Devon Escape to the Country

This 800-year-old bridge is constructed out of slabs of granite

that are four and a half metres long and each weigh eight tons.

Find out where this impressive,

medieval feat of human endeavour is in just a moment.

'On today's show,

'I'll be helping a couple turn their back on town living,'

and employ traditional skills to build their future in the country.

Our first house casts a spell over our buyers.

Magic, isn't it?

But later, our house hunt turns things on its head.

-No clues from the outside at all what was happening inside.

-Exactly.

Today, I'm in Devon, and this is the Postbridge Clapper Bridge,

which is right in the heart of Dartmoor.

It was built in the 13th century,

and was one of the main crossing points for pack horses laden

with tin on the way across the East Dart, towards Tavistock.

It now stands very proudly next to its modern counterpart,

which was built in the 1780s, and they are both very good

examples of the heritage that this county is home to.

Bordering Cornwall to the West,

and Somerset to the East, Devon is England's third largest county.

Within its borders, the South Hams district

stretches from Torquay to the outskirts of Plymouth.

Falling within a designated Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty,

its dramatic sandstone cliffs make up part of South Devon's

heritage coast.

Along its 50-mile stretch,

there is some hugely diverse scenery to take in,

from the golden beaches of Slapton Sands, to the tree-lined

Dart estuary, and the pretty village of Stoke Gabriel.

Sheltered by the granite uplands of Dartmoor National Park, South Hams

enjoys one of the mildest climates in Britain.

Inland, this is deepest Devon country,

a landscape defined by hedgerows

and the richly-wooded valleys of the Avon and the Dart.

All in all, this part of Devon presents a timeless picture

of what many believe to be rural England at its finest.

The beauty and popularity of the county is reflected

in Devon's house prices.

The average detached house here costs £287,000,

which is £33,000 above the national average,

and in some places the difference is even greater.

In South Hams, the most pricey district, places like Salcombe,

or Dartmouth, you'll pay double the normal house price.

However, if you go west towards Plymouth,

or up on the fringes of Dartmoor, your buck goes a little bit further.

And wherever you are in the county,

the heritage is reflected in a wide variety of housing styles.

It's easy to spot the particular features that define properties

here in South Devon - one being the predominance of hung slate.

Hanging these thin tiles on stone houses makes them waterproof,

it's like placing a roof on the side,

protecting the building from the coastal elements.

This lovely, three-bedroomed detached house in Dartington

is on the market for £395,000.

Many coastal villages and towns,

which started life as busy ports, back in the 16th century,

were transformed and gentrified as they became popular seaside destinations.

You'll find large period properties in the Dartmouth area

come at a cost, such as this five-bedroom Georgian house,

priced at £895,000.

But Devon is perhaps best known for the thatched,

chocolate-box cottages that lie scattered across its valleys.

For a slice of this rural dream, you can buy this four-bedroom

cottage in Dartington for £475,000.

A beautiful variety of different architectural styles,

but will any of them please today's housebuyers? Let's meet them.

Tim, a retired IT consultant, and Mo

live on the outskirts of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire,

and have been married for nearly nine years.

We first met when we lived in the same road.

In fact, we were opposite each other, so knew each other as friends,

and then we really got together, romantically,

when we did amateur dramatics, a play, together.

They have already sold their property,

and are living in a rented, four bedroom detached house.

They are keen to find their country home as quickly as possible.

Now's the right time for us to move, because we have been in limbo

for three to four years,

and we very much want to live in a rural situation.

We used to live on a small farm in Northumberland

and we really loved the lifestyle there and the countryside.

Tim's love of country living goes hand-in-hand

with his passion for traditional crafts.

When we had the farm in Northumberland,

in order to maintain the property I actually learned about

dry stone walling and roofing, and lime mortar pointing.

I've gone on to do things like stained-glass work

and furniture painting and upholstery,

and that's the sort of thing I would like to do more of.

Mo is also flexing her creative muscles, as she is currently in the

throes of writing a novel. However, with this move, she also wants to

plough her energy into getting out and about with her dog, Jack.

Being able to run across the moor, for instance,

instead of on the roads.

And it would be lovely to maybe join a running group and that

would be a good way to make friends and meet people, as well.

And the moorland Mo has in mind is Dartmoor,

as our buyers would like to settle down in South Devon.

And this part of the country holds a special place in Tim's heart.

One of the reasons I have been drawn back to that area

is because I grew up in Torbay.

I thought, one day, I would take Mo down,

and show her around again, and see if it was an area that she liked.

We had a little look at North Devon as well, but we found that

the South Hams, particularly, was perfect...

We just, kind of, fell in love with it.

You are surrounded by great beaches

and you can be on Dartmoor in 20-25 minutes.

Yes, it is the best of both worlds.

Knowing the area well

and understanding its appeal to holidaymakers has inspired

Tim to think of a business idea that could be run from home.

One of the things that we have looked for quite actively

is somewhere with some tourism potential.

If we had somewhere that had a small holiday let,

that you could guarantee would be a regular income,

that would be a tremendous bonus, but whether it's that,

or a workshop in a different type of business, we are flexible.

Tim and Mo appear to be perfectly poised to make the move.

They just need to find the perfect house.

The budget for our move is £500,000.

If it really had everything that we could possibly want,

then we would be prepared to go a little bit higher.

Tim and Mo have asked us to keep our search

as close as possible to their favourite area of South Hams.

However, it is an expensive region, so it is certainly going to

be a challenge to meet all the demands on their wish list.

I caught up with them on Devon soil to find out

more about the specifics of what they want in their next property.

-Welcome to Devon.

-Thank you.

It's a beautiful day, you're brought lovely sunny weather.

You've been house hunting down here for three years, is that right?

Two, probably two years, seriously.

What exactly are you looking for, in terms of spec for the house?

We definitely want a period house, something with character

and features and fireplaces and that sort of thing.

OK, so how many bedrooms are you looking for?

Well, three, minimum.

But the downstairs space is really important to us,

because it's just the two of us, so a bottom-heavy house would be good.

A bit more preference on the kitchen, eating and lounge areas.

OK, so you also what outside space, how much outside space do you want?

An acre would be fantastic.

In terms of outside, any outbuildings,

anything you would need there?

That's certainly something I've been quite keen on -

some unconverted outbuildings which have potential either to

convert for holiday letting, or use as a workshop, for example.

OK, so you want three bedrooms, lots of outside space, outbuildings,

and a big flowy kitchen/dining room downstairs.

And what's your budget?

Well, the budget is £500,000.

We have a very small contingency

which we would like to have, obviously, to do on the house.

Well, the thing is, you do have a big, hefty budget,

but South Hams, really would pressurise that,

as I'm sure you know, Salcombe, and the coast is incredibly expensive.

So, we're going to push you a bit inland, I'm afraid,

to be realistic, to get all the things that you want.

We'll maybe take you to places you hadn't considered,

but we do have three very lovely houses.

-Good.

-No time like the present, let's go.

-Let's go.

Tim and Mo have a preferred budget of £500,000,

which they would increase to £550,000 for the perfect property.

They would like a period home with character features,

a large living area, a minimum of three bedrooms,

plenty of land for their wild flower meadow, and outbuildings

that they could convert to holiday lets and a workshop.

We've carefully selected three properties that we hope will

meet their expectations and, at each one, I will ask them

to guess what the price is, before I reveal it.

The last in our line-up is the mystery property,

which comes with a royal seal of approval.

For our first house, we're heading to Liverton,

about 13 miles north of the South Hams border.

This small village offers our buyers every convenience

they need on their doorstep.

A post office and shop, along with a welcoming pub,

which is a great place to meet the local community.

Just down the road is our first property,

which comes in the form of a traditional farmhouse.

Come on in.

-House number one.

-It's lovely.

-Very nice.

-Yes, it is nice.

-Nice garden.

As you can see, it was originally a Devon longhouse,

a long thin house, and then it was extended, and extended,

so you are in a little enclave of properties.

There is a real community.

What are your first impressions of the actual building?

Yes, it has got some nice character about it.

Yes, I love the thought of the Devon longhouse and having that history.

Let's have a look inside.

They have warmed to the setting and the historic bones of this

stone-built property, so let's see what they make of the interior.

Come in. Mind your head there.

Straight into the kitchen-diner.

-Right.

-Wow!

Yes, it is quite wow!

It's gorgeous, isn't it?

They've really done a lot of work in here, about two years ago -

it's almost brand-new.

It's a beautiful size, isn't it...

It's like the perfect...layout,

with an island, and then a table.

I spotted the range straight away.

What's nice is, round the corner you've got a utility room with

all the white goods, your washing machine and stuff, and a loo,

so that's quite handy.

And then these doors that lead out to a very nice terraced, actually, decked area -

a big space where you can have your evening meal, breakfast.

Lovely.

It really does tick a lot of boxes.

-So, a round of applause for the kitchen, it seems.

-Absolutely.

-No drawbacks, no negatives.

-No, good start.

Let's hope it continues into the sitting area, let's go through here.

Here we are.

So, historically, more of the same, that long,

simple, rectangular space of the longhouse.

Yes, but it's a nice-sized space...

-and a wood floor.

-I like the fireplace.

Yes, a great, proper, old hearth,

with granite lintel across the top, which is very nice.

-Yes, this feels more...

-It's nice, I could snuggle up in the winter...

Actually, through the door is the original porch,

so that would've been the original entrance, and they have got that

separated off as a dog room, because they've got three cocker spaniels.

-OK.

-So, that could be...Jack's room.

Tim and Mo are reacting quietly,

but positively, to what they have seen so far.

Long may that continue, as we move upstairs.

On the first floor, there are four bedrooms,

three of which are light, tastefully decorated,

and have use of the bright, modern family bathroom.

Time to see if their room measures up.

Tucked away at the end is the master.

OK. Not huge, but...

They have put in a lot of fitted wardrobes, and a little en suite.

So, it's not huge.

But, I guess it got an en suite, and it's next to the bathroom,

so it's quite nicely placed.

Yes, so you could have this end of the house.

-It is beautifully done, isn't it?

-Yes.

Land is important to you, so, if you excuse me,

I will lead you out onto your land.

Overall, I would say mixed reactions to this house.

However, outside, along with the double garage,

this property comes with an impressive parcel of land.

And your land goes right up to this top fence,

and then down into this paddock, and back down to the house.

-It's quite a lot.

-Its 2.75 acres...

..and then you've got this, a beautiful, purpose-built stable

block - big size...

-It's enormous.

-..overlooking the pond and the waterfall.

-It's magic, isn't it?

-It is.

So, the long-term plan might be that you could convert this -

subject to planning - into a holiday let.

That would be perfect.

Bliss and lovely, but how much does it cost?

-Ooh...

-Good question.

I think it would have to be 550.

I would say a bit less than that, maybe 525.

Well, because of the land, it's actually a bit more,

it's over your budget, I'm afraid. It's on at 565.

-OK, that's not a surprise.

-No.

I thought it could have been over our budget.

Yes, I was just a bit hopeful.

Why don't you have a look around inside again, at that those bedrooms upstairs,

and actually just wander around the land, to get the lie of the land?

I will see you out front and then we can continue our tour.

-OK, thank you.

-Thank you.

Over budget at £565,000, this characterful farmhouse has

perhaps served as a bit of a reality check for our buyers.

It provides them with a fabulous kitchen-diner,

two and three-quarter acres of land,

and a stable block that could be converted into a holiday let.

It's a nice house,

and coming through that first door into the kitchen, I thought,

that was a lovely first impression.

Definitely the kitchen/family eating space that we were wanting.

The fact that it is an old house, as well, I mean,

just seeing thick walls again and a few beams around...

just is ideal.

I think the master bedroom was maybe a bit small,

smaller than I was hoping, but on the plus side, it did have four bedrooms,

so we could use one of the bedrooms as a dressing room,

so it's got that possibility.

I can't quite read whether they like this property or not,

it could go both ways.

-Still, we have other houses to show them. Hello!

-Hello.

-Some thoughts on this one?

-Yes, I really like this.

Yes, there is a lot to think about, this one.

Cards close to your chest.

Let's go and see the second one.

The drama of South Devon's coastline and moorland has earned it

protected status as an Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The coastal towns and villages here also possess a rich heritage.

The area is home to over 1,200 listed buildings, and many

of its villages and settlements date back to at least the 14th century.

One such place is the vibrant fishing port of Brixham.

In the Middle Ages, it was the largest fishing

port in the South West, as well as being a popular

haunt for smugglers, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries.

One of the most infamous of these lawbreakers was Bob Elliott,

also known as Resurrection Bob.

Legends and tales of Bob and his cronies abound throughout the area.

So, mindful that Tim and Mo have a background in amateur dramatics,

we sent them to meet Laura Jury of the South Devon Players,

a group of actors that specialise

in adapting local history for the stage.

I hear that you are interested in amateur dramatics?

Well, yes, we're part of a drama group where we live,

so, tell me about yours.

We have been going since 2005,

since then we've just been turning over, mainly with

plays about local history, because that's our speciality.

And where do you perform?

One of our foci, for want of a better term, is bringing theatre

to people that can't automatically, or don't want to attend

a formal theatre, so they're more comfortable in a community setting.

Right.

Laura, and some of the other players are acting out a short

scene from their recent play, Resurrection Bob,

and they've invited Tim and Mo to get involved.

But, first, they will need to rehearse their roles.

I've had a little talk with the rest of the group...

Bob Elliott...

..and his lovely wife, Maria.

Oh. Here we go.

Fewer lines, Bob, but you've got the big laugh.

-That's a good thing.

-Yes.

"Bob's dead, and you ain't going to search here at a time like this.

"Shame on you."

"It's Bob."

"Fine evening, lads!"

"Oh, my God!"

It's time for the final curtain call,

so Tim and Mo had better climb into their costumes, in time

for Resurrection Bob to make a final appearance.

We have come to search the house.

Search?! Did you not see the person here earlier?

Have you no heart at all?

At a time like this - the shame!

We do, but it is my duty, ma'am.

Hah, duty!

-Nice evening, lads!

-Bob! Oh, my God!

How strange, they seemed quite chatty before.

Look what you've put me through!

GASPS

Well, it seems Tim and Mo are a bit of a hit in their own right,

but let's hope we can leave the trouble and strife there,

as our property hunt continues.

For our second property,

we're heading to the village of Horrabridge.

Set in a charming, riverside location on the doorstep

of Dartmoor, the name means "bridge on the boundary",

very much in keeping with its position, which spans four parishes.

The bridge itself is the oldest in West Devon,

and the River Walkham that runs through here is famous for its salmon.

Following the river to the outskirts of the village is where

we find our stunning second property.

You have your own water that comes straight off the moor,

-on what they call a leat.

-OK.

That's local word for a brook.

And this is the property I want to show you. All of it.

-Oh, it is enormous.

-Yes.

And stone, which is lovely.

Local granite, cut from the land just behind.

It is a beautiful property, I think.

I don't want put words in your mouth, but...

Well, it looks fantastic.

It has been renovated very extensively in the last seven years,

but I know you're itching to get inside, and I'm itching to show you,

as it's a very interesting house.

It's upside down, so we're going upstairs first.

This has certainly has real stature from the outside,

and, inside, holds some real surprises.

Here we are!

THEY LAUGH

That's a bit different!

Isn't it?

-Yes.

-Very open plan, it's lovely.

It's a beautifully designed space, isn't it?

The engineered, oak floors.

-I love it.

-You love it?

-I do love it.

-Is this your sort of style?

-Yes.

Well, it's what I'd LIKE to be my style!

-It's kind of unstructured, I like that about it.

-Yes.

So, there is a space round there, which is the dining room.

You've got a snug room down there, which could be an office,

or whatever you like, it's a nice space which can explore later.

I want to take you to the main sitting area...

mind the step.

OK.

-Now, this is your sitting room.

-Cor!

-It could be.

It's another big room, isn't it?

-Lovely.

-Another surprise room.

-Yes.

I can't really tell whether you like it or not.

I think we're...

..it's just really, really different.

It's just not what I expected.

We're just genuinely surprised. No clues from the outside at all

of what was happening inside.

-Exactly, yes. And those lovely steps down into the garden.

-Yes.

And these simple little fireplaces with the kind of log burners.

Yes, I like that.

You could make it cosy, couldn't you?

Could YOU make it cosy, though?

I'm still not getting an idea whether you actually like it!

I really like it, I do really like it...

I'm just, I can sense that you don't...

I'm... It's the upside down thing.

There's a lovely garden room which we'll look at in a moment,

but let's look downstairs, since you mentioned the upside down.

Mo clearly loves this house, but I'm sensing she's holding

back as Tim tries to get his head around the topsy-turvy layout.

As we head downstairs to see the four bedrooms,

let's hope it all starts to make more sense.

Again, mind the step.

Lots of steps in this house.

So, you have four bedrooms downstairs, and you can feel

the temperature's much cooler down here, because it's slate

floors throughout, although it has underfloor heating downstairs.

Yes, lovely.

They have got this very interesting, sort of oak panels,

these walls made of huge, wide panels of oak.

-I've never seen that before.

-No.

This one has got an en suite, and then there is another room,

which is probably a bit bigger, that also has an en suite.

-This is the sunniest.

-OK.

Thoughts?

It's very...individual.

Did it immediately grab you?

-Yes.

-Ah, OK! So, now I'm understanding.

It really grabbed you, but you're not so sure.

Oh, no, it's actually...

I like it, it's just getting used to it.

Maybe we should go outside,

because then maybe you can get the whole gist of the house.

From the back it makes more sense.

Let's have a look at the beautiful gardens.

Tim still seems stunned by the style and unconventional layout.

On this floor, there are two other bedrooms, one of which also

has an en suite, and there's a well- decorated family bathroom.

Time to head outside and take a view on everything it offers.

If you come here,

you get better understanding of how the house works.

You can appreciate the building better, I think, from this side.

So, this is the garden room that they have just put on, it's a recent addition.

It's very nice, it is a good addition, isn't it?

It is, isn't it?

And you have quite a substantial garden,

it stretches quite a long way along this fence here,

and into a bit of that woodland there.

And there is the option, if you're interested, of buying seven acres

of land just beyond there, which is a really lovely bit of pasture.

All right.

Let's talk money, I mean, how much, do you think just this garden

and the property is?

I would say 540.

How about you, Tim?

I'm probably going to go higher this time and say 575.

Well...

if you split the difference, this is on the market for 550...

OK.

..so this is just right at the top of your budget, but there is also -

when we came in you probably didn't see it

because you were too enthralled by the main event -

but behind you there was a stable block double-garage

which could, with the planning office,

you could perhaps think about converting, into a workroom,

or maybe a holiday let.

-OK, possibly.

-Further down the line.

Why don't you go and have a look at the land behind you,

that might tempt you to put that into your negotiations,

and then have a look a bit more around the house,

-and this garden, and I'll see you out the front?

-OK.

-Thank you.

The gate's just round there.

Well, did you know whether they liked it or not?

I had no clue, it was a very, very ambiguous walk round.

I think Mo really liked it, not so sure about Tim,

and I'm not sure who has the casting vote.

I know that I liked it, so I'm hoping it grows on them.

Priced at £550,000, this pretty comes in on budget,

and delivers on many fronts.

It gives them a large, open plan living area,

with oak beams throughout, four bedrooms,

two with an en suite, stables which could be converted into a workshop

for Tim, and the opportunity to buy seven acres of additional land.

This is a lovely addition, isn't it?

It's a good size, isn't it?

You could get a proper table or a sofa in here.

What's nice is that you can come out of the kitchen,

and then flow through to the garden.

This property is hard to gauge from the outside.

When I first walked in, my impression was one of space

and light and it was just very, very unusual.

I loved the feel of it straightaway.

I feel this is quite romantic in a way, so, you know...

maybe it's telling me something about what appeals to me personally, my taste.

This is beyond the boundary of where we were looking,

it's definitely not in the South Hams.

Having said that, we have always said that

if we found the perfect house, then, you would stop

and weigh up the priorities again,

and I think this is one of those houses.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-I've come to collect you.

All done here, so, I'll give you little time to rest

and reflect on what you've seen.

As the sun sets over the Devon coastline, it marks

the end of a thought-provoking first day's house-hunting.

With a maximum budget of £550,000,

Tim and Mo from Peterborough in Cambridgeshire

are keen to head to South Devon where Tim spent his childhood.

Mindful that they are after a country home with land

and outbuildings, our two properties

so far included a traditional longhouse,

bursting with period features, which they loved, but, when it came to

house two, Tim couldn't quite get his head around the upside-down layout.

But will the mystery house give them a fresh perspective?

That is a special view.

It's like a picture.

And I discover how this native breed of pony plays

such an important part in conserving Devon's landscape.

It was interesting yesterday, to see Tim

and Mo rub up against each other a little bit about house number two,

because it seems that maybe

they have different visions of what their dream house here in Devon is,

and that might explain why they have been three years searching for it.

The other factor is Tim's memories of his childhood

holidays down by the sea.

He really wants a location that is close to the coast in South Hams,

but in our search we just haven't found it in their budget.

So, for the mystery house, we're shaking things up just a bit more,

by putting them right in the middle of another Devon tourist attraction,

and putting some flesh on the bones of their dream of a holiday let.

You have been hunting for a long time,

and where you ideally want to live is very expensive,

I mean, are you...? You've talked about compromise,

but are you willing to compromise on the location?

When it came down to it, location was pretty much the crunch for us.

We would be prepared to perhaps compromise on other things to

be in the right area.

And so, what other things would you compromise on?

I think that is just the unknown, and it is hard,

you can't really prescribe, because no two houses are the same.

The nearest substantial town to our mystery house is Ashburton.

Set on the edge of Dartmoor, this vibrant community

is home to a range of historic buildings which house many

independent retailers, such as this fish deli, run by Nick Legg.

-So how long has the deli been open?

-Nine years now.

And are there a lot of new folk moving into the area?

Yes, the last four or five years I've really noticed that.

I mean, it is a nice lifestyle here, there are great things to do,

and so it is attracting a lot of people.

So, what's the best thing about living in Ashburton?

I think it is the fantastic setting here,

you're close to the moor, you're close to the sea,

last night I finished work, went home, kayak on top of the car,

in 20 minutes we were fishing in the sea. It's lovely...

Is this something you caught last night?

One of those were, yes, it's not as big as I'd like,

but, that one there, I caught off our kayak.

-We really are blessed with fantastic produce.

-Come here!

-Yes.

-Come here, please do!

I am going to have to whisk them off to a secret destination...

Lovely to see you. Good luck.

Nice to meet you, we will come again.

-Yes, brilliant.

-Enjoy your fishy day!

Cheers, bye.

Seven miles from lively Ashburton is our substantial mystery house,

which combines home and holiday let.

So, this is the mystery house.

So, you know the spot.

Yes, I am familiar with it.

It's right next door to Badgers Holt, which is a lovely

little stretch of river, but with a very popular cream tea venue.

And, of course, it's on quite a busy road.

-Let's see if the inside will win you over.

-OK.

They may have initial reservations about its position,

but I have a feeling that once they explore inside

our mystery property, they will have a whole different view on it.

Now, I know you're not mad keen on upside down living,

so I want to reassure you, that there is actually living

space downstairs, but, I think the killer view is up here.

Here we have it!

-That is a view.

-It is, isn't it?

This is the reason we brought you here,

so we might as well come here first.

-Yes, it's lovely.

-That is a special view, isn't it?

So, this is built on top of the long granite stone house underneath,

so this was a later addition,

you can see these very high-vaulted ceilings,

and this beautiful bay window, looking down to Badgers Holt there.

It's extraordinary, isn't it?

It's lovely. It's like a picture.

It is a picture, absolutely.

I like this room.

They originally had the whole house as a B&B,

so they had the downstairs room,

with a kind of guest lounge,

and this was their private lounge,

but you could do whatever you like, you can make this the workroom,

you can make this the summer sitting room.

Because downstairs you have a big dining room and a big sitting room,

with granite fireplaces.

It's kind of our sort of house, really.

It is... It feels like the right style of property.

Those breathtaking views have swept aside some concerns about location.

As we are already upstairs, I'm going to show them

one of the bedrooms, which also takes in that astounding scenery.

It's more of the same, really, but you kind of expect it in this house,

-that when you wake up, you open the curtains and you see the view.

-Gosh.

Absolutely, yes. That's a great view again.

So, it has four bedrooms, three, really good-sized,

all this size, and all with en suites,

and then one small bedroom that's just a sort of boxroom or a guest room.

-And then a family bathroom.

-OK.

That's pretty good.

Obviously, because of its legacy as a B&B...

I guess that option still applies.

It's a definite possibility, yes.

Well, there may be other options.

OK, interesting!

Let's have a peek in the kitchen.

'I am such a tease.

'The mood has definitely lifted, though,

'and I think they're starting to see the merits of our mystery house.'

So, we're downstairs now, in the kitchen.

In the kitchen, yes.

This is proper country kitchen.

Proper country kitchen, yes.

Good size.

So, is this what you're looking for in the kitchen?

Yes, this is very much almost the perfect size, absolutely.

I think this is a great size.

Yes, it feels very spacious.

OK, inside, good points - location is a problem,

I appreciate that, a little bit, so, you might be wondering,

did they bring us here for the kitchen, or the view?

Well, the twist of the mystery house

is actually outside in the garden, so...

'This property is set in a plot of around a quarter of an acre,

'all wrapped up in spectacular scenery.

'But it is not the views that are going to catch their eye this time.'

So, look what's in the back garden!

Your own, stone-built cottage...

-holiday let.

-Holiday let.

Up and running, up and running!

Right!

All...ready to roll, in fact,

they're selling it with all the furniture inside,

so you have got a kitchen/diner downstairs,

-and a big sort of living/sleeping area upstairs.

-Right.

-It is booked all year round.

-Yes.

-This looks great, doesn't it?

-It's beautiful.

And again, woodland, that goes all the way down to the river's edge.

Yes.

So, it's you and Prince Charles that are the only people who have

fishing rights on that stretch of the river.

I'm just saying, that's the way it is.

-Hey.

-We can share fish and chips.

And then a single garage,

which you could perhaps turn into your workshop.

I could use it as well, yes.

But first, how much do you think this whole little parcel costs?

Ooh...

Oh...

..very difficult.

I'm going to say 510.

Possibly 535?

The two of you have been very consistent, you've always

been straddling the price, it's actually on the market for 525.

-OK.

-OK.

Obviously, with a little bit of room to manoeuvre, but,

it's a very different offering, that's why it's the mystery house,

so why don't you look inside

and see whether you're getting your money's worth in there?

-OK.

-Thank you.

On the market for £525,000,

our mystery property certainly comes with some surprise elements.

The vaulted living room has the most spectacular views,

there is a spacious kitchen/diner, four bedrooms,

three with en suite, and there is a two-bedroom, detached barn,

that is already a successful, up-and-running holiday let.

Well, I think this is a lovely house, very much the sort of style

and period we like.

I think, the best thing about this house is the views,

the views are amazing, from virtually every window, it's really beautiful.

The most obvious downside is the road.

Having said that, that can be a plus,

if you're trying to do something with tourists.

As far as the holiday let side goes, I was delighted, actually, when I saw

that, and it's probably the biggest grin I've had since we've been looking.

I think it is very good in terms of offering good business,

but the downside is that it is...

it will be very noisy and very busy,

probably all year round.

OK, so we've seen all the properties,

time to gather our thoughts and think about what we've seen.

-OK.

-Come with me.

Devon is largely a rural county,

and at its heart is Dartmoor 370 square miles of rugged heather

covered moorland, with national park status.

As well as the tors, moors and bogs of Dartmoor, the national park

is also home to a unique, indigenous breed of animal, the Dartmoor pony.

Moorland ponies are an integral part of this landscape.

As well as drawing in visitors, they play a vital

role in grazing the moor and maintaining its character.

I have come to meet Drew Butterfield,

of the Dartmoor Heritage Pony Trust, to find out more about these

endearing animals and the threats they face.

So, talk me through the model,

what are we looking at here as a prime Dartmoor pony?

Yes, this is a very typical example of the Dartmoor, his colour,

he's a bay, which means he is brown on the top, and then his mane

and tail and the legs are black, and they are iconic to the area.

You can trace Dartmoors back 3,500 years,

there's been ponies on Dartmoor that long, right back to the Bronze Age.

If you come forward to 350 years ago, they were used in the tin mines, they

were used to pull the tin ore out, and then used as pack ponies.

Ponies are the one animal that stay out on the moor right the way

through the year, and they are our organic scrub cutters.

What the ponies do is create this different level of habitats,

which is ideal for invertebrates, and particularly the fritillary

butterfly, but the Dartmoor pony is currently under threat...

The purebred Dartmoor pony?

The purebred Dartmoor, on Dartmoor,

is actually an endangered species, so that is why we exist,

and if we don't do something about it now,

then there is a potential issue, that we

really could lose a very important part of our cultural heritage,

so our charitable objectives are to support the pony keepers,

which, in turn, means that we keep the Dartmoor pony on Dartmoor.

I'm now heading out on to the moors to meet Hannah Fursdon,

'one of the pony keepers.'

-Now, you are a pony keeper?

-Yes.

Now, just explain a bit about what that actually means.

Well, we basically live on Dartmoor, we are commoners of Dartmoor,

and as a result we have the first rights to

put our animals on the common, and we have got the ponies out,

and they are all well managed, there's a drift every year,

when they all come in, and that is really when we

do a lot of the worming and the hoof work - we just give them a full MOT.

Now, Drew was explaining how the

ponies are good for the landscape, they go through the bracken,

but presumably you as a keeper are also interested in selling them?

Yes, of course, we handle all of our foals to give them

a good foundation of training.

Handling is like breaking them in?

Yes, it means they can go on and have good ridden career,

as a riding pony.

So, the idea of this work,

is really to maintain a good breeding stock of purebred Dartmoor?

Yes, well, we were very selective when we bought our mares

and our stallion to make sure we got the best possible when we started breeding.

If this wasn't here, if you weren't doing the work,

what is the worst case scenario?

We would probably lose the population of Dartmoor ponies on Dartmoor.

It is important to keep the Dartmoor pony on Dartmoor

because of the ecology here.

Thank you very much, really fascinating.

A very pleasant afternoon with my four-legged friends here on Dartmoor,

but time now to find out how our two-legged friends, Tim and Mo,

are faring in the decision-making about the houses we have shown them.

So, our week in Devon is drawing to a close.

The first house, did you not feel that we'd given you your dream home?

You walk into that house and the kitchen is so knock-out,

that is immediately a fantastic impression.

Yes, I think the fact that it was done,

and done to a very high standard, was very impressive,

and you couldn't help but like that immediately.

And the stable block, not just did it have acres, you know, you went

up and there was that amazing stable block, with all that potential.

So, we went further west,

and gave you the possibility of lots of land,

and a very interesting house, the second house,

what are your thoughts about that today?

-Well, that's where we came apart a bit.

-Yes, a little bit.

I thought the interior of that house was lovely,

it just really had something about it that appealed to me.

I felt straightaway that it was a very individual house,

but I'm afraid, it was just the location,

and because as much as I might have liked the house,

and we did like the house, definitely,

it grew on me as we were there...

but you are then still considering

your distances from the other things which you are looking to do.

And what about the mystery house?

Well, that is really interesting, because it has got so much potential.

We could do B&B, and there is that holiday let, which is set up

and ready to go, and it is just a really lovely house,

every room is nice, the views are fantastic.

Yes, the actual age and fabric of the actual house is

absolutely perfect, that's what I like.

But? There is always a but.

This usually starts... The next sentence begins with the location.

Yes.

I think if it was just set back off the road, and a little quieter,

then we would be very likely talking about a house purchase.

It's been really interesting showing you around,

and I really hope that it does work out,

I mean it is a tough nut to crack, but, I really hope that it happens.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much for your help.

-Pleasure.

Challenging Tim and Mo's love affair with the South Hams has

proved more tricky than I thought.

We give then beautiful houses, we give them lots of land,

and we give them a holiday let,

but in the end it was location that they wanted, and that defeated us.

Still, I hope that they prove us wrong,

and find very quickly what they were looking for, and I hope

that you join us next time for more Escape To The Country.

And if you'd like to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales,

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