Cornwall Escape to the Country

Just off the coast of this English county

lies an iconic island once inhabited by giants and angels.

So where am I? Stay tuned to find out.

Today's property hunters are retirees who can't wait to

leave city living behind to begin a new chapter in the countryside.

They're very much hands on when it comes to their house search...

I love the stones. I've got to touch the stones.

..and surprised by the properties we have up our sleeves.

I don't like it, I love it.

Today you find me in Cornwall, and that is St Michael's Mount.

Its Cornish name means "the grey rock in the wood".

Now, the Mount is perched on top of a granite crag,

and legend has it that it was once home to a giant,

who used to wade ashore to steal local livestock.

But it was the claim that a vision of the Archangel St Michael

was seen here that led to the construction of a church

dedicated to his name.

A place of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages, the island is now home

to a small community, and one of the many jewels in Cornwall's crown.

Cornwall is Britain's most south-westerly county,

surrounded by sea and sharing a single border

with neighbouring Devon.

With around 300 miles of spectacular coastline,

Cornwall is home to some of the greatest seascapes

the UK has to offer,

where imposing seas meet golden beaches,

and rugged cliffs touch rocky coves,

including one of the county's top tourist destinations -

Land's End.

Formed from granite around 268 million years ago,

it's the most south-westerly point of mainland Britain.

Since medieval times,

Cornwall's surrounding seas have seen fleets of fishing boats

set sail from ports and harbours in search of the greatest catch.

Today, in St Ives, much like the rest of Cornwall, fishing has been

replaced by tourism, with visitors drawn to its art scene and seaside.

Inland, you're never more than 20 miles from the sea,

but here the landscape changes to green fields

with rural farmland, rich pasture and rolling hills,

while ruined tin mines pepper the landscape

and provide a constant reminder of Cornwall's industrial past.

From coast to country, there's no doubt that Cornwall offers

any potential buyer some truly spectacular views and vistas.

But how deep into their pockets will they have to dig

for a slice of Cornish life?

Well, surprisingly,

the cost of a detached property here

is currently around £8,000 below the national average, at 266,000.

And with around 10,000 homes

currently registered for sale in the region, there's plenty of choice.

So let's meet today's couple

and find out what kind of home they want in this stunning county.

Christina and Ralph were childhood friends who went on to lead

very different lives.

However, after meeting up again five years ago,

they rekindled a warm friendship,

which soon blossomed into romance.

We're lucky in one way because our relationship

is based on a friendship that's lasted all our lives and...

Ah, it's just so lovely.

A lovely gentle person and really easy to be with.

Oh, Tina's a very good cook, very good company.

I cook, he does DIY. It works.

Former employment law adviser Christina

and ex-international engineer Ralph are both now retired.

Although Ralph owns a house in Worcester,

he spends most of his time with Christina at her home

in Wolverhampton, where she's lived for 41 years,

and it holds many memories.

My son was nine months old when we moved in here at Christmas,

and he took his very first steps moving between the sitting room

and the dining room.

But over the years, she's noticed a change in the neighbourhood.

It is too busy, there's too much traffic.

It's not for us now. We want to move on.

I'm looking for somewhere quieter and new challenges.

With children from previous relationships now having

families of their own, it's time to make the move,

and they've settled on Cornwall, where they've holidayed many times.

-The sea and the people that we know...

-The people.

-..the experiences, nice experiences that we've always had.

-Yes.

I love the cliff path walks. They're wonderful.

And it's pure escapism.

And when we go there now, it feels more like home than it does here.

The area that we're most looking at is the Mount's Bay area,

which is in and around Penzance, Marazion, Perranuthnoe...

We quite like those little hamlets and villages.

We want somewhere where we can sit quietly and read a newspaper and

have a glass of wine and preferably watch the ships coming and going.

We get quite excited about things like that, actually.

And when they're not relaxing and enjoying the sea views,

Christina and Ralph are both keen to take up hobbies

and immerse themselves in local life.

I'd like to get involved with

renovating some ex-army recovery vehicles.

I would like to get involved with the lifeboat, RNLI,

from a maintenance point of view or repainting their boats.

While Ralph's off getting greasy with his machinery,

I'm going to go and paint.

And also I want to get involved with some charity work.

So with both houses on the market,

they're ready to begin the search for their new home together.

It's like being young again, really.

There's so much to do and so many places to go to.

Cornwall, really, is calling, so that's where we want to be.

Our buyers are particularly keen on South East Cornwall, around

the area of Mount's Bay, so we'll be concentrating our search here.

I'm meeting them in the county to dig a little deeper

into what they're looking for.

Ralph, Christina, welcome to a rather rainy Cornwall.

Tell us why you want to live here.

Because it's so beautiful.

Even on a damp day, it's still a lovely place to be.

It's relaxing, it's calming, the pace of life is slower.

It suits us now, and this is where we want to be.

And this is your first home together that you'll buy. Paint us a picture.

Well, we want something on its own,

but not too far away from a village.

Walking distance to a local pub, perhaps, would be nice,

in order to meet people,

but still a little bit out so that we can have that much more land.

We would like a stone cottage, but it's not an absolute.

I like windows, big windows, and high ceilings.

I like a big kitchen... Central island - love that.

Ralph, what do you want from a property?

Maybe a workshop, maybe an acre of ground.

-MAYBE an acre?

-Maybe an acre.

What do you want all this land for?

Oh, I want some military vehicles parked up there to take to shows

and so forth, keep me busy.

Are there any areas you will not make a compromise on?

Not a semi, not one on a steep up or down driveway,

not near a main road,

preferably not near other properties.

-We'd love a coastal view, if possible.

-If possible.

-If possible.

So remind me of your budget then?

We have a budget of £500,000.

Now, it's a healthy budget, but do remember,

this is a very popular area,

lots of people want their second homes here,

you've got businesses fighting for property,

so we'll do our best.

-Can't wait.

-Let's go.

-Let's go.

With a budget of £500,000,

Christina and Ralph are looking for a stone cottage

with at least three bedrooms,

land for Ralph to collect and refurbish ex-military vehicles,

a large kitchen and sea views.

They'd like their first home together

to be within a semi-rural setting,

but ideally within walking distance

of the centre of a village and local pub,

where they can meet people.

We've chosen some great property options,

which all reflect the Cornish heritage they love.

But inside, there's a good variety of features to uncover.

And at the end of each house tour, I'll be asking Christina and Ralph

to put a price on each of the properties.

Our Mystery House gives them

an alternative option which they may not have even considered.

But in offering above and beyond their wish list,

it might just work for them.

So, Christina and Ralph,

this will be the first house that you buy together.

How excited are you about that?

Very. How about you? How do you feel?

-Yes, terribly excited.

-He is.

-It's a big move, Ralph, are you sure?

-Yeah.

Now, who's going to be making the decisions in the house?

Who'll have the final say?

I think that it's going to be a joint decision,

which is not going to be easy.

So we've got to both be happy with what we've got.

It's got to have something for both of us.

I think we're both, basically,

simply going to have to fall in love with it,

and then I think everything will fall into place. What do you think, Ralph?

Yes, very well said.

Do you think that there'll ever be a time

when both of you would disagree about the house?

-Yes.

-I think that will be all of the time.

-Do you both have very different tastes then?

-Nope.

I'm very easy going.

Sometimes.

We're kicking off our house-hunt

in the hamlet of Carfury.

Close by is the lovely granite village of Zennor,

with its pub, folk museum and backpackers' hostel.

With unspoilt views in all directions,

Zennor is only five miles from the seaside town of St Ives,

which, in the summer, is a hot spot for holiday-makers.

Just a ten-minute drive from the village centre

and surrounded by countryside is our first property.

So here we are. House number one.

It's a stone cottage!

-Well, that's what you asked for.

-It was, yes.

-A stone cottage in Cornwall.

-Sonali, it's lovely.

It's exactly what we asked for.

It's a lovely granite cottage and it's so pretty.

-What do you think?

-Excellent.

-Lovely setting.

-It's gorgeous, I like it very much.

And it's so quiet and it is exactly as we wanted.

The location is about right.

Location wise, the owner tells me that the

best pub is actually a 45-minute walk across the moors.

45 minutes?

We should go on horseback.

You'll work up an appetite, work off your lunch.

And you wanted sea views.

Well, actually, on a clear day, you can see St Michael's Mount

-through there, so you actually have sea views from this property.

-Oh, my.

-Lovely.

-And it has been modernised inside.

-Really?

-So let's go in.

Let's go and see.

'This attractive Grade II listed farmhouse dating

'back to the 1600s is the largest of three properties that would

'have previously formed Carfury farm.

'With sea views on the doorstep, it's just what Christina

'and Ralph wished for.'

Come in, come in.

So, the front door comes straight into the kitchen-diner.

CHRISTINA GASPS That is a fireplace.

I've always wanted THAT, that one there.

-That's the biggest fireplace I have ever seen.

-Me too.

I can actually stand in it, and you'll be able to too.

-LAUGHTER

-Not that I advise you do!

-Incredible.

-Isn't it lovely? It's gorgeous.

-I love the floors as well.

-I know.

There is only one slight problem - the ceilings are a little low.

-Ralph, how do you feel? You're high, he's higher up than I am.

-OK.

No problem. Not a problem.

Well, the kitchen's just there -

-shall we go and have a closer look?

-Yes.

-And there's an island.

-It's the island you wanted.

It is, it is.

And what about the kitchen itself?

I like the Belfast sink - that's rather nice.

I like the cooking range.

I would take that bookshelf out of there

and I would put something in there, overhead storage.

-Ralph, she's moving in already.

-It seems so.

-What do you think about this?

-You can imagine yourself in the kitchen?

-Yes, I can.

And you've also got a utility room that's outside,

so all of the laundry and everything can all be done outside of here,

so that utility adds to the kitchen.

I love it, I do.

-I think it's gorgeous.

-Well, shall we go and see the rest of the downstairs?

-Yes, definitely.

-Oh, yes, please.

So this is the reception room.

-A bit small.

-Is it?!

I'm thinking about when everybody's here, friends and family are here.

It's fine for us, it's just occasionally.

The element of this room I really like is the double aspect.

Two windows either side and it just brings that light right in.

It does, that is wonderful. I do like that, actually.

Sometimes places take a minute to wear on you, don't they?

You have to try it on for size

and you're not absolutely sure if it fits.

And you like planning how you would live in there.

Yeah. I mean, I could see it working.

Shall we go upstairs to see the rest of the house before I take you outside?

-Yes.

-Let's do that.

-OK.

'Our buyers only asked for three bedrooms,

'and here there are five spread out over two levels.

'On the first floor, there are three double bedrooms, a single -

'currently used as a study - and a bathroom.

'But we're heading straight to the top of the house.'

And this is the master bedroom suite.

You wanted an en-suite - well, it's right there, it's open.

Well, I think I'd close it off, really, but I love this.

-Or send Ralph downstairs.

-Send Ralph downstairs. I love this.

I think it's exceeding expectations now.

-It is.

-Ralph, you've had a nosy round,

-what do you think of the en suite?

-Incredible, yes.

-Would you want to close it off, as well?

-I think I would.

-Yeah.

-And it would be easy to do.

There's a nice dressing area just there, as well.

So, do you like this?

No, I don't like it, I love it.

It's really, really nice. I've always wanted this.

This sort of arrangement for a master bedroom,

I just really like the way it flows and the house flows.

Well, let me show you what's outside and then you can start thinking

-about how much you think this might cost.

-Oh, yes.

-Yes.

Outside, and to the rear of the property,

the farmhouse also comes with a separate garage come workshop,

plus a range of five further outbuildings.

So, the property is set on three quarters of an acre.

So all of this, the buildings we just walked past,

the outbuilding and the washroom, that all belongs to this house.

-So you'd have your workshop, Ralph.

-Yes.

-And you've got some land here to park a vehicle.

-Yes.

Well, you've seen most of the property now.

How much do you think it's on the market for? Who'd like to go first?

-£420,000.

-OK.

-I think it's a bit higher than that.

-I would say £450,000.

-OK.

Well, you're both a little bit out.

Christina, you are closer. It's actually on the market

for £499,950.

Well, you haven't seen the rest of the upstairs,

-so why don't you go and have a look at the other bedrooms?

-Good idea.

-I'll meet you out the front.

-We look forward to that.

-We'll see you later.

-See you soon.

-Shall we go?

-Yes, follow me.

Well...

I'm beginning to get the impression

that they are being optimistic with how much they can get

for their money in this area, and also what exactly they want,

but let's show them House Two and maybe we'll get a bit more clarity.

Right at the top of their budget, our first property

gives Christina and Ralph pretty much everything they've asked for

and more. The farmhouse offers up a generous five bedrooms,

numerous outbuildings and land for Ralph's ex-military vehicles,

and a private garden with sea views.

I think House Number One has been very well restored,

very sympathetically done.

It's quite beautiful inside, I really like it a lot.

-Oh, what a lovely room.

-Do you like it?

-Yes!

-Good size, nice high ceiling.

-Country cottage-style.

-I like that window seat.

-Yes. The window and the view.

That's so pretty, yes. This is good.

I think this property is absolutely wonderful.

-It would suit us down to the ground.

-There's a wonderful flow here.

It's warm, it has a warm feel to it and I like that. It's welcoming.

It is what we were looking for and as we walked into the kitchen

and we saw that fireplace... My goodness me.

It's the fireplace we've always wanted. It's perfect.

The location might be something that we'd have to have a rethink on.

The problem is that it's too isolated for our needs.

-Did you have a good look around?

-Yes, we did.

-Are you ready to see everything else we have in store for you?

-Mm, yeah.

Let's go.

Surrounded mainly by water,

Cornwall has enjoyed a historic relationship with the sea,

with fishing boats leaving harbours to land a catch of mackerel

or Cornish gigs transporting crew members to offshore ships -

a common sight throughout the years.

Boat-building has, therefore, played a fundamental role

in shaping the county's heritage and economy.

I'm heading to Falmouth Marine School

to meet Jonathan Mills, a boat-building lecturer,

to give me a steer on Falmouth's maritime history.

-Nice to meet you.

-Yeah, nice to meet you.

-Quite a storeroom you have, here.

-Yeah, it is, it is.

It's such a useful resource for us, really.

We share the building with the Maritime Museum.

These are all exhibits that will be interchanged with exhibits

that they've got at the moment. They get restored before they go out.

It's a brilliant resource for me for teaching, because I've got boats

from all over the world here, every different type.

So, is Falmouth the home of Cornish boat-building?

Yes, I think it is. You've got the Carrick Roads,

which is the third-deepest natural harbour in the world

and it's why Falmouth is here, because this was a hub

for communication for the British Empire.

At the mouth of the River Fal, Falmouth was the site

where in 1540 Henry VIII built Pendennis Castle,

to defend Carrick Roads, the largest port in Cornwall.

In 1688, Falmouth was made the Royal Mail packet station

for transatlantic communications

and, as a result, the town of Falmouth boomed.

How big is the boat-building industry in the area?

In Falmouth, pretty big, because we've got Falmouth Docks

and there's a superyacht builder there.

There are lots of small boat-builders, engineering companies

all set up around the marine industry and it's thriving.

And the skills that we have here are exported worldwide.

There's a lot of banging and working going on.

-I want to go see what's going on.

-OK.

-Shall we do that?

-Yeah, sure.

The Marine School can trace its history back to 1825,

when it originally provided education to the residents

of a rapidly-growing Falmouth Harbour.

The boat-building course here has now been running for almost 55 years

and, with hundreds of students qualified since,

it's clear that traditional skills are still in demand.

-Hi, Pablo.

-Hi, Johnny.

-How are you getting on?

-Very well.

-I think we're ready to rivet.

-Yeah? Excellent.

-That's a good fit.

-So, what made you want to become a boat-builder?

Well, I already had a degree in geography,

but I just decided it wasn't for me and I've always had an interest

in woodwork and I just thought I would go in this direction.

-Tell us about this boat.

-This boat is called Shrinkle.

It's a Cornish boat. It's a working boat.

It's an ongoing project. So, in previous years,

students have been re-planking it.

-So, it's a restoration project?

-Yeah, exactly.

These are all donated boats. They would have been burnt

or left to rot on a beach, but the reason we're doing this one

is it's probably beyond economic repair, which is a fantastic project

for the students to get involved in, because they

learn so much from tearing an old boat apart and rebuilding it again.

-It's the best way to learn.

-It is, yeah.

I want to see a finished article.

We've got one outside. Do you want to come and have a look?

Not just a look. I want to take it for a spin.

-Thank you.

-See you later.

'With hundreds of boats restored every year, I'm meeting skipper

'Simon Combe, who has agreed to let me test-drive this fine specimen.'

-Hey, Simon.

-Hi.

-She's beautiful! Can we go on?

-So, what's she called?

-This one's called Willie Johns,

-named after the builders.

-Let's see how she sails.

'Built in 2009 by students,

'this boat is a replica of a 1920s gentleman's launch boat,

'previously used to ferry gentry up and down the River Fal.'

-Shall we get this bad boy going a little bit more?

-Yeah, we can do.

'Real skill and craftsmanship have gone into the restoration

'of these beautiful boats, which has secured their future.

'It's wonderful to see them taking to the water once again,

'where they belong.'

For our second property option,

we're heading to the village

of Godolphin Cross.

Nearby, is Helston, a former tin mining and cattle centre,

which is the most southerly town in the UK.

It offers several good schools

and has a great high street, with a range of amenities.

It's a ten-minute drive to House Number Two,

which is situated in the heart of the community,

in walking distance from the local pub.

And just through the beautiful gardens is House Number Two.

Again, I've gone for the Cornish cottage that you've asked for,

with the granite walls, the slate roof...

-What do you think?

-Very impressive.

-One concern.

-OK.

-The road.

-No.

-Busy.

Your problem with the last property, especially you, Ralph,

-was perhaps the location.

-Yeah.

-Perhaps a bit too rural.

-So I thought, "Well, similar house..."

-You've done well.

-"..but let's take you in the middle of the village."

-You're OK with me.

I'm OK with you, because you've seen the pub two minutes up the road.

She's right, you know.

-It's the missus over here that we've got to win over...

-OK.

-..with the house.

-All right.

-Let's go.

-Let's go.

At almost 200 years old,

this pretty house was originally two separate cottages.

Converted into one beautiful home in the early 1900s,

it retains many original features.

I thought we'd start in the kitchen

-as I know it's an important room for you.

-Yes.

Not bad. I like the fire. I'm not crazy wild about it.

-Why is that?

-Could we look at the other part, over here?

-Yeah, yeah.

Oh, this is better. It opens up. I'd have to get used to it.

-Why are you unsure about it?

-Well, I think it's these low beams.

OK. Ralph, how do you feel about the whole kitchen diner?

I feel very relaxed about everything. Very, very nice.

It's a nice-sized kitchen. It's quirky. I quite like quirky.

I think, in time, it could grow on me.

Well, let me show you the rest of the house

-and then you can begin to make up your mind.

-Yes.

-Good.

So, this is the main living room to the house.

-A bit small for you?

-Mm...a little bit. It's beautifully presented.

-I like these ceilings, they're a little bit higher.

-Yeah.

Lovely fireplace.

I love the windows and that is gorgeous because it lets the light...

-The window from the hallway, yes.

-What do you think about this room?

-Nice and cosy, isn't it?

-It is.

-Would it be enough for you both?

-Yes, plenty.

-Do you think?

-Yes.

-For all your friends, as well?

-Definitely. Yes.

While this is not huge, you do have other reception rooms downstairs.

We'll go see those later.

-First, I want to show you what's upstairs.

-OK.

The cottage's former structure is still apparent in the current layout

of the house, with the second living room, conservatory

and bathroom on the ground floor.

With two double and two single bedrooms split over two floors,

this house has one more bedroom than Christina and Ralph

asked for and there's also a second bathroom.

The couple that live here use this master bedroom in the summer.

I think it's lovely. I think it's delightful.

It's got two really sweet windows, the light floods into here.

Are you OK with the fact that there are is no en suite attached to it?

You can't always have everything.

Well, I have a little surprise for you,

before we go out into the garden.

'Originally a stable and coach house attached to the property.

'These buildings were converted in 1998 to form an additional annexe.'

-Welcome to the secret studio...

-Ooh!

-..that you could use for guests.

And it really is nice.

It's got that gorgeous ceiling again and it's beautifully done.

-And there's a bathroom just through that door, as well.

-Really?

-Yeah.

Perfect for family when they come over, they've got their own space.

I think the house might be a bit over the top in price.

Which means I think it might be growing on you.

-Yes.

-OK.

We want to go back into that lovely garden and have a chat

-about how over the top you might think it is price-wise.

-Right. OK.

-Yeah?

-Yes, lead the way.

'So far this viewing seems to be going really well

'and Christina appears to have forgotten about the road issue

'she spoke of outside. Sitting within a third of an acre plot,

'this garden is private and secluded

'and I'm hoping she'll love this, too.'

And with that house comes this beautiful garden.

-It's gorgeous.

-I know you want a lot of land

and there's not really enough room for your military vehicles here.

-I could keep it on the pub car park.

-Yeah.

Well, that's the compromise. If you want to be in a village,

-you're not really going to get land space, are you?

-That's true.

I have felt that this house has grown on you, Christina.

Yes, it has, definitely.

It's lovely and it's quirky and that's very charming.

Have those doubts from when we entered the house gone?

I think so. I think probably they have, actually. Yes.

-Ralph, you've won her over then?

-Yes, seemingly.

-He always does!

Time to find out how much it would cost you,

-if, indeed, it is a real contender.

-OK.

So, how much is it on the market for?

-Without a doubt I would say £620,000.

-Really? Are you sure?

-Yes.

-OK. I would say £599,950.

So, you both think I've gone £100,000 or so

-over your budget?

-It's possible.

Lucky for you, I haven't. In fact, I'm under budget,

only just, but I'm under budget.

-It's actually on the market for £495,000.

-No!

-Yeah.

-Wow.

So, what does that make you think about the house?

Would you be happy spending your whole budget on it?

-Yes.

-Yes. I think so. It's worth it.

Why don't you go back inside, see the other bedrooms,

see the other part of the downstairs

and I'll meet you out on the front in a few minutes?

-Good idea.

-Lovely.

-Come with me.

-OK.

Well...

After not really liking it, at all, Christina hasn't even mentioned

the traffic, loves the price, loves the house,

and has basically moved in. Brilliant.

Underbudget by £5,000,

our second property,

a charming character cottage,

offers Christina and Ralph

everything they're looking for in a new abode.

With multiple reception rooms

as well as four bedrooms,

one extra than they'd asked for.

There's also a separate annexe -

more than enough space for visiting guests.

When we first came to the house, I was worried about the road.

I thought it was busy and I've listened to it

and it really isn't that bad, at all.

So, I don't think it's going to be a problem.

Ooh. Look. Oh, look!

-Oh, I like that one.

-Gee.

-Oh, my word.

-Beautiful.

I love the stones. I've got to touch the stones.

Oh, that's so nice. There's something lovely... A lovely feel.

Absolutely fantastic.

It's got everything we want.

-It's absolutely perfect.

-Look, the window seat again. It's wonderful.

I would put an offer in for this place.

I certainly could see myself living here. Oh, yes. Without a doubt.

I like the quirkiness. The different rooms, the different levels.

I'm getting warm vibes. It's welcoming.

It's more than a house, it's a home.

-So, did we definitely win you over with the house?

-You did.

-Yes, you did.

-I know. It's been a long day, lots to take in.

-Let's go think about it all.

-Yes.

-OK.

-You've done very well for us.

Incredibly, incredibly well.

It's the second day of our property search in Cornwall,

with Christina and Ralph from the West Midlands,

who have a budget of £500,000. They're ready to escape city life

and find a forever rural home together.

Coming up is the Mystery House, which might just hit the mark.

-I really like it, actually.

-You don't have to whisper it.

-No.

-I don't know why I am. It's, sort of...

-You're allowed to like it.

And their dream of country living may be closer than they think.

A view like that would change all the year round.

You can't get better than that, really.

I think we got there, in the end, yesterday.

After showing Ralph and Christina two Cornish cottages

in two very different settings, House Number Two came out on top.

Moving onto the Mystery House,

I'm going to show them a modern property,

something I know they haven't asked for but,

based on some of their comments yesterday,

I think they may well need.

And what do you both think we might be showing you

with the Mystery Property or what are you both hoping?

Well, I'm hoping that it's going to be somewhere on a quiet,

very quiet lane or its own little lane,

which... I'd love that. I would love a sea view.

A little bit of land around it, so I could put my ex-army jeep...

A walkable pub, semirural, in a village perhaps or a hamlet.

This is going to be, remember, our forever home.

It's important now.

It's not a stepping stone house. It's not going to lead to another one.

This has got to be right the first time. That's what makes it harder.

-Absolutely.

-We don't expect it to be perfect,

but some of those ticked boxes have got to be in place.

Also, I'd like a tin mine in the garden. With a...

-fully operational steam engine man-lift.

-And a beam engine.

-Yeah, and a beam engine.

-I don't think he's joking...

For our third and final property,

we're heading to the shores of Mounts Bay

and the town of Marazion.

Known as the gateway to the enchanting St Michael's Mount,

Marazion is thought to have one of the most beautiful bays

in the world. With its clean sandy beaches

and a large selection of amenities, it's a holiday hot spot.

I know Christina and Ralph are particularly keen on this area

and, with the Mystery Property just a ten-minute walk away,

it's also blessed with a beautiful rural backdrop.

-Welcome to your Mystery House.

-Oh, how nice.

-Oh, it's THE perfect location.

-Oh, really?

-I cant believe it.

-Are you OK with the fact that it's not a cottage?

-Yes.

It's not a cottage. Actually it looks a little bit like Ralph's own home.

As we go through the house, you'll see why I wanted to show you this

and just give you something different.

-I can't wait to go inside.

-Let's go inside!

Built in 1976, this modern house offers different proportions

to the previous two Cornish cottages.

With generous-sized rooms, this property could actually

'be more suited to Christina and Ralph's needs.'

-How's this for a living room?

-Lovely.

-You've got my log burner!

You've spotted it! You wanted a living room with a log burner.

-I did.

-Here you go.

-Yes.

This is the size of living room that I was talking about.

-I like this size.

-Take a deep breath.

-Take a deep breath.

-I mustn't get too excited.

-No.

-No.

-It's fine.

-I really like it, actually.

-You don't have to whisper it.

-No, I don't know why I am. Sort of...

You're allowed to like it.

Now, the reason we went for modern is because

-you get an advantage of high ceilings, yes. Ralph?

-Yes.

-She's happy.

-What do you think?

-Are you happy?

-Perfect.

-Well, shall we go and see the kitchen, cos I know that's also important?

-Yes, that would be good.

On the ground floor, there's also a dining room and conservatory,

which would be a perfect space for entertaining Christina and Ralph's

visiting friends and family.

This is the kitchen.

-It's OK. It's a bit small.

-Is it?

But I'm not saying it's too small. No central island but that's all right.

-Have you looked out there?

-I have.

-Amazing, amazing views.

-Lovely.

-Perfect, actually.

-You can really enjoy your garden from this kitchen.

-Yep, you can. You can.

-Behind you is a utility room, which is about this size.

-No!

So it doubles up your kitchen size. What about the style of the kitchen?

-What you think of the style?

-I think it's lovely.

-I do.

-Let's go and see upstairs, eh?

-Yes, good idea.

Upstairs, there are three double bedrooms,

which all have amazing views and a large bathroom.

However, we're heading straight for the particularly spacious master.

-Oh, wow.

-Do you know, the whole house is a surprise.

The outside of it isn't bad, but it doesn't really have

the wow factor, but you walk inside and it's whizz-bang.

This is what you'd see waking up every day.

And it never stays the same,

a view like that will change all the year round.

You can't get better than that, really. It's beautiful.

-And you've got an en suite just there, as well.

-Lovely.

-Go and pop your head round.

-OK.

-It's gorgeous. It's beautifully done.

-Very functional.

-Mm.

Well, this house does come with some beautiful, beautiful gardens.

Let me take you outside to show you.

'The large garden here overlooks paddocks

'and includes a vegetable patch, greenhouse, pond

'and that all-important workshop for storing Ralph's tools,

'for tinkering with his ex-military vehicles.'

So, with this house comes, more or less, 360-degree gardens, really.

It really goes all the way round.

Slight problem with the traffic noise. I can't help it.

-Does it bother you, Ralph?

-What noise is that?

-Not too much.

-That's the compromise, I'm afraid.

Let's guess the price. See how much this property is on the market for.

Who'd like to go first?

-You go first.

-£465,000?

I would say more. I would say £485,000.

Ralph is on the money. It's on the market for exactly £465,000.

That is a lot of house for the money.

Go and have a look at the workshop because, Ralph, you will love it

-and the other rooms that you haven't seen.

-OK.

-I'll see you out front.

£35,000 below their top budget,

this modern Mystery Property

offers Christina and Ralph

an alternative to the Cornish

cottage they wanted and it seems

to suit their needs even better.

It comes with three bedrooms,

spacious living accommodation,

workshop

and gorgeous countryside views.

Oh, my word. Workshop!

Oh, yeah, that'd do fine. Wonderful.

I think the Mystery House is absolutely perfect.

Well, coming to the Mystery House has taught me that our previous thoughts

of the archetypal Cornish cottage may not really be what we're looking for.

-Oh, my word, what a nice little dining room.

-Oh, I rather like this.

-It's like a small snug.

-Yes, exactly.

And haven't we said that would be what we'd want?

When we walked through the door... Oh, my goodness me.

I could not believe how beautiful it is.

I love the inside of the house. The gardens are fantastic.

The feelings I get when I walk around this house

are very positive, warmly feelings

that make me tend to want to live here. Yeah.

We've seen a lot. There's a lot to discuss.

Let's go and get a cup of tea and find out

-what you both want to do next.

-Good idea.

-That's a lovely idea.

There have been so many highs and lows with the houses

we've shown Ralph and Christina.

I just wish that I could wave a magic wand

and combine all three houses and their locations,

but since I don't have those powers, let's see what their plan is.

It's been a busy couple of days, where you've liked some elements

of all three houses and disliked some parts of them, too.

Would you go for House One, Two or the Mystery?

I wouldn't go for House Number One.

Yes, House Number Two and House Number Three could be contenders.

-For you, Ralph?

-For me.

-Christina, you're not happy with all three?

I wouldn't put any of them down. They were all lovely in their own way.

The first house, I like very much.

It had lovely coastal views, but it was a bit remote

and I know Ralph missed the stroll to the pub

and maybe the 45 minutes might be a bit too much for him.

The second house, again beautiful.

It had things in it that I would have put there

and it had quirkiness that I liked, and Ralph loved it

but I was bothered about the road outside.

The sitting room was a big problem for me, actually.

It would have made a lovely snug,

but only as long as there's a decent sitting room, as well.

And a log fire in there, I would have loved that.

The third house... I quite fell in love with it.

And room to room to room, it just got better

and that was before we'd arrived in the garden,

with that gorgeous fish pond, a kitchen garden,

which I've always wanted.

It had the perfect place for Ralph's big greasy monster truck,

which he's always wanted. It was just what we were looking for.

I would have moved in on the spot,

if I could only find a way to get over the traffic noise.

So, all in all, I'm really sad to say that none of them

quite hit the spot, but they all came very close.

So, where do you go from here with this search?

We'd have to travel round again and do a few drive-bys,

until we maybe could find something that would suit us completely.

What we've learned from this search is that we need to widen our scope

and look for other things.

Today, we came as close as any two people could come to finding

the perfect property.

We know it's out there and we don't think it's very far away now.

So, the search continues. Well, the very best of luck to both of you.

I hope you enjoy the search and find that perfect home

-for the two of you.

-Thank you.

-And do let us know how you get on.

-We will.

-Thank you.

-Thank you Sonali.

Well, we may not have been able to find THE house

for Ralph and Christina,

but we have widened their search for a new home here in Cornwall.

They want that perfect balance of absolutely no traffic

and still being able to walk into a village,

which is a very tough combination to find,

so if they're not willing to compromise on location,

they may have to rethink what they want from a property itself.

I hope they find what they're looking for.

See you next time on Escape to the Country.

Since our house-hunt, Christina and Ralph have widened their search area

and, with a further 12 houses to view, they're hoping

that they'll find a rural home for their new life together very soon.

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