0:00:02 > 0:00:04This venerable grammar school, which was founded in 1585,
0:00:04 > 0:00:08was attended by one of Britain's greatest poets.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Find out where I am and who he was in just a moment,
0:00:11 > 0:00:13but meanwhile here's a little clue.
0:00:33 > 0:00:38Today I'm with a dynamic couple who have high hopes for a new life full
0:00:38 > 0:00:40of the great outdoors.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Looks like a picture frame, doesn't it?
0:00:42 > 0:00:44Looking out at those hills. That's lovely.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47And they're eager to set the wheels in motion for their move.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50You really have got a working farmyard around you.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53- Do you like tractors? - I do like tractors, yeah.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55I'd be happy to live by tractors.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Today I'm in Cumbria and this is Hawkshead Grammar School
0:01:02 > 0:01:06in the Lake District, which back in 1779 was the school
0:01:06 > 0:01:11of the famous poet William Wordsworth who, by all accounts, loved his time here,
0:01:11 > 0:01:13rambling on the fells during the summer
0:01:13 > 0:01:18and ice skating on the frozen waters of Esthwaite in the winter.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20Of course, there was no photography back in the 18th century,
0:01:20 > 0:01:22so there's no picture of him on the wall,
0:01:22 > 0:01:27but what he did leave was his name - carved into one of the wooden desks.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29That's still here.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33Cumbria is one of the most beautiful and sparsely populated counties in
0:01:33 > 0:01:37the UK. It's England's third biggest and,
0:01:37 > 0:01:39along with its eastern neighbour Northumberland,
0:01:39 > 0:01:41sits on the Scottish border.
0:01:41 > 0:01:46Cumbria encompasses all of the Lake District and part of the Yorkshire Dales.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49The awe-inspiring geography of the Lake District is the result
0:01:49 > 0:01:53of 500 million years of volcanic and glacial activity.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56The Lake District National Park is England's largest,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59covering over 910 square miles.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02There are 16 major lakes within it,
0:02:02 > 0:02:04as well as many other smaller bodies of water.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08At nearly 11 and a quarter miles from end to end,
0:02:08 > 0:02:12Windermere is the longest natural lake in England.
0:02:12 > 0:02:17It was formed 13,000 years ago when surrounding glaciers melted.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21Today its tranquil waters attract a multitude of visitors.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25Over 70 million a year descend upon the national park.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30Away from the busy tourist centres of Windermere and Kendall,
0:02:30 > 0:02:35the Lake District offers solitude and a landscape barely changed
0:02:35 > 0:02:38since the time of its most famous son, William Wordsworth.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45Unsurprisingly, you pay a hefty premium to live inside a national park.
0:02:45 > 0:02:46In the Lake District park,
0:02:46 > 0:02:50you'll be paying 84% more for your detached house than you would in the
0:02:50 > 0:02:52rest of Cumbria.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55That said, it's pretty good value
0:02:55 > 0:02:58when you consider that park price of £354,000
0:02:58 > 0:03:02is only £20,000 more than the national figure.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05Quite a good deal when you consider you have all this beauty on your
0:03:05 > 0:03:13doorstep, and exactly the reason why today's buyers are coming here to look for a slice of park life.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18Deputy head Donna and school library manager Christian met at university
0:03:18 > 0:03:22in 1990, where they were both studying to be teachers.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24I was in a band at the time, we had to do a...
0:03:24 > 0:03:28- Project.- A music project as part of our teacher training
0:03:28 > 0:03:30and I'd kind of spied Donna across the room
0:03:30 > 0:03:32and so I thought I'd get to know her. So, yeah.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36Got me into a lot of trouble during our music sessions.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38Every time the teacher looked at me,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41he'd pull a little lever on my chair and my chair would go...
0:03:41 > 0:03:43- Down like that. So, yeah, so it's a lot of fun.- Yeah.
0:03:43 > 0:03:48The music-loving couple have seen their lives change over
0:03:48 > 0:03:50the three decades they've been together.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53In our 20s, we lived in Liverpool and we were going out lots and had a
0:03:53 > 0:03:57really good social life, and in our 30s we got married,
0:03:57 > 0:04:01we travelled the world together and then came back and had three children
0:04:01 > 0:04:07and then in our 40s we have a big new move waiting for us with our three lovely children.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09Yeah, times have moved on.
0:04:09 > 0:04:15The family now includes Sadie, aged eight, Niamh, ten, and Mia, 12.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17They've lived in Wigan for nearly 15 years
0:04:17 > 0:04:23but a change in Donna's work circumstances means they need to relocate.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27I've just got a new job, a headteacher's post in Ulverston,
0:04:27 > 0:04:31and it's just an area that we've always wanted to live, live around there.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35I've kind of got a new job as well in that I'm planning to change careers slightly,
0:04:35 > 0:04:37doing outdoor activity instructing.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40I love climbing, I love fell running,
0:04:40 > 0:04:44so I'm also hoping to still work within schools and colleges when I move up there.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47They want to move to just south of the Lake District,
0:04:47 > 0:04:52close to the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54My parents have a caravan in Carnforth
0:04:54 > 0:04:57and it would be nice to be closer to them so that I can spend some
0:04:57 > 0:05:01time with them now they're getting that bit older as well.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04And also for schools for the children.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07Both Donna and Christian are keen triathletes and,
0:05:07 > 0:05:08together with their children,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11they intend to make the most of their new surroundings.
0:05:11 > 0:05:16We are a very outdoorsy family and we love to go on walks and running and cycling.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19One of the things that I'll be interested in getting into would
0:05:19 > 0:05:22be some more open water swimming, because we've done some within our
0:05:22 > 0:05:26triathlons and it scares the life out of me, if I'm honest.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28The outdoors isn't the family's only a passion.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31The kitchen's got to be really important in a new property.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33I love baking. That's something that brings us together as a family
0:05:33 > 0:05:36that... On a weekend, that the girls will say, oh,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39can we bake some brownies? Can we make a cake?
0:05:39 > 0:05:43And Christian also wants to develop his creativity on the lakes.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46I hope that I'm still going to carry on with the music.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48It would be great if I could just do a bit of an open mic in a pub.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52I'd enjoy that. I'm hoping that I'll be inspired when I get up there
0:05:52 > 0:05:55and I can maybe finish that novel that I started. That'll be nice.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58They both have a very poignant reason for feeling that
0:05:58 > 0:06:02their Lakeland life is one that they can no longer postpone.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05The original move to the lakes was going to be our retirement plan
0:06:05 > 0:06:09but I lost my dad at 60 and Christian lost his dad two years ago at 67,
0:06:09 > 0:06:13both with cancer, and we suddenly thought, this retirement plan,
0:06:13 > 0:06:15it may never come to fruition, so what are we waiting for?
0:06:15 > 0:06:17Let's do it now.
0:06:20 > 0:06:25Christian and Donna ideally want to be a short commute from Donna's job in Ulverston.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28So we'll be focusing our search on the south of Cumbria.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30But they have plenty of other property requirements,
0:06:30 > 0:06:36so I need to meet them to ensure our search includes only the most suitable country homes.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39- Hey.- Hello.- Welcome. It's beautiful here, isn't it?
0:06:39 > 0:06:42It's a little bit rainy, but still. You're both very outward-bound.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44You're probably the fittest couple we've had on this show.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46Oh, good, right, I like that.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49You've got three girls. Are they keen on the move?
0:06:49 > 0:06:52Yes, I think they're little apprehensive because they are leaving their friends
0:06:52 > 0:06:54and family behind, but I think it's...
0:06:54 > 0:06:59We're doing it for them as much as for us because we know that they'll get so much out of being here
0:06:59 > 0:07:01and enjoy the mountains along with us.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Tell me about the house. What's the house going to look like?
0:07:03 > 0:07:06Oh, it's going to be fantastic.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08- Done.- Er...
0:07:08 > 0:07:10It's got to be big enough to fit us all in.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12Family of five, we are quite big.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16And we would like four bedrooms so the girls can all have their bedroom each, obviously.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20We'd like some outdoor space so that we can get out there and enjoy that.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23We don't need a huge garden but it would be nice to have outdoor space.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26If we had some sort of outdoor storage for bikes and canoes,
0:07:26 > 0:07:27things like that.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31The only thing I think we really wouldn't be impressed with is if it
0:07:31 > 0:07:36was in a fairly built-up estate, if it was with a lot of other houses,
0:07:36 > 0:07:39because really we do want this to be an escape to the country, you know?
0:07:39 > 0:07:41We want to feel like we are somewhere rural.
0:07:41 > 0:07:42So how rural is rural?
0:07:42 > 0:07:45If it was up to us, we'd be out in the middle of nowhere.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47- There's a bit of a divide on this. - We've got to do a bit of compromising.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50I'd live halfway up a mountain but I don't think the girls would.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53I think the girls want to be a bit more of a community.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57What about the reception rooms? What's important for you there?
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Again, space for us all. We are a family that dine together a lot,
0:08:00 > 0:08:04so we need to make sure that there's somewhere we can have a nice dining space, really.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06We've got an open-plan kitchen/diner
0:08:06 > 0:08:10and that seems to work really well, so it'd be nice.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13So we're here in Cumbria. We're looking in the south of the Lake District.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16Does it bother you if you are inside the national park or outside?
0:08:16 > 0:08:17Not really bothered at all, to be honest.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19I think it's more down to price.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21And remind us again of your budget.
0:08:21 > 0:08:22About £400,000.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Great, well, we've got some lovely properties lined up.
0:08:25 > 0:08:26The weather is sort of slightly setting in
0:08:26 > 0:08:29but let's get in the car and go and see some.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Wonderful, thank you.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35With a maximum budget of £400,000,
0:08:35 > 0:08:39Donna and Christian are looking for an edge-of-village property with at
0:08:39 > 0:08:40least four bedrooms.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43They'd like a spacious dining room for family meals,
0:08:43 > 0:08:46a garden and garage space to store their bikes
0:08:46 > 0:08:48and other outdoor equipment.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51We've got an enticing range of beautiful homes
0:08:51 > 0:08:53to show Donna and Christian,
0:08:53 > 0:08:57but their prices won't be revealed until the end of each tour
0:08:57 > 0:09:00and our property search culminates with the Mystery House -
0:09:00 > 0:09:06surrounded by familiar parkland scenery but in previously uncharted territory.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15Our first house is in the village of Sedgwick in the south of Cumbria.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22Just outside the Lake District National Park and three miles from the town of Kendal,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25Sedgwick offers ample exercise opportunities.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28The roads surrounding it are popular with cyclists,
0:09:28 > 0:09:32while the route of the disused Lancaster to Kendal canal is perfect
0:09:32 > 0:09:38for running. Our property is in a cul-de-sac on the edge of the village.
0:09:38 > 0:09:39Here we have it, house number one.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41Oh, wow.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44It's an upside-down house, so the living quarters are upstairs
0:09:44 > 0:09:45and then the bedrooms are downstairs.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48- What do you think?- Yeah, I mean, I like interesting shapes.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51The house we've got now is, like, a bit strange, isn't it?
0:09:51 > 0:09:55It might not be a million miles away from the house we're currently in,
0:09:55 > 0:09:56which is kind of '60s architecture.
0:09:56 > 0:10:01I'm keen to kind of get up there and see the view from that platform,
0:10:01 > 0:10:02so yeah, looks interesting.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04So we are not in the middle of nowhere here.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06- You've got neighbours.- Yeah.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10Where we are now we've only got, like, one or two neighbours,
0:10:10 > 0:10:13which is nice to have that connection to other people.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15Didn't really want so close to each other but, you know,
0:10:15 > 0:10:16I'll keep an open mind.
0:10:16 > 0:10:21- Yeah.- Yeah.- Let's go in and see what you think.- OK.
0:10:21 > 0:10:26I'm detecting a muted response to our first home but I have high hopes for their reaction
0:10:26 > 0:10:28to the unconventional interior.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34I've brought you straight upstairs because this is the main living space.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38Kitchen, dining area and then a nice kind of cosy family area around
0:10:38 > 0:10:40the log burner at the back. What do you think?
0:10:40 > 0:10:42Yeah, I like it.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45It's certainly big enough, isn't it, for a kitchen-diner.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49It's... Yeah, and it feels very open with all the windows and all the light.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52A big balcony at the front, really lovely views,
0:10:52 > 0:10:54looking out over into the Lake District.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56It's like it's a picture frame there, isn't it?
0:10:56 > 0:10:58Looking out at those hills, that's lovely.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02And then the French doors at the back as well going out into the garden.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05It's a lot more spacious than it looks from outside, isn't it?
0:11:05 > 0:11:09You do feel like you've got wide open views, it's lovely.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12- Yeah.- Let's go and have a look at what they call the evening room.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16That's their day space and this is their evening space as they watch
0:11:16 > 0:11:18the telly here. It's much kind of more snug.
0:11:18 > 0:11:24All built around this sort of sandstone Art Deco fireplace.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26- I like the fireplace. - Yeah, I like that.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28I like the floors.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32I think this would be a space more for the children possibly than us.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35- Let's go and look at your master bedroom.- OK.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38The four bedrooms are split across the two storeys.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41On the ground floor, another living space off the entrance hallway could
0:11:41 > 0:11:46be converted, while next door there's a single bedroom for one of the girls.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49Both share a shower room.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51Upstairs the pattern is similar.
0:11:52 > 0:11:53There's one bedroom here...
0:11:55 > 0:11:57..and a family bathroom,
0:11:57 > 0:12:01and then this is what they're using as their master bedroom.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Fairly simple room. It's just a question of, you know,
0:12:03 > 0:12:06how important are the bedrooms for you and the girls?
0:12:06 > 0:12:10Yeah. Well, where we are now the bedrooms is probably the least
0:12:10 > 0:12:12space, isn't there? From like...
0:12:12 > 0:12:16We've got a really big sitting area so it's not a big issue.
0:12:16 > 0:12:21It's not but it would be quite nice to have nicer sized bedrooms in the move.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25- Yeah.- So you're selling up your very nice house in Wigan and coming
0:12:25 > 0:12:29to quite a desired part of the country.
0:12:29 > 0:12:34Are you aware that you might not get bigger, better and...?
0:12:34 > 0:12:37No, you're right. We are going to have to compromise, yeah.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40We see that. Prices are more expensive round here,
0:12:40 > 0:12:43so we're not going to get everything that we want, yeah.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47We're quite realistic about, you know, what we'd get for our money,
0:12:47 > 0:12:49- I think, out here.- In that case,
0:12:49 > 0:12:51let's go into the garden and see about the price.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57The front of the house has a sloping brick-paved driveway with ample
0:12:57 > 0:13:02parking, while a small patio provides a relaxing space to enjoy the views
0:13:02 > 0:13:04after long summer runs.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07There is also an integrated garage,
0:13:07 > 0:13:10perfect for bikes and the family's outdoor gear.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16The rear garden is reached through patio doors from the living room.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19You're like king of the castle up here.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21You can see the hills of the Lake District starting up.
0:13:21 > 0:13:26- Yeah, beautiful.- And a great sort of outside room here that they've built.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28It's got wifi, it's heated and got electricity, so...
0:13:28 > 0:13:31- Oh, wow.- It would be a nice little writing shed for either one of you.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33Yeah, brilliant.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36You see what I mean about up here - you really are kind of above everybody else.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39- Yeah.- Yeah. You don't notice the houses the same when you're up here
0:13:39 > 0:13:41at all. Do you? You know.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44And you've got space round the side where you'd have your little
0:13:44 > 0:13:45barbecueing area round there.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47Yeah, no, it's really nice. It's a really nice space.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50And I'm sure the girls would love the ponies and the donkeys.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53Yeah. I think that would become their obsession.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57This is the moment where I ask you what the price of the property is.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01I'm going to go for £375,000.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06I was going to say 360,000.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09Well, you're both a little under actually because this is on
0:14:09 > 0:14:12the market for right at the top of your budget. £395,000.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Right. It's really well done, what they've done to it.
0:14:15 > 0:14:16- Yeah.- Really opens up.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19The longer you do spend here, the more you like it, I think.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Well, good, spend a little more time.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Go in and have an explore and I'll collect you at the front when you're
0:14:24 > 0:14:27- done.- Brilliant, thank you. - Thank you.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30Aw, it is definitely a grower, this house,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33and when you come up here and you've got the ponies and the donkeys it's,
0:14:33 > 0:14:37like, right in the countryside already, so the kids will love it.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39I think it's a good contender.
0:14:40 > 0:14:45Under budget, this 1960s property has an unconventional lay-out.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48It offers the four bedrooms that Christian and Donna need as well as
0:14:48 > 0:14:51a kitchen-diner and two sitting rooms.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54There is also an easy-to-maintain garden and garage.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59It didn't wow me. My heart didn't sing when I walked up the path
0:14:59 > 0:15:01or anything like that, really,
0:15:01 > 0:15:05which is a shame because inside it's a lot nicer than I thought it was
0:15:05 > 0:15:08going to be, and the views that you do get are wonderful.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12Practically, this house is pretty much everything that we need.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16I think my kids would love this house,
0:15:16 > 0:15:22but there's something holding me back and I can't quite justify it.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25It's true, when you come down from the heights you do feel like
0:15:25 > 0:15:27you're in the middle of all these other houses,
0:15:27 > 0:15:29but upstairs you don't get that sense at all.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31- Hi, you all done?- Yes.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33- Yes, thanks.- Good. If you pull the door behind you,
0:15:33 > 0:15:35we're all done here.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37- Good.- We can head off to house number two.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40- OK, great.- Let's go!
0:15:46 > 0:15:50For many people, the Lake District conjures up images of tranquil walks
0:15:50 > 0:15:52and magnificent views,
0:15:52 > 0:15:57but the area also lays claim to being the adventure sports capital of the UK.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Eager triathletes Christian and Donna are keen to experience the
0:16:01 > 0:16:06chilly charms of an activity that's rapidly growing in popularity.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08Wild swimming.
0:16:08 > 0:16:13We've arranged for them to meet swimming expert Pete Kelly at Rydal Water.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16Hi, Pete. Oh, wow! What a gorgeous spot.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18- It's amazing.- This is beautiful.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20- Are you ready for a swim?- Yeah,
0:16:20 > 0:16:23why do you think it's become so popular over the last few years?
0:16:23 > 0:16:26Well, you've just got to look at it. Relative to swimming in a pool,
0:16:26 > 0:16:30there's something really special about being in the middle of a lake or a tarn,
0:16:30 > 0:16:32especially in the Lake District. You literally see the world from
0:16:32 > 0:16:34a different perspective and, not only that,
0:16:34 > 0:16:36it's a very easy thing to get into, you know.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38All you need is a wet suit, a pair of goggles
0:16:38 > 0:16:42and a bright swim hat so you can be seen out in the water, and away you go.
0:16:42 > 0:16:43And how good for you, as well, swimming.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47Swimming in cold water, it genuinely elevates your mood,
0:16:47 > 0:16:50so you're always going to come out of the water happier, and that's the
0:16:50 > 0:16:53only scientific fact that's been proven at the moment,
0:16:53 > 0:16:57so much so it's actually being touted as a temporary cure for depression.
0:16:57 > 0:16:58So can you swim anywhere you like?
0:16:58 > 0:17:01You're not allowed to swim in any of the reservoirs,
0:17:01 > 0:17:03but the good news is there's loads of other tarns,
0:17:03 > 0:17:05rivers and lakes that you are allowed to swim.
0:17:05 > 0:17:10In some of the bigger lakes it's very important to watch out for other water users.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12So we've got three daughters, they're all pretty good swimmers.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14Could we take them wild swimming?
0:17:14 > 0:17:17Yes, you'd be crazy not to take your kids wild swimming.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19During the summer the lake temperature here can get up to...
0:17:19 > 0:17:21It can exceed 20 degrees.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24You don't even need a wet suit and in terms of taking families swimming
0:17:24 > 0:17:27this is one of many places which are very, very kiddie friendly,
0:17:27 > 0:17:30- I would argue.- So you've got us in our wet suits today.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33Is this a vital part of open water swimming?
0:17:33 > 0:17:35These modern swimming wet suits are excellent
0:17:35 > 0:17:36cos they act as a buoyancy aid.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39You ain't ever going to sink in a modern swimming wet suit.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42Also, you'll be interested to know as triathletes,
0:17:42 > 0:17:44it floats you in the perfect position in the water for front crawl.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47And we're going to have a great swim today and it's going to help
0:17:47 > 0:17:49your swimming, rather than hold you back.
0:17:49 > 0:17:50I've not swum at this time of year.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53I imagine it's going to be cold, isn't it? It's going to be a shock.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56It's warmer than it looks but what we do need is enthusiasm,
0:17:56 > 0:17:58- so we can work with that. - Great.- Let's do it.
0:18:00 > 0:18:01At just over a kilometre long,
0:18:01 > 0:18:05Rydal Water is one of the smaller lakes in Cumbria.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08It was a regular walking spot for William Wordsworth.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13Pete's plan is for a short swim around the small heron island
0:18:13 > 0:18:15and back to shore.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17It's not too bad.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25So is this about as warm as we expect the lake to get?
0:18:25 > 0:18:27Thankfully, it gets a hell of a lot warmer than this.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31It's ten degrees now, it's five degrees a few weeks ago
0:18:31 > 0:18:34and as the weather gets warmer, the lakes get warmer.
0:18:34 > 0:18:35That's good news.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38I think I need to get warm. Can we get swimming?
0:18:38 > 0:18:40- I agree. let's generate some heat. - Let's do it.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44In the early 1900s, outdoor swimming was a popular activity
0:18:44 > 0:18:49and lidos and natural swimming clubs could be found all over the UK.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51But as indoor pools were introduced
0:18:51 > 0:18:56and natural water courses became more polluted, the sport declined.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58Today it's making a comeback.
0:18:59 > 0:19:04The Outdoor Swimming Society was established in 2006
0:19:04 > 0:19:08and now has a community of over 27,000 members nationwide.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Aw, thank you so much for that. That was absolutely amazing.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14- Thanks.- Great, you both did really well there. I think we deserve
0:19:14 > 0:19:16a nice warm drink now or something stronger.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18Go on. I'm buying.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22Once they're warm and dry, Donna and Christian need to channel
0:19:22 > 0:19:25their energies into our Lake District house-hunt.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31Our second property is situated on the estuary of the River Kent
0:19:31 > 0:19:33and is four miles from the village of Levens.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39Levens is a centre for the surrounding community,
0:19:39 > 0:19:42with a busy pub, local shop and early 19th-century church.
0:19:43 > 0:19:48There are also many societies run by residents and a primary school.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52The property we've come to see is reached down a quiet rural road.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55This is the house.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57- It looks enormous.- Wow.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00Well, it's actually semidetached, so it's not all yours.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02- But this end is yours. - Wow.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05As you can see, we've brought you out into the countryside.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09Not crowded with other houses. There's four in this development.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12We're in a farm so there's some agricultural barns on the other side.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15- Yeah.- And all around, you can see on the horizon all these beautiful hills.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18- Oh, it's gorgeous. - Stretching out in all directions.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20- Fabulous.- Is this a bit more what you're looking for?
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Yes, this is making my heart sing. Yeah.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25It's very much what I had in mind.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27Yeah. So good thumbs-up from the outside?
0:20:27 > 0:20:31- Double thumbs-up.- Definitely thumbs up so far.- Double thumbs-up.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34Formerly a barn, this house was converted in 2002.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37Though seemingly remote,
0:20:37 > 0:20:41it's only half an hour's commute to Donna's job in Ulverston.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43Thank you.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45I'm sensing real excitement at what's on offer here.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50Come through into the main living space.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52- Fab.- This is good.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54Yeah, there's a lot of space here.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56A lot of space.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59- Yeah.- It's been pushed through out into the extension there.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01Lots of light, it's got downlighting from the skylights.
0:21:01 > 0:21:06- So we're thinking that's a lovely space for just people to read and hang out.- Yeah.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10And then this is obviously built around the in-built log burner.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12- Gorgeous.- Which is very nice.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14- Yes.- This is a bit more what you're looking for?
0:21:14 > 0:21:16Yeah, we definitely like it.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18We're a bit suspicious cos we're...
0:21:18 > 0:21:21Our first impression is we probably can't afford this.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24Ah. We wouldn't be that mean.
0:21:24 > 0:21:25It's a fairly simple layout.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28This side is all the living space and this side is the kitchen.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30OK.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34- Big kitchen.- Oh, wow.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38- Oh, this is nice. - It's huge.- Lots of space for baking.
0:21:38 > 0:21:39Yeah.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41Oh, it's lovely.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44- And then space here for a family table.- Yeah. Yeah.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47- About the size of ours, that one, as well, isn't it? - Plenty of room for our table there.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51This feels like a really nice space, yeah.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54I'm heartened by Christian and Donna's responses.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58Off the entrance hallway, there's a WC and shower and
0:21:58 > 0:22:01a door leads to a double garage for storage.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05The stairs rise to a first floor landing.
0:22:05 > 0:22:06This is the master suite.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09Aw! It's fabulous. It's huge.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11- It is big, isn't it? - This is a nice size, yeah.
0:22:11 > 0:22:12Really nice, I like it.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16- You've got a nice little shower en suite round the corner there. - Brilliant.- OK.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19- And nice views as well.- You've got views right across to the hills.
0:22:19 > 0:22:20You can, you can just see the fells.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23Fabulous. Yeah, I really like it.
0:22:23 > 0:22:24I'm getting a more positive vibe.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28- Mm!- What is it that you like about this one that the last one didn't have?
0:22:28 > 0:22:33I think it's the fact that you've not got all those neighbours that were at the last house.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36I think when I thought of escaping to the country I imagined it to be
0:22:36 > 0:22:39more kind of farm-housey and more rural and, you know,
0:22:39 > 0:22:42this certainly ticks all of those boxes for me.
0:22:42 > 0:22:43Yeah. It does.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45And it's just got a bit more character, hasn't it, this one?
0:22:45 > 0:22:47It's not your archetypal rolling hills,
0:22:47 > 0:22:50cos you really have got a sort of working farmyard around you,
0:22:50 > 0:22:51but are you OK with that?
0:22:51 > 0:22:53Yeah, I need to have a little walk around,
0:22:53 > 0:22:57just have a look what's out there, but so far it's not put me off.
0:22:57 > 0:22:58Yeah. Do you like tractors?
0:22:58 > 0:23:01I do like tractors, yeah. I'd be happy to live by tractors.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Let's go near the tractors and we can guess about the price.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09This floor also features a family bathroom.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11The house has three further bedrooms.
0:23:11 > 0:23:16Two on the first floor and one up under the eaves on the second floor.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19It also has an adjoining WC.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23This could become the master bedroom and the first floor repartitioned
0:23:23 > 0:23:27so the children all enjoy similar sized sleeping spaces.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32Outside there's a pebbled driveway with parking for several cars and
0:23:32 > 0:23:36well-maintained lawns to the front and rear of the house,
0:23:36 > 0:23:38bordered by drystone walls.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40So outside space.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44They've got kids, obviously, next door have got kids.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46I think actually everyone round here has children.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49Is this going to be enough space for you and the girls?
0:23:49 > 0:23:50This is a perfect size, really.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54It's not unmanageable but it feels like a nice space for the kids to
0:23:54 > 0:23:56enjoy, so, yeah, this would be great.
0:23:56 > 0:23:57Yeah. I love it.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00What do you think this costs, though?
0:24:00 > 0:24:02I think it's quite a bit above our budget.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05- £440,000.- Mm-hm.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10I think it's really good but I don't think you'd do that do us, Alistair.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13I think... Well, I think it'll be the top end of our budget.
0:24:13 > 0:24:18So I'll say £395,000.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21So you think we wouldn't torture you by showing you a property over your
0:24:21 > 0:24:23- budget. You're right!- Oh, good.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27In fact, we've shown you a property considerably under budget.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29This is on at £380,000.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33- Oh, that's good.- No way. That is amazing.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36- You're looking excited. - I am, I'm very excited.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39I love it. I'm just looking at the hills over there as well.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42It's just everything and more probably.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45Why don't you go on inside and when you've finished dreaming,
0:24:45 > 0:24:47- then I'll see you out the front. - Fabulous, thank you.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50Thank you.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55Under budget at £380,000,
0:24:55 > 0:25:00this immaculate barn conversion has four bedrooms and a large
0:25:00 > 0:25:04kitchen-dining room offering Donna free rein for baking.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07There is also a sizeable sitting room, with garden room,
0:25:07 > 0:25:09extension and a double garage.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12I love it. I really love it.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14I can tell you do, yeah. No, and I really like it, too.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18- Yeah.- I could definitely see us here. I really could.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22I think as a family this would be a really nice house.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24I think the kids would really like it here.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27You've got really nice gardens here for them.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29Lots of space for them to play.
0:25:29 > 0:25:30Lots of space inside.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33So, yeah, I think this might work really well.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35I'm really excited about this house,
0:25:35 > 0:25:38I think that's become quite obvious as we were going round and it just
0:25:38 > 0:25:41makes me feel happy when I look around and when I go and look outside the windows
0:25:41 > 0:25:44and seeing all the fells and it's just everything that I've always
0:25:44 > 0:25:46dreamt a farmhouse would be.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50What a day in the Lake District.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53I'm so delighted that they love this property.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56- Are you all finished?- Yes. All done.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58Good. I was just talking about you.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00I hope your ears weren't burning.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04Let's go and retire cos we've got another day of property hunting tomorrow.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06- Fabulous.- OK, thanks.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21We're house-hunting in the Lake District
0:26:21 > 0:26:25with Christian and Donna from Wigan, who have a budget
0:26:25 > 0:26:28of £400,000 to buy a rural home for their family.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31So far I've presented them with two properties.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36Coming up, a Mystery House with surprising sleeping quarters.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39So we were thinking the girls could perhaps, like, have upstairs,
0:26:39 > 0:26:42- downstairs.- Mia would love that.
0:26:42 > 0:26:48And I discover unexpected industrial heritage amid Lakeland beauty.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50Pull that very quickly.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52Then go the other way.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54It's so fast!
0:26:54 > 0:26:58If you imagine, they would be doing it just over and over again.
0:26:58 > 0:27:03Day two of our lovely house-hunt in Cumbria and I have to say that even
0:27:03 > 0:27:06though Donna and Christian were so enthusiastic about the house yesterday
0:27:06 > 0:27:09afternoon, I'm not completely convinced they're sold on it.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12So for the Mystery House we're going to throw everything up in the air
0:27:12 > 0:27:14and we're going to change the parameters -
0:27:14 > 0:27:18we're going to move them from one national park into another.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25Our Mystery House is just over two miles from the town of Sedbergh.
0:27:25 > 0:27:26Though still within Cumbria,
0:27:26 > 0:27:29Sedbergh lies inside the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
0:27:31 > 0:27:36The town has a narrow main shopping street with many independent retailers.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38Sedbergh is also renowned for
0:27:38 > 0:27:42its independent co-educational boarding school, which was founded
0:27:42 > 0:27:44in the 16th century
0:27:44 > 0:27:47and remains a major part of the town's economy today.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51The hills surrounding the town can be seen rising above its buildings
0:27:51 > 0:27:53and it's become a haven for walkers,
0:27:53 > 0:27:55cyclists and lovers of outdoor activity.
0:27:56 > 0:28:02The Mystery House is situated in a private hamlet a ten-minute drive from Sedbergh.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Look at this amazing ancient hedgerow.
0:28:05 > 0:28:06I've brought you down the Dales Way.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09You've got the Howgills in the back, which I believe you know.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12Yes, I've cycled over the Howgills, yeah.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14It's a beautiful spot, cos I'm conscious that
0:28:14 > 0:28:17the last two properties haven't quite hit the nail
0:28:17 > 0:28:20in terms of those amazing views that you wanted,
0:28:20 > 0:28:23and part of that problem is that getting those amazing Lake District views
0:28:23 > 0:28:26inside the Lake District National Park is quite expensive.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30- Sure.- So we've brought you to another national park,
0:28:30 > 0:28:33cos this is actually the very beginning of the Dales National Park,
0:28:33 > 0:28:35though we're still in Cumbria.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38- Oh.- Oh.- And how would you feel if we could find you a house
0:28:38 > 0:28:42in this little cluster of beautiful Dales cottages
0:28:42 > 0:28:44right on the footsteps of all of this?
0:28:44 > 0:28:46I think that would be pretty perfect.
0:28:46 > 0:28:50It would be incredible. Is this still within Donna's commute, though? Because it seems a long way.
0:28:50 > 0:28:52- It's 45 minutes. OK. - Mm, that's doable.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55It's kind of everything you said about just being able to step out
0:28:55 > 0:28:57and go for a run up into the hills.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59- Yeah.- I can't wait to see the house now.
0:28:59 > 0:29:00Yeah, this is exciting.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03- Yeah.- Let's walk down this ancient path and find it.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07'Well, it seems that the location of the Mystery House hasn't put a
0:29:07 > 0:29:11'dampener on our property search, which is somewhat of a relief.'
0:29:12 > 0:29:14The hamlet has about ten properties.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16We're looking at this one straight ahead.
0:29:16 > 0:29:17Oh, that's gorgeous.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20- It's beautiful.- Brilliant time of year to come and see it.
0:29:20 > 0:29:24I know, you've caught it at a good time with the cherry blossom in front of it.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27- Wow.- So all these were built around 1700.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29This was the farmhouse and then all the rest are all kind of just
0:29:29 > 0:29:32buildings around. And this actually was the cow shed,
0:29:32 > 0:29:33- we are going to show you.- OK.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35- It's huge.- It is big.
0:29:35 > 0:29:36- Isn't it?- It is big, yeah.
0:29:36 > 0:29:40We are in a little community and I know you didn't like that in the first house.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42There's a big difference, I think,
0:29:42 > 0:29:43because, you know, not looking over roofs
0:29:43 > 0:29:45and all the houses are really pretty.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48I don't mind being around other houses if I like looking at them.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50- Yeah. Let's look inside. - Thank you.
0:29:51 > 0:29:55Great reactions to the appearance and the location of the Mystery House.
0:29:55 > 0:30:00It was converted in the 1980s to a semidetached property and has since
0:30:00 > 0:30:02been extensively updated and modernised.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06Come on in.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09Straight into the kitchen, through the back door.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12- Yeah, this is really nice so far. - Yeah. Really nicely done.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15- Very tasteful.- Got a tiny sort of little breakfast bar here.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18There's a dining space next door.
0:30:18 > 0:30:22Let me walk you through into the living space.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24What a good size for us all in here.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27- This is a great room, isn't it? - Perfect.- A big L-shaped room.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30When you were describing, like, a family room where everyone can kind of gather...
0:30:30 > 0:30:33We thought this was actually really perfect.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35Could see us all just sitting around here.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37- Definitely.- Now, let's explore upstairs.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39There are four bedrooms in this property
0:30:39 > 0:30:43but you might want to reconfigure them, so let's take a look.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45'Such an encouraging reaction.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48'Also on the ground floor, there's a shower and WC.'
0:30:50 > 0:30:53Arranged around the first-floor landing are four bedrooms,
0:30:53 > 0:30:55as well as a family bathroom.
0:30:55 > 0:31:00Three of the bedrooms are generous doubles, all dual aspect,
0:31:00 > 0:31:03and retaining their character beams.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05The fourth is currently being used as a dressing room.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08Now, I don't want Donna and Christian's girls
0:31:08 > 0:31:11to have to draw straws for the larger bedrooms,
0:31:11 > 0:31:13so I might just have a solution.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Come on through here. This bedroom is being used
0:31:16 > 0:31:18as a sort of guest suite, I think.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20Because upstairs,
0:31:20 > 0:31:23there is exactly the same space again up in the eaves.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27- Right.- So we were thinking if you didn't want a really tiny single room,
0:31:27 > 0:31:31the girls could perhaps have upstairs, downstairs.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34- Mia would love that.- OK. - Love her own floor.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36- I think so.- Yeah.
0:31:36 > 0:31:37I'll let you explore a bit later.
0:31:37 > 0:31:42- But let's go outside and look at the garden, because that's a little bit complicated.- OK.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45OK.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47With its former life as a cow shed
0:31:47 > 0:31:50and its position among the surrounding farm buildings,
0:31:50 > 0:31:52there isn't much in the way of a garden.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55A tidy lawn wraps around the front of the property
0:31:55 > 0:31:57and is bordered by a low stone wall.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01However, yet again, I have more to reveal.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03This is a bit unusual
0:32:03 > 0:32:04but I think quite charming.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07You see, that's your house there.
0:32:07 > 0:32:13And all of this land is shared communal ground for the five houses on this side of the hamlet.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16What do you think about having a communal garden?
0:32:16 > 0:32:18Yeah, I think it would work quite well, to be fair.
0:32:18 > 0:32:19Yeah, I think it would work well.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22There would be times when you'd want a bit of privacy
0:32:22 > 0:32:25but then you've got the little wraparound garden as well.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27So, yeah, this might work.
0:32:27 > 0:32:29OK, so what about the price?
0:32:29 > 0:32:33I'm thinking because we are out of the Lake District,
0:32:33 > 0:32:35probably get a little bit more for our money.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37I'm thinking...
0:32:37 > 0:32:38385.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40£385,000?
0:32:40 > 0:32:44It's semidetached, but it is really nice, so maybe 390?
0:32:44 > 0:32:47OK. So, you're getting much better at guessing the prices.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50- Are we? Good. - It's actually on at 395.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53- Oh, OK.- Not far off.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56So it's a different offering for the Mystery House.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58- Great.- You go in and have an explore.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01- I'll come and find you when you're done.- Fabulous.- Thank you.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06£5,000 under budget,
0:33:06 > 0:33:10our mystery conversion is set in a private hamlet.
0:33:10 > 0:33:12It has a kitchen with a breakfast bar.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15And a separate dining and sitting room.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18There are four bedrooms, one in the eaves of the roof.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20There is also a communal garden.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23So you'd probably have this as our bedroom, wouldn't you?
0:33:23 > 0:33:25Yeah, we'd get our stuff in here, definitely.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28Yeah. And what is currently the walk-in wardrobe could be
0:33:28 > 0:33:30a little study as well. So you've got that space.
0:33:30 > 0:33:34You could do your writing, get my homework out of the way.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37- There is plenty enough room upstairs really.- Yeah, I think there is.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39I think now, having seen the Mystery House,
0:33:39 > 0:33:44it has put the cat among the pigeons really in that I do really like this house.
0:33:44 > 0:33:48I thought yesterday's one was perfect but I think this is more
0:33:48 > 0:33:51- perfect.- This is perfecter!
0:33:51 > 0:33:52- Perfectest.- To be honest,
0:33:52 > 0:33:56we have seen two properties that we'd be very happy in.
0:33:56 > 0:34:04And it's cemented this idea that the move up to this area is just going to be amazing.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06It really is such a peaceful and beautiful spot.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08I kind of hope that they go for it.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11I'm never quite sure what they're thinking.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13Hi!
0:34:13 > 0:34:15- Time to leave, I'm afraid. - Do we have to go?
0:34:16 > 0:34:19It's nice that you're in love with it.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21- Lovely.- But let's go and find somewhere to have a cup of tea
0:34:21 > 0:34:24- and talk over all the properties. - OK.- OK. Thank you.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34Although the Lake District is now firmly set in Cumbria,
0:34:34 > 0:34:38parts spilled into Lancashire at times when the cotton industry
0:34:38 > 0:34:40predominated. In 1860,
0:34:40 > 0:34:44Lancashire's mills produced half of all the world's cotton.
0:34:46 > 0:34:50I've come to Stott Park Bobbin Mill close to Windermere,
0:34:50 > 0:34:55to meet manager Mick Callaghan to find out more about this area's unsung industrial heritage.
0:34:59 > 0:35:03Mick, I'm hoping you're going to enlighten me about the importance of bobbins.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07Well, I think you'll recognise the little one for the cotton industry.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09My mum used to have cotton on things like that.
0:35:09 > 0:35:12They also used to make the larger three-piece bobbins.
0:35:12 > 0:35:13So, who were they making them for?
0:35:13 > 0:35:16They were making them to go on the spinning mules.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19You'd have millions and millions of them.
0:35:19 > 0:35:24Bobbins were used both in the manufacture of cotton and to sell the finished product.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26What period are we talking about?
0:35:26 > 0:35:28The Industrial Revolution around 18...?
0:35:28 > 0:35:301830s, 1835.
0:35:30 > 0:35:34This was the first purpose-built bobbin mill, was built in this area.
0:35:34 > 0:35:38There was over 65 bobbin mills in this area.
0:35:38 > 0:35:40And what was specific about the Lake District?
0:35:40 > 0:35:42- Why were they made here? - Two natural resources.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46Water for the power and the timber for the product.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49In the early days, you had a water wheel or a water turbine.
0:35:49 > 0:35:53Later on, the steam came and then you had electricity later on in 1941.
0:35:55 > 0:36:00Stott Park was closed in 1971 when plastic became cheaper to produce.
0:36:00 > 0:36:04Remarkably, much of its original equipment remained intact
0:36:04 > 0:36:07and the mill was preserved as a working museum.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10This is like a Heath Robinson machine here.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14It is. It was all powered with the line shafting that runs down the
0:36:14 > 0:36:19centre, the pulleys and leather belts that came to the machinery.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23The steam engine that took over from water power in 1880 and which once
0:36:23 > 0:36:26drove the production lines is still operational.
0:36:26 > 0:36:27So, how did it work?
0:36:27 > 0:36:30- What was the process? - Before you got to this point,
0:36:30 > 0:36:33you'd have had the wood cut on the saws through there.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36And then the borer would have drilled the hole through.
0:36:36 > 0:36:40So on here, we would rough it from that block to that and the men
0:36:40 > 0:36:43would finish them off to a bobbin like that.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46I'll just go round and set the machine going.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49Today, Mick is powering the line shaft with an electric motor first
0:36:49 > 0:36:51installed in the 1940s.
0:36:52 > 0:36:57But the process of bobbin-making remained largely manual.
0:36:57 > 0:36:58How fast is it turning?
0:36:58 > 0:37:01That's nearly 5,000 revolutions a minute.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06An operator would place the prepared offcut of wood into a lathe and two
0:37:06 > 0:37:10specialised blades would rapidly remove the bark
0:37:10 > 0:37:12and give the bobbin its rough initial shape.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14It's so fast.
0:37:14 > 0:37:18Can you imagine how quickly they'd be doing it, just over and over again?
0:37:18 > 0:37:20How many did they make in a day?
0:37:20 > 0:37:231,000, 1,500, 2,000.
0:37:23 > 0:37:25- Do you want to have a go? - Yeah, yeah.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29So if you hold that there, put it on this end.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32Put your hand up on that one, then push that...
0:37:32 > 0:37:34That's it. Pull that in.
0:37:34 > 0:37:38That's it. And slowly push it the opposite way.
0:37:38 > 0:37:39That's it.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42And then just a little waggle of this...
0:37:42 > 0:37:43There we go.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47That's great. My first bobbin.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50Compared to some mills, Stott Park was small,
0:37:50 > 0:37:56with 250 men and boys as young as seven producing a quarter of a million bobbins a week.
0:37:56 > 0:38:00They worked arduous 12-hour shifts, amongst machinery where
0:38:00 > 0:38:04the slightest mistake could lead to a life-changing injury.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07The final shape came from a finishing lathe.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10This time we're bringing those cutters in with that handle.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13Push that this way. That's it.
0:38:13 > 0:38:14Then you wind that in.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17That's it. Just wind it in, nice and smoothly.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20That's it. Keep going right to the end.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23And then the opposite way. And just round off the corners.
0:38:27 > 0:38:32- There we go. There's your bobbin. - Mine to keep.- That's yours to keep.
0:38:33 > 0:38:40In its heyday, Stott Park Mill made over 260 different styles and sizes of bobbin.
0:38:42 > 0:38:44Like a bobbin gallery.
0:38:44 > 0:38:46There's a wide variety of bobbins in here
0:38:46 > 0:38:50from the large three-piece bobbins down to the small one-piece bobbins,
0:38:50 > 0:38:53right down to the little ones that you recognise as cotton ones.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57Sewing machines. And so these would have ended up across into Lancashire
0:38:57 > 0:38:59and Yorkshire in the cotton mills.
0:38:59 > 0:39:02That's right. All the industrial mills in the north,
0:39:02 > 0:39:05you've got mainly the large three-piece bobbins in the mills.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09And on one spinning mule, you may have 1,000 spindles.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12We do have records of them going to Bangkok and Melbourne,
0:39:12 > 0:39:14just from this mill.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16- Melbourne!- Yes.- Amazing.
0:39:16 > 0:39:17Right round the world.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19And what happens to the bobbins at the end of their lives?
0:39:19 > 0:39:21Were they recycled or were they...?
0:39:21 > 0:39:25No, a lot of them, if you imagine when you had them at home,
0:39:25 > 0:39:26once you'd finished with that cotton,
0:39:26 > 0:39:30you either made toys out of them or threw them on the open fire.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33Actually, some parts of the country, bobbins means rubbish.
0:39:33 > 0:39:34"It's bobbins" - it's rubbish.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37Throw it away. That's where it came from.
0:39:37 > 0:39:39Well, I'm going to treasure mine.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41I'm not going to throw mine on the furnace.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43And it is amazing how history is often made by these tiny objects.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46- Thanks for your time today. - You're welcome.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56I'm sure it's because they are a librarian and a headmistress
0:39:56 > 0:40:00but there's something about the very friendly and positive demeanour
0:40:00 > 0:40:03of both Christian and Donna that makes it quite hard to gauge whether
0:40:03 > 0:40:07they really, really love something or they're just being nice.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10So I'll be quite interested to see what their final thoughts on our houses are.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20Well, here we are at the end of our week in Cumbria.
0:40:20 > 0:40:24I am very intrigued, though, to know what your real thoughts are about the houses.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27I think, for me, I still really like house number two.
0:40:27 > 0:40:29I like the location, the fact that the children
0:40:29 > 0:40:33could still go to the school that we thought they were going to anyway.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37So I definitely want to go back and take the children to see that one.
0:40:37 > 0:40:42But then of course the Mystery House today has thrown things into the mix again, hasn't it?
0:40:42 > 0:40:43The Mystery House was awesome.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46Tell me what happens next. What is the very next step?
0:40:46 > 0:40:51I think for me it is definitely going back to see the second house and the Mystery House
0:40:51 > 0:40:54and to take the children back to see those as well
0:40:54 > 0:40:58so that we can decide, as a family, where we would like to live.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01But I think it's definitely worth taking them to see both, don't you?
0:41:01 > 0:41:03Yeah, we are keen on both of those.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06But also, you know, we need to do a bit of research.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09If those two don't work out, I think at least it has given us
0:41:09 > 0:41:13this idea now that we can widen our search radius a little more.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15We can look a bit further towards the Dales
0:41:15 > 0:41:17because the Dales are amazing, aren't they?
0:41:17 > 0:41:19It seems like the Mystery House really did sort of upset the
0:41:19 > 0:41:21apple cart, which is exactly what it is designed to do.
0:41:21 > 0:41:25Because you were quite focused even down to the school that the girls were going to go to.
0:41:25 > 0:41:29Do you think the prices of the properties in the Lake District
0:41:29 > 0:41:32will end up having an impact on whether you can afford to live
0:41:32 > 0:41:35in the house that you want and get the views that you want there?
0:41:35 > 0:41:38I think it's confirmed what we already expected,
0:41:38 > 0:41:44that prices are more expensive in this area and that spreads not just
0:41:44 > 0:41:46from the Lake District but all across Cumbria, really,
0:41:46 > 0:41:49including the Dales area that we saw.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51So we are aware that it's probably going to mean that we are glad
0:41:51 > 0:41:55to spend a little more money than we originally anticipated.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58So it's not really a question of if you move, but when you move.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01And we really hope that you consider one of our houses.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04But however it happens, I wish you all the best.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06Thank you. It's been a really, really good experience.
0:42:06 > 0:42:08I think we've both really enjoyed it.
0:42:08 > 0:42:11- We have. And thanks for your help. - Thank you.
0:42:15 > 0:42:16It only seems right and proper
0:42:16 > 0:42:19that we should end this show next to Lake Windermere,
0:42:19 > 0:42:21even though it seems that Donna and Christian,
0:42:21 > 0:42:23particularly if they go for our Mystery House,
0:42:23 > 0:42:26may not be living in the Lake District after all,
0:42:26 > 0:42:27but actually in the Dales.
0:42:27 > 0:42:31Still, they're both national parks and they are both beautiful.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33So, make sure you join us next time
0:42:33 > 0:42:36for more beautiful adventures on Escape to the Country.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42Donna has started her new job and she and Christian have moved to the
0:42:42 > 0:42:45Lake District. However, their house in Wigan has yet to sell,
0:42:45 > 0:42:47so they are currently renting.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49Once the sale is complete,
0:42:49 > 0:42:51they still hope to pursue house number two.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56If you'd like to escape to the country in England, Scotland,
0:42:56 > 0:42:59Wales or Northern Ireland, and would like our help,
0:42:59 > 0:43:04you can apply online at...