Highland Escape to the Country

Welcome to a blustery Escape to the Country.

We're starting within the walls of one of the most impressive examples

of 18th-century military architecture anywhere in the UK.

But, as ever, the question is, where are we?

Join me in a few moments and I'll tell you.

On today's show, we're helping a couple leave behind the daily grind

for somewhere more stimulating to their senses.

Smell the newness!

'There are strange sights.'

It's an unusual shape!

'And the right sort of sounds.'

-You've cheered me up, actually, with that price ticket.

-Good.

Well, today, I'm in the Highlands of Scotland

and this is Fort George, just outside Inverness.

This impressive fortress, surrounded by up to a mile of perimeter walls,

was once home to 2,000 men

and defended by 40 cannon.

It was built back in 1746

following the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie at Culloden.

The idea was to try and quell future Scottish unrest.

The good news is that since then, the Highlands have remained relatively peaceful

and it's that now famous peace and tranquillity

that make this area such a popular place in which to get away from it all.

The crowning glory of the UK,

the Highlands is the mountainous region

lying in the far northern portion of Scotland.

Cutting the land diagonally is Loch Ness,

part of the Great Glen that almost splits Scotland in two.

On the banks of the River Ness,

Inverness is affectionately known as the capital of the Highlands.

With scenery ranging from spectacular glens

to snow-capped mountains,

this area teems with natural beauty, mystery,

and some of the UK's most dramatic backdrops imaginable.

This is certainly a place with something for everyone,

including, of course, today's buyers.

So let's go and meet them and find out what they're after.

And our couple, Steve and Helinka,

couldn't be much further away from Scotland

as they currently live in the town of Chesham, Buckinghamshire,

right down in southeastern England.

For almost two decades,

home has been this three-bedroomed 1960s bungalow.

But for the past five years, they've been planning a radical change.

One of the key reasons for wanting to move

is that we've holidayed for the last ten years in Scotland.

We're absolutely in love with the scenery,

the mountain vista.

The fresh air is just brilliant

and just getting away from town life

is ideally what we want.

We've lived in commuter land for long enough now

and it's time to pursue other things in the countryside.

The proximity to London has had its benefits, however,

allowing them to plough their energies into their careers.

Helinka as a local government officer,

and Steve running his own Health and Safety consultancy.

So now, despite their age,

they can afford to semi-retire and focus on their real loves.

A garage is essential.

I've now got a collection of three motorbikes.

They are motorbikes that I ride.

I don't collect bikes just to look at. I ride bikes.

And the roads in Scotland are phenomenal for riding motorcycles.

I'd like the opportunity to do a lot more gardening.

Although I grow bits and pieces here,

and I've tried growing things in pots, which is fairly limited,

but I've had a bit of success, which is quite motivating.

But when it comes to the house, German shepherds

Jack and Lily are a high priority.

What we've really struggled with here is trying to keep

the house from being covered in dog hair.

Having dogs is a must to have a utility room.

All that remains, then,

is to find out the budget they've earmarked for this Highlands move.

If you can find us the right house with the right view

with a price band between 300,000 and £375,000,

-I think we'll both be very happy.

-Definitely.

Steve and Helinka would like to move to an area close to the Cairngorms National Park.

So our house search will focus in the region to the west of the Park

and in the majestic countryside surrounding Loch Ness.

So we're all meeting up on Scottish turf

to finalise the specifics of their prospective move.

Well, Helinka, Steve, welcome to Scotland.

Or I should probably say, "Welcome back to Scotland".

This is a part of the world you do know very well.

-Very much so.

-On your travels up here, have you managed to glean some clear idea

of the sort of property that would really be of interest for you?

We're looking for somewhere with lots of space

that allows us to walk around,

but we can still go shopping if we need to.

We may want to pop and maybe find part-time work or develop businesses.

So we don't want to be too remote and be away from people totally,

but we do want to be fairly remote.

And something with the beautiful outlook to take in and say, "That's our view."

Well, we're not short of views up here, that has to be said!

You hinted on the idea that you may be starting up some sort of business.

Can you give me an idea of what that might involve?

Maybe a property with an opportunity to have a holiday let.

I don't really want to do bed and breakfast,

but an opportunity to make a bit of money.

-We thought about maybe motorbike touring holidays.

-Yes.

We're fairly open-minded, really.

-Three bedrooms?

-Yeah, about that.

Not very much more than that. We're not looking at a massive property.

We've got three to show you, including our mystery house.

There's a bit of snow on the ground behind us. I hope that's not going to get worse!

-The sun is shining.

-It's a beautiful day. Looking forward to it.

-Come on, then.

Armed with a top budget of £375,000,

Steve and Helinka are after a home with at least three bedrooms...

..a separate utility room to help with their two dogs

and decent garage space for Steve's motorbike collection.

A bonus would be some business potential

but fundamental to their move is the outlook.

They must have an awe-inspiring view.

And we have a superb variety of Highland properties to serve up,

all with views as a top priority,

but I'll be keeping the price a guessing game

until we've had a good look round first.

Then, to finish up, we've got the mystery house,

which delivers on views and a whole lot more.

We're starting our property search north of Loch Ness

on the outskirts of Kiltarlity.

This historic town can trace its origins back to the founding of a now ruinous priory

way back in the 13th century.

But our journey takes us up to higher ground

in which our first property takes pride of place.

So there we go. Property number one.

In splendid isolation.

-With a view!

-A spectacular view!

Absolutely stunning,

with the snow on it, just to set the scene.

And we've got you this property which, actually, is enormous.

It's got about 14 separate rooms in it!

-Wow!

-Really?

-14!

Not including the garage, Steve!

-All important.

-All important.

So we've taken care of the bikes. What are your first impressions?

-Um...

-Very impressed.

-I love the view!

-Yep.

-Shall we have a look?

-Yeah.

-Let's do it.

'Built in the early 1980s,

'this deceptively large chalet bungalow

'is partly furnished and in need of some modernisation.

'So Steve and Helinka will have to use their imaginations

'to see how they could make the space work for them.'

Come in.

In terms of a way to greet you, what are your first thoughts?

It's almost a room in itself.

This is one of the 14 that I counted up.

There's another one here. Come and have a look.

This is currently seen as the main living room.

Over there is a working open fire. So wood or coal.

It's a decent-sized room and it's a good shape.

-So far, so good?

-So far, so good.

-Come on, then.

This is the kitchen.

Which is a bit of an odd one, in a way.

Helinka's nodding her head, yes.

-It would benefit from being re-thought, I think!

-Definitely!

Through there is a really generous utility room

with a downstairs shower.

So I'm thinking muddy dogs,

they could be out there quite comfortably.

Right. So this is a bit of a thing on the list.

But let's continue our exploration through here.

This one is interesting.

This, the current owners had used as their master bedroom

-because it had access out to the garden...

-Right.

..with these double doors.

But there is another master bedroom upstairs,

and I would turn this into another reception room

or a snug or study, or whatever.

It's a very attractive view through the doors, so why wouldn't you?

I think there's a lot of opportunity here.

It's not unpleasant as it is,

-and I think it would allow you to grow into it.

-Yeah.

'Including this room with double doors out to the back,

'there are a further three rooms down on the ground floor

'that have been designated as bedrooms

'and all are served by a large family bathroom.

'The remaining three bedrooms are all up on the first floor.'

And this is the master bedroom, complete with en-suite.

Shower in there, too.

Yes, have a look.

It's an unusual shape!

It is. The only thing I can say in its defence

is that it does allow you yet more windows to enjoy the views.

Which obviously just get better the higher up you get in here.

So how are we doing, out of ten, on property number one, Helinka?

-I would say seven.

-Seven.

-Seven.

-Steve?

Downstairs, very good. Disappointed with upstairs.

-I'm hedging my bets on a six.

-A six.

-I won't make a seven.

Let's see if we can get a few more points in the garden.

Come and have a look.

'Outside, the grounds extend to around 1.5 acres.

'It's been divided into formal and wild gardens

'with several paved and gravelled areas.

'In Scotland, properties are usually marketed on an "offers over" basis

'and although 20% over is a general rule of thumb,

'there are no rules to say that a lower offer would be refused.'

So, let's have a think about the value of it.

What would be a realistic asking price, do you think,

for property one, Helinka?

I wish you hadn't started with me!

I would say, um...325.

-325, yeah. Steve?

-I'm going to go 315, actually.

-315.

-Yeah.

-OK.

That's very interesting. I think you're rather prudent, actually.

Because this is on the market for offers over 300,000.

-You've cheered me up, actually, with that price ticket.

-Good.

Our first property comes in well under budget.

It's a detached, relatively modern build that has the flexibility

to provide three reception rooms,

a kitchen/breakfast room with...

Above all, the property is enveloped by the spectacular Highland scenery.

Figured it all out?

Um, thinking about it, yeah.

-It's a good price, let's face it!

-It is a good price.

On a day like this, if anything's going to sell a property in the Highlands, a blue sky will help!

-Definitely.

-Right. Let's get going to property number two. Come on.

The remote wilderness of the Cairngorms National Park

is home to a rich variety of wildlife,

offering sanctuary to many rare and endangered species.

But one native resident facing a serious battle for survival

is the critically endangered Scottish wildcat.

I've come to meet Doug Richardson at the Highland Wildlife Park

to find out more about the plight of this elusive creature.

The wildcat itself isn't that familiar to many people,

but it is, nonetheless, you would say, a very iconic image of The Highlands.

-Absolutely.

-They've now got this lovely title, The Highland Tiger,

which would suggest something very ferocious and something that can look after itself in the wild.

But their numbers, as you allude to, have plummeted.

What's threatened them? What's caused the change in population?

The most important problem and the thing that is driving them to extinction

is cross-breeding, hybridising with feral domestic cats.

'Once widespread across the UK,

'there are now less than 400 pure-bred wildcats left in existence.

'Captive breeding is probably the last hope to ensure their survival.'

These walkways, the aerial walkways, are interesting.

It allows us to see him quite clearly as he moves between enclosures.

What's the purpose of this?

I think why these work so well is that cats can get above the visitors' heads.

And for most carnivores, if they're above something they see as potentially threatening,

they'll feel more secure.

'On average, wildcats are 50% larger than their domestic cousins,

'with a wider face and jaw.

'And they can manage to run at speeds of 30mph.

'But it's impossible to tame them.'

How do you distinguish between a genuine pure-bred wildcat

and one of these hybrid cats?

There's a number of things. If you look at the stripe down his back,

it wiggles, it's not a straight line.

On a domestic cat, it'll be a straight line.

There are four lines on the top of his head

that meet in the centre. You wouldn't get that on a domestic cat.

Potentially, their offspring

will play an even more significant role in the species.

It's good to see, Doug, and let's face it,

the Highlands wouldn't be quite the same without their tigers!

Absolutely not.

For our second property, we're travelling further south

and closer to Loch Ness, where our destination overlooks the hills in Drumnadrochit.

In the shadow of the snow-capped Craig Monie,

the village of Drumnadrochit is located in a sheltered valley

that runs to the world's most famous loch.

But a mile away from the village and high into the remote hills,

we come to our second property.

OK. Property number two.

I know we're all distracted by that lovely view over there, which is what makes it,

but just feast your eyes on that.

What do you think, Helinka?

It looks a very lovely house to me.

I'm wondering where the garage is.

There is a spot for a garage. Don't panic.

Steve?

-It's a new build.

-It is a new build. It's only six months old.

It's brand-spanking-new.

There is nothing to have to do here. That's the joy of it.

But it has been designed, as you can tell, really to soak in that lot.

Come on, let's go in.

-Smell the newness!

-It smells of wood.

-Doesn't it? Yeah.

What do you reckon?

I'm...I'm blown away.

-It's amazing, isn't it?

-It is.

It is just so gorgeous. And on a day like this when it's really chilly outside,

to come in here to the warmth, the sunlight, under-floor heating, space.

It's all slick, all clean, all ready to go.

-This is the hub that we were after.

-Exactly.

When it comes to the Highlands and views,

this room doesn't get a lot better, really.

It's beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

Amazing.

Good!

Well, this is the real kind of show stopper, I suppose,

as rooms in this property go.

But it does continue through here into the living room.

There.

Isn't that fun?

-That is just an amazing woodburner!

-It's great.

Perfect.

-Perfect.

-It is, actually, yeah.

Let's see what you think of the rest. Follow me, through here.

Let's go up.

'Smiles all round so far,

'and there's still more to take in on the ground floor

'with the requested utility for the dogs,

'as well as a large and luxurious shower room.

'And of the five bedroom in total, one is downstairs.

'This double has its own en-suite shower room

'and could be ideal for guests or for Steve's business.

'The four remaining bedrooms are all upstairs

'alongside a contemporary bathroom.

'There are two decent-sized doubles,

'one with dual-aspect windows

'and the other with built-in wardrobes,

'and a smaller double presented with a single bed.'

Then finally, this is your one.

-Very nice.

-Yeah?

Go round the corner. There's an en-suite tucked away there.

Blimey! Another bathroom!

It's not bad, is it?

And again, lovely views through there.

And the double aspect keeps it right.

One thing we haven't really discussed much in either property so far

is this idea of a business in the future.

But this is a property, believe it or not, which I think has that potential for you.

-Right.

-All will become clear outside.

'The garden is in the process of being landscaped

'and has footings for a garage at an estimated build cost of £10,000.

'But there's yet more to unveil.'

Back to this idea of a business.

Below us are preparations to produce the base of a holiday chalet.

-OK.

-The plot down there could be yours for about £15,000.

-Right.

-The developer who built this house is in the know.

And he's confident that the chalet would probably cost about £40,000 to do.

The real figure that we need to concern ourselves with is this.

How much is the house worth?

I think we're getting towards 330.

330. Yep.

Just over 300. I would have said so, too.

However, this is on the market for £295,000.

-Wow!

-No!

Yes! Add on our 65 grand for our garaging, our plot and our chalet...

We're still under budget!

You're still under budget at 360.

Well under budget for offers over £295,000,

Steve and Helinka could have first dibbs on this new build property.

It comes with five bedrooms, a separate utility room

and our buyers' dream kitchen/dining and family room.

The plot has the potential for a large garage

as well as the possibility to build a holiday chalet.

Most importantly, it has the aspect and incredible panoramic views that will be hard to beat.

Have you had enough?

No!

You can't get enough of this one, can you? It's beautiful!

I just can't get over that. I think it's absolutely stunning.

It is spectacular, isn't it?

But there is one more house to come.

Tomorrow, it's mystery house time.

Will it better this? Can it better this?

I'm intrigued to find out.

Come on.

'For our third and final property stop,

'we're taking our buyers to the small hamlet of Errogie,

'on the quieter southern side of Loch Ness,

'and even closer to The Cairngorms National Park.

'This is a tranquil and beautiful place,

'perfect for forest and hill walking.

'The nearest village is around four miles away

'and is famous for the breathtaking Falls of Foyers.

'And the mystery element for our final property

'is that we're bringing a new business possibility right through the front door.'

What do you think?

Well, I'm looking to the right at the garage!

There are three - three - double garages over there

with an enormous space above,

accessed by a stairway.

So bags and bags of storage for you.

It's an enormous property,

built very recently, actually,

within the last ten to 12 years or so.

And when you look around us now at the views,

the mountains, on a day like this,

it's just sensational.

-Right. Can't wait to have a look.

-Come and look inside. It's wonderful.

'Set in a two-acre plot, this modern mystery house

'is a detached villa arranged over two floors.

'It's by far the biggest of the properties we've seen so far.

'We're by-passing the entrance hall and going straight into the heart of the home.'

I'm very excited about what you think of this.

Wow!

It's a very open space!

We talked about hubs of homes,

but this is one of the best I've ever seen.

-It feels very homely.

-Yeah. Woodburner down there,

a terrific snug in here with another woodburner. It's lovely.

Have a look. It just kind of goes on, really.

That's perfect.

There's a fantastic utility area through there.

A lovely big double sink, wellies, dogs, all that stuff.

It's looking good.

Now, in terms of sort of business potential,

we hinted at it with our last property with the chalet option.

This one has so many rooms in it,

you could quite happily go down the B&B route, if you wanted to.

I know you haven't really embraced that idea,

but if you wanted to, it wouldn't be difficult.

Because most of the bedrooms are all that way and upstairs.

We'll deal with those in a moment.

But the current master bedroom, curiously, is through here.

Come and have a look.

There.

It's got a very cottagey feel again, even in here, hasn't it?

Yeah. I love the way they've dressed it. It's an interesting eclectic mix

in some respects. But for a modern house, it all works.

It creates that feel, I think.

'This house has an unconventional configuration

'that could be zoned off for different uses.

'The main living areas and master bedroom lie to one side of the property

'and could almost be self-contained.

'Then to the other side are a further three comfortably-sized ground floor double bedrooms

'as well as a family bathroom complete with a roll-top bath.

'However, there is another floor upstairs

'where even more rooms await,

'starting with a spacious en-suite guest bedroom.'

Now, as you see up here, there is one huge bedroom over there which is finished.

Behind these five doors

there are five rooms which are currently unfinished and they're in this sort of state.

-OK.

-So it's at first fix stage, I suppose one would say.

-Right, OK.

-Blown away?

-I am, yeah.

-Good.

I think it's a really, really interesting property.

-OK. Shall we go outside?

-Yeah.

Have a look at the land and talk about the price.

'Despite the enormous size and alternative business potential to what Steve and Helinka had in mind,

'I think the mystery house has really got them thinking.

'But the question, of course, is whether or not the figures will stack up.'

Look at this!

-Who said Scotland doesn't get sun?

-Who said that? On a day like this, you could sell anything!

He says, hopefully!

As you can see, the mirror image of the veranda there at the back.

And a similar arrangement behind the double garages, Steve.

The house, there's a home potential to it,

but the amount of space out here is also awesome for the dogs as well.

-They'd absolutely love this, wouldn't they?

-They would.

But all of that is going to depend on how much this is priced at.

Hmm. Well, I'd say top end of our budget

given the amount of house there is. 380, 390?

OK. 380, 390. Steve?

I think we've pushed it. I think we're now 390.

390. They are looking for £375,000 for this.

-Blimey!

-375?!

Bang on budget, the mystery house is a modern detached home

meeting all of Steve and Helinka's requirements.

It has an open plan kitchen/dining and family room

with a separate snug and utility.

Four bedrooms are on the ground floor

and a further six upstairs

that could be ideal as letting bedrooms.

The house and triple garage sit in over two acres of land

surrounded by unspoilt views of the Scottish Highlands.

I thought that was rather exciting, as I hoped it would be.

-It was.

-Lots to think about.

Tonnes! I think we've confused you!

-You have!

-Lots to think about.

-Yeah.

Well, you two. What an exciting week we've had!

But I get the feeling there are two real contenders on the list.

If we'd have had this conversation yesterday,

we'd have given you a definite answer. It was going to be property two.

Having thought about it, I think our focus now is the mystery house.

Well, property two, you wanted a view, and boy, did you get it there!

And I thought that was it. Done deal!

The heart said, "Let me sign on the dotted line now."

And I could have done that yesterday.

So when we set off this morning, to go and look at our mystery house,

what were your thoughts on that one?

I was thinking, "The Waltons", if I'm honest!

When we got inside, I think this vision of the hub,

of a very warm, cosy home with plenty of space really came to the fore.

It had a wow factor for me.

It was very quirky as you walked in.

Part of me kept thinking, "Is it going to be too big for us",

but it was very much a home

and it didn't feel as though the two of us and the dogs would be rattling around in it.

So we have, I suspect, reached a decision

that is now focused on the mystery house.

What happens next?

Seriously, seriously contemplate a second viewing.

I'm delighted. Absolutely delighted!

Best of luck, and, as always, let us know how it goes with the viewing.

-And let's hope we hear that you've moved in fairly quickly.

-Will do.

-Thank you very much for the experience. We've thoroughly enjoyed it.

-Pleasure.

We've seen so many spectacular views up here this week.

Trying to pick a favourite is nigh-on impossible.

And as for today's buyers,

Steve and Helinka, with any luck,

are now well on their way to calling this place home.

Because that, of course, is what this search has been all about.

And as for the chance to wake up to this every day for the rest of their lives, who can blame them?

Lucky devils!

Steve and Helinka are already planning their return trip to Scotland

with a view to seeing the mystery property again.

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