0:00:02 > 0:00:05In the 1880s, the house behind me was known as the Palace of the Modern Magician.
0:00:05 > 0:00:07I'll be revealing who that person was
0:00:07 > 0:00:09and where they lived in just a moment.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30On today's show I'm helping two university sweethearts
0:00:30 > 0:00:33move back to the county where they first met.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35One of our properties hits the right notes...
0:00:35 > 0:00:37I really like this kitchen.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39- It's lovely.- That's music to my ear.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42..and there are a few surprises along the way.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44Yeah, I wasn't expecting that.
0:00:48 > 0:00:49I'm in Northumberland,
0:00:49 > 0:00:52and all this water is flowing towards Cragside House,
0:00:52 > 0:00:55home of Victorian inventor and industrialist
0:00:55 > 0:00:57Lord William Armstrong.
0:00:57 > 0:00:58Now, back in 1880,
0:00:58 > 0:01:02it was the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity,
0:01:02 > 0:01:06harnessing the power generated by the lakes on his estate.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Now, today, Armstrong is remembered as being
0:01:08 > 0:01:11a leading light in renewable energy,
0:01:11 > 0:01:13who also claimed that the use of coal
0:01:13 > 0:01:15was both wasteful and extravagant.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18Well, he was also a forward thinker when it came to picking
0:01:18 > 0:01:21the perfect spot to enjoy the county's natural splendour.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26England's most northerly county, Northumberland,
0:01:26 > 0:01:30borders Cumbria to the west and County Durham to the south.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33Beyond its northern boundary lies Scotland.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36Centuries of border conflict have left behind a rich legacy
0:01:36 > 0:01:39of ancient and medieval fortifications,
0:01:39 > 0:01:42from the 73-mile long Hadrian's Wall
0:01:42 > 0:01:45to imposing fortresses such as Alnwick Castle.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Away from the former battleground,
0:01:47 > 0:01:51the county boasts two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55One of which is the entire stretch of Northumberland coastline,
0:01:55 > 0:01:59with its 39 miles of wide, sandy beaches.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01A quarter of the county has protected status
0:02:01 > 0:02:04as the Northumberland National Park.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06It's fair to say this tranquil county
0:02:10 > 0:02:12Northumberland is close to the hearts
0:02:12 > 0:02:16of both of today's buyers, so let's meet them and find out why.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24For the past few years, Terry and Joanne, both 31,
0:02:24 > 0:02:27have lived in this three-bedroom flat in southwest London.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32But they now yearn for more space and a less urban lifestyle.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36We've been in London for over eight years now.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38In Earlsfield for five years
0:02:38 > 0:02:41and we've absolutely loved living around here.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43It's been fantastic, but it is very built-up.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45We live on a terraced street and there's people above us
0:02:45 > 0:02:47and to the left and to the right,
0:02:47 > 0:02:49and it is just getting a little bit claustrophobic.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51The solution - a return to the county
0:02:51 > 0:02:53where they first laid eyes on each other.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57Terry and I met in Newcastle, at university about ten years ago.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01We got married three years ago up in Northumberland.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04We've always wanted to go back out to the country
0:03:04 > 0:03:07to be back nearer to family and nearer to friends,
0:03:07 > 0:03:09but also just back in the countryside.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13Back up to the North East where we originally met.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16Jo works as a tax advisor and Terry is a freelance project manager.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19But while Jo will continue in the same line of work
0:03:19 > 0:03:23and has found a job in Newcastle, Terry has a business plan.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27We have a plan to start with a few holiday lets.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30Maybe a few cottages or yurts or log cabins,
0:03:30 > 0:03:33depending on what the land is like.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36As far as the new house is concerned, the kitchen will be key.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Well, we have an agreement that I do all the cooking
0:03:39 > 0:03:41and Jo does the washing.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44That's been in place for quite a few years now, hasn't it?
0:03:44 > 0:03:47- We did swap it once, but it really didn't work.- It didn't work out.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51We got very bad food and not many clean clothes.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54The Northumberland countryside will also give Terry and Jo
0:03:54 > 0:03:57more time to indulge their interests outside of work.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01Over the last couple of years we've both got quite active, haven't we?
0:04:01 > 0:04:05Jo managed to persuade me to do a triathlon with her last year,
0:04:05 > 0:04:07so we do quite a lot of training together.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10We take our bikes over to Richmond Park to train there,
0:04:10 > 0:04:12It can take you longer to get there
0:04:12 > 0:04:14- than it can to actually do the training.- Yeah.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17So it'll be really nice when we're up in the countryside.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19We have a garage to store our bikes in
0:04:19 > 0:04:22so we can just get them straight out and get straight on the road.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25All that's left is to find out how much money they've got to spend
0:04:25 > 0:04:27on the new home and the new venture.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30The budget for the new house is £500,000.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34We also have up to £150,000 to develop the business.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Since Jo will be commuting to Newcastle for her new job,
0:04:41 > 0:04:43we're concentrating our property search
0:04:43 > 0:04:45in the bottom half of the county,
0:04:45 > 0:04:48along the southern edge of the Northumberland National Park.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50I've come to meet Terry and Jo to find out more
0:04:50 > 0:04:52about what they want from their new home.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55So, welcome to beautiful Northumberland.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57A huge move for you, geographically, of course.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59You're also looking for a new lifestyle.
0:04:59 > 0:05:00Tell me a bit about that.
0:05:00 > 0:05:05We want to move out into the country somewhere we can set up our new home
0:05:05 > 0:05:08and also develop this holiday let business as well.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10All right, let's focus on the house first.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Need to find you somewhere to live, don't we?
0:05:12 > 0:05:15The house itself, we're quite prepared to do some work to it.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18So it doesn't need to be all completely finished.
0:05:18 > 0:05:19What does it look like? How big is it?
0:05:19 > 0:05:22I think we've got something that's got four bedrooms,
0:05:22 > 0:05:26so it's a family house. Something that we can stay in for a long time.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28We want to have the family over a lot,
0:05:28 > 0:05:32so it needs to have a lot of downstairs space, room for us
0:05:32 > 0:05:34to host people and host events like Christmas.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36And all our friends from London.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40- Right, OK.- The style of the house, we are really open to it.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42We're not fans of anything really cottagey,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44low ceilings and that kind of thing,
0:05:44 > 0:05:46but other than that we are open
0:05:46 > 0:05:49- to all kinds of architecture and stuff.- Yeah.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51Now, let's talk about this business, then.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53How much land are you after?
0:05:53 > 0:05:55I think the minimum would have to be five acres.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57- Minimum five acres?- Yeah.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59What exactly are you hoping to do?
0:05:59 > 0:06:03We'd like to maybe start off with three or four letting units
0:06:03 > 0:06:06of something maybe like wooden lodges or yurts
0:06:06 > 0:06:07- or something like that. - Right.
0:06:07 > 0:06:12Possibly expand it up to maybe even 15-20 separate little units
0:06:12 > 0:06:14on the plot of land, eventually.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16Let's remind ourselves of this budget.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20- How much are you looking to spend? - In total it comes to 650,000.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24About 500,000 on the property to leave us with 150,000
0:06:24 > 0:06:27for development and then to put into the business.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30It's a house, it's a business, it's a future lifestyle, isn't it?
0:06:30 > 0:06:32- There's a lot of think about. - Yeah.- Yeah, definitely.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34- Well, let's get started.- Great.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41For a maximum budget of £650,000,
0:06:41 > 0:06:43which includes the financial capital for the business,
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Terry and Jo want a detached family home.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50It has to include four bedrooms, a large farmhouse kitchen for Terry
0:06:50 > 0:06:54and space downstairs to entertain when their relatives come to stay.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57As for their rural enterprise, they need a minimum
0:06:57 > 0:07:01of five acres of land on which to build holiday accommodation.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04We've found three fantastic properties to tempt them with,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07and before I reveal the price of each one, I'll be asking them
0:07:07 > 0:07:09to guess how much they think it's worth.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11The last is our mystery house,
0:07:11 > 0:07:14and they'll need to harness their energy to look around that one.
0:07:19 > 0:07:24Our first house is located in a rural community a few miles
0:07:24 > 0:07:27from the border with County Durham and the village of Shotley Bridge,
0:07:27 > 0:07:30which is around 16 miles from Newcastle.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Shotley Bridge is a thriving village with a range of local shops,
0:07:33 > 0:07:35restaurants and pubs.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37It is perhaps best known as the centre
0:07:37 > 0:07:39of Britain's sword-making industry,
0:07:39 > 0:07:41which dates back to the 17th century,
0:07:41 > 0:07:44when German sword makers arrived in the country.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46It's believed they were attracted here
0:07:46 > 0:07:48because of the River Derwent, which flows through the village.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Its soft water was good for tempering steel.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54Five minutes' drive away, back over the border in Northumberland,
0:07:54 > 0:07:56is our first property.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01So here we are, the first house.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04- It's lovely.- Yeah, very nice.- Yeah.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Now, this was the original farmhouse.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10- So you've got the farmhouse and then five other neighbours.- Yep.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Each of them face out in different directions,
0:08:12 > 0:08:15so you're not overlooked. What's going through your minds?
0:08:15 > 0:08:17- I think the house is really pretty. - Yeah.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21- I'm not sure it's quite rural enough, looking out over...- Right.
0:08:21 > 0:08:22It's quite built-up, the view,
0:08:22 > 0:08:25- but the house from the outside looks absolutely beautiful.- Yeah.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28- Let's go inside.- OK.- Great.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32This Grade 2 listed traditional stone farmhouse dates back to 1750.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35It's been renovated and extended over the years
0:08:35 > 0:08:38but you still get a real sense of its history inside.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41Let's start in the kitchen.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43As every good house does.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46And a farmhouse should have a farmhouse kitchen.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49- This has exactly that, doesn't it? - Yep.- It's lovely.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51Really, really nice kitchen.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53So it sounds like you're going to be cooking a lot.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55- I think we'd spend a lot of time in here.- Yeah.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57- Good.- Like it. - Let's just go through here.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02Right, then. The first reception room.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05The lounge area. It's a big room.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07- Yeah. I mean, everything's big in this house.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09But this is one of two, OK?
0:09:09 > 0:09:11- Let's look in the other one just through here.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18- So, reception room number two. - A dining room?- Yeah.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22For our personal tastes we would redecorate completely, wouldn't we?
0:09:22 > 0:09:25The actual structure and fabric of the building is...
0:09:25 > 0:09:28- Really, it's got loads of integrity, doesn't it?- Yeah.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30They've stayed true to what it originally was.
0:09:30 > 0:09:31I think you're right.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33Let's go and have a look at the bedroom.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38As well as the kitchen and two reception rooms,
0:09:38 > 0:09:40the ground floor also includes a generous study
0:09:40 > 0:09:42and a utility room off the kitchen.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Upstairs there are four bedrooms, all of them doubles
0:09:45 > 0:09:48and each overlooking the front of the property.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51The two smallest doubles have built-in wardrobes
0:09:51 > 0:09:54and they're all serviced by a fully-tiled family bathroom,
0:09:54 > 0:09:57which just leaves the largest bedroom for Terry and Jo.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01This is your master because it has an en-suite just there.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03Oh, OK.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05- That's a big room, isn't it? - It is, yeah.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07- Really nice size for a master.- Yeah.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09- It's got quite a nice, big window in here as well.- Yeah.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11- With views out over the valley. - Yeah.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Let's go outside and have a look at some of the business options, maybe.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16- All right?- Yeah.- After you.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20Terry and Jo seem to be able to look beyond the decor
0:10:20 > 0:10:23and can appreciate the heritage of this house.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25As far as the business goes, the property comes
0:10:25 > 0:10:27with half of this outbuilding, which could be converted
0:10:27 > 0:10:29into a holiday let.
0:10:29 > 0:10:30But let's talk land.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34- You get quite a bit of it. - OK.- In total,
0:10:34 > 0:10:36- three-and-a-half acres.- OK.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39How much do you think this place is on the market for, then?
0:10:39 > 0:10:41Erm, I think 535?
0:10:43 > 0:10:46- OK.- I'm going to a bit lower than that. I'll say 500.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50Well, it's on the market for offers around £550,000.
0:10:50 > 0:10:51- OK.- So not bad guesses.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55Our first house still leaves our buyers 100,000 for the business.
0:10:55 > 0:11:00It's a traditional, 18th-century farmhouse built of local stone
0:11:00 > 0:11:01with four double bedrooms.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03Downstairs has separate reception rooms
0:11:03 > 0:11:06and a large country kitchen for Terry.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09Outside includes an outbuilding and three-and-a-half acres of land,
0:11:09 > 0:11:13which, subject to planning, could be ripe for development.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19- Now, you've had a good look around. - Yep.- Have you seen enough?
0:11:19 > 0:11:22- Yes.- I think so, yeah.- OK, time for the next one. Let's go.- Great!
0:11:31 > 0:11:35One Northumberland home that sadly isn't for sale is this one,
0:11:35 > 0:11:36Alnwick Castle.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40The Dukes of Northumberland have lived here for 700 years.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42Known as the Windsor of the North,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45it is the second-largest inhabited castle in Europe.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49It's both an impressive fortress and a stately home.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52Like many across the country, Alnwick Castle comes with
0:11:52 > 0:11:56a formal garden attached, but this garden is like no other.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58The vision of the current Duchess of Northumberland,
0:11:58 > 0:12:02Jane Percy, the Alnwick Garden combines cutting-edge design
0:12:02 > 0:12:04with traditional landscaping.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07I've come to get my fingers green with head gardener Trevor Jones.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10- Trevor, how are you?- Very well, thank you.- Good to meet you.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13- And you.- Well, Trevor, very impressive gardens.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15How long have they been in this form, if you like?
0:12:15 > 0:12:18They've only been in this form for about ten years.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20Prior to that, this area was completely derelict.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22What are the influences here, then?
0:12:22 > 0:12:26The influences here are all from the designers, Jacques and Peter Wirtz.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30They're from Belgium, so very much a European style of gardening,
0:12:30 > 0:12:32so unlike other gardens in the UK,
0:12:32 > 0:12:35much of the planting here is in straight lines, like behind us.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38I imagine you must have full-time people like yourself here.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41- Do you have volunteers?- Yes, we do.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44We have a hardy band of volunteers that work with us in the garden.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48It's very much a people's garden. It needs people in it to come alive.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51The centrepiece of the garden is this cascading fountain,
0:12:51 > 0:12:54one of the largest water features in the country.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56Beyond that is a walled ornamental area
0:12:56 > 0:12:58and a series of water sculptures
0:12:58 > 0:13:00made from mirrors of stainless steel.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02But despite the modern twists,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05the Alnwick gardeners are keen to practise traditional techniques.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08One of them is Alistair Dodds.
0:13:08 > 0:13:09So this is pea-sticking?
0:13:09 > 0:13:11Yeah, this is the old-fashioned method
0:13:11 > 0:13:13of supporting herbaceous perennials.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15So it's an old method using birch twigs,
0:13:15 > 0:13:19weaving them in and out of each other and creating a frame.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21Not being much of a gardener myself, I'm keen to have a go.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25- I find the best way is to get three bits together like that.- Yeah.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30And then just cut it off then just wind those in like plaiting hair.
0:13:30 > 0:13:31So...
0:13:31 > 0:13:33- Take a bit here?- Yep.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40Oh. Got them? Right, so I'm going to... This is like plaiting?
0:13:40 > 0:13:41So the big branch...
0:13:43 > 0:13:45..in the middle like this?
0:13:45 > 0:13:48Yeah, you just weave it in and out, middle to middle.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50TRADITIONAL MUSIC
0:13:50 > 0:13:53I think it's safe to say that when it comes to pea-sticking,
0:13:53 > 0:13:55I'm just clutching at straws.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58Well, it's not the best, is it? So this just goes over that?
0:13:58 > 0:14:00You stick the bottom in the ground.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04But within about three weeks you won't see any birch twigs at all.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06The garden here at Alnwick is still work in progress
0:14:06 > 0:14:09with five new areas planned in the future,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12adding even more to this unique horticultural masterpiece.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24We're venturing 50 miles further west for our second property
0:14:24 > 0:14:29to the hamlet of Roweltown, which is just over the border into Cumbria.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31We're now an hour and 20 minutes away from Newcastle
0:14:31 > 0:14:34and that could be a struggle for Jo's commute.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37This is as rural as it gets.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39Aside from a couple of local watering holes,
0:14:39 > 0:14:43the closest amenities are a 15-minute drive away.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45If Terry and Jo felt that house number one wasn't rural enough,
0:14:45 > 0:14:48then our second property should deliver on that front.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51It's an isolated smallholding, the heart of which
0:14:51 > 0:14:55is this detached farmhouse which dates back to the 17th century.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59Now, you might be thinking, "Oh, look at all these buildings."
0:14:59 > 0:15:03- A little bit!- Well, we will be looking at all of these building.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06- OK. Wow. - That's quite something.- Yeah.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08There's still lots to do.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11- Well, so far I love it.- Yeah.
0:15:11 > 0:15:12Let's look inside.
0:15:20 > 0:15:21Right, then.
0:15:21 > 0:15:22Come right in,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25cos I want you to see this farmhouse kitchen in all of its splendour.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28- Oh, wow.- Deceptively modern in here, actually.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31- It's got this real earthy feel to it still.- Yeah.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33I don't think I'd change that much in this kitchen.
0:15:33 > 0:15:34I really like this kitchen.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36- It's lovely. - That's music to my ear.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38Let's keep looking around.
0:15:40 > 0:15:41The old-style appearance of the kitchen,
0:15:41 > 0:15:43which also includes this utility room,
0:15:43 > 0:15:47has gone down well with our buyers and that cottagey feel continues
0:15:47 > 0:15:51in the adjacent room, which is currently being used as a snug.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54But there's a very different look to the next room we're heading to.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58- More impressive. - Oh, wow.- Oh, wow.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00Yeah, I wasn't expecting that.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03- Much lighter, isn't it?- Yeah. - It's beautiful.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06- Really lovely room.- It has so much light coming in. So many windows.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09- I don't think I'd do anything to this room either!- No.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12- So, we're pretty happy so far. - Yeah, it's lovely.- Good.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14Let's take a look at the bedrooms.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19Upstairs there are four bedrooms in total, all good-sized doubles
0:16:19 > 0:16:22and a family bath and shower room.
0:16:22 > 0:16:23One of the bedrooms, ideal for guests,
0:16:23 > 0:16:26has a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams.
0:16:26 > 0:16:31Another has a built-in wardrobe and there's wooden flooring throughout.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34That just leaves the master,
0:16:34 > 0:16:37which is accessed via this en suite with roll top bath.
0:16:37 > 0:16:38Mind your head.
0:16:41 > 0:16:42Oh, very nice.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44Yeah.
0:16:44 > 0:16:45Worth ducking for?
0:16:45 > 0:16:47Yeah!
0:16:47 > 0:16:51- We've got so much to see outside, so let me at least make a start.- OK.
0:16:51 > 0:16:52Mind your heads again.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57And it's only when you get outside that you start to appreciate
0:16:57 > 0:16:59the scope of our second property.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01There's a variety of outbuildings,
0:17:01 > 0:17:03all at various stages of development.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07They include two barns, which could be renovated in the future.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09And with Terry's holiday business in mind,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12there's also a more immediate potential for income.
0:17:15 > 0:17:16So, into this cottage.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20First room, the living room, needs nothing but decorating, really.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22- Yeah. That's great, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25You've got three bedrooms and a bathroom behind us
0:17:25 > 0:17:28that need refurbing, and then there's the kitchen.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34Now, there's more work to be done in the kitchen
0:17:34 > 0:17:39- but more work has been done, if that makes sense to you.- Yeah, OK.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43It's clean, it's dry. It all just needs a little bit of sorting out.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45- 25 grand should get this up and running.- OK.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47What, with planning you're 90% there.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49It's the home straight for this.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53- Exactly. This is more than I expected.- Oh, yeah. A lot more.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55In addition to this cottage,
0:17:55 > 0:17:57there's a further one-bedroom cottage that,
0:17:57 > 0:17:59with a bit of work, could also be let
0:17:59 > 0:18:01as a holiday getaway for couples.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04But if that's not enough to satisfy Terry's entrepreneurial appetite,
0:18:04 > 0:18:07there's even more on offer.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10You've got land here as well. 14 acres.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12- OK!- Wow!- All right?
0:18:12 > 0:18:14From what you've seen so far,
0:18:14 > 0:18:17how much do you think this farm is on the market for?
0:18:18 > 0:18:22I think it's the very top end of our budget, so...
0:18:23 > 0:18:25..650,000?
0:18:27 > 0:18:29I'm going to hope that you've left us
0:18:29 > 0:18:30a little bit of money in the budget
0:18:30 > 0:18:32for some renovations, so I'll say 625.
0:18:32 > 0:18:33Well...
0:18:34 > 0:18:36..this place is on the market for
0:18:36 > 0:18:40- offers around £595,000.- Wow!
0:18:40 > 0:18:41Yeah.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46This remote, rural smallholding
0:18:46 > 0:18:49is still under Terry and Jo's maximum budget.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52The price includes the detached 17th-century farmhouse
0:18:52 > 0:18:56with four double bedrooms and a large, traditional kitchen.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59The 14-acre plot includes numerous outbuildings
0:18:59 > 0:19:01and two almost-ready holiday cottages,
0:19:01 > 0:19:04as well as land on which to build log cabins and yurts in the future.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Just think, of an evening, if you bought this place,
0:19:09 > 0:19:11- sunsets with that view. - Yeah.
0:19:11 > 0:19:12Stunning.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15- Something good to finish on, isn't it?- Yeah, definitely.- Yeah.
0:19:15 > 0:19:16Let's go back to the hotel.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32For the mystery house we're back into Northumberland
0:19:32 > 0:19:35and heading to the northern side of the National Park
0:19:35 > 0:19:36to the hamlet of Catcleugh,
0:19:36 > 0:19:39which is just under an hour's drive from Newcastle.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43Although the mystery house cuts Jo's commute time,
0:19:43 > 0:19:46there are a few practical issues to tackle with this property.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52So, the mystery house.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55- Beautiful.- Yeah?- Yeah!
0:19:55 > 0:19:59- Look at this.- Look at the setting. - That's awesome.- Amazing.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01- Commute to Newcastle...- Yeah.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04- ..both the owners commute daily.- OK.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07But, also, there's reason to come here, isn't there?
0:20:07 > 0:20:09You're surrounded by beautiful countryside.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11But I do want to tell you one thing.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15We're off the grid.
0:20:15 > 0:20:16OK!
0:20:16 > 0:20:20You wanted rural! You're thinking, "Why is this the mystery house?"
0:20:20 > 0:20:22Well, it's because...
0:20:22 > 0:20:26Look. Look around. No power cables. Beautiful!
0:20:27 > 0:20:30- This isn't your traditional way of life.- OK.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Does that worry you?
0:20:33 > 0:20:35- We can still have lights and stuff? - Yeah, yeah! Of course you can.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39- This runs as a normal home. It runs automatically.- Yeah.- Then it's fine.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42Good! All right. Let's go inside.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45The nervous laughter suggests Jo in particular
0:20:45 > 0:20:48might be slightly worried by our mystery property's
0:20:48 > 0:20:50unconventional power supply.
0:20:50 > 0:20:51We're heading to the main farmhouse,
0:20:51 > 0:20:53which was built just over 100 years ago.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57Let's have a quick peek in the living room.
0:20:57 > 0:20:58Mmm, OK.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03- Probably the smallest we've seen so far.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:21:03 > 0:21:04Big enough?
0:21:04 > 0:21:06It is a small room, but...
0:21:06 > 0:21:08It depends on what the rest of the house is.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12If this would just be the main living area then maybe not big enough,
0:21:12 > 0:21:14But this house is...
0:21:14 > 0:21:16Well, it's actually probably the smallest
0:21:16 > 0:21:17- of all the houses we're seeing.- OK.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19- But it grows elsewhere.- OK. - All right.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22- Let me just squeeze past you and we'll go to the kitchen.- OK.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29- So we're back to our farmhouse dimensions and proportions.- Lovely.
0:21:29 > 0:21:30Oh, yeah. That's big.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Really nice kitchen.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35I think everything we see probably needs a bit of updating.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37It's perfectly liveable, of course, but for your own taste,
0:21:37 > 0:21:40over the coming years you'll want to do something with it, won't you?
0:21:40 > 0:21:43- Yeah, definitely.- Let's squeeze past and we'll go up to the bedrooms.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47The kitchen also has a handy walk-in larder,
0:21:47 > 0:21:51and there are four further rooms on the ground floor.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54A study currently being used as a music room, a utility room
0:21:54 > 0:21:58with a spiral staircase leading up to one of the bedrooms,
0:21:58 > 0:22:00a wet room off the utility
0:22:00 > 0:22:02and, finally, the ground floor is also home to this,
0:22:02 > 0:22:04the only bathroom in the house.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08Upstairs, there are four bedrooms in total,
0:22:08 > 0:22:11three doubles and one single.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13Two of the doubles are currently being used as children's bedrooms,
0:22:13 > 0:22:17and the single for storage, which just leaves the remaining double.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23So three double bedrooms up here on the first floor.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26- This is clearly a master. - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29- Lovely view.- Cracking, isn't it? - Yeah.- Amazing view out there.
0:22:30 > 0:22:31I've got to hold my hands up here.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34There is something that could be an issue for some people.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38- Bathroom is downstairs. - OK.- Ah, OK.
0:22:38 > 0:22:39Yeah, it's not ideal.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41For some people it's a definite no-no.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43But that's relieving.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47- No, it that's the worst thing about the house then...- Yeah, I'm fine!
0:22:47 > 0:22:50Good. I think whilst the house might be the smallest we've seen,
0:22:50 > 0:22:53outside I think you've got maybe the most amount of potential
0:22:53 > 0:22:56- for you specifically. - OK.- All right.- Great.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59Let me just squeeze past you there, Jo, and we'll go have a look.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Terry and Jo seem to be up for making sacrifices.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07This move is also about the business and any limitations inside the house
0:23:07 > 0:23:11are more than made up for by the business opportunities outside.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14So, little bit like the property yesterday,
0:23:14 > 0:23:17- we have barns to convert. - Yeah.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19- Big barn.- Yeah. Really good, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22Unlike anything we've seen before, which is, again,
0:23:22 > 0:23:24another reason why it's the mystery house,
0:23:24 > 0:23:26- there's work to be done outside as well as in your home.- Yeah.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29- Don't forget we're looking for a home for you to live in.- Yeah.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31You're going to be working hard in Newcastle.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34- You want to come back to something comfortable.- Exactly.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37But you also want to be thinking, "What's Terry doing.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39"Is he busy?"
0:23:39 > 0:23:42And I tell you what - yes, he will be. Follow me.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48As well as the outbuildings, the grounds also include lawned areas
0:23:48 > 0:23:50to the front and rear of the farmhouse.
0:23:50 > 0:23:51But more importantly for the business,
0:23:51 > 0:23:54a perfect spot for Terry's plans.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56Right, then. Outside.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00- You get over ten acres of land. - OK.- Wow.- All right?
0:24:00 > 0:24:03- Everything that doesn't look like it's being farmed, basically.- Yeah.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05- And needs something doing to it. - Yes.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08So more than enough room for a number of yurts,
0:24:08 > 0:24:12- and what better place to have a yurt here?- Yeah, beautiful, isn't it?
0:24:12 > 0:24:15- Yeah.- It would really work here as well.- Yeah.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18- Now, in order to have these yurts, obviously you need facilities.- Yep.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20The owners did look into that.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24You need to upgrade the entire power supply system here, the generators.
0:24:24 > 0:24:29- And that could cost up to £60,000. - Oh, wow.- OK.- All right?
0:24:29 > 0:24:30- Big investment.- Yes.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33So how much do you think this place is on the market for, then?
0:24:33 > 0:24:35I'm going to say...
0:24:35 > 0:24:36575.
0:24:37 > 0:24:42- OK.- I'm going to hope it's a bit cheaper. 500.
0:24:42 > 0:24:49- Well it's actually for sale for offers around £450,000.- Oh, OK.- Wow.
0:24:49 > 0:24:50That leaves us a big pot of cash.
0:24:54 > 0:24:55At face value,
0:24:55 > 0:24:58the mystery house is our cheapest property of all.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01The smallholding includes a detached farmhouse with four bedrooms,
0:25:01 > 0:25:05various outbuildings, which could be converted into holiday lets
0:25:05 > 0:25:08and around ten acres of land on which to build yurts or log cabins.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11But if the business is to develop,
0:25:11 > 0:25:13it will require some money to upgrade the power supply.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17- Could really work, then?- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21Well, hopefully it's something to compare with the second property yesterday.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25So, something to think about on the journey back to where we're going to have a chat.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29- Yeah.- All right, let's go back.- OK.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44Which one of the three properties is your favourite?
0:25:44 > 0:25:48- Property number three was clearly the favourite.- Clearly?- Yeah.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50- The mystery house? - Clear winner.- Yeah.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53It seems to have everything that we were looking for
0:25:53 > 0:25:56in terms of what can be a long-term home for us
0:25:56 > 0:25:59but also really work from a business perspective
0:25:59 > 0:26:02Right from when we first had this idea,
0:26:02 > 0:26:05the single most important thing was that the setting
0:26:05 > 0:26:09was a real beauty spot, so it gave people a reason to come to it,
0:26:09 > 0:26:12and the mystery house just delivered on that
0:26:12 > 0:26:14far more than the other two properties.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18We're looking for a home as well, and there was some work
0:26:18 > 0:26:21to be done to make it what you wanted from a home.
0:26:21 > 0:26:22What would be your first job?
0:26:24 > 0:26:26The bathroom!
0:26:26 > 0:26:28That downstairs bathroom, yeah.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31We'd look to get maybe some outline plans
0:26:31 > 0:26:33for an extension to the house as well.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36So, you've got a favourite property
0:26:36 > 0:26:39but it's a big, huge leap for you guys.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41What's the next step?
0:26:41 > 0:26:44We're moving up here anyway into rented accommodation
0:26:44 > 0:26:46- in just a few weeks. - Mmm-hmm.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49That will give us the breathing space we need
0:26:49 > 0:26:51to develop more detailed plans.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54I think we'll definitely go back and see property number three,
0:26:54 > 0:26:55the mystery house.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Does that mean you're seriously interested in this place then?
0:26:58 > 0:27:02- Oh, yeah. Definitely.- Yeah. - We are quite interested.- Good!
0:27:02 > 0:27:06Well, this is one huge step I think you've taken,
0:27:06 > 0:27:07but with many more to go.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09So I wish you both the very best of luck.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11- Thank you. Thanks for all your help. - All right.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13And let me know when you're up and running,
0:27:13 > 0:27:16cos I would love to come and stay opposite that reservoir.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22Well, Jo and Terry said to me that they thought
0:27:22 > 0:27:25this particular trip up here to Northumberland
0:27:25 > 0:27:27could be maybe a bit of a fact-finding mission.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30But I'm confident it's turned into more than that.
0:27:30 > 0:27:31These past couple of days seem to have
0:27:31 > 0:27:33cemented their thoughts, if you like.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37And the way they both reacted so well to the mystery property,
0:27:37 > 0:27:38I think we could have found them
0:27:38 > 0:27:42not only their first new home in the countryside together,
0:27:42 > 0:27:44their big escape, if you like, to Northumberland,
0:27:44 > 0:27:48but also a location from which to base their exciting new enterprise from.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Let's hope so. See you next time.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55Jo and Terry have now moved into their rented accommodation
0:27:55 > 0:27:59in the North East, and intend to revisit our mystery house very soon.
0:27:59 > 0:28:04If you would like to escape to the country in England, Northern Ireland, Wales or Scotland
0:28:04 > 0:28:06and need our help, you can apply online at: