North Somerset Escape to the Country

Today I'm stood in what proudly claims to be the oldest

continuously inhabited street in the whole of Europe.

But where am I and who lives here? Find out in just a moment.

Today's youthful couple are searching for a perfect country pad

just three weeks before they tie the knot.

But other plans are already being made.

OK, so I would want to rip out all these cupboards,

get rid of them completely and have drawers.

Luckily, I've brought my magic wand along with me for this search.

-You're a magician.

-I don't know why more people don't live here.

-Shh, don't tell them.

-Keep quiet. Don't tell them where we are.

Today, I'm in Somerset in England's smallest city, Wells.

Behind me is the beautiful gothic cathedral but this is Vicars' Close.

Completed in 1363, it was built to individually house

each of the 42 clergymen who sang in the choir.

Thought to be Europe's oldest continuously inhabited street,

it remains largely unchanged

and the cottages are still home to members of the choir and staff,

a tradition that's survived for over 700 years.

But as you're about to see, it's not the only landmark

in this beautiful county that's worth singing about.

Located in the heart of the West Country,

Somerset is bordered by Devon and Dorset to the south

and Wiltshire to the east.

Somerset's varied landscape gently spreads from coast to country,

encapsulating some of the most eye-catching scenery

Britain has to offer.

Running from east to west,

the Mendips cover an area of 77 square miles

and offers picturesque scenes of rich green pasture and farmland,

laid over undulating slopes and rolling hills,

crisscrossed by an array of popular bridleways and footpaths.

This tranquil setting is only interrupted by deep and rocky chasms

like Cheddar Gorge, whose rugged ravines

create a permanent and striking scar on the landscape.

The popular Kennet and Avon Canal meanders

through Somerset's peaceful valleys and past historic buildings,

such as the Pumping Station at Claverton.

At the heart of the county lie the Somerset Levels,

a rich and beautiful area of lowland,

whose skyline is dominated by the iconic Glastonbury Tor.

With its rich and diverse landscapes,

it's easy to see why Somerset has such enduring appeal

for those looking to escape to the country.

The average price of a detached house in Somerset

currently stands at £276,000,

which is a very attractive £6,000 below the national figure.

However, the bad news is, if you head to the north-east of the county,

and Bath in particular, you can expect to pay a hefty premium

of around £100,000 above the national figure.

This is due, in no small part,

to the popularity of the beautiful Georgian architecture

and good rail links to Bristol in one direction

and London in the other, which, funnily enough,

are also some of the same reasons

attracting today's buyers to the area, so let's meet them.

Consultant Paul and lawyer Amber met three years ago at work

and last year, whilst on holiday in South Africa,

Paul popped the big question, much to Amber's astonishment.

There is a story to our proposal.

It was on the beach in front of my house where I grew up.

I had no idea. It was a complete surprise.

First thing Amber said was, "No." Three times!

Well, I was quite shocked,

so it wasn't like a "No, I don't want to marry you,"

it was more like a "Oh, my God, no, not now! Do it another time."

-When I was ready.

-And then she did say, "Yes."

-I did say, "Yes."

-Thankfully.

-Yeah.

Just over a year later,

those wedding bells are starting to sound that much louder

as the big day comes ever closer.

Amber is South African,

so we're going out to South Africa for the ceremony.

It's going to be terrific.

It's going to be lovely and warm and we're really excited.

Now's an important time to move because we're going to get married

and I really don't want to come back and live in a rented house.

I want to provide a home for my new family.

Since getting together,

Amber and Paul have been living in the London borough of Wandsworth.

However, living in the city certainly has its pros and cons.

The main downside to where we are now is probably the space.

We have a sitting room in the kitchen

which is in the dining room and Amber is a very good chef.

She cooks often but that does mean we're in the same room all the time.

With the bright lights of the capital fading fast,

Amber and Paul have already started making plans to move west.

We'd like to move to Somerset.

It's obviously near Bath cos it's a really beautiful city

and Paul has a job there.

We're looking for a place that is outside of the city

because there's no point leaving a city to move into another city,

so we're looking for a village feel just outside of Bath.

And after years of living in rented accommodation, for Amber,

the move will finally enable her to throw down some much-needed roots.

I'm most excited about having a home.

It's been so long since I can remember having my own place

where I feel like it's mine, I'm secure,

no-one's going to tell me to leave, where we can hang pictures

and know that they're going to stay for a couple of years,

where we can buy furniture and not think,

"How are we going to move this again?"

Because with a rented property,

there's always that threat hanging over you, that you have to move.

But the couple's move west won't just mean a new life for Amber and Paul.

Plans to expand their family are also at the front of their minds.

Another big thing for us about moving to the country

is that we'll finally be able to start our plans,

or put our plans in motion, to start a family.

We're quite keen to get on that bandwagon.

-Bandwagon!

-AMBER LAUGHS

I think the moment we get out to the country and we have the space

and we have our own home, we'll finally feel secure enough to say,

"Now we're quite set up and we can actually think about having a baby."

We really want to have our forever home, so right now,

we think we're at the time that it's right for us to make this move.

Our couple dream of living within commuting distance to Bath

and within touching distance of rail links

back to London for Amber's work.

So, we'll be concentrating our efforts

in the north-east of Somerset.

But in order to gain a better understanding

of what Amber and Paul are actually looking for,

it's time I met up with them.

So, welcome to Somerset. Now, congratulations, apparently.

-You're about to get married.

-Correct, yes.

-Yeah.

You look worried and you should be.

It's literally a couple of weeks away, isn't it?

-Three weeks. Less than three weeks.

-Less than three weeks.

-Yeah.

-And now you want to move house.

-That's right.

We're also thinking about starting a family, so I want to get out here.

-You agree with that, Amber?

-Yeah, I grew up in a really small town

and I've never really enjoyed living in a city,

so for me it was a no-brainer, really.

So, talk to me about the environment that you want to move to,

maybe even bring up your family in.

Definitely not in the middle of nowhere. Initially...

-He wants to live in the middle of nowhere.

-Blokes always do.

But for me... Initially, I was sold on the idea

and then I realised it can be quite isolating, so definitely compromised

and living in a village, close enough to Bath

so that we still feel like we're still young

and there's people around us and a community.

So, let's talk about this house. How big is it?

-Four, three to four bedrooms.

-OK.

-Yeah.

-All right, so it's a big house.

-Yes.

-Yeah.

How important is a kitchen to you both?

-Yeah, to me, it's really important.

-Outside space?

-Manageable.

-Manageable garden.

We don't have a lot of time to sit and mow acres and acres of land.

Well, it's a big move from the Big Smoke, surrounded by people,

so are you prepared to be flexible in the style of house?

I really want a detached place cos otherwise,

we may as well just move into a suburb outside of London.

If we're moving to the country, then I want a detached house

-and I'm not going to...settle.

-Can you hear those? Can you hear those?

They're alarm bells! LAUGHTER

OK, there will be compromises along the way.

Compromises are normally driven by how much money we've got to spend.

-So, let's remind ourselves of the budget.

-£500,000.

-Yeah, £500,000.

Can we push you? Is there any more coins in the piggy bank?

-5...20, utter, utter top.

-Yeah?

So, we've got quite an extensive wish list,

but the great thing about your position

is you've got nothing to sell

and you're getting married in a couple of weeks,

so we'd better get on with it.

And we need to move in by June, so no pressure!

AMBER LAUGHS

That's... That's just around the corner!

Yeah, that's why we've put all our eggs in your basket.

I'll carry the basket very carefully

-but very quickly to the first house.

-OK.

-Come on.

With £500,000 to spend, Amber and Paul have a decent budget.

However, they also have a very defined wish list.

They're looking for a detached property

that blends modern and contemporary interiors

with old-world charm and character,

along with space inside and out to accommodate their future family.

Location is key, so a village community

within striking distance of Bath is essential.

We have a varied mix of country properties to show our house hunters

but price tags will remain secret until after the viewings,

whilst our final visit to the Mystery House will attempt to shake up

and challenge Amber and Paul's priorities for their new house.

And with wedding bells just around the corner,

there's no time to lose in finding that perfect first home.

So, you've gone over to South Africa quite a few times,

-you're into your food...

-Yeah.

Have you taken them on with any barbecuing, Paul?

-They're very proud barbecuers in South Africa, aren't they?

-Yeah.

So, one of my, what I assume was a test

to see whether I was welcome into the family or not,

-was to braai for her father...

-He says, "Braai."

..and her two uncles and cousin.

-Braai is just being a bloke, barbecuing.

-Yeah.

-Basically, yeah.

We're starting our property tour of north-east Somerset

in the small, rural village of Whatley,

20 miles from the centre of Bath

and two miles from the lively village of Mells.

Famous for its rustic architecture and timeless streets,

the village of Mells was once home to Jack Horner

who was forever immortalised in the popular nursery rhyme.

Today, Mells offers residents a village shop and cafe,

along with an award-winning pub and Grade I listed church.

Back in Whatley, our first house is this converted barn,

located in a private courtyard development.

Now, don't get too excited.

We're not going to be showing you ALL of this property.

-We're going to look at that bit there.

-OK.

What do you think of the house?

So, obviously we wanted detached, but this is quite good.

They're not living on top of us, so it is, in a way, detached.

-It's very quiet, very peaceful.

-Yeah, it is very quiet, I must say.

-This is actually quite nice, you feel secure.

-Good.

-Like, safe.

That's the thing, isn't it?

-It's a big, big move, moving from the city.

-Yeah.

And I think this would probably be a slightly smaller step

-and a more doable one.

-Not isolating, cos that was my biggest fear.

-Let's look inside.

-Yeah.

Converted 20 years ago, the barn is a complete contrast

to Amber and Paul's current living arrangements back in London.

And through the oak-fronted porch,

there is one obvious room to kick off our tour in.

-So, let's start with this nice open-plan kitchen.

-Very nice, big.

-Yeah, it's a really nice size.

-That's the thing about this kitchen.

Beforehand, it would have just come to this wall here

and the current owners extended this

-and it makes all the difference, doesn't it?

-Totally.

If you didn't want the kitchen table in the middle,

-you can have that as a dining area or breakfast area.

-Yeah.

And also the light coming in is so lovely. It feels so warm and homely.

It needs some work but it is definitely a really nice size.

If you want to change it, what do you want to do to it then?

OK, so I would want to rip out all these cupboards,

get rid of them completely and have drawers

and then they push back and they click very nicely.

Oh, and that whole sink thing's got to go.

I want one of those country sinks.

You probably do want to do a major refurbishment here

-cos you've got nothing else to do this year(!)

-Well...

No, you've got two new jobs, starting a family and getting married!

-Good! Follow me.

-OK.

So, with the kitchen totally redesigned,

it's time we moved across the hall to our next room

to see how that fares under Amber's keen eye.

-Righto then, tell me what you think of this living room.

-Hey.

-This is nice, really light.

-Again, very homely, very welcoming.

-It's a fine balance, but look at that.

-Hey!

-Yeah.

-Wood burner.

-Yeah.

-Excellent, that's really good. I like that.

That's beautiful, that's open onto the garden and it's really light.

Is this house...? I mean, you've seen the entirety of the ground floor,

-so is this house big enough?

-Yeah, this is...

-Yeah, it's a family home.

-It's got a family feel to it.

-Mmm.

-Great.

Let's go and take a look upstairs. Follow me.

So far, so good.

Downstairs certainly seems to have made a good impression on our couple.

So, it's onwards and upwards

to see if the bedrooms pass Amber and Paul's tests.

Now, this master bedroom...

It's the master because actually it's the biggest bedroom

-and it's en suite.

-OK.

-They've managed to get four bedrooms out of this first floor.

-Oh, wow.

-Which is what you're after, isn't it?

-Yeah.

I know you said you would love to have a big master bedroom.

Big this ain't, is it? But could you cope with it?

Could we knock that wall down and take out one of the bedrooms?

Yeah, you could do. You'd have a three-bedroom property

but then you'd have a really nice big master suite.

-Yeah, this is a touch on the small side.

-Yeah.

-OK.

If it was just a bit bigger.

So, the upstairs seems to be letting the side down.

Nonetheless, in addition to the master,

it comprises of three additional rooms,

along with a good size bathroom,

creating enough space here for Amber and Paul's future needs.

Outside, I'm hoping the generous stone-walled garden

is going to be large enough.

OK, so, the garden is, well, what you can see.

-Yep.

-What are you thoughts?

-It's manageable.

-This is kind of what I would be comfortable with.

-Nice size lawn.

-You could play a game of cricket in here.

-Yeah.

So, a good amount of outside space.

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

-I'm hoping not more than £490,000.

-OK.

-Yeah?

All right. Paul?

-Probably £480,000.

-Oh, right, even lower.

OK, well, this house is on the market

for offers around £550,000.

-Ooh.

-Yeah, OK.

-Now, that is an asking price.

-Yeah.

It's just come onto the market.

-According to the agent, the owner is negotiable.

-Yeah.

Why don't you go back into the house, have a good look around upstairs,

tap some walls, think about what you would like to do,

-maybe turn it into from a four-bedder into a three-bedder, OK?

-Yeah.

-And I'll meet you back outside.

-OK.

-See you in a mo.

-Thank you.

Our first property is £50,000 over budget

but it certainly provides, on paper,

everything our couple are looking for in their new abode.

Four bedrooms, a large kitchen

and a manageable garden,

all combined with a rural charm

and a light, modern finish.

Plus, lying just 20 miles from the centre of Bath,

the property offers a reasonable commute for both Amber and Paul.

OK, so this would be the room that we would lose

-if we were to knock that wall down.

-OK.

That's quite sweet. It would be sad to lose that but...

-That's quite cute.

-And I don't know what we'd do with it spacewise.

-Er, walk-in wardrobe?

-Yeah. That would be good.

So, honestly, I love the downstairs.

Downstairs really does it for me. Kitchen is amazing.

Good space, really light.

In fact, the whole house is really light, so I love that.

If the upstairs had been slightly bigger,

then I think this would be the perfect house for us.

I think with the distance to Bath

and particularly the distance to the train station for Amber,

there's a bit too many compromises to make.

It's a lovely house,

but I think there's just one too many things we'd have to do.

So, have you knocked all those walls down upstairs in your head?

-Is there anything up right now?

-No. The whole thing's flat.

It sounds like it was going that way!

-Is this something to think about, Paul?

-Certainly.

-It's really got us mulling over some options.

-Perfect. Let's keep going.

With such rich and fertile landscapes,

it's no surprise that Somerset

boasts the highest number of food producers of any UK county.

We've sent Amber and Paul to one pioneering farm

whose unique philosophy of pasture to plate

aims to educate almost 10,000 children and adults a year

about the countryside

through sustainable and responsible farming and eating.

Our buyers are meeting Nick Baker

to learn a little bit more about the farm's values.

-Hi, I'm Amber.

-Hello, Amber.

-Nice to meet you.

-I'm Nick.

-Nick, Hi, Paul.

-Hello, Paul. Welcome.

-So, what type of farm is this?

-This is a dairy farm. 1,500 cows.

-Wow.

-It's about 4,500 acres.

Somerset is a really terrific place for farming,

for dairy farming especially,

because we grow some really good sweet grass and that's what we want.

So, what is pasture to plate?

The idea is to connect, reconnecting people with the countryside,

whether it's children or adults.

The pasture to plate was an idea we had some years ago

about getting kids to produce their food, grow their vegetables,

harvest them, take them to the kitchen and cook them.

Putting the pasture to plate philosophy into practice,

Nick's son, Andy, has set up his own gourmet business

using locally bred pork. He specialises in making charcuterie

which is a French method of drying meats for food preservation.

But Nick's products have a distinct West Country twist.

Amber and Paul are jumping straight in

to help produce some spicy chorizo pokers,

made from regional ingredients including local cider...

-That's a lot of garlic.

-..fresh garlic, local Cheddar

and one final secret element.

-A few other secret ingredients.

-That you can't tell us.

-Yeah, no.

The meat comes from locally reared Old Spot and Saddleback pigs.

Once the ingredients are kneaded together,

it's time to create the poker sausages.

We've put the mix in here for the spicy cider chorizo pokers,

so that's ready to go.

This is sheep intestine which we're going to fill the mixture into,

-so shall we make a start?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, OK.

After a demonstration from the expert...

Oh.

..it's Amber's turn.

Let it go. Yeah, go on.

Keep feeding it out.

Pull it with your left hand

-if you need to. That's it.

-Oh, Oh!

-Keep going.

-Oh, my God!

So, a bit more practice needed there. Let's see how Paul does.

Brilliant.

Oh, he's going to get a job.

Once pumped into the casing,

the sausages need to be twisted into links.

That'll be great. A good snack size.

The raw sausages are hung for five to six weeks in a curing room

where the temperature is set to 17 degrees Celsius

and the humidity to 70%.

The sausages are then slowly dried

until they've lost 30% of their moisture.

But it's not just chorizo on the menu,

so everyone is meeting back up with Nick

to sample some of his other creations.

-OK, guys, want to try some now?

-Yeah, I'd love to.

OK, so we've got some coppa here which is the eye of the shoulder,

some lonza, which is the eye of the loin.

This is a blue cheese and red wine salami and some olives and bread.

Yummy!

You guys must eat like this all the time.

Yeah, this is what we do every day at this time.

-NICK:

-Mmm, absolutely every day!

This local charcuterie business

has really given Amber and Paul an insight into French cooking,

along with a definite taste of Somerset.

For our second property of the day,

we're heading out of Somerset to the Wiltshire village of Bratton,

whilst remaining within a 40-minute drive of Bath.

Once a hub of industry, Bratton is a charming and historic village

where thatched cottages lie among attractive new builds.

Its 13th-century church lies away from its centre

and also on the edge of the village

is one of Wiltshire's oldest and most famous hill figures,

the Westbury Horse.

I'm hoping our next property's sheer size and village location

will impress Amber and Paul.

Now then, you wanted something maybe with some more space

-and I think this house is going to give you just that.

-Oh, wow!

-That looks big. I like it.

-That looks big.

Now, this place is only nine years old. But it looks good, doesn't it?

-Wooden windows, well-maintained and, by the looks of it, well-built.

-Yeah!

It looks brilliant. I like this. I'm impressed.

This village has got everything you asked for.

You've got two churches,

a shop with a post office that stays open till 8 o'clock at night,

a good pub, a primary school, a preschool, a toddler group,

-an amateur dramatic society...

-Now we're talking!

-A doctor's surgery...

-You're a magician.

-I don't know why more people don't live here!

-Shh!

Just keep quiet. Don't tell them where we are.

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

-Yeah, this is good.

-I'm dying to see the inside.

-Let's go.

-OK.

Constructed in 2006,

this modern house has a country aesthetic exterior

whilst also providing all the convenience and benefits

of a contemporary interior -

something I know Amber and Paul were particularly keen on.

So, through the font door, we're kicking off in the sitting room.

-Wow, look at the size of this room!

-Hey!

-That's big.

So, how could you make this yours? What's going to make it more...?

Furniture. Literally, a lick of paint and furniture, that's it.

The fundamentals are there, so the walls are in the right space

and the garden is just off the side of the room.

-Yeah, this is a brilliant room.

-Good!

Let's keep walking through cos there's a couple of doorways

-I just want to poke our heads around.

-OK.

-Now, I know you want to work from home, Amber.

-Yeah.

-That is made for you there, look.

-Hey!

-Yeah, perfect.

Remember this. I know you like open-plan,

-but you've got a dining room there at the moment.

-Yeah.

-Keep that in mind when you see the kitchen.

-OK.

-OK!

-Hey!

-Island.

-Island, exactly what we want.

-Nice, yeah.

-Really modern finish. OK, we've got a gas hob, that's good.

-Yeah.

Your dining room is just next door, so would you keep it as is?

-No, I would probably break it through.

-Thought you'd say that.

Yeah, and then you've got your diner and your kitchen together.

-It's all here, isn't it?

-It is.

-A fully functioning modern kitchen.

This is... Yeah. It's got the drawers that I like.

-Oh, I know you like your drawers!

-Mmm.

-Thank goodness it had them!

-Yeah, my mum will be happy.

Oh, good, as long as your mum's happy that you've got drawers.

She's always said never get a house that doesn't have these drawers.

Wise words, Amber's mum.

-So, we're happy so far, aren't we?

-Yes, it's good.

I know you're dying to get outside and look at the back garden,

but in the last house,

it was the bedrooms that you fell out of love with, wasn't it?

-Yes, it was the only thing.

-Let's go an inspect those first.

-Yeah.

Luckily, the generous proportions of this property

allow for plenty of space upstairs too.

With four large double bedrooms, two being en suite,

there's more than enough room

to accommodate Amber and Paul's future plans.

There's also a family bathroom

and I'm showing them the largest of the bedrooms.

-Now then.

-Yeah.

Master bedroom, I'm hoping, is a lot more to your liking sizewise.

-Oh, wow.

-Oh, yeah, a lot bigger.

-This is good.

-So, is this big enough?

-Yes.

-Yeah. Is it en suite?

En suite. So, you've got fitted wardrobes here, there.

So we've got a his and hers like now.

I think a house like this in a village like this,

close to facilities that you have in nearby towns like Westbury,

-this is the logical leap for you guys, I think.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, thin end of the wedge.

-Correct.

So, the final piece of the jigsaw for you guys is the outside space.

-Yeah.

-Let's go and take a peek.

-OK.

So, the house certainly seems to have sold itself to Amber and Paul.

Now it's the garden's turn to win them over.

Now then, gardening.

-How green are your fingers, Paul?

-Red.

-Yeah!

-I'm thinking lawn. This is a garden.

-Yeah.

-South-facing.

-Oh, yeah? That's good.

-So, do you like it?

-Love it!

Yeah, it's growing on me, it's growing on me.

-I think I'm more fussy than he is.

-Really?!

But I'm starting to realise I'm going to have to compromise.

Yeah, you know what? This is actually a perfect house.

So, how much would you pay for the perfect house in this position?

Oh, do we have to do this?

-I'm going to hope, fingers crossed, that this is at £500,000.

-OK.

-I'm going to go £515,000.

-OK, getting closer.

-Oh.

-The asking price for this house is £525,000.

-OK.

Now, we've spoken to the owners

and the owners are prepared to negotiate as they know your budget.

-A smile! Look at this!

-Yeah.

-Yeah, I'm excited.

You should be because, looking at everything you wanted on paper,

marrying that against an area, these two things have come together.

Where am I going to put my range?

I've got an idea! THEY LAUGH

Why don't you go and have a look around the house,

go and look at the bedrooms

-and I will meet you at the front whenever you're done.

-Sure.

Our second house is just £25,000 over budget.

But with four bedrooms, a large sitting room,

a generous kitchen and a study,

this spacious and modern home certainly gives Amber and Paul

everything they wish for in their new property.

It's an ideal first home,

offering plenty of space inside and out,

with real potential to grow into.

-Oh, my God, this is huge.

-It's another big one.

-Yeah.

This is amazing.

I don't know what we'd do with all the space, to be honest.

-Start having a family.

-Yeah, but they've got to grow quickly!

I'm very comfortable with the style and the age of this house.

We're not wedded to a very old house,

so this one, I think, fits a nice balance.

If this house was eight miles from Bath,

we would be waiting for the owners to come home now

to say, "How much do you want?

"How much will you take for it?" Definitely.

There's going to be a compromise

between what we want and what we can afford.

Where those compromises fall, I don't know.

That will be a conversation Amber and I have later.

It's suddenly dawned on me that, maybe,

I don't know if I'm yet up for this massive move

away from everything and everyone I know.

Maybe it's just fear. I just need to just do it, jump in with both feet.

-So, I take it this house is on top at the moment?

-Yeah, definitely.

-Is this a potential?

-Yes.

-Perfect.

Something to think about tonight then maybe.

It's the second day of our house-hunt in Somerset

and with half a million pounds to spend,

we're looking to find Paul and Amber, who are engaged,

a perfect marital home just weeks before their big day.

But will I have to carry them over the threshold of our Mystery House?

What's going through your mind?

-Honestly?

-Yeah.

And I'll be poking around underground in a very deep hole. Oh!

Well, I think it's fair to say we had a clear winner

out of yesterday's two properties.

But I'm starting to get the inkling that Amber, in particular,

might be getting cold feet, in regards to this big move

from London out to the Somerset countryside.

So, to that end, I'd like to show them a property

closer to their target city of Bath.

But, as we've discussed already,

the further north in the county you go, the less you get for your money.

And I think today's Mystery House will flush out what they really want.

Essentially, it might just come down to a question of location

versus the big house and, dare I say it, the dreaded compromise.

For the last house on our property tour,

we're heading to within seven miles

of Amber and Paul's dream city of Bath

to the village of Norton St Phillip.

Nestled between the delightful Cotswolds

and the rugged Mendips,

the village of Norton St Phillip is surrounded by lush countryside

and is characterised by its limestone buildings

with their mullioned windows, stone-tiled roofs

and billowing chimney pots.

Along with a school and a farm shop,

the village is also home to one of Britain's oldest pubs.

Built originally as a wool store, the building is around 700 years old

and is now Grade I listed.

Staggering distance from the pub, just down from the high street,

lies our third and final house.

OK, so the Mystery House is this property here.

-OK.

-OK.

-Go on.

-Spot the compromise.

-Terraced.

-Yeah.

-But...that's because we're only seven miles from Bath.

-Only seven miles?

Only seven miles from Bath. Come on, what's going through your mind?

-Honestly?

-Yeah.

-It's all right. I guess I'll have to see the inside.

This is it.

If you want to live this close to Bath, things will have to shrink.

-So...

-Yeah.

-Let's go inside.

-OK.

From the outside, Amber and Paul don't seem particularly taken

with our Grade II listed terraced property.

But I'm more than confident there is plenty going on inside

to win them over.

So, first room, the front room.

Do you like the idea of a snug that you shut away

from the rest of the house and put the fire on or...?

-Yeah, it's lovely.

-It's very cosy.

-Yeah.

-It's really nice.

-Good.

I wanted you to see this first, then you can decide

what you'd do with the middle reception.

Let me just squeeze through there.

-OK, so the middle room.

-Yeah.

What's going through your mind?

I think this is really nice, this area.

-I think it's very cute.

-Very cute.

I wonder if there's any outside space, that's a question we have.

-You'll have to trust me on this one.

-OK.

Come and have a look at the kitchen.

Now, when you see the kitchen,

you can see that the dining table there works

cos you spill from one to the other, don't you?

Yeah, really well. It's a lovely kitchen.

It's got the range and the sunken sink that I really like.

This living accommodation -

I know it's probably smaller than you had hoped for. It's not my fault.

-I know.

-I'm not beating you over the head with this,

-but I'm showing you the facts really.

-Yeah.

At the moment, I'm trying to show you two polar opposites.

-Property two - bags of space, further out of Bath.

-Yeah.

-Close to Bath, phtt, we shrink a little bit.

-True. OK.

So, bedroom accommodation next

and then I'm going to show you the garden, if there is one.

Course there is one!

Upstairs, the property's spread over two floors

and consists of three bedrooms, a good size family bathroom and a study

that could easily be transformed into a nursery or even a fourth room.

But I'm going to continue selling the positives of this house

in the master bedroom.

Just mind the step on the way up.

-Now, are you a fan of baths in bedrooms?

-I've never seen one before!

LAUGHTER

Well, you've got an en suite through there with a separate shower.

-Yeah, this is different.

-This is a real surprise.

-Lovely beams.

-Yeah.

A very nice room, this. Wasn't expecting this.

What you have to take forward from this

-is don't judge a book by its cover. Give a house a chance.

-Yeah.

-Get in the front door and that's so important, it really is.

-Yeah.

It can grow on you, you can see past the furniture.

-Look at the square footage of this room.

-Yeah, it's huge.

So, that last bit of advice, who should I have been directing it to?

-Um, both of us really.

-Ooh...

-THEY LAUGH

It's not like you're Mr I'm-Good-With-A-Surprise!

I go with more of an open mind, I think, than you do.

Now, let's go outside and have a look at the garden,

-see if that meets with your approval.

-OK.

So, inside hasn't blown my couple away

and I just feel that it's the property's terraced position

that's proving to be a hurdle for Amber and Paul.

But I do have one more surprise up my sleeve

that I'm hoping will convince them of the merits of this house.

-Oh, wow.

-OK, that is a surprise.

The big question is,

what are you going to do with all this garden then?

Move the whole house and make it, like, twice the size.

Look at you! Behave yourself!

Now look, I'm now showing you a house with a big enough garden.

-Yeah, this is amazing.

-Your face, when we pulled up to the house

and you looked at the terrace, would cut glass. Now look at it.

-Yeah, this is lovely.

-You wouldn't have looked at this house, would you?

Never, no, not in a million years.

-Now, up there, you've got fantastic views.

-That's incredible.

-Sunbathing for Paul.

-Correct.

-Clothing optional.

-Correct.

-Yeah.

It continues the theme of this house of, the more you explore,

-the more you find.

-Have a go at guessing the price.

I'm going to say what I would pay for this,

rather than what I think it's valued at.

I'm going to say £450,000.

OK.

-Right, Paul?

-I'm going to go for £510,000.

OK. Better guess.

-This house is on the market for offers around £495,000.

-OK.

Why don't you both go back into the house.

Maybe the best thing to do is compare this

with the property we saw yesterday afternoon,

-in terms of location and size.

-OK.

-See you in a bit.

On the market for £5,000 under budget,

this charming and historic stone cottage offers our couple

a bespoke modern kitchen, a separate dining room and a family lounge,

plus three good size bedrooms upstairs

and an expansive garden to the rear.

And while it might not provide the largest internal living space,

being located just seven miles from Bath,

this property is exactly where Amber and Paul said they wanted to be.

Oh, goodness me, look at this.

That's big. It's really big.

Look at these beams. That's beautiful.

Didn't expect to see a room of this size.

It's like the majority of the house. A good space.

From the outside, I was pretty concerned

that it was going to be a terraced house - the kind of thing

we're trying to get away from in London, but out here.

However, the more rooms that we saw, the more garden that we saw,

it kind of changed my perception entirely.

It's fair to say that I'm not sure it's the house for me,

but I don't want...

I think everybody might be thinking

that I've got this great idea of what I want.

I think I'm like everyone else. I've got an idea of what I want

and I know that I probably will find that.

-So, all done?

-Yeah.

So, decision time looms and lucky for you, there's a cracking local pub.

-Awesome.

-Excellent.

-I'll take you there.

Lying to the north of Somerset,

the Mendip Hills are a remarkable limestone landscape

of dramatic deep gorges and ancient woodland,

whilst hidden beneath is a labyrinth of caves,

making it one of the best areas in Britain

for a particular adventure sport.

I've come to the north of the Mendips

to meet Graham Price from a local caving club

who's going to take me on an underground tour

of one of the Mendips' lesser-known gems, Goatchurch Cavern.

So, Graham, I'm very excited to be here.

Before we get inside, how were the caves formed?

This particular cave we're going to be going in

was formed actually under water, totally.

But currently, most of the major main cave systems on Mendip

are formed with water running off the top of the hill,

finding a way underground

and gradually enlarging passageways and then coming out at the bottom.

Why are we here at Goatchurch Cavern?

Is it because I'm a complete novice and you don't want to scare me?

-I'm hoping that's the case.

-We might scare you anyway,

but this is generally a very good beginners' cave.

It has a lot of variation in it. It has some very easy bits,

something that's a bit more difficult if you want to do it.

So, let's get all fixed up and you lead the way

and then I'll follow - timidly.

'Though an exciting sport, caving can be dangerous

'and should only be attempted with a qualified guide or group

'whilst wearing the correct protective clothing.

'During the early 1900s,

'an unsuccessful attempt was made to transform Goatchurch Cavern

'into a spectacular show cave

'and as we descend deep into the cavern,

'evidence of these efforts are still visible today.'

-She's a bit slippy, isn't she?

-Yeah, you can see here on the floor

the remains of the steps which they cut, the Victorians cut.

So, this is all man-made then?

These steps here were actually cut out

and they form part of the show cave.

As we come down this next section, take very great care

because it does get very, very slippery.

I'll be using the Victorian handrails.

'As we descend ever deeper into the cavern,

'some of the cave's natural creations start to become visible.'

So, here, Graham, we're starting to see

some formations already, aren't we?

The start of stalactites, I take it?

These are tiny, narrow, little things

-and you can see there's a drip of water on the end of them.

-Yeah.

That's how they're formed.

The water has obviously got a high content of calcium carbonate

and it actually deposits the calcium carbonate to form the formation.

I get you. So far, we've come down a relatively gentle slope.

-What lies ahead?

-Well, not very far down here now,

we can drop down into a completely different sort of passageway.

It starts to get smaller, it starts to get a bit more vertical

-and it's called the Giant's Staircase.

-Let's get down there.

I might use the well-documented Irwin 5-point traverse.

-Your backside, sit on it.

-Yeah! THEY LAUGH

'Well, so far, so good.

'But things are starting to get a little tighter

'as we begin to make our way down in order to find a way out.'

-This is where it starts to get a bit more interesting.

-All right.

If you sit on the edge and keep your hands out

-so you don't go shooting off down too quickly.

-All right, OK.

Once more into the abyss.

'Created over three million years ago,

'Goatchurch Cavern extends to a length of 1,300 metres

'and reaches a depth of 59 metres.

'A maze of short climbs and passages with colourful names,

'including Bloody Tight and the Drainpipe,

'the underground system was first discovered in the 19th century

'and is popular with cavers today.

'I have to admit, the subterranean landscape is certainly impressive.'

Oh, daylight!

'And so, with my adventures underground over,

'it's a big thanks to Graham and his team.'

Of the three properties we've shown Amber and Paul,

I reckon the second house is certainly the most suitable,

but the big question is

are they ready to make that big move to the countryside?

Time to find out.

-Now then, ready to move to rural Somerset?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

-I think we're more informed to make the big move.

-OK.

So, do you have a favourite house out of the three that we showed you?

I think the second property definitely had everything

that we'd asked for and in terms of practicality and sensible...

It was a sensible house, that's how I would view it,

-and it's definitely by far the best of the three we've seen.

-Uh-huh.

But I think the problem with that one was still location

cos we still want to be closer to Bath

than where that property is located. So that was the only...

-That was the big...

-That was the compromise, wasn't it?

-That was the compromise.

-Yeah, for us.

You know what I'm getting at. I'm going to talk to you

about what compromise you're going to be able to make.

We, for example, don't need four bedrooms.

We'd be happy to take a three.

And that would take some money off maybe a property

that was closer to Bath. We'd take a smaller garden

because we know we can't really manage a massive garden.

So it's things like that which would be not massive compromises for us.

I think it's great

that you're trimming off bits and bobs in your mind now.

Four bedrooms down to three, bigger garden to a smaller garden.

I think you'll need to do that, you really will,

and maybe bide your time.

Maybe your first escape to the country isn't that,

-it's escape from London.

-That's true.

-Yeah.

-Smaller steps.

-2015 is a big enough year as is.

-Yeah.

You've got a lot on?! THEY LAUGH

You're moving in the right direction toward greenery.

-Good luck with it and let us know what happens in the future.

-We will.

-And good luck in a couple of weeks.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

Make no mistake, £500,000 is a good budget.

But I'm afraid it falls somewhat short

against Amber and Paul's aspirations.

But I'm pleased to hear

they're coming round to the idea, at least, of compromise.

But what next? Well, it wouldn't surprise me if we found them,

certainly in the short term, living inside Bath rather than outside it.

I wish them both the very best of luck.

After a wonderful wedding in South Africa,

Amber and Paul have decided to start their West Country adventure

by renting in Bath and exploring the local villages

before purchasing their new home.

If you'd like to escape to the country in England, Scotland,

Wales or Northern Ireland and would like our help, you can apply online.