0:00:02 > 0:00:04Back in the late 19th century, the son of the local rector used
0:00:04 > 0:00:06to scale the heights of this tower.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10He went on to become one of England's most famous mountaineers.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14Find out who he was and where he practised in just a few moments.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34On the show today, we are helping an entrepreneurial couple flee
0:00:34 > 0:00:40city life and find a new dream home and a new business in the country.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43There are discussions over where the in-laws will stay.
0:00:43 > 0:00:44You do get a barn.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46OK, yeah.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49And plans are afoot for Santa's arrival.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52Put a Christmas tree up there. All the presents underneath.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Today, I am in Cheshire, and behind me
0:00:55 > 0:00:58is St Wilfrid's church in the village of Mobberley,
0:00:58 > 0:01:01where George Mallory was born and spent his childhood years.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Mallory set his sights on being the first man to climb
0:01:04 > 0:01:07the highest mountain in the world, Everest.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Whether or not he reached the summit remains a mystery,
0:01:10 > 0:01:14though, as on June, 1924, during his final ascent,
0:01:14 > 0:01:17he got caught in a snowstorm and was never seen alive again.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21When his body was eventually discovered, much later in 1999,
0:01:21 > 0:01:25it was missing one vital piece of equipment - his camera.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29And many believe until that is found, we'll never truly know
0:01:29 > 0:01:31whether or not he was successful.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36Cheshire, in the northwest of England,
0:01:36 > 0:01:40is situated between the metropolitan areas of Greater Manchester
0:01:40 > 0:01:41and Merseyside to the north
0:01:41 > 0:01:44and the county of Staffordshire to the south-east.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47Its landscape is defined by a mixture of peaks
0:01:47 > 0:01:50and plains formed during the Ice Age.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Covering an area of nearly 100 square miles,
0:01:53 > 0:01:57Cheshire's Peak District falls within the National Park.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00The ridge of Tegg's Nose has been quarried since the 1500s and
0:02:00 > 0:02:06today is a spectacular vantage point with views over the Cheshire plain.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09Rearing up above the North Cheshire Plain is all Alderley Edge -
0:02:09 > 0:02:13a red sandstone escarpment pitted with remains from its mining past
0:02:13 > 0:02:14and natural woodland.
0:02:14 > 0:02:19The village itself is a magnet for multimillionaire property shoppers
0:02:19 > 0:02:23who want a lavish slice of rural riches this county has to offer.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29The average price for a detached house here in Cheshire as a whole
0:02:29 > 0:02:31comes in just below the national figure at around
0:02:31 > 0:02:34£245,000.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36But that pendulum can swing depending on which
0:02:36 > 0:02:37side of the county you're on.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40For more affordable properties, west is best,
0:02:40 > 0:02:43but the price increases considerably as you head east, where you will
0:02:43 > 0:02:47find rural properties with better connections toward Manchester.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50But the real hot spot to look out for is the golden triangle
0:02:50 > 0:02:53between Wilmslow, Prestbury and Alderley Edge,
0:02:53 > 0:02:56which seems to be a magnet for multimillionaires
0:02:56 > 0:02:59and is home to the most expensive addresses in the northwest.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02But why are today's house buyers looking to move here to Cheshire?
0:03:02 > 0:03:04Well, let's meet them and find out.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06For the past ten years,
0:03:06 > 0:03:10Steve and Anna have lived in the city of Leeds, but have decided to
0:03:10 > 0:03:14leave the bustle of urban life behind and head out to the country.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17I think now is the right time, cos it's a stage where
0:03:17 > 0:03:19the kids are going to school.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23And also I think it is a lifestyle choice as well.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25I think the main difference it's going to have
0:03:25 > 0:03:29is certainly on the kids and the upbringing that they get.
0:03:29 > 0:03:30Where we live here, in Leeds,
0:03:30 > 0:03:35it's two miles outside of the city centre and it's a much
0:03:35 > 0:03:38different lifestyle than living in a more rural environment.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41Family ties have dictated the location for the new home.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45Ideally, I'd like to move to North Cheshire,
0:03:45 > 0:03:50that's where my parents have got a family farm that I grew up on.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Their desire to move is linked to their plan to start their own
0:03:53 > 0:03:54business.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58We realised that there is an opportunity in terms of kind
0:03:58 > 0:03:59of farms.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02And it is the sort of thing that we would travel to go and do,
0:04:02 > 0:04:04is to take the children to a farm.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08And also, you know, maybe around the equestrian-type business,
0:04:08 > 0:04:12cos that is the current business that my family have got.
0:04:12 > 0:04:17The whole family is excited by the prospect of a new lifestyle.
0:04:17 > 0:04:22Joseph is 3 1/2 now and Holly has just turned 19 months.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24Holly can already say tractor.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28She knows lots of the animal kind of noises and things like that.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32And Joseph is already saying we might get goats when we move house.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35So I think they are starting to get excited.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38But they're not looking for the archetypal farming lifestyle.
0:04:38 > 0:04:43Somewhere that is within easy reach of a small town or...
0:04:43 > 0:04:45We don't want to be too far remote.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48I think I probably would stay in the job I've got at Leeds
0:04:48 > 0:04:50and see how commuting goes.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54And what do they have to spend on their rural relocation?
0:04:54 > 0:04:58The budget for this move is £650,000.
0:05:01 > 0:05:02Our buyers have asked us
0:05:02 > 0:05:05to focus our search on the north of the county
0:05:05 > 0:05:08to be within reasonable distance of Steve's family in Warrington.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10But before we began our property hunt,
0:05:10 > 0:05:13I'm meeting them in Cheshire to learn more about what
0:05:13 > 0:05:16they're after in their new home and business venture.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20So, as a farmer's son growing up on a farm, this is what,
0:05:20 > 0:05:23a return to your roots, isn't it, Steve?
0:05:23 > 0:05:24Yeah, it is.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27My parents have got...we've got a family farm over in Cheshire,
0:05:27 > 0:05:30that's where I grew up. 20 years.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34And then we moved over to Yorkshire and we have been there since.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36So, yeah, it will be a move back to my roots.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38Well, let's talk about the house first, OK?
0:05:38 > 0:05:40How big does it need to be?
0:05:40 > 0:05:42We've got two children, so ideally four beds.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45What are you looking for from your living spaces?
0:05:45 > 0:05:48Well, hopefully, open-plan kitchen-diner.
0:05:48 > 0:05:49You know, we've got that at the moment
0:05:49 > 0:05:52and we do spend quite a lot of time in the kitchen.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55And then maybe doors out to the garden from there.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58That's what we've got and it seems to really work for us at the moment.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01But I think we're pretty flexible on everything else.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04I mean, four bedrooms. I know you have got two children.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07- Yeah, we could live with three. - Could you?- Yeah.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11We could live with something on a smaller scale and be quite happy.
0:06:11 > 0:06:16Outside, now this is where your, maybe, business or enterprise
0:06:16 > 0:06:18element comes in, doesn't it?
0:06:18 > 0:06:20With having the kids quite young, obviously,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23we spend quite a bit of time going to, you know, sort of urban
0:06:23 > 0:06:27farms and, you know, sort of tourist attractions, that sort of thing.
0:06:27 > 0:06:32- So maybe something with a play barn. - All right.- You know, a few animals.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34That sort of thing.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36Yeah, along the lines of that, a farm shop.
0:06:36 > 0:06:41You know, more of a small holding than a full scale farm.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44So, how much land you think you'd like to have?
0:06:44 > 0:06:49Ideally, five, ten acres to give some development and scope there.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51So, what sort of budget you have?
0:06:51 > 0:06:53It's 650,000.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56- Yep.- And that is set?- Yes.
0:06:56 > 0:06:57This may be the calm before the storm,
0:06:57 > 0:07:00so let's finish our coffees and then we will drive to the first place.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02- Yep.- Brilliant.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08On a budget of £650,000,
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Steve and Anna are looking for three to four bedrooms,
0:07:11 > 0:07:13a large kitchen-diner,
0:07:13 > 0:07:15five to ten acres of land,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18outbuildings to accommodate their business ideas,
0:07:18 > 0:07:22a rural location close to a town or village
0:07:22 > 0:07:25and not too far from family in Warrington.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28We have three wonderful properties to show them.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31And at each one, I will test their valuation skills as they work
0:07:31 > 0:07:34out what the properties might be worth.
0:07:34 > 0:07:35The third is the mystery house,
0:07:35 > 0:07:39which has been chosen to take them out of their comfort zone.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45What are you like with animals?
0:07:45 > 0:07:47I'm getting braver.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51Getting braver... That suggests some form of fear, then.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55Yeah. The bigger ones, yeah, scare me a little bit.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59But goats and things like that, I think I could maybe handle.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02I think we'll leave Steve with the cows.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09We begin our search in the village of Kingsley in the north
0:08:09 > 0:08:14of the county, around half an hour from Steve's family in Warrington.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19Nearby is the Anglo-Saxon town of Frodsham.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23Once a thriving 13th-century port situated between the River Weaver
0:08:23 > 0:08:24and Mersey estuary,
0:08:24 > 0:08:29today it is a vibrant market town with a variety of independent shops.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33And much of the architecture is a reminder of its heritage.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36A few miles down the road is the village of Kingsley, and off a quiet
0:08:36 > 0:08:40lane in a semirural position is the first house we're showing them.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46This is where I start to find out what you're really after.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49So, house number one is obviously straight in front of us.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51- What are your thoughts? - I like it.- Yeah, it looks nice.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55- It looks lovely from outside. It looks nice.- You like the position?
0:08:55 > 0:08:59- Yeah, it's got a bit of kerb appeal, yeah.- Yeah, great view.- Good.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01- We'll talk about the barn later. - OK.
0:09:01 > 0:09:06- All right.- Yeah.- Small animals, not big ones! Come on. Let's go.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12This renovated farmhouse has undergone radical restoration
0:09:12 > 0:09:14and extension over the last three years,
0:09:14 > 0:09:17but retains its character features within a modern interior.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20Entering via a spacious entrance hall,
0:09:20 > 0:09:22we're heading for the kitchen/diner.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27- Let's start off in the kitchen. - Very nice. That's lovely, yeah.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31- Plenty of space, yeah.- It's exactly what we kind of go for for a kitchen.
0:09:31 > 0:09:37- Open-plan. Very light.- Yeah. - Patio doors out.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39This is exactly what you said, you said you wanted open-plan,
0:09:39 > 0:09:42- kitchen/diner with doors outside. - Yeah.- Da-dah!
0:09:42 > 0:09:46- You've done it.- Definitely ticks that box.- Doesn't feel ultramodern.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49- Still feels like a country house, doesn't it?- Yeah.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52I love the barn conversion type things that
0:09:52 > 0:09:57have been modernised, that balance you get between the two,
0:09:57 > 0:10:00it is exactly what we'd go for.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04You've also got a utility right out of the way and a downstairs loo,
0:10:04 > 0:10:08with the back door going out. So, happy?
0:10:08 > 0:10:13- Very impressed.- It's nice.- Good. OK. Let's check out the living room.- OK.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17It's got a really handy little office that used to be
0:10:17 > 0:10:20a downstairs shower room.
0:10:21 > 0:10:26- More compact. What do you think? - Yeah, again it's really nice.
0:10:26 > 0:10:32It's well done out. It's nice character with the wood burner.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35I quite like that. Not the biggest room, but...
0:10:35 > 0:10:38For a living room, it still feels a little bit small.
0:10:38 > 0:10:43It is, but because you've got that big kitchen/dining room I think
0:10:43 > 0:10:46- you'd spend most of your time in there.- We do as a family anyway.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49- Let's take a look at the master bedroom, shall we?- Great.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51I'll just squeeze through.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53Upstairs are three double bedrooms.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57Two and three are served by a modern, shared bathroom.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00But first, I'm showing them where they might sleep.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04This is clearly the master.
0:11:04 > 0:11:10- Because you got a built-in wardrobe, a walk-in wardrobe.- An en suite.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12Again, it's nicely done.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16Nice and clean and modern, which is what we go for, really.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18So, great to have the en suite as well.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21What you don't get is a spare bedroom.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25There might be options in the future, with these outbuildings,
0:11:25 > 0:11:29- so shall we go and take a peek at those?- Yeah, that's cool.- Great.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33The grounds of the property will be the clincher.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35To the rear is a secluded, hedge-lined,
0:11:35 > 0:11:37lawned garden with patio area.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40To the front, there's more lawn along with plenty of off-road
0:11:40 > 0:11:44parking, a double garage, a barn
0:11:44 > 0:11:46and paddock area.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52Well, someone has divided this up for different breeds for you
0:11:52 > 0:11:56- already, haven't they?- Definitely. - You don't get a huge amount of land.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00- The whole plot available is about an acre.- Right.- OK.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04But you can see how an internal workings of a petting zoo or
0:12:04 > 0:12:07whatever you decide to do would work here.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11Yeah, it's whether an acre is enough to expand things beyond a certain
0:12:11 > 0:12:13size, really.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15Obviously, there's not a whole amount of land here,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18so we're going to go outside to the paddock and figure out
0:12:18 > 0:12:21- if it can work or maybe not work for you?- Great.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25I think these outbuildings offer some real potential
0:12:25 > 0:12:28if planning consent could be gained for some sort of visitor attraction.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34This really is the extent of your land,
0:12:34 > 0:12:37- so I know we are squeezing the land option for you, aren't we?- Yeah.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40You know, the house, lovely house, great,
0:12:40 > 0:12:43could see us living in something like that.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46But the barns, you know,
0:12:46 > 0:12:48a great start of something you could build on there, it's whether
0:12:48 > 0:12:51there's enough land, and I think maybe squeezing too much.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54And if you put in a car park or something like that,
0:12:54 > 0:12:57- I guess if it's a short walk. - Yes, people are going to visit,
0:12:57 > 0:13:00you've got to have car parking facilities.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02How many people do you think might be here at one time?
0:13:02 > 0:13:05There can be up to 20 cars, can't there, at one time.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08- So, it's a fair... - In that case, it's going to be
0:13:08 > 0:13:11- a bit of a push, isn't it?- Yeah. - This is option one.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14You're starting to maybe get a grasp of what actually you do
0:13:14 > 0:13:16want and also what you might be able to afford,
0:13:16 > 0:13:18so have a guess at the price.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20How much do think this place is on the market for?
0:13:20 > 0:13:23- Somewhere around 575?- OK.
0:13:23 > 0:13:29- Anna?- I'm going to go slightly lower, I think, at 565.- All right.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33Well, this house is on the market for around £590,000.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37- OK.- Now, it was on the market for around 625.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40Your guesses weren't a million miles away, where they?
0:13:40 > 0:13:44I think another four or five acres of land and it could be
0:13:44 > 0:13:48within our budget and just what we're looking for, really, so...
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Well, have a look around the outbuildings again,
0:13:50 > 0:13:53go and have a look at everywhere you haven't yet seen in the house.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56- Cos it's a learning process, isn't it?- Definitely.
0:13:56 > 0:13:57What can you put up with?
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Where are you prepared to maybe cut the corners on your search criteria?
0:14:00 > 0:14:03- And I'll meet you whenever you're finished.- Great.- Great.
0:14:03 > 0:14:04- See you in a mo.- Cheers.
0:14:06 > 0:14:07Well, dare I say it,
0:14:07 > 0:14:10this is the first step where we start
0:14:10 > 0:14:13to think about compromise, what parts of the jigsaw
0:14:13 > 0:14:16are Steve and Anna prepared to maybe leave behind?
0:14:16 > 0:14:17It's interesting.
0:14:19 > 0:14:24The converted farmhouse comes in well under budget at £590,000
0:14:24 > 0:14:27and gives them three bedrooms, the master with en suite,
0:14:27 > 0:14:32a generous kitchen/diner, a living room, a barn which could be
0:14:32 > 0:14:36suitable for their business idea, set in an acre of land.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40All within reasonable distance from Steve's family in Warrington.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44I love the open-plan kitchen/diner. That's really nicely done.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47And the doors kind of straight outside, so that, you know,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50the kids, they could be straight out into the garden or patio area.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54That's perfect. And it is really nicely done in this house.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57Parts of the business could potentially work.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00There's a good barn space that you could develop and you could
0:15:00 > 0:15:03probably see three or four different types of animals in there.
0:15:03 > 0:15:08My main concern is around the land that the property comes with.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12It's not leaving much to develop the business in the future
0:15:12 > 0:15:14and longer term.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19- So, seen enough?- Yeah, yeah. I think so, yeah.- Enjoy that?
0:15:19 > 0:15:22- Yeah, it was good, it was a good first start, I think.- OK.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26- Well, let's keep going then. - Brilliant.- Onward and upward.- Yeah.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36Agriculture is rooted in Cheshire's rural heritage.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39However, since the 1900s, the face of farming in Britain has
0:15:39 > 0:15:43witnessed huge change due to industrial progress.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47In 1973, a national charity, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, was
0:15:47 > 0:15:52established to conserve and protect rare native breeds from dying out.
0:15:52 > 0:15:53And since its formation,
0:15:53 > 0:15:57no native livestock breed has become extinct in the UK.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Across the country, there are 17 farm parks that have received
0:16:01 > 0:16:04an award for their commitment to the conservation, breeding
0:16:04 > 0:16:08and promotion of our endangered species of farm animals.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11One such place is the Tatton Home Farm in Knutsford,
0:16:11 > 0:16:15who were awarded a Rare Breeds Accreditation in 2007.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19Mindful of Steve and Anna's plan to develop a visitor attraction,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22we've arranged for them to meet Jane Chapman,
0:16:22 > 0:16:24the farm's manager of 24 years who will give them
0:16:24 > 0:16:27a feel for the day-to-day running of the centre.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30What rare breeds do you have here at the farm?
0:16:30 > 0:16:33We've got nearly all the rare breeds of pigs.
0:16:33 > 0:16:38We've got the Saddlebags, Tamworths, Berkshires, Middle Whites
0:16:38 > 0:16:40and Gloucester Old Spots.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44We've got Clydesdale and Shires, loads of rare breeds,
0:16:44 > 0:16:48poultry, sheep, you name it, and I think we have got it!
0:16:48 > 0:16:52How do you educate the public about the rare breeds on the farm?
0:16:52 > 0:16:56Well, we do lots of hands-on, really. I think that's important.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00The best way for children to learn is to either brush the horse
0:17:00 > 0:17:05or we actually get the chicks out. We have an incubator in the hatchery
0:17:05 > 0:17:09and we hatch out all of the rare breeds of chickens and ducks.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11And we get them out and we talk about the breeds
0:17:11 > 0:17:16and the place that they play in today's society of farming.
0:17:16 > 0:17:17And lots of fun things.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20That's the most important way of learning things, I think, isn't it?
0:17:20 > 0:17:24- To have fun.- How many people does it take to run a farm like this?
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Well, we've got five full-time members of staff,
0:17:27 > 0:17:30so, they're in two teams of two, and myself.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33But we're lucky enough to have lots of volunteers here.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36We have some National Trust volunteers
0:17:36 > 0:17:40and also lots of work experience, and they make a huge difference.
0:17:40 > 0:17:45They fill all the waters, they bring round bales of hay
0:17:45 > 0:17:48and everything, really, just making the place tick, really.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50They're invaluable, all of them.
0:17:52 > 0:17:53Once part of the Egerton Estate,
0:17:53 > 0:17:57the farm served the family mansion up until 1958
0:17:57 > 0:17:59when the last baron, Maurice,
0:17:59 > 0:18:01bequeathed the estate to the National Trust.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04Today, it's still an authentic working farm,
0:18:04 > 0:18:06using traditional farming methods,
0:18:06 > 0:18:09but it's also open to the public as a visitor attraction, with
0:18:09 > 0:18:14a play barn, woodland trail and a variety of animals to interact with.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16The pigs are a firm favourite,
0:18:16 > 0:18:20and Steve and Anna are helping with Myrtle, a Middle White sow
0:18:20 > 0:18:23and her nine three-week-old piglets, who need some exercise.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27So how many piglets can you expect from a litter?
0:18:27 > 0:18:31A sow should have two litters every year, so you could get up
0:18:31 > 0:18:36to 20 piglets, so plenty to keep you busy, I think, Steve!
0:18:36 > 0:18:38And which ones are best with the public?
0:18:38 > 0:18:41Well, I always feel it's not so much down to the breed, it is
0:18:41 > 0:18:43how much they are handled.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47If you handle them from day one, they will be absolutely fine with
0:18:47 > 0:18:51yourselves, your children and any other people you introduce them to,
0:18:51 > 0:18:57so what you put in, you certainly get out of animals, I think.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59Our dream would be to have something like this on a smaller scale.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01Have you got any advice for us?
0:19:01 > 0:19:05Well, Anna, I think you need to research the breeds
0:19:05 > 0:19:10and see what type of land you're going to buy, really.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12Whether you buy sheep or cattle, really,
0:19:12 > 0:19:16depends on what farm you're going to purchase.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19But it's a really good lifestyle. I think it is
0:19:19 > 0:19:20a great thing you're going to do
0:19:20 > 0:19:24- and I wish you lots of luck with it. - Thank you.- Thank you.
0:19:24 > 0:19:25Now that Anna
0:19:25 > 0:19:27and Steve have become acquainted with some of the UK's rare
0:19:27 > 0:19:32animal breeds, we're ready to show them hopefully another rare example,
0:19:32 > 0:19:35this time of the property variety, as our house search continues.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41For our second house, we're heading around 13 miles further south
0:19:41 > 0:19:43to the village of Calveley,
0:19:43 > 0:19:46taking us about 40 minutes from Steve's family farm in Warrington.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Close by is the village of Tarporley,
0:19:51 > 0:19:53once a staging post for the London to Chester coach,
0:19:53 > 0:19:56its high street developed during the 18th and 19th centuries,
0:19:56 > 0:20:00and as one of Cheshire's larger villages, it offers an array
0:20:00 > 0:20:04of independent shops to service the surrounding rural community.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Around five miles down the road is the village of Calveley,
0:20:08 > 0:20:11a rural setting, where we find house number two.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19Now, the weather is against me.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23- I'm hoping you won't be with house number two.- It's interesting.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25It's a totally different style
0:20:25 > 0:20:28and it certainly is a totally different shape.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31What do you think of the location?
0:20:31 > 0:20:35Yeah, well, I don't think it's very far from Tarporley village, which is
0:20:35 > 0:20:39- a lovely village.- Lovely. Yeah. What do you think of how it looks?
0:20:39 > 0:20:42It looks quite quirky, doesn't it? Plenty of character there.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46- Yeah, yeah. Let me show you inside.- OK.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49Property two has been formed from part of the stables
0:20:49 > 0:20:53and barn that once serviced a former manor house that originally
0:20:53 > 0:20:55stood near this site.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57The impressive entrance hall has a period feel
0:20:57 > 0:20:59and stone mullioned windows.
0:21:04 > 0:21:05So, into your kitchen.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10I'm not blown away by this kitchen.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Well, you know, the sort of layout, having room for a table
0:21:13 > 0:21:17and chairs, but in terms of kind of style of units and...
0:21:17 > 0:21:21No, it's a bit more old...farmhouse.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24- So, not your cup of tea at the moment?- No.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26- But space to make it? - Yeah, yeah.- All right.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29Yeah, it's got big enough room to, yeah, you can change
0:21:29 > 0:21:31the cupboards and things.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34So, just through that door you have got a utility room and then,
0:21:34 > 0:21:38you've got a guest suite, if you like, so, you have en suite
0:21:38 > 0:21:39shower room and loo. Double bedroom.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42And then upstairs, you've got a storeroom and another room
0:21:42 > 0:21:47- in there as well for maybe an office or a single bed.- OK.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49Let's keep going through.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51There we go. Mind the step.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Back across the entrance hall, we head through the dining room
0:21:55 > 0:21:57and on into the sitting room.
0:21:57 > 0:22:02So, after you've walked through the banqueting room, here we are.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06- It's nice, isn't it? It's really grand.- Yeah, it is quite impressive.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08It would look lovely at Christmas.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11All of the presents underneath!
0:22:11 > 0:22:13You do think of Christmas
0:22:13 > 0:22:15when you come into this house, for some reason.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18You might be wondering why we've got a different level there.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20This was the pumphouse underneath, really,
0:22:20 > 0:22:22so you've got a lower ground cellar,
0:22:22 > 0:22:24with lovely brick arches, which is still quite dry,
0:22:24 > 0:22:27which you access from outside, and that roof of that cellar is
0:22:27 > 0:22:31- where this gym style flooring is, up to there.- OK.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35You could have a little Christmas pantomime there! Performances.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37Yeah.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40So, now, you seem to be warming up to this house a bit more.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42So, let's go and have a look at the bedrooms,
0:22:42 > 0:22:44because that's at this end of the house as well.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46- I feel like we're on the right path. - Yeah.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53Upstairs are three bedrooms.
0:22:53 > 0:22:58Two and three are served by a family shower room and there's the master.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02So, right above where we were stood in the living room,
0:23:02 > 0:23:06- we've got the master bedroom. - Nice beams.- A lot of character.
0:23:06 > 0:23:11- It's a pretty spectacular bedroom, isn't it?- I think so, yeah.
0:23:11 > 0:23:17- And is that the en suite up there? - Yeah. En suite bathroom only.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20There's also a family bathroom.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23- Yes, the more I see of this house, the more I like it, really.- Yeah.
0:23:23 > 0:23:24You agree, Anna?
0:23:24 > 0:23:27Yeah, I'd like to see what the other rooms are like
0:23:27 > 0:23:31and the rest of the house, but yeah, I could see us living here.
0:23:31 > 0:23:32I almost feel like,
0:23:32 > 0:23:35you're holding something back, because in the first house,
0:23:35 > 0:23:38- you didn't get the land you were after.- Yeah, yeah.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40Well, this time, you do. Unfortunately,
0:23:40 > 0:23:42it means you have to go outside in that.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44So, it's brolly time, come on.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50It's the grounds that will sell this property to them.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53A south-facing garden leads onto equestrian facilities,
0:23:53 > 0:23:55including a stable block and paddocks,
0:23:55 > 0:23:58ideal for their prospective new business.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04Now, then, you're in for a bit of a treat.
0:24:04 > 0:24:10- Because, all of this is included. - Wow.- OK. This paddock.- Yeah.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13- The paddock next door.- OK.
0:24:13 > 0:24:18- Right at the back, that paddock. - As far as the trees?- Yeah.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21- At this first post and rail fence here.- Yeah.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24- It's all set up for a livery business.- Yeah.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27It's got everything here that you would need.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29Obviously they've got horses already, haven't they?
0:24:29 > 0:24:33They've had them, yeah. There's one pony still trotting around, yeah.
0:24:33 > 0:24:38I mean, the obvious thing is, do more with the equestrian side,
0:24:38 > 0:24:42but, obviously, the...more...petting zoo, there is
0:24:42 > 0:24:44no reason why if you've got the land, you couldn't do something
0:24:44 > 0:24:48along them lines either, so it does open up a lot more opportunities.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51How much do you think this place is on the market for?
0:24:51 > 0:24:55I'm going to go top end of our budget, I'm going to say 650.
0:24:55 > 0:25:00- OK. Steve?- I would probably say slightly over our budget, maybe 660?
0:25:00 > 0:25:05- Well, it's actually for sale for offers around £585,000.- Surprising.
0:25:05 > 0:25:06Yeah!
0:25:06 > 0:25:09- That's quite interesting. - Isn't it?- Yeah.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12- Gives you some breathing space, doesn't it?- Yeah.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15And it does, certainly, if there's an option to look at more land.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19Well, look, this is bigger than the first house.
0:25:19 > 0:25:20More land than the first house.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22Remarkably cheaper than the first as well,
0:25:22 > 0:25:24but there's still a lot to think about.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27There's the home element, but also this business enterprise
0:25:27 > 0:25:29you're thinking about. So go back into the house.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31Have a look at the areas you haven't yet seen.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33Maybe come back out and have a look at the land.
0:25:33 > 0:25:34I mean, obviously, not particularly dressed
0:25:34 > 0:25:36like landowners at the moment,
0:25:36 > 0:25:39but if you can brave the weather, it might be an idea to have a look
0:25:39 > 0:25:42around your boundary and see what you might be able to do with it.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44- Yes, thank you. - See you in a mo.- Thank you.
0:25:46 > 0:25:51House two has bags of character and is priced under budget at £585,000,
0:25:51 > 0:25:55giving them four bedrooms with one located in the downstairs
0:25:55 > 0:26:00guest suite, a large kitchen/diner, a spacious sitting room,
0:26:00 > 0:26:03ready-made equestrian facilities for their possible business venture
0:26:03 > 0:26:08in a rural setting, and a reasonable distance to family in Warrington.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13The business opportunity here is much more what I had in mind,
0:26:13 > 0:26:15just because it's got the land, it's got the startings
0:26:15 > 0:26:19of an equestrian business that you can grow into more of a petting zoo.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23The living area, you know, the wood-burning stove,
0:26:23 > 0:26:27it feels much warmer, you know, cosy house.
0:26:27 > 0:26:32And I could really see us living and spending time in the living space.
0:26:34 > 0:26:39- So, did you decide which field the rhino's going to go in? - THEY LAUGH
0:26:39 > 0:26:41- Good price, isn't it? - Yeah.- Yeah, it is.
0:26:41 > 0:26:46It's certainly a property that, you know, first impressions,
0:26:46 > 0:26:49- it's certainly grown on us the more we've seen, really.- Yeah.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Well, hopefully you've got something to think about tonight,
0:26:52 > 0:26:55- cos that's all we'll see today, so let's get back.- Brilliant.- Yeah.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05It's the second day of our property hunt in Cheshire with Steve
0:27:05 > 0:27:09and Anna from the city of Leeds, who have £650,000
0:27:09 > 0:27:12to spend on their country home and new venture.
0:27:12 > 0:27:17Coming up, we ponder the ideal animal for the mystery house.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19- Mountain goats, I was thinking. - Yeah. HE LAUGHS
0:27:19 > 0:27:22And I visit one of Cheshire's most iconic structures that
0:27:22 > 0:27:25literally dominates the local landscape.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Well, I think we've got a property in the bag, so, this morning,
0:27:31 > 0:27:34we can afford to take a bit of a gamble which, let's face it,
0:27:34 > 0:27:37that's what the mystery property is all about, isn't it? Now, the house
0:27:37 > 0:27:41itself, it's very stylish, but I think the real gamble comes outside.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44Sure, it got enough land for animals, but they might need to be
0:27:44 > 0:27:48mountain goats, and another thing, it's not actually in Cheshire.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54For the mystery house, we're heading 30 miles east from Calveley,
0:27:54 > 0:27:57stepping over the border into Staffordshire into the farming
0:27:57 > 0:27:58community of Swythamley,
0:27:58 > 0:28:00putting them around an hour away from Warrington.
0:28:02 > 0:28:08So, here we are. Welcome to, ahem, Staffordshire!
0:28:08 > 0:28:11The reason we've brought you here is this,
0:28:11 > 0:28:12the Peak District National Park.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16It's the oldest national park in Britain, founded about 1951.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18But it's just beautiful,
0:28:18 > 0:28:21and it's so accessible to you and to everyone else.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24One of the ideas was that where we're focusing on, you know,
0:28:24 > 0:28:27a place to bring up your children, you want a rural existence,
0:28:27 > 0:28:29what better place than a national park?
0:28:29 > 0:28:32We've taken this gauntlet that you have laid down,
0:28:32 > 0:28:35this rural idyll, and we've run with it.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39And as you can see, we ran all the way to Staffordshire!
0:28:39 > 0:28:42Let's see if you want to run back to Cheshire after seeing this house,
0:28:42 > 0:28:44- shall we? - Yeah.- Great. Thank you.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49The property lies about a mile from the peaceful village of Wincle,
0:28:49 > 0:28:52which straddles the beautiful River Dane.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56It offers up a traditional pub as well as a local brewery.
0:28:56 > 0:28:58Just down a lane nearby, we're going out on a limb
0:28:58 > 0:28:59with our mystery house.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02It's a stunning, architect-designed home,
0:29:02 > 0:29:06with contemporary interior, set in a dramatic rural position.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09I'm hoping that any location concerns will be blown
0:29:09 > 0:29:12away by this bold and beautiful building.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14Now, then.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16Right...
0:29:16 > 0:29:20in the heart of the national park, we find the mystery property.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23We've got, well, part of what was a one-up-one-down, really,
0:29:23 > 0:29:25dating back to 1635.
0:29:25 > 0:29:29And a few years ago, the current owner bought this derelict
0:29:29 > 0:29:33property off a local farmer, and built that on.
0:29:33 > 0:29:37And everything you see is basically the hard work of the current owners.
0:29:37 > 0:29:38- Right.- Right. - It's cool, isn't it?
0:29:38 > 0:29:43It's interesting, the way it's all built-in to the land there.
0:29:43 > 0:29:44You know, you're used to the countryside,
0:29:44 > 0:29:49- you were brought up on a farm.- Yeah. - This is hillside farming, isn't it?
0:29:49 > 0:29:52- It's the middle of nowhere. - It's as remote as it gets, really!
0:29:52 > 0:29:57- Are you bothered? Are you concerned? - Yeah.- Yeah. - THEY LAUGH
0:29:57 > 0:29:59- Honest answer. Good.- You said you wanted honesty!- Yeah, absolutely.
0:29:59 > 0:30:03One of the reasons why this property was chosen for you, because inside,
0:30:03 > 0:30:07for a young family, we thought this was amazing living space.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10- Let's see if you agree, shall we?- Yeah!
0:30:10 > 0:30:13Although they have concerns about the location,
0:30:13 > 0:30:16I'm hoping the fantastic interior will sway them.
0:30:19 > 0:30:20You've got a very nice reception area there.
0:30:20 > 0:30:25But then things get very cool, contemporary in the new part.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28Good space, isn't it? Very light. Great views.
0:30:28 > 0:30:32You wouldn't expect to find this in the Peak District!
0:30:32 > 0:30:35I mean, it is very cool, very contemporary, not for everyone.
0:30:35 > 0:30:39- Yeah.- How about you guys? - I like it. I like the style.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42- Let's go to the kitchen next. We'll go through this way.- OK.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48A glazed roof passageway runs the length of the original property,
0:30:48 > 0:30:52linking the living room, entrance hall and the kitchen/diner.
0:30:53 > 0:30:59- So, the uber cool theme continues in the kitchen.- It's very modern.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01It's very modern, yeah.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04- And then you've got the big... - The wood burner.
0:31:04 > 0:31:08- The wood-burning fireplace. - Spitting away, as you can hear!
0:31:08 > 0:31:11That has been put in recently. It's obviously not original.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14But again, you got this fusion of old and new,
0:31:14 > 0:31:17with that massive range there as well.
0:31:17 > 0:31:19It's a great space.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21You know, big, open-plan.
0:31:21 > 0:31:26We do like plenty of room for a big dining room table.
0:31:26 > 0:31:31It's a bit stark, I think, for my taste. It doesn't feel like a home.
0:31:31 > 0:31:35- Really.- I'm starting to get the feeling you don't really like this
0:31:35 > 0:31:38contemporary style as well, this minimalist style?
0:31:38 > 0:31:41Yeah, probably not. I quite like the modern style.
0:31:41 > 0:31:45- Well, let's go and have a look at a bedroom upstairs.- OK.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48Let's hope there's a bit more furniture in there!
0:31:49 > 0:31:52Downstairs is completed by a utility room and cloakroom.
0:31:52 > 0:31:56There's also a large bedroom with en suite and walk-through wardrobe
0:31:56 > 0:32:00and dressing area, which could serve as the master or a guest suite.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04However, upstairs are options with two more double bedrooms.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08Now, this upstairs is the master bedroom.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13Mainly, because you get direct access to that amazing
0:32:13 > 0:32:15bathroom, which is a Jack and Jill.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17You can get to it from the other side.
0:32:17 > 0:32:20- So, the far bedroom, you can use it as well.- Right.- OK.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24- I'm liking this bit of it more. - Yeah, it's nice, this bedroom.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27- It feels more traditional, doesn't it?- It does.
0:32:27 > 0:32:29It feels like this mystery house, so far,
0:32:29 > 0:32:31has pushed you too far the other way.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34I know you said you liked sort of modern, contemporary interiors,
0:32:34 > 0:32:37but this is bordering on the avant-garde, isn't it, I suppose?
0:32:37 > 0:32:40But then, I don't know if you would have shown us this where
0:32:40 > 0:32:43we were yesterday, in terms of location?
0:32:43 > 0:32:46I know the price would be different, but if I might feel differently?
0:32:46 > 0:32:48- Good point. - I don't know what's swaying it.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51What's swaying your feelings at the moment is this location
0:32:51 > 0:32:53- being quite remote.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56Let's go back outside and talk about that and then,
0:32:56 > 0:32:58- think about price as well.- Yeah. - Great.- OK.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04The grounds are extensive with lawns opening out into hillside
0:33:04 > 0:33:06and wooded areas. However, it remains to be seen
0:33:06 > 0:33:09whether they can envisage a business in this location.
0:33:11 > 0:33:12So, here's the views.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16And I can explain now what land you get.
0:33:16 > 0:33:21You get about 5.85 acres off memory, over here.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24So, it follows the tree line across, there's little post and wire fence.
0:33:24 > 0:33:28Down past the third telegraph pole, and then up the hill.
0:33:28 > 0:33:33- So what you see here, twice as much again.- Right.- OK.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35- Mountain goats, I was thinking. - Yeah!
0:33:35 > 0:33:38So how much do you think the mystery house is on the market for?
0:33:38 > 0:33:46- I would probably say around about 630. Something like that.- OK.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49- Anna?- I'm going to go a bit lower, I think,
0:33:49 > 0:33:55just given the kind of rural side of things. I'm going to say 590.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59Well, the asking price is around £650,000. Yes.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02- Good guess.- You win.- I win. THEY LAUGH
0:34:02 > 0:34:04It's, you know, as I say, it's,
0:34:04 > 0:34:07the mystery property is here to challenge you.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10This has done that, and it may be a bit too much in that way,
0:34:10 > 0:34:14- so, that's it. That's all we're going to have a look at.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:34:14 > 0:34:16But whilst we're here, in this beautiful
0:34:16 > 0:34:17national park setting, why did not
0:34:17 > 0:34:20go and have a look around and I'll meet you back here when you're done.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23- OK.- Great.- All right. See you in a minute.- Thank you.
0:34:26 > 0:34:32My mum always said, you should never gamble. She was right.
0:34:34 > 0:34:38This cool mystery house is on the market for £650,000
0:34:38 > 0:34:41and gives them stacks of contemporary features,
0:34:41 > 0:34:45with three bedrooms, one with en suite, a massive living room,
0:34:45 > 0:34:50a large kitchen with dining area, almost six acres of land
0:34:50 > 0:34:55in a rural location with stunning views of the Peak District.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58The land that it comes... obviously is very hilly,
0:34:58 > 0:35:02it limits you to what animals you could have on the farm.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05Therefore, it would limit what business we could have as well.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08I mean, there's fantastic views and scenery,
0:35:08 > 0:35:13but in terms of kind of getting in the snow to a village shop,
0:35:13 > 0:35:18or walking the kids to the school, in this sort of location,
0:35:18 > 0:35:21I kind of struggle to picture that.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24I could see us coming visiting a place like this and, you know,
0:35:24 > 0:35:26staying here for a couple of weeks over the summer,
0:35:26 > 0:35:32doing it week to week, day in day out through the winter, you know, and
0:35:32 > 0:35:34commuting anywhere. I'm just not sure
0:35:34 > 0:35:37it would fit with our lifestyle, really.
0:35:41 > 0:35:47- Well, then. Seen enough of this contemporary abode?- Yeah, yeah.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50- I think so, yeah. - OK, well, you probably only have
0:35:50 > 0:35:51one property to think about,
0:35:51 > 0:35:54but there's enough to go through your mind, so why
0:35:54 > 0:35:55don't you go off and have a chat
0:35:55 > 0:35:58- and I'll catch up with you later. OK?- Yeah.- See you in a bit.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02Rearing up from the Cheshire plain,
0:36:02 > 0:36:07the Lovell telescope at Jodrell Bank can be seen from miles around.
0:36:07 > 0:36:11It's dominated the local landscape since 1957,
0:36:11 > 0:36:15and with Grade I listed status, is an icon of science and engineering.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18Named after its creator, Bernard Lovell,
0:36:18 > 0:36:22it has real standing on the international astronomy circuit.
0:36:22 > 0:36:23To find out more about the observatory
0:36:23 > 0:36:27and the discoveries this world-famous telescope has made,
0:36:27 > 0:36:31I have come to meet associate director, Professor Tim O'Brien.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34So, Tim, after years of seeing this from miles away, we are
0:36:34 > 0:36:38now right up close to it. How far can it see?
0:36:38 > 0:36:40The distances in space are so vast,
0:36:40 > 0:36:42they're almost impossible to imagine.
0:36:42 > 0:36:47And travelling at 300,000 kilometres every single second, we can see stuff
0:36:47 > 0:36:51that actually those radio waves have taken billions of years to reach us.
0:36:51 > 0:36:52They're billions of light years away.
0:36:52 > 0:36:57That huge ball that you see behind us, that is collecting radio
0:36:57 > 0:37:01waves across its whole area, and it's sort of focusing them together,
0:37:01 > 0:37:03collecting them
0:37:03 > 0:37:05at a point that's at the top of the tower in the centre, and that
0:37:05 > 0:37:10gives it huge power, because it is collecting it over such a large area.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13But those radio waves are things that have been generated by,
0:37:13 > 0:37:17you know, distant galaxies, by exploding stars, by stars being born.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20Even planets actually around other stars being formed.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23The creator of the telescope, Bernard Lovell,
0:37:23 > 0:37:27originally experimented with radar at the University of Manchester.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31But that was ruined by radio interference from local trams.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34So, he moved out of the city to the University Botanical Gardens
0:37:34 > 0:37:37at Jodrell Bank and never left.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40We're off inside to the telescope control room,
0:37:40 > 0:37:43the original from the 1950s.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47So, what current projects are on the go here at the moment?
0:37:47 > 0:37:49With the big Lovell telescope, there is
0:37:49 > 0:37:53a network of telescopes across the UK, we call it E Merlin,
0:37:53 > 0:37:56which is seven radio telescopes connected by optical fibres.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59The signals from each of them are brought back to here,
0:37:59 > 0:38:01to a supercomputer, where we combine them
0:38:01 > 0:38:03and make images of the radio sky.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06So, have you got anywhere we could look at some of this new data
0:38:06 > 0:38:08- coming back?- I can show you an image that we have just taken recently.
0:38:08 > 0:38:10All right, let's look at that, shall we?
0:38:10 > 0:38:14Jodrell Bank leads the way in radio astronomy related research.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17Objects that were discovered in space decades ago
0:38:17 > 0:38:21can now be revisited in even greater detail.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24So, Tim, this is all part of the E Merlin project?
0:38:24 > 0:38:27Yes, here are where the E Merlin networks are in the country.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30So, each of those telescopes there, seven of them,
0:38:30 > 0:38:33is actually represented on this control screen here by these
0:38:33 > 0:38:37circles, so the controller that is on duty can actually check how
0:38:37 > 0:38:39each telescope is working, what it's doing,
0:38:39 > 0:38:43how that network is bringing the data back here to Jodrell.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45This data is converted into an image that gives us
0:38:45 > 0:38:48a clearer picture of an object light years away.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52What you're seeing here is a combination of a radio image,
0:38:52 > 0:38:55with E Merlin, which is the coloured stuff here,
0:38:55 > 0:38:57and also an image with the Hubble space telescope, which is
0:38:57 > 0:39:00showing you these two bright things here.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02The object itself, it's a quasar.
0:39:02 > 0:39:04A distant galaxy with a supermassive black hole.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06We discovered back in 1979.
0:39:06 > 0:39:08But you can build a new instrument and you can go back
0:39:08 > 0:39:10and look at things that you already knew about.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13You see them, it is like putting on a new pair of glasses and you
0:39:13 > 0:39:16see a better view of something that you knew existed already.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18I must say, Tim, it's been absolutely fascinating.
0:39:18 > 0:39:21I'm now off for a lie down, but thank you very, very much.
0:39:21 > 0:39:23Cheers, bye-bye.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26It's a remarkable insight into the universe and the amazing
0:39:26 > 0:39:29equipment out in the countryside that we use to monitor it.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32For now, though, let's put stargazing aside to catch up
0:39:32 > 0:39:34with our house hunters.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39Well, it's pretty clear there's only one property up for serious
0:39:39 > 0:39:40consideration.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43So, after a bit of thinking time, let's find out from Steve
0:39:43 > 0:39:45and Anna what they plan to do about it.
0:39:50 > 0:39:54Well. The sun has come out. Beautiful up here, isn't it?
0:39:54 > 0:39:56- Lovely, yeah.- So, we have a fair idea of which of the properties
0:39:56 > 0:40:00- is your favourite, but just to confirm?- Property two.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:40:00 > 0:40:04- Why?- I think, in terms of location, you know,
0:40:04 > 0:40:09kind of it's close enough to Steve's mum and dad's and also,
0:40:09 > 0:40:14close to a big village and so it's got that kind of access as well,
0:40:14 > 0:40:17and potential to possibly grow business.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20Now you've had a good look around that house, and come
0:40:20 > 0:40:24away from there, what changes do you think you would like to make to it?
0:40:24 > 0:40:28I think, the kitchen wouldn't take a lot to improve it,
0:40:28 > 0:40:32and just personalise it and make it to our taste.
0:40:32 > 0:40:36Certainly, the idea of maybe putting an orangery on the front,
0:40:36 > 0:40:40a little bit more light in, it would give us more space in the dining
0:40:40 > 0:40:43room, and within our budget, we can probably afford to do that.
0:40:43 > 0:40:47So, the house, all that land, what are you going to do with it?
0:40:47 > 0:40:49Initially, probably developing the stable side,
0:40:49 > 0:40:52because it's obviously got stables there.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54I think they've done liveries there before, yes.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57Obviously, longer term, we would like to introduce other animals
0:40:57 > 0:41:01- and potentially open that up to the public to come and visit.- Come on!
0:41:01 > 0:41:07- What sort of animals?- Some pigs. Some goats. Rabbits.- Yeah.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09Fairly... Ones that kids like. HE LAUGHS
0:41:09 > 0:41:12So, what's the next step for you both?
0:41:12 > 0:41:15I think we've got to do a bit of research on property number two,
0:41:15 > 0:41:19about whether we could get planning to kind of expand or
0:41:19 > 0:41:23- build a business on that property. - Yes.- And access as well,
0:41:23 > 0:41:28because it is quite a kind of single-track road, to get to the
0:41:28 > 0:41:33house, so, if we were looking to ask visitors to come, what options
0:41:33 > 0:41:36are there there or what planning do we need for that side of things?
0:41:36 > 0:41:40So, I think it would be doing some research.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42Well, it's a big step you're making.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45I mean, the very first next step is a second viewing, isn't it,
0:41:45 > 0:41:47of course, but then there's phone calls, research, there's
0:41:47 > 0:41:49legwork going around the area.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51So, I wish you the very best of luck with that.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54But do please let us know what you decide.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56- Yeah.- Thank you.- Good luck.- Cheers.
0:41:59 > 0:42:03Well, after giving us a fairly general outline, Steve
0:42:03 > 0:42:05and Anna seem very focused on what they're after now.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08And by the sounds of it, it's property number two.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10The good thing, I think, is that both of them
0:42:10 > 0:42:12seem very practical on what to do next.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15Not only are they going for a second viewing, but more importantly,
0:42:15 > 0:42:17they're going to have a look around the whole area,
0:42:17 > 0:42:21meet the neighbours, look for local competition, but perhaps most
0:42:21 > 0:42:23importantly, speak to the local authorities, speak to the planners
0:42:23 > 0:42:26and see what they think about the idea of them running a business.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29And then hopefully, if they get positive answers to all their
0:42:29 > 0:42:32enquiries, then maybe they'll be making their move to Cheshire,
0:42:32 > 0:42:34not only for an escape to the country,
0:42:34 > 0:42:38but for the whole family, a much more rural existence.
0:42:38 > 0:42:40See you next time.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44Steve and Anna liked house number two, but after looking further into
0:42:44 > 0:42:48their proposed business venture, decided the equestrian facilities
0:42:48 > 0:42:52didn't provide all that they needed, so they're continuing their search.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54If you would like to escape to the
0:42:54 > 0:42:57country in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland or even
0:42:57 > 0:43:01further afield to the continent and need our help, please apply online.