Dorset Escape to the Country

This beautiful, early 18th century house was built for the cousin of a Prime Minister.

Fast forward a couple of hundred years and it's now home to nine

of only 200 remaining nannies in the world.

Find out where I am and who calls this estate home in just a moment.

Today's house hunt proves that good things can come in small packages.

It's nice, I like this.

It's a bit like me, really, isn't it - small and perfectly formed.

And there's just one small word to sum it all up.

I said I wouldn't say wow.

Wow.

Today, I'm in Dorset at the 750 acre Georgian country estate

of Kingston Maurward. Built in 1720 for George Pitt,

cousin of the then Prime Minister, William Pitt,

it later went on to become a horticultural

and agricultural college in 1949.

As well as an educational hub,

the estate also has an animal park home to some rare breeds

such as these Bagot goats, one of the oldest breeds of goats in the UK

whose ancestors date back as far as the 1300s.

In fact, they're so rare, they're even more endangered

than the giant panda.

Situated on England's south-west coast,

Dorset has land borders with four other counties.

Known for its stunning coastline,

the Dorset section of the South West Coast Path

follows clifftop, lagoon and beach.

Highlights include the iconic arch of Durdle Door,

the horseshoe curve of Lulworth Cove,

the headland of Golden Cap and the major shingle structure

of Chesil Beach.

Inland in the countryside of the Blackmore Vale,

Sturminster Newton is the site of one of a series

of ancient flour mills on the River Stour.

Dorset novelist Thomas Hardy lived in Sturminster Newton,

describing it as idyllic and it was the inspiration for Stour Castle

in his novel Tess of the D'Urbervilles.

And recognising the importance of Hardy's work to the entire county,

a statue of him sat on a tree stump and reading a book is found in the

county town of Dorchester.

Another example of the importance of books and writers to Dorset

is located in Wimborne Minster,

home to one of the first public libraries in the country.

Founded in 1686, the collection was started to protect its contents

from the would-be book-burning authorities.

It was opened to the public in 1695 on the proviso

the books were chained to prevent theft.

So whether you're looking for literary connections,

an incredible coastline, or agricultural history,

Dorset is a great county to head to.

Much of Dorset's unique charm stems from its underlying geology

and the different types of stone are showcased

in some 13,000 listed buildings within the county.

So it's probably no surprise to hear that the average price

of a detached house in the county comes in at £357,000.

That's £57,000 above the national figure.

But with such an abundance of timeless character property,

hopefully today's buyers will be spoilt for choice.

It's fair to say today's couple didn't get off to the best of starts

when human resources manager Hazel tried to sack

IT managing director Colin from his newly acquired post.

Colin was a new appointment onto the board and in the first few months of

our working together he showed a distinct lack of interest

over managing people.

I would say in my defence, I was very good with numbers but maybe

not too focused on people in the early days.

As it turned out, things did improve.

We became firm friends and later, after Colin had left the company,

we actually became much more.

Despite the shaky start,

the couple eventually married and have been living in their home

in East Horsley, Surrey, for the past 15 years.

Now retired from their jobs in IT,

they've decided it's time to let go of their current home.

We've seen quite a significant change over the 15 years we've been here.

It is a lot busier and you tend not to hear birdsong quite so much.

Over the years, more people have moved here and there's a lot

of development planned.

It's changing. It doesn't feel like the quiet place it used to be.

So they're going on a recruitment drive for a rural relocation

with their sights set on one county in particular.

We want to move to Dorset.

It holds lots of special memories.

We got married in Dorset, we walk in Dorset,

I used to cycle a lot in Dorset, and that's something I'm looking

-to do again.

-It's lush, it's green.

Complete strangers will engage in a conversation and that's what we're

looking forward to, that increase in openness and friendliness.

And they're hoping that Dorset's impressive country credentials

will give them more chances to do the things that they enjoy.

The opportunities to indulge our interest in bird-watching

and wildlife in general.

You become more interested in the conservation aspect,

the habitat - you get drawn in to a further world.

So with their house on the market and their eyes firmly fixed on Dorset,

it's time to find the right home where they can enjoy their retirement.

We feel that now is absolutely the right time for us to move.

I think it's a fantastic opportunity for us.

Dorset's the place we want to go so that we can have those special

memories but also create a whole load more.

Colin and Hazel are open to living anywhere in the county.

But before we start looking at properties, we're meeting up

to find out exactly what they want from this upcoming move.

So, Colin and Hazel, welcome to Dorset.

What does it look like in your mind's eye, the perfect property?

-It's detached.

-Yep.

Nicely centred in the middle of a plot that's about

a third of an acre, no more than half an acre.

-OK.

-Don't mind what kind of style but if the house doesn't flow,

unless you're going to knock it down and build it again,

there's not a lot you can do about it,

so it does need to have a structure there to work on.

Give me your must-haves -

what must you have in this new property down here in Dorset?

A minimum of three bedrooms.

-Minimum of three, right.

-An en-suite,

or the potential to put an en-suite in for us.

-OK.

-Nice garden.

Land that is easily creatable.

If that... I've just made a word up.

Flexible. Yes, but it's a good one. We'll go with that.

Let's go - I will try and find you a creatable garden.

I've never had an active vegetable plot and I want a potting shed and I

want to be able to do my seeds and create the food for the table.

And I would like, I'd like, ideally,

a double garage for the bikes and the cars.

What about socialising - talk about the environment you want to live in.

If it could be on the edge of a village,

so that there's a community that we can join in with,

we've never had that opportunity before.

So it'd be nice to be able to meet local people and have local clubs

and things to join in with.

I now know what your ideal location would be.

Whether we can find that, that comes along with the right package

is another thing. But it all has to be bought with something - money.

Let's talk about your budget. How much have you got to spend?

Top end, 650, if it ticked all the boxes.

Right. But 650 is tickety-boo,

-nothing to do apart from maybe a bit of painting?

-Exactly.

-OK.

Movement-wise, how soon could you make this move?

-Any time.

-Yes, our house is on the market now.

-Good.

So, yeah, I mean,

if we find the ideal house today we'll put an offer in.

Well, great stuff, then. Let's go and find this garden, what is it,

-a create...?

-A creatable garden.

-Let's go and find a creatable garden that comes with a house.

-Excellent.

-Come with me.

-Look forward to it.

For a maximum budget of £650,000,

Hazel and Colin are looking for a detached property

set in its own plot with scope for a vegetable patch.

They want a minimum of three bedrooms, including an en-suite,

a double garage and an edge-of-village location.

We've got three fantastic options to show them,

each with their wish list in mind.

And after each house tour,

I'll be asking them to guess the price before I reveal it.

The final property is our Mystery House,

which this time is literally something out of a novel.

Our search is starting out in the West Dorset hamlet of Holditch.

Three miles away, the village of Thorncombe has a community-run store

with Post Office services.

The present church was built in 1866 to house a 400-strong congregation,

swelled by the boom from the local wool and lace trades.

Situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,

agricultural remains important to the area.

And back in the hamlet of Holditch, opposite a dairy farm,

is the house we've come to see.

Well, then, Hazel and Colin, you said you wanted access to a pub.

-We did.

-Well, the property I am going to show you is a pub,

or at least was one, up until the 1980s.

What do we think?

-Interesting.

-Pretty location for sure.

Yes, very pretty and very quiet.

So, ready to look inside?

-Yes, please.

-Absolutely.

-Let's go.

Dating from the 17th century,

this Grade II listed flint and stone cottage has both slate

and thatched roof.

As well as being a former pub,

at one time it was divided into no fewer than five cottages

and also had to be part-rebuilt following bomb damage

in the Second World War.

The front door opens into a hall

which leads into the first of the reception rooms,

which the current owners use as their dining room.

-Nice.

-Yeah.

The wood on the banisters, it's cosy.

You like fireplaces? Is that a big thing for you in a country property?

-Yeah, I think so.

-Particularly a wood burner.

Good. All right. Let's keep walking through.

-Good first impressions, then?

-Yes.

-Very much so.

-Come on then.

On the opposite side of the entrance hall is a study and music room

and a plumbed utility space.

But we're continuing through the dining room into the Shaker-style

country kitchen at the heart of the home.

Just mind your step there. You tell me,

is this the sort of kitchen you had in mind?

Yeah, certainly big enough.

-You can sit and eat in it, which is nice.

-Yes.

I do think that it's been done very nicely

and in keeping with the house.

How much time do you spend in the kitchen?

A fair bit, cos I tend to be the cook.

Right, OK. So you're out in the garden...

-Yes.

-..growing it, and you'll be in here cooking it?

That's the general idea.

So, whilst only one of you might be cooking,

-you share that time and space together.

-Yes.

All right, these are pretty good first impressions.

-Let's show you around the rest of the property.

-OK, great.

A second L-shaped hall from the kitchen leads past a pantry.

Then through a further, larger reception room

and into a smaller snug, which also opens on to a conservatory.

Oh, that looks cosy.

-Yeah, it's lovely and light as well, isn't it?

-Yeah.

With, you know, the other rooms in the house,

-I think this would work.

-Yes.

If this part's your TV area, you can still have a quiet sitting,

reading area round there.

That works quite nicely.

Plus the conservatory, on top of a decent sized kitchen,

you've got quite a bit of space here on the ground floor, haven't you?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, very much so.

-I think bedroom-wise upstairs,

the proportions might be something you're a bit more used to,

-so let's go and check those out.

-OK, great.

Colin and Hazel are already thinking of ways

to put the ground floor rooms to the best use.

The four-bedroom accommodation on the upper floor is accessed

via a choice of two staircases.

A family bathroom in the centre of the home is flanked to either side

by the two smaller guest bedrooms.

Both have similar dimensions and are currently set up as singles

but could comfortably fit double beds.

Then at the far end of the slate roofed wing is a good-sized double

with an en-suite bathroom.

That just leaves bedroom number four at the opposite end of the home,

another double bedroom, again with an en-suite.

Now, you get a choice of two staircases to come up here.

But you also get the choice of two main bedrooms

that are both en-suite.

-Oh, fantastic.

-Oh, right.

-That's a nice surprise.

-Very nice.

-And that's a big bed.

-Nice size room.

-That's about the same size as ours.

-Yeah.

-You've got room here.

-Yes.

-You've got room to have a separate room

as your dressing room or something like a walk-in wardrobe.

It's not what I was expecting from the view outside the property.

-No.

-Could you live here?

-Yeah, maybe.

-Well, this is better than you were expecting.

-Yes, much better.

-Yes, absolutely.

Nice size, nice and bright, got the double aspect.

-Yes, tick.

-And nice views.

Time now to go outside.

-Let me just squeeze through here.

-Thank you.

So above expectations on the inside.

But let's see what this 17th century former pub delivers outside.

Set to one side of the home, there's the double garage Colin asked for

as well as a further stone-built workshop.

And there's lots of interest for keen gardener Hazel

in the half acre plot with raised vegetable beds, areas of lawn,

mature shrubs and trees and patio seating to enjoy the views of the

surrounding countryside, even when the sun doesn't shine.

Well, I'm glad I brought my sunglasses with me!

Is this what you had in mind?

-Yes.

-For your growing?

Perfect. Nice spaces that I can create.

Yes, excellent.

It's a gorgeous garden, very nice indeed.

So let's guess the price.

I had it around 585.

OK, you had it around 585.

-OK.

-I think it's going to be a bit more.

615.

This place is on the market

for offers around £630,000.

This is probably our first indicator of what we're going to get

-for our money.

-Yes.

-Yeah.

Well, with that in mind, refresh yourselves of what you've seen

thus far, and I'll meet you whenever you're done, all right.

-Right you are.

-Catch you in a mo.

-Thank you.

-OK.

For £20,000 shy of their top budget,

this Grade II listed 17th century former pub has a large

country kitchen as well as a dedicated dining room.

There's one more bedroom than they asked for and a total of

three bathrooms as well as half an acre of garden with outbuildings.

I think there's bags of character in the property.

I think it's a nice house.

The garden's spectacular.

The property is in a really pretty location.

It's a house that's had the character very carefully maintained.

The upstairs is lovely.

Downstairs, I'm not so sure.

There would need to be considerable work.

We're neither of us DIY people,

so we would have to look into just how much work was needed

and what the cost would be.

How was it for a first property?

-Contender?

-Yeah, I think so.

There's a lot of things to consider with this one.

But something to compare everything to from now on then?

-Yes.

-Good.

-For sure.

Dorset's 96 miles of World Heritage Coast includes the natural wonder

of Chesil Beach.

This unique shingle bank of an estimated 180 billion pebbles

is divided from the mainland for much of its length

by the Fleet Lagoon.

It's one of the most species-rich lagoons in the country.

To find out about the flora and fauna they might find here,

wildlife enthusiasts Colin and Hazel are meeting Mark Smith from the

Dorset Wildlife Trust, who's also officer at the Chesil Centre.

Mark, tell us about the reserve.

Behind us you can see that giant structure which is Chesil Beach.

It's a really important barrier beach that protects the Fleet Lagoon

and the land behind us from the waves that roll in

from the Atlantic, and it also creates a rather unusual habitat,

which means we get some real specialist wildlife

that thrives here.

From spring onwards, parts of the beach are a riot of colour,

as wild flowers come into bloom.

These coastal specimens have dense, low vegetation

and waxy or hairy leaves to reduce water loss.

But as well as plant life, the reserve is home to many sea birds.

Little terns arriving from West Africa to nest in Britain

struggle to raise their chicks due to disturbance, predation,

and habitat loss.

In 1997, there were 100 pairs at Chesil,

but by 2008 this had dropped to just ten.

So a warden scheme was set up to protect them,

and now the colony is successfully raising 120 fledglings a year.

Just over there, past the roped-off area,

you can see the little terns nesting on the beach.

Oh, yes, I can see them on the nests, there's quite a few.

And how long will they stay for?

They arrive around about mid-April,

then they'll be sitting on their nests around May, June time.

One of the best ways to see them is from the Fleet Explorer,

which is a specially-designed boat that runs trips in the Fleet Lagoon.

-I've arranged for you to meet the skipper.

-Excellent.

The Fleet Lagoon is brackish,

meaning it's a combination of salt water coming in

from Portland Harbour and fresh water from several small streams.

This provides a particular habitat for many aquatic species,

including sea bass, eels, and even seahorses.

And skipper of the Fleet Explorer, Roger Moody,

is on hand to tell them more.

Fleet is an Anglo-Saxon word meaning shallow water.

The average depth is only three feet.

One of the exciting things about going on the boat is I never even

know myself what we're going to see, it can vary from trip to trip.

Have you seen anything special on the reserve?

We did have, a fortnight ago, a fish known as a smooth-hound,

which is of the shark family, but looks like a big dogfish.

Very rare to see them in here.

We've had the odd seal come in from time to time, but I think the smooth-hound was probably

the rarest thing we've seen to date. Let's not talk about it,

let's go down to the boat and see what we can see.

-Fantastic.

-OK, come on down.

The level of salinity varies greatly along the eight mile length

of the lagoon, which is one of the reasons for the wealth

of wildlife found here.

That's a bonus for the nesting terns, whose diet consists

of small fish, crustaceans, molluscs and worms, as well as some insects.

I think now you can probably see how small the little tern is if you actually see one.

Isn't it amazing to think that it's flown about 4,000-5,000 miles

from Africa to breed just on that spot of the beach there?

As well as these feathered visitors from Africa,

the lagoon is a popular spot for European migratory birds.

Little egret, like a white heron.

They are originally a Mediterranean bird that, over the years,

has sort of come across Europe

and now can be seen all over the country.

It's said that the first breeding pair in this area

was in Poole Harbour in 1996.

Well, it's time to put aside the binoculars for now

and see if we can find a suitable spot for Hazel and Colin

to set up home here in the Dorset countryside.

The next stop on our house hunt is Burton Bradstock.

This village, located in the Bride Valley,

is situated half a mile inland from Chesil Beach.

There are a couple of pubs, a post office and stores,

a community library in a former chapel,

and a nearby farm shop selling local produce.

A couple of miles from all this, down a quiet private road,

our second property puts location and views at the top of the agenda.

Now, this house, as you can see, is a bungalow, or a dormer bungalow.

-OK.

-Different.

I wasn't expecting a bungalow, so that's a surprise.

It's in a fantastic location.

The reasons we brought you here are because of the garden

and the amazing, amazing position.

-I can't wait to look inside.

-Yes.

-Follow me.

OK, will do.

Originally built in 1954, with several alterations over the past

15 years, we are entering via one of these recent additions,

a conservatory that opens into the kitchen.

Right, in order to get your proper first impressions, follow me,

come right into this corner of the kitchen.

So, first impressions?

Tiny. Not enough work surface.

-There's not enough prep space, is there?

-No.

I just wonder if we could bring some of this into there,

where the beautiful view is,

and then you've got a kitcheny-dining area.

Not a bad view to have over breakfast.

-Lots to think about.

-Yeah, yeah.

But very interested to see the rest of the property.

-Well, let me show you another room, come with me.

-Fantastic.

The rear of the kitchen leads to a hall and into the first and smaller

of the reception rooms.

-Small.

-This is your...

-This is your snug.

-Yes.

Especially a winter room, I think this would be perfect.

-Working fire, I presume?

-Yes.

-Multi-fuel burner.

-The fire is nice.

I'm not too keen on...

-..the beams.

-Maybe you're a bit disappointed

-with the proportions here. Let me show you another room.

-OK.

Back along the hall at the opposite end of the home is the other

and largest reception room, opening on to another conservatory.

OK, that's a bit bigger, isn't it?

Nice and light.

That's the old external window.

Would you think about maybe doing away with that and maybe just...

-Having one room.

-..walking through?

-You could do, couldn't you?

-Yes.

I'm interested to see how big the bedrooms are.

Well, let's look at the one here just round the corner.

With a total of four bedrooms, an upper floor houses

two smaller bedrooms, one with a skylight window

and another with dormer window plus a skylight.

These are served by a family bathroom,

whilst the two largest doubles are located back on the ground floor

and served by a ground floor bathroom and shower room.

One double is located behind the dining room,

and the largest bedroom in the property is next to the kitchen.

Not as big as I know you may hope,

but I'm hoping you will love the views.

Definitely, definitely like the view.

Yes, they are stunning.

Something to wake up to in the morning.

It is on the cosy side.

This is the biggest bedroom.

-OK.

-Could you live with it?

I'd have to think about it.

This is a lot, lot smaller than the current bedroom we've got.

But I like so many things, it's a trade-off, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Trade off that view for a smaller size room.

You think you've got a view there,

when I take you to the top of the garden you have a fantastic view.

Completing our tour of the interior accommodation

is a ground floor study located opposite this bedroom,

and a utility located behind the main sitting room.

But Colin's right about compromise,

they would need to do some work here.

Perhaps what's outside will persuade them of the potential of this home's

stunning location.

With a garage, a separate garden studio and workshop,

the plot is extensive, including an established orchard,

greenhouse and panoramic views over National Trust land to the coast.

-Look at that view.

-That's fantastic.

-Yeah, stunning.

-I think extensive is the word, isn't it?

-Yeah.

That's absolutely stunning.

-Isn't it? Even on a day like today.

-Yeah.

Well, I've always wanted a sit-on mower,

and I think this is big enough to require one!

It's a big plot.

I mean, having an orchard in the middle of your back garden,

that's pretty special.

So how much would you pay for your own slice of it?

I think it could well be 645, 650.

I was on 640.

It's a premium spot.

It is, and it's reflected in the asking price.

Even with some work to be done to the property,

this place is on the market for offers around £650,000.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-That doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

-No.

-I think now is a great time to get out of the rain,

I'll meet you outside whenever you're done, but there's lots of stuff to look around.

-OK.

-See you in a mo.

-OK, thanks.

At the top of their budget,

this 1950s dormer bungalow comes with four bedrooms

and three bathrooms as well as two conservatories.

There is an extensive plot with garage and further outbuildings,

and magnificent views to countryside and coast.

This is a good-sized space.

What would you use it for?

I'm just thinking you could get an exercise bike,

rowing machine and some free weights in here,

so I could turn this into a home gym.

Oh, OK.

I had a mixed sense of excitement and fear.

Excitement because the location is absolutely what we wanted,

then the fear was that we're not going to be able to afford this.

One of the things we said in the first instance was that we weren't

prepared to do a lot of building work.

The views from this house have made me think again about that.

I can see how, by extending it, I think we could make it work.

Now, I can imagine that Colin's going to get all carried away

and say we should really give it some thought,

but the practical side of me says,

is this what we want to be taking on now?

I love it, but I'm not sure it's something we can have.

Hazel, are you still miffed with me for showing you this house?

-Yes.

-Are you happy you came here, though?

-Yes.

Well, I feel justified in showing you a place at the top of your budget.

Have you got a thing to consider tonight over dinner?

We've got an awful lot to consider tonight over dinner.

-Good, I'll take you back then.

-Thank you.

We're helping Hazel and Colin from East Horsley, Surrey,

find a more rural retirement in the Dorset countryside.

We've already shown them two good options for their budget

of £650,000, but there's still the Mystery House to come,

and it could offer a novel solution.

Oh, that's nice.

I like that, yeah. It's gorgeous.

My idea of a house.

And where better than Dorset's dairy country to get a real taste

of the county?

I'd be lethal here, you'd have no profits!

I'd be at this stuff all day long!

I think yesterday's properties satisfied Colin and Hazel's wants

and desires for outside space, character, and especially views.

But on reflection, if anything, they may have fallen short in regards to

giving them the location they're after, that sense of community,

walking distance to the pub, if you like.

So for today's mystery property,

we'll do our very best to address that.

But of course the compromise is that instead of Hazel growing her own

vegetables, she may be buying them from the local shop.

-We're off to see the Mystery House. Excited?

-Yes.

What do you think I will be showing you, then?

Well, as the Mystery House is supposed to challenge our

priorities, a semidetached in the middle of the town with no garden?

Like Hazel, I'm just wondering whether it might be in a village.

Have you ever looked at a house and thought,

"Well, this isn't what I was looking for but this actually could work?"

I've seen a house that was not what I was looking for and fallen in love

with it and moved in.

Well, OK, that's what the mystery property's about,

try something different.

Our mystery offering is in Sutton Poyntz,

a village dating back over a millennium to the year 891.

And, as I'm about to illustrate to Hazel and Colin,

it hasn't lost any of its quintessential English charm.

-Lovely, isn't it?

-Beautiful.

-Very pretty.

Funnily enough, it reminds me of some places in the Cotswolds.

You've got your all-important pub.

You've got a good convenience store at the end of the road,

but you've got loads and loads of community activity.

Go for walks and do a bit of bird-watching.

There's just loads to do.

The great thing about the property I'm going to show you is it's within

this village, it's a walk from where we're stood.

-Shall we?

-Yes.

-Please do.

-Come with me.

The village is mentioned by Thomas Hardy in his novel

The Trumpet Major, published in 1880,

and his fictional location of Overcombe refers to both

the corn mill and the then recently built neighbouring mill house.

And it's this very home with its illustrious literary connection

that we've come to see.

Now the Mystery House often has bags of character,

and this one is no different.

Oh, that's nice.

I like that, yeah. It's gorgeous.

My idea of a house.

Looking around the rest of the village, this stands out a bit,

and that's because the guy that owned the mill

decided to build himself his own house,

so everybody else that lived in the village worked for him,

and this was the house to live in, really.

-Right.

-This is the Mystery House.

Why is it the Mystery House?

I'm going to get the bad news right out of the way.

It doesn't come with land.

-Look at it - we're surrounded by other village houses.

-Yeah.

What you see, pretty much, Hazel, is what you get.

OK. There might be allotments somewhere

where I could still grow the veg.

If the inside is as nice as the outside,

I may find it in my heart to forgive you.

There's a few things that make this property very different inside

to how you would expect it to be from the outside.

-Come with me.

-Can't wait.

This Grade II listed detached stone house was built in the 1870s,

and was completely and sympathetically renovated

by the current owners over the last two decades.

Turning right from an entrance hall,

we start our tour in the impeccable dining room.

You get the first feeling of elegance in this house, don't you?

-Absolutely.

-Yes.

-Very nice.

-Very much a Georgian feel,

although it's not a Georgian property.

-Now let me show you the kitchen, OK.

-OK.

Come with me.

So the kitchen - not the biggest we've seen so far.

It's nice, I like this.

It's a bit like me, really, isn't it - small and perfectly formed.

Are all the white goods in here, too, or is that...?

Next door. Huge utility room.

-Excellent.

-Oh, right.

You've got those lovely thick walls,

you've got the beautiful, big, low-slung windows.

You get that sense of space you wouldn't normally get

in a Victorian property.

-And I like the units, they could work.

-Good.

It's the style, it's ours, our style.

And the feel - it feels right.

Even the way it's decorated.

If you like the style of what you've seen so far,

I think you're going to love this living room.

OK.

Well, if the response to the inside of this home so far is anything

to go by, Hazel is going to forgive me for the lack of garden.

Beyond the utility room is a ground floor shower room,

whilst across the other side of the entrance hall is the final

and largest room on this floor, a very spacious reception.

-Right then.

-Oh, that's nice.

That's a beauty, isn't it?

I said I wouldn't say wow.

Wow. This is a really, really nice room.

And are these French windows round the corner?

Yeah, going out to a small courtyard,

which I'll let you have a peek at later.

You guys seem to have reacted better and better as we've gone

-round this house.

-Yeah, I can see myself sitting down there,

sipping my gin and tonic.

So they're already picturing life in this lovely period house.

Upstairs there are three good-sized bedrooms and the potential

for a fourth, currently used as a study.

Above that grand reception room are two guest bedrooms.

The larger with double aspect is currently used as a twin

and next to it is a smaller double.

These are served by a family bathroom.

That leaves the final bedroom set above the dining room,

the master en-suite.

I'm hoping you'll rather like the master.

-Very nice.

-That's a nice size.

There's bags of room for a king size in here.

Yeah, I think so.

And it always feels bigger when the ceilings are higher.

It feels almost like a new house.

Got the all-important en-suite for you there.

En-suite shower in there.

-Looks great.

-Excellent.

So, you seem to like it?

-Yes.

-Very much.

Good, let's go back outside, start thinking about price.

OK.

Inside has wowed even Colin,

and whilst the outside space may not offer much scope for Hazel's

vegetable patch, there is a private rear courtyard for alfresco dining.

And, to the side of the property,

there's an attached stone-built garage, added by the current owners.

The pretty front garden is enclosed by a stone wall

and mainly laid to lawn.

Overall, I think that was a pretty good tour, wasn't it?

Very good, yes. Very nice.

So to bring everything together, it's on the market at what?

I think it's over the budget at 670.

I think it might be...

..655.

This place is on the market

for offers around £650,000.

OK.

As far as the house is concerned, there was absolutely no downside,

it had a lovely feel.

Well, now is the time you can really get used to this property,

-and I will meet you whenever you're done.

-OK.

-Thank you.

-See you in a mo.

Of course it was a massive gamble bringing the guys to a property

that didn't have swathes of land,

but I think it's a gamble worth taking because the house itself

is absolutely stunning.

Right on budget, this Grade II listed detached stone house

offers a well-appointed kitchen and two reception rooms.

Upstairs there are three bedrooms, including an en-suite,

plus a study offers the potential for a fourth,

and it's in a very desirable village location.

It's an absolutely beautiful house.

I've totally fallen in love with it.

I liked this house the minute I stepped over the threshold,

it had a fantastic feel.

It's a house I could move into tomorrow.

The opportunity to live in such a lovely home,

you can't just throw that out the window.

I have to counter that against no garden

and the proximity of neighbours.

I think that I love it a little bit more than she does at the minute.

If it was me, I'd probably be looking to put an offer on,

so there's a lot to discuss.

That is it. So compare all your thoughts on the Mystery House

with the two properties you saw yesterday.

I'll find you somewhere quiet to do just that.

-Happy?

-Very.

-Excellent.

-Let's go.

The rolling pastures of Dorset have made it renowned

as dairy country for centuries.

By the mid-19th century,

butter from the region was the highest ranked in London's market.

Dorset cheese, however, had a less enviable reputation.

Mainly made from skimmed milk,

one Victorian commentator described it as,

"More fitted to be used as barrow wheels than for food."

Well, that's certainly not the case today.

Dorset cheesemakers like Mike Pullin of Ford Farm

are putting the county's cheeses on the map, and winning several awards.

And it all starts with the cows in the fields

of the Ashley Chase Estate, where we've arranged to meet up.

Mike, it's a beautiful spot.

It's a lovely place to come to work.

Looking around, you can see lots of different coloured cows,

different breeds - why is that?

These cows, they're quite an unusual looking bunch,

not your standard Holstein Friesian looking cows,

you can see there's some Jersey in them.

They're pretty hardy cows, they're great converters.

The constituents of the milk are very high.

We want fat and protein, we want a good ratio,

and these cows produce a fantastic ratio for cheese-making.

The cows are fed on pasture and milked in the field

with a mobile parlour.

The owner of the herd is Tom Foot,

who's letting me join him for today's milking.

Tom, in my limited experience of milking parlours,

this looks pretty much the same but with one major difference?

-Yes, it's on wheels.

-How long have you been doing it?

This is our fifth season, so it's a relatively new business

and it's at embryonic stage, but we're just about going now.

It takes around three and a half to four hours

to milk the entire 870-strong herd.

These ones are done, we can take these cups off now.

OK, show me how it's done.

Grab the milk line, which is the bigger tube.

Take the vacuum off the cows,

then gradually the vacuum drops and the cups come off.

-Looks fairly simple. Can I have a go?

-Yeah.

So this is the milk line?

Put a kink in it, close the vacuum?

Then just pull gently.

There you go.

The process means the cows burn less energy walking to a parlour,

which improves their yield,

and the milk can then be driven to the dairy straightaway,

just a couple of miles down the road.

Here, the curds are separated from the whey,

then stirred and salted,

something Mike is letting me turn my hand to now.

-Have a go.

-Let the dog see the rabbit!

-That's it, well done.

That looks great.

Salting is a crucial part of the cheese-making process.

It halts the acidity rising in the curd,

a determining factor in the final flavour of the cheese.

At this stage it will taste very salty.

As it matures, the saltiness will disappear.

If you want to pick up a piece of curd, then you can taste it.

Very much salty, isn't it?

Yeah, but it's already nice. I tell you what, I'd be lethal here,

you would have no profit!

I'd be at this stuff all day long!

If this tastes that good now, I can't wait to try the final product.

-Can we have a go?

-Yeah, of course.

-Lead the way.

The cheese is then matured in barns but transferred to a cave

six metres below ground for their final three to six months,

which imparts a unique taste.

It's an age-old process that is one of the reasons Mike's products

have protected Designation Of Origin status,

an EU scheme that formally champions local food-making.

There's only about a thousand tonnes left now of traditional cheese,

cheddar cheese, under a PDO status, which means it has to be made,

as you saw, the curd being turned by hand, so that's one part of it.

The milk has to come from Dorset, Somerset, Devon or Cornwall,

and it has to be a minimum of nine months old.

The PDO's not actually on cheddar itself, it's on West Country Farmhouse Cheddar.

This is all PDO cheddar in here.

Mike also diversifies and adds value by making specialist varieties

such as Dorset red, which is coloured with a plant dye

called annatto then lightly smoked,

and another with added Italian truffles.

But today I'm having a go at tasting, or grading,

an 18-month-old farmhouse cheddar.

The first impression really is the smell, so you bring that

to your nose as quick as possible, because that smell disappears.

You get that instant recognition of...

It smells quite mature, actually, that cheddary smell.

-Can we taste this one, grade it, sorry?

-Yeah, sure.

I'll push it, you snap that off.

OK, then put it into your mouth.

-Oh, that's lovely.

-It is, this cheese is 18 months old,

that cheese actually would go on a bit older.

What I love about your operation here is that you can go

and meet the cows a couple of fields away

and then the whole process is right here.

The world's your oyster, isn't it?

Yeah, we've done some work in Australia,

we've done some work in France, so...

-Watch this space.

-Watch this space.

Well, I could stay and grade Mike's cheese till the cows come home

but it's time to see if we found a home for Colin and Hazel

here in Dorset.

Well, at a guess I think the mystery property might just be edging it at

the moment. But, for Hazel and Colin,

it's not without its compromises.

So let's find out their thoughts.

So you've had a bit of time to think things through.

-How have you found it all?

-It's been fascinating,

and incredibly helpful in terms of our thinking.

We feel as if we've been on a roller-coaster in some senses

-over the last few days.

-Do you have a favourite property, Hazel?

Yes. The Mystery House.

How has it done it this time?

It's a beautiful house,

it's everything we would choose, personally, inside.

The village and the whole ambience around the house

-was just perfect.

-One of the facets that appealed to me so much

is that not only is it a beautiful house, it's so pristine inside,

it almost looks like a show home.

-I think you're right.

-You could move in tomorrow.

You would not have to do anything.

So, what's the plan, what's next up for you?

We're going to go back, walk round the village,

go back to see the house so that we can be sure about what we should do.

Whether it's for you or not for you, you'll know after a second viewing,

-won't you?

-Yes, and the one thing it has done,

even if we decide that that house is not for us,

it has really focused our minds on the fact that being so close

to the village was exactly where we wanted to be.

Well, I wish you both the very best of luck. Please, please let us know what you decide, won't you.

-We certainly will.

-We certainly will, and thank you for your time,

it's been fantastic.

-It's been fun, hasn't it?

-Yes.

-My pleasure.

-It's been great.

Well, it looks like the gamble of the Mystery House

might just have paid off yet again.

But for Colin and, let's face it, Hazel in particular,

it's now more about whether or not they can set aside their need

for that huge garden in order to get their hands on, let's face it,

a stunning Mystery House in a beautiful village,

and the community that comes with it.

But that's what this second viewing is all about,

so I can't wait to find out their final decision.

I look forward to seeing you next time.

Hazel and Colin decided not to go ahead with the Mystery House

but have fallen in love with the village it's in,

and hope to find another house there soon.

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