0:00:02 > 0:00:05Behind me is a lough, and at its inland head lies a city port
0:00:05 > 0:00:09which has provided the chance of a new life for thousands of people
0:00:09 > 0:00:13through the ships that once graced its docks.
0:00:13 > 0:00:19And one iconic ship was launched off these very waters back in 1911.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23So, where am I, and which ship was she?
0:00:23 > 0:00:25Find out in just a moment.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46Today, it's family ties luring our house hunters
0:00:46 > 0:00:48to a new life in a new land.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53And our property search is full of surprises.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Oh, my God. I didn't expect anything like that.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00But it's not just our couple we're accommodating.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02So, how many alpacas can we get on there?
0:01:02 > 0:01:04- Oh, we'd get loads on there.- Loads.
0:01:08 > 0:01:13Today, I'm in Northern Ireland, and this is Belfast Lough,
0:01:13 > 0:01:16where the River Lagan runs into the Irish Sea.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20Now, at the mouth of the river stands the great city of Belfast,
0:01:20 > 0:01:25renowned both as an exit port for immigrants to New World destinations
0:01:25 > 0:01:29and its illustrious shipbuilding past -
0:01:29 > 0:01:33in particular, the construction of perhaps the most famous ship
0:01:33 > 0:01:37in the whole world - the RMS Titanic.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40Now, later on in the programme, I'll be finding out more about
0:01:40 > 0:01:44this country's glorious shipbuilding heritage
0:01:44 > 0:01:48and visiting the place where the story of the Titanic first began.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52There are six historic counties that make up
0:01:52 > 0:01:53the country of Northern Ireland,
0:01:53 > 0:01:58spanning nearly 5,500 square miles.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01Bordering five of these is a Lough Neagh.
0:02:01 > 0:02:02Lying at the heart of the country,
0:02:02 > 0:02:05it's the largest freshwater lake in the UK.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10Covering 220 square miles of moorland and woodland,
0:02:10 > 0:02:13the highest point is found in the Mourne Mountains,
0:02:13 > 0:02:19a brooding landscape that inspired much of CS Lewis's mythical Narnia.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23Curious natural phenomena draws visitors to the Giant's Causeway
0:02:23 > 0:02:26on Antrim's northern shore,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29a spectacular formation of hexagonal basalt columns
0:02:29 > 0:02:32that rise dramatically from the sea.
0:02:32 > 0:02:37Of Northern Ireland's 1.8 million population, a third are fortunate
0:02:37 > 0:02:40to enjoy the quality of life that can only be found in
0:02:40 > 0:02:44the unsurpassed rural enchantment of this beautiful Emerald Isle.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53Despite its mesmerising natural beauty,
0:02:53 > 0:02:57Northern Ireland boasts some of the best-valued property in the UK.
0:02:57 > 0:03:04The average price of detached homes here come in at around £189,000.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07But, as with anywhere, this part of the world
0:03:07 > 0:03:09also has its hot spots.
0:03:09 > 0:03:14For example, County Down has the capital, it has the coast,
0:03:14 > 0:03:19it also has two airports, so homes there tend to be
0:03:19 > 0:03:23the most sought-after and typically come at a premium.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27Today, we have a family that are so keen to buy a slice of
0:03:27 > 0:03:30this beautiful countryside that they're travelling
0:03:30 > 0:03:32over 200 miles to be here.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Ruth and Stewart from Hartlepool in County Durham
0:03:37 > 0:03:39are both mental-health nurses.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41They've been married for 16 years.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44- We met on the wards, didn't we? - Yeah.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47You were the nurse in charge, I think, on my first day.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50- So we tried to keep it secret. - Yeah.- Um, so...- And I think...
0:03:50 > 0:03:54- Arranging dates over the dinner trolley.- Yeah.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57They've spent a lifetime in Hartlepool, and 5½ years
0:03:57 > 0:04:00in their current four-bedroom detached coastal home.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02But with Stewart's imminent retirement,
0:04:02 > 0:04:07they've decided it's time to up sticks and start afresh.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11I'm quite open to moving to anywhere in the countryside, really.
0:04:11 > 0:04:12Initially looked at Scotland,
0:04:12 > 0:04:14and then I think you mentioned Ireland.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18The countryside's just so green, it's beautiful,
0:04:18 > 0:04:20and everyone's really friendly.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25Their 14-year-old son, rugby enthusiast Charlie,
0:04:25 > 0:04:28and Ruth's mum Gillian will be crossing the water, too.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31But it's Gillian's family ties that are driving
0:04:31 > 0:04:32the move to Northern Ireland.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35With me mam coming, originating from Ireland,
0:04:35 > 0:04:37if we were going to make that big move,
0:04:37 > 0:04:41- it seemed to make sense to take Mam back to Ireland...- Yeah.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43..and to be with our family over there.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45And with their relocation on the cards,
0:04:45 > 0:04:49there are also plans for a complete life change.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52The dream. It's The Good Life.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55It's being as self-sufficient as we possibly can be
0:04:55 > 0:04:57and enjoying family time.
0:04:57 > 0:05:02We just want to enjoy the lifestyle and have enough money
0:05:02 > 0:05:04- so we can do that, don't we? - Yeah, yeah.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06We've looked at glamping.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10I thought either the glamping or holiday cottages,
0:05:10 > 0:05:11something like that.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17They're also hoping to keep a variety of animals
0:05:17 > 0:05:20and have already got a head start on their menagerie.
0:05:20 > 0:05:25They'll be taking their four dogs and five alpacas with them.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28We went to the glamping show just to get some ideas,
0:05:28 > 0:05:31didn't we, last September, and there was an alpaca stand there.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35And Ruth, as soon as she them, she said, "I would love them alpacas."
0:05:36 > 0:05:40And from there, really, it became a big idea for us.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43We'd like to become serious breeders, I think, really.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48So, with big plans for their small holding, an offer on their house
0:05:48 > 0:05:52and family ties pulling them westwards, the family is
0:05:52 > 0:05:56getting ready for their new life surrounded by those who matter most.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00I think it's took me a little while to realise that
0:06:00 > 0:06:01things don't make you happy -
0:06:01 > 0:06:04it's kind of the people around you that do.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07So it's having time together and enjoying life, really.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10I'm looking forward to a new chapter in me life, really.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13- I'm very keen to get away and get started.- Mm-hm, yeah.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18Ruth and Stewart are happy to consider anywhere
0:06:18 > 0:06:20in Northern Ireland to lay down roots,
0:06:20 > 0:06:24so the country's our oyster as we begin our search.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27I'm catching up with them to discuss the finer details
0:06:27 > 0:06:29of their property wish list.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32Welcome to Northern Ireland.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35So, Ruth, this isn't just about bricks and mortar
0:06:35 > 0:06:36- for the whole family, is it?- No.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39- It's about changing the way you live your lives.- Yes, definitely.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Ruth works in quite an intense place,
0:06:42 > 0:06:44where, at times, it gets very stressful,
0:06:44 > 0:06:47so we just want to try and take some of that stress off her, really.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49- Yeah.- Yeah.- But you're in a good place, aren't you?
0:06:49 > 0:06:52- Because your mum's sold her house... - Yes, yes.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54- ..yours is going through. - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57So we know the pressure is on to find you this perfect property.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01What exactly are we looking for with the property itself?
0:07:01 > 0:07:03We're looking for somewhere with some land.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06The style of the house, we're quite open-minded, aren't we, really?
0:07:06 > 0:07:10- Yeah.- Um...- How many bedrooms would you like?- At least three.- Yeah.
0:07:10 > 0:07:11- Three bedrooms?- Yeah.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13And taking with the family, the extended family,
0:07:13 > 0:07:16- large kitchen-diner? - Yeah, that would be lovely.- Yeah.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19We're looking at somewhere with, like, an annexe or something
0:07:19 > 0:07:21that we could develop for Ruth's mam to live in.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24And land, how many acres exactly?
0:07:24 > 0:07:26- Minimum ten acres.- Yeah.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31- Whoa! We're talking a lot, aren't we?- Yeah.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Ideally, I'd like to do, sort of,
0:07:33 > 0:07:35an old barn holiday cottage, or something like that.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37And you don't mind a bit of work, a bit of a project?
0:07:37 > 0:07:40- I was a bricklayer before I was a nurse, so...- Right.
0:07:40 > 0:07:41..something like that would be ideal.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44And also, location-wise, obviously, you're looking at being
0:07:44 > 0:07:46- sort of semirural with that much land...- Yes, yeah.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50- ..but mindful of Charlie, with schools...- Yes.- ..sport...
0:07:50 > 0:07:51Charlie's a keen rugby player,
0:07:51 > 0:07:55- so we need to get somewhere what's got a good rugby club going.- Yeah.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58Let's remind ourselves how much we've got to spend with this move.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01Yeah... Up to 500,000.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Um, if we go to 500,000, we would hope that would have
0:08:04 > 0:08:06sort of a business attached to it already.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08- Let's see how we get on.- Thanks.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15For their top budget of £500,000, Ruth and Stewart are looking for
0:08:15 > 0:08:18a property with land where they can keep animals
0:08:18 > 0:08:20and welcome paying guests.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23They're looking for a home with a large kitchen-diner
0:08:23 > 0:08:25and at least three bedrooms.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28Ideally, there'll be an annexe for Ruth's mum Gillian,
0:08:28 > 0:08:31or the potential to create living quarters for her.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35And location-wise, they need to be within easy reach of a school
0:08:35 > 0:08:37for their son Charlie.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40We've gathered a fabulous selection of properties for Ruth
0:08:40 > 0:08:43and Stewart to tour, but only after they've viewed each one
0:08:43 > 0:08:46will I reveal its price tag.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48The final visit to the Mystery House
0:08:48 > 0:08:51will go above and beyond their requirements,
0:08:51 > 0:08:55and could be just the ticket to set them off on their new path.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03We're heading to Coleraine, right up in the north of the country.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05It's a location that's close to the coast
0:09:05 > 0:09:07and situated on the River Bann.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12The town square, known as The Diamond, is home to the town hall.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16There are plenty of good schools here and a rugby club.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Ruth's extended family is also nearby.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23We're travelling just over five miles away to a rural setting,
0:09:23 > 0:09:26where we find this handsome house.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29So you can now take a look at your first property.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33- Wow.- Oh, my God. I didn't expect anything like that.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35- Yeah?- Yeah.- A bit of a surprise. - It is.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39We're elevated, so you do get a spectacular view.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42- Now, can't lie, there is a main road at the bottom.- Yeah.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45But if you're thinking of business opportunities, you know,
0:09:45 > 0:09:48- for your son to catch the bus... - Yeah. Yeah, that's true.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50- I bet you're very keen to get in, aren't you?- We are, yeah.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53- Shall we start?- Yeah.- Yes, please.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57This grand and substantial house was built in the Georgian style
0:09:57 > 0:09:59just ten years ago.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01As such, it's got all the modern conveniences
0:10:01 > 0:10:04and is ready to move straight into.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11So, a very pleasing hallway here.
0:10:11 > 0:10:12- Wow.- It's lovely.
0:10:12 > 0:10:18Which leads us through... a large dining room.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21But let's start off the tour off with this, the main sitting room.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23Wow.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27- Yeah, it's lovely, isn't it? - Gorgeous!- Yeah.- Really lovely.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30- Not what we were expecting. - No.- What were you expecting?
0:10:30 > 0:10:32Something small, weren't we?
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Yeah, we were thinking we were going to have to
0:10:34 > 0:10:35- get rid of all our furniture!- Yeah.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39- Think you might have to buy some more if you buy this property!- Yeah.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43A cracking start to our first house. Long may it continue.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45- Let's take a look at the kitchen. - Yeah.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53So, you do have a second sitting room there, stroke snug.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55- That's nice. - Which is wonderful because...
0:10:57 > 0:10:58..leads into the kitchen.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00- So all the family can be together. - Beautiful.
0:11:00 > 0:11:01Yes, it's lovely, isn't it?
0:11:01 > 0:11:05- Especially with the two rooms onto it, as well.- Yeah.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07- Makes it nice and cosy.- Yeah.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09- It's beautiful. - Yeah, it's nice, yeah.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Everything an extra, really, by the looks of it.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17Wonderful reactions to what we've seen so far.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19And also situated on the ground floor is a sunroom
0:11:19 > 0:11:21to one side of the kitchen...
0:11:22 > 0:11:24..plus a study to the other.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29Moving upstairs, there's an attractive contemporary
0:11:29 > 0:11:34family bathroom, servicing four of the six double bedrooms.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37There are two on one side of the landing -
0:11:37 > 0:11:41one at the front of the house, and one at the back.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46Beyond these two rooms is a small nursery,
0:11:46 > 0:11:48a shower room,
0:11:48 > 0:11:51and what's currently in use as a games room.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54On the other side of the house there's a double
0:11:54 > 0:11:56with a feature window and an en suite.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02But we're heading to the master, which also has an en suite
0:12:02 > 0:12:05and a pretty sizeable dressing room.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12- Oh, it's lovely.- Nice and light, isn't it?- Isn't it?- Yeah.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15- Really lovely.- So I've earmarked this space for the two of you.
0:12:15 > 0:12:21- Oh, good.- Six bedrooms, all of them are a really good size.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25- Plus a games room up here, as well.- Wow, great.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28But also the games room has access downstairs.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31One, that could be fantastic for Charlie,
0:12:31 > 0:12:32especially as he gets older.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35- Two, it could be fantastic for Gillian, your mum.- Yep.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38My third thought was, business opportunities.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41Because it has a separate entrance you could actually let that out.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44- Oh, right. So a holiday let sort of thing.- Mm.- Exactly.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47- Are we surprising you? - You are.- Very much so!- Yeah.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50Didn't expect a house this size at all.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54Above us on the second floor there's even more.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Bedroom numbers five and six are both loft rooms.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04But we're heading outside which for Stewart could be
0:13:04 > 0:13:07even more important than the house.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09To the front is a lawned garden
0:13:09 > 0:13:12which overlooks a three-acre paddock ideal for glamping...
0:13:14 > 0:13:16..and to take in the views.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21There's also an outbuilding divided into three separate spaces,
0:13:21 > 0:13:23including an office.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28And now to address the burning question of acreage.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31Ideally, you asked me for ten.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33We're probably going to be giving you about half of that
0:13:33 > 0:13:35- with this property.- Right.- Right.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39You know, if you wanted chickens or pigs or a vegetable patch,
0:13:39 > 0:13:41the land is here.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44- Perhaps not the acreage that ideally you were after.- Yeah.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48- But you could certainly easily change it.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Let's see what price we're going to put on this property and see
0:13:51 > 0:13:53if there's enough money left in the pot for you perhaps
0:13:53 > 0:13:56to buy some additional land or even lease it.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58- Yeah.- Mm.- What are we thinking?
0:13:58 > 0:14:01I think around 450.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04£450,000, interesting, OK.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06Hm. Erm...
0:14:06 > 0:14:11I'm going to say 425.
0:14:11 > 0:14:12Ooh, you're very good at this, aren't you?
0:14:12 > 0:14:15The asking price is £425,000.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18- No, really?- Yeah. Yeah.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20Fancy having another look around on your own?
0:14:20 > 0:14:22- Oh, yes, please.- Yeah? - Yeah.- Go on, then.
0:14:27 > 0:14:32This impressive home has come in a generous £75,000 under budget.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36It's beautifully finished throughout with an open-plan kitchen,
0:14:36 > 0:14:39five reception rooms and six bedrooms,
0:14:39 > 0:14:42plus an additional room that has its own access.
0:14:42 > 0:14:47Outside offers scope for a new business with five acres of land.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50This is definitely more house than I thought
0:14:50 > 0:14:51I was going to get for my budget.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54I really thought we would be downsizing,
0:14:54 > 0:14:58but actually, yep, from four beds to six beds!
0:14:59 > 0:15:02A little bit disappointed with the land.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05I think I would probably prefer half the house and double the land.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10- Happy?- Yes, very much so, yeah. - Yeah, thanks, lovely.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Takes a while to get round that property, doesn't it?
0:15:13 > 0:15:15- Yeah, you get lost. - You do get lost, yeah.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18- But I've found you and we're going to head off now. Come on.- Thanks.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29Ruth and Stewart are counting down to being as self-sufficient
0:15:29 > 0:15:32as possible when they make their move
0:15:32 > 0:15:35and to witness first-hand how it's done, they've come to meet
0:15:35 > 0:15:39Claire and Steve Golemboski-Byrne who try to make as little impact
0:15:39 > 0:15:44on the environment as possible on their six-acre smallholding.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47- Hi.- Hi.- Nice to meet you. - Welcome to Lackan Cottage Farm.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50It's located in a stunning spot in the shadow of the
0:15:50 > 0:15:52Mourne Mountains in County Down.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55- It's beautiful.- Thank you.- Yeah, you've got a gorgeous spot here.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57How long have you been here for?
0:15:57 > 0:15:59- We've been here five years now. - Right, and what do you do here?
0:15:59 > 0:16:03- Well, it's our home, we live off-grid.- Right.
0:16:03 > 0:16:04And we also run courses.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08- We do things like woodworking, we do lots of crafts.- Oh, wow.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10Willow basket making.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12But that's not all.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Claire and Steve also make it possible for others to sample
0:16:15 > 0:16:19their sustainable way of life by renting out a cottage on their land.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22- We're Northern Ireland's only off-grid self kitchen.- Oh, great.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24So, why did you choose to go off-grid?
0:16:24 > 0:16:27We just wanted to be responsible for our own energy production.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30So we have the wind turbine, we have the solar panels.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32You're more in tune with the weather.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35Ruth and Stewart are considering holiday lets themselves
0:16:35 > 0:16:37in their new property...
0:16:38 > 0:16:41..so they're keen to have a look inside Claire
0:16:41 > 0:16:44and Steve's unique cottage, which they renovated themselves.
0:16:44 > 0:16:49Because of the way it runs it has absolutely no utility bills.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52Beautiful, it wasn't what I expected.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55- Yeah, it's really cosy, especially with the log burner.- Yeah.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57How does it work with being off-grid, then,
0:16:57 > 0:16:59having the holiday cottage?
0:16:59 > 0:17:01Well, all the electricity we generate on-site,
0:17:01 > 0:17:05- so it comes from the wind turbine and solar panels.- Right.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07And then the hot water in the underfloor
0:17:07 > 0:17:09comes from solar panels on the roof...
0:17:09 > 0:17:12- Right.- ..from the sun, and the little wood burner.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15As well as all-year-round bookings for the cottage,
0:17:15 > 0:17:19this eco-friendly pair also offer popular courses.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22They're run from their classroom which has been built
0:17:22 > 0:17:24using natural local materials.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28Ruth and Stewart will be getting hands-on with one of these courses,
0:17:28 > 0:17:31learning how to make a willow fence.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34- So do you cut that willow yourself, then?- Yeah, we grow it here on site.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36- Right.- It's really simple. - So, yeah.- Right.
0:17:36 > 0:17:41So what we do, we just weave this willow in and out of the upright.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45- Yeah.- And then once we've got a few in, we can bend them over
0:17:45 > 0:17:47and tuck them in and it will hold itself together
0:17:47 > 0:17:51so there's no need for any string or anything, it just sits here.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54The willow grown here is organic and flexible.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57Not only practical, it will ultimately decompose
0:17:57 > 0:17:59and become fertiliser -
0:17:59 > 0:18:02all part of the sustainable philosophy at work here.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04- Have I done that right?- That's it.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07- That one looks too low. - That one that way.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10- That one... Push it down.- Yeah. - Just push it down to the line.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14- That's it. The trick is using stuff that's available.- Yeah.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24- Yeah, it's getting there, isn't it? - Yeah, it soon starts to...
0:18:24 > 0:18:26- Yeah.- It gets a little bit more sturdy as you go.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30- It will get easier as you get further up, doesn't it?- Yeah.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33- And push them down.- Erm... I think we need to be...
0:18:33 > 0:18:34- Yeah, do a second.- ..that way.
0:18:34 > 0:18:39- So, is it this bit that goes...? - Yeah, so tuck it down there.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42- So, is this how you finish them off, then?- Yeah.
0:18:42 > 0:18:47Turn them over and then we'll just thread the end through here...
0:18:47 > 0:18:50- ..and that will hold it tightly enough.- Yeah.- Yeah?
0:18:50 > 0:18:53- We done that. - SHE LAUGHS
0:18:53 > 0:18:55- Yeah.- Yeah.- That's brilliant.
0:18:55 > 0:18:56- That was great. - Yeah, thanks very much.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59- It's really good. - OK, thanks for your help.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01- And good luck with the house-hunting.- Bye.- Oh, thanks.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04With a new skill under their belts, and full of inspiration
0:19:04 > 0:19:07after their visit, it's back to the search
0:19:07 > 0:19:11for a slice of the Northern Irish good life for Ruth and Stewart.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19We're on our way to Ballymoney in Antrim towards the north-east
0:19:19 > 0:19:21of the country.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25It's a small town that's awash with independent shops and eateries
0:19:25 > 0:19:29and there's also a high school and rugby club.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32On the outskirts of the town in a peaceful setting,
0:19:32 > 0:19:35a long gravel driveway leads us to this double-fronted,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38rather smart property.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41Take a look at your house.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45- Oh, that's nice.- Wow. Yeah. Lovely.- I like it. Yeah.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47But it is a splendid property.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49- Oh, this feels good.- Mm-hm.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52And shall I let you into a little secret right at the beginning?
0:19:52 > 0:19:54- Yeah.- M-hm.- Ten acres.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56SHE COUGHS
0:19:56 > 0:19:58So you've got your house here, you've got a garage there.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00But I'm going to take you inside, show you the house where
0:20:00 > 0:20:03- you're going to live and then we'll worry about the animals.- Yeah.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07- Deal?- Lovely. Yeah, deal.- Brilliant.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10This somewhat stately home was built in 2006
0:20:10 > 0:20:13and is finished to a very high standard.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16As we enter the property through double oak doors, we're greeted
0:20:16 > 0:20:20by a grand hallway which leads us to a triple-aspect sitting room.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24- It's lovely. I like the fire. That's really nice.- Yeah.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26That's an open fire. SHE GASPS
0:20:26 > 0:20:29- Oh, lovely, that's what we want. - That would be nice, yeah.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32I could see our furniture in here.
0:20:32 > 0:20:33- And you've got two reception rooms. - Right.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35You've got one at the other side, as well,
0:20:35 > 0:20:38which is perhaps a tad smaller.
0:20:38 > 0:20:39A good start, brilliant.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42And I don't think you are going to be disappointed with the kitchen.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44- Ooh!- Let's see.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52- A practical tiled floor for the four dogs...- Wow!
0:20:52 > 0:20:54..that are going to be moving in.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56That's a good size, isn't it...?
0:20:56 > 0:20:58- This is good, I like this. - ..the dining room bit.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00- The dining table... Our table would go in there, wouldn't it?- Yeah.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03- It would fit in there lovely. - There's a bit more to it.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Round the side there's an additional room.
0:21:06 > 0:21:07I'm going to call it the sun room
0:21:07 > 0:21:10because I think it would be fantastic to read in that room,
0:21:10 > 0:21:13but it could be a study, it could be another sitting room.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15It feels like we could fit in here, doesn't it? It feels...
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Yeah, it's got a good feeling. Definitely.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21Well, a successful tour downstairs.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23May it continue when I show you the bedrooms.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29A beautiful bespoke glazed-oak staircase leads us
0:21:29 > 0:21:32upstairs to a long hallway with solid wood floors.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38There's a stylish family bath and shower room
0:21:38 > 0:21:40that serves four of the five bedrooms.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46There are three spacious doubles, all dual aspect,
0:21:46 > 0:21:48allowing in lots of light.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Then there's the smaller double bedroom which just leaves
0:21:51 > 0:21:54the largest of the five, the master.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00So this is the main bedroom with its own en suite.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03A rather large bathroom there.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05- And you've got a dressing room just behind you, too.- Great.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09- That's brilliant.- Charlie would be wanting the en suite, wouldn't he?
0:22:09 > 0:22:13- We'd be fighting over it. - Really?- Oh, yeah!- Really?- Yeah.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16- Does it feel like somewhere that you could all live?- I think so, yeah.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19- I think so, yeah.- Yeah? - Yeah.- Definitely.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21- Yeah. Plenty of room. - Yeah, there is.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24Now, if you all wanted to live under one roof you could do it here
0:22:24 > 0:22:26but I know Gillian would ideally like her own space...
0:22:26 > 0:22:28- Yes, she would. - ..and her own independence.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30But, you know, we do have some options
0:22:30 > 0:22:34so keep that in the back of your mind.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37The interior of this fabulous home has Ruth and Stewart
0:22:37 > 0:22:40making all the right noises and I think that'll continue
0:22:40 > 0:22:45as we head outside to take in the ten acres of land,
0:22:45 > 0:22:47which includes a raised deck...
0:22:50 > 0:22:51..two large paddocks...
0:22:55 > 0:22:58..and an extensive lawn area.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02All in all, plenty of space for alpacas and glamping.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06There's also a double detached garage with what could be
0:23:06 > 0:23:09an office above it, or even a bedroom.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13Just standing out here, the sun's come out, it's shining,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16peace and quiet. Is this what you had in mind?
0:23:16 > 0:23:18- It's just perfect, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21- You can hear the birds singing, can't you?- Yeah.- Beautiful.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24The current owners applied for planning permission to build
0:23:24 > 0:23:26- a separate building, and it was granted.- Oh.- Right.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28Well, that sounds interesting.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32- Now, you did say you used to be a bricklayer, is that right?- Yeah.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34So if the budget allows, you don't have to do it straightaway,
0:23:34 > 0:23:38you could actually build another property there for the family.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41- Wow, wow.- How would Gillian feel about living here?
0:23:41 > 0:23:44- Mam would love it, wouldn't she? - Yeah, she'd love it.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47- And close to family, as well. - Is it?- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51- It's a lot to think about, isn't it? - It is, yeah.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53It's a lot to think about. Is it a lot to pay?
0:23:53 > 0:23:57I think it's top of the budget.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59I'm going to say £500,000.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01I think I'm going to go a bit lower.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05I'm going to hopefully say 425.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08Oh, you are hopeful, aren't you? Very hopeful!
0:24:08 > 0:24:13Well, the asking price is still way under your top budget.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17- They're asking for £449,950.- Oh. - Right.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20- That doesn't sound too bad, does it? - Yeah.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24Hands up who wants to have another look? Go, please.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27Have a wander. I'll see you later.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34This beautifully kitted-out detached home has a price tag
0:24:34 > 0:24:38some £50,000 under Ruth and Stewart's budget.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41It's finished to a high standard and comes with a large
0:24:41 > 0:24:46kitchen/diner, three reception rooms and five bedrooms.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49It all sits in ten acres of land.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53Plus there's planning permission in place to build a second dwelling.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57This house is absolutely beautiful.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00It's got a beautiful house, it's got potential in the land,
0:25:00 > 0:25:03it's got ten acres, which we asked for.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07And a possible kind of area for me mam
0:25:07 > 0:25:09and planning permission for another house.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11It's got lots of potential.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15The setting, I like the setting.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19I am more around the setting and the land than the house.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25It's just the setting, it's so peaceful and beautiful, isn't it?
0:25:25 > 0:25:28Because there's obviously lots of potential for development with the
0:25:28 > 0:25:32building plot and the garage there, a possible annexe for Ruth's mum.
0:25:32 > 0:25:37I could really see my family here, I really can. Yeah.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43So that's it for today.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46- Ending on a high note, I wonder? - Yeah, lovely.- Yeah?
0:25:46 > 0:25:48- Happy?- Very happy.- Good.
0:25:48 > 0:25:53- And guess what? I've got more to show you tomorrow.- Oh, blimey!
0:25:59 > 0:26:03It's day two of our tour around Northern Ireland, searching out
0:26:03 > 0:26:08a home to entice Ruth and Stewart from Hartlepool to cross the water.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12And with a budget of £500,000, they are on the hunt for a house
0:26:12 > 0:26:16with land for themselves, their son, and Ruth's mum, Gillian.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20We've still got a big surprise to come with our Mystery House.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23- Are we allowed to look yet? - You are allowed to look. Come on.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25It's the mystery!
0:26:25 > 0:26:29And I'll be learning about one of the most majestic
0:26:29 > 0:26:30and tragic vessels in the world.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33We are actually standing on the birthplace of Titanic.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36This is where she was actually built from the ground floor up.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42It's day two of our house search,
0:26:42 > 0:26:46and we have still got the Mystery House to come, and I've got
0:26:46 > 0:26:50a feeling it's going to offer Stewart more than he ever imagined.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56For our final stop on our property quest in Northern Ireland,
0:26:56 > 0:27:00we're travelling to Portadown in Armagh in the centre of the country.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04Surrounded by countryside, the provincial town is home to a
0:27:04 > 0:27:09rugby club and is a short drive from the tranquil setting of Lough Neagh.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12And just over ten minutes away from our next house,
0:27:12 > 0:27:16there's a senior school. Even closer is a small cluster of shops,
0:27:16 > 0:27:20providing local residents with all the basic amenities.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23On the outskirts of Portadown, a narrow country lane
0:27:23 > 0:27:27in a peaceful location leads us to our Mystery House.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31- Are we are allowed to look yet? - You are allowed to look. Come on.
0:27:31 > 0:27:36- It's the mystery. - This is looking more like it.- Yeah?
0:27:36 > 0:27:37Is there a smile on your face?
0:27:37 > 0:27:40Yeah, I can see little buildings behind and things.
0:27:40 > 0:27:45- It's gorgeous.- Yeah?- Yeah. - This is the dream?- Yeah.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48- Ruth, you're getting emotional there, aren't you?- Yeah.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51I said I wouldn't do this, but it's just...
0:27:51 > 0:27:53But that's the sign, isn't it?
0:27:53 > 0:27:55If you start to well up and you can feel those emotions -
0:27:55 > 0:27:57Stewart is not far behind you, I'll make sure -
0:27:57 > 0:28:01that shows how serious you are about this move,
0:28:01 > 0:28:04and perhaps we are tantalisingly close. Before we step inside,
0:28:04 > 0:28:08I just want to let you know this is a small farm.
0:28:08 > 0:28:14- So, farmhouses have...- Outbuildings and land.- And land. Yeah.
0:28:14 > 0:28:18- The first signs are good?- Yep. - The Mystery House might deliver?
0:28:18 > 0:28:21Let's step inside and see what you think.
0:28:21 > 0:28:26Our handsome mystery farmhouse was built in the early 1900s.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29It's said that a local resident who made his fortune in America
0:28:29 > 0:28:33sent money back to build it for his family. It's currently vacant.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37So, let's start off in one of the sitting rooms,
0:28:37 > 0:28:39because as you walk through, you've got one to one side,
0:28:39 > 0:28:40and one to the other.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46Now, undecorated, but you can see it for what it is.
0:28:46 > 0:28:52- Yeah, it doesn't faze me, this.- You like a challenge, don't you?- Yeah.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56- And how is that for a fireplace? - It's beautiful, isn't it?
0:28:56 > 0:28:58So you've got a fireplace in here, and you've also got
0:28:58 > 0:29:02a beautiful fireplace in the other reception room.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04Any idea why it's the Mystery House?
0:29:06 > 0:29:10It's got buildings and land.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13- How much land did you want? - Ten.- A little bit more?
0:29:13 > 0:29:18- The more the better for me. - Yes, please.- 12?- 12, yeah?
0:29:18 > 0:29:22- 14?- Keep going. - I feel anxious!- 16 acres.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25- Oh, lovely.- Oh, brilliant. That's more like it.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27It is not often I can say that with a Mystery House,
0:29:27 > 0:29:31but that's what it is. It's on a very, very large plot.
0:29:31 > 0:29:36- Brilliant, that sounds great.- It's all going so well, may it continue.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38Follow me.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40With our super-sized surprise revealed, we're heading
0:29:40 > 0:29:43back across the hallway to the rear of the house.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45So you've got a third reception room,
0:29:45 > 0:29:48which we're probably going to call the dining room.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51- Right.- And then it brings us into the kitchen.
0:29:51 > 0:29:55Now, my first question is, would you change the kitchen?
0:29:55 > 0:29:56Yes!
0:29:58 > 0:29:59Got a utility room next door.
0:29:59 > 0:30:04I'm guessing that used to be a larder-scullery area,
0:30:04 > 0:30:07but what you could do is if you literally took that wall out and
0:30:07 > 0:30:10joined up that with this, you could have a really good-sized kitchen.
0:30:10 > 0:30:14Yeah, that's a good idea. Hmm. I'm quite excited.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17- Feels like we could do lots in here. - Yeah.
0:30:17 > 0:30:22Upstairs in this blank canvas of a house is a sizeable family bathroom,
0:30:22 > 0:30:25with tongue-and-groove panelling, and three bedrooms.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30They're all bright doubles, and two are furnished with
0:30:30 > 0:30:33feature fireplaces, the largest of which could be the master.
0:30:37 > 0:30:41We've made our way outside, so I can show Ruth and Stewart
0:30:41 > 0:30:43the complete package on offer here -
0:30:43 > 0:30:48the huge acreage that gives the property its Mystery House title.
0:30:48 > 0:30:52Now, this is where it gets exciting for the two of you.
0:30:52 > 0:30:54It seems I can throw anything at you,
0:30:54 > 0:30:58and you're going to be going, "Yes, yes, give me more!"
0:30:58 > 0:31:00- There's your mum in there!- Yeah!
0:31:00 > 0:31:03Well, in actual fact, I'm laughing, but you're right.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06Because originally, when the house was built, which we know was around
0:31:06 > 0:31:08the 1900s, this was used, as well, as a dwelling,
0:31:08 > 0:31:10so that could be holiday let
0:31:10 > 0:31:13potential, but also could be a great place for Gillian, as well.
0:31:13 > 0:31:14- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:31:14 > 0:31:18You've got a massive courtyard, as you can see, where we're standing.
0:31:18 > 0:31:23- Do you want a big barn?- Yeah.- Yeah? Stables. Whatever you like in there.
0:31:23 > 0:31:28Behind us, you can see we've got an orchard, already established.
0:31:28 > 0:31:29Old, isn't it?
0:31:29 > 0:31:33And then in front of us we have the original milking parlour,
0:31:33 > 0:31:37which, again, you can seek planning permission and you can change that.
0:31:37 > 0:31:43- Yeah.- This is what we wanted. This is it.- Courtyard. Yeah.- Wonderful.
0:31:43 > 0:31:45- You've done it. - Could it be yours?
0:31:45 > 0:31:49Well, let's have a wander, and then we'll discuss it in further detail.
0:31:52 > 0:31:58Just beyond the farm buildings are four large paddocks, ideal for
0:31:58 > 0:32:03Ruth and Stewart's plans for both animals and their business ideas.
0:32:04 > 0:32:08- Have we left the best till last? - Oh, definitely.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11- Let's hope the price is the same! - We hope so, yeah.
0:32:11 > 0:32:16Hope so for your sake! Right, serious times. What are we thinking?
0:32:16 > 0:32:17It's difficult, isn't it?
0:32:17 > 0:32:21Because we've moved away from the more touristy areas and the city,
0:32:21 > 0:32:23but we've got more land.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27Erm... Thinking around about 450.
0:32:27 > 0:32:31OK, £450,000. Right. Ruth?
0:32:31 > 0:32:35I was going to say 450 but that's wishful thinking.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37- I think you're going to be ecstatic. - Right.
0:32:37 > 0:32:41- Asking price, £400,000. - Wow! That's good.
0:32:41 > 0:32:42- Yeah.- Yeah?
0:32:45 > 0:32:48Look at that face. She's going! You're going, Ruth!
0:32:48 > 0:32:52- Yeah.- Oh, you ARE going. I can see. - Sorry.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56No, that's good. It's better than good. This is what it's all about.
0:32:56 > 0:33:00- I don't want to leave.- Do you want to have a wander?- Yes, please.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03- Please.- All right. See you in a minute.- Thank you.
0:33:03 > 0:33:04I say "see you in a minute" -
0:33:04 > 0:33:06- I think I'm going to see them in about two hours!- Yeah!
0:33:08 > 0:33:14Our brick-built mystery farmhouse is priced £100,000 below budget,
0:33:14 > 0:33:18and is just waiting for someone to turn it into a family home.
0:33:18 > 0:33:19It's got three reception rooms,
0:33:19 > 0:33:24the potential for a great kitchen/diner, and three bedrooms.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27Outside, there are a number of outbuildings offering
0:33:27 > 0:33:31the chance for additional living quarters and business opportunities,
0:33:31 > 0:33:36and all this in a rambling 16 acres of countryside.
0:33:36 > 0:33:40I've got an image of all our polytunnels. Here they are.
0:33:40 > 0:33:45- The top corner, yeah. - Yeah. All our veg and things.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49- Wow! This is a big area, isn't it, actually?- It is.
0:33:49 > 0:33:51- Hmm.- So, a little bit glamping.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54Maybe do one of the barns up as a holiday cottage.
0:33:55 > 0:34:00And we'll be set, won't we? A few animals, a few pigs, sheep, goats.
0:34:00 > 0:34:02Lovely.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07Yeah, the Mystery House has... It's been spot-on.
0:34:07 > 0:34:09It's exactly what we wanted. Somewhere for Gillian to stay,
0:34:09 > 0:34:14plenty of room for our animals, everything we wanted, so, yeah.
0:34:14 > 0:34:16This property has got so much potential
0:34:16 > 0:34:18that we won't have to make any compromises.
0:34:18 > 0:34:22We can do the development, we can have our animals,
0:34:22 > 0:34:25we can think about glamping, and it's got space for everything.
0:34:25 > 0:34:27I'm excited, yeah.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30I want to get stuck into them barns and things, and get going.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33I can really see the whole family living here, and we're actually
0:34:33 > 0:34:39really, really close to one of my aunties, which is just fabulous.
0:34:39 > 0:34:43We could pop in for a cuppa, which is great!
0:34:45 > 0:34:48- I don't want to take you two away. - I don't want to go!- No?
0:34:48 > 0:34:50- I don't think we are going. - Are you not?
0:34:50 > 0:34:54- Have we left the best till last? - Oh, easily.- Yeah.- Oh!
0:34:54 > 0:34:57I am so looking forward to our conversation. OK, let's go.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06The capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast,
0:35:06 > 0:35:09is the country's largest city.
0:35:09 > 0:35:14Its industrial past includes linen, rope-making and shipbuilding,
0:35:14 > 0:35:19and in the early 20th century, it was the birthplace of RMS Titanic.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23The huge iconic passenger ship was built by Harland and Wolff
0:35:23 > 0:35:26and sank on her maiden voyage in 1912,
0:35:26 > 0:35:29when she set sail from Southampton to New York.
0:35:29 > 0:35:34I've come to the Titanic Belfast exhibition to meet Phil.
0:35:34 > 0:35:38He's a visitor experience leader here, who's going to tell me more
0:35:38 > 0:35:43about this fascinating and tragic slice of Northern Irish history.
0:35:43 > 0:35:47Phil, Belfast has such a legacy when it comes to shipbuilding.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50Why is that, and when did it all start?
0:35:50 > 0:35:54There was a man from Scotland called Hexham, and the merchants of Belfast
0:35:54 > 0:35:56asked him to open up a yard to start building ships
0:35:56 > 0:35:58because of the industry back then.
0:35:58 > 0:36:04In 1794, Belfast had exported over 24.7 million yards of linen.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07- In fact, it was known as Linen-opolis.- Was it?- Yeah.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10So they had to get their goods to the new lands -
0:36:10 > 0:36:11to Europe, to America.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14And with that there, the shipbuilding continued.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17Well, we're actually standing on the birthplace of Titanic.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20This is where she was actually built from the ground floor up.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23They wanted to build the most luxurious ship in the world.
0:36:23 > 0:36:28- It was not about speed, it was about luxury.- How big a ship was she?
0:36:28 > 0:36:31Well, you can see an exact outline, as we go down here,
0:36:31 > 0:36:32of the vessel itself.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36So imagine this building here,
0:36:36 > 0:36:38all the way to the water's edge, surrounded by...
0:36:38 > 0:36:41- All this way?- All the way. - So this would have been the bow?
0:36:41 > 0:36:43This would have been the bow, that's correct.
0:36:43 > 0:36:45And if you imagine our building here,
0:36:45 > 0:36:49Titanic Belfast is the same height as Titanic from keel to boat deck.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51It would have been seen from everywhere in Belfast,
0:36:51 > 0:36:55this huge, floating, gigantic vessel.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58RMS Titanic was the biggest ship in the world at the time.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03It was her empty shell which was built on the expansive concourse
0:37:03 > 0:37:06before she was moved to the dry dock to be fitted.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08It's in the dry dock I'm meeting Mervyn Watley,
0:37:08 > 0:37:10who's the estate manager here.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16Obviously there was huge cost implications to building Titanic,
0:37:16 > 0:37:19and also, I suppose, time frames.
0:37:19 > 0:37:20Yes, a lot of pressure on time,
0:37:20 > 0:37:24and actually Titanic's exit from Belfast was delayed.
0:37:24 > 0:37:29- Was it?- Yes, her sister ship, Olympic, had an impact at sea
0:37:29 > 0:37:31and she had to be brought back to Belfast, so
0:37:31 > 0:37:35Titanic had to go out of the dock, Olympic had to come back in again.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38That delayed Titanic's exit from Belfast by a number of weeks,
0:37:38 > 0:37:41which in turn had a knock-on impact on her departure,
0:37:41 > 0:37:44on her maiden voyage from Southampton,
0:37:44 > 0:37:47and if that delay hadn't happened, it's highly unlikely that she
0:37:47 > 0:37:50would have had a collision with an iceberg because the icebergs
0:37:50 > 0:37:53wouldn't have been as far south at that time of the year.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56I had no idea. So, in actual fact, there could have been
0:37:56 > 0:37:59a very different outcome from that maiden voyage?
0:37:59 > 0:38:00Very much so.
0:38:01 > 0:38:05Tragically, although she was billed as virtually unsinkable,
0:38:05 > 0:38:07five days into her journey,
0:38:07 > 0:38:11Titanic hit the iceberg which ended her ill-fated and short career.
0:38:12 > 0:38:17One person who feels the full weight of the tragedy is Susie Miller.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20I'm meeting her on board SS Nomadic.
0:38:20 > 0:38:22She transported Titanic passengers from port to ship,
0:38:22 > 0:38:26and is the largest remaining Titanic artefact in the world.
0:38:27 > 0:38:29My great-grandfather, Tommy Miller,
0:38:29 > 0:38:32was an assistant deck engineer on Titanic.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34He'd helped to build the ship,
0:38:34 > 0:38:36in particular the engines for Titanic,
0:38:36 > 0:38:40and then he decided he wanted to become a marine engineer and go
0:38:40 > 0:38:44to sea, in the hope of starting a new life in New York City.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47So he decided he would leave his children at home.
0:38:47 > 0:38:49And did he leave any mementos,
0:38:49 > 0:38:52any legacy of his time working on the ship?
0:38:52 > 0:38:58So Tommy gave them each two pennies from 1912, and he said,
0:38:58 > 0:39:01"Don't spend those until we are all together again".
0:39:01 > 0:39:04So my grandfather describes how he stood on the shores
0:39:04 > 0:39:07of Belfast Lough, and he was clutching those pennies so
0:39:07 > 0:39:12tightly in his hand that the date of 1912 was nearly burnt into his palm.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15Oh, my goodness! And that would have been the last time he ever saw him.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18Yes, yes, because then a few weeks later,
0:39:18 > 0:39:21news came back that the Titanic had hit the iceberg.
0:39:21 > 0:39:23What an incredible story. Incredible.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25And do we know what happened to the pennies?
0:39:25 > 0:39:27My grandfather was true to his word.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30He promised his dad he never would spend those two pennies,
0:39:30 > 0:39:31and he didn't.
0:39:31 > 0:39:36And I'm sure, as a family, it's really important to all of you to
0:39:36 > 0:39:39keep the story alive and make sure it's told in the right way.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41Yes, my father and now me,
0:39:41 > 0:39:45we're very active members of Belfast Titanic Society and our role
0:39:45 > 0:39:50there is really to preserve and protect the story of Titanic.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52Long may it continue and be respected.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55- Susie, thank you very much indeed. - Thank you.
0:39:55 > 0:40:00Over 1,500 people died that fateful night, affecting countless families,
0:40:00 > 0:40:03but it's heartening that, more than a century later,
0:40:03 > 0:40:06the memory of those that perished still lives on.
0:40:10 > 0:40:14Well, that was a really, really successful house tour,
0:40:14 > 0:40:17and I've given Ruth and Stewart some time
0:40:17 > 0:40:21so they can contemplate what their next move is going to be.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24I hope they're not going to disappoint me on this one.
0:40:31 > 0:40:36Well, we've shown you quite a broad range of properties, but I think...
0:40:36 > 0:40:40I think it would be fair for me to say that there was one.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42I thought there was going to be two, but then there was one
0:40:42 > 0:40:46that really hit home and, of course, it was our Mystery House.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49For me, it had everything that we dreamt of, really.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51There's no compromising on what we can do.
0:40:51 > 0:40:55We can do glamping, we can have the animals,
0:40:55 > 0:40:57we can build another property, possibly.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59You know, there's lots of things that we could do.
0:40:59 > 0:41:03I wanted that project, I wanted them rundown down barns
0:41:03 > 0:41:04so I could do them up.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07- That's what I wanted, yeah. - What happens next?
0:41:07 > 0:41:11We're planning on going back tomorrow, have a look around
0:41:11 > 0:41:12tomorrow before we go back home.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16- Right.- We've already spoke to Charlie, and Ruth's mum.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18They're desperate to get out to look at it,
0:41:18 > 0:41:21so we're looking at organising that in the next couple of weeks.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23- So you really are prepared to move quickly?- Yeah.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26Our house has just gone through, we've just found out today,
0:41:26 > 0:41:29so we're looking at completing on that in the next two weeks.
0:41:29 > 0:41:30Fantastic.
0:41:30 > 0:41:36So we're waiting on Gillian to say yes, Charlie to say yes, and then
0:41:36 > 0:41:39if everything goes according to plan, say those magic words.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43- Yeah, we're looking at putting an offer in.- Brilliant!
0:41:43 > 0:41:45The Mystery House has worked its magic.
0:41:45 > 0:41:50Well, may it work its magic on the rest of the family as well.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53- We'll be rooting for you.- Thank you. - Do let us know, won't you?
0:41:53 > 0:41:56And I'd like an invite, actually, because I want
0:41:56 > 0:41:58any excuse to come back to this beautiful part of the world.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01- Want to see how you're getting on when you move in.- Definitely.
0:42:01 > 0:42:02- Thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:42:02 > 0:42:07I hope it all goes really well for you. I'm sure it will.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12I had a feeling when I saw tears of joy at the start of the
0:42:12 > 0:42:16house tour and smiles of relief on guess-the-price that we were
0:42:16 > 0:42:20onto a winner, and it's certainly been the case with Ruth and Stewart.
0:42:20 > 0:42:25They both adore our mystery farmhouse, and if the rest
0:42:25 > 0:42:29of the family agree, they could be living in beautiful Northern Ireland
0:42:29 > 0:42:34very soon, enjoying the kind of lifestyle that they all so crave.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38I'm keeping everything crossed for them. That's it from me.
0:42:38 > 0:42:41It's been the most wonderful few days
0:42:41 > 0:42:43and I'll see you again soon on Escape To The Country.
0:42:46 > 0:42:48Ruth and Stewart did revisit the Mystery House, and
0:42:48 > 0:42:53made an offer for the asking price, but lost out to another buyer.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56So, sadly, their house-hunt continues,
0:42:56 > 0:42:58and we wish them the very best of luck.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02If you would like to escape to the country in Northern Ireland,
0:43:02 > 0:43:10Scotland, Wales or England, and need our help, why not apply online?