0:00:02 > 0:00:06Back in the 1780s, a young, bankrupt architect turned his fortunes around
0:00:06 > 0:00:09by designing impressive villas like this.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12He then went on to create some of the most famous palaces and mansions
0:00:12 > 0:00:17in the country. Find out who he was and where I am in just a moment.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39On today's show, a couple who are spiritually uplifted by the
0:00:39 > 0:00:40properties we show them.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44At first, it's all about the feeling of the place.
0:00:46 > 0:00:47Oh, here we are.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50- Oh, wow.- You had a pretty strong reaction as you came through the
0:00:50 > 0:00:52- door even.- Definitely.
0:00:52 > 0:00:57- Yeah.- Definitely.- And we may have found them a slice of Eden.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59- Nine acres.- Nine acres? - Nine acres!
0:01:01 > 0:01:04So your dogs will be exhausted by the time they get to the end.
0:01:04 > 0:01:05Oh, nine acres. My goodness!
0:01:11 > 0:01:13Today, I'm in the Welsh county of Ceredigion
0:01:13 > 0:01:15and this is Llanerchaeron,
0:01:15 > 0:01:18a house built by John Nash at the beginning of his career,
0:01:18 > 0:01:20when he lived in Wales.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23Architecture fans amongst you will know that he went on to design
0:01:23 > 0:01:28Brighton Pavilion, Buckingham Palace and Regent Street in London.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31The symmetry and setting of this house really sets it off for the
0:01:31 > 0:01:35eye, and it's also a great spot to enjoy the surrounding countryside.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39The county of Ceredigion in the west of Wales
0:01:39 > 0:01:43is bordered by counties including Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.
0:01:43 > 0:01:48Ceredigion's coastline stretches some 60 miles around the magnificent
0:01:48 > 0:01:50crescent of Cardigan Bay.
0:01:50 > 0:01:56At the top of the bay, Aberystwyth is a lively university town and holiday resort.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59The seafront is home to rows of attractive houses,
0:01:59 > 0:02:02with a wide promenade protecting them from the Irish Sea.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09Further down the coast, New Quay was home to Welsh poet Dylan Thomas
0:02:09 > 0:02:12for a brief time during the Second World War.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16But the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding landscape inspired one
0:02:16 > 0:02:18of the most productive periods of his life.
0:02:20 > 0:02:25Inland, the Ceredigion countryside is dominated by sheep and cattle farms.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27Traditional villages such as Cenarth
0:02:27 > 0:02:31have changed little for centuries, with buildings dating back
0:02:31 > 0:02:33as far as the 1300s.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35Whether it's stunning coastline,
0:02:35 > 0:02:38attractive seaside towns or remote countryside,
0:02:38 > 0:02:42Ceredigion has a unique beauty that makes it one of the most inspiring
0:02:42 > 0:02:44of counties to move to.
0:02:47 > 0:02:48Like many parts of Wales,
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Ceredigion offers great value for money for property shoppers.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56The average price for a detached house here in the county is £223,000,
0:02:56 > 0:03:01which is more than £100,000 less than the figure for the UK.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04And your money goes even further inland away from the more expensive,
0:03:04 > 0:03:07sought-after holiday homes on the coast.
0:03:07 > 0:03:08But as well as good value,
0:03:08 > 0:03:12this countryside has a spiritual quality, and that is what has
0:03:12 > 0:03:14attracted our buyers today. So let's meet them.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20Jill and Andy from the town of Poole in Dorset were best friends
0:03:20 > 0:03:22for 16 years before tying the knot.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26They took a chance on each other after a trip to the cinema.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31We went to see a romantic comedy, the film Mamma Mia!.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34And we laughed and cried at the same moments,
0:03:34 > 0:03:36and when we came outside the cinema,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38I looked at Andy and I had a light-bulb moment.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42I just absolutely knew I loved him and was going to marry him.
0:03:42 > 0:03:47- So we did.- I had to wait 16 years for the woman I love,
0:03:47 > 0:03:49but it was well worth it in the end.
0:03:50 > 0:03:51They married eight years ago,
0:03:51 > 0:03:56and live on the outskirts of Poole in a five-bedroom detached house.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58Although they've both lived in the area for a long time,
0:03:58 > 0:04:01they are ready for a change of scenery.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04When I first moved here 26 years ago, Poole was...
0:04:04 > 0:04:07It had a lot of charm and was much quieter.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10But now I'm finding it's much busier and things have changed quite a lot.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16So we're very much looking forward to move to Ceredigion to have the
0:04:16 > 0:04:19tranquil, peaceful way of life and a whole new adventure.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25The couple run a dog boarding company
0:04:25 > 0:04:27and have two dogs of their own.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29They are also spiritual mediums,
0:04:29 > 0:04:32practising reiki and Indian head massage.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36And it's the spiritual beauty of Wales that's attracting them to
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Ceredigion as a place to live and to continue their work.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41I love that area of Wales.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44It's absolutely breathtaking scenery, the mountains,
0:04:44 > 0:04:46and the streams. It just feels so...
0:04:47 > 0:04:50..peaceful and inspiring.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53But they're not the only ones moving.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Jill's father also lives with them in Poole,
0:04:56 > 0:04:58and he'll be joining them in the new property.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02My father is 89 now, it was his birthday yesterday.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06And he is struggling with the stairs, and with his mobility.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09So it's very much the move is for him first and foremost,
0:05:09 > 0:05:13to find a property with accommodation downstairs for him
0:05:13 > 0:05:15so that he can go out into the garden,
0:05:15 > 0:05:17enjoy the sunshine and watch the birds.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24But although they're moving to another country and will miss their
0:05:24 > 0:05:28friends and clients, Andy and Jill are excited for the whole family.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32We very much feel that this is a new chapter.
0:05:32 > 0:05:33It's time to move on.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37We very much feel it, for all of us, especially my dad.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39And we want to give him a quality of life in his twilight years,
0:05:39 > 0:05:41cos we love him dearly.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49Andy and Jill would like to be close to the coast and no more than
0:05:49 > 0:05:52one hour's drive from the town of Aberystwyth.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55I'm meeting up with them in the Ceredigion countryside
0:05:55 > 0:05:57to run through their wish list.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00- Good morning, guys. - Good morning.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Thank you for bringing us to lovely Ceredigion.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05So what is your connection to the place?
0:06:05 > 0:06:09My aunt and uncle used to own a very small cottage in the seaside village
0:06:09 > 0:06:11- of Borth.- Oh, nice.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13We have very fond memories of going to stay there,
0:06:13 > 0:06:14both me and my father.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18And Andy's been to Wales a few times, and loved the area.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20So you are a later arrival, Andy.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22I am indeed. It's a beautiful part of the world,
0:06:22 > 0:06:23so I'm very glad to be here.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25And tell me about the house.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28When you picture the house, how do you see it in your mind's eye?
0:06:28 > 0:06:30We're picturing a detached period property,
0:06:30 > 0:06:32something a little bit different, a little bit quirky,
0:06:32 > 0:06:36a bit like us, with lots of character, lots of charm,
0:06:36 > 0:06:39something a bit unusual.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41- Just careful what you wish for. - Yes.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43And in terms of spec, in terms of bedrooms,
0:06:43 > 0:06:45how many bedrooms are you looking for?
0:06:45 > 0:06:47We are looking for a minimum of three bedrooms,
0:06:47 > 0:06:51and one on the downstairs level, en suite for my father.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54And the outside space - are you looking for a big garden?
0:06:54 > 0:06:58Yes, we would like at least a minimum of half an acre to an acre
0:06:58 > 0:07:01for the dogs so they can roam free and enjoy the outside space as much
0:07:01 > 0:07:03as we're going to.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05What about location? Are you looking to be out in the sticks,
0:07:05 > 0:07:07or in the town, or a village?
0:07:07 > 0:07:09We're looking for more rural, remote.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13The biggest thing about this move is the peace and quiet it will bring
0:07:13 > 0:07:16- and the tranquillity.- So remind us again of your budget.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19The budget for this move is £355,000.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22Good, OK, so that's a nice big budget in Wales.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25We've got some lovely properties lined up I'm excited to show you.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28- Great, wonderful.- We can't wait. - You can see you look excited.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30- Yes, very much.- So let's put your waiting to an end, let's get in the
0:07:30 > 0:07:33- car and go and see them.- Superb. - OK, thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38With a budget of £355,000,
0:07:38 > 0:07:42Andy and Jill would like a detached period property with lots of
0:07:42 > 0:07:46character. It should have a minimum of three bedrooms,
0:07:46 > 0:07:49with a generous one on the ground floor for Jill's father.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52They'd like some outside space for their dog boarding business,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55and for their spiritual healing practice.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59And they'd prefer a peaceful, rural setting for the new home.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03We've lined up a selection of charming properties to inspire our couple,
0:08:03 > 0:08:07but I will not be furnishing them with the all-important price tag
0:08:07 > 0:08:09until the end of our viewings.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11Our last house, the Mystery Property,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14will give them something a little different to contemplate.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23Our first property is in the small village of Llanarth.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26The nearest town for a range of amenities
0:08:26 > 0:08:29is the Georgian fishing port of Aberaeron.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Perched on the Cardigan Bay coastline,
0:08:31 > 0:08:35the harbour is lined by pastel-painted Regency-style houses.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37Built in the 1880s,
0:08:37 > 0:08:40it was laid out as one of Wales' first planned towns.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46House number one is situated a half a mile from the village of Llanarth,
0:08:46 > 0:08:47at the end of a private track.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51Here you have it, house number one.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53- Oh, lovely.- Looks very nice.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Wow.
0:08:55 > 0:08:56It looks very, very pretty.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58It looks like a classic cottage.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02- Yes.- White walls and the slate roof looks charming.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05- Yes.- Really nice. - Lovely.- Let's look inside.
0:09:05 > 0:09:06- OK, thank you.- Lovely.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12Sitting on the edge of a gently sloping hillside,
0:09:12 > 0:09:15this cottage dates back over 300 years
0:09:15 > 0:09:18and has been considerably extended.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20We're starting our tour in the oldest part.
0:09:23 > 0:09:24Come on in.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Straight into the kitchen. Nice, sunny kitchen.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30That's very bright. Oh, the exposed wall.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33- Yeah.- Lovely.- Oh, lovely, yeah.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35So it's got all the mod-cons. You've got a nice, big range.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37- Oh, lovely. - Dishwasher and everything.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40But the exposed brickwork kind of makes it feel a little bit more rustic.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42Yes, that's lovely.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45- It's one of the features we were looking for.- Yes, definitely.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47Now I know other rooms in the house are more important for you.
0:09:47 > 0:09:48- So let's press on.- OK.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55The kitchen leads on to a formal dining room with a striking
0:09:55 > 0:09:56stone fireplace.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00There's also a generous utility for the white goods next to the kitchen.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06At the more modern end of the house there's a garden room that would be
0:10:06 > 0:10:09a pleasant space for Jill's father
0:10:09 > 0:10:10as well as the main living room.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15So we have effectively just walked 150 years.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18So that was the original house and that was the back wall,
0:10:18 > 0:10:20and this was an extension.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22- Oh, wow.- See, this is now the sitting room.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24- Oh, that's lovely.- It's lovely.
0:10:24 > 0:10:25I like the little alcoves.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28- That's gorgeous.- One of the reasons we've brought you to this house is
0:10:28 > 0:10:31that through there, you've got a bedroom, shower room
0:10:31 > 0:10:33and a toilet all in its own separate wing for your dad.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35- Oh, great.- Superb.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38It's lovely, it's got a very nice feel. It's really nice.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40- It's very homey.- Yes, very homey.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43- Yeah, lovely.- Now, you were saying your intuition would let you know
0:10:43 > 0:10:45whether it was going to be a contender.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48- Is this...?- This is feeling very good at the moment.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51- Yeah.- Very good.- Very... - It feels like... It feels homely.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55- Yeah, very strong start.- Very much. A very good start. Very good.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58Great reactions to the ground-floor layout,
0:10:58 > 0:11:00and with Jill's father accommodated downstairs,
0:11:00 > 0:11:04we're heading upstairs to explore Andy and Jill's quarters.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07There are two bedrooms, both in the roof space,
0:11:07 > 0:11:10including one that looks straight out onto the tiered garden,
0:11:10 > 0:11:13as well as the master.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15Come in. So, this would be your bedroom.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17- Oh, wow.- It's on two levels.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Oh, goodness, wow.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21So you've got lots of storage up there.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25You've got sort of a bathroom suite right at the other end of the hall.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29- OK.- And then just off the back, there's a very nice room that sort
0:11:29 > 0:11:32of, cos of the slope of the garden, is level with the garden,
0:11:32 > 0:11:35- which could be a nice meditation room.- Oh, brilliant.- Sounds lovely. This is different.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37This is what we were saying about being quirky.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41We like the beams and we like the character and the different levels.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44This is not your standard room, which is really great.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48- It's lovely.- Maybe we can tie it all with a bow by looking in the garden.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50Yes, wonderful.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52With the tour inside wrapped up,
0:11:52 > 0:11:55I'm hoping the outside space is suitable for the dogs.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00The gardens are extensive and well looked after...
0:12:01 > 0:12:05..with various seating areas taking advantage of the views over
0:12:05 > 0:12:07open countryside.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10The garden is quite big, it's around three quarters of an acre.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13So it stretches over and touches into the woodland,
0:12:13 > 0:12:14the woodland doesn't belong to you.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16And it goes right up to the top,
0:12:16 > 0:12:19you can see there a chair up the top with lovely views.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22So it's quite sort of angled.
0:12:22 > 0:12:23Would that work for the dogs?
0:12:25 > 0:12:27Yes, I think it could, if we could make it secure for them.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Have to make sure that it is properly fenced.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32So we can make it safe for them.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34- Certainly a beautiful spot. - It's lovely.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38Now, of course, the key factor is how much it costs.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41So what do you think this property is on the market for?
0:12:41 > 0:12:46I'd value this house at £325,000.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50I'm going a bit higher. I'd say 335,000.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53OK, well, in this instance, Andy, you are closer.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56It's actually on at £339,000.
0:12:56 > 0:12:57Oh, OK.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00It does have most of the elements we're looking for, to be honest.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03It's a very strong contender for the first house, I would have to say.
0:13:03 > 0:13:04Very impressed at this point.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Well, do go and explore. Maybe you can get your hiking boots and go
0:13:07 > 0:13:09to the top there. Go and have a look around the house.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11- Yes, OK.- And I will catch up later on.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13- OK, thank you very much. - Thank you.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20Under budget by £16,000,
0:13:20 > 0:13:23our first house is a characterful period cottage,
0:13:23 > 0:13:26which has been modernised in recent years.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30It comes with three bedrooms, one downstairs for Jill's father,
0:13:30 > 0:13:32and options for the spiritual healing business.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36The house sits in a plot of three quarters of an acre,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39which could be fenced off for the dogs.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42I love the feel of this house.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45I'm already feeling that this could be a home
0:13:45 > 0:13:49for all of us. I could actually see us all living here.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55And I am feeling quite emotional, which is a good barometer for us.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59It does cover a lot of the elements that we're looking for.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01Particularly, my father-in-law,
0:14:01 > 0:14:02which is fantastic.
0:14:02 > 0:14:07Just need to check out a few elements like security for the dogs,
0:14:07 > 0:14:11and whether it's large enough to cope with our spiritual events,
0:14:11 > 0:14:13but it's a very strong contender. I'm very impressed.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15- Are you all done? - Yes, thank you very much.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17I don't know if I pointed out, but this is a working well.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Oh, wow. Wonderful.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22- We can make a wish. - You can make a wish.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24But not before you've seen all the other properties, so come on.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26OK, thank you.
0:14:31 > 0:14:36Ceredigion's 60 miles of coastline forms the sweep of Cardigan Bay
0:14:36 > 0:14:39and is some of the most varied in Wales.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42The ancient town of Cardigan sits at the base of the bay,
0:14:42 > 0:14:45where the River Teifi meets the sea.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47The longest river in Wales,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50it played an important role in the country's history.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53Andy and Jill expressed an interest in outdoor activities,
0:14:53 > 0:14:55so we sent them to meet Richard,
0:14:55 > 0:14:59who runs a guided canoe trip along the river,
0:14:59 > 0:15:00starting off in the town,
0:15:00 > 0:15:03and ending up in the Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07- Hi.- Hi.- You must be Rich.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09- Yeah, welcome. - Nice to meet you.- Hi.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11Welcome to Cardigan.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13So, what's so special about this part of the river?
0:15:13 > 0:15:17Well, in fact, the whole river is designated a special area of
0:15:17 > 0:15:22conservation, due in part to the fact there's no industry on there,
0:15:22 > 0:15:26just some agriculture, so you've got very low levels of pollution,
0:15:26 > 0:15:31and very high levels of otters, deer,
0:15:31 > 0:15:33salmon and sewin.
0:15:33 > 0:15:34So why canoes, Rich?
0:15:34 > 0:15:37Well, canoes don't need much water at all.
0:15:37 > 0:15:42We wouldn't be able to get up into the marshes with a boat that needs
0:15:42 > 0:15:45a large draught of water, a large depth of water.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49And also, if we took a larger boat with an engine,
0:15:49 > 0:15:53then we'd disturb the wildlife that we are hoping to go and see today.
0:15:53 > 0:15:54- That's great.- Fabulous.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58Back in the early 19th century, Cardigan was the largest port
0:15:58 > 0:16:02in Wales, a centre of industry and international trade,
0:16:02 > 0:16:06and the River Teifi was instrumental in getting commodities in and out
0:16:06 > 0:16:08of the country. Today,
0:16:08 > 0:16:12the Teifi Marshes just outside the town is a unique environment where
0:16:12 > 0:16:15fresh and salt waters meet.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18Stretching over 247 acres,
0:16:18 > 0:16:23the wetland is home to mammals such as otters and aquatic birds.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25You see there, guys. That's a cormorant.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28- Oh.- And round here, they used to eat cormorant.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30- Oh, really?- It's quite a meaty bird.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33- Right.- It spends its life just eating fish.
0:16:33 > 0:16:39Lots of sea birds use marshes like this when the sea is rough.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41This is like a secondary shelter for them.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44- Because it is calm. - Yeah, because it's calmer.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47So we are on high tide at the moment.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51And at low tide, then, this will be like mudflats.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53- Oh.- Really? Look, skimming, that's lovely.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58Further upstream, the reed-beds give way to the Teifi Gorge,
0:16:58 > 0:17:03the banks become more steep and wooded, and the river deepens.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06The gorge is known for the quality of its slate,
0:17:06 > 0:17:09which was quarried here up until the early 20th century
0:17:09 > 0:17:11and exported downstream.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14So, this is all the spoil from the slate quarrying
0:17:14 > 0:17:19that went on here about 150 years ago.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23Cilgerran slate, named after the village closest to the quarrying site,
0:17:23 > 0:17:25was sent all over the world
0:17:25 > 0:17:30and fragments can still be found along the river banks today.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32I'll just grab some to show you.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35This is the Cilgerran slate or the Pembrokeshire green slate,
0:17:35 > 0:17:39as it's known. It's actually quite brittle, OK?
0:17:39 > 0:17:44But at that time, it was the only building material we had round here.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47It would be quarried from the side of the gorge,
0:17:47 > 0:17:49sorted on dry land,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52and then barges would come up from the port,
0:17:52 > 0:17:57load up with slate and then take it back down for it to be sorted
0:17:57 > 0:17:59and shipped all over the world.
0:17:59 > 0:18:04So O'Connell Street in Dublin has some Cilgerran slate paving
0:18:04 > 0:18:06and even some buildings in New York.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10- Oh, wow!- But slate quarrying had a side-effect -
0:18:10 > 0:18:12it produced a lot of wastage,
0:18:12 > 0:18:14and rather than take this away from the gorge,
0:18:14 > 0:18:16they simply threw it in the water.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19It eventually clogged up the river,
0:18:19 > 0:18:21making it unnavigable to large ships,
0:18:21 > 0:18:24and the industry died.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28The canoe trip has provided Andy and Jill with an insight into their new
0:18:28 > 0:18:31natural surroundings and how best to explore it.
0:18:31 > 0:18:36The difficult part is avoiding going round in circles.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39But I'm finding the steering manageable now.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42I'm enjoying being the captain at the back.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45- I'm enjoying the paddling. - Yes.- It's good exercise.
0:18:45 > 0:18:46Very peaceful as well.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48All the better for being out in nature, though.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50- It's lovely.- I'd rather be here than down the gym.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52- Any day.- Oh, yeah.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07For the next property, we are staying in the Llanarth area but
0:19:07 > 0:19:10heading a little bit closer to the coast.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14Llanarth is a small village, one of the oldest in Ceredigion,
0:19:14 > 0:19:18and it's centred on a crossroads and has amenities including
0:19:18 > 0:19:21a post office, pub and convenience store.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Just three miles from some of the finest coastline in Wales,
0:19:24 > 0:19:28it's a great base for Andy and Jill, given their love of outdoor sports.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34House two is located at the end of an unmade farm track a mile away
0:19:34 > 0:19:38from the main road, and is as remote as it gets.
0:19:40 > 0:19:41This is an extraordinary property.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44- Wow!- We couldn't wait to show you this because, in many ways,
0:19:44 > 0:19:46it's the opposite of what we've just seen.
0:19:46 > 0:19:53- Yes.- This is so much space for spirit and so much space for dogs.
0:19:53 > 0:19:54Wow!
0:19:54 > 0:19:58It is going to involve some imagination about bringing it into
0:19:58 > 0:20:01- the world of reality.- Well...
0:20:01 > 0:20:03We walked past... You see this field here?
0:20:03 > 0:20:05- Yes.- That's yours.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08- Really?- More importantly, you see this vast field here...
0:20:08 > 0:20:12- Yes.- ..most of which you can't see cos it wraps behind this building and
0:20:12 > 0:20:15all around that property, that's yours, too.
0:20:15 > 0:20:16- Really?- That's a big size.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19- Nine acres.- Nine acres?!
0:20:19 > 0:20:23- Wow!- So your dogs will be exhausted by the time you get to the end.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25Oh, nine acres! My goodness!
0:20:25 > 0:20:28- Oh, wow!- So it's a very big property but the great thing about the
0:20:28 > 0:20:31property, it has so much potential for your business.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33- Yes.- Superb.
0:20:33 > 0:20:38This nine-acre secluded smallholding includes numerous outbuildings which
0:20:38 > 0:20:42we will explore later but at its centre is a wonderful 16th-century
0:20:42 > 0:20:46farmhouse which is in need of updating.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50It's currently vacant, as the owners have already moved out.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53The front porch leads onto a characterful sitting room with an
0:20:53 > 0:20:55inglenook fireplace.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58There is also a further reception room in this,
0:20:58 > 0:20:59the older part of the house...
0:21:03 > 0:21:04..along with a family bathroom.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07But we are heading to the kitchen,
0:21:07 > 0:21:10accessed via a corridor at the back of the house.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13- Here we are.- Oh, wow!
0:21:14 > 0:21:16Oh, wow!
0:21:16 > 0:21:17Oh, goodness me! Look.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21Yes. You've got some very old touches in this property.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25- Wow!- It's an old property, it's about from the 16th century.- Wow!
0:21:25 > 0:21:29You had a pretty strong reaction as we came through the door even.
0:21:29 > 0:21:30- Definitely.- Yeah.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32- Definitely.- Yeah.
0:21:32 > 0:21:33- Wow!- What's the feeling?
0:21:35 > 0:21:40It is... It is everything we're sort of dreaming and visualising of,
0:21:40 > 0:21:43with the character but also the potential to take it forward.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46You'd have to put some labour of love in here to make it sort of...
0:21:46 > 0:21:49- Yes. TLC.- ..snug.- Wow!
0:21:49 > 0:21:52Basically, we'd be buying some history and some character but then
0:21:52 > 0:21:55if you put some time and effort into it and refurbish it,
0:21:55 > 0:21:58- you'd be making something quite extraordinary, wouldn't you?- Yes.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00And then we've got a little addition
0:22:00 > 0:22:02which we thought might work for your dad.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04- Oh, brilliant.- Superb.
0:22:04 > 0:22:05Wow!
0:22:05 > 0:22:08So, coming through here, we've got a much more modern extension.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10- Oh, wow!- Got a shower and a toilet.
0:22:10 > 0:22:15- Oh!- And then you've got doors out into the back garden and doors out
0:22:15 > 0:22:16into a lovely terrace.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19- Oh, wow!- So we thought this might be nice for your dad's bedroom.
0:22:19 > 0:22:20Ah, yes.
0:22:20 > 0:22:21- Right next to the kitchen.- Yes.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23- Brilliant.- Lots of light.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25- Yeah, wow!- Yeah, superb.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Didn't expect this at the end of the property.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31- I know.- Yeah, that's a revelation.
0:22:31 > 0:22:32- Yeah.- Wow!
0:22:32 > 0:22:36Andy and Jill seemed to be buying into the idea of putting their own
0:22:36 > 0:22:39stamp on this property. With the ground-floor tour completed,
0:22:39 > 0:22:43I'm sending Andy and Jill upstairs to explore the bedrooms.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47There are three in total, a double guest room, a small single
0:22:47 > 0:22:51and a master bedroom, set in the eaves with exposed beams.
0:22:53 > 0:22:54- Wow!- Oh, wow!
0:22:54 > 0:22:56Nice. I love the beams.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59- Oh, wow!- Thick walls, as well.
0:22:59 > 0:23:00Wow!
0:23:00 > 0:23:01- That's lovely.- Yeah.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05- So much potential.- It's amazing.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07That's definitely the word.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11Outside, it's hard to know where to begin.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15There are nine acres of land here, much of it potential grazing land.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21The immediate garden wraps around the house and includes a decking area,
0:23:21 > 0:23:24but because the property was once a smallholding,
0:23:24 > 0:23:28there are also outbuildings and barns with lots of possibilities
0:23:28 > 0:23:30of developing a spiritual healing practice.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36Right. Now, this is super exciting.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40- Wow!- Here we have not one but three barns.
0:23:40 > 0:23:45- No!- So you've got one big building here and all three parts of it have
0:23:45 > 0:23:48got planning permission to convert for holiday lets.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50Oh, wow!
0:23:50 > 0:23:51- Wow!- Superb.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55- That's excellent.- However I was thinking this space on either end
0:23:55 > 0:23:59you could have holiday lets and this space in the centre would be a
0:23:59 > 0:24:01fantastic practice room for you.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03Yes. Yes, wow!
0:24:03 > 0:24:04A spiritual retreat.
0:24:04 > 0:24:05- Yes.- Absolutely.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07- It's incredible.- It is amazing.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09- Absolutely incredible.- Absolutely.
0:24:09 > 0:24:10Obviously, it's a lot of work.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13- Yes.- Yeah. It would be a worthwhile project.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16- Worthwhile.- Oh, yes.- If you can visualise the end result.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19And the journey. That makes it all the fun.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21Yeah. Wow! OK.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23- Love it.- Let's go.
0:24:23 > 0:24:24Thank you.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30There's a lot to take in with this vast proposition but what would Jill
0:24:30 > 0:24:33and Andy have to pay if they want to secure it?
0:24:33 > 0:24:36Where better to guess than overlooking the fields they could own?
0:24:38 > 0:24:40So you can see your land goes down here, the field,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43the clean fields down to the tree-line below there.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45What do you think the price tag on this one is?
0:24:45 > 0:24:48£300,000.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52I'm going to go with £335,000.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54OK, so it's on the market
0:24:54 > 0:24:58for £349,950.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00But...
0:25:01 > 0:25:04..the owners and a little bird have been speaking and the little bird
0:25:04 > 0:25:07tells me that they would accept offers considerably under that.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09- OK.- You'd have to spend a lot of money to do it up.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12- Yes.- It's quite a project.- Which we would have to take into account.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14- Yeah.- So, go explore.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16I can see you are chomping at the bit.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19- Go and look at the other places. - Thank you.- Thank you.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23That's probably the most intense house tour I think I've ever done
0:25:23 > 0:25:28in terms of the feedback from Jill and Andy.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31Almost like a religious experience.
0:25:31 > 0:25:32Marvellous.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34Under budget by £15,000,
0:25:34 > 0:25:39this spacious smallholding has potential with a capital P.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42At its heart is a characterful 16th-century farmhouse
0:25:42 > 0:25:46in need of updating with three upstairs bedrooms and options
0:25:46 > 0:25:49for Jill's father downstairs.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52The nine acres of land provides more than enough room for the dogs to run
0:25:52 > 0:25:56around in and the numerous barns and outbuildings could be developed
0:25:56 > 0:25:58over time.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03- Oh, wow!- Oh, wow!- Oh, wow!
0:26:04 > 0:26:06- Superb.- Oh, another barn.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08- Oh, wow!- Wow!
0:26:08 > 0:26:10That's just...
0:26:10 > 0:26:12Amazing. Goodness me.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15It's quite a unique and extraordinary property.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18I mean, the history there and the character...
0:26:18 > 0:26:21It really is quite remarkable, the inside and the outside space.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24I've never actually seen anything like it in my life.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28You know, I'm very glad that we've had a look around.
0:26:28 > 0:26:29Superb.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33It's an amazing position.
0:26:33 > 0:26:38The peace, the quiet, the rural aspect we were looking for.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41It would just be the cost of the renovation and the work that needed
0:26:41 > 0:26:45to be doing. But this would be the ideal spiritual retreat for us
0:26:45 > 0:26:46and also for the dogs.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55This is a real labour of love and I will take my hat off to these two
0:26:55 > 0:26:58when they pull it off. You will pull this off, won't you?
0:26:58 > 0:27:00I think so. Think so.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02- Yes.- We don't look quite as sure...
0:27:03 > 0:27:06- Good. Well, the journey is not over yet.- OK.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21I'm in Ceredigion in West Wales with Jill and Andy from Poole in Dorset,
0:27:21 > 0:27:26who have £355,000 and a rather extensive wish list.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30Coming up, will the Mystery House possess the right spiritual qualities?
0:27:30 > 0:27:33- It's amazing.- Huge. - Quite some entrance.- Yes.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36This is sort of cathedral-like, isn't it?
0:27:36 > 0:27:38- Yes.- Very much so.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41And I meet the business-minded farming brothers who are moving on
0:27:41 > 0:27:45- to pastures new.- Just flick your finger through the stream of alcohol
0:27:45 > 0:27:47and you'll be able to taste the herbs and spices.
0:27:50 > 0:27:51Ooh!
0:27:55 > 0:27:57It's a beautiful morning here in Ceredigion,
0:27:57 > 0:27:59ready for Andy and Jill's house-hunt.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02In no particular order, they are looking for a house for themselves,
0:28:02 > 0:28:05for her dad, for the dogs and for their spiritual work,
0:28:05 > 0:28:08so will our Mystery House today live up to expectations?
0:28:08 > 0:28:11It's quite different in terms of style
0:28:11 > 0:28:13but will it match their wish list?
0:28:16 > 0:28:18For our final Mystery Property,
0:28:18 > 0:28:22we're heading inland to the small village of Penbontrhydybeddau.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27The most rural setting of all our properties,
0:28:27 > 0:28:32the village sits in a quiet valley, seven miles inland from the coast,
0:28:32 > 0:28:34within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39The Mystery House is a five-minute drive away in a remote
0:28:39 > 0:28:42and magical setting.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45The location should really appeal to Andy and Jill - I just hope
0:28:45 > 0:28:48the house, a more modern offering than we've seen so far,
0:28:48 > 0:28:50gives off the right vibes.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53So...
0:28:54 > 0:28:55..here's the Mystery House.
0:28:55 > 0:29:00A 2009, A-frame, architect-designed
0:29:00 > 0:29:03modern Welsh dwelling.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05- Wow! Wow!- OK.
0:29:05 > 0:29:07- Wow!- OK.- It's very striking.
0:29:07 > 0:29:11- What do you think about the energy of the place? What do you think of the house?- It's...huge.
0:29:11 > 0:29:12- Yeah.- Yeah.- It's enormous.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15- Enormous.- I love the river and everything.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18- Yes.- Beautiful. - And the location.- Beautiful.
0:29:18 > 0:29:19- And the ducks.- Beautiful scenery.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22- It's drawing me in.- Yes.
0:29:22 > 0:29:23Keen to see what lies inside.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26- Wow!- Well, you wanted some big spaces.
0:29:26 > 0:29:27Yes, that would be great.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30- OK.- Built just seven years ago,
0:29:30 > 0:29:33I don't think our period-property- loving couple would have considered
0:29:33 > 0:29:38this unique stylish house which has an open-plan layout inside.
0:29:38 > 0:29:43But I'm keen to see if I can convince them of its ultramodern merits.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45We are starting off in the sitting room.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47- This is amazing.- Huge. - Quite some entrance.- Yes.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49It is sort of cathedral-like, isn't it?
0:29:49 > 0:29:52- Yes.- Yeah, very much so.
0:29:52 > 0:29:53- Isn't it great?- Very impressive.
0:29:53 > 0:29:56That window and the door and the light...
0:29:56 > 0:29:59- You can see the trees. Wow! - That is lovely.- Goodness.
0:29:59 > 0:30:00- The balcony...- Wow!
0:30:00 > 0:30:03Well, we thought that you wanted something a bit grand and sort of
0:30:03 > 0:30:05- uplifting...- Yeah.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08And the trouble is with a lot of Welsh period properties,
0:30:08 > 0:30:09- they are quite dark.- Yes.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11- Yeah.- Does it have good energy?
0:30:11 > 0:30:14- Very much so.- Looking forward to seeing the rest of it.- Yeah.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16- Well, let's look at the kitchen.- OK.
0:30:16 > 0:30:18The important room.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21Our modern Mystery Property is well insulated and has been finished to a
0:30:21 > 0:30:25high standard with engineered oak flooring and underfloor
0:30:25 > 0:30:27heating throughout.
0:30:28 > 0:30:32As well as this main sitting room, there's a light, bright snug...
0:30:33 > 0:30:38..and a cinema room, which might be a bedroom option for Jill's father,
0:30:38 > 0:30:41although they'd have to put an en-suite bathroom in.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44But we are exploring the kitchen.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47So, come on in here. This is a sort of kitchen-diner.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50They've got space for a dining-room table.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52And then a very modern kitchen.
0:30:52 > 0:30:54- Oh, wow!- OK.- OK. Wow!
0:30:54 > 0:30:56- Blacks and reds.- Yes.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59Different. Like it. Yeah.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02So you go through there, you've got your utility, your white goods,
0:31:02 > 0:31:05and then you step down into a very nice big garage.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07- OK.- Excellent. Super.
0:31:07 > 0:31:09- Plenty of space.- Yes.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12The question is, is it something you could imagine living in?
0:31:13 > 0:31:14Well, what do you think?
0:31:14 > 0:31:17We will have a look at more and then see.
0:31:17 > 0:31:19- Let's look at your bedroom.- OK.
0:31:20 > 0:31:24They are reserving judgment for now but I'm feeling as though Andy and
0:31:24 > 0:31:28Jill are giving this house some consideration, as we head upstairs.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32There are five bedrooms spread across two storeys.
0:31:33 > 0:31:37Off the first-floor galleried landing are four of the bedrooms,
0:31:37 > 0:31:40all light and spacious doubles,
0:31:40 > 0:31:42including two with single beds in them.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47There's also a family bath and shower room.
0:31:49 > 0:31:53On the top floor, there's a further bedroom which could make
0:31:53 > 0:31:57an excellent treatment room, as it has an en-suite bathroom.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01But we are staying on the first floor to look at where they could sleep.
0:32:03 > 0:32:05It's a master suite...
0:32:06 > 0:32:09Nice walk-in dressing room.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12- Down the steps.- Good grief.- Wow!
0:32:12 > 0:32:14To your own rather lovely...
0:32:16 > 0:32:20..master suite. Nice en suite with a shower room.
0:32:20 > 0:32:21- Wow!- It's very tasteful.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24Very modern. And lots of space.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27You can see it would work very, very well for a family.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30I don't know possibly whether it's too much space for just, like,
0:32:30 > 0:32:32the three of us.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34Possibly. But it's awfully nice.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36Really, really nice.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38- Yeah, very, very tastefully done. - Yeah, absolutely.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41Well, let's go outside cos obviously that's very important for you two.
0:32:41 > 0:32:43- Thank you.- Superb. Thank you.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50Like the house, the tidy garden is easy to maintain.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52It is walled in, so suitable for the dogs.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56It's not as big as some of the others I've shown Andy and Jill,
0:32:56 > 0:32:58but it's more than compensated for
0:32:58 > 0:33:01by the wraparound views of the forest.
0:33:01 > 0:33:03So, that's the whole package, really.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07It's quite a substantial house and then slightly smaller land.
0:33:07 > 0:33:08- Yeah.- But, you know,
0:33:08 > 0:33:11on the basis that you are in the middle of this fantastic
0:33:11 > 0:33:13dog-walking countryside.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17What's the price tag on this Mystery House, do you think?
0:33:18 > 0:33:19I would say...
0:33:21 > 0:33:23..right on the top end of our budget.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25£355,000.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27I think it might be slightly over budget.
0:33:27 > 0:33:32I'm going to go at £359,000.
0:33:32 > 0:33:35Well, in this instance, you're both a bit pessimistic because it's just
0:33:35 > 0:33:42under your budget. It's actually on at £349,950.
0:33:42 > 0:33:43Ah, OK.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46So, armed with that fact, why don't you have a stroll around?
0:33:46 > 0:33:48There's quite a lot to take in.
0:33:48 > 0:33:49- OK.- Plenty to see.
0:33:49 > 0:33:51- OK.- Definitely. Thank you.
0:33:51 > 0:33:53- I'll see you out the front.- Superb.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59Under budget by £5,000,
0:33:59 > 0:34:03our architect-designed Mystery House is modern and stylish
0:34:03 > 0:34:05with an open-plan layout.
0:34:05 > 0:34:09There are five upstairs bedrooms with an option to convert a
0:34:09 > 0:34:13downstairs reception room into a bedroom for Jill's father.
0:34:13 > 0:34:17Outside, the garden is manageable and secure for the dogs and it is
0:34:17 > 0:34:19located in a magical valley.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24Really nice house. Really large, really modern.
0:34:24 > 0:34:26Lots of room inside.
0:34:26 > 0:34:30I'm not sure it entirely works for the flow
0:34:30 > 0:34:32and for my father-in-law.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38The light in here is amazing, and the views,
0:34:38 > 0:34:41and the surrounding countryside is just awesome.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45But we were really looking for somewhere with the charm of
0:34:45 > 0:34:50something old and period that we could do up
0:34:50 > 0:34:53and see ourselves living in.
0:34:57 > 0:34:59OK. Mystery House done.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01I hope that was enough of a curveball for you.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05Plenty to think about. There's just so much room in there.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08Good. Well, we are going to find somewhere where we can think about
0:35:08 > 0:35:11- all the houses we've seen.- OK. - And come to some conclusions.- OK.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23The lifeblood of the Ceredigion economy is agriculture.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26Once the mining industries around Cardigan declined,
0:35:26 > 0:35:29the focus shifted to dairy farming.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32But today, those farms are facing their own challenge.
0:35:32 > 0:35:37With falling incomes, many have had to diversify in order to survive.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41On one such family-run farm, just outside Llandysul,
0:35:41 > 0:35:45they've gone from producing a world-renowned organic cheese
0:35:45 > 0:35:47to something altogether more potent.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50I'm meeting farmer Rob Savage to find out more.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54Now, tell me about your history cos you've got quite an interesting
0:35:54 > 0:35:57history cos you're not from Welsh stock, are you?
0:35:57 > 0:35:59I consider myself Welsh.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01But my parents were both born in Rotterdam.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04So they moved from the Netherlands back in 1981.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07So they moved from a very flat Holland
0:36:07 > 0:36:09to quite a hilly bit of Wales.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12Absolutely, yeah. And they are not from farming stock either.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15They are not from a farming background but they very much...
0:36:15 > 0:36:19They're involved in the organic movement and this is what they wanted to do.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22So, yeah, we've been making cheese since 1982.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25My mother was a trainee artisan cheese maker in the Netherlands.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28She made a Gouda-style cheese and she brought her skills over and now,
0:36:28 > 0:36:31using good-quality Welsh milk, we're producing Teifi cheese.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36Using raw milk, local ingredients and traditional methods,
0:36:36 > 0:36:41the farm produces three types of unpasteurised artisanal cheese
0:36:41 > 0:36:44strongly influenced by Dutch Gouda.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47But cheese isn't the only string in their bow -
0:36:47 > 0:36:52two years ago, they diversified into alcohol, specifically gin.
0:36:52 > 0:36:56That's quite a curveball in the Welsh farming market, isn't it?
0:36:56 > 0:36:58It is, it's the only way, really, to survive in south-west Wales,
0:36:58 > 0:37:00is cheese and alcohol.
0:37:02 > 0:37:07The distillery was opened in 2012 and the man in charge of the drinks
0:37:07 > 0:37:09is Rob's brother, John.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11But this isn't gin as we know it -
0:37:11 > 0:37:13this is seaweed gin.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17Now, I have been to a gin distillery before.
0:37:17 > 0:37:21I don't remember quite how it works, which probably meant that I tried too much gin afterwards.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24But you start off with raw ethanol, isn't it? That's the thing?
0:37:24 > 0:37:28Pretty much. First of all, we have to produce a base spirit which is technically ethanol,
0:37:28 > 0:37:30but just with a bit more flavour in it.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33We then put it back into the still and then this is where the herbs
0:37:33 > 0:37:35and spices are added to it.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37This is what we can see bubbling around?
0:37:37 > 0:37:39You can see some in there at the moment.
0:37:39 > 0:37:41What's coming out here, then, is this the finished product?
0:37:41 > 0:37:43This is the gin that comes out.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47It's 90% alcohol, so it's far too strong to be drinking.
0:37:47 > 0:37:51- OK.- This will obviously be watered down with our own water.
0:37:51 > 0:37:53But you are able to sample it if you fancy.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56Just flick your finger through the stream of alcohol and you'll be able
0:37:56 > 0:37:58to taste the herbs and spices.
0:38:01 > 0:38:05- Whoo!- This particular recipe is a seaweed gin.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07- Seaweed?- It's a very different type of gin.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10It will now go into a holding tank, where it will be infused with
0:38:10 > 0:38:12seaweed for a week. And then after this process,
0:38:12 > 0:38:16it'll be filtered and then it will be bottled and then it's ready
0:38:16 > 0:38:17for sale.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21I'm not entirely convinced by John's Welsh spirit,
0:38:21 > 0:38:24but there's only one way to find out whether it works
0:38:24 > 0:38:26and that's to taste it.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28- So, this is the normal one? - That's the botanical gin.
0:38:28 > 0:38:33To compare flavours, I'm trying their traditional gin first.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36Still quite strong! Ooh, that's nice, though. Tasty.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39And this is the seaweed one, this is the one I'm keen to taste.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41Slightly more salty in flavour.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43Mouth-wash it a little bit, and get the full flavour,
0:38:43 > 0:38:44coat your mouth with it.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47You're looking...you're both looking at me very intensely!
0:38:49 > 0:38:50And then...
0:38:50 > 0:38:55After you swallow, give it a couple of seconds and then breathe in.
0:38:55 > 0:38:56You get the saltiness coming through.
0:38:56 > 0:38:58Then shut your eyes, tell me where you are.
0:38:59 > 0:39:02I'm going to say I'm on a Welsh coastline...
0:39:02 > 0:39:05- Nailed it.- ..with the seaweed floating around my feet.
0:39:05 > 0:39:06You do taste, that's true...
0:39:06 > 0:39:08You do taste a little bit, it's quite delicate.
0:39:09 > 0:39:15They say the seaweed gin pairs well with seafood, oysters and shellfish.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17But I'm skipping the main course and heading straight for
0:39:17 > 0:39:21- the cheese board. - And this is our Teifi recipe,
0:39:21 > 0:39:23which is loosely based on a Gouda style.
0:39:25 > 0:39:26Very good, thank you.
0:39:26 > 0:39:28That's nice. That's not very Welsh at all.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31You don't usually get that sort of nice, chewy, Dutch...
0:39:31 > 0:39:33That's why!
0:39:33 > 0:39:35Good stuff, guys. It's really nice to meet you guys.
0:39:35 > 0:39:39- Thank you.- Good luck with it all. - Very good, thank you.
0:39:39 > 0:39:40That's delicious, that one.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42- Good, isn't it? - Yeah, it's awesome.
0:39:48 > 0:39:52Our property hunting has come to a close here in Ceredigion
0:39:52 > 0:39:55so let's find out which of our properties, if any,
0:39:55 > 0:39:57have stolen Andy and Jill's hearts.
0:40:04 > 0:40:05- Hi, guys!- Hi.
0:40:06 > 0:40:07It's nice to sit down, isn't it,
0:40:07 > 0:40:10after striding up and down the Welsh valleys?
0:40:10 > 0:40:12So, how have we done?
0:40:12 > 0:40:17It's been an amazing week, it's been absolutely life-changing for us.
0:40:17 > 0:40:21And it's absolutely cemented the fact that we are definitely moving
0:40:21 > 0:40:23- to Wales.- Well, that's good.
0:40:23 > 0:40:24How have we done on the houses?
0:40:24 > 0:40:27Which, if any, of the houses have stood out for you?
0:40:28 > 0:40:30I think we both feel the same.
0:40:30 > 0:40:35- Yeah, we do.- Yeah, I think the farmhouse that needs the work.
0:40:35 > 0:40:39The conversion. But that is where our hearts lie
0:40:39 > 0:40:41and that will make our dreams come true.
0:40:41 > 0:40:44That was like a religious experience for you two.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46Right from the very beginning, from when you foresaw it.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49Yes, yes, it was. Yes.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51It's a huge challenge, the farmhouse property.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54Massive potential, I mean, really streets ahead of the others.
0:40:54 > 0:40:59- Yes.- Massive amounts of money needed to be spent, and time.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02- Yes.- How are you going to do that?
0:41:02 > 0:41:03That's a very good question!
0:41:04 > 0:41:07I think we'll just send our thoughts out again,
0:41:07 > 0:41:09that's what we've done for the whole of this week,
0:41:09 > 0:41:13and we'll see where it takes us. We're going to research more
0:41:13 > 0:41:16and find out costings of conversion etc
0:41:16 > 0:41:20and the potential that lies within that land as well.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23And we're definitely going to go back for a second viewing.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27And after the research and investigations on costs,
0:41:27 > 0:41:30then we're very likely to put in an offer.
0:41:30 > 0:41:34- Really?- Yes. - That would be so tremendous.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37One of the great figures of this search has been your dad, of course...
0:41:37 > 0:41:40- Yes, yes.- ..who wasn't there when we saw the farmhouse,
0:41:40 > 0:41:42but what do you think he'll think of it?
0:41:42 > 0:41:45He'll run with us for the dream
0:41:45 > 0:41:48of our spiritual retreat by the sea, very much.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51But the nitty-gritty of it, he may think,
0:41:51 > 0:41:53"Jill, you've gone slightly mad!"
0:41:53 > 0:41:55Because it's such a big project.
0:41:55 > 0:42:00But bless him, he's always behind us 110% and he really supports our work
0:42:00 > 0:42:01and our dream.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05Well, I really hope that it comes to fruition and you'll let us know how
0:42:05 > 0:42:08- it goes.- Definitely. - It's been a real joy, and thank you
0:42:08 > 0:42:11for bringing us to this county, it's a really lovely place to come.
0:42:11 > 0:42:15Yeah, it's a wonderful part of the world and it's been an absolute joy.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17And we can't thank you highly enough, thank you so much.
0:42:17 > 0:42:19Yes, very much. It's been wonderful.
0:42:19 > 0:42:21- It's our pleasure. - Life-changing, thank you.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30That was a great week here in Ceredigion.
0:42:30 > 0:42:34It's so nice to be challenged by a house hunt like Andy and Jill's,
0:42:34 > 0:42:38cos it's not every day that we get asked to find a home for a couple,
0:42:38 > 0:42:41dad, dogs and a spiritual practice.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43But if one place is going to supply all that,
0:42:43 > 0:42:46then this beautiful county is it.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50And I really hope that they bite the bullet and make something of that
0:42:50 > 0:42:53dream property in the farmhouse.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56And I hope that you join us next time for more Escape To The Country.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02If you'd like to Escape To The Country in Wales, Scotland,
0:43:02 > 0:43:06Northern Ireland or England and need our help, you can apply online at...