on one hand, I'm confident that what they're looking for
0:42:36 > 0:42:40is not beyond the realms of possibility and they will find it here in Devon.
0:42:40 > 0:42:45And I am grateful that we managed to prove to them that just because
0:42:45 > 0:42:49it's attached or it's in a village, they should go and look at it.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53It's very often the case that people don't look it things on the internet
0:42:53 > 0:42:56because they have this fixed idea of where and what they want,
0:42:56 > 0:43:00and unfortunately, they miss out on lots of really great possibilities.
0:43:00 > 0:43:04So, I hope they'll persevere and move to this beautiful county as soon as possible.
0:43:04 > 0:43:08I do hope that you will join us next time for more Escape To The Country.
0:43:08 > 0:43:12After revisiting our first property, on reflection,
0:43:12 > 0:43:15Bob and Sue felt the location wasn't right for them.
0:43:15 > 0:43:19But I'm happy to report that they've had an offer accepted on a house
0:43:19 > 0:43:23near Great Torrington, south of Bideford.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26If you'd like to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales,
0:43:26 > 0:43:28Northern Ireland or England and need our help,
0:43:28 > 0:43:30please apply online at...
0:43:56 > 0:43:59Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd