North Wales Escape to the Country

This serene body of water is the largest lake in

the country that I'm standing in.

And also, according to local legend,

it is home to a reclusive monster.

But, it's probably not the lake you're thinking of.

So, find out where I am, and what it's called, in just a moment.

Today's buyers are excited about returning to their roots

and embracing a rural life back in the UK.

Our couple question whether they've moved to the right country...

These cupboards are looking decidedly French.

Even to the cooker hood.

..but are then pleasantly surprised when our properties

render one half of our duo speechless.

-Quiet is good.

-Yes.

Well, Helen will soon tell you if she doesn't like something.

Today, I'm in North Wales and this is Lake Bala, or to give it

its Welsh name, Llyn Tegid, which means the "Lake of Serenity."

Now, despite the name, locals say that the lake, which is

four miles long and a mile wide, is home to a very retiring

monster that they call, appropriately, Teggie.

Now, we don't know about the monster's whereabouts,

but we do know that this is the only lake in Wales that is home to

a very rare species of fish called the gwyniad, which has been living

here since the Ice Age,

and you can guess with views and landscape like this that human

inhabitants have always chosen to live here too,

at least for the last 10,000 years.

North Wales is made up of six counties,

including Denbighshire and Flintshire.

Covering some 800 square miles of the region is the Snowdonia National

Park, which is home to the highest peak in England and Wales,

Mount Snowdon.

On the southern edge of the famous mountain range,

and perched on the edge of the River Malvac,

is the beautiful hamlet of Penmaenpool.

In 1879, a wooden toll bridge spanning the picturesque estuary

was erected.

Now, costing just 20p for pedestrians

and 60p for cars to cross, this Grade 2 listed structure is

also a popular spot for bird-watching.

Out towards the northern coast, at Conwy,

is one of the country's 600 castles.

Commissioned by Edward I, during the 13th century,

it was a key fortress in his iron ring of castles,

strategically situated high above the River Conwy,

and certainly remains one of Wales's most magnificent castles.

Inland market towns include Ruthin, which boasts the oldest

timbered townhouse in the country,

which was constructed around 1435 to house weavers' merchants.

With its enticing mix of historic architecture and vast,

unspoiled scenery, cut by some of the most dramatic

waterfalls in the UK, this region really does make the ideal

backdrop for those looking to get away from it all.

Bricks and mortar are good value in Wales.

The average price for a detached house is £170,000, which is

a whopping £100,000 less than the national figure.

So, your property pound goes a lot further,

particularly when you consider that if you

cross the border over into Shropshire, the same sort of house

might cost you £70,000 more.

So, apart from good value and beautiful countryside,

what else is attracting our buyers here, this week?

Marketing manager Robin and his wife, Helen,

are visiting Wales for a week and are staying at a hotel in

Ruthin, whilst they search for a new home.

They met at a mutual friend's barbecue in 2001,

and during their early married years, Robin was offered

a relocation package which took them from Wokingham,

in Surrey, to overseas.

So, for the last 12 years they've been living in

Normandy, north-west France.

We had an opportunity to have a complete lifestyle change,

and Helen was able to live at home, and have animals at home,

and be a housewife, and do what she always wanted to do.

And we arrived in France saying, "Wow! What have we done?"

-And that was it. It was the start of a new adventure.

-Yes.

But, the children are at a point where they're getting ready

to leave home, so we think it's now an ideal time for us to make

a move and do something different with the rest of our lives.

Two of their three daughters are

already finishing higher education in the UK.

Furthermore, although our couple have tried

their best to learn French in a bid

to integrate with the locals, they are far from fluent.

There are other elements of daily life that remains a bugbear.

Everything shuts at 12 for two hours.

The supermarkets, the banks, all the shops.

And it's... You always run out of things at 12:05!

They've also come to the conclusion that video-calling close relatives

based in the UK just doesn't compare to face-to-face contact.

The thing we miss the most is our friends and our family.

Not as easy to see them, catch up with them,

and our parents are getting older. They can't travel to France so much.

So, easier for us to see them and for them to see us.

Excited about exploring a new location, which still gives

the countryside they've enjoyed in France, but with less

language issues, they've decided to return and settle in North Wales.

It's lovely and green, and when the weather is nice

here, it's beautiful.

One thing we'd like to do is discover more about Wales,

more about its history, its heritage.

Come and look at some of the major landmarks.

We are both interested in old houses,

castles, that type of thing.

Since Helen no longer has to run around after their daughters,

she is looking forward to following more green-fingered pursuits,

particularly the possibility of growing plants

for medicinal purposes.

Whilst I've been in France, I have been studying herbalism.

I really want to pursue that more, and give more time to that.

As well as horticulture, their new Welsh home also needs land

that's suitable for their three dogs, as well as the ducks

and chickens they're hoping to continue keeping.

They're also keen to introduce eco-friendly measures

which they already have in France.

We have a well in the garden which we extract water from by

a pump, which is used for watering the garden,

and we harvest the rainwater from the house,

and that goes into the pond, which is used by the ducks.

With their beautiful French farmhouse already on the market,

it's au revoir to France and hello,

or perhaps, more appropriately, bore da, to Wales.

We're not running away from France.

We're not escaping from France back to the UK.

It's a new adventure. It's a new area. It's new people.

It's now our time to go and do things as a couple

and actually think, "OK. This is what we want to do

for the next, you know, 20 years, before we retire."

Robin and Helen are fairly unfamiliar with the countryside

of North Wales, and are therefore flexible about where they move to.

Not only am I eager to welcome them back and find out exactly what

they want from their new home, I'm also itching to practise my French.

Bonjour. Welcome to Wales. Pay de Galles.

How are you feeling being back in the homeland?

-Very good. Very good.

-Yes?

-It's nice. Nice to be back.

-Nice English weather you brought with you.

-Yes. Just the same.

And I know you struggled bit with French. How is your Welsh?

-Absolutely non-existent, but I can say, "Bore da."

-Oh, very good.

-That will come in handy.

-I learnt that recently.

And, Robin, what are you looking for in terms of the house?

So, ideally, we are looking for a four-bedroomed property,

with up to an acre of land.

We'd like the new property to maybe include some eco-features,

or the ability to incorporate those later on.

So, we are thinking more along the lines of solar power.

Maybe a ground-source heat pump system.

Something just to be a little bit more greener.

What will you use the four bedrooms for?

The four bedrooms will give you a larger footprint downstairs,

which is where, obviously, we spend most time.

It will give the ability for Robin to have an office, as well

and possibly me, also to have my own area.

And you want an acre of land. That's quite a lot of land.

What you going to do with that?

Personally, I'd like a nice big workshop, a garage.

We both like outdoor space. Helen loves her garden.

I want to grow some herbs

and have a wild area, as well.

And in terms of location, do you want to be in a village,

out in the middle of nowhere?

On the edge of a village, somewhere that we can

join in with the community,

but, be far enough away to be rural.

And in terms of the style, are you looking for an old building, new?

Tell me about that.

Not a new build. Really, anything with character.

But you also want modern because you want the eco-features?

No, because the eco-features can be external.

And remind us again of your budget?

£400,000.

Within that we'd like to include some of the

eco-features, if possible.

Your money goes quite a long way in terms of

property in France. Have you got a massive estate?

Six bedroomed. So we are downsizing, in effect.

And before it starts to rain,

let's get in the car and go. Follow me.

With a budget of £400,000 to play with,

our buyers are after a character property with four bedrooms.

Robin would like a workshop,

whilst Helen requires an acre of land to grow herbs.

Ideally, they'd also like their new property to feature elements

that are eco-friendly.

We hunted high and low to track down some beautiful Welsh

properties in stunning settings,

which I hope will appeal to our couple,

but the price will be held back until each house tour is over.

Our final effort is our rather challenging mystery option,

where proportions and plots present an alternative arrangement

to their ideal Welsh retreat.

So, imagine. You've got your house. You've moved in.

What are the things you're most looking forward

to be able to go and do?

You'd quite like going to the WI, wouldn't you?

You quite liked the sound of that.

Helen makes a lot of jams and chutneys.

Robin, you'd probably join a 4x4 club.

Yeah, I mean, I have a couple of older ones.

One, I'm currently restoring. One is waiting to be restored,

and maybe we'll find a new hobby, together.

Yeah. That would be great.

We are beginning our search on the Welsh Shropshire border

and heading to the hamlet of Pentrecoed.

Nearby is the traditional market town of Ellesmere,

where a mix of Tudor, Georgian and Victorian buildings sit

alongside a scattering of small craft and antique stores.

The high street is a hive of activity,

with a wealth of everyday amenities and a variety of eateries,

ranging from quaint tea rooms, to 16th Century pubs.

Just over three miles away, situated down a quiet lane, and with

far-reaching views over the Welsh landscape, is House Number One.

And this is the first property.

It's an unusual property because it's a converted barn

and then there's this outbuilding

which is converted into another dwelling, here.

-So, it's sort of two.

-Lovely.

-OK, yes.

Very nice. It's very quiet.

-Nice and peaceful.

-A very warm kind of feel to it.

-Yes.

-It looks very new.

-Well, it actually dates back to 1807.

-That's the original barn.

-Not so new, then.

I'd be interested to see inside.

Let's go in.

This 19th-century barn, converted around 15 years ago,

previously formed part of Pentracoed Farm.

Sympathetically renovated, original character

features are apparent in all three levels of accommodation.

With conservative reactions outside, I'm hoping that interior might

just conjure up some comparisons to our couple's current home.

These cupboards are looking decidedly French.

-So this is home from home?

-Even to the cooker hood, yes?

-Space for a table's good, though.

-Yes, that's good.

It's a little smaller than I'd thought.

But then again it's only going to mainly be the two of us going

-through it.

-This is it!

-You are downsizing.

-We are downsizing.

You've got a utility room, there, with all kind of white goods,

a fridge and also, kind of a downstairs loo and a shower.

Downstairs shower? Great for dogs.

Put them straight into the shower and wash them off. Excellent.

And also, to point out that there is a dining room,

-as well, so this is not your only eating space.

-OK, good.

I have a feeling that Helen is a little unconvinced.

The main living room is located on the first floor and provides

more character, so perhaps she'll be taken with the beamed ceiling.

Mind your head.

So, the beams get a little bit lower on this second floor.

That is quite intimidating, actually.

And that, I think is going to become a real issue, because it's

right in everybody's line of vision, as well,

and it divides the room up.

That will be a first for us having to duck our heads.

But, nice outlook to the garden through the windows,

so that's nice. Good.

-It's nice but it's small.

-Yes. It feels small.

Maybe that's something we have to come to terms with.

Things have changed over the last 12 years, since we've

been away, and we have to be a little bit more realistic.

-Houses have shrunk.

-Yes!

You've got this sitting room here and then, over there,

-you've got this study-come-bedroom.

-OK.

-Let's go upstairs. That's where the master bedroom is.

-OK.

Robin seems to be open to what's on offer,

but Helen is proving to be a tougher cookie than I first thought.

I'm not giving up though as there is plenty more to impress.

Up in the eaves, there is a modest family bathroom which is

shared by two well-presented and comfortable double bedrooms.

We are stopping off at the largest of the bedrooms, which benefits from

the height of the original wooden A-frame of the barn's structure.

-This space opens up here, up in the eaves.

-It's nice.

Yeah, this is fine. This is all right. It's the low door, again.

Yes. That will be tricky, I think.

It would take a while to get acclimatised to that.

It's a nice room, but it's just...

There's something not there. Something's missing.

-The doorway's done it.

-Yeah.

Let's look at the modern extension and see if that has higher doors.

We don't appear to have made much headway,

as the property doesn't seem to be tugging at their hearts.

But I've got one more shot at winning them over.

Back outside, and with its own entrance, is a detached

garage, which could be useful for storing Robin's 4x4 vehicles.

Above the garage, there's a large, flexible living space, which

was converted, by the current owners, nine years ago.

-Yeah, this is nice.

-It's lovely. Yes. Nice head room.

-This could be your office.

-Yes.

-A small commute.

-Yes.

We're not too far to go and fetch cups of tea for each other.

-That'll be good.

-Well, there is a washroom and shower

downstairs and you could make that into a bedroom, if you wanted.

It's possible. Maybe if one of the children came back.

We'd have to move our office but...

-Or put a sofa bed up here?

-Let's take a look at the outside spaces,

because that's the one thing we haven't discussed.

Thank goodness for that. Some positive reactions at last.

Finally, it's time to explore the garden, which is

located at the front and to the side of the property.

Mostly lawn, with established borders, this quiet,

rural setting is surrounded by uninterrupted country views.

It's not quite the acre Robin and Helen were after,

however the adjacent field could provide a solution.

So, land. This property only has a third of an acre.

It's pretty much this lawned area is your garden.

This paddock doesn't belong to you but it would be available to rent.

-Excellent!

-It belongs, basically, to the farmer next door

and, as you can see they don't have anything on it.

-The other part of the puzzle is the price.

-Hmm. Yes.

What do you think this property is on at?

Well, I would go in at £365,000.

I'd probably say £375,000.

You are actually smack bang in the middle

-of those. It's £5 short of £370,000.

-Wow! Right!

-OK.

-It's very good value, yes. Yes.

-So, have a look round.

Take your time to explore and I'll see you later.

£30,000 below the top budget,

this converted barn with a host of charming character features

has three bedrooms, situated in a rural setting.

On paper, it has pretty much all the elements that our couple are after

and they would still be left with money in their pocket to

install eco-features

It's obviously a lovely home.

It's ideal with the outbuilding, the garage,

the living accommodation above.

It's been restored to a very good standard.

The only issue I have with it, really, is the low ceilings.

Location and setting-wise,

I don't think we could have asked for anything more.

I'm just not...

not sold on the second floor of the house.

Good. You haven't crowned yourself on one of those low beams.

-No, not at all.

-OK. That's this one all done and dusted.

Let's head onto the next one.

When they make their move to Wales, our buyers are keen to

lead a more sustainable lifestyle.

And they'll be in good company as the country is home to

Europe's leading eco-centre on the site of the disused

Llwyngwern slate quarry in the Snowdonia National Park.

Originally built in 1973, the centre for alternative technology,

known as CAT, now attracts over 65,000 visitors every year

and we've arranged for Robin and Helen to meet communications

officer Kim Brian to get some green ideas for the prospective new home.

So, what is CAT's ultimate aim?

I think what we are trying to do is inform,

inspire and enable people towards practical solutions for sustainable

living, and that can be somebody that comes

here and wants to go home and build themselves a straw bale house,

and install solar panels on the roof, or it could be somebody who

comes in and goes home and just wants to change their light bulb.

So, what are the features here that help people live a more sustainable

-lifestyle?

-Well, we've got the wonderful, organic

gardens which are demonstrations of how you can grow

vegetables, and flowers, and the importance of bio-diversity

in the garden. We've got examples of renewable

energy. We've got hydro, wind and solar, and we've got examples

of sustainable buildings around the site.

So what kind of things could we do to make our house more sustainable?

Insulation. Insulate your walls. Insulate your floors.

Insulate your roof, because that's where we lose so much of our energy.

The other thing is energy efficiency,

so that's the type of appliances you buy, be it your washing machine,

your tumble drier, and making sure they've got a triple-A rating.

There's lots of little, little things that

you can do around the house that will make a difference.

As well as advice on how to make our homes more energy efficient,

the centre offers lots of practical courses,

teaching sustainable skills, such as rustic furniture-making

and traditional timber framing.

Our buyers have been invited to join today's course on straw baling,

with expert Bee Rowan, who has been teaching this

technique around the world for about 18 years.

-Where do you get the straw from?

-Local materials,

local straw, and we always encourage people to develop a good

relationship with their local farmer and as long

as the bales are nice and dense,

they're uniform length and they're kept dry,

you can build with them. So, now, to be a straw bale builder, one of

the first things you need to know how to do is to split

a bale, because, if you imagine, we're going to be using them as

big bricks, we need whole bricks and half bricks,

so, let's go and spin a bale.

Straw, as a building material, has been used

for many thousands of years.

However, straw-bale construction was greatly facilitated

by the mechanical hay baler which was invented in the 1850s.

Firstly, Bee uses garden twine to mark the centre of bale

before it is then threaded through a giant needle.

The string going round the right side through the top hole

from the right, and the one going round the left through

the bottom hole from the left.

It's then inserted through the middle of the bale.

Robin, would you like to go round and just hold that bale for me.

-Steady that while I take this needle through.

-It is dense.

It is very dense, isn't it?

Very nice dense building bale.

Straw bales are perfect for load bearing,

as well as infill and insulation.

Taking the string through the centre and then tying it

around the outside, helps each new half-bale to retain its form.

Helen, you're a natural. And I'll do the same here.

The original strings left by the baling machine are then cut.

So this is where it gets interesting. You ready? That's it.

Separate those out.

If you'd gone through...

Let's pop those up.

There we have our two wonderful new half-bales.

-So, you now have your straw bale building badge.

-Stage one.

Thank you.

Using straw to build is a low cost and low impact option.

But its simplicity doesn't compromise on quality.

This means it's making a comeback,

even in the building of modern properties.

So, with some green ideas under their belt let's hope

we can find Helen and Robin their perfect home

where they can put some of them to good use.

Our second offering takes us further into Wales,

to the county of Denbighshire and the rural hamlet of Saron.

Close by is the town of Denbigh.

With more listed buildings than any other in Wales,

the town has been home to princes and earls,

revels and revolutionaries who have shaped the local architecture.

For nine centuries, the castle walls have protected the town where there

is a fine selection of independent shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants.

Just over five miles away and nestled within a valley

in the foot of the Clwydian Hills, is our next property.

I wanted to bring you here partly because this is your paddock.

Right.

And this, should you accept the challenge, is your house and view.

-Wow!

-That is fantastic.

ALISTAIR LAUGHS

Absolutely fantastic.

-It's a lovely view.

-Yes, thank you, we'll take it.

-It's pretty special, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Gorgeous, yes.

And a solar panel already so we're starting off with the eco...

The green is already noticed.

What you're looking at is an old Welsh long house.

That long ridge to the left is the long house

and then there's a barn to the front that have been joined into one.

-It goes right back to the beginning of the 18th century, so 1717.

-Mm-hm.

-Shall we venture down?

-We should.

-Yes,

-please. This way.

'As an unconventional house,

'the accommodation is on various levels and was extended

'by the current owners to incorporate a converted barn in 2008.

'So, it presents our couple with a quirky blend of old

'and new features.

'Given their reactions outside, let's see what they make

'of the interior as we head to the historic heart of the house.'

And this is the kitchen. Now you see these fantastic kind of flagstones.

-Written on the beam there you can see 1717.

-This is lovely.

-It's a beautiful kitchen.

-How does it grab you for size?

The size, it's good.

It just seems to be spacious.

This side of the house is really heated by the range cooker there

-and by a big log burner.

-OK.

The other side of the house is underfloor heated

by a ground exchange system.

Wow, fantastic.

-You know that and that's what you were looking for.

-Yes.

-Indeed.

-Does it get the thumbs up?

-It does.

-It certainly does.

This is the older part, let's look at the new part.

'On the ground floor,

'the oldest part lies in one wing of the property.

'As well as the kitchen which we have just seen,

'there's also a utility room, a sitting room and two bedrooms.

'One is an attractive gust room

'and the sitting room features a wood burner.

'But we're going to explore the main living room in the more recent

'wing of the property, which is slightly elevated

'and so maximises those views across the valley.'

This side of the house is a real change of gear. Much more modern.

-Very nice.

-Lots of light, windows.

Looks like a balcony outside as well.

You've got a fantastically huge, sort of dining area, roof terrace.

And then a small balcony here which looks right over the Clwydian Hills

and the rising sun.

-What are you thinking, Helen? You're quiet.

-Just taking it in.

-Taking it in.

-Is that a good sign?

-Yes.

-I can't quite read her body language.

-No, no, no. It's a good sign.

-OK. Good.

-It's a good sign, yes.

-Quiet is good.

-Yes.

Helen will soon tell you if she doesn't like something.

Well, this is the sort of area here.

You've got another office next-door.

-But actually, your sleeping accommodation is underneath.

-Right.

'Well, what a difference a house makes.

'And there's still more to see.

'Downstairs, but still within the newer part of the property,

'there's a kitchenette and two good sized double bedrooms.

'One of these is currently being used as a gym

'and has its own en suite with the added bonus of a sauna.

'But as tempting as that may sound, we're heading to the master.'

-It's a house that just keeps on giving.

-It is.

Fancy waking up in the morning and just looking...

-You wouldn't draw the curtains, would you?

-It's a lovely view.

-And this part can be completely self contained area.

-Excellent.

It's fantastic. The house is unusual, it's quirky in its layout

but it's certainly very special.

Very good.

I am going to drag you out, confusingly, out into the garden now

to give you the price and to have a look at these lovely grounds.

'Outside to the front go the property there's a huge workshop,

'ideal for Robin, in particular, as it can be accessed from the house.

'Then for Helen, the extensive grounds here amount to four acres

'and include three separate paddocks which surround the property.

'Set within the ornamental gardens is a vegetable patch,

'a variety of fruit trees and a duck pond.

'I suspect these beautiful gardens surrounded by all this land

'might just be the icing on the cake.'

-Chickens, ducks...

-And a cat. Aw.

-And a cat. What more could you want?

-That's right.

It's a substantial property. What do you think it's on the market for?

It's definitely over our budget so I would say £410,000.

I'm going to go even higher. I'm going to say as much as £440,000.

They wouldn't be that cruel, would they?

-ALISTAIR CHUCKLES

-Would they?

You'd be surprised.

Well, once again, between you, you're pretty accurate.

We are a little cruel in the sense that it is officially

on the market for £425,000.

But we have spoken to the owner

and he has said he would take an offer at your top budget of 400.

Wow. That seems incredible for the quantity of the land

and for the size of the property.

-Yes.

-And with all the eco features already installed.

Well, go and explore and then I'll meet you at the front

-once you've got your bearings.

-OK.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

And you, yes, come back to me.

What do you think, Pussy, eh? Should they buy it?

ALISTAIR MIAOWS

Just over the maximum budget at £425,000,

but with the owner open to negotiation,

this extended Welsh long house combines a mix of traditional

and modernised character features.

With eco measures already in place

and four acres of land set within an idyllic rural location,

this property appears to suit our couple down to the ground.

It's a fantastic location. We're in lovely countryside here.

It's nice and quiet and peaceful.

The bonus, I think, is the eco features that already come with the house.

Really spectacular. This is a very big contender.

So, that one's all done for the day.

Got a little time to digest it.

-And then we'll regroup for tomorrow.

-Excellent. Thank you.

It's day two of our property search with Helen and Robin who,

after 12 years living in Normandy, France, want to help

themselves to a slice of country life by moving to north Wales.

Coming up: Our mystery property leads our couple

to have a change of heart when it comes to character features.

No exposed stonework or beams.

-So is no exposed stonework a good thing?

-Oh, yes.

And I head to Llandudno to take a tram trip down memory lane

and admire some of the best views in Wales.

-And you can see the town now opening up behind you.

-And the bay, look.

Beautiful.

Day two of our property search amongst the wonders of Wales

and I think we've probably got Helen and Robin hook, line and sinker

with the house yesterday.

But they do have to sell their property in France of course,

and we've got the Mystery House yet to come.

Now, this is a much more compact, much more simple

and beautiful property

but will it be enough to dislodge house number two from yesterday?

Let's find out.

For our mystery option, we're remaining in Denbighshire

and travelling to the tiny hamlet of Bont Newydd.

Nearby is the city of St Asaph where, set on the banks

of the River Elwy, is the smallest cathedral in Britain.

An important spiritual centre since 560 AD.

Today, the bustling high street features an array of shops

and cafes, as well as arts and craft galleries.

Located just over three miles downstream

and sitting neatly in a river valley is our mystery property.

For a couple who have lived in a large French farmhouse,

I couldn't resist showing them something with

historic Welsh roots as well as modern style.

But the compromise here is on the dimensions inside

and the gradient outside with not an eco feature in sight.

'This is the first time I've shown you a property that's

'actually in amongst other properties.'

It's nice to feel we've got immediate neighbours

that you can talk to and learn a little bit about the area,

and got to for help sometimes if you have a problem

and you don't know how to resolve it.

-So, the River Elwy here and then this is the Mystery House.

-Oh.

It's about 200 years old and the present owner's have spent 25 years

remodelling it in this incredibly, almost Zen-like perfection.

It does look very, very quaint.

-It does.

-Fantastic.

-Beautiful.

-Can't wait to see inside.

-Yes.

-So, follow me.

'Constructed during the early 19th century, this property,

'built from locally sourced stone and slate,

'was formerly two cottages.

'The Mystery House is the smallest of all the properties we've shown

'Robin and Helen in a bid to challenge their mind-set

'on the amount of space they're after from their new home.

'Although small, it's perfectly formed.

'It's been exceptionally renovated to a high spec throughout

'but I wonder if this is enough for them to see past the proportions?'

-Very nice.

-It's beautifully finished.

I love the wooden units here.

And the range stove as well,

-plenty of heat for the colder parts of the year.

-Yeah. Nice...

-Very nice.

-Nice light coming through.

-Yeah, both windows.

-Both sides.

-And the kitchen really, for us, is the focal point...

It's the heart of the home, isn't it?

Helen spends a lot of time in the kitchen

whether she's making pickles or herbal infusions.

And this is beautiful, this is ideal.

Behind you you've got a second kitchen which is a utility room

with all the fridges, the work surfaces.

They wanted to keep this as a sort of old school,

Welsh country kitchen, not with any kind of fitted units.

This is a bit of a wild card this house

because from your spec it's a bit too small.

But we are downsizing.

We do have to come to terms with the fact that we are downsizing.

This, actually, is the right size for a kitchen. It's ample space.

'It's a promising start inside so I'm intrigued to hear

'their thoughts on the size of the next room.'

Here's the sitting room.

-Slightly smaller than I'd thought but it works.

-Yes.

It's beautifully done.

What is the sort of vibe you're picking up from this place?

Very calm, very relaxing.

And welcoming.

You see this huge beam here, a local historian has traced that back as a

mahogany ship beam and that probably means it goes back

to the mid-1700s, early 1800s.

-Let's look at the sleeping accommodation.

-Lovely.

'It seems that the impeccable interior has indeed won them over

'but there's till more to explore.

'On the ground floor there's also an office which could be useful

'for either Robin's work or Helen's studies.

'Next, we're heading upstairs where there are a total of three bedrooms.

'There are two spacious double rooms and a small single.

'All the bedrooms are served by a well presented family bathroom

'which features a free standing bath.

'We're off to explore the master,

'pausing briefly to admire the landing.'

-You could have a little library here with the books and the view.

-Yes.

-Nice comfy chair to sit in.

-Yes.

-You don't get enough landings these days, do you?

-No.

-Ideal space for books and sitting and reading.

-Absolutely.

What a beautiful bedroom.

This is lovely, very nice. Well finished.

Nice and square, no exposed stonework or beams.

-So, is the no exposed stonework a good thing?

-Oh, yes.

There's almost a serene feeling if that's the right word to use.

I might rearrange the furniture

-so you wake up looking at this view over the river.

-Across the valley.

-You see the river...

-How Green Is My Valley?

-Yes.

-Very green.

-Very green!

The odd sheep walking around. Yes, very nice. It's a lovely spot.

Let's go look in the garden because that's obviously important for you guys.

'To the outside and front of the property there is a garage

'organised as a super neat workshop.

'To the rear, the gardens are carefully tiered

'and immaculately maintained.

'Interspersed with seating areas to take full advantage of the valley

'views, Helen might have to rethink her grand horticultural plans.

'There's also a summer house featuring a wood burning stove.

'With the house receiving resounding praise so far,

'I wonder if the lack of flat space out here for their dogs

'and future poultry, is going to be a sticking point?'

The issue, the fly in the ointment perhaps is that it's not huge.

These formal gardens are pretty much the extent of your land.

-It's terraced and that, for me, is a big compromise.

-Hm.

-I have to think about it.

-Yes, OK.

-But you do get the view.

-Yes, fantastic.

-A beautiful view across the valley. Yes.

-You see, that's the payoff.

-Yes. It's a lovely location.

-It's absolutely beautiful.

It is, it's a fantastic spot.

Of course, the question is, can you afford it?

What do you think the price of this one is?

I say it's one pound short of our budget.

So, £399,999.

I think I would venture as much as £415,000.

It is actually £5,000 short of your top budget.

It's on at £395,000.

-Wow.

-And it's worth it.

-Yes, yes.

-It's lovely.

Just below our buyers' top budget,

our mystery cottage with three bedrooms has been beautifully

restored to complement the original features of the property.

With an immaculately kept terraced garden and workshop,

it's located in the centre of a small hamlet.

-Holy...

-Wow!

Now this is a workshop and a half.

I don't think you'd see me much upstairs in the house

if I was down here working.

We could get one vehicle in and work round it.

-I think this is the best one we've seen.

-Yes...

-Workshop wise.

-Yeah.

This is just amazing.

It's everything I thought I didn't want and find that, actually,

I really do!

So, it's lovely, really lovely.

Why would any man want to leave this space really?

It's an ideal working space.

Truthfully, this is our ideal home.

My head's saying, "hang on, you need to think about this,"

but my heart and my head are going to have a quiet battle

all of their own and I know my heart's going to win so...

It's like the Mystery House is an evil genius that has upset

all their plans.

I think once Robin's seen that workshop,

Helens' going to have to settle for that as her vegetable patch.

-Did we win with the Mystery House?

-I think you might have done, yes.

Ah, good. Let's go and find a spot to think it all over.

Along the north Welsh coast lie two prominent limestone headlands

that sandwich the elegant Victorian resort of Llandudno.

Named the Great Orme and the Little Orme,

the larger of the two rises over 200 metres from the sea,

and on a clear day boasts, arguably, the best view in north Wales.

But in the late 1800s, visitors to Llandudno faced an exhausting hike

to enjoy the panorama.

So, a mile-long tramway was built that ferried passengers

through the town's narrow streets and up to the summit.

I'm meeting tram attendant Robert Donahue to hear about the only

cable hauled public tramway in the UK.

Remind me, what's the definition of a tram?

A tram is on a road whereas a railway runs off a road.

-So, this is a sort of half tram, half railway?

-Yes.

It's known as a tramway

but the upper section is across open country land.

How many people do you take up in a year, say?

We took just on 180,000 passengers last year.

-So it's a popular business.

-It is very popular, yes.

It's popular all year round.

-And are these the original carriages from the 1900s?

-Yes.

It's the original carriages built and first operated here in 1902.

-So, do I get to ride in the tramway?

-Certainly. After you.

-Thank you.

TRAM HOOTS

'The tram operates in pairs with the gravity of the descending car

'helping to pull its ascending partner up through the town.'

How fast are we going?

We're doing probably about four mile per hour at the moment.

-So you could walk up quicker?

-But your legs would know it.

-Your legs would hurt. It's pretty steep, isn't it?

-It is. It's one of the steeper sections.

You can see the town now opening up behind you.

-And the bay, look.

-Yes. There's the bay.

-Beautiful.

'Although each tram has an attendant, it's the person

'who actually winds the cable who holds the title of driver.

'Drivers are based at a station halfway along the track

'and it's here where we change carriages in order to continue on the second leg of the journey.'

-It's a bit parkier up here, isn't it?

-It's a lot fresher.

It's always a bit fresher on the top.

One of the original architects and designers was a doctor

and he believed this was the best air in the United Kingdom.

Plenty of fresh air. That's why, no windows.

'In total, the journey takes 20 minutes from these seafront,

'up the headland to our final destination.'

-Thank you very much, Bob. It's been a real joy.

-I'm glad you've enjoyed yourself.

Pleasure, I'm going to explore the summit. See you on the way down.

-You might do, yes.

-Enjoy yourself.

-Thanks now. Bye-bye.

At two miles long and a mile wide, the Great Orme is home to a

Bronze Age copper mine as well as a unique array of plants and wildlife.

In fact, the site's geology, wildlife,

archaeology and landscape are all protected

as an Area of Conservation and Special Scientific Interest.

Now under the care of the National Trust, the Trust's Jane Richardson

is giving me a heads up on the views from this magnificent vantage point.

If you look over that way, you start with Anglesey.

You come along the north Wales coast past Llanfairfechan and then

the majesty of Snowdonia and the Carneddau mountain range behind.

So, it's almost like a, sort of, best bits of north Wales.

How wonderful. So, if I came up here and had enough time

to explore the whole of the Great Orme when it was a lovely day,

what might I be lucky enough to come across?

The really, really special thing is the butterflies.

And if you came up here on a summer's evening

and you were walking along one of the paths in the quiet,

you might get the silver-studded blues just in a cloud

all around you and it would be unforgettable.

Amazing, and what about the future?

Are there plans the Trust have for the future of the Orme?

600,000 people a year come to visit.

The main bit on the top, which is the bit the Trust owns,

has always been out of bounds.

What we want to explore is, can we put footpaths through there?

The other really big priority is about opening up

the access for visitors and local people to enjoy.

What a delight to get a taste Llandudno's seaside heritage

but also the unique landscape and wildlife of its headland.

It's also good to know that this special part of the Welsh coast

is being preserved for future generations.

This is going to be a revealing chat because I would have put good money

on Helen and Robin going for house number two.

But the Mystery House may have knocked it out of the water.

Let's find out what they think.

It seems like the Mystery House caused a bit of a ruckus.

You were sailing straight towards the second house

but I think the Mystery House may have put a spanner in the works.

-Is that right?

-A huge spanner, yes.

-ALISTAIR CHUCKLES

Yesterday, we were convinced it was everything we'd asked for.

A large house, country location, land,

space for workshops and garage. Just everything we wanted.

So, what happened as you were walking round the Mystery House?

What was going through your head?

-Everything in it was as we would have it.

-It was very well done.

We could see straight away that our furniture would fit,

photographs would go on the wall.

The kitchen was a nice feature with the range.

The gardens being terraced were different to what we have now

but, as far as Helen's concerned, completely workable.

I think you were saying you were actually sold as soon as you

-saw the man cave, weren't you?

-Yes, let's be honest.

The workshop did sway it slightly,

I will be perfectly honest with you about that one.

You know all the tools don't come with the property?

-Oh, he's got the tools!

-OK, OK.

-Is that a house you would have visited?

-Actually, no, we wouldn't

because it didn't have any of,

what we thought of, as our specifications.

So, what happens next? What are the next steps for you?

Obviously, you've got your place in France to deal with.

Our next step is to go back home to France to speak with

the estate agents.

Find out what efforts they're making to sell our current property.

And we'd like to come back to Wales very soon and have another look.

Well, it's been very exciting because, you know, we set off

down one track and we sort of veered at the last moment down another.

But I really hope it works out and I do cross my fingers that the

place in France sells because it seems you're ripe for the move.

-Absolutely.

-Love to. Thank you very much.

-Bonne chance.

-Merci.

That was a wonderful journey from la belle France to wonderful Wales.

But I do hope that Robin and Helen manage to get

all their ducks in a row and move as quickly as possible

because that Mystery House really is an exceptional property,

even though it was not at all what they were looking for!

And I do hope that you join us next time for more Escape to the Country.

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