Wiltshire Escape to the Country

This magnificent building was once not only topped by the tallest spire

in the whole of the United Kingdom,

but also lays claim to be final resting place

for the first-ever king of all England.

I'll reveal who that was and where I am in just a few moments' time.

Today I'm with a couple who live in suburbia

but have their sights set on community life in a village.

However, the prospect of living in a country home

takes time to adjust to.

Diane, talk to me.

I'm not feeling it, I'm afraid. Yeah.

So will our properties persuade them to make their move?

The feeling's here, so at the moment it's looking promising.

Wonderful, and may it continue!

Today I'm in Wiltshire at Malmesbury Abbey.

Founded in the 7th century,

it once had a spire that reached nearly 30 feet higher

than Salisbury Cathedral.

King Athelstan, grandson of Alfred the Great,

is thought to be buried right here.

Crowned at the age of 30, he defeated the Vikings at York,

uniting the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms,

and became the first king of all England.

He died after just 14 years on the throne,

and it's not known exactly where he's buried,

but inside the Abbey is a 15th-century tomb commemorating his

place in this county's history.

Landlocked Wiltshire lies in the south-west of England, and is home

to three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

A recurring sight on the landscape here are the white horses,

etched into its rolling chalk hills.

Eight horses are still visible today.

The oldest is at Westbury and was carved in 1778,

although it's believed that an earlier one

was created back in Saxon times.

Set within the Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty lies the

market town of Marlborough.

In the famous college grounds lies a mysterious mound, which laid claim

to being the burial site of legendary wizard Merlin.

In recent times, though, it's been proven to have prehistoric origins.

Also within the Downs on the Kennet and Avon Canal is Pewsey.

A focal point of the village centre is a statue of Alfred the Great,

the 9th-century king of Wessex,

and it's also home to several timber-framed Tudor buildings.

So, as a county of beautiful landscapes and legends,

Wiltshire is a welcome escape from the pressures of city life.

Wiltshire's countryside and good transport links mean

it's an expensive place to move to.

The average price of a detached home here is nearly £400,000.

Now, that's £64,000 above the national figure.

Market towns, such as Marlborough in the north and around Salisbury in

the south, tend to command a premium,

so you may get more for your money towards the centre of the county.

What you definitely can get is a slice of rural life

with a real community spirit,

which I think will appeal to today's buyers.

Chris and Diane used to work as managers

at London's Heathrow Airport,

and that's where their romance began over 40 years ago.

We both worked at Heathrow for most of our lives,

and we met in the old British Airports Authority social club.

I looked at him, he had his Dr Marten boots on,

and he looked like Fonzie out of Happy Days,

but still very attractive!

Marriage and children soon followed.

We've got twin boys, 33 years old.

One's married with two children,

so we've got a grandson and a granddaughter,

and now they've realised, and we realise, it's time that we now

spread our wings and start enjoying life for ourselves,

because we've done so much for the boys.

Both Chris and Diane seem to agree on the secret to

their long-lasting happiness.

Diana and I are quite similar in our tastes,

-but I think it's tolerance and forgiving.

-Friendship...

-And friendship.

-Yeah.

Being friends, as well, I think is a big part of...

-Yeah, and having a good laugh together.

-..being together.

-Yeah, we laugh at each other as well.

-Yeah, we can.

They currently live in West Drayton,

a suburb of west London close to Heathrow.

West Drayton, when I was a lad,

was almost village-like, and it had a real community feel to it.

The pace of life is a lot faster round here now,

whereas it was sort of laid-back and people had time for each other,

they haven't got any time now.

They're all, sort of, like, darting off in different directions

to get where they want to go.

There isn't a community, and it'd be nice to be able to go

into a post office or a shop or a pub and people say,

"Hello, Chris and Diane," you know, people know us,

so you have that sense of belonging.

Chris and Diane have ridden the length and breadth of the UK

on their beloved motorbikes.

When it came to deciding where to move, one county stood out.

Wiltshire, we'd been through quite a few times on our motorcycle,

through different towns or villages within Wiltshire, and the more we've

seen of it, the more we like.

They won't be making the move alone.

Their Chow Chow Simba will be joining them,

and the rural surroundings are going to make life a lot easier for both

dog and owners.

The one thing I'm looking forward to is being able to walk outside your

door, and then walk not too far, and enjoy the dog's company more,

because, at the moment, when we take him over to the park,

we have to get in a car before we get anywhere that we can actually

walk the dog.

They're both looking forward to having a country home that will

welcome family and grandchildren, and where they can open their doors

to fresh air and a new beginning.

I want to be able to stand out on a patio or decking,

and just take in deep lungfuls of air

and just feel like I'm, you know, in heaven.

I think it's going to be great.

Diana and Chris have been entranced by the whole of Wiltshire on their

motorbike tours,

and while they don't want to be too far from a local community,

they're open to exploring all the county has to offer.

But they do have specific property requirements,

so I'm meeting up with them,

determined that the weather won't dampen their spirits.

I didn't plan this weather.

The memo went out that we were going to have sunshine,

but we are smiling.

It's not going to put us off.

-No, it's not. No.

-No, definitely not.

-Good.

What are we looking for with our new house?

-We're looking for...

-Very similar.

-Detached.

-Yep.

Not too old.

If it is old, we want it to have been modernised.

-A modernised one?

-Yeah.

What's the layout? What does it look like in your minds?

Are we looking at open-plan...?

-No.

-Big tall ceilings? Are looking for intimate...?

Look at you, I can see out the corner of my eye, "No."

"No, Nicki, no open-plan!"

No.

-Not open-plan.

-We'd like a large lounge...

-Definitely, yeah.

-..so we can have people round and entertain.

-Maybe a kitchen-diner, something like that.

-Yeah?

-Yes.

-How many bedrooms are you after?

-Three.

-Three. Three, maybe more.

Three, so we can have grandchildren over.

-But definitely three, the least.

-Yes.

A little bit of land? You know, we've got the wonderful

-Simba that's going to be making the move.

-Yes, definitely.

-Yes.

So, are there any architectural styles that you, sort of,

gravitate to or perhaps you don't?

-There are ones that we don't want...

-No, no.

-Go on, then.

-..and that's thatched cottages...

-OK.

-Yes, definitely.

..and barn conversions, because they're open-plan

and I don't like open-plan.

Because you're used to living in a bustling, sort of, busy area,

ideally you're not going to want to be too rural?

-No.

-No, we don't want to be isolated.

-No.

-We want to be part of a community.

-Definitely.

Let's remind ourselves of how much we've got to spend with

this important move.

-Our maximum budget is 650,000.

-650.

-OK, OK.

-Yes.

Well, it's a new life. You've recently retired.

-You've got your dog.

-Yes.

-You want to live in the countryside.

We do have some rather wonderful gems

-to explore with you.

-Excellent.

-Brilliant.

-Fantastic.

-Shall we get started?

-Yes, certainly!

-Yes, thank you.

With a maximum budget of £650,000,

Diane and Chris would like a detached modern property

with three bedrooms for visiting family.

They want to be close to a village with a thriving community.

They're also after a spacious, dog-friendly garden

and somewhere to house the motorbikes.

I'll be showing them a rich mix of country homes,

and after each of our tours, I'll be asking them to hazard a guess

at the price tag.

Finally will be the Mystery House,

which introduces an unexpected element.

Time to take to the road.

So, now you've both retired,

are you looking to take up new hobbies or sports?

I would like to try out things that I've never done before,

like archery, erm, clay pigeon shooting,

all sort of countrified pursuits.

-Ooh.

-I'd like horse riding,

-but my husband don't like horses, unfortunately.

-No, horses scare me.

I think they're beautiful creatures but they scare me!

Perhaps we could help you with some of that...

-That would be nice, yes.

-That'd be great.

-..over the next few days.

-That'd be great.

-Good.

In a bid to set Chris and Diane at the heart of a community,

we're starting our search in the village of Downton,

in the south of the county,

which is home to a busy pub and a wealth of local amenities.

The village is known for the Moot,

remnants of a 12th-century earthworks castle

which was converted into a garden in the early 1700s.

The Grade I listed Moot House is an impressive residence dating back to

the late 17th century.

The property we've come to see is on the village high street.

Now, you didn't want to be too far from the community, and the reason

we've picked this house is we are indeed at the heart of the village.

-OK.

-Here's our first property. It dates back to the 1900s.

Quite unusual for a high street.

We've got a garage to the side.

-OK.

-Shall we step in and see what you think?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-OK, yeah.

-Yeah, please.

-So, let's start off with the sitting room.

-Oh.

I like the size of it.

-Yeah?

-It's good, yeah.

A neutral palette, I think it'd be fair to say.

-Yes, yeah. I think so, yeah.

-Yes. Definitely, yes.

I like the fireplace - that's nice to have.

I think this house is quite deceiving -

-that's what I'm going to throw out there as we start the tour.

-OK.

Yeah, cos I wasn't expecting the first room to be this large.

-Yeah.

-No, I wasn't.

And it's not open-plan.

-No.

-No, a bonus for Chris.

-A big tick in the box!

And then just across the hallway, you've got a separate dining area.

Oh, that's great, cos that's what we're used to.

OK, right, let's see a little bit more.

OK.

Walking through, got a great study there,

that leads you to...

Is this the most important room in the house?

-It looks very impressive, very modern.

-Wonderful.

-It looks very family-orientated, this room.

-Yeah.

-It's great.

Now, tiled, for ease with Simba the dog.

-Yeah.

-Yes.

-That's good.

-Access to outside.

You also have a pantry to our left, and then through the door,

that leads through back access to the garage.

Oh, lovely.

I think storage is the name of the game with this house.

-Yeah, that's great.

-Yes, yes.

So far, what's your initial reaction with this property?

It's not a no at the moment.

No.

-Was that from both of you?

-Yeah, I think so, yeah.

Yeah, I'd concur with that, definitely.

All right, let's head upstairs.

Initial reactions to this property are mixed,

but we'll press on to explore the sleeping accommodation,

which is laid out over two storeys.

On the first floor are three bedrooms -

one with a period fireplace, along with a separate bathroom,

so perfect for visiting family.

At the top of the house is a spacious landing,

which leads to the largest bedroom.

This is beautiful. Yeah, I like this.

It is lovely, but I think it'd be a bit too much for Chris.

-Yeah, a few too many stairs.

-Yeah.

-Because you're currently living in a bungalow, aren't you?

-Bungalow, yeah.

I think three is a bit too many.

-Yeah.

-Although, ideal for the grandchildren

or guests that we've got coming?

-Yeah.

-But then next to me is a massive dressing room...

-Wow.

-With an en-suite.

So if you did decide that you wanted one of your boys,

when they come with their family, to live up here, wonderful,

because downstairs you've got three really good-sized double bedrooms,

plus a family bathroom, so four in total.

So you don't have to do those stairs every day.

-That's good.

-Fantastic, yeah, that's good.

Do you think the grandchildren would like this house?

-Oh, they'd love it.

-They'd love it.

One final thing to show you, which is the outside space, the garden.

-Yeah, right.

-So, Chris, if you wouldn't mind leading the way?

-Certainly, yes.

-OK, let's head outside.

Having covered the inside, it's time to take a view

on whether the layout and size outside is on the money.

Let's see what you think of the garden.

A laid patio here, so it makes it quite low-maintenance for you,

and then you've got a little bit of a garden there.

-Yeah, that's nice.

-Uh-huh.

And although we are, as I keep saying,

in the heart of the village, it's very private, isn't it?

-Yeah, it is - it's nice.

-Yes.

-I like that.

-Similar to ours at home.

-What price do we think it's on the market for?

-Oh.

I think I would have a guess about 65.

So, £650,000?

-Yes.

-OK. Chris?

I think it's going to be over budget.

I think 675.

Diane, you are spot-on.

-Oh!

-It's on the market for £650,000,

so we've taken you to the top of your budget, but not over.

-That's a pleasant surprise, yeah, definitely.

-It is.

So, now you know that,

do you want to have another look around the property,

on your own this time?

-Yes.

-Yeah, I think so.

-Yeah, that'd be nice.

-Yes.

Have another look around, and give me a shout when you're ready.

-We will do. Thank you, Nicki.

-Lovely. Thank you, Nicki.

On budget at £650,000,

our first property puts them at the centre of a community, as requested.

Four bedrooms provide space for the family,

and there are two separate reception rooms.

There's also a kitchen-diner and a secluded garden.

This must be the garage.

Oh, yeah, this is good. Yeah, I like this.

-Plenty of room for the bikes.

-Nice size.

It's a shame there isn't room for a car and the bikes, though.

The house itself, if it was in a different location,

I would really, really consider on putting an offer,

but at the moment I'm a bit disappointed with it

being so close to the road.

The community, the village, is ideal.

Beautiful village, perfect location.

The house looks great,

but unfortunately sitting on the main road with no front garden isn't

ideal, and also being in three floors again isn't ideal,

coming from a bungalow.

How are we both feeling?

Yes, thank you, Nicki. The village is lovely.

Um, the property, I think, we need to go and think about a bit more.

-Yeah, definitely.

-Fair enough?

-Only our first.

-Yes.

-Got more to show you.

-Yeah, great, fantastic.

-Good.

Wiltshire's broad valleys and undulating downland is sought-after

terrain that's highly prized by

those who enjoy outdoor sporting life.

Diane is considering taking up clay pigeon shooting when she moves to

the country, so we've sent her and Chris to try their hand at this

popular activity. Instructor Pete Johnson is meeting them here at

Lucknam Park, set in 500 acres of listed parkland

near the village of Kington St Michael.

Pete, are you a local guy?

Yeah, I grew up in a small village called Sutton Benger, just about ten

miles away, and I now live in an even smaller village, Lacock.

Can you tell us a bit about your background,

and how long you've been shooting?

Yeah, I left school when I was about 16 and started as a gamekeeper,

a local gamekeeper, and then moved on into working at shooting school,

and I've probably been shooting now and teaching for the past 30 years.

So if me and Diane wanted to get into the sport,

are there many clubs we could get involved with?

Yeah, I mean, in this area alone, within about ten miles I can think

of at least five clubs, small clubs,

and then the next step up is actual shooting schools, shooting grounds.

There's probably about four or five of those a little bit further afield.

-And is it a family affair?

-Yeah...

Can family come along, or is there a restriction on ages?

No, there's no restrictions, really. It's down to the individual parents.

We do recommend ten years old.

I get families coming to shoot as well as the serious shooters.

-Oh, fantastic.

-That's great.

Clay pigeon shooting emerged in the late 19th century as a way for

Victorian hunters to practise for live shoots.

Although competition shooting in Britain using live birds was banned

in 1921, clay targets became popular in their own right,

and a new sport was born.

Before they get started, a few pointers from Pete -

firstly, on stance.

Everything comes from your feet in shooting.

As a right-handed person, your left foot is your front foot,

and your right foot bears out to the side of your body.

-Then there's safety...

-First of all you check the gun is empty and clear before we start to

shoot. OK, and then when you close the shotgun up, you close it toward

-the ground in front of you.

-And lastly, handling the gun...

So you have your cheek up forward and alongside the stock,

not hunched up at the back,

and definitely not over the top of the gun.

After putting on the all-important eye and ear protection,

it's time to see whether our novice couple are high-flyers at mastering

this country pursuit.

OK, Diane, our target we're

going to be shooting today is there, what we call a low incomer,

and the optimum point to shoot the clay is obviously as close as it

can, and to shoot it at the top of its flight line,

before it starts to drop.

Clay targets can mimic the speed and flight of different birds,

so the target is constantly unpredictable.

So the gun's on top of the tree line.

When the clay comes in in a moment, Diane,

we'll just move the gun together, slowly, up to the clay,

and take the shot when you think you're in the right place.

OK, here comes the clay.

-Left eye closed. There.

-GUNSHOT

-That's it. Well done - you hit it.

-Wow, brilliant!

OK, next shot. Start below it and move up.

-Slowly.

-GUNSHOT

-There. Well done. Two out of two. High five!

-Thank you.

-That was brilliant.

-Can Chris compete with Diane's keen eye?

OK, so in go the cartridges, close the gun towards the ground.

OK, cheek forward, finger off the trigger, safety forward,

and finger on the trigger. OK, here comes the clay.

-GUNSHOT

-A little bit low, Chris.

-Yeah.

-Yeah. Nice and steady.

GUNSHOT

Great. Good shot.

Down to your hip, and tip it... That's it. And top lever across,

and open up.

-In the bucket. High five, Chris!

-Thank you very much.

-LAUGHTER

-How did you enjoy that?

-Yeah, it was fantastic. Thank you very much, Pete.

-Great.

You've done very well, and you both got to hit a few clays.

-Chris, I hope to see you at my next clay shoot...

-Yeah, you will.

-..and you, Diane, you're welcome as well.

-Thank you very much.

-And good luck in your house-hunting.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-Cheers, bye.

-Bye.

-Bye.

Well, Diane and Chris were right on target.

Fingers crossed our property search can hit the sweet spot.

Next, we're travelling over the county border into Hampshire,

towards the village of West Tytherley.

The village pub, The Black Horse,

can trace its origins back to being a 17th-century coaching inn.

Traditional timber-framed cottages line the lanes,

and the local shop is a useful amenity.

Though more rural than our first property,

this one has an attractive setting and kerb appeal.

So let's take a look at our next property.

-Yeah, it looks nice, first impression.

-Pretty, very pretty.

What is it that catches your eye about this house?

Is it characterful, does it look welcoming?

I like the character. I like the styling.

I like the roof and the porch, and the black oak beams,

a lot of pitches.

-It is an old property...

-Yeah.

-..with a modern and contemporary feel inside.

-Oh, that sounds good.

-That's what we wanted.

-It sounds good.

-Yeah.

-Good, excellent.

-Right, let's see how we get on.

-OK.

The house dates from the Victorian era and was once owned by the son of

the inventor of the Singer sewing machine -

evidence of which is still proudly on display.

The kitchen is our first port of call,

which I hope they'll be impressed by.

Right, well, I think we'll start off with the kitchen.

-Oh, this is nice.

-It's nice.

-Very nice.

-Very modern, very nice.

You've got a nice big range here,

and as you can see it's been completely redone.

This part of the house has been, it looks like, extended out.

But if this is to your taste - and is it?

-I wouldn't change it.

-You wouldn't have to change, would you?

-No.

-No.

-We wouldn't have to change.

To the right, you have a utility room, which is a good size...

-Oh, that's good.

-..and also a downstairs cloakroom.

-All in one.

-Fantastic.

-Yeah.

I mean, it's well fitted, this kitchen.

What is it that appeals to you?

I like the idea that you've got a centre aisle,

and then, if you're entertaining, if you're cooking and you're busy,

you've got a place for someone to actually sit down.

-And you can have a chat while you're actually doing that.

-Yeah.

Aww, what a great start to the tour.

-Superb, yes.

-I hope it continues.

-Yes.

Across the hallway, there's a separate dining room,

sitting room and a more recent extension used as a study.

All these reception rooms have been styled sympathetically by the

current owners. I would hope that the character and clean lines hit

the mark.

I like the beams.

-It's fantastic.

-So you've got your wood burner - tick.

-Yes.

-The view is from the front rather than from the back,

and then you've got a second sitting room next door,

which they currently use as a study.

-OK.

-All right, OK.

-Diane, talk to me.

I'm not feeling it, I'm afraid.

I like the decor, I like the colouring.

I think it's on the small side.

I mean, this is a beautiful house, but I'm not getting that feeling.

Well, let's see. I'm not going to give up.

No, please don't.

Let's see if upstairs might sway you.

-OK.

-Thank you.

Hopefully, Diane's doubt will be cast aside

when she sees the three bedrooms upstairs.

A bright bedroom, family bathroom,

and a separate shower room lie to the left,

while turning right takes us past the second light airy bedroom

to the master next door.

Again, I think this house is quite roomy as far as properties go.

Nice decor again.

They've done it very tastefully.

Just through that door they've actually converted that space, attic space,

into a walk-in wardrobe.

Wow, brilliant - that's good.

Now, Diane, feelings?

It doesn't feel like home.

Right, just not doing it for you.

-No.

-I'm going to throw this one into the mix.

Do you think you're ready to leave your current home?

Yes, definitely.

-Oh, well, that's good.

-Definitely, but I think, maybe...

Phew!

Not as much as me!

Maybe I'm looking at the wrong sort of location.

Literally on the town, but just on the outskirts.

-Right on the edge?

-Yeah.

That urban life, is it slightly calling?

-I think so.

-I'm not one to give up.

And I know you want to see outside.

Let's head back downstairs, thank you.

After you, Chris.

Perhaps the dog-friendly low-maintenance garden

will help Diane warm to this beautiful property,

but I'm not holding my breath.

See, I like the fact that I can give you an ample sized front garden,

because we didn't on the first property.

-No, we didn't.

-You have this gravel driveway, at the moment,

so you can get at least two or three cars in here,

but you also have this part, as well,

which is the additional garden.

So, Chris, I'm going to start with you.

We need to put a value on our home here.

-What are we thinking?

-I'm thinking, perhaps hoping,

that it'd be our budget, top end of our budget.

650, I think.

OK. Diane?

I would say it's slightly over - 66.

OK, £660,000?

-And you said 650.

-Yeah.

Absolutely right, Chris.

Asking price is £650,000.

-OK.

-I wonder if we're getting close to what it is you asked for,

but, in actual fact, we're pushing you in another direction.

Hold that thought! The two of you,

why don't you have another look together?

-Lovely, thank you.

-Find me when you're ready. Thank you.

It's an interesting one, isn't it?

And I think Diane is being very honest.

It's one thing sitting at home, dreaming of this country idyll,

living out here surrounded by trees, lovely village,

everything you think you want -

and then when you get close to actually having it,

the doubts start to appear.

She doesn't look that comfortable, does she?

We'll just have to see how we get on.

That said, this detached Victorian property is on budget,

and has been tastefully modernised to a very high spec.

It has the three bedrooms they're after,

and is close to a few village amenities.

The proportions of the rooms are generally good.

The bedroom sizes, although slightly small, we could make work.

The kitchen is absolutely wonderful - good size, very modern,

nice looking kitchen.

I could see myself living in this house.

I'm feeling that it's not really for me.

I'm a townie at heart and I believe that I should be looking

on the outskirts of a town,

rather than in a little community of a village.

Now, I'm not sure whether we've secured a house sale today,

but I do think we're helping you focus your mind, especially for you,

Diane, on what it is you want and what you don't want

from this next property. Yeah?

-Yes.

-Who knows? Hey, tomorrow it's the Mystery House.

We might even hit the jackpot.

Let's hope so.

I'm property shopping in the Wiltshire countryside

with Chris and Diane from the suburbs of West London.

For their £650,000 budget

they think they're looking to live in a village community

However, the realities of rural life

are starting to come into focus for Diane.

Still to come - our Mystery House may change her mind.

-Ideal size.

-Yeah!

Win, win!

And I volunteer at a conservation scheme

for one of Wiltshire's most endangered birds.

Well, I want to see this tree-lined superhighway for them.

-Something I could help you with?

-Absolutely.

You've only got to the top of the hill to do, though - you'll be fine.

It's the second day of our house hunt with Chris and Diane,

and I think we may be getting a little closer

to the kind of location that they can both agree on.

But, here's the rub.

It's the Mystery House,

and a property style they both may have reservations about

from the very beginning.

The Mystery House is located in Cherhill,

ten miles west of Marlborough.

Cherhill has a population of around 700,

and some of the village's thatched cottages date from the 14th century.

As well as the Church of St James,

the pub and village hall also offer opportunities for becoming involved

with the local community.

The bridle paths leading to the nearby downs

are perfect dog walking territory.

Well, we've certainly driven around this county, haven't we?

We have, yeah.

For our final offering we've brought you to the village of Cherhill.

An unusual name - well, Cher-Hill,

but "Cherill" is how the locals pronounce it.

Your Mystery House is within this village.

It has a beautiful rural setting,

however, the location is I think something that might appeal to you,

because we're only about 15 minutes from Marlborough here,

and about ten minutes from Avebury,

so, although you've got a pub and the facilities of a village

right on your doorstep,

you've got everything that you could possibly need.

-Fingers crossed.

-That sounds good.

-Yeah, brilliant.

-That's promising.

-A lot of people know this village, actually,

because it has one of the famous white horses,

the Cherhill, Wiltshire, white horse.

It dates back to about 1780,

so no-one's going to forget where you might be living.

No, they won't, will they?

Let's go and take a look.

This is our Mystery House.

Interesting.

I want you to tell me what is going through your mind, Chris,

-with this one.

-Well, it's the wood.

Yeah. The weather boarding?

Yeah, the weather boarding - different.

I mean, I do like brickwork, but I'm not saying I dislike it.

Has it been converted, or...

This was all farmland with outbuildings.

Oh, right, OK. And surprisingly it looks older,

but this one was actually built in 1999, as was the development.

This land all comes with the house.

It's got triple garages behind us.

Obviously there is access for others, but these three are yours.

-Oh, wow.

-OK.

-And all of this.

Chris is reserving judgment on the exterior of our Mystery House,

and well he might,

as I'm hoping the light spacious interior will win them over.

We are starting our tour in the sitting room.

-Ideal size.

-Yay!

-Win, win!

-It is nice, yeah.

It's a good size.

I thought this property looked quite barnlike outside,

so that was our curveball with the mystery, you see.

I was waiting for you to say, "No," and you didn't.

-And you liked it?

-I did, I did.

But not barnlike inside at all.

-No, not at all.

-So you have a wonderful fireplace then.

Made from local Bath stone, because we're not too far from Bath, as you know.

Patio doors leading out to the garden, for Simba.

Yes, that'd be great for him.

And off the hallway you have a really good-sized study next door.

-Oh, that's good.

-But I'd like to show you the kitchen.

Positive reactions so far.

Let's see if the heart of the home measures up.

-So, again, a practical tiled floor for animals...

-Yeah.

..but you've also got a utility room next door,

with access outside to the garden.

I wouldn't have chosen the floor-units combination,

but I think it actually works.

That terracotta colour's quite warming, isn't it?

Yeah, it is, yeah, it really is.

Large enough to have a table and chairs in, which is always good.

We have a separate dining area behind us.

-That's great.

-Which is good, so you have the choice.

Could you see yourselves living here?

The feeling's here, so that's getting there.

So I haven't seen the rest of the property,

but at the moment it's looking promising.

Wonderful - may it continue!

Diane seems to be a convert to the Mystery House,

so let's keep that momentum going

and head upstairs to the four bedrooms.

Up here you have a fabulous landing.

-It's huge.

-A grand staircase.

Wow, this is beautiful.

Absolutely.

So let's explore the upstairs of our Mystery House.

And we have to see the master bedroom, really, don't we?

We certainly do. It's lovely and big.

Yeah, it's a good size.

Wardrobes as well, built in.

Yeah, which is great. You have your en-suite as well.

Oh, that's a bonus. Fantastic.

Never had one of those.

No, that is a bonus.

And you actually have FOUR double bedrooms.

-Four?

-With integrated wardrobes, yeah.

-Wow.

-And they're really big!

Yeah, I just can't get over the size of this property.

From the outside, it looks quite large,

but all the rooms are really generous, aren't they?

Yeah, they are.

Having had a few concerns, Diane, in the past,

about the size of rooms and the layout,

is this working for you?

Yes, it appears to be.

It's a decent size.

I can see all my furniture fitting in here quite nicely.

I just think that I've got that homely feel with this house,

whereas I didn't with the other two.

Yeah, it feels good. It does feel nice.

Ooh! It's heading in the right direction.

I don't know if I should push you two any further.

Our mystery property seems to have raised the bar, and their spirits.

The rear garden is reached through double doors from sitting room.

Now, we step out here and I had this feeling inside,

thinking, "I really want them to love the garden."

It's a decent-sized garden.

-Enclosed, safe.

-Definitely.

-Do you like the way I'm pointing out

all the merits to the garden for dogs?

-You are, you are indeed!

-For the dog, yeah.

We love the house.

-We're mulling over the location, I think, aren't we?

-We are.

If we were going to put a price on our final property...

-Oh, my goodness!

-Because it has come to that time.

675.

Thank you. Chris?

I'm hoping not, but I'm thinking about £700,000.

Interesting guesstimates.

Well, neither of you are on the money this time,

but you're both over.

-Oh!

-Oh?

-Oh, yes. Asking price -

£650,000.

-Wow.

-Well, that's a nice surprise.

-It is.

You get an awful lot of house here, don't you, for your money?

-Yeah, you do.

-It's beautiful.

And it's beautifully laid out - it's fantastic.

-Sounds like you might want to go and have another look.

-Yes. Yeah, we do.

-Please, do.

-Thank you.

Bang on budget, it appears the Mystery House

is right up their street.

It provides a generous four bedrooms

and a sitting room, which they loved.

There's a pleasant kitchen and utility for their dog,

plus a triple garage provides ample space for the bikes.

-Yeah, three garages, that's perfect.

-There is a single next door.

-Ah, wow, look at that.

-Wow, that would suit your needs.

-That's ideal.

-That's fantastic, would fit the car and the bikes.

I thought wood, I'm not over keen on - I do like brick buildings.

But it's not an ugly building by any stretch of the imagination.

It looks good, but I wasn't sure what type of building it was.

I like the outside, unlike Chris,

but I also liked the amount of space

and the airiness and the warmth that you felt from the house.

So I can see us maybe living here,

but I think I'd have to do some more...

-Research.

-..research in the local area.

That's it, you've seen all three of our properties.

I think it's safe to say that's been the best reaction out of all of them.

-Yeah, without doubt.

-Good.

Well, let's go and have a chat, and see what happens next.

-OK.

-Thank you.

Set in the heart of Wiltshire are the sweeping chalk hills

that make up the Marlborough Downs.

The area is the focus of a plan to diversify natural habitats

that's uniting conservationists, farmers and local residents.

I'm meeting project manager Jemma Batten to discover more.

Hi, Jemma. Good to meet you.

Hi. Welcome to the Marlborough Downs.

This is a beautiful spot, even on a foggy day like today.

I only wish that you could see more!

So tell me more about this project that is close to your heart.

The original project was a pioneering project

-which was started in 2012.

-And what's it called?

It's called the Marlborough Downs Space For Nature project.

In the same year, the Government funded

a number of nature improvement areas

to benefit conservation across entire landscapes.

Funding ended three years later,

but the Marlborough Downs scheme, led by local farmers, has continued

and its work is helping to protect birdlife.

I read so much about the decline of our bird population,

especially farmland birds,

and that's something that you're particularly aware of, isn't it?

Yeah, that's something that brought

the farmers together in the first place

and consequently we've got a very strong farmland bird programme,

which everyone's involved in.

One endangered bird is the tree sparrow.

The country cousin of the common house sparrow,

it's suffered a severe decline,

with numbers plummeting by 90% since the 1970s.

It features on the RSPB's red list of the most endangered birds.

One of the reasons for this fall in population

has been intensive agriculture,

but fortunately the Marlborough Downs Space For Nature project

is taking steps to boost the birds' numbers.

What we've done here is we've planted spiky things

which will grow up and bush out

and protect the tree sparrows from predators,

so things like sparrowhawks.

And then dotted around we've also got things

that will have berries and fruits and flowers,

so that'll attract insects which the tree sparrows feed their young on,

so Mum and Dad can pop over there

and grab a beakful of food for their babies and pop back again.

The difficulty that we have, though, of course,

is that if you were a tree sparrow, you wouldn't want to fly across

that great big open space,

because this is where all the sparrowhawks and...

-The predators are.

-Yeah.

So to protect the adults in their quest to find food for their young,

the volunteers are constructing a sheltering hedgerow.

Well, I want to see this tree-lined superhighway for them.

-Over here?

-Absolutely, yeah.

-Something I could help you with?

-Absolutely. We'll go and find some plants.

-Right.

The work of the Marlborough Downs Space For Nature

is having a positive impact.

In just under five years, existing tree sparrow populations

have increased in size and sightings have become more widespread.

I can see a huge ditch has been dug along here.

We've only got to the top of the hill to do, though, you'll be fine!

All right, well, let's get started.

A variety of species including hawthorn, blackthorn,

spindle and dogwood,

will give the tree sparrows protection from predators.

If you wiggle the spade backwards and forwards a bit

and it makes a slot, it's called slot planting.

The scheme has already planted nearly a mile and a half

of these protective hedgerows and they have plans for more.

And then push it in so that

as much of those hairy roots are in as possible.

-And then use your feet.

-And then use your feet and heel it in, that's it.

-Is that it?

-You're nearly there.

-It needs to go all the way to the top, that's it.

-Poor little sapling.

They're quite tough.

This is a labour of love for those involved, but definitely worth it.

Oh, that's nice! Yeah!

-It's beautiful!

-That there?

-That's perfect, yes.

It's heartening to see how agriculture and conservation

are working hand-in-hand to promote Wiltshire's natural biodiversity.

Finally, a house that both Chris and Diane agree on,

but has the mystery property done enough to convince them

to make the move? I'm going to find out.

Well, Chris and Diane, of all the houses that we showed you,

the Mystery House really appealed.

Oh, without a doubt.

Wonderful house, yeah, beautiful.

So if there was a question mark, because I guess there is one -

I'm sensing it - would I be right?

-Yeah, there is.

-And if there is a question mark, what is that?

I think we need to look at the geography

of where the location is in more detail.

Although the house is nice,

maybe we should be moving closer towards the town,

which was my ideal dream.

So if you could pick up the Mystery House and, say,

move it a quarter of a mile outside of Marlborough, would that be ideal?

-That would be a sale.

-I think so.

-That'd be a sale!

-That would be a sale.

So, overall, has it been a worthwhile experience?

It has, yeah.

Being out there and looking at the properties has opened our eyes up,

and perhaps prompted a lot of...

..a lot more thought about what we really want.

You've got a firmer idea of what it is you do want with this next move?

Yes, we do, yeah, and thank you.

Wonderful. Well, thank you, and all the best when you do make it.

-BOTH:

-Yes, thank you very much.

Now, we've been very polite, haven't we?

-Shall I be mum?

-Oh, yes, please.

-Lovely, thank you.

-I'll pour.

I often find that people start off with one idea in their mind

and by the end of the house-hunt

they've settled for something completely different,

and that's certainly been the case with Chris and Diane.

But I think what they'll take away from the last few days is clarity -

having a clear idea now what they really want from their property

and, just as importantly for them, having it in the right location.

So that's it from me from Wiltshire,

but I'll see you again soon on Escape To The Country.

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