0:00:02 > 0:00:05The rock found below the surface of this southern isle is arguably more
0:00:05 > 0:00:10famous across the world than the beauty of the rugged scenery above.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13So, where am I, and what lies beneath?
0:00:13 > 0:00:15I'll tell you in just a moment.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37Today, I'm with a couple who are selling up in suburbia,
0:00:37 > 0:00:41in search of a better quality of life in the countryside.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43I'm struggling to think of something in this room
0:00:43 > 0:00:45that I'm not in love with.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47- Ooh! - Yep.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51And, with time of the essence, they're not messing about.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54- Wow.- Seriously, get your chequebook out now!
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Today, I'm in Dorset, and this is the Isle of Portland,
0:01:02 > 0:01:05at the southernmost point of the county.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08Now, the island's unique limestone bedrock,
0:01:08 > 0:01:13known as Portland Stone, was first quarried back in Roman times,
0:01:13 > 0:01:15but has since been used to construct some of the world's
0:01:15 > 0:01:20most iconic buildings, from St Paul's Cathedral in London,
0:01:20 > 0:01:23to the United Nations headquarters in New York.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26Now, later on, I'll be back on Portland,
0:01:26 > 0:01:28getting up close and personal,
0:01:28 > 0:01:32and experiencing this world-famous stone, but first,
0:01:32 > 0:01:36let's take a look at what else this wonderful county has to offer.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41The county of Dorset, lies in the south-west of England,
0:01:41 > 0:01:44with the English Channel lying off its southern shore.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48Known as the Jurassic Coast, the 95 miles of rugged coastline,
0:01:48 > 0:01:51stretching from Swanage into the neighbouring county
0:01:51 > 0:01:55of East Devon, is England's first World Heritage Site.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59These layers of sedimentary rock reveal 185 million years
0:01:59 > 0:02:01of the Earth's history.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05At the Dorset/Devon border sits the port town of Lime Regis.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Nicknamed the Pearl of Dorset,
0:02:07 > 0:02:10it's a popular starting point for sailing, diving,
0:02:10 > 0:02:14and fossil-finding trips, its cliffs crumbling into the Jurassic seas.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Further along the Dorset coast, in a sheltered bay,
0:02:18 > 0:02:23Georgian houses line the beachfront at the seaside town of Weymouth.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26The golden sands and shallow waters here make it an ideal spot
0:02:26 > 0:02:30for families seeking a traditional seaside getaway.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34And it was a favourite of King George III, who holidayed here
0:02:34 > 0:02:38for nearly 15 years at the turn of the 19th century.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41Those more interested in history than beach life might prefer
0:02:41 > 0:02:44to visit the romantic ruins of Corfe Castle.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48Standing over a gap in the Purbeck Hills, the former royal palace
0:02:48 > 0:02:52and fortress was built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56So, with a mix of dramatic coastline and picturesque towns and villages,
0:02:56 > 0:03:00and unspoiled countryside with not a motorway in sight,
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Dorset really is the perfect place
0:03:03 > 0:03:05for those looking for a countryside escape.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10Well, there are no two ways about it -
0:03:10 > 0:03:14buying here in Dorset comes with a hefty price tag.
0:03:14 > 0:03:20The average cost of a detached home here is around £357,000.
0:03:20 > 0:03:25Now, that's about £57,000 above the national figure.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29Buyers, it seems, are willing to pay a premium for the beauty of
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Dorset's stunning coastline and countryside,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35a landscape that has been an inspiration to
0:03:35 > 0:03:40some of our greatest authors, from Thomas Hardy to Jane Austen.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43So, as one of today's buyers is a would-be writer,
0:03:43 > 0:03:46they're certainly going to find themselves in good company.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Two years ago, Chris and Kate bought their first home as a couple -
0:03:51 > 0:03:54a four-bedroom semi in Reigate, Surrey,
0:03:54 > 0:03:56but their adventure together started long before.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00We first met through mutual friends,
0:04:00 > 0:04:04when Kate was at university in Birmingham.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08He was a very slow mover in terms of making his move, so ten years after
0:04:08 > 0:04:11we met, I think he finally plucked up the courage to ask me out.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14- Ten years of groundwork. - Yeah!
0:04:14 > 0:04:18Chris grew up in close proximity to the countryside in North Wales
0:04:18 > 0:04:21and Cheshire, whilst Kate, born and bred in Reigate,
0:04:21 > 0:04:24is used to more suburban surroundings.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26When I grew up here, it was a lovely,
0:04:26 > 0:04:29very community-driven sort of town,
0:04:29 > 0:04:32and I think over the last 30 years, more and more people have moved here
0:04:32 > 0:04:36who commute into London, so it's sort of lost its sense of community,
0:04:36 > 0:04:38and it's incredibly busy, it's got bigger.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Not too far from Kate's family and friends in Surrey,
0:04:41 > 0:04:44they've decided Dorset is the perfect place for them to
0:04:44 > 0:04:48set up home, and, although Kate is looking to slow things down,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Chris will be taking his fast-paced job with him.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54So, I'm a paramedic.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58I've been in the ambulance service for about seven years now.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02You know, it can certainly be a challenging job, but you know,
0:05:02 > 0:05:04it's very rewarding at the same time.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07I originally started working for London, so, you know, driving round
0:05:07 > 0:05:11the big city, lots of traffic, and people everywhere,
0:05:11 > 0:05:15and then the move out to Surrey was a big change already,
0:05:15 > 0:05:19so I think the move to Dorset won't be quite as big a shock.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25You know, certainly you have to be more wary of, you know, other road
0:05:25 > 0:05:30users, in terms of, like, horses, foxes, badgers, I don't know.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33Kate's hoping that the change of scenery will also offer
0:05:33 > 0:05:35inspiration for her hobby.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37I'm a sort of secret writer.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40I've always wanted to be a writer, and then I don't really have a lot
0:05:40 > 0:05:41of confidence in it,
0:05:41 > 0:05:45so, for me, this gives me an opportunity to hopefully be able to
0:05:45 > 0:05:49carve out some time for me to write in a quiet and peaceful environment.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52With their house on the market, and Chris' new job due to start
0:05:52 > 0:05:57in just six weeks, they're well on their way to making the big move.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59Although they'll be leaving Kate's family behind,
0:05:59 > 0:06:03their pet Labrador, Dolly, will definitely be coming with them.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06I think a lot of this move is also about Dolly,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09so we want to be somewhere where we can fling the door open and
0:06:09 > 0:06:12go straight out into the countryside, or, you know,
0:06:12 > 0:06:14hopefully, for me, near the seaside.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17I'd love to be able to just jump in the car and be five minutes
0:06:17 > 0:06:19away from the beach, and just walk her there in the mornings.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21That would be amazing.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26As Chris' job will be based in Dorset,
0:06:26 > 0:06:29we're keeping our search within the county borders.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32Ideally, he and Kate would like to be near the sea,
0:06:32 > 0:06:34but they're happy to look anywhere.
0:06:34 > 0:06:35I'm catching up with them
0:06:35 > 0:06:38to find out exactly what's on their property wish-list.
0:06:38 > 0:06:44Well, Chris and Kate, here we are, in a very sunny Dorset today.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47But why did you decide this was the part of the country that
0:06:47 > 0:06:48you wanted to move to?
0:06:48 > 0:06:50I was very keen to live by the coast - I always have been -
0:06:50 > 0:06:54and I think when we started to look at the south coast,
0:06:54 > 0:06:57this was perhaps more affordable than a lot of the counties towards
0:06:57 > 0:07:00the east of here, so we're hoping to get a bit more for our money here.
0:07:00 > 0:07:05Let's talk about the actual property itself. What are you after?
0:07:05 > 0:07:07We're really flexible about it, actually.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09I mean, there's only the two of us and our dog,
0:07:09 > 0:07:14so we're happy to look at anything from two bedrooms upwards.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16I'd like an area to be able to work in,
0:07:16 > 0:07:20but I'm just as happy if that's a summerhouse in the garden,
0:07:20 > 0:07:23but parking is quite an important one, because Chris obviously does
0:07:23 > 0:07:25shift work, as a paramedic,
0:07:25 > 0:07:27and so we really don't want him having to park two or three
0:07:27 > 0:07:29roads away if it's two o'clock in the morning,
0:07:29 > 0:07:32- so that's sort of a key want for us, isn't it?- Yeah, I think so.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36That makes sense. Chris, what are you looking for, with this home?
0:07:36 > 0:07:39- I'm even more flexible, really! - Are you?
0:07:39 > 0:07:41If I can have a wood burner, I'll be happy, so...
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Little bit of a garden for the dog? Not too big?
0:07:44 > 0:07:47Yeah, just somewhere that she can go out.
0:07:47 > 0:07:52What does your actually look like? What's its style?
0:07:52 > 0:07:54I like something with a bit of character.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57If it's sort of quirky or unusual, I'm going to be really interested.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01- I think if it's like a conversion... - Absolutely. I would love that.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03How important is it for you two to be close to neighbours,
0:08:03 > 0:08:07and have a community next to you, or is the idea that, actually,
0:08:07 > 0:08:09you want to be a little bit more remote?
0:08:09 > 0:08:12We'd like to be close to other people, really,
0:08:12 > 0:08:15again, particularly because I work shifts, and you could...
0:08:15 > 0:08:18Also makes it a bit easier to meet people if you're in
0:08:18 > 0:08:21a smaller community or in a town, and I think that's one of the
0:08:21 > 0:08:24- things we're really keen to make sure we do straightaway.- Yes.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27So, let's remind ourselves of your top budget,
0:08:27 > 0:08:30and, ideally, what you want to spend.
0:08:30 > 0:08:35- Top budget would be £350,000. - Yep.- And ideally?
0:08:35 > 0:08:38I think we'd prefer to stay around 325 if we can.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40It just gives us a little bit more flexibility.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42- And a little bit left over. - Absolutely.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44Well, I think we should get a move on.
0:08:44 > 0:08:45Jump in the car,
0:08:45 > 0:08:48because we have some fantastic properties to show you.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50- Brilliant.- Shall we? - Thank you.- Yes.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56Chris and Kate are hoping their budget of £350,000
0:08:56 > 0:09:00will buy them their perfect home in an area of the country they love.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03They like the idea of a quirky, character property,
0:09:03 > 0:09:07but one which has enough head height for all six foot six of Chris.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09They would need two or more bedrooms,
0:09:09 > 0:09:13a garden for Dolly the dog, and space for Chris to park outside.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15They'd also prefer to be in a village setting,
0:09:15 > 0:09:17where they can meet other locals.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20I'll be taking them to see the best properties Dorset
0:09:20 > 0:09:23has to offer them for their budget, but before I reveal the price
0:09:23 > 0:09:27of each, I'll be asking them to take a guess at first.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31Our final stop will be our Mystery House, a property steeped in history
0:09:31 > 0:09:33and overflowing with character,
0:09:33 > 0:09:36which I'm hoping will really inspire them.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44Our first property is in the village of Cattistock in West Dorset.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47A character village with a lively, active community, it has a
0:09:47 > 0:09:52village hall attached to the church, a shop, and an award-winning pub.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56The village also plays host to the famous Dorset Knob Throwing
0:09:56 > 0:09:58and Frome Valley Food Festival,
0:09:58 > 0:10:01attracting thousands of visitors every year.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03The property we're seeing
0:10:03 > 0:10:06is situated right in the heart of the village.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Well, I'm looking forward to showing you around some of our properties.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11Let's kick off with this one, our first.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14- It is a chapel. - Indeed.- Fabulous.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17- This is... I have a real soft spot for converted chapels, so...- Do you?
0:10:17 > 0:10:20I have to admit, I may have looked at this one on the internet, Nicki.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24- Oh, OK! So that hasn't put you off? - No, no.- Not at all.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27- We'd be very excited to go in here. And it's a beautiful village.- Yeah.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30Well, let's step inside and see what you make of our first property.
0:10:30 > 0:10:31Fantastic. Thank you.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37This Methodist chapel was built around 1870 to serve the village.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41It was sympathetically converted into a home about 20 years ago,
0:10:41 > 0:10:43retaining some fabulous character features.
0:10:47 > 0:10:52Right, let me welcome you to your converted chapel.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55- Wow.- Lovely. - Very nice.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59You do have the character of the chapel, although, actually, if you
0:10:59 > 0:11:02take your eye away from the doors, this just looks like
0:11:02 > 0:11:04- a very pleasant sitting room/dining room, doesn't it?- It does.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07You want the character, but you don't want too much character,
0:11:07 > 0:11:10and so, for me, this is actually kind of about the right level.
0:11:10 > 0:11:11It's really nice.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13- What about you, Chris? - Love it.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19- Well, it's got the wood burner. - Tick.- What more do I need?
0:11:19 > 0:11:23- In the centre of the village. - Exactly, exactly.- Yeah.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25Let's walk into the kitchen, through, again,
0:11:25 > 0:11:27- these marvellous doors. - Interesting.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31It's like the big reveal, going through these doorframes.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35- Beautiful.- Very theatrical. - Yeah. Very theatrical.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39- Wow.- Your kitchen. Now, you could class this as a galley kitchen...
0:11:39 > 0:11:42- Yep. It's quite a wide galley kitchen.- It's generous, isn't it?
0:11:42 > 0:11:48Yeah. I mean, you've got a wonderful range, I love the Belfast sink.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51- It's perfectly big enough for us, isn't it?- More than enough space.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53And if you were entertaining, it's still big enough.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56How is this working now you're actually physically in the house,
0:11:56 > 0:11:58compared to what you saw online?
0:11:58 > 0:12:02- Erm, this seems bigger... - Yeah.- ..than we expected.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05- The kitchen, certainly.- Well, I'm looking forward to the invite!
0:12:05 > 0:12:08- Always welcome. - Right, let's keep going.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14'Well, we're certainly off to a good start with this property.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17'Kate and Chris seem to like the character and the space on offer
0:12:17 > 0:12:21'so far, so I'm pretty confident the upstairs won't disappoint, either.'
0:12:24 > 0:12:29- Now, how is this for an unusual feature?- That's fantastic.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33The original lamppost and light from the village itself.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Wow. That's a really, really nice feature.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40Now, with our chapel,
0:12:40 > 0:12:43we've actually given you more bedrooms than you asked for.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45The largest is the master.
0:12:45 > 0:12:51There's two further single bedrooms, a study, and the family bathroom.
0:12:51 > 0:12:52Oh, that's fabulous.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55- So I could have a writing room inside the house.- You could.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58- Now, I can't promise you a view, sadly.- Nope.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01But what I can give you is the small dressing room here,
0:13:01 > 0:13:04- on top of your wardrobes. - That would be very useful,
0:13:04 > 0:13:07because Chris often goes to work at four or five in the morning,
0:13:07 > 0:13:08so if he's not in here getting changed,
0:13:08 > 0:13:10then it would be slightly quieter,
0:13:10 > 0:13:13and I'm more likely to stay asleep if he's in there.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15It's like this chapel has been designed for the two of you.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17- Yeah, possibly. - Yeah.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20Well, let's go outside, to look at the space there.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Quite an unusual set-up.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25I wonder how much you remember when you looked at those
0:13:25 > 0:13:27cheeky details online. We'll see.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30Chris, I'm going to ask you to lead the way. Thank you.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36'To the side of the property, there's a small, south-facing
0:13:36 > 0:13:41'enclosed garden, with a decked area accessed from the living room.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44'The property's also being sold with a separate piece of land,
0:13:44 > 0:13:47'which is a seven-minute walk away at the edge of the village.
0:13:47 > 0:13:48'If they wanted,
0:13:48 > 0:13:52'it could provide Kate and Chris with rental income as pasture land,
0:13:52 > 0:13:56'but, with its peaceful elevated position offering views like this,
0:13:56 > 0:14:00'I think they might be tempted to keep it for themselves.'
0:14:00 > 0:14:06So, unusually, our chapel has this parcel of land.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09So you come up the bridle path, which is looked after by the farmer,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12but you've got access into here, and it's nearly two acres.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16- Wow. I think Dolly would enjoy that. - Yes!
0:14:16 > 0:14:22So I'm now going to ask you to put a price on this property, but, Kate,
0:14:22 > 0:14:26how good was your memory when you perused the internet and you saw it?
0:14:26 > 0:14:30I can't remember exactly what it was, but I know it came up
0:14:30 > 0:14:35under our top budget, so I would guess it was maybe about 340.
0:14:35 > 0:14:36Right. Chris?
0:14:36 > 0:14:42- Maybe my memory was a little bit better, then.- Oh.- But I would...
0:14:42 > 0:14:45I seem to remember it being 325.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Well, your memory is right.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50The asking price for the chapel,
0:14:50 > 0:14:55- with the nearly two acres of land, is £325,000.- That's fantastic.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59If you wanted to buy the chapel on its own, without this land,
0:14:59 > 0:15:02they would be happy to sell that as well,
0:15:02 > 0:15:06and the asking price for the chapel on its own is £295,000.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09- Gosh. That's something to think about.- Yeah.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12But they have had some serious offers on this land,
0:15:12 > 0:15:15and ideally, they want to sell the two together.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19- Do you two want to have a little explore on your own?- Yes, please.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21- Yeah, I think so.- Quite a bit. - Yeah.- Go on up there.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23You'll get an even better view. I'll hang around,
0:15:23 > 0:15:26and then we can walk back to the village when you're ready.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28- Thank you.- Thank you. - Off you go.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Coming in well under budget, even with the additional land,
0:15:35 > 0:15:38this converted chapel has the character features
0:15:38 > 0:15:42and village location that Kate and Chris were after.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45There's also three bedrooms, a separate study,
0:15:45 > 0:15:47and outside space for Dolly.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51What's up here, then? Does it go to this border?
0:15:51 > 0:15:54- I think it goes all the way over there.- Yeah.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57And then right up to the top, there.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59It's not a massive house, but it's got everything that we need,
0:15:59 > 0:16:02and I love the position right in the middle of the village.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06Perhaps upstairs, you know, it's a little bit short on head height,
0:16:06 > 0:16:10but, you know, that's my fault, really, more than anybody else's.
0:16:10 > 0:16:15Erm, but, you know, it's only really upstairs. The downstairs is great.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19This plot is amazing, and I think I would just be blown away if I
0:16:19 > 0:16:22actually owned a piece of land. I think that would be fantastic.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Well, I think that's a good start here in Dorset.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31- Little bit of a walk now. We'll amble back into the village.- OK.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40With its awe-inspiring coastline,
0:16:40 > 0:16:43rolling chalk hills, and river valleys,
0:16:43 > 0:16:47Dorset is a haven for hikers, ramblers, and dog walkers alike.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50It offers 2,000 miles of footpaths, bridle ways,
0:16:50 > 0:16:52and byways to choose from.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55However, although the windy cliff tops and dense woodlands are
0:16:55 > 0:16:59attractive for holiday-makers, they also have the potential to be
0:16:59 > 0:17:02treacherous terrain if you get lost or injured.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06The Dorset Search Dogs charity was established in 2006
0:17:06 > 0:17:09to help rescue missing persons in the area.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12With Chris' own experiences of helping those in need,
0:17:12 > 0:17:15and his and Kate's ambition to explore the Dorset countryside
0:17:15 > 0:17:17with their dog, Dolly, we've arranged for them
0:17:17 > 0:17:21to meet chairman, Matt Cooke, to find out more about the charity.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Dorset Search Dogs was set up to find missing people,
0:17:27 > 0:17:29vulnerable missing people, throughout Dorset
0:17:29 > 0:17:32and neighbouring counties, and anybody who wants us, really.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35And how does it work, then? Who actually calls you out?
0:17:35 > 0:17:38We get called out by the police, coastguard,
0:17:38 > 0:17:41or neighbouring search and rescue teams. You can't call us directly.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45It has to be coordinated by police or coastguard.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48How often do you find you get called out?
0:17:48 > 0:17:51We get called out about 40 to 50 times per year.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54We're available 24/7.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57We're all volunteers, so it may not mean that we can attend all
0:17:57 > 0:18:00the callouts, but between us, we do try and get to as many as we can.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02And how do you go about training the dogs?
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Well, we've got two of our guys here, with two of their dogs.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08- We can go and have a look, if you want.- Great.- Yeah.
0:18:10 > 0:18:15On average, it takes between 12 and 18 months to train a search dog.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18For the dogs, it's like a big game of hide and seek,
0:18:18 > 0:18:21starting off with the squeaky toy used as a reward.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24- This is Wendy, with her search dog, Hattie.- Hi, there.- Hello.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27Hattie's a trainee search dog at the moment,
0:18:27 > 0:18:30but what we do is we wind the dogs up with a squeaky toy,
0:18:30 > 0:18:34run off behind the nearest tree or nearest bush, and the dog goes in.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Wendy, if you want to give me your search toy.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39This is where Hattie will start getting wound up.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44TOY SQUEAKS DOG BARKS
0:18:47 > 0:18:51Successful search dogs need to have a high play drive and be agile,
0:18:51 > 0:18:54with plenty of stamina.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57Although any dog could be trained as a search dog, they tend to be
0:18:57 > 0:19:01larger, working breeds, like Hattie, who's a Giant Schnauzer.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05There are also Springer Spaniels, Labradors,
0:19:05 > 0:19:07and Border Collies in the team.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Woohoo! Good girl!
0:19:12 > 0:19:14The charity has a number of volunteers,
0:19:14 > 0:19:16who help out on training sessions.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18Called dogsbodies,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21they play the role of a missing person for the dogs to find.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24OK, so we've set up a bit of a scenario here.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26We've got Sue, one of our volunteers.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30She's sat on a log, felt unwell, fallen over,
0:19:30 > 0:19:34and she's banged her head. We wouldn't get that full scenario.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36All we would get is a call from a relative,
0:19:36 > 0:19:38saying that somebody hasn't turned up.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42So, Steve would go out as a handler, with search dog, Oscar.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44Oscar is one of our more experienced dogs.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46So, Steve, show us how it's done.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50Are you going to go find? You going to go find?
0:19:50 > 0:19:51Go find!
0:19:53 > 0:19:56Most search dogs are air scenters, which means,
0:19:56 > 0:19:58rather than tracking a scent like a police dog,
0:19:58 > 0:20:02they pick up the scent of a human being in the air.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05With a sense of smell thousands of times stronger than that of
0:20:05 > 0:20:09a human, some of the Dorset search dogs can detect human scent
0:20:09 > 0:20:13from 500-800 yards away.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16Once the dog finds their missing person,
0:20:16 > 0:20:19they return to the handler to indicate their find.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22- Good boy!- Hello.- Hello. - Hello, I'm Steve. You all right?
0:20:22 > 0:20:25- Hello, I'm fine, thank you. - What's your name?
0:20:25 > 0:20:28- Sue.- Sue. You all right? - I'm fine here.- Good. This is Matt.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30He'll sort you out.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33OK, that's the end of the scenario, then. Well done.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Good boy!
0:20:36 > 0:20:38Now that Chris and Kate have seen the techniques,
0:20:38 > 0:20:42perhaps they'll be tempted to try out training with Dolly
0:20:42 > 0:20:43when they make the move to Dorset.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51We're heading towards the coast for our next property -
0:20:51 > 0:20:52to the market town of Bridport.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Historically recognised as one of the leading rope-producing towns
0:20:56 > 0:21:00in England, today Bridport is known for its vibrant
0:21:00 > 0:21:04local arts scene, playing host to a range of events and exhibitions.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08There's an array of independent shops and a popular cinema.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11I think the culture on offer here would really appeal
0:21:11 > 0:21:12to Kate and Chris.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15The house I'm showing them is just under two miles from the
0:21:15 > 0:21:18centre of Bridport, in the neighbouring village of Bradpole.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22So you said, ideally, you'd like to be close to the sea.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25Well, we're about five or ten minutes away.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Well, that would be lovely.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31We try and show our couples different varieties of properties.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34This one is an old cottage with a thatched porch.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36- Beautiful.- Very nice.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40- The good news is the roof is quite new!- Yeah.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44- It's definitely got some kerb appeal, hasn't it?- Hasn't it just?
0:21:44 > 0:21:47We are right on the edge of Bridport so you've got all that
0:21:47 > 0:21:50community there, lots going on.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52- That would been nice for me, I think.- Yeah.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54They have lots of festivals and things to get involved in.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56So first impressions...?
0:21:56 > 0:21:58Great roof.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00I love the little bit of thatch, so you've got a bit of character.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02- I'm really looking forward to going in.- Good.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04On that note, we will. Come on.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09'This property dates back to the 1880s.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11'Originally it would have been a worker's cottage
0:22:11 > 0:22:13'for the surrounding land.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15'Despite showing its age on the outside,
0:22:15 > 0:22:18'I think the interior might surprise them.'
0:22:19 > 0:22:21So we all love this delightful porch.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24- Fantastic.- You could call it a boot room, or a little dog room.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27It leads us straight into the kitchen/diner.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31I love it.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33- Yeah.- It's really nice.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36I'm struggling to think of something in this room
0:22:36 > 0:22:38that I'm not in love with.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40- Woo.- Yeah, it's great.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43- It's been done really well.- Yeah.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46- It's very much our taste, as well. - Yeah, very much.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49The current owners have had it about 6-7 years.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51They've done all the work on it.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53- They actually live next-door.- Oh.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56- This is a holiday let.- Ah, OK.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00The whole property, apart from that conservatory at the back,
0:23:00 > 0:23:03or utility room, in actual fact, is probably a better word for it.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06It's got a downstairs cloakroom - basic but functional.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08A log store and there's water out there.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11If you're ever going to think of a project,
0:23:11 > 0:23:15and perhaps extending slightly, you've already got the footprint.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18You'd need to get the right planning permission but you could extend
0:23:18 > 0:23:21a little bit further out if you wanted to have a bit more space.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23Lovely.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26It sounds like you could both certainly live in this room.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28Let's see what you make of next-door,
0:23:28 > 0:23:29if I can squeeze past you.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31Thank you.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35Right, reactions for our sitting room, please?
0:23:36 > 0:23:37I still love it.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39THEY LAUGH
0:23:39 > 0:23:42I love the wooden floorboards that have been painted white.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45I mean, it's beautifully done out.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47It's really charming.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49How are the ceilings?
0:23:49 > 0:23:50Fabulous.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54- I wouldn't even think to notice them, really.- Yeah.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56I think from the outside I was a wee bit,
0:23:56 > 0:23:59"Oh, are we going to have a ceiling-related problem?"
0:23:59 > 0:24:02But, actually, it's like a normal-sized house.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05I wonder if they might be slightly lower upstairs.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08I like that, a ceiling-related problem.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11That's good. I'm going to use that one again.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13- Let's go upstairs and see if we do have any issues.- OK.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20'The upstairs of the property has a family bathroom and two bedrooms,
0:24:20 > 0:24:24'a good-sized double for guests and the master bedroom.'
0:24:24 > 0:24:28So downstairs has been a bit of a success story.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33I'm hoping this will be the same upstairs.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36I think we should just buy it now, really.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38It's fabulous.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41I wouldn't have thought outside that the inside would look like this.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44I think you get all the character and the age outside and
0:24:44 > 0:24:46then something quite modern and stylish inside.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50- No ceiling issues?- None. - No ceiling issues.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54So far, it's just perfect for what we were looking for.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56Oh, my goodness, I'm so happy.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58But...
0:24:58 > 0:25:01It's all word of caution because we are quite close to
0:25:01 > 0:25:04Bridport and we've got to decide how much it's on the market for
0:25:04 > 0:25:07- before we get too excited. - Don't break our hearts, Nicki.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11No, but we're going to head outside and we're going to talk money.
0:25:11 > 0:25:12So...
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Be my guest, off you go.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17'Internally this property has a high standard of finish,
0:25:17 > 0:25:21' but outside the paved back garden is the low-maintenance space you'd
0:25:21 > 0:25:25'expect from a rental property and could benefit from some work.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28'Nonetheless, fully enclosed and with side access,
0:25:28 > 0:25:32'it would make an adequate space for Dolly.'
0:25:32 > 0:25:34Now at the moment it's practical, isn't it?
0:25:34 > 0:25:37You could put down a little bit of lawn here and you'll get the sun
0:25:37 > 0:25:40not in the evenings, but certainly during the day.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42- Again, just somewhere for the dog. - Absolutely.- Mmm.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45This is workable because there's no doubt plenty of walks on the
0:25:45 > 0:25:48- doorstep because we're in that part of the country.- Yeah.
0:25:48 > 0:25:52- The tour of the cottage has gone exceedingly well.- Yeah.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56The final part, obviously, is to try and put a price on it.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00I think, I would say
0:26:00 > 0:26:03this is on for 320.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08I'm going to say a little bit higher,
0:26:08 > 0:26:09I'm going to say 335.
0:26:11 > 0:26:12OK.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15I'm going to give you two a completely different figure
0:26:15 > 0:26:17- to either of those.- OK.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21Asking price, £275,000.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25- Wow!- Seriously, get your chequebook out now.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30Fabulous, thank you for showing it to us. It's wonderful.
0:26:30 > 0:26:31I'm guessing, on your own this time,
0:26:31 > 0:26:33you'd like to take a second look.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36- Yes, please.- Thank you. - Off you go.- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40It is a wonderful property
0:26:40 > 0:26:43and you know what they say when you step through the door
0:26:43 > 0:26:44and it feels like home.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47Well, for our couple, they certainly got that feeling.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51'For a staggering £75,000 under budget,
0:26:51 > 0:26:55'this updated character cottage offers Kate and Chris the two
0:26:55 > 0:26:59'bedrooms they need and potential to extend in the future.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02'It's close to Bridport town centre and less than
0:27:02 > 0:27:04'a ten-minute drive to the sea.'
0:27:04 > 0:27:08The way it's decorated, the furniture, the kitchen,
0:27:08 > 0:27:11everything is almost to our taste, really.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14Down to the paint on the walls, probably.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17The real highlight for me with this place would be
0:27:17 > 0:27:18proximity to the beach.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21You know, it's always been a dream that we would be able to walk
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Dolly on the beach and actually here it's completely feasible
0:27:24 > 0:27:25that we could do that.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28That's a really big thing to think about.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31- That was successful.- It was.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34You looked very at home. All I need is my camera.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37- That's it. Let's hit the road, shall we?- Definitely.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50'It's the second day of our search with Chris and Kate who,
0:27:50 > 0:27:53'with a budget of £350,000,
0:27:53 > 0:27:56'are looking to swap their four-bedroomed semi
0:27:56 > 0:27:59'in Reigate, Surrey, for a character home down in Dorset.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02'With Chris's new job starting in just six weeks
0:28:02 > 0:28:04'there's no time to lose.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06'Still to come,
0:28:06 > 0:28:09'it looks like our Mystery House might be working its magic.'
0:28:09 > 0:28:11I'm a little bit emotional.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13- Are you?- Mmm, a little bit.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18'And I'll be reaching new heights on the Isle Portland.'
0:28:19 > 0:28:22Go on, all your weight through that leg. Go on, push, push, push.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24My heart, Will, is racing!
0:28:24 > 0:28:26NICKI CHUCKLES
0:28:27 > 0:28:31With Chris starting a new job in literally a matter of weeks,
0:28:31 > 0:28:36both he and Kate are after a new life, as well as a new home.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39I think yesterday's house-hunt was pretty successful.
0:28:39 > 0:28:43Today is all about our mystery property.
0:28:43 > 0:28:47Now this house is going to offer them over 1,000 years of
0:28:47 > 0:28:50history and potentially everything they want.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53So, where's the catch?
0:28:53 > 0:28:56I'm going to be using every penny of their budget.
0:28:56 > 0:28:57Let's see how we get on.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04'Our last stop is Maiden Newton,
0:29:04 > 0:29:07'just two miles down the road from where our search began.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10'The large village lies on the confluence of the rivers
0:29:10 > 0:29:15'Frome and Hook, surrounded by the chalk hills of the Dorset Downs.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18'The village centre, marked by the remains of a 15th century
0:29:18 > 0:29:22'market cross, has a selection of local shops and places to eat
0:29:22 > 0:29:26'and is served by a train station with routes to London and Weymouth.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28'The buildings are a mix of old and new,
0:29:28 > 0:29:31'some dating back to the 17th century.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34'The village church is said to have the oldest original
0:29:34 > 0:29:36'wooden church door in England.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39'Just a two-minute walk around the corner,
0:29:39 > 0:29:42'our Mystery House sits on the banks of the River Frome
0:29:42 > 0:29:44'on a rather notable site.'
0:29:48 > 0:29:52Now it's not every day I can show our couples
0:29:52 > 0:29:56a property that is right next to 1,000-year-old mill.
0:29:57 > 0:29:58Mentioned in the Domesday Book,
0:29:58 > 0:30:01- that is how old this whole area is. - Wow!
0:30:01 > 0:30:05The good news is your property isn't 1,000 years old.
0:30:05 > 0:30:07It's only about 100 years old.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09I'm in love.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11- It's beautiful, isn't it?- Lovely.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13Ready for the mystery tour?
0:30:13 > 0:30:15- Absolutely.- Happy, Chris?- Yes.
0:30:17 > 0:30:21'This impressive three-storey terraced building is the largest
0:30:21 > 0:30:24'property we've seen so far.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27'The current owners have spent 18 months renovating the house,
0:30:27 > 0:30:29'as well as restoring the neighbouring mill
0:30:29 > 0:30:30'to its former glory.'
0:30:30 > 0:30:33Come out of the rain.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35Leave our umbrellas behind.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39- Crikey! - You've got your kitchen here,
0:30:39 > 0:30:41you've got your wood burner,
0:30:41 > 0:30:44- which we've got to get out of the way for Chris.- Yeah.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48Dining area and then we've got our sitting room too.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50It's lovely. It's really nice.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53I love the floor, the tiles on the floor.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56I love the open-plan living.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58I think that really works for kind of our lifestyle.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00Fantastic kitchen.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03It is Grade 2 listed, but by association, because of the
0:31:03 > 0:31:07old mill because that has so much history and heritage.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10We all love downstairs, let's see what we make of the next floor.
0:31:12 > 0:31:16'Just off the open-plan dining area, is a useful utility room with
0:31:16 > 0:31:20'downstairs toilet, completing the accommodation on the ground floor.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22'This being our Mystery House,
0:31:22 > 0:31:26'it does have a slightly unconventional layout.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29'There's a further sitting room and a bathroom on the first floor,
0:31:29 > 0:31:31'which is where we're heading next.'
0:31:32 > 0:31:35Right, pleasing start to our house tour.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37I'm feeling confident on the next floor.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43I love the look.
0:31:43 > 0:31:45I'm a little bit emotional.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47- Are you?- Mmm, a little bit.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53This is like everything we would ever want.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55You're making me go now.
0:31:55 > 0:31:57That's not the whole point! I'm meant to be taking you around.
0:31:58 > 0:32:02Could you see yourselves living somewhere like this?
0:32:02 > 0:32:04- We are already seeing ourselves. - THEY LAUGH
0:32:04 > 0:32:07In our wildest dreams, I think. Yeah.
0:32:07 > 0:32:09- Oh!- OK.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12I'm going to take you upstairs and show you what else there is.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14- Are you ready for this?- Yeah.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17Can we improve on that reaction upstairs?
0:32:17 > 0:32:20You've got some work to do. Right, let's see.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26'I'm not sure this viewing could get any better,
0:32:26 > 0:32:29'at least not where Kate is concerned.
0:32:29 > 0:32:32'Also, on the first floor is the family bathroom.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34'Heading up to the top floor,
0:32:34 > 0:32:37'there's an additional shower room and three sizeable bedrooms,
0:32:37 > 0:32:41'all with gorgeous exposed beams and high vaulted ceilings.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45'I'm confident we won't have any ceiling-related problems with
0:32:45 > 0:32:47'six foot six Chris here.'
0:32:48 > 0:32:49So...
0:32:50 > 0:32:52On our second floor now,
0:32:52 > 0:32:55we can't just do, you know, the normal layout, can we?
0:32:55 > 0:32:57This is a fantastic sized room.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59Absolutely enormous.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01There's a great feeling of space through the whole house.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04Even just coming up the stairs and the landings.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06I love the beams.
0:33:06 > 0:33:08Chris likes the high ceilings, I guess.
0:33:08 > 0:33:12No, my head is not going to be bashing those in a hurry.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15The weather is a little inclement, but I think it is worth going
0:33:15 > 0:33:18outside just to have a look at that garden and that outside space.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21- Yeah.- Right, we'll head back. - Thank you.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27'Back on the ground floor, there's a garage to the front of the
0:33:27 > 0:33:30'property offering a fantastic double height space.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33'Then there's a generous lawned back garden.'
0:33:33 > 0:33:34Right...
0:33:35 > 0:33:38We can cheat a little bit out here,
0:33:38 > 0:33:41because if you don't want to, we don't need to go out in the rain.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43We can stand under this canopy
0:33:43 > 0:33:46and see the full effect of your garden.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49There's a few things I've always wanted in a dream house.
0:33:49 > 0:33:51One is a door in the middle, which this has.
0:33:51 > 0:33:53The other is a walled garden.
0:33:53 > 0:33:54Oh...
0:33:54 > 0:33:56It's like we knew.
0:33:56 > 0:34:00So we're going to have to now try and put a final price
0:34:00 > 0:34:02on our Mystery House.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06- It's got to be 350 plus.- Mm-hmm.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09I think, I'm really hoping not
0:34:09 > 0:34:12but I think it might be slightly over our budget
0:34:12 > 0:34:14and you're pushing us a wee bit.
0:34:14 > 0:34:16I'm going to say 375.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20OK, well the asking price is...
0:34:20 > 0:34:24for offers over £350,000.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29- We need to save more money. - We can really see it.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31They are looking for offers just over.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34- I think it's down to your negotiation skills.- Yeah.
0:34:34 > 0:34:36This could be the perfect home.
0:34:36 > 0:34:39Yes, why don't you have another look and decide if it is?
0:34:39 > 0:34:42Because it is a lot of money, I do appreciate that.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46I'm going to join you because I'm not staying out here in the rain
0:34:46 > 0:34:48however beautiful this garden is.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50- Off you go.- Thank you.
0:34:50 > 0:34:54'Taking their budget to the limit, this fantastic character
0:34:54 > 0:34:58'property satisfies everything on Kate and Chris's wish list and more.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01'There's an extra bedroom that Kate could use for a writing room,
0:35:01 > 0:35:05'the living space is practical and modern but with period features
0:35:05 > 0:35:08'and there's a private enclosed garden,
0:35:08 > 0:35:12'all within walking distance to the village centre.'
0:35:12 > 0:35:14From outside it looked fantastic, already.
0:35:14 > 0:35:19But as you come through the door and just open out into this fantastic,
0:35:19 > 0:35:21open-plan living space.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26Yeah, I think we both really kind of got that feeling.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28I got a bit emotional when we came upstairs
0:35:28 > 0:35:32and I think that's because this is sort of the house
0:35:32 > 0:35:34that you always dream that you might have
0:35:34 > 0:35:37and I'm not sure that I thought that was
0:35:37 > 0:35:39something that would be achievable on our budget.
0:35:39 > 0:35:43I think we would do anything we could do probably buy this house.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47Well, I think we've finished our tour of Dorset,
0:35:47 > 0:35:49on a high with our Mystery House.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52- Definitely.- Very successful.
0:35:52 > 0:35:54What are you going to do next, I wonder? Let's make a move.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58Chris, you grab the door, we're going to duck this way and let's go.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08'The Isle of Portland has long been renowned for its durable
0:36:08 > 0:36:09'and hardy limestone bedrock,
0:36:09 > 0:36:13'used for building across the UK and abroad for centuries.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16'But, in recent years, it's also become popular
0:36:16 > 0:36:18'in the world of outdoor pursuits.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21Today, Portland is known as one of the UK's top spots
0:36:21 > 0:36:23'for rock climbing.
0:36:23 > 0:36:26'With four miles of almost unbroken cliffs,
0:36:26 > 0:36:29'there are over 1,000 climbing routes to choose from
0:36:29 > 0:36:32'and with breathtaking views of the English Channel,
0:36:32 > 0:36:36'it's the perfect location to don a harness for a lesson
0:36:36 > 0:36:39'from local climbing instructor, Will Moy.'
0:36:39 > 0:36:42Will, this is a truly remarkable spot here.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45I mean, that rock face is something else.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48- It's amazing, isn't it? - Tell me about the geology of it?
0:36:48 > 0:36:51So this is Portland stone and so it's a sedimentary rock,
0:36:51 > 0:36:54which has been formed by layers and layers of tiny crustaceans
0:36:54 > 0:36:57over a long period of time that's been squeezed together
0:36:57 > 0:37:01and now it's been pushed up and created this island
0:37:01 > 0:37:03- and left this amazing rock for us to climb on.- It is...
0:37:03 > 0:37:06Amazing is a good word for it because just standing here,
0:37:06 > 0:37:09you can see just so many layers.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12- Is that where it's been compressed?- Yeah, absolutely.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14So that's why it's really great for us to rock climb on.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17It means that we've got lots of handholds to climb on,
0:37:17 > 0:37:19and lots of little edges to put our feet on.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22So who could attempt to climb a rock face of that size
0:37:22 > 0:37:23and stature, if you like?
0:37:23 > 0:37:26Well, that's the great thing about Portland, really.
0:37:26 > 0:37:27There's a grade for everybody.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31So starting from really young, so maybe five, six, seven years old,
0:37:31 > 0:37:33all the way up to 70s and 80s can get up there,
0:37:33 > 0:37:35if they're fit and willing.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37- Really?- Yeah.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40- I'm nervous but I'm looking forward to it.- Great.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42- We'll give it a good go.- Thank you.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45'The seam of limestone I'm going to be climbing
0:37:45 > 0:37:47'is around 50 foot high.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50'It sounds daunting but Will assures me it's a good distance
0:37:50 > 0:37:53'for a beginner like myself.'
0:37:53 > 0:37:55- So we've got the harness on.- Yeah.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58- Helmet on.- Helmet on. What next?
0:37:58 > 0:38:01- So this is the rope here that you're going to be climbing on.- Yeah.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03The rope's here just to safeguard you.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06The idea is we need to tie you in. All right.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09- I'm going to be controlling this end of the rope.- Yeah.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11As you climb up, my job is to take the rope in.
0:38:11 > 0:38:14All right, so it's always there ready to catch you.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16I know I'm in good hands, Will.
0:38:16 > 0:38:18- It looks an awful long way up.- OK.
0:38:18 > 0:38:22So the idea, obviously, you've got lots of handholds and footholds
0:38:22 > 0:38:25to place your hands on. Sometimes it's difficult to find your way.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28- You have to feel around sometimes to find the best place.- Yeah.
0:38:28 > 0:38:32So the first tricky move is getting your feet up to this one,
0:38:32 > 0:38:33- then across to here.- OK.
0:38:33 > 0:38:35You've got an excellent handhold up here.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38- As soon as you can get your hand up to here, the better.- OK.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40So...
0:38:40 > 0:38:42- This is where my first foot goes. - Yeah.
0:38:42 > 0:38:44Can you reach right up?
0:38:44 > 0:38:47That's it. Bend your knee a bit that way. Perfect.
0:38:47 > 0:38:48Right.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52'Climbing is a great full body workout.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55'Using both the upper and lower body,
0:38:55 > 0:38:58'you work your abdominals and leg muscles,
0:38:58 > 0:39:00'whilst all the reaching and stretching for holds
0:39:00 > 0:39:04'improves flexibility and agility at the same time.'
0:39:04 > 0:39:06Will, the fact that you've got that rope is so reassuring,
0:39:06 > 0:39:08I can't tell you.
0:39:08 > 0:39:09Right, Will, next bit?
0:39:09 > 0:39:13OK, so I would go out to the right a little bit.
0:39:13 > 0:39:15- Can you see those ledges you've got?- Yeah.
0:39:16 > 0:39:17Well done.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19My heart, Will, is racing!
0:39:22 > 0:39:25- OK. You're almost to the top now. - Yeah.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27So if you can climb a few more steps.
0:39:29 > 0:39:33'The popularity of climbing in the UK is currently on the increase.
0:39:33 > 0:39:35'Membership with the British Mountaineering Council
0:39:35 > 0:39:39'has more than doubled in the last 15 years.'
0:39:39 > 0:39:42Go on, all your weight through that leg. Go on, push, push, push.
0:39:42 > 0:39:43Well done.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46I can't believe I'm practically at the top.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48And, turning around,
0:39:48 > 0:39:53having the confidence just to look at that spectacular view...
0:39:53 > 0:39:55it's worth it.
0:39:55 > 0:39:58Right, I better get down now.
0:39:58 > 0:40:00'I can see why people get addicted to climbing.
0:40:00 > 0:40:04'The feeling of reaching the top is just exhilarating.'
0:40:04 > 0:40:06And little steps down on the rock now, then.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09- Just smaller steps, yeah. - Yeah, little steps.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12'With sport climbing on the up, it's been shortlisted
0:40:12 > 0:40:15'for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.'
0:40:16 > 0:40:18NICKI SIGHS Terra firma!
0:40:18 > 0:40:20Woo!
0:40:20 > 0:40:21I can't believe I did it.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25Yay!
0:40:26 > 0:40:28'But, when it comes to my climbing career,
0:40:28 > 0:40:32'I think it's best I leave it to the experts and stick to house-hunting.'
0:40:35 > 0:40:38Well, we've certainly had a very pleasant few days here in Dorset
0:40:38 > 0:40:40with Chris and Kate.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42Now we know our couple need to move quickly,
0:40:42 > 0:40:43the big question is,
0:40:43 > 0:40:46are they going to move into one of our properties?
0:40:46 > 0:40:47Let's find out.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57Well, Chris and Kate, what a delightful few days
0:40:57 > 0:41:00we have spent with you driving around Dorset.
0:41:00 > 0:41:02It's been great, hasn't it?
0:41:02 > 0:41:05- It's been fantastic. - Yeah. Really wonderful.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07At what point do you think as you were looking around the properties
0:41:07 > 0:41:10did you suddenly think, "This is it, this could be our new home?"
0:41:10 > 0:41:11FIRE CRACKLES
0:41:11 > 0:41:13Excuse the fireworks going off in the background.
0:41:14 > 0:41:18I think it happened in possibly two of the houses.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20Definitely the Mystery House.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23Um, and possibly the cottage that we saw in Bradpole,
0:41:23 > 0:41:27as well, was something that we would definitely consider.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30Why the Mystery House? Why does that one work for the both of you?
0:41:30 > 0:41:35I think just the proportions were certainly one of the things
0:41:35 > 0:41:38that really had that wow factor, definitely.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40That's exactly it, wow factor.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42I think that house had it.
0:41:42 > 0:41:43Where are you going to go next?
0:41:43 > 0:41:46We're definitely going to do a second viewing,
0:41:46 > 0:41:49as soon as we can and then it's the check on the finances,
0:41:49 > 0:41:52conversation with the owner because I think we need to understand
0:41:52 > 0:41:55what they're looking for when it says, in excess of.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58- Yeah.- Um, and then, you know, take it from there.
0:41:58 > 0:41:59Oh...
0:41:59 > 0:42:03This is all sounding really promising.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07I think in our entire lives, it's probably the nicest house
0:42:07 > 0:42:09we've ever walked around.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12I can so see you two in that property.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14You just seem to fit.
0:42:14 > 0:42:15You really do.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17It's been our pleasure, thank you,
0:42:17 > 0:42:20and, well, enjoy the rest of your lives here in Dorset.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23- Thank you very much, it's been brilliant fun.- Thank you.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33Well, I've loved showing Chris and Kate around Dorset.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36Such a different collection of homes
0:42:36 > 0:42:39and only one of them at the top of their budget.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41That house, our mystery property,
0:42:41 > 0:42:45well, it certainly brought tears to Kate's eyes.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48Hearing those reactions and seeing that emotion,
0:42:48 > 0:42:51I'm feeling quietly confident.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54So that's it from, well, at least a rather rainy Dorset today,
0:42:54 > 0:42:58and I'll see you again in another part of the country soon.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03If you would like to escape to the country
0:43:03 > 0:43:06in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, or Scotland and need our help,
0:43:06 > 0:43:09you can apply online at...