Cumbria Escape to the Country

I'm risking an explosive start to another Escape To The Country,

at the site of an old gunpowder works

that served not one but two revolutions.

Where am I? Find out in just a moment.

Today's house-hunters are longing to settle and start a new life

in the countryside.

Our properties offer more space than our buyers could have hoped for...

I love it. It's three sizes more than we're used to.

..and locations beyond their expectations.

Our very own waterfall. Very nice.

Today I'm in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria.

And behind me is Low Wood Tower in the southern edge of the park.

Now a Grade II-listed building,

it was built on the site of an old gunpowder works

that supplied munitions for ships during the early part

of the French Revolutionary Wars.

Used right up until 1935, the local forests would supply the wood

that was then baked to create charcoal.

Add sulphur from Italy and saltpetre from India,

and boom, you've got gunpowder.

Cumbria is the most north-westerly county of England,

bordered by Northumberland, County Durham,

North Yorkshire, Lancashire and the Scottish Borders.

Dominating the county is the Lake District National Park,

formed over 400 million years ago when volcanic rock was gouged out

by ice age glaciers and is now the largest national park in England.

The scenery within the park's boundaries

is both beautiful and diverse,

boasting 16 lakes, 150 high peaks,

six national nature reserves

and some 400 towns, villages and hamlets,

all of which come together to make the Lake District

one of the UK's most fascinating regions.

Attracting over 40 million tourists annually,

Cumbria employs around 57,000 people in the tourist industry,

on land and on water.

And no doubt some find themselves on Lake Windermere,

which is England's biggest natural lake.

And despite its popularity,

the vast size of it means you don't have to look too hard

to find more peaceful pockets.

If you are looking to make your very own escape to the country

and don't mind a bit of weather,

then you might want to consider Cumbria.

As it stands, the average price of a detached house in England and Wales

comes in at around £282,000.

But here in Cumbria, that figure drops by 50 grand.

Now, within the Lake District National Park,

you will need an extra £40,000 above the national average.

So buyers will have to work even harder to find bargains

with that prestigious park's postcode.

Food for thought, then, for today's buyers.

So let's meet them and find out what is pulling them up here

to this beautiful, if not sometimes damp, part of the world.

Ten years ago, Harvey and fiancee Dominika met in a London pub,

where she was working during a summer break

from her university studies in Poland.

Three years later, she made the move here to settle

and start a new life with Harvey.

Harvey is basically just a ray of sunshine in my life. And...

-The other half of the apple, as you put it.

-Yes, he is.

And we really make each other very happy.

In 2013,

Harvey was made redundant after 25 years of working

in a private London bank.

Feeling like he's reached a crossroads in his life,

now seems the right time to embrace a move to the countryside.

Since Harvey is not commuting every day,

there's no reason for us to live here.

I'm not a city boy. I love nature.

I like to be surrounded by trees and mountains and lakes and streams,

not buildings and people.

Over the last 20 years,

Harvey has visited the Lake District most years,

and his passion for the region seems to have rubbed off on Domi, too,

since taking her to see the area when they first met.

I think it's absolutely beautiful, and it's really quiet.

It's very green. It's absolutely lovely.

When I go up there, I feel alive, I feel connected,

which is not the way I feel down here.

Excited about getting back to nature and escaping the city,

it's the wilderness of the Lake District National Park

that they're particularly drawn to.

The location is the priority for us, not property as such.

The countryside in there is very hilly, very rugged.

Lots of water, forests, woodlands, that kind of thing.

So very, very varied.

And there's obviously very pretty villages as well.

The natural beauty of the Lakes' landscape

and Harvey's love of walking inspires him to write,

having won a competition in a national magazine.

I'm hoping to maybe put together

the ultimate armchair walkers' guide to the Lake District.

Harvey loves going for very long walks.

Very high.

And I can climb anywhere, but in my own time!

SHE LAUGHS

I refer to Dominika as the slug,

because I usually have to drag her behind me!

Their house in south-east London has been sold,

so they're ready to begin the search

for their dream country home in earnest.

It's a new life for us.

The opportunity is here, it's now.

And I've got to make the most of it.

With Harvey and Domi chomping at the bit to find their new home,

they're fairly open to living anywhere within

the Lake District National Park -

as long as it has good motorway connections to airports

so Domi can visit family in Poland,

and a 45-minute drive from her new job in Kendal.

Since selling up, Harvey and Domi have been renting

for the last two weeks in the Lake District.

So I'm meeting up with them to pinpoint exactly what

they're after from their new countryside pad.

So, you're here in the Lake District,

-which is... I know it is YOUR favourite place.

-Yep.

Harvey, it is my favourite place. And it's now your favourite place.

-It is.

-We're all happy bunnies.

-We are.

-So you both want to move here.

And I understand things have moved on incredibly.

-You now have a job here.

-I do. I started it last Monday.

So how are things with the house down south?

-We sold our house down south.

-Yeah.

And now we are renting, and we're up here.

-What's great news for me is, you're both committed purchasers.

-Yeah.

-You've got money in the bank.

-We are ready to go.

Have you got your dream house in your mind's eye?

The actual property itself, as I say -

attractive, detached, perhaps character.

That sounds rather nice. How about you, Domi?

What do you want from this house?

We are quite comfortable with cosy and small.

Harvey is going to be out and about.

I'm going to be at work and we don't really need that big space.

All right.

As long as we've got some space for people to come and visit us,

family and friends.

How many bedrooms do you need?

-Two is minimum, but if we've got a third one, that will be a bonus.

-OK.

And if you've got people to stay, you want to entertain, I imagine.

Entertain or... I think it's more...

I'm not talking about dancing.

-I think it's more put them up for the night.

-Oh, right, OK.

-And then take them down the pub.

-Yeah, yeah, exactly.

-Anything else?

We would love to have a second toilet in the house.

THEY LAUGH

-Downstairs toilet.

-A second toilet?

OK. I... That's thrown me a little bit. All right, fine.

So let's talk about the location.

-I know that Harvey would like to be...isolated.

-Same old story.

-Don't tell me, that bloke wants to be on the top of a mountain.

-Yeah.

But you probably want some chimney pots around you,

some friends nearby.

I do, but I also have got my job, so it's not really a "must".

You would like to literally not see another light on, wouldn't you?

No, I think... I'm joking a little.

I mean, yeah, I'd like to be in touch, but I don't mind isolation.

The location around it -

if there was plenty of footpaths in easy reach,

maybe the sound of water, a little beck trickling past,

something like that, you know.

-Lovely.

-I've got only one, sort of, request, condition -

-that it is not going to be too far from...M6.

-OK.

So it's easy access to go to the airports

or travel down south to see family and friends.

Half-an-hour, 45-minute drive from the M6 or...?

How much are you looking to spend up here?

We've got a maximum of 325,000.

-All right, look, you've got money in the bank.

-Yeah.

You've already started your job.

You know, you don't want to move here, you NEED to move here.

-Yeah, we need to move.

-Off we go.

So, having a budget of up to £325,000,

our buyers are looking for a detached character property

with a minimum of two bedrooms

which can accommodate visiting friends and family.

Ideally, they'd like to be located within

the Lake District National Park,

and a maximum 45-minute drive from Domi's job in Kendal.

We've got some wonderful properties lined up in locations

that we hope will capture the charm of the Lake District,

which Harvey and Domi hold so dear.

Then, at the end of every house tour, I'll be asking them both

to guess the price of each property.

Our final destination is a Mystery House,

made to challenge their expectations

and which may cause them to reconsider

elements of their wish list.

We're starting our search south of the Lake District

in the hamlet of Broughton Beck.

Nearby is the market town of Ulverston,

home to the Laurel and Hardy Museum and birthplace of Stan Laurel.

Here, traditional pubs and tea rooms punctuate the thriving centre,

providing refreshment for walkers.

Just a five-minute drive away is our first property,

which is situated in the heart of the hamlet of Broughton Beck.

So, here's house number one.

We are just outside the Lake District National Park,

-just on the boundary.

-Yeah, I can tell by the surrounding countryside.

-Yeah.

-It's not the Lake District National Park, but...

But it's there. What do you think of it? Domi?

-I quite like it.

-In my book it's quite built up round here.

-OK, I'll give you that.

-It's what I would call residential.

Forget that you might be in a town. There's nothing here for you.

You get your milk delivered, you get your bread delivered.

It's proper rural living. Let's see what you think of the inside.

Come with me.

'Dating back to the 18th century,

'this cottage originally formed two homes.

'Modernised throughout, it retains many original features,

'which I know will appeal to both Harvey and Domi.'

So, I'm hoping you are pleasantly surprised by the proportions

-in this room.

-It's quite spacious. Homely, yeah.

Yeah, it's nice, plenty of wood. That's always a good sign.

The current owners, they have owned this place for around five years.

There was an old fireplace coming about a metre further out.

-They got rid of that. Behind that fireplace was that fireplace.

-Wow.

-And it deserved the work, didn't it?

-Yeah.

-It's a beautiful feature.

You did say you didn't mind small,

but I thought for a home in the Lakes,

-this is a pretty big living space, isn't it?

-Yeah, it's a good size.

Is this what you had in mind, Domi,

for your home up here in the Lakes?

Um, I think it's more about feeling. The feeling is good.

That's all I want to hear, isn't it? Excellent, OK.

So the kitchen... I was quite surprised

by the size of this kitchen.

-Yeah, definitely.

-I love it. It's three sizes more than we are used to.

Our kitchen is basically this with that much width.

So it's about three times the size of our existing kitchen.

If you moved here, do you think you'd take up a bit of cooking?

-Believe it or not, I can cook.

-Me, too.

-You just don't?

-You don't want to?

-He does sometimes, when he wants to.

-Just not for guests.

-Oh, OK!

THEY LAUGH

No, he does.

How do you feel about living somewhere like this?

I mean, the house itself has got a lovely feeling to it.

-Yeah, the house is so far really nice.

-Good. All right.

Let's see what you make of upstairs

-when we have a look at these bedrooms.

-OK.

'Our buyers wanted a minimum of two bedrooms,

'and with two double and two single bedrooms,

'there's plenty of space for guests here.

'Although there is a second WC downstairs,

'the only bathroom is located in the master bedroom.'

Now, I'm looking forward to hearing

and seeing your reactions to what we see here.

Yes, slightly unusual, isn't it?

It feels very liberal, doesn't it?

It does, yeah. Reminds me of something out of the Wild West.

Yeah, I know what you mean!

You can maybe get the maid to come and give you some hot water...

I could see the old cowboys go up to their room in the saloon,

and they're sitting in the bath in the bedroom.

-Bit posher than the Wild West, isn't it?

-Yeah.

You've got four bedrooms up here.

You've got plumbing in the smallest of the four bedrooms

right above the utility.

So you could make that a bathroom

-and still have three bedrooms up here.

-Yeah.

-But it's big, isn't it?

-It is big.

-Yes, good size.

Let's go outside and brave the weather.

-But start to have a think about price, all right?

-OK.

-Follow me.

'So far, Harvey and Domi have warmed to this property

'and seemed pleasantly surprised by the amount of space on offer.

'I wonder what they'll make of the garden.'

Now, you said you didn't want a great deal of outside space,

maybe somewhere to sit outside

and have a cup of tea or a glass of wine.

-That is this, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Let's have a go at guessing the price.

-Who wants to go first?

-Harvey.

All right, then, I will pitch in at 275.

I think it's more expensive. I think it's 300.

This house has just come onto the market for offers around £229,500.

Ooh.

Price is definitely a bonus.

-Yeah. It's a serious consideration for us.

-OK.

Being £95,500 under budget, this modernised and well-kept cottage

with four bedrooms and a wealth of features

also has a manageable garden

and is located within a rural hamlet just a 40-minute drive from Kendal.

This would definitely be a...

-Spare bedroom?

-Spare bedroom, wouldn't it?

-Yes.

-It's very nice. It's a good size, isn't it?

It's got character. You can tell it's in an old cottage which is nice.

The house definitely ticks a lot of boxes

on our list.

I can see myself living here.

The feel of the property is great. It's exactly what

we wanted as far as stonework goes.

The floors, the flagstones, the fire...

Couldn't ask for more.

Perhaps a little bit too - I would term - residential.

Have a look at the bedroom, would-be bathroom.

-So I guess you'd have the bath along here?

-No.

-Really?

-Over there.

-That's too short.

-No, because then you can have a view.

I was very surprised with the cost of this house

because it would just give us

the flexibility to do whatever work we needed to do, like bathrooms.

Location is key,

so, you know, there's always that thought in the back of my mind

"Am I going to find something like this where I want to be?"

So all done inside that nice, warm, dry house?

We milked it, just so you could get a bit wetter!

But you know what? It's a nice house to spend some time in, isn't it?

-It is. Yeah.

-Hopefully something to think about.

-Let's go on to the next one.

-Thank you.

-Follow me.

The Lake District's spectacular landscapes have inspired

some of Britain's best-known artists and writers,

including Wordsworth, Coleridge, Beatrix Potter

and even the creator of Postman Pat, John Cunliffe,

all citing the magnificent countryside

as having influenced their work.

Another such Lakeland devotee was Alfred Wainwright,

whose very first encounter with the area inspired him

to dedicate the rest of his life to writing about the walks,

view and landscapes of the Cumbrian countryside.

Given Harvey's enthusiasm

to follow in Wainwright's well-trodden footsteps,

we've arranged for him and partner Domi to meet

former secretary of the Alfred Wainwright Society, Peter Linney.

Nowadays, people remember Alfred Wainwright

-because of the seven guidebooks that he produced.

-Yes.

They provided precise details

for people who had not any real knowledge of the mountains,

the 214 fells of the Lake District that he identified.

They are the most comprehensive guides to the fells

of the Lake District.

For me, the most notable thing about the books are the drawings.

Yes, indeed.

I've got here an example and this is the Outlying Fells one.

And you can see they're actually hand-drawn.

They're fully illustrated instructions and methods of ascent,

everything you would need to know to climb the fells.

He could look at a map and remember

three miles ahead precisely where he was going to walk,

so he had a prodigious memory in this respect.

It was during his first holiday to the Lake District

that Alfred Wainwright discovered Orrest Head in 1930.

His 20 minutes' mile-long walk

from Lake Windermere Station to the summit

is what Peter is keen to show Harvey and Domi today.

What's nice is that for each fell,

-he gives you more than one route to ascend.

-Yes.

In the seven guidebooks, there are 214 fells listed

and the 214 fells contains 759 individual ascents.

Are those walks still being used by many walkers?

Yes. To my knowledge, nobody has ever claimed to have done all 759.

Many people have claimed to do the 214.

-It took me 30 years.

-Ooh!

You can do it in 38 weekends, I am told.

I like to dabble in writing myself, so have you got any tips,

having read all the Wainwright books?

You have to spend a lifetime if it's, again, fell walking.

You can't come and do it casually. You can't do it in little bits.

You have to put some time in.

You have to see a lot of it

and spend a lot of time to get familiar with the ground.

I'll be quite happy to do that.

-Well, it's a good life ahead of you.

-It is. Thanks.

Launched in 2002,

today the Wainwright Society has over 3,000 members.

As well as offering annual lectures and walks,

they also release a quarterly magazine

and run a photographic competition, the winners of which

are included in their calendar for the following year.

With Orrest Head standing at 120 metres high,

I hope our buyers have their camera with them,

because it features a panorama worthy of a winning snapshot.

Look at the view here.

Can we stop and take a picture?

Yes, of course. Yes, please.

There's an actual quote in one of his books where he said,

"It was a moment of magic,

"a revelation so unexpected that I stood transfixed,

"unable to believe my eyes.

"Those few hours on Orrest Head cast a spell that changed my life."

It's gorgeous. That's why we're here.

Hopefully, this walk has given our couple

and even deeper appreciation of Cumbria's landscape.

All that remains is for Harvey to put pen to paper

and continue the legacy.

Out house-hunt continues in the historic village of Cartmel.

Located in a quite valley inside the Lake District National Park,

this medieval settlement with its old-world charm

is also known for its local horse racing meets.

With a sprinkling of useful amenities

and a wealth of circular walking routes starting here,

this could make a good base for our buyers.

It's a gentle saunter from the centre to our next property.

Does it feel like you're in the National Park a bit more now?

-Maybe.

-Maybe! You hear that?

-STREAM BUBBLING Water.

-That's a babbling brook.

-So look, this is your outlook.

-Quite close to the main road.

-But you can't hear it.

-You can't hear it cos of the water.

There you go.

That takes you into Kendal in about 25 minutes.

-What do you think of the house?

-Big.

-SHE LAUGHS

-It's big!

-Say what you see. Tell me.

Could you live in this location, do you think?

-What you've seen so far?

-Yes.

-I could.

-Good. Do you think he could?

Wilderness Bob over here?

Grizzly Adams. THEY LAUGH

OK! Do you think Grizzly Adams can live in this location?

Yes, I think so.

So...you wanted your very own beck, you've got one.

And my very own waterfall.

-Very nice.

-You can fish off there and catch your breakfast.

-Yeah.

No! Come on inside.

Originally constructed in the 17th century and extended

in the 1950s, this property could benefit from a modern touch.

And knowing that Harvey and Domi aren't averse to a little work,

this house could be just the ticket.

OK then. Well, the kitchen probably needs a bit of work.

-Yes. But it's a good space.

-I have to say I wouldn't change too much.

-THEY LAUGH

-Brilliant!

I'd maybe take out the carpet, but, you know, I'm into the wood.

They've got a nice traditional solid feel to them.

-Yeah.

-The beams - fine. Very tidy.

You lazy so-and-so!

There's no... What's wrong with it?

-There's nothing.

-What's not to like?

And I like what you can see from the window,

-which it didn't have in the previous house.

-No.

You've got views with this house.

I've just thought - I might change the worktops.

Might change the carpet.

-You crazy man!

-Cos I felt you were pushing me to change something.

-All right, well, a pretty good start, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Let's go and take a look at the living room. Follow me.

-OK.

So the living room. Twin aspect.

Similar sort of style to the kitchen.

-Good...size.

-SHE LAUGHS

You had me worried then! Don't leave me hanging like that!

Again, I guess you would say it could do with modernising,

but the features are all there. The beams, very nice.

The fireplace, yeah. It's got plenty of character. We can work with that.

-No, it's a good vibe.

-Good!

Let's go upstairs.

On the first floor, two double bedrooms and a bathroom are found,

more than enough accommodation for visiting family and friends.

OK, well, this room - en suite, family bathroom

and you've got the loo downstairs.

-So you will be happy, will you not? Three toilets!

-Oh, my God!

Now we're living.

-So what do you think? A master room?

-It's a good size.

-Can you fit an airbed in here though?

-Oh, one of those, are you?

-Would it match the wardrobes?

-No, but we would change the wardrobes, baby.

-So, all in all, this house...

-Yes.

There's nothing essential to do to it.

I agree. The bones of the place - great.

Nothing wrong with it. Bit of cosmetic change, bring it up-to-date.

Let's go outside, but also start thinking about price.

I'll give you a tip - we're inside the National Park.

Oh, dear.

Our buyers can see the potential here, which is great,

and I also think they'll take a shine to the garden

when they see the views.

Well, look at that. The sun's come out for us.

-Yeah, makes all the difference.

-It's glorious, though, isn't it?

It's lovely. Very nice.

So, how do you think you'd like to use this, Domi?

As I mentioned before, I would like to have a little spot somewhere

I can have a little table and chair and enjoy a drink of coffee or tea.

Doesn't have to be wine!

Be nice if it was, though, wouldn't it?

She could sit here, waiting for me to come back over the hill.

You get the sun. You can see the sun hits here in the afternoon.

-It's actually very nice.

-Let's have a think about how much this house

-is on the market for then. Domi?

-300.

-£300,000?

-Yes.

OK. Harvey?

I may be being a little optimistic, but... I'd say 295.

Yeah, I'm afraid you are.

I mentioned this was within the National Park.

And prices, they don't just climb, they soar.

This place is on the market for offers above £325,000.

-OK.

-OK.

-So it's on top of our budget.

-Yes.

Why don't you go back inside the house itself here,

have a look at the bedrooms, and I'll catch you in a mo?

-OK.

-See you later.

-Yeah.

At the very top of their budget,

this spacious three-bed detached property is based

in an edge-of-village location, blessed with amazing views.

With more than enough room for visitors, heaps of potential

and a 25-minute drive to Kendal,

it looks like this house could be a contender.

So what do you see for this room?

-An office.

-An office?

About the right size.

Nice view.

We've got the beck down there, window open in the summer.

And you can hear it.

There's a lot of potential here. It's a blank canvas.

There's plenty we can do with it.

It's very presentable, very tidy, very nice immediate surroundings.

And, obviously, the brook going past the front door

and the little bridge makes it even more charming.

And the bathroom.

I guess this is one room that you would say needed

a bit of modernising.

I think every room needs modernising.

-Quite big, when you think of it.

-Yes.

-Spacious.

It's very spacious.

There's enough space for family and friends to come and stay with us.

It has got three...toilets.

And, er, it's just really, really nice.

For me, it ticks all the boxes and it's a project as well,

so we can actually make it the way we want.

Ah!

Room with a view.

We can make this one our master.

-Could work.

-It's big enough.

Looking at this house, there is probably more space than we need.

But I'm thinking, well,

can I trade some of it for something a little bit closer to the dream?

-So I've given you something to think about, hopefully.

-You have.

Two houses certainly financially at different ends of the scale,

-aren't they?

-Yep.

-Have you got a favourite yet?

Don't tell me! I take it back. Come on.

It's the second day of our property search in the Lake District

with Harvey and Domi,

who have recently sold up and left south-east London.

With a budget of £325,000, they're ready to begin a new life

in a part of the countryside they know and love.

Coming up, our Mystery House may have hit the mark.

-Excellent.

-Beautiful, isn't it?

-Quite happy being next to this.

And I find out about the impact of tourism on the wildlife

of the Lakes.

-Do they not nip at you?

-Er, they might do.

Ow!

THEY LAUGH

Well, we firmly believe we're showing Harvey and Domi

the best their budget can buy here in the Lake District

at the moment, certainly, in terms of isolation for Harvey.

So today, we're going to take a different tack and explore

the other reasons why people come to this part of the world,

and that's the Lakes themselves.

The mystery property we're going to see today, well,

it sits almost on the shores of Lake Windermere.

Let's see how we go.

-So, Domi.

-Yes.

-What would you like to see as the Mystery House now?

I'm open. Just...I'm waiting to be amazed.

You haven't been able to show us anything bang in the middle of the

Lake District, so I've got a funny feeling we're heading to Morecombe.

-What do you think of cockles at this time?

-I was going to say.

I think perhaps a converted cockle hut. Something like that.

THEY LAUGH Converted winkle picker's hut.

If that's what you think you're going to see...

Then I will be very pleasantly surprised.

Everything else is a bonus, surely!

Exactly. See, I'm trying to make your life easy.

Thank you, mate. Thank you.

-We've got one more chance. Let's see how we go.

-Sounds good.

For our final property,

we're heading to the village of Newby Bridge.

Situated on the river Leven at the southern end of Lake Windermere

and named after the five-arched stone bridge

that was built here in 1651,

this quaint setting adjoins fells and forests

which would suit Harvey and Domi's dream of getting back to nature.

What's more, this mystery location is our closest to the water.

These are the south-western shores of Lake Windermere.

Yes, excellent.

-Beautiful, isn't it?

-Quite happy being next to this.

Now, if you were to...

Proceed to purchase the mystery property,

then you get mooring for a boat here and some dry docking as well.

Ever thought about getting a boat?

It could be a very real option,

if we ended up somewhere like this, yes. Fantastic.

A short stroll from the shores of the Lake is our mystery property,

and this prime location means the compromise is on space.

What's your first impressions?

Well, obviously, it's squashed in between two others,

but the location is great.

-It's got character from the outside.

-What do you think then, Domi?

-I don't know. I think I like it because it's quite neat.

-Yeah.

But it's not very presentable.

You would imagine having a pot with some flowers or something.

-OK.

-Just to make it more homely.

-You can add that.

-Or a cosy feeling.

-That's fair enough.

-You might be able to do that yourself.

-Yeah, yeah, I know.

But fair comment. All right.

Let's go inside.

Currently used as a holiday let,

the barn conversion dates back to the mid-19th century

and is one of six residential dwellings formerly used

as farm buildings to service the nearby Stoke Mansion estate.

In we come.

Ooh! OK.

-Quite surprising, isn't it?

-Yeah.

It's got that sort of character, contemporary feel to is, hasn't it.

-Yes.

-It's a surprise.

A positive surprise. I love that window.

You asked me yesterday in house two if there was anything I would change,

and we were standing in the kitchen and I said, "No, not really a lot."

There's a lot I'd change here, because I don't like contemporary.

But, again, we have the space.

You can do what you like with it.

-OK. You don't mind open-plan?

-No, it's fine.

It's basically just a family room

and you've got a little balcony you can open,

enjoy the warm.

-Be cracking in the summer, wouldn't it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Definitely.

And it's a nice little view out there.

Not unpleasant to look at.

All right, this is good, yeah?

-Yes!

-Come with me to the kitchen.

This is probably more...

the proportions you're used to in your kitchen you had before.

Again, it has actually got more work space.

-Yeah.

-More worktop space than we're used to.

-So it's a positive.

-This is luxury.

-Would you keep this style?

-No.

-No.

-We'd rip this out and start again.

-I really was not expecting that.

-No?

-No.

-Why not?

-I quite like it.

-No, this would come out.

How would you have it in your dream world?

I would make this more...warmer, cosier feel,

a bit more character, so... A bit more wood, that sort of thing.

-I mean, all this would come out.

-Excellent.

Well, you asked for a minimum of two bedrooms.

Let's go and have a butcher's.

Located on the same level as the living accommodation,

the bedrooms here - two double and one single -

present Harvey and Domi with various options

for their own sleeping quarters,

as well as space for visiting guests.

Now, as regards to master is concerned, I think

this is slightly smaller than the bedroom next door.

But it just felt more like a room you'd want to spend time in.

OK. You've got a bed, you've got a wardrobe.

For you, commuting-wise, you're not too far from work.

Half an hour, 40 minutes on a bad run, I suppose.

So let's go outside and maybe have a think about price.

-OK.

-After you, sir.

-Thank you.

Having been bowled over by the location of this property,

our buyers haven't been so taken by the interior.

So let's see if returning outside

and taking in the communal gardens can win them over.

So...

-Outside. Nice and quiet, isn't it?

-It is.

It's a really good mystery property.

I wanted to like the inside and I'm not saying you couldn't work with it,

but I'm worried, given where we are, that the price is going

to be maybe leaving you not too many options inside.

So let's get straight onto that.

How much do you think this mystery property is on the market for?

I think it's the top of our budget.

325.

OK. Harvey?

Let's go 335.

This place is on the market for offers around £349,500.

He's gone!

We've lost him!

-We've lost him.

-I'm back.

-But! But stay with me here.

I thought you'd gone...

The owner has said they're prepared to entertain offers of £325,000.

-Your budget.

-OK.

-Well, look, this is all food for thought, hopefully.

-Yeah. Yeah.

-So why don't you go back inside,

have a look into those other bedrooms,

and I'll catch up with you back outside?

-OK.

-See you in a mo.

-Thank you.

On the market for nearly £25,000 over budget, the owners would

consider offers around Harvey and Domi's maximum budget of £325,000.

This contemporary single-level barn conversion with three bedrooms

set close to the shores of Lake Windermere and a 40-minute drive

from Kendal is giving Harvey and Domi a lot to think about.

I do like the idea of if someone's in the kitchen

and you're sitting relaxing, reading a book,

you can still connect. So that's great.

-Bathroom.

-Sink and shower. But there's only one toilet.

This is like a perfect solution for us, this property,

because it gives us the best of both worlds.

For me, easy access to civilisation.

Harvey has got a beautiful lake on his doorstep.

The location - I'm sold.

The house itself, you come inside - I'll be totally honest -

a bit of a disappointment for me.

It's, to all intents and purposes, featureless.

Hmm.

Small bedroom. Needs bringing alive. Bit of work to do to make it a home.

So that's it. The last house.

Anything else you want to have a quick look at or all done?

-We're all done, thank you.

-Good. So it's decision time.

Let's go and find somewhere to have a bit of a chat.

So, you've had some time to think things through.

-Have you come to a decision?

-We've had our thoughts.

I wouldn't say they've led to a decision.

We remain open in our thinking.

-There's no conclusion as yet.

-Right, OK.

What's your favourite property?

-The favourite property, the building was number one.

-The first house? OK.

Yeah, full of character.

But then you have a different favourite location then, I take it.

That was number three, clearly. Without a shadow of a doubt.

-So your favourite location is the Mystery House's location?

-Yep.

I'm not sure if we would go with property number three because...

Not that it's too small for us because it's not,

it's, you know, it's a size we were expecting to get for our budget.

To be honest, it's got the feeling of a holiday let which it is.

The big question is, could you turn that holiday let into a home?

Which is exactly the question I've been asking Domi.

-Is there something we could do to take what's there...

-Mm-hm.

-..and make it into something? Even if it took time.

-Yeah.

And that's the question we're struggling to answer,

probably because it's at the top of our budget.

We don't want to go too far into mortgage territory

and totally obliterate that work/life balance

that we're seeking.

Having shown you around the Mystery House,

I can see now that you tried so hard to make that accommodation work.

Yeah, it was gutting, really.

We were already planning what we were going to do

on either side of the lake with our little canoe, you know?

-So sounds like we got pretty close.

-We really wanted it to work.

And I think what else it has shown is that we are being realistic,

there are those properties out there, you can achieve it,

it's just what opportunity there is at a given time.

We're already here, money in the bank

so we just basically need to stay put and wait.

I think you're doing exactly the right thing.

You now live on the doorstep,

you're able to hopefully speak to the estate agents on a daily basis,

maybe have a look around these properties

before they come overtly to the market

and make your move, maybe the same day.

Yeah, I think these few days have proved that.

It's been a great couple of days.

I've certainly loved looking round these fantastic locations

-and the properties with you.

-Thank you.

-Good luck.

-Thanks.

I'm really positive on how they've both thought laterally.

They really tried to like that Mystery House

because of its location

and I think if they do the same in the spring

when there are more properties for sale,

they stand every chance of finding the right property.

I wish them both the very best of luck.

Harvey and Domi loved the location of the mystery property

and have found a flat located in a mansion

on the same estate which they've fallen in love with.

After two viewings, they're hoping to put in an offer

to secure their new home in the Lakes very soon.

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