Dumfries and Galloway Escape to the Country


Dumfries and Galloway

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200 years ago, this remote farm was home to a poet whose words

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ring around the world every New Year's Eve.

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Find out who he was, and where I am, in just a moment.

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On today's show,

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I'm looking to help one couple escape the rat-race and head

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north over the border for the quiet surrounds of the Celtic countryside.

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They feel right at home.

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-Really cosy.

-Cosy. That's what I was thinking.

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I can imagine being curled up on the sofa in the winter here.

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And they find it all overwhelming.

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-Oh, wow!

-Yes, it's very nice.

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Today we're in Dumfries and Galloway, and it was to this

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farm in 1788 that the poet Robert Burns

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brought his young family.

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And it's been known ever since as the poet's choice because

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he wrote some of his most famous lyrics here,

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including Auld Lang Syne.

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The idyll didn't last very long, however, because he got

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a job in Dumfries, because of money worries, three years later.

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But he remembered the place with great fondness, and when you see

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the beautiful landscape this county has to offer, you'll understand why.

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Historically known as Dumfriesshire,

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Dumfries and Galloway is bordered by five regions, including

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Cumbria in England, South Lanarkshire to the north,

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and Scottish Borders to the east.

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To the south lies the Nith Estuary, designated a National Scenic Area.

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And within it is found

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the Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve,

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which stretches for ten miles along the Solway coastline.

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The River Nith flows through the town of Dumfries,

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known as the Queen of the South,

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and it was here in 1306 that Robert the Bruce

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dispatched his rival, Red Comyn, to take the throne

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as the King of the Scots.

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To the north, the River Annan leads towards

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the town of Moffat, gateway to the Moffat Hills.

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The Southern Upland Way runs past the town

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and forms Britain's first coast-to-coast walk,

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running 212 miles from the Irish to the North Sea.

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If you're after dramatic views, then head for the Devil's Beef Tub,

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a refuge once used by rustlers to hide their stolen cattle

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and a spectacle not to be missed.

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Whatever you're looking for, this region has something for everyone.

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If the words "rural" and "affordable"

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are at the top of your property shopping list,

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then Dumfries and Galloway could be the place for you,

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because the average price of a detached house here is £184,000,

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which is £68,000 less than the national figure for Scotland.

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There are some expensive little pockets, for example,

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the lovely village of Rockliffe on the coast,

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or the foodie capital, Castle Douglas.

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But if you go westward to the villages like Glentrool or Glenluce,

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then you get a lot more bricks and mortar for your money.

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Now, our couple today want to travel 400 miles to get

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a slice of all this Scottish beauty.

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So, let's meet them.

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Elaine and Ian have spent the past nine years in Herne, Kent,

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but feel that with Ian on the cusp of retirement, the time

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is right for a change of pace, to pack up their bags for Scotland.

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When we first moved here, it was very much a village atmosphere.

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But it's got busier and busier.

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We live on a busy main road, which is noisy,

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especially in the summertime when you're sitting in the garden,

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you can hear the traffic noise.

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It's time for life to slow down in pace.

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And a family connection lies behind their distant relocation.

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It's always been one of my ambitions to,

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when I do retire, to move up to Scotland.

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My father was from Scotland.

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I've got cousins that live up in Jedburgh,

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and I've got a stepfamily that live in Annan.

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The area they're looking at, played host to a major

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event in their lives.

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So, we decided to get married at Gretna Green,

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in Scotland, Dumfriesshire, mainly because of Ian's family.

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And we had a ceilidh band, people sat on straw bales with

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Highland checked blankets, it was lovely. Really good fun.

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The English met the Scottish... dancing. It was great.

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-It was good.

-It was really... Would love to do it all over again.

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Following the wedding, little beknown to us,

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Elaine's parents moved back up on holiday to Carlisle a week

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later and have now settled up there as well.

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So, what are they looking for in their Scottish homestead?

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The ideal property would be detached, on the edge of a village,

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and whilst we're looking for most of the accommodation on the ground

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floor, I do like a chalet bungalow, having a bedroom,

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maybe a bathroom, upstairs.

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Three bedrooms, four would be nice.

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A reasonable-sized garden with some sheds and possibly a greenhouse.

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I'm going to be retired,

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so, I'll probably be more in the potting shed, hopefully.

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It would be nice to have a stream running through the garden,

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but there again, you know, you can't have everything.

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The most important feature for me is the kitchen,

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because one of my passions in life is cooking,

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so to have somewhere that I can cook in and people can sit at the table

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and talk to me and have a glass of wine or two...

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-Or three.

-..would be lovely.

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And Elaine's love affair with the kitchen isn't restricted to

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dinner parties.

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I love baking because it brings out the creative side in me

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and if I've had a really hard week, it's a good way to de-stress.

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When it comes to entertaining, Elaine and Ian don't always

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follow convention, finding a novel use for their garden shed.

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We've actually converted it into quite a little cosy pub.

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The boys can get up there and watch the football

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and be out the way of the house. Keeping the nest nice and tidy.

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All that remains to be ironed out are the financial

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details for their move north of the border.

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The budget for the planned move is approximately £300,000.

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Elaine and Ian would like us

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to concentrate our search to the south, around Dumfries,

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and within reasonable distance of Elaine's parents in Carlisle.

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I met up with them on local soil to find out more about what

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they're after in the property.

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Welcome to Scotland, you two.

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-Thank you!

-Thank you.

-You know this area quite well.

-We do.

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We've been coming up here for many years now to visit family

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and parents.

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What about decor and decoration? Are you keen builders?

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Yes. I just love that.

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I love wallpapering, painting, and mixing colours.

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Elaine has a very good eye for colour, I must admit.

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And the majority of the paint in our house is commonly known as,

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"Yes, dear."

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I shall bear that in mind as we walk round the houses.

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Which areas are you looking in particularly?

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The area that we've specifically looked at at the moment is sort of

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somewhere between Moffat, Dumfries and Carlisle, that sort of triangle.

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-How much is your budget?

-The budget is £300,000.

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-OK. But you are also quite keen on doing some work, is that right?

-Yes.

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We would be happy to look at something that was less money,

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say 240,000, that had some scope to be improved.

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Well, we've got three lovely properties

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and I think they are going to give you lots of food for thought.

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So, no time like the present, let's go.

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For a budget of £300,000,

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Elaine and Ian are looking for a property on one level or possibly...

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We have three properties to show them, and at each one I'll be

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asking them to guess the price before I reveal it.

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The final one will be a mystery house that sets them a challenge.

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But before that, we're heading to the house that's first on our list.

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Did you get married in a kilt, Ian?

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I did, yes. In the family kilt.

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-What clan are you?

-Clan Ranald, which is a sept of the MacDonalds.

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Right.

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So, you really are in the thick of it, the whole Scottish...

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-Yes, I mean, I love Scottish music...

-The tradition.

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-The tradition of Scotland.

-Celebration and tradition.

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-So, everything is moving north?

-Absolutely!

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We begin our property search close to the village of Waterbeck,

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around 40 minutes east of Dumfries and 20 miles from Carlisle.

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Surrounded by a pleasing rural landscape is the nearby

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village of Eaglesfield, founded in the 19th century, which

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provides the basic necessities, with a Post Office and general store.

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A short distance away is our first property,

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a sandstone country cottage set in splendid countryside.

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-What are your first impressions?

-Very nice.

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-Love the stone, and the location.

-Do you like the location?

-I do. Yes.

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Stunning. Absolutely stunning.

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Out in the country, open up the curtains, seeing the hills, perfect.

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No traffic. Lovely.

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The interesting thing about this property

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is that it is actually an old property.

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The front part was a byre,

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sort of an agricultural outhouse,

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from probably the end of the 19th century.

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And this part, straight in front of me, is less than seven years old.

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-It's blended in well.

-It has.

-Amazingly well done, isn't it?

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-Shall we have a look inside?

-Yes, please.

-Let's go.

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We're off to a great start with a positive reaction to the setting,

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and I'm hoping the interior can match that

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and deliver the space they need, as this is a property with potential.

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This is the kitchen, obviously. Is this what you were looking for?

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It's lovely. It's not cramped, the dining area.

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You have an eating area in the kitchen.

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-That's what you've always wanted.

-It's nice and light. Yeah.

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And you've got quite a nice-sized utility room there with

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-the white goods, and a door out into the back garden.

-Yes.

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And then onto the drive, so you can bring your shopping straight in.

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-That's really handy. Yeah.

-Well, after the kitchen...

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and then into this room,

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which I think is a really lovely room in this property.

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This is lovely. I love the fire.

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It was on our list, our wish list, so, yeah, that's really nice.

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Beautiful views.

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I think this is really the killer thing about this house.

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-Such a lovely, warm feeling here.

-Yes.

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-Cosy. Really cosy.

-That's what I was thinking, comfortable.

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I can imagine being curled up on the sofa in the winter here.

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So, that's your living space, the sitting room, the kitchen.

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You have, well, effectively, two-and-a-half bedrooms.

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OK...

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This one's being used as the master

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-because it has this en-suite toilet and washbasin.

-That's pretty.

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-Very nice.

-They're not colossal, the rooms.

-No, no.

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I'm thinking about storage. They have one wardrobe.

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Realistically, how much storage do you need?

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Probably more than certainly is in this room at the moment.

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Perhaps Elaine's got it right with the chalet bit.

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Perhaps we do need to go up as well.

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Well, these are things, I mean,

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I'll let you walk around and get the lay of the land.

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But talking of land, let's look outside.

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There is another generous bedroom, and a smaller room, currently

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a study, which could be used as a small, single, third bedroom.

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All are served by a good-sized family bathroom.

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Lovely kind of 360 view, from here.

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Well, this land around us doesn't belong to the property,

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but the farmer, who is just across the way, is a canny chap

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and realising that it was up for sale, has offered it up for sale.

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-So, you would enjoy having that bit more land.

-Yes, I think we would.

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Yes. It wouldn't go to waste.

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Possibly, then also, that gives other opportunities with the house.

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-You were thinking of maybe pushing out on one end.

-Yes.

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-That sort of work requires money.

-Yes.

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And we haven't talked about money.

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So, what do you think this is on the market for?

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-Difficult one. Without the land...

-Without the land.

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-225,000?

-I was going to say 260.

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-Well, in this instance, Ian, you were right on the money.

-Oh!

-225.

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They've just lowered it to that price, so they probably

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wouldn't go any lower, but that would give you a substantial chunk.

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-It would, very much so.

-OK, well,

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why don't you have a look around in the garden on the other side, check

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out the bedroom, see if there's any scope for moving things around.

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Thank you.

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This single level cottage comes in well under budget at £225,000

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and offers them three bedrooms, a kitchen-diner,

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a large living room, the possibility to extend the property,

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all in a rural location surrounded by stunning scenery.

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We could have a conservatory.

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Either from there or from over on this side.

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We could really extend the garden right out. The setting is fabulous.

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-The land has completely changed...

-Changed the view.

-Absolutely.

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I like the style. It's a mix of old and new, which suits me,

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it's got some character features, it's not just a square property.

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The kitchen, for me, is a good size.

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It's a very usable space and a sociable area. So, yeah,

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I'd be very comfortable here. The issue for us is the bedrooms.

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I really would like a third bedroom.

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If we were to sort of be able to extend

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and put another bedroom on,

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then we'd obviously be eating into the garden.

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But the potential of the extra piece of land, if we could gain that,

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that would be absolutely perfect, because we could extend the garden.

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I've always wanted to have a pond and be able to have

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ducks on a pond and that would be absolutely ideal.

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So, yeah, we could take this fence down...

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Are you admiring your kingdom?

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-Yes, very much so.

-Absolutely.

-Yes, it would be very nice.

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So, you still think it's a little on the small side?

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Slightly on the small side, but we'd like to investigate further as to

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whether we could extend it to a third bedroom.

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-Or you could go and look at another property.

-OK!

-We could.

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-That's what I'm offering. Come with me.

-Thank you.

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From acres of lush, green forest to sandy shores,

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much of the countryside in Dumfries and Galloway

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falls within Scotland's protected National Scenic Areas.

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It also encompasses some of the country's largest

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and most historic estates.

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A fine example is the Caerlaverock Estate,

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just south of Dumfries, on the Nith Estuary,

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which covers 21 square miles

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and includes a unique triangular medieval castle.

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The Nith Estuary was once home to 18th-century shipyards

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and before that, Viking settlers.

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Mindful of Elaine and Ian's desire to immerse

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themselves in Scottish life and culture,

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we've arranged for them to meet the estate gamekeeper, Robbie Cowan, who

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practises an ancient Viking fishing technique still used to this day.

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-How long have you worked here for?

-I've worked here for 13 years now.

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My father was working on the Caerlaverock Estate for 40 years.

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And my great-grandfather was here 55 years before him,

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-so, very much a family job.

-Goodness. Yes.

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I've got a variety of roles, everything from habitat enhancement

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to keeping the vermin down, obviously,

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normal gamekeeping roles.

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But then there's unique forms of fishing like the half-netting,

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which we're about to try.

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The half-netting dates back to the Vikings, believe it or not,

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so it's been here for over 1,000 years.

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It's actually not changed a great deal

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in terms of the technology that's used.

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We use modern string nets as opposed to... The Vikings used flax, a plant

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that they rolled up into a twine and dipped into tar to preserve it.

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But that would only last a few weeks

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and they would have to make a new one.

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We do wear neoprene waders now, which makes it a bit more pleasant,

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especially in the water temperatures that we have today.

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Shall we go and get some waders on and we'll get the river and see

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-if we can catch a salmon?

-Love to!

-Love to!

-OK.

-Thank you.

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Half-netting is a unique method of fishing,

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using large, 18-foot framed nets.

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Fishermen wade into rivers holding the nets in place,

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a technique that demands great strength and patience

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for keeping it steady as they wait for fish to swim into the net.

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But it's a dying art.

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In the 1960s, the Nith Estuary held 200 half-net licences,

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but only 55 are issued now, due to low salmon prices,

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low fish numbers, and exceptionally wet summers.

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Just watch your feet when you're coming in with the net. That's you.

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Perfect. One hand there, one there.

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Keep it level and straight. That's you.

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-Are you sure you've not done this before?

-Well...

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Yeah. Aye, you're a natural. You're doing fine.

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Elaine and Ian seem to have taken to the Scottish waters rather well,

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but with nothing to show for their labours on this occasion,

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it's time to put down the nets and continue with the property hunt.

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We're travelling west towards Dumfries for our next

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property offering, which lies in the hamlet of Shieldhill,

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close to the town of Lochmaben, and about 33 miles from Carlisle.

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Lochmaben is the nearest town, serving the local community,

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with a variety of shops, cafes and pubs.

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The town also offers an array of activities including tennis

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and bowls. And sitting close to three lochs,

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it also provides fishing and sailing opportunities.

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Around four miles out of town is Shieldhill,

0:18:390:18:42

the setting of our second property,

0:18:420:18:44

a four-bedroom, chalet-style bungalow

0:18:440:18:46

surrounded by rural countryside.

0:18:460:18:49

All right! House number two, this is our offering.

0:18:510:18:55

I'm liking what I'm seeing at the moment.

0:18:550:18:58

Tell me what you're seeing, what's jumping out at you.

0:18:580:19:01

I like the high-pitched roof, it's obviously got character.

0:19:010:19:06

How old do you think the property is?

0:19:060:19:07

I would say it's probably not as old as it probably looks.

0:19:070:19:11

-Nine years old.

-Is it really?

-Yes.

0:19:110:19:14

It's a very modern property, very idiosyncratic,

0:19:140:19:17

and I think this is something that you might want to put your mark on.

0:19:170:19:20

-OK.

-That sounds good.

0:19:200:19:21

-Shall we look inside?

-Let's get in.

-Yeah, absolutely.

0:19:210:19:26

We're off to a flying start, and I'm confident the interior will deliver

0:19:260:19:30

on space, but whether it offers the wow factor remains to be seen.

0:19:300:19:34

-Aha!

-Ah!

-This is nice. Yes.

-That's intriguing.

0:19:340:19:38

It's surprising, isn't it?

0:19:380:19:39

-Yeah.

-That's really nice.

-Yeah.

-I like that.

0:19:390:19:41

It's a much bigger property, even than it looks from the outside.

0:19:430:19:46

-Is it your taste?

-Definitely, absolutely.

0:19:460:19:49

-We do like oak staircases.

-Yeah.

0:19:490:19:51

It's interesting, these pine floorboards, yellow pine,

0:19:510:19:54

-are actually salvaged from Glasgow tenements.

-Oh, right!

0:19:540:19:58

Shall we look in the kitchen?

0:19:580:20:00

-Let's do.

-Mm, yes, please, my domain.

0:20:000:20:02

So far, so good.

0:20:020:20:04

Now for the most important room in the house.

0:20:040:20:07

Are you ready for this?

0:20:070:20:08

-We're ready.

-Come on in.

-Oh...

-Oh! Right, yes.

0:20:080:20:12

Oh, wow...

0:20:120:20:13

It's very nice. Oh!

0:20:170:20:19

-Are you all right?

-It's... Are you welling up?

-She is.

-Wow!

0:20:190:20:26

Oh, Elaine, tell us what is it that's getting to you.

0:20:270:20:31

It just feels really... It's got a really good feeling.

0:20:310:20:36

Yeah, I mean, I can visualise all my bits in here and... Mm.

0:20:360:20:40

It's lovely, a really family...

0:20:410:20:43

-..family room.

-It's got a lot of what you wanted.

0:20:450:20:47

-It's got a lovely kind of gas range.

-Yeah, definitely.

0:20:470:20:50

Very nice wood, when you see the original wooden

0:20:500:20:53

island that's built in there.

0:20:530:20:56

And all those lovely workspaces for when you do your baking.

0:20:560:20:59

Well, that was quite a response to the kitchen.

0:20:590:21:02

But let's continue through to the sitting room. Hankies to the ready.

0:21:020:21:05

OK.

0:21:050:21:07

-Here's your sitting room.

-Nice and big.

-A beautiful size.

0:21:100:21:14

It's a nice space.

0:21:140:21:16

-It feels...

-Any reservations?

0:21:160:21:19

It's something about the fireplace, it's incredibly dominant.

0:21:190:21:23

-I think it might be the stones that I'm not too sure about.

-Yeah.

0:21:230:21:27

The thing about this house is I think it needs a bit of TLC.

0:21:270:21:30

And on this floor, we've also, there's also a small study.

0:21:300:21:35

And actually, on the other wing, because you have another wing,

0:21:350:21:38

there are two very-nice-sized bedrooms and a family bathroom.

0:21:380:21:43

-Right.

-OK.

-Which you can explore.

0:21:430:21:45

-But this is actually a four-bedroom house.

-OK.

-OK

0:21:450:21:49

Though, I think you'll find when you see the size of the bedrooms

0:21:490:21:52

-upstairs, you might think of it as an eight bedroom house.

-OK.

0:21:520:21:56

With such an emotional response to the ground floor,

0:21:570:22:00

let's hope upstairs can match that reaction.

0:22:000:22:03

-Oh, my goodness!

-It's big.

0:22:030:22:05

-Very big.

-Yeah. That's great! What a size. That's amazing.

0:22:050:22:11

And colossally bright.

0:22:110:22:12

I mean, the room is, it's a huge room, but it so well lit,

0:22:120:22:14

it's like a ballroom.

0:22:140:22:16

Fantastic.

0:22:170:22:19

-What would you do with all this space?

-Keep my shoes here!

0:22:190:22:22

Wardrobes!

0:22:220:22:24

So, this would be your walk-in wardrobe.

0:22:240:22:26

THEY CHUCKLE

0:22:260:22:28

There is another bedroom up on this floor,

0:22:280:22:31

I'll let you explore that at your own leisure.

0:22:310:22:33

But let's nip outside and let's think land and think price.

0:22:330:22:37

-OK.

-OK.

0:22:370:22:38

As we head outside, it seems that in terms of space,

0:22:390:22:42

the interior has well and truly delivered.

0:22:420:22:45

Along with a few unexpected tears.

0:22:450:22:47

The garden here is south-facing and over these fields, which

0:22:470:22:52

are not yours, but are just being used

0:22:520:22:54

for ponies and some Highland cattle.

0:22:540:22:56

There's a sort of ambivalence about the two of you.

0:22:560:22:59

I can't say whether you love it

0:22:590:23:00

and are keeping it under your hat, or...

0:23:000:23:02

I love it.

0:23:020:23:04

I think, for me, there's a lot of work in there. That doesn't faze me

0:23:040:23:09

because the structure is there, it's cosmetic.

0:23:090:23:13

It's going to need some imagination

0:23:130:23:15

in using that very large bedroom,

0:23:150:23:17

and how we would use that, and seeing how that could be developed.

0:23:170:23:20

So, you're saying it's too big?

0:23:200:23:23

Well, I must admit, it took me by surprise when I went in,

0:23:230:23:26

I never imagined having a room that size.

0:23:260:23:28

And then thinking, "Well, what can we do this?"

0:23:280:23:31

So, a very different offering from the house this morning.

0:23:310:23:33

What do you think it is in terms of price?

0:23:330:23:36

-I'm going to say 305.

-Ian?

0:23:360:23:39

I would probably go with, say, 245.

0:23:390:23:44

Well, it's not far off Ian's guess.

0:23:440:23:47

It's actually on the market for 250.

0:23:470:23:49

That's... very surprising. Very pleasing.

0:23:500:23:55

Well, why don't you go in and have a look because there's some rooms...

0:23:550:23:59

some rooms that you haven't seen which I think you might be

0:23:590:24:01

quite interested in.

0:24:010:24:03

-OK. Thank you.

-Thank you.

0:24:030:24:04

On the market for £250,000,

0:24:070:24:09

this nine-year-old cottage offers them the space they are

0:24:090:24:12

looking for, including four large bedrooms, two bathrooms,

0:24:120:24:16

a tear-inducing kitchen-diner for entertaining,

0:24:160:24:20

a large living room,

0:24:200:24:22

perfectly placed in the beautiful Dumfries and Galloway countryside.

0:24:220:24:26

Oh, no!

0:24:290:24:31

Nice!

0:24:320:24:34

I think I'll have this as my bedroom.

0:24:340:24:36

This is a much larger property than the last one.

0:24:390:24:41

More bedrooms, the extra bedrooms that we were looking for.

0:24:410:24:44

There's obviously some work to do both inside and out,

0:24:440:24:47

but that won't faze us at all.

0:24:470:24:49

Something, in fact, that we'd be quite keen to take on.

0:24:490:24:52

The kitchen is just the wow factor for me.

0:24:520:24:55

The size, the colouring, the style.

0:24:550:24:58

If I were to describe the kitchen that I want, this is it.

0:24:580:25:02

I was speechless.

0:25:020:25:03

The size of the bedroom upstairs, it's absolutely huge.

0:25:030:25:06

I'm not quite sure what we'd do with it,

0:25:060:25:08

how we'd fill it with furniture, but it's lovely.

0:25:080:25:11

The hills are really beautiful at this time of the evening.

0:25:160:25:18

-And really peaceful.

-It is peaceful, isn't it?

-Beautiful.

0:25:180:25:22

Well, we're done for today,

0:25:220:25:23

so time to rest and digest what you've seen.

0:25:230:25:26

-We will do.

-On we go.

-Thank you.

0:25:260:25:27

It's the second day of our house hunt in Dumfries and Galloway

0:25:420:25:45

with Elaine and Ian from Kent.

0:25:450:25:47

They have £300,000 to spend on a Scottish retreat.

0:25:470:25:51

Coming up, the mystery house gives them something to think about.

0:25:510:25:55

This is the selling point of the house, isn't it? Without any doubt.

0:25:550:25:59

And I find someone to fetch my slippers. Go back!

0:25:590:26:03

My reading of yesterday is that we slightly baffled Elaine

0:26:070:26:10

and Ian by giving them so much in property number two.

0:26:100:26:13

Elaine reduced to tears by the beauty of the kitchen

0:26:130:26:16

and Ian, I think, slightly overwhelmed or puzzled

0:26:160:26:19

by the amount of space inside the property.

0:26:190:26:22

So, for the mystery house, we're going to go back to the bungalow,

0:26:220:26:24

giving them something that I know that they want which is

0:26:240:26:27

location, but also throwing in another scary challenge.

0:26:270:26:30

This one about extensive remodelling.

0:26:300:26:32

In terms of the mystery house, where do you think we're going to go?

0:26:350:26:39

I think the two houses already have been a bit of a mystery,

0:26:390:26:42

so, the mystery house, really not sure at all.

0:26:420:26:46

It could be anywhere.

0:26:460:26:47

I'm wondering if it is across the border into Cumbria.

0:26:490:26:55

I don't know. Surprise us.

0:26:550:26:58

For our mystery house, we're staying on Scottish soil,

0:27:030:27:06

heading around six miles south to the outskirts of Dumfries

0:27:060:27:10

and 45 minutes from Carlisle.

0:27:100:27:13

The market town of Dumfries, set on the banks of the River Nith,

0:27:130:27:16

has been a Royal burgh since 1186.

0:27:160:27:20

The town is the regional capital

0:27:200:27:22

and also the final resting place of celebrated poet, Robert Burns.

0:27:220:27:26

His former home, now a museum honouring his work.

0:27:260:27:31

Our mystery house is a four bedroomed bungalow

0:27:310:27:33

in a peaceful setting, well-placed for the amenities of the town

0:27:330:27:37

and can test their appetite for taking on a refurbishment project.

0:27:370:27:42

So, you know you mentioned in your wildest dreams how

0:27:420:27:45

-you'd like a stream running through your house?

-We did.

-We did.

0:27:450:27:48

You have found us one.

0:27:480:27:49

So, we have been scouring Scotland to find you

0:27:490:27:53

a property in your budget that has a brook.

0:27:530:27:56

-It feels as though you're completely in the middle of a wood here.

-Yeah.

0:27:560:28:00

It's beautiful.

0:28:000:28:01

And the house, I think, well, originally from the '70s,

0:28:010:28:04

it was a holiday home and has been run as a holiday home ever since.

0:28:040:28:08

-But I do think you'll probably want to do a bit inside.

-Not a problem.

0:28:080:28:11

Don't mind at all.

0:28:110:28:13

Probably could be the house of our dreams, I don't know.

0:28:130:28:16

-This is music to my ears.

-Yes.

0:28:160:28:19

Let's hope the music continues as we step inside. Follow me.

0:28:190:28:22

The setting of the house more than delivers, however it's time

0:28:230:28:26

to cross our fingers and hope that they are a couple with the vision

0:28:260:28:30

for a project.

0:28:300:28:31

Come on in to the sitting room,

0:28:330:28:37

-which is at the front of the bungalow.

-OK.

0:28:370:28:39

That's a reasonable size.

0:28:410:28:43

I think it's smaller than others that we've looked at.

0:28:440:28:47

-Certainly smaller than yesterday afternoon.

-Certainly.

0:28:470:28:50

But it depends what else there is, doesn't it?

0:28:500:28:53

I like the fact that it's got a chimney breast and a fire.

0:28:530:28:58

That's good.

0:28:580:28:59

I think the thing to think about this house, is really,

0:28:590:29:03

if you can, just to think of it as a shell

0:29:030:29:05

-and, really, the ground plan you can re-jig as you like.

-Yes.

0:29:050:29:10

I think you'd want to think about this in terms

0:29:100:29:13

of maybe the kitchen/living room,

0:29:130:29:14

-because this flows on into the kitchen.

-OK.

0:29:140:29:17

So, I imagine you'll have a view about the kitchen.

0:29:190:29:22

Yes, it's not the biggest kitchen in the world, but I've had smaller.

0:29:220:29:27

But knowing what I know of you

0:29:280:29:30

-and how you responded to the kitchen yesterday...

-Yeah.

0:29:300:29:33

I was thinking that you'd probably want to sit down

0:29:330:29:36

and either reconfigure the whole house,

0:29:360:29:38

move the kitchen at the other end of the house or something,

0:29:380:29:41

or open up this space to make it a bigger...

0:29:410:29:44

Yeah. Yeah.

0:29:440:29:45

The footprint of the house is certainly bigger than

0:29:450:29:48

the first house that we saw,

0:29:480:29:50

but it's constellated for a holiday let.

0:29:500:29:53

Alongside this is a series of bedrooms which are all stud walls,

0:29:530:29:57

so you can move things around, you can knock this wall out

0:29:570:30:00

and make it one big square.

0:30:000:30:02

-It's a project.

-Yeah. But that's... That's fine.

0:30:020:30:07

Let's take a look at one of the bedrooms.

0:30:070:30:09

With the kitchen, bathroom

0:30:120:30:13

and two of the bedrooms separated by stud walls,

0:30:130:30:16

Elaine and Ian have a variety of options available

0:30:160:30:19

for reconfiguring the property EXACTLY how they'd like it.

0:30:190:30:24

-We've got four bedrooms.

-Uh-huh, OK.

-Two of them are good sizes.

0:30:280:30:32

There's this one and the one next door, which could be the master.

0:30:320:30:35

And then you've got two littler ones on the other side,

0:30:350:30:37

one of which could be a study, and a bathroom.

0:30:370:30:40

But I think the high point of the house for you guys

0:30:400:30:43

is probably this next room.

0:30:430:30:44

The scale of the project is becoming clear

0:30:450:30:48

but, so far, they don't seem fazed.

0:30:480:30:50

This...

0:30:510:30:52

..I think is going to be one of your key rooms.

0:30:530:30:57

This is nice.

0:30:570:30:59

-This is really nice.

-This could be nice as a lounge.

-Yeah.

0:30:590:31:02

And I like the idea of it's not a conservatory

0:31:020:31:05

with a glass...plastic roof.

0:31:050:31:07

Yeah, this is lovely.

0:31:070:31:10

This is the addition, this is what they put on.

0:31:100:31:12

This is the selling point of the house, isn't it, without any doubt?

0:31:120:31:16

Doors open, sun coming down, stream dribbling past.

0:31:170:31:20

I can imagine the nice light oak doors that,

0:31:200:31:24

sort of, pull completely back and open it up.

0:31:240:31:28

That's... That's, um... That's expensive.

0:31:280:31:31

Which brings us onto the question of price

0:31:330:31:36

because I can see that you've been, as you've been walking round,

0:31:360:31:39

-you've been knocking down walls...

-We've been spending it!

0:31:390:31:42

..reconfiguring things.

0:31:420:31:44

As I suggested, this is a complete remodelling, perhaps.

0:31:440:31:47

So, how much do you think this property is on the market for?

0:31:470:31:51

I'm going to say 199.

0:31:510:31:53

Ian?

0:31:530:31:55

-I think probably on the market for probably 275.

-275?

0:31:550:32:00

Wow, you've completely swapped now.

0:32:000:32:03

You've gone high, you've gone low.

0:32:030:32:05

Well, actually, it's somewhere in the middle.

0:32:050:32:07

-It's actually on the market for 225.

-OK.

0:32:070:32:10

But the vendors have made it clear that they're open to negotiation,

0:32:100:32:13

so you might get it for less.

0:32:130:32:14

Ah...

0:32:140:32:16

-That does leave scope...

-To do the work.

-To do quite a bit.

0:32:160:32:19

Through there, there's a kind of garage conversion,

0:32:190:32:22

a small room that's been converted.

0:32:220:32:24

A downstairs loo, and there's lots of little rooms,

0:32:240:32:26

-which I probably think you'd probably want to...

-Open up a bit.

0:32:260:32:29

..or reconfigure. So, why don't you go back down there

0:32:290:32:32

-and have a rummage?

-OK.

-Thank you.

-And I'll see you out the front.

0:32:320:32:35

See, that's why the mystery house is such a success

0:32:370:32:40

because it turns everything on its head.

0:32:400:32:42

And, in many ways, frees up lots of potential for new ideas.

0:32:420:32:46

Our mystery house falls well within their budget

0:32:470:32:49

at £225,000,

0:32:490:32:52

giving them plenty of cash for improvements.

0:32:520:32:54

And includes:

0:32:540:32:56

-Ah, the games room.

-The garage, converted. I see.

0:33:080:33:14

You could probably turn this into the pub, into the Nag Shed.

0:33:140:33:17

SHE LAUGHS

0:33:170:33:18

Really good idea.

0:33:180:33:20

Love the location here. It's absolutely beautiful

0:33:230:33:25

with the stream running through the garden

0:33:250:33:27

and the woods in the background.

0:33:270:33:29

We've always said it would be lovely to open the curtains up

0:33:290:33:32

and just look out onto a view like that. It'd be fabulous.

0:33:320:33:35

I think the mystery house has really given us somewhere

0:33:350:33:40

which challenges us in terms of renovating a property completely,

0:33:400:33:46

not just a cosmetic change.

0:33:460:33:49

Yeah, this is lovely.

0:33:570:33:58

Beautiful having a stream at the end of the garden.

0:33:580:34:00

-Are you admiring your bluebell woods?

-We are.

-Absolutely.

0:34:000:34:03

It's a lovely stream. It needs damming, though, doesn't it?

0:34:030:34:06

It needs small children to come and play in it.

0:34:060:34:09

Childhood dreams!

0:34:090:34:10

Good, OK, time to go and think about all the properties I've shown you.

0:34:100:34:14

-OK.

-Come with me.

-Great.

0:34:140:34:16

We've shown Elaine and Ian three properties

0:34:160:34:18

that have certainly got their minds thinking.

0:34:180:34:21

And if you, too, feel the call of the stunning wilds

0:34:210:34:23

of Dumfries and Galloway, then there's plenty of property on offer.

0:34:230:34:27

For those on an average budget,

0:34:270:34:28

you won't have to forego character in this area.

0:34:280:34:31

This detached, two-bedroom cottage renovation in Kirkpatrick Fleming

0:34:310:34:36

has a mix of period features and contemporary decor

0:34:360:34:39

and is on the market for offers over £240,000.

0:34:390:34:42

If you're looking for something a little different,

0:34:420:34:45

this rural area has its share of barn conversions.

0:34:450:34:48

This four-bedroom example in Kirtlebridge, with plenty of space

0:34:480:34:52

and rustic charm, is on sale for £339,000.

0:34:520:34:56

And if it's the immersive countryside experience you're after,

0:34:560:35:00

then this seven bedroom traditional country house in Moffat

0:35:000:35:04

could be the ticket. Restored to its former glory,

0:35:040:35:06

complete with equestrian facilities, it's priced at the £500,000 mark.

0:35:060:35:12

Through the centuries, Scotland's beautiful and stirring landscape

0:35:190:35:23

has been the backdrop for clans, battles, and titled families,

0:35:230:35:27

all of which have shaped the country's vibrant history.

0:35:270:35:30

Around 20 miles north of Dumfries,

0:35:310:35:33

overlooking the magnificent Nith Valley, is Drumlanrig Castle,

0:35:330:35:38

an impressive example of 17th-century Renaissance-style

0:35:380:35:42

architecture, built on the site of an ancient stronghold.

0:35:420:35:45

Home to the Dukes of Buccleuch

0:35:450:35:47

and Queensberry for the last 500 years, it played host to

0:35:470:35:50

Bonnie Prince Charlie on his retreat north in 1745.

0:35:500:35:55

I'm here to meet castle guide Ian Sutherland to discover

0:35:550:35:58

the story of this glorious pink sandstone palace.

0:35:580:36:02

-Who's this handsome chap?

-It's Chad.

-Chad, he's gorgeous.

0:36:030:36:07

-He certainly is, isn't he?

-So, tell me briefly about Drumlanrig.

0:36:070:36:12

Drumlanrig is the very last castle to be built in Scotland.

0:36:120:36:16

You're in the valley of the River Nith. And, in the old days,

0:36:160:36:20

it was used as an invasion route from the south right into Scotland.

0:36:200:36:25

So, in the past, we've had Romans, Vikings, Anglo-Saxons.

0:36:250:36:29

-Even the English have tried to invade this part.

-Heaven forfend!

0:36:290:36:33

And what the castle is doing is guarding the only good crossing

0:36:330:36:37

across the River Nith.

0:36:370:36:39

In fact, Drumlanrig is a bit like a cork in a bottle -

0:36:390:36:42

it tries to stop any army from getting further up the valley.

0:36:420:36:48

So, this is one of the best places you could possibly have a castle.

0:36:480:36:53

Even in the old days, the Romans, they had a fort.

0:36:530:36:56

We've got the fort in the grounds.

0:36:560:36:58

That is wonderful Scottish history.

0:36:580:37:00

But I am partly enchanted by this chap here.

0:37:000:37:02

So, what's his role in the proceedings?

0:37:020:37:05

The family is one of the first families to introduce these

0:37:050:37:09

-black Labradors into Britain.

-Wow.

0:37:090:37:12

Since that time, they've been used as gundogs.

0:37:120:37:15

-So, we have the Buccleuchs to thank for the Labradors?

-Yes, I think so.

0:37:150:37:20

How wonderful.

0:37:200:37:21

Ever since the fifth Duke of Buccleuch introduced

0:37:210:37:24

black Labradors from Newfoundland in the 1830s,

0:37:240:37:28

working dogs have been an important part of the Buccleuch Estates.

0:37:280:37:31

David Lisett, trainer at Buccleuch Gundogs,

0:37:310:37:34

has agreed to give me some tips on working with these handsome beasts.

0:37:340:37:38

What we'll do is, we'll start at the very beginning,

0:37:400:37:43

the recall whistle and the stop whistle.

0:37:430:37:45

The recall whistle would be "toot-toot-toot-toot-toot",

0:37:450:37:49

and, hopefully, he'll come charging in.

0:37:490:37:50

And then the break whistle would be one blow.

0:37:500:37:53

WHISTLES ONCE

0:37:530:37:54

WHISTLES REPEATEDLY

0:37:550:37:57

WHISTLES ONCE

0:37:570:37:58

WHISTLES REPEATEDLY

0:38:010:38:02

-Good boy. Good boy.

-Oh, so cute!

0:38:020:38:05

So, the next stage, we'll start stretching him a wee bit now.

0:38:050:38:08

David is setting Chad a memory task.

0:38:080:38:10

He'll launch a dummy bird across the lawn

0:38:100:38:12

and I have to tell Chad to remember its position.

0:38:120:38:15

Is there any whistle-blowing? Do I need to?

0:38:150:38:17

No, the only time is when he's gone

0:38:170:38:19

three-quarters of the way across there, just give him a...

0:38:190:38:21

WHISTLES ONCE

0:38:210:38:22

Just practise.

0:38:220:38:24

WHISTLES WEAKLY

0:38:240:38:25

No, you need to do it as if somebody's nicking your wallet.

0:38:250:38:28

WHISTLES ENERGETICALLY

0:38:280:38:29

Just enough.

0:38:290:38:30

-Right, here we go. That's it.

-Mark.

0:38:300:38:32

GUNSHOT

0:38:320:38:33

Before he retrieves it,

0:38:340:38:36

I send him off to look for a second dummy, already hidden in the bushes.

0:38:360:38:40

Go back.

0:38:400:38:42

ALISTAIR LAUGHS APPRECIATIVELY

0:38:420:38:43

Put the brakes on now.

0:38:450:38:46

WHISTLES ONCE

0:38:460:38:48

And then push him back. "Go back."

0:38:500:38:52

Go back!

0:38:520:38:53

-Lovely.

-Look at that, amazing!

-Absolutely lovely.

0:38:540:38:57

-Just the hand gesture did it.

-Just the hand gesture and your tone.

0:38:570:39:01

-Here we go.

-Should I do the "toot-toot-toot?"

-If you don't mind.

0:39:020:39:05

WHISTLES REPEATEDLY

0:39:050:39:07

Oh, superstar!

0:39:070:39:10

Look at that! Good boy, Chad.

0:39:100:39:15

Good dog.

0:39:150:39:16

Just line him up and pick the other ones now.

0:39:160:39:19

-So do I...

-Do the same again,

0:39:190:39:20

just put your hand down and point to where you want him to go,

0:39:200:39:23

-and say, "Go back."

-Sit. Good boy.

0:39:230:39:25

'OK, now, to retrieve the first bird.'

0:39:250:39:27

Go back.

0:39:270:39:29

-He's off like a rocket, isn't he?

-It's amazing! It's like a "doing".

0:39:290:39:33

-Like an arrow.

-Just because he loves doing it.

0:39:330:39:35

Do I need to do any of the things?

0:39:350:39:37

Once he's picked it up, just a wee recall whistle.

0:39:370:39:39

WHISTLES REPEATEDLY

0:39:390:39:40

That's what they're bred for all these years.

0:39:400:39:43

Good boy. Good boy.

0:39:430:39:46

-Well done, you.

-You're an absolute natural, Alistair.

0:39:460:39:49

I think HE'S an absolute natural. It's been a joy. Thank you so much.

0:39:490:39:53

It was a lovely experience working with Chad,

0:39:530:39:55

and I'm sure these beautiful dogs will be working alongside

0:39:550:39:59

future Dukes for years to come.

0:39:590:40:01

But now it's time to go back to our buyers.

0:40:010:40:03

Having spent a couple of days with them,

0:40:060:40:08

I've come to appreciate Ian's poker property face.

0:40:080:40:12

Although I think he rather put his cards on the table

0:40:120:40:15

when he guesstimated the price of the mystery house

0:40:150:40:17

so high above the market value.

0:40:170:40:19

When it comes to Elaine, however, I put my money on house number two,

0:40:190:40:22

largely because of her tears in the kitchen.

0:40:220:40:25

But let's find out which, if any, of the houses, are still contenders.

0:40:250:40:30

We began our little Scottish odyssey by a fire,

0:40:370:40:39

and we're ending it by a fire.

0:40:390:40:41

-I hope you've had fun.

-Definitely. Yeah.

0:40:410:40:45

It's been an absolute eye-opener for me.

0:40:450:40:48

I get the impression, and correct me if I'm wrong,

0:40:480:40:50

that number one is not so much of a contender.

0:40:500:40:53

It's all down to property number two and the mystery house.

0:40:530:40:57

But I'm very in the dark which of the two you prefer.

0:40:570:41:00

Number two or number three?

0:41:000:41:02

Number two is my favourite, in terms of the property.

0:41:020:41:07

But number three, it has to be the location.

0:41:070:41:11

What has to happen next

0:41:110:41:12

for you to make a decision, one way or the other?

0:41:120:41:15

I think, for me, I want to go back and see property number two

0:41:150:41:19

before we leave Scotland.

0:41:190:41:21

And I think I need to understand how property three can work for us.

0:41:210:41:27

It was a challenge, property three, in terms of what you'd have to do.

0:41:270:41:30

Absolutely.

0:41:300:41:32

I think probably an ideal would be if we could take property two

0:41:320:41:35

and put it into the setting of property three.

0:41:350:41:37

That would be amazing. And there you have the conundrum.

0:41:370:41:40

-Have you been surprised at what we've shown you?

-Very much so.

0:41:400:41:43

I really didn't think that we would get the amount of property

0:41:430:41:48

-that we've seen at those prices.

-It's been lovely showing you around

0:41:480:41:53

and I hope that you find your place up here.

0:41:530:41:55

It's really lovely to see you

0:41:550:41:56

coming to look back in your homeland, as it were,

0:41:560:41:59

and that one of the properties we've shown you comes up trumps.

0:41:590:42:02

-Thank you, Alistair.

-Thank you very much.

0:42:020:42:04

Looks like house number two

0:42:100:42:11

and the mystery house both still strong contenders.

0:42:110:42:14

And I have to say, I thought we did very well in Scotland

0:42:140:42:17

because we kept well under budget and offered Ian and Elaine

0:42:170:42:20

a lot more than they'd hoped for. A lot of space in house number two,

0:42:200:42:24

and super potential in the mystery house.

0:42:240:42:26

And with all this amazing landscape, you can understand

0:42:260:42:30

why they'd want to move here.

0:42:300:42:31

I hope you've enjoyed our jaunt through Bonnie Scotland.

0:42:310:42:34

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

0:42:340:42:37

Having mulled over the properties we served up, Elaine and Ian have

0:42:380:42:42

since had a change of direction, discarding any notion of taking on

0:42:420:42:46

a project and opting instead for a new-build that's ready to move into.

0:42:460:42:50

And I'm happy to say they've had an offer excepted on a house

0:42:500:42:54

in Eaglesfield.

0:42:540:42:56

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0:42:560:42:59

Wales, England or Scotland,

0:42:590:43:01

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