Somerset Escape to the Country


Somerset

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Standing some 60 metres above sea level,

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Operation Chastise of May 1943 owes a debt to this historic place.

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But where is this striking building and what is its significance?

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Find out in just a moment.

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Today's search is about big changes

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as our buyers ditch the busy capital in search of isolation.

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I'm seeing a house here and I'm seeing a house up there and...

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Sue, it's got a rope swing over a stream!

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But later on, disappointment turns to jubilation.

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This is everything that I would've drawn in a picture.

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This is a different Sue. I like this Sue!

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Today, we're in Somerset,

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on the stunning coastline at Brean Down Fort, which, during WWII,

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was a base for the Department of Miscellaneous Experimental Weapons,

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where they tested the bouncing bomb for the famous Dam Busters Raid.

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This prominent position has commanded the coastline for centuries,

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although the fort you see here today was built in the 1860s

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to protect the coastline from the threat of invasion.

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And in a strange twist of fate, today, in turn,

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it's now protected by the National Trust,

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and is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest

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due to its outstanding natural beauty.

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Somerset sits in the heart of England's West Country.

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From the heather-clad moorland

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and dramatic sea cliffs of Exmoor National Park

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to the low-lying levels and wooded valleys of the Quantock Hills,

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it's a county of varying landscapes

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and is renowned for its dairy and fruit production.

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The compact Quantocks are just 12 miles long

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and four miles wide.

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From the coastline on a clear day,

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views reach across the Bristol Channel as far as the Welsh coast.

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The county is home to England's smallest city, Wells,

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which was granted city status due to its 13th-century cathedral.

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Its magnificent West Front features over 300 statues and carvings.

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Further north, just outside the county in north Bristol,

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the Clifton Observatory and Camera Obscura sit high up on the Downs.

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The Grade II-listed building started life as

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a windmill for corn in the 18th century

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and today is a popular spot to enjoy the views

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of the Clifton Suspension Bridge and Avon Gorge below.

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From its historic cities with beautiful buildings

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to its expanses of unspoilt countryside,

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this county of contrasts offers something

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for everyone looking to experience its landscape.

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When it comes to setting up home in Somerset,

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the average price of a detached house in the county

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comes in at around £315,000,

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which is only around £1,500 more than the UK average.

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But in North Somerset, you can expect to pay around £50,000

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more due to its close proximity to the busy hubs of Bath and Bristol.

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However, travel south or west and you'll be rewarded

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by not only cheaper house prices,

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but also swathes of idyllic countryside, which is exactly

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what's drawing today's buyers to this beautiful county.

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Sue and Steve met 10 years ago

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through a chance encounter at Sue's workplace.

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I was working at Hampton Court Palace and Steve came in

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as a visitor and it was love at first sight.

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Sue was working in the audio guide office and had a terrible cold,

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had a very red nose and spoke in a very sort of stuffy voice,

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which was quite comical.

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And I made a funny comment about how she sounded

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and, bang, she just came back with a comment straight back at me.

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And I just thought, "Wow! This girl's really great."

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Um...obviously quite attractive,

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apart from the big red nose at the time.

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Sue moved into Steve's house of 17 years,

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a four-bedroom 1950s house in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey,

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where he had brought up his two children from a former marriage.

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So, despite tying the knot four years ago,

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they're still yet to buy their first property together.

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This house has been lovely and it's given everything that we have

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needed for the last 10 years.

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I'm very excited about buying our first home together

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and putting our own stamp on it.

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It's only fair that we have a house that you have a big say in,

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that is going to be ours, ours alone.

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As they are both recently retired and their children have grown up,

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they no longer have ties to London.

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We've been looking in Somerset for property

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and that gives us an ideal spot to be rural,

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but still near enough for the kids to come down at weekends and things.

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Steve and Sue hope their next home will be the perfect place for

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visiting grandchildren, and those all-important family Christmases.

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But it also needs to allow them to enjoy their hobbies

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when it's just the two of them.

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I'm very domesticated, I love to cook.

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Steve and I both like to write.

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We both read avidly.

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When we're on holiday, it's so easy to get through a book a day.

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And we both like to paint.

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We've got a garage at the bottom of the garden,

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which I've turned into a workshop and I just make stuff.

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My woodwork teacher told me I was useless at woodwork

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and should never be let near lumber.

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And I think I just spend my life trying to prove him wrong!

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With their house on the market,

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Steve and Sue are ready for their new adventure

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and can't wait to, quite literally, get away from it all.

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We have no fears about being in an isolated area at all.

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That is very attractive, actually.

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Um...so I'm looking forward to be able to look out of a window

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and perhaps see a neighbour in the distance.

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-That sounds quite pleasant to me.

-On his tractor.

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-THEY LAUGH

-On his tractor!

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Steve and Sue have chosen Somerset due to its good links

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to their children and to London.

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I know where we're looking,

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now I just need to find out what kind of property we're looking for.

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-Steve and Sue, welcome to Somerset.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

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You're moving all the way from Sunbury-on-Thames,

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-which is a lovely part of the world.

-It is.

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Why are you looking to move from there, then?

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We want to get away from traffic.

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I want to be somewhere where two or three cars gathered together

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-constitutes a traffic jam.

-Right.

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-Well, that's the countryside, isn't it?

-Exactly.

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We have got four children and we've been bringing them up

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and now the last one has just flown the nest

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and so it's time for us to find somewhere for ourselves,

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-but somewhere big enough for them all to come down often.

-Right.

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It sounds like we're looking at a four to five-bedroom house, then?

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-Four will be fine.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

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We're looking for somewhere detached.

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We don't want to be overlooked, we don't want to overlook anywhere.

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A bit of land, between one and four acres. Two would be ideal.

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What about the style of the house, then?

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It's probably Victorian, Edwardian, old farmhouse, something like that.

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You want a particularly large kitchen.

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-I do, hub of the house.

-What about its location?

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Because you're talking about aspirations for land,

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-getting away from traffic.

-Mm-hm.

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Are you the guy that wants to be in the middle of nowhere?

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I'd be very happy in the middle of nowhere.

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-Is that a dream you both share, Sue?

-Oh, for sure. Yeah, absolutely.

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How much work can you foresee yourselves doing to a property, if at all?

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I anticipate putting a new kitchen in somewhere

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-just because I want my perfect kitchen.

-Right.

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We don't really want major structural work.

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How much have you got in your piggy bank for this big move of yours?

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-£650,000.

-Right.

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If there's something very special, something really nice,

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-up to £700,000.

-All right.

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You're looking forward to these next couple of days, then?

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-I'm really excited about it.

-Definitely.

-Let's start.

-Let's do it.

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So, Steve and Sue have got a healthy budget of £700,000 to spend

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here in Somerset.

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For that, they'd like a detached house with four or more

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bedrooms and a generously-sized kitchen.

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Last, but not least, they want to be in an isolated rural location.

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We've got three cracking properties ready for them to see,

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all with heaps of character and the potential for them to create

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their rural dream.

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At each one, they'll have to guess the price before I reveal it.

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And to finish off, I'll be showing them a Mystery House

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in a location that will really test their boundaries.

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For our first property, we're heading to the village of Spaxton.

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Set in the Quantock Hills, this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

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is known for its great walking terrain and riding trails.

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The main part of this quiet, sprawling village

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surrounds St Margaret's parish church.

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There's a local shop and a village hall, where,

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twice a year, residents exhibit locally-grown produce,

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flowers and crafts at the village show.

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Situated on the outskirts of the village,

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I'm hoping our first property could provide Steve and Sue

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with that rural existence they're looking for.

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Now, I'd like us to stop here.

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I think this is the best vantage point to take everything in.

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Not just the house, but to see snippets of what's on offer.

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-I like it.

-Do you?

-Yes.

-Good.

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From the outside, I'm sure it's very pretty as you get closer,

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-but I'm suspecting it's too pretty.

-Ah! OK.

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-Well, it is very cutesy, isn't it? Very cottagey.

-It is.

-I like this.

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-You're going to love that.

-It's interesting.

-That's exactly it.

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-You've got topography here!

-Topography!

-Your favourite word.

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-Yes!

-Yeah?

-It has, it's got interesting shape...

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It's certainly got an interesting variety of trees

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and I love being surrounded by trees.

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-Let's look inside?

-Yes.

-Come on, then.

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Originally a pair of mill cottages, from the outside,

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the layout of this property is far from conventional.

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The back of the house is the oldest part,

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dating back to the 16th century.

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The extension on the front includes the kitchen,

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utility room and study, and was built around 15 years ago.

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I brought us in this way because I wanted you to see

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some of the sort of ancillary areas, if you like.

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But come to the most important room for you, Sue, first,

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which is, of course, the kitchen.

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-What do we think?

-Um...it's not as big a kitchen as I would hope for.

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Nice touches. Love the tiles over the cooker.

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It's about the same size as the kitchen we already have

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-and you wanted something a lot bigger, didn't you, really?

-Yeah.

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I would like an area like this with as much again

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so that there is room for a couple of sofas and things like that.

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When we've looked at the rest of the house, it may be that...

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-That may negate this.

-..it becomes less important.

-Maybe.

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Really? You'd compromise?

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Because you feel so strongly about this. OK.

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-I do, but all houses are a compromise.

-Yeah.

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Music to my ears. Come with me.

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The kitchen may have failed to cut the mustard with Sue,

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but I'm hoping the rest of the house will be more to her taste.

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Now I know someone is going to like this room.

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-STEVE LAUGHS

-OK.

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-Not your full-sized billiard table.

-It's not a full-sized table,

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but it's a nice-sized room, isn't it?

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-It's a snug, isn't it?

-Yeah.

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Television room or a couple of sofas.

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It's a pleasant-sized room. It's OK.

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-This is the older part of the building.

-Yes, which makes sense.

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Yeah.

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Let's go and have a look at the main reception room. Come with me.

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Just off the main entrance hall is a useful dining area

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under a glass roof, where the extension joins

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the original house.

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Leading off it is the study to one side

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and the sitting room directly opposite.

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-I rather like this room.

-Do you?

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Um, it's warm.

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It feels cosy.

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A nice, high ceiling, plenty of light.

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It's a nice room. It's a nice room.

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I think your opinion is coloured already by the kitchen,

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isn't it, Sue?

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This is a lovely room on its own, but it's not enough.

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Before Sue completely dismisses this house,

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I want to show them the bedrooms upstairs.

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There are five in total, including three good-sized guest doubles,

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looking out on to the back garden along with a large single.

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There are two separate bathrooms,

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and of course the master suite.

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Now I know you wanted loads of guests to come and stay,

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but I also think you need a bit of privacy,

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so you've got a master suite.

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You've got a wet room there.

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Then I think this would be your master bedroom.

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Um...

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HE STRAINS

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I think this is a perfectly adequate size bedroom.

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You've obviously got a sense of what you're after a lot more, Sue.

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An immediate observation is that one wants to stand

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and look out of a window.

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Well, you can't. You've got to kneel,

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because the windows are below head height.

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-OK.

-Do you know, there's so much to like in this house.

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Somebody will like it. They'll love it.

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But so far it's not having much appeal for me.

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Sue's clearly got a vision of what her perfect property looks like.

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I've got doubts as to whether this is it.

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However, I'm confident the garden won't disappoint.

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The plot of just over an acre surrounding the house

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includes a large lawn, and even has a stream flowing through it.

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Well, fairly unconventional outside space,

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but I think it's splendid, don't you?

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-Um...

-I love it.

-Do you?

-I really do.

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There is so much to like,

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but I'm seeing a house here and I'm seeing a house up there,

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which isn't really the isolation that we were looking for.

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Sue, it's got a rope swing over a stream.

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Yeah, that's...

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This is apparently fed by a reservoir...

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Yeah, it's very pretty.

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It's very pretty and it's got lovely, lovely areas.

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Really lovely areas, but I see another house right there.

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-You want complete isolation.

-Yeah.

-All right.

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It's for somebody.

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I think it's for somebody who has got a young family now.

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Right now, yes.

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How much do you think that somebody will need to pay for it?

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-585,000.

-OK.

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It's a lovely house.

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It's got a lot of interest to it, the grounds are great.

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I'm going to go more. I would say £625,000.

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Keep going.

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This place is on the market for offers

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in the region of £695,000.

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OK.

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-Right, I've learnt quite a bit about you guys.

-Yeah.

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You might be prepared to give a little and take a bit.

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Oh, we're not completely inflexible. We can compromise.

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You've now got the opportunity to go back into the house.

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Go have a look around and I'll meet you whenever you're done,

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-all right?

-OK, thank you.

-Pay the troll on the way over.

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I think this detached period property has loads going for it.

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There's one more bedroom than Steve and Sue asked for,

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and a large kitchen, although apparently not big enough.

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There are gardens of over an acre,

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and it's in a glorious setting in the heart of the Quantock Hills.

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-This is your study.

-Yeah, it's the office.

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That's quite a good size for a study area.

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-This is a very good room.

-Yes.

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The garden's wonderful.

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If we can get a place with a garden like this, I'd be very, very happy.

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I was a little disappointed with the size of the house.

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The kitchen, in particular, didn't measure up to our hopes.

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There's a lot to like, but I really feel this house lends itself

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to a family with small children.

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It would be a happy home for somebody else, but it's not for us.

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-Are you happy you came here?

-Oh, definitely.

-Goodness me, yes.

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It's good to see. It's good to make a comparison.

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It's good for you to know what it is

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that we're looking for more specifically.

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Don't pile any more pressure on me. I'm already feeling it.

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-It's down to you.

-When we say "we", we mean "you".

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Somerset, along with the neighbouring county of Devon,

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forms one of the largest farming regions in the UK.

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With Sue and Steve's ambition to live the good life here in Somerset,

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we've sent them to meet Antonio Paladino,

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a chef who swapped life in London

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for a one-acre plot of land in the West Country to set up

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a modern version of a farming technique believed to date

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back as far as the Aztecs - aquaponics.

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-Welcome to the Aquaponic Farm.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

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What...what is that? What does that mean?

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It's just a fish farm, in this case trout.

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It's the integration of fish and plant into one ecosystem.

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So why did you start the farm?

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Well, I'm a chef.

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For me, affordable, quality food has always been a priority.

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I was on a trip to Malaysia, and I accidentally bumped into aquaponics.

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As a sceptic, that got me thinking,

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"Why isn't everybody doing it already?"

0:17:000:17:03

So I had to test it and try it myself first.

0:17:030:17:05

So we started a system in London for a year.

0:17:050:17:08

After that first year, we realised that, "Wow, that's working."

0:17:080:17:11

Of course, in London, small spaces are expensive.

0:17:110:17:14

We had to move out to have a farm. Here we are.

0:17:140:17:18

Antonio has four tanks, each containing 500 trout.

0:17:180:17:22

Fed only with organic fish food, their by-waste provides

0:17:220:17:25

high-quality nutrients for the plants in the polytunnels next door.

0:17:250:17:29

The plants in turn act as a bio-filter to keep the water

0:17:290:17:32

in the tanks clean.

0:17:320:17:34

Amazingly, this same water has been circulating in the system

0:17:340:17:37

for four-and-a-half years.

0:17:370:17:39

So can you grow anything like this

0:17:390:17:41

or do some things lend themselves better?

0:17:410:17:44

You can literally grow any crops that would normally be

0:17:440:17:47

growing in soil, but without soil, of course, in this case.

0:17:470:17:51

-Here you can see where it's...

-Oh, my goodness!

0:17:510:17:55

-The root system and all the water for the nutrients is coming.

-Wow.

0:17:550:17:58

So that pipe is being fed into this tank directly from the fish tank?

0:17:580:18:03

From the fish tank.

0:18:030:18:04

What about the taste? Better, worse, same?

0:18:040:18:07

You're going to decide. You tell me.

0:18:070:18:08

-Try some of this.

-What is that?

-That's French sorrel.

0:18:110:18:14

Oh, wow, that is so good.

0:18:170:18:19

Cos of the nutrients, it's high quality.

0:18:190:18:21

-That is really strong, isn't it?

-Mm.

-That'd be great in a salad.

0:18:210:18:24

-That's really good.

-That'd be good in a salad.

0:18:240:18:27

Antonio grows a huge variety of salads and vegetables,

0:18:270:18:30

from cannellini beans to cabbages,

0:18:300:18:33

as well as some more unusual varieties, all harvested by hand.

0:18:330:18:37

As the irrigation system offers the plant roots

0:18:370:18:40

a continuous supply of water and nutrients,

0:18:400:18:42

many of the plants grow twice as fast as they would in soil.

0:18:420:18:46

A lettuce that would normally take three to four months to grow

0:18:460:18:49

is produced in just two months.

0:18:490:18:51

This seems such a simple, straightforward process.

0:18:520:18:55

Why aren't there more people doing this?

0:18:550:18:57

They are - they're just catching up now.

0:18:570:18:59

It's only a matter of time before more are going to embrace it.

0:18:590:19:01

What are your plans for the future? Where do you go from here?

0:19:010:19:04

Well, frankly, this was the plan and we achieved it -

0:19:040:19:07

to be able to produce for ourselves

0:19:070:19:08

and to provide for others good quality food at affordable rates.

0:19:080:19:12

Frankly, we're happy with this site. We don't want to...

0:19:120:19:15

-You're living the dream, aren't you?

-Yes.

-I think you're there.

0:19:150:19:17

-Thank you.

-Fantastic.

-Antonio, you've got so much to do.

0:19:170:19:20

-We'd better leave you to it.

-Thank you for your time.

0:19:200:19:22

-We've really enjoyed our day.

-Yeah, brilliant.

-Thank you so much.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

0:19:220:19:26

Antonio's farm is currently one of only two using aquaponics in

0:19:260:19:29

the UK, but as people are becoming increasingly concerned with

0:19:290:19:32

the source of their food,

0:19:320:19:33

and the popularity of organic food steadily rising over the last

0:19:330:19:37

few years, sustainable techniques look set

0:19:370:19:40

to define the future of our farms.

0:19:400:19:42

Back on the house-hunt, the next property I want to show

0:19:460:19:48

Sue and Steve is in Selworthy, on the northern fringes of Exmoor.

0:19:480:19:53

At 308 metres high, nearby Selworthy Beacon is one

0:19:530:19:56

of the highest points on Exmoor and offers some spectacular views.

0:19:560:20:01

The village itself lies within the National Trust's Holnicote Estate,

0:20:010:20:05

and is known for its perfectly preserved thatched cottages

0:20:050:20:08

and distinctive 14th-century church with whitewashed walls

0:20:080:20:12

perched on the side of the hill.

0:20:120:20:14

Steve, you said one of the reasons you were looking forward to

0:20:140:20:17

living down here was the topography.

0:20:170:20:21

-You've got it.

-I think that you could call that topography.

0:20:210:20:25

-It's amazing, isn't it?

-On the spectacular end on the scale.

0:20:250:20:28

-Some great walking.

-Yeah.

-Oh, my goodness.

0:20:280:20:30

Yeah, on the way up the hill here,

0:20:300:20:32

we saw so many public footpaths, so it'd be...

0:20:320:20:34

Is that something you want to get into?

0:20:340:20:35

-Absolutely, yes, of course.

-We do walk.

-We walk a lot.

-Yeah, we do.

0:20:350:20:38

So you'll be pleased to hear, then,

0:20:380:20:40

the house we want to show you is just down the road.

0:20:400:20:42

-Oh.

-We can walk there, as we shall.

-Let's do it. My goodness.

0:20:420:20:47

On the edge of the village,

0:20:470:20:49

our property sits in an elevated position,

0:20:490:20:51

making the most of the views.

0:20:510:20:53

So we finally - after going down and up a hill -

0:20:540:20:58

arrive at property number two.

0:20:580:21:00

Go on, hit me with it. What do you think?

0:21:020:21:04

-Nice front door.

-Love the front door.

0:21:040:21:06

Well, that doorway leads into what was once a rectory.

0:21:060:21:10

It's been split up since.

0:21:100:21:12

I'm looking forward to showing you some amazing features inside here.

0:21:120:21:15

When you say "split up",

0:21:150:21:16

does that mean it's attached to something else?

0:21:160:21:19

Yes, it does.

0:21:190:21:20

-So it's not a detached house?

-It's not a detached house.

0:21:200:21:24

This is finding out what compromises you're prepared to make.

0:21:240:21:27

Come with me.

0:21:270:21:28

Not exactly the best of starts,

0:21:300:21:32

but I think if Sue and Steve can remain open-minded,

0:21:320:21:35

this 16th-century house offers them a lot of what they're looking for.

0:21:350:21:40

With a floor space of nearly 440 square metres,

0:21:400:21:43

it's around a third bigger than the first property.

0:21:430:21:46

So this is an entrance hall with a bit of a difference.

0:21:470:21:50

This is a room in itself, isn't it? This is just your hallway.

0:21:500:21:52

My goodness. It's huge.

0:21:520:21:54

Now, I don't know whether you'd ever consider yourself in a room

0:21:560:21:59

like this, but it looks rather grand.

0:21:590:22:02

-It IS grand.

-Good-sized room.

0:22:020:22:04

-I love that window.

-You've got the nice, big proportions,

0:22:040:22:06

and a working fireplace as well.

0:22:060:22:08

-This is a very big room, isn't it?

-Yeah, it's a very good-sized room.

0:22:080:22:11

-It's very airy.

-Yeah, it is, isn't it? All right,

0:22:110:22:15

well, another room next door of similar size.

0:22:150:22:18

They are clearly pleasantly surprised by these large,

0:22:180:22:21

well-proportioned spaces. But they are not won over, just yet.

0:22:210:22:25

So, dining room... Would you consider ever having a separate dining room?

0:22:250:22:30

We have a separate dining room at the moment, it works,

0:22:300:22:32

we use it a lot.

0:22:320:22:34

For when we have the ten members of the family around for dinner,

0:22:340:22:37

we can't get them all in the kitchen,

0:22:370:22:38

-it does get used, so a dining room is fantastic.

-Yeah.

0:22:380:22:41

If we didn't want to use it as a dining room...

0:22:410:22:44

No, you won't stand a chance with this. Go on...

0:22:440:22:47

It might take a full-size snooker table. Just looking at it.

0:22:470:22:50

-Really?

-It might.

0:22:500:22:53

-Look, another nice, big room, let's go onto the kitchen.

-OK.

0:22:530:22:57

Steve might be happy now he's spotted a potential games room,

0:22:580:23:01

but I'm not sure I've got Sue on board.

0:23:010:23:04

At the back of the house, there is a large utility and pantry area,

0:23:040:23:07

giving the current kitchen some much-needed storage space.

0:23:070:23:11

Now, I might be ducking for cover here...

0:23:110:23:14

-Look at that room there, remember these walls...

-Yes.

0:23:140:23:17

Come with me, no, no, come and stand here with me.

0:23:170:23:21

OK.

0:23:210:23:23

The owner, by her own admission, she walked me around the house and said, "Look,

0:23:230:23:27

"I know the kitchen is too small for modern houses,

0:23:270:23:30

"so we've had plans drawn up and the plans are to knock walls."

0:23:300:23:34

That way, that way.

0:23:340:23:36

I still think that would make a good-size kitchen, but I still don't

0:23:360:23:39

think it would be big enough for the day room that you'd be after.

0:23:390:23:43

You'd need go that way, which would mean resubmitting, obviously, drawings.

0:23:430:23:47

And the issue there, I'd want to flag up is, obviously,

0:23:470:23:50

it's Grade II listed.

0:23:500:23:52

-This is probably more than we want to undertake.

-Yeah.

0:23:520:23:55

-Let's go upstairs, let me show you one of the bedrooms...

-Yes.

0:23:550:23:59

-And then we'll go outside.

-OK.

0:23:590:24:02

Upstairs are three huge double bedrooms with lovely

0:24:020:24:05

high ceilings.

0:24:050:24:06

A large single bedroom and a dressing room currently used

0:24:060:24:10

as a fifth bedroom.

0:24:100:24:13

The two bathrooms could do with a bit of updating but are both a fair size.

0:24:130:24:16

Now, as master bedrooms go... This is a cracker, isn't it?

0:24:160:24:20

-It's a good size.

-Proportions-wise, these are what you're after, right?

0:24:200:24:24

-Very much.

-Yeah, the rooms are a good size, I can't fault the rooms.

0:24:240:24:28

And even style-wise,

0:24:280:24:30

you like this period, these proportions....

0:24:300:24:33

The house, internally, is great,

0:24:330:24:36

just take all the internals and put them

0:24:360:24:39

somewhere a little more remote.

0:24:390:24:41

-Away from other humans?

-Yes.

-I can hear you,

0:24:410:24:43

metaphorically, banging me over the head with a stick now, saying...

0:24:430:24:46

-I can do it for real, if you like.

-No, that'd be fine...

0:24:460:24:48

I think I get your point.

0:24:480:24:50

It's a shame they've already written off this house,

0:24:510:24:54

because the gardens that come with it are a major selling point.

0:24:540:24:57

There are lawns to both the front and south-facing rear,

0:24:570:25:00

surrounded by a variety of well-established trees and some

0:25:000:25:04

incredible views towards Exmoor.

0:25:040:25:06

A mature garden, very different to the first place we saw, but

0:25:060:25:09

looking around, I can tell that you'd like to be a bit more remote.

0:25:090:25:12

This garden is a pretty garden,

0:25:120:25:14

it's got some beautiful mature trees, the view up there is stupendous.

0:25:140:25:18

-It is, isn't it?

-It really is.

-But I can see other people.

0:25:180:25:22

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

0:25:220:25:26

-Not how much you'd pay for it. Sue...

-Oh, gosh...

0:25:260:25:30

I'm going somewhere close to 575,000.

0:25:300:25:34

Going to go higher than that, I'll say £625,000.

0:25:340:25:37

Not bad guesses,

0:25:380:25:40

they put an asking price of offers around £575,000 on it.

0:25:400:25:43

So, spot-on, Susan.

0:25:430:25:45

-Oh, yes, she shoots.

-She scores.

-And definitely so.

0:25:450:25:49

It's a lot of house for that money.

0:25:490:25:51

It's incredibly disappointing, actually, because if you took

0:25:510:25:54

that house and put it in a field, then it would have so much appeal.

0:25:540:25:58

I think, as well, whilst we're here, and you've liked it so much,

0:25:580:26:01

enjoy the garden, have a look around,

0:26:010:26:03

enjoy the views and I'll meet you at the front - how's that, all right?

0:26:030:26:06

-Thank you.

-See you in a mo.

0:26:060:26:07

Despite all this, and a fabulous garden to top it off,

0:26:210:26:25

the proximity to the neighbours has put Sue and Steve right off.

0:26:250:26:28

The rooms are large, airy, high-ceilinged,

0:26:290:26:33

it's got all the potential we need.

0:26:330:26:36

-But it's not isolated.

-Sadly disappointing.

0:26:360:26:41

-Beautiful views at the back, weren't they?

-They really were, yes.

0:26:440:26:48

But you'd like views, perhaps,

0:26:480:26:50

-surrounding the property or at least not views of other houses.

-Truly.

0:26:500:26:53

-Truly.

-That would be better.

0:26:530:26:55

OK, well, I've got a long night ahead of me tonight. Let's go.

0:26:550:26:58

It's the second day of our house-hunt with Sue and Steve from London

0:27:100:27:13

who, now they've retired, are leaving the busy capital behind,

0:27:130:27:17

to set up home in rural Somerset.

0:27:170:27:19

For their budget of £700,000,

0:27:190:27:22

they are after a detached property with a sense of isolation.

0:27:220:27:25

So far, it's been a bit of a bumpy ride.

0:27:250:27:28

But coming up,

0:27:280:27:29

our search gathers speed as I pull out all the stops at our Mystery House.

0:27:290:27:33

My mind is in eighth gear. Not even fifth.

0:27:330:27:37

There's endless possibilities here.

0:27:370:27:39

And I head to the coast to unwind.

0:27:390:27:41

She goes all right, doesn't she, Martin?

0:27:410:27:44

Well, I think I'm going to chalk yesterday down to experience,

0:27:460:27:50

but moving forward...

0:27:500:27:51

I think what Steve and Sue essentially want

0:27:510:27:54

is a big house, a huge home.

0:27:540:27:57

But it also needs to sit in a decent amount of land, of course it does.

0:27:570:28:01

But for Sue, in particular, she wants privacy.

0:28:010:28:04

But in order to get this huge bundle of joy, if you like,

0:28:040:28:08

within their budget, the compromise is we're going to need to travel,

0:28:080:28:12

and the Mystery House here is over the border.

0:28:120:28:15

Let's see how we go.

0:28:150:28:17

-Now, I'm treating today as a clean slate.

-Yeah. So are we.

-Good.

0:28:210:28:27

We're taking a gamble today in order to try and get...

0:28:270:28:31

-what we think you might want.

-A gamble sounds interesting.

0:28:310:28:35

The gamble is you're going to have to put up with my company for

0:28:350:28:37

-even longer than anticipated.

-We're travelling, that's what you mean.

0:28:370:28:41

-We're travelling.

-OK.

0:28:410:28:43

In an attempt to turn this search around,

0:28:440:28:47

we're heading to Devon,

0:28:470:28:49

where our Mystery House is in the village of Witheridge.

0:28:490:28:51

Almost equidistant from Dartmoor and Exmoor,

0:28:510:28:55

the village has earned the nickname Gateway to the Two Moors Way,

0:28:550:28:58

a long-distance walking route between the two national parks

0:28:580:29:01

and the perfect starting point for exploring them.

0:29:010:29:05

Arranged around the village square are pretty thatched cottages

0:29:050:29:08

and the village church. There is also a tearoom and a local pub.

0:29:080:29:13

Our Mystery House is right in the heart of the village,

0:29:130:29:15

accessed by a long, private driveway.

0:29:150:29:18

Now, then, young man...

0:29:200:29:21

STEVE LAUGHS

0:29:210:29:23

-That's good.

-Yeah?

-Oh, yeah.

0:29:230:29:26

This is a different Sue, I like this Sue.

0:29:260:29:29

This is everything that I would have drawn in a picture.

0:29:290:29:32

It is a bit like that, isn't it?

0:29:320:29:34

Now, there is a compromise with this property... That house there...

0:29:340:29:38

-That's included as well.

-OK!

0:29:390:29:42

All right, so you get more.

0:29:420:29:44

It was built as a vicarage, and moved into in 1855,

0:29:440:29:49

right up until 1984.

0:29:490:29:52

Then became a B&B and then a private residence.

0:29:520:29:55

I haven't managed to say anything yet, I'm just lost for words, really.

0:29:550:29:58

It looks fantastic, it looks fantastic.

0:29:580:30:01

Two confessions, I know the village, from years gone by...

0:30:010:30:07

and I've seen this property online, but I have to say,

0:30:070:30:11

in the flesh, it looks considerably larger.

0:30:110:30:14

You have got a retirement beckoning you here, haven't you?

0:30:140:30:19

To get hold of this and make it that grand rectory it was once before.

0:30:190:30:23

-I want to see inside.

-Yeah? Come on, then. Let's go.

0:30:230:30:26

This huge detached property has a typical Victorian layout,

0:30:280:30:31

which I'm hoping will appeal to Sue as much as its exterior does.

0:30:310:30:35

The ground floor has four large reception rooms,

0:30:350:30:38

and a kitchen off a central hallway,

0:30:380:30:40

as well as a number of smaller utility rooms.

0:30:400:30:43

The front door leads us through the entrance hall and we

0:30:430:30:46

start our tour in a rather impressive sitting room.

0:30:460:30:49

LAUGHTER

0:30:490:30:52

OK. Like, you've done a good job on this one.

0:30:520:30:55

Excellent, good, good. Big, square room with tall ceilings.

0:30:550:30:59

And the original features, the skirtings, and the floorboards.

0:30:590:31:03

Yeah. Absolutely. No, tick, tick, tick.

0:31:030:31:05

You've got a big problem on your hands,

0:31:050:31:07

in as much that you have now got rooms to buy furniture for.

0:31:070:31:11

You've got another room this size, with another beautiful bay, next door.

0:31:110:31:15

-OK.

-And you've got other rooms further down the hall.

0:31:150:31:18

Big table, sewing room. Lots of curtains to be made.

0:31:180:31:21

Come with me, I'll show you more. Well, that's a relief.

0:31:210:31:24

I'm so pleased that the super-sized proportions of this

0:31:240:31:27

Mystery House aren't too daunting for them.

0:31:270:31:30

On the way to the kitchen, there's a study,

0:31:300:31:32

two more reception rooms,

0:31:320:31:34

one of which is currently being used as a dining room, a staircase

0:31:340:31:37

leading down to a large cellar, as well as a pantry and a utility room.

0:31:370:31:42

As it stands, here is your kitchen.

0:31:430:31:46

-OK.

-Now, obviously, I know this is too small, Susan.

0:31:460:31:50

Come with me to what would've been, originally, the house's kitchen.

0:31:500:31:55

-And what a kitchen it would make again.

-Yes, it would.

-Yes, it would.

0:31:550:32:00

-Make that the utility room and keep this as the kitchen.

-Yeah.

0:32:000:32:04

My mind is in eighth gear. Not even fifth.

0:32:040:32:08

-We talked about compromises...

-Yeah.

0:32:080:32:10

-And in a house like this, you can make compromises.

-Oh, OK.

0:32:100:32:14

There's endless possibilities here. Absolutely loving it.

0:32:140:32:18

Onward and upward.

0:32:180:32:20

Upstairs there is a total of six bedrooms,

0:32:200:32:23

three of which are very large doubles, one with en suite,

0:32:230:32:27

along with two doubles and a single room,

0:32:270:32:30

all with high ceilings and some great period features.

0:32:300:32:33

The bathrooms do need some updating, but both are a good size.

0:32:330:32:37

Believe it or not, there are bigger bedrooms than this one.

0:32:390:32:42

But I wanted to show you this room with this stunning view.

0:32:420:32:45

-There's nothing beyond this property, then?

-Just farmland.

0:32:460:32:50

-Every room is kind of jaw-droppingly wonderful.

-Yeah.

0:32:500:32:55

Obviously it needs work.

0:32:550:32:57

-But it is just full of potential.

-It really is.

0:32:570:33:00

You could really turn it into something special, couldn't you?

0:33:000:33:03

-It's a heritage house, isn't it?

-It really is.

-All the way through.

0:33:030:33:06

-We like, don't we?

-We do like.

-Good, I'm glad we're enjoying this tour.

0:33:060:33:11

Outside I think you want to go, don't you?

0:33:110:33:13

We've definitely taken a chance with the location of this Mystery House.

0:33:150:33:19

It's just moments from the village centre but you wouldn't know it.

0:33:190:33:22

The huge gardens aren't overlooked and there isn't

0:33:220:33:25

a neighbour in sight.

0:33:250:33:27

It is overgrown but it's a project and, as with the house, they

0:33:270:33:30

could really make it their own.

0:33:300:33:32

It's not easy to see exactly where your boundaries are.

0:33:330:33:37

-So, look behind you. See those poplars?

-Uh-huh.

-Yes.

0:33:370:33:41

That's the end of the garden.

0:33:410:33:43

And it sweeps right the way around.

0:33:430:33:45

All in all, you've got about 1.75 acres of garden.

0:33:450:33:49

You know, it feels like so much more than that.

0:33:490:33:52

It's private and it's a project.

0:33:520:33:54

And it's got trees, fabulous mature trees.

0:33:540:33:57

And you've got the coach house. Who knows what you could do with that?

0:33:570:34:00

That would take some thought, but my goodness.

0:34:000:34:03

-There is so much of everything.

-What potential that is.

0:34:030:34:07

When you're at the back of the house here you see what an enormous

0:34:070:34:11

slab of a building it is.

0:34:110:34:13

So you've seen this property on the internet.

0:34:130:34:16

I'll ask Steve first,

0:34:160:34:18

how much do you think this Mystery Property is on the market for?

0:34:180:34:21

I'd say this has got to be at the top end of our budget.

0:34:210:34:25

I'm going to go 725,000.

0:34:250:34:27

Sue, can you remember?

0:34:290:34:30

I do know what it is and it is the top end of our budget.

0:34:300:34:33

-It is 700,000.

-Yeah. £699,950. So you can afford it.

0:34:330:34:40

This falls within your budget.

0:34:400:34:42

My goodness, the space, the privacy.

0:34:420:34:45

We're not anti-social but we want to decide who we see and when we

0:34:450:34:50

see them and I think you'd have that option here.

0:34:500:34:52

I know you're excited to have a look around this place on your own.

0:34:520:34:55

Do so. Take your time and I'll catch you whenever you're done.

0:34:550:34:57

Thank you.

0:34:570:34:59

This mystery vicarage offers Sue and Steve all the space

0:35:010:35:05

they asked for inside, and more.

0:35:050:35:07

Six bedrooms, four large reception rooms and potential for Sue

0:35:080:35:11

to create the kitchen of her dreams.

0:35:110:35:14

We might have pushed the boundaries of their search area and taken

0:35:140:35:17

a risk with the village location, but hopefully it's paid off.

0:35:170:35:20

Coming down the drive of this property, the house is substantial.

0:35:220:35:27

Everything we were looking for, the rooms are perfect proportions,

0:35:270:35:32

the windows look out to spectacular views.

0:35:320:35:36

The Mystery House is very, very close to the centre of a village.

0:35:360:35:40

And yet it feels as if it's in the countryside, it feels private.

0:35:400:35:44

So it has changed our view of what would make us happy in a property.

0:35:440:35:48

I love it. I really, really love it.

0:35:480:35:51

-Grinning from ear to ear.

-Yeah, I am.

0:35:550:35:57

I think you'd be grinning every time you came back to this house as well.

0:35:570:36:01

I think you would.

0:36:010:36:02

You need time to talk things through and perhaps discuss

0:36:020:36:06

-the practicalities of owning such a substantial asset.

-Uh-huh.

0:36:060:36:09

-We'll catch up later on, how's that?

-Super.

-Sounds good.

0:36:090:36:11

Despite being best-known for its levels, moors and meadows,

0:36:170:36:21

Somerset has nearly 40 miles of coastline with some of the

0:36:210:36:24

highest cliffs in England and the second longest stretch of

0:36:240:36:27

sand in Europe running from Burnham to Brean.

0:36:270:36:31

I've come down to the beach at Brean to meet Martyn Hale,

0:36:310:36:34

chairman of the local

0:36:340:36:35

land yacht club to find out more about this exciting,

0:36:350:36:38

environmentally friendly sport -

0:36:380:36:40

and, wind permitting, have a go myself.

0:36:400:36:43

-Martyn, how you doing?

-How you doing?

-Great to see you.

-OK, good.

0:36:440:36:48

I'm thinking this weather, windy but sunny,

0:36:480:36:51

perfect for anything with a sail, right?

0:36:510:36:53

This is absolutely brilliant.

0:36:530:36:55

Land yachting, how did all this come about, then?

0:36:550:36:58

Originally it was the Egyptians and the Chinese.

0:36:580:37:02

-They used to use it for transporting goods and people.

-Oh, OK.

0:37:020:37:07

-In those days.

-When did it hit our shores, do you think?

0:37:070:37:10

-About 1920, 1930, after the First World War.

-Yeah.

0:37:100:37:14

-Guys picked up bits from old aircraft...

-Really?

0:37:140:37:20

-Just cobbled bits together?

-Bits together.

0:37:200:37:22

Talk me through the land yachts we see today because this looks

0:37:220:37:24

pretty advanced.

0:37:240:37:26

It was designed 25 years ago.

0:37:260:37:29

To me it looks half-boat, half-aeroplane, really.

0:37:290:37:32

Exactly the same as sailing but with three wheels.

0:37:320:37:35

A long time ago I did have a go at this and I did really enjoy it.

0:37:350:37:39

It wasn't quite as blustery as this but I'd love to have a go.

0:37:390:37:43

Let's get the kit on. Let's go for it.

0:37:430:37:46

-How much would this be worth?

-This yacht, about £5,500.

0:37:460:37:51

I promise to be careful.

0:37:510:37:52

It wasn't until the late 1960s that land yachting was classified as

0:37:530:37:57

a sport.

0:37:570:37:58

The yachts themselves have come a long way since then, weighing

0:37:580:38:01

just 75kg, they're made from fibreglass body on a metal frame.

0:38:010:38:06

The largest class are capable of reaching speeds up to an

0:38:060:38:09

incredible 90mph.

0:38:090:38:11

Is it me or has it got windier? I can see you got me a lid.

0:38:110:38:17

-You need one of them. You need some gloves.

-Thanks very much.

0:38:170:38:20

-Here you go.

-OK. Give me the basics.

0:38:200:38:23

If in doubt, what we say is, "Sheet out."

0:38:230:38:26

Just let that go if it starts to hike, which means this wheel is

0:38:260:38:29

coming off the ground,

0:38:290:38:31

just let the sheet rope out and it will come back down.

0:38:310:38:34

-All right. In I get.

-You lay right down.

0:38:340:38:38

-Right down.

-You're not on it, you're in it.

0:38:380:38:41

It feels like I'm lying on the floor.

0:38:410:38:43

-What sort of speed am I likely to be doing?

-Well, 30-ish.

0:38:430:38:47

-30-ish two inches from the ground. Right then.

-Gently pushing you off.

0:38:470:38:52

-Thank you, Martyn.

-You'll feel the sail pulling you.

0:38:520:38:54

Off you go.

0:38:560:38:58

He's off.

0:38:580:39:01

What's great about this sport is it's accessible to everyone,

0:39:010:39:04

young or old, of all abilities.

0:39:040:39:07

As long as you can steer with your foot and control the sheet rope

0:39:070:39:10

with your hands, everyone competes on a level playing field or beach.

0:39:100:39:14

She goes all right, doesn't she, Martyn?

0:39:170:39:19

Martyn took up the sport when he retired ten years ago.

0:39:210:39:23

And six months later, he was competing at his first world

0:39:230:39:27

championships in Belgium.

0:39:270:39:29

Here we go.

0:39:290:39:30

The wind just hit that sail.

0:39:320:39:34

It's a good job I'm turning into the wind.

0:39:350:39:38

Otherwise I reckon I'd end up in Bristol.

0:39:380:39:40

That's the best fun I've ever had without an engine.

0:39:450:39:49

I love that sense of being slightly out of control and then

0:39:490:39:52

fighting it back, it's fantastic.

0:39:520:39:54

-Can I have one more spin before I go?

-Absolutely.

-Set me up.

-Crack on.

0:39:540:39:58

Get ready.

0:39:580:40:00

-Thanks, Martyn. See you never.

-OK.

0:40:010:40:04

It's been a tricky search with Sue and Steve here in Somerset.

0:40:090:40:13

But three properties down, there's clearly only one in the running.

0:40:130:40:17

Time to find out what they're thinking.

0:40:170:40:19

This search, there's been ups and downs, haven't there?

0:40:190:40:22

It's been a journey for all of us.

0:40:220:40:24

Do you think you've changed your minds about your desires for

0:40:240:40:28

this isolated position?

0:40:280:40:30

I know you're looking into the future and the practicalities

0:40:300:40:33

-of that.

-I think that privacy...

0:40:330:40:37

-can replace isolation.

-Yeah.

-Isolation is perhaps the wrong word.

0:40:370:40:41

In our first chat, it was all about the kitchen.

0:40:410:40:45

But it was actually the privacy that leapfrogged above everything else.

0:40:450:40:49

It did, which was quite revealing.

0:40:490:40:51

-As I said, it's a journey.

-It really is. My goodness, we've had one.

0:40:510:40:54

-It was a journey today because we went over the border to Devon.

-Yes.

0:40:540:40:58

Was it worth the commute?

0:40:580:41:00

-For sure.

-So, the Mystery House has come to the rescue.

0:41:000:41:03

Sue, you seemed to come alive there. That was a Sue I haven't yet met.

0:41:030:41:07

I tell you, I was getting paint charts out.

0:41:070:41:10

What we have created in our own heads already is

0:41:100:41:14

a very continuous kitchen space.

0:41:140:41:18

Walls coming down, keeping chimney breasts, but taking down parts

0:41:180:41:22

of walls, and we think that could work very nicely.

0:41:220:41:26

Right, that sounds promising. What's the next step, then?

0:41:260:41:29

How do you feel about the Mystery Property?

0:41:290:41:32

It's not a decision you're going to make lightly.

0:41:320:41:34

If this house is meant for us, then we will consider what we're

0:41:340:41:38

willing to pay. But it is one hell of a place, isn't it?

0:41:380:41:42

-Whatever you decide, let us know, won't you?

-We shall.

-Thank you.

0:41:420:41:45

It'd be a hell of a house-warming party, wouldn't it?

0:41:450:41:48

-Bagsy the room with a view.

-It's yours.

-Good luck.

-Thank you.

0:41:500:41:53

Thank you.

0:41:530:41:54

There were times when I was reminded that Sue and Steve were

0:41:590:42:03

indeed looking to buy their first house together.

0:42:030:42:06

They clearly had differing opinions on what they would be

0:42:060:42:09

prepared to compromise on.

0:42:090:42:11

But they really came together in that Mystery House.

0:42:110:42:14

And both solved the issue of whether or not they wanted isolation.

0:42:140:42:19

They actually just needed privacy.

0:42:190:42:22

But they still have one more conundrum to solve.

0:42:220:42:25

In liking - no, loving - the Mystery House,

0:42:250:42:30

they need to understand it comes with a huge responsibility.

0:42:300:42:35

Not only doing up but maintaining a period property of that size.

0:42:350:42:40

And hopefully they'll make that decision over the coming weeks.

0:42:400:42:44

I'm looking forward to finding out what they say.

0:42:440:42:47

If you'd like to escape to the country in

0:42:480:42:50

England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland and would like our help,

0:42:500:42:54

you can apply online at...

0:42:540:42:56

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