0:00:02 > 0:00:04For centuries, boatmen used to cross this river
0:00:04 > 0:00:07by hauling their craft across, using a rope from one side to the other.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10The same way that I'm about to experience it right now.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13But find out which county I'm in, in just a moment.
0:00:13 > 0:00:14Take it away, Greg.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39Today's couple want help leaving their city home of 27 years.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43And they're intrigued by our properties.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45It's very interesting.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48- Interesting!- That's interesting.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Perhaps there's also next door to consider.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53We might need to interview the neighbours.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Today we're in Herefordshire, crossing the River Wye
0:00:59 > 0:01:01on the Symonds Yat hand-pulled ferry.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05Back in the 1800s, there were 25 such passenger craft
0:01:05 > 0:01:07plying their trade east and west,
0:01:07 > 0:01:09but now there's only two, this being one of them.
0:01:09 > 0:01:14And for £1.20, Greg here will hand-pull you across.
0:01:14 > 0:01:15Worth every penny.
0:01:19 > 0:01:20Situated in the West Midlands,
0:01:20 > 0:01:24landlocked Herefordshire borders the counties of Shropshire,
0:01:24 > 0:01:28Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, with Wales to the West.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30This landscape is scattered with sites that reflect
0:01:30 > 0:01:33centuries of border conflict between England and Wales
0:01:33 > 0:01:37and Herefordshire's Golden Valley was regularly fought over
0:01:37 > 0:01:41by Welsh raiders looking to bring down the fortified Norman castles.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46But evidence of human activity stretches back a lot further.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51Arthur's Stone is a Neolithic tomb which is over 5,000 years old.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Today, Herefordshire is well known as a food-producing area,
0:01:54 > 0:01:57thanks to its fertile soils.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59The county capital, the city of Hereford,
0:01:59 > 0:02:03is dominated by its cathedral and the pretty streets are lined
0:02:03 > 0:02:06with striking black and white houses.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09With the River Wye meandering through a county
0:02:09 > 0:02:12with one of the lowest population densities in the country,
0:02:12 > 0:02:14Herefordshire is as rural as it comes.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22£256,000 is the average price of a detached house
0:02:22 > 0:02:23here in Herefordshire.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26That's almost exactly the same as the national figure.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30But believe you me, there is nothing average about this wonderful county.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32There are some pricey spots around the market towns,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36like Ross-on-Wye or Ledbury, but one of the great advantages
0:02:36 > 0:02:39of Herefordshire is space, because it is
0:02:39 > 0:02:43one of the most sparsely-populated counties in the UK.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46And let's find out whether space is one of the reasons why
0:02:46 > 0:02:49our buyers want to move here today.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54John and Joy live in this four-bedroom house in Bournville,
0:02:54 > 0:02:56a suburb of Birmingham.
0:02:56 > 0:02:57But with Joy now retired
0:02:57 > 0:03:00and university professor John about to follow suit,
0:03:00 > 0:03:02it's time for a change.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Other members of our family have already moved into the country.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09We're probably the only people left who live in a city.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13So we just want to move out, do something different
0:03:13 > 0:03:19and feel that it's a new part of our lives to start again.
0:03:19 > 0:03:20Since their student days,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23John and Joy have hopped from one city to another.
0:03:23 > 0:03:30We met at Birmingham University in 1971. Both freshers.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33John was a chemistry student and I was a historian.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36We then moved to Southampton and on to Stockholm.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39The closest we got to the country
0:03:39 > 0:03:41was when I was working in Cambridge for a while.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45But even that was quite close to the city.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48For the past 27 years, they've lived in the Birmingham home
0:03:48 > 0:03:51where they brought up their three children.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53But three years ago, tragedy hit the family
0:03:53 > 0:03:57when John and Joy's daughter, Vanessa, died unexpectedly.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00So leaving the family home behind, with all its memories, will be hard,
0:04:00 > 0:04:03even though they're drawn to the countryside.
0:04:03 > 0:04:08When we go on holidays, trips, we just love the serenity
0:04:08 > 0:04:10and the tranquillity of the countryside.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14You just feel you're in a different space.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17It's a spiritual feeling, looking out and seeing something
0:04:17 > 0:04:21that's natural, rather than something that's built up.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25Herefordshire is the perfect county in which to indulge their passions.
0:04:25 > 0:04:31Herefordshire itself, the Welsh Marches, a very mysterious area.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34There's so much history attached to that.
0:04:34 > 0:04:39There's lots and lots of archaeology, which I'm tremendously interested in.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43I love walking, so the idea of being outside with Nature
0:04:43 > 0:04:47with all the beauty around you, again, with that tranquillity,
0:04:47 > 0:04:50I think that's what does it for me.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52And with work no longer tying the couple to Birmingham,
0:04:52 > 0:04:56they're looking forward to spending more time with the family.
0:04:56 > 0:05:01The reason, really, that we're interested in Herefordshire
0:05:01 > 0:05:04is because it is, it will reduce our journey to see
0:05:04 > 0:05:08our son and grandchildren by approximately an hour,
0:05:08 > 0:05:12which will enable us, actually, to go and see them for the day.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16They have recently moved a little bit further away.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19I'm sure it's nothing to do with us, but we feel that we need to move
0:05:19 > 0:05:24that bit closer now to see them on a more regular basis.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26John and Joy already have an offer on their home
0:05:26 > 0:05:29and know how much money they've got to play with.
0:05:29 > 0:05:34The budget for the move is £400,000 max.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39Although we're starting our property search in Herefordshire,
0:05:39 > 0:05:42John and Joy are open to living in the surrounding counties,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46as long as they're close to their son and grandchildren in Cardiff.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48I've come to meet them on Herefordshire soil
0:05:48 > 0:05:51to find out more about their ideal home.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53- Welcome to Herefordshire.- Thank you.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55Lovely weather we have. Very nice setting.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57But we are going to go off on an odyssey,
0:05:57 > 0:05:58so are you ready to see some properties?
0:05:58 > 0:06:00- We certainly are.- Very excited.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02Thinking about the house,
0:06:02 > 0:06:05what is it that you're looking for in terms of the property itself?
0:06:05 > 0:06:10Well, we want somewhere that has character.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13But by that, we don't necessarily mean the oldest house.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16It could be modern but still have character.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20How much space do you need for people to come and stay,
0:06:20 > 0:06:21realistically?
0:06:21 > 0:06:27I think we probably do need two rooms for my oldest son's family
0:06:27 > 0:06:32and one room for my younger son, at Christmas, particularly,
0:06:32 > 0:06:34so that would be four bedrooms in all.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36What are you looking for in your kitchen?
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Well, size, definitely, that's important.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42A fantastic view would be an extra bonus, a big bonus.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44So let's talk briefly about the garden.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46What sort of garden would you like?
0:06:46 > 0:06:51Well, I think I quite like wildish gardens.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54I like gardens that look after themselves a little bit,
0:06:54 > 0:06:58but I don't mind riding one of those little mini-mowers.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00Everybody likes a mini-mower.
0:07:00 > 0:07:01They're such fun, aren't they?
0:07:01 > 0:07:04That's the whole point of moving to the countryside, is to get one!
0:07:04 > 0:07:07- Exactly!- How good are you at sort of making decisions?
0:07:07 > 0:07:11Is it a sort of impulsive thing or do you use your head rather than your heart?
0:07:11 > 0:07:13We know what we want, obviously,
0:07:13 > 0:07:15- but the heart has to follow, very much so.- Yes.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18And I think that feeling of passion about somewhere.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Well, we've got three lovely properties lined up for you
0:07:21 > 0:07:24and I hope that you like them all, but do feel free to tell us
0:07:24 > 0:07:26what you like and what you don't like.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28- OK.- So let's get started.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33For a maximum budget of £400,000, John and Joy want a house
0:07:33 > 0:07:36with character, but don't mind whether it's old or new.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40It must have four bedrooms to accommodate visiting family,
0:07:40 > 0:07:41a spacious kitchen and a garden
0:07:41 > 0:07:44with a view of the surrounding countryside.
0:07:45 > 0:07:46Location is also important,
0:07:46 > 0:07:48as this move is about being closer
0:07:48 > 0:07:50to their grandchildren in South Wales.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54I'm hoping our buyers will be pleased with
0:07:54 > 0:07:57the selection of properties I'm going to show them
0:07:57 > 0:08:00and I'll be revealing the all-important price tag
0:08:00 > 0:08:01at the end of each house tour.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04And our mystery house will offer John and Joy
0:08:04 > 0:08:07the chance of a different life to the one they've planned.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13John, I hear that you're into indie music.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16Oh, absolutely, partly to Joy's chagrin,
0:08:16 > 0:08:20- but, yeah, you don't mind too much, do you?- I like some of it.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23Usually I tell him when I don't, and he turns it off.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26So, John's going to be sort of like raving away in his room.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28What are you going to be doing, Joy?
0:08:28 > 0:08:29Oh, lots of things.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33I want to sort of join the community a little bit.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36I quite fancy trying things I've not done before.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39- I might even join an am-dram society.- Really, yeah?
0:08:41 > 0:08:44For our first property, we're heading to Great Brampton Park,
0:08:44 > 0:08:47which is about seven miles from Hereford.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49The closest village for amenities is Madley,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52which has a range of shops and services,
0:08:52 > 0:08:55but also a 16th-century coaching inn,
0:08:55 > 0:09:00a Norman church and a quirky luxury hotel with its own art gallery.
0:09:00 > 0:09:01Just a mile down the road,
0:09:01 > 0:09:05surrounded by Herefordshire countryside, is our first house.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10So, OK, it's a little disorientating because clearly,
0:09:10 > 0:09:12- not all of this is up for sale.- Aww!
0:09:12 > 0:09:14This is slightly different from what you asked for,
0:09:14 > 0:09:17but we couldn't resist showing you this property,
0:09:17 > 0:09:19because it's a beautiful, beautiful home.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22- But, as you can see, it is part of a complex.- Yeah.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26So this used to be a cider farm, built in the 19th century, 1870s.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31And converted ten years ago. Any thoughts about that?
0:09:31 > 0:09:33Yeah, I like the idea in many ways,
0:09:33 > 0:09:36because they're all fairly individual.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39And it gives a sense of a community, which is never a bad thing.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42So it's certainly not a deal-breaker by any means.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46- Yeah, I mean, we might need to interview the neighbours.- One by one!
0:09:46 > 0:09:48JOY LAUGHS
0:09:48 > 0:09:51John and Joy seem open to the idea of living within a community
0:09:51 > 0:09:55and this long barn conversion is one of 13 properties on the site.
0:09:58 > 0:10:03So, come in and have a look at the kitchen with its very fine rafters.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05They look quite old, don't they?
0:10:05 > 0:10:09Yes, it's a bit of sort of agricultural archaeology.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Although you don't have to dig much.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15- Perfect!- That's true. Nice, tall ceilings.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19- Gives a great feeling of space.- Yes. - Very nice on first impressions.
0:10:19 > 0:10:20And come in here.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24I think this is a lovely, this is sort of heart of the home, really.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27- Oh, I like this.- I love the floor.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30- The floor, and just the whole feel. - Yes.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33And is that a wood-burning stove I see?
0:10:33 > 0:10:37- Yes, it is, quite a modern one, sort of raised off the ground.- Excellent.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41It does give off quite a lot of heat. And what about the space?
0:10:41 > 0:10:44The space is good, the space is very good, actually, I mean,
0:10:44 > 0:10:50you could easily get our family into here with no problem at all.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52And it's not just physical dimensions,
0:10:52 > 0:10:55- it's the, it's that feel of space. - Yes, it's bright.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57- It definitely has it, yes.- Yes.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00OK, well, let's go and look at the sleeping quarters.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04Hmm, so far, so good.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07And the ground floor living area also features a utility room
0:11:07 > 0:11:09and a family bathroom off the kitchen.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12There are four bedrooms in the property.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Three are on the ground floor.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17Of those, two are doubles and there's one single.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19But there's also a double bedroom upstairs
0:11:19 > 0:11:23with its own adjacent bathroom. A perfect suite for guests.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28Let's hope the positivity continues in the master bedroom,
0:11:28 > 0:11:31which is on the ground floor.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34I think this is not much bigger than our bedroom at home.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37And one of the things I rather like the idea of
0:11:37 > 0:11:39is increasing the size of our bed.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43You snuck that in, because you didn't mention that before!
0:11:43 > 0:11:45LAUGHTER
0:11:45 > 0:11:47Well, it's an interesting property because, obviously,
0:11:47 > 0:11:49most of them are all on one level.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53- This one does have an en suite shower room.- Well, that is a plus.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55OK, well, let's go outside and talk about the price
0:11:55 > 0:11:57- because then you can explore it properly.- Thank you.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03I fear we may have hit a wall with the size of the master bedroom,
0:12:03 > 0:12:05but there's still the garden to see.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08It's all at the front of the property
0:12:08 > 0:12:10and includes this sunny patio seating area.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12But will it be up to size?
0:12:14 > 0:12:16- Compact.- Compact?
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Is that code for "not big enough"?
0:12:19 > 0:12:24I think, to be honest, it is. I have to be honest.
0:12:24 > 0:12:29- And not simply not big enough, we do not have the views. That's for sure. - That's true.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33And possibly, we don't even have the privacy from the other properties.
0:12:33 > 0:12:38- No.- Well, it is all much more communal than private.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40What do you think it's on the market for?
0:12:40 > 0:12:44I would say about £320,000.
0:12:44 > 0:12:45Uh-huh.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47I would say close, 330.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50330. Well, you are both in the right ballpark.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53It's actually a little bit more expensive.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56- It's on the market for 350.- OK.- OK.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58You haven't seen the space upstairs,
0:12:58 > 0:13:01so have a look round inside and just get the lay of the land,
0:13:01 > 0:13:04and we'll meet out the front and then we'll push on.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06- Thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09Yes, it was always a bit of a gamble coming here because, really,
0:13:09 > 0:13:13the garden and the dimensions, but it's a beautiful property
0:13:13 > 0:13:17and it's a good starting point for our discussions and our adventures.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24Under budget at £350,000, our first house is a converted barn
0:13:24 > 0:13:27which was once part of a working cider farm.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30Renovated ten years ago,
0:13:30 > 0:13:33it retains much of the fabric of the original building.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36The accommodation features a kitchen, breakfast room,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39and a spacious living room with vaulted ceiling.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41There are four bedrooms in total,
0:13:41 > 0:13:45including an upstairs guest bedroom with an en suite.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48And as one of a number of properties on the former farm complex,
0:13:48 > 0:13:51you're living amongst a friendly community.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55It feels a little bit small
0:13:55 > 0:14:00and I would be concerned about people banging their heads on these beams.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02Particularly our two tall sons.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04Yes. I like the decor.
0:14:04 > 0:14:05I think they've got an amazing eye.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09This room in particular is absolutely beautiful.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12I like several things about the property,
0:14:12 > 0:14:17and perhaps one of the things a little bit at odds with Joy is the kitchen.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21I think that's a really open area, it breathes space.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23We could consider this house
0:14:23 > 0:14:26if it had some bigger rooms in terms of bed space.
0:14:26 > 0:14:27That would be good.
0:14:27 > 0:14:31It's ingenious what the owners have done with the space up there,
0:14:31 > 0:14:34but I think it's going to be too cramped for John and Joy,
0:14:34 > 0:14:38- because it's already feeling a bit squeezy here. All right, guys?- Yes.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42- All done.- Very good. So, pull the door. Let's head to property two.
0:14:42 > 0:14:43Excellent.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53Herefordshire is a place rich in history,
0:14:53 > 0:14:58but the story of the county can be best told by visiting its capital.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01With Joy's passion for archaeology in mind, we sent our couple
0:15:01 > 0:15:06on a tour of the city of Hereford to discover its hidden historical gems.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10Their first stop is the 1,200-year-old Saxon city wall
0:15:10 > 0:15:13to meet an expert on urban archaeology, Nigel Baker.
0:15:16 > 0:15:21This is part of Hereford's Saxon defences.
0:15:21 > 0:15:26What you have is the Saxon town wall, as it was excavated
0:15:26 > 0:15:3030, 40 years ago, whatever, preserved for perpetuity.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34And you would have something like this circling the whole of Hereford?
0:15:34 > 0:15:37All the way round. Some parts of the Saxon defences
0:15:37 > 0:15:39run right under the town centre,
0:15:39 > 0:15:43and they're only ever found by excavation, when new shops
0:15:43 > 0:15:44- and new buildings are put up.- Yes.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49The city was declared an area of archaeological importance
0:15:49 > 0:15:53back in 1979, one of only half a dozen in the country.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55Based purely on the quality and
0:15:55 > 0:15:58quantity of the Saxon discoveries.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01After the Saxons came the Normans.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06Now, this is Hereford's modern commercial heart, as it were,
0:16:06 > 0:16:09and it's also the Norman marketplace,
0:16:09 > 0:16:13established in the 1070s, right outside the old Saxon town.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17So, if you look at the row of shops behind me,
0:16:17 > 0:16:19that's where the Anglo-Saxon defences
0:16:19 > 0:16:22we have just come from looking at, that's where they run.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25But, we're standing looking at the Old House,
0:16:25 > 0:16:30which was built by a butcher in 1621. We had a row of shops here.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32This was known as the Butcher's Row.
0:16:32 > 0:16:33Not just because they're butchers' shops
0:16:33 > 0:16:35but because there was a shambles here,
0:16:35 > 0:16:38and that means that, not only did they sell meat, but actually,
0:16:38 > 0:16:42they slaughtered the cattle right here in the street.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45It's a really nice Jacobean building.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47It's got the most wonderful carvings all over it,
0:16:47 > 0:16:49the brackets under the windows.
0:16:49 > 0:16:54Can I ask about what, to me, appears like bunches of grapes hanging?
0:16:54 > 0:17:01- Are they?- Yes. It was a fashionable ornament in Renaissance decoration.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05You are seeing here just little bits of neoclassical decoration
0:17:05 > 0:17:07coming into what was essentially a medieval,
0:17:07 > 0:17:12very English school of timber-framed architecture.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16As well as revealing Herefordshire's building heritage,
0:17:16 > 0:17:19archaeologists have discovered a wealth of materials
0:17:19 > 0:17:21which piece together the story of the county.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25Many of these objects are housed in the city's own museum,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29and John and Joy are meeting collections officer Judy Stevenson
0:17:29 > 0:17:32and some of the area's earliest inhabitants.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35- I believe you're particularly interested in archaeology, am I right?- Yes.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37We're quite keen, when we move,
0:17:37 > 0:17:41possibly to volunteer and help out a little bit.
0:17:41 > 0:17:42Well, that's perfect!
0:17:42 > 0:17:46We have quite a few volunteers who come here and they might be re-boxing things
0:17:46 > 0:17:50or doing inventories and cataloguing, that sort of thing.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53Let me show you some examples of some of the work they've done.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57These are examples of early people who lived in Herefordshire,
0:17:57 > 0:18:00and there are some cave sites which were occupied.
0:18:00 > 0:18:05And not only by humans, but also by animals at different times as well.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07I see hyenas' teeth.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11Yes, there were hyenas here in Herefordshire.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14That's right. That's a hyena's tooth.
0:18:14 > 0:18:20- There's also rhino teeth. There was woolly rhino here.- Goodness me!
0:18:20 > 0:18:24And this is a woolly rhino bone as well, part of a leg bone.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28That's almost impossible to imagine here!
0:18:28 > 0:18:31- No, you just cannot imagine these wild animals.- No!
0:18:31 > 0:18:33As well as prehistoric animal remains
0:18:33 > 0:18:36the collection includes man-made objects found nearby,
0:18:36 > 0:18:40from Bronze Age tools to Roman measuring instruments.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44More than enough artefacts to keep Joy happy when she moves here,
0:18:44 > 0:18:48and, with that in mind, it's back to the house hunt.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50For our second property,
0:18:50 > 0:18:53we're crossing the border into Gloucestershire
0:18:53 > 0:18:55and venturing 25 miles south-east
0:18:55 > 0:18:57to the village of Ruardean Woodside,
0:18:57 > 0:19:00which is on the edge of the Forest of Dean.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02Although we've left Herefordshire,
0:19:02 > 0:19:06we're now even closer to John and Joy's family in Cardiff.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08The Forest of Dean is a unique place,
0:19:08 > 0:19:11one of the country's last surviving ancient woodlands,
0:19:11 > 0:19:13which has been shaped by coal-mining,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16and I'm sure its history will interest our buyers.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19We're making a stop at Pan Tod Beacon,
0:19:19 > 0:19:23the highest point in the area, to take in the scenery.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25Well, look at the view.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28Oh, yes. Wow! That is a view, isn't it?
0:19:28 > 0:19:31So the Forest of Dean's a very interesting place.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34We're over the border into Gloucestershire.
0:19:34 > 0:19:39It is the oldest national forest park, founded in 1938.
0:19:39 > 0:19:45If you are born into the Forest of Dean, born within the Forest of Dean, then you have mining rights.
0:19:45 > 0:19:46And you're close to lots of things.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49Gloucester's over there. Hereford's straight ahead.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52And then over there, you've got Abergavenny and the hills there,
0:19:52 > 0:19:54and the Malverns there on the horizon.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58- And we've got a lovely property. Follow me.- OK!
0:19:58 > 0:20:02And that lovely property is just a short drive down from the Beacon,
0:20:02 > 0:20:06in rolling countryside just outside the village of Ruardean Woodside.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13This is the property I want to show you.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17- Interesting! Wow!- Taken aback?- Yes.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20- What are your thoughts from the outside?- It's very cute, isn't it?
0:20:20 > 0:20:23It's very cute, unexpected, and intrigued.
0:20:23 > 0:20:28I love the stone. I love the colour of the stone and the rocks
0:20:28 > 0:20:33and all the higgledy-piggledy sizes. It's absolutely gorgeous.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35It's holding a lot of promise. Let's say.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39- Let's see if the promise is fulfilled inside.- Well...
0:20:40 > 0:20:41Built in the mid-19th century,
0:20:41 > 0:20:45our second property was at one time a schoolhouse, then a chapel,
0:20:45 > 0:20:49which fell into dereliction before the present owners converted it.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54- Come on in.- Oh, this is lovely.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57- Oh, yeah, I agree. Hmmm.- Yes.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01- It's got a good feel. A very good feel.- Yes, it has.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Describe the feeling. What are you feeling?
0:21:04 > 0:21:07Warm and fuzzy. Tender moments.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11Yes. It's got lovely views from the windows.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15This is the old part of the house which went back to the 19th century.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18- Yes.- They've been putting this great wooden floor throughout,
0:21:18 > 0:21:22and a lot of the materials are local to the forest.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24That's good, isn't it? I like that.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27And the fireplace is quite stunning.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30Yes, we'll see what comes next.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Come into the kitchen.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35Oh! Yes.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37It looks like a lovely oven there, doesn't it?
0:21:37 > 0:21:40- Fantastic range, that's for sure.- Yes.
0:21:40 > 0:21:45It's got a cottagey feel, but modern-ish at the same time.
0:21:45 > 0:21:50You've got the original flags here. Which are worth a fortune.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Is that right?
0:21:52 > 0:21:55So, you've got all the handmade bespoke oak cupboards,
0:21:55 > 0:21:59and this is all local oak, hand-picked by the present owner.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01And there is outside a sort of outbuilding. Again,
0:22:01 > 0:22:05like the last house, there's a small room for all the white goods.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07Right, OK.
0:22:07 > 0:22:12- Yes. It has a good feel.- It does, yes, yes. It's very interesting.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16You've said that word a lot. What does the word "interesting" mean for you two?
0:22:16 > 0:22:20- It means I haven't quite made up my mind.- Oh, good.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22- I'd love to see a bit more. - I'm afraid not, no.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24JOHN LAUGHS
0:22:24 > 0:22:25Come with me.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32This is all the new bit.
0:22:32 > 0:22:33This is the extension.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37Sort of garden room or a sitting room.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40And that sort of entrance into the garden...
0:22:40 > 0:22:43- Is lovely, with the trees behind.- Yes.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45Yes.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48Good. So far, not a grumble. Let's see what you think of upstairs.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51Upstairs there are three bedrooms,
0:22:51 > 0:22:54one less than our previous property,
0:22:54 > 0:22:56but they're all big enough for double beds,
0:22:56 > 0:22:59and there's a good-sized family bathroom.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02So, we come into the master bedroom.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Oh, this is lovely. Very spacious.
0:23:05 > 0:23:10Windows strike you straightaway and are very pretty indeed.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12- And size is good as well.- Yes.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16- Yes, it feels spacious, doesn't it? - Yes, yes.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20And you've got this very nice sort of walk-in wardrobe.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22- Oh, yes.- Oh, yes.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24And if you have a look in the bathroom,
0:23:24 > 0:23:26- this is a particularly good one.- Ah!
0:23:26 > 0:23:32Oh, this is a lovely bathroom, isn't it? Look at the shower.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Oh, now, that's what we're after, isn't it?
0:23:34 > 0:23:39Well, this is much more the idea I had in mind.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43The drawback with this property is that it only has three bedrooms.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46But let's have a look at outside, and the garden.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50As well as a double garage, the grounds include this large
0:23:50 > 0:23:54landscaped, terraced garden set into the hillside with a patio area
0:23:54 > 0:23:57with more flagstones, a vegetable patch and a pond.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03What are your first impressions coming out into the fresh air?
0:24:03 > 0:24:06I think the house looks really sweet from this angle, actually.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09Sometimes with the extension, it looks like an add-on,
0:24:09 > 0:24:14- a stick-on, but that is really working, isn't it?- Yes.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16I think this garden has a real wow factor.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19If you brought people here, they'd be like, "Wow!"
0:24:19 > 0:24:22- Yeah, I'd agree with that.- And how much would you think it all costs?
0:24:24 > 0:24:26I would say...
0:24:26 > 0:24:32probably about 360,000.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35I was going higher, 385.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38OK, well, the truth is a little in between.
0:24:38 > 0:24:43- It's on the market just a shade under 380.- Both quite close.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45So it's a fair package of land,
0:24:45 > 0:24:47of very nicely decorated gardens.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51But there is space inside that you haven't quite explored,
0:24:51 > 0:24:55- so if you want to have a pootle round inside.- OK. Thank you.- Yeah.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01On the market for just shy of £380,000,
0:25:01 > 0:25:05our second offering is still under John and Joy's top budget.
0:25:05 > 0:25:10It's a converted 19th-century former schoolhouse then chapel, retaining
0:25:10 > 0:25:14many of the original features, including stained-glass windows.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17There is a large dining room and separate kitchen
0:25:17 > 0:25:19and it has three double bedrooms.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22The rear garden is large and landscaped
0:25:22 > 0:25:25with views of the surrounding countryside.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28I love that window,
0:25:28 > 0:25:33because it's like the sun is shining in and illuminating the whole room.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36I think this house is intriguing.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38There's a lot about it I like.
0:25:38 > 0:25:43The immediate outside, the back of it, the rear of it,
0:25:43 > 0:25:48I mean, the look at the house itself, that garden is wow!
0:25:48 > 0:25:51Inside, I was warming to it
0:25:51 > 0:25:54the more and more I looked around.
0:25:54 > 0:25:59I love the way the stairs branch. Very characterful.
0:25:59 > 0:26:04And going into the master bedroom, yes, it really is stunning
0:26:04 > 0:26:06when you first walk into there.
0:26:06 > 0:26:11I think that the small rooms in the middle
0:26:11 > 0:26:14are very small and almost cupboard-like.
0:26:14 > 0:26:19It could be our home, but I think that we would have to have
0:26:19 > 0:26:25quite a change in our mindsets if it were to become our home.
0:26:26 > 0:26:31Anyway, that's our houses for the day. Let's go and rest and regroup.
0:26:31 > 0:26:32Good idea.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48It's the final day of our property search here, in Herefordshire.
0:26:48 > 0:26:49With a budget of £400,000,
0:26:49 > 0:26:54we are trying to find John and Joy a home to retire to.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58Coming up, we get more than an "interesting" at the mystery house.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01- Oh, this is lovely, isn't it? - Oh, wow!
0:27:01 > 0:27:02And I sample an aperitif
0:27:02 > 0:27:05made from one of the county's home-grown fruits.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07- That's nice.- It is nice, isn't it?
0:27:10 > 0:27:12It's apple blossom time here, in Herefordshire,
0:27:12 > 0:27:14on our second day of property shopping,
0:27:14 > 0:27:19but I'm not sure that day one really yielded much fruit for John and Joy.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21I think Joy, particularly, is struggling with
0:27:21 > 0:27:24the compromises necessary to get what she wants.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27And, of course, the mystery house is just upping the ante.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29We're really putting a challenge in front of them,
0:27:29 > 0:27:32because we could give them all the space that they want,
0:27:32 > 0:27:35but they're going to have to put some finishing touches
0:27:35 > 0:27:36on what's on offer.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44You know, of course, that the mystery house is always quite challenging.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46What do you think the challenge might be?
0:27:46 > 0:27:48Well, there's a range of options that have certainly gone
0:27:48 > 0:27:52through our heads. I wonder if we're talking ultra-modern?
0:27:52 > 0:27:58Yeah, we've already said that we don't want a project. So...
0:27:58 > 0:28:00Probably is a project!
0:28:00 > 0:28:03So I hope that it isn't too much of a project, if any.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11We're crossing back over the border into Herefordshire to find
0:28:11 > 0:28:14our mystery house and travelling to the village of Blakemere
0:28:14 > 0:28:17at the foot of the Black Mountains.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20It's ten miles from the historic market town of Hay-on-Wye,
0:28:20 > 0:28:23which is famous for its second-hand bookshops
0:28:23 > 0:28:26and annual literary festival.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Hay is naturally popular with tourists and that's
0:28:29 > 0:28:32one of the things I want John and Joy to bear in mind when
0:28:32 > 0:28:35I show them today's mystery house, as I hope it will challenge our
0:28:35 > 0:28:40retirees to consider a new business opportunity here in the country.
0:28:40 > 0:28:44A 20-minute drive from Hay-on-Wye, and we're here.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48This is a mystery and a half, this house.
0:28:48 > 0:28:53You speculated that it might be a modern architecturally designed property.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55- Anything but!- But it's not.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58Yes. It's not. It's a very old property, the oldest property we've shown you.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02It goes back to the 1640s and it was a cider house, like a pub.
0:29:02 > 0:29:06- What are your first thoughts? - That it's old.
0:29:06 > 0:29:12- It certainly has got character in spades.- Yeah. So far, so good.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15Joy, I can see that you're thinking deeply.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17No, I'm being Yorkshire!
0:29:19 > 0:29:20So far!
0:29:20 > 0:29:23Well, I'm actually not going to show you the house straightaway,
0:29:23 > 0:29:27because first of all, I'd like you to point out the beautiful garden.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30I tell you what, I love that bush there. I'm not sure what it is.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33- It's a Chinese tree peony. You've got a fantastic magnolia.- Yes.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35- I love magnolias.- Yes, yes.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38There's some beautiful trees planted in the garden
0:29:38 > 0:29:42- and you have an acre of garden. - Goodness me.- That's interesting.
0:29:42 > 0:29:47But the thing that makes this the mystery is not that, but through here.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50Our mystery public house comes with an outbuilding,
0:29:50 > 0:29:54- but it's one with a few strings attached.- Ooh!
0:29:55 > 0:29:59- Something is under construction. - Something is under construction.
0:29:59 > 0:30:00My goodness.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03Now this makes this property very unique, because bearing in mind
0:30:03 > 0:30:07we're ten miles away from Hay, one of the most popular destinations.
0:30:07 > 0:30:11- We love it.- But actually, what you have here is a really
0:30:11 > 0:30:16substantial second property in the grounds of your house.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20With access from the road and planning for a holiday let.
0:30:20 > 0:30:25Basically, it's being sold as the sort of planned shell
0:30:25 > 0:30:28- for a property that you would complete.- Mm.
0:30:28 > 0:30:32So when you said you don't like to do DIY, this is the challenge.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34- Ba-doom!- Massive challenge.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37- Well, that is the mystery. - It certainly is.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40- It is a mystery.- Yes.- Shall we go and look at the main house?- Yes.
0:30:40 > 0:30:41Let's do that.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44The current owners of the property believe that this half-built
0:30:44 > 0:30:50three-bedroom holiday let could make £500 a week at full capacity.
0:30:50 > 0:30:54But John and Joy are after a house and they need to fall in love with that before they could
0:30:54 > 0:30:58consider the business potential of our mystery property.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01And there may be some work to do there, too.
0:31:01 > 0:31:05OK, so this is... This is the old kitchen.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08Yes. Yes.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11Bear in mind that this is an old cottage and it's sort of,
0:31:11 > 0:31:13you know, has been kept sort of as it was
0:31:13 > 0:31:15so you've got the lovely black and white beams.
0:31:15 > 0:31:20- Which are gorgeous, I have to say. I do like...- And good head height.
0:31:20 > 0:31:24But I think this wouldn't be the room where you'd want the kitchen.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26- Ah! That's interesting.- Follow me.
0:31:28 > 0:31:35- This room, however...- Oh, this is lovely, isn't it?- Oh, wow! Yes.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38- This is...- Loving it. - This is lovely. Yes.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40My first thought was, you know,
0:31:40 > 0:31:43this would be a lovely kitchen/ dining room.
0:31:43 > 0:31:45I agree with you. Yes.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48- Actually, that could then be your utility room.- Yes.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50- You could put a big range here.- Yes.
0:31:50 > 0:31:54- And some, you know, some sort of sympathetic units.- Yes.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56- That could be rather nice, yes.- It would, wouldn't it?
0:31:56 > 0:31:59So the thing to remember with this property, however,
0:31:59 > 0:32:01- is that it's a Grade II listed building.- Ah.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03So that limits what one can do.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06It limits what you can do, but it doesn't mean you can't do anything.
0:32:06 > 0:32:07It's a great area.
0:32:07 > 0:32:12I mean, the actual size of the room is perfect, really, isn't it?
0:32:12 > 0:32:16There are two further reception rooms downstairs, a cosy living area
0:32:16 > 0:32:21with a log burner, and a breakfast room off the current kitchen.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24There are three good-sized bedrooms upstairs, all in the eaves,
0:32:24 > 0:32:29with exposed timbers and they all share a large family bathroom.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34This is the master bedroom.
0:32:34 > 0:32:39- A sort of classic cottage upstairs. - Oh, it is. Yes. Yes.
0:32:39 > 0:32:44- Beams aplenty.- Like it. Yeah. First feeling.- Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47It feels like a lovely little house in the sense that it's got
0:32:47 > 0:32:51- a good atmosphere.- Oh, it has. Oh, yeah, and this room, definitely.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55Yes. Well, you said you wanted something different from what you've got.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58- It couldn't be more different, could it, really?- This fits the bill.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01Our buyers have already said they liked the front garden,
0:33:01 > 0:33:05but there's so much more round the back, including a substantial
0:33:05 > 0:33:09lawn area, a summer house, and a large veggie patch.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11One acre of land in total.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16But there's still the price of the whole package to consider.
0:33:16 > 0:33:20What do you think it's going to cost? Clearly you're going to have to spend some money.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23Well, yeah. This is our big concern, really, I think.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25Well, I just...almost finding it impossible,
0:33:25 > 0:33:27but I know I have to give a figure.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30For it to come into budget with the sort of work we would need
0:33:30 > 0:33:35to do, I think the bottom line price would need to be 320-330.
0:33:37 > 0:33:42Yeah, I probably think I would go probably with 300,000
0:33:42 > 0:33:45and I know I may be a bit low, but that would give us
0:33:45 > 0:33:50a clear 100,000 to do the garden, the barn and everything else.
0:33:50 > 0:33:54This is, actually, I'm afraid, quite high in your budget,
0:33:54 > 0:33:57- actually, over your budget. It's on at 410.- Mmm.
0:33:57 > 0:34:01- I'm not surprised at that figure. - Yeah.- I'm really not.- Yeah.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04I suppose you have to factor in that it could be potentially
0:34:04 > 0:34:08- a sort of £15,000-a-year income. - That's right.
0:34:08 > 0:34:13Well, why don't you have a wander round because it is a sort of, you know, challenging proposition.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16- It certainly is.- Have a look upstairs and I'll see you at the front.- OK.
0:34:20 > 0:34:25At £410,000, our mystery house is slightly more than what John and
0:34:25 > 0:34:27Joy originally wanted to spend,
0:34:27 > 0:34:30but does offer them a potential income.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33It's a Grade II listed former cider house,
0:34:33 > 0:34:36parts of which date back nearly 400 years.
0:34:36 > 0:34:39The accommodation includes three large reception rooms
0:34:39 > 0:34:42and three double bedrooms.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44It's set in one acre of gardens
0:34:44 > 0:34:47and comes with a half-finished holiday let,
0:34:47 > 0:34:50offering business potential in the future.
0:34:50 > 0:34:55Very tempting. I've sort of fallen in love with it, I suppose.
0:34:55 > 0:34:59The more I think about it, the more I would love to be able to buy it.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03The barn was a huge surprise.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07But already, you know, within seconds, the old brainbox was
0:35:07 > 0:35:10starting to tick and think through, well, what could this mean?
0:35:10 > 0:35:12How could we do it?
0:35:12 > 0:35:15You know, it would bring about the change of life
0:35:15 > 0:35:18and the lifestyle that we are really after.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21I love the story of this house,
0:35:21 > 0:35:24the fact that it was a cider house
0:35:24 > 0:35:28and people came here, probably to enjoy themselves and have a
0:35:28 > 0:35:34lovely time and I think you can actually feel that within the house.
0:35:34 > 0:35:38I can see all the benefits of this,
0:35:38 > 0:35:42but I can also see potential stress as well.
0:35:42 > 0:35:48And I'm not sure that that was what we were after.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50OK, guys. That's done.
0:35:50 > 0:35:51All properties seen.
0:35:51 > 0:35:55- You head to the car, I'll catch up with you in just a second.- OK.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57Of course, we've been looking at properties through
0:35:57 > 0:36:02the lens of Joy and John's budget, but here, in Herefordshire,
0:36:02 > 0:36:04your money can go in either direction,
0:36:04 > 0:36:07cheaper or more expensive, and look what you can buy.
0:36:08 > 0:36:12For offers around £250,000, how about this traditional red brick
0:36:12 > 0:36:16Herefordshire cottage in the village of Portway.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19It's a detached property which offers four bedrooms
0:36:19 > 0:36:21as well as this sitting room with a brick fireplace
0:36:21 > 0:36:24and exposed beams and a long galley-type kitchen.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28For a little bit more, there's this four-bedroom
0:36:28 > 0:36:30property in the village of Broad Oak,
0:36:30 > 0:36:33which is on the market for £350,000.
0:36:33 > 0:36:35The accommodation here includes
0:36:35 > 0:36:37this sitting-room with tiled fireplace
0:36:37 > 0:36:41and wood-burning stove and a spacious kitchen-diner.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44The house also comes with this small paddock and stable
0:36:44 > 0:36:47and views of the surrounding countryside.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49Further up the price scale,
0:36:49 > 0:36:51the £650,000 could get you this
0:36:51 > 0:36:56black-and-white detached property and adjoining barn in Madeley.
0:36:56 > 0:37:00It has five bedrooms including this master with a vaulted ceiling
0:37:00 > 0:37:04and a large sitting room with an impressive inglenook fireplace.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12Herefordshire is perhaps best known as a food-producing region,
0:37:12 > 0:37:16famous for its apple orchards and beef.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19Its rich and fertile soils also make it a popular location
0:37:19 > 0:37:21for growing soft fruits.
0:37:21 > 0:37:2530% of the UK's blackcurrants are grown in the county,
0:37:25 > 0:37:30the vast majority sold on to make a well-known British cordial.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32But in these tough economic times,
0:37:32 > 0:37:35Herefordshire farmers are diversifying and some
0:37:35 > 0:37:39are using the blackcurrant to make something a little more potent.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42I've come to meet one of those entrepreneurs, Jo Hilditch.
0:37:42 > 0:37:47- Welcome.- Hello. So this is your family blackcurrant farm?- Yeah.
0:37:47 > 0:37:49- How long has it been in the family? - Four generations.
0:37:49 > 0:37:51Oh. It's quite an impressive field.
0:37:51 > 0:37:53Is this the only one, or do you have many?
0:37:53 > 0:37:57No, this is about 25 acres and we've got about 125 acres.
0:37:57 > 0:38:01The soil suits it, the weather suits it and the way the land lies,
0:38:01 > 0:38:04the frost runs away down the hills.
0:38:04 > 0:38:08Obviously, we're a bit early in the year, cos these are clearly... Are these just flowering?
0:38:08 > 0:38:12These are in full flower and this is really good flower.
0:38:12 > 0:38:13I mean, they're plastered with flower,
0:38:13 > 0:38:16but obviously, they've got to be pollinated and set.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19Do you suffer from the lack of bees, the much-talked-about lack of bees?
0:38:19 > 0:38:22Er, yes, but we've planted a lot of margins around the fields to
0:38:22 > 0:38:25encourage bees, so around every field,
0:38:25 > 0:38:29we've got two metres of margin that is unmown
0:38:29 > 0:38:32so that the wild flowers can grow up in it.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35So how many tonnes of currants do you produce?
0:38:35 > 0:38:39Depending on the season, something between 300 and 350 tonnes.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41We do keep a bit back for ourselves
0:38:41 > 0:38:44because we've diversified into making our own cassis.
0:38:45 > 0:38:50Cassis originates from France, where the blackcurrant liqueur is mixed
0:38:50 > 0:38:55with wine to make the cocktail kir, or champagne to make kir royal.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58Jo first came up with the idea of producing it herself after
0:38:58 > 0:39:02trying the drink when she was 18 on a French exchange programme.
0:39:04 > 0:39:08- So this is the bottling room. - Oh, it's very petite. Hello.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11And this is James, the juice master. James Moss.
0:39:11 > 0:39:15So James, what's the process? I mean, how do you make it from the...
0:39:15 > 0:39:18Well, once we've got the juice back from the press,
0:39:18 > 0:39:21we just ferment it with a champagne yeast and British sugar. That's it.
0:39:21 > 0:39:26Use a champagne yeast because you get a higher alcohol yield over a time.
0:39:26 > 0:39:30And are you the only er...cassis producer in Britain?
0:39:30 > 0:39:33There are other people who make blackcurrant liqueurs, but
0:39:33 > 0:39:36I think we're the only ones who make something that is actually marketed
0:39:36 > 0:39:41to be drunk with champagne or used as they use cassis in France.
0:39:41 > 0:39:44Before being bottled, the juice stays in the barrels for up to
0:39:44 > 0:39:49six months until it reaches an alcohol level similar to wine.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51And then, it's ready to taste.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56Well, here's to your alcoholic fruit empire.
0:39:59 > 0:40:00Mmmm!
0:40:01 > 0:40:02That's nice.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04It is nice, isn't it!
0:40:04 > 0:40:08It's good to see that diversification here, at least, is paying off.
0:40:08 > 0:40:09But now, it's time to find out
0:40:09 > 0:40:13if our house search has paid off and whether John and Joy
0:40:13 > 0:40:16are ready to embrace the move from the family home.
0:40:18 > 0:40:19Usually at this point,
0:40:19 > 0:40:23I have a pretty clear idea about which properties you don't like.
0:40:23 > 0:40:26I have to say, with you two, I have a slightly sinking feeling that
0:40:26 > 0:40:28you may not like any of them.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30Is that...is that fair?
0:40:30 > 0:40:33I think I can speak for both of us for once in saying that we
0:40:33 > 0:40:37- both loved the third property.- Well, there's a turn up for the books.
0:40:37 > 0:40:41The house proved a bit of a surprise, because as we were standing
0:40:41 > 0:40:47outside the front door, I thought, "This is going to be so small."
0:40:47 > 0:40:51But it actually turned out to be bigger than I'd thought.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54The views from there were absolutely tremendous.
0:40:54 > 0:40:58How lovely to live at the foot of the Black Mountains.
0:40:58 > 0:41:02- Now, what's happening next, because obviously, your house is pretty much sold.- We hope so.
0:41:02 > 0:41:06Seems to be, that's right. Close to exchanging contracts.
0:41:06 > 0:41:10I think we are going to think further about that third one.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12I mean, it has potential.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14It would be a lot of challenges
0:41:14 > 0:41:18and ones that we need a bit of time to get our heads around.
0:41:18 > 0:41:23- Do you feel that, actually, you want to leave Bournville?- Hmm.
0:41:23 > 0:41:29Yes. It's more than just a normal move.
0:41:29 > 0:41:34For us, Bournville meant a part of our lives when we had our family.
0:41:36 > 0:41:41We haven't got all our family now and we need to move.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44At the same time, we will be very sad,
0:41:44 > 0:41:47- so leaving memories behind is a double-edged sword.- It is.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50- Very much so. - It's very much a double-edged sword.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52We're only going to do this once, I think,
0:41:52 > 0:41:54so we've got to get it right now.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57- Well, it feels like we've given you a little shove.- Definitely.
0:41:57 > 0:41:58- I think so.- Towards the country
0:41:58 > 0:42:03and I hope that the rest of the journey goes very smoothly.
0:42:03 > 0:42:04- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13It's been a really interesting show because, of course,
0:42:13 > 0:42:16John and Joy are very excited about moving to the countryside,
0:42:16 > 0:42:19but I also sense there's great tenderness for the family home
0:42:19 > 0:42:22they're leaving behind in Birmingham.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25So I hope that we have ignited their joy for the beauties
0:42:25 > 0:42:29of Herefordshire and I hope that you'll join us next time for more Escape To The Country.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33John and Joy were very tempted by our mystery house
0:42:33 > 0:42:37and all that it offered. However, after careful consideration,
0:42:37 > 0:42:41they decided they didn't want to take on the holiday let.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44They've since moved into rented accommodation in Herefordshire
0:42:44 > 0:42:46and are continuing their search.
0:42:46 > 0:42:48And if you'd like to escape to the country in
0:42:48 > 0:42:52Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, England, or even further afield
0:42:52 > 0:42:54to the continent and need our help,
0:42:54 > 0:43:00then please apply online at -