0:00:02 > 0:00:03Welcome to Escape to the Country.
0:00:03 > 0:00:05Now, where do you think we've come to,
0:00:05 > 0:00:07to find a pretty backdrop such as this?
0:00:07 > 0:00:09Well, here's the clue - during the Middle Ages,
0:00:09 > 0:00:12this lovely little village was once a bustling seaside port,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15but today, the coast is nowhere to be seen.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17So what happened to the port?
0:00:17 > 0:00:18And where did the sea go?
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Well, join me in just a moment and I'll tell you.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41Today's house search is all about making an impression.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44It seems like one place, that straight away,
0:00:44 > 0:00:45as you walk down the drive,
0:00:45 > 0:00:48you go, "I want to explore."
0:00:48 > 0:00:52But will curiosity catch our couple the house of their dreams?
0:00:52 > 0:00:54- It's breathtaking!- Breathtaking.
0:00:54 > 0:00:55That's a phrase I like.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Well, today we are in Norfolk,
0:01:00 > 0:01:02North Norfolk, to be precise,
0:01:02 > 0:01:04and this is the village of Cley next the Sea.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07And despite its name, it's now a mile inland
0:01:07 > 0:01:09from the North Norfolk coast, just over there.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11But in the Middle Ages, believe it or not,
0:01:11 > 0:01:14this was once one of the most prosperous ports in England.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16But in the 17th century,
0:01:16 > 0:01:20an attempt at land reclamation had the adverse effect
0:01:20 > 0:01:23of silting up the river, and the port simply disappeared.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26And these days, the silt marshes that surround it
0:01:26 > 0:01:28have become an important nature reserve.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Just one of the many highlights that pepper the Norfolk coastline.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36Norfolk occupies the northern part of East Anglia,
0:01:36 > 0:01:38sharing land borders with three counties,
0:01:38 > 0:01:42and a coastline with the Wash and the North Sea.
0:01:42 > 0:01:43Those looking to live here
0:01:43 > 0:01:47will find many of the great and good have gone before them.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49Houghton Hall was built in the 1720s
0:01:49 > 0:01:51for Britain's first Prime Minister,
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Sir Robert Walpole.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56It's a fine example of Palladian architecture.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59The nation's most well known Admiral, Horatio Nelson,
0:01:59 > 0:02:03was born in the tiny Norfolk village of Burnham Thorpe.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06Nelson's father was rector here, and, in 1890,
0:02:06 > 0:02:08the admiralty donated wood from HMS Victory,
0:02:08 > 0:02:10Nelson's ship at the Battle of Trafalgar,
0:02:10 > 0:02:13to be used as part of the All Saints Church restoration.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17In the Middle Ages, Norfolk's flat and fertile terrain
0:02:17 > 0:02:20made the county the most intensively farmed
0:02:20 > 0:02:23and densely populated region in England.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26Woodlands were cleared, and as timber supplies ran low,
0:02:26 > 0:02:30peat was turned to as an alternative source of fuel.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33Over 125 miles of navigable broads and rivers
0:02:33 > 0:02:35were created by the peat-digging,
0:02:35 > 0:02:37which provided essential channels
0:02:37 > 0:02:39for communication and commerce
0:02:39 > 0:02:41throughout the 16th century.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44It wasn't long before tourists headed
0:02:44 > 0:02:46for the tranquil waterways,
0:02:46 > 0:02:48and with the coming of the railways in the 19th century,
0:02:48 > 0:02:52the influx of holiday-makers grew in earnest.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Boat-hire companies began offering visitors trips afloat.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59And along the coast, resorts such as Cromer flourished.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01So, whether you love naval history,
0:03:01 > 0:03:04following in the footsteps of Victorian seasiders
0:03:04 > 0:03:06or just messing about in boats,
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Norfolk is a great county to head for.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13Well, for a county that doesn't have any motorways running through it,
0:03:13 > 0:03:19Norfolk has long prided itself on being a remote and peaceful place,
0:03:19 > 0:03:20pretty much as you can see,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23and despite the recent widening of the A11,
0:03:23 > 0:03:25making the whole region much more accessible,
0:03:25 > 0:03:29property shopping here is still relatively inexpensive.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32To give you a clearer idea of what I'm talking about,
0:03:32 > 0:03:37currently, the average price of a detached property here is £277,000.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41That's £33,000 below the national average.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44So, for today's buyers wanting to move to the country,
0:03:44 > 0:03:45it's a great place to start,
0:03:45 > 0:03:49because not only have they got some fabulous landscape to explore,
0:03:49 > 0:03:52they're also blessed with some stunning coastline.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57Today's buyers are Alan and Paula from Mill Hill, London,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00who met online through a shared love of dogs.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04Al actually had a picture of his dog on his profile,
0:04:04 > 0:04:07and I quite warmed to his dog first,
0:04:07 > 0:04:10then Al, and that was five years ago.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13We currently have two German shepherds, Bear and Brax. One's six,
0:04:13 > 0:04:16one's two-and-a-half. Bear's come together nicely now,
0:04:16 > 0:04:18all the hard work has paid off.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20Brax, on the other hand, is just chaos.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23In fact, that's what we should have called him!
0:04:23 > 0:04:27And that's not the only chaos that's come into their lives.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30Alan recently suffered a work-place injury to his hamstring
0:04:30 > 0:04:33in his job as a police officer.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35My injury was sustained at work
0:04:35 > 0:04:37through running on a fitness test,
0:04:37 > 0:04:40and the fact that it's become such a devastating injury
0:04:40 > 0:04:42has turned everything upside down.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45The injury's actually been quite life-changing.
0:04:45 > 0:04:50It's restricted a lot of my ability to work as a police officer.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54And as a result, Alan is taking early retirement
0:04:54 > 0:04:57at the age of 48 on medical grounds.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01With Paula able to relocate her work as a private ambulance driver,
0:05:01 > 0:05:05the couple see it as a chance to find a new rural setting
0:05:05 > 0:05:07and move out of the London home
0:05:07 > 0:05:10that Alan has had for the last 23 years.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12We've chosen to go to Norfolk
0:05:12 > 0:05:14because of its fantastic countryside,
0:05:14 > 0:05:15it's great for the dogs.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17There's a pub around the corner in most places,
0:05:17 > 0:05:20which we don't have, believe it or not, here.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23The beaches are fantastic. The walking's amazing.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25I just don't think you can get better than that.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28These keen volunteers also see the move
0:05:28 > 0:05:32as an opportunity to engage more with their new local community.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35We've both worked for the local Ambulance Service
0:05:35 > 0:05:37on a voluntary basis as first responders,
0:05:37 > 0:05:40which is something we really want to get back into in Norfolk.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42I've always enjoyed volunteering.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45The community, certainly in rural Norfolk
0:05:45 > 0:05:49is driven by people being decent human beings.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51So, therefore, you've got people who are coastguards,
0:05:51 > 0:05:53community responders,
0:05:53 > 0:05:55or even people who just knock on doors
0:05:55 > 0:05:56to make sure their neighbours are OK.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Time is of the essence when it comes to finding the right house.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03With marriage planned for later in the year,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06the couple want to be in their new home before the wedding.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10It will be great to find a house before we get married,
0:06:10 > 0:06:13so that once we are married, we can move in,
0:06:13 > 0:06:15rather than all the upheaval afterwards.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17We're going to have a new house.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19We are going to be Mr and Mrs.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22We will have somewhere that we can spend time together,
0:06:22 > 0:06:26and being retired, it means that we have a whole lot more time together.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Paula and Alan want to concentrate on the area
0:06:33 > 0:06:34near the North Norfolk coast,
0:06:34 > 0:06:36centred on Fakenham.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39But before we start looking at houses,
0:06:39 > 0:06:40I'm meeting up with them in the county
0:06:40 > 0:06:43to hear more about their hopes for the move.
0:06:43 > 0:06:44Well, guys, welcome to Norfolk
0:06:44 > 0:06:47and you've picked a beautiful week of weather to come
0:06:47 > 0:06:48and find your new country home.
0:06:48 > 0:06:49Now, it was a love of dogs
0:06:49 > 0:06:51that brought you both together, wasn't it?
0:06:51 > 0:06:54- It was.- That is a passion that I also share.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57And they are an important part of the family, and it's clear that,
0:06:57 > 0:06:59you know, we need to accommodate them fully.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Absolutely. I mean somewhere to run at home.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04We're looking for somewhere to take them out to the beach,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07within reasonable distance, but, yeah,
0:07:07 > 0:07:10I mean, they're a massive part of our, well, they are our family.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14Now, location, what would be a kind of viable proximity to the coast?
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Ideally, for me, no more than sort of 30 minutes from the coast.
0:07:17 > 0:07:22So, give us an idea of the spec of this particular new home.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Well, that'll be me.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27- Go on, then!- I think the main thing for me is some land,
0:07:27 > 0:07:28sort of up to an acre for the dogs.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30- Yeah.- So they, you know, they've got the space,
0:07:30 > 0:07:32you don't have to necessarily go out
0:07:32 > 0:07:33two or three times a day walking them.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35Definitely a large kitchen-diner.
0:07:35 > 0:07:36We both like to cook.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39I think one thing that we either definitely need
0:07:39 > 0:07:40or the potential to build
0:07:40 > 0:07:42is, like, a man cave, with storage, so...
0:07:42 > 0:07:46Oh! Now, listen you've got the opportunity now to go for space,
0:07:46 > 0:07:49which of course is what you don't have in your current property.
0:07:49 > 0:07:50And what about bedrooms?
0:07:50 > 0:07:52How many of those do you think you'll need?
0:07:52 > 0:07:54We're going anything from three bedrooms upwards.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57So we're looking at a couple of extra bedrooms
0:07:57 > 0:07:59just to accommodate the, not extended family,
0:07:59 > 0:08:02immediate family when they come with Mum, for me,
0:08:02 > 0:08:04and your daughter's in Kent.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08In Kent, so I think an annexe would be an absolute bonus for us.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11You know, it's not essential, but would be a real nice added bonus
0:08:11 > 0:08:13for them to be able to come up and stay
0:08:13 > 0:08:14and have their own space,
0:08:14 > 0:08:16- as well as spending time with us. - So, it's a big move.
0:08:16 > 0:08:21But how much are you going to spend on this new endeavour?
0:08:21 > 0:08:25I think it's going to be a top whack of £600,000.
0:08:25 > 0:08:26So that's all rather exciting.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28- Very.- I'm going to drag you around Norfolk now
0:08:28 > 0:08:30and find you a home for the future.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34- Shall we go?- Lovely. Fantastic. Thank you.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36With a budget of up to £600,000,
0:08:36 > 0:08:39Paula and Alan are looking for a property
0:08:39 > 0:08:41with up to an acre of dog-friendly land,
0:08:41 > 0:08:44located no more than 30 minutes from the coast.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47They'd like a large kitchen-diner, and at least three bedrooms,
0:08:47 > 0:08:50ideally with guest accommodation in an annexe.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Plus, they're keen to have an option
0:08:52 > 0:08:55of some self-contained space for Alan.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57We've got three very different propositions for them,
0:08:57 > 0:08:59all with their wish list in mind,
0:08:59 > 0:09:01and at each, I'll be getting them to guess the price
0:09:01 > 0:09:03before I reveal it.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Our final tour will be our Mystery House,
0:09:05 > 0:09:09which could just be a 21st-century solution to an age-old problem.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16We're kicking off in the outskirts of Foulsham.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22Now a large village with stores, a pub and an active community,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25the village sign is a reminder of less fortunate times.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29In 1770, a gun powder store ignited,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32starting a fire which devastated most of the village,
0:09:32 > 0:09:35leaving only the Church tower standing.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38This can still be seen across the surrounding countryside,
0:09:38 > 0:09:39and just under a mile away,
0:09:39 > 0:09:44we find our first house amongst a collection of former farm buildings.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46Now, there are five here in total,
0:09:46 > 0:09:49but the one I want you to think about is that one.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51So the key thing I suppose really to unpack
0:09:51 > 0:09:55is how do you feel about having some near neighbours?
0:09:55 > 0:09:57I think I have to see inside to be convinced,
0:09:57 > 0:10:01- because it's obviously, is quite close-knit to everybody.- Yeah.
0:10:01 > 0:10:02But we'll see.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04What does Al think?
0:10:04 > 0:10:05Proof of the pudding. Let's see.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07I think this is a sumptuous feast.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11It's certainly very different from where you are at the moment.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13Come and have a look.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15- OK.- OK.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17Thought to date from the late 19th century,
0:10:17 > 0:10:20the barn was originally used as a cattle shed.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23It was converted into a holiday home in the 1980s,
0:10:23 > 0:10:27but has been fully renovated and extended in the last 12 months.
0:10:29 > 0:10:30Laid out over one floor,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33we're starting our tour in the entrance hall.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38There! What do we notice first of all then, Paula?
0:10:38 > 0:10:40Space and the garden.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43Yes! You can see a glimpse of what's going on through there.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Rather cleverly, they've created this sort of link,
0:10:46 > 0:10:47this kind of atrium,
0:10:47 > 0:10:50with these fabulous reclaimed scaffold boards as flooring.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Yeah, it's nice and rustic.
0:10:52 > 0:10:53Getting more excited by the second.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Wait till you see what's through here.
0:10:55 > 0:10:56Come and look at this.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01- There you go.- Oh, wow!
0:11:01 > 0:11:02It's nice and open plan.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05It's got this lovely intimate feeling,
0:11:05 > 0:11:06but nonetheless, lots of space.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08But you've still got that barn feeling, haven't you?
0:11:08 > 0:11:10Yeah. Yeah.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12- Very nice.- At the moment, they've got their dining table in here.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16But there obviously is your sort of kitchen-living room to go with it.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18Yeah. I think it works well.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20There's enough room for two of us.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23Me doing the donkey work and Paula cooking.
0:11:23 > 0:11:24That's the rule.
0:11:24 > 0:11:29But I'm also thinking about you two with two great big German shepherds.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31I mean, this is such a practical arrangement,
0:11:31 > 0:11:34- with the floor.- Fantastic flooring for the dogs, yeah.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37It also has the addition of this new extension.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40You could even sort of make this your living space
0:11:40 > 0:11:42and keep that more as a kitchen-diner.
0:11:42 > 0:11:43- Yeah, a nice sort of family room. - Yeah.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45Because you've got obviously access out there
0:11:45 > 0:11:48through, what, a number of double doors in this property,
0:11:48 > 0:11:49out to the garden.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51It's got four bedrooms in total.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54Three of them are the other side of that entrance atrium.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56The other one is through that door there,
0:11:56 > 0:11:57with downstairs loo, et cetera.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00So, we're thinking, not quite an annexe...
0:12:00 > 0:12:02But it's split from the rest of the...
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Yeah, fantastic!
0:12:04 > 0:12:08There's plenty of space for Paula's daughter and Alan's mum to visit,
0:12:08 > 0:12:11with two further guest rooms off the entrance hall,
0:12:11 > 0:12:13one with a sky light window
0:12:13 > 0:12:15and another with windows out to the garden.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18And both served by a family shower room.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21Bedroom number four is the master, with en suite facilities,
0:12:21 > 0:12:25as well as a walk-in wardrobe, currently used as a home office.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29So all in all, the interior here adds up to an excellent option.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32This, you walk straight into it and it's breathtaking.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34- Breathtaking!- That's a phrase I like,
0:12:34 > 0:12:36but I'm thinking that, really,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39- the next thing we need to tackle is the outside space...- Outdoors.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42..because let's be honest, that's what this move is all about.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45- Shall we go outside?- Definitely. - Right.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Well, it doesn't get much better than breathtaking
0:12:49 > 0:12:51and outside, in the half acre rear plot,
0:12:51 > 0:12:55there's bags of room for two energetic German shepherds
0:12:55 > 0:12:57to explore to their heart's content,
0:12:57 > 0:13:00as well as something that might put a smile on Alan's face -
0:13:00 > 0:13:02a slab foundation with power and water.
0:13:03 > 0:13:08It did have a much bigger log cabin on it.
0:13:08 > 0:13:09So I'm thinking that the man cave...
0:13:09 > 0:13:10Man cave! Yeah.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12..could be bespoke, Al.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14More than excited. I see the potential there.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16But in terms of space for the dogs...
0:13:16 > 0:13:18- Oh, plenty.- Want to see the rest of it?
0:13:18 > 0:13:19Definitely. Yeah.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25This large and level lawn is both private and spacious,
0:13:25 > 0:13:30with wonderful far-reaching views across the Norfolk countryside.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32It's a nice size, and it's nice it's not just a paddock,
0:13:32 > 0:13:35so it makes it more of a garden, as well,
0:13:35 > 0:13:37rather than just a flat paddock.
0:13:37 > 0:13:38The potential of this one,
0:13:38 > 0:13:42in terms of satisfying the lifestyle that you have described to me,
0:13:42 > 0:13:46is there. The question is, is it...
0:13:46 > 0:13:48..the right price?
0:13:48 > 0:13:49£600,000, you've got.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51Make me an offer for property number one.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53I'm going to go for £525,000.
0:13:53 > 0:13:54525. Yeah.
0:13:54 > 0:13:59- Al?- I'll probably go a little bit lower and say 515.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02Well, here's the thing.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04You're spot on!
0:14:04 > 0:14:05Oh, look at that!
0:14:05 > 0:14:07I like the house, I like the land.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09The house itself is really nice.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11Very nicely done and laid out.
0:14:11 > 0:14:12Go and have a look at those bedrooms
0:14:12 > 0:14:14and I will find you a little bit later on.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16- Lovely. Thank you.- Off you go.- OK.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21£75,000 under budget,
0:14:21 > 0:14:25this 19th-century barn conversion offers single-storey living,
0:14:25 > 0:14:28with an open-plan kitchen and reception area at its heart.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31There are four bedrooms, including an en-suite,
0:14:31 > 0:14:33whilst outside, there is half an acre of land
0:14:33 > 0:14:36overlooking open countryside.
0:14:36 > 0:14:37Oh, well...
0:14:37 > 0:14:39- Visitors, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:14:39 > 0:14:40I can see straight away.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42Yeah, you could use it as an annexe, couldn't you,
0:14:42 > 0:14:43cos it's got its own sort of an exit?
0:14:43 > 0:14:46Yeah. It's almost like a Tardis, isn't it?
0:14:46 > 0:14:50There's so much in here for what deceptively seems a small space,
0:14:50 > 0:14:54it's almost annexed, but without being annexed.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56When I walked through the door,
0:14:56 > 0:14:59the thing which struck me amazingly was light.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01It's bright. It's airy.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05It's just homely. First initial impression, I like it.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Really nice rustic floor that runs right the way through,
0:15:08 > 0:15:09which is ideal for the dogs.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12And then we go through to the back garden,
0:15:12 > 0:15:13which is absolutely perfect.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15There's some variety in it. You've got some hedging,
0:15:15 > 0:15:17you've got some shrubs and you've got some trees.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20I think the best thing for me, I've got somewhere down the garden
0:15:20 > 0:15:23where there's no limit to your dreams.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Build what you want to build and put a smile on your face.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29Well, I think we've all recognised the potential of this one,
0:15:29 > 0:15:31but there are plenty more properties to tempt you with.
0:15:31 > 0:15:32- OK.- Ready for lunch?- Absolutely.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34Come on!
0:15:40 > 0:15:42The county of Norfolk,
0:15:42 > 0:15:44with its distinctive coastal and inland habitats,
0:15:44 > 0:15:47has long been a focus for nature conservation.
0:15:47 > 0:15:52In 1926, it was the first county to have a dedicated Wildlife Trust.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54But the RSPCA,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57more usually associated with helping and protecting domestic animals
0:15:57 > 0:16:01has opted to open one of only four wildlife centres
0:16:01 > 0:16:03in the UK in East Winch.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05Since animal lovers Paula and Alan
0:16:05 > 0:16:07want to contribute to their community
0:16:07 > 0:16:09after their move by volunteering,
0:16:09 > 0:16:12we've sent them to meet centre manager, Alison Charles,
0:16:12 > 0:16:16to get some background and lend a hand with her latest admissions.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20So, can you tell us a bit about the sort of history of the place?
0:16:20 > 0:16:23We started in 1992, and it's a purpose-built hospital
0:16:23 > 0:16:25for all sorts of wildlife.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28So we have seals, swans, ducks, geese, everything.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30All orphaned, injured.
0:16:30 > 0:16:31But we've got lots of orphaned birds in,
0:16:31 > 0:16:33and I'm hoping you're going to help me feed them.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35So would you like to come and have a look?
0:16:35 > 0:16:37That would be fantastic. Yes, please.
0:16:37 > 0:16:4080% of cases at the centre are birds,
0:16:40 > 0:16:42brought in by the public for a variety of reasons,
0:16:42 > 0:16:46from habitat loss due to felled trees, to cat attacks.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50Many of these sick and injured charges need regular hand-feeding
0:16:50 > 0:16:52up to every 20 minutes, with a preparation
0:16:52 > 0:16:55originally designed for rearing parrots.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59So, it's really important that you take it slowly.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01We try not to get it on their feathers
0:17:01 > 0:17:02because it gets caked on their feathers,
0:17:02 > 0:17:04and then we have to pick it off at a later date.
0:17:04 > 0:17:05OK.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10Poor bird, it's absolutely caked in it!
0:17:10 > 0:17:13You're going to have to wipe that off before it gets hard!
0:17:13 > 0:17:15Well, perhaps Alan will have more joy
0:17:15 > 0:17:19giving the insect feeders their daily mealworms.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27With hundreds of birds to clean, feed and administer medication to,
0:17:27 > 0:17:29there's always plenty to be done.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31- There you go!- Do you have lots of volunteers helping out?
0:17:31 > 0:17:33Yeah, we have some volunteers,
0:17:33 > 0:17:35but just not enough volunteers, as you'd imagine.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38It would be lovely to have lots of volunteers, but we haven't.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40Speaking of which, come and give us a hand,
0:17:40 > 0:17:42- and we'll go and release some ducks. - Yeah, love to.- Fantastic.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44- Come on, then.- Yeah. Thank you.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49There are currently 250 ducks at the centre,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52some of which are now ready to be released back into the wild.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56This will be done in small batches in a variety of locations.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00But before taking today's chosen group to their new natural home,
0:18:00 > 0:18:02they're checked for healthy flight feathers,
0:18:02 > 0:18:04a good weight and overall fitness and mobility.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09- Yeah.- Do you see, there, she's got all her feathers?
0:18:09 > 0:18:10- Oh, yeah.- That means she can go.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18The boxed ducks are now ready to be taken to the release location.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26I know it's good to release them, but do you get sad when you...
0:18:26 > 0:18:28- No, not at all.- Don't get attached to any of them?
0:18:28 > 0:18:30No. The good times are releasing them.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33It's just brilliant. You know they came in as tiny little ducks.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35I mean, it is, it's quite amazing.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39This will be the ducks' first venture into the wild
0:18:39 > 0:18:40as independent adults,
0:18:40 > 0:18:43so it's important the site has a good natural supply of food,
0:18:43 > 0:18:46as well as shelter from predators.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48The next release, we'll do somewhere else.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50And we just keep moving them around and round Norfolk.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53Point it in that direction of the river, open up the box,
0:18:53 > 0:18:55hopefully, it will take that nice little route down.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58- Hopefully.- OK, let's go. Oh!
0:18:59 > 0:19:03Fingers crossed this is home sweet home for these rescued ducks,
0:19:03 > 0:19:07but it's time to turn our attention to finding the perfect location
0:19:07 > 0:19:09for Paula and Alan's country escape.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17We're taking our search to the coast at Cromer.
0:19:18 > 0:19:19In the Victorian era,
0:19:19 > 0:19:23the coming of the railways made this town a fashionable seaside resort,
0:19:23 > 0:19:27with a string of hotels and a magnificent pier springing up.
0:19:27 > 0:19:32Miles of esplanade are a great place to enjoy a coastal constitutional,
0:19:32 > 0:19:35whilst the maze of lanes behind the beach are a shopper's delight.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39Amidst the souvenirs and boutiques is the county's tallest church,
0:19:39 > 0:19:44St Peter and St Paul, with a tower reaching 160 feet.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46And just a mile-and-a-half inland,
0:19:46 > 0:19:49mindful of Paula's wish for a house set in its own private plot,
0:19:49 > 0:19:51is the property we've come to see.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55In trying to learn the lessons of our first property,
0:19:55 > 0:19:57as you can see, it is surrounded by a bit more land.
0:19:57 > 0:20:02The whole thing is very dog-proof and we've got you this,
0:20:02 > 0:20:04late 1920s villa.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06It does need a bit of TLC.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09That's where we put our marker on it.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11A chance to personalise it, I think.
0:20:11 > 0:20:12You could certainly personalise it.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14What I like about it, from your point of view,
0:20:14 > 0:20:16is it's got a bit more space out here.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18We're just going to have to be a bit more creative with it.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20We know what you like stylistically now, which is good.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Certainly on paper, it fulfils all the criteria.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26It's not something that I would have automatically looked at.
0:20:26 > 0:20:27Come on.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31Built in 1929,
0:20:31 > 0:20:34this detached brick house has been recently rendered
0:20:34 > 0:20:36and extended to the side.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39An elegant entrance hall leads through to the rear of the home,
0:20:39 > 0:20:41where we find the kitchen-breakfast room.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45But a much more modern feel to the current kitchen.
0:20:45 > 0:20:46Mm.
0:20:48 > 0:20:53Yeah. It's not really what I would go for.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55Don't mind modern, but a cottagey feel,
0:20:55 > 0:20:59and I just feel this is a bit white and square.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01The thought would be to do something
0:21:01 > 0:21:03that would extend the property that way.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06You've also got a utility room around the corner here.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09But this is one that is going to require a bit of imagination.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11And I think it's quite an exciting opportunity.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15I think it's just being able to see past what's necessarily here
0:21:15 > 0:21:17and what you can focus on and what you can do.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19- Yeah.- Both physically and financially.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22Think of it as fantasy renovation.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24- What would we do?- Yeah.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26- OK.- Come and have a look through here.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31Well, it remains to be seen whether the undeniable benefits of location
0:21:31 > 0:21:34and land will be enough to tempt Paula and Alan
0:21:34 > 0:21:36to take on some work here.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39Leading off the kitchen is the largest room on this floor,
0:21:39 > 0:21:42a reception running the length of the property.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44I think the size of the room's great.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47I don't think I'd necessarily have it as a lounge-diner.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51If you had this as one living area, it's certainly a really good size.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53I think it's got potential.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56I'm just not sure if it's too much of a big project
0:21:56 > 0:21:59to what I would want to do with what I've seen so far.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02Once we see the whole potential project,
0:22:02 > 0:22:04I think you can put perspective on it then.
0:22:05 > 0:22:06Is it going to grow on you?
0:22:08 > 0:22:09Potentially.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11Well, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised
0:22:11 > 0:22:12with what you get upstairs.
0:22:12 > 0:22:13- Come and have a look.- OK.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17Well potential really is the watchword here,
0:22:17 > 0:22:19and completing the ground floor
0:22:19 > 0:22:21is a further good-sized reception room,
0:22:21 > 0:22:24located to the other side of the entrance hall,
0:22:24 > 0:22:26with access to the garden.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29This floor also offers the first of four bedrooms,
0:22:29 > 0:22:33and, with access to its own shower room, could provide a guest annexe.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37The remaining three bedrooms are found upstairs.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39There's a good-size guest double, to the rear,
0:22:39 > 0:22:42which comes with dual-aspect windows,
0:22:42 > 0:22:44with a slightly smaller double to the front.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46These are served by a family bathroom,
0:22:46 > 0:22:51which leaves bedroom number four, a very spacious master en suite.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53This is a lovely size.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56But it also has the benefit of a shower en suite.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58Nice rooms. Really, really nice size.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01It flows better upstairs than it does downstairs.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03Overall, as a four bedroom package,
0:23:03 > 0:23:05I think it gives you lots of options.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Big, roomy, en suite.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11This must be bigger than what you've got at the moment?
0:23:11 > 0:23:13- Yes.- Yes.- And one other thing that is definitely bigger
0:23:13 > 0:23:18than what you've got at the moment is what's going on out there.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20- Yes.- You can't wait.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22- You're itching, aren't you?- Let's not forget the dogs.
0:23:22 > 0:23:23Come on, let's go outside.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27So a positive finish to the accommodation on offer
0:23:27 > 0:23:30in this detached 1920s home,
0:23:30 > 0:23:32and outside, the fully enclosed plot
0:23:32 > 0:23:35backs on to open countryside and includes areas of woodland,
0:23:35 > 0:23:39a gated driveway and a selection of sheds.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42The paved patio provides the perfect spot for a barbecue,
0:23:42 > 0:23:44and coming in at over an acre,
0:23:44 > 0:23:47there's plenty to please these ardent dog lovers.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50Garden-wise, we've doubled the size of what was on offer
0:23:50 > 0:23:53at property number one - a whole acre.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55Do you think your boys would be satisfied
0:23:55 > 0:23:56with all of this to run around in?
0:23:56 > 0:23:58I think they would be. Yeah.
0:23:58 > 0:23:59- Yeah?- You try and keep them in.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02Let's have a play-around with the price on this one.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06I would go for £515,000 again.
0:24:06 > 0:24:07I think it's a lot more than that.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10I think it's going to be about 585.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12Oooh!
0:24:12 > 0:24:13THEY LAUGH
0:24:13 > 0:24:15Well, let me see.
0:24:15 > 0:24:16It begins with a five.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19And it ends with zero.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21Ooh!
0:24:21 > 0:24:23Half a million, on the nose.
0:24:23 > 0:24:24£500,000.
0:24:24 > 0:24:25It's certainly affordable,
0:24:25 > 0:24:27and it gives you lots of scope
0:24:27 > 0:24:28to really make this one your own.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31Have a wander around the grounds, have a wander around the house,
0:24:31 > 0:24:33and I'll come and find you a little bit later on
0:24:33 > 0:24:34and see what you're thinking.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36- OK.- Go on, then. Off you go.- Thank you.
0:24:36 > 0:24:37Enjoy.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41With £100,000 left in the pot,
0:24:41 > 0:24:45Alan and Paula could really make this 1920s villa their own.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49With a kitchen-diner and two additional reception rooms,
0:24:49 > 0:24:52the property offers four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55Set in its own plot of just over an acre,
0:24:55 > 0:24:57there's countryside on the doorstep,
0:24:57 > 0:25:00as well as proximity to both town and coast.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03Ooooh!
0:25:04 > 0:25:08I guess this is more like a shed than a man cave, isn't it, really?
0:25:08 > 0:25:09It's good for starters.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12I think the good thing about this property is,
0:25:12 > 0:25:16it does have quite large rooms, which are good for the dogs.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19You know, you're not all sort of falling over each other.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21Obviously, we wanted a bigger kitchen,
0:25:21 > 0:25:23and I think I've quickly realised in here
0:25:23 > 0:25:25you'd have to do a lot of knocking the walls out,
0:25:25 > 0:25:27which scares me a little bit.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30The potential I can see is maybe extending the kitchen
0:25:30 > 0:25:31to accommodate our needs.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33The world's your oyster,
0:25:33 > 0:25:36as long as it's within reach and its reasonable.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38Right, well, that's it. We've got to go.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41It is time now to sample the pint of the local.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45Look at your face! Can't wait!
0:25:45 > 0:25:46Come on!
0:25:57 > 0:26:00We're in North Norfolk, helping soon-to-retire police officer Alan
0:26:00 > 0:26:03and ambulance driver Paula find a new home
0:26:03 > 0:26:06for their budget of £600,000.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09They've already seen two excellent options,
0:26:09 > 0:26:11but there's still our Mystery House to come,
0:26:11 > 0:26:14which could be the answer to their designs on living near the sea.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16Oh, it's nice!
0:26:16 > 0:26:18- Yeah!- It is nice!
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Straightaway, big grin.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23Plus, I take a big historic journey
0:26:23 > 0:26:26on the world's smallest public railway.
0:26:26 > 0:26:27I love it!
0:26:27 > 0:26:31The sights and sounds and smells and history of yesteryear!
0:26:33 > 0:26:35Well, when it comes to our properties,
0:26:35 > 0:26:38this week is all about the best of three,
0:26:38 > 0:26:40as we try and find Al and Paula the first home
0:26:40 > 0:26:42that they are going to buy together.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45Now one thing has become abundantly clear.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49Paula, at least, is not interested in any sort of projects,
0:26:49 > 0:26:50although to be fair to Al,
0:26:50 > 0:26:52he's more than excited about the prospect
0:26:52 > 0:26:54of creating his own man cave.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56Let's not forget, this isn't somewhere for DIY
0:26:56 > 0:26:58or a bit of tinkering,
0:26:58 > 0:27:00this is somewhere to relax and watch the footy.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03So what can we possibly come up with for our final offering,
0:27:03 > 0:27:04our Mystery House?
0:27:04 > 0:27:07Well, needless to say, this one isn't a project,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10not even as far as Al is concerned.
0:27:10 > 0:27:11What it lacks in size,
0:27:11 > 0:27:12it more than makes up for
0:27:12 > 0:27:15in its close proximity to Norfolk's glorious coast
0:27:15 > 0:27:17and at the end of the day,
0:27:17 > 0:27:19the seaside is what this search is all about.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26- One more to come.- Final one.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30Yes! What do you think our Mystery House might offer you?
0:27:30 > 0:27:32I'm hoping it's going to be something
0:27:32 > 0:27:34that really tugs on our heart strings.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37Something that we'll just go, "Oooh!"
0:27:37 > 0:27:39It's definitely going to make you think.
0:27:39 > 0:27:40Its location...
0:27:41 > 0:27:43..might be the thing that comes to the surface.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45Oh!
0:27:45 > 0:27:46THEY LAUGH
0:27:47 > 0:27:50Our mystery offering is in Overstrand.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54This coastal village is two miles east of Cromer,
0:27:54 > 0:27:57and saw regular visits from Sir Winston Churchill,
0:27:57 > 0:28:01who was staying at the Sea Marsh Hotel in 1939,
0:28:01 > 0:28:04when a phone call prompted him to return to London.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07A few days later, war with Germany was declared.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09Today, the village enjoys good facilities,
0:28:09 > 0:28:14including a post office and stores, a pub and a cafe, with sea views.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17Have you ever explored this bit of the coast before?
0:28:17 > 0:28:22I haven't. We haven't actually been this far up, so, no, it's all new.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24The English coastal path runs right along here.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27There's a myriad of other footpaths and circular walks
0:28:27 > 0:28:28that lead off of Overstrand.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31So, you wanted coast, mate, how about this?
0:28:32 > 0:28:37- Eye-catching!- Our mystery property is literally two minutes' walk away.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40It's about 100 yards up the hill.
0:28:40 > 0:28:41- Happy?- Very.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43Come on, let's go and see it.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48With Paula making it clear she's not up for a project,
0:28:48 > 0:28:51our mystery offering is a 21st-century design,
0:28:51 > 0:28:52nestled in its own plot,
0:28:52 > 0:28:54surrounded by mature trees.
0:28:55 > 0:29:00So this is no project, only ten years old, so it's all brand-new.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03And it sits in, it's about a quarter of an acre, this one.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05It seems like one place, that, straight away,
0:29:05 > 0:29:07as you walk down the drive, you go,
0:29:07 > 0:29:08"I want to explore,"
0:29:08 > 0:29:10and there's something else lurking
0:29:10 > 0:29:13that wants to put a smile on my face.
0:29:13 > 0:29:14Oh! Interesting!
0:29:14 > 0:29:17So, you're optimistic? Shall we have a look?
0:29:17 > 0:29:18- Yeah.- Definitely. Yes, please.
0:29:20 > 0:29:24Built in 2006 to the current owner's specifications,
0:29:24 > 0:29:27the house is laid out over two single-storey wings,
0:29:27 > 0:29:29fanning out from a double-storey centre.
0:29:29 > 0:29:31The wing to our left has the front door,
0:29:31 > 0:29:34which leads straight into an open-plan living space.
0:29:37 > 0:29:39- It's nice!- Yeah?
0:29:39 > 0:29:42- It is nice!- Look at the smile on Al's face.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45This is all good! Very open-plan,
0:29:45 > 0:29:48but still offering you nice sort of compartments.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51Obviously, main living room itself in here.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53And through those double doors, sort of garden room.
0:29:53 > 0:29:56The wood burner is a really nice addition, actually.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59- Yeah, it is nice.- This is just...
0:29:59 > 0:30:01straight away, big grin.
0:30:01 > 0:30:07It's a nice room, but if it's the only downstairs reception room,
0:30:07 > 0:30:08it's just a bit...
0:30:10 > 0:30:12- ..enclosing.- Interesting.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14Come and have a look at the kitchen area.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16I mean, it's beautifully illuminated.
0:30:16 > 0:30:18- It certainly works.- It brings a lot of light in.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20It really does. You can see this little landing area here,
0:30:20 > 0:30:22which gets you up to the master bedroom,
0:30:22 > 0:30:24which we'll explore in just a moment.
0:30:24 > 0:30:25Yeah.
0:30:25 > 0:30:27The kitchen, I think, is lovely.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29It is effectively a kitchen-diner.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31I'm not convinced on the size.
0:30:31 > 0:30:35I think I have in my mind a nice open-plan kitchen-diner.
0:30:35 > 0:30:36That is the kitchen.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40This can go down into that other reception area down the other end.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43- In the garden room.- And you have a dining room away from it,
0:30:43 > 0:30:46so this becomes the breakfast bar.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48Yeah. See, he's working it.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50- He is. He's working it.- Which is great! I'm delighted!
0:30:52 > 0:30:55I thought you would lap this up, but actually I'm wrong, aren't I?
0:30:55 > 0:30:56You're leading the charge on this one.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00It's obviously got to be a bit of horse-trading. Do we have land?
0:31:00 > 0:31:01Or do we have location?
0:31:01 > 0:31:04Because if you have both, your budget's just gone.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07That is the classic conundrum.
0:31:07 > 0:31:09- Come and have a look upstairs.- OK.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15There's plenty that should please in this ready-to-move in to home.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19With the utility and WC to one side of the kitchen,
0:31:19 > 0:31:22the other side leads through into a wing of guest accommodation.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25Here, a double at the far end has built-in wardrobes,
0:31:25 > 0:31:29whilst a smaller guest room is currently used as a single.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31These are both served by a wet room.
0:31:31 > 0:31:35That leaves bedroom number three, the master en suite,
0:31:35 > 0:31:37located in a mezzanine storey above the kitchen.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41So, this really is something of a sort of an eyrie.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43There's your landing. They've got a little desk
0:31:43 > 0:31:46and then this is your own master suite, really.
0:31:47 > 0:31:49En suite in there.
0:31:49 > 0:31:50It's not a bad-sized room.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53I think the whole place feels a bit small,
0:31:53 > 0:31:55unless one of you is outside and one of you is inside,
0:31:55 > 0:31:58you can't really get away from each other
0:31:58 > 0:32:01if you're going to be kind of living on top of each other.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03But you are getting married!
0:32:03 > 0:32:04Yeah, I know!
0:32:04 > 0:32:05THEY LAUGH
0:32:05 > 0:32:09I'm thinking that, really, for the two of you, it would work.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11I genuinely think this would be big enough.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14Yeah. I think we need to look at the whole property first
0:32:14 > 0:32:17before I can rule in or out.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19Final judgment is reserved
0:32:19 > 0:32:21until they've seen everything on offer here,
0:32:21 > 0:32:25which, outside, includes a sweeping shingle drive,
0:32:25 > 0:32:27leading to a very secluded quarter-acre plot
0:32:27 > 0:32:31of well-established gardens surrounding the house.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33Plus, there's a double garage,
0:32:33 > 0:32:35greenhouse and a large timber shed.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40I appreciate it's not as big as the man cave that we have discussed
0:32:40 > 0:32:42if you were going to build something bespoke,
0:32:42 > 0:32:44but this one's ready to go in the sense that it's lined,
0:32:44 > 0:32:47- it's carpeted, it's powered.- It just needs disco lights!
0:32:47 > 0:32:50I think there's plenty of room here, and, then, of course,
0:32:50 > 0:32:52you've got the beaches and walks around here.
0:32:52 > 0:32:57It looks nice and safe, which for me is quite a biggy.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00Fantastic! There's no maintenance that you need to do.
0:33:00 > 0:33:01I'm satisfied that Al...
0:33:02 > 0:33:04..thinks that coming here was a good idea.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06I'm a bit more concerned about you, though.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09Let's talk about the price and see if that has...
0:33:09 > 0:33:15- an influence.- I'm going to go for 565.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18- 565. Al?- I'm going to go 585.
0:33:18 > 0:33:23It's on the market for 555.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25- Wow!- Yeah, wow!
0:33:25 > 0:33:28At last, a wow in the Mystery House from Paula.
0:33:28 > 0:33:30I'm more than pleasantly surprised.
0:33:30 > 0:33:34Go and explore it without us, and see what space you have got.
0:33:34 > 0:33:36- OK.- Go on, then. Off you go.- Lovely. Thank you.- Brilliant.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41Sometimes it is a hard sell,
0:33:41 > 0:33:43but I am convinced this property in this location
0:33:43 > 0:33:46could really work for them. I think Al knows that.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48He's just got to persuade Paula.
0:33:50 > 0:33:54Below budget at £555,000, this modern,
0:33:54 > 0:33:57architect-designed house has open-plan living,
0:33:57 > 0:33:59a garden room and three bedrooms,
0:33:59 > 0:34:03including a guest wing and master en suite.
0:34:03 > 0:34:04It's in a secluded location,
0:34:04 > 0:34:08close to village amenities and just minutes from the beach.
0:34:08 > 0:34:12First impressions of this property was, wow, it's brand-new.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15Something to walk in to and live.
0:34:15 > 0:34:16I think it's a lovely house.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19It's a lovely layout, but for me, it's just a bit too small.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22Although this house is fantastic,
0:34:22 > 0:34:25it's a really nice house and it is close to the coast,
0:34:25 > 0:34:28I think I'm more leaning towards going further inland
0:34:28 > 0:34:31and being able to get that bit more land around the house.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34Right, guys, that's it, I'm afraid.
0:34:34 > 0:34:36We've given you some really interesting options,
0:34:36 > 0:34:38but you've got to make some sort of a decision.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41There's a lot riding on the next few months, isn't there?
0:34:41 > 0:34:42- There is. New home.- Mm.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45New marriage. Who's for a new ice cream?
0:34:45 > 0:34:46- Go on, then!- Come on, then!
0:34:52 > 0:34:54The coming of the railways in the mid-19th century
0:34:54 > 0:34:56changed the county of Norfolk.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59Shorter journey times and cheap excursions
0:34:59 > 0:35:01gave the working class affordable holidays
0:35:01 > 0:35:05for the first time, and new coastal resorts sprung up.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07Then in the 20th century,
0:35:07 > 0:35:09the era of motorised cars and buses
0:35:09 > 0:35:13meant railways were seen as costly and unnecessary,
0:35:13 > 0:35:16heralding the closure of many under Dr Richard Beeching,
0:35:16 > 0:35:19an engineer and chairman of British Rail.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22But some communities and individuals fought back.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24The Wells and Walsingham Light Railway
0:35:24 > 0:35:28was born out of a passion of one Norfolk local.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander Roy Francis
0:35:31 > 0:35:32set about reinstating a service
0:35:32 > 0:35:36on four miles of closed Great Eastern line.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38Using reclaimed track,
0:35:38 > 0:35:41he created what is now the longest narrow-gauge public railway
0:35:41 > 0:35:43in the world.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46Over three decades since the line took its first passengers,
0:35:46 > 0:35:48it's still a family business.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51I've come to meet managing director, Nick Champion,
0:35:51 > 0:35:54who's going to help me indulge my passion for steam.
0:35:54 > 0:35:55- Hello, Nick.- Hi, Jules.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57- Nice to see you.- Nice to see you.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59This all looks rather industrious this morning.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02Well, thank you and welcome to the Wells and Walsingham Light Railway.
0:36:02 > 0:36:03- Come and show me round.- Yeah.
0:36:06 > 0:36:07Oh, this is lovely!
0:36:09 > 0:36:11What's the distinction between a narrow gauge and a normal railway?
0:36:11 > 0:36:13Well, it's the size, really.
0:36:13 > 0:36:15This is a diminutive railway, as they say.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17It's the space between each wheel, I suppose.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19This is ten and a quarter inches, which is usually seen in gardens.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23So we are quite rare, but my wife's grandfather, who founded us in 1982,
0:36:23 > 0:36:26decided it was the largest gauge possible, man-portable,
0:36:26 > 0:36:28meaning they didn't need any machines,
0:36:28 > 0:36:30which they didn't have, to lay it.
0:36:30 > 0:36:34So he and four or five others laid 7,000 sleepers
0:36:34 > 0:36:38and all this rail for four-and-a-half miles.
0:36:38 > 0:36:39It was an extraordinary feat.
0:36:39 > 0:36:43But the tracks themselves hold an even more astounding story.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46We were really lucky with the rail in 1982,
0:36:46 > 0:36:49because as the channel tunnel was being ready for opening,
0:36:49 > 0:36:52they used a light railway to take away all the spoil.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55And that rail originally came from America in 1915
0:36:55 > 0:36:58and was built for the Somme offensive of 1916,
0:36:58 > 0:37:01so it's just celebrated its 100th birthday.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04So your four miles of track once ran through the Somme.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07It certainly did. And it was built exactly for the offensive
0:37:07 > 0:37:10so it would take the munitions up and troops up, and the wounded back.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13Every time I sit on these rails, I think about some of the people
0:37:13 > 0:37:16that travelled on the rails. Those rails have carried people to war.
0:37:16 > 0:37:17I find that really moving.
0:37:18 > 0:37:22It's rather sobering to think of the story of the rails here,
0:37:22 > 0:37:24in sleepy, peaceful North Norfolk.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27Alan Brown, a member of the permanent way gang
0:37:27 > 0:37:30performing daily maintenance, is tightening the fish plates
0:37:30 > 0:37:32that join the tracks together,
0:37:32 > 0:37:35just as they would have done in France in the First World War.
0:37:35 > 0:37:39Do you often reflect on the men that would have originally laid this
0:37:39 > 0:37:42across northern France 100 years ago?
0:37:42 > 0:37:45Yes, you definitely do because you just think of what they,
0:37:45 > 0:37:48how they did it and we know it's a struggle ourselves.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52To think how they actually did it is just incredible.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55The guys are out there under shell fire, laying it on mud,
0:37:55 > 0:37:58laying it through unmentionable things.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00The purpose of this line today couldn't be further away
0:38:00 > 0:38:05from the grim job of taking troops and munitions to and from the Somme.
0:38:05 > 0:38:09I must say, I feel very fortunate to be enjoying the benefits
0:38:09 > 0:38:12of narrow-gauge steam in more peaceful times.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15Well, I think it's lovely to see that steam pour out the front...
0:38:15 > 0:38:17- It's lovely.- Out of the front of the locomotive out there.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20Yes. How fast are we going to go?
0:38:20 > 0:38:22We're going to go 300 miles... No! Nine miles an hour.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24If you go faster, you don't get to see as much.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27- Yeah.- Here, we've got fantastic wildlife down the line.
0:38:27 > 0:38:33Two buzzards, barn owls, you know, brown hares, red kites.
0:38:33 > 0:38:35You know, I want people to see that.
0:38:35 > 0:38:37It's magical. It really is.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39It sort of almost teeters on these tiny rails.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41- And yet...- No teetering at all.
0:38:41 > 0:38:42Immediate way of experiencing...
0:38:42 > 0:38:47- Yeah.- ..the Norfolk countryside in a way that I've never done before.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50Despite Norfolk's flat-as-a-pancake image,
0:38:50 > 0:38:53this short route faces several challenging gradients.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55Not only that, in the height of summer,
0:38:55 > 0:38:58it carries 100 passengers a time.
0:38:58 > 0:39:02To pack a punch, this design of locomotive built in the 1980s
0:39:02 > 0:39:04features one boiler serving two engines.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06TRAIN WHISTLES
0:39:06 > 0:39:09It's a technical marvel that's made narrow gauge the system of choice
0:39:09 > 0:39:12in challenging situations such as mining.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15And it's also a rather evocative way to travel.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17It's a very distinctive, and, for me,
0:39:17 > 0:39:20a very intoxicating smell of coal,
0:39:20 > 0:39:22of steam and water.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24- Absolutely.- And of energy.
0:39:24 > 0:39:27I mean, when you think back to the origins of steam.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30Such an exciting time in global history.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33And it all happened in Britain.
0:39:33 > 0:39:35It's heartening to think that a stretch of line
0:39:35 > 0:39:36that was abandoned in the '60s
0:39:36 > 0:39:39by those now infamous Beeching cuts
0:39:39 > 0:39:42is still very much alive and kicking.
0:39:42 > 0:39:48I love it! The sights and sounds and smells and history of yesteryear.
0:39:48 > 0:39:50I think, when my son grows up, he'll enjoy this.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52- I'll bring him back.- Do.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55So, Nick, is this the end of the line?
0:39:55 > 0:39:57Yes, Jules, we're now arriving in Walsingham.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59And as such, I think it's fitting
0:39:59 > 0:40:01that we've talked about the Somme today,
0:40:01 > 0:40:06I have a little gift for you, this piece of track was on the Somme.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08So, please take it away and think of us every time
0:40:08 > 0:40:10you weigh down some paper weight.
0:40:10 > 0:40:12I absolutely will, Nick.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14Thank you very, very much indeed.
0:40:19 > 0:40:23Well, you know, ordinarily I'm a pretty optimistic kind of bloke.
0:40:23 > 0:40:24It's a useful trait to have
0:40:24 > 0:40:27when you're involved in the business of house-hunting,
0:40:27 > 0:40:31but I suspect this week, even my optimism is going to be tested.
0:40:31 > 0:40:35Have we managed to find Alan and Paula a home for the future?
0:40:35 > 0:40:36I wonder!
0:40:41 > 0:40:43Well, I thought I might find you down here.
0:40:43 > 0:40:47You gave us the challenge of trying to find you a new home,
0:40:47 > 0:40:49hopefully, somewhere near the coast.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52We haven't done bad, I think, on balance, in terms of locations.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54What kind of conclusions have you reached?
0:40:54 > 0:40:56Have we managed to find you an option
0:40:56 > 0:40:59that you think you can make home for the future?
0:40:59 > 0:41:02I think we need to sit down, as a couple,
0:41:02 > 0:41:05and discuss our parameters once again.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07It's the fact that there are certain things
0:41:07 > 0:41:09which we don't realise that we do want
0:41:09 > 0:41:13and what we don't want, and that's exactly where we lie at the moment.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17So your wish list may have changed over the last few days?
0:41:17 > 0:41:19I think what it has showed me is,
0:41:19 > 0:41:21I can't necessarily get the land that I want
0:41:21 > 0:41:23that close to the coast.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27You are both embarking on a new chapter in your lives.
0:41:27 > 0:41:32And you are both, I suspect, still learning about each other.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35Yeah. The difference between Al and I is,
0:41:35 > 0:41:37I think Al is quite capable of falling in love
0:41:37 > 0:41:39with any house he sees,
0:41:39 > 0:41:44whereas I'm a bit more tunnel-vision of what I think I want.
0:41:44 > 0:41:48So, are you less likely to compromise, compared to Al?
0:41:48 > 0:41:51Yeah, I think that's probably quite spot on, actually.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54There we are, mate. Look, we've found out something new this week.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56Or maybe you already knew.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58No, I think we've got to meet halfway,
0:41:58 > 0:41:59and that's where we make a house,
0:41:59 > 0:42:01as we've seen, into a home.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03So your search goes on.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05It does sound like,
0:42:05 > 0:42:07at the very least, we've helped to clarify
0:42:07 > 0:42:09what it is you're looking for.
0:42:09 > 0:42:11- Good luck.- Thanks, Jules.
0:42:11 > 0:42:12- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:42:17 > 0:42:19You know, when we start planning our house searches,
0:42:19 > 0:42:21we're never entirely sure where we're going to end up,
0:42:21 > 0:42:23but as it's turned out this week,
0:42:23 > 0:42:25Cromer and its wonderful pier behind me,
0:42:25 > 0:42:28featured pretty heavily in two out of three of our properties,
0:42:28 > 0:42:31as indeed of the wonderful beaches that stretch out
0:42:31 > 0:42:34either side of this famous seaside town.
0:42:34 > 0:42:37Now the pier itself was built back in 1901.
0:42:37 > 0:42:40It stretches some 500 feet out into the North Sea.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42Far enough, you might think,
0:42:42 > 0:42:45but I suspect not quite as far as the journey that Paula and Alan
0:42:45 > 0:42:48have still got to take. I'll see you next time.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53If you'd like to escape to the country in England,
0:42:53 > 0:42:56Northern Ireland, Wales or Scotland
0:42:56 > 0:42:58and need our help, you can apply online at...