Ceredigion Escape to the Country


Ceredigion

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Back in the 1780s, a young, bankrupt architect turned his fortunes around

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by designing impressive villas like this.

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He then went on to create some of the most famous palaces and mansions

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in the country. Find out who he was and where I am in just a moment.

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On today's show, a couple who are spiritually uplifted by the

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properties we show them.

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At first, it's all about the feeling of the place.

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Oh, here we are.

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-Oh, wow.

-You had a pretty strong reaction as you came through the

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-door even.

-Definitely.

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-Yeah.

-Definitely.

-And we may have found them a slice of Eden.

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-Nine acres.

-Nine acres?

-Nine acres!

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So your dogs will be exhausted by the time they get to the end.

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Oh, nine acres. My goodness!

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Today, I'm in the Welsh county of Ceredigion

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and this is Llanerchaeron,

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a house built by John Nash at the beginning of his career,

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when he lived in Wales.

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Architecture fans amongst you will know that he went on to design

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Brighton Pavilion, Buckingham Palace and Regent Street in London.

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The symmetry and setting of this house really sets it off for the

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eye, and it's also a great spot to enjoy the surrounding countryside.

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The county of Ceredigion in the west of Wales

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is bordered by counties including Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.

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Ceredigion's coastline stretches some 60 miles around the magnificent

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crescent of Cardigan Bay.

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At the top of the bay, Aberystwyth is a lively university town and holiday resort.

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The seafront is home to rows of attractive houses,

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with a wide promenade protecting them from the Irish Sea.

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Further down the coast, New Quay was home to Welsh poet Dylan Thomas

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for a brief time during the Second World War.

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But the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding landscape inspired one

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of the most productive periods of his life.

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Inland, the Ceredigion countryside is dominated by sheep and cattle farms.

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Traditional villages such as Cenarth

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have changed little for centuries, with buildings dating back

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as far as the 1300s.

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Whether it's stunning coastline,

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attractive seaside towns or remote countryside,

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Ceredigion has a unique beauty that makes it one of the most inspiring

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of counties to move to.

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Like many parts of Wales,

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Ceredigion offers great value for money for property shoppers.

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The average price for a detached house here in the county is £223,000,

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which is more than £100,000 less than the figure for the UK.

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And your money goes even further inland away from the more expensive,

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sought-after holiday homes on the coast.

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But as well as good value,

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this countryside has a spiritual quality, and that is what has

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attracted our buyers today. So let's meet them.

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Jill and Andy from the town of Poole in Dorset were best friends

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for 16 years before tying the knot.

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They took a chance on each other after a trip to the cinema.

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We went to see a romantic comedy, the film Mamma Mia!.

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And we laughed and cried at the same moments,

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and when we came outside the cinema,

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I looked at Andy and I had a light-bulb moment.

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I just absolutely knew I loved him and was going to marry him.

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-So we did.

-I had to wait 16 years for the woman I love,

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but it was well worth it in the end.

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They married eight years ago,

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and live on the outskirts of Poole in a five-bedroom detached house.

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Although they've both lived in the area for a long time,

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they are ready for a change of scenery.

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When I first moved here 26 years ago, Poole was...

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It had a lot of charm and was much quieter.

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But now I'm finding it's much busier and things have changed quite a lot.

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So we're very much looking forward to move to Ceredigion to have the

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tranquil, peaceful way of life and a whole new adventure.

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The couple run a dog boarding company

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and have two dogs of their own.

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They are also spiritual mediums,

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practising reiki and Indian head massage.

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And it's the spiritual beauty of Wales that's attracting them to

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Ceredigion as a place to live and to continue their work.

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I love that area of Wales.

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It's absolutely breathtaking scenery, the mountains,

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and the streams. It just feels so...

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..peaceful and inspiring.

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But they're not the only ones moving.

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Jill's father also lives with them in Poole,

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and he'll be joining them in the new property.

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My father is 89 now, it was his birthday yesterday.

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And he is struggling with the stairs, and with his mobility.

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So it's very much the move is for him first and foremost,

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to find a property with accommodation downstairs for him

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so that he can go out into the garden,

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enjoy the sunshine and watch the birds.

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But although they're moving to another country and will miss their

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friends and clients, Andy and Jill are excited for the whole family.

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We very much feel that this is a new chapter.

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It's time to move on.

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We very much feel it, for all of us, especially my dad.

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And we want to give him a quality of life in his twilight years,

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cos we love him dearly.

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Andy and Jill would like to be close to the coast and no more than

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one hour's drive from the town of Aberystwyth.

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I'm meeting up with them in the Ceredigion countryside

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to run through their wish list.

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-Good morning, guys.

-Good morning.

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Thank you for bringing us to lovely Ceredigion.

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So what is your connection to the place?

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My aunt and uncle used to own a very small cottage in the seaside village

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-of Borth.

-Oh, nice.

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We have very fond memories of going to stay there,

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both me and my father.

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And Andy's been to Wales a few times, and loved the area.

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So you are a later arrival, Andy.

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I am indeed. It's a beautiful part of the world,

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so I'm very glad to be here.

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And tell me about the house.

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When you picture the house, how do you see it in your mind's eye?

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We're picturing a detached period property,

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something a little bit different, a little bit quirky,

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a bit like us, with lots of character, lots of charm,

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something a bit unusual.

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-Just careful what you wish for.

-Yes.

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And in terms of spec, in terms of bedrooms,

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how many bedrooms are you looking for?

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We are looking for a minimum of three bedrooms,

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and one on the downstairs level, en suite for my father.

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And the outside space - are you looking for a big garden?

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Yes, we would like at least a minimum of half an acre to an acre

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for the dogs so they can roam free and enjoy the outside space as much

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as we're going to.

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What about location? Are you looking to be out in the sticks,

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or in the town, or a village?

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We're looking for more rural, remote.

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The biggest thing about this move is the peace and quiet it will bring

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-and the tranquillity.

-So remind us again of your budget.

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The budget for this move is £355,000.

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Good, OK, so that's a nice big budget in Wales.

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We've got some lovely properties lined up I'm excited to show you.

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-Great, wonderful.

-We can't wait.

-You can see you look excited.

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-Yes, very much.

-So let's put your waiting to an end, let's get in the

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-car and go and see them.

-Superb.

-OK, thank you very much.

-Thank you.

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With a budget of £355,000,

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Andy and Jill would like a detached period property with lots of

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character. It should have a minimum of three bedrooms,

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with a generous one on the ground floor for Jill's father.

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They'd like some outside space for their dog boarding business,

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and for their spiritual healing practice.

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And they'd prefer a peaceful, rural setting for the new home.

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We've lined up a selection of charming properties to inspire our couple,

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but I will not be furnishing them with the all-important price tag

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until the end of our viewings.

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Our last house, the Mystery Property,

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will give them something a little different to contemplate.

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Our first property is in the small village of Llanarth.

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The nearest town for a range of amenities

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is the Georgian fishing port of Aberaeron.

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Perched on the Cardigan Bay coastline,

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the harbour is lined by pastel-painted Regency-style houses.

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Built in the 1880s,

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it was laid out as one of Wales' first planned towns.

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House number one is situated a half a mile from the village of Llanarth,

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at the end of a private track.

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Here you have it, house number one.

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-Oh, lovely.

-Looks very nice.

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Wow.

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It looks very, very pretty.

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It looks like a classic cottage.

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-Yes.

-White walls and the slate roof looks charming.

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-Yes.

-Really nice.

-Lovely.

-Let's look inside.

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-OK, thank you.

-Lovely.

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Sitting on the edge of a gently sloping hillside,

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this cottage dates back over 300 years

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and has been considerably extended.

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We're starting our tour in the oldest part.

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Come on in.

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Straight into the kitchen. Nice, sunny kitchen.

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That's very bright. Oh, the exposed wall.

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-Yeah.

-Lovely.

-Oh, lovely, yeah.

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So it's got all the mod-cons. You've got a nice, big range.

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-Oh, lovely.

-Dishwasher and everything.

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But the exposed brickwork kind of makes it feel a little bit more rustic.

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Yes, that's lovely.

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-It's one of the features we were looking for.

-Yes, definitely.

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Now I know other rooms in the house are more important for you.

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-So let's press on.

-OK.

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The kitchen leads on to a formal dining room with a striking

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stone fireplace.

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There's also a generous utility for the white goods next to the kitchen.

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At the more modern end of the house there's a garden room that would be

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a pleasant space for Jill's father

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as well as the main living room.

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So we have effectively just walked 150 years.

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So that was the original house and that was the back wall,

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and this was an extension.

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-Oh, wow.

-See, this is now the sitting room.

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-Oh, that's lovely.

-It's lovely.

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I like the little alcoves.

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-That's gorgeous.

-One of the reasons we've brought you to this house is

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that through there, you've got a bedroom, shower room

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and a toilet all in its own separate wing for your dad.

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-Oh, great.

-Superb.

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It's lovely, it's got a very nice feel. It's really nice.

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-It's very homey.

-Yes, very homey.

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-Yeah, lovely.

-Now, you were saying your intuition would let you know

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whether it was going to be a contender.

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-Is this...?

-This is feeling very good at the moment.

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-Yeah.

-Very good.

-Very...

-It feels like... It feels homely.

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-Yeah, very strong start.

-Very much. A very good start. Very good.

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Great reactions to the ground-floor layout,

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and with Jill's father accommodated downstairs,

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we're heading upstairs to explore Andy and Jill's quarters.

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There are two bedrooms, both in the roof space,

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including one that looks straight out onto the tiered garden,

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as well as the master.

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Come in. So, this would be your bedroom.

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-Oh, wow.

-It's on two levels.

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Oh, goodness, wow.

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So you've got lots of storage up there.

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You've got sort of a bathroom suite right at the other end of the hall.

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-OK.

-And then just off the back, there's a very nice room that sort

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of, cos of the slope of the garden, is level with the garden,

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-which could be a nice meditation room.

-Oh, brilliant.

-Sounds lovely. This is different.

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This is what we were saying about being quirky.

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We like the beams and we like the character and the different levels.

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This is not your standard room, which is really great.

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-It's lovely.

-Maybe we can tie it all with a bow by looking in the garden.

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Yes, wonderful.

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With the tour inside wrapped up,

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I'm hoping the outside space is suitable for the dogs.

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The gardens are extensive and well looked after...

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..with various seating areas taking advantage of the views over

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open countryside.

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The garden is quite big, it's around three quarters of an acre.

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So it stretches over and touches into the woodland,

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the woodland doesn't belong to you.

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And it goes right up to the top,

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you can see there a chair up the top with lovely views.

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So it's quite sort of angled.

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Would that work for the dogs?

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Yes, I think it could, if we could make it secure for them.

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Have to make sure that it is properly fenced.

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So we can make it safe for them.

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-Certainly a beautiful spot.

-It's lovely.

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Now, of course, the key factor is how much it costs.

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So what do you think this property is on the market for?

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I'd value this house at £325,000.

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I'm going a bit higher. I'd say 335,000.

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OK, well, in this instance, Andy, you are closer.

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It's actually on at £339,000.

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Oh, OK.

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It does have most of the elements we're looking for, to be honest.

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It's a very strong contender for the first house, I would have to say.

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Very impressed at this point.

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Well, do go and explore. Maybe you can get your hiking boots and go

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to the top there. Go and have a look around the house.

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-Yes, OK.

-And I will catch up later on.

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-OK, thank you very much.

-Thank you.

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Under budget by £16,000,

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our first house is a characterful period cottage,

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which has been modernised in recent years.

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It comes with three bedrooms, one downstairs for Jill's father,

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and options for the spiritual healing business.

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The house sits in a plot of three quarters of an acre,

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which could be fenced off for the dogs.

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I love the feel of this house.

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I'm already feeling that this could be a home

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for all of us. I could actually see us all living here.

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And I am feeling quite emotional, which is a good barometer for us.

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It does cover a lot of the elements that we're looking for.

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Particularly, my father-in-law,

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which is fantastic.

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Just need to check out a few elements like security for the dogs,

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and whether it's large enough to cope with our spiritual events,

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but it's a very strong contender. I'm very impressed.

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-Are you all done?

-Yes, thank you very much.

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I don't know if I pointed out, but this is a working well.

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Oh, wow. Wonderful.

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-We can make a wish.

-You can make a wish.

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But not before you've seen all the other properties, so come on.

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OK, thank you.

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Ceredigion's 60 miles of coastline forms the sweep of Cardigan Bay

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and is some of the most varied in Wales.

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The ancient town of Cardigan sits at the base of the bay,

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where the River Teifi meets the sea.

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The longest river in Wales,

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it played an important role in the country's history.

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Andy and Jill expressed an interest in outdoor activities,

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so we sent them to meet Richard,

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who runs a guided canoe trip along the river,

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starting off in the town,

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and ending up in the Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve.

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-Hi.

-Hi.

-You must be Rich.

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-Yeah, welcome.

-Nice to meet you.

-Hi.

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Welcome to Cardigan.

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So, what's so special about this part of the river?

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Well, in fact, the whole river is designated a special area of

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conservation, due in part to the fact there's no industry on there,

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just some agriculture, so you've got very low levels of pollution,

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and very high levels of otters, deer,

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salmon and sewin.

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So why canoes, Rich?

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Well, canoes don't need much water at all.

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We wouldn't be able to get up into the marshes with a boat that needs

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a large draught of water, a large depth of water.

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And also, if we took a larger boat with an engine,

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then we'd disturb the wildlife that we are hoping to go and see today.

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-That's great.

-Fabulous.

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Back in the early 19th century, Cardigan was the largest port

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in Wales, a centre of industry and international trade,

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and the River Teifi was instrumental in getting commodities in and out

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of the country. Today,

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the Teifi Marshes just outside the town is a unique environment where

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fresh and salt waters meet.

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Stretching over 247 acres,

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the wetland is home to mammals such as otters and aquatic birds.

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You see there, guys. That's a cormorant.

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-Oh.

-And round here, they used to eat cormorant.

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-Oh, really?

-It's quite a meaty bird.

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-Right.

-It spends its life just eating fish.

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Lots of sea birds use marshes like this when the sea is rough.

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This is like a secondary shelter for them.

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-Because it is calm.

-Yeah, because it's calmer.

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So we are on high tide at the moment.

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And at low tide, then, this will be like mudflats.

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-Oh.

-Really? Look, skimming, that's lovely.

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Further upstream, the reed-beds give way to the Teifi Gorge,

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the banks become more steep and wooded, and the river deepens.

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The gorge is known for the quality of its slate,

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which was quarried here up until the early 20th century

0:17:060:17:09

and exported downstream.

0:17:090:17:11

So, this is all the spoil from the slate quarrying

0:17:110:17:14

that went on here about 150 years ago.

0:17:140:17:19

Cilgerran slate, named after the village closest to the quarrying site,

0:17:200:17:23

was sent all over the world

0:17:230:17:25

and fragments can still be found along the river banks today.

0:17:250:17:30

I'll just grab some to show you.

0:17:300:17:32

This is the Cilgerran slate or the Pembrokeshire green slate,

0:17:320:17:35

as it's known. It's actually quite brittle, OK?

0:17:350:17:39

But at that time, it was the only building material we had round here.

0:17:390:17:44

It would be quarried from the side of the gorge,

0:17:440:17:47

sorted on dry land,

0:17:470:17:49

and then barges would come up from the port,

0:17:490:17:52

load up with slate and then take it back down for it to be sorted

0:17:520:17:57

and shipped all over the world.

0:17:570:17:59

So O'Connell Street in Dublin has some Cilgerran slate paving

0:17:590:18:04

and even some buildings in New York.

0:18:040:18:06

-Oh, wow!

-But slate quarrying had a side-effect -

0:18:060:18:10

it produced a lot of wastage,

0:18:100:18:12

and rather than take this away from the gorge,

0:18:120:18:14

they simply threw it in the water.

0:18:140:18:16

It eventually clogged up the river,

0:18:160:18:19

making it unnavigable to large ships,

0:18:190:18:21

and the industry died.

0:18:210:18:24

The canoe trip has provided Andy and Jill with an insight into their new

0:18:240:18:28

natural surroundings and how best to explore it.

0:18:280:18:31

The difficult part is avoiding going round in circles.

0:18:310:18:36

But I'm finding the steering manageable now.

0:18:360:18:39

I'm enjoying being the captain at the back.

0:18:390:18:42

-I'm enjoying the paddling.

-Yes.

-It's good exercise.

0:18:420:18:45

Very peaceful as well.

0:18:450:18:46

All the better for being out in nature, though.

0:18:460:18:48

-It's lovely.

-I'd rather be here than down the gym.

0:18:480:18:50

-Any day.

-Oh, yeah.

0:18:500:18:52

For the next property, we are staying in the Llanarth area but

0:19:040:19:07

heading a little bit closer to the coast.

0:19:070:19:10

Llanarth is a small village, one of the oldest in Ceredigion,

0:19:100:19:14

and it's centred on a crossroads and has amenities including

0:19:140:19:18

a post office, pub and convenience store.

0:19:180:19:21

Just three miles from some of the finest coastline in Wales,

0:19:210:19:24

it's a great base for Andy and Jill, given their love of outdoor sports.

0:19:240:19:28

House two is located at the end of an unmade farm track a mile away

0:19:300:19:34

from the main road, and is as remote as it gets.

0:19:340:19:38

This is an extraordinary property.

0:19:400:19:41

-Wow!

-We couldn't wait to show you this because, in many ways,

0:19:410:19:44

it's the opposite of what we've just seen.

0:19:440:19:46

-Yes.

-This is so much space for spirit and so much space for dogs.

0:19:460:19:53

Wow!

0:19:530:19:54

It is going to involve some imagination about bringing it into

0:19:540:19:58

-the world of reality.

-Well...

0:19:580:20:01

We walked past... You see this field here?

0:20:010:20:03

-Yes.

-That's yours.

0:20:030:20:05

-Really?

-More importantly, you see this vast field here...

0:20:050:20:08

-Yes.

-..most of which you can't see cos it wraps behind this building and

0:20:080:20:12

all around that property, that's yours, too.

0:20:120:20:15

-Really?

-That's a big size.

0:20:150:20:16

-Nine acres.

-Nine acres?!

0:20:160:20:19

-Wow!

-So your dogs will be exhausted by the time you get to the end.

0:20:190:20:23

Oh, nine acres! My goodness!

0:20:230:20:25

-Oh, wow!

-So it's a very big property but the great thing about the

0:20:250:20:28

property, it has so much potential for your business.

0:20:280:20:31

-Yes.

-Superb.

0:20:310:20:33

This nine-acre secluded smallholding includes numerous outbuildings which

0:20:330:20:38

we will explore later but at its centre is a wonderful 16th-century

0:20:380:20:42

farmhouse which is in need of updating.

0:20:420:20:46

It's currently vacant, as the owners have already moved out.

0:20:460:20:50

The front porch leads onto a characterful sitting room with an

0:20:500:20:53

inglenook fireplace.

0:20:530:20:55

There is also a further reception room in this,

0:20:560:20:58

the older part of the house...

0:20:580:20:59

..along with a family bathroom.

0:21:030:21:04

But we are heading to the kitchen,

0:21:050:21:07

accessed via a corridor at the back of the house.

0:21:070:21:10

-Here we are.

-Oh, wow!

0:21:110:21:13

Oh, wow!

0:21:140:21:16

Oh, goodness me! Look.

0:21:160:21:17

Yes. You've got some very old touches in this property.

0:21:180:21:21

-Wow!

-It's an old property, it's about from the 16th century.

-Wow!

0:21:210:21:25

You had a pretty strong reaction as we came through the door even.

0:21:250:21:29

-Definitely.

-Yeah.

0:21:290:21:30

-Definitely.

-Yeah.

0:21:300:21:32

-Wow!

-What's the feeling?

0:21:320:21:33

It is... It is everything we're sort of dreaming and visualising of,

0:21:350:21:40

with the character but also the potential to take it forward.

0:21:400:21:43

You'd have to put some labour of love in here to make it sort of...

0:21:430:21:46

-Yes. TLC.

-..snug.

-Wow!

0:21:460:21:49

Basically, we'd be buying some history and some character but then

0:21:490:21:52

if you put some time and effort into it and refurbish it,

0:21:520:21:55

-you'd be making something quite extraordinary, wouldn't you?

-Yes.

0:21:550:21:58

And then we've got a little addition

0:21:580:22:00

which we thought might work for your dad.

0:22:000:22:02

-Oh, brilliant.

-Superb.

0:22:020:22:04

Wow!

0:22:040:22:05

So, coming through here, we've got a much more modern extension.

0:22:050:22:08

-Oh, wow!

-Got a shower and a toilet.

0:22:080:22:10

-Oh!

-And then you've got doors out into the back garden and doors out

0:22:100:22:15

into a lovely terrace.

0:22:150:22:16

-Oh, wow!

-So we thought this might be nice for your dad's bedroom.

0:22:160:22:19

Ah, yes.

0:22:190:22:20

-Right next to the kitchen.

-Yes.

0:22:200:22:21

-Brilliant.

-Lots of light.

0:22:210:22:23

-Yeah, wow!

-Yeah, superb.

0:22:230:22:25

Didn't expect this at the end of the property.

0:22:250:22:28

-I know.

-Yeah, that's a revelation.

0:22:280:22:31

-Yeah.

-Wow!

0:22:310:22:32

Andy and Jill seemed to be buying into the idea of putting their own

0:22:320:22:36

stamp on this property. With the ground-floor tour completed,

0:22:360:22:39

I'm sending Andy and Jill upstairs to explore the bedrooms.

0:22:390:22:43

There are three in total, a double guest room, a small single

0:22:430:22:47

and a master bedroom, set in the eaves with exposed beams.

0:22:470:22:51

-Wow!

-Oh, wow!

0:22:530:22:54

Nice. I love the beams.

0:22:540:22:56

-Oh, wow!

-Thick walls, as well.

0:22:560:22:59

Wow!

0:22:590:23:00

-That's lovely.

-Yeah.

0:23:000:23:01

-So much potential.

-It's amazing.

0:23:030:23:05

That's definitely the word.

0:23:050:23:07

Outside, it's hard to know where to begin.

0:23:080:23:11

There are nine acres of land here, much of it potential grazing land.

0:23:110:23:15

The immediate garden wraps around the house and includes a decking area,

0:23:170:23:21

but because the property was once a smallholding,

0:23:210:23:24

there are also outbuildings and barns with lots of possibilities

0:23:240:23:28

of developing a spiritual healing practice.

0:23:280:23:30

Right. Now, this is super exciting.

0:23:320:23:36

-Wow!

-Here we have not one but three barns.

0:23:360:23:40

-No!

-So you've got one big building here and all three parts of it have

0:23:400:23:45

got planning permission to convert for holiday lets.

0:23:450:23:48

Oh, wow!

0:23:480:23:50

-Wow!

-Superb.

0:23:500:23:51

-That's excellent.

-However I was thinking this space on either end

0:23:510:23:55

you could have holiday lets and this space in the centre would be a

0:23:550:23:59

fantastic practice room for you.

0:23:590:24:01

Yes. Yes, wow!

0:24:010:24:03

A spiritual retreat.

0:24:030:24:04

-Yes.

-Absolutely.

0:24:040:24:05

-It's incredible.

-It is amazing.

0:24:050:24:07

-Absolutely incredible.

-Absolutely.

0:24:070:24:09

Obviously, it's a lot of work.

0:24:090:24:10

-Yes.

-Yeah. It would be a worthwhile project.

0:24:100:24:13

-Worthwhile.

-Oh, yes.

-If you can visualise the end result.

0:24:130:24:16

And the journey. That makes it all the fun.

0:24:160:24:19

Yeah. Wow! OK.

0:24:190:24:21

-Love it.

-Let's go.

0:24:210:24:23

Thank you.

0:24:230:24:24

There's a lot to take in with this vast proposition but what would Jill

0:24:260:24:30

and Andy have to pay if they want to secure it?

0:24:300:24:33

Where better to guess than overlooking the fields they could own?

0:24:330:24:36

So you can see your land goes down here, the field,

0:24:380:24:40

the clean fields down to the tree-line below there.

0:24:400:24:43

What do you think the price tag on this one is?

0:24:430:24:45

£300,000.

0:24:450:24:48

I'm going to go with £335,000.

0:24:480:24:52

OK, so it's on the market

0:24:520:24:54

for £349,950.

0:24:540:24:58

But...

0:24:580:25:00

..the owners and a little bird have been speaking and the little bird

0:25:010:25:04

tells me that they would accept offers considerably under that.

0:25:040:25:07

-OK.

-You'd have to spend a lot of money to do it up.

0:25:070:25:09

-Yes.

-It's quite a project.

-Which we would have to take into account.

0:25:090:25:12

-Yeah.

-So, go explore.

0:25:120:25:14

I can see you are chomping at the bit.

0:25:140:25:16

-Go and look at the other places.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

0:25:160:25:19

That's probably the most intense house tour I think I've ever done

0:25:200:25:23

in terms of the feedback from Jill and Andy.

0:25:230:25:28

Almost like a religious experience.

0:25:280:25:31

Marvellous.

0:25:310:25:32

Under budget by £15,000,

0:25:320:25:34

this spacious smallholding has potential with a capital P.

0:25:340:25:39

At its heart is a characterful 16th-century farmhouse

0:25:390:25:42

in need of updating with three upstairs bedrooms and options

0:25:420:25:46

for Jill's father downstairs.

0:25:460:25:49

The nine acres of land provides more than enough room for the dogs to run

0:25:490:25:52

around in and the numerous barns and outbuildings could be developed

0:25:520:25:56

over time.

0:25:560:25:58

-Oh, wow!

-Oh, wow!

-Oh, wow!

0:26:000:26:03

-Superb.

-Oh, another barn.

0:26:040:26:06

-Oh, wow!

-Wow!

0:26:060:26:08

That's just...

0:26:080:26:10

Amazing. Goodness me.

0:26:100:26:12

It's quite a unique and extraordinary property.

0:26:120:26:15

I mean, the history there and the character...

0:26:150:26:18

It really is quite remarkable, the inside and the outside space.

0:26:180:26:21

I've never actually seen anything like it in my life.

0:26:210:26:24

You know, I'm very glad that we've had a look around.

0:26:240:26:28

Superb.

0:26:280:26:29

It's an amazing position.

0:26:300:26:33

The peace, the quiet, the rural aspect we were looking for.

0:26:330:26:38

It would just be the cost of the renovation and the work that needed

0:26:380:26:41

to be doing. But this would be the ideal spiritual retreat for us

0:26:410:26:45

and also for the dogs.

0:26:450:26:46

This is a real labour of love and I will take my hat off to these two

0:26:510:26:55

when they pull it off. You will pull this off, won't you?

0:26:550:26:58

I think so. Think so.

0:26:580:27:00

-Yes.

-We don't look quite as sure...

0:27:000:27:02

-Good. Well, the journey is not over yet.

-OK.

0:27:030:27:06

I'm in Ceredigion in West Wales with Jill and Andy from Poole in Dorset,

0:27:170:27:21

who have £355,000 and a rather extensive wish list.

0:27:210:27:26

Coming up, will the Mystery House possess the right spiritual qualities?

0:27:260:27:30

-It's amazing.

-Huge.

-Quite some entrance.

-Yes.

0:27:300:27:33

This is sort of cathedral-like, isn't it?

0:27:330:27:36

-Yes.

-Very much so.

0:27:360:27:38

And I meet the business-minded farming brothers who are moving on

0:27:380:27:41

-to pastures new.

-Just flick your finger through the stream of alcohol

0:27:410:27:45

and you'll be able to taste the herbs and spices.

0:27:450:27:47

Ooh!

0:27:500:27:51

It's a beautiful morning here in Ceredigion,

0:27:550:27:57

ready for Andy and Jill's house-hunt.

0:27:570:27:59

In no particular order, they are looking for a house for themselves,

0:27:590:28:02

for her dad, for the dogs and for their spiritual work,

0:28:020:28:05

so will our Mystery House today live up to expectations?

0:28:050:28:08

It's quite different in terms of style

0:28:080:28:11

but will it match their wish list?

0:28:110:28:13

For our final Mystery Property,

0:28:160:28:18

we're heading inland to the small village of Penbontrhydybeddau.

0:28:180:28:22

The most rural setting of all our properties,

0:28:250:28:27

the village sits in a quiet valley, seven miles inland from the coast,

0:28:270:28:32

within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

0:28:320:28:34

The Mystery House is a five-minute drive away in a remote

0:28:360:28:39

and magical setting.

0:28:390:28:42

The location should really appeal to Andy and Jill - I just hope

0:28:420:28:45

the house, a more modern offering than we've seen so far,

0:28:450:28:48

gives off the right vibes.

0:28:480:28:50

So...

0:28:510:28:53

..here's the Mystery House.

0:28:540:28:55

A 2009, A-frame, architect-designed

0:28:550:29:00

modern Welsh dwelling.

0:29:000:29:03

-Wow! Wow!

-OK.

0:29:030:29:05

-Wow!

-OK.

-It's very striking.

0:29:050:29:07

-What do you think about the energy of the place? What do you think of the house?

-It's...huge.

0:29:070:29:11

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-It's enormous.

0:29:110:29:12

-Enormous.

-I love the river and everything.

0:29:120:29:15

-Yes.

-Beautiful.

-And the location.

-Beautiful.

0:29:150:29:18

-And the ducks.

-Beautiful scenery.

0:29:180:29:19

-It's drawing me in.

-Yes.

0:29:190:29:22

Keen to see what lies inside.

0:29:220:29:23

-Wow!

-Well, you wanted some big spaces.

0:29:230:29:26

Yes, that would be great.

0:29:260:29:27

-OK.

-Built just seven years ago,

0:29:270:29:30

I don't think our period-property- loving couple would have considered

0:29:300:29:33

this unique stylish house which has an open-plan layout inside.

0:29:330:29:38

But I'm keen to see if I can convince them of its ultramodern merits.

0:29:380:29:43

We are starting off in the sitting room.

0:29:430:29:45

-This is amazing.

-Huge.

-Quite some entrance.

-Yes.

0:29:450:29:47

It is sort of cathedral-like, isn't it?

0:29:470:29:49

-Yes.

-Yeah, very much so.

0:29:490:29:52

-Isn't it great?

-Very impressive.

0:29:520:29:53

That window and the door and the light...

0:29:530:29:56

-You can see the trees. Wow!

-That is lovely.

-Goodness.

0:29:560:29:59

-The balcony...

-Wow!

0:29:590:30:00

Well, we thought that you wanted something a bit grand and sort of

0:30:000:30:03

-uplifting...

-Yeah.

0:30:030:30:05

And the trouble is with a lot of Welsh period properties,

0:30:050:30:08

-they are quite dark.

-Yes.

0:30:080:30:09

-Yeah.

-Does it have good energy?

0:30:090:30:11

-Very much so.

-Looking forward to seeing the rest of it.

-Yeah.

0:30:110:30:14

-Well, let's look at the kitchen.

-OK.

0:30:140:30:16

The important room.

0:30:160:30:18

Our modern Mystery Property is well insulated and has been finished to a

0:30:180:30:21

high standard with engineered oak flooring and underfloor

0:30:210:30:25

heating throughout.

0:30:250:30:27

As well as this main sitting room, there's a light, bright snug...

0:30:280:30:32

..and a cinema room, which might be a bedroom option for Jill's father,

0:30:330:30:38

although they'd have to put an en-suite bathroom in.

0:30:380:30:41

But we are exploring the kitchen.

0:30:420:30:44

So, come on in here. This is a sort of kitchen-diner.

0:30:450:30:47

They've got space for a dining-room table.

0:30:470:30:50

And then a very modern kitchen.

0:30:500:30:52

-Oh, wow!

-OK.

-OK. Wow!

0:30:520:30:54

-Blacks and reds.

-Yes.

0:30:540:30:56

Different. Like it. Yeah.

0:30:560:30:59

So you go through there, you've got your utility, your white goods,

0:30:590:31:02

and then you step down into a very nice big garage.

0:31:020:31:05

-OK.

-Excellent. Super.

0:31:050:31:07

-Plenty of space.

-Yes.

0:31:070:31:09

The question is, is it something you could imagine living in?

0:31:090:31:12

Well, what do you think?

0:31:130:31:14

We will have a look at more and then see.

0:31:140:31:17

-Let's look at your bedroom.

-OK.

0:31:170:31:19

They are reserving judgment for now but I'm feeling as though Andy and

0:31:200:31:24

Jill are giving this house some consideration, as we head upstairs.

0:31:240:31:28

There are five bedrooms spread across two storeys.

0:31:290:31:32

Off the first-floor galleried landing are four of the bedrooms,

0:31:330:31:37

all light and spacious doubles,

0:31:370:31:40

including two with single beds in them.

0:31:400:31:42

There's also a family bath and shower room.

0:31:450:31:47

On the top floor, there's a further bedroom which could make

0:31:490:31:53

an excellent treatment room, as it has an en-suite bathroom.

0:31:530:31:57

But we are staying on the first floor to look at where they could sleep.

0:31:570:32:01

It's a master suite...

0:32:030:32:05

Nice walk-in dressing room.

0:32:060:32:09

-Down the steps.

-Good grief.

-Wow!

0:32:090:32:12

To your own rather lovely...

0:32:120:32:14

..master suite. Nice en suite with a shower room.

0:32:160:32:20

-Wow!

-It's very tasteful.

0:32:200:32:21

Very modern. And lots of space.

0:32:210:32:24

You can see it would work very, very well for a family.

0:32:240:32:27

I don't know possibly whether it's too much space for just, like,

0:32:270:32:30

the three of us.

0:32:300:32:32

Possibly. But it's awfully nice.

0:32:320:32:34

Really, really nice.

0:32:340:32:36

-Yeah, very, very tastefully done.

-Yeah, absolutely.

0:32:360:32:38

Well, let's go outside cos obviously that's very important for you two.

0:32:380:32:41

-Thank you.

-Superb. Thank you.

0:32:410:32:43

Like the house, the tidy garden is easy to maintain.

0:32:470:32:50

It is walled in, so suitable for the dogs.

0:32:500:32:52

It's not as big as some of the others I've shown Andy and Jill,

0:32:530:32:56

but it's more than compensated for

0:32:560:32:58

by the wraparound views of the forest.

0:32:580:33:01

So, that's the whole package, really.

0:33:010:33:03

It's quite a substantial house and then slightly smaller land.

0:33:030:33:07

-Yeah.

-But, you know,

0:33:070:33:08

on the basis that you are in the middle of this fantastic

0:33:080:33:11

dog-walking countryside.

0:33:110:33:13

What's the price tag on this Mystery House, do you think?

0:33:140:33:17

I would say...

0:33:180:33:19

..right on the top end of our budget.

0:33:210:33:23

£355,000.

0:33:230:33:25

I think it might be slightly over budget.

0:33:250:33:27

I'm going to go at £359,000.

0:33:270:33:32

Well, in this instance, you're both a bit pessimistic because it's just

0:33:320:33:35

under your budget. It's actually on at £349,950.

0:33:350:33:42

Ah, OK.

0:33:420:33:43

So, armed with that fact, why don't you have a stroll around?

0:33:430:33:46

There's quite a lot to take in.

0:33:460:33:48

-OK.

-Plenty to see.

0:33:480:33:49

-OK.

-Definitely. Thank you.

0:33:490:33:51

-I'll see you out the front.

-Superb.

0:33:510:33:53

Under budget by £5,000,

0:33:570:33:59

our architect-designed Mystery House is modern and stylish

0:33:590:34:03

with an open-plan layout.

0:34:030:34:05

There are five upstairs bedrooms with an option to convert a

0:34:050:34:09

downstairs reception room into a bedroom for Jill's father.

0:34:090:34:13

Outside, the garden is manageable and secure for the dogs and it is

0:34:130:34:17

located in a magical valley.

0:34:170:34:19

Really nice house. Really large, really modern.

0:34:210:34:24

Lots of room inside.

0:34:240:34:26

I'm not sure it entirely works for the flow

0:34:260:34:30

and for my father-in-law.

0:34:300:34:32

The light in here is amazing, and the views,

0:34:350:34:38

and the surrounding countryside is just awesome.

0:34:380:34:41

But we were really looking for somewhere with the charm of

0:34:410:34:45

something old and period that we could do up

0:34:450:34:50

and see ourselves living in.

0:34:500:34:53

OK. Mystery House done.

0:34:570:34:59

I hope that was enough of a curveball for you.

0:34:590:35:01

Plenty to think about. There's just so much room in there.

0:35:020:35:05

Good. Well, we are going to find somewhere where we can think about

0:35:050:35:08

-all the houses we've seen.

-OK.

-And come to some conclusions.

-OK.

0:35:080:35:11

The lifeblood of the Ceredigion economy is agriculture.

0:35:190:35:23

Once the mining industries around Cardigan declined,

0:35:230:35:26

the focus shifted to dairy farming.

0:35:260:35:29

But today, those farms are facing their own challenge.

0:35:290:35:32

With falling incomes, many have had to diversify in order to survive.

0:35:320:35:37

On one such family-run farm, just outside Llandysul,

0:35:370:35:41

they've gone from producing a world-renowned organic cheese

0:35:410:35:45

to something altogether more potent.

0:35:450:35:47

I'm meeting farmer Rob Savage to find out more.

0:35:470:35:50

Now, tell me about your history cos you've got quite an interesting

0:35:510:35:54

history cos you're not from Welsh stock, are you?

0:35:540:35:57

I consider myself Welsh.

0:35:570:35:59

But my parents were both born in Rotterdam.

0:35:590:36:01

So they moved from the Netherlands back in 1981.

0:36:010:36:04

So they moved from a very flat Holland

0:36:040:36:07

to quite a hilly bit of Wales.

0:36:070:36:09

Absolutely, yeah. And they are not from farming stock either.

0:36:090:36:12

They are not from a farming background but they very much...

0:36:120:36:15

They're involved in the organic movement and this is what they wanted to do.

0:36:150:36:19

So, yeah, we've been making cheese since 1982.

0:36:190:36:22

My mother was a trainee artisan cheese maker in the Netherlands.

0:36:220:36:25

She made a Gouda-style cheese and she brought her skills over and now,

0:36:250:36:28

using good-quality Welsh milk, we're producing Teifi cheese.

0:36:280:36:31

Using raw milk, local ingredients and traditional methods,

0:36:330:36:36

the farm produces three types of unpasteurised artisanal cheese

0:36:360:36:41

strongly influenced by Dutch Gouda.

0:36:410:36:44

But cheese isn't the only string in their bow -

0:36:440:36:47

two years ago, they diversified into alcohol, specifically gin.

0:36:470:36:52

That's quite a curveball in the Welsh farming market, isn't it?

0:36:520:36:56

It is, it's the only way, really, to survive in south-west Wales,

0:36:560:36:58

is cheese and alcohol.

0:36:580:37:00

The distillery was opened in 2012 and the man in charge of the drinks

0:37:020:37:07

is Rob's brother, John.

0:37:070:37:09

But this isn't gin as we know it -

0:37:090:37:11

this is seaweed gin.

0:37:110:37:13

Now, I have been to a gin distillery before.

0:37:140:37:17

I don't remember quite how it works, which probably meant that I tried too much gin afterwards.

0:37:170:37:21

But you start off with raw ethanol, isn't it? That's the thing?

0:37:210:37:24

Pretty much. First of all, we have to produce a base spirit which is technically ethanol,

0:37:240:37:28

but just with a bit more flavour in it.

0:37:280:37:30

We then put it back into the still and then this is where the herbs

0:37:300:37:33

and spices are added to it.

0:37:330:37:35

This is what we can see bubbling around?

0:37:350:37:37

You can see some in there at the moment.

0:37:370:37:39

What's coming out here, then, is this the finished product?

0:37:390:37:41

This is the gin that comes out.

0:37:410:37:43

It's 90% alcohol, so it's far too strong to be drinking.

0:37:430:37:47

-OK.

-This will obviously be watered down with our own water.

0:37:470:37:51

But you are able to sample it if you fancy.

0:37:510:37:53

Just flick your finger through the stream of alcohol and you'll be able

0:37:530:37:56

to taste the herbs and spices.

0:37:560:37:58

-Whoo!

-This particular recipe is a seaweed gin.

0:38:010:38:05

-Seaweed?

-It's a very different type of gin.

0:38:050:38:07

It will now go into a holding tank, where it will be infused with

0:38:070:38:10

seaweed for a week. And then after this process,

0:38:100:38:12

it'll be filtered and then it will be bottled and then it's ready

0:38:120:38:16

for sale.

0:38:160:38:17

I'm not entirely convinced by John's Welsh spirit,

0:38:170:38:21

but there's only one way to find out whether it works

0:38:210:38:24

and that's to taste it.

0:38:240:38:26

-So, this is the normal one?

-That's the botanical gin.

0:38:260:38:28

To compare flavours, I'm trying their traditional gin first.

0:38:280:38:33

Still quite strong! Ooh, that's nice, though. Tasty.

0:38:330:38:36

And this is the seaweed one, this is the one I'm keen to taste.

0:38:360:38:39

Slightly more salty in flavour.

0:38:390:38:41

Mouth-wash it a little bit, and get the full flavour,

0:38:410:38:43

coat your mouth with it.

0:38:430:38:44

You're looking...you're both looking at me very intensely!

0:38:440:38:47

And then...

0:38:490:38:50

After you swallow, give it a couple of seconds and then breathe in.

0:38:500:38:55

You get the saltiness coming through.

0:38:550:38:56

Then shut your eyes, tell me where you are.

0:38:560:38:58

I'm going to say I'm on a Welsh coastline...

0:38:590:39:02

-Nailed it.

-..with the seaweed floating around my feet.

0:39:020:39:05

You do taste, that's true...

0:39:050:39:06

You do taste a little bit, it's quite delicate.

0:39:060:39:08

They say the seaweed gin pairs well with seafood, oysters and shellfish.

0:39:090:39:15

But I'm skipping the main course and heading straight for

0:39:150:39:17

-the cheese board.

-And this is our Teifi recipe,

0:39:170:39:21

which is loosely based on a Gouda style.

0:39:210:39:23

Very good, thank you.

0:39:250:39:26

That's nice. That's not very Welsh at all.

0:39:260:39:28

You don't usually get that sort of nice, chewy, Dutch...

0:39:280:39:31

That's why!

0:39:310:39:33

Good stuff, guys. It's really nice to meet you guys.

0:39:330:39:35

-Thank you.

-Good luck with it all.

-Very good, thank you.

0:39:350:39:39

That's delicious, that one.

0:39:390:39:40

-Good, isn't it?

-Yeah, it's awesome.

0:39:400:39:42

Our property hunting has come to a close here in Ceredigion

0:39:480:39:52

so let's find out which of our properties, if any,

0:39:520:39:55

have stolen Andy and Jill's hearts.

0:39:550:39:57

-Hi, guys!

-Hi.

0:40:040:40:05

It's nice to sit down, isn't it,

0:40:060:40:07

after striding up and down the Welsh valleys?

0:40:070:40:10

So, how have we done?

0:40:100:40:12

It's been an amazing week, it's been absolutely life-changing for us.

0:40:120:40:17

And it's absolutely cemented the fact that we are definitely moving

0:40:170:40:21

-to Wales.

-Well, that's good.

0:40:210:40:23

How have we done on the houses?

0:40:230:40:24

Which, if any, of the houses have stood out for you?

0:40:240:40:27

I think we both feel the same.

0:40:280:40:30

-Yeah, we do.

-Yeah, I think the farmhouse that needs the work.

0:40:300:40:35

The conversion. But that is where our hearts lie

0:40:350:40:39

and that will make our dreams come true.

0:40:390:40:41

That was like a religious experience for you two.

0:40:410:40:44

Right from the very beginning, from when you foresaw it.

0:40:440:40:46

Yes, yes, it was. Yes.

0:40:460:40:49

It's a huge challenge, the farmhouse property.

0:40:490:40:51

Massive potential, I mean, really streets ahead of the others.

0:40:510:40:54

-Yes.

-Massive amounts of money needed to be spent, and time.

0:40:540:40:59

-Yes.

-How are you going to do that?

0:40:590:41:02

That's a very good question!

0:41:020:41:03

I think we'll just send our thoughts out again,

0:41:040:41:07

that's what we've done for the whole of this week,

0:41:070:41:09

and we'll see where it takes us. We're going to research more

0:41:090:41:13

and find out costings of conversion etc

0:41:130:41:16

and the potential that lies within that land as well.

0:41:160:41:20

And we're definitely going to go back for a second viewing.

0:41:200:41:23

And after the research and investigations on costs,

0:41:230:41:27

then we're very likely to put in an offer.

0:41:270:41:30

-Really?

-Yes.

-That would be so tremendous.

0:41:300:41:34

One of the great figures of this search has been your dad, of course...

0:41:340:41:37

-Yes, yes.

-..who wasn't there when we saw the farmhouse,

0:41:370:41:40

but what do you think he'll think of it?

0:41:400:41:42

He'll run with us for the dream

0:41:420:41:45

of our spiritual retreat by the sea, very much.

0:41:450:41:48

But the nitty-gritty of it, he may think,

0:41:480:41:51

"Jill, you've gone slightly mad!"

0:41:510:41:53

Because it's such a big project.

0:41:530:41:55

But bless him, he's always behind us 110% and he really supports our work

0:41:550:42:00

and our dream.

0:42:000:42:01

Well, I really hope that it comes to fruition and you'll let us know how

0:42:020:42:05

-it goes.

-Definitely.

-It's been a real joy, and thank you

0:42:050:42:08

for bringing us to this county, it's a really lovely place to come.

0:42:080:42:11

Yeah, it's a wonderful part of the world and it's been an absolute joy.

0:42:110:42:15

And we can't thank you highly enough, thank you so much.

0:42:150:42:17

Yes, very much. It's been wonderful.

0:42:170:42:19

-It's our pleasure.

-Life-changing, thank you.

0:42:190:42:21

That was a great week here in Ceredigion.

0:42:270:42:30

It's so nice to be challenged by a house hunt like Andy and Jill's,

0:42:300:42:34

cos it's not every day that we get asked to find a home for a couple,

0:42:340:42:38

dad, dogs and a spiritual practice.

0:42:380:42:41

But if one place is going to supply all that,

0:42:410:42:43

then this beautiful county is it.

0:42:430:42:46

And I really hope that they bite the bullet and make something of that

0:42:460:42:50

dream property in the farmhouse.

0:42:500:42:53

And I hope that you join us next time for more Escape To The Country.

0:42:530:42:56

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0:42:590:43:02

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