South Devon Escape to the Country

One night, nearly 100 years ago,

the residents of this now-deserted fishing village

were forced to flee their homes

as their houses quite literally collapsed into the sea.

Find out why, and where I am, in just a moment.

Today I am helping a couple searching for the quiet life

find their perfect countryside residence.

The house hunt requires total concentration.

-I can see you're taking it in.

-Yes, we are.

-Very much so.

-Yeah?

It's about the only time I'm quiet.

And one property takes them by surprise. Were you expecting this?

-No.

-Not at all.

-Not in the slightest.

That's stunning.

Today, I'm in Devon, and this is all that remains from Hallsands village.

Now, early in the 20th century,

half a million tonnes of shingle were taken from this beach

to help construct the naval boatyard in nearby Plymouth.

As a result, the sea wall became unstable

and during a particularly ferocious storm in January 1917,

most of the village collapsed straight into the sea.

It must have been a truly terrifying ordeal for the residents,

as they had to clamber up the cliff to safety.

But these ruins do have a somewhat dramatic beauty

that you can see throughout this wonderful county.

Devon sits in the very heart of southwest England.

With Cornwall to the west, Somerset and a slice of Dorset to the east.

The county is the only one in England

to boast two separate coastlines.

The Bristol and English Channels flow above and below it,

with craggy cliffs and sandy shorelines found on both.

In 1951, the UK declared Dartmoor its fourth national park.

Its 368 square miles are a haven for wildlife

and an additional draw for both dedicated and weekend walkers

who come to enjoy the park's changing seasonal colours.

Agriculture and tourism are the county's staple incomes.

Countless herds of dairy cattle provide some of the raw ingredients

for delicious Devonshire cream teas,

many of which are eagerly consumed

by the 5.5 million annual visitors to the county.

It won't come as a surprise to learn the annual price tag of £286,000

for a detached home here in Devon is above the national figure.

That's 30,000 above, to be precise.

But those official stats, well, they don't reflect the true story.

Along the county's southern coastline,

well, it's home to some of the most expensive seaside real estate

in the whole of the UK,

which obviously pushes up that average figure. My advice?

Head inland to the market towns like Tavistock or Hatherleigh

and you'll find you'll get more for your money

and that's exactly what today's buyers want to do.

For the past 12 years, company director John and teacher Lynn

have lived in the town of Bromsgrove in the West Midlands.

Their busy careers have led to a work/life imbalance,

but with changes on the horizon, they've decided it's time

to head off to the countryside for a quieter lifestyle.

I've just hit the magic age of 63.

Lynn got offered the chance to retire slightly early.

We've been planning the move to the country for...ten years.

One of the principal things we're really looking forward to

is spending more time together.

Over the last five months, since Lynn started winding down,

and I'm desperately trying to wind down what I'm doing.

Knowing I've done 39 years and 122 days,

I feel it's time for me to have some "me" time

and share some time with my husband!

As a teacher, you do have to compromise

over time you have together,

so this is our time now and that's what we're going to do.

And their choice of Devon is due to a family connection.

One of the things we've always said we would do

is go down to where our son is, towards Plymouth.

Our son got married in February to a lovely girl from Tavistock.

We're quite happy to be near him but not exactly on his doorstep.

A spontaneous couple, the move will give them

more options for exploring the glorious Devon countryside.

I want to get another dog.

I just want to get out there, I just want to enjoy it.

The idea of just sort of loading a dog into the car,

loading a picnic hamper and say, "OK, where are we going?"

Yeah, and that's it. That says it, really.

We've got the picnic hampers ready.

They're hoping this change of pace

will have a knock-on effect elsewhere.

One of the things that's been neglected

over the last five or six years is my gardening.

I tend to be in the assisting gardener role,

I get told what to do and where to go and what to lift and move.

But my passion is growing plants

and I've never had the time over the last few years to go and do it.

And their list of requirements for the new home is very short.

We don't really want an attached house.

Apart from that...

-We're open-minded.

-We're pretty open-minded.

I like gardening, but I want to do it on a compact style.

I don't want two acres or five acres of ground

that we can mess around in.

But what we want to do is just go down and explore

and be close to our family.

So how much are they putting into their Devon move?

The budget for the move is £350,000-£400,000.

But we've packed up, ready to go.

We just need somebody to come and buy the house. Small detail!

I can't wait, I just want to go.

John and Lynn have asked us

to focus our search in the west of the county,

to be within reasonable distance from their son in Plymouth.

I met up with them in Devon

to find out more about their proposed relocation.

Well, John and Lynn, welcome to Devon.

You looking forward to the next few days?

-Yes, we are.

-Yes, we are.

So what are we looking for in this next house?

Because you have given us quite a blank canvas, which is unusual.

-Very flexible, are you?

-As long as it's airy.

Airy. OK, got to be airy. What else?

-Big bedrooms.

-How many bedrooms ideally?

-Three minimum.

-Yeah.

-There's only the two of us, plus...

-But we now have visitors.

Obviously going to get inundated with people once we move down here.

Apart from that, we bought our last house in four minutes, so...

-I can feel the pressure.

-No! None at all.

If it feels right, it will be right.

But that's good, if you know your minds, that's good.

It's the atmosphere when you approach and walk into the building.

What about a project? Interested in a project?

No, thank you.

I think those faces said it all, didn't it?

"No thank you, Nicki. No projects.

"We just want a lovely house we can move into."

We're hoping to be busy doing things outside the house,

not necessarily a project with the house.

-If it needs painting, fine, that's OK.

-We can organise that.

-Yeah. Purely cosmetic.

-Yes.

-Great.

Well, we have got the three, one of which is our mystery house,

-so shall we get started?

-Yes, please.

-Look forward to it.

Armed with a top budget of £400,000

John and Lynn are looking for a bright and airy detached property

with a minimum of three bedrooms,

a manageable garden for John's plant-growing aspirations,

reasonable distance from their son in Plymouth,

and with glorious views of the West Devon countryside.

Our three properties are very different

and will give them a lot to think about.

The third of which is the mystery house,

guaranteed to test even the most visionary of house-hunters.

But before all that, first on the agenda is house number one.

So, do you think you two are going to be quite compatible

when you're looking at properties, or will your opinions differ?

When we bought the house we're in at the moment,

we walked into this house, it was empty,

it was a three-storey house and we got to the top floor,

looked at each other and nodded.

And I said to the sales agent, "OK, what do we do now?"

And he said, "What you mean?" And I said, "Well, we'll buy it."

And he said, "What do you mean you'll buy it?

"You haven't even discussed it." I said, "Yes, we have.

"We looked at each other and nodded. That was enough."

You're both ready, I can tell. You're like coiled springs.

Ready to make the move to Devon.

My husband has his case packed.

THEY LAUGH

We begin our search in the village of Bratton Clovelly,

a rural community not far from the Cornwall border

around an hour away from their son in Plymouth on the south coast.

Bratton Clovelly is a pretty village of traditional thatched cob cottages

made from a clay, straw and stone mix.

Focal points of the village

are its Norman church and an authentic Devon inn

dating back to the 18th century.

On the fringes of the village is our first property,

a period detached cottage full of character features.

So, welcome to your first property.

It's a rather large cottage.

-That's really nice.

-It looks very nice.

Now, originally when it was built, around 1820, it was three cottages.

So three families lived in here,

but you'll be pleased to know it is just one now.

-First impressions good?

-Yes.

-Very.

-Yes, definitely.

-Very good.

You said you'd know pretty instantly, so, so far so good?

-Oh, very much so.

-Yeah.

It does have that very cottagey country vibe, doesn't it?

-Yes, it does, yes. Very much so.

-Yeah?

-Are you keen to get inside?

-Very much so.

-Good to go.

A great first impression, which is all-important

for John and Lynn who act on instinct.

Let's hope the interior keeps the wow factor going

with space enough for their visiting friends and family.

So, welcome to our first property.

As you step through the porch, you come straight in to...

Well, at the moment, the way it's been set up, it's a dining room,

but I would call it the first reception room.

I like the fireplace.

Well, the one thing you wanted was light and airy.

Cottages normally aren't light and airy,

although this one, it's pretty open, isn't it?

-Yes, it is.

-Yes.

-Very much so.

-I can see you're taking it in.

-Yes, we are.

-Very much so.

-Yeah?

It's about the only time I'm quiet, is when I'm taking something in.

You've got a large study area next door to us here

and then through here another reception room.

This is the second reception room.

I like the fact you go down some stairs.

-I like the room, actually.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Oh, yeah.

-This is an ideal-type living room.

-Cosy?

-Mmm.

-Mmm.

-And can you see yourselves in this room?

-I can.

-It is very big, considering it was three cottages.

-Three cottages, yeah.

-Amazing.

-And they've actually blended into one quite well.

-Yes.

You don't tell, you can't tell it's three.

So, back up the stairs, we turn through to the kitchen.

So you've got a downstairs cloakroom there

and then I would say a real...

Well, I would say a cottagey kitchen, but would you?

-Yes.

-Yes, I would. Yes, definitely. Cottagey kitchen.

Nice work surfaces over there. Got this area here.

-Now, what did you use to teach?

-Home economics.

-I think you've come alive in here, haven't you?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-Lovely range over there.

It's good space for a table. That's important.

The good news is we can open the patio doors

-and you can tend to the garden, John.

-Yes.

It's difficult to do when you're cooking.

-Do you do the cooking? Do you?

-A lot of it, yes.

How did you feel about this part of the cottage so far? The downstairs?

-It's good.

-We can live here.

-It's got potential.

-Yes?

-So it's a good start so far.

-Very much so, yeah.

Super, OK. I'll take you and show you the bedrooms.

So the downstairs gets the thumbs-up,

which is all very encouraging.

Hopefully we can continue the feel-good factor upstairs

as we head for the bedrooms,

all served by a traditional family bathroom.

-Oh, look at this. I like this.

-Yes, I like that landing.

I'm hearing very positive comments about,

"I'm liking this, I'm liking this landing."

I haven't even shown you the master bedroom. What do you think?

-Oh, this is nice and big, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-How many bedrooms did we want?

-Three minimum, four probably.

Don't care if it's got more.

Four.

-That's all right.

-Four bedrooms, all actually of a good size.

-And a family bathroom.

-This is a lovely size, isn't it?

All in all, this is a very nice, airy, good-sized room.

And having that extra bedroom, having the fourth,

does give you options, doesn't it?

-If you want...

-More catering, more people visiting.

-Not disappointed at all.

-That is a strong first start then, isn't it?

Oh, very much so. Yeah.

So we're going to head downstairs.

We're going to take a look at the garden, what else is around,

and also, I want you to start thinking about price.

-So, John, you lead the way.

-OK.

-We'll head outside.

Including the footprint of the house,

the secluded lawned grounds bordered by trees and woodland

total around an acre, including an apple and cherry orchard

and its own stream.

Well, you tell me. I'm not going to say what I think about this garden,

but just walking up here, it's all terraced.

What do you think?

Beautifully cared for, thought-out, where the planting is.

It's stunning. It must look beautiful through the seasons.

Very nice.

You've got that huge glasshouse there,

is that going to be right for your ferns and all your potted plants?

Alpines, woodland plants thrive.

Alpines in there, woodland plants, any of the shady spots.

You did say you don't mind

if it doesn't have a lot of garden, just pots.

But now I've showed you this...

What can you say? It's a stunning environment.

-Yeah, you'll feel at home here?

-Yep.

-Let's see if the price is ideal.

-Yeah, that's a tricky one.

I'm going to go to the top end

and say £390,000-£395,000 maybe even just over £400,000.

-So call it £405,000.

-£405,000. OK, John. Lynn?

I'm going to go £385,000.

The current asking price...

is £399,950.

-Yeah, I can understand that.

-So £50 change of your top budget.

-Can't wait to see the other two now.

-Yeah, this is only house number one.

No, I can't wait to see the other two now.

Why don't you go and have a tour of your own in private?

Don't forget to check out the orchard -

not often I can say that when I'm showing someone a property.

Take your time and I'll find you when you're done.

-Thanks very much.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

Coming in £50 short of their top budget at £399,950

this period detached cottage

gives them the bright and airy feel they're after,

along with four good-sized bedrooms, a kitchen/breakfast room,

extensive gardens, ideal for John's plant growing,

set in an attractive village location

and all within reasonable distance to their son in Plymouth.

The wow factor for me would be the kitchen.

I like the space in there so breakfast in there would be lovely,

but the actual real icing on the cake for me

would be the garden.

I think it's a beautiful space.

When I first saw the property, what I really liked

was the cottagey look from the outside.

And taking the overall impact of the house and the gardens into account,

I would say this is a very serious contender for us to buy.

Good living room, excellent kitchen, excellent size. Dining room was OK.

Sounding rather positive, all this feedback.

I like it when I leave you two on your own talking about our house.

-We don't tend to be negative people.

-That's good.

-This is only number one.

-Oh, I know. I can't wait!

-So you ready?

-Shall we hit the road?

-I can't wait.

-Going to drag you away.

-Yeah, good.

Thank you.

Sitting on the banks of the River Tavy

in the southwest of Devon is the market town of Tavistock.

The town boasts a raft of independent high-street shops

and a vibrant marketplace

encouraging enterprise from local food producers.

This ethos of growing local is no more evident

than at the walled gardens of Maristow.

Once a market garden for an 18th-century country house,

it fell into disrepair.

However, the site's fortunes have been turned around

thanks to garden designer and tenant Jenny Tunley Price.

And as Lynn and John have a horticultural passion,

we sent them to meet Jenny to find out how the local community

plays a role in breathing new life into this garden.

OK, and what are you planning to do here?

Well, I'm aiming to restore the garden to back to full productivity,

but to use the restoration process as a vehicle

for a number of community project.

So we've been working with long-term unemployed young people,

that project came to an end last year.

We're now working with groups of offenders

doing what they used to call community service.

We're working with a charity

helping people with post-traumatic stress disorder

and we're about to start working with school groups as well.

I can't let you leave without coming to get stuck in with us,

so if you'd like to follow me,

I'll take you down and you can give me a hand

-doing a bit of weeding.

-Certainly. Well done.

-Come on, then.

-Love to.

Jenny leases the gardens from the owners,

the Maristow Charitable Trust.

Once totally overgrown, the gardens are now clear of undergrowth

and Jenny hopes to restore many of its old Victorian features,

including the vine house.

OK, what are you actually going to grow in this patch?

This patch will...

I haven't quite decided, to be honest, but probably herbs.

But the general rule of thumb that I'm using

is that it's whatever you can't get in the supermarkets.

-Good idea.

-So, whilst yes, we are doing potatoes

and yes, we're doing French beans,

we are doing purple French beans, yellow ones,

borlotti beans, cannellini beans. You know, those sorts of things.

What are you going to do with all these vegetables

when you've grown them?

Some of them I'll sell here in a shop

and there's a couple of local pubs who want to take what we've got.

But most of it will go through Tamar Grow Local,

which is a social enterprise that I'm involved with

which does a number of things.

It helps set up community growing projects,

but it also acts as an honest broker for small producers like me.

Tamar Grow Local is a non-profit organisation

that supports local food-producers like Jenny

with outlets for the produce.

Jenny also plans for local students to learn about nutrition

and for the produce to supply local schools.

But a key element of this project are volunteers

involved in helping it to grow into a community hub.

So what do you think the volunteers get from this?

There's a wide age range of volunteers

and I think they each get something slightly different.

So those who are, say, students at the university

tend to be quite involved with green issues

-and sustainability agendas and so on.

-And the more mature ones?

The more mature ones, I think for them it's more the social aspect

and the feeling of giving something back to the community.

That seems to be the thing that they really enjoy most of all.

Making a difference in your own backyard

seems to be something that really appeals to people.

With the seed of inspiration sewn into our couple's minds,

it's back to our hunt for the perfect property

as our house search continues.

For house number two we head south to the village of Chillaton,

about a 40-minute drive from their son in Plymouth.

Set in a valley to the west of Dartmoor National Park,

Chillaton is surrounded by the stunning Devonshire landscape.

Although mainly a mix of 19th-century stone cottages

and more modern residences,

there have been dwellings here since the 11th century,

with some of its cottages boasting a mention in the Domesday Book.

In the heart of the village is house number two -

a converted property full of character, built in 1866.

So this time I've brought you to the village of Chillaton -

West Devon, Tavistock is about six miles away -

to show you our second house.

-What do you think?

-It's different.

Strangely, I can't wait to have a look inside it.

Do you like the stone? The local stone?

Yes, I like the stone.

You were both raring to go with the first property to get inside,

-how do you feel about this one?

-The same. Raring to go!

-Do you?

-Yes.

-Let's get inside it.

-Right.

The period charm of house number two

has certainly aroused their interest.

And as they are looking for a home with a spacious, open feel,

I am hoping to cover that base as we walk through the front door.

-So do come on in...

-Wow.

-..to a very small kitchen.

-SHE LAUGHS

Wow.

-I just said, "Wow."

-Were you expecting this?

-No.

-Not at all.

-Not in the slightest.

-That's stunning.

-Look at that gallery.

-It's fabulous, isn't it?

It's amazing.

That's the last thing I expected when we stood outside.

And it's fabulous that they've kept it so open,

with the mezzanine floor

looking out over the garden and the fields beyond,

-which we'll see a little bit later.

-The flooring is nice as well.

Now, the range provides the hot water for this side of the property,

-because this side can be used as a holiday let.

-Oh, OK.

You can look that door and use one side of the property.

This side you can rent out - in the high season £600 to £700 a week.

So if you wanted to, and I know you had asked for that,

but with this property you do have that opportunity.

-Bonus.

-Yes.

The open-plan living room/kitchen area has hit the spot,

with a gallery study,

it certainly gives them that bright and airy feel they're after.

From here, we head to the two downstairs bedrooms and bathrooms.

So, you have got a large double bedroom there

and a shower and toilet.

And then, in a way, you've got an en suite here

with a freestanding bath,

because I like to think of this as the master bedroom.

It's on the ground floor, but just check out that view.

That's lovely.

We're not getting excited about it, though, are we?

I don't tend to get excited over bedrooms,

because they're either big enough or they're not.

-Is it big enough?

-Yeah.

Great, because I have only shown you one half of the house.

Let's go back through that huge kitchen/dining area.

Let me show you the other half and see how it's laid out

and then you can decide which bedroom might be right for you two.

-Yes.

-OK.

So far we are getting a mixed reaction to the downstairs.

And even though it's designed to have a holiday-let option,

I hope they can also visualise this as one whole house.

So, bring you to the other side of the house,

where the family live when they are letting out that side.

You've got your sitting room here,

but you've got a second kitchen through there, which they use.

-Ah.

-Could make a fantastic utility room because it's huge,

it's got the original flagstones, and that leads out onto the garden.

Above us, you've got a further two bedrooms and a family shower room.

-So you've got four in total.

-Yes, we have.

-My inclination is to keep it as one...

-Yes.

..having seen that big "wow" kitchen.

-You wouldn't want to give that up, would you?

-No.

-No.

-No.

I'm not convinced the property IS totally wowing them,

but maybe the garden can add that extra dimension.

So, with our second property,

very different second garden, really.

What do you think?

-This one's a bit like my back garden.

-SHE CHUCKLES

I like this garden. I like the way it has been set out.

You've got the wild area here.

Obviously, it's been laid to lawn

and you've got the raised vegetable patches,

but what I particularly like, if you look over the stone wall,

you've got cows in the back.

-Yes.

-Beautiful view. You've got the local church up on the hill.

So, we need to get on to money, don't we?

Hmm. I'm going to go 390.

I'm going to say 450.

-John is closest.

-SHE LAUGHS

It's actually on the market for £425,000.

Had a feeling it might be.

The owner is aware of your budget

and is happy to negotiate on a sensible offer.

Mm-hm.

Has that changed your opinion? Because I'm not quite sure.

There's elements of this property that you love

and then there's other parts that...

-It's not quite working, is it?

-Undecided. No.

I think you two need to have another look around on your own

with that price tag in your mind.

-What do you think?

-I think you're right.

-Aw! Go on, then. Enjoy.

-Yeah.

This converted 19th-century stone house comes in over budget,

on the market for £425,000,

and gives them four bedrooms,

a huge open-plan living room/kitchen area,

a good-sized garden, an abundance of character,

set in a pretty village location

on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park.

I liked the outside of the property. I thought it looked interesting.

When you walked in, the kitchen,

that definitely had the wow factor for me.

As you go through the property, I think in some degrees

it wasn't as exciting as I found the initial kitchen.

I think this house is quite deceiving.

When I walked in I was stunned by the kitchen

and the general living area and the mezzanine of that area.

Going through to the rest of the property

didn't quite live up to the initial start.

I felt that the first property we saw

was a chocolate-box cottage in a lovely location,

this one didn't quite live up to the same high expectations

I think we got after seeing the first one.

-You could live with that view.

-I could live with that view.

-You two have picked the best spot, haven't you?

-Yes, we have.

We like class. It's a classy view.

It's fabulous, but that's it for today. Take you back now.

You've got a lot to think about, haven't you? A lot to mull over.

-OK.

-Come on.

It's day two of our property search in Devon

with John and Lynn from Bromsgrove,

who have £400,000 to spend on a new country residence.

Coming up, the mystery house leaves John lost for words.

-He's never speechless!

-I don't know what.

We've achieved it today with the mystery house.

I just don't know what to say.

And I learn the delicate art of shoemaking.

-So if you've had a bad day...

-Exactly. This is very good.

-This is therapeutic.

-It's very therapeutic.

Well, I don't know about you, but I thought yesterday went rather well.

John and Lynn were particularly taken with our first property

with that enchanting garden.

So let's see if we can go one better today.

Now, remember, they said we could show them anything

as long as it's detached.

Well, mystery house, bring it on.

For the mystery, we're heading south,

but leaving Devon, stepping over the border into Cornwall

to the village of Harrowbarrow.

Set in the glorious Tamar Valley,

it's around half an hour from Plymouth.

Before we reach the mystery house, I'm taking John and Lynn

for a stroll around the village.

So, we are nearly at the mystery house,

but I wanted to stop off here.

We have crossed the border into Cornwall

-but I think you two guessed that already, didn't you?

-Yep.

But the reason we chose

not just the house but the village to show you

was because of the community here.

It used to be a mining village.

I think the 1800s were the boom years, tin and copper.

Obviously, it's changed over the years,

but the locals have put a lot of effort in to keeping that spirit.

We've got a post office, there's a shop,

there's a school, garden centre.

There's even a community orchard.

I think that's the first time I've ever heard of that.

So far, we're getting a thumbs-up, aren't we,

for the location of the mystery house.

-Yes, yes. Two thumbs.

-Big time.

-Let's see what you think of the property itself.

-OK.

The mystery house will stretch their ability to keep an open mind

to see through its cosmetic quirkiness.

A converted Victorian property, it once was the hub of this community.

So, you have seen the village, now here is your mystery house.

-Wow. Look at that.

-Very nice.

That looks very unusual. It's quirky enough for us as well.

-SHE LAUGHS

-It's definitely quirky. On a scale of one to ten.

-Definitely a 10!

-We like quirky.

-Do you?

-Yeah, we do.

-Oh, we love quirky.

If you love quirky, you are going to love this property.

It's like stepping into another world.

-Really?

-Is it?

-It's so is.

It was a Methodist Church originally,

when it was built around 1842,

converted in the 1990s into a home.

Unique is the word.

-So, I know it was an open book with us...

-Very much so.

..you didn't mind what you saw as long as it was detached -

with stunning views...

This is detached with stunning views.

-I know, excited now.

-You're smirking!

-Should we start the official tour?

-Go on.

-Yes, please.

A great reaction to the pink palace

and I can't wait to see their faces when we get inside.

The main building was the chapel

and attached on the right was the old Sunday school.

-Oh.

-I have to say, welcome to your mystery house!

SHE LAUGHS

Now this is different. Wow!

Yes, it is like it's a scene out of a book.

That's where the altar originally was.

Obviously, it's been converted into the most amazing house.

-Erm...I don't know what to say!

-SHE LAUGHS

-He's never speechless!

-I don't know what...

We've achieved it today with the mystery house.

I just don't know what to say.

It has huge possibilities with a very good imagination.

I'm just blown away.

-We like him speechless.

-Yes.

We left him speechless. Let me show you the kitchen.

An amazing start and the mystery has left John lost for words.

I'm hoping that's a good sign.

So, I'm going to call this the doll's-house kitchen.

-Mm-hm.

-And it definitely is.

-It would be a great place for little kids.

-Yes.

Once you get past what they've done with the house

and why they have done the house,

-you can see why it would give you a great space for a kitchen.

-Yes.

Give you everything you'd want.

Through that door you've also got a utility room

and a downstairs toilet.

-Wow.

-This is a big space.

-Yeah.

-The whole downstairs is a big space.

You've come back to me now.

I'm getting a bit more chat now, aren't I.

-You were speechless at first, John.

-Shocked.

-Shocked, yeah.

-But shocked in a good way?

-Oh, yeah.

-Excellent, excellent!

Nothing negative there.

The downstairs is completed a study

and the old Sunday-school room, which we'll tackle shortly.

But first, we head to the bedrooms,

accessed via the raised dining-area staircase,

leading onto a stunning galleried landing.

With the owners having moved out, the house is only partly furnished,

really putting their imagination to the test.

As you can see, the upstairs doesn't disappoint either.

No.

-No!

-Colourful.

-Very. Yes, very.

There's a theme going on through this house.

So, this would be the master bedroom,

although you've got four in total.

And two bathrooms.

So, four bedrooms. That's quite a lot. You asked for three.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-You've got the option.

And, obviously, you've got the fantastic view through the window.

It is. I was just looking at that. Beautiful view.

It's a bit of a decorative project.

-Which is OK. I'm happy with that.

-Which is nothing, really, is it?

-I've still got more to show you.

-Have you really?

-Yes.

-Let's go then.

The landing leads us to another galleried staircase

at the opposite end of the property,

leading us back down to the adjoining Sunday-school room.

Going through into the Sunday school.

So when we looked at the chapel,

the building to the right that was attached - this is it.

-Oh, yes.

-This is where the lessons would have been on a Sunday.

-It's a big room as well, isn't it?

-Yes.

I feel like I'm on a film set.

My brain is on a maelstrom at the moment,

with thoughts about this one.

How do you put a price on something like this though?

Unfortunately, that's the question I'm going to be asking you

in just a little while.

-You can start thinking about that now, can't you?

-Yes.

I've thought of nothing else since we walked through the front door!

-Come out to the Mediterranean area.

-Oh, right.

John and Lynn are blown away by the mystery house.

But it remains to be seen if the work involved

is more than just cosmetic.

So how is this?

-Beautiful.

-Beautiful.

-Absolutely stunning.

You have a sun trap. An absolute sun trap.

And you're going to get the sun all afternoon into the evening.

-Just look at the Tamar Valley.

-Beautiful. It's stunning actually.

This is why we want to move to this part of the world.

You don't have really a conventional garden, but I can give you a view.

-And somebody else can mow that.

-Absolutely.

-But plenty of room for pots and plants.

-Very true.

-Perfect?

-Perfect.

-Yes.

Perfect. Well, can you put a price on this property?

That's a tough one. How do you value this?

-Who wants to go first?

-I'll go first.

I'm going to put you on the spot. Give me a price, John.

Probably 425.

I'm going to go for 405.

-Ooh, sneaky!

-And Lynn is closest.

-Ah!

-395.

-OK.

-£395,000.

-It's probably worth every penny of it actually.

-Have we given you something to think about with our mystery?

-Big time.

-Do you want to have another look around?

-Ooh, yeah.

-Yes, we would love to. Thank you.

-How long do you need?

-You'll probably need quite a few hours, won't you?

-Go and have lunch!

In all seriousness, go on your own, have a look around,

have a really good think and look at it through your eyes,

-what you would do to it if you lived here.

-OK.

-Yep.

-We will do that. Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

Our quirky, mystery Victorian chapel

comes in just under budget at £395,000

and gives them four bedrooms,

a massive open-plan living and dining space,

a large kitchen/breakfast room, bags of unique character features,

a delightful community village location,

with stunning views

of the glorious Tamar Valley.

-Just look at that view. Would you ever tire of that?

-No, never.

What about the lack of a garden, because there is none?

No, but you'd get all your pots in

and you could grow some bigger plants because of the sun,

the heat from the stone.

Oh, certainly could.

This property wouldn't have been one that we'd have considered at all.

But having been brought here,

it opened our eyes to other possibilities

and all the time we walked round, it just makes you smile.

At this moment in time

I'm feeling a sense of wonderment of this mystery house

that really started the moment we walked in the door.

So what was the altar at the far end, it just got bigger and bolder.

The mystery house to me has been absolutely superb.

It's been brilliant.

So, that's the tour of the mystery house over.

-You've got some thinking to do, haven't you?

-We have, yes.

-certainly have.

-Do you want to go and have a chat

and I'll catch up with you in a little while?

-That's a good idea.

-Thank you.

-See you in a minute.

We've shown John and Lynn our three properties,

but if you are looking in this beautiful part of the country,

there's still plenty of other houses worth taking a look at.

For the average budget, how about this Grade 2-listed

semidetached two-bedroom cottage in East Ogwell?

Thought to date back several hundred years,

this cottage is full of period character

and is on the market for £256,950.

If your finances can go a little further

than this four-bedroom barn conversion in East Allington

might fit the bill.

With vaulted ceilings, featured beams,

and an open-plan kitchen/dining area,

it's on sale for £350,000.

And should you hanker after single-level living

then his three-bedroom 1930s bungalow in the village of Hunston

is a lovely example.

Complete with its own pond

and stunning views of the Dartmoor National Park,

it has a price tag of £539,950.

Devon has a reputation for its thriving cottage industries.

Designers, jewellery-makers, wood and metal workers

have formed a strong creative communities in the county.

Today I have come to Moretonhampstead

to meet Alison Hastie, who for over 30 years

has used traditional methods to make leather footwear and fashion items.

Must admit - handmade shoes, quite unusual, quite unique.

Indeed, yes. I think there's only about

four or five different companies in the country

that make handmade shoes like this.

-Is that all?

-Yes, yes.

Alison, is it possible to see the whole process,

how you make a pair of boots, from start to finish?

Absolutely, Nicki.

You're going to help us and we're going to make you a pair.

-For me?

-Yeah, absolutely.

-Fantastic.

It takes between four to six hours to make a pair of shoes,

so we'd better get cracking.

Now you've got to choose what colour you want.

I'm a women, that's going to be difficult.

Some factory-made shoes

are comprised of hundreds of small pieces,

but I only need five per shoe.

Using a clicking knife, I score around the pattern,

starting with the vamp at the front of the shoe.

Once I have the ten leather sections,

those are glued onto a sheet of pigskin lining and cut out.

Right, now we are starting to stitch the shoe together.

This is the back strap and the two quarters for the side of the shoe.

-Yes.

-We're going to use this fearsome machine.

shoemaking techniques have changed little

since the Industrial Revolution,

with one person making a pair from start to finish.

Because years ago Devon was renowned, wasn't it,

for its leather and for its shoemaking,

but that's all changed in recent years, hasn't it?

Yes, I suppose linked to the farming,

you'd have a lot of leather.

And there is one amazing tannery left in Colyton.

But yes, every town of any size would have had a tannery

and many shoemakers.

Now to stick the uppers to the insole and sew them into place.

The soles are cut from a sheet

and attached with a rubber-solution glue.

So, it goes one on top of the other.

And this is the really technical bit.

So if you have had a bad day...

Exactly. This is very good.

..this is therapeutic.

It's very therapeutic.

The sole is then trimmed and we are almost there.

I'm thrilled. My first pair of handmade shoes,

and may they serve me for many, many miles in comfort.

I think they are going to make all the difference.

-Thank you so much.

-It's a pleasure. Thank you.

It's amazing to see a centuries-old craft in action

and I hope Alison continues to preserve this skill

for years to come.

I am delighted with my new footwear, but it's time to hit the road

and see if our couple have come to a decision.

Well, that's it for our house search with John and Lynn,

and I think we have two possible contenders -

the cottage, which they were very taken with,

and then of course our mystery house, the chapel.

So, I'm really excited to hear what they've got to say.

Well, John and Lynn, you gave us quite an open brief.

Did we surprise you?

Yes, especially with the house number three.

Let's start with house number three.

Impactful, I think, is the term for the chapel.

But did we get close? Because we walked around,

got some fantastic responses from you,

but I wasn't sure at the end whether it's a contender or not.

So you tell me.

Very much a contender.

I don't think I've ever been in anything

as remotely quirky as that in my life.

Downstairs was certainly unique.

The pink kitchen was a bit different.

-I thought that caught your eye, John.

-Oh, it did.

The lack of a garden was compensated for

by the Mediterranean sun terrace, which is just so multipurpose.

And when you've got the whole of the Tamar Valley to look at,

who needs a big garden?

So, a big thumbs-up for the mystery house, which is fabulous news.

-Second property, we discounted that one?

-Yep.

OK. But I have to ask you about the cottage,

because we started off very well, and then the garden -

I think we were all enchanted by that garden, weren't we?

One thing we loved about that garden

is the tiered effect the garden was put in.

And no matter which aspect of the garden you looked at,

there was always something more interesting to see

in the other corner.

And inside for me I found that the house itself

was surprisingly large inside.

With the dual-aspect windows, brought a lot of light into each room.

Upstairs I thought was good but the kitchen for me,

like a kitchen/dining room, was very, very nice.

So where do we go next?

We're probably going to have another look at the first one again.

We'll probably have a look at the pink palace again.

So we've got two to play with. Two second viewings on both.

I wonder which one you might go with.

-We'll let you know.

-Please do.

-Thank you both so much.

-No, thank you.

I've really enjoyed showing John and Lynn our three properties.

Especially as their brief was to find them homes

they wouldn't have dreamt of looking at themselves.

The good news is, they are considering two out of the three,

and, on a day like today,

well, life doesn't get much better than this.

See you next time.

John and Lynn have since been back for a second viewing

on house number one and the mystery house.

They like both properties

but are waiting until their house is sold

before they proceed any further.

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