Browse content similar to North Devon. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!
Line | From | To | |
---|---|---|---|
Welcome to Escape To The Country. | 0:00:02 | 0:00:03 | |
Today, I'm standing on the oldest golf course in the whole of England, | 0:00:03 | 0:00:07 | |
which dates way back to 1864. | 0:00:07 | 0:00:09 | |
So, where am I? | 0:00:09 | 0:00:11 | |
Find out in just a moment. | 0:00:11 | 0:00:13 | |
On today's show, we're helping a very youthful newly-retired couple | 0:00:29 | 0:00:33 | |
find their first, long-dreamed-of, rural home together. | 0:00:33 | 0:00:36 | |
Unbelievable the amount of ground that's with this house. | 0:00:36 | 0:00:39 | |
-You've got a river! -I know. | 0:00:39 | 0:00:40 | |
And the impact of one of the properties knocks them | 0:00:42 | 0:00:44 | |
a little off course. | 0:00:44 | 0:00:46 | |
Are you serious?! | 0:00:46 | 0:00:47 | |
Serious. Come back to me, Paul. Come back. | 0:00:47 | 0:00:51 | |
Today, I'm in North Devon, on the championship course | 0:00:53 | 0:00:57 | |
of the Royal North Devon Golf Club. | 0:00:57 | 0:00:59 | |
Now, this 150-year-old course is | 0:00:59 | 0:01:02 | |
regarded as the St Andrews of the South, with sand dunes | 0:01:02 | 0:01:06 | |
that provide the perfect terrain for a classic links course. | 0:01:06 | 0:01:10 | |
You can still play on these original fairways that golfers used to | 0:01:10 | 0:01:14 | |
practice on, including local legend John Henry Taylor, | 0:01:14 | 0:01:18 | |
who went on to win five Open Championships in the late 19th | 0:01:18 | 0:01:23 | |
and early 20th century. | 0:01:23 | 0:01:25 | |
Now, the course became popular with tourists | 0:01:25 | 0:01:28 | |
when the railway made its way to the local town of Bideford. | 0:01:28 | 0:01:31 | |
And although trains don't run to the town anymore, there's no shortage | 0:01:31 | 0:01:35 | |
of visitors flocking to this most beautiful part of the county. | 0:01:35 | 0:01:39 | |
Lying in the southwest of England, Devon borders Somerset to the | 0:01:43 | 0:01:46 | |
east and Cornwall to the west, and has an unhurried, tranquil appeal. | 0:01:46 | 0:01:50 | |
Its picturesque, rural landscape is dotted with close | 0:01:51 | 0:01:53 | |
to 4,000 exquisite thatched cottages, thought to be | 0:01:53 | 0:01:57 | |
the largest concentration of historic thatch in the world. | 0:01:57 | 0:02:01 | |
Providing contrast to its charming villages is the wide-open wilderness | 0:02:01 | 0:02:04 | |
of Exmoor, whose evocative heathland has inspired | 0:02:04 | 0:02:08 | |
the work of many artists and writers, | 0:02:08 | 0:02:10 | |
including Henry Williamson's 1927 masterpiece Tarka The Otter. | 0:02:10 | 0:02:16 | |
A little further along the coast is Woolacombe, repeatedly voted | 0:02:16 | 0:02:19 | |
one of Britain's best beaches. | 0:02:19 | 0:02:21 | |
This three-mile, golden, sandy expanse | 0:02:21 | 0:02:24 | |
is perennially popular with families and surfers alike | 0:02:24 | 0:02:27 | |
and is just another glimpse of what this gorgeous county has to offer. | 0:02:27 | 0:02:31 | |
So, what is it about this beautiful region that has | 0:02:37 | 0:02:39 | |
so attracted today's buyers? | 0:02:39 | 0:02:42 | |
Well, let's meet them and find out. | 0:02:42 | 0:02:44 | |
Since they met 11 years ago, Helen and Paul have been living | 0:02:44 | 0:02:47 | |
in a three-bedroom new-build in the town of Stevenage in Hertfordshire. | 0:02:47 | 0:02:51 | |
During that time, the location has offered them | 0:02:51 | 0:02:53 | |
a handy commute for their jobs in London, | 0:02:53 | 0:02:56 | |
Paul as a Class 1 lorry driver for a large food firm | 0:02:56 | 0:02:59 | |
and Helen as a detective sergeant for the Metropolitan Police. | 0:02:59 | 0:03:03 | |
But just a few months ago, after working for close to 30 years | 0:03:03 | 0:03:07 | |
in their respective jobs, the two of them decided to retire, | 0:03:07 | 0:03:10 | |
giving them the freedom to leave their urban environment behind. | 0:03:10 | 0:03:14 | |
What we'd like is a little bit more ground, somewhere | 0:03:14 | 0:03:19 | |
that, you know, you're not overlooked so much | 0:03:19 | 0:03:21 | |
and really to get away from that whole commuter belt | 0:03:21 | 0:03:25 | |
that we've been doing for so many years. | 0:03:25 | 0:03:27 | |
We've got a chance to move away and start a new chapter. | 0:03:27 | 0:03:30 | |
A lot of Helen's family live in Wales, | 0:03:32 | 0:03:34 | |
so it makes geographical sense for them to move to Devon, | 0:03:34 | 0:03:37 | |
but it's not just for practical purposes that | 0:03:37 | 0:03:40 | |
they've singled out the county as their new home. | 0:03:40 | 0:03:42 | |
We've both fell in love with north Devon, | 0:03:43 | 0:03:46 | |
so we've stayed there, we've been on holiday there and it's just great. | 0:03:46 | 0:03:50 | |
If it hadn't been for their job ties, Paul and Helen | 0:03:50 | 0:03:53 | |
would have moved to the country years ago | 0:03:53 | 0:03:55 | |
because both of them are happiest when they're outdoors. | 0:03:55 | 0:03:58 | |
It's just nice to be outside and do things. | 0:03:58 | 0:04:00 | |
You feel better in yourself. | 0:04:00 | 0:04:01 | |
Most of the things we like to do as well, you know, are outside-based - | 0:04:01 | 0:04:06 | |
walking, cycling. | 0:04:06 | 0:04:07 | |
I'd like to get some chickens and a few beehives and... | 0:04:07 | 0:04:11 | |
Not too sure about the bees. | 0:04:11 | 0:04:12 | |
..definitely a vegetable patch, live the dream, as they say. | 0:04:12 | 0:04:15 | |
THEY CHUCKLE | 0:04:15 | 0:04:17 | |
While Helen found her 30 years with the Metropolitan Police | 0:04:17 | 0:04:20 | |
fulfilling, it was a very demanding and all-consuming career. | 0:04:20 | 0:04:24 | |
I'm looking forward to, I suppose, embarking on sort of doing things | 0:04:24 | 0:04:28 | |
for me now and for us. | 0:04:28 | 0:04:30 | |
I'd like to do some voluntary work - | 0:04:30 | 0:04:33 | |
I'd like to help the elderly - | 0:04:33 | 0:04:36 | |
and I'd like to do a bit of photography as well. | 0:04:36 | 0:04:38 | |
The couple are aware that finding a new rural home may require | 0:04:38 | 0:04:42 | |
some compromises, and as to how those compromises will be | 0:04:42 | 0:04:46 | |
arrived at, Paul seems to have it all worked out. | 0:04:46 | 0:04:49 | |
Apart from the outside's living, doing, barbequing, gardening, | 0:04:49 | 0:04:53 | |
then my only up would be the kitchen. | 0:04:53 | 0:04:56 | |
That's where I enjoy cooking. So if I could have the land or the ground | 0:04:56 | 0:05:00 | |
outside to do my little projects and a big enough kitchen | 0:05:00 | 0:05:03 | |
to do what I'd like to do - which is cook - then Helen could have | 0:05:03 | 0:05:07 | |
-the rest of the say. -Well, thank you very much. | 0:05:07 | 0:05:09 | |
That's all right. | 0:05:09 | 0:05:10 | |
Paul and Helen would like easy access to family in Wales, | 0:05:14 | 0:05:17 | |
so we're concentrating our search to the north of the county. | 0:05:17 | 0:05:20 | |
I'm meeting up with them to find out more about their move. | 0:05:21 | 0:05:25 | |
So, Paul and Helen, | 0:05:25 | 0:05:26 | |
exciting times for the two of you having just retired. | 0:05:26 | 0:05:30 | |
Yes, looking forward to new challenges and a new life ahead. | 0:05:30 | 0:05:33 | |
What about the actual property itself? | 0:05:33 | 0:05:35 | |
Ideally, it would be a nice, detached...definitely detached, | 0:05:35 | 0:05:38 | |
probably three beds, nice big kitchen, plenty of land. | 0:05:38 | 0:05:43 | |
Let's talk a little bit about the actual location of this new home. | 0:05:43 | 0:05:46 | |
Ideally rural or would you rather be on the edge of a village? | 0:05:46 | 0:05:50 | |
On the edge of the village, I think, would for us... | 0:05:50 | 0:05:52 | |
What about the style? | 0:05:52 | 0:05:54 | |
Are you after old, period property character or new? | 0:05:54 | 0:05:57 | |
Something with a little bit of character, we'd like. | 0:05:57 | 0:06:00 | |
Yeah, fairly open though. | 0:06:00 | 0:06:01 | |
Hmm. Maybe a fireplace, nothing too modern, I don't think. | 0:06:01 | 0:06:05 | |
We'll see. Depends what you've got lined up for us. | 0:06:05 | 0:06:08 | |
Yeah, open fireplace. | 0:06:08 | 0:06:09 | |
And how much work are you prepared to do with this property? | 0:06:09 | 0:06:11 | |
-None at all. -No. | 0:06:11 | 0:06:13 | |
Open your suitcase, move straight in. | 0:06:13 | 0:06:15 | |
Remind me of your budget. | 0:06:15 | 0:06:17 | |
Between 300,000 and 400,000. | 0:06:17 | 0:06:19 | |
So have you sold your property? | 0:06:19 | 0:06:20 | |
No, it's on the market. | 0:06:20 | 0:06:22 | |
So, we're just waiting for it to be snapped up | 0:06:22 | 0:06:24 | |
and then we're good to go. | 0:06:24 | 0:06:25 | |
Well, of course we have got our three properties lined up | 0:06:25 | 0:06:28 | |
to show you. The first one is not too far away. | 0:06:28 | 0:06:31 | |
So, shall we get started? | 0:06:31 | 0:06:32 | |
-Absolutely. -Brilliant. -Follow me. | 0:06:32 | 0:06:34 | |
With a maximum budget of £400,000, Paul and Helen are hoping | 0:06:36 | 0:06:40 | |
to find a characterful, detached home with three bedrooms | 0:06:40 | 0:06:43 | |
and a large, well-kitted-out kitchen for chief cook Paul. | 0:06:43 | 0:06:47 | |
Outside, they'd like enough land to grow the produce he'll be | 0:06:47 | 0:06:50 | |
using to whip up those fabulous meals, | 0:06:50 | 0:06:52 | |
and space for bees and chickens would be a bonus. | 0:06:52 | 0:06:56 | |
Lastly, they'd like to be within | 0:06:56 | 0:06:57 | |
walking distance of a village. | 0:06:57 | 0:06:59 | |
We've lined up some excellent houses to show them | 0:06:59 | 0:07:02 | |
and I'll be getting them to try and guess the price of each one | 0:07:02 | 0:07:05 | |
before I reveal it. | 0:07:05 | 0:07:06 | |
One will be the mystery house, which wasn't always a house, | 0:07:06 | 0:07:10 | |
so will our couple be converted by its unique charm? | 0:07:10 | 0:07:13 | |
We begin our search in the village of Berrynarbor, | 0:07:15 | 0:07:18 | |
which is a mile inland from the north coast. | 0:07:18 | 0:07:21 | |
This peaceful settlement nestled in the beautiful | 0:07:21 | 0:07:24 | |
and sought-after Sterridge Valley is a five-times winner | 0:07:24 | 0:07:27 | |
of The Best Kept Village award. | 0:07:27 | 0:07:29 | |
A short and scenic stroll from the village on a quiet, no-through road | 0:07:29 | 0:07:32 | |
is our first offering. | 0:07:32 | 0:07:34 | |
And here is your house. | 0:07:35 | 0:07:37 | |
-Wow. -Wow. -Blimey. | 0:07:37 | 0:07:39 | |
It's got lots of character about it. | 0:07:39 | 0:07:42 | |
-Nice size, isn't it? -I bet you're now keen to get inside. | 0:07:42 | 0:07:45 | |
Definitely, let's go. | 0:07:45 | 0:07:46 | |
Seven years ago, | 0:07:48 | 0:07:49 | |
this charming cottage underwent major refurbishment, | 0:07:49 | 0:07:52 | |
which included new electrics and plumbing. | 0:07:52 | 0:07:55 | |
This should please Paul and Helen, who are keen to | 0:07:55 | 0:07:57 | |
avoid having to do any significant work on a new property. | 0:07:57 | 0:08:01 | |
So let's start off with our drawing room, | 0:08:01 | 0:08:05 | |
and as you can see... | 0:08:05 | 0:08:06 | |
-Cosy. -Oh, I like it. -It's lovely, isn't it? | 0:08:06 | 0:08:08 | |
It's got a lot of character. | 0:08:08 | 0:08:10 | |
It has - fireplace. | 0:08:10 | 0:08:11 | |
Fireplace, yeah, lovely. | 0:08:11 | 0:08:12 | |
And this is as big as you'd want for a lounge. | 0:08:12 | 0:08:14 | |
Yeah, I mean, there's... At the end of the day, | 0:08:14 | 0:08:16 | |
there's only the two of us. | 0:08:16 | 0:08:17 | |
Now, the all-important kitchen. | 0:08:17 | 0:08:20 | |
-I've got to look at Paul for that, haven't I? -You have. | 0:08:20 | 0:08:22 | |
-Cos we've heard this is his domain. Let's see if... -My room, yeah. | 0:08:22 | 0:08:25 | |
..if it comes up to scratch. | 0:08:25 | 0:08:26 | |
-Let's see. -OK. | 0:08:26 | 0:08:28 | |
So, Paul, it's all down to you - the kitchen. | 0:08:31 | 0:08:35 | |
-Yep, that'll do. -Yes? | 0:08:35 | 0:08:37 | |
That'll do, lovely. | 0:08:37 | 0:08:39 | |
And especially with that big cooker there, Paul. | 0:08:39 | 0:08:41 | |
That is perfect. | 0:08:41 | 0:08:43 | |
I like watching his face. | 0:08:43 | 0:08:44 | |
He was in a world of his own then looking round. | 0:08:44 | 0:08:46 | |
I'm conjuring up a meal! | 0:08:46 | 0:08:48 | |
I can see you're really happy, it's wonderful. | 0:08:48 | 0:08:51 | |
-Beautiful, really nice. -Good. | 0:08:51 | 0:08:53 | |
-So far so good. -So far so good. | 0:08:53 | 0:08:55 | |
Let's see what you make of upstairs. | 0:08:55 | 0:08:57 | |
Upstairs, off the split landing, there's an attractive, | 0:08:59 | 0:09:02 | |
newly-decorated family bathroom | 0:09:02 | 0:09:04 | |
and three bedrooms which include a good-sized double, | 0:09:04 | 0:09:07 | |
an L-shaped room which could be a handy space for Helen's photography | 0:09:07 | 0:09:11 | |
projects and another double which we've earmarked for Paul and Helen. | 0:09:11 | 0:09:15 | |
And so here is the master bedroom, | 0:09:15 | 0:09:18 | |
complete with your own little fireplace. | 0:09:18 | 0:09:20 | |
It's, again, a lovely, light room. | 0:09:20 | 0:09:24 | |
-Those windows really make a difference. -They do. | 0:09:24 | 0:09:27 | |
-I love the doors. -Bit small. | 0:09:27 | 0:09:28 | |
-Do you think? -Yeah. | 0:09:28 | 0:09:29 | |
-But what the master does have is -an en-suite. Ah. | 0:09:29 | 0:09:33 | |
OK, but then also, I mean, you're only here to kind of sleep. | 0:09:33 | 0:09:38 | |
Perhaps this is where we'll disagree then. | 0:09:38 | 0:09:40 | |
-This could be the compromise. -It could be, yeah. | 0:09:40 | 0:09:42 | |
Now, I know outside space is really important to the two of you. | 0:09:42 | 0:09:46 | |
-Yeah. -Especially for the gardener. -The gardener. | 0:09:46 | 0:09:48 | |
Let's see what you make of that. | 0:09:48 | 0:09:49 | |
Paul might have found the master bedroom a little on the small side, | 0:09:51 | 0:09:55 | |
but I'm fairly confident he'll be more than satisfied | 0:09:55 | 0:09:57 | |
with the space outside, which includes a lawned garden, | 0:09:57 | 0:10:00 | |
an attractive stone storage shed, | 0:10:00 | 0:10:03 | |
patio areas - perfect for those barbecues they're envisaging, | 0:10:03 | 0:10:06 | |
and a garage just a little further down the road. | 0:10:06 | 0:10:09 | |
This is all your garden, including the greenhouse. | 0:10:10 | 0:10:14 | |
And behind us, | 0:10:14 | 0:10:16 | |
you've got about an acre and a half of woodland. | 0:10:16 | 0:10:19 | |
-SHE LAUGHS Blimey. -It's with the house? | 0:10:19 | 0:10:21 | |
With the house. | 0:10:21 | 0:10:22 | |
-Blimey. -I'd like to get up there. -Are we going to lose you? | 0:10:22 | 0:10:26 | |
What I haven't told you - there's an additional piece of land | 0:10:26 | 0:10:29 | |
-just across the road. -All that down there? -Yep. | 0:10:29 | 0:10:32 | |
-Seriously? Wow. -We'll go there, look at the babbling brook. | 0:10:32 | 0:10:35 | |
In terms of outdoor space, this property just keeps on giving. | 0:10:35 | 0:10:39 | |
As well as the garage I mentioned earlier, the land on | 0:10:39 | 0:10:42 | |
the other side of the house includes parking space for around six cars | 0:10:42 | 0:10:45 | |
and another substantial lawned area, | 0:10:45 | 0:10:48 | |
making up a total of just under two acres. | 0:10:48 | 0:10:50 | |
So, I think in a way, I might have left the best till last, | 0:10:51 | 0:10:55 | |
because this is your land as well. | 0:10:55 | 0:10:57 | |
I can't believe it, I really can't. | 0:10:57 | 0:10:59 | |
All this down there? | 0:10:59 | 0:11:01 | |
Yeah, you've got the babbling brook going through. | 0:11:01 | 0:11:04 | |
Unbelievable the amount of ground that's with this house. | 0:11:04 | 0:11:07 | |
-You've got a river! -I know. | 0:11:07 | 0:11:09 | |
How much is this cottage on the market for? | 0:11:09 | 0:11:12 | |
I think it's going to be towards the top end of our budget, | 0:11:12 | 0:11:16 | |
390,000. | 0:11:16 | 0:11:18 | |
400 dead. | 0:11:18 | 0:11:19 | |
The asking price for the cottage, nearly two acres of grounds... | 0:11:19 | 0:11:23 | |
..£365,000. | 0:11:23 | 0:11:24 | |
THEY LAUGH | 0:11:24 | 0:11:26 | |
-We were kind of, way out then, really. -Blimey. | 0:11:26 | 0:11:31 | |
A significant £35,000 below Paul and Helen's budget, | 0:11:31 | 0:11:35 | |
this characterful cottage has a cosy sitting room with | 0:11:35 | 0:11:38 | |
a wonderful inglenook fireplace, a country kitchen that | 0:11:38 | 0:11:41 | |
more than meets with Paul's approval | 0:11:41 | 0:11:43 | |
and upstairs, there are three bedrooms. | 0:11:43 | 0:11:45 | |
Outside, there's almost two acres of land, which includes | 0:11:45 | 0:11:49 | |
a woodland area, a brook and plenty of space | 0:11:49 | 0:11:51 | |
for Paul's veggies and bees. | 0:11:51 | 0:11:53 | |
Have we inspired you? | 0:11:53 | 0:11:55 | |
Great start, property number one. | 0:11:55 | 0:11:57 | |
Good. And guess what, more to show you. | 0:11:57 | 0:12:00 | |
Come on. | 0:12:00 | 0:12:01 | |
Rivers form a commanding feature of the Exmoor landscape. | 0:12:05 | 0:12:08 | |
Close to 300 miles of them | 0:12:08 | 0:12:10 | |
carve their way through this beautiful region. | 0:12:10 | 0:12:13 | |
One of those rivers is the Mole, which provides a vital element | 0:12:13 | 0:12:16 | |
in the production of one of the worlds' most expensive delicacies | 0:12:16 | 0:12:20 | |
at a pioneering local business - | 0:12:20 | 0:12:22 | |
the UK's first and only caviar farm. | 0:12:22 | 0:12:26 | |
The river runs right through this rural enterprise, which was | 0:12:26 | 0:12:29 | |
launched four years ago, and I'm here to quite literally immerse | 0:12:29 | 0:12:33 | |
myself in it by learning more from one of its founders, Ken Benning. | 0:12:33 | 0:12:38 | |
So, what exactly is caviar? | 0:12:38 | 0:12:40 | |
Caviar is the sturgeon's salted roe. | 0:12:40 | 0:12:45 | |
-So is that the eggs? -That is physically the eggs, yes. | 0:12:45 | 0:12:48 | |
Proper caviar only comes from the sturgeon. | 0:12:48 | 0:12:50 | |
The River Mole is key to your production of caviar. | 0:12:50 | 0:12:53 | |
-Yes. -So what's so special about this water? | 0:12:53 | 0:12:55 | |
Well, let me show you, Nicki. | 0:12:55 | 0:12:56 | |
The water straight from the river... | 0:12:57 | 0:12:58 | |
..absolutely fresh. | 0:13:00 | 0:13:01 | |
This is probably, I think, | 0:13:01 | 0:13:03 | |
one of the best water sources in the world. | 0:13:03 | 0:13:05 | |
-Are you ready? -Yeah, I say I don't | 0:13:05 | 0:13:07 | |
want to be falling over in this river. | 0:13:07 | 0:13:08 | |
Each day 40 million gallons of fresh, | 0:13:10 | 0:13:13 | |
Exmoor spring water flows through the farm's tanks, | 0:13:13 | 0:13:16 | |
creating a more natural environment for the fish, | 0:13:16 | 0:13:19 | |
unlike most sturgeon farms | 0:13:19 | 0:13:20 | |
elsewhere that rely on temperature-regulated, | 0:13:20 | 0:13:23 | |
recirculated water. | 0:13:23 | 0:13:25 | |
There. There you go. | 0:13:25 | 0:13:26 | |
-Now, I was not expecting this. -Yep. | 0:13:26 | 0:13:28 | |
I thought a sturgeon was going to look like a fish, | 0:13:28 | 0:13:31 | |
but this looks prehistoric to me. | 0:13:31 | 0:13:32 | |
Sturgeons predate the dinosaurs. | 0:13:32 | 0:13:35 | |
-Do they? -They are a species that have been around | 0:13:35 | 0:13:37 | |
for 250 million years. | 0:13:37 | 0:13:39 | |
After years of overfishing sturgeon are an endangered species, | 0:13:39 | 0:13:43 | |
so sustainable farming like this gives populations in the wild | 0:13:43 | 0:13:46 | |
a chance to recover. | 0:13:46 | 0:13:48 | |
And how long do you keep them for in total? | 0:13:48 | 0:13:51 | |
They will grow before they're | 0:13:51 | 0:13:53 | |
produced or processed for the caviar, or for the meat, | 0:13:53 | 0:13:56 | |
they will grow about seven to ten years. | 0:13:56 | 0:13:58 | |
Ooh, look at him, he's lively. | 0:13:58 | 0:14:00 | |
I'll put him back there. | 0:14:00 | 0:14:02 | |
These ancient fish come with an impressive pedigree. | 0:14:02 | 0:14:05 | |
Back in the 1300s, they were classified as a royal fish | 0:14:05 | 0:14:09 | |
by King Edward II, | 0:14:09 | 0:14:10 | |
so before Ken was able to begin rearing them | 0:14:10 | 0:14:13 | |
he had to receive special permission from the Queen. | 0:14:13 | 0:14:16 | |
My goodness. | 0:14:18 | 0:14:20 | |
Look at her. | 0:14:22 | 0:14:24 | |
-She's a big girl. -She is, isn't she? | 0:14:24 | 0:14:27 | |
And is this sort of the optimum age to produce caviar? | 0:14:27 | 0:14:30 | |
She is fully mature, ready for production. | 0:14:30 | 0:14:33 | |
And is this why caviar is so expensive, | 0:14:33 | 0:14:36 | |
because the process from start to finish takes so long? | 0:14:36 | 0:14:39 | |
It's taken... This girl, she's probably, I'd say, | 0:14:39 | 0:14:41 | |
ten to 12 years of age. | 0:14:41 | 0:14:43 | |
But she wants to go back in. | 0:14:43 | 0:14:44 | |
She does. | 0:14:44 | 0:14:45 | |
It's not just the caviar that's taken from the humanely-culled fish, | 0:14:48 | 0:14:52 | |
the meat is smoked and sold too, so nothing is wasted. | 0:14:52 | 0:14:55 | |
I'm going to be cheeky, I've got to ask, | 0:14:57 | 0:14:59 | |
how much is that amount of caviar worth? | 0:14:59 | 0:15:01 | |
In a London food hall, about £600. | 0:15:01 | 0:15:04 | |
-Really? -Yes. -SHE GASPS | 0:15:04 | 0:15:05 | |
Cornish sea salt is added to the roe to help bring out | 0:15:06 | 0:15:09 | |
the flavour. | 0:15:09 | 0:15:10 | |
It's then packed into tins where, after three to four months, | 0:15:10 | 0:15:13 | |
the salt will have fully merged with the eggs. | 0:15:13 | 0:15:17 | |
Now you try this. | 0:15:17 | 0:15:19 | |
Right, here we go. | 0:15:22 | 0:15:23 | |
-This is something else. -It's very clean. | 0:15:26 | 0:15:28 | |
Very clean, wonderful texture. | 0:15:28 | 0:15:30 | |
Ken, here I am, standing with a hair net on, | 0:15:30 | 0:15:33 | |
eating one of the most expensive foods in the world, | 0:15:33 | 0:15:35 | |
but in my head, I'm in a posh restaurant in St Tropez. | 0:15:35 | 0:15:38 | |
-It's absolutely delicious. -Close your eyes and taste it. | 0:15:38 | 0:15:41 | |
Thank you very much indeed. I will. | 0:15:41 | 0:15:43 | |
Travelling 25 miles further south, we reach | 0:15:51 | 0:15:55 | |
the village of Buckland Brewer, the second stop on our house hunt. | 0:15:55 | 0:15:58 | |
Set in a beautiful wooded valley, this tranquil, | 0:15:58 | 0:16:01 | |
rural settlement can be located from miles around | 0:16:01 | 0:16:04 | |
by the 75ft-high tower of its 500-year-old church. | 0:16:04 | 0:16:09 | |
Another main focal point here is the 13th-century, | 0:16:09 | 0:16:12 | |
award-winning pub which happens to be within walking distance | 0:16:12 | 0:16:16 | |
of our second property - a Victorian home that was built in 1830. | 0:16:16 | 0:16:21 | |
Here is your second property. | 0:16:21 | 0:16:23 | |
Oh, wow, that's nice. | 0:16:23 | 0:16:25 | |
Looks gorgeous. | 0:16:25 | 0:16:26 | |
Very impressed. It looks like it's well maintained as well. | 0:16:26 | 0:16:29 | |
Well, the logical way to get in would be through the front door. | 0:16:29 | 0:16:32 | |
-Hmm. -But guess what. -We're not. -It's not. | 0:16:32 | 0:16:34 | |
We're in the country, | 0:16:34 | 0:16:36 | |
-we're going to use the tradesmen's entrance. Follow me. -OK. | 0:16:36 | 0:16:39 | |
I say tradesman's entrance, but in actual fact, | 0:16:40 | 0:16:42 | |
we're entering through an extension that was added | 0:16:42 | 0:16:44 | |
to the property in the early 1990s to create a wonderfully | 0:16:44 | 0:16:48 | |
bright conservatory which leads through to the kitchen. | 0:16:48 | 0:16:51 | |
But of course this is where the magic's going to happen, | 0:16:52 | 0:16:55 | |
-isn't it, Paul? -THEY LAUGH | 0:16:55 | 0:16:57 | |
So you've got a long...well, I'm not going to call it a galley | 0:16:57 | 0:17:00 | |
because I don't think that's fair. It's wider than a galley kitchen, | 0:17:00 | 0:17:03 | |
but it is very long. And you've got a dining area right at the end. | 0:17:03 | 0:17:06 | |
I think it's nicer in a way | 0:17:06 | 0:17:08 | |
because the dining area is kind of separated from the kitchen. | 0:17:08 | 0:17:13 | |
It's not in the actual kitchen. | 0:17:13 | 0:17:15 | |
It's a nice kitchen, not as nice as the first one. | 0:17:15 | 0:17:17 | |
Ah, Chef's not quite happy, is he? | 0:17:17 | 0:17:20 | |
But I'm just going to add that Chef does have an informal dining area, | 0:17:20 | 0:17:24 | |
but Chef also has the formal dining area through those doors there. | 0:17:24 | 0:17:28 | |
-Ah. -OK, that's the trade off. | 0:17:28 | 0:17:30 | |
-And it's quite large. -OK. | 0:17:30 | 0:17:31 | |
OK, let's continue through here. | 0:17:31 | 0:17:33 | |
First impression - I'm thinking a bit smaller than I thought in here. | 0:17:36 | 0:17:42 | |
Fireplace is lovely. And I love the bay window. | 0:17:42 | 0:17:45 | |
From the outside, I think you conjure up a larger property. | 0:17:45 | 0:17:50 | |
-Yeah. -But when I came through the kitchen door there, | 0:17:50 | 0:17:53 | |
-I thought, "Ooh, it's quite small." -Yeah. -I agree. | 0:17:53 | 0:17:56 | |
-Let's see what you think of upstairs. -OK. -OK. | 0:17:56 | 0:17:58 | |
A slightly less enthusiastic response here | 0:18:00 | 0:18:02 | |
compared to our first property, and size seems to be the issue. | 0:18:02 | 0:18:06 | |
Upstairs, there are three generous doubles plus another small room | 0:18:07 | 0:18:10 | |
that is being used as a study. | 0:18:10 | 0:18:12 | |
There are no en-suites, | 0:18:12 | 0:18:13 | |
but there's a family bathroom as well as a shower room. | 0:18:13 | 0:18:17 | |
Now, none of the bedrooms sort of say master. | 0:18:17 | 0:18:21 | |
-I picked this one to show you because of the views. -The view, hmm. | 0:18:21 | 0:18:25 | |
Fantastic views, aren't they? | 0:18:25 | 0:18:26 | |
Yeah, imagine waking up to that in the morning. | 0:18:26 | 0:18:29 | |
Yeah. And because it's got three and a half bedrooms up here, | 0:18:29 | 0:18:32 | |
you could commandeer that study and make it into a dressing room. | 0:18:32 | 0:18:36 | |
-Itching to see what's outside? -Itching, -Itching. | 0:18:36 | 0:18:39 | |
Back down the stairs then, please. | 0:18:40 | 0:18:42 | |
Outside, the third-of-an-acre plot stretches up behind the house, | 0:18:44 | 0:18:48 | |
where a path leads to an established orchard | 0:18:48 | 0:18:51 | |
and a wonderful wooden summer house. | 0:18:51 | 0:18:53 | |
There's also plenty of scope for Paul's gardening ambitions. | 0:18:53 | 0:18:57 | |
Now, here, you have your own little oasis, | 0:18:57 | 0:19:02 | |
because this part of the garden has been completely terraced. | 0:19:02 | 0:19:07 | |
We have our own little pond down there. | 0:19:07 | 0:19:09 | |
-Lovely. -All these vegetable patches, your own greenhouse. | 0:19:09 | 0:19:13 | |
-It is fantastic. -And the seating area down there is lovely. | 0:19:13 | 0:19:17 | |
Just below that, you've got a huge garage. | 0:19:17 | 0:19:20 | |
The owners, they use that obviously for work, | 0:19:20 | 0:19:23 | |
and it's a wonderful workshop. | 0:19:23 | 0:19:25 | |
And if this wasn't enough, just look over your shoulder. | 0:19:25 | 0:19:29 | |
You've got a beautiful lawned garden behind us. | 0:19:29 | 0:19:33 | |
Plus, right at the back, you've got some free-standing | 0:19:33 | 0:19:36 | |
where they can park about seven cars, | 0:19:36 | 0:19:39 | |
and access to the back of the property again. | 0:19:39 | 0:19:42 | |
The garden, the grounds are fantastic. | 0:19:42 | 0:19:45 | |
So now, I want you to guess the asking price of this property | 0:19:45 | 0:19:48 | |
with the land. | 0:19:48 | 0:19:50 | |
I reckon 385,000. | 0:19:50 | 0:19:52 | |
I think it's 420,000. | 0:19:52 | 0:19:57 | |
Asking price is £390,000. | 0:19:57 | 0:20:02 | |
-Ah! -Ching ching. -You were the closest. | 0:20:02 | 0:20:05 | |
You are the closest. | 0:20:05 | 0:20:07 | |
£10,000 below their maximum budget, | 0:20:07 | 0:20:10 | |
this appealing period home has | 0:20:10 | 0:20:12 | |
a recently-renovated kitchen/diner | 0:20:12 | 0:20:14 | |
and a separate formal dining room. | 0:20:14 | 0:20:16 | |
There are also two reception rooms, | 0:20:16 | 0:20:18 | |
three bedrooms and a study. | 0:20:18 | 0:20:20 | |
Outside, the third-of-an-acre plot | 0:20:20 | 0:20:22 | |
includes a ready-made veggie garden, | 0:20:22 | 0:20:24 | |
an orchard and that large workshop, | 0:20:24 | 0:20:26 | |
perfect for Paul's gardening | 0:20:26 | 0:20:28 | |
and beekeeping equipment. | 0:20:28 | 0:20:30 | |
Well, that's it for today. | 0:20:30 | 0:20:31 | |
I've shown you our two properties, | 0:20:31 | 0:20:32 | |
but we have another one lined up for you tomorrow. | 0:20:32 | 0:20:35 | |
We've got an awful lot to talk about tonight. | 0:20:35 | 0:20:37 | |
-We have. -Good, that's a good sign. | 0:20:37 | 0:20:39 | |
Paul and Helen are desperate to move to the country, | 0:20:46 | 0:20:49 | |
and I think yesterday we got pretty close | 0:20:49 | 0:20:52 | |
to finding them that perfect property. | 0:20:52 | 0:20:54 | |
Both the gardens they saw had the land that Paul | 0:20:54 | 0:20:57 | |
so desperately craves. | 0:20:57 | 0:20:59 | |
He wants to grow tonnes of vegetables, | 0:20:59 | 0:21:01 | |
he wants to keep bees, he even wants a few chickens. | 0:21:01 | 0:21:04 | |
But the houses themselves, | 0:21:04 | 0:21:06 | |
perhaps they thought they were on the small side. | 0:21:06 | 0:21:09 | |
I didn't think so. | 0:21:09 | 0:21:10 | |
It's time for our final offering - the mystery house. | 0:21:10 | 0:21:13 | |
Now we're going to show them a property that's immersed | 0:21:13 | 0:21:16 | |
in village life. | 0:21:16 | 0:21:17 | |
Well, it has to be, it's right in the heart of it. | 0:21:17 | 0:21:21 | |
And being in the heart of the village means there's | 0:21:21 | 0:21:23 | |
a significant compromise for Paul. | 0:21:23 | 0:21:26 | |
The village is Chittlehamholt, | 0:21:26 | 0:21:27 | |
and to get there we've journeyed 17 miles inland. | 0:21:27 | 0:21:30 | |
In the 16th century, | 0:21:32 | 0:21:33 | |
the settlement was on the main Barnstable-to-Exeter route, | 0:21:33 | 0:21:36 | |
and the attractive inn that once served the many coaches | 0:21:36 | 0:21:39 | |
coming through is still a popular hub today. | 0:21:39 | 0:21:42 | |
A more recent addition to the village is a much-valued | 0:21:42 | 0:21:45 | |
community shop that was set up by a group of dedicated locals | 0:21:45 | 0:21:49 | |
after the post office closed here in 2009. | 0:21:49 | 0:21:52 | |
A stone's throw from the shop is our final property, | 0:21:52 | 0:21:56 | |
which once served a vital community role of its own. | 0:21:56 | 0:21:58 | |
How about this as your mystery house? | 0:22:00 | 0:22:03 | |
Looks lovely from the outside. | 0:22:03 | 0:22:05 | |
So any idea what this building used to be? | 0:22:05 | 0:22:07 | |
Looks like an old school. | 0:22:07 | 0:22:08 | |
-Do you know what? You're right. -I love the look of the brickwork. -Yes? | 0:22:08 | 0:22:12 | |
It's obviously got that history element to it. | 0:22:12 | 0:22:14 | |
And it's all on one level? | 0:22:14 | 0:22:16 | |
-Ish. -Is it? Ish? | 0:22:16 | 0:22:18 | |
Well, I think we should start with the inside, don't you? | 0:22:18 | 0:22:21 | |
Sounds good. | 0:22:21 | 0:22:23 | |
Made from local Devon stone, | 0:22:23 | 0:22:24 | |
this old schoolhouse dates back to around 1830. | 0:22:24 | 0:22:28 | |
It's had many makeovers since then, and the most recent was by | 0:22:28 | 0:22:31 | |
the current owners who purchased the property three years ago. | 0:22:31 | 0:22:35 | |
So, welcome to the school. | 0:22:35 | 0:22:38 | |
I like it. | 0:22:39 | 0:22:40 | |
-Wow, it's lovely. I'm amazed. Really. -That's good, isn't it? | 0:22:40 | 0:22:44 | |
-Nice size as well, I think. -I'm impressed. -Impressed so far. | 0:22:44 | 0:22:47 | |
-That's great. Shall we make our way down the hallway? -Yeah. | 0:22:47 | 0:22:51 | |
Just off the living room is a downstairs bathroom. | 0:22:54 | 0:22:56 | |
And next to that, there's a separate shower room. | 0:22:56 | 0:22:59 | |
But now we're going to take a look at what's at the other end | 0:22:59 | 0:23:01 | |
of the house. | 0:23:01 | 0:23:02 | |
So you have a dining room leading on to... | 0:23:03 | 0:23:07 | |
the all-important kitchen. | 0:23:07 | 0:23:09 | |
What do you think, then? | 0:23:09 | 0:23:10 | |
-Well, along with the separate diner, that's brilliant. -Yeah. | 0:23:10 | 0:23:14 | |
-Definitely. -I like it. -Sold it to the chef. | 0:23:14 | 0:23:17 | |
You were worried, weren't you, that there weren't any stairs | 0:23:17 | 0:23:20 | |
-in this property? -Yes. | 0:23:20 | 0:23:21 | |
Yeah, thought it'd be on one level. Are you going to surprise me? | 0:23:21 | 0:23:24 | |
-Shall we explore? Shall we? -Let's. | 0:23:24 | 0:23:26 | |
Well, most of the accommodation is this one level | 0:23:29 | 0:23:32 | |
and comes off the main hallway, but there's also a staircase | 0:23:32 | 0:23:35 | |
that leads to some rather interesting additional rooms. | 0:23:35 | 0:23:38 | |
Come on in. | 0:23:41 | 0:23:42 | |
Cos I'm going to explain the layout with the school. | 0:23:42 | 0:23:45 | |
Look at it. | 0:23:46 | 0:23:47 | |
Downstairs you've got two double bedrooms. | 0:23:47 | 0:23:50 | |
But up here, you've got a single bedroom behind us | 0:23:50 | 0:23:54 | |
and then a double here with a huge dressing room. | 0:23:54 | 0:23:58 | |
I don't know what to say. I'm completely shellshocked. | 0:23:58 | 0:24:01 | |
I never expected anything like this up here. | 0:24:01 | 0:24:04 | |
-Loving it so far. -Loving it? | 0:24:04 | 0:24:06 | |
Mystery house is working its magic. | 0:24:08 | 0:24:09 | |
It definitely is. | 0:24:09 | 0:24:11 | |
Time now, though, to go outside. See what you make of that. | 0:24:11 | 0:24:14 | |
They didn't seem at all fazed | 0:24:16 | 0:24:17 | |
by the unconventional upstairs rooms. | 0:24:17 | 0:24:19 | |
In fact, I think they rather like this place. | 0:24:19 | 0:24:22 | |
I'm now just hoping that their enthusiasm isn't diminished | 0:24:22 | 0:24:25 | |
by what's on offer outside, | 0:24:25 | 0:24:27 | |
because being within a village | 0:24:27 | 0:24:29 | |
this property has quite a lot less land | 0:24:29 | 0:24:31 | |
than the other two we showed them. | 0:24:31 | 0:24:33 | |
So, who wanted chickens? | 0:24:35 | 0:24:37 | |
-I did. -THEY LAUGH | 0:24:37 | 0:24:39 | |
-There they are specially for you. -Fantastic. | 0:24:39 | 0:24:42 | |
-Brilliant, isn't it? -What about for you for size, then? | 0:24:42 | 0:24:45 | |
-That's the important thing. -Yeah, this is the compromise, isn't it? | 0:24:45 | 0:24:48 | |
It's a nice-sized garden, very manageable, | 0:24:48 | 0:24:51 | |
-I like it. -Do you? -I like it. | 0:24:51 | 0:24:53 | |
It was the one bit I was slightly reserved about. | 0:24:53 | 0:24:55 | |
But when you weigh everything up, | 0:24:55 | 0:24:57 | |
-you've got to compromise with something. -Yes. | 0:24:57 | 0:25:00 | |
What price are you going to guess it's on the market for? | 0:25:00 | 0:25:03 | |
I reckon, 420,000. | 0:25:03 | 0:25:05 | |
I reckon it's over our budget. 440,000. | 0:25:05 | 0:25:08 | |
The asking price... | 0:25:08 | 0:25:10 | |
£355,000. | 0:25:10 | 0:25:13 | |
THEY GASP | 0:25:13 | 0:25:15 | |
Are you serious? | 0:25:15 | 0:25:16 | |
Serious. | 0:25:16 | 0:25:17 | |
Come back to me, Paul. | 0:25:17 | 0:25:19 | |
Come back, come back. | 0:25:19 | 0:25:22 | |
-Come on, come back. -I'm laughing. | 0:25:22 | 0:25:25 | |
What do you think? | 0:25:25 | 0:25:27 | |
-Cor, where do we sign? -I thought this was going to be well over. | 0:25:27 | 0:25:31 | |
-You've gone a bit emotional, haven't you? -I know. | 0:25:31 | 0:25:33 | |
But that's good, that's what you want with a property. | 0:25:33 | 0:25:36 | |
It's about a feeling, | 0:25:36 | 0:25:37 | |
it's about a change of life, it's the cheapest of all the houses. | 0:25:37 | 0:25:40 | |
It's the cheapest of the three and the best. | 0:25:40 | 0:25:43 | |
A substantial £45,000 below Paul and Helen's maximum budget, | 0:25:43 | 0:25:47 | |
this attractive schoolhouse | 0:25:47 | 0:25:49 | |
certainly delivers the character they're looking for. | 0:25:49 | 0:25:52 | |
It has a large living room with a high-vaulted ceiling | 0:25:52 | 0:25:55 | |
and a sleek kitchen | 0:25:55 | 0:25:56 | |
with adjoining formal dining room. | 0:25:56 | 0:25:58 | |
There are two good-size bedrooms downstairs | 0:25:58 | 0:26:01 | |
and two more upstairs | 0:26:01 | 0:26:02 | |
in the unique beamed loft. | 0:26:02 | 0:26:04 | |
Outside, the garden might not be big enough to accommodate bees | 0:26:04 | 0:26:07 | |
but there is room for chickens. | 0:26:07 | 0:26:10 | |
Well, shall we go somewhere quiet and we can have a proper chat | 0:26:10 | 0:26:13 | |
and find out, really, where you go next? | 0:26:13 | 0:26:15 | |
Think we need to, yes. | 0:26:15 | 0:26:16 | |
So, Paul and Helen, we've had a fabulous few days - | 0:26:21 | 0:26:24 | |
blue skies, the sun has shone - | 0:26:24 | 0:26:26 | |
but did we manage to find you your perfect property? | 0:26:26 | 0:26:29 | |
I think it's gone really, really well. | 0:26:29 | 0:26:31 | |
I mean, you've shown us three quite different properties, | 0:26:31 | 0:26:35 | |
and of course the mystery house was | 0:26:35 | 0:26:37 | |
the one that neither of us expected, I think, | 0:26:37 | 0:26:40 | |
and has somewhat blown us away. | 0:26:40 | 0:26:42 | |
We could see ourselves living in the property, | 0:26:42 | 0:26:44 | |
but whether it's in the location or the village, | 0:26:44 | 0:26:48 | |
we just need to explore that just a little bit more, just a tad further. | 0:26:48 | 0:26:53 | |
But what happens next? | 0:26:53 | 0:26:54 | |
I guess we're going to need a deep and meaningful conversation, | 0:26:54 | 0:26:59 | |
possibly take a second viewing | 0:26:59 | 0:27:03 | |
and then, if all goes well, maybe speak to the estate agents. | 0:27:03 | 0:27:07 | |
And how quickly are you going to have that second viewing? | 0:27:07 | 0:27:10 | |
-Hopefully tomorrow morning. -Oh, my goodness! | 0:27:10 | 0:27:12 | |
Really positive. | 0:27:12 | 0:27:14 | |
Well, we're absolutely thrilled. | 0:27:14 | 0:27:16 | |
Whatever happens, let us know, won't you? Please keep in touch. | 0:27:16 | 0:27:19 | |
-We will, most definitely. -Great. | 0:27:19 | 0:27:21 | |
Thanks, both, very much, and by the way, | 0:27:21 | 0:27:22 | |
enjoy your retirement. I'm very jealous! | 0:27:22 | 0:27:24 | |
-Thank you. -Thank you so much as well. | 0:27:24 | 0:27:26 | |
Well, a successful couple of days house hunting, and there's always a | 0:27:31 | 0:27:35 | |
real sense of achievement when they fall in love with our mystery house. | 0:27:35 | 0:27:39 | |
And acres of land - ha, who needs it? | 0:27:39 | 0:27:43 | |
It just remains to be seen whether Paul and Helen will fall in love | 0:27:43 | 0:27:46 | |
with the village as much as they did our mystery property. | 0:27:46 | 0:27:49 | |
And if so, then maybe their North Devon dream could soon | 0:27:49 | 0:27:54 | |
become a reality. | 0:27:54 | 0:27:56 | |
Join me next time on Escape To The Country. | 0:27:56 | 0:27:58 | |
If you would like to escape to the country | 0:28:00 | 0:28:02 | |
in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, | 0:28:02 | 0:28:04 | |
or perhaps even further afield to the Continent, | 0:28:04 | 0:28:07 | |
and would like our help, | 0:28:07 | 0:28:08 | |
please apply online at... | 0:28:08 | 0:28:13 |