Devon Escape to the Country

Welcome to Escape To The Country.

As you can see, I'm in the heart of a beautiful

and rather sleepy rural village.

But during the First World War, the residents here played

a crucial role in helping Allied troops out on the Western Front.

But what did they do and where are we?

Well, join me in just a moment and I'll tell you.

This week, I'm helping two diverse sisters to relocate.

They yearn to escape the humdrum of suburbia

to live the countryside dream.

Our search brings out sibling rivalry.

-Mine.

-Mine!

THEY LAUGH

You see, I knew we'd get to this.

But in time, it looks like I may have found something

to keep everyone happy.

I'm feeling the love at the moment.

-Walking into this one is like, oh, yeah.

-Ah.

-It did feel good.

-Oh, yeah.

Well, today we are in Devon.

This is Dartmoor and, below me, the village of Widdecombe-in-the-Moor.

Now, Dartmoor is well known for its dramatic landscapes,

herds of wild ponies, but also as a prolific source of sphagnum moss.

During the First World War, the people of Widdecombe

and the surrounding areas came up onto the moor

and collected it in enormous quantities.

Once dried out, its unique sponge-like qualities

and its antiseptic properties made it an ideal substance

to treat Allied wounds out on the Western Front.

Now, these days, the moss is highly protected.

I can't even pick any up to show it to you.

But as you can imagine,

it's a tradition that the people here are rightly proud of.

The county of Devon lies in the south-west of England,

next to Somerset and Dorset, and east of Cornwall.

With a rich and varied landscape,

Devon boasts five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

and two National Parks, the largest of which, Dartmoor,

spans a huge 368 square miles.

It offers not only great hiking terrain in its vast expanse

of moorland but also pretty rural villages, such as Lustleigh

and North Bovey, which feature traditional thatched cottages.

If water sport is more your thing,

the north coast of Devon is a Mecca for surfers,

whilst the south offers calmer waters perfect for sailing.

And it's where you'll find the attractive town of Sidmouth.

Once a small fishing village, Sidmouth grew in size

in the Georgian and Victorian periods

as the fashion for coastal resorts developed,

and it even played host to the baby Queen Victoria in 1819.

Its fine Georgian and Regency houses still line the esplanade today.

Now, with all that on offer, it probably comes as no great

surprise to learn that prices here in Devon are somewhat

on the steep side.

To give you an idea, the cost of your average house here is some

£30,000 above the national figure, coming in at around £296,000.

But there is some good news,

they are some 8% lower than they were at their peak back in 2008.

So, time now to meet today's buyers

and find out what attracted them to this glorious county.

Sisters Jenny and Heather have made a big decision

to leave their separate lives behind and buy a home together

where they can share the responsibility

of caring for their elderly mother.

Currently living in Hornchurch, Essex, and Farnborough in Hampshire

respectively, it will be a big move for both sisters,

and it's not just their current homes that are miles apart.

Well, Heather, she's really scary.

Um, she's very spiritual and she's also quite sensational.

Jenny is extremely organised, dependable

and can make anything pretty.

-Be nice to spend more time together. We are completely different.

-Yeah.

-She's day, I am night.

-Yeah, but we love each other.

-Pff.

-JENNY LAUGHS

-I suppose so.

But, differences aside,

it's their shared family values that have prompted the big move.

-We're both not getting any younger.

-Speak for yourself.

But it's more about Mum, I suppose. You know, because Mum is

at the point where she's really starting to get quite helpless.

Um... And although she doesn't intend joining us immediately, you know,

we need to get the place ready so that we can get her in

and look after her, really.

Big sister Jenny is currently retired

but her career as a florist is still very much a part of her life.

I was the Retail Florist Of The Year for the eastern counties

a few years back.

I did it for 30 years, 15 of which I had my own business.

It's in your blood when you, you know,

you can't suddenly switch off from it.

I really look forward to having a really big garden

that I can really let loose on

and grow vegetables properly rather than in little silly pots.

If at all possible, if it's good enough,

I'd love to open it up to the public.

I'm just so happy when I'm in the garden.

But it's Heather's work in hosting events that's been

a major factor in choosing this coastal county.

We are thinking about Devon

because I run dance weekends for a living as my main thing

and they are all down in Torquay.

So if I was in Devon,

it wouldn't be such a mammoth drive home.

And it was my brainwave originally to move.

We could all realise our dream.

You know, my dream of having a massive garden

and living in a lovely country property.

Heather's dream's not quite so tangible but, eventually...

-Maybe.

-..when we get a lovely barn,

-we can make it into a venue to realise your dream.

-Yeah.

So, as well as a home,

she's looking for space to build a business.

But despite agreeing on the location, the sisters have somewhat

different ideas when it comes to the lifestyle they're looking for.

The thing I'm most excited about is just being able to live in

a really beautiful property.

Peaceful, serene. I like serenity.

Even when I bring all my mates round for a party in the garden?

-Well, obviously...

-Won't be so serene then.

-..be parties occasionally too.

-Occasionally?

-Yeah.

-(Every weekend.)

Having lived apart since leaving home,

moving back in together after such a long time could present challenges.

-The prospect of living together is a little bit daunting, isn't it?

-Yeah.

In some ways, because we are so different.

As long as we have the ability to sort of separate ourselves.

But it'd be great that, you know, she's just sort of nearby.

Nearby but... Sort of nearby...

Like, almost like two separate dwellings but with a join

somehow because Jenny's got her end of the world,

I have my end of the world and we can, you know,

both be there for each other. It'd be great.

The sisters would like to be close to Torquay, where Heather

runs her dance weekends.

Provided they have good road access to the rest of the country

and for visiting their brother in Hertfordshire,

they're open to all parts of Devon.

I'm meeting up with them to find out exactly what they need

from their property.

Well, Heather, Jenny, welcome to Devon

for your Escape To The Country.

Devon is somewhere that you know quite well.

Yes, I come here a lot. I come here when I run my dance weekends.

We go down to Torquay and I take 300 people with me

and we party on hard until Monday and go home exhausted.

-Your life, on the other hand, Jenny...

-Is completely different.

-Is completely different.

-Yeah.

-I imagine your life being rather quieter.

-It's sedate, yes.

So, as a couple...

-HEATHER SNIGGERS

-We are not suited at all.

THEY LAUGH

Well, you are sisters, so there is some suitability there.

-We love each other.

-We've got the same mum and dad.

There you go. Well, that brings us on nicely to talk about your mum.

So we're looking for a separate sort of annexe arrangement for Mum.

-BOTH: Yes.

-Between you you've got 490...

-Yes.

-..or so.

Let's talk about specifically what you're after, Heather.

I will be getting in late at night, so I'd like something away from...

other end of the house from Jenny.

Separate bathroom, or an en suite bathroom, would be awesome.

After that, a nice garden,

grounds - if possible - to put something on later on.

Talk about this other something that you might want to build.

The other something I would like...love to have round here,

if the house had an old barn or some sort of structure to it

that...I could use as a venue later for a dance,

possibly if it's big enough or wide enough or open enough - a wedding.

Tell us about what you want.

I sort of centre around the kitchen and the garden,

so I'm up fairly early.

So I potter around in the morning.

How many bedrooms do we need, then?

Minimum three, maximum at least 33.

-For half a million?

-THEY LAUGH

It's a big ask.

Because the other issue that concerns me, you don't drive, Jenny.

-Yes.

-So you need to be close to a community.

-Yes.

-I'm really excited about this one cos I do like a challenge.

-Good.

And I think, with you two, we've certainly got that

-but I also get the feeling it's going to be a lot of fun.

-Good.

We've got three options to show you

and, of course, it includes our Mystery House.

-Yay.

-Which is always a bit of fun.

-We can't wait.

-So, let's go and see what we've got you.

-Ooh!

-Awesome.

For just under half a million pounds,

Jenny and Heather are looking for three or more bedrooms,

a kitchen big enough to socialise in,

a large garden to keep Jenny busy

and an outbuilding or space

to create a venue for Heather's events business.

They'd also like the property to be within walking distance

to local shops and amenities.

We've lined up three fantastic homes to show them,

all with plenty of potential.

I won't be revealing the price of each

until they've guessed at it themselves.

The final offering will be our Mystery House

that will challenge them by presenting something

a little out of the ordinary.

Now, as a family, you interest me

because you've got such very wide interests.

-Yes.

-Do you all get on?

Most of the time.

-HUSHED LAUGHTER

-Most of the time.

This is why we need separate places so that we can just go and

retreat to go and think about the error of our ways.

THEY LAUGH

To kick off our Devonshire house-hunt, we're starting

three miles from the medieval town of Totnes

in the sought-after village of Littlehempston.

The character cottages of Littlehempston are surrounded

by the beautiful countryside this part of Devon is famous for.

The village itself has a church and a local pub

but for more extensive facilities locals venture to Totnes,

one of the main towns of the South Hams area.

Our first property is three quarters of a mile from Littlehempston

in the hamlet of Hemsford.

Well, girls, for our first property,

we've got you this converted stable block.

-Can you see the windows?

-Yeah, beautiful.

But it all happens the other side of this wall.

The stables were built around 1890

and were converted into a single-storey property in the 1990s.

From the parking area,

a gate leads visitors along a path into the walled garden.

Now, look at this little sunny oasis behind that great big wall.

It's incredible, isn't it?

-Yeah, nice.

-Completely hidden away.

-Yeah. Not overlooked by anybody.

-Happy days.

-Happy days.

-Yeah.

Now, the other thing to point out is that it does have this feature here.

Currently this is a store and a garage and workshop

and so forth, but through that door in there is a separate annexe.

-Ooh!

-Oh!

It's currently a kind of one-bed en suite.

-OK.

-So no kitchen.

BOTH: It doesn't need a kitchen.

But what we're thinking is that you could actually spread it all out.

Convert this and your mum would have potentially all of that bit.

-Yeah.

-That'd be cool.

I mean, is this the sort of thing that whets the appetite?

-Yes. Oh, yeah, it's got character, hasn't it?

-Yeah, like it so far.

Depends what ground it's got with it too.

Well, I'll let you into a little secret.

Over the road, it also has 1.2 acres of paddock and orchard.

-BOTH:

-Oh!

This is sounding perfect so far.

Let's see if it is. Come on.

I think this property really offers the family potential they're after.

The paddock and orchard

could give Heather the space she needs to host events

and the main house offers flexible accommodation

for all three of the ladies.

All on one level, the property covers over 210 square metres,

with the living areas at one end and a separate annexe at the other,

ideal for Mum.

We're starting in the kitchen.

-This, I'm thinking, really is going to be your domain.

-Absolutely.

-Yes.

-What do you think, Heather?

-This is looking good.

-Like it so far. Yes, good.

-Looking nice. This is looking nice.

-Yeah?

-Very cosy.

-This is good, I like this dining room.

Yes, it's nice. It's all together, isn't it?

And I think, actually, this area is really quite clever

cos it opens up into the kitchen with a breakfast bar.

-And all the bedrooms go off that way.

-Lovely.

-So it's all just going to flow through quite nicely?

-Yeah.

Exactly that, yeah.

Now, the living room is this way. I think you might like this.

Come and have a look.

-This I love.

-Ooh.

-This is lovely.

-Such a good ceiling.

-Gosh.

-Real wood.

-It's proper wood, not mucked about, I like that.

-Yeah.

-I know you wanted beams, some cosy and all the rest of it.

-BOTH: Yeah.

Now, bearing in mind it was an old stable block,

so this might have been a kind of a tack room cos it's got this

old chimney breast which they've obviously got the wood burner in.

But above it, they've inserted this fabulous kind of mezzanine area

which they've got as a study, which you need.

That'd suit me down to the ground.

This is a room you could share and I could see all three of you,

actually, with Mum in here enjoying it.

But if you want to split it up a bit,

you've also got this fabulous garden room in here.

Look at this.

-Ooh.

-Wow.

-Yes.

-It's so light, isn't it?

This bit was added about four years ago which, I think,

just absolutely makes the best of the garden.

BOTH: Frames the garden.

Frames the garden really, really nice.

And I love these lights in the ceiling.

When that's all open in the summer,

-you really are making the best of the garden.

-In heaven.

Yeah, this is all good so far.

-Yeah?

-Really good.

-We like.

But next, it's bedrooms

and I'm a bit nervous that there might be an argument.

-Could be.

-Could be.

Ha-ha, let's see who gets what.

Back through the lounge and kitchen to the other end of the house

are the three bedrooms,

one smaller room with bunk beds,

followed by a family bathroom and the two largest bedrooms.

And then finally...

-..the master.

-Hmm.

-Mine.

-Mine!

-THEY LAUGH

Ah, you see, I knew we'd get to this

because the problem is normally we only need one master bedroom,

-but in your case, we need two.

-We have two masters.

The thing I like about this one for you, Heather,

-is that it has a separate door out.

-Yes!

And it is the only one with an en suite in here.

We have of course got...

the one-bedroom annexe next door.

However, maybe you could have that bit...out there,

you could have here, or Mum could have this,

and you've got one of the other bedrooms to play with down there.

I don't know, it's going to take a bit of working out.

It's certainly feasible.

So, in the meantime, I think we should pop back to the garden

and think about the price.

-This is going to be interesting on this one, isn't it?

-It is.

It looks like there are discussions to be had about the interior

if it's going to work for this family.

But outside, I'm confident the garden offers the oasis

that Jenny is after.

So here we are, then.

Back where we started in our gorgeous walled garden.

I mean, quite a lot to keep you busy.

-Yes.

-This is a garden in which you could really enjoy pottering.

Absolutely.

Um, OK. Well, let's think about the price then on this one.

I'm sort of thinking of a cheeky offer of about 475.

I'm going to be rude and say 460, but I love it. But I think 460.

The bad news is that it is technically over budget.

-Oh, right.

-It's on for offers over £500,000...

-OK.

..but the vendors know your situation

-and I suspect there is a conversation to be had.

-BOTH: OK.

A couple of things to explore, obviously the annexe and the land.

-Off you go.

-Yep, five minutes.

-And I will catch up with you a little bit later on.

-OK.

For around £10,000 over their ideal budget,

these converted stables offer our buyers flexible accommodation

with the three bedrooms they asked for

plus an additional annexe with en suite.

The acre of land over the road

could be developed in future as a venue for Heather's events business.

The only downside is that it's a mile from the village.

-This is nice, isn't it?

-This is nice.

-Yeah.

That's got to be the bathroom.

Ah!

What I like about this property is it's got a fantastic feel to it.

Really cosy. I can see myself sitting and chilling in here.

The room above, the office above - excellent!

I personally would like to be able to walk into a village

to buy provisions and things like that,

so that's something I need to explore a little bit further.

It's got a lovely feel about it.

It feels homely and...comfortable and well loved, I think.

I might have known you'd be lounging around in the garden.

Come on, we've got to go.

-Seen it all? Seen the annexe and the paddock?

-Seen it all.

-Yes.

-Good.

Taken it all in.

-I think this was a very good start, actually.

-It is, yeah. Great start.

But we have two more to go.

-But, first things first, let's have some lunch.

-Ooh!

-Yes!

-After you.

Every year in Britain, around 3,800 people

open their gardens to the public through the National Gardens Scheme

to raise money for charity.

In Devon, 150 residential gardens took part this year.

When both sisters make their move to the county,

Jenny hopes to create another immaculate garden

which she also plans to open to the public,

something that could keep sociable Heather busy.

We've arranged for them to meet horticultural enthusiast

Miranda Allhusen, the National Gardens Scheme's

county organiser for Devon, at her home in Moretonhampstead.

I hear you're interested in moving to Devon and having a lovely garden

and perhaps opening it for the National Gardens Scheme.

Yeah, I...um...

I've visited quite a few NGS gardens myself

but I don't know what the criteria is, you know,

or how good your garden has to be in order to be accepted into the scheme.

Well, it's got to be an interesting garden.

It doesn't matter how big it is. The little gems are very special.

I mean, people love visiting small gardens to get inspiration

-of what to do in their own garden.

-Yeah.

Or you could just rely on having a lovely view, like here.

THEY LAUGH

I mean, that's the fun of it, really, if you enjoy gardening,

-to then share it.

-Sharing it is the enjoyment, isn't it?

-It is.

-And garden visitors are always lovely people.

-Yeah.

They're always very friendly and appreciative

-that you open your garden.

-So, how often do you open the garden?

We open for two weekends in the year.

We open in May and then we open in September.

-Can I have a look around?

-Absolutely, shall we go off this way?

-Yes.

-Oh, yeah, can't wait.

The NGS started in 1927, when council member Elsie Wagg

organised a one-off event to raise money for district nurses

before the days of the NHS.

People were encouraged to open up their gardens for a shilling a head,

and 609 gardens took part, raising over £8,000 in the first year.

Today, it's still a voluntary organisation which has donated

over £40 million to charity, raising 2.5 million last year alone.

Miranda started opening her impressive four-acre garden

on the edge of Dartmoor to the public 15 years ago.

Like all gardens, it takes a lot of work to maintain,

but today she's got two helpers.

So, is the climate particularly good in Devon for gardening?

-Yes, it is. And you get lots of different microclimates.

-Yeah.

So you can really choose the type of garden you want to do

and then choose a house to fit it.

So, what sort of garden would you like to have?

I like cottage gardens, the stereotypical cottage garden.

-Not too much formality, preferably, for me.

-Well, that suits Devon.

-I like quirky...quirky sort of features.

-Orchard, veggies?

Veggies very important?

Yeah, and the thing is everyone's so interested in vegetables now.

But we have quite an acid soil here.

Yeah, is it all acid or are there pockets of alkaline?

No, there are pockets of it, so you might not land up

with acid, but it's all good growing soil,

so you'll be able to grow a good variety of plants.

So what sort of challenges are we going to expect, do you think?

Well, I think if you want to open your garden,

the main thing is to have it looking at its best when it's open.

You've really got to plan the garden so you've got lots of colour

and interest at the time of year that you're going to open.

Like Jenny, Miranda spends most of her day working away in the garden.

And what better way to end an afternoon of gardening

in the West Country than with a Devonshire cream tea?

-So I hope you've enjoyed your visit to Devon...

-Absolutely.

-Yes.

-..and you really feel it's the right thing to do to move here.

-Yes.

You will be able to grow a gorgeous garden,

and I hope you will open for the NGS.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you so much.

It looks like our sisters are settling in well to the county's

lifestyle, so the pressure's on for me to find them a house.

For our next property, we're venturing north of Dartmoor

to the mid-Devon village of Chawleigh.

The village itself offers a pub and a number of shops,

but for more extensive facilities,

Chulmleigh is a mile and a half away.

Now a conservation area, Chulmleigh is known for its attractive

historic architecture with over 200 listed buildings.

Property number two is a four-bedroom

Grade II listed thatched cottage

situated on the outskirts of Chawleigh.

There is property number two.

-In the rain but hopefully it won't put you off too much.

-No.

What do you reckon?

I love it in the rain, so it's going to look gorgeous in the sun.

-Really pretty.

-Yep.

And location-wise, I think this is a step forward from number one.

Although that was only a mile away from its amenities,

this is a ten-minute walk into Chawleigh.

-Oh, perfect.

-Nice.

-So great location, loads of charm, loads of character.

Traditional thing in the countryside,

nobody ever uses their front doors.

-We're going round the back, that way.

-Awesome.

-Come on, then.

Good, good.

This cottage is of traditional Devon stone and cob construction

under a thatched roof

and is believed to date back to the 17th century.

I can't wait to show them the inside,

which is equally full of character.

We'll start with...

-..the kitchen.

-Excellent.

-Nice.

-This is doing it for me.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

In terms of space, does it work for you?

It's a very good shape, actually, a workable, practical shape.

Room for a table, which is absolutely fantastic. Yeah.

Now, you've also got a really generous utility room next door...

-Yeah, that's fantastic.

-..with a loo in it. First impressions, then?

-I'm feeling the love at the moment.

-Hmm.

-Big time.

-Walking into this one is like, oh, yeah.

-Ah.

-It did feel good.

Let's see if that feeling continues.

Follow me through here.

It seems our sisters are really falling for this property's

period charm. And there's more to come as we go into the living room.

And then, in here, is the main living room.

-Another lovely fireplace.

-Oh!

-Another wood burner.

-Wow!

-Yeah.

-Wow!

-Look at this. Yeah.

-Love it.

-It's hugging me.

-It's hugging you?

-Yeah.

-The house is hugging me.

-This is all good.

-Yeah!

-It is, yeah.

Of course, with the dining room next door, you've got this lovely

sort of flow from the kitchen to your main reception rooms, really.

It's great. Double aspect as well.

-Is it listed?

-It is listed.

-Is it? Grade II?

Grade II, which is the bog-standard.

And where it comes into its own is in terms of preserving

things like the beams, you know, the fireplaces, the external look.

-It just means you've got a house with character.

-Yeah.

-Well, I'm rather pleased with this tour so far.

-So am I.

-Yep.

A positive reaction so far.

I'm just hoping things don't go downhill as we move upstairs.

On the first floor, there is one single

and three double bedrooms, all currently sharing one bathroom.

Now, there is one thing that slightly concerns me.

You asked for three bedrooms, we've got you four bedrooms.

-Fantastic.

-And nothing, of course, is en suite,

which... Maybe you could give up a bedroom if you wanted to do that.

-Yep.

-But it also has an enormous workshop,

-which really is crying out to be converted.

-Awesome.

It's almost done. It's self-contained. Mum could have it.

-I say annexe, it's like a small cottage.

-Awesome.

Maybe you'll fight over it yourselves. Come and have a look.

Huge chance of that.

Now, I think this workshop is the real selling point of this property.

Built six years ago, it offers huge scope for development.

-Now, how big is all this! Look at this.

-Wow.

-Cool.

-Gosh, yeah, that's massive.

-That's a blank canvas for you.

-Isn't it?

-BOTH:

-Yeah.

It's the perfect way to describe it. It absolutely is a blank canvas.

But walls are all plastered, it's all insulated, it's wired.

-All it needs is a floor.

-Huge scope, hasn't it?

Through here, you've got this little lobby area,

-which could be a bathroom.

-BOTH:

-Yeah.

And then in here, this is more the workshop at the moment.

But we were thinking - kitchen, diner, living room.

With that door replaced with an enormous picture window.

-BOTH:

-Yeah.

-Nice.

-Fantastic!

-Isn't it?

-It is.

-Good stuff.

-I mean, this is a really generous annexe.

Yeah, it's good stuff. Lots of power, everything. Nice windowsill.

So what's it worth?

THEY GASP AND LAUGH

Come on. Let's have a think.

Outside, the property is surrounded by approximately an acre

of flat land, mainly lawn, with panoramic views of the countryside.

I've got a feeling, if the price is right,

this one could be a real possibility.

Now then, as it's raining, we'll make this fairly quick.

There's the garden.

I think you could have a lot of fun planning that.

-Oh, I certainly could.

-Do you love it?

-Yeah, I certainly could.

There is one more bit you haven't seen, and that's the older

barn that's attached to this building at the front.

Maybe you've got a few plans for that.

Before we all get wet, let's think about the price.

-This is really scary.

-After you, Heather.

Oh, I think, without seeing the barn, I think

it's top of the budget and some. 500.

-500?

-And I'm really scared it's going to be about 520.

It is on the market for

£499,950.

Oh!

£50 out.

But here's the thing - we know Mum is moving, obviously.

-We're thinking that money will go towards the annexe.

-OK.

-Need to see that barn.

-You can go see it. Go on, off you go.

Brilliant.

-HE LAUGHS

-I love, love their enthusiasm.

This is a big move for this entire family,

but they are taking it in their stride.

In fact, at a gallop! How about that?

If Jenny and Heather can stretch their budget, this cottage offers

them the real country character they're after with an extra

bedroom, a large workshop with scope to create a fantastic

annexe for their mother as well as an additional old barn.

And it's within walking distance of those all-important shops

and amenities.

-Oh, now, this has got...

-Oh!

-This is not a dance room.

-Not big enough for dancing?

-No. No, it's because it's too low.

-Charming, though.

-It's lovely.

-Isn't it?

I love everything about this property.

As soon as we walked in, it sort of felt like home.

Done very well finding this place.

The bedrooms are cool.

It's a shame there isn't an en suite, but hey-ho,

the bathroom's right next door to the room I would probably use.

What's not to like?

I think I'd have to mark this property probably a 9.5 out of ten.

I'm only holding that half a mark

because I just think I must have missed something.

It's just too good to be true.

-Now then, I think, not a bad day of

-house-hunting. Absolutely brilliant.

-Not bad at all.

-Are you going to buy one yet?

-Oh!

Well, maybe, that's for us to know and you to find out.

We'll find out tomorrow,

but not before we've seen our Mystery House in the morning.

In the meantime, the weather has taken over.

-Pub.

-Pub.

-Pub?

-Come on, then, let's go.

Today's house hunters, sisters Heather and Jenny,

are armed with a decent £490,000 budget.

They're looking for an escape from their suburban

lives in Farnborough, Hampshire, and Hornchurch, in Essex,

to a country property in Devon.

Coming up, our Mystery House offers up some rather alternative

accommodation.

This building over here, which used to be the old piggery.

-THEY LAUGH

-That's mine.

-She'll take the piggery.

-I like pigs.

And I try my hand at one of the county's oldest trades.

Go for it. Yes!

Oh, beautiful. Look at that! That's really satisfying.

I could do that all day long.

Well, no house search is ever easy, but this one is particularly

perplexing because of the widely contrasting demands of our buyers.

Now, in an ideal world, they'd buy all three

of the properties we're able to show them.

But of course, that can't happen, they can choose only one.

So, for our final offering, we have looked long

and hard for our Mystery House, or should I say...Mystery Houses.

Situated eight miles north of Okehampton,

on the northern edge of Dartmoor, our final property is in a rural

setting on the outskirts of North Tawton.

In the heart of this scenic West Devon countryside,

North Tawton is exceptionally small for a town

but has retained this title due to its having a town hall,

which plays host to a number of local events.

There's also a post office, community centre

and a number of shops and pubs.

A 12-minute stroll over a bridge from the town centre

is our mystery property.

So, here we are at our Mystery House.

Or should I say Mystery...Houses.

We've got you two.

-Right there.

-This is nice.

Used to be, obviously, a much bigger, sprawling farm complex.

And over the years, it's been divided up.

So what you have on offer here is that building there,

which was the old shire horse stables,

and this building over here, which used to be the old piggery.

-THEY LAUGH

-That's mine.

-She'll take the piggery.

-I like pigs.

This one has residential planning on it, obviously,

because it's a house.

This one is currently more of a dedicated holiday let,

but they have applied for full residential planning.

They both have three bedrooms.

This one has the living room on the upstairs,

so it's a bit upside down.

This one is much more conventional, with it on the ground floor.

And the garden that comes with this property is attached,

really, to that one.

-That's got to be mine, then.

-That's yours, then.

So I thought maybe, then, we should start

upside down with that one. Yeah?

-Wonderful.

-Come on.

-Yeah.

These sisters lead separate lives,

so could two separate buildings be the answer?

I've got a good feeling about this one.

So, here we are.

Upside-down living.

Gosh!

Oh, nice.

Yeah, like that. Yeah.

It's quite a clever use of the building, actually.

-Yeah.

-It's very nice.

-It's much lighter up here.

There's a kitchen just behind that wall.

A sort of open-galley kitchen.

-Have a look.

-Oh, yeah.

-Yeah.

-It's lovely.

-Yeah, I could cope with this very easily.

-I could see you in here particularly.

-Yeah, definitely.

-I can see this really suiting you.

-Yeah.

Let's have a quick view of these bedrooms.

This might work for your mum, cos we've got two en suites for you.

So, here's where the rest of this particular property

begins to come together, because leading off of this central hallway,

we've got you three bedrooms.

Now, two of them are currently furnished as two doubles -

one there and one there. They are both en suite.

That one has a wet-room shower, maybe good for Mum as well.

And then this little sort of study area, which, you know,

is on the spec as a bedroom, but to be honest, I think

you'd probably keep it as a bit of a study.

-So that's our first bit.

-Yep.

-With our upside-down living room.

-OK.

-Let's go over the courtyard

and see what the rest of it has to offer you.

The first barn has certainly sparked Heather's interest, and I'm hoping

Jenny's reaction will be just as positive when she sees the second.

So, Jenny, this could be you.

Well, Jenny, here's your bit.

-Oh! It's a good square shape.

-Uh-huh.

-A little bit on the dark side, though.

-Yes.

-It could do with a bit of relighting, more lighting.

-Yes.

I mean, it's a great space.

That's the key thing to take away from it.

-Now, your living room is much more conventional.

-Yes.

-It's on the ground floor...

-OK.

..although just up these two steps. So come and look at this.

So, would you be able to relax in here, Jenny?

Oh, that's different, isn't it? It's good.

It's neutral and again, a good shape.

You've got three bedrooms above.

-OK.

-And a separate bathroom, so nothing en suite for you.

It doesn't matter.

But the lovely thing is it leads out into the garden that comes

with the property.

So, we're letting your green fingers close to the action.

-Great.

-That's what we're thinking.

-Yeah.

-What do you reckon?

Having seen this one, are you happy?

Yeah, I am, as long as I can get to her garden.

Come on, let's have a look at the garden.

Heading outside,

the gardens are relatively modest compared to the other

properties, but they do offer privacy and great views

of the countryside.

-So, Jenny, this is your garden.

-Wow. Yes.

-Probably not the biggest we've shown you.

-No.

-But would it be big enough to keep you busy?

-Uh, yeah,

I can get a vegetable patch in here.

-Yep.

-I mean, I don't want you to put a brave face on it.

-No.

I know it's not as huge as you would've liked.

I'm not sure, necessarily, that you would open to the public

-on a regular basis.

-Probably not.

-It's all about accommodation.

-Yes.

-Well, let's talk about the price.

And that might help us reflect on what we have got.

-So, you can go first, Jenny.

-Oh, gosh.

-I'm going to have to go for 520.

-520. Heather?

I think it's going to be more than that. I think 560.

This is on the market for 50 quid short of

-£490,000.

-Wow...

-No way!

-No way!

-489,950.

THEY LAUGH

Now, there's no dance studio.

There aren't acres of gardening to be had,

but it does give you very separate living.

-Gosh.

-Lots to take in, but off you go.

-Go and explore upstairs in your bit, Jenny, why not?

-OK!

For just £50 under budget, our mystery properties

offer the sisters a practical set-up for their contrasting lives.

The two separate barns each offer three bedrooms, one with

the convenience of a downstairs bedroom and bathroom for Mum.

And although the gardens aren't huge,

there are a number of separate areas.

And it's all within a ten-minute walk of a town.

The Mystery House is a lot more practical than the other

two in terms of accommodating Heather and I.

It didn't grab me as much as house number two.

I think the Mystery House would work very well for me.

I hope the Mystery House will work very well for Jenny.

It is a shame there isn't a dance thing attached to it.

But we can't have everything.

Well, that's it, ladies.

Our Mystery House is over.

-Two for the price of one.

-Yeah.

-Good stuff.

-Happy?

-Well done.

-Yeah, yeah.

I think any one of the properties we've shown you would fit the bill.

If I gave you the keys, I'm sure you'd make them work.

But you do need to think about it all and, of course,

consider what your mum might want.

-Yeah.

-So shall we go and think?

-Yes, please.

-Come on, then.

Devon's charm extends beyond the beautiful scenery on offer.

Its rich industrial heritage spans many centuries.

Historically, one of the most important industries

in the county was the production of leather, known as tanning.

Nowadays, John Haggar is one of a few leatherworkers still

employing the traditional crafting techniques,

using the leather that the area is famous for.

I've come to his workshop at the Dartington Estate,

not far from our first property, to learn about the history

and skills needed for this special craft.

-John, very nice to see you, sir.

-Nice to meet you.

Now, I think I smelled this workshop before I even walked through

the door, but it's a lovely, lovely smell.

There's something I've always found with leather -

it's one of those sort of almost primeval substances, isn't it?

-Mm.

-It's timeless.

The leather's very special because it comes from Devon.

That's the thing.

-Let's talk about Devon and its history of leather-work.

-OK.

Because you're upholding a long tradition here, aren't you?

I was taught to do things in a very traditional way, but my interest,

really, is how to make something look stylish, fashionable.

I suppose you could describe my work as being tradition meets technology.

Now, you make all kinds of things, I know.

And I know that belts are also something you make.

-This is my old belt.

-Oh, nice.

-This...

-HE LAUGHS

-You might say that,

but I've had this for...about 16 years.

I could do with a new one.

So, how hard is it going to be to create something that

I can walk out of here wearing?

Well, I could show you how to make one.

Let's have a go.

John originally trained as a saddler

and bridle maker in order to learn the traditional methods.

He's now been turning leather into goods in his workshop for 20 years.

How many belts do you think you make a year?

We probably make 20 or 30 a week.

That's a fabulous tool. What do you call that?

This is a plough gauge. It's a very old tool. It's handmade.

How many belts have you got?

Well, really, just this one.

You've only got one belt?

JULES LAUGHS

It's hard to believe, but, yes, this is it. This is my belt.

To me, it's an old friend.

I like the fact this belt has been everywhere with me.

It is such a trusted companion.

In the mid-19th century,

Devon was a British tanning centre with over 100 tan yards operating.

Back then, leather-working was popular as skilled tradesmen

were needed to fashion leather into bridle and military components.

But with the rise in cheap labour available overseas

and the birth of replacement materials like plastic,

the trade has declined over recent decades.

So, with my belt cut to size and the holes marked out,

it's time for the fun bit.

-So is this one big whack?

-Yeah.

-OK.

-Go for it, go for it.

Yes!

Oh, beautiful. Look at that!

Look at that there.

-Well done.

-Look at that, it's under way, my belt is coming to life.

-Brilliant.

-How satisfying is that?

-That's really satisfying.

I could do that all day long.

Making everything by hand without the use of modern-day

machinery enables John to work with the finest of materials

and tools, creating items of real individual beauty.

So now... You've got to cut your point now.

You can do it in two ways.

Now, I do it by hand,

but you can also use a chisel.

Righto, John.

And I must say, having a go myself,

I can see where he gets his passion from.

To preserve the suppleness of the belt,

I'm buffing it with natural oils and fats.

Then it's ready to add the buckle, keepers and finish with hand

stitching, something I think I'll leave to the expert.

Fabulous, John. I absolutely love that.

The moment of truth - let's see if it fits.

Right, so... Old belt in the bin?

You must be joking.

My old belt is going to come home with me.

It is an old friend, I have to look after it, but my new belt...

-It fits.

-..is...

..just the ticket.

-That's beautiful. John, thank you very much.

-You're very welcome.

Well, we have kept our end of the bargain - three houses.

They wanted three, we have given them.

Our house searching is over, but...is theirs?

Let's go and ask them.

Well, Jenny and Heather.

How are we doing?

-Good, good.

-Not bad.

-We're confused.

-Yeah.

-You're confused?

-Mm.

-Why so?

Well, you have given us three homes, all would work in different ways.

-Mm-hmm.

-So there's an awful lot of jigging

and double-thinking with Mum to be had.

So we thought we would visit

probably house number two and three with Mum,

further investigate the local areas.

-Property number one.

-Yeah.

-Which you seem to have discounted.

-I don't know why.

I think we were so bowled over by number two that number one

seems to have just slipped from our memories.

So property two, then,

with its separate annexe, that's certainly on your list.

I really loved property two - big, open space for a garden.

But it didn't have anything for Heather.

I can see how we managed to satisfy your hopes, Jenny.

But as for you, Heather, I can share your frustration that we

weren't able to find you the space, really.

So where does that leave your move to Devon?

For me, property three would work better.

But my heart and soul would say Jenny would be making a huge

compromise, cos she prefers two. What are we going to do?

Be fascinating to hear what your mother thinks.

-Well, she might just be the deciding thing.

-Yeah.

-Well, it's been a lot of fun, guys. So best of luck.

-Thank you.

-And hopefully, you'll move down here very shortly.

-I hope so.

-Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, three very different properties into which

we had to fit three very different people -

Jenny, Heather and, of course, their mother.

It was always going to be a challenge.

But I suspect their house search still has some way to go.

But if money had been no object, maybe we could have sold them

this place - Bovey Castle.

This was once the home of none other than WH Smith of newsagent fame.

Plenty of room for all the family and bags of space in which to party.

Smith, who later became Viscount Hambleden,

certainly knew what he wanted for his escape to the country.

I'll see you next time.

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