Welsh Borders Escape to the Country

Welcome to Escape To The Country. Now, how about this lot for a rural

des res? Now, although

stripped of its roof and robbed of its treasures,

these dramatic ruins have been here for well

over 800 years. But where are we, and how

have they managed to stand the test of time?

Well, join me in just a moment and I'll tell you.

'Today's challenge is to please two parties

'with one property.'

I can see this is an easy sell

to your husband. I think we are going to have

-to work a little harder on you.

-You're going to have to work a little bit harder.

-Yeah.

-That's fair enough.

-Come round to my way of thinking eventually.

'So will our search reach a happy compromise?'

I love it, it just gets better

and better. Yeah, it's my dream.

Well, today we are on the Welsh borders, and these are

the spectacular remains of Tintern Abbey in

Monmouthshire, on the banks of the River Wye.

Sadly, the fate that befell Tintern was like

so many of the other great monastic houses,

and it came during the dissolution of the

monasteries in the 16th century at the hands, of

course, of Henry VIII. But over more recent

centuries, well, these ruins have inspired

great writers and artists, amongst them

Wordsworth and Turner. It is without a doubt

one of my favourite parts of the Borders.

Today, we're in the southern section of the

Welsh borders, taking in the English counties of

Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, along

with the Welsh county of Monmouthshire.

As with many of the castles of the Borders, the ruins

at Monmouth tell a tale of invasion, conquest

and rule by the Normans from 1066 onwards.

But whilst the history of the region may be filled

with battles over territory, there's no dispute

over the beauty of the place.

The Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire is a 43 square mile

area of ancient woodland. Replete with

fertile, gentle hills, the terrain of

Herefordshire is suited to both crop growing and

grazing, although the lack of a good road

system limited exports for farmers.

Instead, the River Wye, running from the Welsh mountains

to the Severn Estuary, was often used to send

goods to Chepstow. The river also gave rise to

the birthplace of British tourism. In the

18th century, a rector from Ross-on-Wye began

giving boat tours to showcase the waterways'

idyllic views. So from battle strewn histories

to beauteous vistas, the Welsh borders really are

somewhere that an Englishman's, or even a

Welshman's, home is his castle.

Well, this is the summit of Garway Hill, and it's the perfect

place to show you just what this southern

portion of the Welsh borders has to offer.

Now, when it comes to property prices, the

average cost of a detached property in

England and Wales is currently just under

£299,000. But if you fancy a slice of

Gloucestershire, over there to the east behind

me, there you could spend an extra 30,000

on that figure. However, if you come this way,

past the Malverns over towards Herefordshire in

the north, well, there, the same thing could

save you £23,000. If you head west over towards

Brecon and the black mountains, well, there,

you get even more bang for your buck.

And of course, Monmouthshire to the south, well, there,

the choices are endless. So, what about today's

buyers? Where in this glorious landscape do

they want to be? Well, let's meet them and find out.

Pete and Sandy first met at a park in

Oxford four years ago. Now married and living

in a rented house outside the city, they

also work together in a shared home business.

We run a business from home. It's basically

importing bottling machinery. Anything that

comes in a bottle, whether it's beer or

horse shampoo, then we can bottle it, label it

-and cap it.

-Always with each other, sort of

24/7, but it's worked out really lovely.

-I think we enjoy each other's company.

-Yeah, so we tend to work long days, but then we have lots of

time off as well.

But something's casting a shadow over their otherwise perfect set-up.

We've got a pylon right next door. It's a

massive blot on our landscape. Didcot Power Station's

in the background, we see that.

-It's just there.

-There's three big new estates

being built within sight of our current home.

It's losing that sort of village outlook, isn't it?

The master plan is, we can run this business from anywhere in the world that's got an

internet connection and a phone. So I guess we

can escape to wherever we want in the country!

But whereas country-loving Pete longs for

rural life, things are more complicated for Sandy,

who was born and raised in the city of Oxford.

I've been used to just being in the city,

-seeing lots of different people.

-I'd be very

happy living in the middle of nowhere.

You're more of a city girl, really, and I'm a country boy. But we can compromise by

getting somewhere that's within reach of the

city, but also within reach of the hills and

-rivers.

-Best of both worlds, basically,

that's what we're looking for.

And there's one region they think might offer them just

-that.

-Looked at the area along the Welsh borders,

and we both like the countryside there

very much. It's got some gentle hills, some really

nice little towns and villages. Lots of

rivers. I'm quite keen on canoeing, quite like

the Wye because you get a lot of lovely scenery

on the way. And just very tranquil, so I

look forward to having that on my doorstep.

So despite their differences, Sandy is

committed to the move and is in the process of

selling her property in Oxford, ready to take on

their first house purchased together.

We both know the house of our dreams.

-I think we've discussed it long enough.

-And I'll bring

Sandy around to my way of thinking if not!

Sandy and Pete want to concentrate their search

on the southern counties of the Welsh borders,

around the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, close to road links back to

Oxford. But before we get going with our house

tours, I'm meeting up with them in the region

to find out more about their plans.

Pete, Sandy, welcome to the Welsh borders on a

beautiful day. Now then, this move has a little

more urgency about it because have you sold

-your house already?

-It's in the process of getting sold. It's in the family, so we're on

-our way.

-I gather you've been thinking about

moving to the countryside for some

time, Pete, and you've managed to persuade

-Sandy to come with you?

-She's more of a city

girl, but, yeah, we've set our hearts on it now

and looking forward to seeing some properties.

Pete's taking me here a few times, just getting

-me used to the village life.

-But let's talk a little more about, then, the sort of property

-that you are after.

-Location wise, villagey.

Town should be handy to get to. Inside the

house, we'd like a kitchen-cum-diner, minimum

three bedrooms, period cottage, lots of

-features.

-Just something with a little bit of

character, I think, is what we're after.

With a modern twist, I think. We're looking forward to

a much tighter feel of the community, somewhere we

can go out and talk to people, say hello and

-just have that sort of feeling.

-OK, so let's

talk about the budget, shall we? You've sold your house, as we said. How much are you going

-to spend on this little lot, then?

-I think we've

settled on about 365 that we could go to.

-So £365,000, then. Good budget, I think.

-Yeah.

-We've got some wonderful weather. Right, then. Let's go.

-Thank you.

So, with a budget of up to £365,000, Sandy and Pete want a decent sized

kitchen diner and three bedrooms. And they need

to be able to run their business from home.

Sandy would like to be part of a village

community, and they'd like a character house with a modern twist.

We've found three wonderful but very different properties all

with their wish list in mind, and at each

they'll be guessing the price before I reveal

it.

The last one is our Mystery House, which

could end up being something of a shock for everybody.

Our house-hunt begins in Whitchurch, Herefordshire. Until the

ninth century, this Wye Valley village lay in

the Welsh kingdom of Ergyng, and Welsh was

spoken here long after it was claimed by the English.

The Gwillim family held sway as lords and

minor kings of this long-disputed territory on

the shifting border between England and Wales, and their ancestral home is now

The Old Court Hotel. Other facilities include

a village store with delicatessen and cafe.

And a church located on the banks of the River Wye that even has its own landing stage for

access to the river. And nearby is the character

stone cottage we've come to see.

Right, then. This is property number one.

-Wow.

-All of it?

-All of it! I love this sprung arch over that great big

window there. It's obviously been something of a sort of coach house or something.

-Interesting.

-In the past. But, yeah, you get the whole thing!

-Yeah, I thought it was two

-houses!

-On top of the Wye, so we're thinking

about the canoe. But we should not perhaps skate

over the issue of the road, and the A40, which is

just down there. What do we think about that,

-Pete?

-Yeah, it's not too intrusive, I think, so

-we could probably live with that.

-It's a road to home, so I don't mind.

-A road to home,

there you go! Location-wise, we're happy.

-Initially, we're happy.

-Yeah.

-Let's see if that

-continues as we get in. Come on.

-Thank you.

Thought to date to the 1830s, and extended in

the 1970s, an entrance at the far end of the

cottage leads through a lobby into the main

reception room.

-Well, Sandy. Is this the sort of...

-Oh, gosh.

-..historic gem you were thinking

-about?

-Wow. Most definitely. Wow, look at

-the staircase.

-I like it.

-It's sweet, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Wood burner.

-Good exercise for you,

-chopping the logs.

-Get someone to do it for

-you, like him!

-I love that, actually.

-What do you think, Pete?

Yes, I like it very much. Yeah, first impressions count, and first impressions

are very good. Yeah. It's certainly characterful. We have the beams, they're nice

-and high, so...

-Yeah, you're not ducking! You're not ducking at all. Let's go through to

-the kitchen diner, because I think you might like this.

-OK, good stuff.

'To one side of the sitting room is a ground floor shower room

'with WC, whilst the opposite end has the

'large country kitchen they've asked for.'

I really love the way they've done this.

Kitchen diner, new units, new tops, the

whole thing recently refurbished, as you can

-tell.

-Very tastefully done, too.

-Very tasteful.

-Yeah, it is.

-I mean, lots of character,

lots of features, too. It's almost a sort of galley arrangement, but you've got the diner as

-well.

-They've packed a fair bit into a small space.

-They have.

-You've got enough room there to

-sit down at the table.

-If you wanted. Old and

-the new!

-Excellent.

-Very happy.

-Now, you did say

three bedrooms ideally. Yeah? Let's have a look

-upstairs.

-OK.

'I'm not surprised Sandy is pleased. This stone cottage combines period

'character with the modern twists she likes,

'all in a well-connected location.

'Completing this floor, a boot room and store with space for

'a washing machine sits off the far end of the

'kitchen. Then upstairs, there's all the

'accommodation they need. Over the kitchen end

'lies a family bathroom and a double guest

'bedroom, whilst at the other end of the

'property is a smaller spare room which, like

'the current owners, Pete and Sandy could use as a

'home office. That just leaves the largest

'bedroom tucked away in the centre.'

And then finally, this is what the current owners use

as their master. This one has got more

character, with the stone wall revealed

there. Lots of built-in storage, as you can see.

I do like the stone feature, that's one of

-my favourites, so yes.

-You weren't expecting it

-above the bed, though, were you?

-No!

And actually, the height of the ceilings up here are

-quite surprising, to be honest.

-Yeah, it gives

the impression of space. It's not a huge room,

-but big enough.

-I mean, given this is your first

home together, I mean, it's a nice opportunity

for you to make a fresh start. Is this the sort

of building that would allow you to do that?

-With me, definitely, yes.

-Yes, I think the same.

We've yet to look outside, but I'd be interested to see what garden there is.

Right, then. Terrace and garden next, then. Follow me.

'So, a big thumbs up for this village located

'cottage from self-confessed city girl Sandy.

'But I'm sensing hesitation from Pete,

'who admits he longs for real rural isolation.

'The outside space to the kitchen side of the

'cottage is modest, with a raised south facing

'courtyard and decked terrace, from which there

'are lovely views of the surrounding hills.'

Now, I know, Sandy, you wanted a manageable garden.

I'm afraid this is it, OK? So I think this is

probably more container gardening, rather than

-large-scale vegetable gardening.

-Bit of a

shock to the system maybe, from what we had

in mind, a cottage in its own grounds. But I'm

not writing it off. Yeah, certainly could be

low-maintenance and it's actually very well

screened, I think, for what it is, a little sun

-trap.

-Well, it's quirky, and I like it.

-It's containable, so...

-I mean, you've got, you

know, the Wye Valley at your disposal and all

the walks and outdoor activities that this

-area is so famous for.

-Yeah, there's plenty of

-open spaces around.

-So let's think about the

price, then. You have £365,000 to spend.

Sandy, make us an offer for property number one.

-Hard. I would say, 370.

-370?! Oh, over budget.

-Yeah.

-OK.

-Little steep, I think. I'm going to

hazard a guess at 330.

330. Interesting. If it was 330, would you

-think about it?

-Yes.

-Most definitely.

-You see, that look just

-said it all, didn't it? OK, think about this then.

-OK.

-This is on the market

for...

£298,000.

-You're joking me.

-I'm not.

-Interesting.

-Right, then. Off you go, go and have a look around.

-And then I'll come and find you a little bit later on. Go on, off you go.

-Thank you very much.

-Take your time.

-OK.

-Just think about it,

yeah, 298, not bad, is it, really? I think it's pretty good.

Leaving £67,000 to spare, this stone cottage combines old and new.

With a feature fireplace, a good-sized kitchen

diner, three bedrooms with scope for a home office,

two bathrooms and a village location

providing amenities, community and road links.

First impressions, it was the

wow factor, it looked huge on the outside.

I thought it was two houses. I love the

sitting room, it's my dream sitting room,

-I think.

-I liked it instantly. Really nice

stonework, a really good quality and a very

individual layout, but it would work for us, I

-think.

-I like it. We've got another two houses

to look at, but first property, fantastic,

I'm happy.

After you, Sandy.

Well, if that was the... DOOR SQUEAKS

..last property we had to show you, complete with

squeaky door, I think we'd be in a good place,

but there is more to come, so can we better

-this one?

-Maybe.

-Yeah, hope so.

-It's still sunny, come on, let's go.

-Thank you.

The Wye Valley is an iconic natural feature of the Welsh borders.

Once a busy waterway filled with commercial

cargo, the industrial vessels of the

19th century have now made way for watersports

enthusiasts. Pete is a professed fan of this

popular canoeing destination, and as he's

keen for Sandy to join him, we've arranged a

trip for them on one of the most stunning

sections of the Wye. Guiding them today is

Peter Murphy.

So, today we're going to be

paddling down the River Wye. Do you have any

-experience of paddling?

-I have very little.

-Pete, you have more than me, don't you?

-I've done

a fair bit, not professionally, but I

-enjoy it.

-So, Peter, how long have you been

-paddling for?

-Well, I started in Scouts when I

was about 11. I started getting my qualifications at 19, and that was a fair

-few years ago!

-THEY LAUGH

-Probably about 21 years in total. Let me just get you some paddles.

-Thank you.

Hiring a canoe for half a day costs around £38,

including transport to the start point,

buoyancy aids and a 60 litre dry bag for any

possessions. Most people don't take a guide, but

one can be arranged for an extra fee.

Nice and easy, give yourselves like a little push off.

You might have to put your paddle on the bank.

There we go.

And then we're off.

Pete and Sandy are canoeing one of the most popular

sections of the river, from Kerne Bridge to

Symonds Yat. As well as taking in well-known

viewpoints, this stretch is suitable for complete

novices, as it's rated grade one, meaning there

are no technical difficulties or dangerous obstacles.

Oh, that's nice, away from

-the hustle and bustle of city life.

-This is where

-it comes, the nice part.

-So, Peter, you can sort

of see why the Wye is attractive.

-What do you like about it the most?

-I think it's because

it's such a nice river. It's genuinely really

friendly. It's a nice, gentle paddle.

Canoeing is the greatest way to see it.

The 135 mile long River Wye starts its journey high up in

the Welsh mountains, making its way to the

Severn Estuary near Chepstow. Largely rural,

it's home to large numbers of birds and

mammals, as well as 30 species of fish, but the

gentle current leaves plenty of time for

paddlers to hone their manoeuvres between

wildlife spotting.

OK, so what we're going to

-do now is try and zigzag across the river.

-OK.

So if you wanted to switch over to the other side,

that makes it easier for you, there you go.

Just do a big old sweep stroke, that will bring your back end round.

And, Sandy, you do a little

pulling stroke, it's called a draw stroke.

That's it. Pull it straight in and then whip it out again. That's that.

That will turn you around. To turn the other way, you're

just going to swap sides and do exactly the opposite.

Why are you turning, Pete?

This particular stretch of the river, offering glimpses of verdant

landscape dotted with spring lambs,

is where the Reverend Gilpin, an Anglican cleric and artist,

was first inspired to introduce the term "picturesque"

into the English language.

-This is so tranquil, isn't it?

-Yeah, isn't it the

whole idea of us moving to the country, though?

I can feel the stress leaving my body.

The views are absolutely amazing.

You just keep paddling a little bit and I'll have a snooze!

SHE LAUGHS

Well, their trip downstream may have put

Pete and Sandy in the frame of mind to go with

the flow, but it's time to see what they'll make

of our next property here in the Welsh borders.

Our search is taking us to the very rural location of Garway Hill.

Nearest facilities are a four and a half mile drive away in the

village of Ewyas Harold, which offers a couple of pubs, tea rooms,

a post office with shop, dentists, butchers and even fish and chips.

But back on Garway Hill, I've got a lovely country escape to show them.

It's a registered smallholding located down a quiet country lane.

-So how about this, then, guys?

-Different.

-Very different.

It looks tremendous.

You're probably thinking, "You've brought me to the middle of nowhere."

-You're not as remote as you might think.

-Thank you, you're helping me there.

THEY LAUGH

Well, I think, for you, this is probably more you than the first one.

-My dream, yeah.

-And look at that view.

-What an eyesore!

THEY LAUGH

We're looking right across to the Cotswolds, almost as far as Oxford.

-Hello, Mum.

-THEY LAUGH

As you can see, they've made much of it with this new edition of

this fully specced up garden room.

-It even has its own loo, etc.

-This looks fantastic.

-Brilliant.

-Shall we have a look?

-Can't wait.

-Yeah.

-Come on.

-Thank you.

Originally a simple stone cottage built in the 1860s,

it was extended to create an L-shaped home in the 1960s,

with a further addition in the 1990s.

A front door in the newer part leads into an open plan kitchen and

dining room.

There we are.

-Oh, OK.

-It wasn't a "wow", what's going through your mind?

-Um...

No, just taken aback by how small it is, the kitchen.

-Narrow.

-Yes, yes.

But I wasn't thinking small, I think it's larger than the last one,

it's extended into the dining area there.

-Could you make it work, that's the question?

-I'm saying a "yes".

Yes, definitely, yes.

Well, that was an unequivocal "yes". I'll take two "yeses", that's great.

Come on, then.

'And then to the property's oldest section, the reception room.'

Try and cast your imaginations back to the 1860s, when it was a one up,

one down, with a little fireplace there, that would have been cosy.

Yes.

Cosy's the word that comes to mind, that's what you want in the winter.

I think it's a little bit small for me, a bit too cosy.

I can see this is an easy sell to your husband.

-Mm.

-I think we are going to have to work a little harder on you.

-You're going to have to work a little bit harder.

-Yeah, well, that's fair enough.

Come round to my way of thinking!

I mean, it's got to work for both of you. Come on, let's have a look upstairs.

'So, some clear division of opinion on this detached rural

'smallholding so far.

'Let's see if the upstairs will find some common ground.

'There's a family bathroom, serving two double bedrooms,

'one of which would make a good guest room, and the master is

'accessed via a storage space that would make a useful dressing room.'

Potential dressing area here,

-or even en suite if you wanted it to be.

-OK.

And this is the latest addition to this property.

-1990s extension. This, I think, is the nicest bedroom.

-Yes.

-It's a beautiful room, yeah.

-Yes, it is.

Out of the two bedrooms, this would be the main bedroom for me.

Now the sort of pieces are starting to fall into place with this one.

What do you reckon?

For me, it is just a tiny bit too small.

I like a bit more room for me to breathe.

As far as space goes, yes, we don't have as much space inside,

but then we still have the garden, and the space outside just,

well, there's no comparison.

Could your arm be twisted?

-It would have to be a big twist for me.

-Whoa!

There's a challenge, mate! Yes, come on, then.

HE CHUCKLES

'Oh, dear, this property really has thrown down the gauntlet,

'and outside, there's even more to persuade country loving Pete

'to twist city girl Sandy's arm.

'As well as that garden room, this smallholding comes with four

'sheds and a greenhouse, and our couple's bottling business

'could find a new lease of life with an established cider apple

'orchard, all in one acre of ground overlooking the valley.'

Look at that.

If you'd asked for this view, we'd never have found

a property with it, and look, there it is as a bonus.

Not a pylon in sight, or a power station.

Really, I think the ball is in your court, Sandy.

I'm going to be really truthful with you. It's a nice house,

but it's just a bit too cosy for me, it really, really is.

And, location-wise, I don't think it's for me.

Is it your inability from here to walk to stuff, is that the problem?

To walk and just to see a bit more people walking around and, you know...

We have to take a walk up and down the road, we haven't done that,

and also we can negotiate around dogs and things like that.

-Oh, we're coming around to a dog now, are we?

-Maybe, maybe, I'm not committing myself just yet.

THEY LAUGH

Let's leave the future to one side for

a moment, let's talk about the here and now.

-365 is your budget. What's this on the market for?

-349.

-349?!

-You've obviously thought about that, that was very direct.

-Off-the-cuff.

-OK.

-I think it's got bit more land, I'd say...

I'd say 365.

365, interesting.

Oh, keeping us in suspense again!

-350.

-Oh!

-Well done. Yeah, 350.

-Keep your mind open.

-I will.

-Now you know what it's worth,

-and I will come and find you a little bit later on.

-OK.

-Go on, then.

-Thank you.

Do a bit more arm-twisting. SHE LAUGHS

He might have to! HE CHUCKLES

£15,000 shy of their budget, this detached rural smallholding

comes with an open plan kitchen and dining room,

two double bedrooms and a separate well-appointed garden room.

What's more, there's also an acre of land and beautiful valley views.

-Oh, yes, that is beautiful, isn't it?

-It is, it's spectacular.

I can't knock the view, it is breathtaking.

-This is how I imagined it.

-It is. It COULD be.

I instantly liked the location.

I walked in and I thought, "Oh, fantastic,

"this is my dream sort of house", to be honest.

If I could take the first property, plonk it here,

a bit more people as well, it would be smashing, it would be lovely.

It's still top of my list, and we'll see.

-All done?

-Yes.

-I think so.

-What a lovely view again.

-I know.

There's only one thing missing here, and that is a gin and tonic.

-Good idea.

-I know just the place. Go on, after you.

-Thank you.

-Up the hill.

We're on the Welsh borders with a budget of £365,000 to find

a country home for Sandy and Pete,

who are relocating from near the city of Oxford.

So far we've found property to please them both,

but unfortunately, not in the same location.

But our Mystery House is still to come,

but it could be more of a surprise than they'd bargained for.

Pete's eyes! HE LAUGHS

It was a mystery, and then it's been unravelled.

Plus, I find one of my favourite Welsh border building styles

still going strong.

-So this is where all the action happens.

-Look at that!

So, what can we come up with for our Mystery House?

Well, here's the trick.

Sandy did say she fancied something with a bit of character,

but with a modern twist.

That is exactly what it does, but moreover,

it's just a short drive from one of my favourite market towns.

In short, we are trying to please everybody, as usual.

What do you think we might have lined up for you?

We really have no idea.

We haven't seen too many windmills round this area, so I don't know about that.

No, it's not a windmill.

-It's not a windmill, but it did have a former life.

-Oh, OK, even better!

Ah, you see, it combines a bit of the old and a bit of the new.

-OK. Which we wanted.

-Which is what you said you wanted, yeah.

So, let's see what you think of it, but it is our last roll of the dice.

-I hope it works.

-Me too!

THEY LAUGH

Our mystery offering is taking us to the Welsh community of

Llangybi in Monmouthshire.

Located four miles away is the market town of Usk.

Straddled over the river from where it gets its name,

there is a good selection of amenities here,

including pubs, restaurants, coffee shops and a post office.

The town's clock tower was erected in 1887

to mark Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.

And history buffs can step even further back in time at

either the National Roman Legion Museum, located in a former

Roman fortress, or at Usk Castle, that dates back to the 12th century.

Meanwhile, in the countryside around Llangybi,

our final property comes with some history of its own, too.

So, at last I can reveal to you our Mystery House. There it is, guys.

Lovely converted barn. What do you think of that, Sandy?

I like the stonework. It looks light and airy, so yeah.

I know you've preferred a bit more of this over Sandy's desire

to be more in a conventional village.

-Always room to compromise.

-Well, this is the compromise.

And as you can see, there are a number of other buildings

being redeveloped here on this old farm complex.

-There will be seven.

-Yeah, I noticed, yeah.

-OK, so we'll have quite a few neighbours.

-You will have some neighbours,

so it will be a little sort of hamlet, if you like.

And, as you can tell, it's got this lovely sense of texture about

it, but with this lovely, very modern twist.

-I don't think you will be...

-Disappointed.

But would that kind of compromise work for the pair of you?

For me, yes, I will say so, yes.

I mean, are you feeling a bit anxious about this open space?

-No, I like it, I do like open space.

-Are you happy with all this?

Er, there are no negative points whatsoever I wish to make at

-this stage.

-THEY LAUGH

Right, sir. Let's go inside.

By combining 18th-century agricultural origins with the

up-to-date take of a modern build,

this barn conversion could just be the surprise twist that

Pete and Sandy need on their search.

The bones of the building may be 300 years old, but the brand-new

bifolding doors take us into a very contemporary kitchen-diner.

-Well, Sandy, How about this?

-Oh, yes.

-Now you're talking.

-Yes!

-Look at it. It is kind of modern loft living but with a nice, kind of rural twist.

-Yeah.

It's funky or what?

You've got all this lovely texture coming through.

The stain of the bar, these new oak beams.

So it's got a real identity, but all this is very slick,

very modern, as you can tell.

-Pete's eyes.

-It was a mystery and then it's been unravelled.

It is a lovely mystery. I'm very pleased.

Would this, then, Sandy,

persuade you to take the leap

from urban Oxford to rural Monmouthshire, in this case?

Most definitely.

-Would it?

-Yes.

-Oh. Now, you should be taking this with both hands,

mate, cos this is all good. This is a bit of you and a bit of Sandy.

-Yeah.

-So, what do you think of this one, Pete?

-I love it, too.

-There you are. You see?

-Yeah.

Off the kitchen, there is also a snug, a ground-floor wet room,

and a utility room.

Then completing this floor is a large lounge.

We thought from the outside, it's not that big,

but it just seems huge now you're inside.

What it does offer you, I think, is a truly flexible amount

of space and that's where it scores.

That's right. It's light, it's airy, it's...

Yeah, I think it's ticking all boxes.

-Pete?

-Agree. Agree.

For me, it's very rural.

Though you've got this prospect of the other houses

going up in the same area, so a little community.

-It could well be the compromise we're looking for.

-Yeah.

Well, our mystery offering

seems to be serving up Pete's slice of country life,

as well as sating Sandy's contemporary tastes

and community spirit.

Upstairs there is another wet room

alongside two similarly sized doubles,

one of which could be kept for guests

whilst Pete and Sandy use the other as their master.

Both the bedrooms up here are pretty much identical, really.

-And again, views out.

-Exactly, yeah. You can lay in bed, can't you,

-and look outside?

-Yeah. You know, it's a very easy one to explain,

this property, to be honest. It will sell itself to someone.

The question is will it be you two?

We'll let you know.

Well, I need to let you know about the price, don't I? Come on.

The location and accommodation

so far seem to be the compromise Pete and Sandy are after.

Outside, their business could also find a new home

in a double garage, plus the good-sized garden has swathes of

decking and a lawn which, although overlooked,

well, it's only by the local sheep.

-You get all this...

-Just gets better.

-..lawn,

and there you can see the rest of the complex taking shape.

I love it. It just gets better and better. It's... Yeah.

It's my dream.

-Oh, is it?

-Yeah.

-Is it? I was really nervous about

-bringing you up here. I thought...

-Me too.

I thought, "Oh, this is a bit too far.

"She's not going to like this much."

-But actually, the house has done it.

-I'm sold.

Excellent. Music to your ears, I think.

It is indeed, but now I'm starting to get worried, you see,

because I've got to look at the cold, hard facts.

-Can we afford it?

-Well. Yes, indeed.

Let's talk about those facts.

You love it so much, you can go first on this one.

Right. I'm going over budget.

-I'm going to say 375.

-375? Pete?

Yeah, it's almost impossible.

I'm going to show solidarity with my wife and say 375.

-It is on at £375,000.

-Really?

You see? We've brought you together at last in more ways than one.

Not just in the property but also in the numbers.

So it is 375. Having said that, of course, over budget.

The owners know your budget.

-OK.

-And we are cash buyers, more or less.

Absolutely, yeah. So I think your budget would do the trick.

-We may have to have a discussion.

-I would.

-Quite soon.

-I would. Are you happy now?

-Very happy.

-Good.

Right, then. Off you go. Enjoy it. Indulge yourself

in this amazing space and we'll come and find you a little bit later on.

-Thank you.

-Thanks.

This modern conversion of an 18th-century barn

is a winning combination of old and new.

It is all set in a lovely countryside location.

To be honest, I thought, "Another windy road to drive up,"

I just thought, "Gosh, I don't know what to do."

When I went inside, I just thought, "Wow."

It is lovely, beautiful. The views, the house,

the way it's built, the quality of the build.

It's spectacular.

It was breathtaking.

Interior's so well done.

It's just... The attention to detail and

lots of little quirky bits.

It's not the kind of property we imagined at all, I don't think.

Sometimes you need someone to give your imagination a bit

of a kick and you've certainly done that.

It's a yes. I think we're going to put an offer in.

-Fancy a dog in the future?

-Maybe.

-Does it come with the deal?

You can't have him. No. You can't have him. Good boy, Alfie.

Right, then. You've got a lot to think about.

-Yes, we have.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Let's go. No time like the present.

-OK.

-Good boy. Come on.

Peppered amongst the varied natural landscapes

of the Welsh borders is a vernacular architecture

that I particularly love.

Oak timber framing.

It's one of the oldest construction methods known to man.

Spectacular examples are found all over the region.

Centuries-old, the well-known black-and-white buildings

of Herefordshire and the Welsh borders

were originally the colour of natural oak and soil.

The most ornate examples come thanks to the dissolution

of the monasteries under Henry VIII,

which freed up monastic woodland for construction.

By the Victorian era, wood was in high demand for shipbuilding

and timber-framed homes fell out of favour.

Then, in the 1970s, there was something of a revival

due in part to planners insisting on authentic methods

to extend historic examples.

One such project was taken up by John Green.

It led to a business and today John's son-in-law, Ben Albright,

is going to show me their continued work.

Ben, I've long been a huge fan of oak-framed buildings.

You are in the business of recreating

the look of the past and you've been doing it for quite some time.

Yeah, that's right. We've been going about 35 years now.

And, yeah, we've built all round the world.

We're turning out a lot of houses now.

Now, Herefordshire is famous for its oak-framed buildings, the

black-and-whites. Did they inspire the origins of the company?

Yeah, absolutely. So, my father-in-law, John,

bought an old oak-framed barn off a farmer, to erect for his house,

but the planners said, "If you want to do a proper house, you're

"going to have to add an extension on in oak framing."

No-one did it, so him and his brother-in-law, who was a joiner,

got together, did the extension and then it had so much interest,

they thought, "This could be a goer."

35 years in and the company now produces around 75 houses a year.

Although the oak now comes from France, much of the process

is as it was in medieval times.

The timber frames are crafted and assembled in a large workshop before

they're dismantled and re-erected in situ.

-This is where all the action happens.

-Look at that.

This is a typical framing. You can see this frame here.

-And then we've got this lovely truss on here.

-It's really interesting,

the way that you assemble it and then disassemble it

and take it to site. And that's a technique that's

-never really changed, I suppose.

-No. Absolutely, yes.

Back in the late Middle Ages,

the raising of the frame was called framing day.

The get-together was a celebration of the soon-to-be-completed home.

But, in a time before cranes, it also provided the manpower

to lift the frame itself.

Nowadays it's slightly different.

We've got cranes and telehandlers,

health and safety and all the rest of it but,

yeah, there's still a joy in that, particularly when we're building

a house for clients and it's their own home.

You know, it's really exciting for them when the frame goes up.

Time is of the essence.

This green oak will continue to dry

for several months, if not years, to come.

That means it must be reassembled as swiftly as possible

after leaving the workshop.

Nearby, there's a timber frame that's in the process of

becoming a finished home.

So, this is a house we're building for a client.

We started about six months ago.

We've got another four, five months to go.

It's quite a large property.

-It's like a medieval manor. Come on. Let's have a look inside.

-Yeah.

So, this is the kitchen of this property.

I love that door, very Tudor.

-Yeah.

-The outline.

-Absolutely, that's where we're mixing

the traditional details and craftsmanship with

modern building material.

And then, through here, what's this bit?

This is the Sips panel walls

which is the super-insulated timber walls.

And then this material on the outside here

is the breathable membrane to make the building really airtight.

Isn't that lovely? Your carpenter's marks there,

and I love the fact that

these buttons and pegs are still left proud.

It's a nice way of celebrating

the material and the technique, isn't it?

Absolutely. That's what we're all about,

celebrating the craftsmanship and keeping that going.

I wish you all the best of luck, Ben.

-And thank you for a fascinating insight...

-No problem at all.

..into the world of modern, oak-framed buildings.

Our task this week was to try and find Pete and Sandy their

first home together.

Have we managed to do it?

Well, we might have.

Well, guys, how are we doing?

-Very well, thank you.

-Yeah, fine.

Now, this all looks rather encouraging. A bit of bubbly.

Do you think we're going to be celebrating at the end

of this conversation, Sandy?

Hopefully, we will be. Fingers crossed, though.

Well, let's see what we might be celebrating, then.

We gave you a slice of village life in Whitchurch,

in that very charming little cottage that you absolutely loved, Sandy.

-I did.

-And then, Pete, we took you to something that offered you

a little more rural isolation, perched on the side of Garway Hill

with those lovely views and so on.

We couldn't quite get you both to join the dots,

which is where our Mystery House came in.

Although it's rural, I didn't feel isolated, so...

-it worked for me.

-It ticked all the boxes.

It had everything we were looking for, even though we didn't kind of

know what we were looking for!

So, we found a house - what happens next?

We've spoken to the vendor. A while ago, yes.

Have you? You've been busy while I've been away!

So you've spoken to the owner, and what did she say?

We're going to have a chat with them next week and go on from there.

How exciting! I'm delighted. You must be quite relieved, Pete,

to think that, finally,

Sandy is going to join you in this rural endeavour.

It's been a roller-coaster ride.

A roller-coaster ride. Pete, I think you've absolutely summed it up.

We wish you all the very best of luck.

And let us know how you get on.

We hope to be inviting you over quite soon.

Well, I'm not far away.

We better have a toast. There we are.

-Here's to you... and the Mystery House.

-Cheers.

Fingers crossed toast.

Well, you know, having a difference of opinion is all very well,

but if you take that idea into a house search,

well, you could have a disaster on your hands.

There were certainly times this week when I thought that

both Pete and Sandy's very different ideas as to what sort of house

would really work for them would mean that, eventually, we wouldn't

get anywhere near it, but, lo and behold,

our Mystery House has delivered.

It's combined all their hopes and aspirations under one roof

in the right place and, I hope, at the right price.

So, all in all, it's turned out pretty well.

I'll see you next time.

Well, Sandy and Pete put in an offer on the Mystery House

and I'm delighted to say that it was accepted.

They're looking forward to a new life in the Welsh borders very soon.

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