0:00:02 > 0:00:05For today's Escape To The Country, we've come to a county cricket ground
0:00:05 > 0:00:09whose players are known as the Pears. So where are we and how did they get their fruity nickname?
0:00:09 > 0:00:12Join me in just a few moments and I'll tell you.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36'Today we're helping a Surrey couple find their textbook country retreat.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38'They're not easy to please.'
0:00:38 > 0:00:44- No wow. Where's the wow? I said wow when I walked in here for the first time.- Well, it's beautiful.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46It's nice. We have to take it in.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50- 'But finally, we impress them.' - It's really sweet, isn't it?
0:00:50 > 0:00:53- Cosy.- This is good! This is positive!
0:00:53 > 0:00:56This is what we've been searching for, positivity. Hurrah!
0:00:57 > 0:01:01Well, today we're in Worcestershire at the county cricket ground,
0:01:01 > 0:01:03where the players are known affectionately as the Pears
0:01:03 > 0:01:07thanks to the black pears that appear in the county's coat of arms.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11And it's thought that that story goes back to the days of Elizabeth I
0:01:11 > 0:01:17when, back in 1575, she was so impressed by the sight of a fully-laden black pear tree,
0:01:17 > 0:01:21she insisted that an image of one was incorporated into the county's coat of arms then.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Now, these days, black pears are relatively rare.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27This example was planted back in 1964
0:01:27 > 0:01:31to commemorate the very first time that the county won the championship.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40'Worcestershire in the West Midlands is bordered by Herefordshire to the west
0:01:40 > 0:01:43'and Gloucestershire to the south.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47'The Malvern Hills are the jewel in the crown of this region.
0:01:47 > 0:01:52'Rising dramatically from the landscape, they straddle the border with neighbouring Herefordshire.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54'Known for their natural springs,
0:01:54 > 0:01:57'the Malverns are formed of ancient igneous rock
0:01:57 > 0:01:59'and are a magnet for walkers and cyclists.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03'Lying in the shadow of the hills is the town of Great Malvern,
0:02:03 > 0:02:06'which developed as a spa resort in the 19th century
0:02:06 > 0:02:09'by playing on the healing properties of the local spring water.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15'And water is certainly a theme that runs throughout this part of the world.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19'The River Severn, the UK's longest, weaves its way through the centre of the county,
0:02:19 > 0:02:24'and sitting on its banks, pretty settlements include the Georgian town of Bewdley.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28'What's more, the composer Edward Elgar was born here,
0:02:28 > 0:02:32'and the pastoral beauty which inspired much of his music is all around you,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36'making Worcestershire and the Malverns a popular rural escape.'
0:02:42 > 0:02:47Well, at £262,000, average house prices in Worcestershire
0:02:47 > 0:02:50are pretty much on a par with the national figure,
0:02:50 > 0:02:54but as you might expect, there are, of course, some rural highlights,
0:02:54 > 0:02:59not least around Malvern, those hills out there on the horizon, tucked away in the gloom.
0:02:59 > 0:03:04They're as popular today as they were back in the Victorian period.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07But if you don't want to dig that deep and pay the premium,
0:03:07 > 0:03:09well, head over towards Herefordshire.
0:03:09 > 0:03:14The area around Bromyard will certainly get you that little bit more for your money.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17So, without further ado, let's meet today's buyers
0:03:17 > 0:03:22and find out why they think this part of the world could be their new home.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25'For the past 17 years,
0:03:25 > 0:03:30'Simon and Anne have lived in this four-bedroom detached property in Camberley, Surrey.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33'Now that their two daughters have left home, it's the right time
0:03:33 > 0:03:35'to leave behind the sounds of suburbia.'
0:03:35 > 0:03:40We've enjoyed living in Camberley. We like the cul-de-sac,
0:03:40 > 0:03:44we've got lovely neighbours, but it's just getting more and more built-up all the time,
0:03:44 > 0:03:47there's so many new houses being built. It used to be quite countrified
0:03:47 > 0:03:50and it's just lost that now. It's just more and more crowded.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54The M3 is really, really noisy.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57It's so frustrating, opening the back door
0:03:57 > 0:04:01and hearing the road noise. I just want to get away from that.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05'And their choice of location couldn't be more different.'
0:04:05 > 0:04:09We are interested in moving to the Malvern Hills area.
0:04:09 > 0:04:14We just like the countryside there, there's lots of walks up on the hills and views.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16It's just idyllic, really.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20'But with this house search, we've got a lot to live up to.'
0:04:20 > 0:04:24Yeah, we found a house over in Malvern that we really liked
0:04:24 > 0:04:28and then we were told that the vendor pulled the house off the market.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32- I was...- Very upset, weren't you?
0:04:34 > 0:04:39It'll be so lovely to actually finally move and find the right house
0:04:39 > 0:04:42and sort of start a new chapter.
0:04:42 > 0:04:47'So we've got our work cut out finding Simon and Anne a new dream home
0:04:47 > 0:04:50- 'and that has to include...' - Some character features
0:04:50 > 0:04:54but not too many beams, because of spiders.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58SHE LAUGHS I'd like a real fire wood burner.
0:04:58 > 0:05:05I'd like airy rooms. A nice, big garden, a couple of acres would be lovely.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07'But most importantly,
0:05:07 > 0:05:11'the house needs to take account of someone else very close to their hearts.'
0:05:11 > 0:05:15We need a room downstairs that we could use as a bedroom,
0:05:15 > 0:05:17because our dog Roly's getting older now
0:05:17 > 0:05:20and he find stairs difficult sometimes.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23'Simon currently works for a telecommunications company
0:05:23 > 0:05:26'and Anne is a hospital receptionist.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30'But this move is really about indulging their outdoor interests.'
0:05:30 > 0:05:34I've been interested in birds for over 25 years.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37I've been a member of a charity. So I'd just like to continue that.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41I'd like to get back into helping with the riding for disabled.
0:05:41 > 0:05:46I used to belong to a group in Woking, because when we started looking at houses,
0:05:46 > 0:05:52everything was put on hold, so I'd be interested in getting back to doing some form of charity work.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57'All that's left is to find out how much money is riding on the move.'
0:05:57 > 0:06:01And the budget for our move is around £600,000,
0:06:01 > 0:06:04- but we could go up to 650... - 650, yeah.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07- ..if the right property came along. - Mm-hm.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14'As their sights are firmly set on the Malvern Hills,
0:06:14 > 0:06:17'we're concentrating our property search within a 25-mile radius
0:06:17 > 0:06:19'of the town of Great Malvern.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23'I've come to meet Simon and Anne at their hotel in Worcestershire
0:06:23 > 0:06:26'to finalise the details of what they're after.'
0:06:27 > 0:06:30So, why the Malverns? I mean, they are beautiful,
0:06:30 > 0:06:32but why in particular here?
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Erm, we fell in love with it last year when we came up house-hunting.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40And what is it you're looking for in this new life particularly?
0:06:40 > 0:06:44A four-bedroom house, I'd like a study,
0:06:44 > 0:06:46we'd like some land.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49- Downstairs bedroom so my mum can come and visit.- Yep.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52A decent-sized kitchen, decent-sized lounge.
0:06:52 > 0:06:57- So all the usual stuff, really. - Yeah, a fireplace and everything else.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01And in terms of the style of property, have you got a particular image in mind?
0:07:01 > 0:07:04A little bit of character,
0:07:04 > 0:07:06but not too many beams.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08Now, this land issue. What are you going to do with it?
0:07:08 > 0:07:13I'd like to rescue a couple of ponies, so we'd need about two acres, really.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16- So, lots of options. - Yeah.- Oh, absolutely.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18Just remind us of how much you've got to spend.
0:07:18 > 0:07:24Erm, our budget's about £600,000 to £650,000 for the right property.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28- I think that's quite doable.- OK. - He said confidently, sticking his neck out.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30- We hope so, as well. - We'll put our trust in you.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Yeah, well! I'm not trusting in the weather, unfortunately,
0:07:33 > 0:07:38but I've got more confidence in the property market. Right, then, finish your tea and let's go.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46'For a maximum budget of £650,000,
0:07:46 > 0:07:49'Simon and Anne are seeking an older property with a bit of character,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52'despite Anne's reservations about beams.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56'It has to include four bedrooms, a study for Simon and a large kitchen,
0:07:56 > 0:08:00'and let's not forget a downstairs bedroom for both the dog and mum
0:08:00 > 0:08:02'when she comes to stay.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05'Ideally there would be some land with the property, up to two acres
0:08:05 > 0:08:07'for Anne's rescue ponies, or the option nearby
0:08:07 > 0:08:10'to stable some horses.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13'We've found three fantastic properties to tempt them with
0:08:13 > 0:08:17'and at each one, I'll be asking them to guess the price before I reveal it.
0:08:17 > 0:08:22'One, of course, is our mystery house, which could challenge Anne's concerns over too much timber.'
0:08:24 > 0:08:31So while Anne is looking after your rescue ponies, what are you going to be doing, Simon?
0:08:31 > 0:08:35I'll probably have myself a nice garden with a veggie patch in it,
0:08:35 > 0:08:37be out walking, bird-watching.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41You might end up with a property that doesn't have all the land you'd want
0:08:41 > 0:08:46but may allow you to have access to ponies and a stable yard down the road. What do you think about that?
0:08:46 > 0:08:49- Yeah, that's fine.- Sounds like fun.
0:08:52 > 0:08:57'Our first property is located a few miles outside the town of Upton upon Severn,
0:08:57 > 0:09:00'around 16 miles from Great Malvern.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04'As the name would suggest, the River Severn flows right through the town
0:09:04 > 0:09:06'and Oliver Cromwell and his troops crossed here
0:09:06 > 0:09:11'before the decisive battle of the English Civil War at nearby Worcester.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15'The town is home to a range of historic buildings, including a 400-year-old coaching inn,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18'but by far the oldest is this medieval church tower,
0:09:18 > 0:09:23'topped by an 18th century dome known locally as the Pepper Pot.
0:09:23 > 0:09:30'A few miles outside the town, you're well into the countryside and our first property.'
0:09:30 > 0:09:32I thought we'd start here cos it really gives us a sense
0:09:32 > 0:09:36of the geography and what's on offer.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40- What do you think? - Looks nice, doesn't it? - It's nice, yeah.- Peaceful.
0:09:40 > 0:09:45We haven't got acres of land. The garden you can see here represents most of it.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49There is another lovely chunk behind the house, and beyond that,
0:09:49 > 0:09:53- views of the Malvern Hills. - OK.- First impressions overall?
0:09:53 > 0:09:56- Yeah, it looks nice. - It's a nice property.
0:09:56 > 0:10:01Nice. I think when we get inside, we might get a wow. I'm hoping for a wow. Come on.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05'Set within a third of an acre of lawn,
0:10:05 > 0:10:09'our first property has been extensively restored by its current owner.
0:10:09 > 0:10:14'And with Anne's desire for a large kitchen in mind, it's there we're heading first.'
0:10:14 > 0:10:17- What about this, then? - It's lovely, isn't it?
0:10:17 > 0:10:19No wow?
0:10:19 > 0:10:23Where's the wow? I said wow when I walked in here for the first time.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27- It is beautiful, it's nice. - Really nice. - You have to take it in, don't you.
0:10:27 > 0:10:32- As kitchen/diners go... - That's a very nice... - Lovely outlook on the fields.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36- Yeah. Beautiful finish. - It's nicely done.- There is absolutely nothing to do here.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38You do not even need to bring a paint brush with you
0:10:38 > 0:10:40- if you were to move in. - SHE LAUGHS
0:10:40 > 0:10:45- It's lovely.- I suppose what I'm trying to encourage is that in giving you less land,
0:10:45 > 0:10:49- in a way, we're giving you more house...- OK, yeah.- ..for the budget.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53- Yeah.- Erm, you know, and something that is just ready to go.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57- Yes.- Come on.- Lovely. - Let's continue this way.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05Here's the living room with its lovely parquet floor.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08- Look at the fireplace. - Yeah. How about that?- It's amazing.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11That is beautiful. That is really nice, isn't it?
0:11:11 > 0:11:14- So we've got fabulous and beautiful now. - SHE LAUGHS
0:11:14 > 0:11:16- It's all heading in the right direction.- Yeah.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19This is interesting, as well. There's a snug in here...
0:11:22 > 0:11:26- ..which, again, you could have as a sort of separate den if you wanted, for you, Simon.- Yep.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29But in terms of mum coming to stay,
0:11:29 > 0:11:32it could also double up as a downstairs bedroom,
0:11:32 > 0:11:38because through there is a really nice downstairs shower room and loo and all the rest of it.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42Well, let's go upstairs and see what that offers you.
0:11:42 > 0:11:47'In addition to the rooms we've already seen, the downstairs also features a utility room.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51'Upstairs, there are three first-floor double bedrooms
0:11:51 > 0:11:54'all serviced by a stylish family bathroom.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57'One of those bedrooms has windows on two sides.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01'Up another flight of stairs are two further bedrooms in a converted attic.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05'But the biggest surprise in the house is found in the master.'
0:12:08 > 0:12:11- There.- Oh. SHE LAUGHS
0:12:11 > 0:12:14- That's unusual.- Yes.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17- I'm not used to seeing a bath in a bedroom.- Yeah. - SHE LAUGHS
0:12:17 > 0:12:21- I could bird-watch while I'm actually sitting in the bath. - You see?
0:12:21 > 0:12:23- Every cloud, Simon. - THEY LAUGH
0:12:23 > 0:12:29- But you have got a beautiful shower through here in the en suite. - OK.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33Via a little dressing room. Loads of storage in there.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36- And, of course, all this. So, yeah. - It's a great size.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39- Yeah.- It's just a bit of a surprise, that's all.- Yes.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43- SHE LAUGHS Wasn't what I was expecting. - But is it a welcome surprise?
0:12:43 > 0:12:46- I'm sure I could live with it, yeah. - Yeah.- Still no wow.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50- No.- I don't know what to say. - Sorry.- I'm heartbroken.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54- I just wasn't expecting it like this. - Come on! Come on! Let's go and find a wow somewhere.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57SHE LAUGHS
0:12:57 > 0:13:03'Well, Simon and Anne aren't terribly convinced by the bath in bedroom concept,
0:13:03 > 0:13:05'but that's not the only surprise here.
0:13:05 > 0:13:10'As well as the house, the property comes with this additional building which serves both as a double garage
0:13:10 > 0:13:13'and extra living space. There's a kitchen area downstairs
0:13:13 > 0:13:17'and a double bedroom in the eves. A perfect holiday let,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21'or as the name already suggests, a home for Roly perhaps.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24'But let's not forget those all-important Malvern Hills.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26'Maybe we'll finally get a wow in the garden.'
0:13:29 > 0:13:33And there, look. The Malvern Hills.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35- Oh, yes.- Yep. - Just in the distance there.- Yeah.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39So it's all accessible, it's all easy, lots of walking with the dog up there
0:13:39 > 0:13:42- and around here, of course.- Sure.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Based, maybe, in our lovely property number one.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49- Mm.- Let's think about the price, then.- Erm...
0:13:49 > 0:13:54- 630.- £630,000 says your wife, sir.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56I'm going to go 575.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Well, you are right.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03- Oh, wow. - £75,000 underneath your budget.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Mm. Food for thought.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09- A feast, I would suggest! - THEY LAUGH
0:14:09 > 0:14:13- You know? I think this is really interesting, actually.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16This is a house you could have an awful lot of fun in.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19- It's even got a hot tub!- Sure, yeah. - SHE LAUGHS
0:14:19 > 0:14:22- Go and enjoy it.- OK.- And I will come and find you later on.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25- Thank you.- Thank you, Jules. - Take your time.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27I would. I love it.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34'Priced at £575,000,
0:14:34 > 0:14:37'our first property has only been on the market for five days
0:14:37 > 0:14:42'and is £75,000 under Simon and Anne's maximum spend.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45'It's a detached cottage which has been recently restored.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48'The accommodation includes five bedrooms within the main house
0:14:48 > 0:14:51'and an additional bedroom in the annexe.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53'It's set within an third of an acre of grounds
0:14:53 > 0:14:56'and with glorious views overlooking the Malvern Hills.'
0:14:56 > 0:14:59When we first walked up to the property,
0:14:59 > 0:15:03I thought it looked very pretty with the wisteria growing up the wall.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06I admit to being a little surprised in the master bedroom
0:15:06 > 0:15:10to see a bathroom, but on reflection,
0:15:10 > 0:15:13with the view, it sort of made sense.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17The annexe, erm, that was really good.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22I'm not sure if it was big enough downstairs to perhaps use as a holiday let,
0:15:22 > 0:15:27but it would certainly be good ancillary accommodation for visitors.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30But I'd like a bit more land. I would like the land, as well.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37Ah, here we are! Happy?
0:15:37 > 0:15:41- Yes, thank you very much. - You said this had given you plenty of food for thought.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44- I hope you've eaten well. - We have.- We have, yes.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46I'd have cleaned the plate with this one. Come on.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57'Just down the road from our first property
0:15:57 > 0:16:00'is the county's largest and most important natural habitat,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03'the Longdon & Eldersfield Wetlands.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06'The marshes were drained for agriculture in the 19th century
0:16:06 > 0:16:11'and most of the flora was lost, and along with it, the birds and wildlife that lived here.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15'But 12 years ago, the site was taken over by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust
0:16:15 > 0:16:19'and they're in the process of restoring this grazing land to its former glory.
0:16:19 > 0:16:24'We sent wildlife enthusiasts Simon and Anne to get hands-on with the conservation work.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27'They're meeting reserve manager Rob Allan.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31'Their first task - to find out how many plant species are growing back
0:16:31 > 0:16:34'on a patch of meadow which has recently been resown.'
0:16:34 > 0:16:38Right, this is a green-winged orchid.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41You can actually see, if you have a quick look,
0:16:41 > 0:16:44we've got to use the eye-glass,
0:16:44 > 0:16:49you should just be able to see the little green veins inside the wing there. Can you see it?
0:16:49 > 0:16:53- Oh, yeah.- What's that leaf there? It's got like a sawtooth.- Ah!
0:16:53 > 0:16:57That's a very interesting one. This is actually called great burnet.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00It's crept over from the lower, wetter ground over there.
0:17:00 > 0:17:05It's just sort of seeded in. This is very much a plant of wet, saturated ground
0:17:05 > 0:17:09and this has taken really well across the whole of this field.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13- What's that thing there? - This one here? That's called birdsfoot trefoil,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16definitely something you'd see in a hay meadow.
0:17:16 > 0:17:21Used to be called ham and eggs, which you can probably guess from the yellow and red colouring.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24'The distribution of plants and flowers within the quadrat is then recorded
0:17:24 > 0:17:28'so experts can compare with previous surveys.'
0:17:28 > 0:17:32What we've got here is going to be what this whole meadow's going to look like.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35It might take a few years, but it's starting to go that way.
0:17:35 > 0:17:40'As well as recultivating, reserve managers use sustainable methods of conservation.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44'These natural grass-cutters are allowed to wander the marshes.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47'But some areas need fencing off from cattle
0:17:47 > 0:17:49'to allow bird-friendly reed beds to thrive.'
0:17:49 > 0:17:52- Anne, if you'd like to grab the post.- OK.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56We've got it lined up on the string. So if you'd like to put the end in there.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01Simon, if you grab one half of that.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05We are gently going to put it over the end of that.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10Right, if you want to give us a bit of room there. Fantastic.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13And the plan is, we're going to drive this down until it's solid,
0:18:13 > 0:18:16- which was about your shoulder height.- Yep.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19So if we get you in a little bit closer so we can measure it.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22- Are you ready?- Yep.- Lift.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24That's it.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26One more.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30Right, lift that off and we'll just measure it and see how we're doing.
0:18:30 > 0:18:35- That's not bad. Is that firm? Give it a shake and see how solid it is. - That's fine.- Perfect. Well done!
0:18:35 > 0:18:39Why do you use cattle to graze the land here?
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Well, they're really important for what we do.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46We need to make sure we get the grass the right sort of length for birds to breed in.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49If it's too long, species like lapwing won't want to breed here.
0:18:49 > 0:18:54If it's too short, other species like redshank also won't want to breed here.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57So we need to create the perfect height
0:18:57 > 0:18:59and the way to do that is with cattle.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01Well, folks, I think we've done a very good job here.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04The fence is looking awesome. Shall we head off and get dry?
0:19:04 > 0:19:07- That would be lovely! - Let's go this way.- Let's go!
0:19:09 > 0:19:12'The habitats will take many years to mature,
0:19:12 > 0:19:17'but once established, they'll provide an excellent local bird-spotting site for Simon.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19'But we need to find our buyers a new home first,
0:19:19 > 0:19:22'and so it's back to the property search.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32'For our second house, we're venturing 20 miles northwest
0:19:32 > 0:19:36'and hopping over the border into Herefordshire to the village of Tedstone Delamere.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39'The closest amenities are in the small town of Bromyard.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42'Noted for its historic architecture,
0:19:42 > 0:19:46'the centre includes many traditional black and white buildings typical of the area,
0:19:46 > 0:19:51'and perhaps more surprisingly, its very own museum of science fiction.
0:19:51 > 0:19:56'Although we've left Worcestershire, we're still within striking distance of our beloved Malvern Hills.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59'And the location of our second property offers more scope for land.'
0:19:59 > 0:20:02There is our property two for you.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06- That's very interesting.- Impressive. - Yeah.- Do you like it?- Yeah!
0:20:06 > 0:20:10- That's very nice.- It's a barn, isn't it?- It is a barn. A converted barn.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14It was pretty much derelict up until about 2003.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18- OK.- And then the current owners finished it off in 2005.
0:20:18 > 0:20:23- So they have, as you can imagine, done an awful lot of work.- Sure.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25There's a lot more to it than meets the eye.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28- OK.- Yeah. That's good. - Now, look behind you.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32- Yeah?- Yeah? Lots of land.- Yeah. - SHE LAUGHS
0:20:32 > 0:20:36- Nice views.- Nice paddock. - Over there, we've got the Malvern Hills in the mist.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39- Oh, right, yeah.- You'll probably have to take my word for it.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42But all of this is set within about two and a half acres.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46- Right, OK.- So your ponies could be out here.- Aww.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48- There you go. - That'd be nice, wouldn't it?- Yeah.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51Well, as it's pouring down, come on, let's not delay.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54Let's go inside.
0:20:54 > 0:20:59'Despite the rain, this one seems to have lifted the spirits, at face value, at least,
0:20:59 > 0:21:04'and I'm confident the interior layout of our barn conversion won't dampen them.'
0:21:04 > 0:21:08- Come in, Anne. - Ah, that's nice, isn't it?
0:21:08 > 0:21:11And this is one of the great joys of this sort of barn conversion.
0:21:11 > 0:21:17You imagine the old barn doors, they've now gone, lots of windows, lots of light.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21- And a fantastic kind of entranceway, really. - Yeah.- I've just spied out there.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25- Yeah, the pool, how about it? Yeah. - It's different, isn't it?
0:21:25 > 0:21:29- Plenty of water in it today.- Yes. - Good weather for ducks.- Come on.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31Come into here, then. This is your living room.
0:21:33 > 0:21:38- That's nice, isn't it?- Yeah, it's a good size. It's got great views.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42- And the stonework's lovely, that gives it a real texture.- Yeah.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46- I mean, effectively, you've got a modern house in an old shell.- Yeah.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48There's a feel to a house that you get when you come in,
0:21:48 > 0:21:52and I feel it more with this one than the last one, and I don't know why.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54Well, sometimes you just don't have to know,
0:21:54 > 0:21:59- it's just the kind of magic of whether a house is going to grab you and clearly this one is.- Yes, sure.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02Good. Right, well, let's have a look through this bit.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08'Arranged around the swimming pool, the ground floor of our courtyard-style barn conversion
0:22:08 > 0:22:10'also features this dining room
0:22:10 > 0:22:13'with vaulted ceiling and exposed beams.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16'Although hopefully not enough to frighten off Anne.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20'In addition, there's this study, that could serve as an extra bedroom if need be.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23'But I want our buyers to see the kitchen.'
0:22:23 > 0:22:28- Ah, that's a nice space, isn't it? - Yeah?- Yeah. - That's a nice kitchen, yeah.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32- I mean, this is all more you, isn't it?- I think so, yeah, yeah.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36- And, of course, then you've got this behind you. - SHE LAUGHS
0:22:36 > 0:22:40- Now, as you can appreciate, a lot of this is sort of ground-floor living, as it were.- Yeah.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43There are four bedrooms on offer here.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46Two of them are on the ground floor. One of them is through here,
0:22:46 > 0:22:52- with a really nice kind of en suite arrangement, which would be great for your mum.- Yep.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56The master is the other side of the pool, right through there, you can probably just make it out.
0:22:56 > 0:23:01- Oh, yes! - So, let's go have a look at that bit. Your bit. Off you go. Go on.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05'As well as the downstairs bedroom for mum,
0:23:05 > 0:23:09'there are two further bedrooms on the first floor of this barn conversion.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12'But we're staying on the ground floor and heading to the master,
0:23:12 > 0:23:15'which is served by this en suite bathroom.'
0:23:16 > 0:23:20- Very nice. Ah. It's a nice room, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23And, of course, it leads straight out onto the pool.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26OK! Get up first thing in the morning, take a dip.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29Well, just take a running jump, mate, I mean, you know...
0:23:29 > 0:23:31THEY LAUGH
0:23:31 > 0:23:33Yeah.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36- It's very different, isn't it? - Mm.- It is, yeah.
0:23:36 > 0:23:41And I don't see many barn conversions that really have embraced this courtyard arrangement.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45- So, the final bit is, of course, the price.- Mm.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49Let's go and settle down, I think inside, as it's still tipping down.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53- And let's see what it might cost you.- OK.- Yeah? After you.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Well, look, there's the view,
0:24:03 > 0:24:07despite the rain, and beyond it, horses in that paddock.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11- There is a riding school right next door.- Oh, that's good. That's handy.
0:24:11 > 0:24:17Yeah. We are furnishing you with lots of places to learn about ponies and all the rest of it.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20But the question, as always, is how much do you really want it?
0:24:22 > 0:24:28- I think it's top of budget.- OK. - I'm thinking 650.- 650. Yeah. Simon?
0:24:28 > 0:24:33I hope you've left us a chunk of change so I'm going to say 620.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37- You can hope, mate. - HE LAUGHS
0:24:37 > 0:24:43Well, 620. Er, I'm afraid, on this occasion, your good wife is pretty much on the money.
0:24:43 > 0:24:48This is currently for sale for 649,500.
0:24:48 > 0:24:53Oh, right. I'm useless at this normally.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55So you've got 500 quid left over.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57Well, I'm going to leave you here to discuss it.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00- And I will catch up with you later. - OK. Thank you.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03Well, there we go.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09'On the market for just shy of £650,000,
0:25:09 > 0:25:12'our second property is fractionally under their maximum budget.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16'It's a converted courtyard barn arranged around a swimming pool.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20'There are four double bedrooms, two of which are on the first floor,
0:25:20 > 0:25:23'but most of the accommodation is found on the ground floor.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26'The plot amounts to around two and a third acres,
0:25:26 > 0:25:28'plenty of room for some rescue ponies
0:25:28 > 0:25:32'and with views of the Malverns and surrounding countryside.'
0:25:32 > 0:25:35This room would really work, wouldn't it, for my mum?
0:25:35 > 0:25:39- Yeah. It's a good size. - Yeah. And then you've got a bathroom next door.- Yeah.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42- Near the kitchen.- Yeah.
0:25:42 > 0:25:47- And you can get a wardrobe in, dressing table.- Some storage, yeah. - Even got a view.- Yeah.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51When we walked up to this property, I instantly liked the look of it.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55And I hadn't really given any thought to barns.
0:25:55 > 0:26:02I can imagine living here. It just feels right. It just feels cosy, homey.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06- It just sort of feels like it fits. - Loved the great big windows
0:26:06 > 0:26:09and the wood. It's very, very impressive.
0:26:09 > 0:26:14Er, yeah, I really, really like this property, and it's one on our list, I'm sure.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18- It's fun up there, isn't it? - I know. It's lovely.
0:26:18 > 0:26:23Two more bedrooms, I mean, so much space. What are you going to do with it all?
0:26:23 > 0:26:25Oh, I don't know. Have lots of people to stay.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29- Well, you can. And they can go for a dip.- Yeah.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Although, on a day like this, they don't need to, really.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34Right then, let's go and brave the weather.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37- After you.- Thank you. - Thank you, Jules.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39Time for tea.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51'It's day two of our property search,
0:26:51 > 0:26:54'and with a budget of £650,000,
0:26:54 > 0:26:57'we're helping Simon and Anne swap suburban Surrey
0:26:57 > 0:27:00'for the harmony of the Malvern Hills.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02'Coming up, Simon's lost for words at our mystery house.'
0:27:02 > 0:27:06I think I might leave you here to consider it.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08See if you can come up with a word that might describe it all.
0:27:08 > 0:27:13- I'll catch up with you later.- Wow!
0:27:13 > 0:27:18'And I'll be going underground, discovering some of Worcestershire's subterranean secrets.'
0:27:20 > 0:27:26Well, having thrilled Anne and Simon with two fantastic properties yesterday,
0:27:26 > 0:27:30it's perfectly clear that our mystery house has got some work to do.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34And whilst we like to think that the mystery should ideally challenge our buyers,
0:27:34 > 0:27:37well, on this occasion, I think it will amaze them,
0:27:37 > 0:27:40because when they see the package that's on offer,
0:27:40 > 0:27:42well, who knows what they'll make of it?
0:27:51 > 0:27:54'For our mystery house we're heading to the Worcestershire/Herefordshire border
0:27:54 > 0:27:58'and the hamlet of Grittlesend, five miles northwest of Great Malvern.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01'The nearest village is Cradley in Herefordshire,
0:28:01 > 0:28:05'which has a post office, butchers and a church,
0:28:05 > 0:28:07'parts of which date back to Norman times.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11'Today's mystery house gives Simon and Anne the Malverns on their doorstep,
0:28:11 > 0:28:14'land for ponies, and it's packed with character.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17'But will it be too much for Anne to handle?'
0:28:18 > 0:28:21- There it is.- Gosh.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23- There's our mystery house. - It's got character.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26As you would expect with a house that is not only listed
0:28:26 > 0:28:29but that dates from about 1670.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32- Really?- Wow! It looks really nice.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35- I'm intrigued.- I am.- Can't wait to get inside and have a little look.
0:28:35 > 0:28:40Well, we have got plenty to show you, inside and outside.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42- Oh, right.- Oh, yes. - Even more intriguing.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46Yes, indeed! But let's deal with the house first and then we'll come back out here
0:28:46 > 0:28:50and see what you might do with the green stuff. Come on.
0:28:51 > 0:28:57'This timber-frame 17th-century mystery house is by far the oldest property we've shown Simon and Anne.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00'And as you'd expect, there are beams aplenty.'
0:29:01 > 0:29:05- Well, traditionally, we'll start with the kitchen. - Oh, that's nice, isn't it?
0:29:05 > 0:29:08Yeah, it is, nice and cosy.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11See, I think this is a theme that's emerging.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14When I think back to our first property with its great big kitchen-diner,
0:29:14 > 0:29:17very impressive, beautiful room to show you.
0:29:17 > 0:29:21But actually, I think you are a more cosy sort of person, aren't you?
0:29:21 > 0:29:23- Isn't it true? I think you are. - Maybe.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27The kitchen is small. There is also this amazing kind of garden room
0:29:27 > 0:29:32which we'll have a look at now, which I think you'd use all the time, really.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35Because it does allow us some wonderful views.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38- There you go.- Ah, that's nice.
0:29:39 > 0:29:43- That's good, isn't it?- Yeah. - Have a look in the garden.- Yeah.
0:29:43 > 0:29:46You can really immerse yourself in the garden whatever the weather in here.
0:29:46 > 0:29:51- Breakfast. Reading. - Brilliant space for family dining.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53Right then, I'm going to pursue this cosy thing.
0:29:53 > 0:29:56I think the living room is really cosy, too. Come and look at this.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03So, the living room also comprises the dining area.
0:30:03 > 0:30:08- Oh.- Yes?- Yes.- And then this is the kind of living bit.
0:30:08 > 0:30:11- Oh, that's amazing.- Again, cosy.
0:30:11 > 0:30:16- Yes, it is cosy, actually. - Yeah.- It's lovely.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20- I don't know, I'd have to think about it, really. Work it out in my head. - She does like a big lounge.
0:30:20 > 0:30:24There's quite a bit of furniture in here, to be fair. But it's the two of you most of the time.
0:30:24 > 0:30:28- That is true.- Isn't it, really? - Yeah, that is true.
0:30:28 > 0:30:33'I fear we may have a hard time convincing Anne about the beams.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38'The downstairs also includes this utility room and a large study
0:30:38 > 0:30:42'that could be easily converted into a bedroom for Anne's mum or space for Roly the dog.
0:30:42 > 0:30:46'Upstairs there are three bedrooms, one of which is a good-size double,
0:30:46 > 0:30:49'and there's also a single, along with a family bathroom.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53'And then there's the master suite.'
0:30:54 > 0:30:57- Now, watch your heads.- Gosh!
0:30:57 > 0:31:00So, this is your bit. And you've got this kind of dressing area here.
0:31:00 > 0:31:04Loads of storage behind this curtain.
0:31:04 > 0:31:08And then this is the bedroom side of the master suite, as it were.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11- Oh, gosh. Isn't it sweet? - It's very sweet, yeah.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14- Wonky floors.- Yep.- Bags of character.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17It's really sweet, isn't it? Cosy.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20This is good! This is positive! We've been searching for positivity.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22- Hurrah! Yeah!- This is good.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25We did promise you a little more outside.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28It wouldn't be our mystery house unless there were some surprises.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31- Can't wait. - You're going to love this. Come on.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37'The sweetness of our master suite has got us back on track.
0:31:37 > 0:31:42'And Anne certainly seems to have overcome her reservations about beams.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45'But let's not forget that Simon and Anne wanted land.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48'And land they've certainly got with this place.'
0:31:48 > 0:31:53- OK. I've been dying to talk about this bit. - THEY LAUGH
0:31:53 > 0:31:57- Garden-wise, you've got all that. - Right.- Yeah.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01- Land-wise, you also get that paddock there...- Uh-huh.
0:32:01 > 0:32:06..which is, all in all, about 1.8 acres.
0:32:06 > 0:32:11Now, by separate negotiation within the same family, is that field over there.
0:32:11 > 0:32:16- Oh, right.- OK. - Which is six acres.- Oh, crikey! SHE LAUGHS
0:32:16 > 0:32:21Shall we consider a price for the 1.8 acres
0:32:21 > 0:32:24and our lovely 1670 mystery house?
0:32:24 > 0:32:28- Right. Hm. Gosh, it's a hard one.- Mm.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32- I'll take a stab with 585.- 585.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34I'm going to go 620.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36You're both wrong, I'm afraid.
0:32:36 > 0:32:42- This is currently on the market at £535,000.- Really?
0:32:42 > 0:32:46- My goodness me!- Wow! - HE LAUGHS
0:32:46 > 0:32:49- And you've got those views. - Now, that means we've saved you, what, from 650?
0:32:49 > 0:32:54- Crikey!- £115,000?- Gosh!
0:32:54 > 0:32:58And if you are wondering what you might do with that slack 115 grand,
0:32:58 > 0:33:00I have just the thing. Come this way.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11- Wow. - JULES LAUGHS
0:33:11 > 0:33:13Now, I know you like a bit of bird-watching.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16- Oh, my!- Yeah.
0:33:16 > 0:33:20For another 70,000 quid, you could also have your own lake.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24- You said you wanted a pond.- Oh, wow!
0:33:24 > 0:33:26- That's some pond. - Crikey!- That is excellent.
0:33:26 > 0:33:31- It's a real lifestyle choice, this one.- Absolutely.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34I think I might leave you here... to consider it.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37See if you can come up with a word that might describe it all.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39I'll catch you later.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41Wow!
0:33:43 > 0:33:49'At £535,000, our mystery house is by far the cheapest property we've shown our buyers
0:33:49 > 0:33:54'and is a whopping £115,000 under their maximum budget.
0:33:54 > 0:33:59'It's a Grade II listed 17th-century cottage surrounded by countryside.
0:33:59 > 0:34:03'It comes with three bedrooms, but there's a possibility of converting the study into a fourth.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06'The price includes nearly two acres of land.
0:34:06 > 0:34:10'However, there is an option to purchase six acres of adjacent land
0:34:10 > 0:34:12'as well as the nearby lake.'
0:34:13 > 0:34:20I never in my wildest dreams expected to come to the mystery house and find a lake.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23It's just absolutely blown me away.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26Erm...
0:34:30 > 0:34:34My feelings are probably slightly more mixed.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37I'm a little bit worried about the internals of the property, really.
0:34:37 > 0:34:42I'm used to having sort of space to move furniture around,
0:34:42 > 0:34:44and I think I might be a bit restricted.
0:34:44 > 0:34:49There are certain compromises to be made with the property itself.
0:34:49 > 0:34:53Erm, I don't know whether we can make those compromises.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56It's something we're going to have to think long and hard about.
0:34:56 > 0:35:01Well, that was a very interesting house tour, wasn't it?
0:35:01 > 0:35:04- It certainly was.- Yes, it was. - Very unexpected.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07Very unexpected. But that's the mystery house.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10You know, we do like to tease you with the unexpected.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13It's been a real gem in that respect.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16So, I think you've got plenty to go and think about, haven't you?
0:35:16 > 0:35:21- Definitely. - Oh, yes. You've thrown a spanner in our works, that's for sure.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25Right, then, off you go. You go and have a good old think and I'll catch up with you later.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27- Thank you.- Thank you, Jules.
0:35:29 > 0:35:33Well, as mystery houses go, they don't get much more exciting than this one.
0:35:33 > 0:35:38So, if our series of house tours have inspired you to want to move to this part of the country,
0:35:38 > 0:35:42here's a little taster of what's on the market here right now.
0:35:43 > 0:35:48'Attractive black-and-white timbered cottages are a hallmark of the county
0:35:48 > 0:35:52'and this Grade-II listed cosy thatch in the village of Callow End in the Malvern Hills
0:35:52 > 0:35:55'is priced at £275,000.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58'It offers three bedrooms and a good-sized garden.
0:35:58 > 0:36:04'Further north in Bewdley, this four-bedroom 18th-century property with a mature landscape garden
0:36:04 > 0:36:07'is on the market for £425,000.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12'But if it's space you're after, this generous period home,
0:36:12 > 0:36:15'just over the border in Putley, Herefordshire,
0:36:15 > 0:36:20'is set in one and a half acres and offers three spacious reception rooms and five double bedrooms.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24'It's priced at £750,000.
0:36:29 > 0:36:33'On the surface, Worcestershire's heritage is plain to see.
0:36:33 > 0:36:37'But there's an underground history that's less well-known.
0:36:37 > 0:36:40'Behind these unassuming gates at the Kingsford Country Park
0:36:40 > 0:36:44'lies a subterranean network of tunnels with an extraordinary past.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48'Built by a vehicle manufacturer in the early 1940s
0:36:48 > 0:36:51'when car assembly was turned over to helping the war effort,
0:36:51 > 0:36:54'the tunnels were part of the government's shadow factory scheme.
0:36:54 > 0:36:58'I've come to find out more from local historian Sid Robinson.'
0:36:58 > 0:37:03Well, Sid, not everybody is going to be familiar with the term shadow factory when it comes to the war.
0:37:03 > 0:37:07- What are we talking about? - The shadow factory was designed
0:37:07 > 0:37:10to be sort of a back-up factory to the Rover works.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13So if the main factory at Longbridge was damaged
0:37:13 > 0:37:15then they could carry on production from here.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18Now, we all know Rover for their cars, but what were they making in here?
0:37:18 > 0:37:21They made parts for the Rolls-Royce Merlin engines,
0:37:21 > 0:37:25which were used in virtually all of the military aircraft at the time.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27- So Spitfires, Lancaster's... - That's right, yes.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30This production facility was absolutely at the top of the list.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32Oh, it was crucial to the war effort.
0:37:32 > 0:37:37Had anything happened at Longbridge, this would've been the main supply chain.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40Well, the scale of it just walking in here is breathtaking.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42How many miles of tunnels are there?
0:37:42 > 0:37:45There is about four and a half miles of interconnecting tunnels.
0:37:45 > 0:37:51But it's based on 285,000 square feet, so, you know, it was a very large factory.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54And just to be clear, this wasn't an old mine that was reused,
0:37:54 > 0:37:58- this was purpose-built at the beginning of the war. - Oh, yes, totally built from scratch.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04'At the height of the Second World War, around 700 people worked down here.
0:38:04 > 0:38:09'Although the machinery from the plant has long gone, there are still remnants of the wartime factory.
0:38:09 > 0:38:14'Urns used for making tea and an industrial kitchen.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17'But the story doesn't stop with the end of the Second World War.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20'The Cold War heralded the threat of nuclear attack
0:38:20 > 0:38:24'and these tunnels were converted into a bunker for regional government,
0:38:24 > 0:38:29'local services such as police, and an organisation closer to home.'
0:38:32 > 0:38:35We're now in the hub of the nuclear bunker.
0:38:35 > 0:38:37- This is the BBC room. - This is a BBC studio?- Yeah. It is.
0:38:37 > 0:38:42This is where they would've broadcast to the nation if they were all about to die.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45- Or some were still alive. - Yeah, those who hadn't guessed.
0:38:45 > 0:38:49- Look at it, just kind of rotting here.- Yeah, it's a terrible shame.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52It's extraordinary, isn't it? I mean, I grew up, as you did,
0:38:52 > 0:38:55with the threat of a nuclear war, through the 70s and the 80s,
0:38:55 > 0:39:00and we always heard talk of these nuclear bunkers, much fabled refuges
0:39:00 > 0:39:03that, of course, none of us would've got into if it had really happened.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06And you often wondered what they were like. You know?
0:39:06 > 0:39:09And what kind of people would be in them and what they would contain. But here we are.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13Who would have thought it? We've finally got inside a nuclear bunker.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16- Absolutely. - It must be a first for Escape To The Country, that is for sure.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20- Does anyone want to live here, though? - I don't know. Is it for sale?
0:39:21 > 0:39:27'There are plans to turn the tunnels into a museum and open them to the public.
0:39:27 > 0:39:31'In the meantime, they stand as a fascinating historical monument to Worcestershire's military past.'
0:39:35 > 0:39:40Well, Anne and Simon are in here trying to make sense of all that we have shown them.
0:39:40 > 0:39:45But to say they are confused is a classic Escape To The Country understatement.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49But, that said, you might think, given their reaction to our mystery house, that it's a done deal.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52Or is it? Let go and ask them.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59- Hi, guys. How are you? - Hello.- Hello, Jules.- Fine, thank you.
0:39:59 > 0:40:04Well, this has all gone quite quickly, hasn't it?
0:40:04 > 0:40:11- THEY LAUGH - Were you expecting such an emotional trip through our house searches?
0:40:11 > 0:40:14- Definitely not.- No. - No.- Nothing like it.
0:40:14 > 0:40:19You came here wanting land for ponies, somewhere with some character,
0:40:19 > 0:40:22weren't sure about beams, but we got there, didn't we?
0:40:22 > 0:40:27Er, and, obviously, within sight of the Malvern Hills.
0:40:27 > 0:40:31So are you going to go back and look at any of them?
0:40:32 > 0:40:35- House number two. - Our lovely barn conversion.
0:40:35 > 0:40:40I loved the proportions of the lounge and the dining area,
0:40:40 > 0:40:44- there's ground floor bedrooms, and the land, of course.- Mm-hm.
0:40:44 > 0:40:50- Yeah, two and a half acres or so. - Met a lot of our criteria. And the views were stunning.
0:40:50 > 0:40:54- Let's consider our mystery house, shall we?- Yes.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57- What a package.- Yes, what a package.
0:40:57 > 0:41:02Completely unprepared, really, for what you offered us,
0:41:02 > 0:41:07with all the character features and the history.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10Erm, and the land, and the views,
0:41:10 > 0:41:13and also the lake.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17It's given us... We're in a bit of a quandary, aren't we, I think?
0:41:17 > 0:41:21Yeah, we're conflicted between the practicalities of the house
0:41:21 > 0:41:26- and...- The opportunity of the land. - ..the opportunity of the land and the lake.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29Emotional response against the practicalities of actually living there
0:41:29 > 0:41:33that we can't resolve at the moment.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36- Do you need a tissue?- No. - THEY LAUGH
0:41:37 > 0:41:43Brilliant, guys. It'll be really interesting to know what your final conclusion is.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45But in the meantime, I'm not going to press you on it,
0:41:45 > 0:41:48cos you've clearly got a lot going on in your minds.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50- Yeah.- Best of luck, guys. It's been a lot of fun
0:41:50 > 0:41:55and I hope we've got you that little bit closer to finding your new home here in the Malverns.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58- Thank you.- Thank you very much. - Pleasure.
0:42:01 > 0:42:05Well, as we've talked a lot this week about having views of the Malvern Hills,
0:42:05 > 0:42:09it seems only fitting that we should finish on top of them.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13This is known locally as British Camp. It's an old Iron Age hill fort
0:42:13 > 0:42:19and it's said that one of the area's most famous residents, Edward Elgar, regularly walked these paths
0:42:19 > 0:42:22composing some of those tunes that we all know and love.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25This was clearly an area that seriously inspired him,
0:42:25 > 0:42:27as indeed it has Simon and Anne.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30And when you look out across there, well, you can see why.
0:42:30 > 0:42:34Land of Hope and Glory? I think so.
0:42:37 > 0:42:40'After further discussion, practical considerations ruled,
0:42:40 > 0:42:42'and despite the package on offer, in the end,
0:42:42 > 0:42:46'Simon and Anne felt the mystery house didn't give them the interior space they wanted.
0:42:46 > 0:42:51'If you'd like to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, England,
0:42:51 > 0:42:54'or further afield to the continent, and would like our help,
0:42:54 > 0:43:00'then please apply online at...'
0:43:00 > 0:43:04Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:04 > 0:43:04.