Rutland Escape to the Country

This remote manor house sitting on the water's edge behind me

might seem like the perfect escape, but there's a greater story here,

hidden under the waves.

Find out exactly what it is and where I am in moments.

Today's house hunter is escaping her small London flat,

but is she prepared to take on the great outdoors?

Is this the kind of size of garden you'd like to maintain?

-Oh, gosh.

-Or would you need a little help here?

I think I might need a bit of help from a gardener

because it's very big.

But inside, she is after a little extra space to fit visiting family.

-Can you see yourself sitting in the conservatory?

-Oh, yes - I'd like to

-go in there now, actually.

-Well, let's not waste any time, then!

Today, I'm in Rutland,

England's smallest county, and this is Rutland Water,

a reservoir that's also the UK's largest man-made lake.

When construction of the lake got underway in the early '70s,

it caused massive disruption for local villages and communities,

with many having to relocate their homes for the reservoir,

which finally opened in 1976.

The old hall behind me is all that remains

of the village of Middle Hambleton -

the rest of it is completely submerged.

Today, the Hambledon peninsula is surrounded on three sides by water,

but it does provide some of the most spectacular views

across one of the highlights at the heart of this lovely county.

Landlocked Rutland covers an area of just 151 square miles.

Its longest distance from north to south is only 18 miles,

and 17 miles from east to west.

In 1974, the county merged with Leicestershire,

but independence was restored in 1997.

The main focal point is Rutland Water,

whose southern bank features the Grade II listed Normington Church.

Scheduled for demolition by the reservoir planners,

it was saved after a public outcry

and is now a popular venue for newlyweds to tie the knot.

Today, the largest reservoir in England

is used for more than just water storage.

As well as being home to many species of wildlife,

the 3,100 acres of expansive water are a big draw for sailors and

fishermen alike. And on land,

its perimeter offers 25 miles of track for walking and cycling.

To the west of Rutland water is the county town of Oakham.

With its quaint, narrow streets and traditional feel,

this is a must-see place for many visitors.

Oakham Castle is home to a fine collection

of more than 200 horseshoes.

Peers of the realm passing through the town

must give a horseshoe to the Lord of the Manor -

a custom started more than 500 years ago that continues to this day.

Outside of the towns,

Rutland is marked by acres of stunning countryside,

which makes it an ideal rural escape.

There is clearly a lot on offer in this beautiful county,

despite its small size.

In fact, the local motto is "Multum in parvo" -

Latin for "Much in little".

And there's a clue in that when it comes to searching for property

in the area. The price of a detached house here in Rutland

is around about £321,000.

That's £23,000 above the national average.

So what about today's buyer?

What are they searching for in their little slice of

England's smallest county?

Management consultant Siobhan and her six-year-old daughter Eleanor

are looking to swap the hustle and bustle of Croydon in South London

for a much more tranquil life in Rutland,

with a little bit of help from her mother, Jackie.

Croydon's started to become quite run down

in the last couple of years.

The town centre, a lot of the shops have closed.

We also have a very long school run,

so we have a 50-minute round trip and partly,

the property that we are in at the moment,

as beautiful as it is, we've just grown out of it.

A big driver for the move is Eleanor,

who is a massive fan of all things wild.

Eleanor adores being outside. She loves climbing trees,

bug collecting is a favourite hobby of hers,

fishing for bits and pieces in ponds,

and those experiences are not so readily available

in an urban environment.

She's very keen on animals and cats and dogs.

And she'd like a dog, she'd like a Labrador,

although she's quite partial to border collies,

and they need a lot of space.

This move will herald some big changes

in how Eleanor, and indeed Siobhan, currently live their lives.

Plans are in place to spend more time working from home,

which makes leaving the London base a really positive step.

I think we'll really enjoy having fresh air,

having access to wider spaces,

being able to get out and do cycling more easily.

Having access to more outdoor pursuits,

things that possibly Eleanor hasn't even tried yet,

like doing some more watersports we just can't do around this area.

The biggest sacrifice, really, will be being further away from family.

But mum Jackie is philosophical about the move.

I shall be sorry that I won't see so much of them

and it won't be so easy to pop in and say hello

or for them to pop in and see us.

I shall regret that, love,

but if that's what you and Eleanor want to do, well...I wish you...

you know, all the best, and Dad and I will support you

and we'll come and see you, of course, and stay.

-You'll have to have somewhere where we can stay!

-Mm.

And despite the heart-wrenching thought

that Siobhan will be further away,

Jackie has no doubts that this is the right move

for both daughter and granddaughter.

Well, I think they'll have a slower pace of life.

I think they'll see a little bit more of each other.

They'll have less time driving around in the car

and more time just being together.

They'll have more space, and I think that will be good for them.

With Rutland being such a small county,

Siobhan is happy for us to extend our search

across the borders into Lincolnshire or Northamptonshire.

I'm catching up with Siobhan and Jackie

on the banks of Rutland Water

to nail the right criteria for the perfect property.

Jackie, Siobhan, lovely to see you.

-Hello, hello.

-So, tell me -

what has brought us to this wonderful corner of the world?

As you can see, it's a beautiful place,

lots of cycling, foraging and tree climbing -

all of the things that Eleanor loves to do.

So, Jackie, supermum, here to support Siobhan.

-How well do you know the area?

-Well, I've been here several times,

been on holidays with my husband and I know Siobhan's been here as well.

And we think it's really nice, it's a nice place to live,

it's good for bringing up a family and I'm retired now,

I'm free to visit her and I shall be doing that, plenty of that!

What are we searching for, in terms of property?

Ideally a three-bedroom-plus house so my parents can come and visit.

Got to have a room for me, yes!

Yes! So we've got the built-in childcare!

Some nice, open space, a nice garden,

or at least good access straight into lovely walks

in the fields and across the countryside.

So when you're talking garden,

are we talking postage stamp garden or are we talking a few acres?

-What's the dream?

-Well, somewhere in between!

I love gardening and we need somewhere for the trampoline

and maybe some rose beds.

What kind of property are you looking for?

Something with some nice character, but with some...

Possibly with some modernisation.

It's got to fit with access to the school

and the possible commuting to London.

So it's a decision I'm not going to take lightly,

I will make sure we make the right decision.

How much are we looking with today?

Ideally, under 450,000.

That's our absolute maximum budget,

but I'd like to try and keep under that if I could.

Well, we have three fantastic properties for you to see,

-so let's get searching.

-Lovely. Thank you.

With a top budget of £450,000,

Siobhan and daughter Eleanor are looking to escape

their two-bed flat in Croydon

in pursuit of a character home with a modern interior,

a family kitchen-diner, three bedrooms and a good-sized garden.

They'd also like to be close to a village

with easy access to local schools.

We've found some fantastic properties to tempt them with

and at each one, I'll be asking them to guess the price

before I reveal it.

The last in our selection will be our Mystery House,

which may challenge Siobhan's expectations

when it comes to character,

but could put her young daughter right in her element.

So tell me a little bit more about what you love about this area.

It's just a great part of the country to live in

and to raise a family. It's a slower pace of life.

As Siobhan doesn't mind us extending our search

into Rutland's borderlands,

Baston village in Lincolnshire is our first stop.

At the centre is the village green, flanked by a local church

with parts of the building dating back to the 12th century.

Close by is a general store and post office.

There's a real community feel here,

with a village hall complete with children's playground

and sports facilities.

Six-year-old Eleanor will be spoilt for choice

when it comes to her education,

as both state and independent schools can be found in the village.

And with our first property just a few minutes' drive away,

those long school runs could be a thing of the past.

Welcome to property one.

Your 1800 mill-owner's cottage.

-Well!

-It's beautiful.

This is where the mill workers would come and stay.

This section of the cottage was built in 1800 and all this,

which could also be yours, was added in 2005.

-Huge! Really big.

-Yes, it is.

And very tastefully done.

You can't necessarily notice straight away

the difference in the brickwork.

This early 19th-century mill worker's cottage

offers nearly 2,200 square feet of generous living space.

On the ground floor are three sitting rooms,

and that 2005 extension added yet more accommodation space.

We're entering through the front door,

which takes us directly into a cosy snug.

So here we are in the original part of the cottage.

You've got your lovely snug and the fireplace to welcome you.

It's lovely! Very warm and inviting.

-Very good so far.

-And this is just the start.

-So much to see.

-Yes!

Also on this floor, there's a small study

and a good-sized double bedroom, ideal for when Jackie visits.

Crossing the dining room, we find what for many

is the heart of the home.

Into your nice spacious kitchen,

which looks out onto your new conservatory.

That was added to the property in about 2010,

the latest bit of work that the owners did.

We passed your lovely dining space...

-That's beautiful.

-..as we came through into the kitchen.

-What do you think?

-It's lovely.

It's really big and beautifully light,

because it leads straight onto the conservatory.

Gorgeous views of the garden, it's a beautiful space.

I must say, the conservatory looks good, doesn't it?

The space it gives you here.

I know that's something you really love, isn't it?

Light and airy, and a period property

can be a little bit dark...

There is a compromise between dark and cosy, isn't there?

Absolutely. And the good thing is,

Eleanor can sit and help prepare or while she's doing her homework,

I can cook, which is something we can't do at the moment.

Yes, this would work better.

Can you see yourself sitting in the conservatory?

Oh, yes. I would like to go in there now, actually.

Well, let's not waste any time, then!

Jackie, this way - come on!

This house does have a lovely flow.

Walking through the conservatory, we come into the main sitting room.

-Gosh!

-Wow.

So what do you think about this in terms of a living space?

Oh, it's a perfect space.

It's not too big and it's certainly not too small.

You still get that cosy feel.

But the light flooding through...

Oh, yes, it's lovely.

So could you imagine some nice evenings

chatting about what you and Eleanor have done in the day,

-or the walks you've been on?

-Yes! Yes, completely.

I'm just wondering where the bathroom is and things like that?

I will let you explore everything!

She's always a step ahead!

I'd like to show you the bedrooms upstairs first.

-OK, yes, that's fine.

-Let's go and have a look

at those three and then you can come down...

You want to check out your wing, that's what it is!

-Yes!

-She's making plans!

I like your style! Come this way.

Heading upstairs to the first floor, there's a generous landing.

To one side, doors lead to two double bedrooms,

both with ample storage,

and situated next to the fully tiled family bathroom.

Next for us is the master.

And into what could be your main bedroom.

Wow, it's lovely.

Which doesn't have an en suite, but it has a bathroom just next door,

which could be yours and there's a room off that

which is currently used as a little bedroom,

when the lady's granddaughter comes to stay,

but it could become a dressing room for you,

or maybe a little office as well.

So what do you think about this size of room? Good for you?

-Oh, yes.

-It's fine, isn't it?

Yeah, more than big enough. Absolutely.

And you've got lots of storage space, which I know you love.

-Yes, it's beautiful.

-Lovely window.

Yes, all the light flooding through.

-Yeah, yeah.

-It's a beautiful property.

It is nice, beautifully done.

Well, of course, we have to talk about price,

which we'll do in the garden,

and there is a beautiful garden to show you.

So, much more still to see!

The house is positioned on a good-sized plot

which includes a very attractive gravelled patio area.

The gravel theme continues around the side of the property

with a spacious driveway and a separate double garage.

At the back, there's a feature pond, well-established fruit trees,

shrubs and a generous lawn,

all of which should make an ideal adventure playground

for Siobhan's daughter Eleanor.

Siobhan, you said you wanted a garden somewhere between

postage stamp and a few acres. Have we hit the mark here?

Oh, almost certainly. I mean, it's beautiful.

-Isn't it?

-It is lovely.

It's incredible. All you can hear...

It's so tranquil, you just hear the birds.

You can see the bees. And the garden itself is stunning.

This garden has apple trees, pear trees, you've got blackberries,

raspberries at the end of the garden.

-I know!

-As well as a trampoline!

As well as a trampoline, that's a kind of Eleanor-size trampoline.

A lot of fun to be had on that, I think.

Is this the kind of size of garden you'd like to maintain,

or would you need a little help here?

I think I might need a bit of help from a gardener

because it's very big, isn't it? Much bigger than I expected...

-Yes, yes...

-..we'd be able to get.

-Two or three times.

-Yes, yes.

So, time now to take the garden and the house into consideration.

For this particular property,

what do you think the current market price is?

Um, I'm going to say 425.

Jackie, what do you think?

I'm going to go for 430.

Well, Jackie, at £430,000,

you are closer to the price of this property.

Right.

This property, with this gorgeous garden,

is currently on the market for £450,000.

-That's top.

-So that's the top of your budget.

Yes. Should have guessed that, shouldn't we, really?

-Given how big it is.

-Yes.

Well, there is a lot of house to explore.

Why don't I let you go and really take a look at all those bedrooms

and all the rooms available to you?

-We'll catch up in a bit.

-Lovely, thank you.

Right on budget at £450,000,

this beautiful character home has large entertaining areas,

four double bedrooms and a spacious garden for that dog

that Eleanor is so keen to have.

I think Eleanor would adore this property.

The only thing she might miss out on is having neighbours and children

in neighbouring properties that she could play with,

which is something that we would like

when we have our move to the country.

I think the house is rather isolated from the local community.

I believe it's about a mile from the nearest village

and I do feel that's a bit far.

Hello, ladies.

Have you had a good look round everything now?

-We have.

-Fantastic.

-Like what you've seen?

-It's beautiful.

Great. Good start.

Property one. Let's go explore property two.

Great. Let's go.

Rutland and the surrounding area has long been a favourite

for would-be country escapees.

The impressive architecture, including stately homes and castles,

is just one of many reasons Siobhan adores this part of the country.

So we've arranged for her and Jackie to meet head guide David Shipton,

who's going to tell them more about

one of the area's grandest buildings, Rockingham Castle.

The first castle was built here by William the Conqueror,

around 1070, and that grew into a huge stone castle.

You're standing in front of these wonderful drum towers

built by Edward I in the 1270s.

It was then a royal castle till the reign of Henry VIII.

-He was the last king to visit here.

-So when was that?

That was in 1540, when he came here with Catherine Howard,

about a year before he cut her head off.

Oh, right! What happened after that?

Who did he give the castle to?

The castle by then was very dilapidated -

the King hadn't been spending money maintaining it

and it was falling down in places.

And along comes a man called Edward Watson

and he rented the castle from Henry VIII

and gradually began to turn it into a family home.

Today, Edward Watson's legacy lives on

and the castle is now owned and maintained by his descendant,

and much of the original renovation work

carried out over subsequent years still exists.

This is the Long Gallery,

which was completed about the reign of Charles I.

It was a superb room in which the family could come

and take their leisure when the weather was inclement,

-where they could show off the family portraits.

-Yes.

And it's a room which really came alive, though,

again in the 19th century,

when Richard and Lavinia Watson lived here.

They were great friends of Charles Dickens.

Oh!

And he came here on several occasions

and he puts on plays in other rooms and in this room.

Beneath the lavish Venetian chandeliers,

flock wallpaper and luxurious drapes,

Dickens performed some of his most recognised works,

and wasn't averse to treading the boards himself.

In this cabinet, we've collected various objects to do with Dickens.

This is the actual playbill for the plays

that he put on in this room on January 18, 1851.

As you can see, he starred in them - he played the lead role

-in all three plays.

-Sir Charles Coldstream...

Oh, yes! A Day After The Wedding.

Quite saucy, I should think!

I wasn't here, so I don't know!

THEY LAUGH

We also have early copies of Bleak House.

-Gosh.

-A novel which he wrote

in which features a great house called Chesley Wold,

and many of the features of that great house are based on Rockingham,

so the Long Gallery you're in becomes the long drawing-room.

Rockingham Castle's extraordinary heritage seems to know no bounds.

The Great Hall has played host to some very distinguished guests.

So, David, what would the room have been used for?

We know that when the kings came here, they lived here.

There was a king's chamber off the end.

They would have dined here and many of the people

would have actually slept around the room when it came to night-time.

Many of the objects here date back to the mid-17th century,

including artefacts from the English Civil War.

And if you would like to see what you would look like

as a cavalryman from the English Civil War,

so would you like to try it on?

Which side would have worn this, then, David?

Both parliamentarians and royalists

wore much the same sort of helmets.

-Heavy?

-It's very heavy.

It's heavy, it's got to protect you from sword cuts

and other nasty things.

What else might they have worn to protect their bodies?

You would also have worn a breastplate and a backplate

and also gauntlets like this on your wrists.

It's so incredibly heavy.

You just wonder how anybody could fight a good battle so weighed down.

The hands of restoration can also be seen beyond the castle walls -

outside, 18 acres of gardens surround the main house

and boast an unmissable feature.

Can you tell us something about that strange hedge?

Well, this hedge, which is 400 years old, a yew hedge,

we call it The Elephant Hedge.

It looks a little bit like one, doesn't it?

-That one, there.

-When we have schoolchildren visit,

we say, can you see any animals?

And nearly always, some of them will identify them as elephants.

Thanks so much, we have enjoyed it.

Let's hope we can find Siobhan her own Rutland pile

as we get back to our property search.

Our second house is located in the Rutland village of Ridlington,

just a couple of miles from the market town of Uppingham.

With its pretty streets, traditional shops

and attractive square overlooked by the 14th century church,

Uppingham is one of the most picturesque towns

in the county of Rutland.

There should be everything here that Siobhan and Eleanor could hope for,

including primary and secondary schools,

one of which was established back in 1584.

And the house we've come to see is within easy reach

of all these amenities, back in the village of Ridlington.

So, ladies...

property number two, four bed, lovely, spacious house,

built in the early '70s,

updated just before the millennium and more recently

-by the current owners.

-Right.

Initial thoughts?

-Modern.

-Hm, very modern.

Large.

Again, a beautiful, tranquil setting.

-Nice.

-Shall we get inside?

-Yes!

-Let's do it.

Come this way.

Just four decades old,

this is a much more modern affair than our first house,

but I'm hopeful this central village location

has got us off to a good start.

The front entrance takes us straight into

the main living portion of the property.

So, into your rather large kitchen-diner.

-Right, that's beautiful.

-It is spacious, isn't it?

Off the main kitchen, you've got a lovely laundry room.

The owners turned the current garage behind into a sort of

-study-come-storage area.

-Mm-hm.

Diner behind you.

There's also a little snug off the kitchen,

which Eleanor could do homework in or set up a little computer room,

or you could make into an office.

This is a lovely family space.

-It is.

-Beautiful.

And do you like having that separate dining area?

-Oh, yes, I think that's...

-Yes, I think that's really nice.

And the light coming through from the garden is beautiful.

-It is, isn't it?

-Very warm.

-It's just the right place.

-Let me show you the living room before we head upstairs.

-Lovely.

And from the kitchen-diner into your living room,

which opens out onto the garden.

Would this space work for you?

I think it's a good family room. It's a good size.

I like the window here and the light coming in.

I'm not sure if it's to Siobhan's taste, though.

I mean, I like it, it's quite modern.

-OK. Well, still lots more to see.

-Yes, OK.

-Lovely.

I'm getting the feeling this style of house

may not be working for Siobhan,

but I hope the bright landing upstairs with great views

over the surrounding countryside boosts her enthusiasm.

Up here, there's a bright single and two double bedrooms,

all of which are served by a modern family bathroom.

Lastly, we find the largest room on this floor.

And into the master bedroom, with en suite.

A very large room!

It is, isn't it? It's huge for a master bedroom.

This was the part of the house that the owner -

the current owners - extended,

and they built the extra space and en suite,

-that's what they've added most recently.

-OK, yes.

-And it's so tranquil.

-It is.

-A peaceful night's sleep.

-Absolutely.

-Gorgeous view to wake up to.

An amazing amount of storage, as well, with the built-in wardrobes.

Of course, the garden to explore as well

and then we've got to talk about price.

-SIOBHAN LAUGHS

-Great.

Outside, I'm hoping we are onto a winner with a low-maintenance,

manageable garden.

To the rear, sliding doors from the dining and sitting room

lead to a patio area flanked by hedges and established planting.

A beautiful lawn extends to a summerhouse for those long,

lazy summer evenings.

A really good size, and beautiful as well, lots of mature shrubs.

A beautiful summerhouse, the evening sun, it's delightful.

And do you think it would work for Eleanor?

-Would she approve?

-Oh, I do think she'd approve, yes.

It's a lovely garden.

Well, you've seen the garden, you've taken a look at the house...

Time to talk about money.

How much do you think this property is on the market for?

I'm going to say £410,000.

I'll say 445.

£445,000.

-£410,000.

-Yes.

-Quite a difference!

-Indeed!

Well, this property is currently

on the market for £439,950.

I was way out. You were nearer.

So it gives you a little wiggle room in that budget.

-That's great.

-And a lot of property

-for your money, again.

-Absolutely, so much space.

Well, now you know the price, why don't you have

a bit more of an explore and we'll catch up in a bit?

-Lovely, thank you.

-Thanks.

Coming in around £10,000 under budget,

this modern house gives high returns for the money,

with a great kitchen-diner, four bedrooms,

a manageable garden and a central village location.

I think it's a very large house.

I think it's very modern and from that point of view,

I think it's too modern for Siobhan,

but I must say that it's a very good family house.

I love the size of the property,

it's beautiful, it's a great location.

On reflection, I do think that possibly

it's a bit too big for myself and for Eleanor.

The garden is lovely - I could really see us enjoying the space.

But it's probably also too modern for us.

-How are you?

-Fine, thanks.

-Have you had a good scoot right across the house?

-We have.

-We have.

Well, that's it for day one of our property search.

Mystery House tomorrow.

-Exciting!

-What have you got in store for us?

You'll have to wait and see. Homeward bound now, though.

Siobhan, with the help of her mum Jackie,

is looking to escape her Croydon-based two-bed flat

in South London with her six-year-old daughter, Eleanor.

They're looking for a more peaceful life in Rutland

with a top budget of £450,000.

Still to come, we've got the Mystery House,

which offers country living with a twist of retro styling.

So, out of your Mystery House to a mystery feature.

That is sensational. It's beautiful.

And I'll be switching my attention from house-hunting to the open water

for a very different kind of search.

-We've done it!

-Oh!

THEY LAUGH

I was sure property one yesterday was going to be a winner

with that fabulous garden,

but it didn't quite have the village location

that Siobhan was searching for. And property two had the village,

but the house itself didn't have quite enough character for Siobhan,

so where does that leave us with the Mystery House?

Well, it's in the heart of a village,

and it certainly has a unique character,

but will it be the one to tempt Siobhan to make the move?

Let's find out.

So how are you feeling about the Mystery House today?

Possibly a new build, because I haven't completely ruled them out.

Or I suppose it could be...

a new build with character.

Because there's quite a few properties that are around

that are newer, but are done so sympathetically.

Our final destination is

the Northamptonshire village of King's Cliffe,

around five miles from the Rutland county border.

But before we get to our Mystery House,

we're taking a pit stop in the village

to show our ladies all that King's Cliffe can offer.

Siobhan, Jackie, you might be wondering why I've brought you here.

Well, this is the village of King's Cliffe,

and it's the village that's home to our Mystery House.

Local parish church is behind you,

All Saints and St James', and the village has all the amenities

that you're searching for - that local village shop,

pop out for that pint of milk,

you've got a village pub, doctor's surgery,

baker's, village store, and a local school

five minutes from the front door of the Mystery House.

Sounds lovely.

Your village and the Mystery House are just 20 minutes from

Rutland Water, which I know you really wanted to explore

-with Eleanor.

-It's a delightful village.

It's beautiful.

The architecture, the properties, the church...

-It's got a lovely atmosphere.

-I can't wait to see the Mystery House.

Well, let's not waste any time! Come on, head this way.

Our architect-designed Mystery House

is just a stone's throw from the village centre.

Designed by the architect Lionel Ebury,

who's also designed two other properties in the village,

it's detached, four-bed, originally built in 1971 and extended in 1980.

-Very unusual!

-It is.

-OK, let's get in and see more.

-OK.

The entrance takes us to a hallway

that leads through into the main sitting room,

which is full of vintage character, albeit 1970s-style.

So, here we are, into your split-level living space.

Room for a dining room, you've got your wood burner there,

which I know you really like. And then some extra space,

you could pull a desk up there if you wanted.

A little bit of work late at night or a desk for Eleanor, as well.

-What strikes you about this room?

-Strange!

THEY LAUGH

It's quite unusual.

The style of the property and the Windows...

I don't really like metal frames, particularly.

Obviously, those can be changed.

Well, there's more of the house to see.

-Great.

-Let's head into the kitchen.

-Lovely.

Heading out of the main living area,

we pass through a utility and boot room and on into the kitchen.

-Lovely space.

-Like the size of this?

Yes, yes, I do.

It's perfect for family living, this space, as well.

And can you see Siobhan and Eleanor living in here,

-the more you look round?

-I'm not sure about that!

Well, there is one special feature that I really want to show you

that I think Eleanor in particular will love.

Come this way.

Also on this floor is a snug,

or formal dining room, and a small cloakroom.

Up on the first floor are four double bedrooms...

Good-size room.

..one of which is being used as an office.

The generous, bright, airy master comes with its own en suite.

There's also a large, modern family bathroom

with a separate shower cubicle.

As we head outside,

it's clear that this house is not quite what Siobhan is looking for,

but she's yet to see the real highlight here,

which is just outside the living room.

So, out of your Mystery House, to a mystery feature -

the beautiful babbling brook at the edge of your property.

It's sensational. It's beautiful.

-Really.

-It's really lovely.

You really do have Mother Nature on your doorstep here.

I really can see Eleanor just sitting on the steps,

-feeding the ducks...

-Jumping in!

Oh, yes, jumping in!

-It's really lovely.

-It is.

I see there's somewhere for me to sit, too, I think. Yes.

You've got a little space there - table and chairs,

glass of wine at the end of the day.

-Suit me.

-Catch the sun.

-Lovely!

Who has a brook at the end of the garden?

It's not very everyday, is it?

Siobhan seems enthusiastic about this special garden feature,

as it could be an ideal environment for wildlife fan Eleanor.

And what's on offer outside doesn't stop here.

To the rear of the property

is a large patio and a substantial lawned area

bordered with a stone wall.

Mature trees and shrubs pepper the garden,

completing the grounds of this one-off Mystery House.

The more you've had a look around, have your views on it changed?

It's really grown on me, actually. To come out into the garden area

and to have the brook at the end of the garden,

I could really see Eleanor and I enjoying this space.

Time to talk about price.

What do you think this Mystery House with its babbling brook

is on the market for?

It's got to be above my upper limit,

so I would say £460,000.

Jackie, how much do you think the house is on the market for?

Well, I'm going to say it's £450,000.

The Mystery House is currently on the market for

£450,000.

-Oh!

-Jackie, you are spot on!

Now you know the price, why don't you have a look around once more

and then we've got some talking to do.

-OK.

-OK!

They love the location, the babbling brook, the gardens...

But perhaps the unique design - just a step too far?

This architect-designed house comes in bang on budget

and would certainly offer Siobhan and daughter Eleanor

a different style of living

with its generous open-plan ground floor,

four good-sized bedrooms, a beautiful garden,

complete with babbling brook and a central village location.

This property offers the right buyer a perfect country escape,

but has it been enough to inspire Siobhan?

-Lovely, isn't it?

-A really nice room.

A good size.

Mum and I have very similar taste, we both like character properties.

It's just not the style and the age of property and design

that we particularly like and I don't think Mum would think

that this is the right property for us.

Siobhan is attracted to the garden and to the brook at the bottom,

and the possibilities of enjoying the wildlife and the countryside.

But as for the house itself, I think she feels that

it's not to her taste and that means that

she wouldn't feel completely comfortable.

Hello! Have you had a good explore around the Mystery House?

-We have.

-Great.

Shall we find somewhere lovely for a cuppa and a good chat?

-Sounds good.

-Yes.

Lots to talk about - come on.

Rutland may be the smallest county in the UK,

but it certainly lives up to its local motto, "Much in little".

And nowhere else is this more apparent than on Rutland Water,

a big attraction for wildlife and watersports enthusiasts.

But it's fly fishing that's found particular renown in recent years.

To find out more about why, I've come to meet Rob Waddington.

Hopefully he's going to help me land my first fish.

Rob, great to see you!

Hi, welcome. Welcome to my shed on the banks of Rutland Water!

So, how long have you been fly fishing here?

I've been fishing here for 20 years,

but I've been fly fishing a bit longer than that!

-21!

-Yeah, maybe!

What makes fly fishing on Rutland Water so special?

Rutland water here is probably one of the best fly fishing lakes

in the UK and it's for two reasons, really.

The size of the place - it's huge out there.

It's the biggest man-made lake in Western Europe.

We've got about 26 miles of shoreline

and about 3,500 acres of water, and it's massive, yeah?

Today, we're going to be targeting the Rutland Trout

and to attract these local beauties,

Rob uses an artificial fly as bait.

At the moment, the fish are feeding heavily on the natural insects,

so we're going to imitate some tiny little midges

that you perhaps saw as you toured the lake.

We're going to use these tiny little things here...

They're small, wow.

..and these tiny little things here.

We find that if we use the more natural, imitative flies,

that we do catch the better fish.

Before Rob will let me loose on the lake,

I need a crash course in how to cast.

-Right, up...

-Back.

-Back.

-Bit sharper, then forward.

-Real sharp.

-Real sharp.

Bang. Lovely. Back and forward.

Get it snappy and sharp - tick-tock.

Tick-tock.

Release. Into the distance...

Next one. Tick...

Tock. Release.

-We've done it!

-Oh!

Love it!

-Was that, sort of, 5/10, or...?

-No, pretty good.

We stand a good chance of catching a fish, there.

Maybe even enough to get out on the water!

With rod and fly in hand, we head for the open water.

At nearly 100 feet deep in places,

there is ample space for species like perch, pike,

zander and carp to happily thrive,

but the trout are stocked from outside,

so there's no danger of destroying breeding pairs.

Anglers can fish for their supper, but, if I'm lucky,

I'll be putting my catch back to fight another day.

-Good day for it!

-Perfect.

-So you're lined up...

-Oh! It's gone down!

-It's gone down.

-Pull it up!

-Stop, I missed it.

-Oh!

'It's definitely feeling like my lucky day.

'A few minutes later, and...'

-Oh, you've got a fish!

-Oh!

OK, start reeling, reeling, reeling.

-Ooh, I've got a pull!

-Let it out, let go of the reel.

-Let it out a bit. OK.

-Now reel it again.

-Reel it in.

-Just raise the rod, now.

Raise the rod.

And we've got it!

We've got a lovely fish!

Thanks, coach!

THEY LAUGH

-Well done.

-What have I got?

You've got a lovely Rutland rainbow trout.

Well done. I'm proud of you!

THEY LAUGH

Rob, it's been a joy to learn about fishing, thank you so much.

Do we let this little fellow, or big fellow, back in, now?

What a great end to the day. But it remains to be seen

if we've made the perfect catch when it comes to houses.

I'm sensing we haven't quite found Siobhan the property of her dreams,

but now she's had the chance to think about all three,

lets see how she's feeling.

So, the question - what's next?

It's given us a lot to think about, hasn't it?

Yes, it has. It has indeed.

I still love Rutland as a county

and they have some beautiful properties

that we'd like to explore and look around a little bit more,

but I think I'm also going to widen my search

to include some of the areas that we've looked at,

particularly for property number three,

the mystery property, the Mystery House.

The village was so beautiful.

That was in such a lovely village, it really was.

So you really took to King's Cliffe?

-Oh, it was lovely.

-Absolutely.

So it really showed us that...

..we need to look across the county boundary

and explore some of those smaller villages

and even possibly some of the smaller towns.

So has the search helped crystallise for you

the type of property you're searching for?

I really feel that now I'm looking for something with...

you know, more original features.

A nice fireplace,

possibly some nooks and crannies like we saw in property one.

Something a bit more traditional, Siobhan?

-Something a bit more traditional.

-Well, listen, we wish you well.

It's been a joy to search with you over these last few days

and do let us know what decision you and little Eleanor finally make.

Thank you. It's been enormously helpful.

Well, our search has definitely confirmed for Siobhan

that Rutland and the surrounding areas

are the place she wants to search for that new home for herself

and her little girl Eleanor,

and finding a village that she can be right at the heart of

is essential to that search.

I hope it won't be too long before we're hearing from Siobhan

that she has found that dream property.

And I'll see you next time on Escape To The Country.

If you would like to escape to the country

in England, Northern Ireland, Wales or Scotland,

and need our help, you can apply online at...