Devon Escape to the Country

Welcome to Escape To The Country. At 1,425 feet above sea level,

that isolated building behind me

is said to be the highest public house in the south of England.

It's also claimed to be the third highest in Britain.

So where have we come today to quench our thirst?

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

Today our house-hunting couple is waving goodbye to a lifetime

spent in Essex and following family ties to a new life in the country.

That is certainly a farmhouse kitchen.

There are smiles here.

I love the range, that's lovely.

And there are surprises around every corner.

It's very quirky.

-Yeah, it's lovely.

-A bit like us, really.

Well, today we are in Devon, right on top of Dartmoor.

And this is the remote Warren House Inn.

It was built in 1845

and it's said that

a fire has been burning in this grate, continuously, ever since.

Now, originally the pub catered for many of the local tin mining villages,

but since the last mine closed in 1930,

it's survived on passing trade and tourism - a business which

brings in some three million visitors to Dartmoor itself every year.

But, take it from me - if you are in this part of the world,

it makes a very welcome rest for many a weary walker.

The third largest county in England, Devon

sits in the south-west of England and is bordered by Cornwall to the

west and Somerset and Dorset to the east.

The county is home to some of Britain's most beautiful

and dramatic countryside.

Inland, the Exmoor and Dartmoor national parks are bound with

stunning rolling moorland, dense woodland and patchwork fields

with sensational high points overlooking the open sea beyond.

The coast near the village of Combe Martin

is equally breathtaking, with a beautiful secluded bay sheltering

a green, clear ocean, overlooked by dramatic tree-topped rocks.

And agriculture provides an eclectic Devon canvas,

with a landscape of farmer's stripes and sandy hay bales,

contrasting with the land's vibrant greens and bright blue sky.

And with villages like Croyde near the coast, where flowers

and shrubs frame thatched cottages,

and where tiled roofs are a feature too,

it's easy to see why Devon has an appeal to those escaping city life.

Now, at £297,000,

the cost of your average detached property here in Devon is

some 30,000 above the national figure.

And that can dramatically increase,

particularly around the coastal hot spots of Dartmouth and

Salcombe, where houses regularly go for twice the national figure.

But don't be put off - you'll certainly get a lot more

value for money up in the north-west and over towards the east of the county.

So, let's now meet today's buyers

and find out why they think Devon could be their new home.

Retirees Lorna and Nigel have lived in Rayleigh, Essex for 39 years,

and they've been in their current home -

a three-bedroom detached house with their two sons - for 29 of those.

But it was delightful Devon that brought them

together almost half a century ago,

where Nigel was working as an apprentice carpenter and joiner.

We've been married 45 years, this year.

We've been together 47.

We met in Torquay - I lived there and Lorna came down on holiday.

And realised that we wanted to be together,

and after that I moved down, that was in the July, wasn't it?

That was in the July.

I moved down to Torquay in the November,

and it was a holiday romance that lasted.

They've never forgotten the beautiful county,

and since Lorna and Nigel both still have family there, they've decided

that now they've retired, Devon is where they want to be.

I think the main reason I want to move to Devon is

because of my family ties.

What I call home is where I was born, in Devon.

North Devon, I find, is a very rustic,

unspoiled part of the country.

There's some lovely coastal walkways

and paths that we love walking on,

even in the winter.

It's just really picturesque and peaceful.

Essex has been good to them, but after a recent loss

in the family, they feel the time is right to move on to pastures new.

The right time for us to move now is

because your mother is no longer with us and...

-Yeah, and she was the one thing that kept us here, really.

-..that was the tie.

So we've both got leisure time on our hands.

We've stopped work and we can take up some other activities that

we've not been able to do here.

And with a host of hobbies already keeping them busy,

they're both looking forward to making the most of their free time

together as a couple.

We definitely need to spend more time doing things

together, as well as our current list of hobbies.

As our own hobbies, yeah.

So that's something that's important - that we can actually do things and share.

We love walking, so what we're expecting to get from moving

to Devon is we'll live in an environment that we can actually

leave the house and go out on the walks.

-That's important to us.

-Yeah.

Nice long walks.

My other hobby is golf, which takes up three days, at the moment,

of my life.

-Sometimes four.

-Yep.

Their son Greg will be upping sticks too and joining them

in their move to Devon.

So, with their house on the market, there's nothing stopping

Lorna and Nigel returning to the county where they first met.

I'm excited about moving to Devon.

I'm looking at it as a new challenge and something different

in the rest of our life together.

Yes, a new fresh start,

I think that'll be excellent and I think that's what we both need.

-The next chapter of our life.

-Yes.

Lorna and Nigel have asked us to concentrate our property

search near Barnstaple in north Devon, where Nigel's mother was born.

They'd ideally like to be within ten miles to the south of the town,

but are happy to consider moving slightly further afield

if the house is right.

But before we start our search for the property that's going to

bring Nigel back to his roots, I'm meeting them in the county,

to get to grips with the detail of their property desires.

Well, Lorna and Nigel, welcome.

Here we are, back in Devon, mate.

-Yes, home at last.

-Home at last.

I knew I would come back sometime, but it was whether I can

win Lorna round to agree to it.

-Well, look at Devon, Lorna, I mean, it's...

-I know.

How could you not like this?

It's a new beginning for us, that's the way we're looking at it.

A new beginning, and a new beginning also for one of your sons, Greg.

He's going to come with you and start over here in Devon.

-He is, yes.

-He's going to start his life down here as well.

What kind of a property have you been lusting after,

dreaming about all these years then?

Definitely a detached property.

Ideally, four bedrooms with a lovely kitchen/diner

and, ideally, I'd like somewhere for my art because I love my art.

And you, sir, were a carpenter, joiner.

Carpenter and joiner, yes.

So you still want somewhere to have a little tinker, don't you?

Yes, things need doing and I need space.

What about the style though?

Well, we like the older properties,

but I much prefer a more contemporary, modern interior.

-Something that's been refurbed. really, would be ideal.

-OK.

So, for all of this then, how much have we got to spend?

-425,000.

-£425,000.

That should go quite a long way here.

-We're hoping it will.

-We hope so.

We've whittled down our initial shortlist to just three

properties to show you, including, of course, our mystery house.

So, let's see.

We've got two days to help you find your new home

and to indulge this glorious county on a glorious day such as this.

-Right then, come on.

-Lovely, thank you.

Lorna and Nigel have a decent budget for North Devon, and their wish list

does seem realistic for the cash they've got to play with.

They'd like a detached house with four bedrooms.

And while there're happy with a period exterior, they'd like

the inside to be bright and modern,

with a good sized kitchen/diner.

They'd also love a space for Lorna to use as an art room

and another for former carpenter and joiner Nigel to pursue his hobby.

And as son Greg will be joining them

to begin with, there'll

need to be room for him too.

Lorna and Nigel are looking forward to returning to the place

they first met, and we've chosen three completely contrasting

properties for them to peruse.

And only after they've inspected each house will they find out its price tag.

Their last stop will be our mystery house, which may, at first glance,

seem to veer off track from their wish list,

but I'm hoping that it will be a welcome diversion.

The thing I love about Devon are these deep lanes

-and these steep wooded valleys...

-Yes.

..and these wonderful little villages tucked away in the bottom.

-It really is kind of otherworldly.

-It is.

-It's a big wrench for you, isn't it?

-It is, it is a big wrench.

I mean, I love Devon because I've lived in Devon when

we first got married and also when the children were born down here.

So I've got a strong affinity with Devon,

so, in a way, it's sort of like coming semi-home to me as well.

We're kicking off our Devon property search

in the north of the county in the village of Stoke Rivers,

just over six miles north-east of Barnstaple

and just over four miles south of the village of Bratton Fleming.

Bratton Fleming itself runs along one street,

with a store and a traditional, friendly pub.

Plus, there's also a village hall where newcomers can

get to know the locals, and there's also a sports club.

Just under a 10-minute drive

and we're in Stoke Rivers at our first property.

There we are.

-Property number one.

-That looks nice.

-It does, doesn't it?

-Yeah. Big.

It is actually very big and we're in this lovely little hamlet.

It's so quiet here.

There's a really vibrant community.

-Every month in the village hall there's an art club.

-Oh, really?

And the next-door neighbour is an art teacher.

-Wow.

-How about that?

-That sounds good.

But this, I think, is really interesting.

It's only 10 or 11 years old.

-I was going to say, it doesn't look very old.

-But it's all done.

-Right, lovely.

-And it also comes with that feature alongside it.

That's interesting.

Now, down below you've got a garage/workshop,

and above it an amazing one-bedroom studio.

Oh, wow. I can't wait to see.

The studio will have to wait, as we're heading

straight for the main house.

We're going to the back of the property and across a raised

veranda, which leads to a large, bright entrance hall.

Right, in you come. This is a nice kind of welcome, isn't it?

-It is, it's lovely.

-Let's go into the living room, first of all.

-That's a nice size lounge, isn't it?

-Yes, isn't it?

Leading onto that sunroom, garden room, and then that way, a study.

-Oh, OK.

-I can see you're scanning it all with the craftsman's eye.

I'm looking at all the building bits and, yes, it's good.

-Does it meet with your approval, sir?

-Yes.

-Excellent, hurrah.

But back across the hallway, we've got

you...

separate dining room in there,

but it all flows into the kitchen.

Yeah, that's quite a nice sized kitchen, isn't it?

It's probably not as modern as I would actually like.

Really? OK.

I do like the white, sleek cupboards and more granite work surfaces.

-It's very nice.

-It's lovely.

This is a nice kitchen.

Just next to the kitchen is a utility room,

accessed from the front of the house, and a cloakroom.

But next, we're headed upstairs, where there's a family bathroom

and four bedrooms -

one in each corner of the house with a master at the back overlooking

-the garden.

-That's a nice size room.

-That's a nice room, isn't it?

-With those lovely views.

-The views are stunning, aren't they?

-Yeah, they're beautiful.

And there's your en-suite.

-Right.

-A little shower room.

-Oh, yeah, that's nice, isn't it?

-It is, isn't it?

I want to finish up by taking you next door into this

studio, which is fabulous.

-OK.

-Come on, let's have a look.

The studio above the garage has a seating area, a bed,

a kitchenette and a shower room, and it's currently used

as a holiday let, but it would be perfect as an art space for Lorna.

Now, how about that then, Lorna? Come on.

-Oh, wow. That is amazing.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

I think the whole glass just opens up the vista completely, doesn't it?

You haven't come to Devon looking for a business,

but this is a bonus.

Do you think about keeping this as a little bit

of income on the side or do you say, "No, this is my art studio?"

Well, I'd be torn, I must admit,

because it would make a lovely art studio, but I think we'd be

silly to disclaim it when you could have a slight income from it.

Well, you're going to have to fight to keep Greg out of here

because he's not going to want to leave home, is he?

Well, he couldn't come in because he never would leave.

There's certainly a lot to think about as we head to the back of the

house to the attractive garden, with its flowerbeds, shrubs and trees.

We haven't really had a chance to consider what the back of this property looks like.

No.

But there it is, with this lovely veranda, the wisteria there.

And there's that fabulous picture window above in the studio.

-Yes, that is amazing.

-It's beautiful, isn't it?

So, come on then, Lorna. What's it worth, property one?

I would go for 405,000.

Oh, very clear.

A very definite 405. Nigel?

I'm going to be cheeky and go 395.

395. An optimistic 395 from Nigel.

Well, here's the thing.

-It's on the market at £400,000.

-Oh, right.

-Wow.

Now, there is one bit that I really do want you to explore

and I know you're itching to have a look at,

and that is the workshop and the garage area below the studio.

And then the house is yours.

-Roam around and I'll catch up with you a little bit later.

-Smashing.

-Thanks, Jules.

-Go on, then. Off you go.

This detached house has the modern interior Lorna

and Nigel like, plus the number of bedrooms they're looking for.

There's the bonus of a stand-alone garage

and studio, which could provide a welcome income as a holiday let,

as well as giving Nigel a workshop and Lorna an art space.

And there are attractive grounds with stunning views.

So this is the garage.

This actually could be...

used as a workshop or an art studio for you.

Cos all I need is a small space.

-You could have one end and I could have this end as a studio.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, that would be...

-That would work, wouldn't it?

-Yeah.

It's very nice. I was surprised at how modern it was.

I liked the galleried landing as we walked in.

And all the rooms are a nice size, the lounge is a nice size

and the master bedroom.

And the bonus, obviously, is the holiday let which is amazing,

really, and I think would have to be kept as a holiday let.

It's too nice... Although I'd like to use it myself.

The workshop area, for me, I think the garage would possibly be

converted into that and possibly an art studio for Lorna by putting

a big window in the back, get more light in.

Well, that's it from property one. We've got two more to come

but in the meantime we might treat you to some lunch.

That sounds good.

Artist Lorna and former carpenter Nigel are both looking forward

to bringing their hobbies with them to Devon.

And to give them some inspiration, we've arranged for them

to meet Merlyn Chesterman,

a local artist who uses the Chinese art form of woodcut printing,

dating back to 5 AD, to produce prints

inspired by the landscape around her.

They're meeting at the splendid Hartland Quay,

somewhere Merlyn loves to use as a backdrop to her artwork.

-Well, welcome to Hartland Quay.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

I brought some wood blocks.

I'm a wood block print maker and you're going to have a go.

What does that actually involve?

One cuts into a block of wood and then we'll ink up the block

and put paper on top

and apply pressure either with a press or by hand.

And how does the Devon coastline affect your work?

It's a great place to live and work.

You've got these wonderful chevron folds.

I mean, I understand that these are the greatest chevron folds

-in the world.

-Oh, really?

-I mean, they are amazing, aren't they?

-They certainly are.

-Let's go and find somewhere to sit and work.

OK, lovely.

The first stage in woodcut printing is to sketch a design onto a wooden board.

Merlyn, Lorna and Nigel are using the dramatic scenery

before them as their inspiration.

-I want you to choose something that interests you.

-Right.

Sketch it out quickly and roughly.

Merlyn believes that speed is key because she thinks that

when you're under pressure you often produce your best work.

-That is an extraordinary landscape, isn't it?

-Is certainly is.

-These are looking really great.

-Oh, thank you.

-Lots of detail.

-Certainly is.

-So, I think we ought to go back to the studio

-and get cutting.

-OK, sounds good.

Merlyn exhibits her work locally in her studio

but also in some of the biggest galleries in the country

including the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Here, at an art centre in the village of Hartland,

Lorna and Nigel will bring their work to life.

They'll use different size tools to cut their designs onto

the wooden blocks.

OK. So, I think we're ready to go. Work as fast as you can.

It takes Lorna and Nigel around an hour to carefully cut

their images of the rugged coastline they sketched at Hartland Quay.

Great. I love these diagonal lines.

I think that's going to print out really nicely. Let's go and print.

OK.

The wooden block is sanded down before oil-based black ink is

applied to the design with a roller.

More experienced artist can also experiment with colour.

Then paper, with the smooth side down, is laid on top of the ink.

This is called a baren. And it's Japanese, it's a bamboo leaf.

And it's for burnishing.

Burnishing is the process of rubbing the paper

so the ink image is transferred from the wooden block.

And burnish really hard and if you've inked it well,

you don't need to burnish for very long.

So... The big moment.

-Wow.

-Wow.

-That's brilliant, isn't it?

-OK, so it's your turn now.

Yeah, that's right. Keep lifting it. And... Small and often is best.

Just cover it.

And then reload until it's a solid black.

So, make sure it's stuck.

Round and round. That's good.

The reveal.

Put it down, let's have a look.

-It's lively, isn't it?

-It is lively.

Yeah. And I love the clouds.

Some more ink and a good rub

and it's Nigel's turn to transfer his design.

It is interesting that you haven't cut as deeply.

Yes, I was going for the soft effect.

SHE LAUGHS

It is easier to get a bit of welly on that.

-Wow.

-That's different.

-That's really

-a strong cutting. I like it.

-Do you?

-Yes.

-It is nice.

-Yeah.

-I'm glad you said that.

-I think it is a great first proof. Yeah.

-And I really enjoyed it.

I did find the cutting the hardest part.

-For me, the drawing I found easier.

-It is not obvious.

SHE LAUGHS

But, yes, it is certainly something I'd like to do again,

and I definitely think I will try it at home.

For our next visit we are travelling just under 15 miles

south-east to the village of Bishops Nympton, which is around 16 miles

south-east of Barnstaple, and an eight-minute drive from South Molton.

South Molton itself is an attractive market town with

a good selection of artisan shops and local food producers.

Plus there's the added attraction of the Quince Honey Farm,

where the world's largest exhibition of honeybees is housed.

A journey of just under four miles takes us to the

edge of Bishops Nympton and our second property.

-That is property number two.

-Right.

That looks big. SHE LAUGHS

-It is very long.

-It is actually an old farmhouse.

-Oh, right, OK.

-What do you think, Nigel?

It is very different, the setting of it.

But it's got all those lovely old farmhouse proportions.

And lots of character that's still in there.

I'm very conscious of the fact that the challenge you face isn't

just a practical one...in terms of moving here, it is an emotional one.

-Yes.

-From leaving behind all that's been familiar for the last 30,

40 years or so. But I think this is an interesting idea.

No, it certainly... Certainly interested to go in and see.

-See more inside.

-Have you ever been in a building like this before?

-No.

-No.

-Ah.

Well, there we are, you see, that might

-be where we are going to make some headway. Come on.

-OK.

'This period farmhouse is thought to be over 250 years old.

'It's pretty eco-friendly, too,

'with solar roof panels which help save on bills.'

The traditional way of entering a farmhouse.

Into the kitchen first.

-That is certainly a farmhouse kitchen.

-Isn't it?

-Yes.

That is.

-Oh, there are smiles here.

-I love the range, that's lovely.

-What are you thinking, Nigel?

-It is a lovely...

a lovely space, isn't it?

Yes, a very nice space. You've got the new and the old together.

-That's it, yes.

-Keen to see more.

-Yeah, come look at this.

This is the dining room in here.

-That's a nice dining room.

-It is.

-A lovely size.

-How about that?

-You haven't spotted that yet.

-Oh, wow, yes.

-Yes, look at that.

'And the farmhouse character continues

'just across the hall in the sitting room.'

That's nice.

It's not as big as I'd imagined it to be, but it is very cosy.

-Mm-hm.

-Yes. I was going to say snug.

Snug in a nice way, not snug, it's small,

but it is cosy and a warm feeling.

-Should we go upstairs?

-Yes.

-Let's have a look at this.

'A small doorway takes us to the

'first floor, where there is a family bathroom, a shower room,

'a single bedroom, a double bedroom,

'a bedroom cum study

'and sandwiched in between them all is the master.'

-The views are lovely from here.

-How's the upstairs doing, Nigel,

because it was all going quite well downstairs?

-Doesn't flow up here as well as the downstairs. Downstairs was lovely.

-Yeah.

Up here I'm churning things over in my head at the moment,

trying to work out how we could, how it could work for us.

Yes, I must admit I much preferred downstairs than upstairs.

And our happy meter has dropped off a bit as we've come upstairs,

-is that right?

-Yes, it has a bit, I think.

-But there have been smiles here...

-Oh, yes.

-..which is good.

Better than I thought it was going to be, I must admit.

-Should we go talk about the price, then?

-Yes.

-Let's go back out there.

'On paper this old farmhouse gives Lorna

'and Nigel the space they need in a home,

'but it seems something is stopping them feeling that it's right for them.

'Maybe they will have a change of heart when they see the delightful gardens with a large patio,

'fruit trees and stunning views to boot.'

Garden-wise, what you see is pretty much what you get.

There is an area of hard standing around the corner there,

which might allow you to put up a freestanding timber workshop.

-Yes.

-But there's no garage...as such.

So, let's talk about the price then, Nigel.

I'd say 420.

I'm going to be silly and say just under the 400,000.

-This is on the market at 450.

-Oh.

-Right.

-But open to offers.

-OK.

-But there is a lot to think about.

-There is, yes.

I think it is the maintenance side of it, that worries us slightly.

-Have another look around.

-OK.

-Go on, off you go.

This character farmhouse is £25,000 over Lorna and Nigel's budget,

but the vendors are open to offers and it does have a lot going for it.

There's a great kitchen diner,

plus there are just the number of bedrooms they are after.

With one perfect as a study for Nigel.

It may not offer an obvious workshop or art room,

but the house is spacious

and there are definitely rooms that could be given a new purpose.

The gardens and views really make the most of the Devon

countryside, and there's easy access to the amenities in the village.

When we actually came into the house, erm, there was

quite a big wow factor coming into the kitchen.

It's a very nice kitchen, the way it's laid out.

I was a little bit worried at the...

the age of it and thinking about the maintenance side

was the first thing I thought of. I was surprised at the size of it.

-It looked very big.

-We looked upstairs and...

My mood changed slightly when we went up there

because of the spaces and the sizes of the rooms.

I think the one thing that struck me as well

is I couldn't see where I could have an art room.

-Here you are. All done?

-Yes, all done.

Ready for a nice cold pint of the local?

-That sounds a really good idea.

-Definitely.

-Come on then, let's go.

-OK.

BIRDSONG

It's the second leg of our trip around Devon, looking

for a new place for Lorna and Nigel, from Rayleigh in Essex, to call home.

And with a healthy £425,000 to spend on a detached house,

they're looking forward to returning to the county where Nigel grew up.

And where he first met Lorna, almost 50 years ago.

'Coming up - I'll be throwing a cat amongst the pigeons

with our mystery house.'

-Are we happy, Nigel?

-Yes. Yeah, very happy. I like it.

-Absolutely, yeah.

-Very much.

-Certainly is a mystery house.

-10 out of 10.

-10 out of 10?

'And I'll be getting down and dirty with some Devon locals.'

Well, I think, as we've discovered so far,

the business of moving for Nigel and Lorna isn't just

a physical process of getting themselves from Essex to Devon.

It also involves an enormous emotional component as well.

And in my experience, the best way to overcome that is just to keep looking.

To keep going through the door of as many properties as you can.

So, that is a theme we're going to continue with. One more to come.

It's mystery house time.

Well, I think the field's still wide open.

-I think you're still waiting for a property to come and grab you.

-Yes.

-In a way that perhaps you didn't expect it to.

-Yes, possibly.

I'm just waiting for that...

That feeling you get that you know this is the one.

Which we got with the house we are currently in and that's

what I guess... I'm hoping that I'll get that feeling again.

-You never know, maybe the mystery house might do it.

-Well, we can hope!

-We hope so.

A 35-minute journey West takes us to our final

destination in the village of Alverdiscott, around 20 minutes

south of Barnstaple and five miles from the town of Great Torrington.

Great Torrington sits in the middle of beautiful

North Devon countryside.

The setting for the 1920s novel, Tarka The Otter.

The town has plenty of shops and eateries lining its pretty streets.

Plus, most exciting of all for Nigel, there's a golf club just over

10 minutes away from our third and final property, the mystery house.

-So, this is our mystery house.

-He-he! That's different.

-It is very different. There is a complex of converted properties here in this old farmyard.

-Right.

Erm, the one I want you to think about is that yellow rendered chunk.

-Right.

-It is by far the biggest.

-I was going to say, it looks enormous.

-It all goes sort of that way.

-Wow.

Again, we've stepped back in time,

-in terms of the structure of the property.

-Mm.

-But inside, it's absolutely brand-new.

-Oh, brilliant.

-OK.

-Sounds good.

-Yeah?

-Can't wait to see.

-Are you happy?

-BOTH: Yes.

-Absolutely.

-Is this a mystery house worth taking a closer look at?

-Oh, definitely.

-Definitely.

-Right, come on then.

'This interesting property is one of five here.

'It was converted 24 years ago and is actually two homes knocked into one.

'It may not be the detached home Lorna and Nigel are hoping for

'but our mystery house is sure to deliver on many other levels.'

-Come into our mystery house. That's the dining room.

-Oh, yeah. Lovely.

-All right?

-OK.

-But it all flows through to the kitchen.

-Ah! Wow!

-Wow.

-That is lovely.

-Lovely.

-Definitely up my street.

-I thought it might be.

I mean, when it was two properties, this was the dividing line.

-Oh, I see.

-So, in making it all one, they've pushed through.

-It's very quirky.

-Yeah. It's lovely.

-A bit like us, really!

THEY LAUGH

It's just laid out exactly as I would have it done myself.

And through that door there is the utility room, downstairs loo

-and all the rest of it.

-No, it's all been done beautifully.

-It's lovely, isn't it?

-It's really lovely. I want to see more now.

There's plenty of it! Come and have a look at this.

'Across the hallway is the sitting room.

'Once a round barn, it has a small mezzanine floor above it

'and a conservatory to the back.'

-Wow!

-NIGEL LAUGHS

-It's different again, isn't it?

-I am gobsmacked.

-What a space!

-It's beautiful. Really lovely.

It's just been done so tastefully.

-Sort of Christmassy, you can imagine, everybody being here for Christmas, couldn't you?

-Yeah.

-Are we happy, Nigel?

-Yes. Yeah, very happy. I like it.

-Absolutely, yeah.

-Very much.

-Certainly is a mystery house. 10 out of 10.

-10 out of 10?

Oh, excellent! Right. Well, there's plenty more to spoil you with.

Come this way.

'Lorna and Nigel's reaction to this unusual conversion

'is just what I've been waiting for. It has so many surprises all under one roof.

'And just across the hallway is a cosy snug.'

And it's got this lovely great big window above there,

pouring light into it. So, maybe that's where you do the art?

Oh, it's a lovely room. I think it's far too nice to do art in there.

I wouldn't want to spoil it. I think it's lovely as it is, to be honest.

Well, my dad uses their conservatory for his artwork.

Maybe you could do the same with this one.

The light is amazing here. And you've got the views as well, which could inspire.

Yeah, I think this is where the art would be.

'Not only does the ground floor contain the impressive rooms

'we've seen but there's also a self-contained annexe.

'It has a living area and shower room.

'And upstairs, an en-suite bedroom, which would be just the ticket

'for Lorna and Nigel's son, Greg, while he finds his feet here in Devon.

And as we move upstairs, in the main house, there is

also a family bathroom and four bedrooms.

There are two singles, with a shared en-suite, another single and a large master.

-Ah, that's a lovely size, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Yeah.

-Now, it's not en-suite but the bathroom is right next door.

-Yes.

-So, if you shifted the door...

-Yes.

..down the corridor, you could make it that way.

-But, to be honest, you wouldn't need to.

-It's not a problem, is it?

-It's just there.

-An en-suite is not a big issue, is it?

-No.

Are we still on a magical 10?

Erm, I think I'd give 10 downstairs probably 9 upstairs.

But again, it's just the sizes of the other bedrooms,

-I think is making that just go down a little bit.

-Yeah.

I'm still happy with a generous nine

and, hopefully, the score will increase

when Lorna and Nigel have seen outside.

A beautiful landscaped garden,

with a contemporary deck terrace and panoramic views.

It's really nice, yeah.

And it's a lovely garden and it's level, which is

-a bonus for a garden in Devon.

-Yeah.

Would this keep you busy enough, Nigel?

It's a size that I won't be out here very long.

You're going to be out playing golf, aren't you?

-Yeah, that's right.

-That's what it is. Yeah.

Let's get down to the nitty-gritty.

It's difficult, because it's so beautiful,

-but, bearing in mind it's not detached...

-Yep.

-Erm...

-Bang on the budget of 425.

-425, yeah, Nigel?

Yeah, I think it might be slightly more.

So we'll go...

440,000.

I think your instincts are right. But the reality is quite different.

This is on the market

-for £350,000.

-You're joking?

-Wow.

-How about that?

-Well!

-Yeah.

Yeah! Does that make your mind up?

LORNA LAUGHS It certainly helps.

Go and have a look. Go and see what you're going to do

-with all that space.

-OK.

-OK.

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

Well, there we go. Our magical mystery tour has ended

with yet another magical mystery house.

I do love it when a plan comes together.

This rather stunning barn conversion

is an unbelievable £75,000 under Lorna and Nigel's budget,

which would give them a fabulous amount of pocket money

to spend well into their retirement.

As our mystery house, it might not be detached, but its exterior

is full of character and the interior is completely modernised.

The space it offers them means there's enough rooms

to pursue their hobbies.

The manicured gardens are just perfect to take in

the splendid views and the annexe would give their son, Greg,

his own space and privacy.

-Oh, this is nice, isn't it?

-Yeah.

That would make a lovely erm...

-..lounge.

-..lounge.

-Or even another bedroom.

-Yes, that's true.

-Because there's another en-suite through there, as well.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, that would work really well.

-Yeah.

It's something totally different.

It's outside of my comfort zone, initially.

But it works well.

A real wow factor when we first walked in.

Everything's done... I mean, the kitchen is amazing.

Just the sort of kitchen I would really love.

It had so many possibilities.

Plenty of room for everybody,

even if we had, you know, a load of friends arrive at the same time.

There's somewhere for everybody to go.

The actual layout of this and the size of it

is a lot larger than I was thinking.

But it is so beautiful. I think it's certainly a strong contender.

-Well, you were hoping for a property that would grab you.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-This one certainly has.

-Hasn't it just?

-Definitely.

And, I'll be honest, I was a bit nervous with only one to go.

Would we do it, but...

-maybe our mystery house is the one.

-Yeah.

It's certainly given us lots to think about.

-Yeah, we need to go away and think and...

-Yeah.

Do a lot of thinking and a bit more research

and get a few questions answered, don't we?

-Yeah. I think so.

-Yeah. Come on then.

Devon is the textbook retreat in the summer months

and the waft of barbecue smoke, fuelled by charcoal,

often fills the air.

In the UK, we buy around 60,000 tonnes of the black fuel each year.

But around 98% of it comes from overseas.

Here, near Rackenford in rural Devon, Anna and Pete Grugeon

traded in city life for the good life six years ago

and produce about 3,000 bags of charcoal a year

from wood felled on or near their 12½ acre smallholding.

-Nice to see you.

-I'm glad you got this up.

-It's pouring down out there.

-That's typical, yeah.

Such is the life of a pair of charcoal makers.

It can't be barbecue weather every day.

So what got you into charcoal making?

Well, we wanted to buy our own bit of land.

This bit of land, it lends itself to charcoal production.

We've got overgrown hedges, so, by managing the land,

we can take uncommercially viable wood, turn it into charcoal.

But for anybody not in the know,

what is charcoal?

Charcoal's basically carbonised wood.

You...

..take a piece of wood and, in effect, you burn it.

It removes all the water, it removes the volatile chemicals

and you're left with what is reasonably close to pure carbon.

It's amazing, isn't it? And it's always incredibly light,

that's what I find amazing.

So I suppose the great thing is you're using every component

that a felled tree could possibly offer you.

Yes, so it does make it very cost-effective

and environmentally sustainable.

Well, I'm fascinated to see how you do it.

To turn rough wood into a product that you can now sell sustainably.

I think that's brilliant.

The wood Anna and Pete use is hardwood.

Ash, beech, oak and birch and it's felled at least six months

before it's turned into charcoal, to let it season or dry out.

It's a great way of using these old hedgerows, isn't it? Cos you've got

-to thin them out.

-Yeah.

-And most of the time, this would just be chipped

-on the side of the road, wouldn't it?

-Absolutely.

Or just piled up and burned, if it's in the woods.

-But you're using all of yours?

-We are.

-Not a lot goes to waste.

-No.

The wood's taken back to the barn,

where it's split with an axe to make smaller pieces

and then stored before being transferred to the kiln.

Do you just chuck it in or is there some system?

There is. We have the larger bits in the middle,

cos that's the hottest part of the kiln.

And then working our way to smaller bits towards the edge.

The kiln is a bottomless cylinder of steel.

It needs to be full to the top for the dried out wood

and Anna and Pete burn around 45 kiln-loads of wood a year.

The charcoal it produces is sold locally to farm shops,

campsites and butchers.

They also make charcoal for artists.

It takes around two hours to fill the kiln to the top.

The smell here is fabulous.

-This lovely wood smoke smell.

-Yeah.

And I always thought that if you could bottle it and put it in a can

and spray it around any house, you'd sell them all.

-Maybe that could be your next business venture?

-OK.

-Maybe.

-It would be less effort than charcoal.

-Wood smoke in a bottle.

-So the next step is the lid then?

-Indeed.

-It is, yes.

'The lid is also made from steel and it controls the fire,

'preventing the wood just burning to ash.

'There are eight vents around the bottom of the kiln.

'Chimneys are placed in four and four are air inlets.

'These vents allow the air to travel in and out of the kiln,

'slowly burning the wood.'

So, at this stage, we're going to be lighting it

and we need to get as much air going through to get it going as possible.

So we've got the lids up at an angle,

we've got the gaps in between the inlets and outlets all open, so...

-Crudely industrial, I love it.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-ANNA LAUGHS

-Go on, then. Fire it up.

-Let's see it go.

-OK.

Anna lights a rag doused in vegetable oil, which is placed

through one of the vents into the centre of the kiln

to ignite the fire.

Well, guys. It certainly seems to be working.

-Yep, it is.

-Certainly alight.

-So how long now till it's done?

-We've got 18 hours.

That's 18 hours of temperatures up to 800 degrees Centigrade

to transform the dry wood into energy-giving charcoal

and then another 24 hours to cool down and it's ready to be bagged.

It has been a wonderful insight

into one very unique couple's escape to the country.

Devon's charcoal makers. Here's to you. I love it.

-Thanks.

-Thanks.

-Best of luck.

Well, when we left the mystery house, you may recall that

Nigel and Lorna said they needed to discuss

all that we had shown them so far.

But I'm afraid the time for talk is now over.

It's decision time.

Well, Lorna and Nigel. This has been quite an eventful week, I think.

-One way and another.

-It certainly has.

-Yes.

-But very enjoyable.

Well, I have to confess, I wasn't sure if we were going to find

that elusive feeling that you've been looking for, of home.

But then we took you to our mystery house,

converted barn conversion, and, Lorna,

your face just lit up when we got inside.

It was. It was a real wow factor, that house. It was...

When I looked outside, I thought...

And you said it was modern inside,

I couldn't imagine it as lovely as it was.

It was beautiful inside.

-It was to die for, really, wasn't it?

-Yeah. It was lovely.

-The shape of that ceiling, the roof.

-And the lovely fireplace.

And, of course, the separate wing, as it were,

-that offered you potentially two en-suite bedrooms.

-Yes.

-Yeah.

So ideal for guests, but, in the meantime, perhaps for Greg?

Yes, I think he would love it.

He would have the same feelings that we had with it.

Well, this is all very exciting, guys.

Is there now a greater sense of urgency

in getting this move underway?

Yeah. I think now we need to go home,

give it some serious thought and see where we go from there.

As ever, let us know how you get on.

-OK, we'll certainly keep you posted.

-Thanks for all your help, Jules.

-Yeah.

-It's been an absolute pleasure.

-Best of luck to the pair of you.

-BOTH:

-Thank you.

You know, feeling at home in a new home can be harder

than it might sound, particularly for a couple like Lorna and Nigel,

who are making a move that means they've got to leave behind

all that's been familiar for decades.

And I have to confess, when we started out,

I wasn't sure if, this week, our buyers would find that elusive

feel-good factor that every successful house hunt needs.

But, once again, it seems we have managed to save the best till last

in our beautiful mystery barn conversion.

Now, there's still a long way to go before they're able to get it,

but if they do have to keep searching,

I'm confident that one thing is for sure -

at least now, they should know what they're looking for.

I'll see you next time.

Lorna and Nigel decided not to revisit the mystery house,

but it did open their eyes to a different way of living

and they've now had an offer accepted

on another Devon barn conversion.

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