North Wales Escape to the Country

Welcome to Escape To The Country.

Let's face it - a pretty parish church with a yew tree

in its graveyard is not in itself unique,

but this particular yew tree is.

And it has quite a story to tell.

Find out more in just a moment.

Today, we're helping returning expats

who have grand ambitions for the perfect property.

I would take down this wall and I would open up the beams

to mirror the beams on this side.

I would make this one big room.

And they soon discover that the British countryside

is full of pleasant surprises.

I know you are cash buyers but, let's face it,

if we don't need to spend it all, why would we?

No. There's a world cruise and an E-Type Jag in that.

Well, today we are in North Wales.

This is the parish church of Saint Digain

in the village of Llangernyw

and this is the Llangernyw Yew.

Now, yew trees have been planted in churchyards for centuries

to ward off evil spirits, but in the 1990s,

it was discovered that this one was 4,000 years old.

That means it was a sapling at the time

when the Pyramids were built, when Stonehenge was being put up.

It was 2,000 years old at the time of the birth of Christ.

Now, not surprisingly,

it's now on a list of 50 of the most important trees in Britain,

which sort of begs the question,

what have the other 49 got going for them?

For me, this should be top of the list

because, when you think about it,

it's one of the oldest living things on the planet.

The unofficial region of North Wales largely encompasses six counties,

with its northern fringes bounded by the Irish Sea.

At the heart of the region is Snowdonia.

At 1,085 metres, Mount Snowdon is the highest peak

in England and Wales.

First ascended in 1639 by the English botanist Thomas Johnson,

it's now the busiest mountain in Britain,

with some bank holidays seeing queues to reach the top.

60 miles of the northern stretch of coastline are covered by

the North Wales Path.

This stunning and varied route starts at Prestatyn,

with views across the often wild Irish Sea.

Further east, the resort of Llandudno

boasts the longest pier in Wales.

First opened to the public in 1877,

it's now a Grade-II listed structure.

Another notable coastal settlement is Conwy,

one of the best preserved medieval fortified towns in Britain.

Fine examples of Welsh historic architecture

are also found in the market town of Ruthin,

including the oldest known townhouse in Wales,

which is one of only a few buildings that survived

the burning of the town by Welsh ruler Owain Glyndwr in 1400.

So whether it's mountainous landscapes,

sea views or centuries-old buildings you're after,

North Wales is an idyllic choice

for a short or long-term rural retreat.

Now, when it comes to the cost of housing,

the average price of a detached property here in North Wales

is currently ?183,000.

That's more or less ?100,000 below the national average,

so it does represent good value for money.

But if you are thinking of moving here, consider this -

you may find yourself living in a part of the world

that some say is more akin to the tropics.

Parts of this landscape are now deemed as temperate rainforests,

although, to be honest, with the snow on the hills behind me,

it doesn't feel very temperate today.

But I don't think that's going to put today's buyers off.

They've come an awfully long way to find their new home.

Husband and wife Nigel and Jackie both hail from Liverpool

in the north of England.

But they've spent most of their 24 years of married life living

in a selection of glamorous global locations.

We left the UK in 1997 to go

and work for a brewing company in South Africa.

With them, I've moved around the world.

Poland, Panama, Colombia and the USA.

We've lived in some fascinating and amazing countries.

We've lived amongst different cultures.

It's been fabulous.

When Nigel retired just over a year ago,

the pair decided it was time to revisit their country of birth.

What was meant to be a relatively brief trip

turned into something more life-changing.

Our plan did not include the UK,

other than a place to come and visit for short trips to see family.

But now we're back, we've fallen in love with the place.

We have two sons and they both chose to come back to England.

It's strange because even though we know it's home,

we don't know it's home.

I just have reached a phase of my life where it's important

to settle, to have roots once again.

We've travelled, we've seen a lot of the world,

and I feel that it's very important to have a place to call home.

Since returning last May,

they've been living in a rented house in Southport.

However, the seaside town has changed considerably

since they were last in the country.

Southport isn't the way that we remembered it

20, 25 years ago, when we used to come here regularly.

We just don't need to live in a commuter belt town.

We're looking for somewhere more rural, not as flat,

more pleasant views and so on.

But when it comes to putting down those important rural roots,

it's North Wales that really appeals.

From a geographical point of view, it's close to Liverpool,

where Jackie's family lives.

Rolling hills, rivers, forests and woods,

just so many things that we like about the area.

It's a beautiful and fabulous environment

with spectacular scenery and it ticks all the boxes.

Having lived in some exotic locations over the years,

they have some specific requirements for their new country pad.

Our dream house, three-bedroomed, detached,

we're not that bothered about a huge garden,

because it's going to be maintenance.

It must have at least two toilets, please.

Walking distance to a village community centre.

Yes, I think so. Pleasant views.

If the rooms are a little bit more adequate...

Commodious. Commodious. Yeah.

We've got a king-size bed and it's an American size king-size,

so it's huge.

We just want something a little bit unusual.

A little bit different.

Something that's got character.

But the most important thing is setting down roots

and rekindling old ties.

I think our life will change considerably when we find our home.

I'm looking forward to a gin and tonic in the countryside

overlooking the Welsh mountains

and just taking in the fresh air and just being established.

I'm excited that we will be able to say, "This is our home

"and we're staying here for as long as we want to."

Jackie and Nigel would like to concentrate their search

in the north-eastern areas of Wales,

particularly Denbighshire and Flintshire,

with proximity to road links to see family.

But before we head off to take a look at houses,

I want to find out more about what they're hoping to get

from their new move.

Well, Jackie, Nigel, welcome to Escape To The Country

and to what I hope is going to be

the next exciting chapter in your lives.

Having lived where you've lived in some wonderful climates,

many people would think you're bonkers to come back.

Yeah, I think we're bonkers, but there's no place like home.

So, why North Wales?

It's some of the most spectacular scenery in the country

and I feel that it suits our needs at this stage of our lives.

But it is also handy for the Midlands,

it's easy to get to London.

We have family in Liverpool, we have family in Hertfordshire.

It's a nice rural place,

but easily accessible to the parts of the country we want to get to.

But broadly speaking,

I gather you're more interested in something

that's a bit modern and you,

Nigel, will be happy to look at something that's more traditional.

Yes, I'm more traditional.

We did have an argument about a place to live in Panama.

Three walls at the back - the rest of the property was glass.

You could see into the whole place.

But it was light and it was bright and it was airy.

If you live in a greenhouse, it's going to be light!

So, give us an idea of the sort of property that you are now after.

Rooms that are not poky and small.

But with maybe some traditional features.

Particularly for me, a nice garage, workshop space for a couple of cars,

space to work on those cars as well,

not a traditional English-style garage,

something a bit bigger than that.

And we don't necessarily need a lot of land.

We will travel and that's just maintenance

that we don't necessarily need.

Just remind us of the budget.

Our budget is 350.

If the property requires any work, though,

it needs to be reflected in the price.

Is this a short-term move or a long-term move?

I think we'll be here at least five years.

We will be away on holiday and travelling during that time,

but I think it'll be a base for us for the medium term.

Well, I think this is really exciting,

because it's clear that it's not just about you

escaping to the country, it's about you trying to reach

your family here back in the UK.

Absolutely. And with a view thrown in, hopefully.

With a view thrown in. Yes.

Right then, you've got ?350,000, we've got a lot of work to do.

Drink up, let's go.

For their budget of ?350,000,

Nigel and Jackie are looking for

a property that combines bright,

modern proportions

with traditional character.

They'd like three bedrooms,

so they have enough accommodation

when their sons visit.

A large garage with workshop

is a must.

And they'd like somewhere

easy to maintain

that they could lock up and leave

when they're travelling.

We've found some fantastic property to tempt them with and at each home,

I'll be asking them to guess the price before I reveal it.

The final proposition will, of course, be our Mystery House,

which could offer a rather surprising spin

on what they're looking for.

But first on our agenda is house number one.

Now, in terms of projects,

are you prepared to think about transforming this next property?

We want to be in a situation where we can move in

without having to live in a caravan outside.

I don't think it will be that bad! I hope not, anyway.

The other side is our adventurousness.

You want to be away a lot travelling? Yes.

You're not really looking for that forever home, are you?

You're looking for something which is going to work

for the next 5-10 years, perhaps. Yes. To allow you to globetrot. Yes.

What a lovely retirement! It's all to play for.

We've got some great properties for you to look at.

We're looking forward to seeing them. Very excited.

Our North Wales property hunt is taking us into the tiny hamlet

of Galltegfa in Denbighshire.

Nearest facilities are found in the town of Ruthin, whose name,

meaning "red fort", aptly describes the castle, originally constructed

from the local sandstone in the 13th century

on the orders of Edward I.

Ruthin is also home to a fine collection

of black-and-white medieval buildings,

including the oldest-dated timber-framed house in Wales,

which is now a museum.

We're just a mile and a half away, down a quiet country lane,

where our first property is located.

There we are - have a look at that one.

It's beautiful. That's absolutely gorgeous.

I love the plants growing up.

Yeah. It's a pyracantha.

It's quite interesting, this one.

It was two cottages, has since been knocked into one.

And then extended. You can see the change in that roofline.

Yes. As you can see, it's been well maintained throughout its life.

But what do you think?

I think it looks gorgeous. It's beautifully maintained.

Yeah, I think it shows promise.

It's an interesting property.

This is a kind of lock-up-and-leave.

This is in very good condition.

I'm looking forward to getting inside.

We'll start, I think, not through the front door, but this way,

into the kitchen. Lovely.

Looking forward to seeing it. Come on, let's go.

Thought to date back to the mid 19th century,

the current owners of this house

have lived in the property for the last 33 years.

They've combined the original charms of the cottage with modern updates,

including the creation of a large kitchen-diner from four small rooms,

and the addition of oil-fired central heating.

Feel the heat. Oh, that's good.

Come on in. Lovely.

There we are. Right.

It's quite modern.

Surprisingly so, isn't it?

Yeah. It's very nice.

I guess, surprisingly spacious.

Yes, no, there's certainly... To accommodate table and chairs,

it's a good size.

Is this the sort of thing?

For me, absolutely.

It's very pretty.

Yes, I like it too and you're right,

it's a very modern kitchen and very well maintained.

It's just very simple, actually.

Lots of natural light. I think they've got the balance

between old and new just right. It's a nice combination.

It's got a cottagey feel to it,

whilst being modern at the same time.

Well, it does get more cottagey as we go through.

Have a look at this.

Leading off the kitchen to the centre of the property

is the first of two character-filled reception rooms.

I mean, effectively, I suppose, this is something of a corridor.

You've got that staircase in here,

but it is blessed with that lovely wood burner.

That's gorgeous. Yeah, it's a beautiful fireplace.

On a day like today, that is just heaven.

But it's always a bit of a conundrum

as to what to do with these rooms that are, in effect, corridors.

I know. What would you do with it?

Well, I would use it as a light reading room

or a music room, perhaps.

Just a little place to chill.

I like the idea of actually using it as a bit of an office as well.

It's close to the kitchen so I'm close to the smells

that come from the dinner being prepared.

But, of course, it was two cottages so, you know,

you've got another living room, which is through here.

To be honest, I think this is probably my favourite room

down here, actually.

That's lovely. Another wood burner, lovely fireplace.

You could imagine after dinner sitting in here, watching TV,

or listening to music...

I suppose, when the boys come back, you know,

you could have a kind of separation of a telly room or somewhere

just to relax and chill out.

I do think that the lack of space for my boys as they are big boys...

But, most of the time, it's going to be you. Yes.

And it's giving you that nice bit

of authentic rural architecture, if you will. Yes.

I like the stone feature around the fireplace.

And I like the size of the fireplace.

Good. All right. Well, let's have a look upstairs.

Very nice. Let's see what you think of it.

Come on and have a look.

'The marriage of old and new in this well-maintained period cottage

'has something to offer both Jackie and Nigel.

'Upstairs, the first of three bedrooms

'above the second reception room is a good-sized double.

'Then next to the stairs is a small single bedroom,

'currently used as an office.

'And there's also the family bathroom with shower.'

There we go. And finally, this one.

This is a beautifully well-proportioned room.

It's a very big room, actually.

We'd certainly be able to fit our bed in here.

Now, you mentioned your bed, so how big is it, a Californian king-size?

Will it fit in here? It certainly will. It will fit fine.

Definitely. And you've got views out there to the Clwydian Hills, look.

Yeah, they're spectacular. Yeah?

So, no en suite, although, to be perfectly honest,

you could incorporate an en suite in here if you wanted to, I think.

Yes, I think having two boys, it's quite... It's a must!

Yeah, it's quite a must, having a second loo!

It's as spacious as I think we can expect,

having gotten used to spacious American houses and so on.

It has the cottagey feel to it with the beams.

I mean, I think the nice thing about this one

is it gives you lots to play with. Yes.

But, yeah, we do need to think about the price.

Let's go and get cold. OK.

So, room fit for a super king-size and lots of potential

inside this beautiful and characterful cottage.

But there's also more on offer out in the garden.

Landscaped, largely self-facing grounds

provide low-maintenance interest,

including a water feature.

There's also an established vegetable plot

and a potting shed with power and lighting.

For classic car lover Nigel,

the large garage with its generous-sized workshop

provides more than enough space to tinker away.

I propose we don't spend any longer out here than we need to.

Not today. Yes, it's a bit cold.

But, you know, views across the fields and what have you.

It's lovely. It's spacious and definitely a nice space

to drink gin and tonic, I think.

So, let's get down to the nitty-gritty of the numbers,

shall we? ?350,000 you have to spend, Jackie.

What do you think this one is on the market for?

I think in the region of 310.

Oh! Very direct.

Nigel? I think the house offers not quite as much space as we want,

so I'd hope there's some ceiling in our budget, so I would go about 325.

The reason we brought you here is to really whet your appetite

for the property market,

because this is on the market for...

?279,500.

Gosh. OK. It's a good saving, isn't it?

It's a nice saving, yes. It's not bad at all.

I know you are cash buyers, but let's face it,

if we don't need to spend it all, why would we?

No, there's a world cruise and an E-Type Jag in that.

Great.

I know it doesn't have all, particularly, the upstairs space

you were looking for, but for the money, you know, everything

has its compromises and maybe it's one you could make.

Yeah. Go and have a wander round and see what you might do

with the change. Right.

Cos change is what this process is all about -

a change in lifestyle,

but also, hopefully, change in their pockets

to make this property the home they are seeking.

Under budget by a generous ?70,000,

this well-maintained 19th-century Welsh cottage

comes with a recently fitted, large kitchen-diner,

two further reception rooms with characterful features,

three bedrooms and landscaped gardens with outbuildings.

Ah! This is nice. It is. We could potentially build two storeys

and have a studio apartment up above.

That would be good or another bedroom for the boys. Yeah.

I was really impressed coming down the lane.

Beautiful place on the outside,

it's a really welcoming-looking cottage.

The kitchen is beautiful.

It's modern and countrified and cottagey, all at the same time.

The bedroom sizes are a good size. Adequate for what we need.

I think the garden is manageable.

I like the fact that there's a little rockery

where I can grow my herbs and spices.

Overall, it's a beautifully maintained house.

The space for storing the cars and so on is perfect.

Right, then. I'm afraid that's it.

We're going to have to leave the warmth

of this beautiful cottage behind us.

But the good news is it's lunchtime. Excellent.

Wonderful. Come on. Let's go.

Nigel and Jackie are hoping their move to rural Wales

will leave them more time to spend on their hobbies.

With classic car enthusiast Nigel raring to get his hands

on a new project, we're sending them to a family-run motor museum

in Llangollen, where Geoff Owen curates a 60-vehicle collection.

How long has the museum been going?

The museum's been going since 1980 and my family took it over in 1997.

And where have you sourced the cars from?

We've been collecting for 30 years.

Some of the motorbikes, we've had for 30 years.

Right. Some of the cars, we've had for 20, 25 years as well.

They all look to be in very good condition.

Do you buy them in that condition or do you restore some?

We tend to buy them in good condition.

The TR4 we've had in the workshop, which we restored 25 years ago,

that's one that's, obviously, a firm favourite.

Do you do your own restoration work?

I've been restoring cars for 30-odd years now, for my sins.

All sorts of variety of cars,

classic and vintage cars, and motorcycles as well.

Geoff is currently working on a Triumph Vitesse.

Aimed at the family market, more than 51,000 were built

between 1962 and 1971.

Jackie and Nigel are just in time to help get this model

from 1970 looking its best.

What I thought we could do is do something with the bodywork.

You can see the paintwork's gone quite pink.

There's the oxidisation with the sunshine

and my daughter never washing the car.

To polish it, we're just going to use a bit of this miracle stuff

and start with little straight lines.

You can already see there is a bit of a change going on. Hm.

Gosh, it makes a huge difference. Yeah.

The polishing fluid Geoff uses is water-based,

so there's no potentially harmful ammonia, and any residue

can easily be rinsed off.

But it's not just about keeping cars on display.

Many here are regularly taken for a drive through the countryside.

So after all that hard work, any chance of a spin?

No problem at all. Yes, we'll go and have a look at one of the cars.

Super. Lovely.

Nigel is getting behind the wheel of one of the older cars

in the collection, a 1935 Standard,

built in Coventry in celebration of King George V's Silver Jubilee.

Believed to be the last surviving example of its type,

they'll be keeping safely below its top speed of 55mph.

What do you know about the history of this particular car?

Well, it's from a chap in South Wales who restored it,

the outside, into the condition you see now. Oh.

And that was some 25 or so years ago,

so it's showing a few age-related marks,

but it's still going pretty well.

Do you find that there's a lot of car enthusiasts in the area?

Yeah, there's a local vintage motorcycle club

and vintage sports car club.

It's a beautiful area to live in.

Fantastic scenery and there's some great roads for your classic car

and vintage car enthusiasts to use.

So, let's hope Nigel's own classic car may soon be making its way

along these beautiful Welsh roads,

provided, of course, we find them a home.

Our North Wales property hunt

is heading to the village of Glyndyfrdwy.

A wide range of facilities are available five miles away

in the town of Llangollen, including places to eat and drink

and a selection of shops and services.

The town sits either side of the River Dee

and is the starting point for a renowned steam railway.

Back in Glyndyfrdwy, the property we've come to see

also enjoys an enviable location close to both the river

and the heritage train line.

How about this one?

That's very nice.

That looks a little bit more what I'm looking for.

It looks bigger, too. It's certainly bigger.

It's a lovely Victorian build.

You'll notice next door... There's a school.

Is the school, the old school and this was the headmaster's house.

Ah! It's been extended with this garden room as you can see,

which is attached to the kitchen.

Looking forward to seeing the inside! I don't see...

..a garage. There isn't one yet. OK.

If you are prepared to put one up,

at least you'd get exactly what you want. There is space, yes.

And I think this going to give you plenty to think about.

Yeah, I think it's memorable. Memorable, that's a good word, yes.

Definitely. Let's see if we can get a few more memories, then. Come on!

Originally built in 1913, there's plenty about this grand residence

to make them forget about that missing garage,

beginning with its elegant front reception room.

Come on in. Let's start in here. Oh, that's nice.

One of three wood burners that are in this building. Three!

And again you get this idea of these lovely proportions

that come with this kind of period,

but this I think really is more of a snug-cum-reading room.

But what do you think of the sort of styling of it?

I think the window is exquisite. It's beautiful.

Yes, I like the bay window, too.

And, look, another hobby for you, dear.

Oh! Yeah! We wouldn't be in Wales without a harp, would we?

Across the hall, a similarly proportioned room still retains

the influence of its original use as the headmaster's study.

There you go, Nigel. Oh, yes, that's lovely.

And clearly designed as a lovely light study.

Yes, and with the corner windows there,

a desk there would be wonderful.

Yes, cos the fire would then warm your back, wouldn't it? Yes.

They're all multi-fuel.

Multi-fuel is great cos you can burn either coal or wood.

Windows to look out of when you have writer's block.

And, of course, you can see who's coming and going.

That's the other thing. It was designed for the headmaster.

That's the joy of it, really, but I think it's really nice

to have something which is kind of purpose built.

I love the natural light that's coming in.

I think the space in this one is what should make it appeal to you.

Yes, it's quite a large room for a study.

Come next door, have a look at the kitchen-diner

cos I think this is where you're going to spend most of your time.

Now, if I'm honest, this room or rooms to me

are what really make this place come to life

cos it really is the heart of this building. That's spectacular, that.

It is a classic sort of cottage country kitchen, isn't it?

I can see this being renovated to my taste, but it's a beautiful space.

And I think this is a really sensible addition, actually,

and it makes it much more of a sort of family space.

Yeah, having the two living areas close together

so somebody can be in the kitchen preparing food

and so on and somebody else can be just enjoying the company.

Sunday morning, coffee, glass of wine of an evening. Yes.

Where do we sign? THEY LAUGH

No, it's a good space.

It's a good-sized kitchen and I like the fact that it's light

and that you have the view across the hills.

Yeah. Beautiful.

Right, beautiful in that kind of American way! Oh!

So, a good response to the family-friendly space

available on the ground floor,

which also features a utility off the kitchen

and a further lobby into a ground floor double bedroom

with doors to the garden and its own shower room.

But let's see if those former Welsh schoolmaster's house

can retain good marks upstairs where a family bathroom

serves the three further bedrooms, all large doubles.

The first sits above the kitchen.

Another above the study is currently set up with bunk beds

and enjoys a dual aspect and then there's the largest of the lot.

Then, finally, this we're thinking would be for you,

but I've suddenly remembered your massive Californian king-size bed.

It won't fit.

You see, I think the Californian king-size is a bit yesterday.

I think the thing that's really taking over at the moment

that's very in vogue is the North Walian king-size,

which is designed to fit in a room very much like this one

and, in fact, it's not a lot different

to the size of that bed there.

So if you swap one for the other, it would all work, Nigel.

Yes, and we'd save on heating bills.

I like the view. It's a nice view. Great view out down the valley. Yes.

And just very substantial. So, am I selling it to you?

Yes.

Ooh, not sure, are we? Not sure.

Let's go outside and talk about the price and who knows,

maybe the numbers will swing it for you.

Outside, wraparound grounds of around a quarter of an acre

include a patio plus a selection of sheds and a summerhouse

and there are wonderful views of the Dee Valley

with its steam railway running from nearby Llangollen.

And so there's the back of our old headmaster's house.

It's very quaint.

I mean, you can certainly fit your lives into the building,

I guess with the obvious omission, at the moment, of the garage.

The garage.

Back in the day, the headmaster's garage was originally there

in the corner where that collection of sheds now are.

But I think it would be difficult to build one

without spoiling the view from the house or the layout of the plot.

All of that, of course, is going to add an extra cost

to the current asking price

so let's get down to what we think that might be.

I think this is going to cost between 295, maybe 299.

Yeah? Yeah. OK, Jackie?

I think 280, given the fact that we have to do the updates

and we have to build a garage.

Sadly, I can't match your guesses.

It's on at 315. Wow! OK.

It is a lot of house in a great spot. Yes, yes.

Right, then, off you go. Go and explore it. OK.

See if you can find the ghost of the headmaster.

What would he say, I wonder?

Leaving a not inconsiderable ?35,000 leeway in the budget,

this early 20th century former headmaster's house

enjoys an enviable position in the Dee Valley.

There's a family-friendly kitchen-diner,

as well as one more bedroom than they asked for

and the two bathrooms they need.

The kitchen-diner's a nice feature and this conservatory is lovely.

It would be nice to be sitting here in the sunshine.

The location is beautiful. That to me is a good selling feature.

The view of the river and the trains going past from time to time

will add a huge amount of character

and enjoyment to living in this area.

The lack of a garage - a big issue.

There's nowhere logically to put the garage

without spoiling the look of the house or the view from the house.

It's not really a property that's designed for us.

Ah, good! How are we, then? Suitably warm. Suitably warmed up.

Right, now, then, just to finish off today, I think it's been good. Yes.

I think I've learned a lot about what you may want

so tomorrow is anther day.

Plenty more to see, but, in the meantime,

there's a very good steak and chips in Llangollen.

Sounds good to me. Let's do that! Come on.

We are in the beautiful countryside of North Wales,

helping recently returned expats Jackie and Nigel

put down rural British roots.

So far, they've been pleasantly surprised with just how far

their ?350,000 budget will stretch.

But there's more to see and we reach new heights

with our Mystery House.

Like it? Yes.

You're lost for words, aren't you?

Both of you. I'm working out how I'm going to change that light bulb.

I think you'd get a man in. A very tall man.

Plus, I'm muscling in

on a centuries-old Clwydian shell-fishing tradition.

Hello.

Hello. Hello. Oi!

Look at that. Fantastic.

Well, thankfully the cold,

grey gloom that we've had to battle most of this week has given way to

a beautiful sunlit day,

our final day of house-hunting here in North Wales

with Jackie and with Nigel.

Now, of course, we have two properties to show them,

including our Mystery House,

which offers them a lovely mix of history and high spec.

But first, our youngest property of the week,

which I'm hoping will give them

all the space and light they are looking for.

Our property search is heading to the Flintshire village of Llanasa.

Originally called Llanasaph,

after the saint whose relics were enshrined here in the 13th century,

the current church dates back to around the 15th century.

There's also a pub, pond and village hall,

which hosts a regular community fruit and veg co-op.

The property we've come to see is in a secluded position

on the edge of the village.

Right, then. That's this morning's offering.

It's gorgeous. That's beautiful, yeah.

It's an old design, but it looks like a new build.

You're absolutely right. It's only 12 years old.

Gosh. But what's rather nice is that it blends in very handsomely

with these older buildings behind us with the stone mullions,

but it is a brand new house.

It's a lovely house, yes, and a nice position, too.

Now, the view is terrific,

with views out across the open fields

to the River Dee and, I think, over there, you can just about make out

the hills of Lancashire across the water. Yes.

It's a really, really interesting spot.

Now, the only thing it doesn't, obviously, have at the moment

is a garage. It has plans for a garage. And I think you could create

something rather nice there, actually.

There's space there and it wouldn't spoil the layout of the property.

So I think this is a nice one for you,

given that you are thinking of travelling more

and it's certainly not a project. No.

Right, then - shall we?

Built just 12 years ago to the current owners' specification,

this traditional-looking new build could offer Nigel and Jackie

the combination of period styling and modern convenience

they're looking for.

Leading from a front entrance hall,

the right-wing of the ground floor is taken up

by a generously proportioned lounge.

It's a good size. Yeah. Wow! Nice, isn't it?

Lovely big room. Light and bright. Lovely and warm as well.

It's really warm. That wood burner is doing a lovely job this morning.

I like the fact that they've kept in line with some of the features,

like having a nice fireplace in here.

Yeah. I like the fact that they've got beams.

I like the light. There's a lot of light pouring in here

from all the windows. It's... It really has a nice homely feel to it.

Is this scoring highly at the moment?

I think so. Yes.

I thought it might. Come this way.

Back via the main entrance hall,

which is large enough to serve as a second reception space,

is a country kitchen-diner,

combining mod cons with a traditional feel.

It's a big room.

Yes, that's nice. Very modern kitchen.

It's nice, isn't it? Yeah. A nice sort of country twist to it.

Yes. I love what they've done over the range there,

that sort of mantle arrangement.

And the doors there again out to the terrace.

No, that's lovely.

And then through here, you've got a utility room and a downstairs loo.

For practical purposes, I think it works quite nicely.

Yes. Like a boot room.

I like the fact that we don't have to do anything in here.

It's move-in ready. Yes, it absolutely is.

Raring to go.

And I think if we chose to go away for longer holidays and so on,

the house is in such good condition,

it would be a good walk out and lock up and go sort of thing.

I mean, essentially, it's basically two big rooms down here,

but I'm not feeling that I'm missing more rooms, actually.

No, I think it's adequate for a family of four. Yep.

And certainly, you know, with the visitors

that we're hopefully going to get, it'll accommodate them all.

Going to buy it?

Let's get to the end.

How much do you want for it?

So, a great response to the layout

and styling of this characterful new build.

Stairs from the hall lead

to the three-bedroomed upstairs accommodation.

A family bathroom with separate shower cubicle

serves the two guest rooms -

a double to the front and another double to the rear of the property.

Then there is the largest of the three, the master en suite.

And then, finally, I think this is for you.

Yes, it's a good size.

I love the balcony. It's sweet, isn't it?

Would this room accommodate, though,

your enormous Californian king-size bed? I think so. I think so.

Yeah? Definitely.

It's also got the bonus of this, of course, as well,

which is rather nice. And I get my extra loo.

You do. There you go.

That's wonderful. It just kind of works.

It's a very honest, simple proposition, this property.

It would be nice to wake up to see the view in the morning.

This would work for us. Big-time. Is it beautiful?

AMERICAN ACCENT: It's beautiful. Oh, beautiful.

Oh, man, let's go outside.

Come on.

After you.

'So everything works well for our house-hunters'

on the inside.

Outside, there are lawned gardens to the front

and parking for three cars,

whilst to the rear,

a large patio makes the most of those wonderful views

across the countryside to the Dee Estuary.

So, nice and private out here.

It looks like this place here lends itself

to having a conservatory built

and there's actually additional space here

with the patio.

I'd go for a pitched-roof, slate-roofed garden room.

It would give you, then, views that way.

Yes. I think there's all sorts of scope here

and it would really extend your living space.

Yeah. Make it a lot bigger. Yes.

Right then, let's see if the price is...

AMERICAN ACCENT: ..beautiful. JACKIE LAUGHS

350 grand, you have. Sterling, not dollars.

So, let's have a guess, then, Jackie.

I think... Given location and the views,

I think anything between 320 and 330.

I think this is going to be over budget, maybe 360, 365.

It's on the market for 349,950. Ah.

But it's a nice property, in the sense

that you could just move into it.

But also you can extend it and embellish it

and really make it your own.

Go on, then, have a wander round.

I'll come and find you a little bit later on. OK.

Coming in on budget, this modern property,

built with a nod to the local vernacular,

has the large living spaces downstairs,

as well as three well-proportioned bedrooms upstairs,

two bathrooms and a ground floor cloakroom.

Plus, there are those stunning estuary views.

I think the property is superb.

Jackie's always said she wanted a house with a sea view

and we have sea views from this house. It's light and airy,

which is something that Jackie wants, but it has that country feel,

which is something that I want.

The bedrooms, I was quite surprised by.

Normally, properties in the UK, the bedroom sizes are fairly small.

But here, there's two very good-sized bedrooms.

The kitchen is bright, it's light.

I love the fact that I've got a view as I'm washing my dishes.

I think the lack of a garage is a bit of a problem for me.

The space isn't an issue.

It's really what it's going to cost and possibly planning permission.

It's a property that we might consider.

I think given the location and the views,

I think it's a property that we could potentially enjoy living in.

So we could fit the garage down here.

There's plenty of depth to put a garage in here.

Yeah, but you're going to have to take into consideration

that you're going to have to put a very strong foundation in

if you are going to build a double storey.

Yes. But that's manageable.

I love to eavesdrop on people making plans.

It's a good sign. It means you're thinking about how it could work

and that's all I can ask of you, really. Hm.

What a day as well. Thank goodness.

It's much easier selling houses when the sun is out,

I can assure you. Yes, a beautiful day.

Right, then. We have plenty more to do, though.

We're not going to let go of you just yet. Come on.

With an extensive coastline featuring many natural harbours,

the sea has long provided food and resources for the people of Wales.

The town of Conwy is known for its mussels -

particularly large species are found here,

making them not only fleshy, but also a fine source of pearls.

These shellfish, harvested since at least Roman times,

were, by the early 19th century, supplying over four kilos

of pearls to the jewellers of London every week.

But, today, the catch is for eating.

Tom Jones, a third-generation mussel fishermen,

has agreed to show me what makes Conwy mussels so special.

Tom, I've been coming to Conwy for years and years and years,

but I'm ashamed to say I had no idea that it was such a hotbed

for those who love mussels. I know. You've been missing out.

I have been missing out.

Now, what is it about Conwy and the estuary here that means that mussels

grow so well? The key factor, really,

is that they are natural beds and in an estuary,

they have a mixture then of salt water from the sea

and fresh water from the valleys coming down.

The main thing is the method we use, which is the hand rakes,

so there's no dredging or rope-grown mussels here at all.

They are all hand-raked, one man, with a fisherman, hard work.

As well as using the labour-intensive method

of hand raking, Conwy fishermen still respect the rule

of only harvesting the shellfish when there is a letter R

in the month.

This allows mussels stocks to naturally replenish over the summer,

helping to keep them sustainable.

So I notice the tide is going out, Tom.

What's the best tidal state to fish mussels?

Well, right on low water, really.

What we call slack water.

So, we're heading out now as it's still ebbing,

the tide is still going out.

And by the time we find some and start raking,

the peak time we'll be raking will be at low water.

So it's all about timing, really.

The setup's so simple, isn't it? That's your rake, isn't it?

Yeah, that's it. You're raking them off the seabed.

It doesn't come any more natural than that.

There are now fewer than ten fishermen raking the beds here,

each with their own personally crafted poled rake.

Knowing the best places to stop and the depth of water they'll find here

is down to skill and experience.

All right? Come on, then. Anchors aweigh.

Good. Well, I think the anchors are all set, Tom.

We're ready. So this is the famous rake.

This is it. Steel head, handmade, the net there, by the fisherman.

But the length of the rake, I guess, is dependent on the state

of the tide that gives you the best opportunity

to fetch your mussels in? Well, yeah, I mean,

you can be fishing in very deep water, you know.

20 feet, 25 feet, so you've got to have a long enough pole

to reach the bottom.

How many rakes have you lost?

Well...

More than one, put it that way.

Do you want a go? I'd love a go.

Well, we'll just swap places.

OK. So you come as I was.

Basically, you're just going to throw it in as far as you can

and you just want to, like, let it slide down through your fingers.

Don't let go of the end. That's a really odd sensation.

You can feel it dragging across the bottom.

Rake it towards the boat and then when you think you've got something,

so when you're under the boat, you want to lift it now.

Yeah. And then twist it away?

Twist it. Yeah. Cos otherwise they'll all fall off, won't they?

That's it. We're about halfway. That's it. Keep it coming up now.

Hello. Hello. Hello. Oi! Look at that! That's it.

Fantastic. That's not bad, is it?

It's a wonderful picture, though,

of what's on the sea bed here in the Conwy Estuary.

Yeah. it just shows how natural they are, isn't it, you know?

And using such a simple method means you're going to maintain

the longevity of these mussel beds, hopefully forever.

Well, yeah, it's been going for hundreds of years already.

Hopefully it'll be going for hundreds of years more.

Well, I've certainly worked up an appetite,

so it's back to dry land and time to get cooking.

My favourite dish.

Wine - most important thing.

We're going to steam them. Yeah.

And we want to put some onions and celery.

Have you got some onions and celery for us?

There we go. You don't want all of it - just a bit, a bit of each.

You want to get some onions in there, don't you? Some onions.

There you go, that's OK. Oh, lovely.

Rule of thumb, in terms of cooking a mussel?

So, they're closed before and then when you cook them,

they'll all open wide. So let's put some in.

There we go. Basically, once they're all open, they're cooked.

Ready to go. So just keep an eye on them, leave them in for five,

six minutes, and once they're all open they're done.

And what have you got there? A bit of garlic. Oh, garlic, yeah.

A bit of garlic, a bit of parsley. Yes, you've got to have parsley.

Yeah. And everything's been put in together at the same time,

so there's no faffing with five minutes on this,

five minutes on that, get it all in. Fabulous.

And you just want to leave the lid on while it's cooking.

You don't want to keep taking the lid off. I think we're ready.

It certainly smells like they're ready. Look at that.

Can I start with that one? Yeah, go for it. God, look at that.

That is a genuinely fleshy, very hot mussel.

Oh, my God. Mm.

That is fabulous. And that's taken, what, five minutes to cook?

Yeah. Easy.

Absolutely lovely. Tom, thank you very much, mate.

It's been a fantastic day. Thank you for coming down.

And, I don't care what the rest

of the world thinks about their mussels -

the ones here in North Wales in Conwy are the best. It is official.

Any idea what the Mystery House is going to look like, then, Jackie?

I think it could be a conversion of some sort.

I was thinking exactly the same and what you could do to surprise us.

Well, you two have lived in such quirky properties over the years.

The nice thing about the Mystery House is

that we do occasionally give you something else to think about.

So, let's see if my hunch is right and whether this one

will work for you.

Looking forward to it.

Nigel and Jackie have guessed well,

because our search is taking us to the former stately home estate

of Lleweni, back in Denbighshire.

Just a ten-minute drive away,

the market town of Denbigh combines historic charm

and a sublime rural backdrop with a good range of shops and services,

including a post office, pharmacy and public library.

Atop a rocky promontory sit the ruins of the 13th century castle.

We're two miles north-east from here,

where the buildings of this former grand country seat,

awarded to the Salisbury family in 1066 by William the Conqueror,

are definitely not in ruins,

and provide the location of our mystery offering.

You're right to think that it might be a conversion.

We are on the Lleweni Estate.

The main house, Lleweni Hall,

used to be down there and then later on they built this.

And this was the stable block.

Wow. The main bulk of the buildings that comprise the working end

of the estate have been converted.

So, we're building on this idea of you being able to simply lock up

and leave on your travels, but have somewhere secure

that's pretty much brand-new, doesn't need anything doing to it,

and it's got a double garage.

But your bit isn't in the stable block.

It's round the corner. Come on.

Now, I did promise you a double garage.

That's it. Oh, wow.

There's no dividing wall inside, so you've got bags of space in there.

And it leads us nicely into the entrance

of what might be your new home.

Come on.

'A path through a cottage garden

'leads to the private front door'

of our semidetached mystery proposition.

Converted from the barn buildings of the former estate,

an entrance hall leads to the reception areas.

Come on in. We'll start with this main living room down here.

Wow. JACKIE LAUGHS

Now, that is the first wow of the week. OK.

That's your style, isn't it? It certainly is. Yeah.

This, obviously as you can tell, is a converted barn.

Architecturally, traditionally, they are built in a series of bays.

They're divided by these lovely A-frames

so you've got effectively a kind of bay here, a bay next door.

Now, of course, beautifully appointed as a modern family home.

Like it?

Yes.

You're lost for words, aren't you? Both of you.

I'm working out how I'm going to change that light bulb.

I think you get a man in. A very tall man.

There's a nice bit of graffiti up there, too.

"1859."

Oh, yes. Whoever put that up there in 1859

could have had no idea it would ever be as comfortable as this.

No. What I do want to show you is the kitchen-diner,

which is next door. Come have a look at this.

There.

Oh-oh-oh, wow. Oh, wow. Yeah? Yes.

That's another wow. Excellent. Yes, that is beautiful.

I'm very impressed with this room.

It's a beautiful room, it's nicely done,

but it's sort of too much dining room, too much kitchen.

As a kitchen, it'd be lovely if you got rid of that table

and you made it more of a kitchen.

I guess the key thing to consider

is whether or not you like the kitchen as is. No.

I would take down this wall

and I would open up the beams to mirror the beams on this side

and I would make this one big room.

Well, you certainly could do, because this wall...

KNOCKING ..is not load-bearing.

Yeah. So, wow, there's a thought.

You'd end up with an enormous kitchen-diner-living room in one.

Yes. That would be nice.

Yeah, that could work for me.

Maybe see if you can put a wood burner in there, too.

Nice little twist. There we are. There's a thought. Come on.

It's a great sign that Jackie and Nigel

are engaging with ways they could put their own stamp

on this already beautifully turned-out

country estate conversion.

After a useful cloakroom,

the entrance hall leads through a door to a further internal lobby

and the three-bedroom sleeping quarters.

A family bathroom serves the guest bedrooms.

One is a good-sized double with a view to the garden

and there's a smaller single room.

Then there's a generous-sized master with en suite.

And I'm hoping this has got enough space for your now-famous bed.

With room to spare.

They've got a very big built-in storage unit there too.

Yeah. Lots of space.

Loads of space and you've got a shower en suite next door.

Very nice. It's all going to come down to the big question at the end.

Where does this fit on the budget scale?

Ah, well, there we are.

It's the question I love to answer.

The inside may have them pondering over price,

but, outside, there is more.

In addition to that garage, there's a sizeable rear plot

currently laid to lawn,

with lovely views towards the surrounding Clwydian Hills.

We could go right to the end. To be honest, you get the idea.

The garden could be much more developed.

But, I guess, from your point of view,

you want it as low-maintenance as possible.

And actually... It's lovely.

..for a property within a complex, this is a ludicrously big garden.

Yes. I would agree with you.

Given it is the biggest garden of the week,

one might be surprised to have found it here.

This is interesting, isn't it, this one?

I think this is the most interesting we've seen.

Good. So let's see if the price then, Nigel, is going to please you.

I'm completely at a loss here.

A stab in the dark, I'll say 345.

345. Jackie?

I think I'll go for 330, a little less.

One of you is spot on.

Who is it?

My wife. Always.

Not on this occasion - it's you, sir. 345, bang on.

You have your garage, sweetie.

And my garage as well. We haven't got to build you a garage.

No. All done and dusted.

Ride-on mower. I think that's the only other extra.

Yeah, well, you'll have to save up for that, won't you?

THEY LAUGH Right then, off you go.

Have a wander round and I will come and find you a little bit later

while I take in these glorious views.

The Clwydian Hills are, to my mind, a bit overlooked in the rush

to get to Snowdonia, but here on a day like this,

I think I'm going to enjoy them.

?5,000 below budget,

this barn conversion within an historic country estate

has excellent lock-up-and-leave potential.

It offers three bedrooms and two bathrooms,

and there's also that double garage, plus extensive,

but simply maintained, grounds.

I find the Mystery House quite surprising.

It's a beautiful with regards to the high ceilings.

Good space. It's a beautiful house, without a shadow of a doubt.

And it's a barn conversion, but a very special barn conversion.

The finishings and the rooms and so on are gorgeous.

Really liked it.

The one thing that I didn't like was the kitchen-dining area.

I felt it was too much of a compromise.

But it's got a nice-sized garage

and it seems a nice community and a beautiful location.

I hadn't envisioned us being so close to the neighbours

and I hadn't envisioned us being in a semi-detached house.

Could I cope with that? I'm not sure.

Well, our guided property tour is now over.

That's the last one. Our Mystery House is done and dusted.

Are you happy with what we've shown you this week?

Very much so. I think so.

Is there an option there, I wonder?

A-ha. Don't tell me just yet. Right, come on. Off you go.

Let's give you time to think about it.

You know, for me, one of the really interesting dynamics

in this particular house search has been the fact that we haven't

been looking for a forever home for Jackie and for Nigel,

which you might think would make the whole process that bit easier.

But, let's not forget, they are going to spend

an awful lot of money.

So have we managed to help them find a viable solution?

Well, let's go and find them.

Well, guys, we are nearly at the end of the process.

I feel confident that we've given you an interesting

and thought-provoking range of properties to consider.

I hope you agree. Most definitely, yes.

But I get the feeling that there are probably two frontrunners.

Am I right? You're absolutely right, yes.

Let me see.

The Mystery House. Is one of the two.

And I suspect that lovely new build overlooking the sea,

which wasn't in a location you were perhaps considering,

but certainly got you talking.

Yes, that's the other one.

So of the two, which one is your favourite, I wonder?

I think we have one clear winner. Do you now? Mm.

Is it the Mystery?

Nope.

So it's the new build overlooking the sea, Nigel?

It's the new build overlooking the sea, yes.

What the sea view house had was a proper country village community.

After seeing the house, we went into the village,

we visited the village hall and so on.

It's a wonderful community and that's what's really sold us

on that particular house. You're absolutely right, Nigel.

Two very different sorts of community between the two.

One much more traditional, one much more artificial,

I suppose, in a sense.

But I suspect, although we've talked about this being a sort of

medium-term move, if you get embedded in the community,

who knows? You might be there for that bit longer.

Yes, that's a distinct possibility.

Wow. Is that exciting, Jackie?

I think it is. I think the prospect of that is quite exciting.

You've introduced us to some very interesting options, I think.

And our favourite house today was certainly an option

that we hadn't considered before.

It's certainly in an area that you hadn't really considered.

No, we hadn't. Yeah. We hadn't.

Jackie said she wanted somewhere that was light and airy.

I said I wanted something that was very countrified.

The house provides both.

Well, guys, it's been an absolute pleasure.

We have had a great laugh this week with the pair of you.

And we wish you all the very best of luck.

So let us know how you get on. With pleasure. Thank you.

Best of luck. Thanks, Jules.

You know, all week it seems, the Clwydian Hills

have been a real feature of this house search

with Jackie and with Nigel.

So, where better to finish off than up here amongst them,

enjoying some very welcome early evening sunshine?

But I've often thought, this week, that meeting the expectations

of a couple who - let's face it -

have lived in some pretty glamorous locations

in some very memorable properties

stretching all the way from Panama to South Africa

was always going to be a bit of a challenge.

But, yet again, I think this region and its property market

has not let us down.

So, while I head off home to Herefordshire,

I shall leave you to enjoy the view.

I'll see you next time.

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