Cornwall Escape to the Country

This zip wire is the longest and fastest in England,

stretching over 600 meters, reaching speeds of 60mph

whilst flying over three climate zones, tropical rain forests

and a giant wooden ship set in a sea of tea leaves.

So where on earth could I be? Find out in just a moment.

Today's house hunters are hoping to escape urban life

and find peace in a rural setting.

Who wants to wake up looking at a view like that?

-I do.

-Oh, we do.

And our houses more than hit the mark.

-Is that what we wanted?

-Wow.

-Good, isn't it?

-There you are.

-Isn't that good?

-Yes, thank you!

Welcome to Escape To The Country.

Today we are in Cornwall, and I'm at the Eden Project,

an educational charity that houses over one million plants

and the world's largest rainforest in captivity.

There are two separate domes encasing a range of flora.

And just to give you an idea of the scale,

you could fit the Tower of London in this rainforest dome alone.

We'll be revisiting this beautiful bounty of botany

later in the show.

And who knows, I may even have a go on that terrifying zip wire.

The Celtic county of Cornwall is a peninsula

in the most south-westerly region of Great Britain.

It's bordered by Devon to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the west

and the English Channel to the south.

With nearly 300 miles of coastline to explore,

Cornwall is a haven for cliff walkers and seafarers alike,

with endless beaches and some of the best surf in the country.

Bodmin Moor in the northeast shows the wild side

of Cornwall, with dramatic skies and wide-open moorland.

Bodmin inspired the celebrated author Daphne du Maurier,

who drew on the history of this desolate backcountry to write

one of her most famous novels - Jamaica Inn.

On the south coast below Bodmin

is the appealing fishing village of Polperro.

Generations of sailors are said to have smuggled contraband here

during the 18th century in reaction to sky-high taxes

imposed on goods during the Napoleonic War.

Its smuggling days over,

the village is now a popular destination for tourists who come

to explore the winding lanes and, of course, enjoy a pasty or two.

With all this on offer, it's little wonder that is lovely region

remains a draw for holiday-makers and home-buyers alike.

At the moment, property prices here in Cornwall

are just under the national average,

coming in at around £266,000 for a detached home.

What's more, Cornish homes are still valued over 10% less

than they were back at their peak in 2008.

But across the county, prices can fluctuate wildly.

For example, a home with a sea view in one of Cornwall's

fashionable seaside villages on the south coast can cost as much

as 50% more than a similar property just a few miles inland.

But what is it about this wonderful region that has attracted

today's buyers?

Let's meet them and find out.

Elaine and John have been married for nearly 30 years

and met on a blind date.

A lady working in my office, she said to me,

"Well, I want you to come out for a drink."

Then said, "We are just going to pick up Elaine."

And I thought, "Who is Elaine? What's that about?"

So, anyway, they took me around to Elaine's house and...

-I just moved into a brand-new house.

-Yep.

Three weeks I'd moved in.

I gave them all the guided tour, as you would, of a brand-new house.

And John has delighted ever since in being able to say that he

was in my bedroom within ten minutes of meeting me.

HE CHUCKLES

Both now retired,

they are keen to relocate somewhere quieter where they can

enjoy walking with their cherished Westies, Bobby and Harry.

We love our dogs. They both have problems walking.

Harry has had both his back legs operated on.

And Bobby, now he's got older,

he's got a problem with his back knees.

So now we have to take them round in a pram

when we take them for a walk.

-But we're quite happy to do that. They enjoy it and we enjoy it.

-Yeah.

-They are our life.

-That's right.

A lot does revolve around Bobby and Harry and, you know,

-so will the new property.

-Yeah.

We're hoping we going to find a place with a nice garden, possibly

-a few trees with a few squirrels just to keep them entertained.

-Yep.

They currently live in a detached four-bedroom property

in a large private housing estate on the outskirts

of Reading in Berkshire.

We live in Lower Earley. It's very urban.

We've been living here now for 26 years and we now feel,

with me retiring, that we could actually now move.

John's family and my family have passed away.

My son died ten years ago.

And so there isn't anything really to keep us here, so...

John's already retired two years ago.

We can follow our dreams and it's on our bucket list.

They are making a big change moving over 200 miles, but the lure of a

new way of life together near a cosy Cornish village seems irresistible.

We're just looking forward to a totally different way of life,

and it will be different.

I think, for me, the move is going to be all about us

being able to spend time together.

It's going to be a challenge,

-but I think we are both looking forward to that challenge.

-Yeah.

Drawn to the sea and countryside views,

they've set their sights on the southeast of Cornwall.

And ideally, they'd like to live in the picturesque triangle

between Launceston, St Austell and Plymouth.

Before we embark on our search for the right Cornish dwelling,

we are meeting in the county

so I can dig a little deeper into their property wants.

-John and Elaine, welcome to Cornwall.

-Thank you.

Exciting times, really, because you're both retired.

-Elaine, for you, quite recently.

-That's right.

-I'm guessing this is an exciting new chapter.

-It is.

-We are really excited.

-Are you?

-We hope you're going to find us something lovely.

-So do I. So do I.

Cos you've been in your current home in Berkshire a long time,

haven't you, John?

-Yeah, we have. Nearly 30 years.

-So what is the pull of Cornwall?

Because you got so many counties to choose from,

why this one in particular?

We just like the countryside and knew that as soon as I retired

and the time was right, we would be heading in this direction.

But it wasn't going to be Somerset because they have brown sea,

so I had to come further out to find blue sea, and here we are!

Tell me about this property then.

What are we looking for with this house?

-Erm, not dark and pokey.

-OK.

Not small windows. Not too many steps.

What about the outside of this property, Elaine?

Imposing.

I like attractive houses from the outside.

I think it needs to be good-looking on the outside

as well as the inside.

If it looks really dull and plain, I can't warm to it.

-What about detached, semidetached?

-Detached, must be detached.

-Oh, OK.

Definitely. Wouldn't go back. No.

Don't want to hear flushing toilets and things going up the stairs.

No, I've done all that. Not any more.

And what about the location? Are you looking for ideally sea views?

-Well, that would be very nice, sea views.

-Wouldn't it?

Sea views, rural views, country views.

As long as we don't see a roof top, that's all.

At the moment, where we live, there's a house and a roof, and

a house and a roof, and a house and a roof, and I don't want any of it.

You're sold on the countryside.

You're sold on the rural way of life.

-But getting your head around a new home...

-Yes.

-That sometimes can be quite difficult, can't it?

-That's right.

It can, although I'm looking forward to a challenge in a way to, yeah,

sort of put in our own touches on any property, really.

-Touches or projects?

-Well... Touches, really.

I'm sort of not into getting too adventurous doing things.

Well, let's remind ourselves of your budget for this part of the world.

Tell me again.

-It's £460,000.

-OK.

But we can go up a little if we really felt we wanted that house.

Well, I'm looking forward to this

cos we've got three fantastic properties lined up to show you.

-Yeah.

-So, shall we?

-Yes.

-Indeed.

-Come on then.

With a very healthy budget of £460,000,

Elaine and John are looking for a contemporary detached house

with a minimum of three bedrooms.

Rural views are key, and if the sea is in sight, then even better.

They'd like a good-sized garden which is safely enclosed

for their beloved Westies.

And finally, they'd like to be in the southeast of Cornwall.

We found three houses all set in beautiful Cornish countryside.

I'll be keeping the prices secret until the end of each tour.

Our last stop will be a mystery house chosen to challenge

their wish list, which has a few secrets of its own.

We begin our search in the middle of open countryside

in South East Cornwall, near Quethiock.

Our buyers are keen to join in with the local community,

and the nearby village of Pillaton, just over four miles away,

could be just what they're looking for.

Central to Pillaton is the church of St Odulphus.

Dedicated in 1259, it takes its name from St Odulph,

a monk and missionary from North Brabant in the Netherlands.

There's a local choir and, with the church's recently cast bells,

it has one of the best peals in the area.

It even offers weekly bell-ringing sessions.

Pillaton also has a local pub, a lively skittles league,

and a village hall that often holds events.

Our first house is found within an eight-minute drive of Pillaton.

So, here is our very first property in Cornwall to show you.

-It looks very interesting.

-Yeah. I like it so far.

-Do you?

-Yeah.

-First impressions are good.

-Yeah.

-Good.

Just have a little look over your shoulder.

THEY GASP Wow, that's gorgeous!

-That's fantastic, isn't it? That really is.

-Absolutely fantastic.

-You can really see it from upstairs.

-It will be hard to beat, I think.

-It will be hard to beat.

-And that's what you're after, isn't it?

-That's what we're looking for.

-Keen to step inside?

-Yeah.

-Very much so.

-Let's take a look inside round your first property.

-Lovely, thank you!

This former smithy was built in the 1850s

and formed part of the historic Pentillie estate.

Eager to add value and space, the current owners have transformed it

by extending the original outbuilding

into an extra living area.

And we are starting with this impressive vaulted kitchen.

We've come in through the back door cos that's what people seem to do

-in the country, isn't it?

-Yeah.

They don't use the front door. What do you think?

-It's not quite as modern as I would have perhaps liked.

-OK.

Although obviously the kitchen is more Elaine's domain than my own.

You know, sort of no cupboardy space

-and it is sort of darker than... I like bright and airy.

-Yeah.

-And I feel this probably isn't bright and airy.

-Fair enough.

There's also a downstairs bedroom.

But we are heading to the living room.

So through here...

..you've actually got your sitting room which, I didn't know,

-what is it - 26 feet or something? It's pretty big.

-Yeah.

It does have beams.

However, these beams way above you, and they have been painted white.

-Yes.

-It's definitely a farmhouse feel.

Not sure if a farmhouse is actually something we'd be looking for.

We are more contemporary.

-Behind us, impressive wooden stove.

-Yes.

-Multi-fuel actually.

And you love fireplaces. Just at the end, we've got a second one.

-Ahh.

-Right.

We've got a study through there, perfect for an office.

Next-door to that is the dog room.

-So the dog room just leads off the front door.

-OK.

'This older farmhouse style seems not to be quite to their tastes,

'but perhaps what is upstairs might change their minds.'

The thickness of these walls, you can tell

-you are in an old building here, that's for sure.

-Mm, yes.

-But look at that.

-Wow, that is...

-Really nice.

-That is amazing.

-That's lovely, that.

-Who wants to wake up looking at a view like that?

-I do.

-Oh, we do.

-Yeah?

-We definitely do. Yes.

That is the best part, that's for sure.

-You've got this as the master bedroom.

-Yes.

It's not an en suite, as you've probably just gathered.

Next-door is the family bathroom,

but you've got another double bedroom plus a good-sized single.

-OK.

-OK.

-So the one thing I would suggest is making that

single into a dressing room.

Yeah.

And then that's all you need is that view.

Well, it's certainly that view that is selling it at the moment.

It's perfect, yeah.

-Yeah.

-Can't tempt you with your own dressing room?

-Well... I'd have to see, I think.

-Not at the moment.

ALL LAUGH

-Well, we love the view, so let's go outside.

-Thank you.

The views certainly seem to have made an impression on John,

so let's hope the large garden complete with outbuildings

will help convince Elaine, too.

The good thing about this garden is it's dog-proof.

It's fenced all the way around and you've got, in a way, a split view.

You've got a view in one direction then you got a view in the other.

-Yes, lovely views.

-That is lovely.

And you might have noticed just to our left as we came in,

-you've got the garage and you've also got a workshop.

-Yes.

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

-I think it's about £390,000.

-OK. John.

I think it would be a bit more than that. I would've said near £410,000.

-Split the difference and that's the asking price.

-Oh.

-OK.

-£400,000.

-Ah, yeah.

-OK. That's interesting.

-£60,000 left in your budget.

-Yep.

-Yes, exactly.

Why don't you go around and have a look to see

if those changes would make the difference.

-Only you two can tell, so be my guest.

-Yes.

-Have a second viewing.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much. Thank you.

Under the top budget by £60,000,

this converted smithy offers the peace and quiet they're after.

-Let's just have a look at the view now.

-Lovely, isn't it?

-It's gorgeous.

That's quite a steep step.

-It is a big step down, isn't it?

-It's lovely.

Yeah, I can see us drinking a glass of wine here.

Yeah, I'm sure you would. THEY LAUGH

I've tried to see it in maybe a light that we might be able

to do some things to it.

But unfortunately,

I know in my heart that this is not the house for me.

I don't think Elaine, unfortunately,

could see herself living in the property.

Certainly not as it stands.

I'm not too...I'm not too sure that she's convinced

that it could be converted into what I think, you know, is a possibility.

So you've had a chance to look on your own. Any change of heart?

-Not sure yet. We'll keep that as a secret.

-All right.

I like that, I like that.

-We'll think about it.

-Cos I have got more to show you.

-OK.

-Let's go.

-Lovely.

-Thank you.

Cornwall may be famed for its beautiful coastline,

but we are keen to show Elaine and John just how diverse this

county is and to immerse them in some local history.

Just outside Truro, the county's only city, lies Trewithen -

a privately-owned estate and one of Cornwell's most

elegant examples of 18th-century architecture.

Built in 1750 by two London architects,

it's been home to the same family for nearly 300 years.

-Hello.

-Welcome here.

-Pleased to meet you.

-Welcome to Cornwall and welcome to Trewithen.

-Thank you.

-Lovely to have you here.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

This is actually quite a place of history, so it's good to be able

to show it with nice people who have come down to look at Cornwall.

-Is it a listed building?

-Yes, it is. It's a very high listing indeed.

Very high listing.

It has a delicacy about it

and an intimacy which other houses this time down here don't.

Cornish houses by and large are a huge, solid-granite unit.

You know, we are in the Atlantic,

we're going to withstand the storm, all that stuff.

There is a delicacy about this which makes it really quite special.

-Is it open to the public?

-Yes, it is.

We're a spring garden here, and all the magnolias,

rhododendrons are really flowering at their height between February

and the end of June. So we are open to the public in that period.

I think that it's very important that as many people as possible

can savour and understand the speciality of Trewithen.

I think it's, you know, a rather nice place.

The estate covers 40 acres

and is home to a staggering collection of beautiful gardens,

lush trees and plants famous for their international variety.

And in 2012, Michael Galsworthy decided to enrich his woodlands

by welcoming back some very special guests - red squirrels.

So this is our great project.

Very exciting project of getting red squirrels back into the wild

eventually.

What inspired you to start the project?

In a word - childhood memories.

When I grew up here as a child in the '50s,

I can remember red squirrels gambling all over the lawn.

Red squirrels. No greys.

The red squirrel is the UK's native breed.

But they have been decimated by the introduction of the grey squirrel

from America in the 19th century.

The large greys carry a poxvirus

which can be fatal to the red squirrel.

What we're trying to do now

is to encourage the breeding of red squirrels.

We are part of the calling Red Squirrel Project,

which has the patronage of the Prince of Wales.

The reintroduction of the red squirrel is key

not only to the survival of the species

but also to help put a hold to the greys' reign of terror.

The greys supplement their diets of nuts with wild birds' eggs,

and they strip bark from trees.

It's estimated that the damage they've caused has cost

commercial forestry over £50 million a year.

We just hope that the public at large understand the damage done

to the natural environments by grey squirrels. It really is colossal.

I can give you an example.

We planted 16 acres of sweet chestnut here many years ago.

-We lost 50% of them - all ringed by grey squirrels.

-Oh, gosh.

Is there anything that the people of the public,

even ourselves, for instance, can do to help the project?

The most important thing is really for the general public to be aware

of what it is the Red Squirrel Project is trying

to do, which is reintroduce the native squirrel to England.

So the damage being done to trees

and wild birds by grey squirrels is intense.

So that's the message to put out.

I don't want to eradicate every grey squirrel there is,

but there needs to be a balance.

In July 2012, Prince Charles,

president of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust,

introduced a male red to the two female residents.

And in 2014, the family was gifted with two baby red squirrels.

They'll be released in other areas of the country

and it's hope that we go once again see plucky red squirrels

populating British woodland.

For our second property, we are

less than a ten-minute drive southwest of our first house

in the village of Menheniot, with Plymouth 15 miles to the southeast.

Crucially, it means we are staying within Elaine

and John's favourite southeast triangle.

The meaning of the name Menheniot is sanctuary of Neot,

and this unspoilt village remains a haven for visitors and locals alike.

Towards the centre of the village sits the church of St Lalluwy.

It's original 12th-century tower is still intact.

There is a local shop, a pub, a post office

and a thriving farmers market the second Saturday of every month.

Our second house lies just on the edge of the village.

So let's see if we have any luck with our second offering.

-Here is your property.

-Looks big.

-Big.

ALL LAUGH

-Well, you're together on that one.

-Yes.

-Yes, yeah.

I get the impression that that bit is original

-and this bit has been added on?

-Elaine, you'd be absolutely right.

-This is seven years old.

-Right.

-Right.

-Oh.

So is that screaming out contemporary?

Contemporary, it is. Modern.

This part of the property, which I think looks very attractive,

is a little bit older, shall we say.

-OK.

-OK. It looks good.

-It's got character and charm, hasn't it?

-Yes.

-It does.

-Yes, it does, yeah.

-I know you didn't want to see rooftops...

-No.

-But we do.

-There's a few around.

-But we'll see.

-Let's see if that's manageable.

-OK. Indeed.

-So, should we get started?

-Yes, please.

-Love to.

The original part of the house is 300 years old,

but seven years ago, the current owners branched out,

adding a new wing that includes this kitchen, which

I hope will be more in keeping with Elaine's more modern taste.

-Is this contemporary enough?

-I think so.

-Yes! Good. Good.

-Is this much more of what you had in mind?

-Yes, it is. Yeah.

-Clean lines, modern layout.

-Yes.

-Beautifully tiled.

-Practical flags on the floor.

-Yeah.

I like size of the kitchen and it's nice

and straightforward, which I quite like.

You know, I don't like too many nooks and crannies

so it looks pretty good, really, in that respect.

-Good size?

-It's a good size.

Through that door, you can see we've got a large living room

-through there.

-Yes.

And then upstairs on that side, you got two bedrooms

and a family bathroom.

-However, I want to show you this side.

-OK.

-OK, thank you.

Going through to the original part of the house,

there's a cosy study, a light dining room

and the main living room that, I hope, will impress them.

So from the kitchen, we walk through a study.

You've got a downstairs cloakroom, that lovely big dining room.

-And then, it leads into this.

-Yes.

-So this is your second living room.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, that's...

-The fireplace is quite nice.

It's got a log burner.

Yeah, got a log burner here and

just as we walked through that dining room,

there's another fireplace there.

You could have both fires roaring in the winter if you wanted to.

Yeah, it'd be nice.

It's older than perhaps I would have liked, but, you know...

-Is it the furniture that is giving that impression?

-It could be.

Because I think the room, actually, is quite neutral.

Would you actually think of the space itself? The room size.

Well, it's a good-sized room.

I think I agree with John that, again, we are

getting an olde-worlde feel of a property.

Which is difficult because we want the setting,

which you wouldn't really get if you had totally modern.

I think a few changes might do that. But we would...

We have to sort that out and see.

It would be interesting to see how the rest of the place...

Let's see if I can persuade you, shall we? Keep going.

I don't sense much enthusiasm so far, but perhaps the original

generous-sized bedrooms upstairs will inspire them.

-So we have in this part of the property...

-This is nice.

-..two double bedrooms.

-Yeah.

-With a family bathroom next-door.

-So you can live in one side.

-Yeah. And John could live in the other.

THEY LAUGH

-This is the master.

-Yeah.

-OK. Looks very nice. It's a very good size.

-Yeah.

-But I can see rooftops, loads of them.

Yeah. Do you know what? You said it's all in the curtain test.

I was thinking, "I might draw those curtains."

I was thinking, "I wonder if she will notice." Yes, she has.

-Yeah, that's the problem.

-They're not as close as the ones...

-No, they are not.

-..that we see from our window.

And there is a view beyond if you look over the rooftops.

-That's something, anyway.

-Are you trying to convince me or you?

THEY LAUGH Good question.

-Well, I don't want you to write this off quite yet.

-Yep.

-Because we've still got to talk money.

-Yep.

Then you got to explore the other half, or John's part of the house.

-Yeah, John's side.

-Let's go into the garden.

But start putting a price on it for me.

I'm really hoping that the garden views

and the price might change their minds.

So you've got this decking area along here and a sunken hot tub.

Yes.

Yeah, that's not something we are used to, but we won't throw it away.

THEY LAUGH

Well, you're making it sound like you quite like this house now.

And two more things to mention, lastly.

Here is her garden with a couple of sheds just at the back.

And then of course we do have that view.

That's the last thing I'm going to say

because we've got to see what you think of the price.

-Right.

-Right.

What amount to think it's on the market for?

I would say that it's probably on the market for probably about £430,000.

-Right. Elaine.

-I think it's about £410,000.

The asking price is £400,000.

-Oh.

-Oh, is it? OK.

-So it's interesting, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-It is.

-Again, way under your budget - 60,000 under.

-It is indeed.

-Yes.

You know, that again leaves you a lot of money

if you want to make the changes.

-It gives a couple of changes, yes.

-Yes.

So why don't you take another look around because, again,

having that figure in your head,

is it worth making those adjustments?

-That would be my question.

-OK.

-We'll think about it.

-Help yourself. Thank you.

-Thank you.

It's really interesting because I thought this house was going

to be contemporary enough for them.

The fact that half of it is 300 years old,

you would never know inside.

But, sadly, not.

Under their maximum budget by £60,000,

this extended property offers a lot for the price.

The best features of the house, I thought, were the kitchen

and the bathroom.

They have been updated and therefore they are much more to my taste.

If they came down to price,

I'd rather spend the money on house number one.

It's got the views,

it's got a bigger garden and we could just change the inside.

But here... The inside is nice, but we can't change how it is. Rooftops.

I don't think we've got it right with this house, sadly. Let's see.

Hello, you two.

Now, judging by those faces, have we cracked it with this property?

-No.

-Not quite, I'm afraid.

-OK. Well, one more house to show you.

It is, of course, our mystery house.

-Let's see if it weaves some magic on you tomorrow.

-Yes.

-Shall we make a move? Come, on.

-Thank you.

It's the second day of our property hunt,

and with a healthy budget of £460,000,

we are helping retired couple Elaine and John to leave their urban

housing estate in Reading, Berkshire,

in favour of a Cornish retreat.

Still to come, our mystery house comes as a shock.

But is it a good one?

-Oh, look, you're getting all emotional on me, John!

-I am.

And I'll be taking a bird's-eye view of Britain's largest rainforest.

Whoa! Oh, my word!

Wow!

It's the start of a new, rather misty day here in Cornwall

and I'm hoping we are going to have more luck finding the right

property for John and Elaine.

With a rather handsome budget, I thought we would have got

a better reaction from yesterday's two spacious properties.

However, on reflection, I think what they want isn't

so much contemporary, but a new build.

Something that is hard to find in a rural setting with tremendous

views and without any neighbours.

To reach our mystery house, we are driving 20 minutes

northeast of our second house, close to the village of St Domonic,

between the majestic moors of Bodmin and Dartmoor.

It's just over three miles from the busy town of Callington.

In the 18th century,

Callington was one of the most important mining areas in the UK.

Today, there are no active mines, but the town is thriving

and has a growing population of nearly 5,000 people.

With shops, pubs, the beautiful St Mary's Church

and with a countryside on its doorstep,

Elaine and John would find plenty to keep them busy here.

Ten minutes from Callington, our imposing mystery house dates

back to 1850 and used to be owned by the Marquess of Northampton.

With some modern additions, I think it's got the style they want,

but it does come with a catch, and it's a big one for Elaine -

it's semidetached.

-Come on through into your courtyard.

-Oh, my goodness!

-Because...

ELAINE LAUGHS

-..this is your mystery house.

-Oh, gosh.

-Wow!

-Oh!

-That is something.

-I love that.

-Yeah.

-I just love that.

-Yeah, it looks nice.

-Good.

Very imposing.

That part of the barn and the house,

this old sort of working farmhouse, or as it was, is the mystery house.

The part here to my left is actually owned by the current owners.

-Right.

-Now they are converting all of this side

and the idea is they have windows and everything on the other side,

because they don't want to be looking at you,

and in a way, you're not going to want to be looking at them.

So the idea is - this is your drive, and then they use the other side.

So it's private.

-Open mind?

-Yeah, so far.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Come on, then.

-Thank you.

'I thought with the neighbours, so close they would be put off.

'But they love it.

'Let's hope the interior also makes the right impact.'

-So we are going to start off our tour with this kitchen.

-Wow.

-Oh, this is lovely.

-Yeah?

-Really nice, this is. Really nice.

Oh, looks just so light and airy.

Yeah, light and airy, that's what we wanted.

It's got a huge range they are. It's going to be pumping out some heat.

But you might have noticed,

-you've got a conventional oven just to the left.

-Oh, right. OK.

And we came through the boot room.

Which has got a sink as well, which will be handy for the dogs.

-Oh, absolutely. Yeah.

-Perfect.

As far as kitchens go, I'm thrilled.

-Yeah, so am I.

-I'm absolutely delighted.

Absolutely delighted. It's a wonderful kitchen.

So I bet you are keen to see a little bit more now, aren't you?

-Oh, definitely.

-Very much so.

-OK. We've got a dining room in there.

Next door to that,

-you've got a sitting room with a great little vista.

-Good.

-OK.

Elaine and John are clearly impressed, and I think that this

modern extension is going to keep them beaming.

So this is a really unusual house, our mystery house,

-because this part is the barn. That L-shaped. It's contemporary.

-Yeah.

-It's modern. It's ten years old.

-Yes.

-It's absolutely amazing.

-It's fantastic.

-Lovely.

-Yeah, very nice. I really like it.

-I love the floor.

-What a wonderful floor.

-Yeah, love the stone floor.

-Underfloor heating in this part of the property.

-Yes.

-Wonderful.

-You are liking it, aren't you, John?

-Yeah.

-You are liking it.

Just at the back is a conservatory to die for.

You're going to lose your hearts in there.

I think we'll put in an offer already.

-ALL LAUGH

-Don't get me too excited!

-So the old and the new are sitting together. It works?

-Yes.

-It does.

-Very much it does.

-It all works so far.

-Lovely.

-It's beautiful.

Well, let's go back into the old part of the house

and take a look at the bedrooms.

Thank you.

'They like what they've seen so far, and I think that the generous

'bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs could seal the deal.'

So upstairs, we have our bedrooms,

-and guess what I want you to do.

-Ahh!

-The curtain test.

-Oh!

-Off you go.

-Fantastic.

This is where I open the curtains and...

-Oh, my word! Not a roof.

-Wow.

-Good, isn't it? Isn't that good?

-Yes, thank you! Perfect.

Just one of the three bedrooms up here.

-Lovely.

-It's really nice.

-All en suite.

-All of them?!

-All en suite?

I'll have to find a cleaner.

ALL LAUGH

-We do like it?

-I do.

-I absolutely love it. Absolutely love it.

-Excellent.

-Everything.

So, I mean, practically everything you've seen...

-I know.

-Everything so far has been absolutely perfect.

One more thing that you were desperate for...

And that was the garden, wasn't it?

-I do have just a little bit more of garden to show you.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-Come on.

-Oh.

'I can practically see the sold sign, but can they afford it?'

And the final parts of our mystery house tour is, of course,

-the garden.

-And the views!

-Look at those rolling hills.

-Oh, my goodness.

-Spectacular.

-Just get the wine out and we'll enjoy it.

-Lovely decked area.

-Lovely.

-It's great.

-Really lovely.

You've got that other bit of garden around the side that you saw.

That's actually the front of the property, believe it or not,

because we came through the back door.

And then, the garden, you've got all of these mature shrubs and trees.

But if you look at the palms just to my left,

-pass that going down is a bit more of your garden.

-Really?

-Oh, my goodness.

-You've got to decide whether you can afford it.

-We are only a mile from Callington.

-Yes.

-25 minutes from Plymouth.

-Yeah.

Would you be proud to show your friends and family your house?

-Would you be welcoming them to come to stay?

-Definitely.

-Absolutely.

-Yeah.

-No question about it.

Is it under? Is it on budget? Or is it over?

I think it's going to be a bit over our budget, unfortunately.

I think it's going to be about £480,000.

I think it's going to be £460,000 because it's a semidetached.

The asking price is...

under your budget. £455,000.

-Ey!

-It's sold!

-Are you serious?

-Hold the sold sign up. Absolutely!

-Ohhh!

I didn't think... I didn't think this moment was going to happen.

No, neither did we.

-Do you love it?

-Absolutely.

-Oh, it's absolutely wonderful.

It's, yeah, we are very excited.

-Oh, look, you getting all emotional on me, John!

-I am, I am.

Are the dogs going to like it? Oh, they're going to love it.

They're going to love it.

-You still have got so much...

-They better do.

They had, cos you bought it.

You've got so much more to explore on your own, haven't you?

-Be my guest. Please do. Take as long as you like.

-Thanks very much.

Thank you.

Nothing else to say, really, is there?

Listen, she's shouting, "Sold! Sold!"

as she walks back into the house.

What more can I say? Fabulous house. We took a huge risk. It's paid off.

What's more, it's under budget.

Just within their budget by £5,000, this slate-roofed house

offers an appealing mix of contemporary and character features.

It's semidetached but doesn't look out onto the neighbours

and has its own private courtyard,

a decked area,

and a good-sized garden

with stunning views.

Perfect. Yeah, I think the place is perfect.

It ticks all the boxes and even boxes we didn't know needed ticking.

I think she'll divorce me if I say we can't have it.

-What a surprise.

-I know!

-Who would have thought it?

-Not me.

-I think your faces say at all, don't they?

-Oh, definitely.

-You two look so happy.

-Yeah, we are.

-We are.

-I've got to drag you away now.

-Oh, that's a shame.

-Come on.

Britain's diverse geography creates some extreme natural microclimates.

And Cornwall benefits from some of the warmest temperatures in the UK.

And tucked in to a 50-metre deep crater overlooking St Austell Bay,

the county is home to man-made

microclimates in the form of the Eden Project.

These giant biomes house the largest indoor rainforest

as well as over one million plants from around the world.

A charity-run enterprise, the Project promotes sustainable

living and educates visitors about man's relationship with nature.

I've arranged to meet Dr Jo Elworthy,

director of interpretation for a tour.

Jo, I have to say, I've been really excited about this visit

because it's the first time I'll have been to the Eden Project.

-Well, welcome to our home.

-Well, thank you.

So who had the vision to create all of this from scratch?

It was Sir Tim Smit.

He wanted to create the biggest global garden in the world

to show how we all could reconnect to nature

and put it in a place where you couldn't see it from a mile away.

-He has certainly done it, hasn't he?

-He certainly did.

Can I ask you about the actual structures themselves?

To me, it looks like giant bubble wrap. Now, what's the purpose?

Does it conserve energy?

It conserves energy and it's called Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene.

I'm glad you said that.

There's three layers of it, so it is like bubble wrap.

It's like a giant duvet.

It keeps the plants warm, but it also transmits daylight,

complete daylight so they have the right light inside.

Well, I am really looking forward to walking around and exploring,

so shall we go?

-Let's go and have a look at the world.

-Thank you.

I'm heading to the rainforest biomes.

Standing at a staggering 55m high,

it covers nearly 16,000 square meters.

Home to around 4,000 species of plants,

it includes rubber trees, cocoa beans and chewing gum plants.

What really hits you is the heat.

-40 degrees.

-Gah! You're telling me.

But you feel like you are in the centre of a tropical rainforest.

Absolutely. We've got the whole tropical rainforests here

and all the different rainforests of the world,

so we are in Malaysia at the moment.

-And what have we got behind us here, growing so well?

-Rice.

-Rice?

Yeah, this is rice in water.

The temperature is perfect for it here and it's next to our Malaysian

garden, so it is semi-between the wild and a garden crop.

-I've never seen wild rice grow. Ever.

-Yeah.

And behind you, you've got the miracle tree

which is used for everything.

You can eat the leaves, the roots, you can use the seeds to

-purify water, you can use it for oil to make watches work.

-Oh, goodness.

All sorts of things.

Truly fascinating. And thank you.

Looking up at the trees is one thing,

but when botanical scientists in the tropics want to navigate

out-of-reach canopies, they often employ zip lines.

Taking inspiration from them, the Eden Project

has built England's longest and fastest zip line.

Let's see if I've got the bottle to try it.

I don't mind admitting I'm absolutely petrified.

'Mike is going to launch me

'from the terrifyingly high platform from where I'm going to fly for

'660 meters, as fast as 60mph along what they call the SkyWire.'

Mike, you are sure this is the best view of the Eden Project?

-Very, very sure.

-Right. I am ready. Here we go.

Three, two, one.

Whoa. Oh, my word!

Wow!

This is truly amazing.

I can see everything.

Whoa!

I seem to be going so fast!

Oh!

With my feet firmly back on the ground,

I can't wait to find out Elaine and John's thoughts on our properties.

We've got to talk about properties, haven't we?

-Indeed, yeah.

-We have, haven't we?

-Because we know yesterday wasn't great.

-No, it wasn't great at all.

It wasn't great, however, today, the sun came out.

It shone on us. And the mystery house... Well, you tell me.

-Well, it was everything.

-It was everything and more.

-Yeah?

-Everything and more.

-Yeah, we loved it.

I was worried.

I said this to you when we first walked into the property

because your brief to us was modern,

views, no neighbours,

and we took you to the mystery house

that had a neighbour right next door.

-I know.

-And it was attached.

The property just overrode that in every sense.

And the views and everything, that was what we really wanted and...

everything else just seemed to be insignificant.

We knew we could be happy there.

I could tell from straight first, like,

60 seconds that I'd be happy there.

-Could you really?

-Yeah.

I mean, we're talking like it's a done deal,

and I realise I haven't probably asked the most significant

question out, which is - are going to put an offer in?

-Definitely.

-Definitely.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-We wish you all the best with the move.

-Thank you much.

You can drop by any time.

We started off our property search with a clear criteria from John

and Elaine.

They wanted a detached, modern property with fabulous views

and definitely no neighbours.

And guess what - our 19th-century mystery house threw

most of that up in the air.

And I'm predicting that this wonderful couple with

their beloved dogs will be calling this part of Cornwall home

very soon.

I'll see you again.

John and Elaine didn't wait around and, after a second viewing,

they put in an offer on the mystery house.

And I'm happy to say it was accepted.

They are about to move in and can't wait to start their new

life in Cornwall.

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