0:00:02 > 0:00:03In the 1880s, the house behind me
0:00:03 > 0:00:05was 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.
0:00:27 > 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 > 0:00:56Lord William Armstrong.
0:00:56 > 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 > 0:01:05harnessing the power generated by the lakes on his estate.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08Now, today, Armstrong is remembered as being
0:01:08 > 0:01:10a leading light in renewable energy,
0:01:10 > 0:01:12who also claimed that the use of coal
0:01:12 > 0:01:14was both wasteful and extravagant.
0:01:14 > 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 > 0:01:36And being neighbour to Scotland has had a profound influence
0:01:36 > 0:01:39on the heritage of this frontier county.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42Centuries of border conflict have left behind a rich legacy
0:01:42 > 0:01:45of ancient and medieval fortifications,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48from the 73-mile long Hadrian's Wall
0:01:48 > 0:01:51to imposing fortresses such as Alnwick Castle.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Away from the former battleground,
0:01:53 > 0:01:57the county boasts two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00One of which is the entire stretch of Northumberland coastline,
0:02:00 > 0:02:04with its 39 miles of wide, sandy beaches.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07A quarter of the county has protected status
0:02:07 > 0:02:09as the Northumberland National Park.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Formed millions of years ago by volcanic lava flows,
0:02:12 > 0:02:16it's a landscape of rolling moors and grassland
0:02:16 > 0:02:18stretching as far as the eye can see.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20It's fair to say this tranquil county
0:02:20 > 0:02:23is a land of almost limitless beauty.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30The property market here in Northumberland
0:02:30 > 0:02:31offers good value for money,
0:02:31 > 0:02:34bearing in mind the average price for a detached house here
0:02:34 > 0:02:36is around £218,000.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41That's some £38,000 below the national figure.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Now, you can expect to pay a 10% premium in areas known locally
0:02:44 > 0:02:48as golden spots, such as the market towns Haydon Bridge and Hexham,
0:02:48 > 0:02:52both of which offer close proximity to the National Park border,
0:02:52 > 0:02:55whilst also offering good access back into Newcastle.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58Well, Northumberland is close to the hearts
0:02:58 > 0:03:01of both of today's buyers, so let's meet them and find out why.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06For the past few years, Terry and Joanne, both 31,
0:03:06 > 0:03:09have lived in this three-bedroom flat in southwest London.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13But they now yearn for more space and a less urban lifestyle.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17We've been in London for over eight years now.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19In Earlsfield for five years
0:03:19 > 0:03:21and we've absolutely loved living around here.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24It's been fantastic, but it is very built-up.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26We live on a terraced street and there's people above us
0:03:26 > 0:03:28and to the left and to the right,
0:03:28 > 0:03:30and it is just getting a little bit claustrophobic.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32The solution - a return to the county
0:03:32 > 0:03:34where they first laid eyes on each other.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38Terry and I met in Newcastle, at university about ten years ago.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42We got married three years ago up in Northumberland.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45We've always wanted to go back out to the country
0:03:45 > 0:03:48to be back nearer to family and nearer to friends,
0:03:48 > 0:03:50but also just back in the countryside.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Back up to the North East where we originally met.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57Jo works as a tax advisor and Terry is a freelance project manager.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00But while Jo will continue in the same line of work
0:04:00 > 0:04:04and has found a job in Newcastle, Terry has a business plan.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08We have a plan to start with a few holiday lets.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11Maybe a few cottages or yurts or log cabins,
0:04:11 > 0:04:14depending on what the land is like.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17As far as the new house is concerned, the kitchen will be key.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20Well, we have an agreement that I do all the cooking
0:04:20 > 0:04:22and Jo does the washing.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24That's been in place for quite a few years now, hasn't it?
0:04:24 > 0:04:28- We did swap it once, but it really didn't work.- It didn't work out.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32We got very bad food and not many clean clothes.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35The Northumberland countryside will also give Terry and Jo
0:04:35 > 0:04:38more time to indulge their interests outside of work.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42Over the last couple of years we've both got quite active, haven't we?
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Jo managed to persuade me to do a triathlon with her last year,
0:04:45 > 0:04:48so we do quite a lot of training together.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51We take our bikes over to Richmond Park to train there,
0:04:51 > 0:04:53but we have to get them out of the loft where they're stored
0:04:53 > 0:04:57and put them on the back of the car and drive out there.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00An hour's training session can take two and a half hours...
0:05:00 > 0:05:02It can take you longer to get there
0:05:02 > 0:05:04- than it can to actually do the training.- Yeah.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07So it'll be really nice when we're up in the countryside.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09We have a garage to store our bikes in
0:05:09 > 0:05:12so we can just get them straight out and get straight on the road.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15All that's left is to find out how much money they've got to spend
0:05:15 > 0:05:17on the new home and the new venture.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20The budget for the new house is £500,000.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23We also have up to £150,000 to develop the business.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31Since Jo will be commuting to Newcastle for her new job,
0:05:31 > 0:05:33we're concentrating our property search
0:05:33 > 0:05:34in the bottom half of the county,
0:05:34 > 0:05:38along the southern edge of the Northumberland National Park.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40I've come to meet Terry and Jo to find out more
0:05:40 > 0:05:42about what they want from their new home.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45So, welcome to beautiful Northumberland.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47A huge move for you, geographically, of course.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49You're also looking for a new lifestyle.
0:05:49 > 0:05:50Tell me a bit about that.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55We want to move out into the country somewhere we can set up our new home
0:05:55 > 0:05:59and also develop this holiday let business as well.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02- So these are a couple of huge steps you're taking.- Totally different.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04The big move, but also running your own business.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07Yes, it couldn't be more different to what we've got at the moment,
0:06:07 > 0:06:09but that's the whole excitement of doing it.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12- Excitement?- Yep.- Daunting?- Yeah!
0:06:12 > 0:06:14All right, let's focus on the house first.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16Need to find you somewhere to live, don't we?
0:06:16 > 0:06:19The house itself, we're quite prepared to do some work to it.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22So it doesn't need to be all completely finished.
0:06:22 > 0:06:23What does it look like? How big is it?
0:06:23 > 0:06:26I think we've got something that's got four bedrooms,
0:06:26 > 0:06:30so it's a family house. Something that we can stay in for a long time.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32We want to have the family over a lot,
0:06:32 > 0:06:36so it needs to have a lot of downstairs space, room for us
0:06:36 > 0:06:38to host people and host events like Christmas.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40And all our friends from London.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44- Right, OK.- The style of the house, we are really open to it.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46We're not fans of anything really cottagey,
0:06:46 > 0:06:47low ceilings and that kind of thing,
0:06:47 > 0:06:50but other than that we are open
0:06:50 > 0:06:53- to all kinds of architecture and stuff.- Yeah.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Now, let's talk about this business, then.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57How much land are you after?
0:06:57 > 0:06:59I think the minimum would have to be five acres.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01- Minimum five acres?- Yeah.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03What exactly are you hoping to do?
0:07:03 > 0:07:07We'd like to maybe start off with three or four letting units
0:07:07 > 0:07:09of something maybe like wooden lodges or yurts
0:07:09 > 0:07:11- or something like that. - Right.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15Possibly expand it up to maybe even 15-20 separate little units
0:07:15 > 0:07:18on the plot of land, eventually.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22- Potential to grow it if we're really enjoying it.- Yeah.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Let's remind ourselves of this budget.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28- How much are you looking to spend? - In total it comes to 650,000.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31About 500,000 on the property to leave us with 150,000
0:07:31 > 0:07:35for development and then to put into the business.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37It's a house, it's a business, it's a future lifestyle, isn't it?
0:07:37 > 0:07:40- There's a lot of think about. - Yeah.- Yeah, definitely.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42- Well, let's get started.- Great.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48For a maximum budget of £650,000,
0:07:48 > 0:07:51which includes the financial capital for the business,
0:07:51 > 0:07:54Terry and Jo want a detached family home.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58It has to include four bedrooms, a large farmhouse kitchen for Terry
0:07:58 > 0:08:02and space downstairs to entertain when their relatives come to stay.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05As for their rural enterprise, they need a minimum
0:08:05 > 0:08:09of five acres of land on which to build holiday accommodation.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11We've found three fantastic properties to tempt them with,
0:08:11 > 0:08:15and before I reveal the price of each one, I'll be asking them
0:08:15 > 0:08:17to guess how much they think it's worth.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19The last is our mystery house,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22and they'll need to harness their energy to look around that one.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28You're ready to pull the trigger, aren't you?
0:08:28 > 0:08:31- You've sold your place in London. - Yep.- Yep.- Already sold.
0:08:31 > 0:08:36- We move out of London to a rental place in two weeks.- Goodness me!
0:08:36 > 0:08:39You mentioned that you're prepared to do a bit of work.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42Terry, that's going to be down to you, mate.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45I don't quite know how I've got that skill level
0:08:45 > 0:08:46to actually do it myself.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Whether anybody would want to stay in something I'd built,
0:08:49 > 0:08:51- I'm not so sure. - Look at those hands.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54They look pretty soft to me, mate.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02Our first house is located in a rural community a few miles
0:09:02 > 0:09:06from the border with County Durham and the village of Shotley Bridge,
0:09:06 > 0:09:08which is around 16 miles from Newcastle.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12Shotley Bridge is a thriving village with a range of local shops,
0:09:12 > 0:09:13restaurants and pubs.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15It is perhaps best known as the centre
0:09:15 > 0:09:17of Britain's sword-making industry,
0:09:17 > 0:09:19which dates back to the 17th century,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22when German sword makers arrived in the country.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24It's believed they were attracted here
0:09:24 > 0:09:27because of the River Derwent, which flows through the village.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30Its soft water was good for tempering steel.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Five minutes' drive away, back over the border in Northumberland,
0:09:33 > 0:09:34is our first property.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39So here we are, the first house.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42- It's lovely.- Yeah, very nice.- Yeah.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Now, this was the original farmhouse.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48- So you've got the farmhouse and then five other neighbours.- Yep.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Each of them face out in different directions,
0:09:50 > 0:09:53so you're not overlooked. What's going through your minds?
0:09:53 > 0:09:55- I think the house is really pretty. - Yeah.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59- I'm not sure it's quite rural enough, looking out over...- Right.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01It's quite built-up, the view,
0:10:01 > 0:10:03- but the house from the outside looks absolutely beautiful.- Yeah.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06- Let's go inside.- OK.- Great.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10The Grade 2 listed traditional stone farmhouse dates back to 1750.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13It's been renovated and extended over the years
0:10:13 > 0:10:16but you still get a real sense of its history inside.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Let's start in the kitchen.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21As every good house does.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24And a farmhouse should have a farmhouse kitchen.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27- This has exactly that, doesn't it? - Yep.- It's lovely.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Really, really nice kitchen.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31So it sounds like you're going to be cooking a lot.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33- I think we'd spend a lot of time in here.- Yeah.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35- Good.- Like it. - Let's just go through here.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Right, then. The first reception room.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43The lounge area. It's a big room.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46- Yeah. I mean, everything's big in this house.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:10:46 > 0:10:47But this is one of two, OK?
0:10:47 > 0:10:50- Let's look in the other one just through here.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57- So, reception room number two. - A dining room?- Yeah.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00For our personal tastes we would redecorate completely, wouldn't we?
0:11:00 > 0:11:04The actual structure and fabric of the building is...
0:11:04 > 0:11:06- Really, it's got loads of integrity, doesn't it?- Yeah.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08They've stayed true to what it originally was.
0:11:08 > 0:11:09I think you're right.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Let's go and have a look at the bedroom.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16As well as the kitchen and two reception rooms,
0:11:16 > 0:11:19the ground floor also includes a generous study
0:11:19 > 0:11:21and a utility room off the kitchen.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24Upstairs there are four bedrooms, all of them doubles
0:11:24 > 0:11:26and each overlooking the front of the property.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29The two smallest doubles have built-in wardrobes
0:11:29 > 0:11:32and they're all serviced by a fully-tiled family bathroom,
0:11:32 > 0:11:35which just leaves the largest bedroom for Terry and Jo.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40This is your master because it has an en suite just there.
0:11:40 > 0:11:41Oh, OK.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43- That's a big room, isn't it? - It is, yeah.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45- Really nice size for a master.- Yeah.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48- It's got quite a nice, big window in here as well.- Yeah.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50- With views out over the valley. - Yeah.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53Let's go outside and have a look at some of the business options, maybe.
0:11:53 > 0:11:54- All right?- Yeah.- After you.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Terry and Jo seem to be able to look beyond the decor
0:11:58 > 0:12:01and can appreciate the heritage of this house.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03As far as the business goes, the property comes
0:12:03 > 0:12:06with half of this outbuilding, which could be converted
0:12:06 > 0:12:07into a holiday let.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09But let's talk land.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12- You get quite a bit of it. - OK.- In total,
0:12:12 > 0:12:14- three and half acres.- OK.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17How much do you think this place is on the market for, then?
0:12:17 > 0:12:20Erm, I think 535?
0:12:21 > 0:12:24- OK.- I'm going to a bit lower than that. I'll say 500.
0:12:24 > 0:12:29Well, it's on the market for offers around £550,000.
0:12:29 > 0:12:30- OK.- So not bad guesses.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32So I reckon you should go back into the house,
0:12:32 > 0:12:33have a good scout around,
0:12:33 > 0:12:35and I'll meet you out the front, basking in sun,
0:12:35 > 0:12:37whenever you're ready.
0:12:37 > 0:12:38- OK.- Great.- See you later!
0:12:41 > 0:12:44At offers around £550,000,
0:12:44 > 0:12:48our first house still leaves our buyers 100,000 for the business.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52It's a traditional, 18th-century farmhouse built of local stone
0:12:52 > 0:12:54with four double bedrooms.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56Downstairs has separate reception rooms
0:12:56 > 0:12:58and a large country kitchen for Terry.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02Outside includes an outbuilding and three and half acres of land,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05which, subject to planning, could be ripe for development.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10The house is really nice. It's got a really nice, traditional feel to it.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14The proximity to the town, although convenient,
0:13:14 > 0:13:16possibly isn't quite rural enough for us.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18There's some lovely features within the property,
0:13:18 > 0:13:21so the beamwork and some of the flooring is really beautiful.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24From a business perspective, I think that, actually,
0:13:24 > 0:13:26there would be quite a lot of work to do.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29For example, getting the neighbours onside
0:13:29 > 0:13:31in actually setting up a business here.
0:13:31 > 0:13:32It's a nice home.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36- I'm not so sure whether it works from a business point of view.- Yeah.
0:13:36 > 0:13:37That's right.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41You'd be in danger of getting a suntan here today, wouldn't you?
0:13:41 > 0:13:44- Now, you've had a good look around. - Yep.- Have you seen enough?
0:13:44 > 0:13:48- Yes.- I think so, yeah.- OK, time for the next one. Let's go.- Great!
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Terry and Jo couldn't have chosen a better county
0:13:57 > 0:13:59for their new holiday business.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03Tourists flock to Northumberland to visit its generous offering
0:14:03 > 0:14:06of historic monuments and to take in the unspoiled scenery.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09One of the county's most popular landmarks is Hadrian's Wall.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13So that they can pass on local knowledge to their future guests,
0:14:13 > 0:14:16we sent the keen cyclists to navigate
0:14:16 > 0:14:18the Hadrian's Wall path via bike,
0:14:18 > 0:14:21the perfect way to see it in its entirety.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Along the way they made a stop at Vindolanda,
0:14:23 > 0:14:26a Roman frontier fort which is the site
0:14:26 > 0:14:28of an active archaeological dig.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30They're meeting the Director of Excavations.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32- Hey, guys.- Hi.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34- I'm Andrew Birley, nice to meet you.- Hi, I'm Jo.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36- Jo, nice to meet you.- Terry. Nice to meet you, Andrew.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38Nice to meet you, Terry.
0:14:38 > 0:14:39This is Vindolanda behind you here,
0:14:39 > 0:14:42which is one of the most impressive archaeological sites
0:14:42 > 0:14:43really in the Roman world.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47Mainly, because this place produced, underneath the stone remains,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50amazing artefacts called writing tablets, little documents
0:14:50 > 0:14:53which give us the entire nitty-gritty of everyday life.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55The first one that was ever found is somebody's mum, we think,
0:14:55 > 0:14:58sending a package to the frontier and she's just saying,
0:14:58 > 0:15:01"In the package you've got two pairs of socks, two pairs of shoes
0:15:01 > 0:15:03"and two sets of underpants."
0:15:03 > 0:15:05Which is awesome, because we've never found
0:15:05 > 0:15:06Roman soldiers' underpants
0:15:06 > 0:15:08but at least we know they had them!
0:15:08 > 0:15:12And they had a clean pair too, which is just great.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14There's a lot of people here today excavating.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16On the excavations throughout the year,
0:15:16 > 0:15:20between 500-600 people take part, volunteers from all over the world.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22And can anyone have a go?
0:15:22 > 0:15:23Anybody can have a go.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25Why don't we pop down there and get you filthy
0:15:25 > 0:15:27and give you a chance to find something.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29OK.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33- Follow me.- The fort of Vindolanda was occupied for 300 years.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35As well as the proof they wore pants,
0:15:35 > 0:15:38the Romans left behind a wealth of other material
0:15:38 > 0:15:40which is being uncovered on a daily basis
0:15:40 > 0:15:42by volunteers such as Anthea Smith.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46OK, guys. Well, welcome to the heart of the Vindolanda excavations.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48- Got anything coming out of this area?- Yep.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52I've just found part of a quern-stone. The top part.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55It's what the Romans would have used to make their bread.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57So that's a very exciting find,
0:15:57 > 0:15:59so it would be nice if the rest of it popped out!
0:15:59 > 0:16:02So we've got something left to find in here, which is great.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06Archaeology is a meticulous process.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09Terry and Jo need to be careful not to damage any artefacts
0:16:09 > 0:16:10hidden under the soil.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13But it's not long before our buyers find their own piece
0:16:13 > 0:16:15of Roman history.
0:16:15 > 0:16:16- ANTHEA:- Oh!
0:16:19 > 0:16:21Wow!
0:16:21 > 0:16:24- Now, that's a pig knuckle. - Not a person?
0:16:24 > 0:16:27- ANDREW:- No, no. It's a pig.
0:16:27 > 0:16:28So you're all right.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31So, likely to be pigs that they were eating
0:16:31 > 0:16:32or pigs that they were keeping?
0:16:32 > 0:16:35- I'd imagine that's been in a stew at some point.- Yes?
0:16:35 > 0:16:38So, delicious. Somebody's had a nice bit of pig.
0:16:38 > 0:16:39Put that to one side.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42If you give it to Anthea she'll put it somewhere safe.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45And we need to find the rest of the pig as well now,
0:16:45 > 0:16:46so let's keep going.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49Archaeologists estimate there's at least
0:16:49 > 0:16:52another 100 years-worth of digging to be done at Vindolanda,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55so plenty of opportunity for Terry and Jo
0:16:55 > 0:16:57to come back should they move up here.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59With that in mind, it's back to the house hunt
0:16:59 > 0:17:02to see if I can unearth their perfect property.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08We're venturing 50 miles further west for our second property
0:17:08 > 0:17:12to the hamlet of Roweltown, which is just over the border into Cumbria.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15We're now an hour and 20 minutes away from Newcastle
0:17:15 > 0:17:18and that could be a struggle for Jo's commute.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21This is as rural as it gets.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23Aside from a couple of local watering holes,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26the closest amenities are a 15-minute drive away.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29Enveloped by rolling hills and farmers' fields,
0:17:29 > 0:17:32it's the perfect spot for a couple of urbanites
0:17:32 > 0:17:34who want to get away from it all.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37If Terry and Jo felt that house number one wasn't rural enough,
0:17:37 > 0:17:39then our second property should deliver on that front.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42It's an isolated smallholding, the heart of which
0:17:42 > 0:17:46is this detached farmhouse which dates back to the 17th century.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50Now, you might be thinking, "Oh, look at all these building."
0:17:50 > 0:17:54- A little bit!- Well, we will be looking at all of these building.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57- OK. Wow. - That's quite something.- Yeah.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00- There's still lots to do.- Yeah. - Great.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02It's either going to have you running to the hills
0:18:02 > 0:18:05or running to the town, or you're going to be thinking,
0:18:05 > 0:18:08- "Yeah, I could see ourselves doing some more work here."- Yeah.
0:18:08 > 0:18:09Yeah.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11- Well, so far I love it.- Yeah.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13- How are you, Terry?- I like it.- Yeah?
0:18:13 > 0:18:15Really good. Lovely setting.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19Might be getting those nice little office hands dirty.
0:18:19 > 0:18:20Let's look inside.
0:18:28 > 0:18:29Right, then.
0:18:29 > 0:18:30Come right in,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33cos I want you to see this farmhouse kitchen in all of its splendour.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36- Oh, wow.- Deceptively modern in here, actually.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39- It's got this real earthy feel to it still.- Yeah.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41I don't think I'd change that much in this kitchen.
0:18:41 > 0:18:42I really like this kitchen.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45- It's lovely. - That's music to my ear.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:18:45 > 0:18:46Let's keep looking around.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50The old-style appearance of the kitchen,
0:18:50 > 0:18:52which also includes this utility room,
0:18:52 > 0:18:55has gone down well with our buyers and that cottagey feel continues
0:18:55 > 0:18:59in the adjacent room, which is currently being used as a snug.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02But there's a very different look to the next room we're heading to.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06- More impressive. - Oh, wow.- Oh, wow.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Yeah, I wasn't expecting that.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11- Much lighter, isn't it?- Yeah. - It's beautiful.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14- Really lovely room.- It has so much light coming in. So many windows.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17I don't think I'd do anything to this room either!
0:19:17 > 0:19:19- No.- Wow!- Very individual.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24- So, we're pretty happy so far. - Yeah, it's lovely. Really lovely.- OK.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26Are you surprised?
0:19:26 > 0:19:29- Yeah. - Very surprised about the inside.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31Like you said, they've clearly done a lot of work
0:19:31 > 0:19:33and it's a functional family home.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35Yes. Good. Let's take a look at the bedrooms.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41Upstairs there are four bedrooms in total, all good-sized doubles
0:19:41 > 0:19:43and a family bath and shower room.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45One of the bedrooms, ideal for guests,
0:19:45 > 0:19:48has a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52Another has a built-in wardrobe and there's wooden flooring throughout.
0:19:54 > 0:19:55That just leaves the master,
0:19:55 > 0:19:58which is accessed via this en suite with roll top bath.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00Mind your head.
0:20:03 > 0:20:04Oh, very nice.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06Yeah.
0:20:06 > 0:20:07Worth ducking for?
0:20:07 > 0:20:08Yeah!
0:20:08 > 0:20:11- Very quirky, isn't it? - Yeah, it is very quirky.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13It's got a lot of character.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16- We've got so much to see outside, so let me at least make a start.- OK.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18Mind your heads again.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22And it's only when you get outside that you start to appreciate
0:20:22 > 0:20:25the scope of our second property.
0:20:25 > 0:20:26There's a variety of outbuildings,
0:20:26 > 0:20:29all at various stages of development.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32They include two barns, which could be renovated in the future.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34And with Terry's holiday business in mind,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37there's also a more immediate potential for income.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42So, into this cottage.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45First room, the living room, needs nothing but decorating, really.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47- Yeah. That's great, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50You've got three bedrooms and a bathroom behind us
0:20:50 > 0:20:53that need refurbing, and then there's the kitchen.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00Now, there's more work to be done in the kitchen
0:21:00 > 0:21:04- but more work has been done, if that makes sense to you.- Yeah, OK.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08It's clean, it's dry. It all just needs a little bit of sorting out.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11- 25 grand should get this up and running.- OK.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13What, with planning you're 90% there.
0:21:13 > 0:21:14It's the home straight for this.
0:21:14 > 0:21:19- Exactly. This is more than I expected.- Oh, yeah. A lot more.
0:21:19 > 0:21:20In addition to this cottage,
0:21:20 > 0:21:23there's a further one-bedroom cottage that,
0:21:23 > 0:21:24with a bit of work, could also be let
0:21:24 > 0:21:26as a holiday getaway for couples.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30But if that's not enough to satisfy Terry's entrepreneurial appetite,
0:21:30 > 0:21:32there's even more on offer.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35You've got land here as well. 14 acres.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38- OK!- Wow!- All right?
0:21:38 > 0:21:40From what you've seen so far,
0:21:40 > 0:21:42how much do you think this farm is on the market for?
0:21:43 > 0:21:47I think it's the very top end of our budget, so...
0:21:48 > 0:21:50..650,000?
0:21:52 > 0:21:54I'm going to hope that you've left us
0:21:54 > 0:21:55a little bit of money in the budget
0:21:55 > 0:21:58for some renovations, so I'll say 625.
0:21:58 > 0:21:59Well...
0:22:00 > 0:22:02..this place is on the market for
0:22:02 > 0:22:05- offers around £595,000.- Wow!
0:22:05 > 0:22:07Yeah.
0:22:07 > 0:22:08That's a lot of stuff.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10Walk the land, do whatever you want.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12- It's the last thing we're doing today.- OK.- OK.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15- I'll catch you whenever you're finished.- Thank you!- Thanks.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21On the market for offers around £595,000,
0:22:21 > 0:22:23this remote, rural smallholding
0:22:23 > 0:22:26is still under Terry and Jo's maximum budget.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30The price includes the detached 17th-century farmhouse
0:22:30 > 0:22:33with four double bedrooms and a large, traditional kitchen.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36The 14-acre plot includes numerous outbuildings
0:22:36 > 0:22:38and two almost-ready holiday cottages,
0:22:38 > 0:22:42as well as land on which to build log cabins and yurts in the future.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46It's a lovely family home,
0:22:46 > 0:22:51and something that Jo and I could both see ourselves living in.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54With all of the buildings and the land that's available,
0:22:54 > 0:22:56it feels like almost the ideal thing
0:22:56 > 0:22:59that we could get ourselves stuck into.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02I love the way that the family that live here now have done
0:23:02 > 0:23:08all the main rooms and would really to keep them exactly as they are.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10On the negative side of it,
0:23:10 > 0:23:15I have quite a serious concern about just how far away it is from my job.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19This bench looked lovely when I first sat down,
0:23:19 > 0:23:22but I daren't move in case I broke it.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24So I'm glad you came. How'd you get on?
0:23:24 > 0:23:26- Yeah, good. - Yeah, there's a lot to see.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29- There is so much to see, isn't there?- Yeah. It's lovely though.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31Just think, of an evening, if you bought this place,
0:23:31 > 0:23:33- sunsets with that view. - Yeah.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35Stunning.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37- Something good to finish on, isn't it?- Yeah, definitely.- Yeah.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39Let's go back to the hotel.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49It's Day Two of our property search,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52and with a maximum budget of £650,000,
0:23:52 > 0:23:54we're helping Terry and Jo from southwest London
0:23:54 > 0:23:58find a home and a business in Northumberland.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01Coming up, we harness the power of the mystery house.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04Look around. No power cables! Beautiful!
0:24:04 > 0:24:08And I discover modern art at one of Britain's oldest homes.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14So yesterday, Terry and Jo
0:24:14 > 0:24:16certainly showed that they're after rural,
0:24:16 > 0:24:19which is why I think house number two was the clear winner,
0:24:19 > 0:24:23albeit with reservations over Jo's commute time back into Newcastle.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27Now today, I'd really like to show them both a property that,
0:24:27 > 0:24:31well, shortens the travel into work for Jo, back into Newcastle,
0:24:31 > 0:24:34but doesn't compromise on the rural location.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36And as we're about to see the mystery house,
0:24:36 > 0:24:38I think we can afford to take a gamble.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41Because if they want rural, we can give them that,
0:24:41 > 0:24:44as this one is off the grid.
0:24:44 > 0:24:45Quite literally.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52What you're looking for is almost most people's mystery house.
0:24:52 > 0:24:53- Yeah!- Isn't it?
0:24:53 > 0:24:59- So we've seen two normal houses. - Yep.- Normal propositions.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01And we're now on the way to the mystery house.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05- What do you think we might show you? - I have absolutely no idea.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08As you say, property two in particular
0:25:08 > 0:25:12- was a mystery house candidate in itself.- Yep.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16So we actually really have no idea what's going to come next.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18Maybe it'll just be a two-up two-down, normal house!
0:25:20 > 0:25:21What would you like it to be?
0:25:23 > 0:25:26I would like it to be
0:25:26 > 0:25:27commutable to Newcastle.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30OK. All right. Noted.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32Slight dig in the ribs there, but never mind.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41For the mystery house we're back into Northumberland
0:25:41 > 0:25:44and heading to the northern side of the National Park
0:25:44 > 0:25:45to the hamlet of Catcleugh,
0:25:45 > 0:25:48which is just under an hour's drive from Newcastle.
0:25:48 > 0:25:49Before we get there,
0:25:49 > 0:25:52we're making a stop in the village of Otterburn,
0:25:52 > 0:25:54as I want Terry and Jo to meet a local business owner
0:25:54 > 0:25:56who deals in the hospitality trade
0:25:56 > 0:25:59to get a feel for the tourism industry here in the North East.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Carol, good morning.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03- How are you?- I'm fine, thank you.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05- This is Terry and Jo.- Hi.- Hi.- Hi.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07These are the guys that I spoke to you about.
0:26:07 > 0:26:08Nice to meet you.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10Carol, you run a different kind of business
0:26:10 > 0:26:13but certainly in the same sort of field,
0:26:13 > 0:26:16and you've made the move back up here to the North East.
0:26:16 > 0:26:17Similar to you, actually.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20How did you find the big move, what was it? Five years ago?
0:26:20 > 0:26:21Yes, five years ago. It was great.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25Coming back to Northumberland, it's just a great place to live.
0:26:25 > 0:26:31And running a business up here, where are the tourists coming from?
0:26:31 > 0:26:34Well, many of our tourists, the British tourists,
0:26:34 > 0:26:38come from mainly Yorkshire, south Yorkshire, Midlands.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40- North of London.- Oh, OK.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44We get lots of visitors from the Netherlands and Australians.
0:26:44 > 0:26:45A few Americans.
0:26:45 > 0:26:46We get a lot of walkers here
0:26:46 > 0:26:49- because we're close to one of the stages for the Pennine Way.- Right.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52- Cyclists, yes.- That's good, actually, isn't it?
0:26:52 > 0:26:55You've got a real mix of tourists as customers here as well.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57Yeah, more than I would have thought, actually.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00More international tourism than you would immediately think of.
0:27:00 > 0:27:01What's it like living here?
0:27:01 > 0:27:04You're right out in the countryside here, aren't you?
0:27:04 > 0:27:07Erm, you get used to it. It's a way of life.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11The benefits of living here far outweigh anything else
0:27:11 > 0:27:12and the countryside is fabulous
0:27:12 > 0:27:15regardless of the weather conditions.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17It's just a lovely, lovely place to live.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21And Northumbrian people are just amazingly friendly
0:27:21 > 0:27:24and helpful, so it's great.
0:27:24 > 0:27:25Carol, thank you so much for your time.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27- You're welcome. - Maybe see you again. Bye-bye.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34The village of Otterburn itself trades in its close proximity
0:27:34 > 0:27:37to the Scottish border and a short drive away
0:27:37 > 0:27:41is the Catcleugh Reservoir, which is the backdrop to our third offering.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44Although the mystery house cuts Jo's commute time,
0:27:44 > 0:27:47there are a few practical issues to tackle with this property.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53So, the mystery house.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56- Beautiful.- Yeah?- Yeah!
0:27:56 > 0:27:59- Look at this.- Look at the setting. - That's awesome.- Amazing.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01- Commute to Newcastle...- Yeah.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04- ..both the owners commute daily.- OK.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06- Really?- Yeah.- OK. That's good to hear.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08- Yeah?- Yeah.- Big plus point.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11Big plus point. But, also, there's reason to come here, isn't there?
0:28:11 > 0:28:14You're surrounded by beautiful countryside.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16But I do want to tell you one thing.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19We're off the grid.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21OK!
0:28:21 > 0:28:25You wanted rural! You're thinking, "Why is this the mystery house?"
0:28:25 > 0:28:27Well, it's because...
0:28:27 > 0:28:30Look. Look around. No power cables. Beautiful!
0:28:32 > 0:28:35- This isn't your traditional way of life.- OK.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37Does that worry you?
0:28:37 > 0:28:40- We can still have lights and stuff? - Yeah, yeah! Of course you can.
0:28:40 > 0:28:44- This runs as a normal home. It runs automatically.- Yeah.- Then it's fine.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46Good! All right. Let's go inside.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49The nervous laughter suggests Jo in particular
0:28:49 > 0:28:52might be slightly worried by our mystery property's
0:28:52 > 0:28:54unconventional power supply.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56We're heading to the main farmhouse,
0:28:56 > 0:28:58which was built just over 100 years ago.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02Let's have a quick peek in the living room.
0:29:02 > 0:29:03Mmm, OK.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07- Probably the smallest we've seen so far.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:29:07 > 0:29:09Big enough?
0:29:09 > 0:29:10It is a small room, but...
0:29:10 > 0:29:13It depends on what the rest of the house is.
0:29:13 > 0:29:17If this would just be the main living area then maybe not big enough,
0:29:17 > 0:29:21but if there's an other kitchen, big kitchen or something like that.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23You've got a decent-sized kitchen, yeah. But this house is...
0:29:23 > 0:29:25Well, it's actually probably the smallest
0:29:25 > 0:29:27- of all the houses we're seeing.- OK.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29- But it grows elsewhere.- OK. - All right.
0:29:29 > 0:29:31- Let me just squeeze past you and we'll go to the kitchen.- OK.
0:29:34 > 0:29:39- So we're back to our farmhouse dimensions and proportions.- Lovely.
0:29:39 > 0:29:40Oh, yeah. That's big.
0:29:40 > 0:29:41Really nice kitchen.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44I think everything we see probably needs a bit of updating.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47It's perfectly liveable, of course, but for your own taste,
0:29:47 > 0:29:50over the coming years you'll want to do something with it, won't you?
0:29:50 > 0:29:53- Yeah, definitely.- Let's squeeze past and we'll go up to the bedrooms.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57The kitchen also has a handy walk-in larder,
0:29:57 > 0:30:00and there are four further rooms on the ground floor.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04A study currently being used as a music room, a utility room
0:30:04 > 0:30:07with a spiral staircase leading up to one of the bedrooms,
0:30:07 > 0:30:09a wet room off the utility
0:30:09 > 0:30:12and, finally, the ground floor is also home to this,
0:30:12 > 0:30:14the only bathroom in the house.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18Upstairs, there are four bedrooms in total,
0:30:18 > 0:30:20three doubles and one single.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23Two of the doubles are currently being used as children's bedrooms,
0:30:23 > 0:30:27and the single for storage, which just leaves the remaining double.
0:30:28 > 0:30:32So three double bedrooms up here on the first floor.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35- This is clearly a master. - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:30:35 > 0:30:39- Lovely view.- Cracking, isn't it? - Yeah.- Amazing view out there.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42- Really pretty to wake up to every morning.- Mmm!
0:30:43 > 0:30:45I've got to hold my hands up here.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47There is something that could be an issue for some people.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51- Bathroom is downstairs. - OK.- Ah, OK.
0:30:51 > 0:30:53Yeah, it's not ideal.
0:30:53 > 0:30:55For some people it's a definite no-no.
0:30:55 > 0:30:57But that's relieving.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00- No, it that's the worst thing about the house then...- Yeah, I'm fine!
0:31:00 > 0:31:04Good. I think whilst the house might be the smallest we've seen,
0:31:04 > 0:31:07outside I think you've got maybe the most amount of potential
0:31:07 > 0:31:09- for you specifically. - OK.- All right.- Great.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12Let me just squeeze past you there, Jo, and we'll go have a look.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Terry and Jo seem to be up for making sacrifices.
0:31:16 > 0:31:21This move is also about the business and any limitations inside the house
0:31:21 > 0:31:25are more than made up for by the business opportunities outside.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28So, little bit like the property yesterday,
0:31:28 > 0:31:30- we have barns to convert. - Yeah.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33- Big barn.- Yeah. Really good, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37- Still in good nick.- Yeah, it is in quite good shape, actually.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40You weren't put off by the thought of converting a barn yesterday,
0:31:40 > 0:31:42so hopefully nothing has changed overnight.
0:31:42 > 0:31:44No, as long as we can afford to do the work.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46Unlike anything we've seen before, which is, again,
0:31:46 > 0:31:48another reason why it's the mystery house,
0:31:48 > 0:31:51- there's work to be done outside as well as in your home.- Yeah.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54- Don't forget we're looking for a home for you to live in.- Yeah.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56You're going to be working hard in Newcastle.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58- You want to come back to something comfortable.- Exactly.
0:31:58 > 0:32:02But you also want to be thinking, "What's Terry doing.
0:32:02 > 0:32:03"Is he busy?"
0:32:03 > 0:32:07And I tell you what - yes, he will be. Follow me.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12As well as the outbuildings, the grounds also include lawned areas
0:32:12 > 0:32:14to the front and rear of the farmhouse.
0:32:14 > 0:32:16But more importantly for the business,
0:32:16 > 0:32:19a perfect spot for Terry's plans.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21Right, then. Outside.
0:32:21 > 0:32:25- You get over ten acres of land. - OK.- Wow.- All right?
0:32:25 > 0:32:28- Everything that doesn't look like it's being farmed, basically.- Yeah.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30- And needs something doing to it. - Yes.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33So more than enough room for a number of yurts,
0:32:33 > 0:32:37- and what better place to have a yurt here?- Yeah, beautiful, isn't it?
0:32:37 > 0:32:39- Yeah.- It would really work here as well.- Yeah.
0:32:39 > 0:32:43- Now, in order to have these yurts, obviously you need facilities.- Yep.
0:32:43 > 0:32:44The owners did look into that.
0:32:44 > 0:32:49You need to upgrade the entire power supply system here, the generators.
0:32:49 > 0:32:53- And that could cost up to £60,000. - Oh, wow.- OK.- All right?
0:32:53 > 0:32:55- Big investment.- Yes.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58So how much do you think this place is on the market for, then?
0:32:58 > 0:33:00I'm going to say...
0:33:00 > 0:33:01575.
0:33:02 > 0:33:07- OK.- I'm going to hope it's a bit cheaper. 500.
0:33:07 > 0:33:13- Well it's actually for sale for offers around £450,000.- Oh, OK.- Wow.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15That leaves us a big pot of cash.
0:33:15 > 0:33:19- We'll need it!- Yeah. - Yeah, you'll need it.- Already spent.
0:33:19 > 0:33:23- Yeah. You've got ten acres to enjoy. - Yeah, great.- I'll see you whenever.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26- OK!- Take a coat, it might rain. All right?
0:33:29 > 0:33:33For me, this mystery property, it's a bit of an ask.
0:33:33 > 0:33:37It's a bit of a leap of faith. You're coming off the grid.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40But Jo and Terry both seem intrepid anyway
0:33:40 > 0:33:42in what they want from their business,
0:33:42 > 0:33:44so maybe it's the perfect fit.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47At face value,
0:33:47 > 0:33:51the mystery house is our cheapest property of all at £450,000.
0:33:51 > 0:33:55The smallholding includes a detached farmhouse with four bedrooms,
0:33:55 > 0:33:59various outbuildings, which could be converted into holiday lets
0:33:59 > 0:34:03and around ten acres of land on which to build yurts or log cabins.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05But if the business is to develop,
0:34:05 > 0:34:08it will require some money to upgrade the power supply.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12- That's the wind turbine there. - Oh, yeah.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14Wonder if you can hear that inside the house.
0:34:14 > 0:34:15Only single glazing.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18- Look at the view though from here.- Yeah.
0:34:18 > 0:34:22- With the sun coming out across the tops.- Yeah, gorgeous.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25- So it's all the land right the way... - Yeah.
0:34:28 > 0:34:30A real beauty spot no matter whether it's sunny or rainy.
0:34:30 > 0:34:31Yeah, it's true.
0:34:32 > 0:34:33Lovely.
0:34:34 > 0:34:36The mystery house is beautiful
0:34:36 > 0:34:39in terms of where it's set and its views.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42Driving up to it was really fantastic because it's just so pretty.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46It's 360-degree beautiful scenery everywhere you look.
0:34:46 > 0:34:50There needs to be a fair amount of money spent on it to bring it up to
0:34:50 > 0:34:54a home that you'd be able to live in for a long period of time,
0:34:54 > 0:34:58although the work itself seems to be work that we could carry out.
0:34:58 > 0:35:00So new kitchen, new bathroom.
0:35:00 > 0:35:02It's not anything too structural,
0:35:02 > 0:35:04although we might look to try and extend.
0:35:04 > 0:35:05Not London, is it?
0:35:07 > 0:35:10Which is the beauty, isn't it? Exactly. Well, look, that's it.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13- Three properties in the can, isn't it?- Yep.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15So some thinking to do, hopefully.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17So why don't you go away and do just that
0:35:17 > 0:35:19and I'll catch up with you both later on?
0:35:19 > 0:35:20- OK.- All right? Good luck!
0:35:23 > 0:35:25So, that's it for the house search
0:35:25 > 0:35:27in regards to what Jo and Terry are after,
0:35:27 > 0:35:29but there are still plenty of houses
0:35:29 > 0:35:32on the market here in Northumberland to suit all budgets.
0:35:32 > 0:35:33So let's take a look.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38At the lower end of the scale, the village of Allendale is the location
0:35:38 > 0:35:44for this three-bedroom detached stone cottage just shy of £260,000.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46The interior includes this dining room, which comes with
0:35:46 > 0:35:50an original cast-iron range and multi-fuel stove.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55For £500,000, this five-bedroom Grade 2 listed farmhouse
0:35:55 > 0:35:58in Haydon Bridge is set in the middle
0:35:58 > 0:36:00of a spacious landscaped garden.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02The accommodation includes this large kitchen
0:36:02 > 0:36:04with three arched windows
0:36:04 > 0:36:06and a cosy living room with inglenook fireplace.
0:36:07 > 0:36:09At the upper end of the price scale,
0:36:09 > 0:36:12this four-bedroom Edwardian townhouse in Hexham
0:36:12 > 0:36:17is on the market for offers around £745,000.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19Many of the rooms inside retain the original features
0:36:19 > 0:36:22and have high ceilings and large sash windows.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25They include this contemporary kitchen and breakfast room
0:36:25 > 0:36:28and a double-aspect master bedroom.
0:36:28 > 0:36:29But the star of the show has to be
0:36:29 > 0:36:33this magnificent stained-glass window on the stair landing.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43One Northumberland home that sadly isn't for sale is this one,
0:36:43 > 0:36:45Alnwick Castle.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48The Dukes of Northumberland have lived here for 700 years.
0:36:48 > 0:36:50Known as the Windsor of the North,
0:36:50 > 0:36:54it is the second-largest inhabited castle in Europe.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57It's both an impressive fortress and a stately home.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00Like many across the country, Alnwick Castle comes with
0:37:00 > 0:37:04a formal garden attached, but this garden is like no other.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07The vision of the current Duchess of Northumberland,
0:37:07 > 0:37:10Jane Percy, the Alnwick Garden combines cutting-edge design
0:37:10 > 0:37:12with traditional landscaping.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16I've come to get my fingers green with head gardener Trevor Jones.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18- Trevor, how are you?- Very well, thank you.- Good to meet you.
0:37:18 > 0:37:21- And you.- Well, Trevor, very impressive gardens.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24How long have they been in this form, if you like?
0:37:24 > 0:37:26They've only been in this form for about ten years.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28Prior to that, this area was completely derelict.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30What are the influences here, then?
0:37:30 > 0:37:34The influences here are all from the designers, Jacques and Peter Wirtz.
0:37:34 > 0:37:38They're from Belgium, so very much a European style of gardening,
0:37:38 > 0:37:40so unlike other gardens in the UK,
0:37:40 > 0:37:43much of the planting here is in straight lines, like behind us.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47I imagine you must have full-time people like yourself here.
0:37:47 > 0:37:49- Do you have volunteers?- Yes, we do.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52We have a hardy band of volunteers that work with us in the garden.
0:37:52 > 0:37:56It's very much a people's garden. It needs people in it to come alive.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59The centrepiece of the garden is this cascading fountain,
0:37:59 > 0:38:02one of the largest water features in the country.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05Beyond that is a walled ornamental area
0:38:05 > 0:38:07and a series of water sculptures
0:38:07 > 0:38:09made from mirrors of stainless steel.
0:38:09 > 0:38:10But despite the modern twists,
0:38:10 > 0:38:14the Alnwick gardeners are keen to practise traditional techniques.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16One of them is Alistair Dodds.
0:38:16 > 0:38:18So this is pea-sticking?
0:38:18 > 0:38:20Yeah, this is the old-fashioned method
0:38:20 > 0:38:22of supporting herbaceous perennials.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24So it's an old method using birch twigs,
0:38:24 > 0:38:27weaving them in and out of each other and creating a frame.
0:38:27 > 0:38:28At the end of the day,
0:38:28 > 0:38:30when all the herbaceous plants are finished flowering,
0:38:30 > 0:38:33we can cut them all back, everything goes in the shredder,
0:38:33 > 0:38:34including the birch sticks.
0:38:34 > 0:38:35That then all gets composted
0:38:35 > 0:38:38and it's returned to the garden at the end of the day.
0:38:38 > 0:38:39- Rather nice little cycle. - Definitely.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42Not being much of a gardener myself, I'm keen to have a go.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46- I find the best way is to get three bits together like that.- Yeah.
0:38:46 > 0:38:50And then just cut it off then just wind those in like plaiting hair.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52- OK. Can I borrow your secateurs? - Yep.
0:38:54 > 0:38:55Right, then. Thank you, sir.
0:38:56 > 0:38:57So...
0:38:57 > 0:38:59- Take a bit here?- Yep.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06Oh. Got them? Right, so I'm going to... This is like plaiting?
0:39:06 > 0:39:07So the big branch...
0:39:09 > 0:39:11..in the middle like this?
0:39:11 > 0:39:14Yeah, you just weave it in and out, middle to middle.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16TRADITIONAL MUSIC
0:39:16 > 0:39:19I think it's safe to say that when it comes to pea-sticking,
0:39:19 > 0:39:21I'm just clutching at straws.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24Well, it's not the best, is it? So this just goes over that?
0:39:24 > 0:39:26You stick the bottom in the ground.
0:39:26 > 0:39:30But within about three weeks you won't see any birch twigs at all.
0:39:30 > 0:39:32The garden here at Alnwick is still work in progress
0:39:32 > 0:39:35with five new areas planned in the future,
0:39:35 > 0:39:38adding even more to this unique horticultural masterpiece.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44Now I reckon Jo and Terry have got their shortlist down
0:39:44 > 0:39:47to two properties, the second house yesterday afternoon
0:39:47 > 0:39:49and the mystery property this morning.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51Well, they've had time to chat things through,
0:39:51 > 0:39:54so let's catch up with them both and find out their thoughts.
0:40:00 > 0:40:04Well, hope you've had some time to think about the houses. Have we?
0:40:04 > 0:40:05- Yes.- Yeah.- Yeah?- Yep.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08Which one of the three properties is your favourite?
0:40:08 > 0:40:12- Property number three was clearly the favourite.- Clearly?- Yeah.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14- The mystery house? - Clear winner.- Yeah.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17It seems to have everything that we were looking for
0:40:17 > 0:40:21in terms of what can be a long-term home for us
0:40:21 > 0:40:24but also really work from a business perspective
0:40:24 > 0:40:26and commutable to my work as well.
0:40:26 > 0:40:29And the views out there were just spectacular.
0:40:29 > 0:40:34To be able to have both the views of the Northumberland National Park
0:40:34 > 0:40:37and also the water in front of you, the reservoir as well,
0:40:37 > 0:40:40then there's not many places that you can get both of those things.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42Right from when we first had this idea,
0:40:42 > 0:40:46the single most important thing was that the setting
0:40:46 > 0:40:50was a real beauty spot, so it gave people a reason to come to it,
0:40:50 > 0:40:53and the mystery house just delivered on that
0:40:53 > 0:40:55far more than the other two properties.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58We're looking for a home as well, and there was some work
0:40:58 > 0:41:02to be done to make it what you wanted from a home.
0:41:02 > 0:41:03What would be your first job?
0:41:05 > 0:41:07The bathroom!
0:41:07 > 0:41:09That downstairs bathroom, yeah.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12We looked to get maybe some outline plans
0:41:12 > 0:41:14for an extension to the house as well.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16What was so good about the mystery house
0:41:16 > 0:41:18that you're not even talking about property number two?
0:41:18 > 0:41:22The scenery at property number two was stunning,
0:41:22 > 0:41:25though it was much prettier at the mystery house
0:41:25 > 0:41:28and then the key point is exactly where it's located.
0:41:28 > 0:41:30The mystery house is in Northumberland.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32It's very close to the National Park.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34It's commutable to work.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37So, you've got a favourite property
0:41:37 > 0:41:40but it's a big, huge leap for you guys.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42What's the next step?
0:41:42 > 0:41:45We're moving up here anyway into rented accommodation
0:41:45 > 0:41:47- in just a few weeks. - Mmm-hmm.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50That will give us the breathing space we need
0:41:50 > 0:41:52to develop more detailed plans.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55I think we'll definitely go back and see property number three,
0:41:55 > 0:41:56the mystery house.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59Does that mean you're seriously interested in this place then?
0:41:59 > 0:42:03- Oh, yeah. Definitely.- Yeah. - We are quite interested.- Good!
0:42:03 > 0:42:07Well, this is one huge step I think you've taken,
0:42:07 > 0:42:08but with many more to go.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10So I wish you both the very best of luck.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13- Thank you. Thanks for all your help. - All right.
0:42:13 > 0:42:14And let me know when you're up and running,
0:42:14 > 0:42:17cos I would love to come and stay opposite that reservoir.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24Well, Jo and Terry said to me that they thought
0:42:24 > 0:42:27this particular trip up here to Northumberland
0:42:27 > 0:42:29could be maybe a bit of a fact-finding mission,
0:42:29 > 0:42:32but I'm confident it's turned into more than that.
0:42:32 > 0:42:33These past couple of days seem to have
0:42:33 > 0:42:35cemented their thoughts, if you like.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38And the way they both reacted so well to the mystery property,
0:42:38 > 0:42:40I think we could have found them
0:42:40 > 0:42:44not only their first new home in the countryside together,
0:42:44 > 0:42:48their big escape to Northumberland, but also a location from which
0:42:48 > 0:42:50to base their exciting new enterprise from.
0:42:50 > 0:42:52Let's hope so. See you next time.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57Jo and Terry have now moved into their rented accommodation
0:42:57 > 0:43:00in the North East and intend to revisit our mystery house very soon.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02If you'd like to escape to the country
0:43:02 > 0:43:05in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales
0:43:05 > 0:43:08or even further afield to the continent and need our help,
0:43:08 > 0:43:10please apply online at...
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