North Yorkshire Escape to the Country

When it comes to wedding gifts,

most people would be happy with

a set of crockery, maybe a donation

towards the honeymoon,

or perhaps just a toaster.

So how would you feel

if you got a castle?

Find out who received this lavish

gift and exactly where I am

in just a moment.

Today's house-hunters are trading in

their London home for the space that

comes with country life,

both outside and in.

I don't know if you have that sort

of facility at home.

Wow!

Oh, look - his and hers sink.

And plenty of cupboard space

for all my clothes.

So...

No comment.

Yes, quite.

'And one half of our couple can't

quite take in everything

'that's on offer.'

I'm actually blown away.

Today, I'm in North Yorkshire

and this is the magnificent Ripley

Castle close to the Yorkshire Dales.

It's home to the Inglebys,

and has been in the very same

family name since 1309,

when Sir Thomas Ingleby married

heiress Edwina Thwenge

and received this castle as a dowry.

Now, for over 700 years, the family

have endured civil wars,

religious unrest, recessions

and even plague, and have still

managed to keep hold of

this historical landmark.

A truly magnificent wedding present

that really has stood

the test of time.

North Yorkshire, covering an area of

over 3,300 square miles,

virtually spans coast-to-coast

across the neck of England.

A staggering 40% of the county

is made up of beautiful national

parks, and, to the south,

lies the market town of Skipton.

Its castle, built in 1090,

is unmissable, with six

impressive drum towers.

It was the only royalist stronghold

in the north of England,

finally surrendering

to Cromwell in 1645.

Lying in the wooded dale of Rye

lie the haunting remains

of Rievaulx Abbey.

With its towering arches

and pillars,

it was a 12th century powerhouse

for the Cistercian Order of monks.

Their desire was to follow a strict

life of prayer with little contact

from the outside world,

so the abbey's remote location

was well-suited.

To the east, lies

the North Yorkshire Moors Railway,

planned by the renowned engineer

George Stephenson in 1836,

today, this steam heritage line

carries over 350,000 passengers

a year on its 18 miles of track.

So, with North Yorkshire's

national heritage,

staggering open countryside,

and historic towns,

it's probably not surprising

that it's full steam ahead

when it comes to attracting

would-be escapees.

The average price of a detached

house here in North Yorkshire

comes in at just under £280,000,

which is around 20,000

below the national figure.

But it's not just the attractive

prices and housing stock

that's pulling people to this area.

Well-regarded local schools

and great rail links

means that people are

flocking here from as far afield

as London. And it's from the capital

that today's buyers

are looking to escape.

Company accounts manager Chris and

his events coordinator wife Kat

currently live in the London

suburb of North Finchley with their

two sons, seven-year-old Sam,

and Oliver, who's six.

We've been in Finchley for eight

years and together,

we've been in London

for close to 19 years.

We're getting to that stage now

where we want to move out

into the country, just to have

that next stage

for the boys to enjoy the outdoors,

and London doesn't

really give us that.

Our couple's five-bed terraced

Finchley home

is located within a great community

and close to amenities.

But, as Chris and Kat

both have country roots,

they now feel they need more room

and a rural outlook

for their growing family.

We've chosen to move to Yorkshire,

because it's closer to my family.

We wanted to move out of London and

try and find a bigger place

to enjoy the countryside,

and we figured, actually,

moving north would be the obvious

choice for financial reasons,

and close to the bigger cities

where we can both work.

I grew up in a really rural village.

Well, it wasn't even a village,

it was more of a hamlet.

And, so, that way of life really

appeals to me.

And North Yorkshire

is just stunning.

Creating more family time is a major

driver for this move and relocating

to North Yorkshire will give them

all a chance

to expand on their hobbies.

We're a pretty active family

and, at the weekends,

as well as getting out on our bike

and going for walks,

we also enjoy playing tennis,

the boys like playing football.

When I grew up in the countryside,

I loved horse riding.

And so that's something I'd really

dearly like to pick up again when

moving to North Yorkshire,

is to get back into riding.

So, all in all, this escape seems to

be shaping up

to be a really positive

move for everyone -

and I mean everyone!

Friends up north are looking forward

to having us back,

and friends in London are just happy

that we're making this move,

and they're really looking forward

to coming to see us.

Chris and Kat would like to focus

their search within

the golden triangle

of Harrogate, York and Leeds.

And are happy to cross

the border into West Yorkshire.

I'm catching up with them to find

out a little bit more about

what they're looking for from

their ideal country property.

Welcome, both, to North Yorkshire.

Now, this is a big,

bold move, isn't it?

I mean, you're living in a very

comfortable part of north London,

where people seem to have

the best of both worlds.

Yes, it's a big upheaval.

Really exciting, but I must admit,

it's been really difficult

telling people and the boys were

initially kind of a bit nervous

and apprehensive

but also really excited.

This is the golden triangle, we're

talking about. You know,

Harrogate, Leeds, and York. Very

popular part of the world.

Yes.

For all the reasons you probably

love it as well, isn't it?

It's beautiful. You've got access

to the Dales as well.

But this work thing, how long

are you prepared to be in the car?

Going to and from work?

I'd say maximum an hour.

I'm doing an hour in London

at the minute.

You know, an hour would be fine,

but any shorter would be fantastic.

OK, let's go through

your shopping list, then.

So, four bedrooms. Lovely,

big kitchen, for entertaining.

Possibly an outbuilding, maybe

something that, you know,

would be great to be able to have

friends to stay,

and if there was somewhere with

a bit of outside space

that had an outbuilding,

where there was an annexe.

We'd like something with a bit of

history behind it.

Right.

Something not too modern.

What kind of environment

are you looking for?

So, it would be nice to be

in a community.

A village community, or just out of

town but somewhere that's got

a nice pub, a village hall,

a school, you know,

somewhere where there's things going

on that we can get involved in.

Everybody wants to be

on the edge of a village.

Yeah.

They want a bit of land.

The one acre to two acres.

Is that a deal-breaker?

No.

I mean, if it was around countryside

that wasn't owned by us,

then that's lovely, you know.

Looking out to fields,

that's wonderful.

What budget have you given

yourselves to achieve this?

We've got a budget of 800,000,

max £850,000.

OK, well, we've got some cracking

properties lined up.

Yeah.

Let's see if we can find the

right one for you.

Come with me.

Exciting! Thank you.

With a maximum budget of £850,000,

Chris and Kat wanted a detached

character home,

a large kitchen/diner,

four bedrooms,

land with outbuildings, and that

all-important village location.

We've found some fantastic

properties to tempt them with,

and, at each one, I'll be asking

them to guess the price

before I reveal it.

And one will be our Mystery House,

which may have our couple praying

for divine intervention

to help them make the right choice.

Of course, this big move up here,

it's about the kids and giving them

a better quality of life.

A different way of life,

if you like.

Yeah.

Have you tried to bribe your boys

with potential pets,

or anything like that?

Yes! You said it!

Have you really?

It didn't take much bribery, though.

No, they were talking about it

anyway, so we realised that was

a good carrot to dangle.

Yeah.

So, a puppy is on the cards,

I think.

Oh, wow!

Our first property is located just

over the West Yorkshire border

in the village of Walton,

just three miles from the market

town of Wetherby.

With its narrow streets,

many flanked with honey-coloured,

York stone buildings,

Wetherby can trace its roots

back to 1086.

It has a great range of shops,

including a post office,

coffee bars, restaurants,

pubs and numerous general stores.

The town even has World War II

connections

with Hollywood glamour

as silver screen heart-throb

Clark Gable was stationed

at nearby RAF Marston Moor.

Let's hope we can bring a little bit

of Tinseltown excitement with our

first house back in Walton.

Now, come right in. Because...

I'm hoping you'll get...

Wow! Oh, wow!

..a really nice view of this

substantial pile of stone.

Yeah, it's fantastic!

Lovely garden as well.

Stunning from the outside.

Lovely.

You've got local pub...

Yes.

Right.

..you've got

a local cricket club.

Ooh! Tick.

OK.

Good for the boys.

Yes.

Now, you've got an Ofsted-rated

good school...

OK.

..within about a mile.

But you've got Wetherby

just a couple of miles up the road.

Fantastic.

Let's go inside.

Built in 1870, this beautiful

detached stone farmhouse

was fully refurbished

a few years back

to provide up-to-date

21st-century living.

Yet it retains many 19th-century

character features.

We're heading straight

to the expansive living room.

Oh, it's lovely. Really light,

lovely, big windows.

Yeah. Nice high ceilings.

Well, you pointed out those windows

from outside.

Yeah, yeah.

Well, sometimes in houses that have

got lots of character,

you get the smaller windows

and it seems a bit dark inside,

but you can't say the same

for this property.

It's lovely.

Back home, are you

kitchen dwellers?

It's probably the kitchen, yeah.

Yeah.

Somewhere where

we can all meet.

Let's keep

looking around.

OK.

The heart of the home, as in most

people's houses, is the kitchen.

Oh, lovely. Nice, big kitchen and,

you know, sociable as well,

so when you're cooking and preparing

the food, you can chat to people.

Glass of wine. Yeah, looks good.

Now, for when you do your

Hyacinth Bouquet bits,

you've got a formal dining room

at the top end of the house.

Oh, OK.

And a snug, but it will be

a decent-sized living room

in most other people's houses.

Yeah.

Just behind me here,

you've got a utility room.

Excellent.

Really good-sized utility

room, which means you get

all the white goods you don't

normally use out of the kitchen.

That would be a real benefit.

Upstairs, next.

Let me squeeze through.

After you.

Thank you very much.

From the kitchen, we make our way to

the main hallway,

where the staircase

leads up to the first floor.

Doors from a spacious landing open

to reveal four bright

and airy bedrooms, one of which

has an en-suite shower.

There's also a very large modern

family bathroom

with separate shower area,

and we're making our way into

the largest of the bedrooms.

This is your master.

Right.

OK?

Lovely size.

Yeah.

Lovely features as well,

with the fireplace.

Really pretty.

You've got a

walk-through wardrobe

with an en-suite, if you want

to take a quick peek.

Right, OK.

I don't know if you have that sort

of facility at home.

No. Look.

His and hers sink!

And plenty of cupboard space

for all my clothes, so...

No comment.

Yes, quite.

So, four bedrooms.

Yeah.

The other with an en-suite,

which, you know,

you want your guests to be

comfortable,

not having to use

the family bathrooms.

So, you've got three bathrooms in

total on this floor.

Wow! Really?

It's big, isn't it?

It's big, yeah.

You both sound very positive.

But I want to show you something

that you'll get in this house

that, well, you just can't

get in London.

Follow me.

OK. I'm intrigued!

Back out onto the hallway,

and up a second staircase,

we find a surprising bonus space

hidden away at the top of the house.

Now, of course, you probably could

get this in London,

if you were a Premiership

footballer!

Oh, wow!

This is amazing.

Yeah.

This is clearly my space!

I'm genuinely blown away.

It's lad space, isn't it?

OK, lad space.

Yeah, it's fantastic.

And, actually, our eldest plays

the guitar and the youngest would

definitely want to play the drums,

cos he's that sort of personality.

So you like what you see.

Yeah, definitely.

Let's walk through the house

out to the garden,

and then start thinking about price.

Oh, gosh!

I'm getting the feeling Kat

and Chris can really see

the positives that come with

this house and I'm confident

they'll be impressed with

what's on offer outside.

So, quite a private area here

for your barbecues,

but something a bit different here.

Wow!

Wow!

Wow!

This field is leased.

OK.

Oh, OK.

It was initially a 15-year lease.

There's five years unexpired.

So, if you buy this house, you have

this field for five more years.

OK.

And in that time, you've got

time to negotiate or maybe even see

if you can buy it.

It's a really nice surprise.

Unexpected.

Now, then,

difficult thing is pricing it.

OK? I shall go in

with around £800,000.

OK.

Yeah, yeah.

I was thinking just below

but not far off.

This house is on the market

at £850,000.

OK.

OK.

And that's come down

just shy of...

well, just under £900,000.

OK.

So they've given it

a substantial price reduction.

OK.

But you've got a lot of property

here. Your job now is to go back

into the house and have

a good think about it,

and I'll meet you outside whenever

you're done. All right?

Great.

Thank you very much.

At £850,000,

this beautifully renovated 19th

century farmhouse

is at the top of

Kat and Chris's budget.

But it does give

them a fantastic living space

which includes a great

kitchen/diner, four double bedrooms,

lots of land, and that all-important

village location.

The house is fantastic.

I really like it.

From the outside, lovely garden,

lovely grounds.

When you came inside,

all the rooms were really

good sizes and, actually,

you could move straight in. There's

nothing that you need to do

to the property.

I think this house is lovely.

It's got a lot of potential.

Certainly a few surprises in there.

The attic, certainly,

we didn't see that one coming.

And this paddock certainly gives us

something to think about.

So, your first viewing.

Yeah. Yeah.

How is it feeling?

Is the dream getting closer?

It's a great start.

Yeah?

Really positive.

Yeah.

Hopefully something to

compare the other two with.

Come with me.

Yorkshire's open moorland and dales

have long been

associated with farming.

But how many of us would have

guessed that a little bit of Spain

has landed right here in the heart

of the Yorkshire countryside?

With Kat and Chris longing

for a rural escape,

we thought we'd send them to meet

farmer and butcher Chris Wildman

to find out more about

this continental invader.

So, what kind of food products

do you make here?

So we make a traditional butchery,

so pork, beef, lamb.

But then we've kind of diversified

those products into

doing more cured products, so

Italian salami and also, obviously,

the Spanish Yorkshire chorizo.

And that was kind of

because we had to.

Normal, fresh meat just wasn't

really selling as well as I'd hoped,

so I diversified into doing more

cured products

which has got a longer

shelf life and, also,

they were getting quite trendy

and people really liked the idea.

We can just go down to the butchery

and have a look.

It's just down here. Shall we go?

Brilliant.

Great.

The traditional Spanish chorizo can

be eaten cooked or,

as many like it,

after a few weeks' curing.

To get an idea of how this sausage

delicacy is made,

Kat and Chris are getting

a crash course

in Chris's chorizo preparation area.

The ingredients consist of minced

pork, salt, paprika, pepper,

and a top-secret spicy addition.

With this already prepared,

they're ready to begin

making the chorizo sausage.

So, I'll get some pepper in there.

Some salt.

Straight in here,

and then we'll do some mixing.

And we'll just literally mix it in.

How long do you need to leave it,

to cure it,

before we can actually try it?

Three to five weeks is

the standard time, really,

for the full curing process.

We're looking to lose

about 30% in weight.

And then that means it's going

to be a fully-cured chorizo.

Chris makes around 100 sausages

a week using

this tried and tested recipe.

Once thoroughly mixed, we're ready

for the next stage.

Right, so this is where

the sausages are made?

It is. So, we're literally

going to put the meat

into this nice, old filler.

Just need to make sure we get

the air out of here.

So, all we're going to do is

push the meat...

Yeah.

..into the skins,

and then you just control the speed

with your left hand,

so we're not overfilling,

but we're not underfilling.

That's it. Do you want to have a go?

Go on, then. Well, you go, Chris.

There you go.

So, just gently on there.

And then wind away.

Need to have quite a long reach.

That's great.

Great?

Yeah, super.

I'll have a go as well, yeah.

Definitely. So it's not as easy as

it looks,

you've got to have quite a lot of

control over the handle.

Ooh!

That's great, and stop.

Oh, gosh.

The secret to a good chorizo

is in the curing.

It's vital the filled skins are hung

in a humidity and

temperature-controlled environment,

allowing the meat to dry out slowly.

And, once it's ready, our couple can

sample this full-of-flavour sausage.

Here we go.

Fantastic.

We've got the samples to try.

Yeah, what we've been

looking forward to.

So, what we've got here,

we've got your Yorkshire chorizo?

Yeah, so this is the original

Yorkshire chorizo.

Yeah.

So have a little piece of that

one first.

Actually, no, you can really

get the picante...

Yeah, you get it

a few seconds after.

What would you recommend

eating this with?

It's great with white fish.

Scallops. On some pasta,

kids love it, usually.

Let's hope we can conjure up

our own appealing delight

as we head back

to our property search.

Our second house is located in the

North Yorkshire

village of Branton Green,

around four miles south

of the small town of Boroughbridge.

This quaint market town offers

everything Kat and Chris could want

from their new life in the country.

A butchers supplying locally-farmed

meats, great cafes and bars,

all wrapped up in

an attractive high street.

Back in Branton Green,

there's a post office and stores,

as well as a church.

And, hopefully, the house we've come

to see will live up

to our buyers' expectations.

In a lot of ways, what you've asked

for is a stereotypical

Escape To The Country home.

So we found you one.

Yes.

Wisteria around the front door.

She's gorgeous, isn't she?

Wow.

Absolutely stunning.

Yeah, beautiful.

I love the wisteria.

Well, this village is Branton Green.

It almost forms part

of Great Ouseburn, they're right

next-door to each other.

Right.

And, so, just a walk

from your front door,

you've got the local

post office and shop.

It all looked a short walk away.

We drove past a cricket pitch

as well, and an amazing

sports centre.

The cricket club has a really good

junior section to it, as well.

Oh, right.

The first thing the owner

of this house said to me

"Oh, have they got boys?"

They like their cricket here.

Oh, fantastic.

Now, then, the property itself.

Built in the late 1800s.

Wow. It is really pretty.

It looks pretty big as well.

Yeah.

I'm interested to know how

many bedrooms it's got.

I'm almost running out of fingers,

let me show you.

Really? Oh, wow.

This Grade II listed, double-fronted

Victorian property

is split over three floors.

On the ground floor,

there's no shortage of space,

with three separate reception rooms

and a large farmhouse kitchen.

We're starting off our tour

in the living room

at the front of the house.

Now, there's a few

living rooms to draw upon.

Oh, this is really cosy.

This is my favourite.

Love that fireplace.

It's amazing.

Well, these are normally on the tick

list of people that are

living out in the big city,

aren't they?

Yeah, absolutely.

I think anybody that moves in will

probably have to put

their own touch on this place.

Yeah.

You know, try to maybe think about

lighting the rooms

in a more modern way.

Yeah.

But you've got this room,

which is bigger than the other

reception room

at the other side of the

main entrance.

Yeah.

You can imagine nice, warm winter

evenings in here with the fire on.

It's lovely, really nice and cosy.

Yeah, really nice.

Let's go

to the kitchen.

OK, follow you.

You've got the downstairs loo

just through there.

Right.

The kitchen is the modern

part of the property.

Oh, wow, yeah.

Totally different.

Yeah.

But it works.

No, completely works,

and it's really homely as well.

I wasn't expecting it.

And a great

space to have off the kitchen,

cosy for the family.

Really bright, and the windows are

the full length of the property.

Yeah.

They just look out onto

your land and gardens.

There's also a small room

through there,

that's a third separate

reception room.

Oh, OK.

So all their stuff

is out of the way.

Yeah. No, it's fantastic.

Really light.

I'm looking forward to seeing

outside as well.

Well, I bet you are.

Before we do that, though,

let's go and take a look at

the bedrooms this house gives you.

This property has six bedrooms

split over the first

and second floors.

They're overflowing with warmth and

character and have a real cosy feel.

There's also two modern

family bathrooms.

And, next, we're heading

for the biggest of the six bedrooms.

I think we're all right,

head height.

Yeah, definitely, we're fine.

But bags of character.

Yeah. Oh, this is fantastic.

Lovely room. And an en-suite.

Really big windows as well,

so plenty of light.

I know you're very positive

walking around the first house,

but you look more comfortable

in this one.

I feel really positive about it.

This has a character that we're

after.

Yeah. It reminds me,

some of the features remind me of,

sort of, growing up

in the family homes I was around.

Definitely.

You have loads of rooms

to look around.

Yes.

Including a lovely space

above us.

I'm dying to show you what's

outside, so, come with me.

OK, yeah, I can't wait.

The property stands

in a one-acre plot,

with an additional rented

3.5 acre paddock attached.

To the rear, there's a large lawned

area complete with a shepherd's hut.

Which is bound to appeal

to their two sons.

And, for Chris and Kat,

this place has more outbuildings

than you could shake a stick at.

Stables, a workshop,

a car port, and this,

a fantastic stone barn which is

overflowing with possibilities.

So, you'll be pleased to hear that

this building

is contained within the property.

Right.

OK? It actually predates

the house we've been looking at.

Yes, you can tell.

So, you've got plenty of space

for residential accommodation.

It's got electricity supply to it,

it's got chickens inside it,

you can hear at the moment.

But it's also got water as well.

OK.

Yeah.

It's primed and ready.

This is an amazing project,

but it's something you never have to

do if you don't want to.

No.

There's a wonderful workshop in

there, there's a tack store.

Because you want the tack

for the horses you keep in

your one-acre paddock.

Oh, my word.

BOTH:

Wow.

For a first-time

equestrian property,

if you know what I mean,

this is it.

I'm absolutely blown away.

I'm in tears.

Ticking a lot of the

wish list, isn't it?

Yeah, definitely.

I'm actually blown away.

Look at you.

I know.

Oh!

These are the emotions, the

reactions, I was hoping I'd get.

Just as long as you're not allergic

to chickens.

Can't speak.

Yeah, no, it's absolutely lovely.

It really reminds me

of lots of things.

I'm completely blown away.

It's really sweet.

It's got everything.

How much would you pay for it?

I think it's going to be

more than 850,000.

I'm going to go for 875.

Right.

What do you think?

I'm going to go for over 900.

915?

Good guessing.

Really?

My eyes are still watering.

I'm afraid it is over budget,

on the market at £875,000.

Oh, wow.

Spot on.

Spot on.

And we've spoken to the owner, and,

because they know your position,

they said they would entertain

offers of around £850,000.

Oh, my goodness. So you could get

this on budget.

Incredible.

That would be

unbelievable.

I'm... I'm completely, well,

I'm speechless. It's amazing.

There's so much to the property,

isn't there?

It's...

There's so much you

haven't even seen yet.

Yeah.

And I feel like, yeah, there is.

So, have a refresh.

Go back and have a look

at everything on your own.

I'll catch up with you in mo.

Thank you.

Well, fantastic reactions to, well,

quite clearly a fantastic property.

It gives them everything they wanted

in their location, the village,

in a beautiful property, but, also,

people like to have something else

that we haven't thought out.

And this property here

gives them just that.

Something for Chris to get

involved in in the future.

I'm really pleased

how this has gone.

At £875,00, but with room

to negotiate,

this Grade II listed character

house seems a perfect fit

for our couple. It features

a large kitchen/diner,

six bedrooms, masses of

outside space,

a partly-converted barn,

stables, and it's all in a great

edge-of-village location.

Wow. Wow!

Oh, my goodness.

Oh, my word, I think I've fallen

in love with this house.

Absolutely love it.

We've got a ready-made play area.

I can't believe it.

I could get a

table tennis table in here.

Yeah, you could.

My head and heart

are both aligned, I would say.

This looks like

an amazing investment.

The property ticks a lot of the

wish list that we set out

at the beginning. And it really

has everything we've asked for.

I can't believe the space,

and this is the driveway.

You could drive in here.

Yes, a few tears.

I think it was just bringing back

a lot of memories,

a lot of nostalgia,

things from my childhood

that actually I'm looking

to recreate with my family

and my children.

You have to get used to that door,

don't you?

I know.

A substantial door.

So, substantial house and property?

Yeah.

You like this, don't you?

Yeah, we really like it.

Well, that's all

we're going to look at today.

Hopefully, something really good

to think on tonight.

Definitely.

Should we go?

BOTH:

Yeah.

Chris and Kat, along with

their two young sons,

are looking to leave the busy

North London suburb of Finchley

to set up home in North Yorkshire

with a budget of £850,000.

Still to come,

we've got the Mystery House,

which could be blessing

our two buyers

with their perfect

escape to the country.

Right?

Oh, my word.

I would say Holy Moley,

but, you know.

And I'll be getting a bit of extra

support to help me

on all of my house-hunting travels.

Look at that, the detail

on it is amazing.

Well, I'm pleased to report there

seems to be a bit of a buzz

around the Escape To The Country

camp this morning

because I think we all feel we've

got two great properties

already in the bag.

And, with that in mind,

and because we're going to see

the Mystery House,

we're prepared to take

a bit of a gamble.

Now, Kat has already alluded to the

fact that she's prepared

to compromise on that outside space.

And if she's prepared

to sacrifice that land, well,

all my prayers

could well be answered.

Our Mystery House is in

the village of Clifford,

back across the county border

into West Yorkshire.

And only 1.5 miles to the north are

the varied amenities of Boston Spa.

As its name suggests,

this spa town gained its spurs

in 1744

when John Shires discovered

sulphur springs

in the surrounding magnesium

limestone hills.

But, within decades,

the town's nurturing waters

had lost out to nearby Harrogate.

Today, Boston Spa's retail therapy

is more appealing,

boasting two public houses,

a host of eateries,

a general store and post office.

And, back in Clifford,

this small village is not without

its attractions either.

Now, this village, two churches,

outnumbered by three pubs.

That's all right, isn't it?

Sounds good. Good start.

Perfect start.

That's two you can

get banned from

and still have friends in the

village. I don't know why

I'm looking at you. Do you like

it here?

It's very pretty.

Yeah, it's lovely, yeah,

really nice. Very pretty.

But there was at least

one other place of worship

in the village which has now been

converted into our Mystery House.

In we come. Something

a little bit different.

Very different.

What is it, a church?

What would you say if I was to say

it ended life

as a converted nunnery?

OK. Oh, yes, you can see

the cross above the door.

Yeah. Keep an open mind,

it's something very different.

It's very pretty.

We think we've got

two very good options in the bag...

Yeah.

..so we've really mixed it up

with the Mystery House.

Yeah, no, why not?

OK?

Let's go.

Absolutely.

This Grade II listed former nunnery

dates back to 1847.

And still has its chapel

within the grounds.

The house itself has been

beautifully renovated,

while still retaining

a host of period features.

Let's start with one of the two

reception rooms

on this raised ground floor.

Very nice.

Yeah, really big.

Really big. Windows both sides

as well, makes it incredibly bright.

Yeah, it's really light.

And it's a great size, and it's

enormous, really, isn't it?

Yeah, it is. And this house is

slightly different in the way

it's laid out.

You've got this reception here.

You can just sneak a peek through

there to more of a snug,

or a music room.

Yeah. Still pretty big.

Yeah. And then downstairs,

as we'll see,

you've got the cooking area.

Oh, right, OK.

Let's keep walking around.

OK.

See if you can adapt to...

Yeah.

..a very different kind of

house. Come with me.

Heading out of the living room,

we descend the main staircase

to the lower ground floor.

So, on the lower ground floor, we've

got a really good-sized kitchen.

Lovely.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Really lovely kitten.

Downstairs, but actually

really light and airy.

Great for...

They've done a good job

on the conservatory here.

Big, isn't it?

Yeah.

It is big.

Really well done.

Now, you've got

a room next door.

OK, it serves at the moment

as a spare bedroom,

but I thought, you know,

if you were to come downstairs

to do your cooking,

you'd either have that

as a little TV room,

or just as a formal diving room.

Now, let's have a peek

at one of the bedrooms,

just so you see the dimensions,

and then we'll go outside.

Yeah.

OK? Come with me.

That concludes the living

accommodation

on the lower and ground floors.

Up on the first floor,

there are three double bedrooms,

which all have their

own particular style.

They're served by a beautiful,

modern family bathroom.

And we're making our way to

the largest of the three bedrooms,

complete with its own en-suite.

The master bedroom

has all the character.

Oh, yeah, lovely bedroom.

The developer was made to keep

as much of this as possible.

It's Grade II listed,

this building is.

OK, yes.

Look at it, it's beautiful,

isn't it?

Yeah, they've done a great job.

Three bedrooms on this floor.

Right.

OK.

Which means you might

have to sacrifice the dining room.

Oh, OK.

On the lower floor.

The one that they've got

as a bedroom is the fourth?

Or your guests would sleep

in their very own chapel.

Yes, I've been wondering

what's over there.

Come with me.

Despite there being a lot of

accommodation on offer,

Kat's suspicions are correct.

There's even more to explore.

As we head outside, I'm hoping the

next self-contained portion

of this house won't fail to impress.

Now, I distinctly remember you

saying on your shopping list

you wanted a chapel.

Right?

Oh, my word.

I was going to say Holy Moley,

but you know.

I don't know what to say.

Unbelievable.

Unbelievable, isn't it?

Well, we won't have to go far

on Sunday morning, will I?

I bet even you'd still be late

for this.

Or is it party Saturday night,

and you get very irreverent?

Yeah, probably more likely.

But what would you use it for?

It'd be games room, wouldn't it?

A party room, absolutely.

Yeah.

Couldn't be anything else.

Must take quite a lot to heat it.

You've got underfloor heating.

OK.

Oh, wow.

Thought of everything.

Yeah, well, it's handy, isn't it?

It's stunning. It's stunning.

And, but, for me,

I was saying to Chris,

it's a little bit like city living

in the countryside, isn't it?

It's still not right.

Let's go outside.

Yeah.

So you can start having a bit

of a guess towards the price.

Oh, goodness me.

The mystery twist to this

proposition is the garden,

as our couple will have to

compromise on their initial vision.

What we do have are lawned areas

with raised borders stocked

with mature plants and shrubs.

So, has this extraordinary property

done enough to win them over?

You can actually see the size of

this property now.

Yeah, no, it's...

It's not small, is it?

It's not small at all.

Maybe not for you. But...

No.

As an exercise in comparing it

with the other properties,

let's have a go at guessing

the price.

750.

Chris, have a go?

I say...

£751,000.

And, you know what, it serves you

right, because she's spot on.

At 750.

Oh, wow.

Well done, Kat.

Well done, me.

It's a quirky property.

It's been fabulous to walk around

it. I'm sure you'll agree.

Absolutely.

I think now is a good time for you

to just have a scoot around

this place on your own, and then

I'll meet you at the front,

how's that?

OK.

OK?

Thanks.

See you in a moment.

Thank you.

Thank you.

At £750,000,

this impressive Grade II listed

house would offer the right person

a wealth of features.

With its great kitchen/diner,

four bedrooms,

that extraordinary party room

in what was once the chapel,

and a central village location.

It has a lot of character,

it has this amazing second building

attached to it,

which is something we were after.

But, at the same time,

there's other downsides,

in that it doesn't

have the extra land.

And, you know, we can't really

put our stamp on the property.

I mean, when you walk into that

chapel, it's unbelievable,

the mosaic features.

The mosaics are beautiful.

And you're sort of searching

for the positives,

of which there are plenty,

but just not for us.

And, deep down, I know that

it's not our dream home.

Well, that's it, guys.

No more houses.

I know, sad.

Well, also time, though, for you

to sit down and have a chat.

Maybe this will help make

your mind up

about the other two properties we

saw.

Yeah.

Absolutely.

Should we go?

Yorkshire's stunning landscape has

long been a magnet

for tourists worldwide.

Its near 1,500 miles of pathways

are renowned

with ramblers and walkers. Many of

them sporting a stick or cane.

Canes became popular

in the mid-1600s,

and a middle-class gentleman

would often have two -

a rustic one for walks

in the country,

and a decorative cane

to show off their wealth.

Today, one man is keeping

this legacy alive.

Keith Pickering, affectionately

known as the Stick Man,

has spent over 30 years making canes

at his North York Moors workshop.

And I've come to see

just what is involved.

Keith. Are you the Stick Man?

That's me.

What a title.

Lovely to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

I would like to

know how on earth

you got into making

these lovely sticks.

It started off as a hobby.

My wife bought me this little fella.

Oh, right?

She bought that at a

dog show, and I absolutely loved it.

And I thought I'd have a go.

Each time I made one, it actually

got better than the previous one.

If you look at that, that was

the old one, 30 years ago.

And this is the sort of thing

I do nowadays.

Wow. Yeah, I mean, it's

a transformation, isn't it?

Look at that, the detail

on it is amazing.

This, the head, is it

the same material?

Is it the same piece of wood, or...?

Not on that one.

On the old original, yeah,

that was the side branch

growing off the one piece.

Right.

But nowadays,

I do it like this.

That's another pheasant

that I'm doing.

So I start off with

a blank piece of wood...

Yeah.

..and I carve it roughly to

shape, and then I put the face on.

Keith produces a wide range of

cane styles,

from ornate to rustic.

But they all start life

in the same way.

And to get that perfect finish,

it's crucial to select the right

piece of wood for the job.

So, what would you normally be

looking for,

for the right stick, then, Keith?

On a hazel bush like this,

we're looking for what you

call the sun sticks,

which are the ones that grow

straight up

and they're heading for the sun.

And come often from the bottom,

and they'll grow straight up.

We can get a nice four-foot

length out of that one.

Once it's trimmed off,

it will look quite nice.

And when it's dried, it'll make

a good walking stick.

Because of its lightness

and abundance,

hazel is Keith's wood of choice

when it comes to making canes.

But as straight as they may

look to you and I,

in the world of walking sticks,

they're not quite straight enough.

Back at his workshop, though,

Keith has a cunning plan to iron out

those pesky curves.

And he's letting me loose

on one of his precious samples.

As you rotate it, you're looking for

the biggest bend there.

I can see one here.

So turn that around until

it's touching the table.

Yeah.

And then just get the piece of

chalk and mark it there,

where it touches the table.

A small chalk mark pinpoints

the section of wood that needs

straightening.

Switch that on.

Next, a gentle bit of heat

softens the wood fibres

so they become pliable

and easier to move.

Right, that should do.

And so... That was the...

So we want to bend it the other way?

Chalk side away from you.

Don't be frightened of it.

Just leave it there.

It does look like it's bent double,

in a way, doesn't it?

Well, yeah, it's virtually gone

the opposite from what it was.

Off now.

It stays malleable

for a while, doesn't it?

Oh, crikey.

Well, we've just gone a

little bit too far.

But it's so flexible now,

just watch.

Oh, wow.

If you fancy one of the sticks,

you might have a bit of a wait.

Keith and his wife Jackie have

a packed order book

from clients of all ages.

And I've got 42 sticks

of my own to make,

and Jackie's got

a few of hers to do as well.

Goodness me.

I've got at least

six months in front of me.

Keith might well have a few more

orders to add to the list

when our couple make the move

to North Yorkshire.

But it remains to be seen whether it

will be into any of the houses

we've shown them.

Well, it doesn't look like the

gamble of the Mystery House

has paid off. But, for my mind,

there is still one clear

favourite property.

Time to find out from Chris and Kat

what they want to do next.

So, time to tell me your

favourite property.

Pretty sure I know which one it is,

but put me out of my misery.

Toot-toot-toot - number two!

It was, though, wasn't it?

Yeah, number two.

Absolutely.

For both of you, though, I know you

were very emotional at the time.

Chris?

Yeah, it was

an outright winner.

Definitely.

You seemed pretty much

on board from the get go.

Yeah. I loved it from the outside.

The setting, it was a beautiful

property, lovely wisteria,

and I think it's got features that

you just can't find

in a more modern property.

Yeah.

And that it's just got, yeah,

timeless features

that are really beautiful,

and made it really nostalgic

for me as well.

It's a lovely property.

Well, let's talk about tear-gate.

Why did it draw out such

emotion in you, then, Kat?

I don't know, it just, yeah...

I just had memories of my childhood,

and... Even though

it was a totally different property,

there was just a few things

that reminded me of my childhood.

And I think when, you know,

when you have children,

you sort of want to have elements

of that again for your children...

Yeah.

..even though they maybe seem

a bit unrealistic.

But I have had now the benefit of 24

hours, but I still really like it,

and I think we'll try and get

another viewing to get back

and see it.

You will, will you?

Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely.

It wasn't just about the house,

we had to find the right location.

And I think property number two did

get that balance right, didn't it?

Yeah, certainly,

we're moving out of London,

where we've already got a community,

and lots of friends and family

there. So we really need to put

the kids and the children

in somewhere straightaway.

Yeah.

Where they can get friends

from school,

and also in the local village.

And it had that sports field, with

the cricket pitch right there,

we can really see our children

getting involved in this

from an early stage.

But, good luck, you know?

You've had the emotional viewing.

Yeah.

Now's the time to sort of

dot the Is cross the Ts.

Yeah, be a bit sensible about it.

Well, thank you very much.

It's been an experience.

We've really enjoyed it.

Absolutely, thanks.

It's

been great fun showing you round

the houses, but I wish you

the best of luck, and, hopefully,

this is the first stage

in this move up here.

Good luck with it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, it's not often we find a house

that gives our buyers absolutely

everything they said

they were after.

But house number two

did exactly that.

And I think Kat's emotional

reactions to it says it all.

But, now, I suppose it is time to

remove the emotion

from the equation.

Now is the time to go about

with a slightly colder heart

for that second viewing.

But also to consider the family

and the area as a whole.

But I do hope they do that soon,

because to me, well,

that property suited them and their

family right down to the ground.

I wish them

all the very best of luck.

Chris and Kat did go back to that

second viewing, and made an offer,

which I'm happy to say was accepted.

We wish them well

with their new life in the beautiful

county of North Yorkshire.

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