Perth and Kinross Escape to the Country

This baronial castle was the favourite getaway of one of Britain's greatest monarchs.

It's also home to Europe's last surviving private army.

Find out where I am in just a moment.

'On today's show, we're helping a couple with young twins

'find a family home in rural Scotland.

'They begin with their cards close to their chest.'

-I think it's nice.

-Sounds like you're being very diplomatic!

'But another house unlocks their emotions.'

This is gorgeous!

-Wow.

-Absolutely gorgeous.

Today we're in the historic county of Perthshire,

right in the heart of the Scottish Highlands,

and this is Blair Castle.

As well as being the ancestral home of the Dukes of Atholl,

it was here in 1844 that Queen Victoria's love affair with Scotland began.

And also where, almost accidentally,

she led to the formation of the Atholl Highlanders,

which survives to this day as Europe's only private army.

I'll be finding out more about that regiment's colourful history

and the Queen's visits later in the show.

But first take a look at some of the beauties this county has to offer.

The historic county of Perthshire

is now part of the larger council area of Perth and Kinross

and is situated in the very heart of Scotland.

Its neighbours include Highland and Aberdeenshire in the north

and Stirling and Fife in the south.

With scenery ranging from peaceful glens to ancient woodland,

Perthshire boasts some of the most beautiful landscapes in Britain.

In the west of the county,

Loch Tay is flanked on either side by striking mountains

including the snow-capped Ben Lawers.

With 2,000 square miles of diverse landscape,

Perthshire's unique character holds great appeal for those looking for rural drama

in their surroundings.

Let's find out who it is that's chosen to come and live in this beautiful part of the country.

For the past four years,

Laurence and Maria have lived in this four-bed semidetached Victorian property

on the outskirts of Glasgow.

But the location's convenience also has its drawbacks.

This area we're living in at the moment is called Dumbreck.

It's on the south side of Glasgow

just south of the River Clyde.

The house is located between two busy motorways,

the M8 and the M74.

So there is a noise issue.

It's not just the traffic encouraging them to move.

The arrival of twins, Holly and Adam, a year and a half ago,

has spurred them on to seek a better quality of life for the whole family.

There aren't many amenities close by

because we live in a very suburban area.

There are no local shops. The nearest things we have here

are a park, which I like to take the children to.

It's quite a nice wooded area

and that's the sort of environment I'm looking for for the children when we move out of Glasgow.

Maria is a town planner by trade,

but has put the job on hold to look after the twins.

Laurence works for a bank in Edinburgh and still intends to commute from their new home.

We're looking to move to Perthshire. It's not far from Glasgow.

It's only about 70 miles

but they call it the gateway to the Highlands.

It's a beautiful area. There are loads of lovely towns and villages

surrounded by beautiful countryside.

Despite the twins being toddlers, Laurence and Maria are planning for the future.

We think an education is important for our children.

Schools outside of Glasgow are generally smaller class sizes.

It would be nice for the children if we're in a village to be able to walk to school.

The move will also allow the couple to indulge their leisure interests.

And it's not just tennis.

I play a bit of golf and do a bit of fishing

so the area in Perth and Kinross has lots of golf courses

and a few rivers and lochs to go fishing.

So I'm looking forward to that.

But not all of Laurence's hobbies are as peaceful!

'Away from work and looking after the children, I play the bagpipes.

'I've played them for many years.'

The neighbours, I'm sure, will testify to the fact that I tend to play them either in the house

or in the garden.

So, from a neighbours' point of view, I suspect,

playing them in the countryside will be far more palatable

than a built-up area like this!

-A lot of the neighbours do enjoy your bagpipes, though.

-They do.

They say they do. I'm not sure they're telling the truth!

All that remains is to find out how much they've got to invest

in their Scottish rural move.

The budget for the move is £450,000.

So that Laurence can continue to commute to Edinburgh,

we've concentrated our search in the south, around Crieff and Perth,

both of which have excellent road links to the Scottish capital.

And it's in the hills overlooking Crieff

where I meet them to finalise the details of the move.

Welcome to Perthshire. What is it you're looking for in this property around Crieff?

It's a four-bedroomed detached property,

ideally with a lovely good-sized garden for the children.

Period property would be ideal. That's the sort of property we like.

What about the neighbourhood? Are you fussed about whether you're out in the sticks

or the middle of a village?

Again, we're quite easy on that.

It would be perfect if we were within walking distance of the town,

particularly schools, so we can take the children to school.

You actually have quite reasonably modest requirements.

This is quite a price-intense area

because, like you, lots of people like to commute from this beautiful landscape

down into Glasgow or Edinburgh.

-So what's your budget?

-Budget is £450,000.

If we have to go to 500,000

then, for the right house, we'd be prepared to do that, absolutely.

Spoken like a canny banker, yes?

-So 450 up to 500.

-Yeah.

We've got three lovely properties and it would be interesting to see what you think of them.

-So let's get in the car.

-Yeah.

For a maximum budget of £500,000,

Laurence and Maria want a decent-sized detached family home

with character and ideally period features.

It has to include four bedrooms,

a large enough garden for the twins to run around in,

and be within striking distance of a village,

so the children can walk to a primary school.

We've found three fantastic properties to tempt them with.

At each one, I'll be asking them to guess the price before I reveal it.

The last is our mystery house, designed to challenge,

and which could be a STEP too far for a couple with young children.

Our first property is in the hamlet of Highlandman,

two miles outside the small market town of Crieff.

Crieff itself has a good selection

of shops, supermarkets and restaurants.

It's been a popular hub for tourists visiting the Highlands

since Victorian times

and this heritage is reflected in its architecture.

But just a five-minute drive away, you're well into the countryside

and that's where our first house is.

-You can see Crieff over there, just across the fields.

-Yes.

What do you think of the style? You wanted a period property.

It looks ideal. Looks beautiful.

-Shall we have a look inside?

-Yes.

-Super.

'This Edwardian property, built just over 100 years ago,

'makes a good first impression on Laurence and Maria.

'And I'm confident the period features inside

'will also go down well with our buyers.'

Come into the sitting room, first.

-A lovely room.

-Mm.

So they've knocked through into what would have been the back room

and built a conservatory at the back.

So it's a long set of rooms which have light. The garden is south-facing. This is north-facing.

So you get light through the day.

-Yeah, it's lovely.

-Very nice.

-It has a kind of classic Scottish feel to it.

-Yes, you're right.

It's restrained but tasteful.

-Up to snuff?

-Definitely.

-Yes.

'The ground floor also features a similar-sized dining room

'with another open fireplace

'and a bay window looking out towards Crieff.

'But our next stop is the kitchen.'

Round the back of the house is the kitchen. Come on in.

Nice range cooker.

-It's smaller than...

-Bit smaller than we're used to.

-The utility's through there.

-OK.

So all your white goods are in there.

But you do have this lovely feature of the big red sandstone lintel

over the range cooker.

And upstairs, you've got five bedrooms.

'Although the size of the kitchen is a slight concern,

'I'm hoping the accommodation upstairs will compensate.

'This includes four double bedrooms and one single,

'all serviced by a good-sized family bathroom.

'One of the doubles lies at the front of the house,

'with another at the back, overlooking the garden.

'One of the larger bedrooms is being used as a study,

'and there's a further single which could be turned into an en-suite for the master,

'which is where we're heading.'

As I mentioned, there are five bedrooms. This is the master

simply by the fact that it's got all this storage in it.

Beautiful fireplace.

-And the view, as well. I think this is the master because of the view.

-I know.

That's beautiful.

I think the house has a lovely feel to it.

One of those houses when you come in and think it feels very restful.

That's everything indoors. I'll let you wander around later on.

But let's look at the garden.

'The interior tour seems to have gone down well

'and we've given Laurence and Maria more bedrooms than they asked for.

'But there's still the all-important garden to see.

The south-facing grounds include a patio area,

a pond, which might need fencing off for the children,

a garden shed, a greenhouse and a veggie patch.

This is a nice spot where you see the back of the house

and the formal garden.

Through the archway is a back garden.

-It seems to be well laid out.

-Yes.

So what do you think the house is on the market for?

440, perhaps?

Maybe a little bit less. Say 435. 430, 435.

-So this is obviously the Scottish custom "offers over"...

-Yes.

But this is on the market for offers over 375.

-375?!

-Really?

-Wow!

-Goodness me!

-That's a surprise.

-That's a big surprise.

Our first house comes in well under budget.

It's a traditional detached Edwardian property

built of local stone

with five bedrooms, four of which are doubles.

-Done?

-Yes.

-Had a good nose around?

-Yep. Very nice.

Good. Then let's have a look at house number two.

With all this breathtaking scenery,

it's no surprise that the Perthshire Highlands have long been

a favoured holiday destination for those who love the outdoors.

One of its biggest fans was Queen Victoria

who came here to Blair Castle,

the seat of the Duke and Duchess of Atholl,

in 1844.

During her visits, she was protected by the Duke's personal bodyguard,

the Atholl Highlanders,

and was so impressed, she gave them the right to bear arms.

I've come to meet the castle's chief historian, Jane Anderson,

to find out more about the Queen's visit

and the castle's unique private army.

Ah, this is a very Victorian room.

-Yes.

-Is this where she slept?

The actual room isn't. She slept in the Derby Room, along the passage.

But everything that was in that room is now in here.

So when they knew Victoria was coming,

they went out and bought a whole new suite of furniture.

What was different about this stay?

She often went to stay in castles, one imagines.

Yes. But usually, she would descend on people for a day or two

and expect a full state reception.

But Albert asked particularly here

that they put the castle at her disposal.

And the family moved out, she moved in,

and so she had a very long stay,

which was very relaxing without all the trappings of state.

-A holiday, in a way.

-Yes. The informality, the lack of intrusion.

That was preserved by the men of Atholl guarding her.

They camped outside in tents.

They were there to make sure that no-one disturbed this idyll.

'One of the things the Queen was able to enjoy during her stay at Blair Castle

'was to explore the surrounding countryside on a pony.

'And that's what I'm doing with guide Debbie McLoughlin.'

So is this where the Queen would have ridden, Debbie?

Yes. Queen Victoria rode here.

She first rode on Atholl estates in 1844.

She went up through the hills

while Albert was out stalking on the estate.

'The Queen was so struck by her visit,

'a few years later she and Prince Albert

'bought the neighbouring estate, Balmoral,

'still used by the Royal Family today as a holiday home.

'And being neighbours meant Victoria could still drop in for a visit.'

Jane was saying she would ride over the hills to visit the Duchess?

She rode over the hills. It's doable.

It would take them a few days and they would stop for picnics.

In Glen Tilt there's a well

that's known as Queen Victoria's well

where she stopped for refreshment of fresh hill water.

'When they weren't carrying royalty,

'the Atholl ponies were used during the stalking season

'to transport deer off the mountains,

'a role they still perform today.

'But as I head off to catch up with our buyers,

'it's easy to see how Queen Victoria fell in love with this remote Scottish beauty spot.'

'We are venturing to the far eastern side of the county

'for our second property, which is in the hamlet of Murrayshall,

'about two miles from the village of Scone.

'We pass through the town of New Scone, which offers

'a number of amenities close by, including shops and a post office.

'A short drive away is the hamlet of Murrayshall

'and our second property.'

House number two is a very different offering

because it is this long, low-slung building.

-Ah.

-OK.

-We thought this might be one for you, Laurence,

because it is jammed between not one, but two golf courses.

One up here and another one just down there.

More importantly perhaps, we've shaved 20 minutes off your commute.

It looks interesting. It is a bungalow or does it...double height?

-It is all on one level.

-All one level, right.

-Eager to get inside.

-Good.

-Yes.

-Enthusiasm. Let's go.

'This modern single-level stone property looks much older

'than its eight years.

'And having the accommodation all on one level could be handy with

'the twins in mind.'

I'll take you straight into the kitchen.

-Get a flavour of the house.

-It's a lovely kitchen.

-Gosh.

-Very nice.

-A bit bigger?

-A bit bigger, yes.

-Space for a nice big table, a sort of eight-seater here.

-Yep.

-And you've got the island in the middle.

-Yeah, always useful.

'It's hard to get a sense of how Laurence

'and Maria really feel about this house.

'A look at the heart of the home might provoke a reaction.'

So this is the sitting room, the main sort of reception room in the

house, with these incredible windows that look out over the golf course.

-Fantastic.

-Great view.

-Yeah.

-A nice big, square room.

-Very high ceilings.

-Gosh, yes.

-And a proper stone surround with a gas-effect fire.

-And the view's nice.

-Sounds like you're being very diplomatic.

You don't have to buy every house I show you!

You do have some free will.

-It's not floating your boat?

-Um...

It's probably not what I would choose myself.

'As we head back past the kitchen, we pass a generously sized

'dining room which could also be used as a bedroom.

'Further down the corridor are two more double bedrooms,

'one of which is being used as a guest room

'and the other as a study, which offers another large window.

'Completing the accommodation on this, the only level,

'is a utility room with sink area,

'a stylish family bathroom and there is underfloor heating throughout.

'But let's not forget where Laurence and Maria might sleep.'

This is the master bedroom.

-It has its own en-suite, with a shower and toilet.

-It's a nice room.

Nice size.

-Lots of storage space.

-It's another option, different offering.

-Yes.

And then of course there's outside.

'Laurence and Maria are still being very tactful

'but I'm not sure this house is really grabbing them.

'We have one last chance to find out what

'they really think with the outside space.

'And this includes a terraced patio, overlooking

'the back of the property, and around the side of the house

'a west-facing garden, which is mainly lawned,

'with another patio area for entertaining.'

What do you think?

Er, smaller garden than I would have...than I would like.

But it's nice to have a seating area.

My initial concern would be about the amount of hard landscape around.

-The patio.

-For the twins, of course.

-The twins, yes.

-What about pricing?

Hmm.

-Maria, I think you have to go first this time.

-Oh, dear.

-I would say...410?

-Mm-hm?

OK, I think maybe a wee bit more.

I think 430, perhaps.

-Well, actually, this is on the market for offers over 450.

-Gosh!

-Right, OK.

-Wow.

-Way off the mark.

-Yes.

-I think it may be the golf being so close.

-Of course, yes.

-And also being that bit closer to Edinburgh.

-Yes.

-Yes.

'This hi-tech modern home is £50,000 under Laurence

'and Maria's maximum budget.

'All the accommodation sits on one level

'and, with a little reordering inside, it could be turned into a

'four-bedroom property with a kitchen/diner

'and a large reception room.

'It also comes with a lawn

'and patio with stunning views over the Perthshire countryside.'

-Are you all done inside?

-I think we are, yes.

Well, that's our lot for the day. Time to maybe just have a rest and see the twins?

-Sounds good.

-OK.

-Come with me.

Today's mystery house is a corker.

It's a beautiful property and much closer to Edinburgh

and within budget.

But this morning I woke up a little bit anxious because Maria and

Laurence's reaction to the second house yesterday made me worried

that the mystery house might be not quite toddler-friendly enough.

'For the mystery house, we're

'travelling 20 miles south of Perth to the hamlet of Cleish.

'On the plus side, it will cut Laurence's commute time even more,

'but we're venturing further from where they originally wanted to be.

'Surrounded by agricultural land,

'but a stone's throw from transport connections

'to Edinburgh, it's a good location for a countryside commuter.

'As well as the location,

'the other mystery element to our third property

'is that it's semidetached,

'which isn't what Laurence and Maria wanted.

'And what's more, there are some potential hazards to contend with.'

-So, the mystery house!

-Wow!

-Wasn't what you were expecting?

-No, not at all. Not at all.

-So, it's a bundle of contradictions.

It's not what you asked for,

-but that's always the case with the mystery house.

-I like it a lot.

It looks nice. It's interesting.

One of our concerns about showing you this, particularly after

yesterday, was for the next six months, with the twins,

-it will be a bit steptastic.

-Yes!

-True.

-Yes.

-A lot of steps to get to the front door.

-Yeah.

And this is a little sort of new area with some properties

which will probably have young families in it.

Could be quite nice to have a little community.

-To be part of that.

-Yes.

-Definitely.

I grew up in a small village like this.

-It's almost like coming home, I guess.

-That's what we like to hear.

-Shall we have a look inside?

-Yes.

-Yes, please.

'Our mystery house is one half of a former mill.

'The fact that it's semidetached hasn't put Maria

'and Laurence off so far.

'I hope the unconventional layout inside,

'spread over three floors, won't either.

'We're entering the property on the middle floor, which is where

'you'll find the main reception room.'

Let's come into the kitchen first, because this is a work of art.

-Look at this!

-Goodness me!

-This is gorgeous.

-Well...

-Absolutely gorgeous.

-I like the maple, or whatever that wood is.

-This is actually elm.

-Elm?

Yes, it's a local woodworker who made this bespoke for the kitchen.

There is also a fireplace made of it as well.

-Very rare to get that bit of elm.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Gosh.

-And there's lots of it.

All of these cabinets are bespoke, to an incredibly high quality.

And this beautiful moulded work surface. So there are no edges.

I suppose the question is, can you imagine you - yourselves

and the twins - living here?

-I could! Definitely. Definitely!

-Yeah.

-So thumbs up for this room?

-Definitely.

-Fantastic.

-It's slightly unusual.

Because it's on three levels. The house is unusually structured because opposite,

-we've got a big bedroom and en-suite, which could be your master.

-OK.

They use this as their guest bedroom.

-But it's very grand.

-Lovely room.

And then the spectacular en-suite.

-Goodness me!

-Wow!

-That is beautiful.

-Then it goes upstairs and downstairs.

We're heading upstairs to the top floor,

but downstairs, there are two further bedrooms,

both en-suite,

which the present owners are using as separate offices.

The ground floor also features a large utility room with

lots of extra space for storage.

A fourth bedroom, also en-suite,

is currently being used as the master and is on the top floor.

And just across the corridor from that, our next stop.

So, at the top of the stairs, you have this beautiful room.

Which they have turned into a sitting room.

-It's great. Lovely views.

-Look at the view, yes! Very nice.

Well, I'll let you explore downstairs in your own time, because

there are things to think about about how you want to configure it.

-But let's go outside and talk about price.

-OK.

'Our mystery house,

'combining the fabric of the original mill with modern design,

'has clearly lifted the spirits. But there's still the garden to see.

'And it's back to where we started, outside.'

So back to the garden. You can see it's on many levels.

There's a sort of raised bit here,

-where they've got their veggie beds and their greenhouse.

-Yes.

And then this bit, which I guess is more of a sort of eating area.

Down the steps there, there's a sort of sunken garden, which

actually has the doors to the bottom floor,

which you haven't visited yet.

What do you think it's on the market for?

I think it's right at the top end of our budget. Wouldn't you say?

I would say something like...

485?

I think it's above our 450. I think probably nearer 490.

Well, this property is on the market for offers over

-395.

-Well!

We were slightly out, Laurence. That's amazing. 395.

-Goodness me.

-We were way out, but, wow!

'Our mystery house is a renovated 19th-century mill.

'The accommodation is arranged over three storeys

'and includes four bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms,

'a designer kitchen-diner and a top-floor living room with

'extensive views across the countryside.

'The property is located in a popular village with a good primary school.'

OK. So, mystery house done. Houses one and two done.

-That's all the property. Let's go and catch our breath.

-OK.

I've brought you down to the shores of Loch Leven

just to have a think about what next?

What your plans are, having seen the three properties.

Which ones are contenders?

Property one, yesterday, the detached property,

was a beautiful property.

I think we both liked that.

-Yep.

-And today's mystery house was a real surprise,

a bit of an eye-opener.

Yes. They are quite contrasting properties.

What is it about the first house and the mystery house that you like?

The first house, for me, was probably the setting.

It was a beautiful house and the views from the house,

looking over towards Crieff, were stunning.

It had a lovely garden, a well-laid-out garden.

Laurence, what about the mystery house?

The mystery house, I thought, had a nice feel to it.

It threw a lot of switches we hadn't considered before.

But it really blew us away.

It blew me away, if I'm honest.

-I don't know. I'm torn between the two of them.

-That's good.

-It's good that you're torn.

-I know!

So I'd like to go back and see property number one again.

-And maybe...

-I would like to go back and see the mystery house again.

-Yeah, both of them.

-I liked them both for different reasons.

And in terms of because you're aware that quite a lot of people are interested in the mystery house,

how fast do you think you'd like to act?

Probably within about a week.

Good. I wish you all the best. I hope that you do find a house for you and the twins.

-I think so.

-All the best.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Thanks for your help.

-Not at all.

-We enjoyed it.

It seems like my worries about the mystery house were unfounded.

It really struck a chord with Maria and Laurence.

Though I do wonder whether, compared to the classic Scottish grandeur of the first house,

the quirky individualism of the mystery house might be a step too far! See what I did there?

But I hope they move soon because there are lots of people interested in the mystery house.

So the sooner they get to this beautiful part of the world, the better.

I hope you've enjoyed our trip through Scotland.

Do join us next time for more Escape To The Country.

Shortly after returning home,

Maria was offered a new job in Glasgow.

For now, they've decided to postpone their move to Perthshire.

Let's hope they don't leave it too long.

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