0:00:02 > 0:00:04So influential was the architecture and the owner of this building
0:00:04 > 0:00:07behind me, that in 1867, when Queen Victoria came to visit,
0:00:07 > 0:00:12she decided to redecorate Balmoral Castle in the same style.
0:00:12 > 0:00:13Find out where I am,
0:00:13 > 0:00:16and who the very imaginative owner was in just a moment.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37On today's show, I help a couple who want to escape to the wilds to
0:00:37 > 0:00:40find their ideal country retreat.
0:00:40 > 0:00:41But from the start,
0:00:41 > 0:00:45I'm kept on tenterhooks as to how they feel about the properties.
0:00:45 > 0:00:46I'm smiling at you, Alistair.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50I know. My heart sank when you first arrived.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54And, when it comes to price, they do not hold back.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56How much?!
0:00:56 > 0:00:59- The Yorkshire..- How much?
0:01:04 > 0:01:08Today I'm in the Scottish Borders, and this is Abbotsford,
0:01:08 > 0:01:10which was the home of one of Scotland's greatest writers,
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Sir Walter Scott.
0:01:12 > 0:01:13Completed in 1824,
0:01:13 > 0:01:17on the proceeds of his very successful Waverley novels,
0:01:17 > 0:01:20it was inspired by Scott's journeys through his beloved country,
0:01:20 > 0:01:22and particularly its architecture.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24Indeed, there are parts of some of the rooms
0:01:24 > 0:01:27that he so admired built into the fabric of this home.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32It was very influential in its time, and became the template
0:01:32 > 0:01:36of what's known as the Scottish baronial style of architecture. But,
0:01:36 > 0:01:39great stately homes are not the only thing
0:01:39 > 0:01:41that the Scottish Borders have to offer.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45As one of the 32 council regions in Scotland,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Scottish Borders flanks Edinburgh to the North,
0:01:48 > 0:01:50Dumfries and Galloway to the West,
0:01:50 > 0:01:52and the English counties
0:01:52 > 0:01:54of Northumberland and Cumbria to the south.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57An area of vast open spaces,
0:01:57 > 0:02:01the Borders landscape sweeps across lush green fields and woodlands,
0:02:01 > 0:02:05and rises to one of the area's best known landmarks, the Eldon Hells,
0:02:05 > 0:02:07which are visible for miles.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11Of these three heather clad summits, the middle peak is the highest.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13Standing at 1,385 feet,
0:02:13 > 0:02:17it commands a breathtaking view of the valley below,
0:02:17 > 0:02:19overlooking the majestic River Tweed.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23Flowing east across the region, and just into northern England,
0:02:23 > 0:02:26this river is abundant with salmon and trout.
0:02:26 > 0:02:31It has been a favourite spot for fly fishers since the 19th century.
0:02:31 > 0:02:3597 miles long, the Tweed is crossed by the Kelso Bridge,
0:02:35 > 0:02:36designed by John Rennie,
0:02:36 > 0:02:40who later modelled London's Waterloo Bridge on this design.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44And picturesque market towns include Kelso itself,
0:02:44 > 0:02:47described by the novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott as "The most
0:02:47 > 0:02:51"beautiful, if not romantic, village in Scotland."
0:02:51 > 0:02:52So, with its strong identity,
0:02:52 > 0:02:57impressive heritage and awe-inspiring scenery, the Scottish Borders
0:02:57 > 0:03:00make a truly compelling region for aspiring escapees.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05At the moment, property prices in the Scottish Borders stand at around
0:03:05 > 0:03:09£250,000 for a detached house.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12That's £12,000 more than the Scottish average,
0:03:12 > 0:03:17but it's £30,000 less than the figure for England and Wales.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21And if you go away from the commuter hotspots and the south of Edinburgh,
0:03:21 > 0:03:24or around the East Coast mainline station at Berwick-upon-Tweed,
0:03:24 > 0:03:27then your money will go further still.
0:03:27 > 0:03:32So, where in this beautiful part of the world are our buyers looking to
0:03:32 > 0:03:34move? Let's meet them and find out.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Retired builder Ken and finance administrator Carol
0:03:39 > 0:03:43from Ilkley in West Yorkshire, have been together for the last 16 years.
0:03:43 > 0:03:44Both have grown-up children
0:03:44 > 0:03:48from previous marriages and they feel the time has come
0:03:48 > 0:03:49for new adventures.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53Well, we want to move now, because we're due to retire,
0:03:53 > 0:03:55I'm already retired.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58And we are looking for a more peaceful way of living.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01It's definitely our time.
0:04:01 > 0:04:02As Ken was a builder,
0:04:02 > 0:04:05he and Carol completely converted their current home,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08and are happy to take on a small project in the next.
0:04:08 > 0:04:13This property was a little detached bungalow, but in a nice plot.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16And we got planning permission and converted this property
0:04:16 > 0:04:19into a beautiful four-bedroom detached house.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23I'd like a little project, I think.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25I'm fit enough to do...
0:04:25 > 0:04:29Maybe not a full conversion, but a conversion.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33Ken is also keen to have land with the next property to follow country
0:04:33 > 0:04:35pursuits. Hooked on fishing,
0:04:35 > 0:04:40he looks forward to spending more time along the rivers and streams of Scotland.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Carol is keen to pursue her own hobbies and they'll both come
0:04:42 > 0:04:46together for country strolls with their dog.
0:04:46 > 0:04:47We just love it up there.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49It's just nice and peaceful,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52and we found the people nice where we've stayed and been.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56- Oh, it's a beautiful part of the world.- Yes, it's really nice.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59Today, they've seen numerous properties online,
0:04:59 > 0:05:00and have been up to view a couple,
0:05:00 > 0:05:03but they've always fallen short in some way,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06and it's very clear that they have a lot riding on this move.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08What do you say, it's... It's your...?
0:05:08 > 0:05:11- Forever home.- There you go.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13- Forever home.- It's going to be our forever home.
0:05:13 > 0:05:14- Our next move will be.- Yeah.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17Our next move will be our forever home.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Ken and Carol are keen to live near the towns of Jedburgh and Kelso,
0:05:24 > 0:05:26and their surrounding villages.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30We are all meeting up at the magnificent Scott's View,
0:05:30 > 0:05:33to delve deeper into their property wish list.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Welcome to Scotland, guys. Although, I think, actually, you, Ken,
0:05:37 > 0:05:39know this area probably better than I do.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41- You've been here a lot.- I have, yes,
0:05:41 > 0:05:43in the last 25 years I've been up here fishing
0:05:43 > 0:05:44and enjoying the views and scenery.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Right, so is he dragging you here kicking and screaming,
0:05:47 > 0:05:49- or willingly?- Willingly.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52It'll give us time to spend together,
0:05:52 > 0:05:54and time for him to do his fishing etc.
0:05:54 > 0:05:55And beautiful countryside.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58- Yeah, absolutely.- This is Sir Walter Scott's favourite view.
0:05:58 > 0:05:59It is indeed, yeah.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01Don't get much better than that.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04So, tell me about the property that you want.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07My idea would be a detached property.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11Three bedrooms. Minimum of, probably, half an acre or an acre
0:06:11 > 0:06:15of land around. The outskirts of the village would be very nice.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18And views like this, if possible.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Are you on the same page with that?
0:06:20 > 0:06:22There or thereabouts, yeah.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24I'm not bothered about the land.
0:06:24 > 0:06:25I'd like to be a bit nearer people,
0:06:25 > 0:06:28I'm not quite ready for living in the middle of a field yet.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31- Right.- And I'm not bothered about a huge garden,
0:06:31 > 0:06:34so long as there's room for table and a glass of wine,
0:06:34 > 0:06:35it'll be fine by me.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38And in terms of the actual style of the property...
0:06:38 > 0:06:40There's various styles of property up here which we like.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Whether it be a or bungalow or a house, or whatever it may be.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46I come from a building background,
0:06:46 > 0:06:49so if there is a bit of a project there, that wouldn't be a problem.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51A bit of a project.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53What are your thoughts about a project?
0:06:53 > 0:06:56I've told him, whatever we look at, he's not taking the roof off.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59I don't mind knocking walls down, kitchen, bathroom,
0:06:59 > 0:07:01it's got to be habitable, whatever we get.
0:07:01 > 0:07:02And what's the top end of your budget?
0:07:02 > 0:07:05Our top end of the budget would be £350,000.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Good. We can talk more about what you're going to do up in Scotland
0:07:08 > 0:07:10as we drive around, but we've got three lovely houses.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13Hopefully you're going to love them all. So, let's get in the car
0:07:13 > 0:07:15- and go visit. - OK.- Fine.
0:07:20 > 0:07:25With a budget of £350,000, they are looking for a detached property
0:07:25 > 0:07:27that has at least three bedrooms.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29Carol would like to be near a village,
0:07:29 > 0:07:33and between half an acre and an acre of land would be ideal for Ken.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36They are up for building project, so long as it's a small one,
0:07:36 > 0:07:40and are hoping for a location with lovely views.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42We've found three fantastic properties to tempt them
0:07:42 > 0:07:45and at each one I'll be asking them to guess the price
0:07:45 > 0:07:46at the end of the tour.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Our final destination is the Mystery House,
0:07:50 > 0:07:51which will broaden their horizons,
0:07:51 > 0:07:54being something they would not have considered before.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01In a bid to start off the search in your preferred area,
0:08:01 > 0:08:05we're beginning our tour in the rural village of Redpath.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09Quaint cottages and converted crofts come in abundance here,
0:08:09 > 0:08:13lining quiet country roads and sitting alongside the Leide River,
0:08:13 > 0:08:18whose waters flow into the Tweed and to the nearby town of Melrose.
0:08:18 > 0:08:19Dating back to the Iron Age,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22this picturesque town neighbours the Eldon Hills,
0:08:22 > 0:08:25and offers all the shops and amenities you'd need.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29Just a short drive from here is the first property I want to present.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Back in the peaceful village of Redpath.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Here we have it, house number one.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36What are your impressions from the street?
0:08:36 > 0:08:38- Oh, right.- All right.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42It's semidetached, an older property.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44- Yes.- This could be the project.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47Ah, you're pulling a very pained face.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50- Hmm.- Carol, it's not for you? - No, don't like...
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Not from the outside, I don't like the look of it.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54What is it that you're not liking?
0:08:54 > 0:08:56- The rendering.- Well, that's a very Scottish thing,
0:08:56 > 0:08:59there's barely a house in the whole of Scotland...
0:08:59 > 0:09:02It's better than the grey blocks you get.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04- Yeah.- But it's OK, it looks all right.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07- At least it's got a roof.- It has got a roof.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09It's a good roof as well.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11Keep your hands off it.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Let's have a look inside and see if we can win you over.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16- Yeah, looking forward to it. - OK, then.
0:09:16 > 0:09:17'Despite being semidetached,
0:09:17 > 0:09:20'and not to Carol's taste on first impressions,'
0:09:20 > 0:09:23'I believe this cottage has lots to offer.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27'Dating back to the 1860s, it has been recently extended to the rear,
0:09:27 > 0:09:30'and it comes with a beautiful classic country decor inside.'
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Come on in. Let's go straight into this room.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38- Great.- I like that.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40- Nice, isn't it?- Lovely.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42This is a lovely room because you've got the log burner.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44There are two rooms with log burners.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47And you've got the French doors going into the patio area at the back of the house.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50- That's a nice room.- First impressions, it's a nice room.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52This is a lovely room, yeah.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54Have you warmed up from the outside?
0:09:54 > 0:09:55- Yes, I have.- OK.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57I'm smiling at you, Alistair.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02I know. My heart sank when you first arrived. But a good feeling in here?
0:10:02 > 0:10:03Yeah. Good feeling here.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05- Let's go into the kitchen.- Ah.
0:10:09 > 0:10:10Small.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12I think it's a decent size.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14- No.- Yeah.- Carol doesn't.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16The Cottage. Cottage kitchen.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Yeah. It's a cottage kitchen, yeah.
0:10:18 > 0:10:19Good-sized dining table.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Yeah. And is this the only eating area?
0:10:22 > 0:10:27Yes. So, behind us you've got quite a nice second sitting room,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30which they have also used as a dining room.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33- And then on this side you've got quite a big utility room.- Right.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35So, there are currently plans in
0:10:35 > 0:10:38to knock the two rooms behind us through
0:10:38 > 0:10:40- to make a big room at the back of the house.- Right.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42So, you could...
0:10:42 > 0:10:44make this a big kitchen-diner, if you wanted.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46- That's your project.- Yeah.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50- There's a project there. I like projects.- You do.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54'Along with giving Ken a project,
0:10:54 > 0:10:57'there is also a ground floor single bedroom to throw into the mix.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01'But I'm keen to see what they make of the three upstairs bedrooms.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04'The first is a large double,
0:11:04 > 0:11:06'and sits beside a spacious shower room.
0:11:08 > 0:11:13'The second, again a roomy double, with painted floorboards.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15'Which just leaves the last bedroom.'
0:11:15 > 0:11:18- The landing is lovely. - It's good, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21So, this bathroom serves what they use as the master.
0:11:21 > 0:11:22- There's a bath in there. OK. - Oh, right.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24- And a shower.- That's a nice one. - Yep.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27And this is what they're using as the master.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Nice size. Double aspect.
0:11:30 > 0:11:35- Good-sized room. I think this is a nice-proportioned house.- Yeah.
0:11:35 > 0:11:36- It's got good bones.- Yeah.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39Good bones, that's a nice phrase, yes.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43So, I'll let you have a good sniff around upstairs a bit later,
0:11:43 > 0:11:44but I want to show you the garden.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47- So, the garden is not massive. Brace yourself for that.- OK.
0:11:49 > 0:11:50Despite initial reservations,
0:11:50 > 0:11:55I'm glad they're beginning to see the merits of this immaculately-presented home.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57As we make our way outside,
0:11:57 > 0:12:00I hope we get more positivity when they take in the back garden,
0:12:00 > 0:12:04with its established borders, raised lawn and patio.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06What are your thoughts?
0:12:06 > 0:12:09For me, the garden is about the right size I was thinking of.
0:12:10 > 0:12:11Hedges, nice.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Just manageable to cut maybe once or twice a year.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Trees, yeah.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18- I like the garden. - For me, the garden's...
0:12:18 > 0:12:20too small.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22I don't quite get the raised level of garden.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25How much do you think this property is on the market for?
0:12:25 > 0:12:27Not much idea, but I'll say 265.
0:12:30 > 0:12:31I'll say...
0:12:31 > 0:12:33230-ish.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38OK, so... This is where it might be a bit of a wake-up call.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42This property is on the market for £340,000.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44Right. That's a surprise to me.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46So, maybe the market has moved up, or...
0:12:46 > 0:12:51Or if the property is not right for you, you down-price it.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54Quite. Anyway, that's an important part of the puzzle - the price.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57So, you can stroll around the garden and have a look around the house again,
0:12:57 > 0:12:58and I'll meet you out the front
0:12:58 > 0:13:01- and then we can take you to the next one.- OK.- OK.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05Just under budget at £340,000,
0:13:05 > 0:13:09the price of this Victorian cottage may come as a surprise,
0:13:09 > 0:13:13but it does come with four bedrooms and spacious living areas.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15What's more, with planning permission to extend,
0:13:15 > 0:13:18it could offer a potential project for Ken.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22And whilst it is semidetached with a small garden,
0:13:22 > 0:13:24it does have a lovely village location and community
0:13:24 > 0:13:26that Carol might enjoy.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28It looked quite nice from the front.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32Little bit disappointed it was semidetached.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34But very pleasantly surprised when we came inside.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37I like the proportions of the rooms.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39The garden...
0:13:39 > 0:13:40a little bit too small for me.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44When I came in, I liked the rooms, I liked the layout,
0:13:44 > 0:13:45it's presented beautifully.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50The kitchen, I thought on first appraisal, was a little bit small,
0:13:50 > 0:13:52but then...it's warmed on me as it's gone through.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54I quite like it.
0:13:55 > 0:13:56- Right, guys.- Yeah.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59All done? If you pull the door behind you, we're going to head off
0:13:59 > 0:14:01- to house number two. - OK, that'll be fine.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Ken and Carol have been coming up to the Scottish Borders for many years,
0:14:12 > 0:14:17attracted by its stunning scenery and great fishing opportunities.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20And they don't come much better than the River Tweed.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23Cutting across the region through villages and valleys,
0:14:23 > 0:14:26it's the fourth longest river in Scotland, and boasts
0:14:26 > 0:14:28the largest catch of Atlantic salmon
0:14:28 > 0:14:31out of any river in the EU.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34The River Tweed Commission oversees the welfare of this river,
0:14:34 > 0:14:37and they in turn set up the Tweed Foundation
0:14:37 > 0:14:40to protect and monitor the fish.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43So, with our couple keen to cast off here in the future,
0:14:43 > 0:14:46we've brought them along to meet assistant biologist James Hunt,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49on one of his river surveys.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51So, what is it we're doing today, James?
0:14:51 > 0:14:54Well, we're going to go down the Leader Water there
0:14:54 > 0:14:57and we're going to have a look at the numbers of juvenile salmon
0:14:57 > 0:14:58that are in the river.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00And what's the benefits of doing this?
0:15:00 > 0:15:02It's to know the health of the river,
0:15:02 > 0:15:04to check where there's good numbers of fish,
0:15:04 > 0:15:05where there's not so many fish,
0:15:05 > 0:15:08if there is anything we can do to improve the numbers of fish.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11So, we are just looking for the tiddlers, I'm afraid, not the trophy hunting.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15That is all we concentrate on, just the fry of the year, like that.
0:15:15 > 0:15:16I'm a keen fisherman, salmon fisherman,
0:15:16 > 0:15:19so how are we going to be catching these fish today?
0:15:19 > 0:15:22Well, not the way you might think of catching them, with your rod and line.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25- Right.- So, we've got our battery on my back, our probe, and our earth,
0:15:25 > 0:15:29and we'll go down to the river, and it's quite an amazing thing, really,
0:15:29 > 0:15:31that you can pass a low current through the water,
0:15:31 > 0:15:35and these fish will just appear, and then we're going to count them. There's no harm to the fish.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39It's an established method that people are using throughout the United Kingdom.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43You'll see that the moment you put them back in the bucket, they're going to be absolutely fine.
0:15:43 > 0:15:48- There's a chance they'll come back and you'll catch them with your rod and line.- Sounds good to me.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50The technique James is using today is a scientific method
0:15:50 > 0:15:54used throughout the UK called electrofishing.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58They've been using it successfully at the Foundation since the 1990s
0:15:58 > 0:16:00to count fish stock.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02With waders on and equipment in hand,
0:16:02 > 0:16:06it's down to the river bank to get today's survey underway.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10Electrofishing is the only safe way of getting young fish out of the river.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13And we're going to pass a very low current through the water
0:16:13 > 0:16:15and give the fish a little tickle.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18So the fish will only be affected just around the probe
0:16:18 > 0:16:20and we're going to bring them down to here
0:16:20 > 0:16:23and you're going to catch them with the net and then we're going to put them in the bucket.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26Mainly it's the salmon we're looking for then, is it?
0:16:26 > 0:16:29Yep. This place here is one of the most productive places in the catchment,
0:16:29 > 0:16:32so, fingers crossed, I expect to catch lots of salmon here.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35We want to make sure that there's enough young fish
0:16:35 > 0:16:38that are going out to sea to come back.
0:16:38 > 0:16:39So, I think we better get on, then.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41- I think so.- So let's have a go.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44So, if you just want to put your net down, Ken.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47And we're just going to pass a low current through the water here
0:16:47 > 0:16:51and you'll see the fish are just affected in this area here.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53- There's a fish.- There you go.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55By slowly working up the river,
0:16:55 > 0:16:57a good sample of salmon can be collected.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01Comparing these counts every three years helps to identify falls
0:17:01 > 0:17:03in the fish and salmon stock
0:17:03 > 0:17:07and provides an early warning system for any problems upriver,
0:17:07 > 0:17:11which means they can be acted upon quickly before there's any marked decline.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13We'll just try just here.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15- There's a fish coming down. - Another one.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18- There we are.- Do you normally catch as many as this?
0:17:18 > 0:17:20Sometimes more, sometimes less.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22But you always catch them?
0:17:22 > 0:17:25It's like this pretty much anywhere in the catchment we go to.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27Next it's back to the bank,
0:17:27 > 0:17:31where the fish are transferred to buckets containing a mild anaesthetic,
0:17:31 > 0:17:34which calms them before a closer inspection can begin.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36Now he's getting a little bit more relaxed.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39- There you can see...- Oh, yeah. - We can just measure him now.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41- Yeah. 80 millimetres.- Yeah.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44So, if you're going to hold the fish, just wet your hands...
0:17:46 > 0:17:49So, that fish will, if it's lucky,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52it will spend another year in the river and then it will go off to sea
0:17:52 > 0:17:55and then spend one or two years at sea and then come back.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57Have you seen a vast change in numbers?
0:17:57 > 0:18:00We've been doing this method since 2006,
0:18:00 > 0:18:03and there is absolutely no measurable change in the numbers of fish.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07Certainly on the Tweed, the salmon stocks are still very healthy.
0:18:07 > 0:18:08So, here we are.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12It's a big fish for this bit, but that's a salmon parr.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14That's about 120 millimetres.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16That'll be a year old, then, will it?
0:18:16 > 0:18:19That's a year old. And that fish is just about ready to go off to sea.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21Are you happy with the catch today, James?
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Yes, there's absolutely nothing wrong with this site.
0:18:24 > 0:18:25It's bang on average.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27So, absolutely nothing to worry about.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30After a satisfactory measure and count,
0:18:30 > 0:18:32the fish are returned to the wild.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34So, all you have to do is just... Yeah.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Just tip it into the water.
0:18:37 > 0:18:38That's it.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42- And then just lift them up. - There you go.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54There they are... off on their merry way.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58With the fish heading off down the river, our couple head off as well,
0:18:58 > 0:19:00and we turn our attention back to the property market.
0:19:05 > 0:19:06For our second property,
0:19:06 > 0:19:10we're moving further north, to the market town of Lauder.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13This royal borough is a town steeped in history,
0:19:13 > 0:19:15written all over its traditional architecture,
0:19:15 > 0:19:19most notably in the town hall that was once a tollbooth
0:19:19 > 0:19:21where traders paid rent.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Today, the town offers many essential facilities,
0:19:24 > 0:19:27and it's the gateway to the surrounding Leader Valley,
0:19:27 > 0:19:31where walkers can reach its most famous landmark, Thirlestane Castle.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34Sadly not house number two.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36It's a little bit out of your budget, this one.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38I make no bones about it. But...
0:19:38 > 0:19:39It is your neighbours, in fact.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42- Right.- Have you ever been here before?
0:19:42 > 0:19:43- No.- Never.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46And you can see here very clearly
0:19:46 > 0:19:49how Scotland used to be allied to France - the Old Alliance.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51Because it's almost like a French chateaux.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53- It is.- Yes, it is, yeah.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57'It's been owned throughout history by one of the most powerful and
0:19:57 > 0:20:00'distinguished families in Scotland - the Maitland family -
0:20:00 > 0:20:04'who later went on to become the Earl and then Duke of Lauderdale.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07'Over generations, the castle has been extensively remodelled
0:20:07 > 0:20:09'and is now open to the public.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12'And neighbouring the castle, nestled on a hillside,
0:20:12 > 0:20:15'we find our second house.'
0:20:15 > 0:20:16This is property two.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18Right. Much better.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20- Much better?- Yes.- Oh, phew.- Yes.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23I like the position, I like the...
0:20:23 > 0:20:26the shape of it. The outside is lovely.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28- Very detached.- Yeah. Very detached.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30Ken, what are your first impressions?
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Nice. Detached property.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34Nice area, by the look of it.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Surrounded by green fields.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38- It's looking the part. - Yeah, it's looking good.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41- Shall we go?- Yes, thanks.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44'That's more like the first impression I was hoping for.
0:20:44 > 0:20:45'Built in 2002,
0:20:45 > 0:20:50'this detached home has been designed with contemporary living in mind.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54'Outside, it has an impressive facade, stunning views,
0:20:54 > 0:20:56'and well-stocked gardens.
0:20:56 > 0:20:57'We're going in via a side door.'
0:21:02 > 0:21:03So, this is the big surprise.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05Oh...
0:21:05 > 0:21:07- Right.- Oho!
0:21:07 > 0:21:09- Speechless, I think the word is. - Ha-ha!
0:21:09 > 0:21:11And no face, this time, Alistair.
0:21:11 > 0:21:12No face.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16- Smiles and speechlessness.- Only a smiling face.- This is...us.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19- Is it?- Yeah. This is perfect.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21Ah, that's such good news.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24Yeah, this is absolutely spot on.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26Lovely big inch-thick oak floorboards throughout.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28- High ceilings.- High ceilings.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30- Very high spec. - Yep.- Spotlights, lovely.
0:21:30 > 0:21:35- And then you've got, behind you, you've got a little utility room for your white goods.- Yeah.- Right.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41You've got this rather nice five-sided sunroom,
0:21:41 > 0:21:44which pushes out into the valley
0:21:44 > 0:21:46and maximises the view.
0:21:46 > 0:21:47I think the rooms look great.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50Yes. The space is amazing. I love it.
0:21:50 > 0:21:51I think this is a winner.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55'The ground floor has certainly delivered so far.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57'It's smiles all round.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59'And there's a WC and also an office to boot.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05'I just hope it's happy faces upstairs, where there are three bedrooms.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09'Two are light and bright doubles, currently set up as twins,
0:22:09 > 0:22:12'but both share the use of a fresh, modern bathroom.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15'And we've saved the best till last.'
0:22:15 > 0:22:19Oh, everything's so clean and smart in this house.
0:22:19 > 0:22:20This is the master.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23- Very nice.- Cos you've got the lovely views...- Yep.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27..right over the fields. So that's the morning sun that comes in there.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30And through here, you have a dressing room, wardrobes, and an en suite.
0:22:30 > 0:22:31- Good size of room again.- Yeah.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34- Nice big double.- It's lovely, fantastic.- Double aspect, great.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36- High ceilings for you. - Good ceilings.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38You don't need to take the roof off.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40We like the minimalistic look, don't we?
0:22:40 > 0:22:42- Yeah, we do. Yeah. - They're selling it to themselves.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45Yeah, we are. We're trying to justify that we...
0:22:45 > 0:22:46we like it so much.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48You don't have to. It's wonderful that you like it.
0:22:48 > 0:22:53- Outside, you can just see through, there's this huge garage... - Yep.- Yep.- ..which has a mass...
0:22:53 > 0:22:56I mean, it's a double garage and a workshop downstairs.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58- Really, man cave.- Right. Very useful.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00And upstairs it's all boarded, so you could easily get,
0:23:00 > 0:23:02sort of, a guest suite up there
0:23:02 > 0:23:04- or just a games room or a study or whatever you wanted.- Right.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06But I want to show you the garden,
0:23:06 > 0:23:09because I know that it was a sticking point with the last property.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13And the garden could easily make all the difference when considering
0:23:13 > 0:23:15that all-important price.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18Back downstairs, the double doors take us outside.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23So, the garden is not massive.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25But you can see, it's got this rather nice effect,
0:23:25 > 0:23:27it's just a wire fence.
0:23:27 > 0:23:28She did that so that it feels like
0:23:28 > 0:23:31it just flows out into the fields around.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33Because, actually, this land around you,
0:23:33 > 0:23:35this rough land, is owned by the farmer.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37It's lovely. The perfect size for me, is this.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39- Right.- Yep. Spot on.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41Patio for my glass of wine.
0:23:41 > 0:23:42It's your manageable garden.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45My manageable garden. I can potter about in the hedges.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48- Yeah.- I think the location is fantastic.- Oh, it's beautiful. Can't fault it.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50What do YOU think about the garden, though?
0:23:50 > 0:23:52Well, it's a bit too small for me,
0:23:52 > 0:23:56but with all this open space and fields around,
0:23:56 > 0:23:58I'd try and do a deal with the farmer, I think.
0:23:58 > 0:23:59Right, yeah.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01This is a nice property.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03Yeah, you've done well here, Alistair.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05What do you think it costs, though?
0:24:05 > 0:24:08Mm. I'm going to say...
0:24:08 > 0:24:09370.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13I'll go five grand above that, 375.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15OK, so this is over your budget.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18I'm afraid it's actually on the market at 380.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22And I know that is over your budget,
0:24:22 > 0:24:25but we couldn't resist showing it to you because it's a standout property.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27- Absolutely.- Definitely.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29And you can perhaps negotiate.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32- Yeah.- If there's any slight room for negotiation there,
0:24:32 > 0:24:35- then we're in with half a chance.- Yeah.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38- Well, food for thought.- Yeah.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40- Yes, definitely food for thought. - Do have a look around,
0:24:40 > 0:24:42have a look in the garage and just stroll around
0:24:42 > 0:24:44and see if you can get a feel for it,
0:24:44 > 0:24:46and I'll meet you out the front.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48- OK.- Right.- Thank you.- Off you go.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Oh-ho!
0:24:52 > 0:24:53It's a winner.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55If they can, you know,
0:24:55 > 0:24:57squeeze the budget so that they could afford it,
0:24:57 > 0:25:00I think it could be the perfect house for them.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Granted, this detached house is over budget,
0:25:05 > 0:25:07but it's impeccably presented,
0:25:07 > 0:25:09needs no work and is ready to move in.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11It not only comes with a kitchen-diner
0:25:11 > 0:25:13and open-plan living,
0:25:13 > 0:25:16but separate spaces for Carol's crafts as well.
0:25:16 > 0:25:17And although it doesn't have
0:25:17 > 0:25:18an acre of garden
0:25:18 > 0:25:20or a village location,
0:25:20 > 0:25:22it does have wonderful views
0:25:22 > 0:25:23and a river close by.
0:25:23 > 0:25:24Yeah, wow.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27It's a winner as soon as we walked down the drive.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29Everything's going for it.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31I think it's a great layout.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33The rooms flow from one to another,
0:25:33 > 0:25:35they're all of good proportion,
0:25:35 > 0:25:38and, obviously, well maintained.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41It's a beautiful house.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44Well, as soon as we came on the drive, it were like...
0:25:44 > 0:25:48loved the look of it, the location, the situation,
0:25:48 > 0:25:50the space round it.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52And then, when we came inside it, were...
0:25:52 > 0:25:55Well, I were speechless. I really did have our lump in my throat.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58I thought, "This is just what we were looking for
0:25:58 > 0:26:00"and we were hoping to find."
0:26:02 > 0:26:04I can't say any more than that. It's...
0:26:04 > 0:26:05I'm just lost for words.
0:26:07 > 0:26:08Hello, guys. You're all done?
0:26:08 > 0:26:09Yeah, all done, and still smiling.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11- Still smiling.- Yeah!
0:26:11 > 0:26:13- Tugging at your heartstrings? - Yeah, absolutely.
0:26:13 > 0:26:14- Great prop.- Let's...
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Let's get a little distance from the property so you can digest,
0:26:17 > 0:26:19and we're all done for today, so...
0:26:19 > 0:26:22- Fantastic.- ..you can have a rest. - Very good.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34It's the start of our second day in Scottish Borders,
0:26:34 > 0:26:37with Ken and Carol from Ilkley in West Yorkshire,
0:26:37 > 0:26:43who have a budget of £350,000 to spend on a three-bedroom house.
0:26:43 > 0:26:48Still to come, their reactions to our mystery property are written all over their faces.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51- Certainly a mystery.- Mystery.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53Yeah. And I'm smiling at it still.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Oh, I caught your resting face before you came in here.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57It wasn't looking so impressed.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59And I learn about our traditional textile
0:26:59 > 0:27:01that's definitely not run of the mill.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03I've just noticed.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05- Well, this is...- We've got our own tweed!
0:27:10 > 0:27:15Beautiful, summery Scottish day here for day two of our property search
0:27:15 > 0:27:18in the Scottish Borders. And, I have to say, we're in a slight dilemma
0:27:18 > 0:27:21because the Mystery House was meant to solve some of the problems
0:27:21 > 0:27:23that house number two threw up.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26But, actually, Ken and Carol totally fell in love with house number two,
0:27:26 > 0:27:28even though, in some ways,
0:27:28 > 0:27:30it didn't give Ken a big garden
0:27:30 > 0:27:34and it didn't put Carol right next to a community.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38So, the Mystery House gives them that, but in a slightly different combination,
0:27:38 > 0:27:41cos it's very rural and there are definitely neighbours.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45What are you thinking about the Mystery House?
0:27:45 > 0:27:47Neither of us have any real idea.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50After yesterday, I don't know what you can throw at us now.
0:27:50 > 0:27:51I think...
0:27:52 > 0:27:54..something converted, I would have thought.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56Uh-huh.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58I'm guessing, maybe an older property, as well?
0:27:58 > 0:28:00Barn conversions.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03- Not that keen on them, but I've never looked at one.- Right.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10For our mystery property, we are heading to the east of the region -
0:28:10 > 0:28:13five miles from the coast - to the village of Duns.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15Formerly a market town,
0:28:15 > 0:28:18for centuries Duns was the focus of the local farming community,
0:28:18 > 0:28:22who came from miles around to sell livestock here in the square.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25Now marked with a monument - the Mercat cross -
0:28:25 > 0:28:27to represent its borough status,
0:28:27 > 0:28:31there are plenty of shops to cater for everyday needs.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34It's also surrounded by great dog walking country that takes you along
0:28:34 > 0:28:37woodland paths and open hillsides,
0:28:37 > 0:28:39passing the River Whiteadder on your way.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42And it's out in this super-remote setting,
0:28:42 > 0:28:44surrounded by miles of fields,
0:28:44 > 0:28:46that we come to our final property.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50So, the Mystery House.
0:28:50 > 0:28:51Oh, right. It's certainly a mystery.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53- A mystery.- Yeah.
0:28:53 > 0:28:54And I'm smiling.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56Oh, I caught your resting face before you came in
0:28:56 > 0:28:58and it wasn't looking so impressed.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00It is a conversion.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03- Right.- And I know that you said you would never look at a barn conversion.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06- Well, because I've never been in one.- Right.
0:29:06 > 0:29:08- There's always a first time. - You haven't written it off?
0:29:08 > 0:29:12- Is...is...- No, I certainly haven't written it off.- ..this the front garden, or is it...?
0:29:12 > 0:29:14Yeah, this is all yours. So, all of this...
0:29:14 > 0:29:17all of this is.... Again, it's about a quarter of an acre plot.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20A lot of it towards the front or the back, however you want to see this.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22- Mm-hm.- The thing about it is that we thought
0:29:22 > 0:29:25this is perfect because it gives Ken exactly what he wants
0:29:25 > 0:29:28because we're miles from anything,
0:29:28 > 0:29:29but you've got built-in neighbours.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32- Yep.- Yeah, so best of both worlds.
0:29:32 > 0:29:33- Well, that's what we thought.- Yeah.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35What do you think of it in the flesh?
0:29:35 > 0:29:37I like it. From the outside, it looks very nice.
0:29:37 > 0:29:39Be interesting to see the layout inside
0:29:39 > 0:29:41and how much there actually is of it.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45- Well, you're only seeing the, sort of, side of it, really. - Uh-huh.- Good, shall we look inside?
0:29:45 > 0:29:47- Please, do. Yes.- Yes, please.
0:29:47 > 0:29:51'It's a great reaction for our Mystery House - a barn conversion.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53'One in a group of 11 other properties.
0:29:53 > 0:29:54'This former farm building,
0:29:54 > 0:29:58'built in Blackrock stone and set in the middle of the countryside,
0:29:58 > 0:30:01'definitely offers them something different.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03'And it comes with all the rooms they're looking for,
0:30:03 > 0:30:05'all on one level.'
0:30:05 > 0:30:06In you come.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09It's the kitchen, obviously.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11Plenty of base units and wall units.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13Yeah, they've just put this in, actually.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16The present owners redecorated this whole entrance area.
0:30:16 > 0:30:18They sort of.... There's a utility room,
0:30:18 > 0:30:20and then there's a, sort of, downstairs closet.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23And then they, sort of, redesigned the kitchen.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26- No, it's a nice, big enough kitchen. - Nice and private.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28I'm pleasantly surprised about this.
0:30:28 > 0:30:29Height of the ceilings as well.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31They're very big, tall ceilings.
0:30:31 > 0:30:33I mean, the thing is, as you've probably guessed,
0:30:33 > 0:30:35this is a mono-level dwelling.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37- Yes.- So there is no upstairs.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39So all the...all of the space of the building,
0:30:39 > 0:30:42- right up into the pitch, has been taken...- Right.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44- ..for ceiling height.- Yep.
0:30:44 > 0:30:45So, a good vibe from this room?
0:30:45 > 0:30:48- Yeah, good vibes, yeah.- Yeah, this is a plus in here, as well.
0:30:48 > 0:30:49- Yeah.- The...- Little table.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51- ..dining area.- Yeah.
0:30:51 > 0:30:52So, that is the actual...
0:30:52 > 0:30:54That is, there isn't a formal dining area,
0:30:54 > 0:30:57- although there is space next door to put one.- In there to put one.
0:30:57 > 0:30:58- Let's have a look.- OK.- OK.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04Another big, long room.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06- Oh, yeah.- Oh, yeah. - It's quite nice.
0:31:06 > 0:31:07I know that you like the open,
0:31:07 > 0:31:10- but some people prefer to have the kitchen a little separate from the...- Yeah.
0:31:10 > 0:31:12..their, sort of, living space.
0:31:12 > 0:31:14I like either, it's... They both work, for me.
0:31:14 > 0:31:16It's a good-sized room, is this.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18It's a nice room.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21Yeah, I think the dining room needs to be at the centre, straight from your kitchen.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24- The same again, if you're dining... - Yeah, dining area.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27If you're dining on a Sunday, you can have the doors open.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30What really impressed me is that actually, the next wing, if you like,
0:31:30 > 0:31:32is also... It feels very spacious.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34- Let's have a quick look there.- OK.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40From the large living room, a door leads into one wing of the property,
0:31:40 > 0:31:43where there's a long corridor with three bedrooms and a bathroom off it.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48The first is a neat double, with recessed windows.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52The second is similar, but is currently set up as an office.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55Next to that, is the family bathroom suite.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58And at the very end, we find the largest room.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03It's a long corridor, isn't it?
0:32:03 > 0:32:05- It is, yeah.- See what I mean? - It is a long corridor.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07It's like a long wing of the house.
0:32:07 > 0:32:09- And this is the master bedroom. - Yeah.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11- Lovely, big wardrobes. - Wardrobes, yeah.
0:32:11 > 0:32:12Deep, deep wardrobes.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14And then an en suite. So, it's...
0:32:14 > 0:32:16It's an interesting offering, I think.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19- You know, it's...- It is, yeah. - It's nice, yeah. Very nice.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21Let's go out in the courtyard and talk about price.
0:32:23 > 0:32:27'Heading outside, we come to the courtyard and the opposite wing.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30Here, there's a carport, accessed from round the other side,
0:32:30 > 0:32:34and also a fourth double bedroom with its own en suite.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38You get the...the full scope of the C-shape.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40So, that's where the sleeping quarters are.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42- That's your living quarters.- Yep.
0:32:42 > 0:32:45And this is a fully functional annexe.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49- I think the conversion's a cracking conversion.- It's beautifully done, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52It is, yeah. The courtyard works for me, as well.
0:32:52 > 0:32:53It's private, you're getting the sun.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56- A nice place to sit out of an evening.- It would, yeah.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58How much do you think this one's on the market for?
0:32:58 > 0:33:01I think it's probably just slightly under our budget.
0:33:01 > 0:33:03Maybe £500 under.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07I'd say 355,000.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09OK. So, interestingly, this property
0:33:09 > 0:33:16is on the market for £5 under £315,000.
0:33:16 > 0:33:18- How much?- Go that again?
0:33:18 > 0:33:20How much?
0:33:20 > 0:33:22- The Yorkshire...war cry.- How much?
0:33:22 > 0:33:25The Yorkshire war cry. Right.
0:33:25 > 0:33:26So, get inside and have a think.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29Because now you've got the price, that puts some...
0:33:29 > 0:33:32- Yeah.- ..rocket fuel in your thoughts.- A fresh look.
0:33:32 > 0:33:33- Have a look inside.- OK.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39Mystery House triumph!
0:33:39 > 0:33:43They loved house two, but now they might love the Mystery House more.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49On the market just shy of £315,000, our Mystery House -
0:33:49 > 0:33:53a four-bed barn conversion - has really thrown them a curveball.
0:33:53 > 0:33:55Considerably under budget,
0:33:55 > 0:33:56it has all the requested rooms
0:33:56 > 0:33:59wrapped around a quaint, sunny courtyard.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02And although it may not have the half acre plot Ken wanted,
0:34:02 > 0:34:05it does give him his rural dream,
0:34:05 > 0:34:08with a community of neighbours not too far away for Carol.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11This Mystery House really was a Mystery House for us.
0:34:11 > 0:34:14Great property, complete surprise.
0:34:14 > 0:34:16I like it very, very much.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20The living quarters, and the kitchen, I think they're quite doable. They're quite nice.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22The outside space is good.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25With all that lovely grass at the front, you know, and the views,
0:34:25 > 0:34:27why would you not like it?
0:34:27 > 0:34:29That was a good Mystery House, huh?
0:34:29 > 0:34:31Yep. Very good, yeah.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34Let's find a spot where we can gather our thoughts...
0:34:34 > 0:34:36- and have a cup of tea.- Sounds good.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44The largely rural landscape of Scottish Borders
0:34:44 > 0:34:47belies its once industrial past,
0:34:47 > 0:34:50centred on a booming textile industry.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52All of a piece with this rugged landscape,
0:34:52 > 0:34:58tweed cloth was developed as an material for outdoor clothing.
0:34:58 > 0:35:00Many of these tweed mills have closed,
0:35:00 > 0:35:02but some have stood the test of time.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04Particularly Lovat Mill, in Hawick,
0:35:04 > 0:35:06which dates back to the 1880s.
0:35:06 > 0:35:10Today, I've come to meet one of the two current owners, Stephen Rendle,
0:35:10 > 0:35:13to find out more about this local textile.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15- Hawick is the home of tweed, isn't it?- It is indeed.
0:35:15 > 0:35:19In fact the word "tweed" basically sprung from Hawick,
0:35:19 > 0:35:21and indeed, from commercial roads in the street we're in today.
0:35:21 > 0:35:23So it's not from the river?
0:35:23 > 0:35:25No, not at all. It's actually a mistake.
0:35:25 > 0:35:29It kicked off because the local cloths that were made were called tweels,
0:35:29 > 0:35:32and this is referring to the twill weave.
0:35:32 > 0:35:34There were woollen cloths - they were quite heavy -
0:35:34 > 0:35:36and they were made by a number of mills around here.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39But one particular mill owner, Willie Watson,
0:35:39 > 0:35:43sent down a consignment of tweels to London and somebody misread the
0:35:43 > 0:35:47copperplate L at the end of the word for a D.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51And when they reordered, they reordered six bales of tweeds, not tweels.
0:35:51 > 0:35:53Thinking, "Ah, I can't read it,
0:35:53 > 0:35:55"but maybe the River Tweed's up there."
0:35:55 > 0:35:59Willie Watson kept the name, and the word came into common use.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02For centuries, tweed has been the material of choice
0:36:02 > 0:36:06for renowned estates, landowners and regiments.
0:36:06 > 0:36:07Linking the fabric to the land,
0:36:07 > 0:36:11each tweed comes with its own unique pattern and design.
0:36:12 > 0:36:14This is the estate tweed book.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17This is the tome. For example, Cawdor estate.
0:36:17 > 0:36:18Cawdor, from Macbeth.
0:36:18 > 0:36:22Indeed, yeah. Now, important to this is to get the colours right.
0:36:22 > 0:36:26And mills traditionally had their own colour mixtures
0:36:26 > 0:36:29and these were very much the DNA of each individual mill.
0:36:29 > 0:36:31Here's an example.
0:36:31 > 0:36:35- Gosh, the colours are so bright. - They are extremely bright.- Do those goes into a tweed?- Extremely bright.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37These are real core colours.
0:36:37 > 0:36:38So, what would happen would be,
0:36:38 > 0:36:41you would take individual bright colours.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44Now, these tufts are then blown and mixed together.
0:36:44 > 0:36:49And then carded to become this sort of colour mixture.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51But of course, this is spun into a yarn like this,
0:36:51 > 0:36:56which in turn becomes the weft yarn of this tweed.
0:36:56 > 0:36:58- Ah, I see.- And you can see there.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01Oh, wow. Yes, cos you can see all the colours in it.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04Now, that richness you see can never be copied by someone who is trying
0:37:04 > 0:37:06to do it on the cheap with two or three colours.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10And that's the sort of gift of Scottish tweed makers and Scottish designers.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12Can I go and see this being made?
0:37:12 > 0:37:14Yes, indeed. I think the next thing to do
0:37:14 > 0:37:16is to take you down to the looms and let you see how it goes.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20And I think you may find an interesting tweed downstairs.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23'Tweed is still made in traditional styles,
0:37:23 > 0:37:27'but the original machinery has now been replaced with more modern technology.
0:37:27 > 0:37:32'Some of the yarns the machines weave here are still sourced from Scotland.
0:37:32 > 0:37:36'It's on the factory floor where I'm meeting the co-owner Alan Cummings,
0:37:36 > 0:37:41'to find out about the weaving process with one very special cloth.'
0:37:41 > 0:37:43I've just noticed.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45- Well, this is... - We've got our own tweed!
0:37:45 > 0:37:48This was something we thought might be interesting to you.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52We put together a little something for the Escape To The Country Tweed.
0:37:52 > 0:37:53So, do you approve?
0:37:53 > 0:37:55Oh, totally. It's gorgeous. It's gorgeous.
0:37:55 > 0:37:59The actual construction of this tweed is very typical.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02Essentially, the vertical threads are the warp,
0:38:02 > 0:38:07and then the threads you have coming in from left to right are the weft.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09- Right.- So, warp, weft.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12- Yeah.- And that principle goes back hundreds of years.
0:38:12 > 0:38:19Each thread is threaded through a hethel on a shaft, OK?
0:38:19 > 0:38:22And the order in which those threads are lifted
0:38:22 > 0:38:25- dictates what the weave will be.- Yeah.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27- Can we see it in action? - We certainly can.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31'This cloth is made with a simple tweed construction,
0:38:31 > 0:38:35'which gives the weave its distinctive diagonal pattern and design.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39'Once the tweed is completed, any imperfections are removed,
0:38:39 > 0:38:43'which is where expert darner Margaret Thompson steps in.'
0:38:43 > 0:38:45So, this is ours?
0:38:45 > 0:38:47So, is it very good quality, this one?
0:38:47 > 0:38:49Very good quality.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52So, these ladies inspect every inch of cloth,
0:38:52 > 0:38:57and where there is a fault, they will take the weave back to a point
0:38:57 > 0:38:59where they can re-weave it
0:38:59 > 0:39:01and take out the fault.
0:39:01 > 0:39:02So, who... So, let me just...
0:39:02 > 0:39:04So, you've just found a fault...
0:39:04 > 0:39:07- Yeah.- ..and then unthreaded it back a bit.
0:39:07 > 0:39:08Yeah. To make a darn bigger.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11Oh gosh, so you're going to thread that back in?
0:39:11 > 0:39:12I'm going to thread it back in.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14So you get it completely lined up?
0:39:14 > 0:39:16- Yeah.- That's amazing.
0:39:16 > 0:39:17Brilliant. What a wonderful set up.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19And thank you so much for making this for us.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22- It's really great.- No problem. I hope you'll wear it with pride.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26'What a fascinating insight into the making of tweed,
0:39:26 > 0:39:30'and it's lovely to see the legacy of Scotland and Escape To The Country
0:39:30 > 0:39:33'woven into a traditional pattern and design.'
0:39:37 > 0:39:3912 hours ago, I would have bet all the tea in Yorkshire
0:39:39 > 0:39:42that Carol and Ken would have gone for house number two.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45100%. No doubt.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48But the Mystery House really seems to have done its job,
0:39:48 > 0:39:49and stirred everything up.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51Ken was really in love with it.
0:39:51 > 0:39:55Not so sure about Carol, and usually you can read Carol's emotions a mile off.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57So let's find out what they really think.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09Wow, we found a lovely place.
0:40:09 > 0:40:10How has the week been?
0:40:10 > 0:40:12- How's it been for you?- Amazing.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14Absolutely amazing.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16- Great.- An absolute blast.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19Tell me, what has been the result of our week's house-hunting?
0:40:19 > 0:40:24Out of the three contenders, I think we found a good two.
0:40:24 > 0:40:29For me, it is number two and number three, being the Mystery House.
0:40:29 > 0:40:30But for you, Carol?
0:40:30 > 0:40:32Yeah, I'm the same.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35But I'm... Number three doesn't hold anything from me at all.
0:40:35 > 0:40:40- Right.- It's a very nice house, but I couldn't see myself living there.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43But number two, I didn't want to come away yesterday.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46- I'm guessing that we're going to go for house number two. Is that the favourite?- Oh, yeah.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48That's...that's still my favourite...
0:40:48 > 0:40:50- Good.- ..by a mile.
0:40:50 > 0:40:52Yeah, by miles, yeah.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54And what is it that you like about that house?
0:40:54 > 0:40:57The positioning, the elevation, the view.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01And inside it were just such lovely clean lines
0:41:01 > 0:41:03and just our kind of thing.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06- And are you on the same song sheet?- Yes.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09The land was an...an issue for me.
0:41:09 > 0:41:10But, surrounded by farmland,
0:41:10 > 0:41:14there may be a little move there where I can have a chat with the farmer.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16possibly rent, or even buy.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19But the house, itself, a beautiful house.
0:41:19 > 0:41:21Perfect for us.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23I love to hear that on a show, that's so great.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26Yeah, we just hope we can pull it together.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29And what happens next? What's the very next step for you?
0:41:29 > 0:41:32Well, we've talked about it all night, just about
0:41:32 > 0:41:36and we've done some number crunching and it was slightly above our budget price.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38But nothing is impossible,
0:41:38 > 0:41:42and maybe a little bit of wiggle room there and it could be our -
0:41:42 > 0:41:44as Carol would say - our forever home.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48If everything goes to plan, which I hope it will, and you move in,
0:41:48 > 0:41:51what are the things you're most excited about moving into that property?
0:41:51 > 0:41:54Just sitting and relaxing and enjoying it.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58Just enjoying it. I could have sat in that window yesterday all afternoon
0:41:58 > 0:42:00and not come home, just sat there.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03It's been a tremendous joy showing you around. You've really been great.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06And I love the fact that we may have found...
0:42:06 > 0:42:08- Yeah.- ..a house that makes you happy.
0:42:08 > 0:42:11- So, all the best.- Thank you very much.- Make it happen.
0:42:11 > 0:42:13If anybody can, I'm sure you two can.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16Oh, we can. If it's possible, we will make it happen.
0:42:20 > 0:42:21I always love going up to Scotland,
0:42:21 > 0:42:25and it's particularly lovely to come up in the company of such a great couple.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28Don't you think Ken and Carol deserve happiness?
0:42:28 > 0:42:32They deserve to find a place where they can crochet and sit
0:42:32 > 0:42:36and fly fish and relax in their retirement.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39So, I hope they make it happen and I hope that you join us again for more
0:42:39 > 0:42:41Escape To The Country.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46Ken and Carol are still very keen on property number two,
0:42:46 > 0:42:50and have followed up by putting in a note of interest.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53We hope they do manage to seal the deal and wish them the very best.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55If you would like to Escape To The Country
0:42:55 > 0:42:56in Scotland, Northern Ireland,
0:42:56 > 0:42:59Wales, England, and need our help,
0:42:59 > 0:43:00please apply online...