0:00:02 > 0:00:05This tiny hexagonal fort was part of a formidable defensive frontier
0:00:05 > 0:00:07that spanned over 50 miles
0:00:07 > 0:00:11and has been described as the Hadrian's Wall of the 20th century.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14But where is it, and what was it designed to defend?
0:00:14 > 0:00:16Find out in just a few moments.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37On today's show, it's a return to a rural setting
0:00:37 > 0:00:40for two recent retirees, and their pets.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44And our properties are full of surprises.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46- Ooh, very nice.- Oh, yes.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48Oh, wow.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50I say, it's huge!
0:00:50 > 0:00:53Wow, a four-poster, woo-hoo!
0:00:55 > 0:00:59Today, I'm in the West Country above Burton Bradstock beach in Dorset.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02And you might recognise this brick and concrete construction
0:01:02 > 0:01:06behind me as a World War II fortification known as a pill box.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09But this is one of literally thousands built
0:01:09 > 0:01:14hastily across the south of Britain between 1940 and 1941 as part
0:01:14 > 0:01:17of the largest military construction programme in our history.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21Now, today, though, these wartime relics, like the one behind me,
0:01:21 > 0:01:24can be found peppered across the countryside
0:01:24 > 0:01:26in various states of decay.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29But they also serve as a poignant monument to a time
0:01:29 > 0:01:34when Britain's freedom, and indeed her existence, was under threat,
0:01:34 > 0:01:38and her long and enduring battle for survival and eventual victory
0:01:38 > 0:01:40was only just beginning.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46Dorset sits on the south-west coast of England
0:01:46 > 0:01:49and is bordered by four counties, including Wiltshire to the north
0:01:49 > 0:01:51with Somerset and Devon to the west.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56To the south, the distinctive 95-mile coastline borders
0:01:56 > 0:02:00the English Channel, and is made up of long sand and pebble beaches,
0:02:00 > 0:02:02white cliffs to rival those at Dover
0:02:02 > 0:02:05and rocky outcrops such as Durdle Door.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07But it's not just the magnificent shoreline
0:02:07 > 0:02:09that this county is known for.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13Inland, the coastal landscape gives way to picture-postcard vistas
0:02:13 > 0:02:16of rural England at its best, with narrow country lanes,
0:02:16 > 0:02:20high hedgerows and pretty villages lined with thatched properties
0:02:20 > 0:02:22like at Evershot.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Heading towards the northern border with Somerset,
0:02:24 > 0:02:28the scenic beauty of Blackmore Vale was the setting for
0:02:28 > 0:02:31the opening passages of Thomas Hardy's Tess Of The D'Urbervilles.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34With atmospheric villages and beautiful landscapes,
0:02:34 > 0:02:36the Dorset/Somerset border
0:02:36 > 0:02:39offers those seeking a rural home the complete package.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46But, of course, all this history and beauty comes at a cost,
0:02:46 > 0:02:50especially in Dorset, where the average price of a detached house
0:02:50 > 0:02:53comes in at around £321,000,
0:02:53 > 0:02:57which is around £55,000 above the national average.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00But it's worth remembering, included within this figure
0:03:00 > 0:03:04is the hugely expensive area of Sandbanks near Poole,
0:03:04 > 0:03:07where price tags regularly hit well into their millions.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10So, if you want your budget to stretch further,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13you're better off heading inland and towards the north of the county,
0:03:13 > 0:03:16especially over the border into Somerset.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19But what part of this beautiful south-western countryside
0:03:19 > 0:03:22are today's buyers looking to find a house?
0:03:22 > 0:03:24Let's meet them and find out.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29It's a back-to-the-country venture for today's home-hunters
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Philip and Diana, who live in the town of Hook in Hampshire.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34They've been married for over 40 years and met
0:03:34 > 0:03:36when they were just 16 years old.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39I was going out with Diana's best friend,
0:03:39 > 0:03:40used to go out to the cinema,
0:03:40 > 0:03:43and Diana used to come along and chaperone.
0:03:43 > 0:03:44He would chase me.
0:03:44 > 0:03:45THEY CHUCKLE
0:03:45 > 0:03:48He used to meet me off the school bus.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Philip recently retired as a resources administrator
0:03:53 > 0:03:55and Diana as a primary school teacher.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58They've lived in their current four-bedroomed property since 1987
0:03:58 > 0:04:02but over the years they've noticed a change in the neighbourhood.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04It is a busy place now.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07Like everywhere else, there's going to be a lot of development,
0:04:07 > 0:04:10you know, over about 600 houses they're planning.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13We are now both 63, both retired,
0:04:13 > 0:04:17and we thought that, whilst we've got the motivation,
0:04:17 > 0:04:21it was time to think about moving.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24And with their two grown-up children now having families of their own,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27they feel the time's right to move back to a part of the country they
0:04:27 > 0:04:31both know well, having lived in the West Country when they were younger.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34I mean, there are far more fields than we ever see here,
0:04:34 > 0:04:38and the roads are not so busy and the towns are not so busy.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41- Rolling hills. - And no traffic!
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Joining Philip and Diana on the move will be their pets -
0:04:45 > 0:04:48Archie, an 11-year-old Scottish terrier,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51and Philip's parakeet, Percy.
0:04:51 > 0:04:56He thinks I'm his dad, because I fed him, literally, by hand,
0:04:56 > 0:04:59and he sits on my shoulder, and chatters away.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Quite a companion and he's, you know...
0:05:02 > 0:05:06- Noisy.- Fills the... the noise of the house.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08Having been married for four decades,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Philip and Diana share many interests.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13We go to church together.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15We go away in our motorhome together.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17We go away in our motorhome together,
0:05:17 > 0:05:18which is a great pleasure to us.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21We both like gardening.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Unfortunately, this garden has got too small for us,
0:05:24 > 0:05:27we'd really enjoy having a bigger garden.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30- And my wife likes to come fishing with me.- Yes.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32With a book.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34THEY CHUCKLE
0:05:35 > 0:05:37And when he's finished reeling them in,
0:05:37 > 0:05:40Philip will be hitting the roads in his two classic cars,
0:05:40 > 0:05:44one of which is this 1934 Austin 7 Special.
0:05:44 > 0:05:49I have another car, which is a Wolsely 1500, 1958.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52He is affectionately known as Wally,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55whereas the other car is known as Willy.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59So, with Willy, Wally, Archie and Percy all in tow,
0:05:59 > 0:06:02Philip and Diana are looking forward to their new life in the country,
0:06:02 > 0:06:06but they're under no illusions that it's a big step.
0:06:06 > 0:06:11One of my concerns would be possibly losing contact with people
0:06:11 > 0:06:14that we have regular contact with,
0:06:14 > 0:06:18but, apart from that, I think if we go into it open-minded,
0:06:18 > 0:06:24and flexible, then I think, you know, we should make a go of it.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Philip and Diana aren't set on a particular county
0:06:31 > 0:06:34but generally prefer the countryside inland,
0:06:34 > 0:06:35along the Dorset/Somerset border,
0:06:35 > 0:06:38so we're concentrating our search there.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40I'm meeting up with them in north-east Dorset
0:06:40 > 0:06:43to talk over their property wish list.
0:06:43 > 0:06:44So, here we are
0:06:44 > 0:06:50surrounded by beautiful Somerset/Dorset countryside.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52Now, why have you chosen this particular corner?
0:06:52 > 0:06:54We've lived in this part of the world.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57- You've worked here when you lived here before?- Yes, yes.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59Completely different kettle of fish now you've retired,
0:06:59 > 0:07:01- how are you enjoying that? - Oh, we're loving it.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Absolutely loving it, yes.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05Well, you're in beautiful countryside now,
0:07:05 > 0:07:09cattle just beyond us, is that your dream?
0:07:09 > 0:07:11We obviously want a village close by,
0:07:11 > 0:07:13within walking distance if possible.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17- OK.- So we can go off to walk and get his paper in the morning and, er...
0:07:17 > 0:07:18Get his paper?!
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Yeah, yeah, well, that's what it's all about when you retire.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23- And the community.- Yeah.
0:07:23 > 0:07:24Let's talk about the house.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27- Your classic car, that needs a home first of all.- Yes.
0:07:27 > 0:07:28You need a garage.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30- Couple of garages really. - Couple of garages, right, OK.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32You like gardening, I know that.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Yeah, you know, we really like a bigger plot.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37You've got grandchildren. How many? Is it five?
0:07:37 > 0:07:39Five, we've got grandchildren, yeah.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41So they'll be coming to stay.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43How many bedrooms do we need?
0:07:43 > 0:07:46Well, we say three, we don't want more than three.
0:07:46 > 0:07:51The house is really secondary to the garden, and a view, please,
0:07:51 > 0:07:53we'd love a view.
0:07:53 > 0:07:54- All right. - And a conservatory.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58- And a conservatory, to take in that wonderful view.- Yes.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01So let's talk about budget, what's the final budget here?
0:08:01 > 0:08:05Top whack, 460,000.
0:08:05 > 0:08:06Well, I know what we're looking for.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10It may not all come in one package,
0:08:10 > 0:08:12- that's the compromise sometimes. - OK.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14We've got three fantastic properties lined up.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16Let's start with the first, this way.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19- Excellent, let's go. - Lovely, thank you.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22For a budget of £460,000,
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Philip and Diana's perfect property needs to offer what
0:08:25 > 0:08:29they have in their current home, but in a countryside setting.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32They'd like at least three bedrooms, ideally a conservatory,
0:08:32 > 0:08:34a large garden with good views,
0:08:34 > 0:08:38and a couple of garages for Philip's classic cars.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43We've lined up three excellent rural properties for our buyers to view,
0:08:43 > 0:08:45selected with their wish-list in mind.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49I'll be asking them to put a price on each at the end of the tour.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52Our mystery house gives them another option entirely,
0:08:52 > 0:08:55but it's one they'll need to put their own stamp on.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02So, Diana, I understand you're really into community,
0:09:02 > 0:09:05and you live amongst neighbours now anyway, don't you?
0:09:05 > 0:09:06I do.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08What sort of things do you hope to get involved in
0:09:08 > 0:09:10down here in the countryside?
0:09:10 > 0:09:12Well, whatever's going on.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14At the moment, I help with a toddler group
0:09:14 > 0:09:20and I do a class, Pilates class, and we go to the local church.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24- You're people people, aren't you? - We are people people.
0:09:24 > 0:09:25I taught young children
0:09:25 > 0:09:28so I like being involved with anything to do with children.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30- You just can't give it up, can you? - No.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37Our first property is in Winterborne Stickland,
0:09:37 > 0:09:40in the north-east of Dorset.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42A village of around 600 people,
0:09:42 > 0:09:46it grew up around the church, which was built in the 13th century.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49There are several pretty cob and thatch cottages
0:09:49 > 0:09:51lining the main street, including an inn.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53There's also a village post office.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55Stickland remains a working village,
0:09:55 > 0:09:58with farming the main industry in the surrounding hills.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Our first house is found on the edge of the village
0:10:01 > 0:10:02a mile from the thatched pub.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08OK, so our first foray into the local property market
0:10:08 > 0:10:11- starts right here. - Wow.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14- Wow is a word I love to hear. - Yeah, it's quite big.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16But don't worry, I know what's going through your head,
0:10:16 > 0:10:18you don't have to heat it all. What we...
0:10:18 > 0:10:19THEY LAUGH
0:10:19 > 0:10:22- What we're looking at, see the downpipe, the black downpipe?- Yep.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25And see this protruding, well, sort of like gable if you like? OK.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27- Up to that.- Mmm-hmm.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29- Well, it's different, isn't it? Very different.- It is.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32- Yes, well, you're looking for a different life, aren't you? - Yeah, we are.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34- First impressions? - Yeah.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37- Intrigued, definitely intrigued, yes.- Yes, very interesting.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40- I need to address the car issue. - OK, yep.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43- You've got a double garage. - Oh, wow.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46- Hey, excellent. - Yeah, it's a good size.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48- So, armed with that knowledge... - Yep.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51..let's go inside and see where you'll live, not your cars.
0:10:51 > 0:10:52Follow me.
0:10:53 > 0:10:58Part of a private development of six dwellings built on an old farmstead,
0:10:58 > 0:11:01our first property is only 16 years old, but is constructed using
0:11:01 > 0:11:06reclaimed materials including the brick and flint for the walls.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09Righty ho, so downstairs we've got...
0:11:09 > 0:11:12water closet as soon as you walk in.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Now, tell me what you think of this room.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16Is it what you were expecting?
0:11:16 > 0:11:19- Oh, that's quite cosy, isn't it? - Wow, very cosy.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Log burner, I like it, I like it.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25How does this compare to the place you've got at home?
0:11:25 > 0:11:26It's very different.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28Yeah, I thought it would be.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Well, we've got a conservatory on the end of our living room there.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Well, you don't have that conservatory here,
0:11:33 > 0:11:35you could easily put one on,
0:11:35 > 0:11:37but you do get that sort of sun terrace area there, as you can see.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39- OK.- Very nice.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41Just big enough, we don't want anything bigger than this.
0:11:41 > 0:11:42Yep, nothing huge.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45All right, now, we could have gone straight into the kitchen
0:11:45 > 0:11:47- when we went through that door there.- Oh, right, yes.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49But I think it's quite a nice flow to do it this way.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52So, let me just show you the other side of it.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Right then. So, a dining kitchen.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03- Ooh, very nice.- Whoa, yes, excellent, that's fantastic.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06- Yeah, just about the right size. - Yeah.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08Now, who does the cooking? Is it shared?
0:12:08 > 0:12:12- He likes cooking. - Good, good to hear.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14But so far, I mean, these are pretty good reactions.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17I think one of the reasons why the kitchen seems of a decent size,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20- you get a good utility just through there.- Oh, right. Oh, OK.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23OK, well, you can see the flow to this house now, can't you?
0:12:23 > 0:12:27Let me just squeeze past you here, we'll go upstairs to the bedrooms.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29Philip and Diana asked for three bedrooms,
0:12:29 > 0:12:34and they get potentially five with this house, spread over two floors.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36The top floor features a study/bedroom area
0:12:36 > 0:12:40and a further double bedroom behind that with an en-suite bathroom,
0:12:40 > 0:12:42somewhere for the grandchildren to play and sleep.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45The first floor is home to three bedrooms,
0:12:45 > 0:12:50including two smaller rooms as well as a fully tiled family bathroom.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52This is very much the master.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55- Come right in actually, Philip, to see what you've got.- It's huge.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57It's not as light as I'd hoped for,
0:12:57 > 0:12:59it is quite dark, even these windows here.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01But then again, if you changed the decor...
0:13:01 > 0:13:06- Hmm, I suppose it's, you know, the style of the barn, isn't it?- Yes.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09Again, it's en suite.
0:13:09 > 0:13:10Let me show you the garden
0:13:10 > 0:13:13and then I'll let you run around the whole place on your own.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16- OK.- Is that all right? - Yep, lovely.- OK, follow me.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19In addition to the double garage,
0:13:19 > 0:13:22the outside space includes a large private rear garden
0:13:22 > 0:13:24which is mainly lawn and terraced,
0:13:24 > 0:13:27with steps leading up to a decked vantage point.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32Now, for climbing up the terrace, you're rewarded with this view.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35Oh, wow, I can cope with that.
0:13:35 > 0:13:36Yeah, very nice.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40Now, behind you, beyond the chickens,
0:13:40 > 0:13:42- you've got a footpath... - Oh, right.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46- ..with fantastic views so your dog Archie's well catered for.- Yep.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50So, how much do you think this house is on the market for?
0:13:50 > 0:13:55Well, lovely village, nice little community, lovely views.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57- About 450, I think. - 450?- Mm-hm.
0:13:59 > 0:14:04I'm going to go a little bit more, I think. More 455.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07This place has just come on the market with another agent,
0:14:07 > 0:14:12and they've reduced it down to £465,000.
0:14:12 > 0:14:13OK.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16- No big surprise? - No.- No.- No.- No.- You can see why.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18I think you should go back into the house.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22- OK.- Have a think about how you would use that extra space,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25and I'll see you whenever you're done, but I might just take in
0:14:25 > 0:14:27this view for a couple of minutes. Is that all right?
0:14:27 > 0:14:30- OK, sounds excellent.- Lovely. OK, thanks.- OK, see you in a bit.
0:14:30 > 0:14:31Mind your step on the way down
0:14:31 > 0:14:33- and I'll catch you later. - Yeah, thank you.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35£5,000 over budget,
0:14:35 > 0:14:38our first property gives Philip and Diana
0:14:38 > 0:14:41pretty much everything they asked for and more.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44The barn style design offers up five bedrooms -
0:14:44 > 0:14:46two more than they needed but somewhere for the grandkids
0:14:46 > 0:14:48to stay and play when they come and visit -
0:14:48 > 0:14:54a double garage for Philip's classic cars and a large garden with views.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57I love the community sort of aspect of it,
0:14:57 > 0:14:59and the sort of farmyard atmosphere, you know?
0:14:59 > 0:15:02They obviously were farm buildings before,
0:15:02 > 0:15:05I love that. I love the living room.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08There's probably quite a few more rooms than we expected,
0:15:08 > 0:15:14certainly interesting. I'm beginning to warm to it, definitely.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17So, have you figured out what to do with all that space?
0:15:17 > 0:15:20- Yes, I think so. We'll certainly talk about it.- We'll spread out.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Spread out? Yeah, quite, maybe buy some more furniture.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26- Well, that's the first one done. - OK, that would be good.
0:15:26 > 0:15:27- On to the next.- Excellent.- Lovely.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40Dorset's heritage coast attracts millions of visitors a year,
0:15:40 > 0:15:42who are drawn to natural gems including the limestone arch
0:15:42 > 0:15:46of Durdle Door and the sheltered cove at Lulworth.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49Perched on a cliff top overlooking Poole harbour,
0:15:49 > 0:15:52it's the county's flora that's pulling in the crowds.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54The gardens of Compton Acres
0:15:54 > 0:15:57are visited by some 60,000 people a year.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59Covering ten acres of Dorset countryside,
0:15:59 > 0:16:02it features seven distinct garden styles,
0:16:02 > 0:16:06including a unique Japanese garden built in the 1920s.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08Since our couple are passionate about horticulture,
0:16:08 > 0:16:10we've brought them to Compton Acres
0:16:10 > 0:16:13to discover its history and see what it would take
0:16:13 > 0:16:15to develop and maintain a garden in this part of the world.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19They're meeting the gardens' curator, Gerry Clarke.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24So Gerry, how did these wonderful gardens come about?
0:16:24 > 0:16:26Well, the gardens were first established back in 1914.
0:16:26 > 0:16:31Thomas Simpson, who was a local businessman, bought the property
0:16:31 > 0:16:34as his seaside residence, and decided to create gardens
0:16:34 > 0:16:35which reflected his interest
0:16:35 > 0:16:38in horticulture and his worldwide travels.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41So, did Simpson construct and design it himself?
0:16:41 > 0:16:44Well, he employed a gardener called Middleton,
0:16:44 > 0:16:48who was a very accomplished gardener in his own right,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51and together they set about designing the gardens.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54He employed a number of workmen with the skills necessary to
0:16:54 > 0:16:58develop the gardens, and designed a Japanese garden, which is
0:16:58 > 0:17:02probably one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08The different themed sub-gardens include a formal Italian garden,
0:17:08 > 0:17:12complete with Roman villa, and an all-year-round heather garden.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15But it's the 1920s Japanese garden
0:17:15 > 0:17:17which Compton Acres is probably most famous for.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23So, did Simpson use a Japanese gardener?
0:17:23 > 0:17:26Well, no, he actually employed a Japanese architect
0:17:26 > 0:17:30and together with Middleton, who was the chief gardener here,
0:17:30 > 0:17:33they landscaped this whole area and built these fine
0:17:33 > 0:17:36Japanese structures. And they were authentic structures.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39You'll see many examples of the statuary
0:17:39 > 0:17:41that was imported from Japan.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44And over here, you get the stepping stones
0:17:44 > 0:17:47which link to the other side of the garden here.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50So back in the '20s, how much did it all cost?
0:17:50 > 0:17:52Well, they spent over £200,000,
0:17:52 > 0:17:55which in today's money is about £10 million.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58- Wow.- It was a huge investment in a private garden.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01Their budget might be smaller, but Philip and Diana
0:18:01 > 0:18:03are keen to develop their own garden,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06so they're meeting Compton Acres' gardener, Ian Smith,
0:18:06 > 0:18:10to find out about which plants thrive here in Dorset.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13You've been inspired by the Japanese garden?
0:18:13 > 0:18:14Definitely, definitely.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Because this is all the Japanese type things we have -
0:18:17 > 0:18:21acers, pyrus, um, we've got rhododendrons, azaleas.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25- OK.- And also over here, we've got
0:18:25 > 0:18:29something a bit more unusual which you might have seen in the gardens.
0:18:29 > 0:18:30Oh, wow.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34It's called a grevillea - "Canberra Gem". And basically that flowers
0:18:34 > 0:18:38from January right up till, like, into the Autumn months.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41And again, something like the mugo pine.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43Mm, that's unusual, isn't it?
0:18:43 > 0:18:44Again, in a pot, that would look
0:18:44 > 0:18:47- just stunning in a pot...- Yes, lovely.- That's gorgeous.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50So, if we had one of these, how easy is it to look after?
0:18:50 > 0:18:53Well, they're quite easy. I think most people that buy this,
0:18:53 > 0:18:55even though they can grow it in the ground here,
0:18:55 > 0:18:57they would normally put this into a pot.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59You'd just water it obviously so it doesn't dry out.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03But maintenance-wise there's hardly anything to do,
0:19:03 > 0:19:06because the climate here is just perfect, you know,
0:19:06 > 0:19:10even if we have a wet season. A lot of plants seem to die because
0:19:10 > 0:19:13of conditions of cold and wet, whereas here, because the soil is
0:19:13 > 0:19:15so sandy as well, it drains freely
0:19:15 > 0:19:19so, you know, the plants survive even the cold
0:19:19 > 0:19:23because they're not in the wet as well. So it's lovely, yes.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28Armed with tips on how to create their own Japanese garden,
0:19:28 > 0:19:31our green-fingered couple just need to find their own
0:19:31 > 0:19:34West Country plot, so it's back to the hunt to find them a home.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44For our second option, we're hopping over the border into Somerset
0:19:44 > 0:19:46and heading to the village of Compton Pauncefoot.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49The closest amenities are spread across the neighbouring villages
0:19:49 > 0:19:52of North and South Cadbury, a three-minute drive away,
0:19:52 > 0:19:57and include a shop for Philip to buy his paper, and a pub.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59House two is in the smaller village of Compton Pauncefoot.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03A community of just 70 inhabitants, the centre point is
0:20:03 > 0:20:07the 15th-century parish church, built from local golden hamstone.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10Our next offering is almost opposite -
0:20:10 > 0:20:13part of a development of six properties
0:20:13 > 0:20:15created from former agricultural buildings.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19As the last development went down quite well, having a few
0:20:19 > 0:20:23neighbours around, we thought we'd stick with that theme for this.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26- Right.- And, yeah, it's another barn conversion.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28- Oh.- Wow.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30What do you think of where we are now?
0:20:30 > 0:20:33- Well, it's... - Excellent. Excellent location.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36- It's lovely, yeah.- Quiet? - Yeah.- Quiet, yeah
0:20:36 > 0:20:37What do you think of how it looks?
0:20:37 > 0:20:41From here, fantastic, exceptional.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43- Yeah, really good, really good. - OK.- Yeah, yeah.- All right.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45- Can't wait to go in.- Let's do that.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51Converted in the late-'90s, our second property is an old granary
0:20:51 > 0:20:54and like the village church is also built from hamstone,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57which is a feature of this part of southern Somerset.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01The interior pays homage to the original fabric of the building,
0:21:01 > 0:21:03revealing exposed timbers and vaulted ceilings.
0:21:05 > 0:21:10Righty-ho, first impressions, Diana.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12Ooh, quite small.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15Not too high.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17Very light, though.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20- Yeah, it is light, but how big's that window.- Room to...- Yeah.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23- Room to have breakfast?- Yeah.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25Can I make a suggestion?
0:21:25 > 0:21:26- Get rid of that. - Get rid of that,
0:21:26 > 0:21:28you've got more than enough reception room.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30- All right, OK, OK.- All right. - Space later on.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34First of all you can see you've got this raised level here.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37I think that would make a much better dining area, breakfast area.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41Then this is just a kitchen, with a massive gas range.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Lovely.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46- Just next door you've got a utility.- OK.
0:21:46 > 0:21:51And just here you can see this is made for a breakfast room or...
0:21:51 > 0:21:54- casual dining. - Yeah, so light, it's fantastic.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58But then you've got a huge room just here.
0:21:58 > 0:21:59- Oh!- Follow me.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05Amazing room.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Wow, I say, it's huge.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12It's not too big, but it is big, and very light.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14- ..how much light they let in.- Yeah.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17- Oh, you could get a lovely table there.- Gosh, and the beams.
0:22:17 > 0:22:18Now, I know you like to have a fire -
0:22:18 > 0:22:21you've got a lovely stove there, haven't you? Wood burner.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23- It's a wood burner?- Yeah.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25So is this their main living room?
0:22:25 > 0:22:26Yeah, this is...
0:22:26 > 0:22:29It's not an upside-down house completely,
0:22:29 > 0:22:32but, yeah, this is the only first floor we've got.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34The bedrooms are downstairs.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36- Oh, right, interesting.- OK.
0:22:36 > 0:22:37You've got that lovely area there -
0:22:37 > 0:22:39what would you do with that?
0:22:39 > 0:22:43- Oh, I think that's a cosy little area there.- Chaise longue, maybe.
0:22:43 > 0:22:44Oh, chaise longue!
0:22:44 > 0:22:46Just being fed grapes by Diana?
0:22:49 > 0:22:53I think, you know, the space up here lends itself
0:22:53 > 0:22:55- to a nice table, doesn't it?- Yep.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59See, it's opening our minds to the possibilities.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02With the dining arrangements covered,
0:23:02 > 0:23:05we're turning our attention to the sleeping quarters.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08This property has three double bedrooms,
0:23:08 > 0:23:11two with full-height windows leading onto an outside terrace.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16There's also a large, fully tiled family bathroom
0:23:16 > 0:23:17with freestanding bath.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21But then, the master - much bigger again.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24- Oh!- Wow, a four-poster! Whoo-hoo!
0:23:25 > 0:23:28- I say!- Yes, it's a good size, a very good size.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31- And a whopper of an en-suite next door as well.- Oh.- OK.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34- Very nice.- Nice and light.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37Look, I mean, this is so far so good.
0:23:37 > 0:23:38What's going through your mind at the moment?
0:23:38 > 0:23:41Obviously, we're over the border in Somerset.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43- Yep.- But you said you'd look at this whole area, didn't you?
0:23:43 > 0:23:44Yep, we did, we did.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48I'm thinking what's the garden like? That's what I'm thinking,
0:23:48 > 0:23:50cos that could swing...
0:23:50 > 0:23:52Yes, well, I tell you what, it could do, actually,
0:23:52 > 0:23:54that could be the compromise.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56Let's make our way out there,
0:23:56 > 0:23:59- and on the way start thinking about price.- OK.
0:24:01 > 0:24:02In addition to the paved terrace,
0:24:02 > 0:24:06there's a secluded L-shaped lawn area bordered by a small stream.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10And Philip has a garage for his classic cars, as well as a workshop.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15Now, the garden, sunny it might be,
0:24:15 > 0:24:18- huge it is not.- This is it, is it?
0:24:18 > 0:24:19- This is it.- Yeah.
0:24:19 > 0:24:20Big compromise.
0:24:20 > 0:24:25- Your boundary is that lovely little babbling stream there.- Right.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28- And then, well, it just goes round the corner, really.- OK.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32Yeah, no vegetable plot.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34Yeah, that's the compromise.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37Mmm, cos the view was really the important thing as well.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41- The other important factor, wasn't it?- You do get a view.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44- Right.- It's just there. - Oh, yes.- Oh, OK.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47- I didn't see that. - Tiptoes, you can see it.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50So how much do you think this place is on the market for, then?
0:24:52 > 0:24:57Um, I'm going to go for £425,000.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02And I think a little bit more, probably 430.
0:25:02 > 0:25:03Philip, you're spot on.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06- It's on the market for £425,000.- OK.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11- Mmm-hmm.- You're not impressed now.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13I mean, it was going so well, wasn't it?
0:25:13 > 0:25:14Yes.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18Yeah, I just think the garden completely killed it for us, really.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20- Go back inside, have a good look around...- Yep.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23..and I will see you whenever you're finished, OK?
0:25:23 > 0:25:25OK, brilliant, thank you.
0:25:27 > 0:25:32Well, it was going so well - it's in such a lovely environment,
0:25:32 > 0:25:35but by the sounds of it the garden is a must.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37So we'll go from there.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42Below budget by £35,000, our second property,
0:25:42 > 0:25:43a charming barn conversion,
0:25:43 > 0:25:47gives Philip and Diana light and spacious living areas,
0:25:47 > 0:25:51the three bedrooms they asked for and a garage for the cars.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54But it seems the garden, despite being pretty and secluded,
0:25:54 > 0:25:56isn't quite large enough for our buyers.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58When I first saw property two,
0:25:58 > 0:26:03I thought, "Wow, what a beautiful position, lovely rural area,
0:26:03 > 0:26:06"and lovely sandstone colour." It looked lovely.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09Well, it's just the disappointing size of the garden.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13We just can't compromise on that, really.
0:26:13 > 0:26:14It was tastefully done,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17and, you know, everything flowed in the house.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19Property number two wasn't a property
0:26:19 > 0:26:21that we would have thought of looking at.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24It didn't tick all the boxes, it ticked quite a lot of the boxes,
0:26:24 > 0:26:28but the main box it didn't tick was the size of the garden.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32- All finished?- Yes, thank you.- Yes.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35It's such a shame this garden isn't big enough,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37- cos it is lovely, isn't it? - Lovely outlook.- Lovely spot.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40But I still think we've got one property
0:26:40 > 0:26:42that you're considering, hopefully,
0:26:42 > 0:26:45so let's head back now and then tomorrow the mystery house.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47- Lovely, thank you. - Look forward to that, excellent.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59'It's the second day of our property search
0:26:59 > 0:27:01'here in the Dorset/Somerset borders
0:27:01 > 0:27:04'and, on a budget of £460,000,
0:27:04 > 0:27:07'we're helping retirees Philip and Diana from Hook in Hampshire
0:27:07 > 0:27:10'find a rural home in the West Country.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13'Coming up, it's back to the drawing board with the mystery house.'
0:27:13 > 0:27:16- Yeah.- All these things that were so important to you,
0:27:16 > 0:27:19then suddenly you've forgotten about them.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22'And I discover a new way to keep the vampires at bay.'
0:27:22 > 0:27:25- You call it black garlic? - That's right.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27Wow, it's jet black, isn't it?
0:27:29 > 0:27:32Whilst property number one went down pretty well yesterday,
0:27:32 > 0:27:36I'm not convinced we've shown Philip and Diana a house
0:27:36 > 0:27:39with a big enough garden to make them want to move down here.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41Now, I do remember them both telling me
0:27:41 > 0:27:43that if they could pick up the modern house that they live in
0:27:43 > 0:27:46and move it down here, they'd be more than happy,
0:27:46 > 0:27:49and I think the mystery property fits into that category,
0:27:49 > 0:27:51but, of course, being the mystery,
0:27:51 > 0:27:53it comes with a couple of compromises.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55First of all, Philip,
0:27:55 > 0:27:58well, he'll have to go two or three miles by bicycle every morning
0:27:58 > 0:28:00to collect his morning paper.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Diana, well, she doesn't yet get a conservatory,
0:28:03 > 0:28:05and they'll both need an imagination
0:28:05 > 0:28:08when walking around the internals of the property.
0:28:08 > 0:28:12But if they're prepared to overlook these...foibles, let's say,
0:28:12 > 0:28:13then they'll get their garden,
0:28:13 > 0:28:17enough outside space for a very active retirement.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19Let's see how we go.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27We're staying in Somerset for our third and final property,
0:28:27 > 0:28:29which is in the village of North Barrow.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34The small country town of Castle Cary, three miles away,
0:28:34 > 0:28:37is the main hub for a large part of southern Somerset,
0:28:37 > 0:28:39with a wide range of shops and cafes.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43The historic centre features a market hall,
0:28:43 > 0:28:45which is now a museum and a hotel,
0:28:45 > 0:28:48which is one of the oldest buildings in the town,
0:28:48 > 0:28:51partially built using stone from a nearby Norman castle
0:28:51 > 0:28:54which was demolished in the 12th century.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57Our mystery property is a ten-minute drive away,
0:28:57 > 0:28:58located in a quiet setting.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00It certainly has the land.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02The house itself is a bit of a blank canvas,
0:29:02 > 0:29:06but gives Philip and Diana the chance to put their stamp on it.
0:29:06 > 0:29:08This mystery house,
0:29:08 > 0:29:11- we've got more garden than we've seen already.- Yep.
0:29:11 > 0:29:15And it goes on, but what do we think of the house?
0:29:15 > 0:29:18Mmm, very nice, actually, yeah.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20Yeah, very nice, yep.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22- How old's this one, then, is it...? - Mid-'80s.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25- Mid-'80s? - Yeah, so it's a modern-ish house.
0:29:25 > 0:29:29Now, first things first - your morning newspaper, Philip.
0:29:29 > 0:29:31That's not a problem.
0:29:31 > 0:29:32Oh, it's not a problem now!
0:29:32 > 0:29:35- Well...- Good! - ..I'm sure we can get it somehow.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39It's three miles away, in Castle Cary,
0:29:39 > 0:29:41but the grandchildren, what's great about this village,
0:29:41 > 0:29:45is it's about three miles from the A303,
0:29:45 > 0:29:48so you're really well connected by car for visiting,
0:29:48 > 0:29:50- but also for your camper van.- Yep.
0:29:50 > 0:29:54Oooh, yes, hadn't entered my head about the camper van.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57All these things that were so important to you,
0:29:57 > 0:29:59then suddenly you've forgotten about them!
0:29:59 > 0:30:01And as you can see, there's plenty of gardens.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03- We'll look at that later.- OK.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05Now, what do you like,
0:30:05 > 0:30:08in using your imagination, when you look around the house?
0:30:08 > 0:30:10Yeah, fairly flexible, yep.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12- Yeah?- Well, the outside area's right.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14- It's got to be right inside. - Good, all right.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17- Well, let's go and look inside and see what you think of it.- OK.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21As well as a generously sized garden,
0:30:21 > 0:30:23which continues around the other side of the house,
0:30:23 > 0:30:25there's a double garage for the two cars
0:30:25 > 0:30:28and plenty of parking space for the motorhome.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32- Let's start with the living room first of all.- Oh, yeah.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35- Oh, wow.- Yeah, that's a reasonable size, isn't it?
0:30:35 > 0:30:36It is, it's not a bad size at all.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40- What have they got in the...? - Fireplace as well.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43- Yeah, it's big enough for us. - Yeah, definitely.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45Now, remember I said you need to use your imagination?
0:30:45 > 0:30:47How would you have this room?
0:30:47 > 0:30:50Oh, we like cosy. Yeah, but it's adequate, it's a nice size.
0:30:50 > 0:30:51- Yeah, it's just a nice size.- Yep.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54Good, all right. Let me take you into the kitchen.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56We'll have a quick duck into the dining room on the way through.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59- Righty ho.- So if you come in, just to the right-hand side,
0:30:59 > 0:31:01- there is the separate dining room. - Right.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03OK, yeah.
0:31:05 > 0:31:09Ground floor loo there and then a fairly compact kitchen.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12- Come right in. - Oh, big enough for me, I think.
0:31:12 > 0:31:13Oh, it's not bad.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16- But a lovely view of the garden. - Oh, wow.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19Yeah, definitely a wow factor, that.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23I really do think this house is crying out for something
0:31:23 > 0:31:26- that you said you're after, and that's a conservatory.- Yeah.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29- Either on the dining room, or on the kitchen or maybe both.- Yes.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32Well, you could do it off the dining room, couldn't you?
0:31:32 > 0:31:34- Yeah.- Yes, that would be lovely.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36I know you liked the first house,
0:31:36 > 0:31:40- but it was almost bordering on too large.- Too large, yeah.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42You seem to both fit in to this house quite well.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45- I like it.- Thank you very much. Can we see more?
0:31:45 > 0:31:48We can see more. Let's have a quick look at the master bedroom, OK?
0:31:48 > 0:31:52Can I just squeeze past there? Thank you very much. Up we come.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56Upstairs there are four bedrooms -
0:31:56 > 0:31:58two doubles and two singles,
0:31:58 > 0:32:03as well as a family bathroom, all arranged off a central landing.
0:32:03 > 0:32:04This is the master.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08Not huge, but you get your storage.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10- OK. Yeah, that's... - It's not bad, is it?
0:32:10 > 0:32:13- But this is absolutely adequate and, er...- En suite, yep.
0:32:13 > 0:32:15- E -suite.- Yeah, en suite.- Golly!
0:32:15 > 0:32:16I really like it a lot.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19There's huge potential, huge potential.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21- Does that excite you, Diana? - It does.- It does.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24Worries me a bit, because I don't know the price or anything!
0:32:24 > 0:32:26No, but if you could afford this sort of house
0:32:26 > 0:32:29and afford to do what you'd like to do to it, these cosmetic changes,
0:32:29 > 0:32:31is this the sort of thing you had in mind?
0:32:31 > 0:32:34- Absolutely, yeah, yeah. - Definitely, definitely.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36- This is good, isn't it? - It is good.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39It's got wow factor in a different way, in as much as that, wow,
0:32:39 > 0:32:42yes, we love it, and we can do something with it.
0:32:42 > 0:32:43Yeah, this could work for you.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49The mystery property has worked its magic on our buyers,
0:32:49 > 0:32:52who seem as impressed with the house as they were with the garden,
0:32:52 > 0:32:55which extends to over half an acre and is mainly laid to lawn.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58So, where would you have your veggie patch, do you think?
0:32:58 > 0:33:01Well, I reckon the sun goes thataway,
0:33:01 > 0:33:06so it would probably be in that bottom corner of the garden there.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09- Garden. Fish pond? - Fish pond, definitely.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11Huge potential for a fish pond here.
0:33:11 > 0:33:13Now, you did say you'd love the idea of a view -
0:33:13 > 0:33:16now, that hedgerow at the back there,
0:33:16 > 0:33:19you drop that down then you get a view over farmland.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21- Would be fantastic.- Yeah, yeah.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23Let's talk about the price. Look back at the house.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25- I'm going to be bold.- Go on.
0:33:27 > 0:33:29I'm going to say 350.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31- Diana?- I think you're way out. - Do you?
0:33:31 > 0:33:35Yeah, I think it's 450, 440.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37It's on the market for offers in the region of
0:33:37 > 0:33:39£435,000.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42- Oh!- So...
0:33:44 > 0:33:46Why did you guess 350?
0:33:46 > 0:33:48I was just being hopeful!
0:33:48 > 0:33:50Now it's considerably more than 350,
0:33:50 > 0:33:52what do you think of it, Philip?
0:33:52 > 0:33:56Happy with that, I think. I think we could run with that, yeah.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59I think you should go back into the house,
0:33:59 > 0:34:02- really have a think about what you said you were after...- Yep.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06..and align this with all the things you said you wanted.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09And then we'll have a chat after that. All right?
0:34:09 > 0:34:10OK. Yep, lovely.
0:34:10 > 0:34:14- Enjoy it, have a look at that double garage.- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:34:14 > 0:34:16That's kind of what I said, this house gives them
0:34:16 > 0:34:19absolutely everything they said they are after.
0:34:19 > 0:34:23It's a big move here to the countryside and I think they're starting to realise that.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26Looking forward to finding out what they think.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31£25,000 below their top budget,
0:34:31 > 0:34:34the modern mystery property offers Philip and Diana essentially
0:34:34 > 0:34:38the shell of a house they can modify to suit their tastes and needs.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41It comes with four bedrooms, one more than they asked for,
0:34:41 > 0:34:44a double garage and 0.6 of an acre of land.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48There's another little bedroom as well.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51- That's bigger...- You could almost get a double bed in there, couldn't you?
0:34:51 > 0:34:53A double bed? I don't know, a single bed.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55Certainly a single, a big single.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58- It's going to suit us, this, eh? - It is.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01I'm chuffed to bits with this.
0:35:01 > 0:35:05Absolutely lovely, you know, room to spread ourselves in the garden,
0:35:05 > 0:35:07and that's what we were looking for.
0:35:07 > 0:35:11The downside is how much needs doing in the house, but, you know,
0:35:11 > 0:35:14you can't have it perfect in every way, can you?
0:35:14 > 0:35:18So, you know, it is, as my husband says, liveable in,
0:35:18 > 0:35:20and, you know, we'll do it slowly.
0:35:20 > 0:35:25Lovely garden, nice, relatively modern house,
0:35:25 > 0:35:28the garden's brilliant, room for a veggie patch,
0:35:28 > 0:35:31room for flower beds,
0:35:31 > 0:35:33I think there's a lot of potential here.
0:35:33 > 0:35:37Well, I'm hoping we might have found you a house.
0:35:37 > 0:35:38I think you might.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41Well, that sounds like you've got something to discuss,
0:35:41 > 0:35:44something to think about, let's find you somewhere to do just that
0:35:44 > 0:35:47- and we'll catch up later on. - Brilliant.- After you.- Thank you.
0:35:56 > 0:35:58Head inland from the rocky Jurassic Coast
0:35:58 > 0:36:01and the Dorset landscape gives way to gently rolling hills
0:36:01 > 0:36:05and wide valleys all the way up to the Somerset border.
0:36:05 > 0:36:10Around three quarters of the Dorset countryside is agricultural.
0:36:10 > 0:36:1317 years ago, one local sheep farmer, looking for a more
0:36:13 > 0:36:15profitable business, sold up and tried his hand at growing
0:36:15 > 0:36:20a crop more closely associated with the cultures of Spain and France.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23Today, Mark Botwright's garlic farm near Bridport is going
0:36:23 > 0:36:27from strength to strength, producing 900,000 bulbs a year.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30He's also found a novel way to preserve the seasonal product
0:36:30 > 0:36:32all year round.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35I've come to meet Mark to find out more.
0:36:35 > 0:36:39Garlic, it's not the traditional plant we'd have here, what,
0:36:39 > 0:36:4350 or so years ago, why is it becoming so popular?
0:36:43 > 0:36:45Er, I think our taste buds are changing,
0:36:45 > 0:36:49I mean, normally you'd just see wheat and barley growing here.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52It's a good cash crop, it's something that people like to eat.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55Now, you're a traditional farmer by trade,
0:36:55 > 0:36:58what made you start thinking, "Let's grow some garlic"?
0:36:58 > 0:37:02Well, believe it or not, my wife, Wendy, gave me three bulbs
0:37:02 > 0:37:0517 years ago as a birthday present.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07We never ate any in the kitchen,
0:37:07 > 0:37:09I just kept it back all the time, dried it and replanted it,
0:37:09 > 0:37:14and from that, this is what you see after 17 years of hard work.
0:37:14 > 0:37:15You are joking!
0:37:15 > 0:37:18- This is the product of those three birthday bulbs of garlic?- Yep.
0:37:18 > 0:37:20You seem very passionate about this garlic,
0:37:20 > 0:37:22I mean, is this all you do now?
0:37:22 > 0:37:24Yep, this is all I do, I live, breathe
0:37:24 > 0:37:28and have nightmares about it, everything I do is solely garlic.
0:37:30 > 0:37:34Fresh garlic is in season between July and October.
0:37:34 > 0:37:37And the dried bulbs have a limited shelf life of a couple of weeks.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40Mark wanted to find a way to preserve some of his bulbs
0:37:40 > 0:37:42so they could be eaten all year round.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45A few years ago, he came across an ancient Korean method
0:37:45 > 0:37:48for curing garlic bulbs, by exposing them to heat
0:37:48 > 0:37:51and moisture over a 40-day period,
0:37:51 > 0:37:55producing what is known as "black garlic", which lasts up to a year.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58Now, you call it black garlic?
0:37:58 > 0:38:01- That's right. - It doesn't look particularly black.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04No, it just looks like an aged, not very happy garlic, really.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07If I found that in my fridge, I'd be thinking about throwing it out.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09Yeah, you would do. Let me show you.
0:38:13 > 0:38:14- You ready?- Yep.
0:38:16 > 0:38:18Wow, it's jet black, isn't it?
0:38:18 > 0:38:20- There you go.- Like tar!
0:38:20 > 0:38:23It's got a real liquorice-y texture,
0:38:23 > 0:38:26but a real balsamic, aged balsamic flavour.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28Can I have a nibble?
0:38:28 > 0:38:30Yeah, you can, there's one here you can try.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34Thank you. So already, this looks dry and horrible
0:38:34 > 0:38:35- and ready to throw out.- Yeah.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39But this is really moist, mulchy, if you like.
0:38:40 > 0:38:42I put it in my mouth and I thought
0:38:42 > 0:38:45that's like a liquorice allsort sort of thing,
0:38:45 > 0:38:48and now, I'm getting the sort of balsamic vinegar,
0:38:48 > 0:38:52and only now do I get the garlic, it comes in stages, doesn't it?
0:38:52 > 0:38:55- Yeah, sweet, savoury... - It's like a Willy Wonka sweet!
0:38:55 > 0:38:58It's awesome. I can't get over its sort of
0:38:58 > 0:39:00rubbery texture, it's amazing.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03This is the nice thing about it, you don't have to actually
0:39:03 > 0:39:05chop it up, so you actually put it down,
0:39:05 > 0:39:09- and you can make a paste that easily.- Goodness me!
0:39:11 > 0:39:14Black garlic has twice the antioxidants of normal garlic,
0:39:14 > 0:39:17is low in fat, rich in natural sugars, making it sweeter in taste
0:39:17 > 0:39:22and, unlike its whiter version, leaves no smell or bad breath.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26There are a variety of ways it can be used in everyday cooking,
0:39:26 > 0:39:28in pastas, roasts and stir fries.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31Or simply warmed with butter
0:39:31 > 0:39:35and enjoyed on a piece of ciabatta toast, with ricotta cheese,
0:39:35 > 0:39:38some scrapes of fresh garlic and a sprinkle of chilli flakes.
0:39:43 > 0:39:45That is absolutely amazing,
0:39:45 > 0:39:49I'm getting a really nice, smoky flavour, and that sweetness
0:39:49 > 0:39:53from that garlic as well, that black garlic, oh, my goodness!
0:39:53 > 0:39:56As Britain's only black garlic producer,
0:39:56 > 0:39:59Mark has finessed the ancient curing process and has his own
0:39:59 > 0:40:05special heating hut, which churns out 2,500 bulbs every 40 days.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08He now supplies the country's top eateries with British black garlic -
0:40:08 > 0:40:12it's a far cry from his days as a struggling sheep farmer.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19So, the mystery house seems to be the clear favourite,
0:40:19 > 0:40:23and I think that huge garden was certainly the deciding factor.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25Time to catch up with Diana and Philip
0:40:25 > 0:40:27and find out what they plan to do next.
0:40:35 > 0:40:37- So, you've had some time to think? - Yep.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40I'm pretty sure I know your favourite house,
0:40:40 > 0:40:44- the mystery property, am I right? - That's right.- Definitely.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47- Do you want to buy it? - We would like to buy it, yes,
0:40:47 > 0:40:49we need to do a bit of homework first, though. OK.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51Go back, have a look at the maps.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53We might come back on Saturday if it's at all possible,
0:40:53 > 0:40:55have another look around the area.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58What is it about the mystery property that's, well,
0:40:58 > 0:41:00captured your hearts, if you like?
0:41:00 > 0:41:02Well, it's the size of the garden, obviously.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05- Yeah. - Definitely the size of the garden,
0:41:05 > 0:41:08- and the garages, and... - The view.
0:41:08 > 0:41:12..the view, and the potential that the house has.
0:41:12 > 0:41:13The potential for what?
0:41:13 > 0:41:15Well, to make it our home, you know.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18First and foremost, that's the most important thing.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21Coming away from the place, have you thought about what changes
0:41:21 > 0:41:24you might like to make to the mystery property?
0:41:24 > 0:41:26Look to knock the wall down in the kitchen and dining room.
0:41:26 > 0:41:28Nice big kitchen/diner.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32Have a bigger patio door or think about the conservatory.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34Yeah, these are all things
0:41:34 > 0:41:36that would make it a tremendous family home.
0:41:36 > 0:41:39Yeah, and it would be fun doing it.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42So, we've got to think long and hard.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45So, when is the second viewing? I'm going to push you on this.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47- Saturday, hopefully. - This Saturday?- Yep.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50That's encouraging, you're going to go away and come back?
0:41:50 > 0:41:52Good for you. Whatever you decide,
0:41:52 > 0:41:55and I hope it will be positive, let us know, won't you?
0:41:55 > 0:41:59- Course we will.- Yep.- Well done. - Thank you very much, thank you.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06Well, Philip and Diana did go for the sort of house
0:42:06 > 0:42:08you'd find in a town
0:42:08 > 0:42:10that's actually situated in the countryside,
0:42:10 > 0:42:14but I think that's because it gave them so much of what they said they
0:42:14 > 0:42:19were after - the modern interiors, the village location, somewhere
0:42:19 > 0:42:24to park their motorhome, and most importantly, that massive garden.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28So much so, I think the only thing stopping them purchasing that house
0:42:28 > 0:42:32is themselves, but then again, it's been so long since they've
0:42:32 > 0:42:36bought a house, I can appreciate why they want to have a second viewing.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38But when they do that and they look around the locality,
0:42:38 > 0:42:41this weekend, I do hope it gives them the confidence
0:42:41 > 0:42:43to take the plunge.
0:42:43 > 0:42:44See you next time.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49If you would like to escape to the country in England,
0:42:49 > 0:42:52Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland and would like our help,
0:42:52 > 0:42:57you can apply online at bbc.co.uk/beonashow.