Jurassic Coast Escape to the Country

This ruinous chapel you can see behind me was once the beating heart

of the community, and was also used as a smuggler's den before it was

consumed by the ravages of time and the elements.

Any ideas where I am?

Well, it's not easy, this one, so I'll give you a small clue.

On a clear day, you get stunning sea views.

Find out more in just a moment.

Today, I'm with a fun-loving couple

who have their sights set on a coastal business venture,

but I'm hoping the enveloping sea mists won't cloud their judgment.

-We've picked the worst day to come.

-Yeah!

You have beautiful views going that way.

We don't, do we? There's a power station over there.

Yes! Don't tell anyone!

Along the way, they also throw in

some unexpected property requirements.

Bigger party room, it's got a stage.

-Stage?!

-Yeah...

-What do you do at your parties?

-Didn't we say that, that we need a stage?

-Just showing off.

Today, I'm on the Jurassic Coast

in the deserted Dorset hamlet of Stanton St Gabriel.

Nestled behind the cliffs in the shadow of Golden Cap over there,

literally hundreds of metres from the sea.

Now, it's the elevated coastal position

that led to this tiny hamlet's eventual demise.

Dating back as far as the 11th century,

and was later abandoned during the 1700s.

An old manor house, and these rather romantic ruins are all that remain,

although services are still sometimes held here,

and even the occasional wedding.

It's just one of many charming locations this glorious stretch

of coastline has to offer.

A 95 mile-long world heritage site,

the Jurassic Coast lies in England's southwest,

along the counties of Devon and Dorset.

The highest point on the Jurassic Coast is Golden Cap,

below which, the exposed, crumbling cliffs

reveal fossils that date back 185 million years.

The rich and varied landscape of the region includes chalk downs,

limestone ridges and low-lying valleys

dotted with charming rural villages.

These are filled with thatched cottages and traditional pubs,

which are linked by lanes lined with hedgerows,

a natural feature of this area.

The West Dorset village of Burton Bradstock

features thatched buildings dating back

to the 16th and 17th centuries.

The church of St Mary was built in the late 14th century,

but was extensively restored in 1897.

Further west along the coast, the port town of Lyme Regis

is nicknamed the Pearl of Dorset,

and is known for its distinctive harbour wall, known as the cob.

This provides a breakwater for the town, and enabled Lyme Regis

to develop as both a thriving fishing and shipbuilding centre.

This protected, fragile stretch of coast is both a place where the

earth's geological history harks back to the age of the dinosaurs

and where the traditions of country life still survive.

Life along a beautiful coastline like this, as you might expect,

well, it doesn't come cheap.

The average price of a detached house in East Devon and West Dorset

comes in at around £400,000.

That's nearly £70,000 above the national figure.

But then it's not surprising

when you consider this part of the world is

an absolute mecca for those seeking a slice of country life.

Plus, it's also popular with second home-owners

looking to cash in on the lucrative holiday rentals market.

So, the number one rule if you're looking to get as much as possible

for your budget is to steer clear of the coastline.

But that's something today's buyers, well, they'd rather not do.

Fundraiser Jacqui and graphic designer Richie have been married

for ten years.

Their relationship began in a whirlwind romance.

We met on my 27th birthday, at a pub in London.

Following that, we went on a blind date, pretty much,

-and that was it, wasn't it?

-Yeah.

Kind of moved in with each other the day after.

They currently live with their cat, Squeaky,

in the Buckinghamshire commuter town of Great Missenden.

I grew up in Buckinghamshire, so I know the area quite well.

I think what we've realised now is, actually, we really want to go

and move into the proper countryside.

So we're looking to move to the Jurassic Coast,

and I know that's huge, and the area we've sort of narrowed it

down to, ideally, is sort of West Dorset, East Devon side.

The planned West Country move means Jacqui is leaving

her London-based job.

So, I currently work for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award,

and I guess I'm their chief fundraiser.

It's incredibly fulfilling. I love it.

I just felt it's time to do something for me.

The worst thing about my job now

is the amount of travelling I have to do.

It probably takes about three to four hours out of my day, most days.

But a new business opportunity beckons in Dorset.

When we move, plan A for me is to set up a glamping business.

We know lots of people that want to get out to the countryside,

but they just can't face proper camping,

and so, actually, we just thought,

"You know what, we'd love to do that.

"We'd love to set something up like that",

so it's got to be beautiful and picturesque and somewhere people

want to come back to on holiday

and feel that they've had a wilderness experience,

as much as anything else.

Richie has the freedom to work from anywhere

with good broadband internet.

Because I do graphic design, which is computer-based,

as long as I've got an internet connection, I can be anywhere,

so I can do two, three days from home, which means I'm more free

to live wherever I want.

The beautiful Jurassic Coast will allow a fresh start in the country,

a return to Jacqui's roots

and allow them to maintain links to London friends.

Well, I spent most of my childhood near sort of Lyme Regis area,

staying at my grandparents' house. So I know the area fairly well.

There's lots of other family members around there.

It's not too far for people to come.

It's not too far for us to get back to see people, either.

The couple plan to develop new hobbies in Dorset, and Richie wants

to put some practical family heirlooms to good use.

Things I'd definitely like to do more of, to play with

my grandad's old tools which I've inherited. He was a carpenter.

He's got lots of beautiful old wood-handled tools.

What I'll be making, I don't know. It could be anything.

Rocking horses, cuckoo clocks or perhaps just the odd bird box.

Jacqui and Richie ideally want to be in West Dorset,

close to the Jurassic Coast.

However, they're prepared to consider locations further inland

and also venture across the border into Devon.

I'm meeting our couple at the Dorset cliffs

to find out more about their move.

-Welcome, both of you, to the Jurassic Coast.

-Thank you.

You both love it here, don't you?

-Absolutely love it.

-Oh, yeah, absolutely love it.

-What's not to love? It's gorgeous, isn't it?

-Exactly.

-We've come down a lot recently.

-We've come down loads,

we got a camper van so we could come and explore more and decide

-exactly where we want to live.

-But you want to be within striking distance...

-Within striking distance, yup.

-West Dorset, really.

So, the West Dorset part of Jurassic Coast, rather than the East part.

Yeah. How close to the sea would you like to be?

-Well, not this close!

-No!

But within 10, 15 miles is ideal.

-What are you going to do here?

-Plan A is to give glamping a go.

-Just because I think I'll be quite good at it.

-There's a market for it.

-Yep.

-There is?

-While there is, it might work.

It could be something else, though.

Have you been involved in hospitality before?

My parents are.

They bought some holiday cottages and run those.

-So, I've got a fair idea about the work involved.

-Yeah.

I've got itchy feet, so I've got to have something to do,

I'm not coming down here to sort of

-sit around and drink gin.

-Very busy person.

No, although there are attractions to that lifestyle, admittedly!

OK, well, let's talk about the house itself.

What are you looking for?

Basically, we're after something fairly compact, so three bedrooms.

-OK.

-Has to look nice. I mean, it has to have potential,

so we're prepared to do a bit of work.

Happy to do heavy DIY renovation ourselves.

-The land is probably more important, in a way.

-Setting.

And it's something you can't really articulate until you get there.

It's got to just look beautiful, because that's the whole experience

we want to have for our guests, so if it's some big, flat field

where there isn't a view or the view's a bit rubbish,

it's not going to work.

Have you got an idea of how much land you think you'd want?

Ideally, three acres plus.

OK, I've got an idea, then, in my mind, of the style,

the kind of thing you're looking for. Let's talk about price.

How much have you got to spend on this?

It's a pretty big move for you guys.

Yeah, so we've scraped everything together.

-Counted all the piggy banks?

-We have, we have!

And somewhere in the 800,000 mark would be perfect.

-OK.

-And within that, we'd like a little bit of scope if we were doing

-huge renovations...

-All right, look,

we've got three very interesting properties,

very different in their own way, as well.

-Ready to go?

-Definitely.

-Yeah, absolutely.

With a maximum budget of £800,000,

Jacqui and Richie would like a detached property

with quirky charm

and at least three bedrooms.

They want around three acres of land for a business,

and the house should be close to the coast,

and to a village pub,

to draw in their prospective

holiday-makers.

We've selected a rich mix of properties which tally with

Richie and Jacqui's wish list.

I'll be asking them to guess the price of each one

before I reveal it.

Our final offering will be the mystery house.

It has potential for their business,

but with a difference - which might make a big splash.

Our property search begins in the Devon hamlet of Rawridge,

situated in the Otter Valley.

A mile away is the village of Upottery,

made up of impeccable thatched cottages

and set in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Parts of the local Church of St Giles date from the 12th-century,

and I'm hoping that Richie and Jacqui will be pleased to discover

that the local pub is both a centre for the community

and serves local ales.

Back in Rawridge, the first property we've come to see

is in a lovely rural location.

Well, you'll notice we've come over the border into Devon.

-We are within that 15 mile to the coast, but only just.

-Yep, just.

-And this is the house.

-Looks massive.

-It is substantial.

And really well done.

The barn itself dates back a couple of hundred years.

-All right.

-OK.

-That is the old farm, and it was split up.

-Yep.

-That's included.

-I think you said you'd like the idea of a quirky property.

-Mm.

-This is definitely quirky.

-Yep.

-Want to go inside?

-Yes, please.

-Please.

-Come with me.

This handsome barn conversion has happily prompted

initial positive reactions.

As we enter, hopefully, the ceiling height in places

won't hamper their enthusiasm.

Mind your heads.

Now, ducking your head might be a bit of a theme for you

in this house, Richie.

-The main event.

-That's nice.

-It's a really nicely done kitchen.

Nice, warm cosy feeling. Nice thick walls.

-Nice range.

-That will be a feature.

If you've been outside in the fields to do whatever you do,

-it's constantly on.

-Yeah.

-Yeah?!

Assume the position, that's it, bum warmer!

-Yeah, it's lovely.

-Great size, as well. Not too big.

-Yup.

Pleasantly surprised with the extra ceiling height.

I mean, let's talk about that.

We've walked through the front door,

ducked to get from the front hallway,

-you've ducked twice.

-That wouldn't necessarily put me off.

-Wouldn't it?

-Depends on the rest of everything.

-OK.

Should we keep looking through?

-Yeah, lovely, thank you.

-Come with me.

I'm pleased the low beams won't necessarily

be a deal-breaker for Richie.

As we head back through,

a downstairs bathroom is off to the right.

And then we come to the main reception space.

Now, the living room is... I'd call it a snug, really.

Oh, right, yeah. It does feel a bit enclosed.

-Oh, I know what you mean...

-But it is cosy.

-It's cosy in a good way, yeah.

-It's got a fireplace.

Well, living in the country, you've got to have an open fire,

or at least a solid fuel burner, haven't you?

-Yeah, that's a beast, isn't it?

-That's a big beefy one.

All right, now, through there, you've got a utility, really, a boot room.

-Right.

-In order to get to the boot room you either come in through

the main house or you walk in round the back.

-I think maybe think about reconfiguration...

-Mm.

-..or use it for something else.

-Yeah.

-But don't think of it

as an office, because I've got plans for that.

-Shall we go upstairs and look at the bedroom?

-Please.

-Yes, please.

-Come with me.

The downstairs seemed to be gaining overall approval.

Up on the first floor, two cosy, characterful guest bedrooms

lie under the eaves. One with an en-suite bathroom.

But there is another bathroom

immediately to the left of the stairway.

Beyond this, right at the far end of the corridor,

lies the master bedroom and en-suite shower.

Have either of you two ever been skiing before?

Oh, yeah, it's like a lodge.

-The quirk continues, in a good way.

-Really cosy.

You can see the conversion here now, can't you?

-They've done a lovely job.

-You like it, do you?

-Yeah.

The quirky bits of this house are sort of ringing bells for you,

-aren't they?

-Mm.

-But, at the moment, there's been a lot of ducking.

A little bit too much ducking, probably, yeah.

Yeah, there's too much in this house for Richie.

I'm not sure yet whether this is the house for you,

-but maybe we won't know until we go outside, so come with me.

-Yeah.

Though the bedrooms' low beams are a drawback,

I'm still hoping that what lies outside this property

could prove a selling point.

At the rear of the barn conversion,

there's a beautifully secluded patio and garden.

Outbuildings offer the chance for Jacqui and Richie

to build a workshop, and to have an office for their business.

It also comes with plenty of that all-important land,

and sits in a very attractive setting.

-Some great views here, aren't there?

-Oh, yeah, lovely.

-Fantastic views, yeah.

-Good vista.

So, you've got, all in all,

something approaching eight acres.

-Right.

-That's good.

-I was hoping you'd see the benefit

of, I mean, pitching your tent or what have you, coming out,

looking out at this beautiful view in the morning,

-I think, would be pretty special.

-It is a nice spot.

How much do you think this house is on the market for?

I think it's

765,000.

That's very precise, isn't it?! He's shaking his head.

Too high, too high. I think it's closer to 695,000.

OK.

Heading in the right direction.

-Should have kept going.

-Mm.

This house is on the market for £650,000.

-Wow.

-Cool.

-Yeah.

-That's a good price for it.

-It is a good price.

-Well, I'm pleased that you both guessed over.

Have a look around, refresh yourself of what you get here, and I'll catch

up with you in a moment. All right?

-Yep.

-Lovely. Cheers!

-See you in a bit.

Under budget by £150,000,

this two-storey barn conversion

provides a well-fitted kitchen and dining area,

a cosy sitting room, with wood burner,

and the three bedrooms Richie

and Jacqui asked for.

It comes with eight acres of land,

and the outbuildings offer space for offices and a workshop.

Oh, wow. This is nice, nice and bright.

Yeah, could use it for an office, maybe.

I think there's probably room in the house for an office,

and you could probably use this for,

-you know...

-Messing around in.

-Yeah.

I think this house is lovely.

A lot of great quirk to it.

And in terms of how it would work for us,

I think it would need to be a little more secluded.

We wouldn't necessarily need eight acres of land.

We could go sacrifice some of the land for a bit more seclusion,

if that meant we could be further in towards the coast.

I think it's a lovely house.

I love the thick walls and the exposed stone.

Unfortunately, some of the ceilings are a bit low,

especially for Richie, but even for me,

so I'm not sure if that's something we could really deal with,

day in, day out.

-Hi!

-Hi, how many times did he bang his head?

-Ah, nil!

-Nil? Oh, well done.

So, overall? Happy with everything you've seen so far?

-Yeah.

-Yeah. Good first house.

-Good start.

-Right, OK.

-Yeah.

-Sounds like, "Could do better."

-Let's see if we can. Come with me.

-Great.

Dorset's dramatic coastline and stunning countryside has been

an inspiration to generations of artists and craftsmen.

Richie wants to put his grandfather's carpentry tools

to good use when he and Jacqui move to the area.

So, we've arranged for them both to meet master craftsman

David Saltmarsh, who specialises in bespoke handmade chairs.

So, David, this is a beautiful spot you've got.

What made you move here, and how long have you been here?

Well, we loved the area since we came down here,

and decided to move down.

We've been down here about 13 years now.

So, you working on any chairs at the moment we could have a look at?

Yeah, I'm always working on a chair, and I've got one nearly finished,

so maybe you can come and help me stick it together.

-Yes.

-Cool, let's go.

-Great.

So, I can see lots of lovely hand tools here.

Yeah, I use mainly hand tools, but I have a few power tools,

but we're completely off-grid,

so the power tools that I do use are powered by wind and the sun.

So, are there any techniques that you use to make the chairs

-that you could show us now?

-Yeah, I can show you the shaving horse.

Yeah, great!

The woods David likes to work with are locally sourced ash or cherry.

The trees are felled in winter, and the timber is used whilst it's still

green, and contains moisture, making it easier to work with.

So, which part of the chair is this going to be?

This will probably be a leg. Do you want to have a go? Are you ready?

-Yeah, I'd love to.

-You can have a go on this one.

-Right.

-You're going to sit on here and clamp it with your feet.

And how hard do you need to pull it?

-You'll figure it out.

-So, what angle?

-Flatter than that.

-Like that?

-Yeah, like that.

Like that. Yeah, there you go.

-Oh, it's hard. You can feel it getting flatter, can't you?

-Yeah.

Am I a natural?

-Oh, definitely.

-Oh, yeah!

-Definitely!

I'm impressed, I'm impressed.

David makes Windsor chairs,

where a solid piece of wood is used as the seat, but the back and legs

are individually crafted lengths of timber.

After the wood has been shaved,

it's over to the pole lathe to refine and finesse his design.

This part of the process is now in Richie's hands.

That's it. It'll take a while to pick up but you'll get it.

-I feel kind of connected to it, because you...

-Exactly, yeah.

-You're doing a whole movement.

-Yeah, you got to get the rhythm right.

-Yeah, I don't know if I got the rhythm right but...!

-You'll get it.

After crafting the individual chair pieces,

the moist wood needs to dry before it can be assembled.

So, we're going to put these spindles in - one, two and three.

-So, tap them in with this.

-With this?

-Yeah, tap them in.

The back and legs of the chair are secured to the seat

in drilled sockets.

-There.

-It's like ribs.

And now we've got to line this up, and get them all on there.

So, point those, as we go down from the... That's it.

Get that one. Last one in.

Can you feel that creak?

-Wow.

-Oh, yeah, that's a lovely chair.

-There it is.

Been great to see all this in action. Been really inspired

-by this.

-Yeah.

-I'll probably come down and ask you for some more help

-when we've moved down here.

-Oh, I'd love that.

-I'd love to see you both again.

-Yeah.

You've been a great host, thank you so much.

After being inspired by David's impressive carpentry,

it's time to return to our house hunt,

where hopefully we can carve out a favourable outcome.

Our second property also lies within the Devon border,

in the village of Woodbury Salterton,

and closer to the coast.

Woodbury Salterton has a vibrant and close-knit community,

near to some of Devon's most beautiful countryside,

and it's home to a thatched 15th-century pub and a church,

both local meeting points.

-OK, then, house number two is everything in white.

-Mm!

-Hey!

-Wow, that is massive.

-That's a wow, we got a wow.

What do we think of the style of this property?

Yeah, yeah, it looks sort of country cottage.

-It was knocked about and extended just prior to 2015.

-Mm.

-So there's a bit of history attached to it.

-Notice some nice new

-double-glazed wooden windows, which are good.

-Yeah.

There's plenty to see and explore.

-The footpath's right on your doorstep.

-Yep.

For guests and maybe you.

And you shouldn't be banging your head as much in this house.

-Good.

-Shall we try?

-Yeah!

-Yeah.

Originally two separate cottages,

this extensive, beautifully converted property

seems to have caught Jacqui and Richie's attention.

From the front doorway, the living room is at the end of a spacious

entrance hall.

Let's start with the living room,

-because there's a bit of a flow to this house.

-Oh, right.

-Workable space.

-No fireplace.

-Nice floor.

There is a working fire elsewhere in the house.

-Right.

-Because this isn't your only living room.

-But you've got a dedicated living room at the far end.

-Cool.

It'd be a good party room, it's got a stage.

-Yeah.

-And that sort of stuff.

-Stage?!

-What do you do at your parties?!

-Didn't we say that,

-that we need a stage?

-Just showing off.

I quite like it, because this is clearly the extension,

but they've managed to keep so much light thrown into this room,

-haven't they?

-Yep.

-Mm.

-It's good.

Let me show you the kitchen. I rather like it.

I wondered whether it was around there.

You see what I mean about the flow?

-OK.

-Oh, yeah, nice sort of hand built, isn't it?

-Yeah, it's quirky, isn't it?

-Nice ceiling.

-Good beams.

It's really nice, the way they've done it,

really sort of unique, isn't it?

I think so. So, let's have the tester, then.

-You're cooking... Oh, look, confident!

-Ooh!

And I've got this early warning system of my hair.

-So, you're all right, then?

-No problem.

Through there, you've got a downstairs wet room and loo.

OK, and then you can go up the spiral staircase,

which I think will be a good office cum craft room.

-Happy so far?

-Yes.

-Yeah, yeah, looks nice.

Let's scoot through this way,

and I'll take you upstairs to the bedrooms. Come with me.

It's great that they not only appreciate the high spec finish of

the living areas, but that Richie can easily walk tall

through all of them.

The first floor is reached from the main stairs in the hallway.

A bathroom with a charmingly old-fashioned feel includes

a freestanding bath.

The four bright bedrooms, all with wooden floorboards, and one with

en suite, are tastefully decorated

with a nautical theme and natural features.

But I'm going to show Jacqui and Richie what I think

could be the master.

-Just mind your step here, and your head, in particular, Richie.

-OK.

Is this the master?

Well, it depends on what you want from a master bedroom.

The one at the end has views down over the hills, and is en suite.

-Right.

-But I think this has a nicer outlook.

-Yeah, it's lovely.

-I like the skylights,

I like the shape of the alcove there, and...

What's the feel you're getting from this house?

I haven't fallen in love with it... yet.

You were cooing more in the first house.

The other house had a bit more personality about it,

but you could put personality into this house.

You're absolutely spot-on.

It's up to someone to put a bit of atmosphere into the house.

-Yep.

-That's the fun stuff.

-A bit of you two.

I'm hoping Jacqui will reserve judgment,

as outside is a very generous proposition.

The property has two garages

and a landscaped rear garden, with spectacular views.

A timber summerhouse could be repurposed as a workshop.

What's more, the glamping business could be accommodated here, too.

In regards to land,

you get around four acres.

-Right.

-Quieter than the first property?

-Much quieter.

-Yes.

-Yeah.

-Way quieter.

-What are you thinking?

-Well, I think this could work.

-As a whole package...

-Uh-huh?

Not sure if I'm falling in love with it.

I know that's just a completely stupid thing to say.

I think you've got every right to want to fall in love with something.

How about guessing the price?

I've had a figure in my head.

-It's £725,000.

-OK.

-Jacqui?

-Well, I think it might be a bit more,

so I'm going to say

£750,000.

Good guess.

It's on the market

-for offers around £795,000.

-Mm.

-Mm.

Whilst we're here, I think you should have a look around

the property and the land, get a real feel for it,

refresh your minds, and I will catch up with you out the front in a bit.

-All right?

-Lovely.

-See you in a mo.

-Thank you.

Priced at £795,000,

this sympathetically-converted property

rings in just under Richie and Jacqui's budget.

It provides two living areas that really make a design statement.

There's a bespoke, open-plan kitchen-diner,

and the four bedrooms offer plenty of space for guests.

What's more, the four acres of land are ripe for developing a potential

glamping business on.

Although the land itself is lovely and a good size,

there is a house that is directly overlooking it,

and the view, as well, although lovely,

isn't quite what I had in mind.

I was expecting it to be a bit more rural.

Positive things about this house are the layout.

I love the quirky layout.

I like the kitchen sort of social area,

lovely little windows

and, yeah, it's very tastefully done.

Right, then. Two properties down.

That's it for today.

Hopefully, something to talk about and consider over a pint or two

-this evening.

-Great idea.

-Absolutely, yeah.

I might even buy you one.

It's the second day of our house-hunting adventure

on the Jurassic Coast,

with Buckinghamshire couple Jacqui and Richie.

Armed with £800,000,

they're looking for a country property with personality and scale,

ideally near the sea,

where they can create a luxury camping business venture.

Coming up, our mystery house serves up an unexpected way

of opening doors to guests.

-It feels more like you want to be on holiday here.

-Yeah.

Well, you want to use the beach, don't you?! You want to...

Basically, we're going to be on permanent holiday.

Well, someone is!

And I fulfil a lifelong ambition

in one of the country's oldest breweries.

This is one of my dreams, to be able to bathe in beer.

Well, I'm not entirely sure we've hit the nail on the head quite yet,

but that's what the mystery property is all about.

So far, well, I think we're struggling to find the balance

between getting the right house that also has this wonderful

glamping business potential.

But, for me, I think Jacqui really needs to fall in love with the house

itself, maybe at first sight.

But do they both really need this full-on glamping business

and all the compromises that come with it?

Maybe they're after a property that just gives them something else,

something to keep Jacqui's mind ticking over.

This house could have just that.

So, did you lie in bed last night thinking

what you might be seeing today?

It would be nice to see something a bit...

..a bit closer to West Dorset.

And I'm hoping that it might be a castle.

LAUGHTER

-Oh!

-I think it might be...

-Or a windmill!

I think it might be a bungalow.

But in a really amazing setting.

At the moment,

you're both way off.

THEY LAUGH

The mystery house is in the West Dorset village of Morcombelake,

our closest location to the coast.

Amenities include a farm shop,

post office and a church built in the early 1840s.

The village is also home to a factory famous for making the

Dorset knob biscuit, part of the county's culinary heritage.

In an elevated position above the village and the coast,

our mystery house is situated down a quiet country lane,

and offers Richie and Jacqui a completely different take

on how to furnish themselves with potential income.

-This is the mystery house.

-Oh, wow. Yeah.

-It's cute.

You're not just going to a thatched house,

you're also going to a converted coach house, as well.

-Oh, yeah, lovely.

-That is the mystery element.

This is no glamping business.

-Our thoughts are a self-catering business.

-Mm.

-Yeah, that's good.

-OK? Could we live in a house like this?

He's lovely,

and it's a lovely little spot.

-Great spot.

-Can I just say, we've picked the worst day to come here.

-Yeah!

-You have beautiful views going that way.

-We don't, do we?

-What?

-There's a power station over there.

Yeah! Don't tell anyone!

-So, very intrigued to see inside.

-Yeah. Good.

-Very intrigued.

I'm intrigued to see if you're going to bang your head or not.

-Yeah!

-Let's find out. Come with me.

Although the weather is misty, they seem to have an extremely

clear view on the mystery thatched cottage.

As we enter through the front door,

we find it opens onto a kitchen-diner.

Come on in.

-Yes, nice.

-Cottagey.

-It's nice.

-Characterful.

-Cosy.

-This house has lots of smaller rooms, if you like.

So, this is just the kitchen, kitchen-breakfast room, if you like.

More of a day area there, and a small snug next door.

-Very much cottage-esque proportions here.

-Yeah.

-The size doesn't put me off...yet.

-What do you think about this

kind of house? Is it something you would like to live in?

-Yeah, I would definitely consider it.

-Let's keep looking around.

From the kitchen, a lovely light conservatory

runs down the side of the property,

allowing access to both the garden and the sitting room.

So, the snug has views.

-Quite a snug, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, again, a bit of updating required,

-but...

-19-sort-of-20s kind of vibe.

Get rid of everything that makes you think

that it's an older person's house and you've got a lovely space here.

-Mm.

-Yeah.

-You've got a nice flow, haven't you?

-You know, you've got the kitchen...

-Yeah.

-..into a day area,

bags of light there in that conservatory,

-and then coming into here.

-Yeah, it's cute.

-It's cute?

It's cute. You know, I think we need to see the whole package.

-OK.

-To make judgment.

-I'd normally take you to the bedrooms now,

but I know you're dying to see the holiday accommodation,

and it actually could be somewhere that Richie sleeps

when he's come home late from the pub anyway. Come with me.

Up on the first floor, there are three bedrooms in total.

Two doubles, along with an additional single,

set into the eaves.

Though none are en suite, they all make use of the family bathroom.

I'm sure they would definitely want to put their own stamp

on the interior of the mystery property.

In stark contrast, the business side of this package is ready to go.

The detached two-bedroom holiday cottage is converted from

a stable block and features underfloor heating.

Got a bit more space here, actually, than the main house.

-Oh, right.

-This is cool!

-Yeah, this is cute, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Now, this has only recently received planning consent

to be a holiday cottage. You've got two bedrooms.

You've got a double and single. And a bathroom.

The great thing about this cottage, it's not part of the house.

-No. No, separate.

-You're very self-contained here.

Yeah, it's lovely. You can totally see people

-having a happy holiday in here.

-Yeah.

-It feels more like you want to be on holiday here.

-Yeah.

You're a bike ride or a long walk to the nearest bit of coastline.

Seaside means holidays, doesn't it?

-Yep.

-Yeah.

-You want to use the beach, don't you?

-You want to use...

-Basically, we're going to be on permanent holiday.

Well, someone is!

But, of course, proximity to the sea comes at a price, doesn't it?

-Oh.

-Of course.

-Come with me.

It remains to be seen if the mystery property will tempt them to reassess

their business aspirations.

On the opposite side of the lane is a large parking area

and a timber outbuilding that currently houses a workshop,

double garage and storage space.

Time to take in the half acre of garden.

-So, here we are, in the lovely garden.

-Gorgeous garden.

-Yeah.

-Really nice, isn't it? Mature?

-Yeah. Lovely trees.

Very manageable looking.

I'm going to continue with this lie, there's great views here.

-Could be!

-That building there...

-Yup.

-Mm.

..again, there's no guarantees,

you'd have to get planning consent, but look at it,

you've got a footprint of a fantastic basis

-for a holiday let there.

-Definitely.

-Yeah. It's lovely.

-A little summerhouse there.

-I know.

-I was thinking workshop.

You don't have the land for your camping.

-You've got the holiday let.

-It's a different offer.

-But you do have a lovely garden.

-Yeah.

-It's a lovely spot, as well.

-Mm.

-Yeah. It's great.

This is a typical mystery property, isn't it?

It's got you guessing.

All in all, as a package, it is fantastic.

So I have no idea how much it's worth,

-in case that was your next question.

-Well, I was going that way!

-It was coming.

-Yeah.

I'm going to guess at...

..£695,000.

-OK.

-I'm going to say...

..740,000.

Not far off, Richie.

This mystery house is on the market for offers around £685,000.

-That's good.

-That is good.

-It's a good price.

-It's a great package, actually.

Because there's so much to look at, go and have the scoot around -

all the outbuildings, maybe go back inside the house,

and I'll catch you whenever you're done. All right?

-Lovely.

-See you in a moment.

-Great.

-Cheers!

£115,000 under their budget,

our thatched mystery property

presents Jacqui and Richie with a different option

for their business, comprising a thatched three-bedroom home,

plus a separate two-bed holiday let.

Although it doesn't offer the acreage,

it's in an ideal coastal spot for those prospective guests.

It was a good mystery house

in that it showed something we probably wouldn't

have looked at online. However, there's a lot to it.

Although the house I'm still not sure about,

because I still feel, with my giant proportions,

a little bit constricted.

The rest of it is a good package.

So, yeah, overall, surprising, in a good way.

So, the mystery house is a bit on the poky side,

but that's balanced out and over-compensated for

by the fact it has a holiday cottage.

Really good mystery property and something, I think,

that will make us really think and perhaps even consider.

-Here they are.

-Hello!

-Grinning from ear to ear.

Now, tell me,

who gets dibs on that summerhouse?

-Me.

-Me.

-Oh. Well, maybe you can sort that out on the way

to somewhere where we can sit down and have a bit of a conflab

-and decide what you want do.

-Let's do it.

-Sounds good?

-Yeah.

-Perfect.

-Let's go.

For centuries, Dorset has been renowned for its beers, and more

than a dozen real ale breweries have opened up in Dorset

in the last decade alone. However, in Bridport,

Palmers Brewery can boast continuous production

for over two centuries.

To find out more about its enduring history,

I'm meeting John Palmer,

whose great-grandfather bought the brewery over 100 years ago.

-John, hello.

-All right?

-Great to meet you.

I understand you must be fourth generation?

-That's correct.

-Walking here, it was like going back in time.

And, then, here, we're slap bang in the middle of a brewery in a town.

-You don't see that every day.

-No, you don't.

-Not any more, anyway.

No, we're a very scarce commodity these days.

The brewery began construction in 1794.

The late 19th century saw two brothers, John and Cleeves Palmer,

buy the site, and the family has run it ever since.

I always say that we hold this in trust for the next generation.

So, 200 years ago,

when your great-great-grandfather bought this brewery,

talk to me about what we would see right here.

Well, you would've seen horses and wooden barrels,

it would have felt remarkably similar.

The building has changed little in over 100 years,

and the 1879 waterwheel, which used to power the brewery, still turns.

When it was completed in 1796,

Palmers Brewery featured the latest technology.

These traditional methods remain today to ensure distinctive tastes

for the company's ales.

Darren Batten is Palmers' head brewer.

He's been working at the company for 25 years, and is going to give me

an insight into the time-honoured process.

-Darren, good to see you.

-Hi.

I must say, looking around this place,

I've been to a few breweries in my time and you've got a real mix of...

..a juxtaposition, if you like, of old and new, haven't you?

Yeah, it's a traditional brewing process, so we do exactly what

a modern brewery would do, but we do it manually.

We have no computers doing it. We have to do it ourselves.

It all starts with this magnificent 1885 machine,

which is still used every day and is where each pint begins.

Grains of barley are crushed to expose their sugars

and then turn them into grist,

which is then transported by the conveyor belt to the grist case.

So, you're doing it yourselves here now, at the moment.

Let's talk through the process, because I can see things

-that look familiar.

-This is the grist case. This is the mash tun.

This is the steels masher, so this is where we combine the grist

-with the water to start the brewing process.

-Yeah.

You imagine this was 19th-century, mixed with...

This looks a bit newer.

This is a new piece. 1967, so this is the new mash tun.

Oh, it's a spring chicken at, what, 60-odd years old, is it?!

It's not that old. It's only 50.

After water is combined with the grist, it's collected

in the mash tun, where more water is added

and the starches in the grist gradually convert to sugars.

The liquid, now called wort,

then moves to copper tanks

known as brew kettles, where hops are added and the mixture is boiled.

So, think of that as a big tea strainer for hops.

I'm already getting a sense of this exciting operation.

-Can I see some more?

-Yeah, definitely, yeah. Come with me.

-Thank you.

After cooling, the wort is transferred to fermentation tanks.

These date back to the early 1900s.

So, this is the beer ready to have the yeast put into it.

-This is a new beer.

-You've never brewed this before?

No, completely new brew. It's our seasonal out for spring,

-and it's the first-ever brew.

-Do you make a small amount first?

Really, this is a small amount.

8,500 pints is the smallest I can brew.

So it's a case of brewing it and hoping it tastes good in a week's time.

I imagine this is the stuff, this is the yeast.

This is the yeast we've been using since 1976, 3,000 generations old,

so if we used a different yeast,

you wouldn't recognise the flavour of our beers.

It's in these large fermentation tanks

that the liquid starts to become clearly recognisable as beer.

This is one of my dreams, to be able to bathe in beer!

But you could do - there's so much of it. You've got an idea,

but you don't really know how it's going to taste, do you?

I really don't know until we actually taste it in a week's time.

But we've got some beer we've already made that you can taste.

Oh, good, good, good! Well, finish off, then, and I'll start

lathering up a bit of a taste for it!

After a week of fermentation,

the beer is casked and matured in the cellar.

Today, the brewery produces five distinctive ales.

This is our IPA,

which we've been brewing for 40, 50 years here at Palmers.

40, 50 years? Goodness me!

I tell you what, it doesn't taste too strong,

-got a nice malty taste to it as well, hasn't it?

-Yeah.

4.2%, so a real English Palmers IPA.

Tempting as it is to stay and sample all these different ales,

it's time to catch up with our house buyers, to see whether

they've come to a final decision on what to do next.

Well, Richie and Jacqui reacted pretty well to the mystery house,

but, on reflection, I'm unsure whether it's a genuine contender or

perhaps it's just opened their eyes up to different kinds of property.

Let's find out.

So, let's talk about the properties.

What, if any, are up for consideration, then?

Out of the three, the favourite would have been the mystery house.

Now, the mystery property, it was, I suppose, furthest from the mark,

if you like, of what you said you were after,

but I felt like we almost got closest, as an option.

It seemed to have more scope.

The location was definitely the best of all.

I think that's really helped us to crystallise the fact that we want to

be at West Dorset and maybe slightly into East Devon.

You seem a lot happier in the Dorset end than you do in the Devon side.

-Definitely.

-Yeah, I mean, part of the reason for that

is there's just an atmosphere, for me,

around West Dorset that's different.

So, let's move forward in your search.

Are you still hell-bent

on finding that house with that dreamy land?

Yeah, I'd still like to have some land.

I'm not sure we need even three acres.

Could be slightly less land, more towards where we're at.

What's the plan going forward?

So, we're going to just hit the estate agent's.

I'm just going to be on their case on a daily basis.

Lucky them!

But what about your living accommodation now?

Is your camper van going to be parked up in various spots around

-the south coast?

-We're lucky enough that Jacqui's mum and dad have got

a place on Exmoor that we can stay at for a while.

You're ideally placed now, then.

You've got cash in the bank and you're going to be living nearby

and you know the area even better now.

Whatever you decide, do please let us know.

-Thank you very much.

-Keep in touch.

-Thank you.

-Great.

Quite often, I meet couples whose budget doesn't necessarily

measure up to their aspirations.

But that's not the case with Jacqui and Richie.

I think this past couple of days has proved to them that they can afford

what they're after,

they will just have to bide their time and wait for the right property

to come on the market.

And in moving down towards Jacqui's parents,

I think that will put them in the ideal position to pounce on

the right kind of property as and when it comes up for sale.

I wish them both the very best of luck.

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