Dorset Escape to the Country

Welcome to Escape To The Country.

Now, this pretty hedgerow, flushed as it is with autumn colour,

may look like any other you can see across the British countryside,

but this one is thought to be almost a thousand years old -

but how would we know, and where is it?

Join me in just a moment and I'll tell you.

Today's search is all about old versus new,

with house-hunters torn between traditional and contemporary.

This is very me, very me.

Who's going to get the final say?

Oh, we'll see, we'll see!

Our task is to deliver the best of both worlds

which will bowl them both over, and it looks like we're halfway there.

I've never had underfloor heating, that would be nice.

-Is it warm?

-Yes, it's lovely!

JULES LAUGHS

Richard's in, look, he's done it!

Well, today we are in Dorset,

on the 550-acre Kingcombe Meadows nature reserve -

and, as you might expect,

this area is covered with literally miles of hedgerows.

Now, in recent years, not only have they analysed many historic maps,

they've also employed a rather clever rural rule of thumb,

to determine that some of these hedgerows could date back to 1050.

Now, later in the programme I'll be back here,

finding out not just how they've managed to date them,

but also how important hedgerows are to our landscape as a whole -

and, I hope, getting something of a masterclass of what we can all do

to help maintain these features through the winter.

Dorset is in a prime position on England's south coast.

Uninterrupted by cities and motorways,

the county is agreeably remote,

and just over 40% of it

falls within designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Much of Dorset's charm is found in its picturesque villages,

over 150 of them.

One with a remarkable tale of old is Milton Abbas,

which started life in a different location.

The entire village was moved to its present spot

in the late 18th century, so as not to spoil the view

from the Earl of Dorchester's newly-built mansion.

Nearly 100 miles of heritage coastline

skirt the county's southern edge

where crumbling cliffs reveal a unique cross-section

of geology and prehistoric treasures.

Charmouth Beach is a particular favourite for fossil hunters

hoping to discover a Jurassic gem.

In the south-east,

the 60 square-mile Isle of Purbeck is bordered by water on three sides.

It's home to the Victorian seaside resort of Swanage,

and the towering ruins of Corfe Castle, some ten centuries old.

With history surrounding you everywhere,

there's no doubt that Dorset presents

a compelling and varied portrait of country life,

at times millions of years in the making.

Well, there is, I'm afraid, no two ways about it.

Property hunting here in Dorset doesn't come cheap.

Currently, the average price of a detached house here

is some £400,000. That's £70,000 above the national figure -

and as for East Dorset,

well, there, you could happily expect to pay even more -

and that's because of two sizzling hot spots,

Poole and, most notoriously, Sandbanks,

where properties regularly go for millions of pounds.

So if you want a bit more for your money, the advice is simple.

Head towards the west of the county.

So what is it about Dorset, one of my favourite parts of Britain,

that has attracted today's buyers to want to move here?

Well, let's meet them and find out.

One half of our house-hunting duo is retired doctor Drew.

He met partner Richard, who works for an airline,

two and a half years ago.

After hitting it off online, they decided to meet up.

I came down to Bournemouth to visit you.

You did, and I picked you up from the train station.

You did. You stood there with your little rucksack and shorts,

and looked really cute!

It was a very hot day, I remember.

It was very hot and sunny, and the weather was just fantastic,

and we clicked straight away, because we've got things in common.

A great day at the beach

and, well, ever since then, we've been pretty inseparable.

For the last 16 years,

Londoner Drew has been living in this five-bedroom 1930s semi

in Finchley - and when Richard's not travelling for work,

he divides his time between a flat he owns in Bournemouth,

and visiting Drew...

..but city life really isn't for him.

I love the outdoors. I love the outdoor life.

Although it's great being in London, and there's a lot to do,

but I find when you live here, you don't actually do those things.

So we're looking forward to just setting up a new life,

-nice home, outdoor life.

-Definitely.

They've chosen to buy in Dorset,

a county with a mix of

coast and countryside with good road links to friends,

as well as Drew's son, Fraser, in London.

It's a move they hope will help them to achieve

not just a slower pace of life, but also a more active lifestyle.

I've lived in London for quite a long time now,

and it's very busy and frenetic, so the move to Dorset will be...

..it's a much calmer environment, fresh air, good quality of life,

lots of opportunities for our shared hobbies.

It's the complete opposite, in fact, to London.

Yeah, we're looking forward to doing country walks, kayaking,

getting some mountain bikes, going out,

having a much more outdoor active life than we can actually have here.

Although they've been looking for six months already,

this couple are yet to find a property to please them both.

It's been interesting looking at house-hunting together,

because we do have different styles.

I prefer a more modern style of house.

And I'm a much more traditional type person.

I like something a bit quirky.

He loves things - he loves straight lines, neatness, tidiness.

We do kind of feed off each other,

so, if Drew's unsure about something,

I reassure him, and it's vice versa,

so, you know, we do balance each other out that way.

One thing they are agreed on

is that they'd like more outside space in their next home.

We would like a big garden.

I'd also like a large greenhouse

because I grow a lot of cactuses and succulents,

so I'd like to be able to grow a lot more of those.

I'd like to get into gardening.

I don't know anything about gardening,

but I really want to give it a go, I really want to try it.

Drew's house is sold and due to complete in a couple of months,

and they are in need of our help

to make their countryside dream a reality.

It's going to feel lovely being in our new house.

To be able to open the windows and not listen to sirens, car alarms,

this is just going to be bliss.

Whilst they're undecided on property style,

location-wise they concur.

They need good road and rail links to London,

but otherwise are happy to look anywhere in the county.

Let's hope they're also on the same page

when it comes to the finer details of the move.

Right, chaps, let's pause here

because I think this really does rather set the scene, doesn't it?

Now, the question as to how much you know about Dorset

really fascinates me because peculiarly, Richard,

you have a flat here, in Bournemouth?

That's right, yeah. I've got a flat in Bournemouth in the city centre,

but, obviously, I travel a lot for my work

so when I get home I like to stay in my flat

and I don't really get out much,

because I can walk to the town,

I can walk to the train station,

so I haven't really explored Dorset at all.

Now, in terms of the property that you're after,

give us an idea of the spec that we need.

OK. We're looking for something like three bedrooms plus a study,

or possibly four bedrooms.

A big kitchen would be great.

A big kitchen, we would like a garden.

We have very little garden at the moment.

Room for a gym would be great.

Yes. A pool would be nice.

A pool would be nice!

JULES CACKLES

Now, before we get carried away,

I gather that you have actually been through the door

of some 26 properties here in Dorset?

-Correct.

-Something like that.

So what have they not had that you're hoping we are going to find?

Well, quite a few were - not on estates,

but on roads with many other houses.

We would like some privacy, I think.

-Other things...

-You don't want to be so isolated, though,

you still want to be close to some form of life,

-village life or...

-Community. Yeah.

How much are you proposing to spend on this new adventure together?

Well, something between £750,000 and £800,000.

I think £800,000 is realistically the top of our budget.

I'm very pleased with what we have to show you this week,

and we've got some beautiful weather to go with it.

So, now's your chance, boys, to come and explore rural Dorset

and see what you, Richard, have been missing all these years.

-Come on!

-Fantastic.

With a substantial budget of £800,000,

Drew and Richard are looking for a detached property

with three bedrooms and a study,

as well as a large sociable kitchen and a garden.

They'd also like a garage or space where they can create a home gym.

We've found three exciting properties to tempt them with,

and at each one I'll be asking them to guess the all-important price tag

before I reveal it at the end of the tour.

Our final property will be our Mystery House,

offering up some unique spaces

and a different angle on life in the countryside.

How important is being attached to a community for you both out here?

Well, I think, well,

I've always been in a community my whole life, really,

and I think one of my worries

about the move would be the feeling of isolation,

so, having a village nearby or being in the village, I think,

I would have to have something like that.

The shock, culturally, to me, would be too great

to suddenly go from a 10 million population city to a few hundred.

I think that would be quite a shock!

Our search kicks off in the North Dorset village of Tarrant Monkton.

Nestled in the Dorset Downs,

the village is made up of mostly thatched and cobbled

character cottages, a number of which are listed.

It is home to one of the three remaining medieval packhorse bridges

in the county, as well as an award-winning 17th-century pub.

If Drew and Richard fancy a slice of quintessential village life,

that's exactly what they'll get with our first property.

There we go, what do you think of that one?

Gosh. Isn't it stunning?

Stunning, it looks amazing.

It's a picture-postcard...

-It's beautiful.

-..house in a beautiful village.

It's, not surprisingly, Grade II listed,

because it's 17th century.

Ah, OK, OK.

In terms of the rural dream, Richard,

I mean, is this the sort of thing?

Yeah, it's absolutely stunning.

Can't wait to see inside.

How many properties like this have you looked around?

We've seen one a little bit like this, but not as nice as this.

No, we haven't seen anything of this standard.

So out of the 26 that you've looked at, you haven't yet seen anything

this sort of age, this sort of period?

-No.

-Come on, let's see what you think.

Originally two separate cottages,

this now single detached property is currently used as a holiday let.

Offering over 1,600 square feet of accommodation,

it includes a side extension added in the 1980s,

which houses the current kitchen, where we are starting our tour.

It's the one area that may need some work,

but I'm told the current owners are in the process

of gaining planning permission for a further extension.

What do you reckon?

It's... It's nice.

I mean, just having something you can fix up

just means you put your own mark on it.

Certainly not afraid of that - but it's still a decent size.

It's still usable.

Oh, yes. The rest of it is just gorgeous.

It just opens up as you go through.

See this, to me, is where this property

really starts to sell itself.

Oh, that's - that's lovely.

Wow. That fireplace.

Look at these beams. The history is...

And look at the hook in the centre.

Yeah, absolutely. Well, imagine it.

Back in the day, this would have been the kitchen,

so all manner of things would have been hanging off the ceiling.

-Beautiful in here.

-YOU'D be hanging if you misbehave.

LAUGHTER

Probably!

I know Drew prefers a contemporary style,

but I must say both our buyers

seem to be falling for this cottage's character and charm.

This, I think, is really your period chill-out space really.

-That's nice.

-Oh, God, look at this.

It's stunning.

So interesting and quirky, isn't it?

You see, this is, this is absolutely not where you've been

for the last 20-odd years, is it?

No. I go for symmetry, clean lines,

this is everything that I don't normally look at -

but it's just absolutely amazing.

Real character, isn't it?

You've got an additional, I'm going to say, in brackets,

fourth bedroom down there at the moment,

but I would say study,

so we are brokering this very much as a three-bedroom.

-So far, so good.

-Good, well, let's continue upstairs.

The staircase leads from the living room to the three bedrooms

on the first floor, which include a twin room with feature fireplace,

a cosy but characterful double,

and the master all served by a family bathroom

with separate shower and bath.

So no surprise, then, this being the biggest, would be for you two.

Oh, wow, oh gosh. Lovely.

This is a big room, big room.

I mean, as a holiday let, they've set it up as a sort of family room.

That's why there are currently three beds in here and the cot and so on,

but a bit of storage over there which is quite helpful.

Mm-hm. Beautiful, beautiful room, lots of space.

Given that you have looked at 26 properties,

I think it's quite revealing that only one of those

bore any similarity to this one.

Which is why I'm delighted we've had a chance to start

with what, to me, is a classic bit of Dorset architecture -

and I'm even more delighted that you like it, which is the key thing!

This, on paper, is not something I would rush to look at,

but you've shown us and you've challenged us

and brought something we wouldn't normally look at,

-and I think it's fantastic. It works.

-It's so quirky.

Well, let's see what you make of the price.

We'll talk about that in the garden.

Follow me.

Outside, the garden extends to around a third of an acre,

and surrounds three sides of the property.

There are a couple of seating areas to enjoy the wonderful rural views,

and there is even an outdoor privy

which is also listed and is used as a tool shed.

Right then, chaps, this is one that I think really should, I hope,

kind of sell itself, really.

Ponies grazing in the field next door,

the pub within walking distance.

It is absolutely stunning.

And for us I think, garden wise, it's about the right size.

Yeah.

So, I'm going to put Drew on the spot.

What do you think this is on the market for?

I think it's probably on for something like 750,000.

I think 725.

725.

This is on the market for 650,000.

-Really?

-No, really?

Wow. Wow!

Wow, we were way out!

-But in a good way.

-In a very good way.

I'm surprised. No, that's very encouraging.

-It is.

-Right then, go and have another look around.

See what you get for that sort of money,

and I will come and find you a little bit later.

Because this really is a property to enjoy,

to soak up its history and its character -

and to find this in a village such as this one,

with all the amenities that it has to offer,

it's just a joy.

An absolute joy. I LOVE house-hunting in Dorset!

This Grade II listed thatched cottage

has the three-bedroom study space

and good-sized garden Drew and Richard asked for,

in the heart of a beautiful village location -

and coming in £150,000 under budget,

there would be plenty left in the pot

for them to put their own stamp on it.

The initial reaction of walking down the lane, there,

with the horses in the meadow, and then you see the house,

is just stunning.

I was just blown away.

I know it's a bit higgledy-piggledy and low ceilings,

but I think it...it's got the right chemistry for me,

and I just loved it.

The price, what a fantastic surprise.

Something this location, this setting, near to the pub,

beautiful garden, who would have thought? Just fantastic.

I'm very happy with where we started,

and given that we have talked about this local pub

that is within walking distance,

perfect place for lunch, do you think?

-Great, let's go!

-Come on, let's go.

One of the things Drew and Richard are looking forward to

when they make their move down to Dorset

is embracing the great outdoors

and taking up mountain biking as a hobby.

Boasting more than 4,700 foot paths and bridleways across the county,

that take in its countryside, coast and countless landmarks,

Dorset is the perfect place for them to get started.

We've arranged for them to meet Charlie Hobbs at Nine Barrow Down

on the Isle of Purbeck.

Six years ago, he traded in life as a marketing executive

to run a bike shop and hasn't looked back since.

So what makes Dorset such a great place for mountain biking?

We've got a great network of trails

and so you can pick your way around the countryside,

over the hills, past the castles, along the beaches,

but it's also a brilliant way of getting from one pub to another.

This place is riddled with fantastic pubs

with big views out over the sea. It's brilliant.

So what would be the longest and shortest trail in Dorset?

The shortest and one of the most popular

is a trail called the Priest's Way.

It comes up out of Swanage and goes up to a pub

on top of the hill overlooking the sea,

and people will ride up on a Sunday morning

and zigzag and roll back in the afternoon.

So that's the shortest -

but the longest has got to be the Dorset Gravel Dash 100,

which is 100 miles in one go in one day, all off-road,

and we get about 100 people turning up for that, and it's tough.

It's really tough.

It's not something to start with, but it's something to aim for.

OK, and talking about starting with, I mean, I'm a novice.

I can ride a bike.

How would you advise me in terms of getting started?

Speak to your local bike shop.

Down here we've got the Dorset Rough Riders.

They've been going for over a quarter of a century now,

and they have group rides almost every day of the week.

You know, it's brilliant,

because you're moving to a neighbourhood,

and then you'll be dropped straight into a little social group.

You'll make friends, you'll get to see where the great trails are

-and find out where everything is.

-Sounds perfect.

-It does, sounds great.

-It is! It really is.

Before Drew and Richard invest in new bikes,

Charlie's offered to take them out for a test ride

around the Purbeck Hills, to get a taste for Dorset's cycling scene -

but on today's trip there will be one significant difference.

These are some big tyres.

Yes - mountain bikes, but not as you know it.

These are called fat bikes,

the most distinguishing feature is the great big fat tyre,

and the reason for that is it soaks up all the bumps,

it allows you to ride over anything.

Originating in America, the first forms of fat bike

were designed to cope with extreme surface conditions

like snow or sand.

With the helmet, you want to make sure it's nice and snug.

They're adjustable round the back here,

and then you do it up and here,

and you should have just enough room for a couple of fingers.

So it's snug but not too tight.

With the minimum thickness of 3.8 inches,

the tyre's larger contact point with the ground

prevents them sinking into sand or mud

and also helps to negotiate tree roots or tall grass,

so they're an ideal way to tackle

the varied terrain of the Dorset countryside.

So how are you finding it?

Well, it's not as easy as it looks.

If mountain biking was meant to be easy,

they wouldn't put the word "mountain" in it!

PANTING

Although not best appreciated on a day like today,

the route Charlie's chosen regularly enjoys views down to Poole Harbour

and even out to Brownsea Island.

With a wide range of trails on offer, from landscape rides

for intermediate or novice riders like Drew,

to red or black trails for the more experienced,

there are endless cycling opportunities

to keep our buyers busy

whilst exploring what they hope will be their new home county.

Over this boundary and then it's downhill all the way to the pub.

-Perfect.

-I thought you might say that!

It's what we're waiting for.

Last one to the pub gets the beers in!

Next, we're heading to the south of the county

to the village of Sutton Poyntz,

just seven minutes by car to the beach.

Tucked away beneath the chalk downs,

the village is overlooked by the famous Osmington white horse,

and is a popular spot for visiting walkers and cyclists.

The pretty village duck pond is surrounded by character properties,

including the local pub,

which brings the community together through a busy calendar of events -

and it's just a short stroll from here to our next property,

a fact that should be a real draw for our buyers.

Here we are. This is number two.

Wow. This is quite imposing, especially this backdrop behind it.

The backdrop's amazing, isn't it?

You've got this downland rolling away into the far distance.

So we've, I suppose fast-forwarded from property one

in the 17th century,

to the 21st century,

and this one, which is only two years old.

-Oh, really?

-I was going to say, it looks pretty...

Yes, yes, gosh, nice clean lines, which I like.

You like your symmetry, don't you?!

And what about for you, Richard? Does this appeal?

Yes, it's really impressive.

Love the attention to detail.

You got the brickwork along the bottom

and then the cleanness of the walls, there,

and even the lighting looks really smart.

Will we go for something that's more familiar,

or will we retreat back to the period property of this morning?

Who knows? But, yes, let's have a look.

This house is the complete opposite to our first offering,

boasting a modern interior that I'm confident will appeal to Drew

and some stylish features that I hope will keep Richard happy, too.

Right, so nice little lobby hallway there, and then this is the, er...

..I guess your principal sort of cosy living room, as it were.

Right. This is very nice.

Look at the fireplace, it's absolutely massive.

-Fabulous room.

-Lovely feel, very symmetrical and very smooth walls...

It is crisp, isn't it?

-It is.

-The newness is all around us.

-Is this your sort of thing?

-Er...

..I would go more for character, but, but they have put it in.

It's a new build but they've built in an inglenook fireplace.

-Yeah.

-You know, it's great.

You can sit on the sofa,

and look what you see through the window from your lounge.

Ah, well, wait till you see what you can see from the kitchen.

-You're going to like this.

-Oh, really?

There we are, guys. How about this?

-Wow, this is...

-Oh, wow!

-A huge kitchen!

-And a very stylish kitchen.

Very slick, isn't it?

Utility room through there, and then, as you might expect,

everything else beautifully kind of integrated.

You know, fridges, freezers and so on...

..and an island.

I knew that the finish in here

would be something that would excite you.

Now, this is very me, very me.

Who's going to get the final say?

Um, we'll see, we'll see!

JULES LAUGHS

What we want is something that's very us, don't we?

-We do.

-Let's have a look upstairs.

Back in the front hall, there's a smart downstairs cloakroom

and a staircase which leads to four bedrooms up on the first floor.

A bright master bedroom enjoys views of the surrounding fields

and an en-suite shower room.

Another large double lies to the front of the house.

The smallest of the bedrooms is being used as a study,

and there's a super stylish family bathroom

with a freestanding bath -

but we're exploring another option

for what could be their master bedroom.

Now, I've opted to, um, show you this one in more detail up here,

because although it doesn't have the en-suite shower room

which next door does, to me, the view from here

recommends this more as a master.

Mm-hm. To waken up in the morning,

open the curtains or the blinds and see this from your bed...

Yeah. And the glass panel which means you see the full view.

Which is quite spectacular.

The rooms and the sizes works very well.

Plus the vista.

I know, come on, let's go and take another look at that

and talk about the price while we're down there.

Richard and Drew can also set up their home gym

in the garage to the side of the house,

which benefits from power and lighting.

Meanwhile, outside, it's mainly lawned

and surrounded by far-reaching views.

Garden-wise, I mean, it is only two years old, this property,

so not a lot has happened here,

you know, to embellish it in a way that you could do.

Well, the garden's just a blank canvas,

it's yours to do with what you want, which is fantastic,

so we can just really go to town on that.

Yes, I agree, I agree.

So, how much is it worth, then, gentlemen?

I would say...

..775.

775. Grabbing those figures out the air!

Well, you've gone close to where I was going to go.

I was going to say £780,000.

I think it's getting towards where our limit is.

Here we are, then. This could be yours for...

700...and £15,000.

715?

Wow. I am surprised - and four bedrooms.

Yes - and great outdoor space.

-Cocktails in the evening.

-Yes.

Living the dream, boys!

Yes. Off you go, the house is yours, go and explore...

-Thank you.

-..to your hearts' content.

Coming in substantially under budget,

this brand-new detached property has four bedrooms,

a stylish open-plan kitchen-diner, and a garage for a home gym -

and it's all in a wonderful plot

surrounded by stunning South Dorsetshire countryside.

-These doors are nice. Look at those.

-They're lovely.

There we go.

-Good floor.

-Perfect for the gym.

Property two, very different from property one.

In terms of spec, it's got the rooms that I'm looking for.

The flow is very nice.

Less compromises here than, say, house number one,

in terms of what we're looking for from a house.

The style is lovely, yeah.

I'm not a massive fan of modern living, but this works very well.

I mean, there's no work to be done here.

You move in, it's already there,

straight off, fantastic, it's really good.

Well, that's it for our first day of house-hunting.

-Happy so far?

-Very happy so far.

We seen two very different properties,

both stylish in very different ways and both very nice.

-I like them both actually.

-Yes, it's been really interesting.

So, lots to talk about over a pint.

Yep.

Right.

We are in Dorset helping Londoner Drew and Richard from Bournemouth

buy their first home together.

With a generous budget of £800,000, they're ditching city life

in search of a countryside retreat and a more active lifestyle.

Coming up next, our Mystery House

might be just what the doctor ordered...

This is who you are, isn't it?

Yes, it is very much who I am.

It's very clean lines.

Like a surgery, it's almost like an operating theatre, isn't it?

LAUGHTER

..and later, I try my hand at an age-old technique

to preserve Britain's hedgerows.

Gosh, that is...

Fragile but still there.

Well, it's always nice to head into your final day of house-hunting

with at least one good option on the table,

and if we were able to show both Richard and Drew nothing else,

I'm pretty happy with the two properties we've seen so far,

there is plenty to choose from.

So what could we possibly come up with for our final offering,

our Mystery House?

Well, it's perfectly obvious so far

that they both have a real love of contemporary design.

This is a property that, frankly, we don't get to see very often

on Escape To The Country,

but I'm hoping it might be just what they're looking for.

Our Mystery House takes us to the village of Upton,

just three miles from the popular coastal town of Poole.

Closer still are the beaches,

heathlands and marshland of the Lytchett Bay nature reserve,

a key site for wildlife

which has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Back in Upton, our property takes pride of place

in a secluded position at the end of an attractive private road.

There we go.

-That's the Mystery House.

-Wow.

This is what I was not expecting.

This is ultra modern.

Yes, indeed.

We know that you love your contemporary design,

and as it's the Mystery House, we thought, well, why not?

Let's indulge that a little more.

It's only five years old, and it's empty.

-Ah.

-What do you think, Richard?

It's certainly different from the last two.

I love the angles.

Very different, very smart.

It's very striking.

So that's the front door, but we're going to use the back door today.

OK.

I knew the exterior of our unique Mystery House

would satisfy Drew's taste for clean lines,

but I'm glad it also appeals to Richard.

I can't wait to show them inside.

Tell me what you think of this, then.

-Wow.

-Oh, this is, yeah...

This is...

I mean, I haven't got words to describe it.

It's just beautifully...

Very stylish.

-It's lovely.

-This is who you are, isn't it?

Yes, it is very much who I am.

It's very clean lines, very minimalistic as well.

Like a surgery, almost like an operating theatre, isn't it?

Says the doctor!

JULES LAUGHS

Come and have a look through here.

This is a lovely sort of atrium hallway.

That's the front door that we didn't use.

OK. Huge hallway, isn't it?

It's just stunning, isn't it?

And then this is the main living room,

which then opens up that way to the dining end, as it were.

It's gorgeous, isn't it? You can have your TV on the wall there.

-Yeah.

-Sofa.

-Sofa.

-Relaxing.

If you haven't already noticed it, there are no radiators on the walls,

which means you've got underfloor heating around.

-Lovely.

-I've never had underfloor heating, that would be nice.

-Is it warm?

-Yeah, it's lovely!

Richard's in, look, he's done it, he's done it!

Well done. Well, try before you buy, mate, that's what I like to say.

Come on, let's have a look upstairs.

Follow me, this way.

Viewing a property in its bare state

does require a certain level of imagination,

that these two are having no problem appreciating its potential,

and I'm glad Richard's already making himself at home.

From the reception hall,

a beautiful oak staircase leads to the first floor.

See, this is a nice touch, having the glazing

instead of the banisters up here,

which again gives it that sense of space.

Now, we've got four bedrooms, OK? All slightly different.

Two of them are en suite.

That's a double, but isn't en suite.

That's the smallest of the lot,

little sort of box room in here

which might be more of a study, I suppose.

This one here, again, another double, that is en suite.

Great size. Own shower, perfect.

Perfect layout.

But, er, master bedroom is down here

next to the family bathroom -

with a beautiful lightwell, as you can see.

And then this would be for you two.

Come in, Richard. This is the other bit of the big window,

which is a stunning master bedroom.

Have a look in there.

That's quite nice, your en-suite.

-Wow.

-Pretty good, isn't it?

And so space age!

I think we might have put the cat among the pigeons

with our Mystery House.

The radiator, look at the radiator!

-Happy?

-Am I happy? Yes, very happy.

I think it's just breathtakingly beautiful, isn't it?

Have you ever seen a bedroom as nice as this?

-It's incredible.

-Right then, start thinking about the price,

-because that's going to be the next hurdle.

-Oh, dear, dear!

JULES LAUGHS

Heading outside, there's a double garage

which would work well for Richard and Drew's home gym,

and a good-sized lawned back garden

with a number of mature trees and plants.

I think there'd be enough garden space here

to occupy your gardening ambitions.

Oh, definitely, and it's already quite mature,

so it's not too much work to do.

No, I agree.

So, let's talk about the price tag of our final offering.

It has to be at the top end, I think.

It's going to have to be around £790,000, I would guess.

-Yes, yes.

-I think it's more like 795.

OK, I mean, your instincts are right,

in that Poole is notoriously one of the most expensive bits of Dorset.

However, you could take it away today...

..for a guide price of £730,000.

Really? Well, again - you've surprised us at every property.

We always think it's more expensive than it is, but that's very good,

730,000, is amazing for this.

-It's very good. Isn't it?

-Yes - but the spec, the location,

the style, the individuality of the place.

Well, look, go and have a wander round,

soak up these lovely fixtures and fittings

-and I'll come and find you later on.

-Thank you.

Off you go.

Well, there you go. Just this morning

they probably thought that either one of our first two properties

would suit them down to the ground -

but yet again, the Mystery House has made them think twice.

Coming in a very comfortable £70,000 under budget,

this contemporary mystery property

has been finished to an exceptionally high standard

and would give Drew and Richard four bedrooms,

a stylish kitchen with all the mod cons,

as well as a garden and double garage for a home gym -

and it lies down a secluded private road.

It's quite a unique design.

There certainly isn't anything else like this.

It's got an amazing glass frontage,

which just takes advantage of the views.

You've got state-of-the-art appliances everywhere.

Underfloor heating through the house.

Yes, let's not forget the underfloor heating.

Which is - it's luxury, isn't it?

It's a luxury house,

but at a very affordable price,

and it gives me some extra money to, well... Who knows?

To treat me.

Of course!

Well, chaps, I'm afraid that's it.

Our house tours are now complete.

Yep, well, lots to think about,

-but we'll discuss it and then we'll discuss with you.

-Absolutely.

Well, let's find you a nice place for a cup of tea. Come on.

Dorset's rural landscape is characterised

by a patchwork of fields surrounded by high hedgerows.

Acting as corridors across the landscape,

they connect woodlands and one another,

enabling small mammals, birds and insects

to travel under a protective canopy,

providing vital shelter and food -

but they can also tell us a lot about the heritage of our landscape.

I've come to the Kingcombe Meadows nature reserve,

eight miles from the market town of Bridport,

to meet Steve Masters from the Dorset Wildlife Trust,

to find out a little more about the importance

of these monuments of living history.

Well, Steve, many people will drive through the countryside

and probably take our hedgerows very much for granted,

but they are an integral part

-of what makes this landscape work, aren't they?

-Indeed they are, yes.

I mean, the hedgerows we have got

here at Kingcombe across the reserve,

some of them have been dated back to medieval times,

even longer than that, back to the 11th century.

The role of hedgerows fascinates me,

and being able to date them is even more interesting,

because it means we can potentially get a handle

on how the landscape's management has changed over time -

but how do you go about dating them?

There's a hypothesis called Hooper's Hypothesis.

You take a section about 30 metres long,

and you count the number of woody species

that you find in the 30 metre section, times it by 100,

and you should be roughly somewhere around the age of the hedgerow -

and you do that to get an average all along the hedgerow.

So how accurate is Hooper's Hypothesis?

Well, out here at Kingcombe, with the use of old maps,

we can sort of tell that the hedgerows have been there

for similar amounts of time that they were dated to,

so it is reasonably accurate.

A lot of these hedgerows may well have been here

just before the time of William the Conqueror.

So, it really is a step back in time.

Since the Second World War,

the UK's ancient hedgerows have dramatically declined,

largely to increased field size and make way for development.

By the 1990s,

121,000 kilometres of hedgerows at across the country had been lost.

Steve and the team from the Wildlife Trust

have been working hard to maintain Dorset's surviving hedgerows.

This winter they aim to re-lay a mile across the West Dorset Estates

of which Kingcombe is the largest.

Well, this is a lovely ancient track.

It certainly is. It's probably been here for hundreds of years,

along with the hedges associated with it.

And clearly, it's being laid now. Who's been working on this?

This is one of our volunteers. We have a big group of volunteers

who come out every week and help us do the hedge laying,

and this has taken somebody about a day to do.

That's a day's work?

You have got a lot to do, haven't you?

But if you're unfamiliar with the process of literally laying hedges

we can see here, it does look pretty brutal, doesn't?

Many people might be surprised

to think that, actually, the whole thing can stay alive,

because there's not much connecting the stem,

once it's laid, to the root?

The main living part and the tissue of the tree

is round the outside, here,

so, as long as you leave a quarter of that attached,

all the nutrients and water can still come up from the root system

and enable it to reshoot in the spring.

Right then, come on then, give me a little lesson in how to do it.

What you want to do is you want come through

a roughly sort of 45 or steeper, if possible, angle,

and then, after you've done that,

we should be able to start, hopefully, bending it down.

At around 15 years old, these stems are the perfect age and size

for laying, and can be bent or woven into the hedge.

-Cut a bit more.

-Yes, little bit more?

-Yes.

-Oh, you've got to be brave, haven't you?

You certainly have. The hazel's quite good, though,

because it's very pliable material,

so you can bend it and work with it quite well and cut a lot out of it.

So shall I just gently walk it forward?

-Indeed, yes.

-Oh, a reassuring crack there.

-That's it.

-And there we are, we're still attached.

The laid stems are known as pleachers,

and they'll eventually grow back vigorously with new vertical shoots,

improving the structure and strength of the hedge.

So, how long do think it will take for this to regenerate?

In Spring this'll probably be... probably a foot,

-maybe a foot and a half high.

-This one looks a bit tiny.

Is it worth laying, or would you just cut this off?

I think you can have a go at laying that one.

It looks like it's an ideal size to have a go with a bill hook.

Ah, right, so, again,

-we're looking for a nice 60-degree angle, aren't we?

-Yes.

Once laid, hedges should be trimmed annually to encourage side shooting,

creating a wider, denser hedge with plenty of dead wood in the bottom

providing safe cover and food for up to 3,000 species of wildlife.

-Gosh, that is...

-Excellent.

-Fragile but still there.

And for some, like our native dormouse,

an essential habitat to nest and hibernate.

It's lovely to think that we're doing something in these hedgerows

-that's been done here for centuries.

-Indeed.

And it's such a simple but rewarding process,

because at least we're helping to maintain these hedgerows,

which are so important, not just for the maintenance of stock

and keeping the animals in, but also for the rest of the wildlife

-to use as their little highways.

-Exactly right, exactly right.

-Right then, carry on, shall we?

-Yep.

Well, there's no doubt that we've given Drew and Richard

three fantastic properties to choose from this week -

but I suspect that trying to make a decision

as to which one is going to be their favourite

could be harder than any of us might have thought.

Ah, this is all very cosy, isn't it?

Well, then. I think a really interesting week.

Three very, very strong properties.

-All very different.

-I think we've loved all of them.

I mean, the first one I thought was fascinating,

because it was everything you thought you didn't want, Drew,

-but actually, you fell in love with it.

-I did.

Even as we drove into the village, it had a lovely feel,

and then you showed us the cottage, which is not really my usual style,

but because of its quirkiness, I loved it.

But then we sort of dialled up the modern element,

didn't we, with our second property?

You did. What attracted me initially was the views that you could see

behind and to the side of the house, was absolutely breathtaking.

And so we then took you to our final offering, our Mystery House,

a very, very distinctive property.

It was different.

It was a unique design, haven't seen that anywhere else,

certainly not around Dorset.

What I'd really like to do, before we take the leap of faith, is to...

I'd love to get some advice on what we can do with house number one,

because that location was, is, superb -

and imagine, if we could put some of the elements of the Mystery House

into house number one, maybe extend the kitchen as you mentioned before,

and that really would make it a stunning, stunning chocolate box.

Because I love the character.

The character of those houses is tremendous -

-and village life.

-I agree.

-Well, guys, best of luck to you. Let us know how you get on.

-We will.

Well, where better to finish our visit to Dorset than here,

beneath the rather splendid remains of Corfe Castle?

Now, when William the Conqueror

first set about establishing a fortress here,

just after the Battle of Hastings,

country life wasn't so much an aspiration,

it was a way of life for most of Britain's population.

Now, of course, these days, times have changed.

Many of us are trying to reconnect with our rural roots.

Now, clearly, both Richard and Drew have some way to go

before they can realise THEIR ambitions of a country life,

but I'm pretty certain that once they do move to Dorset,

they won't regret it. I'll see you next time.

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