0:00:02 > 0:00:05Today, I'm standing on a hillside that, some 400 years ago,
0:00:05 > 0:00:10played host to the very first Olympic Games staged here in Britain.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14Where am I? Well, all will be revealed in just a moment.
0:00:43 > 0:00:48'In today's show, I'll be helping a couple leave their hectic lifestyle overseas behind
0:00:48 > 0:00:52'and head home to find a country property on English soil.
0:00:52 > 0:00:57'Early on, the charm of a period property gets a muted response.'
0:00:57 > 0:00:59I'm not so sure I like that.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02'But a house combining old and new gets them smiling.'
0:01:02 > 0:01:05- I'm excited. - You really are. You're beaming.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13Today, I'm in the Cotswolds and this is Dover's Hill
0:01:13 > 0:01:16which, in 1612, was the location of the "Cotswold Olimpicks",
0:01:16 > 0:01:20a tradition which is still going some 400 years later.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23Gaining the royal seal of approval from King James I,
0:01:23 > 0:01:27the Games were the vision of a local lawyer, Robert Dover,
0:01:27 > 0:01:33and they included such illustrious events as sledgehammer-throwing, sword-fighting and shin-kicking.
0:01:33 > 0:01:38Eccentric it may sound, but this historic local custom got a celebrated mention
0:01:38 > 0:01:41in the winning bid for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44Now that's what I call keeping the torch burning!
0:01:46 > 0:01:49Covering an area of nearly 800 square miles,
0:01:49 > 0:01:53the Cotswold region crosses six county borders,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56including Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Oxfordshire
0:01:56 > 0:02:01and is England's largest designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04As one of the most unspoilt regions of England,
0:02:04 > 0:02:10the Cotswolds are famous for pretty, honey-coloured limestone villages, undulating hills and scenic rivers
0:02:10 > 0:02:14with England's longest, the Severn, meandering through its landscape.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19The wool trade during the Middle Ages made this area prosperous.
0:02:19 > 0:02:25Cotswold sheep were renowned across Europe for the quality of their wool which commanded a high price.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29This wealth enabled wool merchants to leave their architectural mark
0:02:29 > 0:02:32with an array of fine houses and wool churches,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36such as those in Chipping Campden surviving to this day.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39The region is still favoured by the rich and famous,
0:02:39 > 0:02:45all drawn to the harmonious mix of stunning countryside and beautiful properties it offers.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53Not surprisingly, the charm of the Cotswolds is reflected in the price of the properties around here.
0:02:53 > 0:02:58The cost of the average detached house in the central belt starts at £500,000
0:02:58 > 0:03:01and that is double the national average.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04For a similar property in an exclusive heritage village
0:03:04 > 0:03:08like Chipping Campden or here in Lower Slaughter,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11you can expect to pay up to £750,000.
0:03:11 > 0:03:16But don't despair. There are still some parts of this region which are affordable.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19As you head westwards towards places like Stroud,
0:03:19 > 0:03:23you could pick up a detached property for about £350,000.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25But wherever you're looking,
0:03:25 > 0:03:30there are plenty of fabulous architectural styles on offer in this region.
0:03:30 > 0:03:35Many Cotswold villages are characterised by the famous Jurassic limestone
0:03:35 > 0:03:40whose distinctive colour and malleability make it a desirable, natural building material.
0:03:40 > 0:03:46It is still quarried in the region and the unique golden colour is a result of centuries of weathering.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49However, there are variations in colour.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52The stonework found in the northern Cotswold villages,
0:03:52 > 0:03:56such as Stanton and Broadway, is darker than that found in the south.
0:03:56 > 0:04:02You'll find a two-bed, mid-terrace, stone cottage typically costs around £375,000.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06Thatch is also a recurrent theme across the region.
0:04:06 > 0:04:11The Cotswold thatch is wheat reed and, depending on the size of the property,
0:04:11 > 0:04:14can come with a large price tag.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17For example, this five-bedroom, detached thatched house
0:04:17 > 0:04:21in Chipping Campden would set you back £1.36 million.
0:04:23 > 0:04:28There is a rich mix of properties here in the Cotswolds, but will any of them tempt our buyers?
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Let's meet them and find out.
0:04:30 > 0:04:35Alan and Sue live in Switzerland, but are looking for a home in the UK.
0:04:35 > 0:04:40Alan is a media consultant and Sue is a former director of a pharmaceutical company,
0:04:40 > 0:04:45but while they have been winding down their work commitments over the past few years,
0:04:45 > 0:04:49they have been reflecting on what to do with the rest of their lives.
0:04:49 > 0:04:55Both of our working days were very frenetic, often starting at 5.30, 6 in the morning up to 8, 9 at night,
0:04:55 > 0:05:00in my case, seven days a week for many, many months.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05And it was very nice to have a much slower pace
0:05:05 > 0:05:10where both of us could be in the same location and have quality time together.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14Our buyers have lived in the Swiss Alps for the last ten years.
0:05:14 > 0:05:20They've enjoyed their life in the mountains, but they recognise a couple of key elements are missing.
0:05:20 > 0:05:25The most important things at the end of the day are people - family and friends,
0:05:25 > 0:05:30so we're very fortunate to have a little bit more time at this time in our lives
0:05:30 > 0:05:34to spend with our family and friends and the people that matter to us.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36- And to have a local pub. - LAUGHTER
0:05:37 > 0:05:42After doing some research on the internet and visiting a few counties in the UK,
0:05:42 > 0:05:45they decided the Cotswolds is where they want to be.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49We're looking to move to the Cotswolds for a number of reasons.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52The landscape is very, very special.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56It's relatively unique, certainly unique to the area.
0:05:56 > 0:06:02But the colour of the stone and the woodland area is very, very unique here.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06It's certainly very different from Switzerland
0:06:06 > 0:06:09and that, I think, in one respect, is part of the lure of this area.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13And the house will have to match their ideal location.
0:06:13 > 0:06:18We both know there are very good reasons why we want to move back to the UK,
0:06:18 > 0:06:22but because we have this lovely, privileged life in Switzerland,
0:06:22 > 0:06:25it is very important for us to find the right house.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29Everything has to be right, otherwise we have so much to give up,
0:06:29 > 0:06:34it will make the decision either very difficult or we'll end up regretting it and we don't want to do that.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38For Sue, top of the property wish list is the kitchen.
0:06:38 > 0:06:44I do like to cook. I've always dreamed of having an island in the kitchen and never managed it so far.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47To find an island in a nice kitchen would be a dream.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50For Alan, it's all about the garden.
0:06:50 > 0:06:55I've always had a dream of having a classic, quintessential, English walled garden
0:06:55 > 0:06:58where you can spend an entire day just pottering away,
0:06:58 > 0:07:02generating or producing vegetables for the entire village
0:07:02 > 0:07:07and also in terms of a little refuge somewhere at the bottom of the garden,
0:07:07 > 0:07:11so when there's a football match on, you can have a little fridge
0:07:11 > 0:07:14with a sofa and put your feet up and watch a match.
0:07:14 > 0:07:19- Typical! Somewhere to escape the wife.- Yeah.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22Sue, though, also has a plan to escape the husband.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26Opening up a tearoom in a nice village location is something
0:07:26 > 0:07:31that I would take into consideration and investigate further.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33I'm very interested in that.
0:07:34 > 0:07:39Well, before Alan starts tucking into the produce, let's nail the finances.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41Our budget is £1.5 million.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44There is flexibility.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47Crucially, it's all to do with the house
0:07:47 > 0:07:51and if we found something really special, we would be flexible.
0:07:55 > 0:08:01'Alan and Sue have asked us to focus their house search in the northern part of the Cotswolds,
0:08:01 > 0:08:05'around the town of Evesham, as they have family and friends living there.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08'They would also like good access to road links,
0:08:08 > 0:08:12'so they can travel quickly to London to visit Alan's family.
0:08:12 > 0:08:17'I caught up with them to find out more about the kind of property they are after.'
0:08:17 > 0:08:24- Sue and Alan, welcome to the Cotswolds. It's so beautiful here, isn't it?- It really is.- Fantastic.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28So what sort of property do we need to find you to make this move work?
0:08:28 > 0:08:31You've got to find us a special property.
0:08:31 > 0:08:36That's really helpful(!) I know what you mean. You want that feeling when you walk in.
0:08:36 > 0:08:42We've got such a lovely house in Switzerland. We will only come back if we find the right property.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46It's got to have a minimum of four bedrooms. It's got to have light.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49For you, Sue, what's the absolute must-have?
0:08:49 > 0:08:55- It's very boring, but I want a really nice kitchen. Everyone wants a really nice kitchen.- It's not boring at all.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59I do very much enjoy cooking, like a lot of people, and eating.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04Yes, a lovely kitchen with, hopefully, a nice eating area as part of it.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08- A central island.- I've always wanted one. I've never had one.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10How much land do you want?
0:09:10 > 0:09:14The most important thing about the land is that it is enclosed,
0:09:14 > 0:09:16that we have a private garden.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19You've always had a dream for a walled garden.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23A walled kitchen-garden specifically would be fantastic
0:09:23 > 0:09:27with clear designation of herbs and different vegetables.
0:09:27 > 0:09:33- Cash buyers, a great budget and a beautiful county. Shall we go and look at some houses?- Yes.- Let's go.
0:09:34 > 0:09:39'Alan and Sue may have a very generous budget of £1.5 million,
0:09:39 > 0:09:45'but there are some specific requirements they're looking for in their country property.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58'We'll show them three wonderful, yet very different properties,
0:09:58 > 0:10:03'but we won't be letting them know the price of each until they've had a guess first.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07'As ever, our final offering is the mystery house
0:10:07 > 0:10:11'which is more unusual than its surroundings suggest.
0:10:16 > 0:10:21'I'm taking Alan and Sue to Winchcombe, a town around ten miles south of Evesham.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25'The name "Winchcombe" means "valley with a bend"
0:10:25 > 0:10:30'and today, the town still retains streets which curve gracefully along the vale.
0:10:30 > 0:10:35'If you're a keen walker, it's an ideal location to head off into the countryside
0:10:35 > 0:10:38'for a gentle stroll or a vigorous long-distance trek.
0:10:38 > 0:10:44'After working up an appetite out in the hills, you'll be spoilt for choice for eating and drinking here.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48'Take your pick from afternoon tea or dish of the day in a local pub.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52'Now let's put our best foot forward with our first property -
0:10:52 > 0:10:57'a characterful, Grade 2 listed house with an historic past hidden within.'
0:10:57 > 0:10:59Here we are, property number one.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02This is a real period property.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05- It certainly looks it.- It's medieval.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08A lot to take in, so what are your first impressions?
0:11:08 > 0:11:12It certainly looks impressive and it certainly looks old.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16My only concern would be on the inside - is it dark and old?
0:11:16 > 0:11:22- But we will see.- You will see indeed. - A perfect location. I can't wait to get inside.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25- On that note, let's have a look. - OK.- Thank you.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29'A house that is definitely to Alan's taste.
0:11:29 > 0:11:34'As for Sue, I think all her reservations about period properties could be quashed
0:11:34 > 0:11:36'as we go into the first room.'
0:11:36 > 0:11:40- Well, in we come. - Oh, my goodness!- Indeed!
0:11:41 > 0:11:47Although it's a medieval property, it's Grade 2 listed, there have been additions over the years.
0:11:47 > 0:11:53This part was added back in the 18th century, then we've had some in the 19th century.
0:11:53 > 0:11:59And the current owner has renovated inside over the last two years, including this kitchen.
0:11:59 > 0:12:05I didn't expect to find... looking at the fireplace, and then turning round and seeing a kitchen.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07That's quite amazing, yeah.
0:12:07 > 0:12:12- It's certainly got your central isle.- Yes, it's got my island.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16- That's one heck of an island. It's pretty big.- The wood's nice.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Yeah, it really is very nice.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22- Unexpected.- You didn't expect to like it, did you?
0:12:22 > 0:12:27- No, no, no.- Smaller rooms perhaps, you thought?- It's not too dark.
0:12:27 > 0:12:32- Let me take you through to the oldest part of the property. - OK.- Have a look in here.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Now, the origins of this property started here.
0:12:39 > 0:12:45It was a chapel. We are standing in a medieval chapel. From the outside, you can still see the chapel window.
0:12:45 > 0:12:51- It's bricked in, but it's still quite beautiful. And now it's a snug.- Very snug.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55The fact it's an old chapel, I'm not so sure I like that,
0:12:55 > 0:13:00and with the low beam, I think I'll try and rearrange it in my head a few times.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03'A slight change in mood, sadly,
0:13:03 > 0:13:07'as this room's religious origins haven't got Alan singing from the rafters.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11'But there is also a useful study for them on this floor.
0:13:11 > 0:13:17'Hopefully, he'll be more impressed with what the master bedroom offers upstairs.'
0:13:17 > 0:13:21Now, they've managed to create a master suite up here.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25- Gosh! They didn't have them in medieval times.- No, exactly.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30You've got this as your main bedroom, but through there, there's a dressing room
0:13:30 > 0:13:33and a quite sizeable en-suite bathroom as well.
0:13:33 > 0:13:38'There is one other bedroom on this floor and a family bathroom,
0:13:38 > 0:13:43'then up another flight of stairs, there are two more light and airy double bedrooms.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46'With the house covered, it's time to head outside.'
0:13:46 > 0:13:51This is the garden. It's probably the one drawback of this property.
0:13:51 > 0:13:56- This is what you get with the house. - The view!- I'm glad you said that. - The view is stunning.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58- That is very special.- Yeah.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01I'm not put off by the lack of space.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06- I think this has got just... - I think it's big enough, actually. - We could live with that.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10- There's a beautiful little... - I'm glad you spotted that.
0:14:10 > 0:14:16The water you would be drinking here is filtered from this very spring, so you've got your own water source.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20- Be like Del Boy trying to bottle it...- And sell it to the locals!
0:14:20 > 0:14:23How much do you think a property like this is worth?
0:14:23 > 0:14:25- You go first.- OK.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29- 1.4.- OK.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31I'd say 1.1.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34- But who was right? - LAUGHTER
0:14:34 > 0:14:39- Put us out of our misery. - Neither of you. But you were closer. It's on at 1.2 million.- Right.
0:14:39 > 0:14:46- It puts into context what you get for your money in a period property like that in this area.- Yeah.
0:14:46 > 0:14:51Why don't you spend a bit more time wandering around this property? There is a lot to take in.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54- I will speak to you a bit later on. - Thank you.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58On the market for £1.2 million,
0:14:58 > 0:15:04this stunning chapel conversion offers them a slice of authentic Cotswolds architecture, featuring...
0:15:16 > 0:15:21Oh, gosh, it's really light and airy up here. Oh, and there's another room.
0:15:21 > 0:15:27- A second bedroom. So that's two bedrooms on the top, two below, so that's four in total.- Yeah.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31I do believe this has been a really good first house,
0:15:31 > 0:15:36not only because one of the things we thought we wanted was, as many people do, a characterful house,
0:15:36 > 0:15:42but it does actually start to put into perspective what having character means.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44The main living area with the kitchen
0:15:44 > 0:15:49which then unfolds to almost two other areas - a dining area and a sitting area
0:15:49 > 0:15:53with a fantastic fireplace, I was really surprised by that.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57It was fantastic. I've never seen anything quite like that.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03Have you taken it all in now?
0:16:03 > 0:16:06- Yes.- We certainly have. Lots to take in. An awful lot.
0:16:06 > 0:16:11- But only the first property. We've got more to see, so let's keep moving.- Good.- OK.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17BLEATS
0:16:20 > 0:16:25As the largest of England's designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty,
0:16:25 > 0:16:30the Cotswold Hills and its beautiful market towns and villages hold a worldwide appeal.
0:16:30 > 0:16:36The region's harmonious style of architecture is due to the use of the local limestone
0:16:36 > 0:16:40in everything from civic buildings, shops and houses
0:16:40 > 0:16:44to the dry-stone walls that are so characteristic of the countryside.
0:16:44 > 0:16:49Many Cotswold properties have introduced this feature closer to home by enclosing lawns and borders
0:16:49 > 0:16:55to create their own walled gardens, such as in the pretty village of Lower Slaughter.
0:16:55 > 0:17:01Alan and Sue are attracted to this idea and are considering developing their own walled garden,
0:17:01 > 0:17:07but before getting to grips with the skills needed, we sent them to meet David Glenn from Huntsman's Quarry
0:17:07 > 0:17:11to see up close how this distinctive and desirable stone is sourced.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15Well, here we are in our quarry in the Cotswolds.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19This is where we get our walling stone from.
0:17:19 > 0:17:25The stone is a limestone and it's about 130 to 150 million years old.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28We actually break the stone. We don't drill and blast.
0:17:28 > 0:17:33We break the stone using a 70-tonne excavator with a hydraulic breaker on.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37After being cut, any potential walling stone will be spread out
0:17:37 > 0:17:43and hand-picked from the mass of excavated stone before being sent away for processing.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46So what's the total production output per day?
0:17:46 > 0:17:50The total output from the quarry is probably about 2,000 tonnes per day,
0:17:50 > 0:17:54but of that, only a small percentage is suitable for walling stone,
0:17:54 > 0:17:57probably about 100 tonnes a day.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01Of all the things that come out of this quarry,
0:18:01 > 0:18:06how much of them are used locally and how much do you sell to other parts of the country or overseas?
0:18:06 > 0:18:1190%, as a rule of thumb, that goes out of this quarry
0:18:11 > 0:18:15is used and consumed within a 25-mile radius of here.
0:18:15 > 0:18:21One local craftsman who specialises in working with this walling stone is John Hepworth.
0:18:21 > 0:18:28He creates bespoke walling projects that range from large estates to the smaller private gardens.
0:18:28 > 0:18:33We sent Alan and Sue to meet him and get some first-hand experience of the skills needed.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35So here we have a wall in progress.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39You can see that we have the wall in various stages of being built.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42It's a new wall with new stone.
0:18:42 > 0:18:47We have this frame up called a profile frame, or a batter frame as it's known locally,
0:18:47 > 0:18:49which gives us the shape of the wall.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53Can you see that the wall is built in a slight pyramid section
0:18:53 > 0:18:59which gives us the ability to have stability as the wall grows and comes out the ground?
0:18:59 > 0:19:06The inside bits of the wall, called "hearting", are as big a stone as we can fit into the centre of the wall.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10Let's put some hearting in, so pieces like that, Sue.
0:19:10 > 0:19:15Don't be frightened to turn this round. That's great. That's more like it.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18We can use smaller bits of stone to fill in the gaps.
0:19:21 > 0:19:26As Alan and Sue are keen to lay down some solid foundations for their new life in the Cotswolds,
0:19:26 > 0:19:30we'll return to the job of helping them find their perfect property.
0:19:36 > 0:19:42For our second house, we're heading some six miles west from Winchcombe to Gotherington.
0:19:42 > 0:19:47Thought to have been founded in 780 AD and gaining a mention in the Domesday Book,
0:19:47 > 0:19:51it's a relatively small village, but with some useful amenities,
0:19:51 > 0:19:56which include a local shop and post office, a tea room and a village hall.
0:19:56 > 0:20:01Many of the original historic houses are clad in local stone,
0:20:01 > 0:20:04but our second house is a more modern proposition.
0:20:04 > 0:20:10It's a stunning detached property built in the traditional 1920s style from the local Stanton stone.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16- Property number two. Take it all in. - Yeah, it looks big.
0:20:16 > 0:20:21Very different. Very different to the last one. This looks promising.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25- Oh, listen to that.- This looks promising. It does. It really does.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29- I'm excited.- You really are. What is it you like?
0:20:29 > 0:20:34First of all, I love the stone colour again because we really do love this stone colour,
0:20:34 > 0:20:39but there's much bigger windows and there's a greater expanse of property that you can see,
0:20:39 > 0:20:43which gives you the feeling it will be spacious inside.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46Shall we look inside? You seem excited about the outside.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49- I'm excited to show you the inside. - Let's go.
0:20:49 > 0:20:55'Now, this impressive house perched on a hill has really got our buyers bubbling with enthusiasm
0:20:55 > 0:20:59'and I'm sure that the inside won't disappoint either.'
0:20:59 > 0:21:03You wanted more space. What do you think of this for your living room?
0:21:03 > 0:21:05It's better, much better.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08It's the light as well. It's the light.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10And yeah, double, triple aspect.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14- And what a fireplace!- Gorgeous fireplace.- What a fireplace!
0:21:14 > 0:21:16With a beautiful oak floor.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20Out there, you've got a conservatory, wonderful sun trap.
0:21:20 > 0:21:25Through here, you have enough space for three desks, so it's like a triple office.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27Excellent. I'll have that one then.
0:21:27 > 0:21:32- But what was more important to you was the kitchen, wasn't it? - It certainly was.
0:21:32 > 0:21:38- I don't want to disappoint you with that.- I hope you're not going to. - Shall we have a look?- Yes, please.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45- See?- Oh!
0:21:45 > 0:21:49- You wanted an island... - Now we're talking!
0:21:49 > 0:21:53- It looks like a continent!- This is a fantastic room.- Good grief!
0:21:53 > 0:21:57This is quite possibly the biggest island I've ever shown anyone.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01There are many lovely kitchens, but this is certainly one of them.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03And you came through a dining area.
0:22:03 > 0:22:09- Yes, we noticed. - It is used a lot by the family who live here at the moment.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14Utility space there, then through that door, there's a garage and a room next to it.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18You can almost smell freshly baked bread
0:22:18 > 0:22:22and a little bottle of freshly made lemonade or whatever there as well.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25- It would be fantastic. - You never know.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29- You're getting a warm feeling about this one, aren't you?- Very good.
0:22:29 > 0:22:34'It's a great sign that Alan is actually imagining himself living here.
0:22:34 > 0:22:39'There is also a second utility room which completes our tour of the ground floor.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43'We're now heading upstairs to take a look at the bedrooms.'
0:22:43 > 0:22:45So this is the master.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47Ah!
0:22:47 > 0:22:49- Very nice.- Very nice.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52Those are encouraging sounds.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54- Very good.- It's light.- Yeah.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57And a beautiful view of the garden at the back.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01- And I think I spied to my left an en-suite?- Yes, you have an en-suite.
0:23:01 > 0:23:07- And it's a very generous size as well.- Fantastic.- You've got an en-suite for your master bedroom.
0:23:07 > 0:23:13You can also see that this leads through to another bedroom with its own en-suite.
0:23:13 > 0:23:19- In fact, this property comes with five good-sized bedrooms, all with their own bathrooms.- All?- All.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22- OK.- That's a lot of toilets to clean!
0:23:22 > 0:23:27- I just want to show you one more. I think you'll be quite impressed. - OK.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33Final bathroom.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39And this is the last bedroom I wanted to show you.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42This is another master and a half!
0:23:42 > 0:23:46- Wow!- So is this THE master bedroom or another master bedroom?
0:23:46 > 0:23:49Well, this is the guest wing.
0:23:50 > 0:23:55- I want to be a guest!- Exactly. - This is like a luxury suite in a hotel, isn't it?
0:23:55 > 0:23:57It is, but it could be your home.
0:23:57 > 0:24:02The last thing I need to show you is outside, so let's have a look at the garden.
0:24:02 > 0:24:07- Then there's that very difficult question. Oh, dear.- That's the one. Start thinking.- Yeah.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09Thank you.
0:24:10 > 0:24:15'We appear to be on to a winner here as Alan and Sue have clearly been impressed
0:24:15 > 0:24:18'with the overall space of this house.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22'I'm hoping, as we move outside, our buyers won't be overwhelmed
0:24:22 > 0:24:25'with the amount of land that comes with this property.'
0:24:25 > 0:24:28Here we are at the back of the house.
0:24:28 > 0:24:33Your garden is round the side, round the back. It's all been beautifully landscaped.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37So you get an acre of garden wrapping round,
0:24:37 > 0:24:41but then that way, you also get five acres of paddock.
0:24:41 > 0:24:46- Good grief!- And your friends, the sheep, are there at the moment.
0:24:46 > 0:24:52- It's rented out to the local farmer, so you've got the sheep grazing.- At least you don't have to maintain it.
0:24:52 > 0:24:57With everything this house has to offer in mind, how much do you think it's on the market for?
0:24:57 > 0:24:59It's got to be probably 1.6 million.
0:24:59 > 0:25:05I also was going to say just over the budget, so let me go in between.
0:25:05 > 0:25:071.55 then.
0:25:07 > 0:25:12This house is on the market at 1.35 million.
0:25:12 > 0:25:18Good grief! That's fantastic. We'd still have enough left over for a decent car.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Lots for you to think about. Go and have a wander.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25- I'll come and seek you out later on. - All right. Thank you.- Thank you.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29What a result! They loved that property from the moment we walked in
0:25:29 > 0:25:32and it didn't fail to meet their expectations.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36And what I most love is that they overvalued it.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39I think that's a sign of just how much they love it.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43Coming in under budget at £1.35 million,
0:25:43 > 0:25:48the price of this detached house has been a welcome surprise for Alan and Sue.
0:25:48 > 0:25:53What's more, it meets many of the criteria on their wish list, providing them with...
0:26:07 > 0:26:11I think this is much more our type or style,
0:26:11 > 0:26:15simply from the point of view that it's very practical
0:26:15 > 0:26:18and we would have very little to do.
0:26:18 > 0:26:23Almost the biggest surprises for me and the nicest things about the house
0:26:23 > 0:26:29was not just the wonderful kitchen and the lovely feeling of space when you walked into the house,
0:26:29 > 0:26:32but that feeling of space continued upstairs.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36I think that Alan and I are both very excited about this house.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39If we had the money in our back pockets now,
0:26:39 > 0:26:45we'd almost be meeting with the owner and seeing what we could do because it has got such a lovely feel to it.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47I have high hopes for this one.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51- Hey there.- Yes... - You managed to find your way out?
0:26:51 > 0:26:54- Yeah.- You almost didn't get us out. It's really, really lovely.
0:26:54 > 0:26:59I'm so pleased it's been positive, but this is only the end of day one.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03- There's more to see tomorrow. - Good.- Great.- Looking forward to it.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17As evening falls over the Cotswold skyline,
0:27:17 > 0:27:23our buyers can bask in the warmth of a successful first day's house-hunting.
0:27:28 > 0:27:33After ten years of being wedded to their respective jobs in Switzerland,
0:27:33 > 0:27:38Alan and Sue have decided to cast aside their careers and return home to England
0:27:38 > 0:27:41for a more tranquil life closer to family in the Cotswolds.
0:27:41 > 0:27:47So far, our converted chapel failed to fire up our couple's enthusiasm,
0:27:47 > 0:27:52but the 1920s house on a hill revived their spirits with its fabulous kitchen.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56But could we have reached tipping point with our mystery house?
0:27:56 > 0:27:59This is just extraordinary.
0:27:59 > 0:28:04And I'll be meeting the new faces continuing the Cotswolds wool tradition.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10Yesterday, I gave Alan and Sue a real flavour of the Cotswolds,
0:28:10 > 0:28:13showing them two very distinctive properties,
0:28:13 > 0:28:17one with historical charm and the other with a very spacious layout.
0:28:17 > 0:28:23The second property really captured their imagination and has given them some food for thought,
0:28:23 > 0:28:27but with our mystery house, it's time for something very different.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30They'll be hard pushed to find a Cotswold stone in sight.
0:28:34 > 0:28:38'Our mystery house is in the south-west area of the Cotswolds in Uley.
0:28:38 > 0:28:44'It may be a fair distance from Evesham, which was Alan and Sue's ideal search area.
0:28:44 > 0:28:48'However, we have found them a house that is truly unique.
0:28:48 > 0:28:54'Before seeing the mystery property, we'll pop into the creative hub of Uley, the Arts Centre,
0:28:54 > 0:28:57'and meet a local who runs the cafe.'
0:28:57 > 0:29:01So what's the local community like? This is a central focal point.
0:29:01 > 0:29:06It's very vibrant. There's a lot of things taking place, lots of activities.
0:29:06 > 0:29:13We've got a brewery. That's pretty good. We've got an arts centre, a pub and a post office.
0:29:13 > 0:29:18- There are things taking place in Uley.- What's it like living round here?- It's lovely.
0:29:18 > 0:29:24It's a beautiful place to live. I wake up every morning, take a deep breath and go, "Oh, my goodness!"
0:29:24 > 0:29:29- Let's get back to it, the mystery house calls. Adam, thank you very much for your time.- Thank you.
0:29:29 > 0:29:33'Now, we've taken a calculated risk with the mystery house
0:29:33 > 0:29:37'which is a complete break from the Cotswold traditional style.
0:29:37 > 0:29:42'It is uber-modern, but it's also located in the grounds of a walled garden,
0:29:42 > 0:29:45'so fingers crossed, they'll like it.'
0:29:45 > 0:29:48It's just like a Monet garden, isn't it?
0:29:48 > 0:29:53Well, here we are, a Monet garden indeed, and we have the mystery house.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57It's definitely a mystery. That is fantastic.
0:29:57 > 0:30:02- I never would have imagined that. - I could never have expected anything like that.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05A modern house, wood, lead, quite interesting.
0:30:05 > 0:30:10It was designed and built by the current owners in 2007, so a very modern building.
0:30:10 > 0:30:14- Not only is it modern, it's an eco-house.- Excellent. OK.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17I'm almost speechless and I'm really excited to get inside
0:30:17 > 0:30:21because I think this could be a very, very special property.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25- It is very special indeed. Let me show you inside.- Good.
0:30:25 > 0:30:31'This is such an unusual property, I'm not surprised Sue is a touch tongue-tied, as well as intrigued.
0:30:31 > 0:30:35'And inside, it certainly takes "light and airy" to a new level.'
0:30:36 > 0:30:38Well, in we come.
0:30:38 > 0:30:44This part of the house, we're almost underground. It's been built into the ground. It's concrete.
0:30:44 > 0:30:51At the other end, it's oak timber frames, so it's unusual, the design and the set-up.
0:30:51 > 0:30:56Down here at the front, you've got a really good room which they use as a children's playroom.
0:30:56 > 0:31:02You could do as you wish. This is a gym with a wetroom and sauna. That could be quite special.
0:31:02 > 0:31:07Shall we go into the living room and explore more of the features of this property?
0:31:07 > 0:31:11So this is the main living room area.
0:31:11 > 0:31:15- Oh, this is stunning.- As you can see, you're looking out on to the water.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19- They have built the windows... - The oak beams are exceptional.
0:31:19 > 0:31:24I love the wood and the view out of the window is stunning, but it feels somehow a cold room.
0:31:24 > 0:31:28I don't have the feeling of warmth in this house so far.
0:31:28 > 0:31:32- Let's go into the kitchen and see if you warm up a bit in there.- OK.
0:31:34 > 0:31:39- So through a dining room area which does lead to the outside...- Lovely.
0:31:39 > 0:31:44- But this is the kitchen. - And yet another island. - Another island.- Fantastic.
0:31:44 > 0:31:51And the angles and the view with the water outside is just so special.
0:31:51 > 0:31:56- And through that door, you do have a very large utility area. - That's always helpful.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00- You're doing well, Denise. - Good.- You're doing well.
0:32:00 > 0:32:05'The ground floor is certainly spacious and includes a separate dining area, a cloakroom
0:32:05 > 0:32:10'and a large study, all of which enjoy fabulous views out on to the grounds.
0:32:10 > 0:32:14'However, I'm saving one of the best views until last.'
0:32:16 > 0:32:18Here's a highly unusual master.
0:32:18 > 0:32:24- You don't often get to look out on to the roof there, which is sort of seed and flowers.- More oak beams.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28The lighting is exceptional. Again that's really unusual.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32It looks like there would be a very good view from the balcony.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35- I think there is. Shall we have a look?- Yeah.- After you.
0:32:39 > 0:32:45- I think this is the best view from this property.- Wow!- You're right about that, Denise.- Absolutely.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49So that's it, you can get a feeling for the grounds,
0:32:49 > 0:32:55but one area you were interested in was gardening, growing your own veg. They're passionate about that here.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59- There's an awful lot to look at. - There is. Let's have a wander round.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04'Back inside, there are four more good-sized bedrooms,
0:33:04 > 0:33:10'one of which has an en-suite shower room. In addition, there's a separate family bathroom.
0:33:10 > 0:33:15'As we move outside, the mature gardens have a natural stream feeding two ponds
0:33:15 > 0:33:20'and there is a raised terraced area, perfect for dining outdoors.'
0:33:20 > 0:33:24- You've got just under two acres, so 1.8.- Good grief! That's incredible.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27It runs right the way round the walled garden.
0:33:27 > 0:33:31You can see the wall up there behind the trees, then up and back round here.
0:33:31 > 0:33:37Over this side is a fantastic vegetable garden. They grow everything there.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40- And you have a little swimming pool. - Fantastic.
0:33:40 > 0:33:47- All this and heaven too then!- You've also got this area here which is where the original bungalow was.
0:33:47 > 0:33:53- Now it's a garage and storage. The current owners use it as a hobby and craft room.- Very special.
0:33:53 > 0:33:58- So special, but how much? - I would think probably 1.7,
0:33:58 > 0:34:02- 1.75, something like that?- OK.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05Why don't I go a little bit closer to budget and say 1.6?
0:34:05 > 0:34:10- You, Alan, are spot-on. It's on at 1.75.- Fantastic. I thought so.
0:34:10 > 0:34:16There's so much to take in here. You'd be hard-pushed to find a more unusual house in the Cotswolds.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20Have a wander round. Enjoy these gardens. Go on a discovery journey.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24- I will seek you out later on. - Thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28I think they were blown away by that, but they did get the price spot-on.
0:34:28 > 0:34:34It's hard to value a property that's so unique, but if you wanted the best of the Cotswolds
0:34:34 > 0:34:38and the best of what's contemporary, you can't go far wrong with this.
0:34:40 > 0:34:43On the market for £1.75 million,
0:34:43 > 0:34:47our high spec mystery house has certainly got our buyers considering
0:34:47 > 0:34:51whether they would opt for a more unconventional style of property.
0:34:51 > 0:34:53It includes...
0:35:09 > 0:35:15The house is certainly not what I expected and it would not have been on the top of our priority list.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17There's no Cotswold stone to be seen.
0:35:17 > 0:35:22A lot of wood, actually a lot of beautiful wood. We both love oak.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24And a lot of glass.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26First impressions were...
0:35:26 > 0:35:28a big "wow"!
0:35:28 > 0:35:30The garden is exceptional.
0:35:30 > 0:35:34As with most men, you always have to succumb to female charms
0:35:34 > 0:35:40and I think what will happen here is Sue will do the usual suggestions about, "Let's think about it
0:35:40 > 0:35:44"and come up with some ideas and costings, then we'll go from there,"
0:35:44 > 0:35:46which is code for saying "no",
0:35:46 > 0:35:53but I'll be batting hard to try and get my pennies' worth listened to at least.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57- There you are.- Yes, at last.
0:35:57 > 0:36:02I had to find Alan. He was doing his best to get lost, so he could stay.
0:36:02 > 0:36:07- It's an amazing property, but you have seen everything we have to offer now.- Yes.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10- Time to sit down and reflect. - Definitely.
0:36:18 > 0:36:23'Although it was sheep that put the Cotswolds on the map from the late Middle Ages,
0:36:23 > 0:36:28'the region's wool and cloth production declined during the early 19th century
0:36:28 > 0:36:34'as the mechanised factories further north created more efficient forms of textile manufacturing.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38'The golden age of the Cotswold wool industry came to an end.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42'Fast-forward to the 21st century, it's making a bit of a comeback,
0:36:42 > 0:36:49'albeit on a smaller scale and from an entirely different species that you wouldn't expect to find here.
0:36:49 > 0:36:55'There are now over 1,000 alpaca owners in the UK, breeding the animal for their fibre.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58'The majority of breeders sell the fleece on to be processed,
0:36:58 > 0:37:04'but at this farm north of Swindon, they're spinning the wool and making hand-crafted items on site.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07'I dropped in on Mym and Adrian Holcombe to find out more
0:37:07 > 0:37:12'about how their modern spin on producing wool in the Cotswolds came about.'
0:37:12 > 0:37:18Guys, these are definitely some of the cutest animals I've ever seen on a farm. I love them.
0:37:18 > 0:37:21I can see why you probably fell in love with them,
0:37:21 > 0:37:26but tell me about the journey from corporate life to running an alpaca farm.
0:37:26 > 0:37:31We sold a couple of companies and we literally spent three years looking for something to do,
0:37:31 > 0:37:35something that was exciting, that we could get really involved with,
0:37:35 > 0:37:40that didn't mean sitting in an office all day and dealing with employees.
0:37:40 > 0:37:44We just happened to see a five-second clip on television of alpacas,
0:37:44 > 0:37:47Googled them and couldn't see any downside,
0:37:47 > 0:37:50so 11 weeks later, we took delivery of four pregnant girls.
0:37:50 > 0:37:56The four turned into eight, then we had a few more extravagances and ended up with 40.
0:37:56 > 0:38:03They are unusual. It's not what I expect to find in the Cotswolds. Where are they from originally?
0:38:03 > 0:38:08They originate from Peru, Bolivia, South America. They first came in with the Incas, really.
0:38:08 > 0:38:14They used them for everything from meat, from pack animals, for the fleece for fibre.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17'This herd of alpacas had their annual shear a few days ago
0:38:17 > 0:38:22'and on average, one animal will yield one and a half kilograms of wool.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26'As one of a handful of alpaca breeders in the Cotswold Hills,
0:38:26 > 0:38:32'Mym and Adrian have learnt to spin, felt and weave their home-grown alpaca fleece.'
0:38:32 > 0:38:37We've seen the animals in the field. They've been sheared. This is how it comes off their backs.
0:38:37 > 0:38:42So if we want to do anything with this, we really need to what we call "card" it.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45That's basically combing the fibres in the same direction,
0:38:45 > 0:38:50then we can spin with it or, as we're doing, moving on to peg-looming with it.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53It's very, very simple, hence I'm allowed to do it,
0:38:53 > 0:38:57and we just put a little bit on the side here.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01- And we just turn the handle. - This way?- That's right.- Other way.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04- Other way.- There you go.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07- It's like a brush. - It is exactly like a brush.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10A little bit more.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14- Where does it come out?- It comes out here. It comes out on the drum.
0:39:14 > 0:39:19'The wool is now ready to be woven and I'm going to have a go at peg-looming.'
0:39:19 > 0:39:25These are warps and what we're going to do is add the wefts across,
0:39:25 > 0:39:29so all these pegs have a warp going through them
0:39:29 > 0:39:32and that's where it attaches to,
0:39:32 > 0:39:34and very simply...
0:39:35 > 0:39:37..we take a piece of this
0:39:37 > 0:39:41and you just join it by twisting it together like that.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46And then you go in and out.
0:39:48 > 0:39:50In and out.
0:39:50 > 0:39:54- Twist.- This looks simple enough that even I can have a go.
0:39:54 > 0:40:00- Over to you.- The proof will be in the pudding. So we're twisting. - That's right, in and out.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02Carry on with the twisting.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05When you get to the end, you just go back again.
0:40:05 > 0:40:09- In and out. Always twisting in the same direction?- Yeah.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12In and out...
0:40:12 > 0:40:15- Are you doing this as well? - There we are. Yeah.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19'Slowly but surely, I'm getting to grips with this peg-looming,
0:40:19 > 0:40:25'but let's weave our way back to Alan and Sue and see if they've made any decisions on our properties.'
0:40:25 > 0:40:28Sue and Alan, what a couple of days we've had!
0:40:28 > 0:40:33To lure you back from Switzerland, we're trying to achieve your Cotswold dream.
0:40:33 > 0:40:39Let's reflect on each of them. We started with something very traditional. You wanted character.
0:40:39 > 0:40:44It was unique, very special, but internally for me, the flow of the house didn't work.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47Because you were accommodating a chapel,
0:40:47 > 0:40:50as well as other 18th century parts,
0:40:50 > 0:40:57it was something which would be too much and too difficult to accommodate what we wanted it to be.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00So from there, we moved you forward a few centuries.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03How did you feel about house number two?
0:41:03 > 0:41:09I really liked house number two, particularly when we first walked up to it.
0:41:09 > 0:41:15The colour of the stone used there was so warm. There was just something very special about that.
0:41:15 > 0:41:20The only thing perhaps that was negative about the inside was there were too many rooms.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23- It was just a bit too big and that sounds...- Oh, Sue!- I know.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26So we had a bit too small, we've gone too big.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29With the mystery house, did we get it just right?
0:41:29 > 0:41:35- It was a surprise.- A huge surprise. - Number one, we delivered a walled garden.- You certainly did.
0:41:35 > 0:41:39That was completely left-field, totally unexpected,
0:41:39 > 0:41:42and by far, for me, the best of the three.
0:41:42 > 0:41:47It was something which had character, but the character was modern.
0:41:47 > 0:41:53The fact that the house very much is situated in and around the beautiful gardens,
0:41:53 > 0:41:58including that lake-ette, for want of a better word, outside the main living area,
0:41:58 > 0:42:01that really transforms the look of the house.
0:42:01 > 0:42:06I've got a feeling that you perhaps like one of our properties more than you, but am I wrong?
0:42:06 > 0:42:09Have you fallen in love with any of them?
0:42:09 > 0:42:12For me, the third property,
0:42:12 > 0:42:17the mystery house is the one which I would be seriously interested in,
0:42:17 > 0:42:20but I think Sue might have another opinion.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23Am I right, Sue? Do you have a different opinion?
0:42:23 > 0:42:26Slightly.
0:42:26 > 0:42:32I didn't quite feel the love for the infrastructure of the house as I did for the second house.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35However, the garden is absolutely amazing
0:42:35 > 0:42:38and I realise it fulfils a number of Alan's dreams,
0:42:38 > 0:42:43so I think we've got a lot of talking to do, that's for sure.
0:42:43 > 0:42:48What would be brilliant is if you do find a home soon and make the move, so do let us know.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51We certainly will. Thank you very much.
0:42:54 > 0:42:58Well, the mystery house seems to have done it again,
0:42:58 > 0:43:03a very non-traditional Cotswold property in a very idyllic Cotswold setting.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06It seems to have fulfilled Alan's dreams
0:43:06 > 0:43:11and if Sue can find a way of putting her stamp on it, it could be the house for her too.
0:43:11 > 0:43:15I'll see you next time on Escape To The Country.
0:43:16 > 0:43:20If you'd like to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales,
0:43:20 > 0:43:24Northern Ireland or England and need our help, please apply online at:
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