0:00:02 > 0:00:06This beautiful, early 18th century house was built for the cousin of a Prime Minister.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09Fast forward a couple of hundred years and it's now home to nine
0:00:09 > 0:00:13of only 200 remaining nannies in the world.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17Find out where I am and who calls this estate home in just a moment.
0:00:34 > 0:00:39Today's house hunt proves that good things can come in small packages.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41It's nice, I like this.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44It's a bit like me, really, isn't it - small and perfectly formed.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48And there's just one small word to sum it all up.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50I said I wouldn't say wow.
0:00:50 > 0:00:51Wow.
0:00:54 > 0:00:59Today, I'm in Dorset at the 750 acre Georgian country estate
0:00:59 > 0:01:04of Kingston Maurward. Built in 1720 for George Pitt,
0:01:04 > 0:01:07cousin of the then Prime Minister, William Pitt,
0:01:07 > 0:01:09it later went on to become a horticultural
0:01:09 > 0:01:13and agricultural college in 1949.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15As well as an educational hub,
0:01:15 > 0:01:18the estate also has an animal park home to some rare breeds
0:01:18 > 0:01:23such as these Bagot goats, one of the oldest breeds of goats in the UK
0:01:23 > 0:01:27whose ancestors date back as far as the 1300s.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29In fact, they're so rare, they're even more endangered
0:01:29 > 0:01:31than the giant panda.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Situated on England's south-west coast,
0:01:35 > 0:01:39Dorset has land borders with four other counties.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41Known for its stunning coastline,
0:01:41 > 0:01:44the Dorset section of the South West Coast Path
0:01:44 > 0:01:46follows clifftop, lagoon and beach.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50Highlights include the iconic arch of Durdle Door,
0:01:50 > 0:01:53the horseshoe curve of Lulworth Cove,
0:01:53 > 0:01:57the headland of Golden Cap and the major shingle structure
0:01:57 > 0:01:59of Chesil Beach.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01Inland in the countryside of the Blackmore Vale,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Sturminster Newton is the site of one of a series
0:02:04 > 0:02:06of ancient flour mills on the River Stour.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11Dorset novelist Thomas Hardy lived in Sturminster Newton,
0:02:11 > 0:02:14describing it as idyllic and it was the inspiration for Stour Castle
0:02:14 > 0:02:17in his novel Tess of the D'Urbervilles.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21And recognising the importance of Hardy's work to the entire county,
0:02:21 > 0:02:25a statue of him sat on a tree stump and reading a book is found in the
0:02:25 > 0:02:26county town of Dorchester.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Another example of the importance of books and writers to Dorset
0:02:31 > 0:02:34is located in Wimborne Minster,
0:02:34 > 0:02:37home to one of the first public libraries in the country.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41Founded in 1686, the collection was started to protect its contents
0:02:41 > 0:02:44from the would-be book-burning authorities.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48It was opened to the public in 1695 on the proviso
0:02:48 > 0:02:51the books were chained to prevent theft.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54So whether you're looking for literary connections,
0:02:54 > 0:02:57an incredible coastline, or agricultural history,
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Dorset is a great county to head to.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05Much of Dorset's unique charm stems from its underlying geology
0:03:05 > 0:03:08and the different types of stone are showcased
0:03:08 > 0:03:12in some 13,000 listed buildings within the county.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16So it's probably no surprise to hear that the average price
0:03:16 > 0:03:20of a detached house in the county comes in at £357,000.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24That's £57,000 above the national figure.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27But with such an abundance of timeless character property,
0:03:27 > 0:03:31hopefully today's buyers will be spoilt for choice.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36It's fair to say today's couple didn't get off to the best of starts
0:03:36 > 0:03:39when human resources manager Hazel tried to sack
0:03:39 > 0:03:43IT managing director Colin from his newly acquired post.
0:03:43 > 0:03:48Colin was a new appointment onto the board and in the first few months of
0:03:48 > 0:03:52our working together he showed a distinct lack of interest
0:03:52 > 0:03:54over managing people.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57I would say in my defence, I was very good with numbers but maybe
0:03:57 > 0:04:00not too focused on people in the early days.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03As it turned out, things did improve.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07We became firm friends and later, after Colin had left the company,
0:04:07 > 0:04:09we actually became much more.
0:04:09 > 0:04:10Despite the shaky start,
0:04:10 > 0:04:13the couple eventually married and have been living in their home
0:04:13 > 0:04:17in East Horsley, Surrey, for the past 15 years.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19Now retired from their jobs in IT,
0:04:19 > 0:04:22they've decided it's time to let go of their current home.
0:04:23 > 0:04:28We've seen quite a significant change over the 15 years we've been here.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32It is a lot busier and you tend not to hear birdsong quite so much.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Over the years, more people have moved here and there's a lot
0:04:35 > 0:04:37of development planned.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41It's changing. It doesn't feel like the quiet place it used to be.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46So they're going on a recruitment drive for a rural relocation
0:04:46 > 0:04:50with their sights set on one county in particular.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52We want to move to Dorset.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55It holds lots of special memories.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58We got married in Dorset, we walk in Dorset,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01I used to cycle a lot in Dorset, and that's something I'm looking
0:05:01 > 0:05:04- to do again.- It's lush, it's green.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08Complete strangers will engage in a conversation and that's what we're
0:05:08 > 0:05:13looking forward to, that increase in openness and friendliness.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16And they're hoping that Dorset's impressive country credentials
0:05:16 > 0:05:20will give them more chances to do the things that they enjoy.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24The opportunities to indulge our interest in bird-watching
0:05:24 > 0:05:26and wildlife in general.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29You become more interested in the conservation aspect,
0:05:29 > 0:05:35the habitat - you get drawn in to a further world.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39So with their house on the market and their eyes firmly fixed on Dorset,
0:05:39 > 0:05:43it's time to find the right home where they can enjoy their retirement.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47We feel that now is absolutely the right time for us to move.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51I think it's a fantastic opportunity for us.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55Dorset's the place we want to go so that we can have those special
0:05:55 > 0:05:57memories but also create a whole load more.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Colin and Hazel are open to living anywhere in the county.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09But before we start looking at properties, we're meeting up
0:06:09 > 0:06:13to find out exactly what they want from this upcoming move.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15So, Colin and Hazel, welcome to Dorset.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18What does it look like in your mind's eye, the perfect property?
0:06:18 > 0:06:19- It's detached.- Yep.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Nicely centred in the middle of a plot that's about
0:06:22 > 0:06:25a third of an acre, no more than half an acre.
0:06:25 > 0:06:31- OK.- Don't mind what kind of style but if the house doesn't flow,
0:06:31 > 0:06:33unless you're going to knock it down and build it again,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35there's not a lot you can do about it,
0:06:35 > 0:06:38so it does need to have a structure there to work on.
0:06:38 > 0:06:39Give me your must-haves -
0:06:39 > 0:06:43what must you have in this new property down here in Dorset?
0:06:43 > 0:06:44A minimum of three bedrooms.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47- Minimum of three, right. - An en-suite,
0:06:47 > 0:06:50or the potential to put an en-suite in for us.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52- OK.- Nice garden.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55Land that is easily creatable.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58If that... I've just made a word up.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00Flexible. Yes, but it's a good one. We'll go with that.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03Let's go - I will try and find you a creatable garden.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07I've never had an active vegetable plot and I want a potting shed and I
0:07:07 > 0:07:12want to be able to do my seeds and create the food for the table.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14And I would like, I'd like, ideally,
0:07:14 > 0:07:17a double garage for the bikes and the cars.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20What about socialising - talk about the environment you want to live in.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23If it could be on the edge of a village,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26so that there's a community that we can join in with,
0:07:26 > 0:07:28we've never had that opportunity before.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31So it'd be nice to be able to meet local people and have local clubs
0:07:31 > 0:07:34and things to join in with.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37I now know what your ideal location would be.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Whether we can find that, that comes along with the right package
0:07:41 > 0:07:44is another thing. But it all has to be bought with something - money.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47Let's talk about your budget. How much have you got to spend?
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Top end, 650, if it ticked all the boxes.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54Right. But 650 is tickety-boo,
0:07:54 > 0:07:57- nothing to do apart from maybe a bit of painting?- Exactly.- OK.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02Movement-wise, how soon could you make this move?
0:08:02 > 0:08:06- Any time.- Yes, our house is on the market now.- Good.
0:08:06 > 0:08:07So, yeah, I mean,
0:08:07 > 0:08:12if we find the ideal house today we'll put an offer in.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15Well, great stuff, then. Let's go and find this garden, what is it,
0:08:15 > 0:08:16- a create...?- A creatable garden.
0:08:16 > 0:08:21- Let's go and find a creatable garden that comes with a house.- Excellent. - Come with me.- Look forward to it.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25For a maximum budget of £650,000,
0:08:25 > 0:08:27Hazel and Colin are looking for a detached property
0:08:27 > 0:08:30set in its own plot with scope for a vegetable patch.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34They want a minimum of three bedrooms, including an en-suite,
0:08:34 > 0:08:38a double garage and an edge-of-village location.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40We've got three fantastic options to show them,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43each with their wish list in mind.
0:08:43 > 0:08:44And after each house tour,
0:08:44 > 0:08:48I'll be asking them to guess the price before I reveal it.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50The final property is our Mystery House,
0:08:50 > 0:08:53which this time is literally something out of a novel.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04Our search is starting out in the West Dorset hamlet of Holditch.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07Three miles away, the village of Thorncombe has a community-run store
0:09:07 > 0:09:09with Post Office services.
0:09:09 > 0:09:15The present church was built in 1866 to house a 400-strong congregation,
0:09:15 > 0:09:19swelled by the boom from the local wool and lace trades.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25agricultural remains important to the area.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28And back in the hamlet of Holditch, opposite a dairy farm,
0:09:28 > 0:09:30is the house we've come to see.
0:09:31 > 0:09:37Well, then, Hazel and Colin, you said you wanted access to a pub.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40- We did.- Well, the property I am going to show you is a pub,
0:09:40 > 0:09:43or at least was one, up until the 1980s.
0:09:43 > 0:09:44What do we think?
0:09:45 > 0:09:48- Interesting. - Pretty location for sure.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Yes, very pretty and very quiet.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52So, ready to look inside?
0:09:52 > 0:09:54- Yes, please.- Absolutely.- Let's go.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57Dating from the 17th century,
0:09:57 > 0:10:01this Grade II listed flint and stone cottage has both slate
0:10:01 > 0:10:03and thatched roof.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05As well as being a former pub,
0:10:05 > 0:10:09at one time it was divided into no fewer than five cottages
0:10:09 > 0:10:11and also had to be part-rebuilt following bomb damage
0:10:11 > 0:10:13in the Second World War.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16The front door opens into a hall
0:10:16 > 0:10:18which leads into the first of the reception rooms,
0:10:18 > 0:10:21which the current owners use as their dining room.
0:10:22 > 0:10:23- Nice.- Yeah.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27The wood on the banisters, it's cosy.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31You like fireplaces? Is that a big thing for you in a country property?
0:10:31 > 0:10:33- Yeah, I think so. - Particularly a wood burner.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35Good. All right. Let's keep walking through.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38- Good first impressions, then?- Yes. - Very much so.- Come on then.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42On the opposite side of the entrance hall is a study and music room
0:10:42 > 0:10:44and a plumbed utility space.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47But we're continuing through the dining room into the Shaker-style
0:10:47 > 0:10:50country kitchen at the heart of the home.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Just mind your step there. You tell me,
0:10:53 > 0:10:55is this the sort of kitchen you had in mind?
0:10:55 > 0:10:57Yeah, certainly big enough.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59- You can sit and eat in it, which is nice.- Yes.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02I do think that it's been done very nicely
0:11:02 > 0:11:05and in keeping with the house.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07How much time do you spend in the kitchen?
0:11:07 > 0:11:10A fair bit, cos I tend to be the cook.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12Right, OK. So you're out in the garden...
0:11:12 > 0:11:14- Yes.- ..growing it, and you'll be in here cooking it?
0:11:14 > 0:11:15That's the general idea.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18So, whilst only one of you might be cooking,
0:11:18 > 0:11:21- you share that time and space together.- Yes.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23All right, these are pretty good first impressions.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27- Let's show you around the rest of the property.- OK, great.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31A second L-shaped hall from the kitchen leads past a pantry.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34Then through a further, larger reception room
0:11:34 > 0:11:38and into a smaller snug, which also opens on to a conservatory.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40Oh, that looks cosy.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42- Yeah, it's lovely and light as well, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44With, you know, the other rooms in the house,
0:11:44 > 0:11:46- I think this would work.- Yes.
0:11:46 > 0:11:51If this part's your TV area, you can still have a quiet sitting,
0:11:51 > 0:11:53reading area round there.
0:11:53 > 0:11:54That works quite nicely.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Plus the conservatory, on top of a decent sized kitchen,
0:11:57 > 0:12:00you've got quite a bit of space here on the ground floor, haven't you?
0:12:00 > 0:12:02- Yeah.- Yeah, very much so. - I think bedroom-wise upstairs,
0:12:02 > 0:12:05the proportions might be something you're a bit more used to,
0:12:05 > 0:12:08- so let's go and check those out. - OK, great.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10Colin and Hazel are already thinking of ways
0:12:10 > 0:12:12to put the ground floor rooms to the best use.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16The four-bedroom accommodation on the upper floor is accessed
0:12:16 > 0:12:19via a choice of two staircases.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22A family bathroom in the centre of the home is flanked to either side
0:12:22 > 0:12:24by the two smaller guest bedrooms.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28Both have similar dimensions and are currently set up as singles
0:12:28 > 0:12:31but could comfortably fit double beds.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35Then at the far end of the slate roofed wing is a good-sized double
0:12:35 > 0:12:36with an en-suite bathroom.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41That just leaves bedroom number four at the opposite end of the home,
0:12:41 > 0:12:45another double bedroom, again with an en-suite.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48Now, you get a choice of two staircases to come up here.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51But you also get the choice of two main bedrooms
0:12:51 > 0:12:53that are both en-suite.
0:12:53 > 0:12:54- Oh, fantastic.- Oh, right.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57- That's a nice surprise. - Very nice.- And that's a big bed.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00- Nice size room.- That's about the same size as ours.- Yeah.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02- You've got room here.- Yes.- You've got room to have a separate room
0:13:02 > 0:13:05as your dressing room or something like a walk-in wardrobe.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07It's not what I was expecting from the view outside the property.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10- No.- Could you live here?
0:13:10 > 0:13:14- Yeah, maybe.- Well, this is better than you were expecting.
0:13:14 > 0:13:15- Yes, much better.- Yes, absolutely.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18Nice size, nice and bright, got the double aspect.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20- Yes, tick.- And nice views.
0:13:20 > 0:13:21Time now to go outside.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24- Let me just squeeze through here. - Thank you.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27So above expectations on the inside.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31But let's see what this 17th century former pub delivers outside.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36Set to one side of the home, there's the double garage Colin asked for
0:13:36 > 0:13:38as well as a further stone-built workshop.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41And there's lots of interest for keen gardener Hazel
0:13:41 > 0:13:45in the half acre plot with raised vegetable beds, areas of lawn,
0:13:45 > 0:13:49mature shrubs and trees and patio seating to enjoy the views of the
0:13:49 > 0:13:53surrounding countryside, even when the sun doesn't shine.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Well, I'm glad I brought my sunglasses with me!
0:13:59 > 0:14:00Is this what you had in mind?
0:14:00 > 0:14:01- Yes.- For your growing?
0:14:01 > 0:14:05Perfect. Nice spaces that I can create.
0:14:05 > 0:14:06Yes, excellent.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08It's a gorgeous garden, very nice indeed.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11So let's guess the price.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13I had it around 585.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15OK, you had it around 585.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19- OK.- I think it's going to be a bit more.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22615.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24This place is on the market
0:14:24 > 0:14:27for offers around £630,000.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33This is probably our first indicator of what we're going to get
0:14:33 > 0:14:34- for our money.- Yes.- Yeah.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Well, with that in mind, refresh yourselves of what you've seen
0:14:37 > 0:14:40thus far, and I'll meet you whenever you're done, all right.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42- Right you are.- Catch you in a mo. - Thank you.- OK.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46For £20,000 shy of their top budget,
0:14:46 > 0:14:50this Grade II listed 17th century former pub has a large
0:14:50 > 0:14:53country kitchen as well as a dedicated dining room.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56There's one more bedroom than they asked for and a total of
0:14:56 > 0:15:01three bathrooms as well as half an acre of garden with outbuildings.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04I think there's bags of character in the property.
0:15:04 > 0:15:05I think it's a nice house.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07The garden's spectacular.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11The property is in a really pretty location.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15It's a house that's had the character very carefully maintained.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19The upstairs is lovely.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21Downstairs, I'm not so sure.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24There would need to be considerable work.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26We're neither of us DIY people,
0:15:26 > 0:15:30so we would have to look into just how much work was needed
0:15:30 > 0:15:32and what the cost would be.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34How was it for a first property?
0:15:34 > 0:15:36- Contender?- Yeah, I think so.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39There's a lot of things to consider with this one.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41But something to compare everything to from now on then?
0:15:41 > 0:15:43- Yes.- Good.- For sure.
0:15:47 > 0:15:52Dorset's 96 miles of World Heritage Coast includes the natural wonder
0:15:52 > 0:15:54of Chesil Beach.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58This unique shingle bank of an estimated 180 billion pebbles
0:15:58 > 0:16:01is divided from the mainland for much of its length
0:16:01 > 0:16:03by the Fleet Lagoon.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07It's one of the most species-rich lagoons in the country.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10To find out about the flora and fauna they might find here,
0:16:10 > 0:16:14wildlife enthusiasts Colin and Hazel are meeting Mark Smith from the
0:16:14 > 0:16:18Dorset Wildlife Trust, who's also officer at the Chesil Centre.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20Mark, tell us about the reserve.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24Behind us you can see that giant structure which is Chesil Beach.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28It's a really important barrier beach that protects the Fleet Lagoon
0:16:28 > 0:16:31and the land behind us from the waves that roll in
0:16:31 > 0:16:35from the Atlantic, and it also creates a rather unusual habitat,
0:16:35 > 0:16:38which means we get some real specialist wildlife
0:16:38 > 0:16:39that thrives here.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43From spring onwards, parts of the beach are a riot of colour,
0:16:43 > 0:16:45as wild flowers come into bloom.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49These coastal specimens have dense, low vegetation
0:16:49 > 0:16:52and waxy or hairy leaves to reduce water loss.
0:16:52 > 0:16:57But as well as plant life, the reserve is home to many sea birds.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00Little terns arriving from West Africa to nest in Britain
0:17:00 > 0:17:04struggle to raise their chicks due to disturbance, predation,
0:17:04 > 0:17:06and habitat loss.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09In 1997, there were 100 pairs at Chesil,
0:17:09 > 0:17:13but by 2008 this had dropped to just ten.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16So a warden scheme was set up to protect them,
0:17:16 > 0:17:21and now the colony is successfully raising 120 fledglings a year.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Just over there, past the roped-off area,
0:17:24 > 0:17:27you can see the little terns nesting on the beach.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31Oh, yes, I can see them on the nests, there's quite a few.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33And how long will they stay for?
0:17:33 > 0:17:35They arrive around about mid-April,
0:17:35 > 0:17:38then they'll be sitting on their nests around May, June time.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41One of the best ways to see them is from the Fleet Explorer,
0:17:41 > 0:17:45which is a specially-designed boat that runs trips in the Fleet Lagoon.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47- I've arranged for you to meet the skipper.- Excellent.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51The Fleet Lagoon is brackish,
0:17:51 > 0:17:54meaning it's a combination of salt water coming in
0:17:54 > 0:17:58from Portland Harbour and fresh water from several small streams.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02This provides a particular habitat for many aquatic species,
0:18:02 > 0:18:06including sea bass, eels, and even seahorses.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08And skipper of the Fleet Explorer, Roger Moody,
0:18:08 > 0:18:10is on hand to tell them more.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15Fleet is an Anglo-Saxon word meaning shallow water.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17The average depth is only three feet.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20One of the exciting things about going on the boat is I never even
0:18:20 > 0:18:24know myself what we're going to see, it can vary from trip to trip.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26Have you seen anything special on the reserve?
0:18:26 > 0:18:31We did have, a fortnight ago, a fish known as a smooth-hound,
0:18:31 > 0:18:34which is of the shark family, but looks like a big dogfish.
0:18:34 > 0:18:35Very rare to see them in here.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39We've had the odd seal come in from time to time, but I think the smooth-hound was probably
0:18:39 > 0:18:41the rarest thing we've seen to date. Let's not talk about it,
0:18:41 > 0:18:43let's go down to the boat and see what we can see.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45- Fantastic.- OK, come on down.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49The level of salinity varies greatly along the eight mile length
0:18:49 > 0:18:52of the lagoon, which is one of the reasons for the wealth
0:18:52 > 0:18:53of wildlife found here.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57That's a bonus for the nesting terns, whose diet consists
0:18:57 > 0:19:03of small fish, crustaceans, molluscs and worms, as well as some insects.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06I think now you can probably see how small the little tern is if you actually see one.
0:19:06 > 0:19:11Isn't it amazing to think that it's flown about 4,000-5,000 miles
0:19:11 > 0:19:15from Africa to breed just on that spot of the beach there?
0:19:15 > 0:19:17As well as these feathered visitors from Africa,
0:19:17 > 0:19:21the lagoon is a popular spot for European migratory birds.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23Little egret, like a white heron.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26They are originally a Mediterranean bird that, over the years,
0:19:26 > 0:19:28has sort of come across Europe
0:19:28 > 0:19:30and now can be seen all over the country.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33It's said that the first breeding pair in this area
0:19:33 > 0:19:37was in Poole Harbour in 1996.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40Well, it's time to put aside the binoculars for now
0:19:40 > 0:19:43and see if we can find a suitable spot for Hazel and Colin
0:19:43 > 0:19:46to set up home here in the Dorset countryside.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53The next stop on our house hunt is Burton Bradstock.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56This village, located in the Bride Valley,
0:19:56 > 0:19:59is situated half a mile inland from Chesil Beach.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03There are a couple of pubs, a post office and stores,
0:20:03 > 0:20:05a community library in a former chapel,
0:20:05 > 0:20:09and a nearby farm shop selling local produce.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12A couple of miles from all this, down a quiet private road,
0:20:12 > 0:20:16our second property puts location and views at the top of the agenda.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22Now, this house, as you can see, is a bungalow, or a dormer bungalow.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24- OK.- Different.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28I wasn't expecting a bungalow, so that's a surprise.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30It's in a fantastic location.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33The reasons we brought you here are because of the garden
0:20:33 > 0:20:36and the amazing, amazing position.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39- I can't wait to look inside. - Yes.- Follow me.
0:20:39 > 0:20:40OK, will do.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45Originally built in 1954, with several alterations over the past
0:20:45 > 0:20:4915 years, we are entering via one of these recent additions,
0:20:49 > 0:20:52a conservatory that opens into the kitchen.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Right, in order to get your proper first impressions, follow me,
0:20:55 > 0:20:57come right into this corner of the kitchen.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01So, first impressions?
0:21:01 > 0:21:03Tiny. Not enough work surface.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05- There's not enough prep space, is there?- No.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09I just wonder if we could bring some of this into there,
0:21:09 > 0:21:10where the beautiful view is,
0:21:10 > 0:21:14and then you've got a kitcheny-dining area.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16Not a bad view to have over breakfast.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19- Lots to think about.- Yeah, yeah.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21But very interested to see the rest of the property.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23- Well, let me show you another room, come with me.- Fantastic.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29The rear of the kitchen leads to a hall and into the first and smaller
0:21:29 > 0:21:31of the reception rooms.
0:21:33 > 0:21:34- Small.- This is your...
0:21:34 > 0:21:36- This is your snug.- Yes.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38Especially a winter room, I think this would be perfect.
0:21:38 > 0:21:39- Working fire, I presume?- Yes.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42- Multi-fuel burner.- The fire is nice.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45I'm not too keen on...
0:21:46 > 0:21:48- ..the beams.- Maybe you're a bit disappointed
0:21:48 > 0:21:51- with the proportions here. Let me show you another room.- OK.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Back along the hall at the opposite end of the home is the other
0:21:55 > 0:21:59and largest reception room, opening on to another conservatory.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03OK, that's a bit bigger, isn't it?
0:22:03 > 0:22:05Nice and light.
0:22:05 > 0:22:06That's the old external window.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09Would you think about maybe doing away with that and maybe just...
0:22:09 > 0:22:12- Having one room.- ..walking through? - You could do, couldn't you?- Yes.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15I'm interested to see how big the bedrooms are.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Well, let's look at the one here just round the corner.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24With a total of four bedrooms, an upper floor houses
0:22:24 > 0:22:26two smaller bedrooms, one with a skylight window
0:22:26 > 0:22:30and another with dormer window plus a skylight.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32These are served by a family bathroom,
0:22:32 > 0:22:35whilst the two largest doubles are located back on the ground floor
0:22:35 > 0:22:40and served by a ground floor bathroom and shower room.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42One double is located behind the dining room,
0:22:42 > 0:22:45and the largest bedroom in the property is next to the kitchen.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48Not as big as I know you may hope,
0:22:48 > 0:22:52but I'm hoping you will love the views.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54Definitely, definitely like the view.
0:22:54 > 0:22:55Yes, they are stunning.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Something to wake up to in the morning.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59It is on the cosy side.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01This is the biggest bedroom.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03- OK.- Could you live with it?
0:23:03 > 0:23:05I'd have to think about it.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09This is a lot, lot smaller than the current bedroom we've got.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12But I like so many things, it's a trade-off, isn't it?
0:23:12 > 0:23:16- Yes.- Trade off that view for a smaller size room.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18You think you've got a view there,
0:23:18 > 0:23:21when I take you to the top of the garden you have a fantastic view.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Completing our tour of the interior accommodation
0:23:24 > 0:23:27is a ground floor study located opposite this bedroom,
0:23:27 > 0:23:31and a utility located behind the main sitting room.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33But Colin's right about compromise,
0:23:33 > 0:23:35they would need to do some work here.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39Perhaps what's outside will persuade them of the potential of this home's
0:23:39 > 0:23:40stunning location.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44With a garage, a separate garden studio and workshop,
0:23:44 > 0:23:48the plot is extensive, including an established orchard,
0:23:48 > 0:23:52greenhouse and panoramic views over National Trust land to the coast.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57- Look at that view. - That's fantastic.- Yeah, stunning.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59- I think extensive is the word, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01That's absolutely stunning.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04- Isn't it? Even on a day like today.- Yeah.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06Well, I've always wanted a sit-on mower,
0:24:06 > 0:24:09and I think this is big enough to require one!
0:24:09 > 0:24:10It's a big plot.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13I mean, having an orchard in the middle of your back garden,
0:24:13 > 0:24:14that's pretty special.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17So how much would you pay for your own slice of it?
0:24:17 > 0:24:20I think it could well be 645, 650.
0:24:20 > 0:24:21I was on 640.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24It's a premium spot.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27It is, and it's reflected in the asking price.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29Even with some work to be done to the property,
0:24:29 > 0:24:32this place is on the market for offers around £650,000.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35- Yeah.- Yeah.- That doesn't surprise me in the slightest.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38- No.- I think now is a great time to get out of the rain,
0:24:38 > 0:24:41I'll meet you outside whenever you're done, but there's lots of stuff to look around.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43- OK.- See you in a mo.- OK, thanks.
0:24:47 > 0:24:48At the top of their budget,
0:24:48 > 0:24:52this 1950s dormer bungalow comes with four bedrooms
0:24:52 > 0:24:55and three bathrooms as well as two conservatories.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58There is an extensive plot with garage and further outbuildings,
0:24:58 > 0:25:01and magnificent views to countryside and coast.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07This is a good-sized space.
0:25:07 > 0:25:08What would you use it for?
0:25:08 > 0:25:12I'm just thinking you could get an exercise bike,
0:25:12 > 0:25:15rowing machine and some free weights in here,
0:25:15 > 0:25:17so I could turn this into a home gym.
0:25:17 > 0:25:18Oh, OK.
0:25:18 > 0:25:24I had a mixed sense of excitement and fear.
0:25:24 > 0:25:30Excitement because the location is absolutely what we wanted,
0:25:30 > 0:25:34then the fear was that we're not going to be able to afford this.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37One of the things we said in the first instance was that we weren't
0:25:37 > 0:25:38prepared to do a lot of building work.
0:25:38 > 0:25:43The views from this house have made me think again about that.
0:25:43 > 0:25:49I can see how, by extending it, I think we could make it work.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Now, I can imagine that Colin's going to get all carried away
0:25:52 > 0:25:55and say we should really give it some thought,
0:25:55 > 0:25:57but the practical side of me says,
0:25:57 > 0:26:00is this what we want to be taking on now?
0:26:00 > 0:26:03I love it, but I'm not sure it's something we can have.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08Hazel, are you still miffed with me for showing you this house?
0:26:08 > 0:26:11- Yes.- Are you happy you came here, though?- Yes.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14Well, I feel justified in showing you a place at the top of your budget.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Have you got a thing to consider tonight over dinner?
0:26:17 > 0:26:20We've got an awful lot to consider tonight over dinner.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22- Good, I'll take you back then. - Thank you.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38We're helping Hazel and Colin from East Horsley, Surrey,
0:26:38 > 0:26:42find a more rural retirement in the Dorset countryside.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44We've already shown them two good options for their budget
0:26:44 > 0:26:49of £650,000, but there's still the Mystery House to come,
0:26:49 > 0:26:51and it could offer a novel solution.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53Oh, that's nice.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56I like that, yeah. It's gorgeous.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58My idea of a house.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01And where better than Dorset's dairy country to get a real taste
0:27:01 > 0:27:03of the county?
0:27:04 > 0:27:07I'd be lethal here, you'd have no profits!
0:27:07 > 0:27:08I'd be at this stuff all day long!
0:27:11 > 0:27:15I think yesterday's properties satisfied Colin and Hazel's wants
0:27:15 > 0:27:19and desires for outside space, character, and especially views.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22But on reflection, if anything, they may have fallen short in regards to
0:27:22 > 0:27:26giving them the location they're after, that sense of community,
0:27:26 > 0:27:28walking distance to the pub, if you like.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30So for today's mystery property,
0:27:30 > 0:27:32we'll do our very best to address that.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36But of course the compromise is that instead of Hazel growing her own
0:27:36 > 0:27:39vegetables, she may be buying them from the local shop.
0:27:41 > 0:27:45- We're off to see the Mystery House. Excited?- Yes.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47What do you think I will be showing you, then?
0:27:47 > 0:27:50Well, as the Mystery House is supposed to challenge our
0:27:50 > 0:27:55priorities, a semidetached in the middle of the town with no garden?
0:27:55 > 0:27:58Like Hazel, I'm just wondering whether it might be in a village.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00Have you ever looked at a house and thought,
0:28:00 > 0:28:03"Well, this isn't what I was looking for but this actually could work?"
0:28:03 > 0:28:08I've seen a house that was not what I was looking for and fallen in love
0:28:08 > 0:28:10with it and moved in.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12Well, OK, that's what the mystery property's about,
0:28:12 > 0:28:14try something different.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20Our mystery offering is in Sutton Poyntz,
0:28:20 > 0:28:23a village dating back over a millennium to the year 891.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26And, as I'm about to illustrate to Hazel and Colin,
0:28:26 > 0:28:29it hasn't lost any of its quintessential English charm.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33- Lovely, isn't it? - Beautiful.- Very pretty.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36Funnily enough, it reminds me of some places in the Cotswolds.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39You've got your all-important pub.
0:28:39 > 0:28:41You've got a good convenience store at the end of the road,
0:28:41 > 0:28:43but you've got loads and loads of community activity.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46Go for walks and do a bit of bird-watching.
0:28:46 > 0:28:48There's just loads to do.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51The great thing about the property I'm going to show you is it's within
0:28:51 > 0:28:53this village, it's a walk from where we're stood.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56- Shall we?- Yes.- Please do. - Come with me.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59The village is mentioned by Thomas Hardy in his novel
0:28:59 > 0:29:01The Trumpet Major, published in 1880,
0:29:01 > 0:29:05and his fictional location of Overcombe refers to both
0:29:05 > 0:29:09the corn mill and the then recently built neighbouring mill house.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12And it's this very home with its illustrious literary connection
0:29:12 > 0:29:14that we've come to see.
0:29:15 > 0:29:19Now the Mystery House often has bags of character,
0:29:19 > 0:29:21and this one is no different.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23Oh, that's nice.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26I like that, yeah. It's gorgeous.
0:29:26 > 0:29:27My idea of a house.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30Looking around the rest of the village, this stands out a bit,
0:29:30 > 0:29:33and that's because the guy that owned the mill
0:29:33 > 0:29:35decided to build himself his own house,
0:29:35 > 0:29:37so everybody else that lived in the village worked for him,
0:29:37 > 0:29:40and this was the house to live in, really.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42- Right.- This is the Mystery House.
0:29:42 > 0:29:43Why is it the Mystery House?
0:29:43 > 0:29:45I'm going to get the bad news right out of the way.
0:29:45 > 0:29:46It doesn't come with land.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50- Look at it - we're surrounded by other village houses.- Yeah.
0:29:50 > 0:29:54What you see, pretty much, Hazel, is what you get.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57OK. There might be allotments somewhere
0:29:57 > 0:29:59where I could still grow the veg.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02If the inside is as nice as the outside,
0:30:02 > 0:30:05I may find it in my heart to forgive you.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08There's a few things that make this property very different inside
0:30:08 > 0:30:10to how you would expect it to be from the outside.
0:30:10 > 0:30:11- Come with me.- Can't wait.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19This Grade II listed detached stone house was built in the 1870s,
0:30:19 > 0:30:22and was completely and sympathetically renovated
0:30:22 > 0:30:26by the current owners over the last two decades.
0:30:26 > 0:30:27Turning right from an entrance hall,
0:30:27 > 0:30:31we start our tour in the impeccable dining room.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34You get the first feeling of elegance in this house, don't you?
0:30:34 > 0:30:36- Absolutely.- Yes.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39- Very nice. - Very much a Georgian feel,
0:30:39 > 0:30:41although it's not a Georgian property.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43- Now let me show you the kitchen, OK.- OK.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45Come with me.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51So the kitchen - not the biggest we've seen so far.
0:30:51 > 0:30:52It's nice, I like this.
0:30:52 > 0:30:56It's a bit like me, really, isn't it - small and perfectly formed.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59Are all the white goods in here, too, or is that...?
0:30:59 > 0:31:02Next door. Huge utility room.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04- Excellent.- Oh, right.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06You've got those lovely thick walls,
0:31:06 > 0:31:09you've got the beautiful, big, low-slung windows.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12You get that sense of space you wouldn't normally get
0:31:12 > 0:31:14in a Victorian property.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17- And I like the units, they could work.- Good.
0:31:17 > 0:31:19It's the style, it's ours, our style.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22And the feel - it feels right.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24Even the way it's decorated.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26If you like the style of what you've seen so far,
0:31:26 > 0:31:28I think you're going to love this living room.
0:31:28 > 0:31:30OK.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33Well, if the response to the inside of this home so far is anything
0:31:33 > 0:31:37to go by, Hazel is going to forgive me for the lack of garden.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40Beyond the utility room is a ground floor shower room,
0:31:40 > 0:31:43whilst across the other side of the entrance hall is the final
0:31:43 > 0:31:46and largest room on this floor, a very spacious reception.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50- Right then.- Oh, that's nice.
0:31:50 > 0:31:52That's a beauty, isn't it?
0:31:52 > 0:31:54I said I wouldn't say wow.
0:31:54 > 0:31:58Wow. This is a really, really nice room.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00And are these French windows round the corner?
0:32:00 > 0:32:03Yeah, going out to a small courtyard,
0:32:03 > 0:32:05which I'll let you have a peek at later.
0:32:05 > 0:32:09You guys seem to have reacted better and better as we've gone
0:32:09 > 0:32:13- round this house.- Yeah, I can see myself sitting down there,
0:32:13 > 0:32:16sipping my gin and tonic.
0:32:16 > 0:32:20So they're already picturing life in this lovely period house.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23Upstairs there are three good-sized bedrooms and the potential
0:32:23 > 0:32:26for a fourth, currently used as a study.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29Above that grand reception room are two guest bedrooms.
0:32:29 > 0:32:32The larger with double aspect is currently used as a twin
0:32:32 > 0:32:34and next to it is a smaller double.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38These are served by a family bathroom.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41That leaves the final bedroom set above the dining room,
0:32:41 > 0:32:43the master en-suite.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46I'm hoping you'll rather like the master.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49- Very nice.- That's a nice size.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51There's bags of room for a king size in here.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53Yeah, I think so.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56And it always feels bigger when the ceilings are higher.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59It feels almost like a new house.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01Got the all-important en-suite for you there.
0:33:01 > 0:33:02En-suite shower in there.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05- Looks great.- Excellent.
0:33:05 > 0:33:06So, you seem to like it?
0:33:06 > 0:33:08- Yes.- Very much.
0:33:08 > 0:33:11Good, let's go back outside, start thinking about price.
0:33:11 > 0:33:12OK.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16Inside has wowed even Colin,
0:33:16 > 0:33:19and whilst the outside space may not offer much scope for Hazel's
0:33:19 > 0:33:24vegetable patch, there is a private rear courtyard for alfresco dining.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26And, to the side of the property,
0:33:26 > 0:33:30there's an attached stone-built garage, added by the current owners.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33The pretty front garden is enclosed by a stone wall
0:33:33 > 0:33:35and mainly laid to lawn.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38Overall, I think that was a pretty good tour, wasn't it?
0:33:38 > 0:33:41Very good, yes. Very nice.
0:33:41 > 0:33:45So to bring everything together, it's on the market at what?
0:33:45 > 0:33:48I think it's over the budget at 670.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50I think it might be...
0:33:51 > 0:33:52..655.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55This place is on the market
0:33:55 > 0:33:57for offers around £650,000.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59OK.
0:33:59 > 0:34:03As far as the house is concerned, there was absolutely no downside,
0:34:03 > 0:34:05it had a lovely feel.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08Well, now is the time you can really get used to this property,
0:34:08 > 0:34:10- and I will meet you whenever you're done.- OK.
0:34:10 > 0:34:11- Thank you.- See you in a mo.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16Of course it was a massive gamble bringing the guys to a property
0:34:16 > 0:34:18that didn't have swathes of land,
0:34:18 > 0:34:22but I think it's a gamble worth taking because the house itself
0:34:22 > 0:34:24is absolutely stunning.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29Right on budget, this Grade II listed detached stone house
0:34:29 > 0:34:33offers a well-appointed kitchen and two reception rooms.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36Upstairs there are three bedrooms, including an en-suite,
0:34:36 > 0:34:39plus a study offers the potential for a fourth,
0:34:39 > 0:34:42and it's in a very desirable village location.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45It's an absolutely beautiful house.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48I've totally fallen in love with it.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51I liked this house the minute I stepped over the threshold,
0:34:51 > 0:34:53it had a fantastic feel.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55It's a house I could move into tomorrow.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00The opportunity to live in such a lovely home,
0:35:00 > 0:35:02you can't just throw that out the window.
0:35:02 > 0:35:08I have to counter that against no garden
0:35:08 > 0:35:10and the proximity of neighbours.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13I think that I love it a little bit more than she does at the minute.
0:35:13 > 0:35:17If it was me, I'd probably be looking to put an offer on,
0:35:17 > 0:35:19so there's a lot to discuss.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23That is it. So compare all your thoughts on the Mystery House
0:35:23 > 0:35:25with the two properties you saw yesterday.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27I'll find you somewhere quiet to do just that.
0:35:27 > 0:35:29- Happy?- Very.- Excellent.- Let's go.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38The rolling pastures of Dorset have made it renowned
0:35:38 > 0:35:40as dairy country for centuries.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42By the mid-19th century,
0:35:42 > 0:35:46butter from the region was the highest ranked in London's market.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50Dorset cheese, however, had a less enviable reputation.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52Mainly made from skimmed milk,
0:35:52 > 0:35:54one Victorian commentator described it as,
0:35:54 > 0:35:58"More fitted to be used as barrow wheels than for food."
0:35:58 > 0:36:00Well, that's certainly not the case today.
0:36:00 > 0:36:04Dorset cheesemakers like Mike Pullin of Ford Farm
0:36:04 > 0:36:08are putting the county's cheeses on the map, and winning several awards.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11And it all starts with the cows in the fields
0:36:11 > 0:36:14of the Ashley Chase Estate, where we've arranged to meet up.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16Mike, it's a beautiful spot.
0:36:16 > 0:36:18It's a lovely place to come to work.
0:36:18 > 0:36:22Looking around, you can see lots of different coloured cows,
0:36:22 > 0:36:24different breeds - why is that?
0:36:24 > 0:36:27These cows, they're quite an unusual looking bunch,
0:36:27 > 0:36:30not your standard Holstein Friesian looking cows,
0:36:30 > 0:36:32you can see there's some Jersey in them.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34They're pretty hardy cows, they're great converters.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36The constituents of the milk are very high.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38We want fat and protein, we want a good ratio,
0:36:38 > 0:36:41and these cows produce a fantastic ratio for cheese-making.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45The cows are fed on pasture and milked in the field
0:36:45 > 0:36:46with a mobile parlour.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49The owner of the herd is Tom Foot,
0:36:49 > 0:36:51who's letting me join him for today's milking.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54Tom, in my limited experience of milking parlours,
0:36:54 > 0:36:58this looks pretty much the same but with one major difference?
0:36:58 > 0:37:00- Yes, it's on wheels. - How long have you been doing it?
0:37:00 > 0:37:03This is our fifth season, so it's a relatively new business
0:37:03 > 0:37:07and it's at embryonic stage, but we're just about going now.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10It takes around three and a half to four hours
0:37:10 > 0:37:13to milk the entire 870-strong herd.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16These ones are done, we can take these cups off now.
0:37:16 > 0:37:17OK, show me how it's done.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22Grab the milk line, which is the bigger tube.
0:37:22 > 0:37:24Take the vacuum off the cows,
0:37:24 > 0:37:27then gradually the vacuum drops and the cups come off.
0:37:27 > 0:37:29- Looks fairly simple. Can I have a go?- Yeah.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31So this is the milk line?
0:37:31 > 0:37:33Put a kink in it, close the vacuum?
0:37:33 > 0:37:35Then just pull gently.
0:37:36 > 0:37:37There you go.
0:37:37 > 0:37:41The process means the cows burn less energy walking to a parlour,
0:37:41 > 0:37:43which improves their yield,
0:37:43 > 0:37:46and the milk can then be driven to the dairy straightaway,
0:37:46 > 0:37:48just a couple of miles down the road.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51Here, the curds are separated from the whey,
0:37:51 > 0:37:52then stirred and salted,
0:37:52 > 0:37:55something Mike is letting me turn my hand to now.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59- Have a go.- Let the dog see the rabbit!- That's it, well done.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01That looks great.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04Salting is a crucial part of the cheese-making process.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07It halts the acidity rising in the curd,
0:38:07 > 0:38:11a determining factor in the final flavour of the cheese.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13At this stage it will taste very salty.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16As it matures, the saltiness will disappear.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19If you want to pick up a piece of curd, then you can taste it.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26Very much salty, isn't it?
0:38:26 > 0:38:29Yeah, but it's already nice. I tell you what, I'd be lethal here,
0:38:29 > 0:38:30you would have no profit!
0:38:30 > 0:38:32I'd be at this stuff all day long!
0:38:32 > 0:38:35If this tastes that good now, I can't wait to try the final product.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39- Can we have a go?- Yeah, of course. - Lead the way.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42The cheese is then matured in barns but transferred to a cave
0:38:42 > 0:38:46six metres below ground for their final three to six months,
0:38:46 > 0:38:48which imparts a unique taste.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52It's an age-old process that is one of the reasons Mike's products
0:38:52 > 0:38:55have protected Designation Of Origin status,
0:38:55 > 0:38:58an EU scheme that formally champions local food-making.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03There's only about a thousand tonnes left now of traditional cheese,
0:39:03 > 0:39:06cheddar cheese, under a PDO status, which means it has to be made,
0:39:06 > 0:39:10as you saw, the curd being turned by hand, so that's one part of it.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14The milk has to come from Dorset, Somerset, Devon or Cornwall,
0:39:14 > 0:39:16and it has to be a minimum of nine months old.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20The PDO's not actually on cheddar itself, it's on West Country Farmhouse Cheddar.
0:39:20 > 0:39:22This is all PDO cheddar in here.
0:39:23 > 0:39:27Mike also diversifies and adds value by making specialist varieties
0:39:27 > 0:39:30such as Dorset red, which is coloured with a plant dye
0:39:30 > 0:39:32called annatto then lightly smoked,
0:39:32 > 0:39:35and another with added Italian truffles.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38But today I'm having a go at tasting, or grading,
0:39:38 > 0:39:41an 18-month-old farmhouse cheddar.
0:39:41 > 0:39:44The first impression really is the smell, so you bring that
0:39:44 > 0:39:47to your nose as quick as possible, because that smell disappears.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49You get that instant recognition of...
0:39:49 > 0:39:52It smells quite mature, actually, that cheddary smell.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54- Can we taste this one, grade it, sorry?- Yeah, sure.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57I'll push it, you snap that off.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00OK, then put it into your mouth.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02- Oh, that's lovely. - It is, this cheese is 18 months old,
0:40:02 > 0:40:05that cheese actually would go on a bit older.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08What I love about your operation here is that you can go
0:40:08 > 0:40:10and meet the cows a couple of fields away
0:40:10 > 0:40:13and then the whole process is right here.
0:40:13 > 0:40:14The world's your oyster, isn't it?
0:40:14 > 0:40:17Yeah, we've done some work in Australia,
0:40:17 > 0:40:19we've done some work in France, so...
0:40:19 > 0:40:22- Watch this space.- Watch this space.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26Well, I could stay and grade Mike's cheese till the cows come home
0:40:26 > 0:40:29but it's time to see if we found a home for Colin and Hazel
0:40:29 > 0:40:30here in Dorset.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36Well, at a guess I think the mystery property might just be edging it at
0:40:36 > 0:40:38the moment. But, for Hazel and Colin,
0:40:38 > 0:40:41it's not without its compromises.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43So let's find out their thoughts.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51So you've had a bit of time to think things through.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54- How have you found it all? - It's been fascinating,
0:40:54 > 0:40:58and incredibly helpful in terms of our thinking.
0:40:58 > 0:41:02We feel as if we've been on a roller-coaster in some senses
0:41:02 > 0:41:05- over the last few days.- Do you have a favourite property, Hazel?
0:41:05 > 0:41:07Yes. The Mystery House.
0:41:07 > 0:41:08How has it done it this time?
0:41:08 > 0:41:11It's a beautiful house,
0:41:11 > 0:41:15it's everything we would choose, personally, inside.
0:41:15 > 0:41:19The village and the whole ambience around the house
0:41:19 > 0:41:24- was just perfect.- One of the facets that appealed to me so much
0:41:24 > 0:41:29is that not only is it a beautiful house, it's so pristine inside,
0:41:29 > 0:41:31it almost looks like a show home.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34- I think you're right. - You could move in tomorrow.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37You would not have to do anything.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40So, what's the plan, what's next up for you?
0:41:40 > 0:41:42We're going to go back, walk round the village,
0:41:42 > 0:41:48go back to see the house so that we can be sure about what we should do.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51Whether it's for you or not for you, you'll know after a second viewing,
0:41:51 > 0:41:54- won't you?- Yes, and the one thing it has done,
0:41:54 > 0:41:58even if we decide that that house is not for us,
0:41:58 > 0:42:02it has really focused our minds on the fact that being so close
0:42:02 > 0:42:06to the village was exactly where we wanted to be.
0:42:06 > 0:42:10Well, I wish you both the very best of luck. Please, please let us know what you decide, won't you.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13- We certainly will.- We certainly will, and thank you for your time,
0:42:13 > 0:42:14it's been fantastic.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17- It's been fun, hasn't it?- Yes. - My pleasure.- It's been great.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24Well, it looks like the gamble of the Mystery House
0:42:24 > 0:42:26might just have paid off yet again.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29But for Colin and, let's face it, Hazel in particular,
0:42:29 > 0:42:33it's now more about whether or not they can set aside their need
0:42:33 > 0:42:37for that huge garden in order to get their hands on, let's face it,
0:42:37 > 0:42:40a stunning Mystery House in a beautiful village,
0:42:40 > 0:42:42and the community that comes with it.
0:42:42 > 0:42:44But that's what this second viewing is all about,
0:42:44 > 0:42:47so I can't wait to find out their final decision.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50I look forward to seeing you next time.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53Hazel and Colin decided not to go ahead with the Mystery House
0:42:53 > 0:42:55but have fallen in love with the village it's in,
0:42:55 > 0:42:58and hope to find another house there soon.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01If you would like to Escape To The Country in England,
0:43:01 > 0:43:04Northern Ireland, Wales or Scotland and need our help,
0:43:04 > 0:43:05you can apply online at...