North Devon Escape to the Country

With almost 60 Sites of Special Scientific Interest

across almost 1,500 square miles,

this beautiful region has gained international recognition for its unique

mix of flora, fauna and people.

Find out where I am and why it's so special in just a moment.

Today, a pair of go-getters are looking to upcycle their lifestyles with

their move to the country, and along the way come some pleasant surprises.

-That's amazing.

-That's very good.

-That's amazing!

-That's a game changer.

-And the positive reactions just keep coming.

Wow!

Actually, I think you got him at the driveway coming in.

-It's a double wow. You're not going to beat this one.

-Oh, really?

-No.

Today we're in Devon, and this is the North Devon Biosphere Reserve,

the first of only a handful of protected biosphere sites here in the UK.

Established by Unesco in 1971,

there are now more than 600 reserves around the world, and their principal

aim is to harmoniously connect people with nature. And later on in the

show, I'll be finding out more about the sustainable conservation of this

ecosystem by meeting some of the people who are fortunate enough to live

and work here in this beautiful protected landscape.

Devon can be found in the far south-west of England.

The county has two national parks within its borders.

Dartmoor in the southern part of the region covers some 365 square miles

of wild, windswept moorland and rolling hills,

while Exmoor is found on the north coast and flows over the border into

neighbouring Somerset.

Inland, the historic market town of Great Torrington offers a commanding

view of the River Torridge, and the town is home to an array of shops and businesses.

Of particular fame is Dartington Crystal, which first opened

its factory doors in 1967 and is the only major crystal factory in the UK.

Head south from here and you'll enter an area known as

Devon's Ruby Country, which prides itself on its unspoilt, tranquil landscape and takes

its name from the red ruby Devon cattle that originate here.

And their distinctive colouring is just one of the sights not to be missed on a visit

to this striking region.

Devon is the third-largest county in England, so it's no wonder there's

plenty to do and see for locals and visitors alike.

And when it comes to property prices in this part of the West Country,

you may be pleasantly surprised, as the average detached home comes in

at only £14,000 above the national figure of £300,000.

It's the combination of great homes and gorgeous countryside

and a tourism industry worth over £2 billion to the local economy that's luring today's

buyers here to Devon.

Sally and Colin from East Horsley in Surrey currently run their own

lettings and property management business,

but they want to swap it all for a country life

with their young son, Daniel.

We're really excited about going down to Devon

and having just a whole new area to look at.

We've been in Surrey for the best part of 25 years

so we've done all the walks, we know all the hills,

we know all the parks, and, as beautiful as they are,

-we want a new adventure.

-We just feel at home down in Devon.

I spent a lot of my childhood in Devon, so it's just like going back home.

Although they've been very happy where they live,

increased traffic and development means now is the perfect time to leave.

In making the move, we've given Daniel a lot of thought, because we're

really aware that when you're 11,

you've got your friends and it is quite a wrench.

He's a confident, happy boy,

really well rounded, and I know he'll be absolutely fine.

They first met at college when Sally was 19 and found herself in a rather

difficult position.

I actually got stuck in the toilet and he came and rescued me.

And as soon as I graduated, we were together.

Colin's my first boyfriend, and we fell in love,

and I think we were best friends first, weren't we?

-Yeah.

-And now soul mates.

And you used to cook me bacon sandwiches.

Yeah, that's very true.

It probably had more to do with the bacon sandwiches!

But it's not just a new home our couple are after.

They're keen to move into the hospitality industry.

We really want to sort of create a business that we can follow on from what we're doing now.

My career has always been in the lettings side.

Colin's always been in maintenance as well as landscaping and gardening,

so together,

we can combine our skills and make a real success of something.

It's really important that we get something that we can build on.

It doesn't have to be all bells and whistles from day one.

We can put work into developing it, and that would be exciting.

The best stories are told round a campfire,

and that's what we want to create for people.

One of the biggest plus points is the chance to be able

to put their very different hobbies to good use.

Colin's practical skills will be a big help in their new life, but he's

also hoping for space to really indulge his creative side.

I'm a great recyclist.

I see things around that I think someone's discarded, and I can always put

something to some use.

Sally will say, "More rubbish you've brought home!"

But in six months' time, that will be in the house

as something very beautiful.

And Sally's got her own plans.

I adore baking. It's my absolute escapism.

It's my time alone in the kitchen, and there's that absolute sense of

satisfaction when you see the family really tucking in and enjoying the

food that you've made.

That's what I want to extend out to our guests, as well.

With their minds made up, all that's left is to make it happen.

-We're not talkers.

-We are doers.

We want to achieve our goals in life and hopefully we'll achieve it.

We're so much stronger together. When we work together,

we really do achieve good results.

Can't wait.

Sally and Colin would like to settle in North Devon,

somewhere between Okehampton and South Molton, so that's where we're

concentrating our search.

But before we get started,

I'm meeting them in the county to get the lowdown on their property wish list.

-Welcome to Devon, Colin and Sally.

-Thank you!

-Thank you very much.

When did you decide this county had to be home?

I think it was about two, three years ago when we came down for a short break and suddenly

our shoulders went, "Ahhhh!", and we felt like we'd come home.

Of course, this move isn't just about finding a new home in Devon...

-No.

-..but it's a new career in Devon.

It is. It's like packing up our home, our business, our life.

It's like starting again, totally from scratch.

And what is the career ambition?

We'd like to do holiday lets.

How that takes its form, though, is quite wide and varied.

We would look at taking something with land to build up a yurt business, or

we could look at something already formed as holiday cottages or lodges.

And that's what you want alongside the property?

Ideally, yes.

It's not the end of the world if it wasn't,

as long as we had the acreage to be able to do something.

What about the home itself, where you'll both be living?

We need a big kitchen for entertaining,

a really cosy lounge, a fireplace.

I'm looking for exposed beams to give the age of the property and

definitely vaulted ceilings, if possible.

-The older, the better.

-Something with a bit of history?

Something definitely with a bit of history.

A minimum three bedrooms and ideally some outside space, barn,

workshop for Colin.

When it comes to the type of business you want to run,

have you any experience of that at all?

Not in holiday cottages per se, but I've been in lettings for 25 years.

And what's the budget we have to play with?

The bottom is 650, but we've got funding in place to go all the way

to almost a million, so... More comfortable around 950, though.

-Well, it's a healthy-sized budget.

-Yes.

-We've got three properties

to show you, including, of course, our Mystery,

but you're going to have to wait until tomorrow for that.

-Let's go and see our first home.

-Fabulous.

-Fabulous, thank you.

For their top budget of £950,000, Sally and Colin would like an old

character property with a big kitchen

perfect for entertaining and a cosy living space.

They want at least three bedrooms,

a workshop and potential for a holiday let and a yurt business.

We've gathered an impressive trio of properties for them to view, and after they've toured each one,

the all-important price will be revealed.

When it comes to the Mystery House, well,

that's nobody else's business but their own.

We're starting our journey round North Devon in the village of Meshaw.

Just three miles away is the village of Witheridge, which sits between Exmoor and Dartmoor.

The picturesque village offers both shops and eateries,

a community centre and the Grade I listed church

of St John the Baptist, which dates back to around 1500.

An eight-minute drive takes us to Meshaw, where our house-hunt begins

with a beautiful whitewashed period property approached by a gravel drive.

Here you go. House number one.

Wow!

-It's gorgeous.

-Very nice on first appearance.

It dates back to the 16th century and it's actually Grade II listed.

-OK.

-And rumour has it it was the Earl of Portsmouth's hunting lodge.

It's made of cob and stone and you've got that lovely slate roof.

-I love the slate roof.

-I hope it's got the history you were after.

It's looking that way.

It's looking old and it's looking as if we've got high, vaulted ceilings.

I'm very excited to go in and have a look.

And I'm also wanting to know what this is behind me!

-You keep looking.

-I do.

-It comes with a holiday let.

-Oh, fantastic.

-So, this was converted a few years ago from a barn.

-And beyond it, outbuildings?

-You've got outbuildings, exactly.

You've got another outbuilding here that you could convert.

It's got planning permission if you want to convert it into a second

holiday let, and there are more buildings, so I will show you them later.

But if you're happy with the setting,

let's go inside and see if you like the house.

Can't wait. Brilliant, fantastic.

'Sally and Colin have already had a sneak preview of some of the treats

'on offer here. But there's plenty more to see.'

The cobbled stone is such a feature here.

And then you've got quarry stone here in this beautiful kitchen.

-Perfect.

-Oh, that's what you wanted.

-Look at that range.

That is absolutely stunning.

-It's got a farmhouse feeling to it.

-It has. And I love the beams.

The beams, the ceiling, it's just perfect.

That's just inviting me to want to go over there and look more.

What you can see through there is a utility room.

So, it's a really nice-sized utility room so you don't have to have all the mess in here.

That works perfect for us.

There's a boot room as we entered, as well, with a separate WC, so you've got

-all those facilities. We'll explore more of the downstairs.

-Yep.

'On the ground floor, the main rooms all have aspects to the rear.

'Next to the kitchen, and accessed from the hallway, is a beautiful dining room.

'It has original oak flooring,

'an open stone fireplace and a window seat.

'Leading on from the dining room is the sitting room, which can also be

'entered from the hallway.'

-Wow, what a lovely room!

-It's a nice-size living room, isn't it?

I love the fact it's wood flooring, as well.

The flow between these two rooms is fantastic.

And is that a working fire?

Yes, exactly, so you've got two fireplaces downstairs here.

I'm not so sure we'd use that as a formal dining room,

because we don't.

I can actually see our furniture in there as the snug around that inglenook fireplace

and having this more as our formal lounge.

Now, upstairs you've got four bedrooms.

-OK.

-I will let you explore later, but as the business side is so

important, shall we have a look at the holiday let?

-That'd be great.

-Let's go.

'On the first floor, all four bedrooms have feature windows overlooking the garden.

'The master has an en-suite.

'There's a smaller room next door, then there are two doubles,

'currently set out as guest rooms,

'one with a cast-iron Victorian fireplace,

'and they're all served by a smart family bathroom.

'Outside, we're headed to the neighbouring two-bedroom holiday let, which

'was converted in 2006 and has more of a contemporary feel.

'It brings in around £13,000 a year for the current owners but has the

'potential to earn much more.

'French doors lead us straight into the sitting room.'

I can't get over how spacious and bright it is.

It's well equipped, isn't it, as well?

This is one of two living rooms.

There's actually a matching living room upstairs.

Oh, really? They've kept all the charm, as well, of the converted barn with the beams. It's lovely.

So, this is where your guests would live.

Shall we go and see what outside space they would enjoy and also find out

-how much you think all of this is worth?

-Wow!

'Outdoors, there's a collection of outbuildings and a large private garden

'bordered by mature trees along with plenty of land,

'perfect if Sally decides to start up a yurt business alongside the holiday let.'

This is the garden to the house.

Let's talk about all the land and everything that comes with the house.

You've got four-and-a-half acres in total.

What you can see over there is one of two paddocks.

The local farmer's keeping his sheep on that at the moment.

And in that paddock over there,

there's a huge fishing pond with carp and tench in it,

-so maybe something for your guests to do.

-Mm-hm.

In that corner, you have a little swimming pool.

-Wow.

-And there's a workshop. We can't forget your workshop.

Can't forget my workshop, no.

There's a huge double-storey workshop.

-I'm very impressed.

-So, who would like to go first?

Who would like to guess how much this property is on the market for?

I would say it's got to be near the top of our budget,

so I'm going to say 900.

OK. Colin?

I'll say a bit less than that. About 875.

Well, you're both going to be very pleased with what I'm about to say.

It's actually currently on the market

for £775,000.

-No way. That's amazing!

-That's very good.

-That's amazing.

Wow! It's a game changer.

Now that you know the price, because that always affects the way you

think, go and have another nosy round and I'll meet you in a bit.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much.

-As soon as I saw this place,

I had a feeling they would feel at home, and I think it's almost perfect for them.

What a brilliant start!

This fabulous Grade II listed 16th-century property

has delivered on all fronts and comes in at £175,000

under Sally and Colin's top budget.

It's got bags of character,

four bedrooms in the main house and two in the holiday cottage,

so there's a business ready to go and room for Sally's yurts, too.

-Oh, wow. Oh, this is nice.

-Look how high it is.

This is brilliant. I do really like this.

I love the property. I think it's got character.

It's got age, it's got a feeling of wanting to live there as a family.

I really love the potential this property's offering.

It's got quite a balance.

I love the fact that the family home's ready to move into.

The business potential is awesome. I love the paddocks.

For the guests, I absolutely love the cottage.

That works on every level, and we can carry out our dream of doing the

yurts round the beautiful lake, so, to me,

it's a real sensible proposition.

Yeah, I can see myself and Sally living here and setting up our yurts

and our lettings, and we'd be a very happy family.

Colin, Sally is already yurt shopping in her head, isn't she?

-She definitely is!

-I've redecorated!

-Go steady, we've still got another house to see today.

-OK, fantastic.

For centuries, the stunning Devon countryside has inspired artists and

craftspeople alike, and that's exactly what has enticed local artist Hilary Johnson

to settle here over 30 years ago to embark on her bespoke

leather business in the quaint village of Chulmleigh.

As Sally and Colin are planning to start their own business venture

when they move to Devon, we've arranged for them to meet Hilary.

Why is Devon so inspirational to you?

I think it's the land, the greenery, the lushness, the beauty.

It's a place where you can feel the land.

I think it's a place where you can feel good.

-In tune with nature, aren't you?

-Yes, absolutely.

So, in this part of North Devon, is there a demand for local crafts?

Yes. If you have the marketing skills and the business skills...

-..and obviously a good product at the right price...

-Yes!

..yes, North Devon is a good place.

Hilary learnt the art of leather-work in America

and then perfected her skills in Devon.

She's had her design studio and shop here since 2011 and crafts handbags,

purses and other leather accessories.

All the leathers are so different. This is so soft and these ones are

-much more robust, aren't they?

-Yes, they are.

Yes, I use a variety of leathers for different bags that have different needs.

These satchel ones are very hard-wearing

and they won't scratch.

There's others that are very hard-wearing and WILL scratch, because people

-like a good beat-up bag.

-Yes!

Hilary's shop is full of beautiful, colourful creations, and today

she's going to show Sally and Colin how to make a purse.

Colin is going to make a coin purse

out of this heavy-duty satchel leather.

Sally is going to make a passport purse,

-and it's going to have a purple lining.

-Perfect.

The first thing we have to do is draw around the template.

Hilary is used to teaching novices.

She regularly holds leather workshops in her studio.

They're very simple, but this is exactly the same principle as I make

-the most complicated bags.

-Yes.

When Sally and Colin have traced round their templates,

they're ready to cut the leather...

before using latex glue to stick the pieces together.

Perfect. Perfectly done.

Next, the excess leather's trimmed...

You're trying to go through both layers now.

..before the edges are secured on the sewing machine.

-He's so neat.

-Yeah, very good.

Lovely. That is excellent.

Now you're going all the way around the curve.

-Fantastic. Wahey!

-That's very good.

-I'm actually pleased with that.

-Yeah, very good.

-All my work.

-Yeah.

Lastly, it's a press-stud fastening for Colin's purse...

..and one for Sally's.

-Perfect.

-Lovely! That's beautiful.

-Thank you very much.

-You know, today's been absolutely brilliant.

Thank you so much for having us and showing us what you do.

It's incredible. We've really enjoyed it. Thank you.

Well, I've enjoyed it, as well. It's been really nice meeting you both.

Full of inspiration,

it's time for our craft-loving pair to return to their house-hunt.

Our next property stop takes us to Chittlehamholt.

Once just a clearing in the woods, the village grew into what it is today,

a community surrounded by gentle hills where narrow lanes are lined

with thatched cottages, a village hall, a shop and a playing field.

The local pub started life as a 16th-century coaching inn

on the main Barnstaple to Exeter road...

..and the Church of St John the Baptist, built in 1838, has a Grade II listing.

Just a mile from the heart of the village is our next offering,

this old farmhouse with parts that date back to the the 16th century.

And here we have house number two.

Wow! Actually, I think you got him at the driveway coming in.

It's a double wow. I think you've reached my far expectations with this one.

-You're not going to beat this one.

-Oh, really?

-No.

-Have you forgotten about house number one already?

No. No!

But this looks amazing.

-I'm going to let you have something.

-OK.

-There is a holiday let -

-that cottage that we passed. But that's all I'm going to say.

-OK.

-Let's check out the house first.

-Fantastic.

-Yep.

'This impressive period house has already blown Sally and Colin away,

'and they've not even crossed the threshold, but as we do,

'the front door leads straight into a large boot room with enough space

'to store all the white goods, and from here,

'we reach the kitchen, with a slate flagged floor.'

Oh, look, an exposed wall.

-Look at the range.

-Wow!

And my lovely exposed beams.

THEY LAUGH

This is actually the extension to the house.

This isn't the original 16th-century part of the house.

-But doesn't it feel like it is?

-It does, yes.

So well done, isn't it?

I really love this. It's got a gorgeous feel.

So far, so good!

And you wanted a fireplace. Follow me.

'Next to the kitchen is the dining room, with a big open fireplace,

'and next to that is a sitting room,

'which is the last stop on our tour of the ground floor.'

So, the dining room that we just walked through and this area,

they make up the original 16th-century part of the building.

-It's very cosy but very homely.

-This is incredibly homely.

The feeling of coming home is definitely here.

You do have four bedrooms upstairs again.

-OK.

-Just like the last house,

I'm going to let you look at that later, because, actually,

shall we go and see the holiday let, because that's such an important part of this?

It's really important, because when I'm looking at extended

space... I know a holiday let isn't all the time, and that can also be

utilised for the house when entertaining.

-Exactly. Let's go and see that.

-Thank you.

'Well, this farmhouse has already delivered before Sally and Colin have even

'checked out upstairs.

'On the first floor, there's a dual-aspect bath and shower room,

'and across the landing are the bedrooms, all with glorious views across the grounds.

'There's a large double, a smaller double, one in use as a study,

'and then there's the master, a generous size, with its own bathroom.

'Outside and across the yard is the detached stone-built holiday cottage.

'On its ground floor is a living space with exposed beams and a

'wood-burning stove, a kitchen and a shower room.

'But we're headed straight to the first-floor sleeping quarters, with

'vaulted ceilings just for Colin.'

-It's a huge space, isn't it?

-I like the beams.

-Well, you wanted a pitched roof somewhere, didn't you?

-Yes, I did.

-It feels brand-new.

-They built it about 12 years ago, so...

And the building that is next to the house,

that actually has planning permission for two more holiday lets, if you

want to convert and want more than just one.

Absolutely, yeah. So there's quite a lot of possibilities at the moment,

which we need to see how that would work. Of course,

it will all come down to price, as well.

Of course. Well, let's go and have a look at the views close-up,

see what land you will have and how much it will cost you.

All-important!

'This property may have plenty of scope for business,

'but it's not all work and no play.

'There's an open-air swimming pool with a changing room,

'sauna and conservatory.

'The land is extensive and includes a deck, a carp pond,

'a stream and woodland.

'There's also a vegetable garden and an orchard,

'not to mention roaming deer and lovely views.'

So, in addition to all of the outbuildings I've shown you,

-the big reveal...

-How much land?

..is - exactly! - is that this house sits in the middle of 32 acres.

-You're joking!

-OK! Oh, my gosh.

-It's basically nine fields around us.

-Wow.

So, the question is if you want 32 acres.

I wouldn't say no to it!

I know you like the idea of 32 acres.

-You're overwhelmed, aren't you?

-I'm overwhelmed by the house.

Actually, it's thrown me into confusion and a little bit of turmoil.

Let's see if the price clears things up, because that will answer a

lot of questions, won't it?

-Yes, it will.

-And then you can have another look around, knowing the price.

-Mm.

-So, who wants to go first?

-Who's brave enough?

-I'd have a shooting guess and think it's

possibly 925.

-OK. Sally?

-I'm really struggling, and I don't actually have an idea,

but I'm suspecting, like Colin, it's above 900.

So is your guess 900?

950, I think.

950. You're going to wish you went with 900, because that would have been closer.

It's on the market for £895,000.

OK. It's thrown a lot of questions and a lot of opportunity.

-I hope good ones.

-All good ones.

-We've got some good vibes from this.

-It's not a bad problem to have, is it?

-No.

-Do you want to go off

and have a look at the land, really, as well as the house, now that you know the

-price, and have a think?

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

This 16th-century farmhouse has come in at £55,000 under budget.

It has a great kitchen and a cosy sitting room

along with four bedrooms.

There's also an existing holiday let with planning permission for more,

and, sitting in 32 acres of land, the possibilities here are endless.

Wow! What would you like to use this for?

-Yurts?

-I think it's more than just yurts, isn't it?

Maybe even open this up to camping, as well.

-And a nice view.

-You have got your view.

-Yeah.

Property number two has far, far exceeded our expectations.

We wanted a lot of acreage, but I think, looking at the land,

we could probably do quite a lot with it.

But it's very exciting to know we have that availability.

It's very different, and I found it really challenging, in fairness.

The house itself is really cosy.

It's a real... I feel the house hugging me.

It feels like home.

The land is incredible and the outbuildings are a joy.

Our dream is to own a property like this

and to make it a family home.

I think Colin's fallen head over heels in love with it.

His heart is ruling his head, and he

needs to sit down with me and talk figures.

It's a lot of land, isn't it?

-Yep!

-And a lot to get your head around.

-A lot to take in.

-I know, I know, you're doing sums in your head,

-aren't you?

-You're right.

-Listen, it's the end of the day.

We can do some maths on a napkin over dinner...

-Yes.

-..and then think about it all.

-Perfect.

-Let's head off.

-That sounds great.

'It's the second leg of our North Devon search for a country pad where

'Sally and Colin from Surrey, along with their young son, Daniel,

'can call home.

'They have up to £950,000 to spend on a property with land

'and holiday let potential.

'And still to come - there's shock and awe when we unveil the hard-working Mystery House.'

-You look very nervous.

-Yes, very nervous.

'And later, I'll be finding out how man and nature live in harmony

'in one of the most endangered grasslands on earth.'

So, this is the special grassland.

This is it. There's 24 hectares of it here. But that's it.

-Nowhere else in the world.

-In the world?

-In the world.

Colin and Sally were impressed with both of our properties yesterday,

with the 32 acres that came with house two tempting Colin, in particular

and the business potential of house one capturing Sally.

And it's business that's at the very heart of our Mystery property today.

'As we head towards the end of our journey with Sally and Colin,

'we find ourselves in the historic market town of Bideford.

'Only a stone's throw from the sea,

'this busy town was the third-largest port in Britain during the 16th century.

'Inns and taverns that at one time would have served sailors and

'dock workers today are more accustomed to tourists and day-trippers drawn

'by the attractive range of shops and businesses to explore.

'But before we reveal our Mystery House,

'it's time for a quick catch-up over a cuppa.'

So, I wanted to bring you to Bideford

because this would be your local town.

It's actually the first time we've been into Bideford town, and as

we drove in, it was all very picturesque, the estuary looked gorgeous.

Looks charming from what we've seen.

Now, we are very close to our Mystery offering,

so close we're actually sitting in it.

-Wow!

-OK... Right...!

-You look very nervous.

-Yes, very nervous.

When I left university,

I needed a job, and I ended up in Mrs Potter's tea room

and lasted 35 minutes serving tea!

How do you feel about the tea room?

Quite surprised, actually.

Being at home making tea for Sally...

..all day and all night,

I just didn't foresee myself in my retirement still making tea and coffee for her.

It sounds like you might have been rehearsing for this.

I've got the skills, I could go straight in and do it.

Shall we head off to the accommodation?

-Let's do that.

-I think we just need to walk through it all.

Maybe it will grow on you. And then we can discuss your options,

-especially once you know the price.

-OK.

-Thank you.

'This might not be quite what Sally and Colin had in mind,

'but the Mystery House is all about challenging ideas, and as a firmly established business,

'it's certainly worth exploring, with an annual turnover in excess of

'£150,000.

'There's space for around 60 covers inside

'with a further 12 in the small courtyard out the back.

'Behind the scenes, there a good-sized commercial kitchen

'as well as a separate prep area.

'There are two floors of accommodation above the restaurant and tea room,

'so we're heading to the rear and

'the very top of this property to start exploring.'

This is the main living area of the family home.

-What are you thinking?

-I'm looking at that amazing light.

The space here's gorgeous. It's quite attractive.

It's south-facing here, so you can imagine how airy

this room is all the time.

-Yeah.

-And that looks out onto the courtyard.

They've kept this attic bit open - there's a bedroom up there,

you could use that space for whatever you want -

because they didn't want this closed-off attic that you just keep cardboard boxes in, really.

So they've designed it, in a way. And there's a bathroom there.

I think this is where now I've completely switched now from home to business

opportunity, so I'm looking at it from a letting-agent perspective.

So that's now where my focus is.

But that is positive, because, actually, part of the move to Devon,

as we've always said, is we know that we want to be in the rolling hills and

the countryside, and that's unwavered...

but we've still got to have an income, we've still got to have a business.

-Let's head down the stairs to the kitchen.

-Thank you.

So, you might be able to see that this kitchen is

part of the oldest part of this accommodation.

Look at the floorboards.

The owners think that these might have come from an old ship.

-The width of them certainly indicates that.

-Yes, they're huge.

You could make more of a virtue of that if you did up this place,

because for the current family this is just their second kitchen.

They've got a proper kitchen downstairs.

Exactly, but as a separate, contained flat, it's more than adequate.

'Heading back down to the first floor,

'the accommodation is split into what could be

'two separate self-contained apartments.

'The front one has two large double bedrooms on offer and a

'separate living area looking out onto the street,

'then the rear half has the large,

'bright living space and kitchen we've just toured with two bedrooms below.'

-This is the master bedroom of the apartment.

-Mm-hm.

Again, quite a nautical feel to it all.

It feels like a ship as you walk round.

-It does, doesn't it?

-It's all sort of stripped wood and white.

-Yeah.

And there's a really nice dressing area in here with a really nice veranda

that looks out onto the courtyard of the actual tea room...

-Right.

-..and then a Jack and Jill bathroom, which is so useful,

because it gives a real option to an apartment.

-Absolutely.

-It's now time to talk about the bit you really want to talk about, which is price.

-The money.

-Exactly, so let's go and do that.

We'll go this way round.

'We're going back up to the main living space to think about everything

'this enticing property and potential business opportunity has to offer.

'I'm wondering just how much Colin and Sally will think it's on the market for.'

So, I think it comes down to the price now, really.

And I'm going to make you go first, Sally, because you're 2-0 down.

I'm going to put my finger in the air and say...

-180.

-OK.

I'd say slightly higher, being it's a central location to Bideford

and in the town centre, so I'd go with 350.

It's a whitewash. Colin's closer again.

-Oh, outrageous!

-SALLY LAUGHS

What might be outrageous is your guess.

Yes, I had a feeling...

-Central location.

-Yes.

It's actually on the market for £395,000.

-I wasn't far off.

-They would not take lower than that.

-OK. Fair enough.

-But that leaves you more than half a million in your top

budget to find a home and a nice garden somewhere in Devon with your views,

and I think that's a really reasonable budget...

-Definitely.

-..if you're not looking for another business

-and all of that land.

-Yes.

-So...

-Worth thinking about.

-Food for thought.

Well, now you know the price, have another look around...

-Thank you very much.

-..and I'll meet you out the front.

-OK, thank you.

On the market for £395,000, this business-led property is well

under our couple's budget, leaving them with plenty of money left over

to find a perfect country cottage nearby.

It comes with five potential bedrooms, two receptions

plus, of course, the large restaurant and tea room.

When it comes to the Mystery House,

it would work as a bed and breakfast but not for us as a home or an

environment in which we could use it as a home.

As a business for somebody going into this

wanting to be hands-on as managers, this is a fantastic option for them.

The accommodation's fantastic.

Downstairs, there's space for 60 covers.

The profits that they're making and turnover, it's an excellent business.

It's just not for me.

You're looking at me in that way.

I know, I threw you a curveball this morning.

-Yep.

-I'm not sorry, though.

-You enjoyed it.

-I did, a little bit.

It's been really good to see, it's been good to compare.

Let's have a sit down and see whether this is really a proper option for you.

For us. Yeah. Thank you.

'Since 1976,

'large parts of North Devon have been part of a biosphere reserve set

'set up conjunction with the United Nations.

'It's one of only 669 reserves spread across 120 countries

'and was the first of the six such sites found within the UK.

'The reserve covers a huge area of almost 1,500 square miles,

'encompassing market towns and villages.

'I'm meeting outreach coordinator Matt Edworthy

'on Speccott Moor to see how this fusion of man and nature works.'

So, we're in it at the moment.

-We are, yes.

-That's a huge area, but with such a big area,

it must cover so much terrain.

Yes, it's lots of different habitats, lots of different places.

And how does the biosphere affect the people that live within it

and their businesses? Are there certain rules?

The joy of it is that over most of the area,

there are no special things that are forced on people.

What it's about is trying to preserve the environment

but also to use that environment to support people's social wellbeing and the economy -

through tourism, for example.

That's what's makes a biosphere different -

it's not just a place, it's a community of people all trying to live in more

sustainable ways.

I know we're standing in the middle of the biosphere,

but are there any special habitats you can show me?

There is, Sonali. Just the other side of this gate,

there's what we call culm grassland, which is very distinctive to the

biosphere and found pretty much nowhere else on earth.

-Let's go and see the grassland.

-OK.

'Culm grassland is unique to the south-west and has suffered massive losses in

'recent years, so this important resource

'is in desperate need of conservation.

'One vital role the grassland plays in the local ecosystem is

'to help prevent flooding by soaking up water and then releasing it

'gradually back into rivers and streams.'

So, this is the special grassland.

This is it. There's 24 hectares of it here...

-OK.

-..which is quite a large amount considering we've lost

more than 90% of the culm grasslands in the country

over the last 100 years.

-How? Why?

-When you look at it, from a farmer's point of view,

productively farming this area, you'd want to drain it,

you would want to put fertilisers on it, and that's what has happened,

and so the amount of this more natural habitat

that's left has decreased.

But this is so important for wildlife that we've realised we really have to work

with farmers to preserve it.

It may look just like grass, but there's all sorts of different plants in

here that support different species.

But it's not just a case of leaving it -

we have to manage it, too.

You mentioned that more than 90% of it has been

lost, so where else can you find it?

Most of the remaining stuff is still here in North Devon, with some in

South Wales and a little bit in Cornwall, but that's it.

-Nowhere else in the world.

-In the world?

-In the world.

So losing more than 90% in the UK is losing more than 90% in the world.

'Matt's shown me the unique land within the biosphere, but I'm interested in

'hearing from some of the people that live within its embrace,

'so he's pointed me in the direction of Simeon Day,

'who runs a sustainable cafe nearby and is welcoming my help preparing for organic pizza night.'

What motivates you to help that connection between people and nature

and being sustainable and running an organic cafe?

I think a lot of society has lost the connection between nature and wildlife,

and so by running our business the way that we are,

it's able to help people reconnect that,

but also how you can have sustainability in your life really easily,

whether it's where you get your electricity supplied from or how you heat your water

or using organic dough rather than just normal dough.

I don't look as professional as you doing this.

Do you find that there is a lot of like-minded people within?

There is. Our suppliers, for example. Our local butcher

only sources meat from Devon and Cornwall farms,

and our ice cream is supplied by another farmer who...

His cows produce the milk, he produces the ice cream from that

and five miles away he drops it down to us.

So there's a whole kind of network of like-minded people and traders

all working and living in the biosphere reserve with the same kind of attitude.

-How's that, then?

-That is perfect. That's great. Thank you very much.

-All ready for you to make tonight.

-Yeah, definitely.

'I'm going to leave Simeon to finish his pizza making,

'but it's encouraging to know that sustainability can work on a business level

'and that the biosphere really does seem to be having a positive

'affect on both the land and those who live here.'

I think we can safely say that Colin and Sally have found a property they

like, but it's time to find out if they'll have the guts to go for it.

Now then, Colin and Sally...

I think I know that house number one is your clear favourite.

-Am I right?

-Yes, absolutely.

After seeing it, I think we both fell in love with it.

Yeah, we've been on this incredible journey viewing the two properties

-and the Mystery House.

-You were really struggling.

After house number two,

that really caused a little bit of marital friction.

I dangled lots of land in front of you.

But when we actually sat down and did the sums

of what the business was going to shape up like,

it was just a bit too much land and the house was just a little bit too small,

so we were waiting to see if you were going to show us a chocolate-box cottage

with lots of space, and... you didn't, so...

The Mystery was good, because actually it made us realise we couldn't live

in a town and we couldn't run that type of business,

so immediately, as we came away from that,

we actually rang and put in an offer...

-On the first.

-..on the first.

-So I'm hoping we can do a deal.

-Congratulations.

-Wow!

-And then Colin's hard work begins, putting my dream

of the holiday lets and yurts into practice.

It's all in her head and you've got to execute it.

-It certainly is.

-Well, congratulations again.

I'm so pleased for you, and I look forward to you calling and saying,

"They've accepted our offer and we're moving in in a couple of weeks."

It'll be really nice to hear some more good news.

-Yeah, hopefully so. Thank you.

-Thank you for all your hard work.

-Yeah, it's been a great journey, really good.

-Our pleasure.

Well, an offer in before we've even said goodbye!

I couldn't be happier for Colin and Sally, and we certainly got a glimpse

of just how at home they feel here in Devon,

so fingers crossed it all goes through, and we wish them well in their new

house and business.

See you next time on Escape To The Country.

I'm pleased to report that Sally and Colin's offer on the first property

was accepted. We wish them all the best for the future.

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