0:00:02 > 0:00:03Welcome to Escape to the Country.
0:00:03 > 0:00:05This towering monument behind me
0:00:05 > 0:00:07was erected to commemorate one of two
0:00:07 > 0:00:09of this county's most famous sons,
0:00:09 > 0:00:12who coincidentally happened to share the same name.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14But, to whom was it built, and where?
0:00:14 > 0:00:17Well, as ever, join me in just a moment and I'll tell you.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38Today's house hunters are hoping to switch suburban living
0:00:38 > 0:00:40for a relaxed life in a rural setting,
0:00:40 > 0:00:44and our properties present more than what first meets the eye.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49- Oh, wow, that's different.- Yeah.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52And they find it hard to contain their excitement.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55- Sold, then.- Sold, really? Sold?
0:00:55 > 0:00:57- Sold.- Pretty much giddy now. - We only just started.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05Well, today we are in Dorset, and this is the Hardy Monument,
0:01:05 > 0:01:09built not as you might think to the Victorian author, Thomas Hardy,
0:01:09 > 0:01:12but rather to Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16He was the flag captain of HMS Victory in whose arms Nelson
0:01:16 > 0:01:20famously died following the Battle of Trafalgar back in 1805.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24But Hardy the admiral was a naval hero in his own right,
0:01:24 > 0:01:28going on to become the First Sea Lord before his death in 1839.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32In 1844, this monument was put up to commemorate his efforts,
0:01:32 > 0:01:35and ever since then it's dominated this part of the county.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38And if you've never been here before, this is a great place
0:01:38 > 0:01:41to start because it gives you a genuinely bird's eye view
0:01:41 > 0:01:44of some of the best that Dorset has to offer.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53Sitting on the south coast, the West Country county of Dorset is bordered
0:01:53 > 0:01:55by Devon to the west and Hampshire to the east.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00Although perhaps most famous for its Jurassic coastline,
0:02:00 > 0:02:03the sweeping scenery inland is equally impressive.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08In the north of the region is the village of Ashmore.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11Here, pretty cottages frame a circular pond which is
0:02:11 > 0:02:14one of the oldest in the country.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16Lying some 200m above sea level,
0:02:16 > 0:02:19it's the highest village in the county.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22But from one elevated settlement to another,
0:02:22 > 0:02:25Shaftesbury is the highest town in Dorset.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28Its celebrated Gold Hill may have come into the wider
0:02:28 > 0:02:32conscience thanks to an iconic bread advert from the 1970s,
0:02:32 > 0:02:34but there's no doubt that the pretty cobbled street,
0:02:34 > 0:02:37set against the backdrop of lush countryside,
0:02:37 > 0:02:39still resonates today.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43Head east, and you can experience the county's centuries old heritage
0:02:43 > 0:02:46at Knowlton Rings, where the ruins of a 12th century Norman church
0:02:46 > 0:02:50sit on an ancient Neolithic henge that demonstrated the switch
0:02:50 > 0:02:53from pagan to Christian worship.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55Travel through the region's rural roads,
0:02:55 > 0:02:59and you'll find around 1,000 signs known as fingerposts.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01Each featuring a six figure map reference,
0:03:01 > 0:03:04their design is completely unique to Dorset,
0:03:04 > 0:03:08and make a fitting guide through the wealth of historic landmarks
0:03:08 > 0:03:11and picturesque villages that this beautiful county has to offer.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18Well, house-hunting in Dorset can be an expensive business.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20Here, the average price of a detached property is
0:03:20 > 0:03:24currently £343,000.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27That's a whopping £60,000 above the national figure,
0:03:27 > 0:03:31so if you want a little bit more value for money, here's the tip.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35Head west away from the border with Hampshire, and away from the coast.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Little villages like Charminster and Charlton Down can offer you
0:03:39 > 0:03:42plenty of value for money, but also loads of village charm.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45And, what's more, they're within easy distance
0:03:45 > 0:03:47of the county town of Dorchester.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51So what about today buyers, what's attracted them to a life in Dorset?
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Well, let's meet them and find out.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57Anita met semi-retired sustainability consultant Robert
0:03:57 > 0:03:59in their homeland of South Africa.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03They first set eyes on one another at work,
0:04:03 > 0:04:05and have now been married for 42 years.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11I was at Cape Town University doing a ballet course,
0:04:11 > 0:04:16and I joined the bank and Robert was my boss at the time.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18Anita is my soul mate.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21We pretty much do everything together.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24Travelling the world has always featured heavily
0:04:24 > 0:04:26in Robert's working life.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29After living in Johannesburg and then Belgium,
0:04:29 > 0:04:31they chose to put down roots in the UK in 1981.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37We've been in Britain so long now, it just feels like home.
0:04:37 > 0:04:43I love the people here and it's just a relaxed way of living.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48Their base for the last 14 years has been the town of Southborough,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51just outside Tunbridge Wells in Kent.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53But they no longer need to be within a busy town
0:04:53 > 0:04:55that's commutable to London.
0:04:56 > 0:05:01- Where we live now is suburban... - Lots of traffic.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04- Nice to get away from some of that now and it's time to...- Change.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07..start exploring and have a bit of a change, I think.
0:05:07 > 0:05:08New adventure.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Another catalyst for the move is the departure of Anita
0:05:13 > 0:05:16and Robert's 19-year-old son, Christopher.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19He's now studying aerospace engineering
0:05:19 > 0:05:21at Southampton University.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23His leaving has left much of the space in their large
0:05:23 > 0:05:27converted coach house surplus to requirements.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29Well, we'd like to downsize too
0:05:29 > 0:05:31so that we can buy Christopher an apartment.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34We've had the opportunity of owning our own home, and I think
0:05:34 > 0:05:36that's what we'd like to help Christopher with.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40As well as bricks and mortar,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42this adventurous pair also own a motorhome,
0:05:42 > 0:05:45and have spent nine months exploring much of the country
0:05:45 > 0:05:49before deciding on relocating to Dorset.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52The county is not only a convenient location for visiting
0:05:52 > 0:05:55Christopher at university, but it also offers land
0:05:55 > 0:05:58and seascapes reminiscent of familiar far off shores.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02The coastline itself and the beaches with beautiful sand
0:06:02 > 0:06:06reminded us of the Cape.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09But it's also got beautiful scenery, it's the greenery of it...
0:06:09 > 0:06:13- It is the greenery, yeah. - It's the country lanes.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16So, now the couple have decided that it's destination Dorset,
0:06:16 > 0:06:20they're keen to explore new ventures that the county has to offer,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23and also invest more time in their interests.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27I'd like to do some voluntary work, either with children with
0:06:27 > 0:06:33learning difficulties, or perhaps help in an old age home.
0:06:33 > 0:06:39I enjoy photography, I'd like to go on some courses to get better at it.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Their current home is already on the market,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45so with Miniature Dachshund Ryan by their sides, it's all systems go
0:06:45 > 0:06:50to find a beautiful bolthole in the British countryside.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52We'll have more time to do things together.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55It means that we can do a lot more relaxing.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58- It'll be really exciting, I think.- Yeah.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04Now whilst Robert and Anita love to visit the coast,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07they'd prefer their house to be based further inland.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10So we're concentrating our search in the north of the county.
0:07:10 > 0:07:15We're all meeting up in Dorset to finalise the details of their move.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18- Anita, very nice to see you. - Very nice to meet you.
0:07:18 > 0:07:19- Rob, very nice to see you.- Hello.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23Well, guys, how long have you been thinking about this move for?
0:07:23 > 0:07:25Well, we've been waiting for Christopher to finish school,
0:07:25 > 0:07:27and he's had his first year at university
0:07:27 > 0:07:29and we thought this was the right time.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31Now, you're releasing a reasonable
0:07:31 > 0:07:36amount of equity from your current home and its sale in Tunbridge,
0:07:36 > 0:07:39so how much are you going to spend on this move now?
0:07:39 > 0:07:40- 600?- £600,000.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43I like the way you looked at Robert there just to double check.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46£600,000. And what are you looking for?
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Three bedrooms, at least. Three receptions.
0:07:49 > 0:07:50Three receptions...
0:07:50 > 0:07:52I need a home office of some sort,
0:07:52 > 0:07:58and a reasonable piece of ground, a garden that Anita can tend to.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02- Double garage?- And I definitely need a garage, I need a man-space.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06So we know what you need in terms of the basics, but what about style?
0:08:06 > 0:08:10We like modern property, we like old property. We're very open to style.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Obviously in the past you've done some work to your current home,
0:08:12 > 0:08:15so would you be prepared to do some work to make your new property
0:08:15 > 0:08:16exactly what you wanted it to be?
0:08:16 > 0:08:18BOTH: Absolutely. Yeah.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21And you need space for Christopher to come back and visit, presumably?
0:08:21 > 0:08:23- Well, he will come back and stay with us, won't he?- Yeah.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26- Depends what you buy him with what's left over...- That's right.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28- ..he may just want to stay there. - Might do.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30Well, let's see what we can find you.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32The weather I hope will be kind to us.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35- It's clearing.- Shall we go? - Yes.- Come on then.
0:08:38 > 0:08:43So, with a budget of £600,000 our buyers are after a three
0:08:43 > 0:08:47bedroom property with a dedicated space for a study, a good sized
0:08:47 > 0:08:51garden for green-fingered Anita, and a garage or workshop for Robert,
0:08:51 > 0:08:54and all in a location within easy reach of their son
0:08:54 > 0:08:56at Southampton University.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00We've dug deep to find our buyers a selection of highly desirable
0:09:00 > 0:09:04Dorset dwellings, but the price of each won't be revealed until
0:09:04 > 0:09:06we've had a good look around first.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09And our final contender is the Mystery House,
0:09:09 > 0:09:12which could offer a buy one, get one free proposition.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21We're beginning our search up in the north of the county,
0:09:21 > 0:09:25around 50 miles from Southampton in the village of Kington Magna.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29Surrounded by working farmland,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32the village is home to a rather novel book exchange.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35And perched high on a limestone ridge is the prominent landmark
0:09:35 > 0:09:38of All Saints' Church, which claims to have the best
0:09:38 > 0:09:42ecclesiastical views in Dorset, overlooking Blackmore Vale.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45A gentle saunter from this picture perfect backdrop
0:09:45 > 0:09:47is property number one.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51Well, this is what we're going to start with.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53What do you think to that then, madam?
0:09:53 > 0:09:56- Oh, really sweet. - I like that.- I like that.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58- It is sweet, isn't it? - I like the stonework on there.
0:09:58 > 0:10:04It's been added to over the years. The main bit's about 1750.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06- Looks really nice. - It's very nice.- Great.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08- Can we go in?- Shall we?
0:10:12 > 0:10:16Built in the 18th century, this home began its life as two cottages.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19Offering a slice of classic Dorset architecture,
0:10:19 > 0:10:23from the outset it clearly seems to have struck a chord with our buyers.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27So let's see what they make of the character on the inside.
0:10:27 > 0:10:32- Come on in.- It's so nice. Isn't it sweet?
0:10:32 > 0:10:36- It's a great space, isn't it? - Absolutely. Do we get all the keys?
0:10:36 > 0:10:38Well, the keys are fascinating, aren't they?
0:10:38 > 0:10:40There are keys everywhere in this house.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44Needless to say, there aren't that many doors here.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48- So it's quite a rare collection. - Wow.- But the inglenook is very nice.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52- It is lovely.- Is this the sort of thing, sort of character-wise?
0:10:52 > 0:10:57- Really quirky, lovely. - I like the character of this. Yes.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59But the layout's great fun. You'll see what I mean.
0:10:59 > 0:11:00Have a look through here.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03As this property has been extended over the years, the ground floor
0:11:03 > 0:11:07has an unconventional layout with rooms on different levels.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11Off the main living area and accessed off a hallway
0:11:11 > 0:11:14is a garden room which could be a home office for Robert.
0:11:15 > 0:11:20Also downstairs is the family bathroom as well as a shower room.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24But next we're off to explore the kitchen.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26- Yeah, nice size.- It's a great shape.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29- It's nice and square which is what...- Yes.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31- ..we are always looking for. - Easy to use.- Absolutely.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35It leads on to the dining room down yet more stairs which again
0:11:35 > 0:11:38- goes back up to the main living room.- Right.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40It's whether or not you feel at home in it really.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43- I do, I think it's very homely. - I think it's a nice-sized kitchen.
0:11:43 > 0:11:48It's easy to manoeuvre and change things around, if you wanted to...
0:11:48 > 0:11:52- Yeah, absolutely.- ..because of the shape. So, yeah, I think it works.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Down through the dining room and back up into the living room,
0:11:57 > 0:11:59we're making our way to view the
0:11:59 > 0:12:02sleeping accommodation up on the first floor.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04It has a total of three bedrooms.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07One is a good-sized double, simply decorated
0:12:07 > 0:12:10and there's also a spacious single as well as a washroom,
0:12:10 > 0:12:13so ample space for when their son comes home.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16But for us, though, it's onwards to the master.
0:12:17 > 0:12:22And this is by far the biggest of the lot.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24- Oh, nice size.- Nice-sized room.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26And you've got loads of built-in storage over there too.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29- Important.- Yeah, very important for Rob's clothes. Ahem.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31THEY LAUGH
0:12:31 > 0:12:34I'm not getting into that one. I've been there too many times before.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36The only thing that takes away from it up here is that
0:12:36 > 0:12:39- all of the bathrooms... ALL:- ..are downstairs.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42Not a big problem if there's just two of us in the house.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44Well, exactly, you know, that's the way to look at it.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47And lovely view out over the garden.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Come on, let's go out and have a look.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Well, so far I think they're quietly impressed by this
0:12:55 > 0:12:58cottage but I suspect Anita is itching to find out
0:12:58 > 0:13:01whether the outside space could also work for them.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04To the front of the property there's a single garage
0:13:04 > 0:13:07and, to the rear, the garden extends to 2/3 of an acre.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11Look at this.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14It's much bigger than you can appreciate from the house, really.
0:13:14 > 0:13:15- Wow, it's huge.- It's much bigger.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19The large lawn is framed by mature trees and features a pond.
0:13:20 > 0:13:21Elevated towards its top end,
0:13:21 > 0:13:25it's blessed with far-reaching views across farmland.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29- There we go, beautiful. - Fantastic view, isn't it?
0:13:29 > 0:13:30Lovely view out that way.
0:13:30 > 0:13:31The garden, I think,
0:13:31 > 0:13:35really is a blank canvas to someone like yourself.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39- It is, it's a lovely garden. - It is quite manageable.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41I mean, because it only needs mowing, really.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45Over there, Rob, just see the top of that grey roof,
0:13:45 > 0:13:47that is a dedicated workshop.
0:13:47 > 0:13:48- Ah.- Perfect.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52I don't think, in fairness, there's enough room for the motor home.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54But there are some storage units up the road.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57- Literally about 200 yards up the road.- That's no problem.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Well, shall we talk about the price then?
0:13:59 > 0:14:01- Off you go.- Five...
0:14:02 > 0:14:04Fifty. 550, yeah.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08I would say closer to the 575 mark. Or maybe a bit higher.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10550 would be good, wouldn't it?
0:14:10 > 0:14:12525 would be even better.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15- Very much better.- 525 would be very good.- Very good.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17That's it, 525.
0:14:17 > 0:14:18Wow, that's good.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21Right then, we've got a bit more time here to allow you to explore
0:14:21 > 0:14:22the property at your leisure.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24- OK.- Off you go.- Thank you.- Thanks.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35At a very healthy £75,000 below their budget,
0:14:35 > 0:14:37this extended three-bedroom period
0:14:37 > 0:14:38cottage would leave our couple with
0:14:38 > 0:14:41a sizeable amount of spare change to
0:14:41 > 0:14:43complete any home improvements.
0:14:43 > 0:14:44And with a large garden
0:14:44 > 0:14:45overlooking open countryside,
0:14:45 > 0:14:47it's located on the edge
0:14:47 > 0:14:48of a village.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55- Well...- I think a nice cottagey style,
0:14:55 > 0:14:58maybe a round table would work perfectly.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01Over here I would love to have a wood burner.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03I think that would work perfectly.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07I think this property is really sweet and it's very homely
0:15:07 > 0:15:11and I could probably live here.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15I think the house has a good feel about it.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17It's got great outdoor space.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20I think that's fantastic, I love the garden.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22I definitely think Robert would like this place, yes.
0:15:22 > 0:15:27And I think he'd probably like the challenge of doing the kitchen.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31I think Anita probably likes some of the quirkiness around the house.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33She does like that type of thing.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37I think that maybe having the bathrooms downstairs
0:15:37 > 0:15:38might be a concern.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43Right then, it's time to go. Look at this. BELL RINGS
0:15:43 > 0:15:46I quite fancy one of those on my own house actually. That's rather nice.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50- Come in.- Come out!- Thank you. - More like.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53Excellent, one down, two to go.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56- Yeah.- Happy so far?- Very happy, thank you.- Yes, very good start.
0:15:56 > 0:15:57- Very good start.- Good start.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00If this were our final house, what would you be thinking, I wonder?
0:16:00 > 0:16:02- It depends what the other two were like.- Indeed!- No.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05But I think this is genuinely one worth considering.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07- It definitely is.- It is.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10- Right, lunchtime, come on. - Lunchtime, thank you.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20The Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers
0:16:20 > 0:16:23some 44% of the county.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26But within this protected terrain lie many dense areas
0:16:26 > 0:16:28of woodland including a hazel coppice dating
0:16:28 > 0:16:33back to the 1700s, which lies just outside the market town of Wareham.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37Here David Partridge, Chairman of the Dorset Coppice Society,
0:16:37 > 0:16:40practises a traditional type of fence construction
0:16:40 > 0:16:42called hurdle making.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45So with their interest in local sustainability,
0:16:45 > 0:16:49we've sent Robert and Anita to meet him to learn about his craft.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53- Welcome to Dorset.- Thank you. - Thanks very much.- This is my office.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55This is the coppice system.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58The hazel will regrow after I've cut it down.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01And in seven years' time I can use the same hazel again
0:17:01 > 0:17:05- to make my hurdles.- And a hurdle is...
0:17:05 > 0:17:11A hurdle is a woven frame panel made out of hazel,
0:17:11 > 0:17:13made out of round hazel and split hazel.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17And it's quite an old traditional craft.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19When do hurdles date back to?
0:17:19 > 0:17:23At markets they used to corral the sheep in hurdles
0:17:23 > 0:17:28so the basic original hurdle was three foot high by six foot wide.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31To maintain the abundance of local materials such as hazel,
0:17:31 > 0:17:33coppicing was developed as a traditional method of
0:17:33 > 0:17:37woodland management and is thought to be the oldest form of forestry,
0:17:37 > 0:17:40dating all the way back to 5,000 BC.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43You use fresh, green wood, you cut it
0:17:43 > 0:17:47and you still use it before it's dried out so it twists easier.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49- So it's more flexible. - Yeah, yeah.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52So it's certainly ensuring that the ancient arts are keeping going...
0:17:52 > 0:17:54Well, that's it, yeah. It's all traditional crafts
0:17:54 > 0:17:57and if you look at the old thatched cottages, there's one here,
0:17:57 > 0:18:01you'll see there's lots of hazel spars go into that.
0:18:01 > 0:18:02Look at the top of the cottage.
0:18:02 > 0:18:07- Are there any environmental benefits to coppicing?- Absolutely.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11The hazel coppice creates the woodland you can see today.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14When it's cut, all the flowers regenerate
0:18:14 > 0:18:16and the butterflies come here.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Hazel has been used to weave hurdles for thousands of years
0:18:19 > 0:18:22because it's extremely durable and flexible.
0:18:24 > 0:18:25So we've got two sorts of hazel.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28We've got the thin ones we use for the start of the hurdle at
0:18:28 > 0:18:31the bottom and we've got the thicker ones which are the splitting rods.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34So we've let these rods pitch so that means
0:18:34 > 0:18:36we've left them to settle down.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40So we've cut them down and they've been resting for a couple of days.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43And we're going to try and split the hazel,
0:18:43 > 0:18:46the thicker one, so we can weave it and even twist it on the end.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50So we can finish the hurdle.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54Once widely used to fence livestock, today handmade hurdles are often
0:18:54 > 0:18:59used as a natural alternative to mass-produced purpose-built fencing.
0:18:59 > 0:19:00So this is the hurdle.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05We've brought the hurdle up with all the different split rods we've used.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07And you can see the odd twist.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11So we've actually twisted two around the side
0:19:11 > 0:19:13and that holds the...
0:19:14 > 0:19:16..enzaling, so these are called zales.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19And now the next bit is to weave.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23- So it's just locking and then just start weaving.- All right.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27- There you go, Anita. - Is that right?- OK.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30Just push it down a little bit when it's in.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33- Yeah, OK, that's it.- Yeah.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35This process is repeated with the next rod.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39But this time, weaving the other way around the upright posts or zales.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43Rob, do you want to have a go at twisting now? That's it now.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46Now turn it round the other way. Roll it round.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50- Just ah...- Ah, with your mallet.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53Once freshly cut, the hazel rods can be worked for up
0:19:53 > 0:19:57to three months before the wood becomes too dry to be malleable.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00Handy for supporting climbing plants or your runner beans,
0:20:00 > 0:20:04hurdling principles can also be used to make garden furniture.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07I'm going to finish off with a round rod.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09And then it's just to weave it through again.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12So do you do that all the way to the top and that's it?
0:20:12 > 0:20:15Yeah, so just a couple more round rods. And a hurdle maker's knot
0:20:15 > 0:20:18on the end - which is the double twist - and then that's it.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21And then we just trim the waste off and we're done.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24So having had a hands-on insight into how
0:20:24 > 0:20:28the conservation of some of Dorset's prime woodland also helps
0:20:28 > 0:20:32to sustain a traditional craft, it's now back to the house hunt.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40Next we're heading to the sought-after village
0:20:40 > 0:20:44of Marnhull which is also around 50 miles from Southampton.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48Marnhull features attractive stone cottages
0:20:48 > 0:20:52as well as a grander Tudor residence in the form of Nash Court,
0:20:52 > 0:20:57presented by Henry VIII to his sixth wife Catherine Parr in 1544.
0:20:57 > 0:21:02There is also a small parade of shops and two local pubs.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Our second property is a short stroll away from the village centre.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12I do love a house where you can walk to the pub. Or pubs. And you can.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16- And you can from here, this is it. - Oh, wow. Can we afford this one?
0:21:16 > 0:21:20- This is beautiful. This is fantastic.- Absolutely.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23And right in front of me is a double garage.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25Now, the double garage,
0:21:25 > 0:21:27it has been converted behind those double doors
0:21:27 > 0:21:29into a fabulous artist's studio.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32- Wow.- You know, it's beautiful.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36I'm going to let you explore that on your own at the end of the tour.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39And I think you could probably just about fit the motor home in here.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43- We could.- We could probably... Yes, you could.- Yes, we could.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47It's built 1994, so you know, new build but new proportions.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50Really fits in with the local area of the village.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52- Yeah, what about it, Lisa? - Come, quickly.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54I'll follow you then. Come on!
0:21:54 > 0:21:56THEY LAUGH
0:21:56 > 0:21:58I've got to try and keep up. Right, I'm going to overtake you.
0:21:58 > 0:21:59There we are.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05Clearly impressed by the size of this modern chalet-style home,
0:22:05 > 0:22:07I wonder if Anita is going to be able to contain her
0:22:07 > 0:22:10excitement once we've stepped inside.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12Look at this!
0:22:12 > 0:22:14'And viewed the living room.'
0:22:14 > 0:22:18- Oh, lovely size.- Beautiful room. - Beautiful.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21- Really nice.- Lovely size. And a wood burner.- Yes.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25Again, you know, big windows and doors going out to the front garden.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27- Really, really nice.- Very nice. - Very, very nice.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30And of course it's all designed for modern living.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34So bags and bags of space downstairs.
0:22:34 > 0:22:35And elsewhere as well.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39- Sold, then.- Sold? Really? Sold? - Sold.- Pretty much getting there.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42- And we only just started. - I know, well, come on then.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46- I saw the garage.- Well, guys, this is all good news, isn't it?
0:22:46 > 0:22:49- Very good.- It is. Very ,very good. - Sold. How about that?
0:22:51 > 0:22:53Well, we've barely explored this place but
0:22:53 > 0:22:56Anita and Robert seem to have already moved in.
0:22:56 > 0:22:57Next stop is the kitchen.
0:22:59 > 0:23:04- There we go, Anita, what do you think of this, then?- Oh, very nice.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08- Yeah?- A nice size.- The dining room, of course, is next-door.
0:23:08 > 0:23:09If you wanted to be really creative
0:23:09 > 0:23:12you could think about opening that up.
0:23:12 > 0:23:13If you want to think about changing it,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16- you could do that over a period of time.- Yeah.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19- Would you be quite happy in here, madam?- Yes, yes, sir.- Still sold?
0:23:19 > 0:23:21Yes, sold.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Adjacent to the kitchen is the utility room and a study
0:23:24 > 0:23:26which could be useful for Robert.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29But the expansive accommodation on the ground floor doesn't stop here.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31I'm keen to show our buyers what could be
0:23:31 > 0:23:33their rather generous master suite.
0:23:35 > 0:23:40- So, here we are. Five piece bathroom.- Wow.
0:23:40 > 0:23:41And then the main bedroom itself.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44- Oh! Really nice size.- Yeah, perfect size.
0:23:44 > 0:23:45And I'm not missing the fact that
0:23:45 > 0:23:47we're not upstairs, really, with this one.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49No, no. I like a downstairs bedroom.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51We quite like the idea of a downstairs bedroom as we get older.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54But you have got upstairs, of course, for when Chris comes to stay
0:23:54 > 0:23:57- and probably brings his mates back with him.- Yeah.- And his washing.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59And his washing.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02There are three bedrooms in total.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05The remaining two are found upstairs and
0:24:05 > 0:24:08are currently used as extra living space
0:24:08 > 0:24:11served by another five piece family bathroom.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15Outside, the carefully manicured gardens wrap around the house
0:24:15 > 0:24:17and feature two patios,
0:24:17 > 0:24:21some raised borders and mature and manageable planting.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23Now, the grounds themselves may not extend to acres
0:24:23 > 0:24:27but I'm hoping they'll still be big enough for Anita.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30- I love this elevation with these three dormer windows.- Very pretty.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34- Very, very nice, yes.- So now you've seen it all, madam.- I know.
0:24:34 > 0:24:35Are you still sold on it?
0:24:35 > 0:24:37Yes, I'm still sold on it
0:24:37 > 0:24:39but I think it's a bit over our price range.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42- Shall I say 625?- 625?
0:24:42 > 0:24:45I'm going to be optimistic and say 610.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47I would chance my luck on this one.
0:24:47 > 0:24:48I would be even more optimistic
0:24:48 > 0:24:53- and I would say it's on the market for £595,000.- Really?- There you go.
0:24:53 > 0:24:58- So it's within budget.- It's within budget. And open to sensible offers.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01That is very good. I'm happy. I'm a happy man.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03THEY LAUGH
0:25:03 > 0:25:06- Are you a happy woman, madam? - Yes, very happy, definitely sold.
0:25:06 > 0:25:07Definitely sold.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10Do you remember when we arrived and I pointed out the double garage
0:25:10 > 0:25:13- which has been converted into an artist's studio?- Yes.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15Now's your moment, so go and have a look at that
0:25:15 > 0:25:17and I will catch up with you a little bit later.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19- OK, thank you.- Off you go. - Thank you.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26Just £5,000 under their maximum budget,
0:25:26 > 0:25:29this modern chalet-style property with three bedrooms
0:25:29 > 0:25:32seems to have the ideal layout for our couple.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34It has a manageable garden
0:25:34 > 0:25:37and is located within a highly sought-after village.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43- Oh, this is a nice size, isn't it?- This is the garage.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46This is the garage. We'll have to convert it back, I'm afraid.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50- There should be plenty of room to put a workbench there.- Yeah.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53- Two cars?- This will work.- Great.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56Inside, the accommodation is perfect.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58The downstairs bedroom is a great idea.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01I think Anita will love this house.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05Her face said it all as we moved into it.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08This is really brilliant.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10I think it's just what we're looking for, really.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12I mean, I know it's quite a small garden
0:26:12 > 0:26:16but I think a small garden would be better for us in the long term.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20I hope that Rob likes this house.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23And I hope he likes it as much as I do.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26I think we could move in tomorrow.
0:26:29 > 0:26:30Does it feel like home, then?
0:26:30 > 0:26:33- It does!- It does feel like home, yeah. It does.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36- So we have maybe sold it?- Maybe. - Well, somebody's very happy.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39Do you still want to see the Mystery House tomorrow morning?
0:26:39 > 0:26:40I love a mystery.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43- You never know what you might be missing, do you?- I know.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45- That's the problem.- Come on, then.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58It's the second day of our property hunt with Anita and Robert
0:26:58 > 0:27:01who are looking to leave the commuter town of Southborough
0:27:01 > 0:27:03in Kent in favour of rural Dorset.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06Coming up, our mystery property could provide them
0:27:06 > 0:27:09- with a tempting proposition. - It's an interesting space.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12I haven't seen something like this before.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15And I find out about the evolution of a rather mobile part
0:27:15 > 0:27:18of our agricultural heritage.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20- And are they easy to move? - They are, yeah.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23In here on hard ground you can move it on your own, just one person.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29Well, what a week we are having here in Dorset.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31Two very strong properties yesterday,
0:27:31 > 0:27:33the second of which Rob and Anita declared sold
0:27:33 > 0:27:36so you may be thinking we can all take the day off.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39But of course we're not going to be letting our buyers sign up to
0:27:39 > 0:27:43anything before they've seen our final offering, our Mystery House.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45Could it be bigger? Could it be better?
0:27:45 > 0:27:46Well, you never know your luck.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49But one thing is for sure, it also contains an interesting
0:27:49 > 0:27:52option for their son Chris which may in the future save them
0:27:52 > 0:27:53quite a lot of money.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55So let's see if they like it.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05For our final option we're travelling south to the
0:28:05 > 0:28:08village of Shroton which, at around 45 miles from Southampton,
0:28:08 > 0:28:12is the closest location to our couple's son at university.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17Towering 190 metres above the village is Hambledon Hill
0:28:17 > 0:28:20which is one of the best preserved Iron Age hill forts in Britain.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24Sitting at the foot of this Site of Special Scientific Interest,
0:28:24 > 0:28:25the ancient River Iwerne
0:28:25 > 0:28:27winds its way through the quaint village centre
0:28:27 > 0:28:30but there's also a post office and a pub.
0:28:30 > 0:28:34Located just on the edge of the village is our mystery option.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36Now as our buyers are hoping to release
0:28:36 > 0:28:39equity from their current home to buy their son a property,
0:28:39 > 0:28:42I couldn't resist showing them something with the potential
0:28:42 > 0:28:44to make this a real possibility,
0:28:44 > 0:28:47perhaps a little closer to home than they would have imagined.
0:28:51 > 0:28:56- Well, here we are. At long last. - Mystery House.- Our Mystery House.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00- Here you go.- Wow, that's different. Very different.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02And in fairness to you, it's probably hard
0:29:02 > 0:29:04to make sense of it from here
0:29:04 > 0:29:07because it really comes to life inside.
0:29:07 > 0:29:09It has a certain sort of Georgian feel about it
0:29:09 > 0:29:13- but it was only built in 1968. - Oh, so it's fairly new.
0:29:13 > 0:29:18- The key thing is that the top floor is a separate flat.- Ah.
0:29:18 > 0:29:21You see? This is where we're going with the whole Christopher...
0:29:21 > 0:29:22The Christopher thing...
0:29:22 > 0:29:26..conundrum, or you could just keep it for him
0:29:26 > 0:29:29- for when he comes back to visit. BOTH:- OK.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32- Are you opening your mind to the possibility?- I am. Come on.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35All right, come on. HE LAUGHS
0:29:36 > 0:29:40This very modern and very different property was designed to
0:29:40 > 0:29:45maximise its location, making the most of the surrounding views.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47Now, as you can see what is effectively the ground floor
0:29:47 > 0:29:51has been elevated by this very elegant staircase.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53Now, it may have been a reserved start outside
0:29:53 > 0:29:55but I think this is a property that
0:29:55 > 0:29:58could really grow on Robert and Anita.
0:29:58 > 0:30:05- Disappointing.- It's not huge.- No. - But in terms of a working space...
0:30:05 > 0:30:07- Quite manageable. - Yeah, it's workable.
0:30:07 > 0:30:11But this is something which is absolutely unique.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15This is the door through to the dining room.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19- Oh, wow. That's different.- Yeah. It's a bit Thunderbirds, isn't it?
0:30:19 > 0:30:22This is a Jefferson door.
0:30:22 > 0:30:26Crazy, but it allows you, I suppose, to make the best use of the space
0:30:26 > 0:30:28the door would ordinarily occupy
0:30:28 > 0:30:30but we can go through it.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33- Wow.- Crazy, isn't it?- Really crazy.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36This is really quirky this place, honestly. Come through.
0:30:36 > 0:30:41- Yet more elegance for you.- Very nice.- And just look at those views.
0:30:41 > 0:30:45- Wow.- That's beautiful.- Views to die for.
0:30:45 > 0:30:49I love this room and I think, you know, with the bay window,
0:30:49 > 0:30:52the doors out to the terrace, nice working fireplace.
0:30:52 > 0:30:57- Very comfortable. Very nice.- Cosy. - Very cosy.
0:30:57 > 0:30:59- Could you be happy in here?- Yes.
0:30:59 > 0:31:03Sitting there and looking at the view all day, yes.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05Due to the unusual layout of this property,
0:31:05 > 0:31:08the bedrooms are located on the ground floor.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12The simply styled family bathroom serves two good-sized doubles
0:31:12 > 0:31:16and we're making a beeline to the one that could be their master.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18There you go.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20And it leads through to quite a
0:31:20 > 0:31:23- generously proportioned en suite, actually.- Oh, right.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25A corner bath with shower above it and all the rest of it.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28And again, a lovely bay window making the best of those views.
0:31:28 > 0:31:32- Of those views. And not overlooked at all.- Not at all.- No.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35In terms of the flow of this one, because it is unusual,
0:31:35 > 0:31:39- how does it feel? - The flow's fine.- Yes.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42- Is it working?- Sort of.- Sort of? - Sort of.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48Robert seems to be open-minded to the quirkiness of this house
0:31:48 > 0:31:51even if Anita needs a little more convincing.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54But I'm hoping what I'm about to show them might present them
0:31:54 > 0:31:56with an interesting option for their son.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59Outside and to the rear of the property, there's a staircase
0:31:59 > 0:32:04leading up to the top floor where we find a self-contained flat.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07Featuring a living-cum-sleeping area, a compact kitchen
0:32:07 > 0:32:09and a small bathroom,
0:32:09 > 0:32:12with a little TLC this has the potential for our couple to
0:32:12 > 0:32:16provide their son with his very own pad before he decides where
0:32:16 > 0:32:17he'd like to buy.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21Now, what do you think Christopher would make of this, then?
0:32:21 > 0:32:23Wow, this is a bit amazing.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28It's a bit of a time capsule.
0:32:28 > 0:32:29It feels very late '60s
0:32:29 > 0:32:33but through that door there is an enormous loft space.
0:32:33 > 0:32:34It's as big as this again.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37It would make a fantastic bedroom which would mean if you knocked all
0:32:37 > 0:32:41this out through to the kitchen, you'd have kitchen/living room.
0:32:41 > 0:32:42Amazing space.
0:32:42 > 0:32:45If this were a flat in West London, it would be 400 grand.
0:32:45 > 0:32:47- Absolutely.- Exactly. Yes.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50But it's just on top of your house.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53THEY LAUGH
0:32:53 > 0:32:54So it's a bonus.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57It's an interesting space. I haven't seen something like this before.
0:32:57 > 0:33:01- Is it growing on you?- Sort of. - Sort of.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04- Well, the price may help your decision-making.- OK.
0:33:04 > 0:33:08- Shall we go out and enjoy the views? - Right.- Let's do that.- OK, come on.
0:33:09 > 0:33:13Well, our mystery property is still getting muted reactions from Anita
0:33:13 > 0:33:16but I've got one last chance to impress her.
0:33:16 > 0:33:20Outside, there's a spacious garage and workshop which can also
0:33:20 > 0:33:24be accessed directly from the house via an indoor lift.
0:33:24 > 0:33:28And to the rear, the good-sized yet low-maintenance lawned garden
0:33:28 > 0:33:31has a beautiful view over Hambledon Hill.
0:33:32 > 0:33:37- The garden is what you see. But... - But you've got a garden here.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39Look at that! I mean, what a view!
0:33:39 > 0:33:42Come on, it's got to be growing, a little bit.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44Mm, a little bit.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47Robert, help me out here. You can guess first.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50It's under budget, so 585.
0:33:50 > 0:33:55- 585.- I don't think it's going to be that much.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57- 540.- Well, here's the thing.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00- You're both wrong.- Oh, OK. - Ah, which way?
0:34:01 > 0:34:02- A good way. BOTH:- A good way.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05- It's half a million. £500,000. - £500,000?
0:34:05 > 0:34:07So we've just saved you 100 grand.
0:34:07 > 0:34:11Now, admittedly you're going to spend some of that on it. But...
0:34:11 > 0:34:13the rest of the money that you're going to save from the sale
0:34:13 > 0:34:15of your house, you can keep in the bank until you know
0:34:15 > 0:34:18- what Christopher's going to do. - What Christopher's going to do.
0:34:18 > 0:34:22- Yeah. It's worth thinking, considering.- Right then, off you go.
0:34:22 > 0:34:23Go and have an explore.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27- See what you might do with that £100,000 change.- OK.
0:34:27 > 0:34:28OK, thank you. Right.
0:34:30 > 0:34:34And in the meantime, I think I might just enjoy the archaeology.
0:34:39 > 0:34:43£100,000 under budget, our mystery property offers two bedrooms,
0:34:43 > 0:34:46spacious reception rooms and a self-contained flat
0:34:46 > 0:34:49presenting our couple with the potential to make a lovely
0:34:49 > 0:34:54country home for themselves and a separate one for their son.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56And situated on the edge of a village,
0:34:56 > 0:34:59it's also blessed by fabulous historic views.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03I'm not sure the Mystery House would really be for us.
0:35:03 > 0:35:08I think the Mystery House has a lot of features that I like
0:35:08 > 0:35:12but, overall, I don't think it would really work for us.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15Some aspects of the house are very nice.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18This lovely living room's beautiful.
0:35:18 > 0:35:23Overall, the property has fantastic views but we'd have to
0:35:23 > 0:35:26spend a lot more money on it than we would be prepared to do.
0:35:28 > 0:35:30You're enjoying that view, aren't you?
0:35:30 > 0:35:32I could spend all day wandering around up there
0:35:32 > 0:35:34but I haven't got time.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37- Come on, let's go.- Thank you. - Big decision to be had.
0:35:46 > 0:35:51It's not just Dorset's stunning coast that has a few tales to tell.
0:35:51 > 0:35:55Inland, the rural heart of the county inspired one of the country's
0:35:55 > 0:35:59greatest authors, Thomas Hardy, to pen his most famous works.
0:35:59 > 0:36:04The agricultural landscape here continues to provoke creative minds.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07Today the village of Waterston is home to local entrepreneur
0:36:07 > 0:36:11Richard Leigh, for whom a humble shelter for shepherds
0:36:11 > 0:36:14has come to play a key role in his 21st-century business.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17Now, the shepherd's hut is synonymous with Dorset
0:36:17 > 0:36:20as, of course, are sheep and, of course, are Hardy.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23There is a very specific connection, though, within all of that,
0:36:23 > 0:36:25to where we are now, isn't there?
0:36:25 > 0:36:28Yeah, we're looking down on the valley at Waterston, really,
0:36:28 > 0:36:31which is where Far From The Madding Crowd was set.
0:36:31 > 0:36:35When Hardy wrote the novel, Bathsheba lived in Waterston Manor,
0:36:35 > 0:36:38Gabriel Oak lived in a cottage in the field
0:36:38 > 0:36:41and Farmer Boldwood lived at Druce Farm.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44But what gave you the idea to take up
0:36:44 > 0:36:46the mantle of resurrecting these huts?
0:36:46 > 0:36:48Well, on the top of the hill,
0:36:48 > 0:36:50on the brow of the hill there is an old hut.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53I saw it and in the back of my mind I thought,
0:36:53 > 0:36:55"Well, if that if that ever came up for sale,
0:36:55 > 0:36:57"I might, you know, let's have it and rebuild it."
0:36:57 > 0:36:59But it went by on a lorry. It got sold
0:36:59 > 0:37:00and I thought, "That's a shame."
0:37:00 > 0:37:04It was quite a feature of the area. Everybody knew about it.
0:37:04 > 0:37:06So I thought, "Well, let's make a copy."
0:37:06 > 0:37:08We made our first one 15 years ago.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11That rustic end of it, clearly that appealed to you.
0:37:11 > 0:37:13It couldn't be more appropriate, really.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17Working in the countryside, making an iconic rural bygone
0:37:17 > 0:37:20- but with a contemporary twist.- I can't wait to see how you make them.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24Brilliant, well, I look forward to showing you round.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27These huts have been around for hundreds of years.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30They were used by shepherds during the lengthy lambing season
0:37:30 > 0:37:35when they had to be on hand 24/7 to ensure the safety of their flock.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38It's the classic Victorian hut, clad in corrugated iron with
0:37:38 > 0:37:42a curved roof, which inspires the huts Richard makes today.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45He employs a core team of eight hut makers,
0:37:45 > 0:37:49craftsmen who restore original models as well as making new ones.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52They look absolutely fabulous. I love the range of colours as well.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55This one here is a 14-foot hut
0:37:55 > 0:37:57and it's off to the Highlands of Scotland.
0:37:57 > 0:37:59And I think that might sort of explain the colour.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02It's lacking a big white cross, isn't it, really?
0:38:02 > 0:38:04That's what it needs. But this is 14 foot?
0:38:04 > 0:38:08That's 14 foot so we base them as near as we can to the originals
0:38:08 > 0:38:11which were about 12-foot long, about six-foot-six wide.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13We've got an old, original hut down here that we're restoring.
0:38:13 > 0:38:15That one in the back there?
0:38:15 > 0:38:17Yeah, I mean, that's as typical as they could be, really.
0:38:17 > 0:38:19And a shepherd's hut should have its wheels
0:38:19 > 0:38:21outside the body of the hut.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24And you have a smaller wheel at the steering end so that it can steer.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27You can hitch it up to a tractor or originally a horse
0:38:27 > 0:38:29and you can steer it and tow it out.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31- And are they easy to move? - They are, yeah.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35In here on hard ground you can move it on your own, just one person.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38Huts were originally made by blacksmiths at local forges
0:38:38 > 0:38:41and Richard still gets his cast-iron wheels
0:38:41 > 0:38:44made at a nearby foundry to his own design.
0:38:44 > 0:38:46Is this one in any way finished?
0:38:46 > 0:38:48It's nearly there, we've just got the 12-volt electrics to do.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52There'll be a solar panel on the roof charging a battery
0:38:52 > 0:38:54and that will run LED lights inside.
0:38:54 > 0:38:57So all the furniture's done.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00It's got a bed, a table that drops down to form a bed.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03And I love the little wood burner in there. That's beautiful.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05Yeah, and again, all fitted to modern standards.
0:39:05 > 0:39:07- Now, you do a range of sizes.- We do.
0:39:08 > 0:39:12- I'm dying to know the prices. - They're from about £15,000 upwards.
0:39:13 > 0:39:18Last year, the team made 40 huts and, to date, have created some 300,
0:39:18 > 0:39:21each one taking a few hundred hours to complete.
0:39:21 > 0:39:23And those classic, simple proportions
0:39:23 > 0:39:25have uses that are far and wide.
0:39:25 > 0:39:29Many are transformed into luxury glamping retreats or simply used
0:39:29 > 0:39:33as an alternative to summer houses, offices and art studios.
0:39:33 > 0:39:37What's more, being portable, they're seen as lifelong investments
0:39:37 > 0:39:40that you can tow away as and when you move.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42- You can stay in a hotel room... - Yeah.
0:39:42 > 0:39:43..or a cottage any day of the week.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46This is something that's going to stick in your memory.
0:39:46 > 0:39:50It will do, yeah. It's got that kind of romantic sort of feel to it.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52The use of these simple huts may have evolved over
0:39:52 > 0:39:56the last 150 years or so, but there's no doubting the enduring
0:39:56 > 0:39:59charm of their traditional simplicity.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04What would be the ultimate hut? Have you made it yet?
0:40:04 > 0:40:07It's a bit like being a painter or an artist, isn't it?
0:40:07 > 0:40:10You know that the next one's going to be the best one.
0:40:10 > 0:40:12Will it ever happen? I don't know.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15- It's that search for continual perfection.- Yeah, it is.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17Well, Richard, it's been a real treat. Thank you very much.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19And it's delightful to think that, once again,
0:40:19 > 0:40:21the British countryside is now going to have
0:40:21 > 0:40:23shepherds' huts strewn across it.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30Well, it is a cruel law of probability that even on a good
0:40:30 > 0:40:34week on Escape To The Country, in general, we only have a one in three
0:40:34 > 0:40:36chance of getting it right, if at all.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39So have we managed to do it this week for Robert and Anita?
0:40:39 > 0:40:41Well, as you can see, they're enjoying a drink.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43Let's go and ask them.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49- Well, how are you two? BOTH:- Very well, thank you.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52- Hello, for the last time. - Final time.- How are we doing?
0:40:52 > 0:40:54- Very well, thank you. - Beautiful sunshine.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57We've had beautiful weather, beautiful properties,
0:40:57 > 0:41:01but have we managed to find you one that will work?
0:41:01 > 0:41:03I think, possibly.
0:41:03 > 0:41:07Yeah, I thought so. THEY LAUGH
0:41:07 > 0:41:12- Property number two.- Yes. - What happened there, Anita?
0:41:12 > 0:41:16It was really nice. I really like it. It's lovely.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18Liked it?
0:41:18 > 0:41:19- You said it was sold. - Yeah, it was sold.
0:41:19 > 0:41:24In fact, we're going for our second viewing today.
0:41:24 > 0:41:26- You're going for a second viewing today? BOTH:- Yes.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29- We haven't finished the show yet. - I'm sorry.- You can't mess around.
0:41:29 > 0:41:30This is working fast.
0:41:30 > 0:41:35Are you optimistic about putting in an offer?
0:41:35 > 0:41:37A lot depends on what's happening with our house.
0:41:37 > 0:41:39Obviously our house is on the market.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43We believe we've got some people very interested.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45It would be great if they put an offer in
0:41:45 > 0:41:48- and we could then move swiftly. - Forward.- Wow.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50This is all slightly breathtaking, isn't it?
0:41:50 > 0:41:53Were you expecting to be in this position at the end of the week?
0:41:53 > 0:41:56I sort of had a feeling that might happen.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58It was very much love at first sight, though, wasn't it?
0:41:58 > 0:42:02Yeah, I think the entrance was very imposing.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05It had a nice feel about the house, the front of the house.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08We loved the veranda, the walkway
0:42:08 > 0:42:10sort of reminded us a bit about Africa.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12Yeah, well, guys, I'm delighted.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15I'm not going to delay you any longer.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18- You've got a viewing to get to. - We do.- Well, look, best of luck.
0:42:18 > 0:42:21- Let us know how you get on. - Thank you.- Thank you.- Cheers.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24- ALL:- Cheers.- Congratulations. - Thank you.- Thank you.
0:42:28 > 0:42:32Dorset really is one of my favourite parts of the UK.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35In just a few weeks' time, this wheat crop will have been harvested
0:42:35 > 0:42:38and hopefully by then Robert and Anita
0:42:38 > 0:42:41will have done their own deal on their new home,
0:42:41 > 0:42:43getting them "far from the madding crowd"
0:42:43 > 0:42:45and into a new life in the country.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47I'll see you next time.
0:42:48 > 0:42:50If you'd like to escape to the country
0:42:50 > 0:42:53in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or England
0:42:53 > 0:42:56and would like our help, then please apply online at...