Yorkshire Escape to the Country

This Victorian industrial village

is a particularly fine example

of just what can be achieved

with enough time,

enough money and, most importantly,

the right vision.

Find out where I am and whose

vision it was in just a moment.

It's an exciting return to roots

for her in today's house-hunt

that is also an electrifying

experience for him...

I just had a shiver

go down my spine.

A good one, I hope.

Yes.

..and they're both involved in

the fun and games of the search.

Eyes down.

OK.

And now look up.

Wow!

No way!

Today I'm in Yorkshire

and this is the West Yorkshire

village of Saltaire,

an outstanding example of a

mid-19th century industrial village.

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site,

Saltaire lies on

the banks of the River Aire

and was the brainchild of Sir Titus

Salt, a wealthy textile mill owner

and philanthropist who created this

village to provide better living

and working conditions

for his employees.

He even took them on day trips

to the Yorkshire Dales

to get away from the noise and

choking pollution of the mills

and today, 150 years on,

the surrounding countryside

of this beautiful region

still provides a welcome escape.

Historic Yorkshire was once

the country's largest county

but is now divided into four

counties.

The landscape here is often dubbed

by the locals as "God's own".

In the north are

the stunning Yorkshire Dales,

the majority of which form part

of a national park.

Awash with rich, lush valleys

and expanses of wild heather,

the Dales are dissected

by a maze of dry-stone walls

which are archetypal of the region.

Bordering the Dales National Park

in Nidderdale,

man-made beauty meets nature's own

to form the Gouthwaite reservoir,

a nature reserve built in the 1800s

that is now protected

as a Site Of Specific

Scientific Interest.

Just south of the Dales

is one of Yorkshire's striking

stone-built villages, Bradley.

Cottages rest on the hillside here,

surrounding a mid-19th century mill

that was remodelled in 2005

and is now used for housing.

The village is divided

into High and Low Bradley,

and together they make up

Bradleys Both

on the route of the

Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

So, with its rugged backdrop

of breathtaking beauty,

teamed with towns and villages

of architectural interest,

Yorkshire is an ideal destination

to get away

from the hubbub of city life.

As well as its beautiful landscapes,

Yorkshire also has some pretty

attractive property prices.

Detached houses across

the four counties in the region

cost an average of £221,000.

That's a sizeable 79,000 below

the national figure.

And each of Yorkshire's four

counties has its own story to tell.

You'll find the most expensive

properties in the north,

with not one

but two national parks,

and the most affordable

in the south.

But it's the west part of God's

own country that today's buyers

want to call home.

Let's meet them and find out why.

Retired teachers Carol and Andy

from Stoke Golding in Leicestershire

met as students four decades ago.

Carol walked through the door

on her first night at university

and I thought, "Ey up!"

And we got chatting that night

but it took us 12 months.

We were friends to start with

and then we started to go...

In your second year.

And so, 40 years

we've been together.

BOTH:

Married for 35.

But been together for 40 years.

And now this long-standing couple

have put their working lives

behind them, they're enjoying

precious time with one another.

This retirement adventure

we've just started

has brought us closer together.

Now we're able to spend

more time together.

The next phase of our lives, really.

I'm really enjoying being

free to do things that we want

to do, which is travel,

spend more time with the family,

and hence the move to Yorkshire

where both our children live

and their partners

and our new granddaughter.

For Carol, the decision

to move to Yorkshire

is much more than relocating

to a new property.

She's going home.

I was born in Yorkshire.

So, we always said that one day

we'd return there,

so we decided that, when we retired,

we'd move closer to be

amongst family.

And my mum still lives in

Yorkshire and my brothers,

so there's lots of

family ties up there.

For Andy, it's a move away from

home, but one he's ready to make.

I've lived here all my life.

I've lived here for 60 years.

We are slap-bang in the middle of

the Midland's Motorway Network,

which has got its advantages, but

not necessarily where we want to be.

We enjoy walking and outdoor life

and Leicestershire has got

some great countryside,

but it's flat, largely.

But the Dales...

The Dales are just epically

beautiful.

And we look forward to climbing

a few hills.

Absolutely.

We're really looking forward to

joining a rambling club when

we move up to Yorkshire, because

we walk nearly every day,

it keeps us fit.

We see it as a way of

meeting people as well,

as a sort of a social thing. So it's

important from that point of view.

And with their house on the market,

it won't be long before they can

make the most of the great outdoors.

I'm really, really looking forward

to opening my curtains

in the morning and thinking,

"Wow, this is nice."

That would be good. Dry-stone walls,

sheep in fields, hills, Dales,

snug little cottages.

First morning, waking up,

I won't be able to believe it,

that I've actually

finally come home.

It will be exciting,

it will be really good.

Let's get this thing started,

let's get it on the road

and let's just get on with it.

Can't wait. I can't wait.

Carol and Andy are moving to be

closer to their son

in Knaresborough and

daughter in Saltaire,

so we're keeping that in mind

as we carry out our search.

And before we get going

on our Yorkshire trip,

I'm meeting them to get the lowdown

on their property wish list.

Welcome to Yorkshire,

Carol and Andy.

Thank you.

Let's talk about the type

of property you're after.

What do you want it to look like

from the outside?

What sort of setting

do you want it to be in?

We probably need some

facilities around us,

so a large village, small town.

Not near a main road.

Quite open.

It could be an old property, pretty.

We like contemporary as well.

We're very open to any...

Absolutely. Just looking forward

to what we see today.

Let's go inside your new home.

Right.

What do you want it to look like?

The main thing I would really like

is a large kitchen/diner...

in preference to

a separate dining room.

But if you show us something

with a separate dining room,

that doesn't matter either.

I love traditional wood panelling,

but Carol's not so keen.

I like light, airy houses, not dark.

And remind me of your budget.

450 maximum, but for 450, there has

to be absolutely nothing to do.

Well, we have three fantastic

properties lined up for you,

so let's head off.

OK, thank you.

Really excited.

For their top budget of £450,000,

Carol and Andy would like

a character property,

but they're open-minded about

the exact style of house they want.

Ideally it would have

a large kitchen/diner

and three to four bedrooms,

and outside, it's a manageable

garden they're after,

all in a location that's

close to amenities.

We've tracked down a fabulous

selection of properties

for them to view, but each one's

price will only be revealed

after they've completed the tour.

And their final visit to the

Mystery House could see them taking

another trip down the aisle.

We're starting off our property

search in the North Yorkshire

village of Sutton-in-Craven.

Located in the Aire Valley,

this picturesque village sits in

the shadow of hills and farmland,

with a stream running through it.

There's a history of corn-milling

and textiles here

and buildings display the sandstone

Yorkshire is famous for,

showcased in an old mill,

now apartments.

Locals are served by a village hall,

a handful of shops and a pub.

And, sitting above the village,

surrounded by a wealth of

countryside walks,

we find our first property.

Bit different to

what I was expecting.

Not what you were expecting.

Not detached.

It's not detached.

This whole building is

a 400-year-old barn.

In the 1990s, it was converted into

accommodation for people rather

than animals. And the house

that we're looking at

is the middle house.

Right. What a location.

Yes, stunning.

On top of a hill,

on top of the moor.

Looking forward to

looking inside it now.

Shall we head on in?

Can't wait.

Thank you.

This property's position in

the centre of the barn conversion

means it benefits from having

the original barn entrance.

This takes us into a roomy hallway

which leads into an

open-plan dining hall

with an impressive vaulted ceiling.

Wow! Look at that view.

You can't miss it, can you?

It was the first thing you see as

you walk through the door.

And it's really open, isn't it?

Log-burning stove.

Got a lovely stone fireplace, so

that's the sort of winter area,

I think, and then this is the

sort of summer area, in a way.

Social space.

Yeah, absolutely.

Really like it.

Great.

Can't wait to see more.

Let's go to the kitchen.

Oh.

That's different. Yeah.

It is.

Different...

Such a contrast

to the outside of the property.

Yes, it's so modern, isn't it?

Super modern.

Really sleek.

It is smaller than I was expecting

from when we were out there,

but you've got

your dining room there.

But with the rest of the downstairs

being so open,

it's not so much of

a problem, really.

No.

So it's something

you could work with?

Absolutely.

Yeah.

It's super.

Well, let's go and have a look

where you might be sleeping.

OK. Thank you.

Also on the deceptively

large ground floor,

there's a room currently used

for music and a shower room.

Then upstairs, there's

a galleried landing,

another smart shower room

and three bedrooms -

a snug double,

a single with fitted wardrobes,

and lastly, there's the master.

It's a good size.

Oh, it's huge.

Wow.

It really is a master suite

because you've got this

lovely bathroom.

I really like the bathroom, too.

The more we see of the property,

the more it seems to grow,

from the outside.

Yes!

It is really deceiving.

Now we're in, it's like, oh!

I really like what I've seen so far.

Great.

Can we see more?

Yes, let's go back outside,

because I think you'll see it

with different eyes now, won't you?

Yes. Definitely.

Absolutely. Thank you.

The property benefits from

a terrace complete with pond,

but before we discuss the price,

we're taking a moment to enjoy

the main highlight here,

which is absolutely priceless.

I do hope this view is

to your liking.

It's spectacular.

How could it not be?

This would be ideal, really, and

because you've got this view beyond,

you don't need a big garden,

because the whole of it

is like your garden, isn't it?

It is, and as a person who would be

doing the work,

the smaller the better, to be fair.

There's somewhere to put some

chairs, somewhere to put a table,

somewhere to sit and very little

work, so absolutely spot-on.

It's time to guess the price.

Who'd like to go first?

I think you should.

OK.

I think...425.

OK, and I'm going to go

for a cheeky 375.

Andy, you are closer.

Excellent.

And you're in luck.

It's actually on the market

for £335,000.

Oh, wow!

No way. I just had

a shiver go down my spine.

A good one, I hope!

Yes!

That's really good.

Right, OK,

that's a game-changer.

That is a surprise.

Go and have another look around

while I enjoy the view

and then I'll meet you

out the front.

Thank you.

This 400-year-old barn conversion

has rung in at £115,000 under

Carol and Andy's top budget.

There is a fantastic

open-plan living area

plus the option to have

four bedrooms and the views

from the garden

are simply breathtaking.

Another little room.

It's not so small.

It's an ideal potential bedroom,

and a separate entrance just there.

I could really see myself

living here.

I know it's in the middle

of the countryside,

it's more remote than perhaps

I had in mind initially.

We both like walking and just

looking out of that window would

make me want to go for a walk

every single day.

As soon as I entered the property,

the only thing that catches your eye

when you walk through the door

is that wall of glass

and the view beyond.

If you were to say, what

three things would you notice

when you walked in the room,

I'd say view, view and view.

Look at that smile.

Yes.

You really do love the house,

don't you?

I do, I really love it, yes.

It was such a surprise when

we walked through the door.

It's lovely.

And the price

is absolutely spot-on.

I almost feel guilty for taking

you to see another house.

Almost, but not quite.

Let's go.

OK. Thank you.

In the heart of the Yorkshire Dales

is the Nidderdale Area of

Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Covering 233 square miles,

its stunning scenery

makes it immensely popular

with visitors wishing to

take in the countryside by foot.

As Carol and Andy are keen

to join a rambling group

when they make their move,

they've come to meet Richard

Hersey and fellow members of

the Harrogate Ramblers Club, who are

gathering to start their walk

from the quaint market town

of Pateley Bridge.

Well, Harrogate Ramblers -

we have about 300 members

and we organise a walk on

every Saturday,

and then we have a walk

between 8 and 12 miles.

And where are we walking to today?

Today we are walking from

Pateley to Brimham Rocks.

Right.

Is it a strenuous walk or...?

The first bit is uphill.

Oh, right.

Quite steep.

We come from quite

a flat area at the moment in

Leicestershire, so a few hills

will be a bit of a challenge for us.

You'll be using

some different muscles.

The backs of your calves

might be having a new experience.

From start to finish,

the route covers around nine miles,

and today they're taking in

a few of its highlights -

a perfect introduction to

the highs and lows of the Dales.

And as well as strenuous exercise,

it's a great chance to socialise,

as some of the club members

are joining them

for part of the journey.

Pateley Bridge is a great place

to start.

It's the beginning and end point

of the Nidderdale Way,

a circular route covering

53 miles through the Dales.

First stop for them all

on today's jaunt

is St Mary's Church

of Pateley Bridge.

Lovely old place, isn't it?

It is. It's gorgeous.

There's been a church here

since about the 1300s.

About the end of the 1700s,

it was falling into some disrepair,

and also the parishioners were

finding it very difficult walking up

the steep hill that we've just

walked.

I'd agree with that.

But it's lovely, it has what's

called a devil's door over there,

where the devil was supposed to

leave when there was a baptism.

We'll be leaving now

through the priest's door.

The rest of the Harrogate group

are going to carry on

back down to Pateley,

but we will carry on

to Brimham Rocks.

OK. Thank you.

Bye.

See you, then.

Good luck with the house-hunting.

Thanks! Bye.

The Ramblers is a nationwide charity

with over 100,000 members.

It was established in 1935 after

groups campaigned for people

to have access to the countryside.

And it put pressure on landowners

to allow ordinary folk

to walk across their land.

Today its goal is still

to protect access

to the great outdoors by foot.

Wow. What a gorgeous view.

Yes, what it is,

it's the Nidd Valley,

so you've got the River Nidd

in the bottom here.

Harrogate is away over that way and

then you can also walk further up

the valley. This part here is

just part of the Nidderdale Way.

It's gorgeous.

Can't wait

to be able to do all the walks.

Next stop is Brimham Rocks,

a collection of unusual

eye-catching rock formations

scattered across 50 acres of moor.

Wow, Richard,

what an amazing place this is.

I know, it's a kind of

millstone grate.

It was formed about

320 million years ago.

Laid down in layers.

The reason that they're undercut so

much is because we had an ice age

which lasted

tens of thousands of years.

About 15,000 years ago,

this valley here was full of ice,

but these rocks were sticking up,

just proud of the glacial ice.

And then you got pebbles and other

things, sand, being blown across

by the Arctic winds, which have

undercut this rock

and have also taken out

some of the softer areas

of the sandstone

you can see higher up.

It looks like you could almost

push it over,

balancing on that smaller rock

at the bottom.

But it weighs 180 tonnes.

I don't know how they worked that

out, but that's what they say.

And just a little further

down the path,

the rocks can truly be appreciated

in all their glory -

even through a spot of rain.

Well, Richard, this really

is an absolutely amazing place.

Thank you very much for

bringing us here today.

It does say

on the information board here

that we can see York Minster

on a clear day.

We've lost that, I'm afraid, now,

but it is a spectacular place.

I hope you will come back and have a

look at it again...

Definitely.

..when the sun's out.

But thanks,

we've really enjoyed it.

Good, I'm glad you've had

a good day.

Yes, thank you.

Now it's time to ramble back

to our house-hunt.

Our next property stop

takes us into West Yorkshire,

to the village of Wilsden.

Perched on the hillside

and rolling down into the valley,

Wilsden paints a picture of a

classic Yorkshire landscape.

Surrounded by farmland,

there's evidence of the mills

of yesteryear on the horizon.

There's also a church here,

a small choice of shops,

a pub, and there are plenty of

country walks on offer

with beautiful scenery

at every twist and turn.

And just on the edge of the village

is our second house.

Very pretty.

Very, very pretty.

Isn't it just?

How sweet.

Yes.

This is also a barn conversion.

Right.

So it dates back to 1750

and it was converted into a home

in the 1970s.

Right.

But again,

you've got brilliant views.

It is.

It is.

The other thing

to mention is, of course,

that it is attached on one side.

It is, yes, however...

That doesn't daunt you any more.

..I may have learned my lesson

from the previous property.

You're over that now.

Over that, yes. Not a problem.

Absolutely.

Well, let's get inside, then.

OK, thank you.

This attractive stone barn was

originally the milking parlour

for the local farm and we're

beginning our tour of it

in the rather grand

and lofty entrance hall.

I thought we should stop

in this hallway

because they've made a really nice

feature of the entrance, I think.

How many houses can you buy where

you can put a sofa in the hallway?

Exactly, it's quite hotel-like,

isn't it?

I can't wait to see more.

Let me show you the lounge.

OK, thank you.

How's this for a sitting room?

Wow, it's a good size.

With this fireplace as the feature.

Really striking. Very grand,

as well.

Nice and central, and dual aspect.

Excellent.

It doesn't feel

hugely barnlike.

It feels really cosy and comfy.

Warm.

Warm.

Inviting.

Yes.

Homely.

The other thing about this

house, it really does flow nicely.

OK.

So let me take you

through the dining room.

Yes, please.

Lovely.

Right. This is a killer kitchen.

It's so light, isn't it?

And spacious.

I can imagine, you know,

while we're cooking,

having the family round all sitting

together and, yes, really...

Very social space.

And I like the sink,

the position of the sink, as well.

It's quite unusual, isn't it,

being there?

It is, actually.

Well, you know, eating dinner,

you can be at the sink, washing up.

My life, then.

After he's served you.

Yes!

Shall I show you where he's going to

be serving you breakfast in bed?

Good idea.

Just off the kitchen,

there's a utility room

and then moving upstairs,

there's a fully tiled bathroom

and three bedrooms all in the eaves.

At the back, there's a bright double

and a single which currently serves

as a study.

Then at the front

of the house is the master.

Good size.

Very good size.

It's lovely.

Actually, it comes

with its own dressing room...

Right.

I guess for some families,

it would be a nursery,

but it's a lovely dressing room

and there's an en-suite.

I really like the windows and look

at the little windows at the bottom,

as well.

They're really sweet,

aren't they?

They are. You could lie in bed

and look up.

They've got their own

little doors on.

Let's head back outside

and talk about how much

this might set you back.

OK.

Do you want to lead the way?

I will.

Thank you.

The split-level garden

includes a lush lawn

surrounded by mature trees and

hedges, a walled pond,

pebbled seating area

and pretty flower beds,

all with panoramic views.

So, with this property, there's

no front and back garden.

This is everything.

Right.

Front

entrance, back entrance, everything,

because this is the south-facing

bit.

Yes.

It's still quite private,

though, isn't it?

You're not really overlooked.

It's so quiet.

But you can do

some overlooking.

I mean, the view down there is

fabulous.

I know, it's amazing.

A lovely landscape.

Yes.

His and her sheds.

His shed, more.

Well, there are two,

so, there really is one each

or you can have two.

Right.

So we

need to discuss price, don't we?

We do.

How much is this property

on the market for?

I'll go first, this time.

OK.

I'm going to go for 445.

Right, well, I overestimated

last time,

so I'm going to go lower

and I'm going to say 425.

OK. Again, Andy is closer

and I've done what you've asked.

I've used up your whole budget

because there is nothing to do.

Nothing to do.

So it's

on the market for £450,000.

So now that you know the price, have

another look around and discuss

whether you want to use

your whole budget.

OK.

And I'll meet you in a bit.

Thank you.

Brilliant, thank you.

This converted barn, thought to date

back to the 17th century,

is priced at the top of

Carol and Andy's budget.

It gives them both character on

the outside and style on the inside,

including a fabulous open-plan

kitchen/diner and three bedrooms.

The garden is a good but manageable

size and the views are stunning.

They've got this as an office,

but I guess we could have it

as a third bedroom.

Yeah, make a really

good-sized single room.

You could probably get

a double bed in here.

Certainly in the future, I can see

Carol and I and family in here

just enjoying the space,

enjoying each other's company.

When we walk into a property,

Carol and I know fairly quickly

if it's going to be a place for us

and we got that feeling

straightaway.

This house is definitely

calling out to us.

Yes, we really like it.

The views here,

the hallway as you come in

and looking out with

that lovely glass door

overlooking all the beautiful dales,

it's gorgeous.

I think it's been quite

a successful day.

It has.

It has. Two,

although similar properties,

but actually both with

different things to offer.

Really, really interesting and

quite thought-provoking as well.

Shall we go mull over things

with a glass of something?

Sounds like a plan to me.

It's day two of our Yorkshire road

trip, searching out a rural retreat

so that Carol and Andy

from Leicestershire

can live closer to family, and with

a top budget of £450,000 to spend,

we've already shown them

two characterful properties,

but all their prayers could be

answered with our Mystery House.

I can't think of anything to say.

It's just absolutely stunning.

You are quite speechless.

And later, I'll be finding out how

Iceland meets Yorkshire

in the Dales.

There's something

very satisfying about this.

Andy and Carol were certainly

expressing enthusiasm

for both of our properties

yesterday, with house number two

quickly surpassing house number one

in their minds.

But I do feel they are holding back

a little bit

and I can't quite put

my finger on why,

but I'm hoping our Mystery House and

its location will convert them from

being cautious, into candid.

What do you think I have

up my sleeve for the Mystery?

Well, I think it could be

something like an apartment.

And I think it's a new-build.

You think I'm going to go right

away from barn conversion?

Yes.

There were two

barn conversions yesterday.

I am hoping you are going to

stir the pot, a bit,

see what comes up this time.

But you liked them both so much.

We did.

That's absolutely correct,

but it is the Mystery property.

For our third and final

property stop,

we're off to the market town

of Sowerby Bridge.

Just over ten minutes away

is the attractive market town

of Hebden Bridge

which lies on the Rochdale Canal.

There were many water-powered

weaving mills here

in the 19th and 20th centuries,

and at one time,

Hebden was known as "Trouser Town"

because of the abundance of

clothing manufacturers here.

Today, they're still evidence of the

town's industrial past along with

more up-to-date independent

shops and eateries.

The area is popular for walking

and cycling, and in recent years,

the Tour de France passed through it

on its way from York to Sheffield.

I've brought Carol and Andy

to the waterside

to see what they could

have at their disposal.

There's a connection between Hebden

Bridge and the Mystery House because

a couple of the architects that were

involved in the Mystery House

also were involved in

the building of the bridge.

That's intriguing.

Yes.

So, there is a nice link,

but I thought we could

have a walk around...

Yes!

Yes.

..and then drive

the 10 or 15 minutes

over to the Mystery House.

OK, great.

Thank you.

In Sowerby Bridge, we find our

rather outstanding Mystery House,

and it's so unique that I want it to

be a true surprise for our buyers.

Right, eyes down.

OK.

And now look up.

Wow.

No way.

That's a very imposing building.

I'm sticking with

the conversion theme...

Right.

..but it's not

a barn conversion, of course,.

It actually was a Methodist chapel.

OK.

At the moment, it's two houses,

so the whole of

the right-hand side is on offer.

OK.

That's big.

How would you feel about living

in a converted chapel.

Majestic?

Especially with those views.

Absolutely and you can see

from the height of the home,

the views that you would have.

Yes. Just looks fantastic.

Let's go in.

OK, thank you.

This magnificent Mystery House built

from Yorkshire stone in 1822

speaks for itself.

The chapel was rebuilt in 1897,

influenced by

French Renaissance style,

but it's conical towers

are Arts and Crafts in design.

It closed its doors

as a place of worship in 1979

and was later converted

into two homes.

The interior is a complete contrast

to the outside

and is currently vacant.

Now, to make the most of those

glorious panoramic views outside,

the house has been designed

upside-down, really.

This would be your master

and in the turret,

you've got that beautiful

circular room that you can

turn into anything, really.

Yeah.

Could have the world's

biggest walk-in wardrobe.

How do you feel about

upside-down living?

Fine.

We like

something a bit quirky.

Let's go.

More.

More, please.

Also on the ground floor

are a further two bedrooms,

one double and a single.

They are both served by

a fully tiled bathroom.

This is actually

a three-storey property

and there is another bedroom

found up in the eaves

on the second floor and all the

bedrooms sandwich the first floor

where we find the living quarters,

featuring a huge sitting room

which is overlooked by

a galleried mezzanine level.

How is this for a living room?

Spectacular?

I'm just speechless.

That's one of my favourite areas,

over there.

You can see the sun streaming

through this all the time.

Sun trap. Shall we go

and have a look inside?

Next door is another circular room

with a decorative solid-wood floor,

an amazing outlook

and timber-panelled walls,

something that was

on Andy's wish list.

I think I'd spend

all day sitting in here.

I can't think of anything to say.

It's just absolutely stunning.

You are quite speechless.

For once.

For once, yes.

The thing that neither of you have

mentioned so far is the kitchen,

which is so important to you.

Should I show you that or should we

just put an offer in already?

We'd better have a look.

All right. Just to be polite.

Back through the main reception room

and up on the mezzanine level

is a shower room, but on this floor,

there is an ultra-modern bathroom

and then at the other end of

the expansive living room

is a smart

and contemporary kitchen.

It looks small compared to

the rest of the rooms we've visited,

however, it's actually a very

useful and... It's a big kitchen!

There's loads of cupboards.

It's all there.

Yes, I like it.

OK. Shall we go and enjoy

more of the view outside?

Thank you.

Outside, there's a balcony on

the first floor

and a raised deck terrace overlooks

the landscaped gardens.

Next door are reminders of the

house's former life as a chapel.

It's been all about the views

the past couple of days.

Certainly has.

This one...

Just continues the theme.

It's just spectacular.

If you were to go for it,

how much would it cost?

I think once again, you've pushed

the budget and possibly even more.

I think 465.

OK.

I'm going to say 399.

Oh, gosh. We are bang

on budget, again.

It's on the market for £450,000,

so it would be your entire budget.

That's absolutely understandable,

as well. It's huge.

It is.

And a one-off.

Yes. It's really unique.

Now that you know the price,

have another look around and

I shall come and see you.

OK.

All right.

Thank you.

See you in a bit.

Our Mystery House is priced right at

the top of Carol and Andy's budget

but it offers them

something quite exceptional.

It's got undeniable character

outside with a spacious,

contemporary interior and four

bedrooms, plus in the pretty garden,

there are views galore

from every aspect.

When we pulled up and we were

allowed to look at the property,

I thought, "Wow. It looks like

a castle. Fairy tale."

When we started the tour,

I was just bowled over -

the size of the rooms,

the number of the rooms,

the character in the place,

but after a while, and as

Carol and I wandered around,

we tried to imagine what it would be

like to actually live in that house.

Just the two of us most of the time.

It began to dawn on us that,

actually, it may be a step too far.

I've never envisaged myself

living in a property like this.

As we were walking around

the rooms, I was thinking,

"Wow, this place is amazing and

it would be great to show it off

"to the family and friends,"

but then, as we went into

different rooms,

I was thinking practicalities

of the place, you know,

I just don't think it is for us,

really, because it's too big.

Well, I'm really curious about

what you're going to do next,

so let's go and have a cup of tea

somewhere and have a proper chat.

Great idea.

Thank you.

It's not unusual to see grazing

cattle on the horizon of

the Yorkshire landscape,

and in the heart of the Dales,

a young Yorkshireman

is using his cattle's yield

to produce a dairy product

that, legend has it,

the Vikings introduced to Iceland

over 1,000 years ago.

23-year-old dairy farmer

Sam Moorhouse

discovered skyr on the internet

when he was looking to diversify on

the family farm and decided to fly

to Iceland to find out more about

the product which is somewhere

between a yoghurt and a cheese.

Hesper Farm is currently

the sole UK producer.

What made you think, "Actually,

"this is something I can do

from a Yorkshire Dales farm?"

Well, I mean, we had

the milk, obviously,

and it hadn't been done in the UK

yet and it was high protein.

It's a high-protein product

and a high-calcium product

and it's low in fat.

So I just thought, you know,

I'd go and find out what I can

about it, so I went over to Iceland

to find somebody in Iceland

who could show me how to make it.

So you had to train up

to do it, really?

Very much so.

The family has a herd

of 300 Holstein cows

of which 160 adult

cattle are milked

twice a day to each produce

around 35 litres of milk.

This makes about 2,000

litres of skyr a week.

The family are very proud of

their prize-winning girls.

He spent the majority of his life

trying to breed them

up to a good standard of cow.

You are looking for like

a good confirmation on,

you know, good udder

and legs and so on,

and, yes,

occasionally we get awards.

And what about the milk?

Is that assessed?

To a degree, yeah.

They do look at how much milk

they are producing, the quality of

the milk, but that should

come with it being a good cow.

The most treasured is Baby,

the first cow Sam bought when he was

just 14 years old,

and she's the poster girl

for Sam's skyr.

Baby's just laid down, as she likes

to be over in the grass over there.

And you can always pick her out?

Yeah, yeah, she's got quite

distinctive markings, if you know...

if you're used to looking at cows.

And she is your baby.

Yeah, that's it, yeah.

It's in the dairy where Iceland

meets Yorkshire

and the white stuff

is transformed.

Skyr takes almost three times

longer than traditional yoghurt

to make and uses around

four times more milk per pot.

Three to four litres of milk makes

a kilo of the nutritious

dairy product.

After being skimmed and pasteurised

at a local dairy,

the milk goes into the batch tank

here, where it's heated

before cultures direct from Iceland

are added and then vegetable rennet.

This is where I should tell you,

I've always made natural yoghurt

at home and what I'm

quite curious about

is how similar the process is.

Yes, I mean to a degree,

it will be similar.

There's variant steps

that may change.

So this is the saucepan,

or the yoghurt maker.

Very much so, yeah, this

is where it all happens.

The mixture sits in the tank for six

hours where it turns to curd

and is then

drained into muslin sacks.

And this is where it stops

being the yoghurt, is it?

Because that's where I would stop.

I wouldn't...

Yes.

I would then

put the yoghurt straight

into the fridge after it's sat

out for 12 hours or something.

Ordinarily, that's where... At that

point, you'd say that's yoghurt.

There's a few extra little steps

involved in making skyr.

12 hours later, when the excess

liquid, or whey, has drained out,

the high-protein, high-calcium,

fat-free product is born.

Ah-ha!

So this is the mixing bowl

where we are mixing some skyr now.

If it's plain skyr,

we just stir it, mix it up,

break it up, make it smooth.

And if it's a flavoured skyr,

we then add fruit in

at that point, as well.

And what flavours do you do, then?

We do vanilla,

strawberry, raspberry,

black cherry and blueberry.

After it's been mixed for around

10 to 15 minutes

with some sweetened fruit,

the skyr goes into the filler

ready for potting.

Now that's quite liquidy.

Yeah, once this has come through

and we've potted it up,

we'll get it into the fridge...

Back in the fridge.

..then start setting again. What

we'll do is we'll grab a few pots.

I'll give you a couple, maybe.

How many pots do you normally do?

Usually we fill up

this table behind us

and we'll seal them

as we go across.

So, do you want a crack at it?

Oh, I could hear it twice,

but I see what you mean.

There's something very

satisfying about this.

Next, the lids are sealed on and

after a little bit of work,

I think I deserve to be

rewarded with a taste.

First up is the original.

Love it.

It would go nicely with a curry.

Black cherry, your favourite.

This is my favourite, yes.

It is just a hint of black cherry,

but there's enough there.

Yeah, so you know about it.

But you've got the sourness

of the yoghurt, still.

It's still that natural yoghurt

taste in it. And finally, raspberry.

It's distinctive from

the black cherry.

It's definitely got a different

fragrance and flavour about it.

Sam, thank you very much

for showing me the process,

it's been so interesting.

No, it's been good to have you.

Thank you.

So, we know our Mystery House

is too big for Andy and Carol,

so let's find out if one of our

two other properties

is a good fit for them.

So, where are we with the houses?

I know you liked

all of them, really.

We did.

We did.

But which ones are serious

contenders for you now?

Is it really only house number two?

It is.

I think so, yes.

I loved house number one but I think

I agree with Andy

that it's perhaps

just a little too remote.

Lovely location, but practically,

day-to-day living,

I just feel it's a little

too far out of town.

So, will you go back

and see house number two?

Oh, yes, definitely.

Do you love the house enough to

perhaps put an offer in

if you were in a position to?

The house is lovely.

It suited us down to the ground.

I think you looked at home in it.

Yeah.

I felt at home.

It was very homely and for

a barn conversion,

just felt really cosy, and I

could see us relaxing there,

having the whole family over.

I like that word.

I felt relaxed in it, as well.

Yeah, you could just

move, literally,

straight in without

having to do anything.

Well I'm hoping you

like the area, then,

because actually, therefore,

you might have found the house.

We might have...

You might have found us a house.

Yes.

Well, I wish you

both the best of luck.

I'm excited for your move

and the fact that you'll

be moving closer to family.

Yes, and I'd just like

to say thank you so much

for the last couple of days.

We've just enjoyed it so much.

It's been a really good experience.

I can't wait to phone you up

and tell you the news.

Well, do it soon, do it soon.

It's easy to see why Carol and Andy

seemed so at home in Yorkshire

with lots of family members

already living here.

In many ways, house number two was

spot-on for them,

but even if that doesn't work out,

I'm just so pleased that we were

able to open up their minds

about what type of property

they should go and see from now on,

and also help them realise

just how important

location is to them.

So, I look forward to

hearing their good news

about moving to this

picturesque region very soon.

See you next time on

Escape To The Country.

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