0:00:02 > 0:00:04You may be surprised to learn that this huge rock established
0:00:04 > 0:00:08a very solid connection with royalty just over 100 years ago.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Find out why and which county I'm in in just a moment.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31On today's show, we're helping a couple find a rural home where
0:00:31 > 0:00:34they can expand their business and surround themselves
0:00:34 > 0:00:38and their family in nature. There's plenty that appeals.
0:00:38 > 0:00:39We like.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42- I'm glad.- We like. - I thought you would.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44It's just a question of how best to make use of it.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46What you going to do with all that?
0:00:46 > 0:00:50- Lots of chickens.- Chickens?
0:00:50 > 0:00:51Today, I'm in Cumbria
0:00:51 > 0:00:56and right in the heart of the Lake District is this, the Bowder Stone,
0:00:56 > 0:01:00weighing some 2,000 tonnes and standing 30 feet tall.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Now, the stone itself came to the attention of the royal family
0:01:03 > 0:01:07in 1910 when King Edward VII died.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09His sister, Princess Louise -
0:01:09 > 0:01:11who was then president of the National Trust,
0:01:11 > 0:01:12who owned this area -
0:01:12 > 0:01:16thought it would make a fitting tribute to her deceased brother.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19And as you're about to see, this is not the only natural wonder
0:01:19 > 0:01:21that Cumbria has to offer.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26Situated in the most north-western corner of England, Cumbria borders
0:01:26 > 0:01:30Scotland to the north and Lancashire and North Yorkshire to the south.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34The county is perhaps most famous for the singular
0:01:34 > 0:01:37beauty of its Lake District National Park,
0:01:37 > 0:01:40which encompasses some of the country's most awe-inspiring
0:01:40 > 0:01:43landscapes, including 16 pristine lakes
0:01:43 > 0:01:46formed by glacial meltwater millennia ago.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50To the north is Derwentwater.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52Known as queen of the lakes, this shimmering arc is
0:01:52 > 0:01:58studded by densely wooded islands and surrounded by majestic fells.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01One of the finest views of the lake can be seen from Ashness Bridge.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03Thanks to its extraordinary setting,
0:02:03 > 0:02:06this old pack horse bridge has become one of the most
0:02:06 > 0:02:10photographed landmarks in the whole of the Lake District.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Just outside the eastern fringes of the National Park is Penrith.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17This handsome market town is distinguished by the local
0:02:17 > 0:02:21rust red sandstone used in many of its elegant buildings.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24William Wordsworth spent some of his school years in the town and
0:02:24 > 0:02:26lived most of his life in Cumbria,
0:02:26 > 0:02:31describing the area as "the loveliest spot that man hath found".
0:02:31 > 0:02:34A sentiment shared by the many visitors who continue to be
0:02:34 > 0:02:38inspired by the elemental beauty of this extraordinary county.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44The average price of a detached home here in Cumbria is just over
0:02:44 > 0:02:50£231,000, undercutting the national figure by about £27,000,
0:02:50 > 0:02:53making this county pretty good value for money.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56Now, having said that, the desirability for living
0:02:56 > 0:02:59within the Lake District National Park will mean you pay
0:02:59 > 0:03:02an extra 20% for your country home.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06Now, heading north, as you come out of the Lake District National Park,
0:03:06 > 0:03:08property prices do come down,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11especially as you approach the Scottish border.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14So whereabouts are today's house buyers looking to head?
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Let's meet them and find out.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21Russian-born Natalie and Guy, who's Israeli, have had homes in the
0:03:21 > 0:03:25United States and in Israel, which is where they met 21 years ago.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28But Guy's job as a technical manager in the medical industry
0:03:28 > 0:03:32brought them to the UK and they've lived here for the past six
0:03:32 > 0:03:36years in this four bedroom new-build in Warrington.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40The movers confirm that they're keen to make this country home.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42But since they arrived, their family has expanded
0:03:42 > 0:03:47and they're craving a less complicated life, closer to nature.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50When we moved here, we had just one kid.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52You know, we were very, very mobile.
0:03:52 > 0:03:57Now we have three kids, now we want to leave the house, it all takes longer and that's why
0:03:57 > 0:04:01we want to be, you know, closer to the things that we want to do,
0:04:01 > 0:04:03meaning the outdoors.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07So instead of getting everyone in the car and driving somewhere,
0:04:07 > 0:04:09we want to be able to just leave the house
0:04:09 > 0:04:12and do that freely with the kids.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15It's just very, very busy from one thing to another
0:04:15 > 0:04:19and we just really, really need the quiet now and we need the
0:04:19 > 0:04:24switch off because that's something that's really missing at the moment.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Natalie and Guy are looking forward to embracing some of the rural
0:04:27 > 0:04:30pursuits they'll have access to in the countryside
0:04:30 > 0:04:32and are hoping they'll have a positive influence
0:04:32 > 0:04:34on their family life.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37We would like to do more things together.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41We would like to grow veggies. We would like to have, you know, erm...
0:04:41 > 0:04:45chickens and I like bees as well.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49I know Natalie's not keen but I do.
0:04:49 > 0:04:54We want, you know, the kids to deal less with computers
0:04:54 > 0:04:57and more with outdoors.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01I think you can, if you have this rural house with things to do
0:05:01 > 0:05:05outside, you can just get them out and do something together.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08Yeah, instead of going straight to the laptop, why not go out
0:05:08 > 0:05:10and feed the chickens?
0:05:10 > 0:05:12- I'm sure they'll enjoy that one. - Yeah.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14Natalie, who is a graphic designer,
0:05:14 > 0:05:18runs a business creating products for children's bedroom interiors
0:05:18 > 0:05:22and she's hoping the move will offer her the scope to scale it up.
0:05:22 > 0:05:28The business started in 2009 and it started small with a few
0:05:28 > 0:05:31products and a few orders a week. And at this time,
0:05:31 > 0:05:37to cope we really need to expand and have more space,
0:05:37 > 0:05:41so we will be looking for a workshop, good size, erm...
0:05:42 > 0:05:47Yes, and this will solve quite lot of our issues.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50With his work in the medical industry,
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Guy's on the road a lot travelling throughout the country,
0:05:53 > 0:05:57which means they could be flexible about where they choose to move.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01In spite of this, they've singled out Cumbria as their county of choice.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04I love Cumbria. I just think that it's, you know,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07it's a beautiful place.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10So, erm, for us it was a no-brainer.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14- We're not worried very much about the weather, are we?- No, we're not.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17That's another thing. A lot of people say that,
0:06:17 > 0:06:19"Oh, it's cold north and rain."
0:06:19 > 0:06:22My reply is always, "I love the weather."
0:06:22 > 0:06:26We came from a warm and humid place,
0:06:26 > 0:06:31so we love it here compared to another place that's it's just
0:06:31 > 0:06:35sunny all the year round and you just take it for granted.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38So here you can really appreciate nice days.
0:06:38 > 0:06:43The last thing to establish is the figure they have in mind for a Cumbrian countryside home.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47Our budget for the move is between 400 and £500,000.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54We're focusing our search to the north of the county
0:06:54 > 0:06:56and because of the travel Guy does with his work,
0:06:56 > 0:07:00we're staying within a half-hour drive of the M6.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04I'm catching up with them to learn a little bit more about their move.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07So welcome, both of you, to... Well, beautiful Cumbria.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09Now, what's prompted this move?
0:07:09 > 0:07:12The outside space is the big thing for you, isn't it?
0:07:12 > 0:07:14Yeah, it's really, really important for us.
0:07:14 > 0:07:19Erm, for us personally and for Natalie's business.
0:07:19 > 0:07:24We want more space for our family. We want to be able to go outside
0:07:24 > 0:07:27and do things with the kids, so it's really, really important all round.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31- Give them a childhood to really remember, I suppose.- Yeah, yeah.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Now, this business, this is going to have an impact on the houses
0:07:34 > 0:07:38we can show you. So what sort of space do you require for your work?
0:07:38 > 0:07:42We do need a nice size workshop-studio.
0:07:42 > 0:07:47So how big does this studio or room need to be?
0:07:47 > 0:07:51I would think that it should be roughly around 30 to 50
0:07:51 > 0:07:54square metres. I mean, it should be a good-sized room or rooms.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58All right, so that's a pretty big room or studio, isn't it?
0:07:58 > 0:08:02Now what about the house itself? You've got, what three children?
0:08:02 > 0:08:03How many bedrooms you after?
0:08:03 > 0:08:07Four bedrooms and up.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10That's one for you two and one each for the children.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12But maybe a spare room as well.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14It's being more towards the rural side.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17We're going to have family coming around
0:08:17 > 0:08:21and we do need some more space, you know, to accommodate guests.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24So what about outside, the surroundings of the house?
0:08:24 > 0:08:31- We'd like to have about an acre. Around an acre.- An acre?- Yeah.- OK.
0:08:31 > 0:08:36- And...- Could be more, but erm... - Oh, more?- Yeah. I would say, erm...
0:08:36 > 0:08:38He likes potential.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41Because you're looking for a house with some land,
0:08:41 > 0:08:46it could be a converted barn or a farmhouse. Yes or no?
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Not as much farmhouse or barn.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54We're looking more to have some kind of historic house with
0:08:54 > 0:08:58- Victorian or... - Yeah.- Georgian, something like that.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01It's very, very important for us to have high ceilings
0:09:01 > 0:09:03so, you know, we don't feel cramped.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06It is quite a bit different from what we have in our mind,
0:09:06 > 0:09:10- but I suppose you can be smitten by a space on the spot.- You can be...
0:09:10 > 0:09:11Sometimes you open the door and think,
0:09:11 > 0:09:14"Well, not what I had in mind but...
0:09:14 > 0:09:15- "I love it."- But wow, yeah.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18All right, just finally, what about budget?
0:09:18 > 0:09:24- Our budget is 400,000 stretching all the way to £500,000.- OK, and that...
0:09:24 > 0:09:28Well, that big gap between four and five is what?
0:09:28 > 0:09:31Spending money on the house if it needs it?
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Yes, we take into account that we might need to convert
0:09:34 > 0:09:36a workshop into a studio,
0:09:36 > 0:09:38so that will take some budgeting.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40And perhaps doing some things in the house.
0:09:40 > 0:09:45We are prepared to do some work to bring it to where we want it to be.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47OK, well, look...
0:09:47 > 0:09:49We've got three very different properties lined up for you.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51Let's get started, shall we?
0:09:51 > 0:09:52BOTH: Yeah.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59With a maximum budget of £500,000,
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Guy and Natalie are looking for a spacious period home
0:10:02 > 0:10:05with four bedrooms and at least an acre of land.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08For Natalie's business, they'd like a large workshop,
0:10:08 > 0:10:10or at least the potential to create one.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13And they're hoping to be within half an hour's drive of the M6
0:10:13 > 0:10:15for Guy's work.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17We've found three attractive
0:10:17 > 0:10:19and distinctly different Cumbrian homes for them to view.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21And after we've had a look around,
0:10:21 > 0:10:24I'll be getting them to have a guess at the price.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26One of them will be our mystery house,
0:10:26 > 0:10:29which could offer them an unexpected side income.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37So what do the children think about this big move to the countryside?
0:10:37 > 0:10:41- We promised them pets, so... - Bribing them with animals.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43..that's a bit of a distraction.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45What kind of pets?
0:10:45 > 0:10:50Well, I think their idea of pets is pretty much rabbits
0:10:50 > 0:10:55and our idea of animals is more towards the chickens and bees.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59A pet chicken and pet bee.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02Your kids must be raring to come to the countryside.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10We begin our search nine miles east of the M6 junction at Penrith
0:11:10 > 0:11:14in the hamlet of Newbiggin, which sits in the Eden valley.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18Two miles away is Temple Sowerby, an attractive village
0:11:18 > 0:11:22with one or two amenities centred around a village green.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24It also has a primary school, which would be handy for Guy
0:11:24 > 0:11:26and Natalie's three children.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30Our first house, a four-bedroom Victorian home set well back
0:11:30 > 0:11:32from the road, is a five-minute drive away.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39So the first property we're going to have a look around is an old
0:11:39 > 0:11:42- hunting lodge. - Looks very impressive outside.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45Well, Victorians did build impressive buildings, didn't they?
0:11:45 > 0:11:49You can expect to see high ceilings inside, lots of original features.
0:11:49 > 0:11:55- So, want to look inside?- Definitely, yes.- Let's go in.- Let's go.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59This former hunting lodge dates back to the 1800s and was originally
0:11:59 > 0:12:01one of the buildings belonging to nearby Newbiggin Hall.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10- So come on in. Straight into the kitchen.- Uh-huh.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14- What do you think?- Erm... - Quite cosy.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17Cosy's not always a good thing.
0:12:17 > 0:12:22Yeah, erm, cosy meaning that it's not on the big size
0:12:22 > 0:12:25but it is quite well proportioned.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29Yeah, it's... The layout could be changed if we wanted.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32It is possible to make this a bigger kitchen.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34I understand where you're coming form.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36You might want to reconfigure this kitchen
0:12:36 > 0:12:38but I think, as you'll see throughout this house,
0:12:38 > 0:12:40with a few further reception rooms,
0:12:40 > 0:12:43you could adapt this very well to be a family home.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46So let's have a look at one of the reception rooms.
0:12:48 > 0:12:53So this is one of the two reception rooms this side of the house.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56Yeah, that's a beautiful fireplace.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58All the fireplaces you'll see around this house,
0:12:58 > 0:13:00and there are a number of them, are all original and working,
0:13:00 > 0:13:03which is what you want from a country house, isn't it?
0:13:03 > 0:13:05- Yeah.- Quite big windows, which is very good.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07What about the room proportions?
0:13:07 > 0:13:12- It's, again, on the cosy side. - There's lots of rooms here, OK?
0:13:12 > 0:13:14So you've got this as a formal living room
0:13:14 > 0:13:15or drawing room, if you like.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18You've got a formal dining room the other side of the hallway,
0:13:18 > 0:13:20you've got the kitchen you just walked through
0:13:20 > 0:13:23and then you've got another, what they call a snug that side.
0:13:23 > 0:13:28So... If you want an older property, you're going to have formal rooms.
0:13:28 > 0:13:29Let's got to he master bedroom.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34It's pretty clear that what we've seen
0:13:34 > 0:13:37so far isn't quite measuring up for Guy and Natalie.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41Let's see if the rest of the house offers the dimensions they're after.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45Upstairs, there's a family bathroom and three double bedrooms and,
0:13:45 > 0:13:50up another set of stairs, there's a cosy twin bedroom in the attic.
0:13:50 > 0:13:56- So the master of four bedrooms in total.- Nicely done again.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59The other bedroom, the other side of this built-in wardrobe, that has a
0:13:59 > 0:14:01small en-suite shower and loo,
0:14:01 > 0:14:04but the owners use this as their master just because...
0:14:04 > 0:14:07Well, they prefer the view and the light that comes in here.
0:14:07 > 0:14:08What do you think, Natalie?
0:14:08 > 0:14:12I think it's a little bit smaller than what we have in mind.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15OK, you want big rooms, don't you? By the sounds of it.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17Yes, yes.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21For our buyers, space is clearly an issue with this house
0:14:21 > 0:14:24but outside, there is a roomy garage that could be converted into
0:14:24 > 0:14:26a workable space for Natalie's business.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30And there's also a large, attractive garden.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35All in all, you get an acre. The plot is an acre.
0:14:35 > 0:14:36So you've got room for...
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Well, you've got room for your chickens and the likes.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42And, well, you would kick a football around up here, couldn't you?
0:14:42 > 0:14:46Yeah, it's a really, really nice plot and it's again, well maintained
0:14:46 > 0:14:47and quite an impressive size.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50So after this brief tour around the property,
0:14:50 > 0:14:53how much do you think it's on the market for?
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Based on the plot size and the house,
0:14:56 > 0:14:59I would guess that it's around £350,000.
0:14:59 > 0:15:05- Natalie?- I would think, erm, not taking in account the location -
0:15:05 > 0:15:08which we're not familiar with - I would think 390.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11You mention you're not familiar with the location - it kind of shows.
0:15:11 > 0:15:17This house is on the market for offers around £495,000.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21- Location.- We were quite a bit off.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24Well, look, go back into the house, have a chat amongst yourselves
0:15:24 > 0:15:26and I'll meet you outside whenever you're done.
0:15:28 > 0:15:33Just below our couple's maximum budget at £495,000,
0:15:33 > 0:15:36this attractive Victorian property has three reception rooms,
0:15:36 > 0:15:40four bedrooms, and plenty of original period features.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Outside, there's a one-acre garden,
0:15:42 > 0:15:46and a garage that Natalie could use as a workshop for her business.
0:15:49 > 0:15:54My, this is a good size. There is another room over there.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56- And I see there is power...- Yeah.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00- ..and concrete floor, which is very good.- That's fine, yeah.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03- Absolutely fine. - Yeah, very good potential.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06Well, the house is beautiful from the outside.
0:16:06 > 0:16:12It's situated in wonderful, mature gardens which are low-maintenance.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15I think for the kids, it will be nice.
0:16:15 > 0:16:20I think that the surroundings are pretty much what we wanted.
0:16:20 > 0:16:21As we came inside,
0:16:21 > 0:16:26I thought the house is well presented and well kept.
0:16:26 > 0:16:31It's just that the rooms are a bit small for what we want.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35The workshop caters to our business just perfectly, really.
0:16:35 > 0:16:40We could work from that space. It definitely covers what we need.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42It is a lovely family home but for us
0:16:42 > 0:16:45it really comes back to the size of the space.
0:16:45 > 0:16:50We are looking for, I suppose, a more grand feel of the house.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54Overall, a very nice property for the right people.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58Erm, that unfortunately won't be us.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04- Look at this, the sun's come out. It's beautiful, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08- So have you seen enough inside the house?- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11- Good. On to the next one, then. - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18In the heart of the Lake District National Park is the Honister Pass,
0:17:18 > 0:17:22one of the highest and steepest mountain passes in Cumbria.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25This desolate but hauntingly beautiful place was once
0:17:25 > 0:17:27busy with teams of men,
0:17:27 > 0:17:31extracting sought-after Honister green slate from deep within
0:17:31 > 0:17:37Fleetwith Pike, the imposing 2,000ft fell that towers over the pass.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41This desirable natural resource has been mined here for
0:17:41 > 0:17:44hundreds of years, but its peak was in the 19th century,
0:17:44 > 0:17:46when more than 100 men were employed here
0:17:46 > 0:17:49and production reached 3,000 tonnes a year.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53Removing the slate from this precipitous location was
0:17:53 > 0:17:57a costly exercise, and the arrival of cheaper alternatives from abroad
0:17:57 > 0:18:01eventually brought activity here to a standstill and, for years,
0:18:01 > 0:18:03the site remained derelict.
0:18:03 > 0:18:08But in 1997, a local entrepreneur bought the mine and opened it to the
0:18:08 > 0:18:12public to help keep the history of this important local industry alive.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15Barry Surtees is the mine's marketing manager.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19So what makes the slate here in Honister so special?
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Well, our slate is totally unique in the United Kingdom.
0:18:22 > 0:18:27In fact, in the world. It will last roughly 300-plus years.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30OK, so it's got much more longevity. Why is that?
0:18:30 > 0:18:33- Is it more dense, or...?- It's dense and it's very hard
0:18:33 > 0:18:35and it's very resistant.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37It's been in that mountain for 450 million years,
0:18:37 > 0:18:40so it's going to last a bit longer.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42That's a good way of putting it.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45We're lucky that our slate's so good that even the Queen has
0:18:45 > 0:18:47- it on her roof at Buckingham Palace. - Oh.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50Absolutely, and it's on all the stores in Regent Street,
0:18:50 > 0:18:54so all the main big buildings in London have our slate on the roof.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57Got some fairly exalted customers, then.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00The slate was formed from layers of volcanic ash that has been
0:19:00 > 0:19:02compressed over hundreds of millions of years
0:19:02 > 0:19:06and comes from three huge seams within Fleetwith Pike.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10- So, Barry, we're surrounded by mines, then, are we?- Absolutely.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14Up there, there's ten miles of tunnels in that mountain.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17Goodness me. Inside that face, if you like.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19Yeah, ten miles of tunnels.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21I can see bits of timber along this track here.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24- Does that mean there was a railway here?- Yeah, absolutely.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27In Victorian times, they got so fed up of dragging slate up
0:19:27 > 0:19:30and down this mountain that they actually built railways in the
0:19:30 > 0:19:32most extraordinary places.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35- This was one railway, which went up to the end here.- Yeah.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38And then at the other side, you can't believe,
0:19:38 > 0:19:41but they built three railways right to the top of the mountain.
0:19:41 > 0:19:42It's quite extraordinary.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45What did they do before the railways?
0:19:45 > 0:19:48Cos mining obviously predates the railways.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51What they used to do was actually bring the slate down on sleds,
0:19:51 > 0:19:54which was quite a dangerous occupation to do
0:19:54 > 0:19:56because it's a hell of a weight.
0:19:56 > 0:19:57Heck of a weight.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01Erm, and some of the Victorian visitors of the day would come up
0:20:01 > 0:20:04here in charabancs and realise that there was something happening,
0:20:04 > 0:20:08so the miners would come sledding down and the visitors were
0:20:08 > 0:20:10so impressed they would throw them coins.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12Which was a nice little earner for them
0:20:12 > 0:20:15but, of course, the mine manager wasn't very happy about that.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18But it certainly provided a lot of entertainment
0:20:18 > 0:20:20for people coming up here.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23- I mean, these sleds that you talk about...- Hmmm.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26You load that up with slate, how on earth do you control it?
0:20:26 > 0:20:29I don't know. I mean, they didn't have any health and safety
0:20:29 > 0:20:32- and I think they just got on with it.- Just let gravity do its work.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36- Gravity do its work. These men were fearless.- They really were.
0:20:36 > 0:20:37Totally fearless.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41To help give visitors an idea of the extreme conditions these men
0:20:41 > 0:20:44endured, a cable walkway known as a via ferrata, has been
0:20:44 > 0:20:47set into the mountain following the vertiginous route the miners
0:20:47 > 0:20:51took each day, rain, hail or shine.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55Joe Weir, one of the mine owners, is going to show me the ropes.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57So what's the technique here? I'm tied in...
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Really, there only is one thing that you have to remember.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03When you come to the junction, just take one of them off
0:21:03 > 0:21:07and then with the same hand, you come back to that.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10- Oh, right, so there's always... - There's always one clipped on.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13- You can't be standing there with two carabiners.- Got you.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16- So, can we go up there?- Yeah, we can have a go if you're up for it.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19- Not frightened of heights?- Not frightened of anything, my friend.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23"Via ferrata" is Italian for "iron road"
0:21:23 > 0:21:26and it's a system that was used in the First World War to move
0:21:26 > 0:21:31troops and equipment safely over mountainous terrain.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34I tell you what, I wouldn't fancy carrying
0:21:34 > 0:21:36a load of slate on my back coming up here, would you?
0:21:36 > 0:21:38I would not, no.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41This circuitous route made getting home each night difficult.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44So a lot of miners stayed on the mountain all week,
0:21:44 > 0:21:47in stone bothies that they'd built themselves,
0:21:47 > 0:21:49the ruins of which can be seen from the path.
0:21:51 > 0:21:56Well, Joe, it's an amazing insight into just how hard
0:21:56 > 0:22:00the life of a Victorian miner was up here but I must say,
0:22:00 > 0:22:03it's also a lot of fun to get involved in. Thanks very much.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06It's a pleasure. No problem. Thanks for coming.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08I'll come again, don't worry about that.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14Back to our property search and we're heading 30 miles north to the
0:22:14 > 0:22:19rural hamlet of Parton Wigton, which is a 25-minute drive from the M6.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21For provisions,
0:22:21 > 0:22:23the appealing village of Kirkbride
0:22:23 > 0:22:26lies eight miles north of the property,
0:22:26 > 0:22:29where amenities include a post office and a sports club.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33Our second offering is just down the road and it's Georgian,
0:22:33 > 0:22:36one of our couple's preferred architectural styles.
0:22:38 > 0:22:39So with property number two,
0:22:39 > 0:22:43we've gone bigger and hopefully better. What do you think?
0:22:43 > 0:22:45- Wow, wow, wow. - Yes, big smile on the face.
0:22:45 > 0:22:52- And wows.- Three wows.- Good. Why? Cos it's big?- It's Georgian.
0:22:52 > 0:22:57It looks right from the outside, spot on.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00- Erm...- Yeah.- Very, very excited.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03- I like the elevated position of the house.- Yeah.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07It's watching over the valley, it... It's absolutely spot on.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10And also, the Georgians were massive show-offs.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13"Look at me and my big house," and you would, wouldn't you?
0:23:13 > 0:23:18- Yes, we, I suppose as well. - Well, this could be you.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21So these are great impressions first off.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25- It'll get better inside. Let me show you.- Oh, right.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28The property, which is thought to date back to the 1820s,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31has been renovated over the last 15 years by the
0:23:31 > 0:23:33current owners, who have managed to retain
0:23:33 > 0:23:35many of the original factures.
0:23:37 > 0:23:43- So, a rather grand entrance hall. - Yes, definitely, we like.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47I'm glad. I thought you would. Let's start off with the kitchen.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49- It's big. - Wow.- Wow.- Good.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53Now then...
0:23:55 > 0:23:56Wow.
0:23:56 > 0:24:01- That is big.- That's nice.- That is big and that is very, very nice.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04I wanted to say it's absolutely spot on, but it's...
0:24:04 > 0:24:08- It's probably above that. - So it's exceeding your expectations?
0:24:08 > 0:24:10- That's great.- Oh, yeah. - You like history, don't you?
0:24:10 > 0:24:11- You like old properties.- Yes.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15If you look at this detail in this cornicing - which is original -
0:24:15 > 0:24:17- it's just something else, isn't it? - It's beautiful.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21- Well, if you like this room...- Yes. - you'll probably like the next one.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23All right.
0:24:27 > 0:24:33- So, rather elegant living room. - Yes.- Nice.- Absolutely beautiful.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37Magnificent features, so much detail.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41This is way, way beyond my expectation, erm...
0:24:41 > 0:24:46To be honest, so I'm a bit, erm... Erm... You know...
0:24:46 > 0:24:48Lost for words, by the sound of it.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50It's really, really nice.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55Adjoining the living room is an attractive formal dining room
0:24:55 > 0:24:59and below there's a large cellar, handy for extra storage.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03Upstairs, beyond the light-filled landing, the four double bedrooms
0:25:03 > 0:25:07have large windows offering great views across the countryside.
0:25:07 > 0:25:12Three are served by a family bathroom and the master has an en-suite.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16So...
0:25:16 > 0:25:21- Here we are. What do we think? - It's lovely.- Again, beautiful.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26Big, erm, good proportion. Plenty of room around the bed, erm...
0:25:28 > 0:25:33Big sized room, which is excellent. Lovely, lovely fireplace.
0:25:33 > 0:25:38- Just beautiful and the views here are amazing.- Yeah.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40- It's a great house, isn't it? - It's, you know...
0:25:40 > 0:25:43From the moment we saw this house from the outside,
0:25:43 > 0:25:47it got to a very, very high level and it's just staying there.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51- It's absolutely superb.- We wanted a grand house and that's what it is.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53Yeah, just that.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57Now, you did say you wanted a studio, somewhere to work from home.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59We've got something in mind for that. Follow me.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03So far, this house really seems to deliver
0:26:03 > 0:26:06what our couple are looking for and I have a feeling
0:26:06 > 0:26:09they won't be disappointed by what's on offer outside.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Apart from roughly three quarters of an acre of land, where there's
0:26:12 > 0:26:15more than enough land for Guy to keep his chickens and bees,
0:26:15 > 0:26:19there's also a 1,400-square foot workshop that has Natalie's
0:26:19 > 0:26:20name written all over it.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24So...you're after somewhere big enough where you could work,
0:26:24 > 0:26:25maybe as a studio.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31- Right, this is... - Proper, proper size.- Yeah.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35- You can do anything you want in here, really.- Yeah.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38This is just for the studio sort of stuff and storage.
0:26:38 > 0:26:43On top of this, you've got a self contained home office.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46- Your empire could go and go and go here.- Yeah.
0:26:46 > 0:26:47It's amazing.
0:26:47 > 0:26:52Yeah, we asked for quite a big outbuilding workshop,
0:26:52 > 0:26:54and this is even bigger.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56Let's go outside and start thinking
0:26:56 > 0:26:59about how much this is all going to cost.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06So the house takes on a completely different look from this side,
0:27:06 > 0:27:08- doesn't it?- Yes, very different.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11Which isn't unusual for Georgian property, actually.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14- It's different in a good way. - It's nice.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17- It's as if you're having, you know, two different houses.- In one.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20I know what you mean. You almost have got a few different houses
0:27:20 > 0:27:22and you've got that huge double garage there.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Above that, there's a converted playroom.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28And then next door, what's thought to be maybe servants' quarters,
0:27:28 > 0:27:32you've got self contained two-bed accommodation here.
0:27:32 > 0:27:37- It's...huge.- It is very impressive. - It is very impressive.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40So how impressive is it as regards to price?
0:27:40 > 0:27:44How much do you think this house is on the market for?
0:27:45 > 0:27:51- Well, I would say 500.- £500,000. - Hope.- Oh, you're hoping?- Yes.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Right, OK.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57- What do you think, Guy? - I would think that it's, erm...
0:27:57 > 0:28:02Based on the size and the way it looks, it's got to be over budget.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05I would go for £520,000.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09OK. Well, it's on the market for offers of around £525,000,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12so you're not far off.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15Well, this is your opportunity to go and have a good look around
0:28:15 > 0:28:17- and really enjoy yourselves. All right?- Yeah.- Let's go.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19Catch you later.
0:28:21 > 0:28:26This elegant Georgian home is above budget at £525,000,
0:28:26 > 0:28:29but the owners are open to offers.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31It has a large kitchen, two reception rooms
0:28:31 > 0:28:34and four double bedrooms.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36There's also an adjoining self-contained cottage
0:28:36 > 0:28:40which offers two more bedrooms, perfect for visiting family.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43Outside, there's around ¾ of an acre of land,
0:28:43 > 0:28:46an office and a large workshop.
0:28:46 > 0:28:52- Mind the steps here. Wow. - That's proper space. Quite amazing.
0:28:52 > 0:28:59- This is really, really big. - Wow, that is a good size room.
0:28:59 > 0:29:05My first reaction was "wow" and it continued all the way through.
0:29:05 > 0:29:07Every room that we went to. It's a nice, nice house.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10Quite amazing. I'm very, very impressed.
0:29:10 > 0:29:15The features, right when you just open the door, you can see
0:29:15 > 0:29:18the ceilings and the cornices, all the wonderful original features.
0:29:18 > 0:29:24The surrounding area is beautiful. I feel that we can just go out,
0:29:24 > 0:29:27you know, walking and cycling together as family,
0:29:27 > 0:29:30so the opportunities are absolutely endless.
0:29:30 > 0:29:34I can see the children enjoying the outside.
0:29:34 > 0:29:38I can see them playing a lot of hide and seek and not finding each other.
0:29:38 > 0:29:43The size of the workshop is absolutely amazing.
0:29:43 > 0:29:46We wanted a big workshop, but it's even bigger than what we, erm...
0:29:46 > 0:29:48thought we need.
0:29:48 > 0:29:52This means that Natalie will be able to grow the business even further.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55We can see this as our family home.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58For many years it can cater to our business needs
0:29:58 > 0:30:02and as far as I can see, beyond.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08I didn't know which door to stand outside because this property's
0:30:08 > 0:30:11- so big. But you've managed to see everything, have you?- Yes.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15- Took a while.- It's a massive place. - It is massive, yeah.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19- Two happy customers?- It's wonderful. - Yeah, very happy. Beyond happy.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22Beyond happy? That sounds good to me. Let's go back.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34It's the second day of our property search
0:30:34 > 0:30:37and with a budget of £500,000,
0:30:37 > 0:30:39Guy and Natalie are leaving the Cheshire town of Warrington
0:30:39 > 0:30:42and looking to the open wilds of Cumbria
0:30:42 > 0:30:44to find space to expand a business
0:30:44 > 0:30:48and discover a more wholesome way of life for their family.
0:30:48 > 0:30:52Still to come, our final house offers an unexpected bonus.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55What would you think if I was to tell you that that's included?
0:30:55 > 0:30:56So it has lots of pluses.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00Well, I think we're going to take a gamble today
0:31:00 > 0:31:01with the mystery house,
0:31:01 > 0:31:04as property number two seems to be pretty hard to beat.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06First off, it's a farmhouse, something that Natalie
0:31:06 > 0:31:09and Guy said they weren't particularly keen on looking at.
0:31:09 > 0:31:10And second of all, well,
0:31:10 > 0:31:13it's 40 minutes' drive to the M6 motorway.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16But if Guy's prepared to do that extra commute,
0:31:16 > 0:31:20they'll both be rewarded in living in a house that takes advantage
0:31:20 > 0:31:23of this wonderful scenery. Let's see how we go.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29Our final property takes us to Alston, in the east of the county,
0:31:29 > 0:31:31close to the Northumberland border.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34It's an attractive village set high in the sparsely populated
0:31:34 > 0:31:39North Pennines within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
0:31:39 > 0:31:41Before we have a look at the mystery house, I'm stopping off in the
0:31:41 > 0:31:45village with Natalie and Guy to show them some of what it has to offer.
0:31:45 > 0:31:49Now, this market town holds the accolade of being the highest
0:31:49 > 0:31:53market town in the country, about 1,000 feet above sea level.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56- What do you think?- It's beautiful. - Beautiful.- Very picturesque.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59- Absolutely beautiful.- You've got all the facilities you need here.
0:31:59 > 0:32:04Now, one of the first compromises is the area itself.
0:32:04 > 0:32:10- We're about 40 minutes' drive to the M6 junction at Penrith.- OK.- Yeah?
0:32:10 > 0:32:13- But what a drive, over those Pennines.- Yeah, beautiful.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16Scenic and absolutely beautiful.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19Well, you've got schools here within the town.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22The house we're about to see is just a few minutes' drive up there.
0:32:22 > 0:32:24- OK.- Ready? Let's go.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30Set at the end of a long, private driveway
0:32:30 > 0:32:34and surrounded by miles of gorgeous countryside is our last house.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37So we are now very rural.
0:32:39 > 0:32:43What do we think of looking around a farmhouse?
0:32:43 > 0:32:46It is very pretty.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49It's also something you said you didn't really want to look around.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52Yeah, but we also said we are very open to other things.
0:32:52 > 0:32:54- Yeah.- Good.- And I love the setting.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57What do you think about being so close to another property?
0:32:59 > 0:33:02It has some, you know, pluses and some...
0:33:02 > 0:33:06What would you think if I was to tell you that you would own
0:33:06 > 0:33:07that property as well? That's included.
0:33:07 > 0:33:12- Oh, so it has lots of plusses. - Right. OK.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15- Good?- Yeah.- Yeah.- You look freezing. Shall we get you inside? Come on.
0:33:15 > 0:33:17Let's go.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20Both properties date back to 1896,
0:33:20 > 0:33:22one is the farmhouse where we're heading now.
0:33:22 > 0:33:26The other was its barn, which we'll take a closer look at later.
0:33:35 > 0:33:40- So, first reception room.- Right, it is lovely.- It's lovely. Yeah.
0:33:40 > 0:33:44- Nice and warm and cosy.- It is warm, yes, compared to outside.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47Now what do you think about the ceiling height?
0:33:47 > 0:33:50Because I think one of the reasons why you didn't want an old farmhouse
0:33:50 > 0:33:53is because you thought it might be low ceilings and dark inside.
0:33:53 > 0:33:57Yeah, these are high ceilings so, erm, good size. Good size, yeah.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59- Beautiful fireplace. - Beautiful fireplace, yeah.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02Now that's a working fireplace, that wood-burning stove.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04Next door in the other reception room - currently laid
0:34:04 > 0:34:07out as a dining room - we've got another working fireplace as well.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10So you've got two reception rooms at the front of the house plus
0:34:10 > 0:34:12you've got an ex-dairy room next door,
0:34:12 > 0:34:15which could be anything you want it do be.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18- Let's keep looking around. - All right.- Let's go.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23So the back of the house, the kitchen has, well,
0:34:23 > 0:34:25some amazing views.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28- Oh, right, yeah. It's very nice. - Wow, wow, wow.
0:34:28 > 0:34:32- Well, heard the wow word again, that's good.- Yeah, three times.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35Now, as in any farmhouse worth its salt,
0:34:35 > 0:34:39you get a range, which is electric fired, not oil fired,
0:34:39 > 0:34:41which a lot of them are.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44And you've got a utility just through that room there,
0:34:44 > 0:34:47and a loo. Now, I'll, you know, make no bones about it,
0:34:47 > 0:34:51this is no way near as big as the kitchen in property number two.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54- Yeah.- But again, has that nice farmhouse feel.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57It feels very warm and inviting.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00We've got, including this kitchen, four, good sized rooms on the
0:35:00 > 0:35:04ground floor and upstairs is the same, so let's go and take a look.
0:35:06 > 0:35:09They do seem to genuinely like this place, but I'm just not
0:35:09 > 0:35:13entirely sure that it's managed to compete with house number two.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16Upstairs, the four bedrooms are all doubles, one of which is being used
0:35:16 > 0:35:21as a guest room-cum-office and they all share a family bathroom.
0:35:25 > 0:35:29- So this is what the owners use as a master.- Yeah. Size is good.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32- Good, big.- Lovely window.
0:35:32 > 0:35:34Yeah, again, these views are just to die for.
0:35:34 > 0:35:38Now, I'm not entirely sure you'd use this as your master bedroom.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41The owners chose this as it's the only bedroom up here that
0:35:41 > 0:35:44doesn't have a fireplace and they wanted storage along one wall,
0:35:44 > 0:35:47but each of the four bedrooms are of equal size.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50- But the rest of them have lovely feature fireplaces in.- Right.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52So I think you may want to use the other next door,
0:35:52 > 0:35:55- that benefits from the same view. - We may.- All right.
0:35:55 > 0:35:56This is one of the buildings.
0:35:56 > 0:35:58Shall we go and have a quick look at the other one?
0:35:58 > 0:36:00Yeah, excellent.
0:36:03 > 0:36:05Even though it's a farmhouse, they don't seem to be
0:36:05 > 0:36:09put off by the style of this place, which I'm really pleased with.
0:36:09 > 0:36:11And I'm looking forward to seeing what they make of the barn
0:36:11 > 0:36:16next door as it gives them a few interesting options to think about.
0:36:23 > 0:36:27- So, you also get this.- Oh, wow. - That's a very big, nice space.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31This is used as holiday let, self catering.
0:36:31 > 0:36:35This side of the property, three-bedroom letting accommodation.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37And then, see that door there?
0:36:37 > 0:36:40You can link it up to the cottage next door,
0:36:40 > 0:36:42which also has its own entrance,
0:36:42 > 0:36:45and that is a two-bedroom self-contained cottage.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47Yeah, and this is a business.
0:36:47 > 0:36:51This cottage sits within a fairly touristy area.
0:36:51 > 0:36:53You've got footpaths everywhere.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55You've got a footpath almost crossing over your land here,
0:36:55 > 0:36:58but you've also got the coast-to-coast cycleway
0:36:58 > 0:36:59that runs past your property.
0:36:59 > 0:37:04I mean, you can get around £500 a week for this in peak season.
0:37:04 > 0:37:09Now, as you're working from home, you may want to use a three-bedder
0:37:09 > 0:37:12and rent that out and you keep the two-bedder
0:37:12 > 0:37:16to run your business from, or vice versa.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20It is a possibility, I mean, it is a good size to do as we wish.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22OK, well, look, that's something to think about
0:37:22 > 0:37:24and obviously something to explore later on.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27- Let's go outside and have a look at the land.- Yeah, sounds good.
0:37:27 > 0:37:32Our couple said they really wanted to immerse themselves in nature.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35Well, this place certainly delivers on that front.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38They'd be completely surrounded by it here with plenty of fantastic
0:37:38 > 0:37:42walks right on their doorstep.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45So, let's talk land.
0:37:45 > 0:37:49- You wanted one acre, yeah?- Yeah, if possible.- You've got five.- Oh.
0:37:49 > 0:37:54- So, what are you going to do with all that?- Lots of chickens.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57Chickens, bees.
0:37:57 > 0:37:58Lots of chickens, lots of bees.
0:37:58 > 0:38:02This is the outdoor person's paradise, isn't it?
0:38:02 > 0:38:03Yeah, it's lovely.
0:38:03 > 0:38:07Let's start thinking about how much this place is on the market for.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09I would think that it's right at the top of our budget,
0:38:09 > 0:38:11I would go with £500,000.
0:38:11 > 0:38:15- OK, Natalie? - I would think 550.- Yeah.
0:38:15 > 0:38:21Because of all the business, it can be complete lifestyle. Yeah.
0:38:21 > 0:38:25- Well, it's on the market for offers around £499,000.- Oh.
0:38:26 > 0:38:30- Well done, then. - Well done, yeah. Very good.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33First off, go back into the main house. Have a look at the
0:38:33 > 0:38:36bedrooms, have a look at the dairy room as well, it's pretty cool.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39But then, go into the cottages and have a look at all the bedrooms
0:38:39 > 0:38:42and maybe have a think about how you'd split it up.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45- All right?- Will do.- I'll stay out here in the wind.- All righty.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47Catch you later on.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51Well, they said it themselves,
0:38:51 > 0:38:54the mystery house has given them a real curveball BUT, in doing so,
0:38:54 > 0:38:57I think it's given them something to really think about.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00Hopefully something that compares with house number two.
0:39:01 > 0:39:05A fraction under budget at £499,000,
0:39:05 > 0:39:09this farmhouse and converted barn give our couple plenty of options.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12With three reception rooms and four bedrooms,
0:39:12 > 0:39:15the farmhouse would comfortably fit the whole family,
0:39:15 > 0:39:18while the barn, with its two self-contained living spaces,
0:39:18 > 0:39:19could house Natalie's business,
0:39:19 > 0:39:22provide accommodation for visiting friends and family,
0:39:22 > 0:39:26and give them an extra income if they decided to let one of them out.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29It's set in a stunning, very rural location,
0:39:29 > 0:39:32and has five acres for them to play with.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36- Oh, right.- Oh, wow.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39This is a bit smaller that the other one but it's pretty.
0:39:39 > 0:39:44- Yeah, it's lovely.- Beautiful views. - Yeah. I'm impressed, again.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46The house is very welcoming, very cosy.
0:39:46 > 0:39:50You kind of can see family living here.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53We'd have to adjust style-wise as we're not...
0:39:53 > 0:39:55We weren't expecting a farmhouse,
0:39:55 > 0:39:58and also it is a bit smaller than house number two,
0:39:58 > 0:40:02so we will need to decide how much space do we really need.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05Two separate houses was a big surprise for us because it
0:40:05 > 0:40:09gives us a lot of flexibility, something to think about.
0:40:09 > 0:40:15Lots of opportunities with regards to what to do with the second property.
0:40:15 > 0:40:16It's actually very good.
0:40:20 > 0:40:24Now then, Natalie, have we found a base for your business?
0:40:24 > 0:40:27- There is a lot of room for everything.- There is, isn't there?
0:40:27 > 0:40:30- There's a lot to think about. - And new ideas as well.- Good.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32So let's find you somewhere to have
0:40:32 > 0:40:34a bit of a natter amongst yourselves.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48Now then... Oh, you've poured a cup of tea for me. Thank you very much.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50- You're welcome.- So what's the plan?
0:40:51 > 0:40:55We really do want to go back and see another time second house.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58- Property number two. - Property number two.
0:40:58 > 0:41:02- So the Georgians beat the Victorians.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:41:02 > 0:41:06It just offers, you know, everything that we wanted and more.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09So the big gamble with the mystery house,
0:41:09 > 0:41:11you didn't mind it being a farmhouse, did you?
0:41:11 > 0:41:16- No, not as much the style. I think it is still the scale, really.- Yeah.
0:41:16 > 0:41:22- And the cottages, wonderful but thinking more about it...- Yeah.
0:41:22 > 0:41:26We're already doing things. Guy has a job and I have my business,
0:41:26 > 0:41:30and that would be - as nice as it is - a distraction.
0:41:30 > 0:41:35And I'm not sure if we have enough time and energy to do it well.
0:41:35 > 0:41:36Sounds really sensible, actually.
0:41:36 > 0:41:42Tell me, what is it about house number two that tipped the balance?
0:41:42 > 0:41:46I think it's a combination of the house itself, which is
0:41:46 > 0:41:50absolutely magnificent and the size of the rooms, the layout.
0:41:50 > 0:41:54Erm, what it offers outside with the attached cottage
0:41:54 > 0:41:56and the big workshop.
0:41:56 > 0:42:00It simply gives us, you know, everything we needed.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03- So, erm, it's great. - It's a good package, isn't it?
0:42:03 > 0:42:06So when are you coming back to have a look at it?
0:42:06 > 0:42:10- Erm, I'm thinking, erm, next week.- Oh, OK.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12Yeah, we're not going to hang around.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14We're just going to go for it.
0:42:14 > 0:42:18Well, good luck with that and please, whatever happens,
0:42:18 > 0:42:20- do let us know, won't you?- We will.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22- Yeah, will do, and thank you very much.- Excellent.
0:42:26 > 0:42:27Well, it sounds like Natalie and Guy
0:42:27 > 0:42:30really fell in love with the Georgian charm
0:42:30 > 0:42:31of property number two
0:42:31 > 0:42:35and all the proportions it gave them, especially as a family home.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38So maybe this second viewing will just help them
0:42:38 > 0:42:40fall in love with it all over again.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42Let's hope so. See you next time.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47If you'd like to escape to the country in Scotland,
0:42:47 > 0:42:49Wales, England, Northern Ireland,
0:42:49 > 0:42:50and would like our help,
0:42:50 > 0:42:52then please apply online at...