Isle of Wight Escape to the Country

This unusual rocket-shaped building is known locally as the "Pepperpot".

It is, however, possibly the oldest medieval lighthouse in the UK.

Where is it and where on earth am I?

Find out in just a moment.

Today our home-hunting duo have decided to swap city life

for island life.

Oh, you've got such a good panoramic view, yeah.

And in one of our prospective homes, not everything is as it seems.

It looks so much wider down here than it does from up above.

Today, I'm on the Isle of Wight, and this is St Catherine's Oratory

on the southernmost tip of the island.

It was built in 1328 by a local landowner called Walter de Godeton

as a penance decreed by the Pope,

because de Godeton stole 55 casks of wine from a shipwreck.

Not only was he meant to pay for the construction of the tower,

but also for the upkeep of a priest who attended the light

and prayed for the souls of sailors lost at sea,

and this practice went on for 200 years

until the Reformation in the 16th century.

But this little slice of fascinating medieval history

is not the only thing on this beautiful island.

The Isle of Wight is situated in the English Channel,

around three miles from England's South Hampshire Coast.

England's largest island, 80% of it is devoted to agriculture,

with a myriad of fields separated by clusters of ancient woodland.

The water also plays a significant part in island life,

with Cowes Week, one of the biggest regattas in the yachting calendar,

taking place in the coastal town each August,

as it has done for almost 200 years.

There are also stretches of beautiful shoreline

and walking paths circumnavigating the island.

Freshwater Bay to the west is a stunning pebble and sand beach,

bordered by jagged chalk cliffs, a classic shoreline

for taking a stroll and drinking in the view.

Also on the west side is the dramatic rock formation,

The Needles.

Here, a chairlift transports visitors high above the coast,

and back down again, offering a bird's eye view of the chalk stack,

The Needles lighthouse and the rainbow-coloured sands.

As well as the natural beauty of the island,

there are also charming villages such as Godshill,

with its historic thatched cottages,

where nature and architecture combine to make

the Isle of Wight an escapee's delight.

Considering it's ringed round by this gorgeous coastline

and the centre is full of these lush, rolling hills,

the Isle of Wight is the perfect rural retreat,

particularly when you think about the prices here.

The average price for a detached house on the island

is £7,000 less than the national figure, coming in at £264,000.

And that's even more striking when you think that across the water,

across the Solent in Hampshire,

an equivalent property would set you back another £100,000.

So what about our house buyers this week?

What are they looking for? Let's meet them and find out.

Hilary and Rene from Cambridge met through work

when they were both based in the same RAF unit.

We met not far down the road at the Royal Air Force Hospital at Ely.

She didn't like me at all.

That's not at all true!

We knew each other because it was a small unit

and so all the single people used to get together,

and I remember saying to a friend,

"That's the sort of guy I can see myself marrying."

And little did I know.

We met in 197...5?

Wow!

And we got married in 1978 and here we are.

Hilary and Rene have been in their current four-bed detached house

on the outskirts of Cambridge for 11 years.

Their two grown-up sons both live and work near Oxford.

The whole area's absolutely exploded with new builds.

It is really busy.

It's just getting fuller and fuller.

We've really loved living here.

-It's really lovely, but it's not near the sea, so...

-No.

..that was where we need to go next.

Our couple have now moved on from the RAF, but their time spent

living in different towns and countries means that

they haven't really put down roots.

Having been on the move all our lives,

I suppose we're ready to move somewhere else.

There's nothing to keep us here, so we're off to the seaside.

And with happy memories of past holidays by the sea,

they've decided that they'd love to call a small island home.

-BOTH: The Isle of Wight.

-Definitely the Isle of Wight.

It's a case of we are moving to the Isle of Wight.

We've made the decision,

we've been there on numerous occasions to the music festival,

we've had a couple of holidays there with the boys

when they were a lot younger.

There's nothing about the Isle of Wight not to like.

Their two sons may not be joining them in their move,

but there are two other family members

who'll also be packing their bags.

Eight months ago, Hilary and Rene inherited their two dogs,

Floss and Carlsberg, from their eldest son.

We went to pick them up, opened the car door

and they jumped straight in.

It was as if we'd known them all their lives, you know,

and they're lovely, they're delightful.

And once they're retired and in their new home with more time

on their hands, both of them are planning to add to the hobbies

they currently enjoy.

I'm looking forward to cycling.

You've got all the coastal walks which we're looking forward to...

-That's my vision.

-..you know, yes, it is, isn't it?

Walking along the prom.

I enjoy fly fishing and sea fishing.

There's not a lot else that you can do that is just so relaxing.

With their house sold, there's nothing stopping our buyers

from finding a home near the water, and wherever they end up,

they're planning for it to be the final time they pack up and move on.

We are hoping that this will be our last move.

But having spent all of our lives travelling around, who knows?

We would like it to be our forever home,

but I think once you're used to travelling so much,

who knows what's around the corner?

Which is what's exciting about it.

It is, it is exciting.

Hilary and Rene have asked us to concentrate our search

on the south-east coast of the island, which they love,

and where there are good transport links back to the mainland.

So, before we get stuck into this rather exciting hunt

for a home by the sea, I'm meeting them both on the island

to go over their property wish list.

-Welcome to the Isle of Wight.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

Well, thank you for bringing us here.

I can't remember the last time I came here.

What sort of a property are you looking for?

Well, we're quite open-minded about the type of house,

but we need three bedrooms,

and I think a big enough garden for a few tents

because I think we'll be inundated with visitors,

if we can't accommodate them all in the house.

-And we have two dogs.

-Oh.

We have two little dogs that must be taken into consideration,

so a short walk to the sea would be nice.

What about the location?

Are you looking to be in a village or out in the sticks?

Not that anywhere's too remote here on the island.

No, I think as long as we've got reasonable access to the sea.

I mean, if we could walk to the sea, that would be a huge bonus.

But then there's some lovely inland areas too.

I would like somewhere perhaps that's got a workshop

or some outbuildings, just so I can perhaps start a new hobby

or somewhere to keep my fishing tackle and bikes.

Hilary, anything on your wish list?

You would like to overlook the back garden from the kitchen.

Yeah, I'd like to do that.

Currently our kitchen is out at the front of the house,

and you don't think that's a problem until you've lived with it.

No, I see. And in terms of style, are you fussed about old or new?

-No, not at all.

-You're very easygoing, aren't you?

-It's going to be a joy showing you houses.

-Well, yeah!

It seems from just reading between the lines

that really it's the kind of location by the sea

-that's absolutely key for you.

-It is, yes.

That is the main reason why we're coming here.

And what is your budget again? Remind us.

Our budget for the move is £350,000.

Very healthy on the island. Great.

Well, we've found, I think, three really lovely houses,

and all that remains is for you to say, "Yes, we want to move."

BOTH: Yes, we want to move.

You definitely want to move. Have we found the house for you?

-Let's go and find out. Follow me.

-Thank you.

Hilary and Rene have a good budget for the island,

which will hopefully give them everything they want.

They're pretty open-minded,

but they'd like a detached home with character

that has at least three bedrooms

and Hilary would love a kitchen that opens onto the garden.

Rene wants a shed or workshop, and they'd be thrilled

if they were a five- or ten-minute walk from the sea.

They'd be happy with a garden big enough to put up a couple of tents

if they have more visitors than bedrooms,

and wherever they move needs to suit their dogs too.

Our couple can't wait for their move across the water and

we've got three totally different potential homes to show them,

and only after they've viewed each one will they discover its price.

The final visit will be to the mystery property,

which always veers slightly off track, but with today's offering,

we're definitely sailing pretty close to the wind.

Aren't you worried about coming to the island,

because some people are kind of a bit worried about being cut off?

No. Because I don't feel that we are cut off.

It's 40 minutes on the passenger ferry.

I mean, living in Germany is cut off from England.

That's true. That is true.

We're starting our tour of the Isle of Wight right in the south

of this lovely island, in the village of Niton,

just a six-minute drive from the sea at Castlehaven.

Castlehaven is a beautiful stony beach which would provide

fabulous walks with the dogs, whatever the season,

and the opportunity for Rene to get his fishing rod out.

Back in Niton, there are a few shops as well as friendly pubs

and the opportunity to become part of the small, thriving community.

Our first house is situated down a lane,

just off the main street in the village,

and it's this charming stone cottage.

-Oh, that's lovely!

-Oh, wow!

-It's a good one, isn't it?

-I never expected anything with a thatch.

-Oh, it's thatched as well?

It's thatched but it's also attached.

-So this half is not yours.

-Oh, right.

But from the chimney stack that way is yours,

so you've got a bit of thatch and then a Victorian extension.

So the actual old part of the house dates back to 1604.

But it's certainly nothing like the married quarters we've lived in.

-No, not at all.

-No.

-I can't wait to get inside.

-Shall we?

-Yes, please.

This delightful grade two listed semidetached cottage

contains a wealth of period features behind its walls,

and a primrose yellow front door

takes us straight into the dining room.

-Wow!

-Wow, this is lovely. Oh, flipping heck! Look at this.

-What do you think, Hilary?

-I love it. I love it.

This would have been where everybody lived,

the family around the fire, and then this at the back

is what they used to call a scullery kitchen,

so it's a smaller kitchen where the food preparation took place,

but let's have a look.

So you go up these lovely steps, and the stable door.

There isn't really a view of the garden as such.

Is it too compact?

I don't think it's too small. I think it's workable.

You do have a utility through here,

and then you do have a downstairs bathroom,

-so this is also a talking point.

-Oh, right.

-No upstairs bathroom.

-No.

Okey doke.

OK, so a little question mark over the bathroom, as expected,

but let's continue next door to the extension.

On the other side of the house,

a mere youngster added 300 years after the kitchen,

is the sitting room.

-I like this.

-Yes, nice, isn't it?

-You like it?

Yeah, I don't like big, sprawling lounges.

I like them to be quite cosy, and it's beautifully square.

It's just so not what I ever thought that I would like,

-and I actually do like it.

-Mmm.

Well, it's always nice to be pleasantly surprised.

So hopefully that will continue upstairs,

where there's a long, narrow single bedroom and a small double.

Then above the dining room, in the oldest part of the house,

there's the master.

Oh, it's lovely, isn't it?

So again, the whole family would have lived up here because

this would have been the only upstairs room,

and the old staircase came up through this door,

-this is now storage through there.

-Absolutely gorgeous.

-Can you imagine waking up here? That's the question.

-I can.

But it's old. I mean, it's definitely up in the eaves,

-you can see all these little beams.

-Yes, it's old.

-Yes, indeed.

You know, is that something you're comfortable with?

I'm not so sure, but I think you're loving this.

Yeah, I think it's lovely, I really do.

I think it's... What a beautiful house.

Although they'd like a house with character,

having only lived in modern homes, Hilary is taking a little time

to get used to this 400-year-old cottage.

But would the other two members of the family in the move,

Carlsberg and Floss, approve of the pretty garden?

I mean, it's not a huge plot but it's been beautifully landscaped.

Because here you've got a veggie garden and a shed, quite a big shed.

Here you've got a treehouse, you see?

-Oh, my gosh!

-Built up there with a platform.

-That is a beautiful garden.

-It's quite tranquil actually.

It's quite a tranquil sort of garden.

-What do you think it all costs?

-Oh!

I don't know whether listed buildings command a higher price, but I'd go...

-Well, while he's thinking about it...

-Oh, it's lovely.

-..I'll go for 295.

-I was going to say 325.

-So you say 325 and you say 295?

-Yeah.

Well, you'll be pleasantly surprised then

that this is on the market for 275.

-Ooh! Ooh!

-So that gives you quite a lot of money to spruce it up

-or think about changing that bathroom.

-Bathroom, yeah.

Why don't you look inside, because you didn't see the bathroom

and have a little poke upstairs and see whether it's feasible

to move it upstairs, and then I'll meet you out the front.

-OK, thank you.

-Lovely, thanks very much.

This charming three-bedroom listed cottage,

which has stood for more than three centuries,

is a hefty £75,000 under

Hilary and Rene's budget,

leaving them with a good chunk of cash

to really make the house their own.

They wanted character, which this house is bursting with,

plus there's a gorgeous garden

that their dogs would love running around in.

And it's also just a six-minute drive to the sea.

Right, I reckon, if necessary, this could be turned into a bathroom.

There's three really good-sized bedrooms.

Yeah, but the compromise would be going down to two bedrooms

and having this as an upstairs bathroom.

I was surprised to see a thatched property, but it looked lovely.

When we came in, I just loved every little bit of it.

It's got a beautiful cottage feel. An absolutely super place.

The first room that's part of the kitchen is absolutely stunning.

It's definitely worth our full consideration.

I think it's a beautiful property and the garden's lovely,

and I could just live here. I could feel myself being happy living here.

There's just nothing not to like.

I think there is so much going for it,

and I really love a load of it,

but whether...

I can see us compromising on the bathroom situation,

I don't know.

-All done?

-Yes, thank you.

So pull the door behind you because we've got another house to visit.

-Wow, that's good.

-Wow.

If it's anything like this, Alistair, I'll be well happy.

-Good.

-I love it.

Keen fisherman Rene couldn't have chosen a better spot to live

than the Isle of Wight.

With more than 60 miles of fishable coastline,

he'll never be short of a scenic spot to drop his line.

Like the coastal town of Ventnor in the south of the island,

which was built and developed in the 19th century to support

the small fishing industry off its coast,

which is still thriving today.

We've arranged for Hilary and Rene to meet local fisherman,

Geoff Blake, who, like his father before him, makes a living

from the fish and seafood abundant in the waters here.

-And welcome to Ventnor seafront.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

How long have you been fishing here?

I've been fishing for 35 years now, ever since I left school,

but I grew up on the seafront here and really been in a boat

since I was that high.

So, yeah, it's kind of in my blood.

And is fishing vital to Ventnor's economy?

The fishing industry is very important because people come here

to eat the seafood, it's on sale at all the pubs and restaurants,

and it is, you know, a huge part of the tourist industry here.

So what's the main catch here in Ventnor?

Well, we catch a variety of things here, from sea bass,

Dover sole, but we also have a very good shellfish industry,

and really top of the tree is the lobster.

Crab is the backbone of the fishing industry in Ventnor.

Over 100 tonnes of the side-stepping crustacean is caught a year.

But between May and August, things step up when it's lobster season.

Geoff goes out to sea once a day to check his lobster pots.

Today, skipper Lucy is taking them to some pots

about 600 feet from shore to see if anything's bitten.

The southern coast of the island is very lucrative for lobsters,

and they like to come, especially in the summer,

into the shallows here where the water's warmer.

Although the lobsters like basking in good weather,

so are more likely to crawl into the pots,

in the winter months the poorer weather stirs up the nutrients

in the sea which feeds the plankton that the lobsters feed on,

so after a bad winter, summer stocks are boosted.

We've had three or four cold winters

and then followed by a very stormy winter last winter,

and that seems to have done the stocks a huge amount of good.

We've seen as good a lobster year as we've seen for 25 years.

How do you know exactly where to go and where to look?

Anywhere it's rocky or if you go off to sea,

anywhere that's shallower or high, lobsters like.

But one of the most important things,

especially if you want to catch big lobsters,

you've got to go where no other fishermen have been for a while.

Geoff has around 400 pots lying on the seabed,

and with years of experience under his belt,

he knows exactly where to drop them to get the best haul.

Some of his pots are up to 250 feet down,

but here they're only about 15 feet underwater.

Each one is pulled up by hand.

-Well, we've got a...

-Oh, wow!

-..little, small edible crab,

Unfortunately this one isn't big enough.

We've got a gauge here which tells us...

that one's well under size,

so he goes back to grow for another day.

The crabs have to be 12cm wide to be kept out of the water and sold.

Also, in the parlour here, we have a lobster.

This looks a good-sized one. I'm pretty certain it's big enough.

This time we actually measure the back of the eye socket

to the back of the head, and as you can see,

this one's 5mm or 6mm within the minimum landing size.

So really what we've got to do now is re-bait this pot,

so if you can pass me up a couple of the mackerel heads.

Lovely.

The pot goes back in and Geoff will return

to see if anything's bitten tomorrow.

Time for Rene to try pulling up a pot.

First, he's got to grab the buoy that's attached to the pot

and then haul the rope up.

Not quite the same as fishing with a rod and line.

Well done, Rene, that was a good bit of pulling.

Yeah, well, we have got a tiny lobster though, a little baby one.

This lobster's got a few shell changes to go

-before he's big enough for the plate.

-Yeah.

Do the honours, Rene.

Cheerio, mate.

With its vital statistics less than 8.7cm,

that little fellow might not have made the grade yet,

but the ones that have are said to be some of the best on the island.

And the fast-running tides on the south coast make the water

clean and healthy, which the lobsters thrive on.

Geoff catches five to six tonnes of lobster a year,

and they sell from between £8-£50,

depending on their size and weight.

Back on dry land, Hilary and Rene can't wait to tuck in.

The essential part of a trip to Ventnor are lobster on chips.

I've been looking forward to this, Geoff.

I feel I've earned it, pulling in that net.

-You certainly have.

-Have a try of this.

It's really meaty.

This is like the best prawn you ever had, isn't it?

Beautiful flavour. It's very decadent.

And this will definitely cement the reason for coming

-to the Isle of Wight.

-We've had an absolutely brilliant day.

-Yeah.

-Thoroughly enjoyed it,

and we look forward to coming back here once we're on the island.

-Yeah. We'll be back. Thank you, Geoff.

-Glad to hear it.

For our second property, we're journeying just under nine miles

north-east to Shanklin on the island's south-east coast.

The town has all the amenities one might need,

and Shanklin Old Village, with its chocolate-box thatched cottages,

has some lovely walks which any four-legged friend would enjoy,

plus an array of quaint shops.

There's a pretty coastline with plenty of room for young and old

to make the most of the views.

Just a few minutes' walk from the beach in the old village

is our second house and this time, it's detached.

A very different offering.

Goodness me.

-Oh, my goodness.

-That is different to what we've seen.

This is a very different face.

Wow, it looks huge!

It looks fabulous.

Is this more your cup of tea?

-Probably.

-Yeah?

No, there's no probably, is there, really? Let's be honest.

Well, this house is pretty much a new-build,

so it was built in the grounds of this house, actually,

this is portioned off, and it is an upside-down house.

So the downstairs is the bedroom, and the upstairs,

which has the views, is where you live.

So let's look inside.

This impressive stone house was only built around 14 years ago.

It's decked out with smart wooden windows and a natural slate roof.

Come on in.

So all the bedrooms are here, and then come in here,

this is the master.

-It's huge.

-God, it's big and I spy a little en suite there.

An en-suite with a shower. So what do you think of it so far?

-Lovely.

-Really lovely. It's a really well-maintained property.

Well, it's an upside-down house, so clearly the living quarters

are upstairs. Let's go and visit those.

Also on the ground floor is a family bathroom,

a single bedroom at the front of the house,

and a double at the back that overlooks the garden.

Plus, there's a large outside office which was once a garage.

Moving upstairs and we're starting off in the sitting room.

-It's lovely.

-Yeah?

-It's a very nice room.

Yeah, it is. It's lovely, isn't it? Impressive.

-Impressive?

-Impressive, yes indeed.

-I can just...

-Yeah.

-Yeah, you like it?

..I can just feel my wallet shrinking!

Across the hallway is the kitchen,

which has windows on the three outside walls.

Goodness me, that is massive.

It's lovely. That is one big kitchen.

I'm loving it.

-Overawed, I think, is the word you're looking for.

-I am a bit.

-Really?

-Mmm.

Oh, so it's kind of hitting the spot, is it?

-Very much so.

-Excellent.

It's purely the budget.

And the dogs.

What's the problem with the dogs?

Well, obviously, we're going to have to bring them in up the main stairs

all the time and they don't come back clean every time.

Well, that's OK, we'll just teach them to wipe their feet.

Oh, good luck with that.

You could build a little doggy... I mean, I have a hose,

we used to hose our dog down outside.

-That might be an idea.

-Yeah.

Then they'll just have wet paws up the stairs.

Or the dogs could be carried up to the well-equipped utility room

also on this floor, and have their paws cleaned there.

The first floor also has a dining room with access to a balcony

overlooking the garden.

This is the reason why they built it upside down.

-So you could have this.

-Oh, I can see the sea!

And in the winter when the leaves are off,

-you can see the shoreline much more clearly.

-Yeah, even better, yeah.

-Oh, you've got such a good panoramic view.

-Yeah.

You're certainly not overlooked.

No, you are not overlooked, you're overlooking.

So if you look here you can see, it's not a huge garden,

but there's definitely space for a couple of tents.

Oh, that'll be... Yeah, that's OK.

I feel like I've lost you both into some sort of nether world.

-You have.

-Yes.

I'm stuck on we can't afford this because of the location,

and the size of the property.

I feel I want to put you out of your misery about the price,

because it seems to be hamstringing your enthusiasm.

So how much do you think it's on the market for?

I would say it's significantly over budget.

So I would say it's got to be nearer the 400.

So I will go 385.

I'm going to be cheeky and I'm going to say 350, our budget,

and hope you've been kind.

Well, you're both wrong, I'm afraid,

because it's actually on the market for £325,000.

No!

-No, honestly?

-Yeah.

-325?

-325.

Superb, lovely. I don't know what to say.

-I can't say any more.

-Where do I sign the cheque?

So you're happy?

Very.

Well, I'm very happy you're pleased. We try to please.

Why don't you go and explore, because downstairs,

there is that big office that might be good for the dogs.

So have a wander round, go back in and I'll see you downstairs.

-Thank you, lovely.

-Thank you.

-Aww, they're so sweet.

-RENE AND HILARY LAUGH

They really were terrified that I was going to tell them it was,

like, £400,000 and they're kind of over the moon now that it's not.

This modern, three-bedroom, stone house

is a surprising £25,000 under Hilary and Rene's budget,

giving them a good amount of cash

to make changes for their precious pooches if they so desire.

The large office could also become the dogs' quarters.

The house is not only detached, it's spacious too.

The garden could easily house a couple of tents for visitors

and the views, as well as the proximity to the sea,

are more than Hilary and Rene could have hoped for.

Oh, wow! Come and have a look at this.

It's fantastic.

I mean, this is a workshop, it's whatever we want it to be.

This is a man shed.

Bagsy it, it's mine.

I love the house, I really love the house,

and I thought we couldn't afford it, but we can, so I'm really excited.

Well, when we came in the house, do you know what?

This, I think, is Hilary's dream house.

I think we've still got to think about

how we're going to accommodate the dogs.

Being an upside-down house, that will be something

we've got to overcome.

I am going to have to tear you away.

I know you love this one, but that's your lot for the day.

Time for a little rest and then tomorrow, the mystery house.

-I'll look forward to that, thank you.

-It'd better be a good one.

It's the second leg of our trip around the Isle of Wight,

searching out a home near the sea for Hilary and Rene from Cambridge.

They've got a healthy budget of £350,000

to spend on an island home for them and their two dogs.

Coming up, I hope I won't be left high and dry when I reveal

our mystery property.

Are you warming to it at all?

I'd love to think that we could or that we would.

And I'll be getting my hands dirty and feeling on top of the world.

I must stress that was pretty good for a beginner.

If I hadn't been doing this job for a while,

I would have thought that we were signed, sealed and delivered

with Property 2 yesterday,

judging by Rene and Hilary's first reactions.

However, I am picking up a little bit of what I call

"perfection heebie-jeebies".

You find the perfect house, it's got everything you want,

and then you think,

"Maybe there's a house that's even more perfect somewhere else."

And so then you start to find problems,

in Hilary's case, that it's not quite right for the dogs.

I don't think we're going to be able to solve that without

actually showing them every house on the island,

but with the mystery house, we're going to show them something

so different that it might just pull focus and make them decide.

So what do you think the mystery house is going to be?

-Rene's got an idea.

-I've got three theories.

-Three theories?

-Yes, indeed.

-Do share.

A lighthouse in need of...

-Renovation.

-..renovation.

-Perhaps something like a small B&B.

-Ah!

You'd love that, mine host, wouldn't you?

-RENE CHUCKLES

-Or a boat.

Maybe it's the boat.

Are you boaty types?

Well, Rene potentially would be.

More on a river than...

I'd be a bit worried about the tide coming in.

Travelling just over seven-and-a-half miles north-east

takes us to our third and final stop, Bembridge,

on the island's most easterly point.

With around 4,000 residents, Bembridge claims to be

the largest village in England and has plenty of shops and eateries

in its midst, as well as beaches along the attractive coast.

There's also a striking harbour

where we've come to unveil our last home.

You will never guess what the mystery house is going to be.

Unbelievable!

Well, you were almost there.

You said a B&B and you said a boat.

It's both.

-It's a boat that's a B&B?

-It's a boat that's a B&B.

Oh, amazing! How bizarre!

It was used, actually, by the Germans in the war

and then completely revamped and remodelled

to be a five-berth living accommodation

and actually it's now run as a B&B, very successfully.

Wow, amazing.

Do you know how much it made in August this year?

-I've got no idea of those things.

-I wouldn't have a clue.

-£7,000.

-Oh, my God.

In one month. Shall we get on board?

Yeah, I'd love to.

This Dutch barge, constructed from iron and steel, was built in Holland

in 1922 and weighs in at an incredible 140 tonnes.

She's lived on the Isle of Wight for eight years

and will soon be anchored to a permanent berth in the harbour.

Mind your head.

-Ah!

-Here is the wheel room.

Even if you're not going to buy it,

it's got to be a good feeling to be at the wheel.

Oh, it has indeed. Wonderful.

So you get a bit of an idea of the lay out,

it's quite simple really, it's like a big, long barge,

and this, really, this area here is your outside space.

-No lawn to mow.

-No lawn.

No, I can see me just getting a load of Astroturf down.

Well, this is our mystery house after all,

and with some lateral thinking, anything is possible.

Down a few stairs off the wheel room to the stern of the boat

is the captain's cabin, now a master bedroom complete with an en-suite.

Another stairway takes us below deck into an open-plan area

which includes the sitting room and a bona-fide galley kitchen.

-It's so big.

-It is big, isn't it? Surprising.

It looks so much wider down here than it does from up above.

-Is it growing on you?

-I think it's fabulous down here.

-And it's really big.

-Yeah.

-I mean, the kitchen area, there's loads of space.

-The kitchen's huge!

-Having spent time in a camper van, we know what you don't need.

-Yeah.

'Below deck, there's also a shared bathroom

'and a separate shower room, plus a further four bedrooms,

'all benefitting from natural light flooding in through the windows,

'sitting above sea level.'

-A little labyrinth of rooms.

-This is nice.

-Oh, I love it.

It's been beautifully dressed.

It really is a stunning looking accommodation.

-They've done all the rooms lovely.

-Are you warming to it at all?

I'd love to think that we could, or that we would.

I mean, our kids would love it.

-Oh, they would. Yeah. Oh, yeah! Without a doubt!

-Who wouldn't?

'I can almost see the wheels turning in Hilary and Rene's minds.

'They both clearly love this boat,

'but are wondering if it'll work for them and their dogs.

'This barge will soon be on a permanent berth, which means

'additional costs, like insurance, council tax and upkeep to consider.

'And even at a temporary mooring,

'houseboats incur extra expenses, like mooring costs.

'Up on the deck, the vista is hard to beat.'

You have to admit that it's few properties where you

get 360-degree view.

No, you can see...must be Portsmouth? What a lovely view.

-Oh, it's lovely.

-It is beautiful.

What do you think it's on the market for?

-Five-bedroom detached property...

-Very detached.

-Sea view.

-Stunning sea views.

-I would say it'll be 390...

-Whoo-hoo-hoo!

-What do you think, Hilary?

-I know it's got a sea view.

But I'd go 300.

-Well, in this instance, you're closer.

-I am?

Because actually,

this is the exact same price as the property yesterday afternoon.

-£325,000.

-Really?

If money was no object, I'd go for it, I'd say yes straightaway.

-What, you and the dogs?

-Yeah!

-But not your wife.

RENE LAUGHS

Well, if we had the money, I'd go for this

-and you could have house number two.

-Ah!

-Maybe 20 years ago,

-we would have had still some more of that adventurous streak.

-Yeah.

Go and explore. Who knows, inspiration may strike you.

-And we'll see you landside.

-Oh, dear. Get you. You've got all the lingo!

'This mystery house boat has certainly lived up to its name

'and has given Hilary and Rene a lot to think about.

'But although they love it,

'I'm not sure it's a style of living they'd want to experience.

'Although, if they do, they'll have £25,000 left in the pot to

'cover any additional waterside costs.

'It's certainly got character and a good number of bedrooms

'and I'm sure the dogs would find it a real adventure.

'As an existing B&B, it could make them money too.

'And the panoramic views are something that you just can't

'put a price on.'

I would have loved to have said, "Yes, let's give it a go,"

but I do feel it's a few years too late now.

And also, I think there would be too much of a worry on the financial

side of things to really consider it as a viable proposition.

I would love to have the courage to take on something like this,

but it scares me. We're not mariners.

We've never had anything much to do with the coast.

If we were sailors and knew about boats, then maybe.

It is a shame because it's absolutely lovely and the price...

the price, I just couldn't believe.

325 for what is effectively a little slice of recent history.

Get your land legs back on.

-There you go. Happy to be off? Or still entranced?

-Oh, I love it.

Love it. Yeah.

The longer I was on there, the more I wanted to stay on there.

-It's gorgeous.

-You couldn't wait to get off.

-It moves.

-It moves!

-It sways a bit.

-OK, let's get back on to firm land

-and we can talk about all the houses.

-Thank you.

'The Isle of Wight has long been known for its seafaring links

'and right in the heart of Cowes boatyard, Chris Adams

'celebrates both land and sea

'in the artisan handmade globes he makes,

'both his historical reproductions at modern day versions.

'He uses techniques that have hardly changed for over 300 years to

'produce these beautiful keepsakes.'

-Morning, Chris.

-Good morning.

A great spot to be talking about maps, isn't it?

If anybody needs maps and globes, these people do.

-It's the place to come.

-How did you get into making globes?

I've always had a keen interest in maps and geography

and I was struck by the fact there aren't any globe makers who

make globes in the traditional method any more, so I thought

it was a great opportunity to keep alive a craft from centuries ago.

-And this is one of your pieces?

-This is one of my modern ones.

I've made all the cartography myself,

using NASA satellite imagery.

Plotted all the place names myself, which was quite painstaking.

Beautiful thing. What is the history of globes?

Globe making was widely regarded as having started in Nuremburg,

in Germany, in the 15th century.

So, shortly after Columbus works out that you can go around the world.

Yes, indeed. It wasn't flat, as a lot of people thought.

'As our ancestors discovered more about the world we live in,

'maps evolved to include their findings.

'Chris's historic globes use exact reproductions of maps

'from years gone by.'

This looks pretty old. When's this from?

-That is from 1680.

-And what's missing at this stage?

Our knowledge was fairly sketchy. The Northwest Passage and Alaska.

Things that were discovered at a later date.

You can tell when a globe was made by exactly what is missing,

-in terms of geography.

-And this one's even older?

-Yes, this was from 1762.

-They don't even have Australia here.

-It's called New Holland.

-Yes.

I didn't know Australia was called New Holland.

And a vague stab at New Zealand.

They knew it was there, but they don't know the shape.

-They don't know the shape, they just drew a bit of coast.

-Yes.

'Chris has been making these beautiful spheres for 11 years

'and he produces around 200 a year.

'He's shipped them to customers as far away as Australia

'and South Africa.'

This is your globe making empire.

Yes, this is where the globes are made. This is how we do it.

So, this is historically how they were made?

This is how they were made centuries ago.

First of all, you have to line the mould.

-That's just normal plaster for walls.

-It's plaster of Paris.

Plaster of Paris. OK.

-And when it starts to dry, it clings to the side...

-Oh, I see.

And then you end up with a shell of plaster.

You end up with a thing shell of fairly hard plaster.

And that gives us the outer shell of the globe.

When that dries, I join two together to give us our globe.

-So, that's literally all it is, just a shell of plaster.

-Yes.

Isn't that terribly fragile?

It's a fairly hardwearing plaster and I also line it with card.

-OK.

-Which is how they used to do it as well.

'The very first globes, centuries ago, were generally solid and very

'expensive, made from materials such as glass, marble, wood and metal.

'Then, they became hollow, which makes them

'much more cost-effective and much lighter.'

And here's one in process.

I started that one last night, so perhaps you

would like to have a go and see if you can do one yourself.

God, you're very trusting of me.

I wouldn't trust me to do it, but I will definitely have a go.

'The map itself is applied to the sphere in gauze,

'or sections with glue.'

Just make sure every bit is covered.

So do you line up the equator?

Yeah, start off on the equator.

And then we take a stick to burnish it.

-Do it across?

-Across and down.

Presumably, you're a bit quicker, are you?

Yes.

There you go. It's quite stressful!

That was pretty good for a beginner.

-Thanks, Chris.

-My pleasure.

-Wonderful.

Who knew that globes could be so interesting?

I'm impressed.

Very impressed.

I fear that the mystery house is a ship that has sailed,

or not, as the case may be,

but house number two is a very strong contender.

I'm just a bit worried that Hilary may have found

some more reasons not to buy it.

Let's go and find them and see what they think.

Once again, thank you for bringing me to the Isle of Wight.

It's just been gorgeous!

We've been lucky with the weather.

And have we succeeded in getting you hooked into the property scene?

I mean, do you think there's a contender in amidst our choices?

The one yesterday.

-The second house?

-Yeah.

Definitely, the second house, yeah.

It was the perfect location.

The lay out is...

not quite what we would choose,

but we think there would be ways to get round it to make it work for us.

I think what we need to do is go and have another look,

because we do have the dogs to consider.

We have to see if things can be altered to accommodate them,

but I think, in all fairness,

number two is our house of choice.

And I think we would certainly consider putting in an offer.

What's the timescale, cos you've sold your house in Cambridge?

Yes, we have.

Well, we'd like to go back and see the house again, hopefully tomorrow.

We'll have a look to see if

things that need to be done are achievable,

and, hopefully, if all things are equal,

then I think it'll probably take as long as it takes.

Well, that covers all the bases.

-LAUGHTER

-Well, it's been an absolute joy showing you around,

it really has, and I hope that you move here,

because then maybe we can come and visit.

You'd be more than welcome.

I'm glad to hear it.

The Isle of Wight -

I have to say, I can't understand why we don't come here more often

because it's a beautiful location

and the property is very reasonable.

And I think that Rene and Hilary,

when they look around - they haven't had a chance to look

at too many properties - they will find out what a good deal

property number two is, and hopefully move on it,

although I can't guarantee that.

That is part of the jeopardy of the show

and I hope it's one of the reasons you tune in.

So make sure you tune in next time

for more Escape To The Country.

Hilary and Rene did revisit our second house,

but decided that although they loved it,

it just wasn't suitable for their dogs.

But it did leave them wanting to continue their search in

or near Shanklin, and they're already planning their next trip

to the Isle of Wight.

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