North Devon Escape to the Country

This Grade 1-listed church which can seat just 30

is reputedly the smallest complete parish church still in regular use anywhere in England.

So where am I? I'll tell you in just a moment.

Today's show revolves around healing hands and pampered paws

as we help a couple and their dogs find a dream country home.

-This is really nice.

-Very nice.

This is... Yeah, it's lovely.

And, after polite feedback,

we find something to really ignite their passions.

-I think we could live here.

-We could. Will you stop crying then?

-Yeah.

Today I'm in the Exmoor National Park and this is Culbone Church,

which can only be accessed by foot.

Parts of the church are believed to date back to Saxon times,

but it has seen many changes, including the Victorian bell tower.

Long before Christianity reached these shores and even longer before this church was built,

Culbone was a centre for pagan worship and just standing here

you can feel it's a very special place.

Lying in the southwest of England,

Exmoor National Park straddles two counties,

with two thirds in Somerset and one third in Devon.

Officially designated as a national park in 1954,

Exmoor covers 267 square miles of woodland, farmland, valleys

and open moorland where native ponies roam wild

all year round, grazing the neatly patchworked fields.

This stunning landscape has inspired some famous romantic writers,

including Wordsworth and Coleridge, and today the park attracts over two million visitors a year,

generating some £85 million for the local economy and supporting 20% of the park's residents.

From the heart of Exmoor's wilderness, the countryside rolls towards 37 miles of rugged shore,

featuring some of the country's highest coastlines.

These sheer cliffs soar up to heights of 800 feet and tumble down to the Bristol Channel.

It may not come as a great surprise to learn that Exmoor

is one of the least populated places in England

with a small permanent population

of just 10,300 people living in 4,500 households.

According to a leading property website,

last year only 212 properties were bought or sold,

but they went for quite a premium.

A detached property within the national park costs around £321,000.

That's 20% above the national average.

However, there's nothing average

about the properties we've picked for today's buyers.

Let's meet them.

Three years ago, retired policeman Tim and his wife, Sue,

swapped America's east coast for the British south coast.

Returning ex-pats, they had spent 25 years in Florida.

But the call of the English countryside could not be ignored.

Although they currently live in this large six-bedroom, three-storey property in Bournemouth,

the plan is to find their dream home in the West Country.

I think one reason that we'd like to move from this house is it's a lot of house,

but it goes upwards. We'd like a house that goes outwards.

Although it's detached, we're quite close

and with three dogs we have to keep them quiet, which is not fair for them. So we'd like more room.

It was in Somerset where they first met,

so the area holds a very special place in their hearts.

What we would like to do is look for a property

in or around the Exmoor area.

We've looked at Lynton and Lynmouth and Barnstaple and a few places.

-We don't want to be too isolated. You know, be able to get to a town...

-And a pub.

-Yeah, a pub.

And leisure centre. We both do quite a few sports.

Sue works as a swimming instructor and Tim has a passion for t'ai chi.

In fact, the couple have a shared love of sport,

both as participants and as volunteers.

We used to do a lot of youth work with underprivileged children.

We ran a football tournament.

Just to keep these kids off the streets.

Such is Sue's commitment to charity,

Tim nominated her for the torch relay in the ultimate event -

the 2012 Olympic Games.

When I knew that I was nominated,

I never thought I'd get to run with the torch.

It was really nice.

To be able to give someone a moment like that is very special.

You deserved that. Oh!

They're clearly devoted to one another,

but they also have separate business ideas bubbling.

Tim is a qualified reiki master and yearns for the right environment to offer his complementary therapy.

Ideally, what I would like is a building outside the main home,

or a soundproofed room within it, that I could continue my treatments

and the dogs could do their thing.

I've always had an ambition to do doggy day care.

They spend a day and then go home.

All that's left is to ascertain the figure they're willing to spend on their new home.

The budget for our move is £450,000.

For the best chance of finding exactly what Tim and Sue want,

we'll be searching the length and breadth of the national park,

from Dulverton to Lynton.

And it's in Somerset over a cuppa and a biscuit where we meet up to get better acquainted

and to nail the finer details of their move.

Sue and Tim, welcome to Exmoor.

The sun's shining. It's beautiful, but it is freezing out there.

That wind is biting. So you currently live in Bournemouth.

Why move to Exmoor?

The reason really is our dogs.

We have three dogs and we just want more room for them to run around.

-More country living.

-Yes.

-Can't get more country than this park, can you?

-No, you can't.

What about the style of houses? We've got to get to the crunch here.

-Florida homes, I'm thinking big, spacious.

-Yes.

A three-bedroom home is fine. More is fine. We have six at the moment, which we don't need for two of us.

Nice kitchen, nice master bedroom. As open plan as possible.

If it wasn't, we'd be prepared to knock walls down to open it up.

-Open-plan, spacious properties might be quite hard to find in this part of the world.

-Yes.

-Yes.

I'm glad you said you were open minded.

We've got our work cut out! Remind me of our budget.

450, but we could maybe squeeze a little bit more

if it was the perfect property.

-You don't mind a little bit of a project.

-No, don't mind at all.

Good. I'm looking forward to this. Let's finish our tea.

We'll put on four more layers and get cracking.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

So for an absolute maximum budget of £475,000,

Tim and Sue are after a spacious house with at least three bedrooms that includes a roomy master.

They'd also like a large kitchen and potential for open-plan areas.

The property should also ideally cater for their reiki and dog day-care businesses.

And they need a big secure garden for their three dogs to run around to their hearts' content.

And our super selection of Exmoor properties includes some interesting conversions,

but I won't reveal each price straightaway. To finish off, we serve up the mystery house,

which could convert their country dream into hard cash sooner than they thought.

Our first property is on the Somerset side in the small hamlet of Exton, in the south of the park.

The nearest place to pick up essential amenities

is the rural moorland village of Winsford,

that has a Post Office and shop selling a variety of local produce

and a perfectly-thatched pub.

We're making a quick detour here

to soak up more of this idyllic Exmoor setting.

So, guys, this is a village very close to our first house.

The village is called Winsford.

You can hear the brook at the side.

There's eight bridges around the village.

The River Exe runs through it. It's mentioned in the Domesday Book.

That's how old it is.

We're in Somerset and this is one of the most sought-after villages.

There's three where people want to live or visit because it's so beautiful. Even on a day like today,

which is pretty cold, it still looks gorgeous.

I can imagine it being a tourist trap.

-It is just delightful.

-You wanted a bit of country life. Shall we look at the first property?

-Yes.

-So this is just on your doorstep.

And only two miles away in Exton, sitting in glorious countryside,

lies house number one.

-So take a look at your first property.

-Very nice.

-You like it?

-Picture postcard.

-It looks very well maintained.

In actual fact, this was built around the 1750s. Mid-1700s.

For a long time it was a school, certainly until the 1960s. And it was just one level.

In the '80s it was made into a house, an extension was put on.

So you do have an old property, but also the luxury of a new build.

-Yeah.

-Yes.

It's strange to look at a home that just has two floors when we have three. That's what's so different.

Yeah, it's that adjustment.

-It looks lovely.

-Shall we step inside?

-Yes, love to.

'This schoolhouse conversion is built of local stone from quarries in the surrounding hills

'and is in a wonderfully elevated position,

'offering spectacular views.'

Let's start with the kitchen. Always a great place to start.

It's compact, but it's very, very nice.

I think the butcher's block in the middle

-gives it something else.

-Yes, it does. I've never had an island.

She's always wanted something in the middle!

I can see the dogs racing round and round.

I love the floor, too.

It's light, it's spacious. You've got a utility room next door.

Access to the garden.

Let's see how this house flows.

So you've got a breakfast room here with views onto the garden.

-And then it flows through into your sitting room.

-Gorgeous floors.

-Yeah, lovely floors.

-Lovely colour.

The whole ground floor is lovely.

-You can just move without obstruction into every room.

-Yeah.

'It seems that we're doing well to meet our buyers' preferred open-plan style

'and there's more down here.

'A small ground-floor double bedroom with an en-suite shower room could be ideal for Tim's reiki healing

'and there's a further two bedrooms upstairs, making three in total.

'A good-size double is served by a sleek, contemporary bathroom and the last bedroom is the biggest,

'with its own en suite shower room.'

So your master bedroom.

-Oh, very nice.

-It's nice. This is what they've added on.

-Yes.

-OK.

-This was added on, I think, in the 1980s.

I know you wanted a large master bedroom, didn't you?

We just have a big bed. Seven by seven.

-You can get all the dogs on it with you!

-Yes, we could.

-That's some bed!

Coming from a big home to a small home,

it's that feeling of claustrophobia, things closing in.

It is a lovely home, though.

'The idea of downsizing in theory is quite different in practice.

'Our buyers seem to be struggling with the reality of such a shift.

'We'll see if the outside space is big enough for their three dogs.

'The garden is made up of two lawned areas

that wrap themselves around the property.

'There's also a large double garage approached by a gravel drive.

'Now to turn our attention to talking money.'

It's that time. Who'd like to go first?

How much is this on the market for?

-I'd say about 425?

-Right.

-Tim?

-I'm going to come in a little bit under that.

Not being disrespectful, but 395.

-Oh.

-I know.

-Who's closest? That's the question.

And it is...Tim.

-Currently on the market for 399,950.

-Really?

-You were very close.

-Wow.

Go and take another look around and I'll catch up with you. Enjoy.

'Some £75,000 under budget,

'on the market for £399,950,

'the first house in our selection is a schoolhouse conversion

'dating way back to the 1750s.

'It has an open-plan vibe to the downstairs accommodation and three bedrooms,

'two of which are en suite. Outside, the garden wraps itself right around

'and features extensive countryside views.'

When we first walked up the lane and I saw the house, I thought, "Beautiful home."

Hard to believe it was almost 300 years old. On the inside,

the flow of the house is perfect. I would give it 10 out of 10.

I love the flow. It's open plan, like we asked for.

The only thing is the garden is small and the whole idea of the move was a bigger garden

because we have the dogs.

Apart from that, it's a lovely house.

-Well, that's it. The tour's over.

-We enjoyed house number one.

-It was a good start. Ready for house number two?

-We're ready.

When you think of Exmoor,

the picture painted is probably one of vast, open moorland,

but trees and woodland are one of its defining characteristics

and vital in improving the local environment and natural habitats.

Around 12% of the land is covered by forest,

unusually extending all the way to the coastal shore.

These trees act as giant filters to clean the air and the water and, through photosynthesis,

absorb carbon dioxide to produce oxygen and wood.

Tim and Sue like to be actively involved in their community so we sent them to Birchcleeve Wood

to meet the park's Sustainability and Economy Manager, Tim Stokes.

He explained how Exmoor's woodlands

and the local residents are helping the area to become carbon neutral.

-Good morning.

-Morning.

-Welcome to Exmoor.

-Thank you.

Trees are very important to Exmoor.

If the woods get overgrown and dense,

you don't get as much wildlife or as many plants growing.

So by opening them out a bit,

managing them a bit, you not only get wood fuel or timber

which can be used for making things, you also improve the biodiversity.

For the carbon or greenhouse gas emissions

that arise through human activity in the national park,

we wish to make our impact nil.

What can residents do to get involved?

They can do a lot in their own homes by using energy more efficiently.

You could do things like install a wood-heating system,

wood pellet or log or wood chip.

Quite a wide range of technologies that you can install.

The benefits of low-carbon living include reduced energy bills and more money for the local economy.

Timber produced from the conservation management is not only sold off as fuel,

but used to maintain all the park's fences and signposts.

Walkers and residents aren't the only ones who benefit.

Local sculptor Matthew Crabb

creates his one-off pieces from sustainably-felled trees.

Where do you get your inspiration from for these things?

I started off really influenced by local wildlife, so I was doing owls

and birds, herons, fish, stuff like that.

As years have gone by, things have got bigger

and more elaborate. You've got a lot of control with these things.

What makes Matthew's talents so impressive is that he creates his intricate sculptures

using a chainsaw. He's demonstrating his skills today by carving an owl.

An award-winning sculptor, Matthew competes internationally

and is recognised as one of the world's leading chainsaw carvers.

We're not letting our buyers loose with the chainsaw,

but they can't resist a go with smaller tools

to sand and refine the owl's shape.

I hope both Tim and Sue have been inspired by the ecological and creative opportunities here,

but for now it's back to the house hunt.

For our next property, we're staying in Somerset,

but venturing a mile outside of the national park

to the large hamlet of Skilgate.

About five miles away and nestled in the hills of the park,

the town of Dulverton is the nearest place for day-to-day shopping

with a choice range of specialist shops and delis, cafes and pubs.

But just 15 minutes' drive away in Skilgate and boasting some incredible views

our second property is this delightful stone-built barn conversion.

-That is quite something.

-Yeah, lovely brickwork.

-It is. Magnificent.

-All that glass.

-Have you thought ever about living in a barn?

-Yes.

-Have you looked at any barns?

-Well, we've seen them...

-Online.

-But you don't get the feel for it.

-No.

-To be here...

-This is nice.

-Yeah, really nice.

-I'm liking this!

-Who wants to start the tour?

-I'm sure it will be amazing inside.

-Ready when you are.

Good. Come on.

'Converted into a home in 2003,

'the origins of this barn date back to about 1850.

'First impressions for Sue and Tim are hitting the mark.

'Let's see if we can keep up the positivity inside.'

Welcome to the kitchen/dining area.

-It's very nice.

-Yeah, lovely. Nice.

-Very nice.

-Lovely light room.

-Open-plan feel?

-Perfect.

Can you imagine yourself sitting here having supper, with the dogs? Is this sort of...?

-I think it's lovely and bright. That's what I like. All the light coming in.

-I love the floors.

The oak gives it a warmth.

Yes. We have that in our house. For the dogs again, that's good.

Let's continue.

'This property is laid out in an L-shape with this kitchen/diner and family room

'lying in one wing and across on the far side is a large separate sitting room.

'Sandwiched between the two wings is a study and utility/shower room.

'The study is a generous size,

'so this could be used for Tim's reiki business.

'Next up is the main living room.'

-So...

-Oh, this is great.

-This is very nice. I like this a lot.

-Yes, it's nice.

If you just look, you can see the thickness of the walls. Two feet.

-You can see how deep the windows go.

-It's a nice room. You've got that room and this is a snug-type area.

A room to watch TV in and put your feet up, have a glass of whisky.

I've got this vision of you two living in that part

and in the evenings retreating into here.

-Definitely, yes.

-A kind of pipe-smoking room,

-although you don't smoke a pipe.

-No, dear.

Not any more. You gave that one up!

Now, the last property

slightly struggled with the master bedroom.

-It did.

-Yeah, OK, let's see what you think of this one,

see how it compares.

'This property comes with a total of three bedrooms,

'including a spacious double room and a large single,

'both of which have use of the family bathroom,

'and I'm confident that this time the master will comfortably fit our buyers' enormous bed.'

So, how do you feel about this room?

Oh, yeah, this is nice.

-Quite something, isn't it?

-Yeah, it's really nice.

-A bit bigger than the last bedroom I showed you?

-Oh, yes.

-About twice the size.

-We'd definitely get the bed in there.

-Yeah, you're spoilt for space.

Got a huge master bathroom with a separate shower and bath.

-That's a bonus.

-Beautifully done.

It's nice. Again it's nice and light.

So, you wanted open spaces,

plenty of light, three bedrooms, big kitchen/diner,

but what else was on your wish list?

-Outside space.

-Important outside space.

-Shall we go and see what this garden looks like?

-After you.

'So far, we really seem to be doing rather well

'to deliver all the essential elements they've asked for

'and I've no doubt the dogs would be well catered for too

'as the property lies in a half-acre plot.

'The garden is mostly laid to lawn backing on to farmland and there's also a detached garage.'

Often with barns, you don't get any land as they're attached to a farm,

so it is unusual to get this much

and then you have that amazing vista.

-It's very nice. It's a nice property.

-It is very nice.

That's a lovely smile I got.

Let's hope we continue with that smile,

because I'm going to ask you the price.

I think...

with the open space and where it's situated,

and it's very unusual to have so much land, I'd say 450.

Right. Tim?

I'm going to go...

-I'm going to go 465.

-All right.

How would you feel if I said the asking price is £395,000?

-You're joking?

-Really?

-No way!

-Really?

-That is the asking price.

We're just outside the national park.

If this was inside the national park,

-we'd be much closer to your estimates.

-Goodness me!

Look at that lovely smile!

-You've made her day.

-I'm so pleased I haven't disappointed you.

-No.

Have another look inside, check out the garage and the study, potential there for your business.

-It's so nippy, I think I might come and join you! Off you go.

-Thank you.

-Take your time.

-Thank you.

Well, it really is a cracking property.

It gives them everything they want -

wide open spaces, lots of natural light,

half an acre and just look at the view.

Sensational!

Once again hugely under budget and on the market for £395,000,

our second property started life as a barn

and was converted into a house ten years ago.

It has a large, open-plan kitchen/dining and family room,

as well as a separate sitting room

and upstairs offers three bedrooms, including a grand master en suite.

Lastly, the plot extends to half an acre of grounds,

giving plenty of opportunity for the dogs to stretch their legs.

I could fall in love with this house quite easily.

It's warm when you come in, it's welcoming.

I get the same feeling as I did when we bought our other two houses.

We could easily settle into here quite nicely.

It's nice to find a house like the two houses we had before

and there's so much we could do with this house.

I think we could make this into a nice home.

Sue loves the property. She can see herself here.

She's already built a conservatory out the back.

She's really, really happy.

You could see that when she was standing in the garden -

she just glowed.

With Sue, that glow turns to tears eventually.

'So, it's a good sign.'

I didn't think we'd find something like this,

so I'm a little bit emotional.

-Tears of joy.

-You like the house, you like everything about it.

-Yes, I do.

-There you go.

-I think we could live here.

-We could. Will you stop crying, then?

-Yeah.

So, that's it. You've seen our first two houses.

-Are you pleased with what you've seen so far?

-Yes, we are.

-We've had a good day.

-Good.

-It is very chilly. Shall we go and get a nice, hot cup of tea?

-Lovely.

-Shall we get warm?

-Yes. Thank you.

'It's the second day of our property search here in the West Country.

'And, on a top budget of £475,000,

'we've been entrusted to help Tim and Sue

'exchange their Bournemouth town house for an Exmoor home.

'Coming up, we've got a different take on the countryside career aspirations in the mystery house.'

I think it's a great location. It's a great idea.

'And I'll be off the beaten track in the wilds of Exmoor National Park.'

Here in Exmoor we may have hit the jackpot with our second property.

We got genuine tears from Sue.

But so far, we haven't shown them anything with business potential.

But our mystery house, well, it has it in spades.

I'm just concerned it may be a step too far. Let's see.

So, we're on to our third property, the mystery house.

We got close with our second one.

What do you think we might be showing you now?

I honestly don't know what you'll show us,

because each time we've had a good surprise.

'Our final property destination

'is right up near the northern Exmoor coast

'across the country border into Devon

'where we're headed for the village of Brendon.

'About three miles away,

'the twin coastal villages of Lynton and Lynmouth are in an enviable spot

'where the rugged moorland meets the sea.

'The streets are lined with an array of souvenir shops and pleasant pubs.

'The mystery property makes the most of its proximity to this popular tourist hot spot on the coast,

'being just a ten-minute drive away on the rural outskirts of Brendon.'

So, here we have, Tim and Sue,

-your mystery house with blue sky behind.

-Wow!

What is it? LAUGHTER

That's a very good question. It dates back to about 1780.

It was run as a farm for many years, but for the last 50 years, it's been a very successful B&B.

-Oh, really?

-So, what's going through your head? You have discussed the possibility of having a business.

I think it's a great idea to either do a doggie hotel...

-People come with their dogs.

-Hmm.

-Or reiki.

-Well, with that thought in your mind,

-shall we step inside?

-Yeah.

-I'd love to.

'Rated four-star by an official assessor,

'the mystery bed-and-breakfast establishment is in a period property over three floors.

'Either side of the hallway,

'the two main reception rooms downstairs

'are given over for guests.

'There's a large but cosy sitting room with a wood-burning stove

'and a dining room with enough covers for full occupancy.

'The business averages around £55,000 a year,

'making around £20,000 in profit.

'But we'll come to the work side after we've seen the areas earmarked for home down a flight of stairs.'

So, through and down here...

-is the kitchen.

-Nice kitchen, nice size.

-Yeah.

Let me give you some geography.

We've got a huge larder behind us which, if you're running this as a B&B, is very important.

You've got a conservatory which the owners use as a private area.

I mean, the prospect is exciting, but we have three dogs

and we have to be aware that we need a bit of space.

'No fear, Tim, for space isn't a compromise in this mystery house.

'Currently, the owners' quarters are practically self-contained

'and all lie to one half of the property

'with their own exclusive flight of stairs up to a grand master and living room on the first floor.'

-So, up here, you've got the private quarter.

-Wow!

Your private quarter.

No guests allowed. Just you two and the dogs.

-Unusual.

-Yeah, very. Nice space.

There's a lot you could do with this up here.

It's a quirky, interesting house that's just full of possibilities.

I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the house. What we've seen so far is exciting.

'Up on this floor, there are also four letting bedrooms, all of which are en-suite.

'Two are comfortably-sized doubles, one with a bath and the other with a shower.

'The last two are smaller doubles, both with en-suite shower rooms.

'But I'm keen to show Tim and Sue what's up for grabs on the second floor.'

Right to the top of the house, you said you were used to three floors.

I've found you a property with three floors.

-This is nice.

-Yeah.

-This is nice.

It's a family room. You've got the double bed. You've got a single bed with another one you can pull out

-and your en-suite as well.

-This is nice.

-It's a reiki room.

-A reiki room.

-It could be!

-Exactly.

It could be. When you look around, it's all furnished for everything.

This property is being sold as you see it.

-Right.

-Everything is included.

All the sofas, curtains, beds, everything.

-We'd change it.

-Yeah.

We were already talking about knocking the two bedrooms through

-and creating bigger rooms.

-I turn my back for one minute

and you're already thinking how it would work.

If we didn't want to have a doggie hotel

and we wanted to keep it for ourselves,

-we could convert the two bedrooms.

-Yeah.

It could be a complementary practice.

I could even get a tutor to come in, other than me,

and run the reiki classes with people in residence.

-What a great idea!

-Everything would be here, the treatment rooms.

They could learn here, practise here and then go home.

And you're surrounded by the sort of countryside that people would appreciate.

-You're breathing energy here.

-On your doorstep.

-It's fantastic.

'I must say that this is all sounding very positive

'as the mystery house is generating both thought and feeling.

'With the house tour wrapped up, we're going to head outside

'and take a look at the all-important garden.

'In an enclosed courtyard, there's even more business potential

'with a range of single-storey outbuildings and stables

'which could be used as kennels for the guests' dogs,

'then the garden is split into various different areas

'with the perfect rural backdrop of open farmland.'

I would say, in total, it's got to be well over half an acre.

It does come with a price tag, but what is it?

I'm going to come in at 435.

I'm going to go higher. 465.

You are the closest.

-The asking price is £475,000.

-I was thinking you might say that.

It's right at the top of your budget,

but we picked it as the mystery, because it is an amazing property.

Yes, it is.

It has the potential to earn you income and that's the difference.

Yes, that's a fair price, given the location and the property.

Have another look around with that price in your head.

-Give me a shout when you're ready.

-OK.

-Thank you.

Right at the maximum budget, on the market for £475,000,

the mystery property is another 18th century option,

over three storeys, and run as a lucrative bed & breakfast.

The house currently lends itself to five en suite letting bedrooms

as well as a generous master suite.

The extensive ground-floor living areas

include a large kitchen/breakfast room, with separate owners' quarters

and the whole lot is in a prime position,

surrounded by beautiful rural Exmoor its very best.

I have to say I am excited by this house

because it just has a grand feel to it

and at the moment, I feel grand and I would love this house.

If we did take this house on, there is a lot to do

and there is a lot of potential for business.

We're in the prime position.

There's lots of tourists round here any time of the year,

even this time of the year.

I think as a holistic centre, this has just enormous potential.

At this moment in time, if I had to choose a house personally,

I would choose this one.

Have you seen enough, you two?

-Yes, thank you.

-How are you feeling right now?

-Excited.

-Confused.

On a scale of one to ten, how confused are you after looking at the mystery?

-Ten.

-Ten.

-I thought so. Let's go and have a chat. We can talk it through.

-Let's see if you've formed any strong opinions either way.

-OK.

That may be the end of Tim and Sue's property tour in Exmoor,

but there's still a whole host of beautiful houses here to suit all fashions and all finances,

starting with this 200-year-old, two-bed detached cottage in the village of Roadwater.

On the market just shy of £220,000,

it comes with a rustic country kitchen and a cosy sitting room with wood-burner.

A step up the property scale, located in Treborough,

is this unusual, three-bedroom, converted schoolhouse,

featuring an attractive hung slate frontage.

With an asking price of £325,000, the main house is currently unfurnished,

but the attached schoolroom is a far grander affair

with a lofty, open-plan kitchen and living room.

And locations rarely top the setting of this five-bedroom Victorian house on the River Barle in Dulverton.

Gleaming white against the green countryside and woodland,

the attached asking price is £650,000.

Inside, there's a farmhouse kitchen,

as well as a substantial sitting room

with the perfect view down to the rushing river.

'During my time in Exmoor,

'I'm being given the opportunity to explore the national park with tour guide Neil Osmond

'who has a unique licence to drive visitors in a four-by-four

'to those difficult but beautiful parts of the terrain that are really tough to reach on foot.'

-Great to meet you.

-And you too.

Before I jump in, I've got to ask, have you ever got stuck?

-No.

-Good. That's a positive sign.

-Ponies and stunning scenery, here we come.

-Let's go for it.

'Our journey takes us up and down the countryside, across moorland

'and through ancient sheltered forests.'

-It's so narrow.

-You're not frightened?

No, but I'm glad you're driving.

'Exmoor's cultural heritage dates all the way back to the Stone Age,

'but during the medieval period, it was used as a royal hunting forest

'and the grazing livestock here provided revenue for the Crown.'

-It's so striking.

-It's impressive, isn't it?

-So beautiful, yeah.

'Our first destination is Foreland Point, Devon's most northerly place,

'where the cliff-top heaths overlook the sea.'

My goodness!

-What a view!

-It's stunning, isn't it?

-It is.

'Throughout the year, it's the Lynmouth Foreland Lighthouse

'that commands these jaw-dropping coastal views.'

-Neil, this is a remarkable spot, isn't it?

-It's beautiful.

Look at the lighthouse hanging on to the side of the cliff.

Yeah, this lighthouse was built in 1900 and it was automated in 1994.

Now you can rent it out as a holiday let from the National Trust.

The views from the lighthouse must be amazing. What can we see?

This is the Bristol Channel and over there is Wales.

'Back on the road again and all the while I'm patiently keeping my eyes peeled

'for some wild, four-legged beauties.'

-So, Nicki, I promised you ponies.

-I know.

-And here we are.

-We've got a little foal up there.

-Sheltering from the wind.

-Have you any idea how many there are on the moors?

-There's a few hundred left on Exmoor and 100,000 worldwide.

-Does anybody own them?

-Yeah, all the ponies are owned by separate herd owners.

This year's foals, for instance, will be checked in October for their DNA and their bloodline.

So, all the farmers that have herds, that's the one day, hands on, when they look after their welfare?

-The rest, they're left?

-Absolutely.

They're left alone to look after themselves.

'The hardy but endangered Exmoor pony is Britain's oldest breed of native horse

'with a pure bloodline that can be traced back to prehistoric times.

'Our final stop is the medieval Landacre Bridge

'where for centuries shepherds have driven their livestock over the River Barle.'

This is a rather tranquil spot. We're nestled within the moorlands.

This is one of my favourite spots.

You come down the hill, you've got moorlands, woodlands, some farmland.

Then behind us you've got a classic, Exmoor medieval bridge

going over the crystal-clear Exmoor River Barle.

-You look at that bridge and you realise hardly anything has changed over the centuries.

-Absolutely.

It's as it was. It's fantastic. What a place to be!

Neil, what a great way to see the national park!

-Thank you so much.

-It's been a pleasure.

-Thank you.

My goodness, it's nippy here in Exmoor, but that's it,

our house hunt is over. Tim and Sue have seen all three properties.

Now, I think we got pretty close with two,

but let's hear what they've got to say.

We showed you three properties

and that challenge of finding open-plan and spaciousness and light and airy,

it was a challenge for us, but I think we got pretty close.

Two out of the three houses,

my impression was you really liked them.

-Would I be correct?

-Yes, yes, you're quite right.

Yeah, I think we both... We each liked one for different reasons.

Yes, we did.

Out of the two that you liked, an open, converted barn,

you had a good reaction there, tears of emotion.

The third one, very close to the coast...

If you had to pick one out of those two houses, which one would it be?

I've put you on the spot now.

-It would be number three.

-The mystery?

-Yeah.

It would be the mystery house.

It's a B&B. Whether we would continue with that, I don't know.

I don't know if I'd want to share that magnificence

-with anyone other than Sue and my dogs.

-I like that.

It was a great place, yes.

But so much so that you're going to have another look at it?

What's the next course of action?

I think we're going to have a look at the floor plans

and maybe contact the agent.

If we could get it at the price we wanted it for,

we would do it, because it's a beautiful, tranquil location.

-It's absolutely gorgeous.

-It is.

-Sue, Tim, thank you so much.

-Thank you, as well. It's been great fun.

It's funny, you know,

Tim and Sue asked us to find them an open-plan, light and spacious home

with a garden big enough for their three dogs to run around in

and that's exactly what they saw with our second property.

But when we showed them something very different,

we didn't keep to the brief at all,

they completely fell in love with it

and that's the magic of the mystery house.

Until next time, bye-bye.

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