0:00:02 > 0:00:05At first glance, you may be forgiven for thinking this Renaissance-style
0:00:05 > 0:00:08chateaux is somewhere in the Loire Valley in the middle of France.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10But, in fact, it's much closer to home.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12Find out where I am in just a moment.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33Today's house-hunters are laying all their cards on the table.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36The dining room might be a bit small.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39We've got quite a big square table.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41So you're going to buy a house around your dining table?
0:00:41 > 0:00:45So, will any of our properties reveal a winning hand?
0:00:45 > 0:00:48- Look at the character.- I know. - Look at the fireplace.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51This is just perfect country cottage.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Keep going, Rees, keep going. She's going to break soon.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56He's got his rosy tinted glasses on, I can see.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Today, I'm in Buckinghamshire and this is Waddesdon Manor
0:01:02 > 0:01:03just outside of Aylesbury.
0:01:03 > 0:01:08Until 1874, this was just a simple hill in empty farmland,
0:01:08 > 0:01:12and then enter Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild,
0:01:12 > 0:01:17who bought the 165-acre plot and set about building this fantastical
0:01:17 > 0:01:22French chateaux to entertain his Victorian high-society friends.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Nowadays, the guest list extends to hundreds of thousands of
0:01:25 > 0:01:29visitors who come to enjoy the house and the gardens and
0:01:29 > 0:01:32acres and acres of beautiful Buckinghamshire.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36One of England's Home Counties, Buckinghamshire borders
0:01:36 > 0:01:39Greater London to the south-east.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42The county's southern section is dominated by the chalk
0:01:42 > 0:01:44escarpment of the Chiltern Hills,
0:01:44 > 0:01:49much of which is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
0:01:49 > 0:01:50But as well as pretty pastoral views,
0:01:50 > 0:01:54the county boasts more National Trust properties than any
0:01:54 > 0:01:57other, including the magnificent Clifton House and gardens,
0:01:57 > 0:02:01located above the banks of the River Thames.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Also in the care of the National Trust is the historic
0:02:04 > 0:02:05village of West Wycombe.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Here, it's possible to take a stroll along
0:02:08 > 0:02:13a high street lined with cottages and inns dating from the 16th to the
0:02:13 > 0:02:1618th centuries, before climbing West Wycombe hill
0:02:16 > 0:02:18for magnificent views.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20This is the site of the impressive 18th century
0:02:20 > 0:02:25West Wycombe House, featuring architectural styles from early
0:02:25 > 0:02:30Palladian to neoclassical and built for Sir Francis Dashwood.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33But as well as these monuments to the wealthy elite,
0:02:33 > 0:02:36Buckinghamshire is replete with historic churches built to
0:02:36 > 0:02:38serve the village congregations.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41At Lillingstone Lovell, St Mary's retains some
0:02:41 > 0:02:45early 13th century features, as does the church of St Nicholas at
0:02:45 > 0:02:47nearby Lillingstone Dayrell -
0:02:47 > 0:02:50although this was largely restored in the 19th century after falling
0:02:50 > 0:02:51into disrepair.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56So if you're looking for a slice of classic English country life
0:02:56 > 0:03:00packed with centuries-old villages and architectural gems,
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Buckinghamshire is certainly a county to head to.
0:03:05 > 0:03:10Just last week, the average UK detached house price hit
0:03:10 > 0:03:13a record high of £300,000.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17That's a 50% increase in the last decade, and here in
0:03:17 > 0:03:20Buckinghamshire, the figures are also quite striking.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22The average here is £625,000.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26That's more than double the UK figure.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30That is, in part, explained by beautiful countryside and
0:03:30 > 0:03:33also the proximity to London but, as always,
0:03:33 > 0:03:35the further north in the county you go away from the capital,
0:03:35 > 0:03:38the further your money goes.
0:03:38 > 0:03:43So let's meet the couple who have chosen to make Buckinghamshire their home.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Today's buyers are Rees and Cathy, who are currently living in
0:03:46 > 0:03:50rented accommodation on the outskirts of Reading in Berkshire
0:03:50 > 0:03:54after relocating with their two sons from South Africa a few months ago.
0:03:54 > 0:04:00I came over in September last year to get the boys into school
0:04:00 > 0:04:04and Rees followed through permanently in November.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07We didn't want to rush into buying a house where we immediately
0:04:07 > 0:04:08landed in the UK.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11We wanted to spend some time looking around,
0:04:11 > 0:04:13finding the place that really suited us.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17Born and bred Brit Rees - who emigrated in the 1990s -
0:04:17 > 0:04:21has fond memories of the UK, but for Cathy, who moved to South Africa
0:04:21 > 0:04:25from Scotland when she was just two years old, it's all new.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28Now they've spent some time getting familiar with life here,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31they're ready for a more rural setting.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34The reason that we want to move away from Reading is because
0:04:34 > 0:04:38the intention was always to try and find somewhere rurally.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41I grew up in a town. I really don't want to live in a town.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45I'm remembering summers when I was younger and I continue to
0:04:45 > 0:04:49tell my friends in South Africa that there's nothing nicer than
0:04:49 > 0:04:54a summer's evening in rural England. Especially if there's a pub nearby.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58For Cathy, it's about finally finding somewhere the family
0:04:58 > 0:05:00can settle into British life.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02I'm really looking forward to finding
0:05:02 > 0:05:05a place in the countryside, finding that perfect house and
0:05:05 > 0:05:10spreading our roots and just settling down. We have two boys.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14Adam is the eldest. He's 14. Scott's the youngest at ten.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17I think they are also looking forward to moving into their
0:05:17 > 0:05:21own house with their own bedrooms, that we can finally get out all their
0:05:21 > 0:05:27things and just settling into their daily life, making new friends.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29When it comes to making their country move,
0:05:29 > 0:05:33there are two other important members of the family to consider.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35In 1995, I bought a Triumph Stag.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37Always wanted one ever since I was a little boy and I'm really
0:05:37 > 0:05:39looking forward to taking it out on the open roads,
0:05:39 > 0:05:43driving it through the countryside, through those little leafy lanes
0:05:43 > 0:05:45with the top down, stopping at a pub for a pint.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47We have a little Jack Russell, Coco,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50who's just the best dog in the whole wide world.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54It's almost like having another child. Well, for Cathy it is.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57She loves to go for a walk and we love to walk the dog so,
0:05:57 > 0:06:00you know, nice leafy country lanes, walking through fields,
0:06:00 > 0:06:02footpaths, all those sorts of things.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04I don't quite know how she's going to handle seeing all the
0:06:04 > 0:06:06squirrels and rabbits.
0:06:06 > 0:06:11With two sons, a dog, a classic car and Rees' job for a technology
0:06:11 > 0:06:13company in West London to consider,
0:06:13 > 0:06:16there's only one county they have their eye on.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19We're looking to move to the Buckinghamshire area.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22We think it's going to give us the balance of what we're looking
0:06:22 > 0:06:26for in terms of location and proximity to where I work.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31The lifestyle is quite different, moving from South Africa to here.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35Never mind just moving into the countryside,
0:06:35 > 0:06:37I think it's just moving to a whole new country.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40It's a massive move for us but it's a challenge and it's going to be fun.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42Yeah, it is.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47Rees and Cathy are open to living anywhere in Bucks within
0:06:47 > 0:06:50commuting distance of Rees' work in West London.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53But before we start looking at houses, we're meeting up in
0:06:53 > 0:06:57their chosen county to discuss what they want from the move.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59- Welcome to Buckinghamshire. - Thank you.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02When was the last time you bought property on the UK market?
0:07:02 > 0:07:04It would have been about 1989.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08- Wow, so the market has changed a lot since then.- Sure has.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Tell me about your wish list, because it's quite extensive.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13For me, I'll be working from home some of the time
0:07:13 > 0:07:16so it's important to have a nice study.
0:07:16 > 0:07:21I love fires, so a nice fireplace is important for me, too,
0:07:21 > 0:07:23and a double garage for the car that we've brought with us.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25What about you, Cathy? What's on your wish list?
0:07:25 > 0:07:29Ideally, four bedrooms. I'd like a nice large kitchen.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32Probably three reception rooms if possible.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35That's quite a wish list in terms of space.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37Is there any room for compromise?
0:07:37 > 0:07:39The right house, we'd compromise on anything, really,
0:07:39 > 0:07:42to be honest with you. None of it is really cast in stone.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45We've brought a lot of our furniture over with us
0:07:45 > 0:07:49so, ideally, we'd like to keep as much of it as we can.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53- So how much stuff did you bring from South Africa?- Two container-loads.
0:07:53 > 0:07:54Two containers?
0:07:54 > 0:07:57I probably should have sold a bit more before we moved.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00In terms of choosing a house together, I get the
0:08:00 > 0:08:03impression that you're not so keen on the little cottagey things.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05I got the impression that you MIGHT like that.
0:08:05 > 0:08:11I don't mind nooks and crannies. Cath prefers more open space.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14So that might be a challenge that we'll have to get through.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17It's as long as their windows aren't these pokey little things
0:08:17 > 0:08:19that you barely get a bead of light coming through.
0:08:19 > 0:08:20In terms of your budget,
0:08:20 > 0:08:22remind us again of how much money we have to spend.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Absolute maximum is £700,000.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27A lot of the viewers who watch the show regularly will be going,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29"Buckinghamshire?"
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Naive when it comes to Buckinghamshire, I have to say.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33- We wanted to set you a challenge. - Yeah.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37Well, hopefully we have risen to the challenge and that you'll love
0:08:37 > 0:08:38some of the properties.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40We've got some lovely properties and the rain looks like it's
0:08:40 > 0:08:42easing off a bit, so shall we head out and see them?
0:08:42 > 0:08:43Sounds great.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51For a maximum budget of £700,000, Rees and Cathy would like a large
0:08:51 > 0:08:56kitchen, three reception rooms, a home office and four bedrooms.
0:08:56 > 0:09:01A double garage and dog-friendly garden are desirable and whilst Rees
0:09:01 > 0:09:06likes nooks and crannies, Cathy is after clean lines and bright spaces.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10So quite a demanding wish list but we've found three great
0:09:10 > 0:09:12properties to tempt them with.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16At each, I'll be getting them to guess the price before I reveal it,
0:09:16 > 0:09:20and the final tour is our mystery house which could just polarise opinion.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28Our search is starting on the outskirts of Stowe -
0:09:28 > 0:09:31a civil parish famous for an independent school of the
0:09:31 > 0:09:35same name, with the hamlet of Chackmore located a couple of miles away.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Once lined with timber-framed thatched cottages,
0:09:38 > 0:09:42just two remain but there are still plenty of the leafy lanes
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Rees is looking forward to exploring in his classic car,
0:09:45 > 0:09:48as well as a traditional country pub.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52Back on the outskirts of Stowe, the house we've come to see is
0:09:52 > 0:09:57located down another country lane and holds a rather horsey history.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01- Here we have house number one. - Wow. OK.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04- It's the stables of the much bigger manor house just over there.- OK.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06- Brilliant.- What a fantastic area.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09We're right next to Stowe school which is one of the finest
0:10:09 > 0:10:12schools in the country and this is a charming property.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15- What do you think of the outside? - I like the brickwork.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19It looks really nice. Nice colour. It looks very nice on the outside.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23A little bird tells me you're not so keen on conversions.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25Historically, I've not been a fan.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28- Maybe there's room for some movement.- We'll convert him yet.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31- Convert him to conversions. - Yes, absolutely.- It'll happen.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33- Shall we go inside?- Sure. - Let's do that.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38The building of this former manorial stable block dates back to
0:10:38 > 0:10:43the 19th century but it was converted to a home 20 years ago.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45It retains some period features including its clock tower
0:10:45 > 0:10:50complete with bells, but it's clear the interior is more about the
0:10:50 > 0:10:54clean lines Cathy has asked for.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58Here we have a nice kitchen.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01The inside of the property is very beautifully maintained.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05This is a totally bespoke kitchen. There isn't a handle anywhere.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08- I love the stone tiles. - I like the tiles. Lovely feature.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11Definitely the sort of effect we're looking for.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14And they've got a nice little utility room there with all your white goods,
0:11:14 > 0:11:16your washing machine and also another door so you could
0:11:16 > 0:11:19bring in Coco and clean her paws.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21Yes, she does get muddy.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23It's kind of the spec we were looking for.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25Nice older-style house with a modern-ish interior.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28Is it bright and big enough for you?
0:11:28 > 0:11:31It is a very nice bright kitchen, thank you very much.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34Let's look at some of the other reception rooms.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39Back across the hall and past a useful cloakroom,
0:11:39 > 0:11:45the dining room includes the home's feature staircase. Come through.
0:11:45 > 0:11:50You've got the dining area here and then this big living space.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53- Do you like the fireplace, Rees? - Yeah, I like the fireplace.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56You wanted modern interiors - this is actually very sleek and modern.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00It's very nice. I like the amount of light coming through the double
0:12:00 > 0:12:02doors leading to the garden.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05In terms of size, is this going to be enough?
0:12:05 > 0:12:09I'm concerned that the dining room might be a bit small.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11We've got quite a big square table.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Yeah, we'll have to see whether that will fit in.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16So you're going to buy a house around your dining table?
0:12:16 > 0:12:19There is certain furniture that we won't compromise on and that
0:12:19 > 0:12:21- is one of them.- It's a lovely piece.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23So when you said three reception rooms,
0:12:23 > 0:12:25you meant the kitchen/diner as one of them.
0:12:25 > 0:12:30No, we had two lounges so we've got two furniture suites.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34- You might have to scale that down. - We might have to scale it down, yes.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Rees and Cathy may need a little readjusting to the typical
0:12:37 > 0:12:40dimensions of English country living.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43The central feature staircase splits to give access to two upper
0:12:43 > 0:12:45wings in the eaves of the house.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48One side is the family bathroom, which serves
0:12:48 > 0:12:51a bedroom currently used as a single but large enough to
0:12:51 > 0:12:56accommodate a double bed, and a further small bedroom.
0:12:56 > 0:13:01The third bedroom on this wing is a good size and has en-suite facilities,
0:13:01 > 0:13:04then over on the other wing, we're checking out the largest bedroom.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08This is the master suite. A little shower room here.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12And then that's the little door that goes up into the clock tower if
0:13:12 > 0:13:14- you're brave enough to take that challenge.- Really.- OK.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17- A bit cobwebby. - I like the way it's split.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19I like the way you've got the divide and the staircase up.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21- It's quite nice. - You can't hear the children.
0:13:21 > 0:13:26- That, obviously, is a benefit. - It's got a high, airy feel.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Yeah, everything is at a decent level that you're not going
0:13:29 > 0:13:30to be ducking.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32You don't feel like you're in the attic.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35An upbeat finish to the layout of this converted stable block,
0:13:35 > 0:13:38and outside there's the double garage Rees
0:13:38 > 0:13:42has asked for as well as off-street parking for six cars.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Leading up from the largest reception room,
0:13:45 > 0:13:48there's patio dining plus some mature shrubs and trees
0:13:48 > 0:13:50surrounding the garden, which is mainly lawn.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54It's not a huge garden but I got the impression that you're not
0:13:54 > 0:13:56such a mad keen gardener that you want a huge garden.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00That's right. A smaller garden where we can spend the same amount of time
0:14:00 > 0:14:03in but do more with is probably what we're looking for,
0:14:03 > 0:14:06so less time mowing the lawn, more time beautifying the garden,
0:14:06 > 0:14:08getting some nice flowers in, that sort of thing.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10What do you think this one is on the market for?
0:14:10 > 0:14:15I think up near the top end of the budget. I think around about 685.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17I think Cathy is pretty much on the mark with that.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21- 685, maybe a touch higher. - He likes to agree with me.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27All right, it is up towards the top of your budget, but even higher.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30- It's right at the top. It's 700,000.- OK.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33Why don't you've another look inside, see whether it enchants you,
0:14:33 > 0:14:39- and then we'll go on and see the next property?- OK.- We'll do that.
0:14:39 > 0:14:44It is a lovely house but maybe a bit squishy for two container-loads
0:14:44 > 0:14:46of South African furniture.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49But that's the price of property in this very lovely part of the
0:14:49 > 0:14:51world, so let's see what they think.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55This converted stable block combines
0:14:55 > 0:14:57a period exterior with modern living.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59There's a bespoke kitchen/breakfast room
0:14:59 > 0:15:02and two further reception rooms, whilst upstairs there are four
0:15:02 > 0:15:05bedrooms, two with en-suite bathrooms.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Outside offers a double garage and gardens in
0:15:08 > 0:15:09a secluded country location.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11- What do you think?- It's very nice.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14I do like the wood. I love exposed wood.
0:15:14 > 0:15:19The house is absolutely lovely. It's got a nice, light, airy feel to it.
0:15:19 > 0:15:20There are elements I really like.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22I think the kitchen is a great kitchen,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25the sort of thing we're looking for. I love the stonework on the floor.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28I think the clock tower is a fantastic feature.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31The bedrooms, lovely, but the small bedroom is really,
0:15:31 > 0:15:34really small and I can feel a big argument between my two boys
0:15:34 > 0:15:37as to who would get the en-suite shower and who wouldn't.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41Overall, I think the house is just a little small for what we're
0:15:41 > 0:15:44- trying to get to. - Slightly damp but beautiful gardens.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48- Maybe not for them. All right, guys? - Hiya.- Have we done?
0:15:48 > 0:15:49Great, Cathy, you pull the door.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53- We're going to head on to the next house.- Okey-dokes. Let's do that.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02As in many parts of the UK, bright yellow fields of oilseed rape
0:16:02 > 0:16:07flowers are now a familiar part of Buckinghamshire's summer patchwork.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10It's likely the plant was first brought here by the Romans
0:16:10 > 0:16:14and used in the Middle Ages as a soil improver.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18The steam engines of the Industrial Revolution were kept well lubricated
0:16:18 > 0:16:22with its oil, but for all those centuries, a naturally occurring
0:16:22 > 0:16:26acid made the plant poisonous and unpalatable for humans.
0:16:27 > 0:16:32Then in the 1970s, Canadian scientists developed an edible
0:16:32 > 0:16:37strain and canola - standing for Canadian oil, low acid - was born.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42In the 1980s, subsidies encouraged many European farmers to switch to
0:16:42 > 0:16:47the crop and at one such farm, sixth-generation farmer Simon Mead
0:16:47 > 0:16:52is going to show Rees and keen cook Cathy the process from soil to oil.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55Welcome to our crop of Chiltern rapeseed oil.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58Our family has been here since 1850s.
0:16:58 > 0:17:02I've been farming since I left school but it wasn't until the
0:17:02 > 0:17:05- '80s that we started growing oilseed rape.- What's the growing process?
0:17:05 > 0:17:09- Does it grow all year round? - Well, it starts its life in August.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11It's been in the ground already nine months.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15It's at the pollination stage at the moment so all the pods are being
0:17:15 > 0:17:19formed and we've got another two months to go before we harvest it.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Some people think it's the flower that we get the oil from but, in
0:17:22 > 0:17:27fact, the flower gets pollinated and produces these pods and then these
0:17:27 > 0:17:32pods, there's some seeds and it's the seeds that we get the oil from.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35British production of oilseed rape has doubled in the last
0:17:35 > 0:17:39decade alone, making it such a common sight that during the
0:17:39 > 0:17:43flowering season, coach-loads of tourists regularly stop off
0:17:43 > 0:17:48to aim their selfie sticks at our canary-coloured fields.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50If you look at the label of low-cost vegetable oil,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53chances are you'll see it's rapeseed.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57It's the Artisan single estate cold-pressed varieties that
0:17:57 > 0:18:00really get those gastronomic tongues wagging.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04Cold pressing is an extraction process that keeps the heat
0:18:04 > 0:18:10below 40 Celsius and it can be done by hand, but here, a machine uses
0:18:10 > 0:18:14high-pressure to literally squeeze the oil from the seed.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17There's still lots of sediment in the oil once it comes off the
0:18:17 > 0:18:22press but in here, it passes through the filter and all the little
0:18:22 > 0:18:26particulates stay in the filter and we're left with something like this.
0:18:26 > 0:18:32- Wow.- The cleaned oil is then bottled at a rate of up to 2,000 bottles a day.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36- Come on, speed up.- It's a race? OK. - These guys are good.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42- A pourer and threaded cap are added to the top of each...- Marvellous.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46- All done. - ..and finally a label is added.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49That's the bottle ready to be boxed.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53Rapeseed has half the saturated fats of olive oil and ten times as
0:18:53 > 0:18:54much omega 3.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58Plus the high smoke point makes it suitable for frying and roasting.
0:18:58 > 0:19:03As well as the plain oil, this farm produces a variety of infusions.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Rees, Cath, I've got some flavours that I'd like you to try.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10We've got some lovely porcini oil.
0:19:10 > 0:19:16It's good for enhancing a risotto, pastas and cooking chicken.
0:19:16 > 0:19:21Wow. You can really taste the porcini in it. Straightaway.
0:19:21 > 0:19:26- That's delicious.- Next up, it's the basil/chilli infusion.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28Takes a little while to get going.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30I'll tell you what, I can feel it now.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33That can be used on any food that you wanted a little buzz to it.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37- Nice kick to it.- That works nicely.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41- And lastly, it's the basil-flavoured oil.- Good all-rounder.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44- That'll be good for salads. - Taste the basil?- Very much so.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47Nice rocket, mozzarella salad. It goes really well.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49- That would do a good salad. - These are really nice.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51I think the flavours are awesome.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54- I'll tell you what, if they all taste like this, I'm converted. - Good.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57Rees and Cathy may be converts to English rapeseed oil but
0:19:57 > 0:20:01let's see if we can find the missing ingredient in their move -
0:20:01 > 0:20:04their dream home here in the Buckinghamshire countryside.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13We're taking our search to the village of Granborough.
0:20:13 > 0:20:18In 1833, this largely agricultural settlement was considered such
0:20:18 > 0:20:22a tough place to live that the vicar of St John the Baptist's
0:20:22 > 0:20:25appealed to the local squire to create alternatives
0:20:25 > 0:20:28for the poor, to spending their winter evenings in the pub.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32Despite his protestations, The Crown is still going strong.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36But other activities do regularly take place in the attractive
0:20:36 > 0:20:39half-timbered hall built in 1910.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43The nearest shop is a community-run affair about a mile away in
0:20:43 > 0:20:47neighbouring North Marston and the house we've come to see is
0:20:47 > 0:20:51back in Granborough, located in a close at the heart of the village.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55- A very different offering in a great village.- Yeah.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57Again, it was stables. Seem to be a theme.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59These were the stables to this house -
0:20:59 > 0:21:01- one of the bigger houses in the village.- OK.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04I'll tell you one thing that is different, is how quiet it is here.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08- Will it tick all the boxes? - Will it?- Fingers crossed.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12- Will there be space for the dining room table?- Will there be space?
0:21:12 > 0:21:17- We'll have to see.- It's nail-biting stuff. Let's have a look inside.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Converted from Victorian stables in 1992,
0:21:20 > 0:21:23the front door leads to an L-shaped corridor,
0:21:23 > 0:21:26to the left of which is something that should please Cathy.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29The first of three reception rooms.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32I'm just going to stop off in the dining room.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36- Is this big enough for the table? - Do you know, I think it might be.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39- I think this is good, yeah. - It's a nice big square room. It is.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42- It's quiet. - Windows from floor to ceiling.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45Nice, natural light coming through there.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48A great start and the dining room leads straight into one large
0:21:48 > 0:21:51kitchen/breakfast room. What about the proportions?
0:21:51 > 0:21:53Very nice-sized kitchen.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55Through there you've got a utility room with
0:21:55 > 0:21:58- a tumble dryer and washer and a downstairs loo.- OK.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01The layout is good and the finishings are really nice.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03I wouldn't walk in here thinking I needed to do
0:22:03 > 0:22:05a huge amount of work straightaway.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08You've got the nook over here so it's still
0:22:08 > 0:22:11a fully functional area for breakfast and things like that.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15- Good.- It's looking good.- Smiling. - We're smiling, yeah.
0:22:15 > 0:22:16Still more good stuff to come.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20Let's have a look at this room which is the lovely double doors
0:22:20 > 0:22:24- out into the garden.- With a view. - Yeah, this is nice.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26- And an instant fire.- Right, OK.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29Fires are always good, yes. Obviously, first prize would
0:22:29 > 0:22:32be wood - wood or anthracite - but a fire is a fire.
0:22:32 > 0:22:37It looks the part. It's a nice-sized room, isn't it?
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Nice-sized reception room.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42In terms of bedrooms, there are four bedrooms.
0:22:42 > 0:22:43One of them - the main one - is downstairs.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46I'd probably keep that as a guest wing because it's got
0:22:46 > 0:22:47its own little bathroom.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51- But I'm going to show you one of the ones upstairs.- Upstairs, yes.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54Heading back to the stairs in the corridor,
0:22:54 > 0:22:58we also find the third reception room which completes this floor.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Then upstairs there is a family bathroom serving three
0:23:01 > 0:23:03further double bedrooms.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06The first is located above the ground floor master,
0:23:06 > 0:23:10next to which is another with an inset window and then the
0:23:10 > 0:23:15largest of the upper floor bedrooms makes bedroom number four.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19This is a nice, bright room. They're all sort of the same size upstairs.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22In fact, they are quite a nice size, all the bedrooms.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24So the boys won't have to arm wrestle to get them.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27- They won't have to arm wrestle for the biggest one. - They'll find a reason.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29They'll find something else to arm wrestle over.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33I like the fact that there's the one en-suite bedroom downstairs.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37I would've preferred that upstairs but you can't have everything
0:23:37 > 0:23:39- that you wish for.- I like this space, I like the layout.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41It's got lots of potential.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44The nice thing about this property is the scope for expansion
0:23:44 > 0:23:48- because we don't have, as yet, a suitable office for you.- Right.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51- Maybe we do.- Lead on.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55Cathy and Rees are both seeing plenty of potential in this
0:23:55 > 0:23:58generously laid-out home.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02Outside, there's a third of an acre of garden as well as patio
0:24:02 > 0:24:06seating to enjoy the extensive countryside views.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10Plus a large double garage with power that could just offer
0:24:10 > 0:24:12them another option.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14Now my thought about your study,
0:24:14 > 0:24:17since it's nice to have a work space that's outside of the house.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20The present owner was suggesting going up into the roof of
0:24:20 > 0:24:23- this big double garage. It's a huge space.- Yeah, it is big.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26The roof space could quite easily be converted.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30- That could potentially be an idea. - There is absolutely enough space.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34This one is starting to look more like what we're after.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38- What do you think of the outside space?- The garden is lovely. Great size.
0:24:38 > 0:24:39The entertainment space is just right.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42We've got some patio things we're bringing with us.
0:24:42 > 0:24:43I think this garden is really, really lovely.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46What do you think this one is on the market for?
0:24:46 > 0:24:50Right, it's pretty tough considering the previous house.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53We pitched low on that and I was quite surprised at the price tag.
0:24:53 > 0:24:58I would say 660, 665.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01No, I would go 685.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03It is under budget but you're a little optimistic.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07- It's actually on at £695,000.- OK.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09This one seems like it's got longer legs,
0:25:09 > 0:25:12so why don't you go inside and I'll see you later?
0:25:16 > 0:25:20This converted semi-detached stable block offers a generous amount of
0:25:20 > 0:25:23accommodation with a large kitchen/breakfast room,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26three reception rooms and four double bedrooms
0:25:26 > 0:25:29including that ground-floor en suite.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32There's also a detached double garage and it's all in a
0:25:32 > 0:25:34central village location.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36Yes, what I like about this is there's plenty of space
0:25:36 > 0:25:42up here to put an office. I think it's nice and high.
0:25:42 > 0:25:43From the cars perspective,
0:25:43 > 0:25:47you got enough space for two big cars here and some extra.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Some work space. I think this house is really, really nice.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54The rooms are lovely and spacious, like the size of the bedrooms.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57I like the three reception rooms, the size of them is really good.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59The location is pretty good here.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02The garden is absolutely gorgeous and everything we want from
0:26:02 > 0:26:04a garden in the house that we're looking for.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07Nice space for the kids to run around in, the dog to enjoy,
0:26:07 > 0:26:11like the fact that it looks over onto farmland which has given
0:26:11 > 0:26:15us the real sense of being in the country, which is what we wanted.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18It's a contender, I think. The price was a bit of a surprise.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21We're beginning to realise that we're going to have to seriously
0:26:21 > 0:26:25think about making some compromises to find the house that we need to.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28Come on out of the garden.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31I'm going to have to drag you away from this one, I'm afraid.
0:26:31 > 0:26:32You will have to drag us away.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36So that's it for today, so you can have time to sleep on these.
0:26:36 > 0:26:37Ponder over it.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40Then we've got the mystery house tomorrow. Excellent.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55We're in the Buckinghamshire countryside helping Rees and
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Cathy, who have recently moved from South Africa, to find their
0:26:58 > 0:27:00dream family home.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03We've already shown them two takes on converted stables for
0:27:03 > 0:27:07their £700,000 budget but we've got something completely
0:27:07 > 0:27:11different lined up for the mystery house which could prove the
0:27:11 > 0:27:14- adage of opposites attract. - It's a very low ceiling.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17I feel quite claustrophobic in here, yeah.
0:27:17 > 0:27:18I'm feeling completely the opposite.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21- I know, I knew you would. - This is lovely.
0:27:21 > 0:27:26Plus I'm taking things at a snail's pace at one very unusual
0:27:26 > 0:27:28Buckinghamshire farm.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31- So snail shoot love arrows at each other?- Yeah.
0:27:31 > 0:27:32I feel like Cupid.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37This is a fascinating house hunt because it's really
0:27:37 > 0:27:42interesting to see Rees and Cathy's bamboozlement at what's happened
0:27:42 > 0:27:44in the housing market in the UK in the 20 years they've been
0:27:44 > 0:27:47away in South Africa - particularly since they calculated that
0:27:47 > 0:27:51their £700,000 budget is 14 million rand.
0:27:51 > 0:27:56The mystery house, however, well, it's a bit of an offering for Rees,
0:27:56 > 0:28:01playing to his desire for an old-fashioned English fantasy
0:28:01 > 0:28:04country house, but in the garden,
0:28:04 > 0:28:08there's a slice of South Africa that is going to appeal to the two boys.
0:28:13 > 0:28:18Our mystery offering is located in the village of Nash.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21Five miles away, the small market town of Stony Stratford includes
0:28:21 > 0:28:24a high street with a range of traditional shops but it's
0:28:24 > 0:28:27also the source of a few tall tales.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29This is historically a very important town in the
0:28:29 > 0:28:32coaching roots up and down the country.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34It's interestingly the beginning of the cock-and-bull story.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37- Are you familiar with that?- Yes. - Your nonsense story.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39- The nonsense story. - Because you have two hotels.
0:28:39 > 0:28:41The Bull, and down there is The Cock and
0:28:41 > 0:28:44so when the coaches used to go through, they used to compete
0:28:44 > 0:28:47- about who had the most outrageous stories from London.- OK.
0:28:47 > 0:28:48Fascinating.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50That's not a little bit of cock and bull you've just told us?
0:28:50 > 0:28:52No, it's true.
0:28:52 > 0:28:54Between you and I, many believe the phrase really
0:28:54 > 0:28:59originates from old fairy-tales around cocks and bulls and back in
0:28:59 > 0:29:04Nash, the mystery house is something you might also find in a fairy-tale.
0:29:04 > 0:29:09- Here we have it. It's the mystery house.- It's a thatch.- It's thatched.
0:29:09 > 0:29:13It's old, it's all the things you don't like.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15But it is kind of what you were asking for.
0:29:15 > 0:29:16It is, I think it's very pretty.
0:29:16 > 0:29:20It really is old English history here. You can see that.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22Unlike my wife, I don't mind the thatched roof.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24I've not fond of thatched.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26It's essence of countryside, yeah.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29Actually, thatch is an incredibly green,
0:29:29 > 0:29:33- ecologically friendly and very effective insulator.- Okey-dokes.
0:29:33 > 0:29:37And there are no more spiders than in your normal roof.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40- OK.- Shall we have a look in? - Yeah, let's go and have a look.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42- Tight-lipped.- I'll smile soon.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47Dating back at least five centuries,
0:29:47 > 0:29:51this Grade II-listed cottage has a recent addition on the near end,
0:29:51 > 0:29:54whilst a Victorian addition at the far end was once home to the
0:29:54 > 0:29:58village shop, but it's now a classic country kitchen which I'm
0:29:58 > 0:30:01hoping will sell itself to Cathy.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05- Oh, dear, I've already got a rolling eye.- Oh, dear.
0:30:05 > 0:30:10It's a very low ceiling. I feel quite claustrophobic in here, yeah.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13- I'm feeling completely the opposite. - I know. I knew you would.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16- This is absolutely lovely. - The kitchen itself is lovely.
0:30:16 > 0:30:19I can appreciate that there's lots of things in here that I do like.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21You've got me the gas cooker which was on my list.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24I love cooking with gas.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27We've got lovely granite tops which was something that we both love.
0:30:29 > 0:30:34- Well, it gets more historic as we go around.- OK. Lead on.- Excellent.
0:30:34 > 0:30:35From the kitchen,
0:30:35 > 0:30:38we enter the oldest part of the house and pass through
0:30:38 > 0:30:43a dining room with fully beamed ceiling and inglenook fireplace.
0:30:43 > 0:30:47So through the dining room into the main sitting room.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50Look at the character, just look at the fireplace.
0:30:50 > 0:30:54Look at the stone, look at the wooden lintel.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57I mean, this is just perfect country cottage.
0:30:57 > 0:30:58Keep going, Rees, keep going.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00She's going to break soon, she's going to break.
0:31:00 > 0:31:01This is what we're looking for.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04He's got his rosy tinted glasses on, I can see that.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07I think it's a fantastic find, guys. Well done.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10I think I could be sold but I need to think about it.
0:31:10 > 0:31:12- It's not vast, though.- OK.
0:31:12 > 0:31:16- It doesn't have a third reception room as it stands.- OK.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18I think this is a lovely little house.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22Obviously, Africa has the oldest history of all humanity but
0:31:22 > 0:31:24they didn't build houses that lasted as long as these.
0:31:24 > 0:31:28No, we certainly don't have anything as old as this that I know of.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31- Let's have a look upstairs. - Let's have a look upstairs.
0:31:31 > 0:31:35You can explore later all the nooks and crannies.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38This period cottage might not have that third reception room but
0:31:38 > 0:31:42the new extension does offer a ground-floor utility as well as
0:31:42 > 0:31:48the first of four bedrooms which is served by a ground-floor bathroom.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50Stairs at this end of the house lead up to
0:31:50 > 0:31:54a rather intriguing trap door double bedroom, meaning Rees and
0:31:54 > 0:31:58Cathy's two boys might enjoy having the run of this wing of the house.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01We're taking the stairs from the dining room to the rest of
0:32:01 > 0:32:05the accommodation in the other wing where we find the part tiled
0:32:05 > 0:32:10family bathroom, a guest bedroom with feature timbers and then
0:32:10 > 0:32:14in the centre of the home is the largest bedroom, number four.
0:32:14 > 0:32:16This is what they're using as the master bedroom and
0:32:16 > 0:32:19a little slice of history up in the beams.
0:32:19 > 0:32:23Higher ceiling. I was expecting to see thatch on the inside.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26They do that in South Africa and that's why you have your
0:32:26 > 0:32:28eight-legged friends inside the house.
0:32:28 > 0:32:29No arachnids in this thatch.
0:32:29 > 0:32:31I like the configurations.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33Kids at one end of the house, us at the other end of the house.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36That makes a lot of sense. Nice and airy, as well.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38I think you get a lot of light in here.
0:32:38 > 0:32:42- Yeah, I think this fits the bill quite nicely for me.- I know.
0:32:42 > 0:32:43You're loving this.
0:32:44 > 0:32:48This characterful cottage has clearly captured Rees but
0:32:48 > 0:32:52perhaps the outside space will help to win Cathy over, too.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55Set in three-quarters of an acre of grounds, there's lots of
0:32:55 > 0:32:58space for a kick about as well as plenty of parking.
0:32:58 > 0:33:02A garden room offers versatility, plus an outdoor pool with
0:33:02 > 0:33:04pool house is a real bonus.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06We couldn't bring you here without giving you
0:33:06 > 0:33:09a little bit of South African luxury. A swimming pool.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12- A swimming pool. For that one day in summer when the sun shines.- Oh.
0:33:12 > 0:33:14It's actually a really nice touch because we had
0:33:14 > 0:33:18- a pool back in Johannesburg. - I know you did.- We enjoyed it a lot.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20The kids are still young enough to enjoy it.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23What do you think of the garden? Is this a good size?
0:33:23 > 0:33:27I think it's the right size. Looks like relatively low-maintenance.
0:33:27 > 0:33:29I'll take the lawn because I like the house.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31What do you think the price tag on this one is?
0:33:31 > 0:33:35I think that we're looking at about 675, 685 on this one.
0:33:35 > 0:33:42- I'll give it a 10,000 leeway. - I would say 680.- 680.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45OK, in this instance, interestingly, you're both
0:33:45 > 0:33:50- a bit pessimistic because this is on the market for £650,000.- OK.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52OK, that sounds like a good number for a house with so much history.
0:33:52 > 0:33:54Why don't you guys go and have a look inside?
0:33:54 > 0:33:56There's lots of nooks and crannies.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59Don't get stuck and I'll see you outside in a few minutes.
0:33:59 > 0:34:01- We'll do that.- Thanks, we'll shout for help if we get stuck in
0:34:01 > 0:34:05- a tiny hidey-hole. - I will come and rescue you.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08Well, that went better than I expected because I thought
0:34:08 > 0:34:12Cathy would hate this house and she kind of did at the beginning,
0:34:12 > 0:34:14but Rees is quite persuasive.
0:34:14 > 0:34:19The history is quite persuasive and hopefully...she might be persuaded.
0:34:21 > 0:34:23Coming in £50,000 below budget,
0:34:23 > 0:34:27this Grade II-listed thatched cottage has a large country kitchen,
0:34:27 > 0:34:32two reception rooms, four bedrooms and two bathrooms.
0:34:32 > 0:34:34It also comes with three-quarters of an acre of garden,
0:34:34 > 0:34:36the pool and outbuildings.
0:34:36 > 0:34:40Ah, Rees, a nice little sewing room.
0:34:40 > 0:34:44For when you're finished in the kitchen. This is very good.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46I think we could do something with this.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49This last house really does tick the major box that I'm looking
0:34:49 > 0:34:51for and that is a historic, old house.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54You know, Grade II listing, 500 years old.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57There are lots of features in the house that really appeal to me.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01I think I've got a bit of work to do convincing Cathy that this is
0:35:01 > 0:35:05the sort of thing that would suit her as well as me.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08I think Rees is loving this house.
0:35:08 > 0:35:12I think it's exactly what he imagined he was going to find.
0:35:12 > 0:35:17The kitchen is quite unusual but I do love the granite tops,
0:35:17 > 0:35:20I love the cooker. It's a nice square kitchen,
0:35:20 > 0:35:21it's got lovely light.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24I must admit, it's quite a quirky house. It could grow on me.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28If we compare and contrast a little bit with where we've come from,
0:35:28 > 0:35:32we're looking at a budget of £700,000.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35That would buy us a house probably twice the size on two,
0:35:35 > 0:35:38three times the size of land.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41That's what we've given up but it's something that we're really
0:35:41 > 0:35:44happy we've done and if we can end up with a house like this,
0:35:44 > 0:35:45it'll be totally worthwhile.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51There you are. Great. Tear you away from your new-found love.
0:35:53 > 0:35:55- Yeah.- Still not quite convinced. - Not convinced.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57- You've got some work there.- I know.
0:35:57 > 0:36:00Let's go and find a spot where we can gather our thoughts about
0:36:00 > 0:36:01- all the houses.- Excellent.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10Buckinghamshire's desirable location close to the capital means
0:36:10 > 0:36:13over the years, many former farmsteads have become
0:36:13 > 0:36:19spacious homes for city commuters with little agricultural activity.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22As traditional crops and cattle farming have taken a back seat,
0:36:22 > 0:36:25the most common farm type in the county is the specialist
0:36:25 > 0:36:29category and I've come to meet Sophie Wharton who, for the last
0:36:29 > 0:36:33seven years, has been producing a decidedly unusual harvest from
0:36:33 > 0:36:38what's now the biggest commercial outdoor snail farm in the UK.
0:36:38 > 0:36:43- I want to know how on earth you got into snails.- It was an accident.
0:36:43 > 0:36:48I wanted to grow micro herbs, got distracted, bought a few snails.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51We had them in the front room in a big plastic box.
0:36:51 > 0:36:55- Trying to feed them all kinds of things.- Really?- It was amusing us.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58They'd been mating and before we knew it,
0:36:58 > 0:37:02the snails had started us a business rather than us starting
0:37:02 > 0:37:05a business, so it was a massive learning curve.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07So how many snails are you producing on this little plot?
0:37:07 > 0:37:13This park will produce three tonne. It's about 340,000 snails.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15Oh, my goodness. What kind of snails are we talking about?
0:37:15 > 0:37:16They're not garden snails.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20To you they would look very similar to the garden snail, however,
0:37:20 > 0:37:22ours are quite a lot bigger.
0:37:22 > 0:37:25Ours are faster-growing because a typical garden snail in the
0:37:25 > 0:37:29UK would take two years to come up to being an adult size,
0:37:29 > 0:37:33whereas our snails will come up to size by September.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36To help her snails grow as quickly as possible,
0:37:36 > 0:37:40Sophie feeds them a diet of rapeseed plants supplemented with snail
0:37:40 > 0:37:45flower - a special mix of grains enriched with calcium and vitamins.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48This batch is just nine days old but come the autumn,
0:37:48 > 0:37:51they'll be fully grown and ready to be harvested.
0:37:51 > 0:37:53Obviously, you breed some snails to eat?
0:37:53 > 0:37:57Yes, some of these snails will go as chef snails for the table and
0:37:57 > 0:38:01some of the snails we hold back, then go on to produce for our caviar.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03Yes, you heard it right.
0:38:03 > 0:38:07Snail caviar and those selected to make this diner's delicacy
0:38:07 > 0:38:11are destined for a polytunnel nicknamed the Tunnel Of Love
0:38:11 > 0:38:14by Sophie and she's offered to show me the action.
0:38:14 > 0:38:15A-ha.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17The Tunnel of Snail Love.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21Snails are hermaphrodites and when these are ready to
0:38:21 > 0:38:25reproduce, they develop a hard calcium shard, known as
0:38:25 > 0:38:29a love dart, which they fire into a fellow snail.
0:38:29 > 0:38:33This causes hormonal changes making pairing more likely to succeed.
0:38:33 > 0:38:39- So snails shoot love arrows at each other?- Yes.- Like Cupid.- Yes.
0:38:39 > 0:38:43If you look on the back of here, you can see a couple of arrows there.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46Someone must have been stood on the edge and missed.
0:38:47 > 0:38:52Once mating starts, it can last from four hours to two days.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55They decide how long and it's usually dependent on the
0:38:55 > 0:38:59weather conditions, so if it's going to bucket it down with rain,
0:38:59 > 0:39:02they'll actually speed it up and then again when they produce their
0:39:02 > 0:39:05eggs, it'll take them up to two days to lay their eggs.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09So these snails are already mid-flow of laying.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12See what this one has done. There's one just coming out now, look.
0:39:12 > 0:39:16- Look at him squeezing it out. - They are like little pearls.
0:39:16 > 0:39:21Each clutch contains anything from 60 to 120 eggs which are then
0:39:21 > 0:39:23collected to be cleaned and cured.
0:39:23 > 0:39:28At £40 for 30g, this snail caviar is definitely a luxury item
0:39:28 > 0:39:33and I'm about to have my very first mouthful.
0:39:33 > 0:39:34Snail caviar.
0:39:34 > 0:39:38It's nothing like what you're going to expect it to be like.
0:39:43 > 0:39:47- It's like caviar but not quite as fishy.- Yeah.- Who knew?
0:39:47 > 0:39:50Then you can serve it in these fancy little...
0:39:50 > 0:39:52Yeah, some canapes that we've made up.
0:39:52 > 0:39:57It's black pudding, monkfish, creme fraiche and poppy seed breadcrumbs.
0:39:57 > 0:40:01- So this is how they serve it in the posh restaurants?- Yeah. Enjoy.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05That's very good.
0:40:05 > 0:40:09So what's really lovely about this, is this is so high-end,
0:40:09 > 0:40:12but, see, the way that you're so delighted by the snails still.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14I mean, they do their job for me and I have to do
0:40:14 > 0:40:18- a good job to look after them.- Thank you, Sophie. It's so wonderful.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20Good, glad you enjoyed it.
0:40:23 > 0:40:27Rees will have to have pulled out all the stops to persuade
0:40:27 > 0:40:31Cathy that that period thatched, very higgledy-piggledy
0:40:31 > 0:40:34property is her dream home, but stranger things have happened.
0:40:34 > 0:40:40So let's find out what this couple think about their week in Buckinghamshire.
0:40:43 > 0:40:47Here we are, it's a typical little corner of Buckinghamshire.
0:40:47 > 0:40:48The Claydon Estate.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51So, what are your thoughts about Buckinghamshire,
0:40:51 > 0:40:54about this move after our week of house-hunting?
0:40:54 > 0:40:58We've seen three lovely houses. Really nice.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01Perhaps not quite fitting what we're looking for.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04It's like a knife through my heart to hear that.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06The mystery house clearly struck a chord with me.
0:41:06 > 0:41:11I think we had a view that we'd be able to easily get everything
0:41:11 > 0:41:13we were looking for and that's probably a bit naive.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16The question is, what are we going to compromise on?
0:41:16 > 0:41:20I think I'd possibly give thatch more of a chance now than I would've
0:41:20 > 0:41:24done before, mostly because it's not thatched on the inside, as well.
0:41:24 > 0:41:30Having the ceiling board does stop Mr Eight-Legs coming down at night.
0:41:30 > 0:41:33I still think that these period houses might still be
0:41:33 > 0:41:35a little bit too quirky for me.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38I've still got some work to do to convince Cathy that that's
0:41:38 > 0:41:40exactly what we're going to end up with.
0:41:40 > 0:41:44What happens next? What's the next step?
0:41:44 > 0:41:48I think it's now a lot of weekend work to go out there and see
0:41:48 > 0:41:50what's there, what else is there.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53Well, it's a bitter disappointment that we haven't managed to
0:41:53 > 0:41:56get you the house of your dreams on the show, but it's been really lovely.
0:41:56 > 0:42:00Very fascinating, actually, to see your South African eyes
0:42:00 > 0:42:02on our housing market.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05I wish you all the best and I'm sure you'll find the perfect house.
0:42:05 > 0:42:07- Keep on looking.- Thanks very much. - Thanks for your time.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09- Very enjoyable. - It's being great, yeah.
0:42:12 > 0:42:16It's really fascinating seeing the UK property market through the eyes
0:42:16 > 0:42:19of a homecomer, particularly someone who's been away for 20 or more
0:42:19 > 0:42:23years, and I guess property prices in Buckinghamshire do look pretty
0:42:23 > 0:42:28shocking when you feel that you've got 14 million rand in your pocket.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31Nonetheless, I think also that this week
0:42:31 > 0:42:35has focused Cathy and Rees' eyes on the prize and they'll find
0:42:35 > 0:42:37that house with a little more searching.
0:42:37 > 0:42:41And I hope you join us next time for more Escape To The Country.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46Rees and Cathy continued their search and eventually found
0:42:46 > 0:42:50a property in the village of Nash, the location of our mystery house.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53They put in an offer and it was accepted.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56We wish them all the very best for the future.
0:42:56 > 0:42:58And if you'd like to escape to the country in
0:42:58 > 0:43:01Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales or England and need our help,
0:43:01 > 0:43:04you can apply online at...