0:00:02 > 0:00:04I'm walking on one of only a handful of tombolos in the country.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06But where exactly am I?
0:00:06 > 0:00:09The mystery will be solved in just a few moments.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30On today's show, our house-hunters are a couple of ladies
0:00:30 > 0:00:32with one heck of a list of demands,
0:00:32 > 0:00:35but I still managed to serve up some belters.
0:00:35 > 0:00:36- Lovely.- Yep.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39Just as long as it carries on like this I think you're on a winner.
0:00:39 > 0:00:40I think we could be.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43And whilst delivering things they do want,
0:00:43 > 0:00:46there are also a few features that weren't quite on the list.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50- Wow, what a surprise! - Most unexpected.- Isn't it?- Yeah.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55Today I'm in Devon, and behind me is Burgh Island,
0:00:55 > 0:00:57which was the inspiration for two
0:00:57 > 0:01:00of Agatha Christie's famous murder-mystery novels.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Now the island itself is connected to the mainland
0:01:03 > 0:01:06via strange beach phenomenon known as a tombolo,
0:01:06 > 0:01:08which occurs when two opposing currents meet
0:01:08 > 0:01:11and form this wave-shaped spit.
0:01:11 > 0:01:16Now at high tide, the island itself is completely surrounded by water,
0:01:16 > 0:01:19but you can still get there with your feet dry
0:01:19 > 0:01:23via this sea tractor, which has been operating here since the 1930s.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25And once on the island,
0:01:25 > 0:01:28you can take advantage of a number of foot paths that all look out
0:01:28 > 0:01:32on this beautiful and spectacular Devonshire coastline.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38The ever popular southwestern county of Devon
0:01:38 > 0:01:41sits between Dorset to the east and Cornwall to the west.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45The north of the county borders the Atlantic Ocean
0:01:45 > 0:01:48and offers a spectacular rugged coastline
0:01:48 > 0:01:51which boasts some of the highest sea cliffs in the country.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54The south of the county looks out over the more gentle waters
0:01:54 > 0:01:56of the English Channel.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59There are a number of attractive small towns and fishing villages
0:01:59 > 0:02:01dotted along the coast such as Salcombe,
0:02:01 > 0:02:03a popular sailing destination.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07The River Dart winds its way through the rolling Devon countryside
0:02:07 > 0:02:09from Dartmoor to the sea.
0:02:09 > 0:02:10Along the way,
0:02:10 > 0:02:13the river passes through the historic market town of Totnes,
0:02:13 > 0:02:16before heading to Dartmouth with its narrow streets and busy harbour.
0:02:18 > 0:02:19Inland are rolling hillsides
0:02:19 > 0:02:23dotted with the region's famous dairy herds and other cattle.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26With the small historic villages nestled along its valleys,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29it's a picture of rural England at its very best.
0:02:32 > 0:02:33At the moment,
0:02:33 > 0:02:35the average price of a detached house here in Devon
0:02:35 > 0:02:39comes in at just over £293,000,
0:02:39 > 0:02:43which is around £26,000 above the national figure,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46so prices do fall on the slightly higher side here.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49But when you consider that Devon as a county
0:02:49 > 0:02:51has some of the most beautiful countryside
0:02:51 > 0:02:53and coastline in the country,
0:02:53 > 0:02:55plus a wealth of historic homes to choose from,
0:02:55 > 0:02:57it's not hard to see why.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01But, what are today's buyers looking for? Let's meet them and find out.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05Vicki and her mother, Rosemary,
0:03:05 > 0:03:07live in Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire
0:03:07 > 0:03:10and will be house hunting on behalf of their whole family
0:03:10 > 0:03:12as they all plan to move to Devon together.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15So we've got three generations of our family involved in the move.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17There's me, my mum, my dad Ray,
0:03:17 > 0:03:20and then my brother Chris, and his little boy, Ethan.
0:03:20 > 0:03:25I think it was probably prompted by my mum and dad to begin with.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28They wanted a bit of a last adventure.
0:03:28 > 0:03:33There's always been a little bit of something missing.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36Haven't really spread our wings and, um...
0:03:37 > 0:03:40..if we're going to do it, then we need to do it now.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43We just all decided that actually we'd all quite like to go with them.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45We're probably ready for an adventure as well.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47A bit of a change of lifestyle.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Rosemary and Ray are retired, but for Vicki,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53she's hoping the move will mean achieving a better work-life balance
0:03:53 > 0:03:57and the chance to develop one of her big passions - baking.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59It will be a big change for me work wise.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02I will be leaving my current job.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04I've worked there 15 years
0:04:04 > 0:04:07and I'd love to be able to build my own business,
0:04:07 > 0:04:09so whether that's something to do with baking, you know,
0:04:09 > 0:04:12holiday lets, or you know, something like that.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14You know, it would be really exciting.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16And another important person to consider in the move
0:04:16 > 0:04:19is Chris' son, Ethan.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23Ray and I have always been involved in looking after Ethan.
0:04:23 > 0:04:28He's more like a little son than a grandson.
0:04:28 > 0:04:29I think for Ethan it will be nice for him
0:04:29 > 0:04:32while he's still got some of his childhood,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35it would be nice for him to make the most
0:04:35 > 0:04:38of having that outdoor lifestyle.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40The idea of this move is for them all to live back together
0:04:40 > 0:04:43in one big family home.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46So far the only experience we've had of living all under one roof
0:04:46 > 0:04:49is when we go on holiday, and it's just for two weeks.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51But, I think we all get on well.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54To be living all as a family again,
0:04:54 > 0:04:58I think we'll probably have a few hiccups along the way,
0:04:58 > 0:05:02but as long as we do have that bit of space, individual space,
0:05:02 > 0:05:06I'm sure we'll get on absolutely fine.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09So with five family members to consider,
0:05:09 > 0:05:12just choosing the county has taken a while.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16I think we've really settled on Devon rather than possibly Dorset.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20I think we'll find more of what we're looking for within our budget.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22Their properties are on the market
0:05:22 > 0:05:25and they're now ready to embrace their new adventure.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29I feel really excited about the prospect of moving.
0:05:29 > 0:05:34I think I'm really ready for a change and a new adventure.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38Actually, it's really nice that I get to go with my family.
0:05:38 > 0:05:43We feel really lucky that they also want to join us in this...
0:05:43 > 0:05:44a new life.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Rosemary, Vicki, and the family have chosen East Devon,
0:05:50 > 0:05:53so we're concentrating our search on villages and towns
0:05:53 > 0:05:56between Exeter and the Dorset border.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59But first, I need to find out more about the long list of requirements
0:05:59 > 0:06:01for this big family move.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03- Morning, ladies.- Morning.- Morning.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05We're looking for something quite different today.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08- You're moving en masse.- Yep.
0:06:08 > 0:06:13- There is yourselves, obviously, there's Ray, your husband.- Yes.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16- Your son, your brother, Chris. - Yep.- And his...
0:06:16 > 0:06:18- His son Ethan.- Ethan.- Yep.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Let's start with you and Ray.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24Specifically, what would you really love?
0:06:24 > 0:06:26A large house with lots of space.
0:06:26 > 0:06:33Lots of airy and lots of nice views, I think.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37Are you representing Chris as well as your own wants and desires?
0:06:37 > 0:06:40Yeah. Chris is quite keen on having somewhere with land.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42He'd quite like some animals in the future,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45whereas I think I've got my eye on something that's going to...
0:06:45 > 0:06:48perhaps have a business opportunity, maybe make us an income.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53Honestly...this isn't easy.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55- Land...- That's why we've been looking for a while.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59What are five must haves for all of you, do you think, Vicki?
0:06:59 > 0:07:02For me, bedroom and living room would be great.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04I don't mind sharing the kitchen.
0:07:04 > 0:07:09I think the garden and the views would be the priority.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12So, let's talk about finances.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15How much are you looking to spend?
0:07:15 > 0:07:17So we've got a bit of a sliding scale.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21So if we start at the top end, if there was something
0:07:21 > 0:07:24that was absolutely perfect, we're talking about £910,000.
0:07:24 > 0:07:25OK.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28And then it slides downwards to, you know...
0:07:28 > 0:07:31If it was just something that was just a big house
0:07:31 > 0:07:33that was big enough for all of us to live in...
0:07:33 > 0:07:36But with an acre as a minimum.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40Right, you're putting this in late, aren't you? With a acre minimum.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Right, so with an acre minimum and just a big house...
0:07:43 > 0:07:46Yeah, then probably be looking at sort of £750,000 and up.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50- Kind of depends on...- The potential. - The potential of somewhere.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54- Our primary focus is to find all of you, the family, a home.- Yep.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56- With some land.- Yes.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58And then, if there's opportunities along the way
0:07:58 > 0:08:00for business potential, then we'll discuss that. OK?
0:08:00 > 0:08:03- Yes.- Let's have a cup of tea before we start, OK?
0:08:03 > 0:08:05- Yep, OK.- Lovely.
0:08:07 > 0:08:12So for a maximum budget of £910,000, there are plenty of wants.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15The first is for a large house with at least five bedrooms
0:08:15 > 0:08:19and a good living space for this family of five to spread out in.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22For Vicki's new business venture, she's after a big kitchen
0:08:22 > 0:08:24and a holiday letting option.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Whilst Rosemary is happy with one acre of land,
0:08:26 > 0:08:30son Chris ideally wants three to start keeping some livestock.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34And rural views are definitely on the list.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36We worked hard to find three strong options
0:08:36 > 0:08:38which cater for their many requests,
0:08:38 > 0:08:41but I won't be revealing the all-important price tag
0:08:41 > 0:08:43until after each house tour.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45The final offering is a mystery house
0:08:45 > 0:08:47which guarantees for some big decisions this week.
0:08:50 > 0:08:55Now, Rosemary, I understand you've been looking in this part of Devon
0:08:55 > 0:08:58for six months, but you've been looking all over
0:08:58 > 0:09:02Yes, we looked in North Devon for six months
0:09:02 > 0:09:05and also did consider Suffolk at one time.
0:09:07 > 0:09:12- So...that sounds like about a year of shopping for a property.- Yep.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14Probably nearer 15 months, I think.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Yeah, cos I think when you've looked for so long,
0:09:17 > 0:09:20you lose sight of some of what you want.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22So I think definitely having someone else's point of view
0:09:22 > 0:09:25to challenge us is going to be really helpful.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28So are you prepared for me to challenge you then, Rosemary?
0:09:28 > 0:09:30Oh, yes. Very much.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Wow, I wasn't expecting such a positive answer. Well, OK.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35Let's see what we've got with the first house.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41For our first property, we're going to the town of Honiton,
0:09:41 > 0:09:44which is located half an hour east of the city of Exeter
0:09:44 > 0:09:46and 25 minutes from the coast.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50Honiton is a busy market town which offers the family
0:09:50 > 0:09:52a practical mix of shops and facilities.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Historically, it was the centre of lacemaking
0:09:55 > 0:09:59and Queen Victoria's 1840 wedding dress was made from Honiton lace.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Just a mile from the centre of town,
0:10:01 > 0:10:04the surroundings quickly become very rural
0:10:04 > 0:10:08and up a quiet country lane we find our first property.
0:10:08 > 0:10:09So, ladies...
0:10:11 > 0:10:12- This is house number one. - All right.- OK.
0:10:12 > 0:10:17- It looks very nice.- Yeah. - Yes. Lovely surroundings.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21Now, it's an old farmhouse with... Well, it's been converted as well.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24Some of the barns were converted with more modern extensions
0:10:24 > 0:10:26and restorations at the far gable end.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30Is this the sort of house you could see yourselves en masse living in?
0:10:30 > 0:10:32I think so. I mean, it looks big enough from the outside.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35- The views.- Accessibility.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37This is all very positive so far.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40- Yep, so far so good. - Yes, so far. Can we...
0:10:40 > 0:10:43- Itching to get in.- That's what I want to hear. Let's go inside.
0:10:43 > 0:10:44Come on.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Parts of this farmhouse date back to the 17th century,
0:10:48 > 0:10:49but it's had more recent additions
0:10:49 > 0:10:53and conversions to turn it into a sizable and adaptable property
0:10:53 > 0:10:56with five bedrooms and three living rooms.
0:10:58 > 0:11:03- OK, first room - the most important room for you bakers, isn't it?- Yes.
0:11:03 > 0:11:09- Very nice.- Now you told me that you didn't need separate kitchens.- No.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12You said you quite like the idea of all sitting together as a family.
0:11:12 > 0:11:13- Yeah.- Which according to current owners,
0:11:13 > 0:11:17- that's exactly what they do here. - Yes. It's really nice.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20- Very nice kitchen. - Yeah, it's got loads of character.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24- It's very nice.- So far?- Lovely.- Yep.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27Just as long as it carries on like this I think you are on a winner.
0:11:27 > 0:11:28I think we could be. Follow me.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37- OK, so, another reception room. - That's nice.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41- Another nice room.- Yeah, it's lovely. - It's a lovely room. Yes.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43This is good. I'm just waiting to get the flavour of everything.
0:11:43 > 0:11:44- Yeah.- Keep going.
0:11:47 > 0:11:52Now, one of three reception rooms, or sitting rooms, rather.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56- Yeah, it's got nice view out the window.- Lovely view out the windows.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59I quite like how you come down from the other bit
0:11:59 > 0:12:02if you did want to do something different with that.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Actually, you've almost separated.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06I quite like it. A natural separation of the areas.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09- This could be completely separate. - Yes.- You've got a wet room there.
0:12:09 > 0:12:15You've got a second staircase there going up to a master bedroom.
0:12:15 > 0:12:16Oh, right.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20So this could be a completely self-contained one-bedroom cottage.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24- So, I could live here.- Yes. - Hm... What about Dad and I?
0:12:24 > 0:12:26- Or you and Dad could live here.- Yes.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29Now, I've already mentioned there's two further sitting rooms
0:12:29 > 0:12:30at the far end of the house.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33Let's go up the staircase to give you an idea of the flow of it all.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37- OK.- Then will come back down the other one.- Right.- Follow me.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39Passing through the kitchen and dining room,
0:12:39 > 0:12:42this first sitting room is located at one end of the house
0:12:42 > 0:12:45and has a staircase in the corner which leads to the master bedroom.
0:12:47 > 0:12:52- So, pretty much the footprint of the living room down below.- Right.
0:12:52 > 0:12:58- Wow indeed. It's such a lovely size. - Yeah, nice high ceiling.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02- Could be more than a bedroom. - A bit like a suite.- Yes, definitely.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05- This is definitely the master suite. - Yes.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07But, there are... It's a great house.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09There are other en suites as well.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12There's so much of this house to have a look at.
0:13:12 > 0:13:13We'll have a whiz through.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15Have a quick look in the en-suite, all right, now,
0:13:15 > 0:13:18and we'll keep walking through afterwards.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21- Oh, yes. This is nice as well. - It's big, isn't it?
0:13:21 > 0:13:25- This matches the bedroom.- Yeah. - Very, very nice.
0:13:25 > 0:13:26Can see us falling out over this room,
0:13:26 > 0:13:28so I'm going to get us out of the theatre of conflict
0:13:28 > 0:13:31as quick as possible.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33This suite is just the first of five double bedrooms.
0:13:35 > 0:13:40- The second bedroom - good size, double.- Yes.- OK.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42We've got another one just up here.
0:13:45 > 0:13:50Now both of these bedrooms are served by this family bathroom here.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Then you've got two other double bedrooms,
0:13:52 > 0:13:54both of which are en-suite.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57- Goodness.- Right, OK. - What haven't I ticked yet?
0:13:57 > 0:14:00- The garden.- The garden? - Yes.- Follow me.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02- Start thinking about price.- Oh.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05Coming down the principle staircase
0:14:05 > 0:14:07takes you to the other end of the house
0:14:07 > 0:14:09and the final two living rooms.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12You've got a really lovely sized living room
0:14:12 > 0:14:14and a snug through there.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18Downstairs loo there. Let's go back out through the back door.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22The house is set in just under an acre
0:14:22 > 0:14:25which incorporates a garden, a raised deck, a small paddock,
0:14:25 > 0:14:28and a building which could be a future option for holiday lettings.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33So, outbuilding wise, you get that block there
0:14:33 > 0:14:37- which is currently split into about four stables.- Yeah, OK.
0:14:37 > 0:14:38No planning consent yet
0:14:38 > 0:14:41- but something to think about for the future.- Yeah, definitely.- Yes.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Now, obviously this garden bit here and then beyonds, well...
0:14:44 > 0:14:46Oh! Chickens.
0:14:46 > 0:14:52- And sheep.- Yes. What do we think, all in all?- I think it's...
0:14:52 > 0:14:54a very definite possibility.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57You're going to have to do quite well to beat this.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59- Yes.- Given this is house number one.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02How much do you think this house is on the market for?
0:15:02 > 0:15:05I reckon about £780,000.
0:15:05 > 0:15:11I think it might be a little bit less than £780,000. £775,000?
0:15:12 > 0:15:17Well done. It's on the market for a guide price of £750,000.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20- Oh.- Right, OK. That's not bad news.- No.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24If I was showing you this house and only this house,
0:15:24 > 0:15:28- I'd be saying to you, "Why don't you buy it?"- Yes.- Yes, I can...
0:15:30 > 0:15:32- I think we might. - Well, I'm glad you said that.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Now I want you to go and have a look and I will meet you...
0:15:35 > 0:15:36I'll tell you what,
0:15:36 > 0:15:39if the sun's still shining, I'm going to be on that sundeck.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41- On the sundeck.- All right? I'll see you in a bit.
0:15:41 > 0:15:42- Lovely.- Thanks.- Thank you.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44So the bottom end of their budget range,
0:15:44 > 0:15:48this is a fully restored and converted 17th-century farmhouse
0:15:48 > 0:15:52offering great flexibility for the family with plenty of bedrooms
0:15:52 > 0:15:55and reception rooms, and a large family kitchen.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57There is the potential for Vicki
0:15:57 > 0:15:58to look into holiday rentals
0:15:58 > 0:16:00with the stables.
0:16:00 > 0:16:01However, the gardens and paddock
0:16:01 > 0:16:03offer just under an acre of land
0:16:03 > 0:16:06which may fall short of brother Chris' hopes.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09Great first impressions when we went inside.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13I think the kitchen was definitely a winner. The living room...
0:16:13 > 0:16:15Well, one of the three living rooms,
0:16:15 > 0:16:18in the end I think we might be fighting over those slightly.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21But just the fact that there is the three reception rooms,
0:16:21 > 0:16:24we could almost have one each.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27I think there's going to be a fight over the master bedroom,
0:16:27 > 0:16:30but there's such a lot of scope.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33I think it's going to have to be for a family discussion.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35Amazing start. I'm beginning to wonder
0:16:35 > 0:16:37why we haven't found it ourselves.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39But, yeah, really, really positive start to the day.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45- Well, this is absolutely glorious here.- Yep.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48- So this gone down very well, hasn't it?- Certainly has.
0:16:48 > 0:16:49- Let's go to the next place.- OK.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00It's hard to come to Devon
0:17:00 > 0:17:03and ignore one of its most famous traditions - the cream tea.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07A recent report claimed this delicacy contributes £85 million
0:17:07 > 0:17:10to the county economy.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13As Vicki has ideas about setting up a baking business,
0:17:13 > 0:17:15we're sending her and her mother, Rosemary,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18to Topsham to meet cream tea expert, Heather Nee,
0:17:18 > 0:17:20and find out how Devon's Tavistock Abbey
0:17:20 > 0:17:23is credited with the origin of this famous treat.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26How did the cream tea come about?
0:17:26 > 0:17:33Well, there's a story that says the monks devised this dish
0:17:33 > 0:17:37for the workers who were left to renovate the abbey
0:17:37 > 0:17:39after it had been raided by the Vikings.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41They wanted to look after the workers,
0:17:41 > 0:17:44so they served them the cream and jam on bread.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47The Cornish would probably like to say that they invented them
0:17:47 > 0:17:49but we in Devonshire can say that it started there.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54There is much debate over who invented the cream tea,
0:17:54 > 0:17:56but Devon has been running a campaign
0:17:56 > 0:17:59to get European protected status on its version.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02Both varieties, however, involve one essential ingredient -
0:18:02 > 0:18:04clotted cream.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08When I was a child, my mum would have gone out to each churn,
0:18:08 > 0:18:12we had churns in those days, and take a cup off the top of the milk.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14I haven't got a cow out the back
0:18:14 > 0:18:18so I've bought some double cream from a farm...
0:18:18 > 0:18:19Devonshire farm, of course.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22We're going to make it in here.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25Then we're going to put this in here. It's very thick.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29Then leave it to cook for two to three hours
0:18:29 > 0:18:32on a very, very slow heat. Mustn't let it boil.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35The cream is cooked over water in a bain-marie
0:18:35 > 0:18:37before being placed in a fridge overnight.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41- And how much actual clotted cream might you get?- We'll see.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46I've made one yesterday so I could show you.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49That's it. You see it's got lovely...
0:18:49 > 0:18:51It's got this lovely thick crust
0:18:51 > 0:18:54and then we'll have it on our scones afterwards.
0:18:54 > 0:18:59The scones are made from a base of flour, sugar, and butter.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01Whipped eggs and milk are then added
0:19:01 > 0:19:05and the mixture is rolled out and thick scones cut out.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Right, let's pop them in the oven.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Temperature 200, and I cook them for 12 minutes,
0:19:14 > 0:19:17turn them around, and put them in again for another 12 minutes.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23A recent scientific survey by Sheffield University
0:19:23 > 0:19:24claimed the ultimate cream tea
0:19:24 > 0:19:27would have exactly half its weight in scone,
0:19:27 > 0:19:30a quarter in cream, and a quarter in jam.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34But whether it's cream or jam first is what causes the most debate
0:19:34 > 0:19:36between Devon and Cornwall camps.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40- And there's your cream tea for you to enjoy.- Lovely. Thank you.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42So how do you make a Devonshire cream tea?
0:19:42 > 0:19:45In Devon we have a really big dollop of cream each.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47Wow.
0:19:47 > 0:19:52- Goodness. And this is the Devonshire way?- Yes.- Put the jam on top?
0:19:52 > 0:19:54Yep, jam on the top.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57- And then you enjoy.- Thank you.
0:19:59 > 0:20:00Mm!
0:20:01 > 0:20:03- Best scones... - It's delicious.- They are.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06So what's the difference with the Cornish version? How do we do that?
0:20:06 > 0:20:08You put jam on first and then the cream.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12I mean, I think the Devonshire way of doing things is the proper job.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15- I think we can vouch for that.- Yes.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18With the basics learnt, it's time to get back to the house hunt
0:20:18 > 0:20:20and find a place where Vicki and Rosemary
0:20:20 > 0:20:22can base their new Devonshire ventures.
0:20:28 > 0:20:29For our second poverty,
0:20:29 > 0:20:32we're off a little further inland to the village of Dunkeswell,
0:20:32 > 0:20:37located in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39Containing many classic thatch properties,
0:20:39 > 0:20:43it's a small picturesque village with an active local community.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46There was a notable abbey built in the 13th century,
0:20:46 > 0:20:48but following the dissolution of the monasteries
0:20:48 > 0:20:51it was demolished and a current parish church is built on the site.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56Up a country lane and overlooking the village is our second property.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00Now then, let's step back a bit.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05- We get the best view, I think, from this lawn.- Lovely.- Very impressive.
0:21:05 > 0:21:10- Yes, very nice again. - Yeah, good first impressions.- Yes.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12I like the stone, like the windows.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Lots of character.
0:21:14 > 0:21:15I think there is as much,
0:21:15 > 0:21:18if not perhaps more character in this house than the first house.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21- Yeah. - But it's a very different layout.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23A certainly different feel inside.
0:21:23 > 0:21:3017th century, but there's part of this building obviously a lot older.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33- So, want to go inside? - Yes, please!- Please.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38This renovated 17th-century farmhouse is grade II listed.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41Built from mellow local flintstone,
0:21:41 > 0:21:42it's full of character
0:21:42 > 0:21:45including a number of original beer stone mullioned windows.
0:21:46 > 0:21:51- Nice wide door. Look at this entrance room.- Wow.- Wowee.
0:21:52 > 0:21:57- Some entrance hall.- It certainly is. - So let's start in living room.- OK.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01- What do you think? - Nice cosy room.- Yeah.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03Just a little bit on the dark side.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06There's not a great deal of artificial light in this house
0:22:06 > 0:22:10- and I think that's one thing you might want to look into.- Yeah.- OK?
0:22:10 > 0:22:11This is an open fire?
0:22:11 > 0:22:14That is an open fire, but that is no ordinary open fire.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17That is from an abbey.
0:22:17 > 0:22:18Oh, right.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20When Dunkeswell Abbey was ruined,
0:22:20 > 0:22:24loads of the local farmers went up there and helped themselves.
0:22:24 > 0:22:29And what you see throughout this house are parts of the abbey
0:22:29 > 0:22:31brought back to life in this home.
0:22:31 > 0:22:32- Yeah.- Oh, right.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36- Nice bit of history to it. - Cosy room, I think.- Yeah, I like it.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39Yeah, you can imagine it with the fire on.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42Now, before we curl up with a book, there's some cooking to be done.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45- Right.- Let me show you one of the kitchens.- One of the kitchens?
0:22:49 > 0:22:52So, the kitchen.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55- Very much a farmhouse kitchen, isn't it?- Yes.
0:22:55 > 0:23:01- Not as big as the other one.- No. - No. Nice view, though.- Yeah.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04I think as a family kitchen it's not what we had imagined.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07It is a little bit on the small side.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09- Yeah, it's just the way it's laid out.- Yeah.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13Perhaps it just need to think about how we do live in it.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15Take a picture in your mind's eye of this,
0:23:15 > 0:23:17- and follow me into the dining room. - OK.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20So now when you see this...
0:23:21 > 0:23:25- Does it make you feel any differently about the kitchen?- Yes.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28- Yes.- It puts a different complexion on it completely.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30- And this is really... - Yeah, I love the fireplace.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Love the fireplace as well.
0:23:32 > 0:23:33I think it would be something
0:23:33 > 0:23:36that we'd sort of have to almost adapt to and learn to live in
0:23:36 > 0:23:39because it's so different to our houses at the moment.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41It's like a whole different style.
0:23:41 > 0:23:42Are we getting used to this house now?
0:23:42 > 0:23:44There's loads of bedrooms to look at,
0:23:44 > 0:23:46but I want to show you one particularly special one.
0:23:46 > 0:23:47- Follow me.- OK.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52Also on the ground floor, as well as a front reception room,
0:23:52 > 0:23:53there's a family room to the rear,
0:23:53 > 0:23:56a large utility room which could be converted
0:23:56 > 0:23:58into a professional baking kitchen for Vicki,
0:23:58 > 0:24:01and another space currently used as an office.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04Upstairs, we begin the tour of the six bedrooms.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11- What do you think of this? - Wow.- Yeah.
0:24:11 > 0:24:16- I take it this is the master suite. - It... Well, yes. Or is it?
0:24:16 > 0:24:19Cos there's a few...a few different options.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22Yes, and I like the light coming in.
0:24:22 > 0:24:27Now that is a glorious en suite with a lovely roll-top bath
0:24:27 > 0:24:29and separate basin, what have you.
0:24:29 > 0:24:34On this floor, you've got a lot of accommodation. You've got...
0:24:34 > 0:24:35a double en-suite bedroom there.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39You've got another double bedroom with a bathroom opposite.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Another double bedroom beyond that.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46Then beyond that, you've got a double bedroom,
0:24:46 > 0:24:48what could be a dressing room,
0:24:48 > 0:24:52and a bathroom to service just that master suite.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55- So there'd be no more fighting over the master suite then.- No.
0:24:55 > 0:24:56Yeah, there's plenty to share out
0:24:56 > 0:24:59and I don't think anybody's going to be getting a raw deal, are they?
0:24:59 > 0:25:02No. But through here is something quite special. OK.
0:25:07 > 0:25:12- So...- Wow, what a surprise! - Ah, the second kitchen.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Wow.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18- Most unexpected.- Isn't it?- Yeah, I wasn't expecting that at all.
0:25:18 > 0:25:23- This has been a self-catering holiday apartment.- Yes.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Yes, it's all pretty much already...it's ready to go.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28What do you think, Rosemary? Could you adapt to this house?
0:25:28 > 0:25:34I couldn't at first, but now I've seen more of it... Possibly, yes.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37- This one's a grower.- Yes.- Yes.- When the first one was a shower.- Yes.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41OK, let's go outside and talk about the land
0:25:41 > 0:25:43and talk about everything else that comes with it.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46- The whole package, if you'd like. OK, lead the way.- Thank you.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51The property is set in just under an acre which surrounds the house.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55There's a long garden and a parcel of land at the back.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58But there's also some business potential for Vicky.
0:25:58 > 0:26:03Those barns have previously had planning consent
0:26:03 > 0:26:08for two two-bedroom self-contained holiday cottages.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10Right, OK.
0:26:10 > 0:26:11That's interesting.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13You're going to have to refurbish them,
0:26:13 > 0:26:15but that's something to think about for the future.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18We haven't talked price yet. So let's discuss that.
0:26:18 > 0:26:22I think it's near the top end of our budget.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25- £875,000?- OK. Vicki?
0:26:25 > 0:26:27I was going to say £850,000.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31- The guide price for this is £775,000.- Oh.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34- Oh, that is a surprise. - It is a surprise.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36Well, this is the last thing we're looking at today
0:26:36 > 0:26:37so take as much time as you'd like
0:26:37 > 0:26:40- and I'll catch you whenever you're finished.- OK then.- Great. Thank you.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42Enjoy, ladies.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45For £135,000 under their top budget,
0:26:45 > 0:26:48this is a huge renovated 17th-century farmhouse
0:26:48 > 0:26:52with no fewer than six bedrooms, five reception rooms,
0:26:52 > 0:26:55and all full of period charm.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58There's the option to let out a self-contained apartment
0:26:58 > 0:27:00as well as convert barns into holiday properties.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04There's just under an acre of land which is what Rosemary asked for,
0:27:04 > 0:27:07but maybe not what brother Chris was hoping for.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11Wow, this is what you call a bathroom.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16I don't think I've actually ever seen a bathroom like this
0:27:16 > 0:27:18other than in a hotel brochure.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21Definitely the first impression of the house is amazing.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23It's a really pretty house.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25It's definitely a drive up and a wow house.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28I think I was just a little bit disappointed
0:27:28 > 0:27:30as we went into the lounge.
0:27:30 > 0:27:36As we went upstairs, everything improved, I think.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39You know, the sitting area, and the separate kitchen,
0:27:39 > 0:27:41and that lovely en suite.
0:27:41 > 0:27:42That was something else.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48- So, pretty good day then? - It has. It really has been.
0:27:48 > 0:27:49Yes, it's been a good day.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51Quite a bit of land at the back of this house, isn't there?
0:27:51 > 0:27:52Yeah, it's quite a lot to look at.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55- And hopefully got a bit to think about.- Certainly have.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58- Yep, definitely. - Those barns are something else.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00Good, I'm glad you like it. Let's go back.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10It's the second day of our house hunt
0:28:10 > 0:28:12with mother and daughter team, Rosemary and Vicki.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15They're swapping houses in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
0:28:15 > 0:28:18for one large family home in Devon
0:28:18 > 0:28:22with an extremely healthy maximum budget of £910,000.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25Coming up, might the search for the dream home be over?
0:28:25 > 0:28:27I can imagine myself living here.
0:28:27 > 0:28:32- Yes, I can see myself living here as well.- Brilliant. Good news.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35And I inspect one of the most extensive leaky roof repair jobs
0:28:35 > 0:28:37I've ever encountered.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42I think Vicki and Rosemary seemed generally surprised
0:28:42 > 0:28:44on the quality of houses we showed them yesterday.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47But I think that's because we centred on the home aspect
0:28:47 > 0:28:49of their property search.
0:28:49 > 0:28:51So, for today's mystery house, we're going to be showing them
0:28:51 > 0:28:53something with a bit of enterprise.
0:28:53 > 0:28:58Now, it's got a B&B element to it, some self-catering accommodation,
0:28:58 > 0:29:03but I keep hearing about Chris, Rosemary's son and Vicki's brother.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07He wants a rural business, maybe with a bit of land.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10He might like this cos it's essentially a working farm.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18For the mystery house, we're travelling further east
0:29:18 > 0:29:20to the village of Musbury,
0:29:20 > 0:29:23close to the Dorset border and just five minutes from the coast.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27A small village with just 500 residents,
0:29:27 > 0:29:30the centre is a designated conservation area.
0:29:30 > 0:29:32The River Axe runs through the west of the village
0:29:32 > 0:29:34and it lies in the East Devon Way,
0:29:34 > 0:29:37a 40 mile walking route through the Axe Valley.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40Located along this Valley in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
0:29:40 > 0:29:44and with views to die for is our mystery house.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50So, best spot to look at the house from I think is here
0:29:50 > 0:29:52for your first impressions.
0:29:52 > 0:29:56- Yep. It's a good first impression. - Very nice. Love the stone.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59- You've seen what's over there? - Yep.- It's a farm.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02Do you want to get back in the car and go home?
0:30:02 > 0:30:04- BOTH:- No!- Definitely not.- No.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06This is the mystery house.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09We have thought about the other members of your family here as well.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12Chris, your son, your brother, he's got an idea of land.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14- Yep.- How much do you think he wants?
0:30:14 > 0:30:17- I think he would quite like three acres.- OK.
0:30:17 > 0:30:21- He's got that. I'll say exactly how much he has got later on.- OK.- OK.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25First off, the building. What do you see?
0:30:25 > 0:30:29Pretty stone farmhouse. Looks quite large.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32- It's semidetached.- Yes.- Yes.- OK? - Right?- To get back...
0:30:32 > 0:30:35Look, you've got a bit quiet about that, haven't you?
0:30:35 > 0:30:36THEY LAUGH
0:30:36 > 0:30:39Well... Just, no, I'm reserving my judgment.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41I can't wait to get inside.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43It may be attached
0:30:43 > 0:30:46but this 18th-century farmhouse offers masses of living and
0:30:46 > 0:30:49sleeping accommodation, as well as a separate annexe for holiday lets.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54Let's start off with one of the many reception rooms
0:30:54 > 0:30:58- we have in this house.- Right.- It's very cosy.- Another nice fireplace.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01- Yes.- What do you think of this floor? These lovely flags?
0:31:01 > 0:31:04- I like it, actually.- I think Mum has different ideas over this.
0:31:04 > 0:31:09Halls, kitchens, utility rooms - I'm just not sure.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11I'm not sure about main lounges.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14The good thing about this house is that you could have
0:31:14 > 0:31:16one of the reception rooms with a carpet in,
0:31:16 > 0:31:20another reception room with stone, and you've still got a couple spare.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22There are two further living rooms,
0:31:22 > 0:31:26one of which is used as an office, and then the final downstairs
0:31:26 > 0:31:29reception room - currently a dining room.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31Wow!
0:31:31 > 0:31:34- It's super.- Yeah. - Lovely dining room.
0:31:34 > 0:31:38- That's what you call a dining room. - Yes.- So, four reception rooms.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43- Who gets what? Is that one for each member of the family?- It could be.
0:31:43 > 0:31:45Pretty much, isn't it?
0:31:45 > 0:31:48I can imagine myself living here more than I can the second house.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52I think I could probably make this more my style.
0:31:52 > 0:31:57- Yes, I could see myself living here as well.- Brilliant. Good news.
0:31:58 > 0:32:02The last room downstairs is the all-important kitchen.
0:32:02 > 0:32:07- A proper farmhouse kitchen for you to argue over.- Yes, definitely.
0:32:07 > 0:32:11- Definitely.- This is a real farmhouse kitchen, isn't it?- Yes.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14- I take it you could live with this? - BOTH: Yes. Definitely.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17There's still plenty of room for eating in here, isn't there?
0:32:17 > 0:32:22- Yes, it's a proper family kitchen, isn't it?- Yes, it's what we wanted.
0:32:22 > 0:32:24- This has gone down pretty well, hasn't it?- Yes.- Very nice.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27- So far so good. - Don't say it accusingly.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32Vicky might be unsure about the good news continuing upstairs,
0:32:32 > 0:32:35but I think she'll remain happy when she sees what's on offer.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37There are four good-sized bedrooms,
0:32:37 > 0:32:39one of which has an en-suite bathroom,
0:32:39 > 0:32:42and on top of that, there's still the main suite.
0:32:44 > 0:32:49- This is the master bedroom.- Right. - Wow, nice and light. Lovely views.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52- Views over your own land. - Of your own land!
0:32:52 > 0:32:55I just want to show you this room. It's amazing. Follow me.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59As en-suites go, you don't get much better than this.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02- Oh!- No, you don't.- Absolutely.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05- Interesting feature in the corner. - A sauna.
0:33:05 > 0:33:06THEY LAUGH
0:33:06 > 0:33:10- I've not seen one of these before in an en-suite.- No.
0:33:10 > 0:33:11Let's go back into the bedroom
0:33:11 > 0:33:14and have a quick chat about what we've got here.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17This is obviously the master suite.
0:33:17 > 0:33:21Then, at the far end, you've got self-catering accommodation.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23One up, one down.
0:33:23 > 0:33:29- And that can get anything up to £600 per week in the peak season.- Right.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31That's very attractive.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34So the house offers ready-to-go-income in the form
0:33:34 > 0:33:35of a self catering flat.
0:33:35 > 0:33:39But there is also huge potential outside as it is currently
0:33:39 > 0:33:43a working farm. And the land it comes with is considerable.
0:33:43 > 0:33:50- Chris, he reckoned he wanted some land.- Yes.- You've got over 37 acres.
0:33:50 > 0:33:51THEY LAUGH
0:33:51 > 0:33:54- OK.- I think our budget has been blown.- Yeah.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57We will come to that later. Obviously all these farm buildings
0:33:57 > 0:33:59go right up to the top of those trees.
0:33:59 > 0:34:03- Goodness!- Follow it round. See that copse of trees there?- Yes.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06Including that copse, just a bit beyond, straight down,
0:34:06 > 0:34:10follow that hedge line down, and just beyond there is a road.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12- That's the road we approached this farm on.- Right.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15- The few fields beyond and then back.- OK.
0:34:15 > 0:34:17Just a small parcel of land then.
0:34:17 > 0:34:21It's basically...it's a perfect smallholding.
0:34:21 > 0:34:23What do you think Chris would say if he saw all this?
0:34:23 > 0:34:26He'd be here tomorrow.
0:34:26 > 0:34:27How much do you think it is?
0:34:27 > 0:34:30It's certainly surpassed the budget, I think.
0:34:30 > 0:34:34- Yes. How mean have you been? - Go on, have a guess.
0:34:35 > 0:34:40- I'd go 950.- OK. - No, I'd go more than that.
0:34:40 > 0:34:44- 990. Even 995.- OK.
0:34:44 > 0:34:50Well, the asking price for this property is offers around £935,000.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53- OK. I like the word "offers."- Yeah.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56- I'm scared. - That doesn't surprise me.
0:34:56 > 0:34:58It's a proper mystery house
0:34:58 > 0:35:00when it gets people out of their comfort zone.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03It has given everything you've asked for and more.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06This is your opportunity to go and discover everything here.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08It's going to be a long few hours.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11- I will meet you whenever you're finished.- OK.- OK then.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15- We'll do a bit of exploring. - Thank you.- See you in a bit.
0:35:15 > 0:35:19It's over the £910,000 budget but open to offers.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22This 18th-century farmhouse has enough bedrooms
0:35:22 > 0:35:25and reception rooms to give everyone the space they need.
0:35:25 > 0:35:26There is a separate holiday annexe,
0:35:26 > 0:35:28ready to go for immediate bookings.
0:35:28 > 0:35:32And where this property really comes into its own is the 37 acres
0:35:32 > 0:35:36of farmland for Chris to fulfil his dreams of keeping livestock.
0:35:38 > 0:35:44Really nice. Loved the stone and the brickwork, everything about it.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46A real country house.
0:35:46 > 0:35:52The views and the land, they are beautiful. Really, really are.
0:35:52 > 0:35:58My husband and son, they would be here tomorrow for the land alone.
0:35:58 > 0:36:00The house is a really good size.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03Obviously there are a lot of us to fit in.
0:36:03 > 0:36:07I think downstairs probably feels like it works better than upstairs.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10I think upstairs needs a little bit of thinking about.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14Again, it had one amazing master suite, which I have my eye on.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17But there will be arguments over that.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20An absolutely wonderful mystery house.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24I don't think we could have asked for anything more.
0:36:25 > 0:36:29Ladies, I've just realised that I didn't mention the pool, did I?
0:36:29 > 0:36:31- BOTH: No.- But we discovered it.
0:36:31 > 0:36:33Why don't we find somewhere to have a bit of a discussion
0:36:33 > 0:36:35and then we'll chat through everything after that.
0:36:35 > 0:36:36- OK.- Let's go.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46On the edge of Dartmoor stands a building with illustrious claim
0:36:46 > 0:36:49to be the last castle to be built in England.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51Finished just 80 years ago,
0:36:51 > 0:36:54Castle Drogo was the brainchild of Julius Drewe -
0:36:54 > 0:36:58a retail tycoon who wanted to create an authentic looking castle.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01He commissioned great British architect Edwin Lutyens,
0:37:01 > 0:37:04most famous for his role in designing government buildings
0:37:04 > 0:37:07of New Delhi in India and the Cenotaph in London.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10Built entirely of granite, Castle Drogo has battlements,
0:37:10 > 0:37:13turrets and mullioned windows.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16But also flat roofs and no external guttering.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19Within a year of completion, it started to leak.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21Today an extensive repair job is under way
0:37:21 > 0:37:25and I'm meeting project manager, Tim Camborne, to find out more.
0:37:25 > 0:37:30So, Tim, this, on first inspection, looks like a castle. Is it?
0:37:30 > 0:37:32- It's built to look like a castle. - Yeah.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35- But it's actually a country house. - How old is it?
0:37:35 > 0:37:38It was started in 1911 and finished in 1930,
0:37:38 > 0:37:40cos it was interrupted by the First World War.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42What's all this building work going on then?
0:37:42 > 0:37:45The problem is, it leaks through the roof, the walls and windows.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48Some of it is just down to age and exposure,
0:37:48 > 0:37:49being right on the side of Dartmoor.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52The windows are particularly prone to the lashing
0:37:52 > 0:37:53they get from the weather.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56We are tackling all those elements. So the roof has been done.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58The windows have been taken out and refurbished.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01- And all the pointing gets replaced. - That's no small job.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03- Can we take a closer look? - Yeah, sure.- Lead the way.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07Gifted to the National Trust in 1974,
0:38:07 > 0:38:09the restoration of Castle Drogo
0:38:09 > 0:38:13is one of the largest projects the Trust has ever undertaken.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16With exposure to the brutal weather being the major concern,
0:38:16 > 0:38:19it's all being done under an enormous temporary shell.
0:38:20 > 0:38:21So even when you're here
0:38:21 > 0:38:26you start to appreciate the sheer scale of the job you've got.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30What sort of size are we looking at?
0:38:30 > 0:38:33The roof is approximately two football pitches.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36That doesn't sound that big but there is more to it than that,
0:38:36 > 0:38:38- isn't there?- It would be simple if it was just two
0:38:38 > 0:38:41flat football pitches. But there are 28 different roofs.
0:38:41 > 0:38:45Is this failure in the roof down to the people that built it
0:38:45 > 0:38:48or is there something else there?
0:38:48 > 0:38:52No. It was a misunderstanding with the material.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55It was early adoption of asphalt as a roofing material.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58The problem is, this site is so exposed.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01Back in February we were getting 80-mile-an-hour winds.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04If you have something like that and you had a tiled,
0:39:04 > 0:39:07lead-pitched roof or anything else, it would just peel it off.
0:39:07 > 0:39:12'With the roof stripped back, a new modern membrane will be laid.'
0:39:12 > 0:39:16- This stuff.- That's very different that there.- Very different.
0:39:16 > 0:39:17Very different.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20This is the top two layers and they get hot-bonded together.
0:39:20 > 0:39:22And it's not just the roof.
0:39:22 > 0:39:26The £11 million weatherproofing job, funded in part by lottery money
0:39:26 > 0:39:30and donations, includes mending the leaky windows and walls.
0:39:30 > 0:39:31Being a Grade I listed property,
0:39:31 > 0:39:34all the work must be carried out as sympathetically as possible.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37The windows were a major problem here as well
0:39:37 > 0:39:40due to the what, the location of this site?
0:39:40 > 0:39:42Pretty much, yeah. The exposure.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45The lead canes - the bits that hold the glass together -
0:39:45 > 0:39:49they started to break down. What we do is keep all the original glass.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51These are all the original planes from this window
0:39:51 > 0:39:53and if all gone back into the same location.
0:39:53 > 0:39:57- These are the first two, out of 913. - LAUGHING:- No!
0:39:57 > 0:40:00Something like 450 have been taken out so far.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03They're currently being prepared off-site and they'll come back.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05I can hear a loan power tool...
0:40:05 > 0:40:06THEY LAUGH
0:40:06 > 0:40:08I've done that job and it's a horrible job.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11Basically drilling a masonry bit into the mortar.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14How much mortar is going to need to be removed from here?
0:40:14 > 0:40:18- 64km of joints. - 64km of pointing.- Yep.
0:40:18 > 0:40:22- 911 remaining windows to be replaced.- Yep.
0:40:22 > 0:40:27And two football pitches of roofs. All to be done when?
0:40:27 > 0:40:30Hopefully to finish in the winter of 2016-2017, that's the plan.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33- I wish the best of luck to you. - Thank you very much.
0:40:33 > 0:40:34Really interesting.
0:40:41 > 0:40:45With Rosemary and Vicky liking aspects of all three houses,
0:40:45 > 0:40:49I've no idea which property, if any, is coming out on top at the moment.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51Let's meet up with them and find out.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01So, ladies, after a bit of a time, are you close to a decision?
0:41:01 > 0:41:03What's your current thought?
0:41:03 > 0:41:05I don't think we've quite come to a decision.
0:41:05 > 0:41:08I think, you know, there's definitely two houses
0:41:08 > 0:41:10that feel like they're in the running.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12- House number one.- Yep?
0:41:12 > 0:41:14- Definite possibility.- Mm-hmm.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17- And house number three. - The mystery house!- Yes.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19They are two very different houses, aren't they?
0:41:19 > 0:41:21House number one and the mystery house.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23House number one, it's the safe option.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26It's a bit of a project if you wanted to do something.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29House number three is a completely different proposition.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31What do you think your brother, Chris, would prefer?
0:41:31 > 0:41:34I think, for him, the clear winner would be the mystery house.
0:41:34 > 0:41:39It gives the land and the lifestyle I think he's actually really after.
0:41:39 > 0:41:44If we sold some of the land possibly on the mystery house then...
0:41:45 > 0:41:47I think we would probably all go for that one.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49Well, good. Let's hope it gets to the next stage.
0:41:49 > 0:41:50I wish you both the very best of luck.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52Whatever happens, please let us know.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54- We certainly will.- Thank you.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03It's not hard to see how a family of four adults
0:42:03 > 0:42:06have struggled to find the right house for them.
0:42:06 > 0:42:08Bearing in mind, well, each and every one of them
0:42:08 > 0:42:11wants something slightly different from the same property.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14I think we're at least halfway there with Rosemary
0:42:14 > 0:42:16and Vicky opting for house number one.
0:42:16 > 0:42:20The home itself seemed ideally suited for such a large family.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23But I also hope, whilst they're down here in Devon, they at least
0:42:23 > 0:42:27heed my advice and go for a second viewing at the mystery house.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30When the other members of the family see the up-and-running
0:42:30 > 0:42:33letting accommodations, along with all of that land,
0:42:33 > 0:42:36well, you never know, it may well just work its charms.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39I'm certainly looking forward to finding out.
0:42:39 > 0:42:40See you next time.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44Rosemary and Vicky went for second viewings on our first house
0:42:44 > 0:42:46and the mystery house but decided the land
0:42:46 > 0:42:49was not enough at the first and too much at the other.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53Their search for a perfect package to suit the whole family continues.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57If you'd like to escape to the country in Wales, Scotland,
0:42:57 > 0:43:00Northern Ireland or England, and would like our help,
0:43:00 > 0:43:02you can apply online at...