0:00:02 > 0:00:04Built in the late 13th century, this is the only medieval
0:00:04 > 0:00:08fortified bridge in the UK to still have its gatehouse intact.
0:00:08 > 0:00:09Oh, yes. Find out where it is
0:00:09 > 0:00:13and why it was particularly unfit for purpose in just a moment.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35On today's show, we're offering a couple of committed country lovers
0:00:35 > 0:00:38the chance to escape the city for good.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40There are incredible sights...
0:00:40 > 0:00:43- Look at the view! - Wow, what a view.- That's amazing.
0:00:43 > 0:00:44..and the right sort of sounds.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46- Oh!- Wow.
0:00:46 > 0:00:47- Oh, wow.- Yeah.
0:00:47 > 0:00:48- Wow.- Wow.
0:00:48 > 0:00:49- Blimey.- Ooh!
0:00:49 > 0:00:52- My word.- Wow.
0:00:53 > 0:00:58Today we're in Monmouthshire and this is the Monnow Bridge.
0:00:58 > 0:01:03In 1297, it was Edward I who gave the townsfolk of Monmouth
0:01:03 > 0:01:06permission to build this splendid structure to defend themselves.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Little knowing that 100 feet upstream
0:01:08 > 0:01:11there's a perfectly passable crossing by foot,
0:01:11 > 0:01:14which was exactly the route that Civil War soldiers took
0:01:14 > 0:01:17350 years later when they attacked the town.
0:01:17 > 0:01:18Still, you can't win them all.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22Although Monmouthshire itself does score notable victories elsewhere.
0:01:22 > 0:01:23Take a look.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Monmouthshire is bordered by the Welsh county of Powys
0:01:30 > 0:01:32to the north and the English counties of Herefordshire
0:01:32 > 0:01:35and Gloucestershire to the east.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37The ancient county was much larger,
0:01:37 > 0:01:40incorporating many of the Welsh principal areas to the west,
0:01:40 > 0:01:42including Torfaen and Newport.
0:01:44 > 0:01:49It's an area of great geographical diversity and awe-inspiring scenery.
0:01:51 > 0:01:52Lying to the north of Monmouthshire
0:01:52 > 0:01:56and rising to a height of 2,000 feet are the Black Mountains,
0:01:56 > 0:02:00part of the much larger Brecon Beacons National Park.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Straddling the border with England in the east
0:02:02 > 0:02:07is the meandering Wye Valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09It's a county rich in history,
0:02:09 > 0:02:12from the eerie monastic ruins of Tintern Abbey
0:02:12 > 0:02:14and the imposing Chepstow Castle,
0:02:14 > 0:02:16which sits on the bank of the River Wye,
0:02:16 > 0:02:17to the town of Monmouth
0:02:17 > 0:02:22which has one of the finest Georgian shire halls in Wales.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25It's not hard to see why this county appeals to those
0:02:25 > 0:02:28seeking the perfect rural escape.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35When it comes to property shopping in Wales,
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Monmouthshire is the most expensive county -
0:02:38 > 0:02:41largely due to its proximity to commuter towns
0:02:41 > 0:02:43like Bristol, Cardiff and, of course, Newport.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46However, don't let that put you off,
0:02:46 > 0:02:48because the average price for a detached house here
0:02:48 > 0:02:53is £234,000, which is £23,000 less
0:02:53 > 0:02:54than the national figure.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57And if you go to the north, to the border with Powys,
0:02:57 > 0:03:00your money goes even further -
0:03:00 > 0:03:0220% further according to the local estate agents.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05So, what are our couple today going to do with their property pound?
0:03:05 > 0:03:07Let's meet them and find out.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12Pete and Dawn, who are both in their 30s, currently live in Bristol
0:03:12 > 0:03:16in a three-bedroomed terrace house with their puppy, Jenny.
0:03:16 > 0:03:17They've only been here for a year,
0:03:17 > 0:03:21but they quickly realised that it's not the place for them.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24I think the area doesn't really provide the outdoor space
0:03:24 > 0:03:28that we're requiring and also it's very built up, as a city would be.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30We just don't have that outdoor space,
0:03:30 > 0:03:33we don't have the off-street parking, which is a major issue.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Yeah, and not so much privacy, as well,
0:03:35 > 0:03:38because the neighbours are very...there.
0:03:38 > 0:03:43Welsh born Dawn is a solicitor and Pete, who's from Somerset,
0:03:43 > 0:03:45works as a broadcast sales manager.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48They met through an online dating agency.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52We've been married six months, so, we got married at Christmas,
0:03:52 > 0:03:55- 20th December, so a Christmas wedding.- Yeah.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58And it's going well so far!
0:03:58 > 0:04:00- Do you think?- Yeah, of course I do!
0:04:00 > 0:04:04Why did you say that with a question mark? "It's going well?"
0:04:04 > 0:04:07But at least there's no doubt about where they want to live.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10I think we're definitely both rural people.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12We both were brought up in the country
0:04:12 > 0:04:16and we've obviously been in the city for a little while now.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19We're definitely rural people at heart.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22I was born over in the Wye Valley, Monmouthshire.
0:04:22 > 0:04:23So, I'm used to the countryside.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26My uncle's got a farm in the Wye Valley so, I'd go up there quite
0:04:26 > 0:04:29a bit when I was younger, not so much now I'm over here.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31But, yeah, we do like the countryside.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33And Monmouthshire is the perfect place for Pete
0:04:33 > 0:04:35to indulge his passions.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37I think when we move to Monmouthshire,
0:04:37 > 0:04:39the things I'm really looking forward
0:04:39 > 0:04:41to are certainly the cycling.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44So, I mean, I'm a very keen road cyclist
0:04:44 > 0:04:48and the countryside in Monmouthshire is great, it's very hilly,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51it's great terrain for riding.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54I think it's also having the outdoor space
0:04:54 > 0:04:56to take our dog Jenny for walks
0:04:56 > 0:04:59and for us to go for more walks
0:04:59 > 0:05:02and just have the space, really, that we don't have at the moment.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07And there's another pressing reason why now is the right time to move.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Pete's talking about babies.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13So...
0:05:13 > 0:05:16So, yeah, a bit more space for a family.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18Yeah, so I mean we are looking at starting a family, as well.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21So starting a family, we don't really want to have a family
0:05:21 > 0:05:23in the location that we're in.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25Despite living in the city,
0:05:25 > 0:05:28Pete is already getting into the country spirit.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30Yeah, well, he bought a tweed jacket the other day
0:05:30 > 0:05:35and now he's going, "Ooh, I need another one. Ooh, ooh, ooh."
0:05:35 > 0:05:38I like my country tweed, I must say I do.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42So, all that's left to find out is how much money is financing
0:05:42 > 0:05:45this new start in Monmouthshire.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49The budget for the move is £450,000 but we can increase that slightly
0:05:49 > 0:05:51if the right property comes along.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58Dawn would like to be close to her parents in Chepstow
0:05:58 > 0:06:01and her work in Bristol, so we're concentrating
0:06:01 > 0:06:03our property search in the south of the ancient county.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05I met up with them in Monmouthshire
0:06:05 > 0:06:07to find out what they want from their new home.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10- Morning, guys.- Morning. - Welcome to Monmouthshire.- Thank you.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13Well, you're actually from Monmouthshire, aren't you?
0:06:13 > 0:06:16- I am, I'm from Chepstow.- Oh, so do you still have folks there?
0:06:16 > 0:06:18Yes, my mum and dad and gran are down here,
0:06:18 > 0:06:19my brother's just moved back home.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22- Oh.- And I've got an uncle in the Wye Valley as well.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24So, gathering of the clans.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26- Indeed.- Do you know what you're getting into, Pete?
0:06:26 > 0:06:29- No, I don't think so, really. - You're not from these parts?
0:06:29 > 0:06:32No, no, no, I'm not, I'm from Somerset.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34- So not so very far away. - Not too far, no. No.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37What are you looking for in terms of the house?
0:06:37 > 0:06:40The key things we're looking for is certainly
0:06:40 > 0:06:42a nice big farmhouse kitchen.
0:06:42 > 0:06:47I guess a reasonably detached property.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51Dawn would like four bedrooms, I don't mind three.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53- There's only us two. - What about land? I hear this
0:06:53 > 0:06:56is a bit of a contentious point between the two of you.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59- Yes.- Yes.- Pete would like about seven acres.- Seven acres?
0:06:59 > 0:07:01And I would like about half an acre.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04I think I've always had this idea of having a smallholding,
0:07:04 > 0:07:08I guess, but a very small, smallholding so a few animals,
0:07:08 > 0:07:11a few pigs, a few chickens, and sheep and things.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13But I mean, it's not urgent and I think,
0:07:13 > 0:07:15as long as we have the potential to maybe purchase
0:07:15 > 0:07:19some land in the near future, it's not an absolute requirement.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21So, you want a postage stamp with a guinea pig
0:07:21 > 0:07:24- and he wants seven acres with a... - Yeah, I think so.- Pretty much.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26I mean, I think we've compromised. As long as we've got a good
0:07:26 > 0:07:30bit of outdoor space then that's absolutely fine, I think.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33What about period, are you fussed about how old the house is?
0:07:33 > 0:07:35I'm probably more flexible, again, than Pete.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38- Yeah, I'm pretty set in my ways. - We'd like some character.
0:07:38 > 0:07:39Character property.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42What do you want then? You see he's going to be the problem, isn't he?
0:07:42 > 0:07:43- He is, yeah!- I am, yeah.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46I mean, certainly I just want a character property.
0:07:46 > 0:07:47I don't like modern houses in any way.
0:07:47 > 0:07:52I don't mind. I'm not so fussy as long as it's...I don't know.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Yeah, as long as it's just right, I'm not fussy.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58Dawn's easy to please. You'll see this later.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00Tell me your budget again.
0:08:00 > 0:08:06So, budget's 450, 460 but we can stretch to a little more if need be.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09We love that. We love stretching budgets.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11Good. Well, we've got lovely houses lined up.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13I hope that you like them, or at least one of them.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15- Come with me.- Great.- Thanks.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22For a budget of £450,000 but with room to go higher,
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Pete would prefer a detached, older house with character.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28It should have a large farmhouse kitchen
0:08:28 > 0:08:30and a minimum of three bedrooms
0:08:30 > 0:08:32to accommodate their plans for a family.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36Pete would also like up to seven acres of land for a smallholding
0:08:36 > 0:08:38although this isn't a dealbreaker.
0:08:38 > 0:08:39And they'd like their property
0:08:39 > 0:08:40to be in a quiet location
0:08:40 > 0:08:43and not too overlooked by neighbours.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47We've lined up three suitably wonderful properties
0:08:47 > 0:08:49for Pete and Dawn to cast their eye over,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52and I'll be asking them to guess the price of each
0:08:52 > 0:08:53at the end of the viewing.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Our final property, the mystery house,
0:08:55 > 0:08:58could challenge Pete's farming ambitions.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05For our first house we're heading to the small village of Redwick,
0:09:05 > 0:09:07a short distance from the Severn Estuary.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Although just inside the principal area of Newport,
0:09:10 > 0:09:14it's still within the historic county of Monmouthshire.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17The nearby village of Magor is a larger settlement
0:09:17 > 0:09:21with a variety of shops and eating establishments arranged
0:09:21 > 0:09:24around a pretty village square and an impressive parish church.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29Property number one is just a few hundred yards from the coast.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32Here we are, house number one.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34- Oh.- Wow.- It's nice.
0:09:34 > 0:09:35Looks like a good size.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39I must say, the grey pebble dash isn't probably something we'd go for
0:09:39 > 0:09:42but that can always be changed...
0:09:42 > 0:09:44- Yeah, that can come off. - ..and be painted.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47- I like the porch, you've got a little entrance way.- Yes.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49It's actually quite an old property.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51The oldest parts go back about 200 years
0:09:51 > 0:09:54- but it's been extended in sort of different ways.- Right.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56And the present owners sort of took it in hand
0:09:56 > 0:09:58and brought the insides all up to date.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01We're never scared of a bit of work to improve any property.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04- Good.- Nice.- So, it's a contender? - Yes, it's nice on the outside.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07- Good start so far, yes. - Let's look inside.- Great.- Perfect.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13A positive start to our first house tour and I'm sure the modernised,
0:10:13 > 0:10:16if slightly unconventional lay out, will appeal to our buyers' tastes.
0:10:18 > 0:10:23- Come on in, through the new porch. - Right.- Into the front room.
0:10:24 > 0:10:29- It's nice. Yeah, it's a good size. - Very good size.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32I like the fact that there's a separate porch before walking
0:10:32 > 0:10:34straight into the living room.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37- Yeah, neutral colours so, that's good.- Yeah.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41New windows, new floor, pretty much everything inside is new.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Hopefully there'll be a separate dining room
0:10:44 > 0:10:46or...something downstairs.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49- Sounds like a little hesitation in your voice.- Yes.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51Is that it, that you are worried about the size?
0:10:51 > 0:10:55Erm, well, I'll wait to see the rest of it and then we'll go from there.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58- Well, let's do that.- OK.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02- Well, you wanted a separate dining area, here it is.- Oh, great.
0:11:02 > 0:11:03- Oh, wow.- Yeah.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07- With the log burner as well. - Oh, yeah, that's nice.- Very nice.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10I think it's used as a dining area cum sitting area at the moment.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13Yeah, I mean the thing about this house is there's lots of options
0:11:13 > 0:11:16as we go round, you'll be saying "Oh, I could do this..."
0:11:16 > 0:11:19So, you can really re-zone it according to how you use the house.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21I probably would want to knock down that wall, maybe,
0:11:21 > 0:11:25and open it right up and you'll probably lose some kitchen cupboards
0:11:25 > 0:11:30but if it's slightly more open I think that would suit us.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32Let's have a look at the kitchen,
0:11:32 > 0:11:34you can see whether it would be worth it.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40- Oh, I see.- Oh, yes.- OK, yes, I see. - I like the kitchen.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44- You like it?- It's probably not big enough for Pete, but...- No.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46It's nice, it's a good size, but no.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49It's not quite the size I was hoping for.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51I think knocking through this wall here
0:11:51 > 0:11:54- would give us that large kitchen/ dining room.- What you could do is
0:11:54 > 0:11:57you could have this as a big sort of working island...
0:11:57 > 0:12:00- Yeah.- Oh, yes. - That would be ideal.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02Yes, that would be... I like the idea of that,
0:12:02 > 0:12:03actually, that's a good idea.
0:12:03 > 0:12:08- I'll charge you after, I'll send you an invoice.- Thanks!
0:12:08 > 0:12:11As well as the kitchen, there's also a spacious utility room,
0:12:11 > 0:12:13off the dining room,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16which, as well as providing space for the white goods,
0:12:16 > 0:12:20could be reconfigured to offer further living accommodation.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24Upstairs there are four bedrooms, all serviced by one family bathroom.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27There's a large double, with original fireplace,
0:12:27 > 0:12:30ideal as a guest room and two smaller bedrooms,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33one of which is currently a study.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37But I want to show Pete and Dawn the master.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39This room is being used as the master bedroom
0:12:39 > 0:12:42because of these great views, views over the fields.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44- Yes.- Oh, yes.- Lovely.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46In fact, actually in the horizon you can see, that's England.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50- That's Portishead.- Oh.- Mm!
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Very nice room.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54Yeah, it's a really good size, actually,
0:12:54 > 0:12:55for a cottage size, as well.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57- Exactly.- That's the key. - Yeah, original fireplace.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59Yes, yes, do like that.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03And are you sort of...some people love massive bedrooms.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Are you happy with this sort of modest sized bedroom?
0:13:06 > 0:13:10I will need a dressing room. Yes. For the shoes, mainly.
0:13:10 > 0:13:15- Oh, good.- I've got a bit of a shoe habit.- I'm getting a picture!
0:13:15 > 0:13:18- Dawn likes a large bedroom with a... - Lot of shoes.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20I will let you explore this at your leisure
0:13:20 > 0:13:22- but I want to show you the outside. - OK.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28Outside, the gardens are laid extensively to lawn,
0:13:28 > 0:13:30with vegetable plots and numerous outbuildings,
0:13:30 > 0:13:35including a shed, machinery store and greenhouse.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Now the back is also ripe for redevelopment.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42- You can see you've got lots of outbuildings.- Yes.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Yeah, it's a lovely space actually. A lot, a lot of space.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48This is approximately, maybe just shy of an acre.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50So, it's not seven acres.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52- Yeah.- No, no, but I think it's realistic.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54I think when I say seven acres,
0:13:54 > 0:13:57- I think I'm probably looking... - At one.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59- Yeah...- I like it how it's divided up though,
0:13:59 > 0:14:02because you've got the garden, as such, in the front
0:14:02 > 0:14:07and then you've got this area to do greenery and veggies and animals.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10And then you have got a back lawn, as well, to...
0:14:10 > 0:14:12- Which is very spacious. - Which is nice.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15I think there's the garden area plus also the land, as well,
0:14:15 > 0:14:17almost you could have it like that.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20So, I think the size is probably more what we're looking for
0:14:20 > 0:14:23than the seven acres or so that I was suggesting.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25So, how much do you think it's on the market for?
0:14:25 > 0:14:31- I would say £425,000.- Oh, right, OK, well I'm completely different.
0:14:31 > 0:14:32I'm going for £480,000.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36Oh, right. OK, well, you are closer.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39It's on the market for £470,000.
0:14:39 > 0:14:43- Oh, OK.- So, it's in your budget... - Yes.- ..at the top.- Absolutely.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45And I think you've got to bear in mind where it is,
0:14:45 > 0:14:46- it's on the commuter belt.- Yeah.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49Think about that figure as you go inside and have a look round,
0:14:49 > 0:14:52because upstairs and downstairs there are things I think you
0:14:52 > 0:14:54- could reconfigure and also outside. - Yeah.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56- So, you hop in and have a look round.- OK, thank you.
0:14:56 > 0:14:57I'll meet you out the front.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59- Great.- Thanks a lot.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02On the market for £470,000,
0:15:02 > 0:15:06our first house is a detached home which has been renovated
0:15:06 > 0:15:08in the last five years.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10The accommodation includes
0:15:10 > 0:15:12a large room, an additional sitting room
0:15:12 > 0:15:15with the option to knock through to the kitchen.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17It comes with four bedrooms
0:15:17 > 0:15:20and there are original fireplaces throughout the house.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22The property is set in one acre of land
0:15:22 > 0:15:24and is close to a thriving village
0:15:24 > 0:15:25and good transport links.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29I think, overall, the property has a lot of potential.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32I love the outdoor space, I think it's fantastic.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35I think the house inside really has a lot of potential as well.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37It's a really good size.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40I think after a little bit of work, I really can see us living here.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44I think we'll obviously have to have a further chat about it,
0:15:44 > 0:15:48but I really do like the area and the house and the land as a whole.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50So, thumbs up.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53I think the house is probably a little bit small,
0:15:53 > 0:15:57the kitchen a little bit small for what I'm after.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00Probably not for me.
0:16:00 > 0:16:06- All done inside?- Yep.- Lots of good ideas?- Yes.- Absolutely, yes.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10- Well, put them on hold because we've got another house.- OK.- Great.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17Tucked away, surrounded by fields and close to the border with England
0:16:17 > 0:16:21is the small and peaceful Monmouthshire village of Trellech.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25Looking at it now, it's hard to imagine that around 700 years ago
0:16:25 > 0:16:27Trellech was one of the largest
0:16:27 > 0:16:30and most important medieval towns in Wales.
0:16:30 > 0:16:35Today, it's the scene of a major archaeological dig.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38Pete and Dawn are keen to find out more about Monmouthshire's history
0:16:38 > 0:16:42so we sent them to a field, just outside the present day village
0:16:42 > 0:16:45to meet the archaeologist responsible for the project,
0:16:45 > 0:16:46Stuart Wilson.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49Stuart's dig has revealed a far larger footprint
0:16:49 > 0:16:53of the medieval town than was previously thought.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55So, why did you start digging here?
0:16:55 > 0:16:58Well, in 2002 I was invited up to another field to dig
0:16:58 > 0:17:01and very, very quickly we found a building.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03And then we dug there for a couple of years
0:17:03 > 0:17:06and then this field actually came up for auction.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09And I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to buy
0:17:09 > 0:17:11a field and dig it to prove for once and for all
0:17:11 > 0:17:15that this town was here and actually prove the academics wrong -
0:17:15 > 0:17:18they thought it was actually in the village and where it wasn't.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20It's actually here. And now we've got it.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22- Wow.- So you proved them wrong?- Yes.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24And you bought this field yourself?
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Yes, I bought this field myself, yes -
0:17:26 > 0:17:28but it's only one of many fields in this area
0:17:28 > 0:17:30which should have medieval buildings in.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35Medieval Trellech was established by a family of Anglo-Norman lords
0:17:35 > 0:17:38in the 13th century to supply their army with iron,
0:17:38 > 0:17:41which was mined locally. The archaeological discovery
0:17:41 > 0:17:45suggested it was a bustling and prosperous industrial centre
0:17:45 > 0:17:49and had a population of around 10,000 people.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Here we have our fortified manor house.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53We've got a main hall along here,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56entrances leading off to the main road,
0:17:56 > 0:18:00and I have a little picture here of what it used to look like.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03This was essentially like an administrative building
0:18:03 > 0:18:05to organise the town.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08It was a very large and important and imposing building,
0:18:08 > 0:18:11and shows the wealth of the town at the time.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14As well as the evidence of buildings, Stuart and his team
0:18:14 > 0:18:18have uncovered a wealth of material from the medieval period.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22- This is actually part of a medieval flowerpot.- Oh!
0:18:22 > 0:18:24Now, medieval flowerpots are extremely rare.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28- This is the first one to be found in Wales.- Oh, crikey.
0:18:28 > 0:18:33Also, very nice, we don't normally get it, is a complete -
0:18:33 > 0:18:35or nearly complete - medieval jug.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38We know that the potter was a right handed potter
0:18:38 > 0:18:42because it's actually quite thin just here
0:18:42 > 0:18:44- and the bowl was on this side... - Oh!- Oh, I see!
0:18:44 > 0:18:46..so his hand was this way when he formed it.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49Well, we're finding things all the time
0:18:49 > 0:18:52and this is just a small selection -
0:18:52 > 0:18:54pottery, bone, iron slag,
0:18:54 > 0:18:58metalwork, glasswork is always coming up, all of the time.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01And it's a really fascinating site.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04Stuart believes it will take another 75 years to dig this field alone,
0:19:04 > 0:19:07so plenty of time for Pete and Dawn to return
0:19:07 > 0:19:09and perhaps lend a hand -
0:19:09 > 0:19:13and, with that in mind, it's time to get back to the house hunt
0:19:13 > 0:19:15to see if we can unearth a hidden gem.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21For our second property we're travelling
0:19:21 > 0:19:23to the hamlet of Cwmavon in the Afon Lwyd Valley.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27We're hopping over the border into the principal area of Torfaen,
0:19:27 > 0:19:32but we're still within the ancient county of Monmouthshire.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35Nearby Abersychan was once home to a thriving ironworks.
0:19:35 > 0:19:40Today it's a busy village with a range of shops and two schools.
0:19:40 > 0:19:45And house number two is just a mile and a half up the road.
0:19:45 > 0:19:50- Here we are, house number two. - Blimey.- All of it.- Yeah, wow.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53- Wow, it's not small, is it? - Here you get a better view of it.
0:19:54 > 0:19:59- Wow, it's big.- Very impressive. - Yeah.- Very impressive.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01- This property is all about the location, really.- Yeah.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04- Because we're a bit further away, it's about an hour to Bristol.- OK.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08Near Pontypool, but look at your own valley.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11- Wow.- Amazing really, absolutely amazing.- Very nice.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13You've got a river that runs down the bottom of your garden,
0:20:13 > 0:20:17which we will explore in a bit and this wonderful old Welsh longhouse.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21- Wonderfully impressive, actually, isn't it?- It's very peaceful.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23So you're in a hamlet of seven dwellings,
0:20:23 > 0:20:27so you've got neighbours but you're also out in the countryside.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32And a bit of history as well, this is a 16th-century Welsh farmhouse.
0:20:32 > 0:20:33- Wow.- It was originally a pig farm.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Right by the river. The sound of the river's actually really...
0:20:36 > 0:20:40No, we don't need to see the house, we'll take it!
0:20:40 > 0:20:42Well, I'm actually going to show you something
0:20:42 > 0:20:43before I show you the house
0:20:43 > 0:20:45so, we'll bracket the house for a second,
0:20:45 > 0:20:46- but come with me.- OK.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55So this is part of your garden, up to the fence here,
0:20:55 > 0:20:57and you have exclusive fishing rights
0:20:57 > 0:20:59- down this stretch of the river.- Wow.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02And as you can see, it's a great fishing river.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04- Incredible really, yeah. - That's lovely.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07Now, Pete, we were thinking about you when we selected this property
0:21:07 > 0:21:10- because you wanted some land.- Yes.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13As it stands, the house comes with...
0:21:13 > 0:21:16- this land, so, up to the fence.- OK.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19But the owners are also offering
0:21:19 > 0:21:20this field.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22Oh, wow!
0:21:22 > 0:21:25- About three acres. - Blimey! Wonderful!
0:21:25 > 0:21:30- But it is an ideal place to have some animals.- Yes.- Some horses.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33You can have a lot more than just chicken here.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36Now the present owners have lived here since 1978.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39- Wow.- They've sort of made it their own,
0:21:39 > 0:21:42- and I think you'd probably want to put your mark on it.- OK.- Yes.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45- Will it be the house for you? - BOTH:- Let's find out.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48The current owners have lived in this house
0:21:48 > 0:21:50since before Pete and Dawn were born -
0:21:50 > 0:21:54and although, compared to our first property, it's not as modern inside,
0:21:54 > 0:21:56this is truly a unique find.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59Come on in!
0:21:59 > 0:22:02- Very nice!- Oh, wow.
0:22:02 > 0:22:03THEY LAUGH
0:22:03 > 0:22:05We've moved from "nice" to "wow".
0:22:05 > 0:22:07I like the beams.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10- I like the inglenook fireplace. - Yeah.
0:22:10 > 0:22:15- It's got a more homely feel than the first property.- Yeah.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18- Lovely thick walls as well. - Extremely thick walls!
0:22:18 > 0:22:19Very thick walls, yeah!
0:22:19 > 0:22:22There would be no knocking these ones through.
0:22:22 > 0:22:23THEY LAUGH
0:22:23 > 0:22:25Well, as the name suggests, it's a longhouse,
0:22:25 > 0:22:27- so it's a series of rooms off this. - OK.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34As we work our way through the house, we pass a formal dining room,
0:22:34 > 0:22:36with another exposed stone fireplace.
0:22:38 > 0:22:43- So, come into the kitchen. - Very nice.- Oh, very nice.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46- I like the size. - The size is very good.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50I love the deep walls again, the really thick walls, that's...
0:22:50 > 0:22:54Oh, lovely big range as well. Very nice.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58In terms of the size, is this sort of what you were hoping for?
0:22:58 > 0:23:00I think it's very workable.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04There's certainly room to entertain in here, as well as to cook.
0:23:04 > 0:23:05- I think it's fine.- Yeah.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08You've got a beautiful walk-in pantry which is great
0:23:08 > 0:23:13- for a cook, I think.- Right! - A proper larder. And at the end,
0:23:13 > 0:23:15there's a very large boot room and through there,
0:23:15 > 0:23:17a sort of...a sort of shower/bathroom, really.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20It's got a toilet and downstairs shower.
0:23:20 > 0:23:21Thumbs up so far.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Well, I'll let you explore the other rooms later but let's look upstairs.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26Great.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Pete and Dawn seem charmed by this house.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33The downstairs tour could not have gone any better.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Let's hope we continue in the same vein upstairs.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40There are three other bedrooms along the landing,
0:23:40 > 0:23:42but this is the master.
0:23:42 > 0:23:47- Oh, wow, good size. - I like the beams again.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49And...this is very exciting...
0:23:49 > 0:23:53through that door, is not just any old en-suite,
0:23:53 > 0:23:55but a Jacuzzi bath,
0:23:55 > 0:23:59a shower, and...wait for it... It was the '70s after all.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01A sauna!
0:24:01 > 0:24:05- Wow, really?!- Oh, my goodness! Our own sauna.- Definitely sold now.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07THEY LAUGH
0:24:07 > 0:24:10- That's cool, isn't it? Having an upstairs sauna.- That is impressive.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13You've got a very 1970s family bathroom which you can
0:24:13 > 0:24:16- explore at your own pleasure. - Perfect, we'll look forward to that.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20- Three really good sized rooms as well as this one.- Yeah, absolutely.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24So four good sized, workable rooms, which is what you wanted.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28- Yeah, it is what I wanted.- That's the inside of the historic house.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32- And it seems to be all right?- Yes. - More than all right?
0:24:32 > 0:24:34- Yes, we like it.- We do like it.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38But there are some additions outside which I am very excited to show you.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42As well as the river running through it,
0:24:42 > 0:24:44the grounds also include a barbecue area
0:24:44 > 0:24:48and a garage currently being used for storage.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52Another building houses a gym, which could be converted to an office,
0:24:52 > 0:24:56and there's a further surprise just around this corner.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58Oh, wow!
0:24:58 > 0:25:01- Chuckles all round.- Yeah.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03- I wasn't expecting that.- No.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05- No, I bet you weren't.- No.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07- Not at all. My word!- Wow.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11- That is something.- That's nice!
0:25:12 > 0:25:16- That's incredible, actually. - And you've got a hot tub.
0:25:16 > 0:25:17And a hot tub!
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Overlooking the river, the view, that's...
0:25:21 > 0:25:23- I'm speechless. That's incredible.- Yeah.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Well, if you were thinking of having a family,
0:25:25 > 0:25:27you would be the number one top parents to come and visit.
0:25:27 > 0:25:28- Definitely.- We really would.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31And I can see parents enjoying a glass of wine or two
0:25:31 > 0:25:35- out here in the evenings.- What a great place to entertain, isn't it?
0:25:35 > 0:25:36Fabulous.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38How much do you think it is?
0:25:38 > 0:25:40I'd say £495,000.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43I'm going to say, um, quite a bit over.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47I'm going to say £510,000.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51So this property, including the three acre paddock there,
0:25:51 > 0:25:55and all the outbuildings and the house, is on the market for...
0:25:55 > 0:25:57£480,000.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01- Wow.- Interesting.- Wow. Very interesting.
0:26:01 > 0:26:07- It's certainly given us something to think about.- I'd quite like a pool!
0:26:07 > 0:26:08Well, there's more to explore up there,
0:26:08 > 0:26:11so you might want to have a little toddle up there
0:26:11 > 0:26:13- and I will see you at the front. - Will do, thank you.- Thanks.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19That is a good response to a unique
0:26:19 > 0:26:22and, I think, rather wonderful property.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24Our second house, priced at £480,000,
0:26:24 > 0:26:26is a traditional Welsh longhouse,
0:26:26 > 0:26:30thought to have origins dating back to the 16th century.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33The accommodation includes a spacious living room
0:26:33 > 0:26:35with stone fireplace
0:26:35 > 0:26:37and a farmhouse kitchen.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39As well as the four bedrooms,
0:26:39 > 0:26:41the property comes with a swimming pool,
0:26:41 > 0:26:42gym and sauna.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47The house occupies a private spot next to a peaceful river
0:26:47 > 0:26:49and included in the price
0:26:49 > 0:26:50is a three acre paddock.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55The amount of surprises this house has to offer is incredible.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58I think every room we went into and
0:26:58 > 0:27:02every building we went to outside was fantastic.
0:27:02 > 0:27:07My only words are wonderful property, a lot of potential,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10a lot to offer, really, so very exciting.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13I think this house brings the best of both worlds.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16Pete has his outdoor space that he wants. Nice kitchen.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19I'll have plenty of room to do some pottering in the garden
0:27:19 > 0:27:22and the swimming pool at the top is just an added bonus.
0:27:22 > 0:27:27The only thing that concerns me slightly would be the commute
0:27:27 > 0:27:28to work over in Bristol,
0:27:28 > 0:27:32and also it's slightly further from my mum and dad,
0:27:32 > 0:27:33which I was expecting.
0:27:33 > 0:27:38I can definitely see Pete and I living here and starting a family.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41We may even look to get another puppy or two.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44I think this could be just the house for them.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46They could put their mark on it.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48There's a nice young family up the hill
0:27:48 > 0:27:50so they'd have a bit of community.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52I think this is the one. I've made my mind up.
0:27:52 > 0:27:57- Yes, it's pretty ideal, actually. - It's very impressive indeed.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00Good end to the day, because that's it for today.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02Let's rest and prepare for tomorrow.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17It's day two of our property hunt here in Monmouthshire
0:28:17 > 0:28:19and on a budget of £450,000,
0:28:19 > 0:28:23we're helping Bristol-based Pete and Dawn
0:28:23 > 0:28:26find rural peace in South Wales.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30Still to come, our mystery house cooks up a storm.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33Oh, I like the kitchen. Very nice.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37And I metamorphosise into a butterfly collector.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39Ooh, there's one! That's beautiful!
0:28:41 > 0:28:42Butterflies!
0:28:45 > 0:28:48I like to think I'm a pretty good judge of people's character -
0:28:48 > 0:28:49sometimes even of their taste.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52But yesterday afternoon, I got it so wrong
0:28:52 > 0:28:53because I was convinced that
0:28:53 > 0:28:56Dawn was going to hate the decor of that house, and she loved it!
0:28:56 > 0:29:03She even wanted to keep the 1970s bathroom. So, the mystery house...
0:29:03 > 0:29:06it could go either way. Pete's going to be disappointed about the land,
0:29:06 > 0:29:10that much I know, but they are both going to be wowed by the view.
0:29:12 > 0:29:13For our mystery house,
0:29:13 > 0:29:15we're heading east into present day Monmouthshire,
0:29:15 > 0:29:18and to the popular village of Trellech,
0:29:18 > 0:29:19which Pete and Dawn now know well
0:29:19 > 0:29:24from their archaeological adventures earlier in the week.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27The village has an award-winning pub, serving real ales,
0:29:27 > 0:29:31a medieval church and a primary school.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34With our mystery property, it's all about the house and the location.
0:29:34 > 0:29:38There is very little land on offer here, but the view alone
0:29:38 > 0:29:42should help Pete forget about his farming ambitions.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44- Oh!- Wow!
0:29:44 > 0:29:49That's the noise we want for the mystery house! Oohs and aahs.
0:29:49 > 0:29:54Look at this, before we look at the house, look at the view.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56- Wow, what a view.- That's amazing.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58Crikey, that's impressive.
0:29:58 > 0:29:59And where are we looking then?
0:29:59 > 0:30:02- This is the Usk Valley.- OK.- Oh, wow.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04So we're a bit closer to Bristol,
0:30:04 > 0:30:07- about 35, 40 minutes to Bristol. - Right.- OK.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10- 25 minutes to Chepstow.- Mm-hm.
0:30:10 > 0:30:11The twist with this property is
0:30:11 > 0:30:13there is really no land.
0:30:13 > 0:30:15- Right.- OK.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18- This is one for you. - I don't mind that at all!
0:30:18 > 0:30:21Because pretty much this is your garden.
0:30:21 > 0:30:23Right. So there's the compromise.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25There is the compromise.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28Looking at the house, we've got a historic worker's cottage.
0:30:28 > 0:30:301780 it was built.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33- The frontage, just a simple two up, two down cottage.- Right.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36But it's been extended twice,
0:30:36 > 0:30:39so 1995 once and then again 2008.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41Nice extension at the back.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44Great. Yeah, it looks very quaint, doesn't it?
0:30:44 > 0:30:47A very quaint, cute cottage.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50- Let's look inside.- Great.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53It's a thumbs up for location and style of property
0:30:53 > 0:30:55from Pete and Dawn.
0:30:55 > 0:30:59I hope the cottage's combination of modern decor and character features
0:30:59 > 0:31:02will also appeal to our young professionals.
0:31:02 > 0:31:03Come on in.
0:31:04 > 0:31:09- Straight into the old part of the house.- Oh, it's very nice.
0:31:09 > 0:31:14- I like the size of the kitchen. - Oh, I like the kitchen. Very nice.
0:31:14 > 0:31:18This would have been the entire floor plan of the original cottage.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22- Oh, wow.- They were small, all the cottages.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24And you can see this is the original staircase.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27- It's actually a false staircase, it doesn't go anywhere.- OK.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30I think this is probably your perfect kitchen, isn't it, Pete?
0:31:30 > 0:31:32This is actually the best kitchen we've seen so far.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34Absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36- Do you like it?- Yes, I do.- Good.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38Let's go look at the new bit, then.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41- OK.- Great.
0:31:41 > 0:31:45- This was put on in 1995.- Right.
0:31:45 > 0:31:49- A change of gear. - Yes, it's more modern.- Very, very.
0:31:49 > 0:31:53Much more. You've got this limestone floor, but lots of the details,
0:31:53 > 0:31:56- the lovely oak lintel... - Yes, that's very nice.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59- ..deep bow window... - Mm-hm.- Yes, very nice.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01It's very clean, isn't it?
0:32:01 > 0:32:04It looks very finished, I think.
0:32:04 > 0:32:08- I feel your enthusiasm has dipped somewhat.- Yes, erm...
0:32:08 > 0:32:13I would have preferred the country cottage theme to come through,
0:32:13 > 0:32:18I suppose. But... It's an extension. The size is still good.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22What would make the country cottage continue, for you?
0:32:22 > 0:32:25I don't know. The edges are just too clean-cut.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28Maybe some beams, like in property number two?
0:32:28 > 0:32:30Just a bit more character, I suppose.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32This is another addition, and this does continue
0:32:32 > 0:32:34- the kind of country theme you're looking for.- Great.- OK.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39This is the new extension,
0:32:39 > 0:32:42and here I think they have kept the country feel with all the green oak.
0:32:42 > 0:32:45- Yeah.- Yeah, definitely. - It looks nice.
0:32:45 > 0:32:47Again, it's very light and airy in here.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49This is a green oak extension.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52- Oh, right.- So it's sort of... - Eco-friendly.
0:32:52 > 0:32:54Eco-friendly and it's so beautifully built.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56You can see it more clearly upstairs, actually,
0:32:56 > 0:32:59- so let's hop up there. - OK.- Great. OK.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01There are three bedrooms upstairs,
0:33:01 > 0:33:03one fewer than in our previous properties.
0:33:03 > 0:33:05They're all doubles and
0:33:05 > 0:33:08two of those are in the older part of the house,
0:33:08 > 0:33:10built into the eaves with exposed beams.
0:33:11 > 0:33:14There's also a decent sized family bathroom.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18The master suite is located in the extension
0:33:18 > 0:33:20at the back of the property.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24So this is the master bedroom,
0:33:24 > 0:33:27- and this has that amazing, I think, rather lovely...- Oh!
0:33:27 > 0:33:30- ..oak extension. - Oh, that's very nice.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33- The views are amazing. - The views are absolutely amazing.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35The room is quite small.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38- Is that an en-suite I can see? - That's an en-suite shower, yes.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40- OK.- OK, great.
0:33:40 > 0:33:41Yeah, erm...
0:33:41 > 0:33:44It feels like the shine has gone off this property for you.
0:33:44 > 0:33:48Yeah, I think so. I don't know what it is.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50It's too modern, I think.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53Yeah, I mean I don't really mind the design of the house,
0:33:53 > 0:33:56as long as I get the feel for it, but for some reason,
0:33:56 > 0:33:58I'm not getting the feel with this one.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01Before Dawn completely writes it off,
0:34:01 > 0:34:02there's still the garden to see,
0:34:02 > 0:34:05and that's made up of a large enclosed lawn area
0:34:05 > 0:34:07at the front of the property,
0:34:07 > 0:34:10with a sizeable parking space, a summerhouse
0:34:10 > 0:34:12and that amazing view.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16Well, I feel the house has not really grabbed you
0:34:16 > 0:34:18as I'd like it to have grabbed you.
0:34:18 > 0:34:21The original part of the house is very quaint and cute
0:34:21 > 0:34:22and I like that side of it.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25I don't like the extension so much, I have to say.
0:34:25 > 0:34:26It's certainly got its appeal.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28How much do you think it's on the market for?
0:34:28 > 0:34:30Um, I'm going to say...
0:34:30 > 0:34:32£440,000.
0:34:32 > 0:34:33Oh, I was going to go higher.
0:34:33 > 0:34:35At about £465,000.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38Well, views are obviously at a premium here
0:34:38 > 0:34:41because this is actually on the market for £485,000.
0:34:41 > 0:34:42Oh, blimey!
0:34:42 > 0:34:43Really?
0:34:43 > 0:34:46Wow, wow, yeah.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49Again, it's a lovely property,
0:34:49 > 0:34:50lovely views,
0:34:50 > 0:34:52- but just not for us.- No.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54Well, we can't win them all.
0:34:54 > 0:34:59Not every property has a hot tub, sauna and a pool.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01But why don't you go back and have a little nosey round
0:35:01 > 0:35:03- and I'll see you out the front? - Great, thank you.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07Priced at £485,000,
0:35:07 > 0:35:11the mystery house is the most expensive property we've seen.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14It's a worker's cottage dating to the 18th century,
0:35:14 > 0:35:18which has been extended and remodelled over the years.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20It comes with a large farmhouse kitchen
0:35:20 > 0:35:24and a more modern living room, leading onto a green oak extension.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27There are three bedrooms upstairs, including the master suite.
0:35:27 > 0:35:29The property features
0:35:29 > 0:35:31a lawned garden with fantastic views
0:35:31 > 0:35:32over the Usk Valley.
0:35:34 > 0:35:35Wonderful kitchen.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39I probably couldn't hope for a better kitchen, so very nice.
0:35:39 > 0:35:43Knowing there wasn't much land was obviously a down point.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46I think the mystery house is very... quaint...um...
0:35:46 > 0:35:50It's a little bit smaller than what we were looking for.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53Beautiful location, but just not for us.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57There you are!
0:35:57 > 0:36:00- Admiring the view rather than the house.- Yes, we are.
0:36:00 > 0:36:01It is wonderful.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04Well, it's a beautiful way to end our little odyssey
0:36:04 > 0:36:08- round Monmouthshire, but it is over. - Yes, thank you, it's been great.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11Sadly, yes, but it's been fantastic. We've very much enjoyed it.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14Well, let's go find somewhere to collect our thoughts. Come with me.
0:36:16 > 0:36:17Although it might be a small county,
0:36:17 > 0:36:20Monmouthshire has a wide range of natural habitats,
0:36:20 > 0:36:22from the Black Mountains in the north,
0:36:22 > 0:36:26to the woodlands of the Wye Valley.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28This diverse environment makes it an ideal home
0:36:28 > 0:36:31for a number of rare species of butterfly.
0:36:31 > 0:36:36But across the UK as a whole, the butterfly is under threat.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38And to find out how we can save our fluttering friends,
0:36:38 > 0:36:41I've come to an area of heathlands near Trellech to meet
0:36:41 > 0:36:42Dr Martin Anthony,
0:36:42 > 0:36:47who's been recording butterfly populations for over 40 years.
0:36:47 > 0:36:52- How are our butterflies doing? - It's a bit of a sad tale.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55Something like three-quarters of British butterflies have
0:36:55 > 0:36:58declined in the last ten years.
0:36:58 > 0:37:03A lot of the habitat has either disappeared because of development,
0:37:03 > 0:37:07or more frequently, because it's not managed properly.
0:37:07 > 0:37:11- You're the county recorder.- Yeah. - Does every county have one?
0:37:11 > 0:37:14Yeah, there's a charity called Butterfly Conservation which
0:37:14 > 0:37:20has built up a network of recorders for each county in Britain.
0:37:20 > 0:37:25It's great because they've now got millions and millions of records
0:37:25 > 0:37:27going back at least 50 years.
0:37:28 > 0:37:33And because butterflies go through complete life cycles in a year,
0:37:33 > 0:37:37or sometimes just in a few months, you can see quite quickly
0:37:37 > 0:37:38when something's going wrong.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41You can then come up with action plans
0:37:41 > 0:37:44to try and improve the habitat.
0:37:45 > 0:37:47To help halt the decline,
0:37:47 > 0:37:48this habitat has been cleared of trees
0:37:48 > 0:37:52and the heathland has been allowed to grow back naturally,
0:37:52 > 0:37:55making it a haven for the flying insect.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57It's amazing.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00Even a few years after it's been recreated,
0:38:00 > 0:38:03some of the specialist heather species
0:38:03 > 0:38:05have been recorded from here.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08Do you still catch them? What's the etiquette with butterflies?
0:38:08 > 0:38:12I catch them if I need to identify them,
0:38:12 > 0:38:14or, if there's a particular purpose.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17If I want a photograph of it or something like that.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21- It's a proper net!- Yeah. That's very soft, if you feel that.
0:38:21 > 0:38:25- So that won't damage the butterfly. - That's it. It's called a kite net.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28You get the butterfly to fly into the net and then twist it.
0:38:28 > 0:38:29Oh, I see.
0:38:31 > 0:38:33By recording individual butterfly sightings
0:38:33 > 0:38:35over a period of weeks and months,
0:38:35 > 0:38:39Martin can build up a picture of how individual species
0:38:39 > 0:38:41are faring in this habitat...
0:38:41 > 0:38:44Oh, there's one! That's beautiful!
0:38:44 > 0:38:46..but catching them is harder than it looks.
0:38:51 > 0:38:56Oh, they're too fast. There's one.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59Got one, got one, got one, oh!
0:39:04 > 0:39:06- So what have we got there? - That's a Large White.
0:39:06 > 0:39:08Oh, that's a Large White.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11You can see the club at the end of the antennae.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14- That's the difference between a moth and a butterfly.- Very good.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17- The butterfly has a club... - ..and the moth doesn't.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19So what can we do to help the butterflies survive a bit more,
0:39:19 > 0:39:20have more of them?
0:39:20 > 0:39:24It's not just having nectar sources for the adults,
0:39:24 > 0:39:27or buddleia bushes in the garden,
0:39:27 > 0:39:30you need the food plant for the caterpillar.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34So a lot of the common butterflies might feed on nettles.
0:39:34 > 0:39:38- So we need our nettles? - Painted Lady feeds on thistles.- Mm!
0:39:38 > 0:39:42Meadow Brown, the Gatekeepers, feed on grasses.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45Sadly I've got all of those in my garden at the moment.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48Gladly, for the butterflies!
0:39:48 > 0:39:50Despite the overall decline in butterfly numbers,
0:39:50 > 0:39:52there is a glimmer of hope.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55According to a recent nationwide survey,
0:39:55 > 0:39:59the relatively hot summer of 2013 led to a boom in butterflies,
0:39:59 > 0:40:02but you can't rely on the British weather.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05Sensible management of areas like this one in Monmouthshire
0:40:05 > 0:40:09is key to the long-term future of this much-loved creature.
0:40:09 > 0:40:10Ah!
0:40:13 > 0:40:16At the beginning of the house hunt, it was an open field.
0:40:16 > 0:40:17Any one of those three houses
0:40:17 > 0:40:20could have been a great hit with Dawn and Pete,
0:40:20 > 0:40:22but it seems like house number two has leapt ahead,
0:40:22 > 0:40:25despite some quite heavy decor.
0:40:25 > 0:40:26I think.
0:40:32 > 0:40:33I'm going to take a punt
0:40:33 > 0:40:37and say that it's house number two that's leading the field.
0:40:37 > 0:40:42- I think that's probably fair to say, yes.- Psychic abilities.
0:40:42 > 0:40:47- I think all round, the better house really.- And it had a river as well.
0:40:47 > 0:40:50And a swimming pool. And a sauna.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53- The list is almost endless of the things it had.- It had a lot!
0:40:53 > 0:40:55Is there anything that worries you about it,
0:40:55 > 0:40:59- or that you're unsure about? - I think probably the area.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02We don't really know the location very well
0:41:02 > 0:41:04so that's certainly something we'll research
0:41:04 > 0:41:06before we revisit the property.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08I think we'll do the drive,
0:41:08 > 0:41:11Bristol to the property, and see how long that takes.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13On our way back for a second viewing,
0:41:13 > 0:41:16I think we definitely want to look a bit deeper
0:41:16 > 0:41:18into the work we'd have to do
0:41:18 > 0:41:21to bring the interior up to how we'd like it to be.
0:41:21 > 0:41:25- Dawn was pretty keen on the interior as it stood.- On the bathroom...
0:41:25 > 0:41:29- Particularly the bathroom! - Yes, yes, yes. Me, not so much.
0:41:31 > 0:41:37But I think we'll probably take a builder or Dawn's dad
0:41:37 > 0:41:41- over as well and have a look. - Are you excited about all this?
0:41:41 > 0:41:43Has it become more real, now that you've seen a house that you want?
0:41:43 > 0:41:45Dawn's been talking about it all day.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48Yeah, it's definitely the house that I've been looking for
0:41:48 > 0:41:52with the kitchen and the living room, separate dining room.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55The outdoor area is amazing.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58Yeah, the fact that it's got a good amount of land...
0:41:58 > 0:42:02- The hot tub, the barbecue area... - It's endless.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05- The outbuildings are fantastic.- I love it.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08Dawn's going on about the swimming pool, the steam room,
0:42:08 > 0:42:12and you're getting some land. Don't forget some land as well!
0:42:12 > 0:42:16Well, do let us know one way or t'other, when you make your move.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19It's been a real pleasure showing you round. Such enthusiasm.
0:42:19 > 0:42:21- Thanks for having us. - Thank you very much.
0:42:25 > 0:42:27Dawn and Pete's move is a bold one.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30They're young, and they're moving from a Bristol terrace
0:42:30 > 0:42:32to possibly a palatial country pad
0:42:32 > 0:42:36with a river, a swimming pool and a sauna upstairs.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39But I think if they do it and overcome their hesitation
0:42:39 > 0:42:42about the location, it would be a great place to raise a family.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45Just imagine all those little Petes and Dawns
0:42:45 > 0:42:46running around the valleys.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49So I hope they do it. I hope you join us next time
0:42:49 > 0:42:51for more Escape To The Country.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56If you'd like to escape to the country in Scotland,
0:42:56 > 0:42:58Northern Ireland, England, Wales, and would like our help,
0:42:58 > 0:43:00then please apply online at...