0:00:02 > 0:00:05This tranquil rural valley behind me contains a stream, a machine,
0:00:05 > 0:00:10a building that sent seismic shock waves around the world.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13Find out where I am in just a moment.
0:00:42 > 0:00:49'On today's show, I'm flying high with a couple hoping for a perfect property landing in the countryside,
0:00:49 > 0:00:53'but at our first destination, they can't wait to depart early.'
0:00:53 > 0:00:55I'm thinking this is a bit small.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59'However, the mystery house soon makes their spirits soar.'
0:00:59 > 0:01:03- Wow, look at that!- That's fantastic. That is impressive.
0:01:03 > 0:01:08Today, we're in Derbyshire and this is Cromford Mill
0:01:08 > 0:01:13which is one of the Derwent Valley mills that, since 2001, has been a World Heritage Site.
0:01:13 > 0:01:19Quite an honour! Why? Well, because they are the brainchild of Sir Richard Arkwright,
0:01:19 > 0:01:24who in 1771 created the first water-powered, cotton-spinning mill
0:01:24 > 0:01:29and then built this complex of factory buildings and workers' cottages around it,
0:01:29 > 0:01:34thus laying the blueprint for the modern British factory complex, then copied all around the world.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37But it's not the only landmark in this county.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41Landlocked Derbyshire is bordered by a number of counties,
0:01:41 > 0:01:45including Yorkshire to the north and Leicestershire to the south.
0:01:45 > 0:01:51And the county's picturesque setting has provided inspiration for many creative individuals,
0:01:51 > 0:01:55such as the writer Jane Austen and the poet John Betjeman
0:01:55 > 0:01:59who once wrote, "There is every kind of scenery in Derbyshire, except the sea."
0:01:59 > 0:02:05Although there's no coastline, strangely enough, the county is famed for its watery assets
0:02:05 > 0:02:09and the natural spring towns of Ashbourne and Buxton are both known
0:02:09 > 0:02:12throughout the world for their mineral water.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16Another county highlight is the Peak District National Park.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19Over eight million tourists visit here each year
0:02:19 > 0:02:25and the park contains around 500 square miles of hills, rock faces and river valleys.
0:02:25 > 0:02:31With all this on offer, it's little surprise that Derbyshire remains an ever-attractive option
0:02:31 > 0:02:34for those seeking a rural escape.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41You might think you could get a good deal on property here in Derbyshire
0:02:41 > 0:02:45because that mythical beast, the average detached house,
0:02:45 > 0:02:51costs £197,000 here which is £57,000 less than the national average.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55However, let's face it, who wants to live in an average detached house?
0:02:55 > 0:03:01You'd much prefer to live in one of the beautiful houses in the southern fringes of the Peak District,
0:03:01 > 0:03:04places like Bakewell or Ashford-in-the-Water
0:03:04 > 0:03:08where the same house is going to cost you £400,000 to £500,000.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13Still, there are places just south of the Peak District like Ashbourne or Matlock
0:03:13 > 0:03:19where you can get a lot more for your money, and wherever you are, there's beautiful architecture.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23Limestone is one of Derbyshire's most common building materials
0:03:23 > 0:03:26and it's been quarried here since Roman times.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Its use has become increasingly popular
0:03:29 > 0:03:33and the Peak District is now Britain's largest limestone producer.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37Today, around 20 million tonnes are quarried annually,
0:03:37 > 0:03:40so limestone properties are a common sight here.
0:03:40 > 0:03:46And this two-bedroom cottage in Winster is currently on the market for £165,000.
0:03:46 > 0:03:52Another distinctive building material seen throughout the county is sandstone.
0:03:52 > 0:03:58Also quarried locally, it's been used in a wide range of houses from very grand crescents
0:03:58 > 0:04:01to slightly more bijou properties.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04If you'd like a slice of such wonderful architecture,
0:04:04 > 0:04:08this three-bedroom, Grade 2 listed cottage also in Winster
0:04:08 > 0:04:10could be yours for £197,000.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13Reflecting the county's industrial heritage,
0:04:13 > 0:04:18there are also many converted millworkers' cottages across Derbyshire
0:04:18 > 0:04:22and this Grade 2 listed, one-bedroomed terrace in Cromford
0:04:22 > 0:04:26is currently on the market for just over £102,000.
0:04:26 > 0:04:31Limestone or sandstone, Victorian farmhouse or country cottage, it's all out there,
0:04:31 > 0:04:35but what are our buyers today looking for? Let's meet them and find out.
0:04:35 > 0:04:40Dwayne and his wife Samantha live in Walton-on-Thames in Surrey
0:04:40 > 0:04:42and they like to live life to the full.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46They both have successful careers. Dwayne is a management consultant
0:04:46 > 0:04:49and Samantha a financial services director,
0:04:49 > 0:04:53but it's not just work that makes these two high-flyers.
0:04:53 > 0:04:58We sort of fly probably twice a month, possibly three times,
0:04:58 > 0:05:02and you're quite a good navigator now, aren't you?
0:05:02 > 0:05:07- Well, I'm getting there. - We've not infringed any airspace, which is always a good thing.
0:05:07 > 0:05:13When they've not got their head in the clouds, our couple can often be seen motoring around the countryside
0:05:13 > 0:05:19and it's the scenery they've encountered that has inspired them to leave the town once and for all.
0:05:19 > 0:05:24We're both really drawn to the idea of living
0:05:24 > 0:05:26in hills or near hills.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30It's quite good now because where we are in our working careers,
0:05:30 > 0:05:35we've got flexibility, we don't have to live in a specific area.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38You can build your business from a local place
0:05:38 > 0:05:44and I travel the country anyway, so it doesn't really matter where I'm based.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48The location that has caught their imagination is Derbyshire.
0:05:48 > 0:05:53The whole of the Peak District is very attractive to us as an area because we love the hills.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58We did a little bit of an exploration, so Buxton was quite interesting.
0:05:58 > 0:06:04That's a spa town with good architecture, but you can see the rolling hills in the background.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06And Bakewell was quite interesting.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10To be able to just wander out of the house
0:06:10 > 0:06:15and start walking into the hills is really attractive for us, isn't it?
0:06:15 > 0:06:21When it comes to the ideal house in the hills, our buyers have a very definite idea of what they want.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25What's really important to us about the property is some character.
0:06:25 > 0:06:30We love the idea of a period property, perhaps a much older property,
0:06:30 > 0:06:32or even a barn conversion
0:06:32 > 0:06:34that's got lots of beams,
0:06:34 > 0:06:38an open fire and lots of character.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42All that's left to nail down are their finances.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44So the budget that we've got
0:06:44 > 0:06:48for our new property is £400,000.
0:06:52 > 0:06:58'Dwayne and Sam are particularly keen on living in the northern area of the Peak District,
0:06:58 > 0:07:02'close to their favourite towns of Bakewell and Buxton.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07'This is an expensive area though as there are fewer properties and they are highly sought after.
0:07:07 > 0:07:12'I caught up with them to discover more about their rural move.'
0:07:12 > 0:07:16- Welcome back to Derbyshire as you know this area quite well.- We do.
0:07:16 > 0:07:21So, lovely houses we've got lined up for you, but tell us again what you're looking for exactly.
0:07:21 > 0:07:27We're looking for a three-bedroom property. The downstairs living space is really important,
0:07:27 > 0:07:33so the character, beams, fireplaces, and the flow of the property as well.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37So I like the idea of higgledy-piggledy rooms that lead into each other.
0:07:37 > 0:07:43So a period property, because period cottages, that's the sort of ballpark we're looking at,
0:07:43 > 0:07:46don't tend to be hugely open-plan.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49- No.- So is there some leeway there? - Yes, I think so.
0:07:49 > 0:07:55I think you just know when you walk into a property whether it feels right, so we'll have a good idea...
0:07:55 > 0:08:01Maybe you can get a sense of openness with a barn conversion with that character,
0:08:01 > 0:08:08but I'm looking for an outside space for motorbikes and a projects room. That would be a good feature.
0:08:08 > 0:08:13You've done quite a lot of renovation in properties before. Are you prepared to do a bit of work?
0:08:13 > 0:08:16- Yes, definitely.- That's no problem. - We'd enjoy that.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20The other important thing, because we both need an office from home,
0:08:20 > 0:08:26would be to have space within the property where we can have a double office together
0:08:26 > 0:08:30or two separate rooms in the property where we can both have offices.
0:08:30 > 0:08:36What about outside space? You've got all this on your doorstep. Are you looking to have a big garden?
0:08:36 > 0:08:40I think a huge garden is not necessarily a pre-requisite for us.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43Some nice outside space where we can spend time would be lovely,
0:08:43 > 0:08:47but as you rightly say, we've got all this on our doorstep.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50- The nice thing is you don't have to garden this.- No.
0:08:50 > 0:08:56So we've got some nice properties to show you. Let's go and see the first one. Follow me.
0:08:56 > 0:09:02'For their maximum budget of £400,000, Dwayne and Sam are looking for a detached property.'
0:09:16 > 0:09:21'We found three fabulous properties we think they'll find hard to resist,
0:09:21 > 0:09:25'but I won't be revealing the price of each until they've had a guess.
0:09:25 > 0:09:31'As ever, the last of these is the mystery house which is certainly not your average, run-of-the-mill home.
0:09:35 > 0:09:40'For our first house, we're heading about five miles west of Bakewell to Monyash.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44'This small village is in the hills and dales of the Peak District
0:09:44 > 0:09:47'and it's a popular destination for walkers
0:09:47 > 0:09:50'which is lucky as Dwayne and Sam are avid hikers.
0:09:50 > 0:09:56'One of the village meeting points for keen walkers and even bikers is the local cafe,
0:09:56 > 0:09:59'so we decided to have a chat with the owner to find out
0:09:59 > 0:10:03'what makes this place so appealing for would-be escapees.'
0:10:03 > 0:10:07What's going on in the village? What's the selling point for...?
0:10:07 > 0:10:09There's always something happening.
0:10:09 > 0:10:15There's lots of different walks, cyclists all over the place, but always something going on.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18In terms of your clientele, do you get any bikers?
0:10:18 > 0:10:21Lots of motorcyclists, yeah.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23So it's a good place for motorcyclists?
0:10:23 > 0:10:28Yeah, there's lots of different routes that they like to take
0:10:28 > 0:10:32and they always cross over in the village. It's a central point.
0:10:32 > 0:10:38'Well, we've seen the village, so let's go and view the first house which is just down the road.'
0:10:38 > 0:10:40This is the house I want to show you.
0:10:40 > 0:10:45- It's really pretty. - The first thing you'll notice is that it is attached.
0:10:45 > 0:10:51- Yeah.- If you look round the village, they're all kind of rows of old stone cottages.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55It dates back to the 1700s and it was actually three,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58but two of them have been knocked together,
0:10:58 > 0:11:04so it's really up here until that little jutting-out bit, that's the second property.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09- First impressions, it's really lovely.- What do you feel about attached? You wanted detached.
0:11:09 > 0:11:15In an ideal world, detached, but we're not averse to the idea of an attached property, are we?
0:11:15 > 0:11:19No, not at all. This is in the zone definitely, yeah.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21"In the zone"!
0:11:21 > 0:11:26'The fact that this cottage is not detached has not seemed to put our buyers off.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30'Let's see if they will remain open-minded once they get inside.'
0:11:32 > 0:11:34Step inside.
0:11:34 > 0:11:40- So we're coming in the back of the house as often happens in the countryside.- Yeah.
0:11:40 > 0:11:45- Straight into the newest addition which is the sun room. - This is lovely, really light.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47Let's have a look in the kitchen.
0:11:49 > 0:11:54There is a light shift when you come from that very bright room into the kitchen.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57- I like the beams. That's nice. - A good range there.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59What about proportions?
0:11:59 > 0:12:02I'm thinking this is a bit small.
0:12:02 > 0:12:08I think it's probably a bit of a smaller kitchen than I would ideally like,
0:12:08 > 0:12:12but it looks like it's very well put together.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16Through here, there's quite a big utility room and downstairs toilet.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20Then it flows straight into the sitting room.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Here you really get a sense of the period of the property.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25- Oh, yes.- This is good, yeah.
0:12:25 > 0:12:31That wall is gorgeous with the wooden beam. I love that.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34- That's really nice. - The fireplace works as well.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37- Proper working fireplace. - Yeah, great.- Lots of details.
0:12:37 > 0:12:43- You've got this little salt larder to the side where they used to cure the meat.- Goodness!
0:12:43 > 0:12:47Let's look upstairs because actually it's quite spacious upstairs.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51'As we head to the first floor, we pass through the family dining room.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55'Upstairs, there are a total of three double bedrooms
0:12:55 > 0:12:58'with one currently being used as a study.
0:12:58 > 0:13:03'There's also a large family bathroom, but now we're viewing the main bedroom.'
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Oh, yeah, that's really nice!
0:13:08 > 0:13:15- Good wardrobes.- Loads of wardrobe space.- There's lots of storage which is nice in a period property.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19- Good-sized room as well, I think, nice proportions.- Yeah.
0:13:19 > 0:13:25- I'll let you explore all the rooms a bit later, but let's go outside and talk about money.- OK.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32'Out here, there's a garage which is next to a pretty landscaped garden
0:13:32 > 0:13:36'and it's all surrounded by stunning countryside.'
0:13:37 > 0:13:39Well, first off, look at the views!
0:13:39 > 0:13:44- Yeah.- That's fantastic.- We promised you views. You get your views.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46That is really lovely.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50You've got your work cut out to keep this garden up to scratch, Samantha,
0:13:50 > 0:13:54- because it is a beautifully maintained garden.- It is, isn't it?
0:13:54 > 0:13:59What do you think from the outside? What are your thoughts about the potential here?
0:13:59 > 0:14:04- My overall feeling is it's just a little bit...- Squishy.- ..small.
0:14:04 > 0:14:10You are the great renovators, so are you thinking about expanding it in any way?
0:14:10 > 0:14:13There's potential there. It depends on how much it costs
0:14:13 > 0:14:17because that gives us our budget if we did that sort of thing.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19So what do you think it does cost?
0:14:19 > 0:14:25I'm going to take a guess at...365,000.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28Mm-hm. What about you, Dwayne?
0:14:28 > 0:14:31I'm going to go a bit lower than that. I'm going to go 335.
0:14:31 > 0:14:36335. OK, well, you're both a bit optimistic.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40This is on the market just over your budget at 415.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42Oh, right, OK.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Monyash is a very popular village.
0:14:44 > 0:14:50- She's open to offers, so you might get it within your budget, but it's at the top end of your budget.- OK.
0:14:50 > 0:14:56It might not be the property for you, but I'll give you more time to look around inside and outside.
0:14:56 > 0:15:01- I'll meet you out the front, then we can press on to the next one.- OK.- In you go.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05That's always a barometer, what people guess.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08It's usually code for how much they like it,
0:15:08 > 0:15:12so it could be a bit of an ambivalent one, this one,
0:15:12 > 0:15:16but we'll see what their feedback is. Have a listen.
0:15:16 > 0:15:22On the market at £415,000, this cottage is just over their budget.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35From the outside, it's really nice.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39I think it's got the sort of stone construction that we are looking for
0:15:39 > 0:15:44and the conservatory is really nice as well, a great entertaining area.
0:15:44 > 0:15:52Given the budget, I think, for myself, probably not a real contender at this point in time.
0:15:52 > 0:15:57I thought it was a really pretty house. I think the character of the house is fantastic.
0:15:57 > 0:16:02And the way it's been decorated and lived in looks absolutely lovely,
0:16:02 > 0:16:04so that fits for us really well.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08- Are you done?- We are. - All happy?- Yeah, very interesting.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12"Interesting" is what we like to hear. That's property one done.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15- Let's go and look at house number two.- OK.
0:16:22 > 0:16:29Nestled in the Derwent Valley in the foothills of the Peak District is the historic village of Hathersage.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33This ancient setting, cocooned by miles of moorland,
0:16:33 > 0:16:36is thought to have been the inspiration for Morton,
0:16:36 > 0:16:40the fictional village of Charlotte Bronte's novel Jane Eyre.
0:16:40 > 0:16:45Here, dramatic rock formations like the Higger Tor and the hill fort at Carl Wark
0:16:45 > 0:16:49make these moors a particular draw for walkers and climbers.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53But the unpredictable landscape and isolation here
0:16:53 > 0:16:59means you can sometimes encounter problems when walking these routes, especially if you're ill-prepared.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02The Edale Mountain Rescue Team was formed in the 1950s
0:17:02 > 0:17:06to come to the aid of stranded and injured walkers
0:17:06 > 0:17:11and as our buyers are extremely keen to explore the area on foot,
0:17:11 > 0:17:15we arranged for them to meet volunteer rescuer, Trevor Lawton.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18So what's the most common call-out the team gets?
0:17:18 > 0:17:23The most common injuries we deal with are lower leg fractures, which are mainly walkers.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27- Is it a 24/7 service?- Yes. Everybody on the call-out list is on call.
0:17:27 > 0:17:33Over the last 12 years, this team has been called out to around 900 incidents,
0:17:33 > 0:17:37making them one of the busiest crews in the UK.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39Team members perform training sessions regularly
0:17:39 > 0:17:43in order to refresh and improve their first-aid and rescue skills.
0:17:43 > 0:17:48Most of the volunteers are already members of the emergency services
0:17:48 > 0:17:52which is invaluable experience as Dwayne and Sam are about to find out
0:17:52 > 0:17:55as they watch a training exercise take place.
0:17:55 > 0:18:02OK, what you see happening now is the first two people that have come in to sort out the casualty.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06Pippa is holding the head because this person has fallen ten feet
0:18:06 > 0:18:11and Judith is just assessing to see what injuries the casualty has.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14There's quite a lot of kit they use.
0:18:14 > 0:18:19This is why we need so many people, 12 to 15 people for a normal carry just a short distance.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23How long would it take to get him out of here, do you think?
0:18:23 > 0:18:25To the road, probably about an hour.
0:18:25 > 0:18:30From getting the call, getting here, getting him out, an hour to an hour and a half.
0:18:30 > 0:18:35The casualty is nicely packaged now into all our equipment that we've got here.
0:18:35 > 0:18:41They're in a vacuum mattress which keeps them nice and secure for the carry which will be quite tricky.
0:18:41 > 0:18:46They'll carry now to the road head where, hopefully, we'll have an ambulance waiting
0:18:46 > 0:18:52or an air ambulance, depending on what's available, that will have landed somewhere close.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56With the exercise coming to an end, it's time to leave these hills behind
0:18:56 > 0:18:59as we head back to our property search.
0:19:02 > 0:19:07'We're travelling around 11 miles south-east of Munyash to the village of Winster.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13'This former lead-mining district is full of charm, as well as history.
0:19:13 > 0:19:19'The centre of the village is a designated conservation area and boasts notable buildings,
0:19:19 > 0:19:22'such as the Tudor Winster Market House.
0:19:22 > 0:19:27'It was the first property the National Trust acquired in the Peak District back in 1906
0:19:27 > 0:19:29'and it's a reminder of a time
0:19:29 > 0:19:34'when the weekly market of locally produced goods took pride of place in village life.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37'Our second property is a true rural retreat
0:19:37 > 0:19:42'and is a former mineworker's cottage in a lovely, secluded setting.'
0:19:42 > 0:19:46So a long way down...a drive
0:19:46 > 0:19:49into a much more secluded place
0:19:49 > 0:19:52- and actually two properties next to each other.- Yes.
0:19:52 > 0:19:57- This is the one that we want to show you.- Wow!- Oh, my goodness!
0:19:57 > 0:20:02- That is a proposition!- That looks really, really interesting.- Yeah.
0:20:02 > 0:20:08Just at the bottom of this section of this dry-stone wall, there's a footpath that goes up this hill.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12It's 100 metres, then you come into the middle of the village.
0:20:12 > 0:20:18- You see the top of the buildings through the trees, so it feels more isolated than it actually is.- Yeah.
0:20:18 > 0:20:23- Shall we take a peek inside? - Definitely!- Look at their faces!
0:20:23 > 0:20:27'This limestone cottage has caught Dwayne and Sam's imagination.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31'Let's hope we can keep them intrigued as we head inside.'
0:20:33 > 0:20:35So come on in.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39- Ooh!- Just see what you think.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43- Oh, yeah, yeah, this is nice. - Oh, this is lovely.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46Oh, lots of "yeah, yeahs".
0:20:46 > 0:20:48It's a real country cottage kitchen.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50- Yeah.- With lots of character.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53The kitchen is one of the newer parts.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56The old parts have got lovely features.
0:21:00 > 0:21:05- Take a look at these wonderful tiles. - Fabulous, aren't they?- Look at this.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09This is again an original feature, almost certainly of the period.
0:21:09 > 0:21:15It's a baker's oven, so you light the fire in here. And they do light this in the winter.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18These ovens on the other side get hot enough to bake in.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21- Right.- That's great, isn't it? - That's good.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25This is the main sitting room which is again very charming.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29- So, here we are, sitting room. - Oh, yeah, lovely room.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33- And a great beam. - Yeah, that's an old ship's mast.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36In the original deeds, it's listed as a ship's mast.
0:21:36 > 0:21:41Oh, goodness! I think this house has got a lot of appeal.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44- Good. Well, we haven't finished yet. Let's look upstairs.- OK.
0:21:48 > 0:21:54'Just off this dining area is another space that could be used as either a bedroom or study,
0:21:54 > 0:21:58'but we're now going to take a peek at where they could be sleeping.'
0:21:58 > 0:22:03This is what they're using as the master bedroom.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07- See this great view over to Matlock. - Oh, that's lovely, isn't it?
0:22:07 > 0:22:08Yeah.
0:22:08 > 0:22:13- This is a nice-sized room. - This is really nice.- Dual aspect.
0:22:13 > 0:22:19- It's very light.- Again, it's surprising in an old building to have all this space upstairs.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22- It fits well. - This is a really spacious bedroom.
0:22:22 > 0:22:29'There are two other bedrooms up here, which are light and airy, and a good-sized family bathroom.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33'Moving outside, you can fully appreciate the beautiful setting.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37'Out here you'll find a good-sized garden with a timber store, a shed
0:22:37 > 0:22:41'and there's also space for a greenhouse.'
0:22:41 > 0:22:47- You actually own more than two acres of land.- Really? - That's very good.
0:22:47 > 0:22:52But then behind, your land continues basically up the hillside
0:22:52 > 0:22:56and then right down to where we came in, in a way.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00So you basically have this huge tranche of woodland.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Goodness! I wasn't expecting that.
0:23:03 > 0:23:08- I'm pretty drawn to this place.- Well, how much do you think it costs?
0:23:08 > 0:23:13I would say just over our budget. I'm going to go 405, 410.
0:23:14 > 0:23:20I think maybe just a little bit higher, so I would guess 420,000.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24Well, this time you were both a bit pessimistic.
0:23:24 > 0:23:31- Actually, this is on the market at £399,950.- Wow!- Really? - So a smidge under your budget.
0:23:31 > 0:23:37- Go back in for a look, then wander round the grounds.- OK. - And I'll see you on the drive.
0:23:40 > 0:23:47'That was a welcome surprise for Dwayne and Sam with this charming cottage coming in just under budget.
0:23:47 > 0:23:52'It has a large sitting room, a farmhouse-style kitchen with a range cooker,
0:23:52 > 0:23:56'three bedrooms with potential for a fourth on the ground floor,
0:23:56 > 0:24:01'and it's all set in a pretty walled garden with two acres of woodland.'
0:24:01 > 0:24:09So coming down that long pathway and finding this house here just tucked into the hillside
0:24:09 > 0:24:12is really lovely.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16And the fact that there is two acres of woodland
0:24:16 > 0:24:19was a great surprise.
0:24:19 > 0:24:24I think for me the big challenge with this house is the location.
0:24:24 > 0:24:31That's quite a long drive and I think in winter that could become a problem for us.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37- Hey, guys. Seen everything you need to see?- Yeah, lots to see.
0:24:37 > 0:24:43Lots to think about. Let's give you some space to think and take you away from the properties.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55As the sun begins to set across the Derbyshire countryside,
0:24:55 > 0:25:01our buyers get the chance to take some time out to reflect on their first day of house hunting.
0:25:06 > 0:25:12'With a maximum budget of £400,000, Dwayne and Sam from Walton-on-Thames in Surrey are hoping
0:25:12 > 0:25:18'to break free from suburbia and settle in the heart of the Derbyshire countryside.
0:25:18 > 0:25:25'So far we've shown them two lovely properties and while Sam has taken to the surroundings,
0:25:25 > 0:25:31'Dwayne has remained rather pragmatic. But can our mystery house finally create a shared vision?'
0:25:31 > 0:25:32Wow!
0:25:32 > 0:25:38- Oh, this is a lovely room. - 'And I discover how girl power ensured the future
0:25:38 > 0:25:44'of one of Derbyshire's most stately homes.' There she is. That's the famous painting.
0:25:47 > 0:25:52Slightly showery weather for house hunting today, but generally I was very pleased
0:25:52 > 0:25:57with Samantha and Dwayne's responses to the first two stone-built properties.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01Samantha positive, Dwayne playing his cards closer to his chest.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04He was a bit worried about how remote the second house was.
0:26:04 > 0:26:11The mystery house? Very different proposition. The one thing it does give them is community.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20So how are you feeling today about our property search?
0:26:20 > 0:26:24Could this be maybe a new build, but with traditional features?
0:26:24 > 0:26:30A barn conversion. We said we quite liked the idea of that, so that might be nice.
0:26:30 > 0:26:36I'm getting the impression that actually the period aspect is less important than the flow aspect.
0:26:36 > 0:26:42- Is that fair to say? - Yeah, I think so. It's all about space and being able to move freely.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46If we get the period features, that's a bonus.
0:26:46 > 0:26:52'We're travelling to the other side of the county, close to the town of Buxton, for our mystery house.
0:26:52 > 0:26:58'Built on the River Wye and overlooked by Axe Edge Moor, Buxton has a long history as a spa town
0:26:58 > 0:27:04'thanks to its geothermal spring, which rises at a constant temperature of 29 degrees Celsius.
0:27:04 > 0:27:09'One of the most important periods in Buxton's history occurred in 1780
0:27:09 > 0:27:14'when the Fifth Duke of Devonshire began the construction of the town's crescent.
0:27:14 > 0:27:21'Costing what was a huge sum then of £38,000, it took some ten years to come to fruition.
0:27:21 > 0:27:27'Our mystery house is around 13 miles east of Buxton and also has connections with water.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31'As usual, we're taking a bit of a risk because with this property
0:27:31 > 0:27:37'Dwayne and Sam will really have to get their heads around the idea of sharing.'
0:27:37 > 0:27:40Here it is. The mystery house.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42Oh, wow! Look at that.
0:27:42 > 0:27:49- That's fantastic. That is impressive.- You mentioned a barn conversion. They don't do them here,
0:27:49 > 0:27:53but they do do very good mill conversions.
0:27:53 > 0:27:58- This is amazing.- It's a really impressive piece of mill and house.
0:27:58 > 0:28:04It's a proper slice of Industrial Revolution history. It's a Richard Arkwright mill.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08He built a whole chain of mills along the rivers in this area.
0:28:08 > 0:28:13It dates back to about the 1780s. Our bit is right at the end.
0:28:13 > 0:28:19The extension. That's the accounting house for the mill. It's the last two windows.
0:28:19 > 0:28:25- There are two town houses. Yours is the one on the right.- Very good. - What about communal living?
0:28:25 > 0:28:30- Obviously, it's a great big converted block. - We wanted a bit of a community,
0:28:30 > 0:28:34so we'd be a part of whoever's here. So that's encouraging.
0:28:34 > 0:28:40- Very keen to have a look inside. - I really like it. - Let's go and look inside.
0:28:40 > 0:28:46'On first impressions, it seems the idea of sharing their space could be right up Dwayne and Sam's street.
0:28:46 > 0:28:51'Let's see if we can keep the momentum on the inside.'
0:28:51 > 0:28:59Slightly unusual to start in a room like this, but it's an upside down house. Three bedrooms on this floor
0:28:59 > 0:29:04and a lovely big family bathroom. But we were thinking this room would be a nice office.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:29:06 > 0:29:12Obviously, it's upside down for a reason, which you're about to discover.
0:29:12 > 0:29:18'Now we're heading for the living space on the first floor.'
0:29:23 > 0:29:27- Wow. - Oh, this is a lovely room.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31- Really lovely.- Four aspects. Well, four windows.- Four windows.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35Basically, the walls are windows. And no wonder. Look.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39- Well, that's a view, without a doubt.- The Wye Valley.
0:29:39 > 0:29:46- I love the window seats, too.- Yeah. - I could see myself sitting there, having a cup of tea
0:29:46 > 0:29:50- and looking up at the hills. - It's a great mix of old and new.
0:29:50 > 0:29:55A modern living space in this very beautiful old building.
0:29:55 > 0:29:59We thought, judging by your responses to the old cottages,
0:29:59 > 0:30:03that this might be more in tune with what you were looking for.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06- Good.- Smiles?- Yes.- Yes.
0:30:06 > 0:30:11Bright eyes. Let's have a look at the kitchen. It's next door.
0:30:13 > 0:30:17Here we are. A lovely sunny room as well.
0:30:17 > 0:30:22- Yeah, nice.- Oh, lovely. - Very well finished.
0:30:22 > 0:30:27Yeah, this is a great space, isn't it? And the flow. Just the simple walkthrough.
0:30:27 > 0:30:32- It really works well.- It's got the flow.- It has.- The magic flow.
0:30:32 > 0:30:39- I think it really works having the upside down.- Yes.- Here you've got the back door that goes out
0:30:39 > 0:30:43- and that actually goes out onto the street.- Uh-huh.- Oh, OK.
0:30:43 > 0:30:49- It's multi-level. - This is a great sociable room. Cooking, people sat there drinking.
0:30:49 > 0:30:53- That's nice, I think. - I really like this room.- Yeah.
0:30:53 > 0:31:00- And this flooring just works all the way through, for a sense of uniformity.- Yeah.- Good.
0:31:00 > 0:31:05- You might be wondering where you sleep.- I was wondering that. - Come with me.
0:31:05 > 0:31:12'A space to sleep is always high on the agenda, so it's up another flight of stairs to the mezzanine.'
0:31:12 > 0:31:16- Oh, very cute stairs. - Did you say cute stairs?
0:31:17 > 0:31:22- Even cuter, en-suite. - Oh, yes!
0:31:22 > 0:31:25- Yeah, that's great. - That's really nice.- That works.
0:31:25 > 0:31:31Then you step over this very industrial beam. You'd have to get used to that.
0:31:31 > 0:31:37- And here we have...- Oh! So you can see over to the lounge. - It's the mezzanine.- Right.
0:31:37 > 0:31:41- It's built up above the sitting room.- Yeah.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44Again, unusual character.
0:31:44 > 0:31:50- Yeah.- But a nice space, definitely. I think that's why it's got the flow. It's so open.- It is open.
0:31:50 > 0:31:54- That's really, really nice.- Yeah.
0:31:54 > 0:32:00- What do you feel about the mezzanine bedroom? Not everybody's mad keen on that.- No. I should think
0:32:00 > 0:32:06- if you've got a busy house, it could be quite a challenge, but for us...- No, that works.
0:32:06 > 0:32:12Again, not something we considered or have had before, but great feature.
0:32:12 > 0:32:18Well, that's the inside. Now outside, obviously, it's communal living so there are issues.
0:32:18 > 0:32:24- Let's go and have a chat about that. - OK.- Mind the big beam. Head on down.
0:32:27 > 0:32:34'Dwayne and Sam are clearly very keen on this house, but what will they make of the shared gardens?'
0:32:34 > 0:32:40So here we have the heart of the mill. There was a giant - up to the first floor - mill wheel
0:32:40 > 0:32:44in that housing there. A wooden one.
0:32:44 > 0:32:50- At the turn of the 20th century, they put in this proper steel turbine.- Yeah.
0:32:50 > 0:32:57That really does it for me. A nice bit of industrial archaeology and history. Very nice.
0:32:57 > 0:33:02In terms of your garden, though, Samantha, this is it.
0:33:02 > 0:33:06- There is no private garden with the property.- OK.
0:33:06 > 0:33:13- So that means I don't have to do any gardening.- It means that. - But still enjoy all of this.- Yes.
0:33:13 > 0:33:19There is a service charge. It is a communal space, so you pay £760 a year.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22- Mm-hm.- OK. - But it's a very substantial plot.
0:33:22 > 0:33:27You've got all this stuff by the waterside, a bowling green,
0:33:27 > 0:33:32- a games room, football pitch. - Yeah?- Gym.- There's a gym here?
0:33:32 > 0:33:37- Yeah.- All of that's for £760...? - Yeah. It's not too bad. - A good return.
0:33:37 > 0:33:43- Obviously, it is a leasehold property. - And how long is the lease?
0:33:43 > 0:33:48- About 118 years, so a good long while.- OK.- Long enough.
0:33:48 > 0:33:54- Yeah, long enough for us, isn't it? - What about the price? What do you think it's on the market for?
0:33:54 > 0:33:57- Oh, wow...- It's tricky. - It's really hard, isn't it?
0:33:57 > 0:34:04I think this is going to be more than our budget. So I'm going to take a guess at...
0:34:04 > 0:34:07£450,000.
0:34:07 > 0:34:09I'll go 425.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12It's on the market for...
0:34:12 > 0:34:15- £400,000.- Ah, right!
0:34:15 > 0:34:18- Really?- Yeah.- That's a surprise.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20- Gosh.- Spot-on.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22- On the money.- Yeah. Indeed.
0:34:22 > 0:34:26- £400,000?- Yeah. - I like that price!
0:34:26 > 0:34:31Maybe have a look around. If you go down there, you can see the space and take in the architecture.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34- I'll see you out the front.- OK.
0:34:36 > 0:34:41It was a risky proposition because it wasn't what they asked for,
0:34:41 > 0:34:46but if you're going to live in Derbyshire and you want a bit of character,
0:34:46 > 0:34:49this is character.
0:34:50 > 0:34:56On the market for £400,000, this townhouse has certainly caught the interest of our buyers.
0:34:56 > 0:35:00It has a stunning sitting room with exposed timber beams,
0:35:00 > 0:35:03a spacious bespoke kitchen,
0:35:03 > 0:35:08four double bedrooms including a master with an en-suite situated on the mezzanine
0:35:08 > 0:35:14and it's surrounded by countryside with direct access to walking and cycling tracks.
0:35:14 > 0:35:18Well, when we arrived at the mystery house, it was just breathtaking.
0:35:18 > 0:35:25Just coming round that corner and seeing the facade of the mill house was really amazing.
0:35:25 > 0:35:32When we came inside, it didn't disappoint at all. I liked the dual aspect of the character of it,
0:35:32 > 0:35:38coupled with the modern aspect and lightness. When we found out the price of the house,
0:35:38 > 0:35:41we were both pleasantly surprised.
0:35:41 > 0:35:45We definitely need to go away and have a conversation about it.
0:35:45 > 0:35:51There's so much to think about in terms of the communal aspect and not having a garden or garage,
0:35:51 > 0:35:58which is quite important. We need to think about whether those things will still work.
0:35:58 > 0:36:02Well, the setting for the mystery house is excellent.
0:36:02 > 0:36:09It's everything that we were looking for in terms of the geography, the views out the windows.
0:36:09 > 0:36:14The way the house is set is pretty much spot-on.
0:36:14 > 0:36:20The shared space is good also. The sense of community would work well for us.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25British summer continues. Charming(!)
0:36:25 > 0:36:27- It's still raining.- Still raining.
0:36:27 > 0:36:33I'm going to get you somewhere warm and dry so you can mull over all the properties we've shown you.
0:36:41 > 0:36:45Often dubbed the palace of the Peak District,
0:36:45 > 0:36:50Chatsworth House is one of England's most impressive stately homes.
0:36:50 > 0:36:54Since the 1690s, it's been home to the Dukes of Devonshire
0:36:54 > 0:36:59and has been passed down through 16 generations of the Cavendish family.
0:36:59 > 0:37:03It's not just been men at the forefront of its remarkable history.
0:37:03 > 0:37:08I've come to meet Christine Robinson, Chatsworth's head housekeeper for over 35 years,
0:37:08 > 0:37:13to find out how this place became an incredible seat of female power.
0:37:13 > 0:37:19One thing I'm interested in particularly is the powerful women that this estate seems to have bred.
0:37:19 > 0:37:26- At a time when women didn't have much power, there have been really strong women here.- There have.
0:37:26 > 0:37:33The first one was Bess of Hardwick, Elizabeth Cavendish. She was a very shrewd woman.
0:37:33 > 0:37:38- She married four times. Each husband was wealthier than the one before. - Canny!
0:37:38 > 0:37:43Husband number two was William Cavendish, who came from Suffolk.
0:37:43 > 0:37:49He'd been a commissioner for Henry VIII, acquired land all over the country. She got him to sell that
0:37:49 > 0:37:54- and buy land in Derbyshire. - The nucleus of the Chatsworth Estate.- It is here now.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56And this house was built when?
0:37:56 > 0:38:03This house was built at the end of the 1600s, early 1700s, by the First Duke of Devonshire.
0:38:03 > 0:38:08'Moving forward to the mid-1700s, the Duchess here at Chatsworth was Georgiana Spencer,
0:38:08 > 0:38:16'who in 1774 married the Fifth Duke of Devonshire. She was renowned for her charm and fashion sense.'
0:38:17 > 0:38:21- There she is.- Yes, Georgiana. - That's the famous painting.
0:38:21 > 0:38:27It's painted by Gainsborough. So quite a stunning picture with her trademark hat.
0:38:27 > 0:38:31She was one for flamboyant hats and a real trendsetter in her day.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35She did a lot of unusual things. for a woman of her day.
0:38:35 > 0:38:41- Because, perhaps, she lacked the affection at home she'd have liked... - She'd a lousy marriage.
0:38:41 > 0:38:45She didn't have a very happy marriage and she became involved in politics.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48She was passionate about education for poorer people.
0:38:48 > 0:38:55There was a lot more to her than a woman of fashion, although she did set the trend with these hats.
0:38:55 > 0:39:02- Spinning forward again, we've got the Dowager Duchess.- She had an incredible influence on Chatsworth,
0:39:02 > 0:39:08with her husband the 11th Duke. When they took over in 1950, they had to pay 80% of everything
0:39:08 > 0:39:15they owned in death duties. Some things had to be sold, but they were very shrewd and careful.
0:39:15 > 0:39:23It was the drive of the Dowager Duchess, as she is now, that made the house what it is today.
0:39:23 > 0:39:28'We're now heading to the library, which is not usually open to the public
0:39:28 > 0:39:35'as it is still used on a daily basis by the Dowager Duchess' son, the current Duke of Devonshire.
0:39:35 > 0:39:40'He is the 12th Duke and continues his mother's legacy of preserving the family home
0:39:40 > 0:39:46- 'and its unique contents.' - There is a fine line between being businesslike and succeeding.
0:39:46 > 0:39:53Chatsworth has succeeded in keeping its integrity and an awful lot of that is down to her
0:39:53 > 0:40:00and the way in which she's influenced her son. The current Duke has always been closely involved
0:40:00 > 0:40:07with the management side of things, so he's had a really good grounding from a very good teacher.
0:40:07 > 0:40:13'The story of Chatsworth's ladies has spanned many centuries, but even today it's still clear
0:40:13 > 0:40:16'to see why they remain such prominent figures in its history.'
0:40:21 > 0:40:27Probably a little over Samantha and Dwayne's budget, but let's leave this splendour behind
0:40:27 > 0:40:33and go and meet up with the guys and find out what they think.
0:40:36 > 0:40:42So if it's OK, we'll go through the three houses. It's always nice to hear your thoughts about them.
0:40:42 > 0:40:48The first property was right in the heart of a very popular village. What do you think?
0:40:48 > 0:40:52I think it was a very nice house, very traditional.
0:40:52 > 0:40:57It had the sort of period features that we thought we wanted.
0:40:57 > 0:41:03There's no question it was a beautiful house and it felt really nice to walk around.
0:41:03 > 0:41:09I think there would have been a compromise or two in terms of the third bedroom
0:41:09 > 0:41:12becoming a study, although we could have done that.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16The other option was putting the study outside,
0:41:16 > 0:41:20above or next to the garage, which could also have worked.
0:41:20 > 0:41:25Either way, it would have been a compromise of one sort or another.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28What about house number two? Much more embedded in the landscape.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32Quite an isolated position, a long drive to the house.
0:41:32 > 0:41:36The views were great, but again lots of rooms going off rooms.
0:41:36 > 0:41:40It didn't really have that flow that we were looking for.
0:41:40 > 0:41:45I think it had a lot to give and a lot of potential,
0:41:45 > 0:41:50but I think, on reflection, when we looked at the price of the property
0:41:50 > 0:41:57and what we would need to do to make it our own, it came out a little too much over budget.
0:41:57 > 0:42:04The mystery house, also down a valley, that seemed to please you enormously.
0:42:04 > 0:42:09That was a totally different proposition. A really nice surprise.
0:42:09 > 0:42:16Yes, the house had a serenity and a calmness that really appealed to me.
0:42:16 > 0:42:22- I think in my head I've probably already moved in.- Well, that's what we like to hear! What next, then?
0:42:22 > 0:42:25- Would you put an offer on? - I would definitely revisit
0:42:25 > 0:42:32and make some more inquiries. There's things about the garage and the lease and the communal gardens,
0:42:32 > 0:42:37- but certainly worth more investigation and discussion. - Yes.- Good.
0:42:37 > 0:42:42I very much hope that you pursue it and, ideally, move in,
0:42:42 > 0:42:49- but whatever happens, it's been a real pleasure showing you round. - Thank you. We've had a lovely week.
0:42:53 > 0:42:59It's testament to Derbyshire's good bones that even in a shroud of drizzle, it still looks beautiful.
0:42:59 > 0:43:05Sunshine or rain, it doesn't seem to have dampened Dwayne and Samantha's enthusiasm for moving here,
0:43:05 > 0:43:09particularly into that little slice of the Industrial Revolution.
0:43:09 > 0:43:14If you've enjoyed our jaunt up here, join us for more next time on Escape To The Country.
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