0:00:02 > 0:00:04These spectacular standing stones date back 5,000 years
0:00:04 > 0:00:07and make up one of the most impressive
0:00:07 > 0:00:09prehistoric sites in Britain.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11Find out how they stood the test of time
0:00:11 > 0:00:15and which county they're in in just a moment.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35On the show today, I'll be helping two city dwellers
0:00:35 > 0:00:38break out from the limitations of their urban surroundings
0:00:38 > 0:00:41to find the perfect countryside home.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44We find an unexpected hazard to country life...
0:00:44 > 0:00:46I would worry a little bit
0:00:46 > 0:00:48about all the leaves falling in the autumn.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51..and romance is in the air.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53She could serenade you every morning.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00Today, I'm in Wiltshire and this is the village of Avebury,
0:01:00 > 0:01:03home to this extraordinary Neolithic site.
0:01:03 > 0:01:08It covers 28 acres and consists of this massive circular bank and ditch
0:01:08 > 0:01:11and then one big circle of standing stones
0:01:11 > 0:01:13and inside, two smaller ones.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16We're pretty sure that it was built for ceremonial use,
0:01:16 > 0:01:18but in the Middle Ages, it was almost destroyed
0:01:18 > 0:01:21when people tore down the stones out of religious fear
0:01:21 > 0:01:23and then again in the 17th century
0:01:23 > 0:01:26when they used them to build their houses.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29But its future is pretty much secure because since the 1980s,
0:01:29 > 0:01:32it is now a World Heritage Site,
0:01:32 > 0:01:36which means this mystical and sacred part of Wiltshire
0:01:36 > 0:01:38is safe for generations to come.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42Set in the south of England,
0:01:42 > 0:01:44Wiltshire is bordered by six counties,
0:01:44 > 0:01:48including Gloucestershire to the north and Dorset to the south.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53The long tide of human history sweeps over Wiltshire's diverse landscape.
0:01:53 > 0:01:59The chalk plateau of Salisbury Plain covers 300 square miles of the county
0:01:59 > 0:02:02and is home to the sarsen megaliths of Stonehenge,
0:02:02 > 0:02:05an instantly recognisable feature.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08To the south is Salisbury,
0:02:08 > 0:02:10described as a city in the countryside.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Its cathedral lays claim to having the tallest spire in England
0:02:14 > 0:02:16and along with its surrounding meadows
0:02:16 > 0:02:20was famously captured by Constable in his painting of 1825.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Other architectural gems include Wilton House,
0:02:24 > 0:02:27built over 450 years ago
0:02:27 > 0:02:30and home to the Earls of Pembroke since the time of Henry VIII.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34With such a wealth of awe-inspiring architecture
0:02:34 > 0:02:36set in timeless landscape,
0:02:36 > 0:02:38Wiltshire has it all for property shoppers
0:02:38 > 0:02:41looking for a permanent country residence of their own.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47Wiltshire has a very varied landscape when it comes to property prices.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Overall, the county's quite expensive,
0:02:49 > 0:02:53with an average detached house here selling for £290,000,
0:02:53 > 0:02:56which is £40,000 above the national figure.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59That said, within the county, there's great variety.
0:02:59 > 0:03:00So, in the north-east,
0:03:00 > 0:03:04around pretty little market towns like Marlborough or Pewsey,
0:03:04 > 0:03:05prices are quite steep.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08And then you head west towards Devizes and Chippenham,
0:03:08 > 0:03:10they become more reasonable.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13Then, if you head north up to the Gloucestershire/Cotswold border,
0:03:13 > 0:03:15then they start to climb again.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19So, where in this region are our buyers today going to choose?
0:03:19 > 0:03:21Well, let's meet them and find out.
0:03:22 > 0:03:23For the past eight years,
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Ian and Janet have lived in a flat in Brentford, West London,
0:03:26 > 0:03:30not too far from the airport as Ian worked abroad.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33But now Ian has joined Janet in retirement,
0:03:33 > 0:03:37they've decided it's time to fly from their metropolitan lifestyle.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41I've been a weekend husband for almost the last 25, 30 years
0:03:41 > 0:03:44where I've had jobs around the world,
0:03:44 > 0:03:46mainly the Netherlands.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49Today, I'm always planning. Where do I have to be next?
0:03:49 > 0:03:51Can I catch the plane? Can I catch the train?
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Do I have to leave now or five minutes later?
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Now, when I move out into the country,
0:03:56 > 0:03:57plus the retirement,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00it's going to be a far more leisurely approach to life.
0:04:00 > 0:04:05And the capital isn't always the ideal place to take it easy.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08This area doesn't provide peace and quiet.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12We have the Heathrow Airport and the aeroplanes going in and out.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14The roads are busy.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17You've always got to factor in time delays anywhere you go.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20I think the other thing also is the privacy.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23You know, although the flat itself is very private,
0:04:23 > 0:04:25but you're only private in the flat.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28As soon as you leave the flat, there's no garden,
0:04:28 > 0:04:30there's no space around.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33The need to be closer to family
0:04:33 > 0:04:36has dictated the destination for their relocation.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38We're looking to move out to Wiltshire
0:04:38 > 0:04:42because currently my son and his family are out there -
0:04:42 > 0:04:43my only grandchild -
0:04:43 > 0:04:46and you know, it's nice for us to be able to see them
0:04:46 > 0:04:49on a more regular basis than we do at the moment.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51So, I'm really looking forward to that,
0:04:51 > 0:04:54as you can imagine any grandmother would be.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56But they also have a daughter to consider.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00She lives quite close to us just now.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02She's getting married in October.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05We have to bear her in mind as well so we aren't too far away from her.
0:05:05 > 0:05:10Once out in the country, Janet wants to rediscover her passion for music.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Living in a flat, it's just hopeless.
0:05:13 > 0:05:14I play a flute as well as a piano.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17And of course, in the flat, there's no room for the piano.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20No, there's no room for the piano so that will be a big thing
0:05:20 > 0:05:22to be able to get the piano back again.
0:05:22 > 0:05:23And I can make as much noise as I want.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25I shall be able to shut myself away
0:05:25 > 0:05:27and probably even Ian won't be able to hear me
0:05:27 > 0:05:30if we've got a big enough house.
0:05:30 > 0:05:35And Ian's hoping a country house will help revive a passion of his own.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37I'm an avid collector of art,
0:05:37 > 0:05:40but a lot of it, there's just no room for it.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42There's not enough wall space, not enough floor space
0:05:42 > 0:05:44and of course, some of it's even garden art
0:05:44 > 0:05:46and of course, we have no garden.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48They've got other plans for the garden too.
0:05:49 > 0:05:50I would love fresh tomatoes.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54I would love another few lettuces if I could keep the slugs away.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57I'd love to just go out and pick a few fresh things from the garden.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59We've both got an interest in cooking.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01Yes, reasonably quality cooking
0:06:01 > 0:06:03and to do that properly does take some time
0:06:03 > 0:06:06and it's very hard when you're rushing around at weekends.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10All that remains to discover is the financial details.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14The budget for the move is £550,000.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21Janet and Ian are looking to concentrate the search
0:06:21 > 0:06:24within reasonable distance from their son in Swindon.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26Before we begin our property tour,
0:06:26 > 0:06:28I caught up with them on Wiltshire soil
0:06:28 > 0:06:31to find out a little more about what they're looking for in a new house.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Welcome to Wiltshire, guys. Very nice to have you here.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39I'd be quite interested to know a little bit more
0:06:39 > 0:06:42about the house that you've been dreaming about.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45I'd like a house that's got a large kitchen.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49I particularly would like a room/study
0:06:49 > 0:06:52to get away from Ian's football and golf
0:06:52 > 0:06:54and all sorts of different sports.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57- So you could do some of your music as well.- Oh, yes, as well.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59And then he won't have to listen to me either.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01- It's win-win.- Yes.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03I'd love a garden, really. The main thing is to have a garden.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05It doesn't have to be too big.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09Something of a manageable size that I can potter in
0:07:09 > 0:07:11and just keep tidy and just enjoy.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15You're both retired so what are you going to be doing to fill your days?
0:07:15 > 0:07:19I play golf very badly. I'd like to keep going with that.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21And we'd go out quite a bit, you know.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23We like to go out and do some dining,
0:07:23 > 0:07:25a bit of theatre, a bit of cinema.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28I'm hoping to get him out into the countryside a bit more
0:07:28 > 0:07:30to do a little bit of bird-spotting and...
0:07:30 > 0:07:32So, where in Wiltshire do you want to be?
0:07:32 > 0:07:34I know you need to be close to your grandson.
0:07:34 > 0:07:35Yes, that's correct.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39We need to be in striking distance of Swindon, really.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42Presumably not too close cos then you'll be on constant call.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- That's correct, yes. Not too close. - Don't forget our daughter, though.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47We need to be in easy contact with her as well.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Yes, we've got a daughter still in London
0:07:50 > 0:07:53so if we could get on a train and easily get into London,
0:07:53 > 0:07:55that would be great too.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58So, when you say striking distance of Swindon, how far?
0:07:58 > 0:08:03Um, well, within an hour's car ride, I think, yes.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05We've got three lovely properties lined up for you.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07Interesting ones.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09And I hope they are going to be to your taste.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12- Looking forward to it. - Good. Well, let's not hang around.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14Let's go and look at them. Follow me.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22Janet and Ian don't need to sell their London flat to finance the move
0:08:22 > 0:08:23and after some thought,
0:08:23 > 0:08:28they've also revised their budget to a maximum of £575,000.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32They're looking for three to four bedrooms,
0:08:32 > 0:08:37a large kitchen, a study to house Janet's piano,
0:08:37 > 0:08:39a manageable garden
0:08:39 > 0:08:41and all within reasonable distance from Swindon
0:08:41 > 0:08:43and transport links to London.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47We found three fantastic properties to tempt them with
0:08:47 > 0:08:51and I'll test their market knowledge by asking them to guess the prices.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54The third property is our mystery house, which hopefully,
0:08:54 > 0:08:57they'll take to like ducks to water.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04Before all that, first on our agenda is house number one.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08Have you two done much scouting around Wiltshire and the countryside?
0:09:08 > 0:09:12No, not really. We've done a little bit around Swindon.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15That's about it. I'm a bit unsure where I am just now, actually.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18- And I don't know Wiltshire at all. - So, it's like a mystery tour?
0:09:18 > 0:09:22- It is, really, yes. - I could take you anywhere.- Yes.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26So, you're not particularly wedded to Wiltshire as a whole?
0:09:26 > 0:09:30Other than its nearness to Swindon and its good train link to London,
0:09:30 > 0:09:32those are the key things for us.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34From that point of view, yes,
0:09:34 > 0:09:36but as a county, we've yet to find out.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39Are you planning, then, to commute back to London a lot?
0:09:39 > 0:09:43Not a lot, but you know, more than once a month, maybe.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45- Cos your daughter's there? - Yeah.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54For our first house, we're travelling to Durrington,
0:09:54 > 0:09:58a village to the east of the county an hour from their son in Swindon
0:09:58 > 0:10:00and around 10 miles from Salisbury
0:10:00 > 0:10:03with its direct train links to London.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07There's been a settlement in Durrington on and off
0:10:07 > 0:10:09since the Neolithic period
0:10:09 > 0:10:13and the medieval cross marks the centre of this large village.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16The village has grown in recent times,
0:10:16 > 0:10:18reflected in the mix of property styles
0:10:18 > 0:10:20from 17th century thatched cottages
0:10:20 > 0:10:23to farmhouses and more modern residences.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27In the old part of the village, we find house number one,
0:10:27 > 0:10:31a detached refurbished property sat in around a third of an acre.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33Because this...
0:10:34 > 0:10:36..is the property I want to show you.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40- Oh, very pleasant. - Very pleasant. Nice and clean.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44- Very quiet, private. Yes, lovely. - Yeah, nice.- Very nice.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46So, it's a 1950s house.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50We're sort of seeing it from the edge, as it were,
0:10:50 > 0:10:53because there's quite a substantial 1970s extension
0:10:53 > 0:10:54that's been put on the back.
0:10:54 > 0:10:55Let's do it.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01A positive if somewhat reserved reaction from Ian and Janet
0:11:01 > 0:11:03so let's hope the inside delivers
0:11:03 > 0:11:05what they're looking for in terms of space.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08There are two reception rooms on the ground floor
0:11:08 > 0:11:11and we're heading for the larger of the two.
0:11:11 > 0:11:12As you can see, the present owners
0:11:12 > 0:11:16have really kind of stripped everything back down
0:11:16 > 0:11:19to a very kind of contemporary feel.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23Yeah, nice. Nice plain colours. It looks good, yeah.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27- That's a wood-burning stove? - That's a contemporary log burner.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29It's a little bit smaller than I would have liked.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32But there's the second room next door
0:11:32 > 0:11:33so there's something to be done.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36Let's start exploring the back of the house.
0:11:36 > 0:11:37This is the kitchen.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43This is the much more spacious kitchen/diner.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46- Yes, this is nice. - This is really nice, yes.
0:11:46 > 0:11:47- Very nice.- Very, very nice.
0:11:47 > 0:11:52Lots of this lovely work surface and the sort of big, big island.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54So, the downstairs continues quite considerably
0:11:54 > 0:11:56into the '70s extension that way.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58There's a question mark over what you might do with that room
0:11:58 > 0:12:00so let's go and explore.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05The extension houses a conservatory, a utility room
0:12:05 > 0:12:09and an en suite shower room which leads on to the fourth bedroom.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13It's a rather unusual layout because you've got,
0:12:13 > 0:12:15at the end of this sort of long extension,
0:12:15 > 0:12:17this sort of garden room,
0:12:17 > 0:12:21which they're currently using as a bedroom, guest room.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Through there, you've got a sort of little office or walk-in wardrobe.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27It makes sense to either have this as a guest wing
0:12:27 > 0:12:29or to make it into more living space.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31Yes, probably more living space, I would think.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34Probably more living space. This is an ideal office-type area.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38- Is it whetting your appetite? - It's whetting my appetite, yes.
0:12:38 > 0:12:39We do differ a little.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42I like something a little cosier than Ian does.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44Let's explore upstairs. Then you'll know the whole house.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48Mixed reactions to the downstairs,
0:12:48 > 0:12:52but having seen the possibilities of the extension,
0:12:52 > 0:12:54I get the feeling they're warming to the house.
0:12:54 > 0:12:59Accessed via a landing, bedrooms two and three are both doubles.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02There's also a family bathroom with contemporary suite,
0:13:02 > 0:13:04including a double-ended bath,
0:13:04 > 0:13:07as well as another separate shower room.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09First, though, is the master.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12This one's got all the fitted cupboards
0:13:12 > 0:13:14and they're using it as the master bedroom.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18- Very nice. Yes, lots of storage. - Yeah, the storage is excellent.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21In terms of the upstairs living, I mean, some people like huge bedrooms.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23Is that a big deal for you?
0:13:23 > 0:13:26No, the only thing we need is a reasonable amount of storage space
0:13:26 > 0:13:28because we've got clothes everywhere
0:13:28 > 0:13:32so we need lots of storage space and this is ideal for that.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34- Yes, it is, isn't it? - Giant bedrooms is not our thing.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36It's an ideal room, this, yes.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39The enclosed, tree-lined gardens are mainly lawn,
0:13:39 > 0:13:43which hopefully should be enough for Janet's gardening aspirations,
0:13:43 > 0:13:47and include a patio area just outside the conservatory.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49So, you've got the garden that goes down there.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52It's a sort of steep bank here into what was an orchard.
0:13:52 > 0:13:53Well, it still is an orchard.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56- Oh, they're fruit trees, are they? - Mm-hm.- Yes, very nice, yes.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00I would worry a little bit about all the leaves falling in the autumn,
0:14:00 > 0:14:03the number of trees that there are in the garden.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06That's quite a peculiar anxiety!
0:14:06 > 0:14:08If you look how many trees there are,
0:14:08 > 0:14:10it will be a large number of leaves to be removed.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12This is true.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14How much do you think the property's on the market for?
0:14:15 > 0:14:19Um, my guess would be £565,000.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21I think it's a bit lower than that.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24I think it's about maybe £545,000, £550,000.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27OK, well, in this instance, your wife is the authority
0:14:27 > 0:14:28cos you are spot-on.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31That is exactly what it is on the market for - £565,000.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34It's only been on the market a couple of weeks
0:14:34 > 0:14:36and I think it's a very saleable property.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38It is. It's a lovely house. Very nice house.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41So, armed with those facts, why don't you explore the garden
0:14:41 > 0:14:43and actually upstairs as well
0:14:43 > 0:14:45and see whether this is going to fit the bill?
0:14:45 > 0:14:47- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50I think that's a very adequate first house.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52It gives them a lot of what they're looking for.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54Lots of space, lots of garden.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56Perhaps too much garden, too many trees.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00But otherwise, I think more than adequate.
0:15:03 > 0:15:08Our first house comes in under their maximum budget at £565,000
0:15:08 > 0:15:10and gives them four bedrooms
0:15:10 > 0:15:13with the option to utilise one as extra living space.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17There's a large, modern kitchen, two reception rooms,
0:15:17 > 0:15:20a manageable garden and it's all within a reasonable distance
0:15:20 > 0:15:24from their son in Swindon and daughter in London.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29I could see myself sitting here with a book
0:15:29 > 0:15:31and a bird feeder on the tree
0:15:31 > 0:15:34and watching the birds and it'd be lovely.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37Yeah, I just think it's too small and rather a nothing room.
0:15:37 > 0:15:38Then this would be a room for me.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42It really is a very impressive house. We liked it a lot.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44The big lounge is a little bit smaller than we want.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46On the other hand, there are two other rooms
0:15:46 > 0:15:48which you can make into living spaces
0:15:48 > 0:15:49which might compensate for it.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51The fourth bedroom, the spare room,
0:15:51 > 0:15:54that is a great, great space to play with.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57I do have reservations about the kitchen.
0:15:57 > 0:16:02Beautiful as it is, the layout is not quite as I would like it to be.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05Upstairs is perfect. Lots of bathrooms.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08It is a delightful house. A really wonderful house.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12Very good start. Gives us lots to think about.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17Come on out. If you pull the door behind you, Ian.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21We're all done. That's our first house. Wrapped.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23And now we're going to get in the car
0:16:23 > 0:16:25and drive across the county to our second house.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27- OK.- Follow me.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36Historically, Wiltshire was known as a malting county
0:16:36 > 0:16:39and it's one of the few places in England where malt is still produced
0:16:39 > 0:16:41using traditional methods.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47Malt is used in brewing beer and is produced from cereals such as barley.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50By the early 19th century, the town of Warminster
0:16:50 > 0:16:56was recognised as a malting capital, boasting 36 separate malt houses,
0:16:56 > 0:16:59the economic mainstay for those employed in the town.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01Today, only one survives.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05Warminster Maltings is Britain's oldest working malt house
0:17:05 > 0:17:09and mindful of Ian and Janet's passion for creating good food,
0:17:09 > 0:17:11we arranged for them to meet head maltster
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Chris Garrett to find out more.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17Welcome to Warminster Maltings here in the town of Warminster,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20at one time very famous for its maltings.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22Why were there so many malt houses in this area?
0:17:22 > 0:17:26Yeah, we were a very significant market town.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28Agriculturally, very important.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31All around us, we have malted barley fields
0:17:31 > 0:17:35growing the premium malted barleys in the country.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37Do you still use traditional methods here?
0:17:37 > 0:17:39Yeah, most definitely so. We do.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41We're using methods here that were used
0:17:41 > 0:17:44from the origin of the building - 1855.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46As the main ingredient in beer,
0:17:46 > 0:17:50malt is produced by germinating barley grain,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53a process which breaks down the starch into sugar.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57So, this is the barley that comes to us from local farms.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00It comes to us at 14 percent moisture.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03We now need to convert this barley into malt.
0:18:03 > 0:18:08The steeping process is the means of raising the moisture level in the barley
0:18:08 > 0:18:12to that which is desired for germination
0:18:12 > 0:18:15and it has to be carried out in this tank
0:18:15 > 0:18:18where the barley is held there for three days
0:18:18 > 0:18:20with three batches of water.
0:18:20 > 0:18:25At the end of that, not only will we have a moisture of 45 percent,
0:18:25 > 0:18:28but we'll also see that the barley is germinating.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34Stage two of the malting process is to empty the steep tank
0:18:34 > 0:18:36and transfer the grain to the germination floor.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41Here, an age-old technique called ploughing takes place,
0:18:41 > 0:18:45a chance for Ian to get some hands-on experience.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49Here we are. Be very careful not to bang your head on the low beams.
0:18:49 > 0:18:50Why do we do this?
0:18:50 > 0:18:53It's very important to ensure, as the barley germinates,
0:18:53 > 0:18:58it's heating up, ensure that that heat is dissipated.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00The plough will turn the barley from top to bottom
0:19:00 > 0:19:03and open up the surface area.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05How often do I have to do this?
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Well, three or four times a day, Ian.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13After resting for five days, the barley is now germinated,
0:19:13 > 0:19:17transformed into green malt.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21And we can see that the roots have developed little shoots
0:19:21 > 0:19:23coming down the back of the barley corn.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26This is now ready to be loaded into the kiln.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31The green malt is loaded onto a corkscrew conveyor belt,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33which carries it to the kiln
0:19:33 > 0:19:37which can hold between five and 15 tonnes of grain at a time.
0:19:37 > 0:19:42In here, we have the green malt that we've conveyed from the malt floor.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45It's dropping down from the main elevator now,
0:19:45 > 0:19:50filling the small kiln where it will be here for 21 hours.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54We're going to be applying lots of heat, lots of fan power
0:19:54 > 0:19:56and drying that malt at temperatures -
0:19:56 > 0:20:00anything from 75 centigrade up to 105 centigrade.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06This process stops the growth and dries the grain
0:20:06 > 0:20:09and by varying the airflow, kilning time and temperature,
0:20:09 > 0:20:13malts of different colours and flavours can be produced.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15The malt is then shipped off to brewers,
0:20:15 > 0:20:19but before they go, there's one more important job for Ian and Janet.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26- Thank you very much.- Cheers. - To your health.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28Ian and Janet have certainly got a flavour
0:20:28 > 0:20:30of Wiltshire's malting heritage,
0:20:30 > 0:20:32but for now, it's time to return to our house hunt.
0:20:36 > 0:20:37Onto property number two
0:20:37 > 0:20:40and we're heading north-west to the village of Nympsfield
0:20:40 > 0:20:44over the border into Gloucestershire and just under an hour from Swindon.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48Set on the path of a former Roman road,
0:20:48 > 0:20:53Nympsfield is within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57This pretty leafy village has two churches and a country pub
0:20:57 > 0:21:00and is dotted with traditional stone cottages.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03On the outskirts of the village is house number two,
0:21:03 > 0:21:08a Grade II listed barn conversion set on the edge of a courtyard.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12So, as you can see, quite a different offering from house number one.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16- Yes, it is, isn't it? - Completely different.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18So, this is the dairy, the part that I'm showing you,
0:21:18 > 0:21:23which is this half of these C-shaped buildings.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Well, wow, I think, really.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30- Well, it's very different to the last place.- Very special.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Can't wait to get inside and have a look at it. Please, let's go!
0:21:36 > 0:21:38With living space high on their agenda,
0:21:38 > 0:21:42I'm banking on the sitting room delivering the wow factor.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45Into the star attraction, which is this room.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48- Yes.- Oh, goodness.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50- That would suit you, wouldn't it? - It would indeed suit me.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53Yes, I think so. Lovely, big room.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56Log burner, underfloor heating throughout.
0:21:56 > 0:21:57Plenty of room for pictures, Ian.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00There's plenty of room and it's a nice, nice room to sit in.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03What about you, Janet? What are your first gut impressions?
0:22:03 > 0:22:08It's a lovely big room and it's actually sort of cosy as well
0:22:08 > 0:22:09if you keep the furniture in one end.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13OK, well, this is the main room of the property
0:22:13 > 0:22:16and off here on the right is the kitchen.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18Come on through, then.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20This is, again, a very different space.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22- Oh, yes.- Yes.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26It's designed to cook in as opposed to eat in
0:22:26 > 0:22:28and I think, to me, that's a big plus.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31There's plenty of cupboard space. It looks good.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34And there's still room for a chair or a couple of chairs
0:22:34 > 0:22:35or a small corner unit.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38- No, I like the kitchen. - Yes, I like the kitchen very much.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40Good. So, there's thumbs up for the kitchen.
0:22:40 > 0:22:41Yes, big thumbs up for the kitchen.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45So, one of the unusual things about this house is the master bedroom
0:22:45 > 0:22:49currently is on the ground floor so let's go and have a look at that.
0:22:49 > 0:22:50OK.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53The ground floor also benefits from a large hall,
0:22:53 > 0:22:56big enough to accommodate a dining area.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59So, more positives than negatives so far,
0:22:59 > 0:23:02but it remains to be seen if they will compromise
0:23:02 > 0:23:04on having a downstairs master.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06So, this is the resplendent...
0:23:08 > 0:23:10- This is lovely, isn't it? - It's a big bedroom.
0:23:10 > 0:23:11Yes, it is.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15- Makes the bed look small. - It does, yes, yes.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19And then you've got a sort of a bathroom in there - en suite.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21Oh, very good.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24I suppose my question when I was looking round it for you guys is
0:23:24 > 0:23:27there are only two bedrooms upstairs - two guest rooms.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30They use them as guest rooms upstairs.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34And my question is would you want to keep this as your master bedroom
0:23:34 > 0:23:37or would you want to turn this into more downstairs space
0:23:37 > 0:23:39and use one of the rooms upstairs?
0:23:39 > 0:23:41I could use this as my escape room as well
0:23:41 > 0:23:44because there is the seating in here as well.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47You could have a piano in your bedroom!
0:23:47 > 0:23:49She could serenade you every morning.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52I haven't actually looked round to see where else it might fit,
0:23:52 > 0:23:55but I'm not sure about you on the ladder, Ian, decorating.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57I think this is definitely a specialist job
0:23:57 > 0:23:59for the decorating, isn't it?
0:23:59 > 0:24:02- Larger than I would attempt. - You might get someone in.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Well, I'll let you explore upstairs on your own in just a moment,
0:24:05 > 0:24:07but let's have a look in the garden.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11I can see the cogs whirring as they figure out
0:24:11 > 0:24:13what to do with the huge master.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17Outside, the gardens come with an outbuilding
0:24:17 > 0:24:20and are enclosed behind a stone wall for privacy
0:24:20 > 0:24:22with views over the neighbouring church.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24Hopefully enough for Janet's green fingers.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30- A more modest-sized garden. - Yes, it is and perfectly adequate.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32This is the sort of size you're looking for?
0:24:32 > 0:24:34- This is perfectly adequate, yes. - Now I know!
0:24:35 > 0:24:39I could see some nice shrubs or pots round the outside.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42- You've got a tree for your birds thingy to go.- Yes.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45A walnut tree. Yes, you'll have walnuts all year round.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47What do you think the price of the property is?
0:24:48 > 0:24:50Now, I was very good last time,
0:24:50 > 0:24:52but I think you've got me quite stumped this time.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56- Would you like to go first, Ian? - No, I've got no clue at all.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59I would put it at about £495,000.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02I think that's far too low.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06Um, you know, it's still got to be up at the top somewhere.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08It's got to be up at...
0:25:10 > 0:25:12..£535,000.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14£535,000.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16Well, I think your wife has got her eye in
0:25:16 > 0:25:19because this is actually just a little bit under that.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21It's on at £525,000.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23So, if you go inside and have a look round upstairs,
0:25:23 > 0:25:25then we can meet out the front and take it from there.
0:25:25 > 0:25:26OK, yes, lovely.
0:25:30 > 0:25:35This Grade II listed barn conversion comes in under budget at £525,000,
0:25:35 > 0:25:38giving them a huge master bedroom,
0:25:38 > 0:25:41a very spacious and characterful sitting room,
0:25:41 > 0:25:44a large, modern kitchen, a manageable garden,
0:25:44 > 0:25:47within reasonable distance to Swindon
0:25:47 > 0:25:50all set in the glorious Cotswolds countryside.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54- This is a sweet room, isn't it? - Very cosy.- Yes.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56There's your sloping ceilings.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59Well, yes, I'm not keen on sloping ceilings,
0:25:59 > 0:26:01but you don't need...
0:26:01 > 0:26:03You know, there's plenty of clearance, really,
0:26:03 > 0:26:05as you come round here.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07No wardrobe, is there?
0:26:07 > 0:26:09So you'd have to construct that in here?
0:26:09 > 0:26:10Yes, yes.
0:26:10 > 0:26:15I've always really wanted something like this - a barn conversion -
0:26:15 > 0:26:19and this was just what I wanted, really.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21The lounge is huge, it's super-sized,
0:26:21 > 0:26:25the master bedroom is super-sized.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28However, we are lacking one extra room
0:26:28 > 0:26:32that would be a study which could be converted into a bedroom
0:26:32 > 0:26:36because we could not accommodate the family all together
0:26:36 > 0:26:37at any one time here.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40Unfortunately, I don't think this house would be for us.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44The ground floor is fantastic.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47It really is. Really nice.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50We could do lots of things with it. It's nice and spacious. It's good.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53The kitchen layout is really, really good. Really nice.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56The downside is the lack of storage upstairs.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01- Are you all done inside? - We are, yes, thank you.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03Very good. I'll just pull the door.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06Right, well, we're all the houses done for this day,
0:27:06 > 0:27:09but tomorrow is another one so we better get some rest and relaxation.
0:27:09 > 0:27:10- OK.- Off we go.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30It's the second day of our property tour in Wiltshire.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33We're with Janet and Ian from Brentford, West London,
0:27:33 > 0:27:37who have £575,000 to spend on a rural home.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41Coming up, we discover the basic house requirements...
0:27:41 > 0:27:44I like the sound of the spa and the swimming pool.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46..and I rediscover a hidden talent.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49It's been a while since I've laid bricks.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Day two here in Wiltshire and I have this growing suspicion
0:27:54 > 0:27:59that the sheen may have come off this countryside dream for Ian and Janet.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01There's a few things that Ian said
0:28:01 > 0:28:04about being far away from the motorway back to London
0:28:04 > 0:28:06and I have this feeling that he'd quite like
0:28:06 > 0:28:08to have a base back in the smoke.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11And although Janet is very keen on bird-watching and having views,
0:28:11 > 0:28:15she did say there were a few too many leaves on the trees
0:28:15 > 0:28:16out in the countryside.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19So, for the mystery house, we're going to take a bit of a risk
0:28:19 > 0:28:23and show them a property that allows them to keep their flat in London
0:28:23 > 0:28:27and gives them a countryside base with a lake view.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35So, bearing in mind that neither of you are very familiar with Wiltshire,
0:28:35 > 0:28:38what are your first impressions as we've been driving around?
0:28:38 > 0:28:42The countryside's really beautiful.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46The roads are not quite what we're used to living in London.
0:28:46 > 0:28:48And although the distances are quite short,
0:28:48 > 0:28:50the time to travel between them seems quite long.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53Ah. In the sense that they're windy country roads?
0:28:53 > 0:28:55Correct, yes.
0:28:55 > 0:28:57Yes, that is the perils of living in the country(!)
0:29:02 > 0:29:04We're staying in the Cotswolds with our mystery house,
0:29:04 > 0:29:07travelling east to Howells Mere,
0:29:07 > 0:29:11half an hour from Swindon and its transport links to London.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13Now, this is a very mysterious mystery house
0:29:13 > 0:29:16so I needed to bring you here to set it up
0:29:16 > 0:29:19because usually we'd bring you to a village,
0:29:19 > 0:29:22but this mystery house is in its own brand-new village.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27This is called the Lower Mill Estate
0:29:27 > 0:29:31and it's a huge development around the Cotswold Water Park.
0:29:31 > 0:29:36Basically, it's 550 acres of nature reserve.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38Oh, that would suit me down to the ground!
0:29:38 > 0:29:41- Exactly. It is bird-tastic.- Yes.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45And 400 acres of that will never be built on
0:29:45 > 0:29:47so it's a permanent nature reserve.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49One of the reasons we brought you here,
0:29:49 > 0:29:51cos it's a slightly unusual offering here,
0:29:51 > 0:29:53because we got the impression that, actually,
0:29:53 > 0:29:57there's lots of things about living in London that you quite like
0:29:57 > 0:29:59and, you know, in an ideal world,
0:29:59 > 0:30:01you might like to keep the place in London
0:30:01 > 0:30:04because there you've got lots of travel and stuff,
0:30:04 > 0:30:06but have a country residence as well.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09This is relatively close to London. It's 90 minutes from London.
0:30:09 > 0:30:13It's about 20 minutes to the motorway so it's good access.
0:30:13 > 0:30:17This is the slightly unusual part because these are second homes.
0:30:17 > 0:30:21- For a month a year, you have to vacate this property.- OK.
0:30:21 > 0:30:22But it does have this huge community.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25So, behind us here is the sort of village
0:30:25 > 0:30:29so there's a shop and a spa and a swimming pool and a sauna.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32I like the sound of the spa and the swimming pool.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35So, let's take our brollies and find it.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38Excellent. Good.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41The mystery house is a detached lakeside property
0:30:41 > 0:30:44of contemporary design over three floors.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47So, this is the house I wanted to show you.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50- Very nice.- It is very nice, yes.
0:30:50 > 0:30:54Lots of open space, isn't there? Nice view.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56We thought of you, Janet,
0:30:56 > 0:30:59cos you've got all these lovely sedges and brushes for the birds.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02- You've got swans, you see.- Yes, yes.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05- I could soon make friends. - You could soon make friends.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07Unfortunately, we're seeing it on a slightly overcast day,
0:31:07 > 0:31:10but, I mean, the whole point of this property
0:31:10 > 0:31:13is that it's got all this lovely outside space.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16You see all the balconies on the three levels.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18Can't wait to have a look inside.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22The property seems to have caught their eye on the outside,
0:31:22 > 0:31:24but it remains to be seen if it's the house
0:31:24 > 0:31:29or the thought of spending more time in their London flat that appeals the most.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32Nice to be in from the chilly summer air.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35Step into this lovely new space.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37Yes, very nice. Very light, isn't it?
0:31:37 > 0:31:39And you get a bigger dimension of space
0:31:39 > 0:31:41cos of the window going out that way as well
0:31:41 > 0:31:44so it creates an illusion of more space than there actually is,
0:31:44 > 0:31:46even though it is quite spacious.
0:31:46 > 0:31:47You've got the big kitchen,
0:31:47 > 0:31:49lots of work surface, granite worktops,
0:31:49 > 0:31:54all the mod cons, lots of light coming in from all directions.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56Can you see yourself...?
0:31:56 > 0:31:59Cos we were worried that it might not be cosy enough for you.
0:31:59 > 0:32:00Oh, yes, I could do.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02Yes, with the doors shut, the stairs are separate.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05Well, I imagine this would be good for your art.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08Yes, you could get the odd bit in here.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10- Yes, it would, wouldn't it? - Lots of walls to cover.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12I suppose what we're interested in
0:32:12 > 0:32:16is whether this whole idea of keeping the place in London,
0:32:16 > 0:32:18having this place as a sort of second home
0:32:18 > 0:32:21really appeals to you or would work for you.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24It does appeal, I think, yes. And it would work.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28We thought about it walking down and it does appeal to us.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32- I mean, a lot of questions to ask. - Shall we have a mosey upstairs?
0:32:35 > 0:32:37The first floor has three double bedrooms.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40Bedroom one comes with en suite bathroom,
0:32:40 > 0:32:43bedroom two has an en suite shower room
0:32:43 > 0:32:46and both have access to a lakeside balcony.
0:32:46 > 0:32:50A stylish family bathroom serves the remaining bedroom on this floor
0:32:50 > 0:32:52so they've got options here,
0:32:52 > 0:32:55bearing in mind they're after extra living space.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00- Very nice.- That's a cupboard to the right, I'd imagine.
0:33:00 > 0:33:05And each one has its own cupboard as well - wardrobe - built-in.
0:33:05 > 0:33:09- There's the landing to go with it. - Yeah, the lovely balconies.
0:33:09 > 0:33:14- So, there's plenty of sleeping space. - Mm-hm.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17You'd probably want to change one of these into a music room or a study.
0:33:17 > 0:33:21This isn't awfully big because there aren't any bedside cabinets in at the moment.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25We'd need to buy some small ones, wouldn't we?
0:33:25 > 0:33:29- Or you could use it as a study.- Yes. - Sort of a nice room to work.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31Because I think you might...
0:33:31 > 0:33:33Well, let's have a look. The room upstairs is very impressive.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37Up on the second floor is the master bedroom
0:33:37 > 0:33:40with an en suite walk-in shower room
0:33:40 > 0:33:42and access to the wonderful roof terrace
0:33:42 > 0:33:46where I'm going to see how accurate their valuations are.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48Can you imagine having a barbecue out here?
0:33:48 > 0:33:50Yes, it would be lovely, wouldn't it?
0:33:50 > 0:33:53How much do you think this is on the market for?
0:33:54 > 0:33:56This is going to be difficult.
0:33:56 > 0:33:58I've never seen anything like this before,
0:33:58 > 0:34:03but I think I would say £475,000.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05- OK.- I think it's lower than that.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07- I think it's near the £460,000 mark. - £460,000?
0:34:07 > 0:34:10Well, you're both quite out.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12This is actually on the market for £540,000.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15- Wow.- £540,000. Whoa!
0:34:15 > 0:34:20So, that is the price for a Cotswold Water Park second home.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22So, why don't you have a look around?
0:34:22 > 0:34:24cos there are rooms downstairs
0:34:24 > 0:34:26and you might now, having seen the upstairs room,
0:34:26 > 0:34:28want to configure what you might do downstairs
0:34:28 > 0:34:31and I'll see you right at the bottom and we'll take it from there.
0:34:33 > 0:34:35Oh, that's a jolly good mystery house
0:34:35 > 0:34:39because it offers all sorts of things in terms of a second home,
0:34:39 > 0:34:44keeping the London flat, keeping options open,
0:34:44 > 0:34:47but judging by their guess of their price,
0:34:47 > 0:34:51I think it might be more expensive than they thought.
0:34:53 > 0:34:59The stylish mystery lakeside property comes in under budget at £540,000
0:34:59 > 0:35:01and gives them four bedrooms,
0:35:01 > 0:35:04one possibly to use as Janet's piano room,
0:35:04 > 0:35:06a spacious, open plan living area,
0:35:06 > 0:35:10a decent-sized kitchen, a wonderful roof terrace
0:35:10 > 0:35:13all within reasonable distance to Swindon and London.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18Location-wise, we're sort of 90 minutes from London
0:35:18 > 0:35:20and 30 minutes from Swindon.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22It couldn't be better.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26It's light, it's airy and it's perfect.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28The downstairs is just perfect.
0:35:28 > 0:35:32The bedrooms are not very big. There's not a lot of storage.
0:35:32 > 0:35:33There are some built-in wardrobes,
0:35:33 > 0:35:36but the bedrooms themselves are quite small.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39First impressions - great place, love to be here,
0:35:39 > 0:35:40good for the bird-spotting,
0:35:40 > 0:35:43loved the idea of the pool - heated pool - and stuff.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46We've still got a minor issue on space -
0:35:46 > 0:35:48where we're going to put some stuff.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50There's lots of things in here we like
0:35:50 > 0:35:52and I think there's no doubt about it
0:35:52 > 0:35:55that it's an area we will definitely be exploring a bit further.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59So, with that rather unusual offering, you guys are done.
0:35:59 > 0:36:03If you head to the car, I'll catch up with you in a second.
0:36:03 > 0:36:06Obviously, Ian and Janet have a quite specific brief
0:36:06 > 0:36:09and specific budget, but Wiltshire has lots to offer.
0:36:09 > 0:36:10Take a look.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15If you're looking for a home that's thatched and detached,
0:36:15 > 0:36:18this three-bedroom property in Broad Town might be the ticket.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21With all the character features you'd expect from a country cottage,
0:36:21 > 0:36:26it should suit the average budget - on the market for £295,000.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30With a budget that stretches a little further,
0:36:30 > 0:36:33this three-bedroom renovated cottage in Sutton Benger
0:36:33 > 0:36:36provides a mix of contemporary and period features.
0:36:36 > 0:36:41It offers stacks of character and it's on sale for £449,000.
0:36:41 > 0:36:43And if you're after a property
0:36:43 > 0:36:46that's right in the heart of the countryside,
0:36:46 > 0:36:49then a barn conversion like this three-bedroom example
0:36:49 > 0:36:52in Winterbourne, Monkton, might be up your street.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55With a stylish contemporary interior,
0:36:55 > 0:37:00it overlooks the village church and has a price tag of £675,000.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09The Industrial Revolution saw a golden age of canal construction
0:37:09 > 0:37:11between the 18th and 19th century.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14One such canal, the Wiltshire and Berkshire,
0:37:14 > 0:37:16opened in 1810.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18However, the onset of the railways led to its decline
0:37:18 > 0:37:22and by 1914, it was declared abandoned.
0:37:22 > 0:37:2635 years ago, a group now known as the Canal Trust
0:37:26 > 0:37:29formed to tackle the dilapidated canals.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31With the help of volunteers and the local community,
0:37:31 > 0:37:35the trust is fully committed to returning this historic waterway
0:37:35 > 0:37:37back into a navigable state.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42I've come to meet the trust's company secretary, Chris Coyle,
0:37:42 > 0:37:44to find out more about the Wiltshire side
0:37:44 > 0:37:46of this epic restoration project.
0:37:47 > 0:37:52This canal was built to connect the Thames and Severn up at Cricklade
0:37:52 > 0:37:54and the River Thames at Abingdon
0:37:54 > 0:37:58with the Kennet and Avon Canal down at Semington.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01We've got about 10 percent of it in water so far.
0:38:01 > 0:38:02So, the total length is about 70 miles
0:38:02 > 0:38:05so we've got about seven miles in water.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08- But still another 63 to do. - Yeah, and we're working hard on it.
0:38:08 > 0:38:10We need lots of support and lots of members.
0:38:10 > 0:38:12What's going on in this particular stretch?
0:38:12 > 0:38:16Well, this is a very important site. What we've got here is three locks.
0:38:16 > 0:38:18We've got a dry-dock, we've got a salt pit
0:38:18 > 0:38:20and we've got a maintenance yard
0:38:20 > 0:38:22and we've applied for planning permission
0:38:22 > 0:38:25to restore all of these as an education and resource centre.
0:38:26 > 0:38:30A restored canal would be extremely valuable to the county.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34The Kennet and Avon Canal is worth £25 million to the Wiltshire economy
0:38:34 > 0:38:37through tourism and employment
0:38:37 > 0:38:41so the trust's work is vitally important to the community.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43So, now we're moving on to this new section
0:38:43 > 0:38:46where we've got the three locks to restore -
0:38:46 > 0:38:51this lovely original dry-dock, which we're standing in, to work on.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53So, this is where they'd bring in the boats to...?
0:38:53 > 0:38:54To repair them.
0:38:54 > 0:38:56I'm assuming that with 100 years of use,
0:38:56 > 0:38:59there must be quite detailed maps of the canals.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03Sadly not. We've lost all records from the original canal company.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05What we do have is the Ordnance Survey maps
0:39:05 > 0:39:08that they started producing in the 19th century
0:39:08 > 0:39:11and we've got our own drawings and engineering drawings now
0:39:11 > 0:39:14so our engineers have got to do some detective work
0:39:14 > 0:39:16to work out what things look like,
0:39:16 > 0:39:20how they worked and what the engineering was behind it
0:39:20 > 0:39:22and then we try to reproduce that.
0:39:23 > 0:39:27From day one, a vital part of this project has been the volunteers,
0:39:27 > 0:39:29without whom the restoration work wouldn't happen.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31A scheme like this doesn't come cheap
0:39:31 > 0:39:34so the need to involve the community in fundraising
0:39:34 > 0:39:37as well as seeking business partners is key.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40So, who and what is going on here?
0:39:40 > 0:39:42Well, this is Kath Hatton who is our fundraising director.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44- Lovely to meet you.- Hello.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47- You don't get any fundraising from the government, do you?- No, we don't.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51No, we have to raise everything ourselves through our membership
0:39:51 > 0:39:55and through donations and through applying for small grants
0:39:55 > 0:39:57and local landfill tax credits,
0:39:57 > 0:40:00which has given us quite a bit of money.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02I feel like I need to make some symbolic...
0:40:02 > 0:40:05Yeah, we're not going to let you go without you actually doing something
0:40:05 > 0:40:06to contribute to the canal.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09What we're doing is just repairing the wharf wall that we built.
0:40:18 > 0:40:19Well, that looks pretty good.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22It's been a while since I've laid bricks(!)
0:40:22 > 0:40:24It's an amazing job they're doing here,
0:40:24 > 0:40:28preserving the country's industrial heritage for generations to come.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33Now to return to the property hunt and catch up with our buyers.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40Time to find out what Ian and Janet think
0:40:40 > 0:40:42about all these properties we've been showing them.
0:40:42 > 0:40:44I'm not entirely sure what their response is.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47I think the mystery house did open up the possibility
0:40:47 > 0:40:49of having the flat in London
0:40:49 > 0:40:51and having a second home in the countryside,
0:40:51 > 0:40:54but I'm not sure that house is exactly the one they want.
0:40:54 > 0:40:55Let's find out.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05So, it seems to me that the first two houses didn't quite fit the bill,
0:41:05 > 0:41:08but the mystery seemed to throw up some ideas.
0:41:08 > 0:41:09Yes, you're quite right.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13We found the mystery house a far more interesting possibility.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16What do you feel about this idea of hanging onto the London place
0:41:16 > 0:41:20and having a sort of second home, as it were, in the countryside?
0:41:20 > 0:41:22I like the idea a lot, actually, yes.
0:41:22 > 0:41:24It does suit us down to the ground, really,
0:41:24 > 0:41:28to be able to get back and enjoy theatre and restaurants
0:41:28 > 0:41:32and, of course, visit relatives as well there.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35It appeals a lot, that idea, yes.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38We really have had enough of living full-time under a flight path
0:41:38 > 0:41:39on the way to Heathrow.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42We've had enough of being in a cramped London flat all the time.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46- And traffic jams, parking runs. - And we really do want to get out.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48What do you feel happens next?
0:41:48 > 0:41:50We will be looking for something else,
0:41:50 > 0:41:52possibly, as you say, on the two lines -
0:41:52 > 0:41:56be able to keep the London flat and to move to the country as well.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59Well, I hope that we've provoked some thoughts
0:41:59 > 0:42:01in our perambulations this week
0:42:01 > 0:42:03and it's been very nice showing you around.
0:42:03 > 0:42:04Thank you very much. We've enjoyed it a lot.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07Yeah, thank you very much. It's been great fun.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15In some ways, I think we may have driven Ian and Janet back to London,
0:42:15 > 0:42:18but on the other hand, it's a valuable learning lesson.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20You come to the countryside with all these dreams
0:42:20 > 0:42:23of living down a little lane with the cows in the fields
0:42:23 > 0:42:26and then the reality of spending some time here, looking at houses,
0:42:26 > 0:42:28driving around, you realise,
0:42:28 > 0:42:33"Maybe I'd quite like to keep one foot in the city."
0:42:33 > 0:42:35Still, that's our work done here in Wiltshire
0:42:35 > 0:42:39so make sure you join us next time for more Escape to the Country.
0:42:41 > 0:42:45Although Janet and Ian liked elements of our lakeside mystery house,
0:42:45 > 0:42:49they concluded that it didn't deliver sufficiently in terms of space.
0:42:49 > 0:42:51However, they are pursuing the idea
0:42:51 > 0:42:53of keeping their London flat as a bolt hole
0:42:53 > 0:42:57and are continuing their search for their dream home in the country.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00If you'd like to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales,
0:43:00 > 0:43:03Northern Ireland or England or even, perhaps, further afield,
0:43:03 > 0:43:07to the continent, and need our help, please apply online at: