0:00:02 > 0:00:05From a distance, this lovely little church could look like any other
0:00:05 > 0:00:08in the country, but get up close, and it tells a very different story.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11I'll tell you why and where I am in just a moment.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31Today's couple are longing to settle and start a new life
0:00:31 > 0:00:32in the countryside.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36We may have hit the ground running with our properties...
0:00:36 > 0:00:37- Wow.- Wow.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41I can just hear the wows coming in behind me!
0:00:41 > 0:00:45..and their model country pad could be right in front of their eyes.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48This is everything that I could have imagined in a house
0:00:48 > 0:00:51and the view from there is just breathtaking.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54Today I'm in Herefordshire and behind me
0:00:54 > 0:00:58is the Church of St Mary and St David in the village of Kilpeck.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Now, what makes it unique is that it looks almost identical now
0:01:02 > 0:01:05to how it did when it was built over 870 years ago,
0:01:05 > 0:01:08and a closer inspection reveals that it contains one of the finest
0:01:08 > 0:01:13collections of ancient Romanesque sculptures in all of England.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16It's a remarkable building in a truly remarkable county.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Often described as England's most rural county,
0:01:21 > 0:01:25landlocked Herefordshire sits on the border with Powys in Wales
0:01:25 > 0:01:27to its west and Shropshire to the north,
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Worcestershire to its east and Gloucestershire to the south.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Herefordshire really is an unspoilt county.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38Rolling green countryside is an often-used term, however,
0:01:38 > 0:01:40the saying could and should have been coined here.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45It is and always has been an agricultural county,
0:01:45 > 0:01:47famed for its apple orchards and Hereford cattle.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53For centuries, its rich, natural environment has stood
0:01:53 > 0:01:56little changed, with picturesque towns and villages -
0:01:56 > 0:01:58black-timbered houses dotting the landscape.
0:02:00 > 0:02:01At its heart sits Hereford,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04with its majestic cathedral dominating the skyline.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Through the county flows the River Wye.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10It's one of the cleanest rivers in the UK,
0:02:10 > 0:02:12thought of as one of the best for salmon fishing
0:02:12 > 0:02:15and it's also a Special Area Of Conservation.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22If you're thinking of escaping to the West Midlands,
0:02:22 > 0:02:26then you should seriously consider house-hunting here in Herefordshire.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28Quite simply, there are some excellent homes that,
0:02:28 > 0:02:31broadly speaking, offer really good value for money.
0:02:31 > 0:02:36The average cost of a detached house here is £264,000,
0:02:36 > 0:02:41which compares to £278,000 across the rest of England and Wales.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44So, it's a wonderful county with some lovely homes.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46I need a couple to show them to, so let's meet them.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Jo and Pete have been married for 31 years.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53They met in a bar in Hereford in 1979
0:02:53 > 0:02:55when Jo was training to be a nurse
0:02:55 > 0:02:58and Pete was a new soldier.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01I thought that he was something special then.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04And I thought Jo was a "wow" and I still do.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06She keeps my feet very firmly on the ground,
0:03:06 > 0:03:09she keeps my aspirations attainable and achievable.
0:03:10 > 0:03:11After 37 years,
0:03:11 > 0:03:15Army officer Pete has just retired from international service,
0:03:15 > 0:03:18where he and Jo have moved house 19 times.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21Having returned to the UK for good and with their children grown up,
0:03:21 > 0:03:24now is the right time for them to move to the countryside.
0:03:25 > 0:03:30My military career has involved me in postings in the UK, America,
0:03:30 > 0:03:34Germany, Saudi Arabia and lastly Italy,
0:03:34 > 0:03:37where we've been given a house that we haven't chosen,
0:03:37 > 0:03:39we've been told that will be our house.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41Now I've got the choice of where we live,
0:03:41 > 0:03:43I think I'd like to go and live in the country.
0:03:43 > 0:03:44I just love the open air.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47I'm an outdoor fanatic, I love walking, cycling,
0:03:47 > 0:03:49running, being out in it.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54With Pete now a home-based consultant,
0:03:54 > 0:03:56they are currently renting in Wiltshire,
0:03:56 > 0:03:59whilst they search for the house of their dreams in Herefordshire,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02in which they spent the early part of their marriage
0:04:02 > 0:04:03and where their son was born.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05We have existing family and friends there
0:04:05 > 0:04:08from our previous service there, and we've got some very,
0:04:08 > 0:04:12very happy memories as a family from there of following the tractors
0:04:12 > 0:04:14loaded with apples, driving around the country lanes.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17I particularly like Herefordshire for its greenness,
0:04:17 > 0:04:20its variety and terrain - it's a very rural county -
0:04:20 > 0:04:21and the pace of life.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25To go back to Herefordshire, for me, now, feels like going home.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29Living for over three decades in a permanent state of transition,
0:04:29 > 0:04:33Jo can't wait to unpack the many boxes they've been hauling
0:04:33 > 0:04:34around the world with them.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Mostly, the boxes actually contain the memories of the children
0:04:37 > 0:04:39as they have gone through the years.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42I look forward to actually finding a property that we can actually empty
0:04:42 > 0:04:45those boxes into and decide that they're actually
0:04:45 > 0:04:47not going to go any further.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50And longing to finally settle into rural living,
0:04:50 > 0:04:53they're also hoping to cement new friendships that they can build upon
0:04:53 > 0:04:54into the future.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59I'm very excited about the fact of actually putting some roots down
0:04:59 > 0:05:02and actually finding a community that we can then belong to,
0:05:02 > 0:05:06rather than feel that you're transiting through.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10After so many years of living in Army accommodation,
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Jo and Pete are keen to begin their search
0:05:12 > 0:05:15to find their quintessential English country abode.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19The one thing that we're most looking forward to
0:05:19 > 0:05:22is finding the property that we've aspired to live in
0:05:22 > 0:05:24for 31 years of married life.
0:05:24 > 0:05:25We don't know what it looks like,
0:05:25 > 0:05:28but we are quite confident that when we see it,
0:05:28 > 0:05:29we'll know it's the one for us.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31It would be so nice just to start afresh
0:05:31 > 0:05:34and that's what we're really looking forward to, I think, isn't it?
0:05:34 > 0:05:35Both of us.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44With Jo and Pete keen to rekindle their happy Herefordshire memories,
0:05:44 > 0:05:47they're fairly open to living anywhere in the county,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50as long as it's not too rural and has good motorway connections
0:05:50 > 0:05:52for Pete's consultancy business.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57I'm meeting up with them to pinpoint exactly what they're after in terms
0:05:57 > 0:05:59of what they want from their new home
0:05:59 > 0:06:01and new life in the UK countryside.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06- Hello, you two.- Hi.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08- Hello.- So, how does it feel being back in Herefordshire?
0:06:08 > 0:06:10It feels like being home again, doesn't it?
0:06:10 > 0:06:12- It does, yes. - When did you last live here?
0:06:12 > 0:06:13Uh...
0:06:13 > 0:06:17- We last lived here in 2003. - Three.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20But we actually met in Herefordshire when we were much younger.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24We've still got some family... We've got lots of friends, which is nice.
0:06:24 > 0:06:25We've been catching up with them again.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28Like a coat, just put it back on and the friendship's still there.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30So, you've got good memories of the place,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33which is always a great way to start a search.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36Now, what about this house, what do you imagine it's going to look like
0:06:36 > 0:06:37when you pull up outside your dream home?
0:06:37 > 0:06:40It's going to have that feel-good factor about it, I think.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Something that we can make into a nice home for us for the future.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45So, what's on the wish list for it?
0:06:45 > 0:06:47A study, cos I work from home.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Yeah, I'd like an open-plan kitchen.
0:06:50 > 0:06:51And what about the style of the property?
0:06:51 > 0:06:53- A bit of character.- Yes.
0:06:53 > 0:06:54It could be new, it could be old.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56A good-sized garden. Like at least half an acre.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59And we're quite keen to have some sheep, chickens...
0:06:59 > 0:07:00- Chickens.- Things like that.
0:07:00 > 0:07:01Are there any no-nos?
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Is there anything that you really don't want me to show you?
0:07:03 > 0:07:06We're open-minded, um...
0:07:06 > 0:07:11Yeah, I think the location is as important as the actual house, um,
0:07:11 > 0:07:15because you can change a house slightly, so...
0:07:15 > 0:07:16we're flexible.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18What about doing work on the property,
0:07:18 > 0:07:19is that something you'd welcome?
0:07:19 > 0:07:22That would have to be factored into the budget that we have,
0:07:22 > 0:07:24so we wouldn't go above that budget for the renovation,
0:07:24 > 0:07:26it would have to be included into the price.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28OK, let's talk about the budget, what are we working with?
0:07:28 > 0:07:30£450,000.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34However, should we find a property with holiday-let-type potential,
0:07:34 > 0:07:35then we could go above that.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39Maybe a holiday let would be a nice thing to get my teeth into.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42Well, that's a healthy sum, particularly for this part
0:07:42 > 0:07:43of the country and, of course,
0:07:43 > 0:07:45you're in the great position of being cash buyers.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48I've got some very interesting properties to show you.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50- Shall we go and look?- I can't wait. - Excellent, can't wait.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Jo and Pete are willing to stretch their maximum budget
0:07:56 > 0:07:59of up to £500,000 for the perfect property.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02They're after a three-bedroom detached quirky character home,
0:08:02 > 0:08:05ideally with a large open-plan kitchen and a study.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09They're after a sizeable garden with easy access to the heart
0:08:09 > 0:08:11of a community in a village setting.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14And they're also hoping for a property with holiday-let potential.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17We've got some stunning properties lined up
0:08:17 > 0:08:21which hark back to the history of Herefordshire that Jo and Pete love.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23And it's not until the end of each house tour
0:08:23 > 0:08:26that I'll be asking them to guess the price of each.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Our final stop is the Mystery House,
0:08:28 > 0:08:30providing an alternative option
0:08:30 > 0:08:34which may make them reconsider elements of their wish list.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43We're starting our search north of the county in the hamlet of Lucton.
0:08:44 > 0:08:50Nearby is Yarpole, known for its thriving community, who, since 2005,
0:08:50 > 0:08:54have run the first full-time shop from a church in the UK.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56Donating to many local projects,
0:08:56 > 0:08:58this is the first shop of its kind to receive
0:08:58 > 0:09:00the Queen's Award For Voluntary Service.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05Also offering a pub, amateur dramatic society and book clubs,
0:09:05 > 0:09:07this centre would be ideal for Jo and Pete,
0:09:07 > 0:09:11and it's just a five-minute drive to the property we're going to view.
0:09:12 > 0:09:13Wow.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15- Wow.- That's a good reaction.
0:09:15 > 0:09:16Yes, that's fantastic.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19I love the angled feature of the...
0:09:19 > 0:09:22That feature, that's a really good feature, isn't it?
0:09:22 > 0:09:24The circular tower is because this was a grain store,
0:09:24 > 0:09:26so it's got all the character that you were after.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28- Mm! Definitely. - Well, one of the unusual things
0:09:28 > 0:09:30that this offers is upside-down living,
0:09:30 > 0:09:33so you've got your living space at the top and the bedrooms underneath.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36I know you've lived in lots of different houses,
0:09:36 > 0:09:37have you ever tried that before?
0:09:37 > 0:09:42We haven't, but Jo's sister has a house in France that does that.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45- It's quite quirky.- It's nice cos you often get the views from upstairs,
0:09:45 > 0:09:47don't you, that you don't get from down below?
0:09:47 > 0:09:49Well, let's take a look. Because it's an upside-down house,
0:09:49 > 0:09:52we're going to have to go up the stairs to get into it.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54- Fantastic.- It is lovely, isn't it?
0:09:54 > 0:09:55Yeah.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58Dating back to the mid-17th century, this former barn -
0:09:58 > 0:10:01made from local stone with a Welsh slate roof -
0:10:01 > 0:10:05was originally a granary and grain store before it was converted
0:10:05 > 0:10:06in the 1900s.
0:10:08 > 0:10:09Now...
0:10:09 > 0:10:12You said you were quite interested in seeing open-plan living.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14This is open-plan living.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17We do quite like that whole one large room,
0:10:17 > 0:10:19where a lot of life takes place.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21Yeah, it's still got little areas as well, hasn't it?
0:10:21 > 0:10:23You know, you could actually all be in and doing different things,
0:10:23 > 0:10:25but you're not on top of one another.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28I like how the stairs just sort of give you that bit of segregation.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31- Yes.- What do you feel about the space in the kitchen, Jo?
0:10:31 > 0:10:35Uh, there's not a terrific amount of work space there.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38You could actually adapt it and have a big butcher's block or something
0:10:38 > 0:10:43- like that.- Interesting thing about the range is it's an electric range.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45- Oh!- And I don't know if you were beady-eyed enough to notice
0:10:45 > 0:10:47- the solar panels on the roof... - Yes, we did.- Yes.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49We noticed those as we came through.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52OK. That actually helps to reduce their electricity bill by half.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55- Wow.- Wow.- That's interesting.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58Now, I know that a home office is important to you.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01There's a couple of options, we've got the mezzanine up here,
0:11:01 > 0:11:03just above us. So you're sort of really in the heart
0:11:03 > 0:11:05- of the living space.- Yeah.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07I know you mentioned quirky and there's quite a nice little
0:11:07 > 0:11:10- quirky room that I'm going to show you.- OK.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16Let's go through into here...
0:11:16 > 0:11:18- Oh!- Ah! So you're actually in the...
0:11:18 > 0:11:20In the actual grain store.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23So, you do have the option of the mezzanine office...
0:11:23 > 0:11:26but I wonder how this would work for you as an office, Pete?
0:11:28 > 0:11:32It could work, but I think this would be a particularly nice snug,
0:11:32 > 0:11:36where you've got this lovely quirky circular room...
0:11:36 > 0:11:39It could be a very pleasant area that you can withdraw to
0:11:39 > 0:11:41- for a little bit of peace and quiet. - You'd enjoy that -
0:11:41 > 0:11:44and it'd be a place to listen to music and things like that.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Now, I'm going to show you the master bedroom and, of course,
0:11:47 > 0:11:51- cos it's an upside-down house, we've got to go downstairs.- OK.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55Jo and Pete asked for three bedrooms and there's one extra here,
0:11:55 > 0:11:59which could prove to be useful for visiting friends and family.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03On the ground floor there are two double bedrooms, one single,
0:12:03 > 0:12:05a bathroom and a utility room.
0:12:08 > 0:12:09So, here we have the master...
0:12:09 > 0:12:11- Oh, wow.- ..bedroom.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13How do you feel about the size of the bedroom?
0:12:13 > 0:12:16We're not desperate for a huge, massive room at all.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18It works, doesn't it?
0:12:18 > 0:12:19- I love the doors.- Yeah,
0:12:19 > 0:12:21there's a lot of original features in the house,
0:12:21 > 0:12:23which gives it that unusual quirky quality
0:12:23 > 0:12:25- that I know you were looking for. - Mm, yes.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27You've also... Something a bit more modern in there...
0:12:27 > 0:12:29You've got a little en suite, which is very handy.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32- Oh, that's lovely, isn't it? - That's perfect, yeah.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36Again, that mixture of modern and old, looks very good.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38There are already chickens in the garden.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40- Oh.- I just don't know if you're going to be able to squeeze
0:12:40 > 0:12:43- any sheep in.- Right.- But I'll see what you both think.- OK.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47So far, Jo and Pete have warmed to this property
0:12:47 > 0:12:50and can picture themselves potentially living here,
0:12:50 > 0:12:54but I wonder what they'll make of the cottage-style garden.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56- Nice chickens.- Yeah, they are.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59This is it, this is the garden. What you see is what you get.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02It is smaller than what perhaps I was initially thinking about,
0:13:02 > 0:13:04but it's got lots of other lovely features about it.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06- Yeah.- There's that little nice snuggy area
0:13:06 > 0:13:07- for having a glass of wine. - Yes, we saw.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09And the owners were telling me that just up there,
0:13:09 > 0:13:11on the top of the steps where you go into the house,
0:13:11 > 0:13:14is their evening glass of wine spot because it gets the sunset
0:13:14 > 0:13:15and it gets the sun.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18So they sit there, they have a glass of wine, they unwind.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20- Yes.- Right, come on, let's guess the price.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22- OK.- Ladies first.- Um...
0:13:22 > 0:13:25Well, I think, because it hasn't actually got the land
0:13:25 > 0:13:29that we're looking for, I think it's going to be...below 400,000,
0:13:29 > 0:13:32I think it's going to be about 385?
0:13:33 > 0:13:35I'd go for 375.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37It is on the market for less than budget.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39Not quite as low as the two of you are saying, though.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42It's on the market for £395,000.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44- Oh...- It would leave you, actually,
0:13:44 > 0:13:46with quite a healthy amount left over.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Does that change your thoughts on the house at all?
0:13:48 > 0:13:51It's reassuring to know that if we wanted to do some work to it,
0:13:51 > 0:13:54that you have the funding in our budget to do that.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56It's sounding really positive to me,
0:13:56 > 0:13:58but why don't you two go back inside,
0:13:58 > 0:14:00- explore the rooms that you haven't seen...- OK.- Yes.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03..take a look around and I'll catch up with you in a little while.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05- Oh, thank you.- Thank you very much. - Thank you.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12A sizeable £105,000 under budget,
0:14:12 > 0:14:15this former grain store barn offers up four bedrooms,
0:14:15 > 0:14:18a large sociable open-plan living area
0:14:18 > 0:14:22and a prime central village location within the heart of the community,
0:14:22 > 0:14:24which Jo and Pete were longing for.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Walking into the open-plan space,
0:14:27 > 0:14:30my immediate thought was yet again, "Wow!"
0:14:30 > 0:14:33It has that cosiness that we're looking for
0:14:33 > 0:14:35with the characterfulness of the beams.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38There was a definite wow factor when you look at the property
0:14:38 > 0:14:40from the first time, I think.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43It's got lots of potential for us to put our mark on the property.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47From my perspective, the garden isn't a nonstarter, however,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50it's the distance that I will have to travel down
0:14:50 > 0:14:53to get to the motorways is a compromise
0:14:53 > 0:14:54that I'd have to think about.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57For me, personally, the garden is the stumbling block.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59I'd like to see something with a bigger garden.
0:15:01 > 0:15:02So we went in the upstairs
0:15:02 > 0:15:04and you're coming out in the downstairs door.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07I think there's a television programme in that, personally!
0:15:07 > 0:15:08- You're probably right, yeah.- Yes.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10- Interesting property?- Very.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13- But there's more to see, so come on.- OK.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21Mention the county of Herefordshire and most people think
0:15:21 > 0:15:24of the illustrious Hereford breed of cattle.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28And whilst the county continues to farm the breed
0:15:28 > 0:15:31to which it gave its name, there is now another notable
0:15:31 > 0:15:33if diminutive animal in residence.
0:15:34 > 0:15:39Just outside Leominster are 17 of the smallest sheep in the world.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Ouessant sheep are small in stature but big in character.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46Hoping to have enough land to keep a few sheep,
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Pete and Jo are meeting Carolyn Southern,
0:15:48 > 0:15:52who has been breeding these little gems for 13 years.
0:15:52 > 0:15:53Hi, Pete, Jo.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56- Welcome to the smallholding. - Hello, nice to meet you.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58So, Carolyn, how big do this breed actually grow?
0:15:58 > 0:16:02Well, the breed standard is 48 centimetres for an adult ram
0:16:02 > 0:16:05and 45 centimetres for an adult ewe.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07So, they've stayed quite small then?
0:16:07 > 0:16:08Yes, they are very tiny.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10So, if we were to have three sheep, Carolyn,
0:16:10 > 0:16:12what size plot would you recommend that we would have?
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Ideally, I would say about half an acre.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18About ten animals to the acre is the maximum.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21And in winter, do you have to provide them with shelter
0:16:21 > 0:16:22or do they stay outside?
0:16:22 > 0:16:26They will stay outside generally, they're really hardy,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29but if it's really heavy rain, they'll want to just run in.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33They also need the shelter to get out of the strong sun as well.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36So, would they be a breed that you would actually recommend
0:16:36 > 0:16:37as first-time sheep owners?
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Yes, well, I'd never had sheep before I had these
0:16:40 > 0:16:44and once I looked into it, they just seemed ideal.
0:16:44 > 0:16:45They're very easy to keep.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48And I've got some more stock over here, I'll show you those.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50- OK.- Thank you.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52Ouessant sheep were to be found solely
0:16:52 > 0:16:56on the French Isle of Ouessant until the start of the 20th century,
0:16:56 > 0:16:59when they were saved from extinction by a group of aristocrats
0:16:59 > 0:17:02who brought them over to mainland France.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05Having only arrived on British shores around 15 years ago,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08today there are thought to be around 2,000 in the UK.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11These are this year's lambs.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13So what are we feeding them here today then, Carolyn?
0:17:13 > 0:17:16This is actually a bit like muesli,
0:17:16 > 0:17:19it's called ruminant mix and it's a mixture of grains.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22And what else do they eat then other than that?
0:17:22 > 0:17:23Primarily, they'll eat the grass,
0:17:23 > 0:17:29but they do also eat the hedges and the bark off the trees
0:17:29 > 0:17:30and any low branches on the trees.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33In the winter, the grass is very sparse.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35You can give them hay as well.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38OK. Are there any legal requirements we have to have
0:17:38 > 0:17:40or be aware of if we were to buy sheep?
0:17:40 > 0:17:45I recommend that you only buy your animals from a registered breeder.
0:17:45 > 0:17:50You need to have a holding number, which Defra will provide you with.
0:17:50 > 0:17:51We're going to move some sheep today,
0:17:51 > 0:17:54so if you want to give us a hand doing that, that'd be fabulous.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56- That would be great. - We'd love to.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58They're so friendly, it's gorgeous.
0:17:58 > 0:17:59Aren't you? Ooh!
0:18:02 > 0:18:03Surprisingly low-maintenance,
0:18:03 > 0:18:05these sheep are shorn once a year
0:18:05 > 0:18:09and have the most wool per weight of any breed.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11Come on! Sheep!
0:18:12 > 0:18:13Here they come, here they come.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16- Here they come, here they come. - Here they come.
0:18:16 > 0:18:17By splitting a plot of land
0:18:17 > 0:18:20and rotating them every six to eight weeks,
0:18:20 > 0:18:24it not only rests the ground, but keeps the sheep healthy.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26Have you got any tips for what we should be doing
0:18:26 > 0:18:28and how we should help you with doing this?
0:18:28 > 0:18:32Uh... Well, they're difficult to catch unless you do pen them first
0:18:32 > 0:18:35and then what we've done is, we've put a race of hurdles in...
0:18:35 > 0:18:39- Right.- ..to sort of channel them down into the next field.
0:18:45 > 0:18:46They're off.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49- They're off, aren't they?- They know where they're going,
0:18:49 > 0:18:51- don't they, Carolyn?- Yes!
0:18:51 > 0:18:53They're moving really fast, aren't they?
0:18:53 > 0:18:54They can run really fast, yes.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56They're off on their hols now.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59With three registered breeders in Herefordshire,
0:18:59 > 0:19:02it looks like Jo and Pete will be flocking to buy some of these
0:19:02 > 0:19:04little beauties before too long.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07Aw! Yeah, I've fallen in love with them already, I have!
0:19:07 > 0:19:10I hope you decide to keep this breed cos they're very special.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12- Aw!- OK, well, thanks for showing us your sheep, Carolyn,
0:19:12 > 0:19:15- it's been absolutely fascinating. - You're very welcome.
0:19:15 > 0:19:16Yeah, thank you very much,
0:19:16 > 0:19:18we've thoroughly enjoyed the experience, it's been great.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28It's the second day of our property search in Herefordshire
0:19:28 > 0:19:30with Jo and Pete, who have just returned to the UK
0:19:30 > 0:19:32from international Army service.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35With a budget of up to £500,000,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38they're ready to begin the next chapter of their lives
0:19:38 > 0:19:41in the countryside they know and love.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43Coming up, our house hunt offers more history
0:19:43 > 0:19:45than they could have hoped for.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47That is absolutely stunning.
0:19:47 > 0:19:48I just love the height.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51The colours are...very...enchanting.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55And I find out how traditional Herefordshire is keeping up
0:19:55 > 0:19:57with modern-day tastes.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00Oh, it's a lovely, mellow, fruity flavour. That's very smooth.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05It's a new day and there are two new properties to show them,
0:20:05 > 0:20:07including the Mystery House,
0:20:07 > 0:20:09which could make them reassess
0:20:09 > 0:20:12exactly what it is they're looking for.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16Let's find out just how open-minded Pete and Jo are prepared to be.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19But before the mystery property,
0:20:19 > 0:20:23our search is taking us to the village of Bishop's Frome.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26Located on the border where Herefordshire meets Worcestershire,
0:20:26 > 0:20:30this idyllic and very active village has a community-run shop
0:20:30 > 0:20:31with two pubs.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34Half a mile away is the Hop Pocket Shopping Village,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37spread over a number of old agricultural buildings,
0:20:37 > 0:20:40which offers a cafe, wine centre and butcher's,
0:20:40 > 0:20:41with fine local produce.
0:20:42 > 0:20:43Just outside the village,
0:20:43 > 0:20:47our next property can be found down a quiet country lane.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Wow! I'm back to wows again now.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52You are back to wows, I like that.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54- That looks impressive. - That's stunning.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56That is actually very stunning.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58From the first impression, it looks good,
0:20:58 > 0:21:00it looks like it blends in very well.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02It makes you want to actually go in and view it.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04- Exciting.- Let's go and investigate.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07- Great, can't wait.- Great.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Built in 1650, this former barn -
0:21:10 > 0:21:13of traditional oak timber frame construction -
0:21:13 > 0:21:15originally belonged to the house next door
0:21:15 > 0:21:17until it was converted in the 1980s.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20And two years ago, an annexe was added to the rear.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24The front door leads to a hallway and the main sitting room,
0:21:24 > 0:21:27but because there's so much of this house to see,
0:21:27 > 0:21:29we're heading straight through it to the kitchen.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32- Double wow.- A double wow!
0:21:32 > 0:21:34This is stunning, absolutely stunning.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37It's so nice to see you two smiling like this!
0:21:37 > 0:21:40This is obviously the older part of the house.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42- It's got the beams that you wanted, hasn't it?- Yeah.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44So there's lots of character here.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47- I've got the warm... - Yes.- ..cosy, homely feeling
0:21:47 > 0:21:50that we had in the upside-down house yesterday
0:21:50 > 0:21:52but there's space around.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55It's interesting for me, because you really did like open plan...
0:21:55 > 0:21:57- Mm-hm.- And this technically isn't open plan,
0:21:57 > 0:21:59but it's appealing to you.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02- Yeah.- It flows very naturally, and actually,
0:22:02 > 0:22:05whilst there is only doorways, not huge, open-plan,
0:22:05 > 0:22:08I think it adopts a more modern feel to open plan.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10What's welcome is the utility room just over there,
0:22:10 > 0:22:12so you can keep all your stuff in there out the way.
0:22:12 > 0:22:13Yeah, good. Very useful.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15Now, I don't know how keen your ears were when we were outside
0:22:15 > 0:22:17looking at the property...
0:22:17 > 0:22:19- Did you hear the tinkling of a little...?- I did, I did hear that.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21Well, let me just give you a glass of that just to try,
0:22:21 > 0:22:24- you can have one each.- Thank you. - There you go.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26- Oh, thank you.- You've got your very own stream...
0:22:26 > 0:22:27Well, it's a spring,
0:22:27 > 0:22:30and the water for the property is fed from the spring,
0:22:30 > 0:22:33so you don't pay any water rates on this property, so cheers to that!
0:22:33 > 0:22:34- Cheers to that!- Cheers, yeah.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36Apparently it tastes very good, I haven't tried it yet.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38That's nice, isn't it?
0:22:38 > 0:22:40Jo loves water, that's really...
0:22:40 > 0:22:41Really very clean and fresh.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44So, yeah, the spring is up, right at the top of the garden.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46Gosh, that's amazing too, isn't it?
0:22:46 > 0:22:48I'd like you to take a closer look at the dining hall,
0:22:48 > 0:22:50- cos that's really interesting. - OK.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54Also on the ground floor, there's a double bedroom with en suite,
0:22:54 > 0:22:56and in the eaves of the dining hall there's a mezzanine,
0:22:56 > 0:23:00both of which could provide great office space for Pete.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04Oh, looks good.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06Oh, wow! I mean, that's...
0:23:06 > 0:23:07That is absolutely stunning,
0:23:07 > 0:23:09I think we could add a couple more wows into here.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11Yeah, I was going to say, your wow quota's...
0:23:11 > 0:23:14- It's building for this property. - I mean, I just love the height.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18- Isn't that fantastic?- Absolutely stunning, just absolutely stunning.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20What a feature, though, this bit is.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24You get the sense that this was, of course, a beautiful barn.
0:23:24 > 0:23:25- Yeah.- You've got the old beams in here,
0:23:25 > 0:23:27you really get the feeling
0:23:27 > 0:23:29of what it once was back in the day, don't you?
0:23:29 > 0:23:32- Yes, you do.- Can you imagine the family in here at Christmas?
0:23:32 > 0:23:34I could. Oh, yeah. Can you imagine a Christmas tree in here,
0:23:34 > 0:23:36full-height Christmas tree?
0:23:36 > 0:23:38Well, let's just talk then about the annexe.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40The doorway here leads through to the modern part.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43- Would you like to have a look? - Certainly.- Let's go.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50The self-contained annexe space here is the real selling point
0:23:50 > 0:23:51of this property.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Completed to a very high spec with its own double bedroom
0:23:54 > 0:23:57and shower room, it meets all modern eco requirements
0:23:57 > 0:24:00and is just what our buyers are after.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02- Wow.- Oh, goodness.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05- Goodness me.- The wows, I can just hear the wows coming in behind me!
0:24:05 > 0:24:07I'm just...
0:24:07 > 0:24:08My breath's just taken away.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10- Amazing.- Absolutely taken away.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13- How different it is, though. - What a complete contrast.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16You've gone from the 17th century to the 21st century.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19Everything's ready for a kitchen to go in across here.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21- Right!- They haven't put one in, but it's got water,
0:24:21 > 0:24:23it's got all the points that you need, it's even got
0:24:23 > 0:24:26the extractor fan. So, you might notice it's very lovely and cosy
0:24:26 > 0:24:28in here from the underfloor heating, and it's free in this house
0:24:28 > 0:24:32because it's got a state-of-the-art wood pellet boiler.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35So that combined with the solar panels,
0:24:35 > 0:24:38means that this house has a zero carbon footprint,
0:24:38 > 0:24:40there is no gas bill, there is no electricity bill,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43and you actually make money on the property.
0:24:43 > 0:24:44You're just ticking every box.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47- Absolutely every box.- This is something that Pete and I...
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Pete was looking at when we were first...
0:24:49 > 0:24:50very first started looking at houses,
0:24:50 > 0:24:52saying, "I want an eco-friendly house."
0:24:52 > 0:24:54This is... I'm just...
0:24:54 > 0:24:56I'm just blown away.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58This is everything that I could have imagined in a house
0:24:58 > 0:25:02and the view from there, those trees just changing colour,
0:25:02 > 0:25:04just absolutely breathtaking.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06Does the prospect of closing off that area
0:25:06 > 0:25:10and having this as a holiday let, does that appeal to you?
0:25:10 > 0:25:14- It certainly...- It does, actually, because I think it would work.
0:25:14 > 0:25:15I think you could do it.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17And there's still so much more to show you
0:25:17 > 0:25:19because we have to go back into the old part
0:25:19 > 0:25:20so I can show you the master bedroom.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23Aside from the two bedrooms downstairs,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26on the first floor there's a bathroom and two further bedrooms,
0:25:26 > 0:25:28a single and the master.
0:25:30 > 0:25:31So, this is the master bedroom.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34- Mm.- And you've got fantastic views across to Fromes Hill...
0:25:34 > 0:25:37- Stunning.- You've actually got the size of the room without the beams
0:25:37 > 0:25:39- taking away that from you. - It's breathtaking.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42It's quite exciting as well because I still get to show you the outside.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46- Yes.- And there are some really good things to tell you
0:25:46 > 0:25:48- when we get out there. - Wow. Excellent.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51Jo and Pete are obviously wowed by the property,
0:25:51 > 0:25:54and with the rear garden set in just over an acre,
0:25:54 > 0:25:56plus an extra paddock of a third of an acre,
0:25:56 > 0:25:59I suspect that the outside space here
0:25:59 > 0:26:01might just be the icing on the cake.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05So, up here, this is where your sheep can live.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07And the really hard work in the garden has been done...
0:26:07 > 0:26:09- Yes.- All the real legwork.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11- Yes.- What it needs now is just that work of landscaping...
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Personalisation.
0:26:13 > 0:26:14Is it too big for you?
0:26:14 > 0:26:19- No.- No.- It's that time for you to guess the price.
0:26:19 > 0:26:20Because it's in the east of Herefordshire,
0:26:20 > 0:26:23it's got good communication links, I'm going to say 575.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28Because I think it's a lovely house,
0:26:28 > 0:26:30I do think it's going to be over our budget.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32I'm going to go for 525.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34You will probably be very pleased when I tell you
0:26:34 > 0:26:38that it's on the market for offers over £500,000.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42However, I've had a conversation with the owners
0:26:42 > 0:26:45and they've made it clear to me that they would accept an offer
0:26:45 > 0:26:47of under 500,000, only just,
0:26:47 > 0:26:49from buyers in your position.
0:26:49 > 0:26:50Oh...
0:26:50 > 0:26:54That is amazing. That is utterly amazing.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56Where do I sign?
0:26:56 > 0:26:57- Really?- Seriously.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00Well, I'd like you to go back inside and really look around the property.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03I know it's got a lot to offer and there's a lot you haven't seen,
0:27:03 > 0:27:05so take your time, explore and I'll come and find you.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07- OK, thank you very much. - We'd love to.- OK.- Thank you.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13At the top of their budget, this former barn -
0:27:13 > 0:27:16with an eclectic mix of original character features
0:27:16 > 0:27:18and modern eco-specifications -
0:27:18 > 0:27:21meets all of Jo and Pete's wish list and more.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Having an almost ready to go holiday let opportunity,
0:27:24 > 0:27:29it's set in an ideal village location and has fantastic views.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33This property ticks every single box that we could think of.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35It's the right location, um,
0:27:35 > 0:27:39it's got the views and the opportunity to develop the garden.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43I'm feeling really excited because I think there's an opportunity for me
0:27:43 > 0:27:45here, definitely, to do a holiday let.
0:27:45 > 0:27:50I can see myself here at home and also entertaining the family here.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53This is just absolutely amazing, it's...
0:27:53 > 0:27:56everything we want in a house, it's a combination of old, new.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58I'm going to interrupt you, I know you love this house,
0:27:58 > 0:28:01but there is still one more to go and it's the Mystery House.
0:28:01 > 0:28:02- Come on.- I'm very excited.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13What about the Mystery House,
0:28:13 > 0:28:15what do you think I'm going to show you there?
0:28:15 > 0:28:18I think you're going to go something quirky, new, today -
0:28:18 > 0:28:21because I think that just is totally opposite
0:28:21 > 0:28:24to what we've put out in our brief, really, I think.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26- Do you?- I think it's going to be a chapel conversion,
0:28:26 > 0:28:29or something like that, yes.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31My lips are sealed, of course, at this point.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33THEY LAUGH All will be revealed!
0:28:37 > 0:28:39For our mystery property,
0:28:39 > 0:28:43we're heading to the small village of Wormelow Tump.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46South of Herefordshire, the tump itself was a mound,
0:28:46 > 0:28:50which local tradition claims was the burial place of King Arthur's son.
0:28:50 > 0:28:54Having been flattened to widen the road in 1896,
0:28:54 > 0:28:57there's a local garage and a pub here.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59With the greater amenities of Hereford nearby,
0:28:59 > 0:29:02it's just a short drive to our next property,
0:29:02 > 0:29:05which is blessed with a stunning setting.
0:29:07 > 0:29:09It's not so much a Mystery House
0:29:09 > 0:29:11- as a Mystery Mansion. - Oh, my goodness!
0:29:11 > 0:29:13- Wow!- Goodness me.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15It is stunning, isn't it?
0:29:15 > 0:29:16It's been bought by developers
0:29:16 > 0:29:20and it's been turned into 12 extremely high-end luxury apartments
0:29:20 > 0:29:21and two houses.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23I know you've lived in properties all over the world,
0:29:23 > 0:29:25different kinds of properties!
0:29:25 > 0:29:27- Never a stately home!- Have you ever come across a stately home in your
0:29:27 > 0:29:29- travels before?- No, we haven't.
0:29:29 > 0:29:31- No.- A few officers' messes are like stately homes...- Yes, yeah.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33- But never actually lived in one.- No.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36It's communal living, it's very different.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38I know that you had these ideas about the lifestyle
0:29:38 > 0:29:39you were going to have in Herefordshire,
0:29:39 > 0:29:42- and I just thought, "Well, you know, why not challenge that?"- Yes.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44- It's very beautiful. - Yes.- You have a view.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46- Yes.- Fantastic views.
0:29:46 > 0:29:48Um, and it's a different thing to consider.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50- It is. Oh, it is. - Yes.- It is, it's...- I quite agree.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52And in the scheme of things,
0:29:52 > 0:29:55it is something that we should consider,
0:29:55 > 0:29:58cos it's, you know, one avenue we...
0:29:58 > 0:30:00It challenges our thoughts.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03- Yeah.- We would probably never have looked at something like this.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05- No.- I guess not, somehow.- No.
0:30:05 > 0:30:06But it's inside this house
0:30:06 > 0:30:09- that you really get the feeling for how stunning it is.- Yes.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12- So I think we should go in and take a look.- Yeah.- Certainly.
0:30:13 > 0:30:17This Victorian Gothic manor house was constructed in the 1860s
0:30:17 > 0:30:19by Sir James Rankin,
0:30:19 > 0:30:22whose family made their money through timber and shipbuilding.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24Steeped in history,
0:30:24 > 0:30:28it also spent former years as a factory and prisoner of war hospital
0:30:28 > 0:30:30during the Second World War.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34So I just thought I'd bring you into the entrance hall.
0:30:34 > 0:30:36- Yeah.- Look at the chandeliers up there.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39I mean, it's Gothic architecture at its finest.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41- It is, look at the fireplace. - It's beautiful.
0:30:41 > 0:30:42How does this style appeal to you?
0:30:42 > 0:30:45It's a different period of architecture,
0:30:45 > 0:30:48but it has that immenseness of it,
0:30:48 > 0:30:52uh...that I'm not overawed by, I'm actually drawn into it,
0:30:52 > 0:30:54and I think it's stunning.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57So, how do you think it would be welcoming your friends and family
0:30:57 > 0:30:59into this entrance hall?
0:30:59 > 0:31:01Well, you could just imagine turning, walking through there,
0:31:01 > 0:31:03through that huge Gothic door and saying,
0:31:03 > 0:31:05"Please come in to our house,"
0:31:05 > 0:31:08coming through, walking up those stairs...
0:31:08 > 0:31:10It just blows people's minds, doesn't it?
0:31:10 > 0:31:12Luckily, the apartment that we're going to show you,
0:31:12 > 0:31:14the show apartment, is on the first floor -
0:31:14 > 0:31:16it's the only one that's ready at the moment -
0:31:16 > 0:31:18and it's fantastic cos we get to take advantage
0:31:18 > 0:31:19of going up that lovely staircase.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26The show home here mirrors the style and layout of the apartment
0:31:26 > 0:31:28Jo and Pete would be able to buy.
0:31:28 > 0:31:29So...
0:31:32 > 0:31:33- Come on in.- Ooh!
0:31:33 > 0:31:35- Oh, goodness.- Very...
0:31:35 > 0:31:37Very clean... Oh, goodness me.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41- High ceilings.- Yes. So, you've got the beautiful original features...
0:31:41 > 0:31:44- Yes.- Those lovely tall windows, the original doors,
0:31:44 > 0:31:46but then you have the modern touches, as well,
0:31:46 > 0:31:48- that I know appeal to you both.- Mm.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52The height and the spaciousness and the clean, uncluttered lines,
0:31:52 > 0:31:55- it's...- Yeah.- And the doors are absolutely stunning, aren't they?
0:31:55 > 0:31:57- Very big.- I really wanted to challenge your perceptions
0:31:57 > 0:31:59- of what your journey could be like...- Yes.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01..of what your escape to the country could be for you.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03- Mm.- You're impressing... You're impressing us.
0:32:03 > 0:32:04You're making our decision hard.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07Well, I might be about to make that decision harder,
0:32:07 > 0:32:09- because, Jo, I know the kitchen really matters to you...- Mm.
0:32:09 > 0:32:13- ..and I know you're going to like this kitchen.- Ooh, OK.
0:32:16 > 0:32:18There we go.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21Wow. That's a really good open kitchen, isn't it?
0:32:21 > 0:32:23It's a lovely space, isn't it?
0:32:23 > 0:32:25- Yes.- And it's the ceiling heights...
0:32:25 > 0:32:28- Yes.- Yes.- The door heights are half the height of the room.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30- Yeah.- And look at the view out the kitchen.
0:32:30 > 0:32:31Sheep!
0:32:32 > 0:32:33Yeah, we could watch sheep,
0:32:33 > 0:32:35even if we couldn't have our own, couldn't we?
0:32:35 > 0:32:36Is it too modern for you?
0:32:36 > 0:32:38Did you think it complements the property?
0:32:38 > 0:32:40I think it does, yes. It's that new and old again.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42Could you imagine, you know,
0:32:42 > 0:32:43a family get-together and a meal in here?
0:32:43 > 0:32:46- Mm!- Lots of working space, lots of good working space.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49- I'd really like to show you the master bedroom and its view.- Mm-hm.
0:32:49 > 0:32:50Wow.
0:32:52 > 0:32:53With two double bedrooms,
0:32:53 > 0:32:55a second bathroom
0:32:55 > 0:32:56and an office on offer
0:32:56 > 0:32:59in this spacious single-level apartment,
0:32:59 > 0:33:02it's the aspect from the master that's hard to beat.
0:33:03 > 0:33:05SHE GASPS
0:33:05 > 0:33:06- Oh, yes.- Wow.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09- That's nice to wake up to, isn't it? - What a view from a bedroom.
0:33:09 > 0:33:10It's a lovely-sized bedroom.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13You've got a beautifully finished en suite bathroom.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16Do you think you'd have a good night's sleep in a room like this?
0:33:16 > 0:33:19I think so, yes. You'd almost want to wake up early to see the view.
0:33:19 > 0:33:23- Yeah.- But again, it's those stunning high windows,
0:33:23 > 0:33:25just letting so much light into the room.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28But can you both imagine living here?
0:33:28 > 0:33:30- I could.- I'm not so sure.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32I know we're not getting any younger,
0:33:32 > 0:33:35but I'm not quite ready for...this.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38Ten years down the line, I think it would be fantastic.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41I've still got that little bit inside me
0:33:41 > 0:33:45that wants to try and make my garden and make my home.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47I am still keen to show you the gardens,
0:33:47 > 0:33:49because, as you can imagine, they're as stunning as the house.
0:33:49 > 0:33:51Ooh!
0:33:52 > 0:33:56The immaculate communal gardens elegantly sweep around the mansion
0:33:56 > 0:33:59and along with the upkeep of the main building,
0:33:59 > 0:34:01have maintenance charges of £2,000 a year.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07So, these will form part of the communal gardens
0:34:07 > 0:34:09and you'll have a veggie plot to grow your own vegetables in.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12It's a fantastic place - scenery and setting -
0:34:12 > 0:34:14but not just yet.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17I could imagine myself here, but maybe not at this time in my life.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20Well, let's price the show property that I've shown you.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23It's a two-bedroom property, it's got a generous living space,
0:34:23 > 0:34:25it's got access to the communal gardens.
0:34:25 > 0:34:26Who wants to go first?
0:34:26 > 0:34:29I'll say budget - 450,000.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32I'm going to say more, I'm going to say...
0:34:32 > 0:34:35- 475.- OK, that's quite interesting.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38The two of you are way off the mark, actually, completely...
0:34:38 > 0:34:44- Are we?- ..cos it's massively under your budget at £359,000.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47Wow. At that sort of price, that's good value, I think.
0:34:47 > 0:34:48I'm impressed at the price.
0:34:48 > 0:34:49Yes, I am - that's a good price.
0:34:49 > 0:34:51Go and have a poke around, have a look.
0:34:51 > 0:34:53- Yes.- Cos it's a really interesting place to explore.- Yes.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56- So, just, go on, I'll catch up with you.- Thanks very much.- Thank you.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00At £141,000 under budget,
0:35:00 > 0:35:04this Gothic-style apartment with uninterrupted stunning views
0:35:04 > 0:35:07offers an alternative modern and characterful home
0:35:07 > 0:35:10in the style that Jo and Pete are fond of.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12It's a very impressive structure.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15As you look at the building, it takes your breath away.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17Oh, this is another nice size room, isn't it?
0:35:17 > 0:35:19Good size for a spare room.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21- Lovely views.- It's the heights, the view - stunning.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24Yeah. I don't think it's really wowing me as a house.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28I am tempted by this, this is low-maintenance living,
0:35:28 > 0:35:31where we could come in and do very little.
0:35:31 > 0:35:35Yeah, it's been a great opportunity to see a different style of living.
0:35:35 > 0:35:37- Something very, very different. - But, unfortunately...
0:35:37 > 0:35:39- Not for us. - ..I'm not ready for it yet.
0:35:39 > 0:35:43The mystery apartment, it has got some nice features about it,
0:35:43 > 0:35:45but I can't see it becoming a home.
0:35:45 > 0:35:46I think we challenged you with this property -
0:35:46 > 0:35:48I just don't know if we challenged you
0:35:48 > 0:35:49at the right point in your lives.
0:35:49 > 0:35:51- I think you're correct. - Yeah, I think so too.
0:35:51 > 0:35:53I do think we have a lot of talking to do,
0:35:53 > 0:35:55- so let's go and get a cup of tea. - Yeah, I think so.
0:36:00 > 0:36:01With its agricultural heritage,
0:36:01 > 0:36:05it'll come as no surprise that Herefordshire is full of farms,
0:36:05 > 0:36:09yielding a wide range of wonderful and sometimes exotic produce.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13Having bought a cider-making farm in 2007,
0:36:13 > 0:36:16and with the need to broaden the spectrum of his produce,
0:36:16 > 0:36:19William Chase decided to make a slightly less traditional product
0:36:19 > 0:36:21from potatoes.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24I'm meeting his son, and third-generation potato farmer,
0:36:24 > 0:36:26James Chase, to get more of a flavour
0:36:26 > 0:36:29on what's become of your average spud.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32- Hi, James.- Hey, how are you doing?
0:36:32 > 0:36:34So what about the potatoes, where do they come in?
0:36:34 > 0:36:37All of our vodkas are distilled from potatoes
0:36:37 > 0:36:39and that award-winning vodka
0:36:39 > 0:36:42has gone on to be supplied into about 32 countries around the world.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45Don't tell me you send it to Russia, cos I will love it if you do.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47Well, it's really funny you say that -
0:36:47 > 0:36:50two weeks ago we signed our first distribution agreement to Russia,
0:36:50 > 0:36:52so now the English are selling vodka back to the Russians!
0:36:52 > 0:36:54You've diversified, I hear, as well.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57You're now using sort of fruit for making different kinds of vodkas.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00About four years ago we released a marmalade-flavoured vodka.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02I'd love to see how marmalade vodka's made,
0:37:02 > 0:37:04that sounds fascinating.
0:37:04 > 0:37:06Well, why don't you head on up the path,
0:37:06 > 0:37:08- go and meet our master distiller, Jamie?- Fantastic.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11- Hopefully I'll get to try some too. - See you later!- Bye!
0:37:11 > 0:37:13The potatoes are grown on the farm here
0:37:13 > 0:37:15before they're peeled, mashed,
0:37:15 > 0:37:17fermented and distilled
0:37:17 > 0:37:21to form vodka in a process that takes ten days.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24Using the finest oranges from Seville,
0:37:24 > 0:37:28the farm extracts the most intense flavour from the top of the oranges,
0:37:28 > 0:37:31where the fruit has absorbed the greatest sunshine.
0:37:31 > 0:37:32The essential oils released
0:37:32 > 0:37:36are used to form the basis of a thick cut and juicy marmalade,
0:37:36 > 0:37:39which is re-distilled with their potato vodka.
0:37:41 > 0:37:43Hi, Jamie, that looks intriguing.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46- Oh, hi, Ginny.- So, what have we got going on in here, then?
0:37:46 > 0:37:50Once we've made the vodka, we then move it into a vacuum chamber,
0:37:50 > 0:37:52- where we heat it up under pressure...- Mm-hm.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54..with the addition of real marmalade
0:37:54 > 0:37:55and some Seville orange peel.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58A little bit of colour from these kibbles, or peels,
0:37:58 > 0:38:02will then macerate out into the finished product.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04- OK.- Shall we do that now?
0:38:04 > 0:38:05- Let's do it, absolutely.- Yeah.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08We just need a piece to hang it down into the liquid.
0:38:08 > 0:38:10How long does it have to be in there for?
0:38:10 > 0:38:12Well, it depends on the time of year.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15When it's nice and warm in the summer, it happens quite quickly.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17So, anywhere up to 48 hours,
0:38:17 > 0:38:19but in the winter it can be as long as 72 hours.
0:38:19 > 0:38:21OK - and you're just tasting all the time, aren't you?
0:38:21 > 0:38:23- Every three hours, we taste it. - Lovely.
0:38:23 > 0:38:24So, all we do, we suspend it in here...
0:38:24 > 0:38:26GASPS: That smell is amazing.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29This one's really fruity, it's like being in an orchard.
0:38:29 > 0:38:30So what we're trying to create here
0:38:30 > 0:38:32is layer on layer of natural flavour,
0:38:32 > 0:38:33so it sort of stays with you on the palate.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36It makes you feel like you've had marmalade on toast.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38We've got some over here, if you want to try some?
0:38:38 > 0:38:40- You've twisted my arm! Go on, then. - OK, follow me, then.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46Passed through a filter before it's ready to drink,
0:38:46 > 0:38:501,000 bottles of marmalade vodka are being produced a day.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53Due to its popularity, the farm are now diversifying their products,
0:38:53 > 0:38:56infusing vodka with blackcurrants and rhubarb.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00Well, I don't know much about the art of distillery,
0:39:00 > 0:39:03but I'm guessing this is everybody's favourite part of the process?
0:39:03 > 0:39:05- It certainly is, everybody likes a taste.- OK.
0:39:05 > 0:39:07First of all, have a really good smell.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12Oh, it's a lovely, mellow, fruity flavour,
0:39:12 > 0:39:16there's none of that harsh hit that almost makes your eyes water.
0:39:16 > 0:39:17Let's try this.
0:39:20 > 0:39:22Wow, it's very smooth.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24I'm getting a lovely kick of sweetness, actually,
0:39:24 > 0:39:26that's just starting to come through.
0:39:26 > 0:39:27I would love to stay here
0:39:27 > 0:39:30and work my way through a whole range of them,
0:39:30 > 0:39:34but sadly - and it breaks my heart to say this - I've got to go.
0:39:34 > 0:39:35- OK.- Thank you.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37No problem, thank you very much.
0:39:40 > 0:39:44Well, Pete and Jo have seen all the properties we had to offer,
0:39:44 > 0:39:46and it's obvious, isn't it? There's a clear favourite.
0:39:46 > 0:39:50What I need to find out now is what they're going to do about it.
0:40:02 > 0:40:03Well, Pete and Jo,
0:40:03 > 0:40:05I think it was apparent that there was one house
0:40:05 > 0:40:07that got quite a lot of wows over our search.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10- Yes.- Definitely.- What was it about that 17th-century house
0:40:10 > 0:40:13with the modern annexe that really appealed to you both?
0:40:13 > 0:40:15It was that mix of old and new...
0:40:16 > 0:40:19It ticked every box that we had for a property,
0:40:19 > 0:40:23and actually, ticked even more, that we hadn't asked you to find -
0:40:23 > 0:40:25the eco side of it, etc, etc.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28It just left us overawed.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30So, there were things that you hadn't mentioned to us
0:40:30 > 0:40:32that, actually, you found in that property?
0:40:32 > 0:40:33That's right, yes.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36We'd discussed beforehand about having an eco-friendly house.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39That was something Pete was looking for,
0:40:39 > 0:40:42and so he was really pleased to have seen that today.
0:40:42 > 0:40:44It also seemed to offer you the potential for the lifestyle
0:40:44 > 0:40:46that you want to lead when you move here to Herefordshire.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49Yes, there's good access through Ledbury to the M50.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51I can get a train to London - should I have to -
0:40:51 > 0:40:53through Ledbury train station.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55It then has easy access to friends and family
0:40:55 > 0:40:57who are in another area of Herefordshire,
0:40:57 > 0:40:59and it ticks all the property bits.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02The village aspect of it seems very nice, too,
0:41:02 > 0:41:05the location is fantastic and it's going to be a challenge for me,
0:41:05 > 0:41:07to develop the potential of the garden
0:41:07 > 0:41:08and our house as a holiday let.
0:41:08 > 0:41:12There was a little sense that I got, though, as we were looking round,
0:41:12 > 0:41:15that you were definitely enthused by the house.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17I felt a bit more reticence from you.
0:41:17 > 0:41:18Is that fair to say?
0:41:18 > 0:41:22Probably, cos I'm always the one that has to be slightly swayed
0:41:22 > 0:41:24by Pete in decisions, I think.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27I think things through, perhaps, more -
0:41:27 > 0:41:32but eventually, if it's the right decision, I'm quite happy with it.
0:41:32 > 0:41:33Well, then, I've got to ask...
0:41:33 > 0:41:35What are you going to do about it?
0:41:35 > 0:41:38We'll definitely be going for a second viewing with our children
0:41:38 > 0:41:39and then we'll be putting an offer in.
0:41:39 > 0:41:40That's great news.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43I'm not surprised, but I'm thrilled to hear it,
0:41:43 > 0:41:45and I do hope we've managed to find you the home
0:41:45 > 0:41:47- that you were looking for. - I think you have.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49You have. I'm sure we'll be very, very happy there.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51Yeah, you've done a fantastic job for us,
0:41:51 > 0:41:52and we're very, very grateful.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55- Thank you very much.- I'm so thrilled to hear you both say that,
0:41:55 > 0:41:58and I'm so excited that this move back to the UK
0:41:58 > 0:42:01after your travels around the world has such a potentially happy ending.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04- Yes.- Well, thank you very much. - We can't wait to start.
0:42:04 > 0:42:05We can't wait to start.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14I'm delighted that Pete and Jo have decided to take their family back
0:42:14 > 0:42:17for a second viewing of that fabulous 17th-century property
0:42:17 > 0:42:19with the modern annexe.
0:42:19 > 0:42:23Let's face it, it's got their name written all over it.
0:42:23 > 0:42:24If I was a betting woman,
0:42:24 > 0:42:27my money would be on them calling it home before too long.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29I've got my fingers crossed for them.
0:42:29 > 0:42:30I'll see you next time.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35After a second viewing of the barn conversion,
0:42:35 > 0:42:38Jo and Pete decided that the older part of the house
0:42:38 > 0:42:41required just a bit too much work for them.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43On the plus side, they've since found
0:42:43 > 0:42:45and fallen in love with a cottage in Herefordshire,
0:42:45 > 0:42:48and having put in an offer which was accepted,
0:42:48 > 0:42:50they're due to exchange shortly.
0:42:50 > 0:42:54If you'd like to escape to the country in England, Scotland,
0:42:54 > 0:42:57Wales or Northern Ireland and would like our help,
0:42:57 > 0:42:59you can apply online at...