Herefordshire Escape to the Country

From a distance, this lovely little church could look like any other

in the country, but get up close, and it tells a very different story.

I'll tell you why and where I am in just a moment.

Today's couple are longing to settle and start a new life

in the countryside.

We may have hit the ground running with our properties...

-Wow.

-Wow.

I can just hear the wows coming in behind me!

..and their model country pad could be right in front of their eyes.

This is everything that I could have imagined in a house

and the view from there is just breathtaking.

Today I'm in Herefordshire and behind me

is the Church of St Mary and St David in the village of Kilpeck.

Now, what makes it unique is that it looks almost identical now

to how it did when it was built over 870 years ago,

and a closer inspection reveals that it contains one of the finest

collections of ancient Romanesque sculptures in all of England.

It's a remarkable building in a truly remarkable county.

Often described as England's most rural county,

landlocked Herefordshire sits on the border with Powys in Wales

to its west and Shropshire to the north,

Worcestershire to its east and Gloucestershire to the south.

Herefordshire really is an unspoilt county.

Rolling green countryside is an often-used term, however,

the saying could and should have been coined here.

It is and always has been an agricultural county,

famed for its apple orchards and Hereford cattle.

For centuries, its rich, natural environment has stood

little changed, with picturesque towns and villages -

black-timbered houses dotting the landscape.

At its heart sits Hereford,

with its majestic cathedral dominating the skyline.

Through the county flows the River Wye.

It's one of the cleanest rivers in the UK,

thought of as one of the best for salmon fishing

and it's also a Special Area Of Conservation.

If you're thinking of escaping to the West Midlands,

then you should seriously consider house-hunting here in Herefordshire.

Quite simply, there are some excellent homes that,

broadly speaking, offer really good value for money.

The average cost of a detached house here is £264,000,

which compares to £278,000 across the rest of England and Wales.

So, it's a wonderful county with some lovely homes.

I need a couple to show them to, so let's meet them.

Jo and Pete have been married for 31 years.

They met in a bar in Hereford in 1979

when Jo was training to be a nurse

and Pete was a new soldier.

I thought that he was something special then.

And I thought Jo was a "wow" and I still do.

She keeps my feet very firmly on the ground,

she keeps my aspirations attainable and achievable.

After 37 years,

Army officer Pete has just retired from international service,

where he and Jo have moved house 19 times.

Having returned to the UK for good and with their children grown up,

now is the right time for them to move to the countryside.

My military career has involved me in postings in the UK, America,

Germany, Saudi Arabia and lastly Italy,

where we've been given a house that we haven't chosen,

we've been told that will be our house.

Now I've got the choice of where we live,

I think I'd like to go and live in the country.

I just love the open air.

I'm an outdoor fanatic, I love walking, cycling,

running, being out in it.

With Pete now a home-based consultant,

they are currently renting in Wiltshire,

whilst they search for the house of their dreams in Herefordshire,

in which they spent the early part of their marriage

and where their son was born.

We have existing family and friends there

from our previous service there, and we've got some very,

very happy memories as a family from there of following the tractors

loaded with apples, driving around the country lanes.

I particularly like Herefordshire for its greenness,

its variety and terrain - it's a very rural county -

and the pace of life.

To go back to Herefordshire, for me, now, feels like going home.

Living for over three decades in a permanent state of transition,

Jo can't wait to unpack the many boxes they've been hauling

around the world with them.

Mostly, the boxes actually contain the memories of the children

as they have gone through the years.

I look forward to actually finding a property that we can actually empty

those boxes into and decide that they're actually

not going to go any further.

And longing to finally settle into rural living,

they're also hoping to cement new friendships that they can build upon

into the future.

I'm very excited about the fact of actually putting some roots down

and actually finding a community that we can then belong to,

rather than feel that you're transiting through.

After so many years of living in Army accommodation,

Jo and Pete are keen to begin their search

to find their quintessential English country abode.

The one thing that we're most looking forward to

is finding the property that we've aspired to live in

for 31 years of married life.

We don't know what it looks like,

but we are quite confident that when we see it,

we'll know it's the one for us.

It would be so nice just to start afresh

and that's what we're really looking forward to, I think, isn't it?

Both of us.

With Jo and Pete keen to rekindle their happy Herefordshire memories,

they're fairly open to living anywhere in the county,

as long as it's not too rural and has good motorway connections

for Pete's consultancy business.

I'm meeting up with them to pinpoint exactly what they're after in terms

of what they want from their new home

and new life in the UK countryside.

-Hello, you two.

-Hi.

-Hello.

-So, how does it feel being back in Herefordshire?

It feels like being home again, doesn't it?

-It does, yes.

-When did you last live here?

Uh...

-We last lived here in 2003.

-Three.

But we actually met in Herefordshire when we were much younger.

We've still got some family... We've got lots of friends, which is nice.

We've been catching up with them again.

Like a coat, just put it back on and the friendship's still there.

So, you've got good memories of the place,

which is always a great way to start a search.

Now, what about this house, what do you imagine it's going to look like

when you pull up outside your dream home?

It's going to have that feel-good factor about it, I think.

Something that we can make into a nice home for us for the future.

So, what's on the wish list for it?

A study, cos I work from home.

Yeah, I'd like an open-plan kitchen.

And what about the style of the property?

-A bit of character.

-Yes.

It could be new, it could be old.

A good-sized garden. Like at least half an acre.

And we're quite keen to have some sheep, chickens...

-Chickens.

-Things like that.

Are there any no-nos?

Is there anything that you really don't want me to show you?

We're open-minded, um...

Yeah, I think the location is as important as the actual house, um,

because you can change a house slightly, so...

we're flexible.

What about doing work on the property,

is that something you'd welcome?

That would have to be factored into the budget that we have,

so we wouldn't go above that budget for the renovation,

it would have to be included into the price.

OK, let's talk about the budget, what are we working with?

£450,000.

However, should we find a property with holiday-let-type potential,

then we could go above that.

Maybe a holiday let would be a nice thing to get my teeth into.

Well, that's a healthy sum, particularly for this part

of the country and, of course,

you're in the great position of being cash buyers.

I've got some very interesting properties to show you.

-Shall we go and look?

-I can't wait.

-Excellent, can't wait.

Jo and Pete are willing to stretch their maximum budget

of up to £500,000 for the perfect property.

They're after a three-bedroom detached quirky character home,

ideally with a large open-plan kitchen and a study.

They're after a sizeable garden with easy access to the heart

of a community in a village setting.

And they're also hoping for a property with holiday-let potential.

We've got some stunning properties lined up

which hark back to the history of Herefordshire that Jo and Pete love.

And it's not until the end of each house tour

that I'll be asking them to guess the price of each.

Our final stop is the Mystery House,

providing an alternative option

which may make them reconsider elements of their wish list.

We're starting our search north of the county in the hamlet of Lucton.

Nearby is Yarpole, known for its thriving community, who, since 2005,

have run the first full-time shop from a church in the UK.

Donating to many local projects,

this is the first shop of its kind to receive

the Queen's Award For Voluntary Service.

Also offering a pub, amateur dramatic society and book clubs,

this centre would be ideal for Jo and Pete,

and it's just a five-minute drive to the property we're going to view.

Wow.

-Wow.

-That's a good reaction.

Yes, that's fantastic.

I love the angled feature of the...

That feature, that's a really good feature, isn't it?

The circular tower is because this was a grain store,

so it's got all the character that you were after.

-Mm! Definitely.

-Well, one of the unusual things

that this offers is upside-down living,

so you've got your living space at the top and the bedrooms underneath.

I know you've lived in lots of different houses,

have you ever tried that before?

We haven't, but Jo's sister has a house in France that does that.

-It's quite quirky.

-It's nice cos you often get the views from upstairs,

don't you, that you don't get from down below?

Well, let's take a look. Because it's an upside-down house,

we're going to have to go up the stairs to get into it.

-Fantastic.

-It is lovely, isn't it?

Yeah.

Dating back to the mid-17th century, this former barn -

made from local stone with a Welsh slate roof -

was originally a granary and grain store before it was converted

in the 1900s.

Now...

You said you were quite interested in seeing open-plan living.

This is open-plan living.

We do quite like that whole one large room,

where a lot of life takes place.

Yeah, it's still got little areas as well, hasn't it?

You know, you could actually all be in and doing different things,

but you're not on top of one another.

I like how the stairs just sort of give you that bit of segregation.

-Yes.

-What do you feel about the space in the kitchen, Jo?

Uh, there's not a terrific amount of work space there.

You could actually adapt it and have a big butcher's block or something

-like that.

-Interesting thing about the range is it's an electric range.

-Oh!

-And I don't know if you were beady-eyed enough to notice

-the solar panels on the roof...

-Yes, we did.

-Yes.

We noticed those as we came through.

OK. That actually helps to reduce their electricity bill by half.

-Wow.

-Wow.

-That's interesting.

Now, I know that a home office is important to you.

There's a couple of options, we've got the mezzanine up here,

just above us. So you're sort of really in the heart

-of the living space.

-Yeah.

I know you mentioned quirky and there's quite a nice little

-quirky room that I'm going to show you.

-OK.

Let's go through into here...

-Oh!

-Ah! So you're actually in the...

In the actual grain store.

So, you do have the option of the mezzanine office...

but I wonder how this would work for you as an office, Pete?

It could work, but I think this would be a particularly nice snug,

where you've got this lovely quirky circular room...

It could be a very pleasant area that you can withdraw to

-for a little bit of peace and quiet.

-You'd enjoy that -

and it'd be a place to listen to music and things like that.

Now, I'm going to show you the master bedroom and, of course,

-cos it's an upside-down house, we've got to go downstairs.

-OK.

Jo and Pete asked for three bedrooms and there's one extra here,

which could prove to be useful for visiting friends and family.

On the ground floor there are two double bedrooms, one single,

a bathroom and a utility room.

So, here we have the master...

-Oh, wow.

-..bedroom.

How do you feel about the size of the bedroom?

We're not desperate for a huge, massive room at all.

It works, doesn't it?

-I love the doors.

-Yeah,

there's a lot of original features in the house,

which gives it that unusual quirky quality

-that I know you were looking for.

-Mm, yes.

You've also... Something a bit more modern in there...

You've got a little en suite, which is very handy.

-Oh, that's lovely, isn't it?

-That's perfect, yeah.

Again, that mixture of modern and old, looks very good.

There are already chickens in the garden.

-Oh.

-I just don't know if you're going to be able to squeeze

-any sheep in.

-Right.

-But I'll see what you both think.

-OK.

So far, Jo and Pete have warmed to this property

and can picture themselves potentially living here,

but I wonder what they'll make of the cottage-style garden.

-Nice chickens.

-Yeah, they are.

This is it, this is the garden. What you see is what you get.

It is smaller than what perhaps I was initially thinking about,

but it's got lots of other lovely features about it.

-Yeah.

-There's that little nice snuggy area

-for having a glass of wine.

-Yes, we saw.

And the owners were telling me that just up there,

on the top of the steps where you go into the house,

is their evening glass of wine spot because it gets the sunset

and it gets the sun.

So they sit there, they have a glass of wine, they unwind.

-Yes.

-Right, come on, let's guess the price.

-OK.

-Ladies first.

-Um...

Well, I think, because it hasn't actually got the land

that we're looking for, I think it's going to be...below 400,000,

I think it's going to be about 385?

I'd go for 375.

It is on the market for less than budget.

Not quite as low as the two of you are saying, though.

It's on the market for £395,000.

-Oh...

-It would leave you, actually,

with quite a healthy amount left over.

Does that change your thoughts on the house at all?

It's reassuring to know that if we wanted to do some work to it,

that you have the funding in our budget to do that.

It's sounding really positive to me,

but why don't you two go back inside,

-explore the rooms that you haven't seen...

-OK.

-Yes.

..take a look around and I'll catch up with you in a little while.

-Oh, thank you.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

A sizeable £105,000 under budget,

this former grain store barn offers up four bedrooms,

a large sociable open-plan living area

and a prime central village location within the heart of the community,

which Jo and Pete were longing for.

Walking into the open-plan space,

my immediate thought was yet again, "Wow!"

It has that cosiness that we're looking for

with the characterfulness of the beams.

There was a definite wow factor when you look at the property

from the first time, I think.

It's got lots of potential for us to put our mark on the property.

From my perspective, the garden isn't a nonstarter, however,

it's the distance that I will have to travel down

to get to the motorways is a compromise

that I'd have to think about.

For me, personally, the garden is the stumbling block.

I'd like to see something with a bigger garden.

So we went in the upstairs

and you're coming out in the downstairs door.

I think there's a television programme in that, personally!

-You're probably right, yeah.

-Yes.

-Interesting property?

-Very.

-But there's more to see, so come on.

-OK.

Mention the county of Herefordshire and most people think

of the illustrious Hereford breed of cattle.

And whilst the county continues to farm the breed

to which it gave its name, there is now another notable

if diminutive animal in residence.

Just outside Leominster are 17 of the smallest sheep in the world.

Ouessant sheep are small in stature but big in character.

Hoping to have enough land to keep a few sheep,

Pete and Jo are meeting Carolyn Southern,

who has been breeding these little gems for 13 years.

Hi, Pete, Jo.

-Welcome to the smallholding.

-Hello, nice to meet you.

So, Carolyn, how big do this breed actually grow?

Well, the breed standard is 48 centimetres for an adult ram

and 45 centimetres for an adult ewe.

So, they've stayed quite small then?

Yes, they are very tiny.

So, if we were to have three sheep, Carolyn,

what size plot would you recommend that we would have?

Ideally, I would say about half an acre.

About ten animals to the acre is the maximum.

And in winter, do you have to provide them with shelter

or do they stay outside?

They will stay outside generally, they're really hardy,

but if it's really heavy rain, they'll want to just run in.

They also need the shelter to get out of the strong sun as well.

So, would they be a breed that you would actually recommend

as first-time sheep owners?

Yes, well, I'd never had sheep before I had these

and once I looked into it, they just seemed ideal.

They're very easy to keep.

And I've got some more stock over here, I'll show you those.

-OK.

-Thank you.

Ouessant sheep were to be found solely

on the French Isle of Ouessant until the start of the 20th century,

when they were saved from extinction by a group of aristocrats

who brought them over to mainland France.

Having only arrived on British shores around 15 years ago,

today there are thought to be around 2,000 in the UK.

These are this year's lambs.

So what are we feeding them here today then, Carolyn?

This is actually a bit like muesli,

it's called ruminant mix and it's a mixture of grains.

And what else do they eat then other than that?

Primarily, they'll eat the grass,

but they do also eat the hedges and the bark off the trees

and any low branches on the trees.

In the winter, the grass is very sparse.

You can give them hay as well.

OK. Are there any legal requirements we have to have

or be aware of if we were to buy sheep?

I recommend that you only buy your animals from a registered breeder.

You need to have a holding number, which Defra will provide you with.

We're going to move some sheep today,

so if you want to give us a hand doing that, that'd be fabulous.

-That would be great.

-We'd love to.

They're so friendly, it's gorgeous.

Aren't you? Ooh!

Surprisingly low-maintenance,

these sheep are shorn once a year

and have the most wool per weight of any breed.

Come on! Sheep!

Here they come, here they come.

-Here they come, here they come.

-Here they come.

By splitting a plot of land

and rotating them every six to eight weeks,

it not only rests the ground, but keeps the sheep healthy.

Have you got any tips for what we should be doing

and how we should help you with doing this?

Uh... Well, they're difficult to catch unless you do pen them first

and then what we've done is, we've put a race of hurdles in...

-Right.

-..to sort of channel them down into the next field.

They're off.

-They're off, aren't they?

-They know where they're going,

-don't they, Carolyn?

-Yes!

They're moving really fast, aren't they?

They can run really fast, yes.

They're off on their hols now.

With three registered breeders in Herefordshire,

it looks like Jo and Pete will be flocking to buy some of these

little beauties before too long.

Aw! Yeah, I've fallen in love with them already, I have!

I hope you decide to keep this breed cos they're very special.

-Aw!

-OK, well, thanks for showing us your sheep, Carolyn,

-it's been absolutely fascinating.

-You're very welcome.

Yeah, thank you very much,

we've thoroughly enjoyed the experience, it's been great.

It's the second day of our property search in Herefordshire

with Jo and Pete, who have just returned to the UK

from international Army service.

With a budget of up to £500,000,

they're ready to begin the next chapter of their lives

in the countryside they know and love.

Coming up, our house hunt offers more history

than they could have hoped for.

That is absolutely stunning.

I just love the height.

The colours are...very...enchanting.

And I find out how traditional Herefordshire is keeping up

with modern-day tastes.

Oh, it's a lovely, mellow, fruity flavour. That's very smooth.

It's a new day and there are two new properties to show them,

including the Mystery House,

which could make them reassess

exactly what it is they're looking for.

Let's find out just how open-minded Pete and Jo are prepared to be.

But before the mystery property,

our search is taking us to the village of Bishop's Frome.

Located on the border where Herefordshire meets Worcestershire,

this idyllic and very active village has a community-run shop

with two pubs.

Half a mile away is the Hop Pocket Shopping Village,

spread over a number of old agricultural buildings,

which offers a cafe, wine centre and butcher's,

with fine local produce.

Just outside the village,

our next property can be found down a quiet country lane.

Wow! I'm back to wows again now.

You are back to wows, I like that.

-That looks impressive.

-That's stunning.

That is actually very stunning.

From the first impression, it looks good,

it looks like it blends in very well.

It makes you want to actually go in and view it.

-Exciting.

-Let's go and investigate.

-Great, can't wait.

-Great.

Built in 1650, this former barn -

of traditional oak timber frame construction -

originally belonged to the house next door

until it was converted in the 1980s.

And two years ago, an annexe was added to the rear.

The front door leads to a hallway and the main sitting room,

but because there's so much of this house to see,

we're heading straight through it to the kitchen.

-Double wow.

-A double wow!

This is stunning, absolutely stunning.

It's so nice to see you two smiling like this!

This is obviously the older part of the house.

-It's got the beams that you wanted, hasn't it?

-Yeah.

So there's lots of character here.

-I've got the warm...

-Yes.

-..cosy, homely feeling

that we had in the upside-down house yesterday

but there's space around.

It's interesting for me, because you really did like open plan...

-Mm-hm.

-And this technically isn't open plan,

but it's appealing to you.

-Yeah.

-It flows very naturally, and actually,

whilst there is only doorways, not huge, open-plan,

I think it adopts a more modern feel to open plan.

What's welcome is the utility room just over there,

so you can keep all your stuff in there out the way.

Yeah, good. Very useful.

Now, I don't know how keen your ears were when we were outside

looking at the property...

-Did you hear the tinkling of a little...?

-I did, I did hear that.

Well, let me just give you a glass of that just to try,

-you can have one each.

-Thank you.

-There you go.

-Oh, thank you.

-You've got your very own stream...

Well, it's a spring,

and the water for the property is fed from the spring,

so you don't pay any water rates on this property, so cheers to that!

-Cheers to that!

-Cheers, yeah.

Apparently it tastes very good, I haven't tried it yet.

That's nice, isn't it?

Jo loves water, that's really...

Really very clean and fresh.

So, yeah, the spring is up, right at the top of the garden.

Gosh, that's amazing too, isn't it?

I'd like you to take a closer look at the dining hall,

-cos that's really interesting.

-OK.

Also on the ground floor, there's a double bedroom with en suite,

and in the eaves of the dining hall there's a mezzanine,

both of which could provide great office space for Pete.

Oh, looks good.

Oh, wow! I mean, that's...

That is absolutely stunning,

I think we could add a couple more wows into here.

Yeah, I was going to say, your wow quota's...

-It's building for this property.

-I mean, I just love the height.

-Isn't that fantastic?

-Absolutely stunning, just absolutely stunning.

What a feature, though, this bit is.

You get the sense that this was, of course, a beautiful barn.

-Yeah.

-You've got the old beams in here,

you really get the feeling

of what it once was back in the day, don't you?

-Yes, you do.

-Can you imagine the family in here at Christmas?

I could. Oh, yeah. Can you imagine a Christmas tree in here,

full-height Christmas tree?

Well, let's just talk then about the annexe.

The doorway here leads through to the modern part.

-Would you like to have a look?

-Certainly.

-Let's go.

The self-contained annexe space here is the real selling point

of this property.

Completed to a very high spec with its own double bedroom

and shower room, it meets all modern eco requirements

and is just what our buyers are after.

-Wow.

-Oh, goodness.

-Goodness me.

-The wows, I can just hear the wows coming in behind me!

I'm just...

My breath's just taken away.

-Amazing.

-Absolutely taken away.

-How different it is, though.

-What a complete contrast.

You've gone from the 17th century to the 21st century.

Everything's ready for a kitchen to go in across here.

-Right!

-They haven't put one in, but it's got water,

it's got all the points that you need, it's even got

the extractor fan. So, you might notice it's very lovely and cosy

in here from the underfloor heating, and it's free in this house

because it's got a state-of-the-art wood pellet boiler.

So that combined with the solar panels,

means that this house has a zero carbon footprint,

there is no gas bill, there is no electricity bill,

and you actually make money on the property.

You're just ticking every box.

-Absolutely every box.

-This is something that Pete and I...

Pete was looking at when we were first...

very first started looking at houses,

saying, "I want an eco-friendly house."

This is... I'm just...

I'm just blown away.

This is everything that I could have imagined in a house

and the view from there, those trees just changing colour,

just absolutely breathtaking.

Does the prospect of closing off that area

and having this as a holiday let, does that appeal to you?

-It certainly...

-It does, actually, because I think it would work.

I think you could do it.

And there's still so much more to show you

because we have to go back into the old part

so I can show you the master bedroom.

Aside from the two bedrooms downstairs,

on the first floor there's a bathroom and two further bedrooms,

a single and the master.

So, this is the master bedroom.

-Mm.

-And you've got fantastic views across to Fromes Hill...

-Stunning.

-You've actually got the size of the room without the beams

-taking away that from you.

-It's breathtaking.

It's quite exciting as well because I still get to show you the outside.

-Yes.

-And there are some really good things to tell you

-when we get out there.

-Wow. Excellent.

Jo and Pete are obviously wowed by the property,

and with the rear garden set in just over an acre,

plus an extra paddock of a third of an acre,

I suspect that the outside space here

might just be the icing on the cake.

So, up here, this is where your sheep can live.

And the really hard work in the garden has been done...

-Yes.

-All the real legwork.

-Yes.

-What it needs now is just that work of landscaping...

Personalisation.

Is it too big for you?

-No.

-No.

-It's that time for you to guess the price.

Because it's in the east of Herefordshire,

it's got good communication links, I'm going to say 575.

Because I think it's a lovely house,

I do think it's going to be over our budget.

I'm going to go for 525.

You will probably be very pleased when I tell you

that it's on the market for offers over £500,000.

However, I've had a conversation with the owners

and they've made it clear to me that they would accept an offer

of under 500,000, only just,

from buyers in your position.

Oh...

That is amazing. That is utterly amazing.

Where do I sign?

-Really?

-Seriously.

Well, I'd like you to go back inside and really look around the property.

I know it's got a lot to offer and there's a lot you haven't seen,

so take your time, explore and I'll come and find you.

-OK, thank you very much.

-We'd love to.

-OK.

-Thank you.

At the top of their budget, this former barn -

with an eclectic mix of original character features

and modern eco-specifications -

meets all of Jo and Pete's wish list and more.

Having an almost ready to go holiday let opportunity,

it's set in an ideal village location and has fantastic views.

This property ticks every single box that we could think of.

It's the right location, um,

it's got the views and the opportunity to develop the garden.

I'm feeling really excited because I think there's an opportunity for me

here, definitely, to do a holiday let.

I can see myself here at home and also entertaining the family here.

This is just absolutely amazing, it's...

everything we want in a house, it's a combination of old, new.

I'm going to interrupt you, I know you love this house,

but there is still one more to go and it's the Mystery House.

-Come on.

-I'm very excited.

What about the Mystery House,

what do you think I'm going to show you there?

I think you're going to go something quirky, new, today -

because I think that just is totally opposite

to what we've put out in our brief, really, I think.

-Do you?

-I think it's going to be a chapel conversion,

or something like that, yes.

My lips are sealed, of course, at this point.

THEY LAUGH All will be revealed!

For our mystery property,

we're heading to the small village of Wormelow Tump.

South of Herefordshire, the tump itself was a mound,

which local tradition claims was the burial place of King Arthur's son.

Having been flattened to widen the road in 1896,

there's a local garage and a pub here.

With the greater amenities of Hereford nearby,

it's just a short drive to our next property,

which is blessed with a stunning setting.

It's not so much a Mystery House

-as a Mystery Mansion.

-Oh, my goodness!

-Wow!

-Goodness me.

It is stunning, isn't it?

It's been bought by developers

and it's been turned into 12 extremely high-end luxury apartments

and two houses.

I know you've lived in properties all over the world,

different kinds of properties!

-Never a stately home!

-Have you ever come across a stately home in your

-travels before?

-No, we haven't.

-No.

-A few officers' messes are like stately homes...

-Yes, yeah.

-But never actually lived in one.

-No.

It's communal living, it's very different.

I know that you had these ideas about the lifestyle

you were going to have in Herefordshire,

-and I just thought, "Well, you know, why not challenge that?"

-Yes.

-It's very beautiful.

-Yes.

-You have a view.

-Yes.

-Fantastic views.

Um, and it's a different thing to consider.

-It is. Oh, it is.

-Yes.

-It is, it's...

-I quite agree.

And in the scheme of things,

it is something that we should consider,

cos it's, you know, one avenue we...

It challenges our thoughts.

-Yeah.

-We would probably never have looked at something like this.

-No.

-I guess not, somehow.

-No.

But it's inside this house

-that you really get the feeling for how stunning it is.

-Yes.

-So I think we should go in and take a look.

-Yeah.

-Certainly.

This Victorian Gothic manor house was constructed in the 1860s

by Sir James Rankin,

whose family made their money through timber and shipbuilding.

Steeped in history,

it also spent former years as a factory and prisoner of war hospital

during the Second World War.

So I just thought I'd bring you into the entrance hall.

-Yeah.

-Look at the chandeliers up there.

I mean, it's Gothic architecture at its finest.

-It is, look at the fireplace.

-It's beautiful.

How does this style appeal to you?

It's a different period of architecture,

but it has that immenseness of it,

uh...that I'm not overawed by, I'm actually drawn into it,

and I think it's stunning.

So, how do you think it would be welcoming your friends and family

into this entrance hall?

Well, you could just imagine turning, walking through there,

through that huge Gothic door and saying,

"Please come in to our house,"

coming through, walking up those stairs...

It just blows people's minds, doesn't it?

Luckily, the apartment that we're going to show you,

the show apartment, is on the first floor -

it's the only one that's ready at the moment -

and it's fantastic cos we get to take advantage

of going up that lovely staircase.

The show home here mirrors the style and layout of the apartment

Jo and Pete would be able to buy.

So...

-Come on in.

-Ooh!

-Oh, goodness.

-Very...

Very clean... Oh, goodness me.

-High ceilings.

-Yes. So, you've got the beautiful original features...

-Yes.

-Those lovely tall windows, the original doors,

but then you have the modern touches, as well,

-that I know appeal to you both.

-Mm.

The height and the spaciousness and the clean, uncluttered lines,

-it's...

-Yeah.

-And the doors are absolutely stunning, aren't they?

-Very big.

-I really wanted to challenge your perceptions

-of what your journey could be like...

-Yes.

..of what your escape to the country could be for you.

-Mm.

-You're impressing... You're impressing us.

You're making our decision hard.

Well, I might be about to make that decision harder,

-because, Jo, I know the kitchen really matters to you...

-Mm.

-..and I know you're going to like this kitchen.

-Ooh, OK.

There we go.

Wow. That's a really good open kitchen, isn't it?

It's a lovely space, isn't it?

-Yes.

-And it's the ceiling heights...

-Yes.

-Yes.

-The door heights are half the height of the room.

-Yeah.

-And look at the view out the kitchen.

Sheep!

Yeah, we could watch sheep,

even if we couldn't have our own, couldn't we?

Is it too modern for you?

Did you think it complements the property?

I think it does, yes. It's that new and old again.

Could you imagine, you know,

a family get-together and a meal in here?

-Mm!

-Lots of working space, lots of good working space.

-I'd really like to show you the master bedroom and its view.

-Mm-hm.

Wow.

With two double bedrooms,

a second bathroom

and an office on offer

in this spacious single-level apartment,

it's the aspect from the master that's hard to beat.

SHE GASPS

-Oh, yes.

-Wow.

-That's nice to wake up to, isn't it?

-What a view from a bedroom.

It's a lovely-sized bedroom.

You've got a beautifully finished en suite bathroom.

Do you think you'd have a good night's sleep in a room like this?

I think so, yes. You'd almost want to wake up early to see the view.

-Yeah.

-But again, it's those stunning high windows,

just letting so much light into the room.

But can you both imagine living here?

-I could.

-I'm not so sure.

I know we're not getting any younger,

but I'm not quite ready for...this.

Ten years down the line, I think it would be fantastic.

I've still got that little bit inside me

that wants to try and make my garden and make my home.

I am still keen to show you the gardens,

because, as you can imagine, they're as stunning as the house.

Ooh!

The immaculate communal gardens elegantly sweep around the mansion

and along with the upkeep of the main building,

have maintenance charges of £2,000 a year.

So, these will form part of the communal gardens

and you'll have a veggie plot to grow your own vegetables in.

It's a fantastic place - scenery and setting -

but not just yet.

I could imagine myself here, but maybe not at this time in my life.

Well, let's price the show property that I've shown you.

It's a two-bedroom property, it's got a generous living space,

it's got access to the communal gardens.

Who wants to go first?

I'll say budget - 450,000.

I'm going to say more, I'm going to say...

-475.

-OK, that's quite interesting.

The two of you are way off the mark, actually, completely...

-Are we?

-..cos it's massively under your budget at £359,000.

Wow. At that sort of price, that's good value, I think.

I'm impressed at the price.

Yes, I am - that's a good price.

Go and have a poke around, have a look.

-Yes.

-Cos it's a really interesting place to explore.

-Yes.

-So, just, go on, I'll catch up with you.

-Thanks very much.

-Thank you.

At £141,000 under budget,

this Gothic-style apartment with uninterrupted stunning views

offers an alternative modern and characterful home

in the style that Jo and Pete are fond of.

It's a very impressive structure.

As you look at the building, it takes your breath away.

Oh, this is another nice size room, isn't it?

Good size for a spare room.

-Lovely views.

-It's the heights, the view - stunning.

Yeah. I don't think it's really wowing me as a house.

I am tempted by this, this is low-maintenance living,

where we could come in and do very little.

Yeah, it's been a great opportunity to see a different style of living.

-Something very, very different.

-But, unfortunately...

-Not for us.

-..I'm not ready for it yet.

The mystery apartment, it has got some nice features about it,

but I can't see it becoming a home.

I think we challenged you with this property -

I just don't know if we challenged you

at the right point in your lives.

-I think you're correct.

-Yeah, I think so too.

I do think we have a lot of talking to do,

-so let's go and get a cup of tea.

-Yeah, I think so.

With its agricultural heritage,

it'll come as no surprise that Herefordshire is full of farms,

yielding a wide range of wonderful and sometimes exotic produce.

Having bought a cider-making farm in 2007,

and with the need to broaden the spectrum of his produce,

William Chase decided to make a slightly less traditional product

from potatoes.

I'm meeting his son, and third-generation potato farmer,

James Chase, to get more of a flavour

on what's become of your average spud.

-Hi, James.

-Hey, how are you doing?

So what about the potatoes, where do they come in?

All of our vodkas are distilled from potatoes

and that award-winning vodka

has gone on to be supplied into about 32 countries around the world.

Don't tell me you send it to Russia, cos I will love it if you do.

Well, it's really funny you say that -

two weeks ago we signed our first distribution agreement to Russia,

so now the English are selling vodka back to the Russians!

You've diversified, I hear, as well.

You're now using sort of fruit for making different kinds of vodkas.

About four years ago we released a marmalade-flavoured vodka.

I'd love to see how marmalade vodka's made,

that sounds fascinating.

Well, why don't you head on up the path,

-go and meet our master distiller, Jamie?

-Fantastic.

-Hopefully I'll get to try some too.

-See you later!

-Bye!

The potatoes are grown on the farm here

before they're peeled, mashed,

fermented and distilled

to form vodka in a process that takes ten days.

Using the finest oranges from Seville,

the farm extracts the most intense flavour from the top of the oranges,

where the fruit has absorbed the greatest sunshine.

The essential oils released

are used to form the basis of a thick cut and juicy marmalade,

which is re-distilled with their potato vodka.

Hi, Jamie, that looks intriguing.

-Oh, hi, Ginny.

-So, what have we got going on in here, then?

Once we've made the vodka, we then move it into a vacuum chamber,

-where we heat it up under pressure...

-Mm-hm.

..with the addition of real marmalade

and some Seville orange peel.

A little bit of colour from these kibbles, or peels,

will then macerate out into the finished product.

-OK.

-Shall we do that now?

-Let's do it, absolutely.

-Yeah.

We just need a piece to hang it down into the liquid.

How long does it have to be in there for?

Well, it depends on the time of year.

When it's nice and warm in the summer, it happens quite quickly.

So, anywhere up to 48 hours,

but in the winter it can be as long as 72 hours.

OK - and you're just tasting all the time, aren't you?

-Every three hours, we taste it.

-Lovely.

So, all we do, we suspend it in here...

GASPS: That smell is amazing.

This one's really fruity, it's like being in an orchard.

So what we're trying to create here

is layer on layer of natural flavour,

so it sort of stays with you on the palate.

It makes you feel like you've had marmalade on toast.

We've got some over here, if you want to try some?

-You've twisted my arm! Go on, then.

-OK, follow me, then.

Passed through a filter before it's ready to drink,

1,000 bottles of marmalade vodka are being produced a day.

Due to its popularity, the farm are now diversifying their products,

infusing vodka with blackcurrants and rhubarb.

Well, I don't know much about the art of distillery,

but I'm guessing this is everybody's favourite part of the process?

-It certainly is, everybody likes a taste.

-OK.

First of all, have a really good smell.

Oh, it's a lovely, mellow, fruity flavour,

there's none of that harsh hit that almost makes your eyes water.

Let's try this.

Wow, it's very smooth.

I'm getting a lovely kick of sweetness, actually,

that's just starting to come through.

I would love to stay here

and work my way through a whole range of them,

but sadly - and it breaks my heart to say this - I've got to go.

-OK.

-Thank you.

No problem, thank you very much.

Well, Pete and Jo have seen all the properties we had to offer,

and it's obvious, isn't it? There's a clear favourite.

What I need to find out now is what they're going to do about it.

Well, Pete and Jo,

I think it was apparent that there was one house

that got quite a lot of wows over our search.

-Yes.

-Definitely.

-What was it about that 17th-century house

with the modern annexe that really appealed to you both?

It was that mix of old and new...

It ticked every box that we had for a property,

and actually, ticked even more, that we hadn't asked you to find -

the eco side of it, etc, etc.

It just left us overawed.

So, there were things that you hadn't mentioned to us

that, actually, you found in that property?

That's right, yes.

We'd discussed beforehand about having an eco-friendly house.

That was something Pete was looking for,

and so he was really pleased to have seen that today.

It also seemed to offer you the potential for the lifestyle

that you want to lead when you move here to Herefordshire.

Yes, there's good access through Ledbury to the M50.

I can get a train to London - should I have to -

through Ledbury train station.

It then has easy access to friends and family

who are in another area of Herefordshire,

and it ticks all the property bits.

The village aspect of it seems very nice, too,

the location is fantastic and it's going to be a challenge for me,

to develop the potential of the garden

and our house as a holiday let.

There was a little sense that I got, though, as we were looking round,

that you were definitely enthused by the house.

I felt a bit more reticence from you.

Is that fair to say?

Probably, cos I'm always the one that has to be slightly swayed

by Pete in decisions, I think.

I think things through, perhaps, more -

but eventually, if it's the right decision, I'm quite happy with it.

Well, then, I've got to ask...

What are you going to do about it?

We'll definitely be going for a second viewing with our children

and then we'll be putting an offer in.

That's great news.

I'm not surprised, but I'm thrilled to hear it,

and I do hope we've managed to find you the home

-that you were looking for.

-I think you have.

You have. I'm sure we'll be very, very happy there.

Yeah, you've done a fantastic job for us,

and we're very, very grateful.

-Thank you very much.

-I'm so thrilled to hear you both say that,

and I'm so excited that this move back to the UK

after your travels around the world has such a potentially happy ending.

-Yes.

-Well, thank you very much.

-We can't wait to start.

We can't wait to start.

I'm delighted that Pete and Jo have decided to take their family back

for a second viewing of that fabulous 17th-century property

with the modern annexe.

Let's face it, it's got their name written all over it.

If I was a betting woman,

my money would be on them calling it home before too long.

I've got my fingers crossed for them.

I'll see you next time.

After a second viewing of the barn conversion,

Jo and Pete decided that the older part of the house

required just a bit too much work for them.

On the plus side, they've since found

and fallen in love with a cottage in Herefordshire,

and having put in an offer which was accepted,

they're due to exchange shortly.

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