France - Brittany Escape to the Continent

At 7,000 years old, this burial chamber and the standing stones

around it are older than the ancient pyramids of Egypt.

And reveal a British link so strong,

this region is affectionately named Little Britain.

So find out which country I'm in, in just a moment,

as we escape to the continent.

Today, we're helping a couple wanting more space

to create their very own slice of horsey heaven.

These floors, you could play tennis in here!

And, exploring a new life in a new land comes with lots of surprises.

-Oh, we're not greedy, but I'm quite pleased about that.

-Yeah!

In fact, it may all seem too good to be true.

Oh, sorry, I'm going to cry.

Today, I'm in Brittany, in the northwest of France,

and this is the Cairn de Barnenez,

one of the oldest megalithic mausoleums in the world.

Now, both this mound and the standing stones around it

form part of a bigger collection that stretches along

the Atlantic Coast from Western France

through Cornwall, Wales, and Ireland.

No-one knows exactly why this was built,

but it shows the close connection between our Celtic ancestors

who migrated to this region over 1,000 years ago.

So, it's no surprise this stunning location today still draws thousands

of British families looking to call this area home.

Set in the northwest portion of our nearest continental neighbour,

Brittany covers over 13,000 square miles

of French coast and countryside.

The most southerly of the six Celtic nations,

strong historic ties with the British Isles are reinforced

by the fact that the two counties are only separated

by 100 miles of the English channel.

What's more, there's something about the Brittany's scenic landscape

that's strangely familiar.

Wide, sandy, and serene beaches are reminiscent of vistas in Cornwall,

and the native tongue is closely related

to the Cornish and Welsh languages.

1,500 miles of intricate coastline brought with them a strong fishing

and seafaring tradition.

Then, further inland, the scenery transforms to heathland,

farmland, and peaceful rural villages with charming traditional

Breton farmhouses that offer exceptional value for money.

And, it's the affordability coupled with a strong cultural connection

that's a major draw to many British house buyers.

So, how is this all reflected in the property prices?

Well, your money will go a long way in this part of France.

The average house here costs £132,000.

Now that's a staggering 50% less than the UK average.

And, if you fancy keeping some animals,

well, that won't break the bank either.

An acre of pasture land is just 9%,

yes, 9%, of what you would pay across the Channel.

So, with that in mind, it's little wonder today's

buyers are keen to see what's on offer here.

Born and bred in the Midlands, Paul and his wife Lindsay

have been married for 20 years,

and first laid eyes on one another when they were both students.

We met at university at Nottingham...at a party.

We literally bumped into each other in a corridor, and actually the rest

of that story's probably not suitable for television, to be fairly honest.

So, yeah, it was nearly 30 years ago.

Our first date was in Pizzaland, Nottingham, cos I'm a class act.

For the past six years,

they've lived in this Northamptonshire barn conversion

that they share with their pet dog, Portland.

But, there's a larger four-legged motive that's prompting them

to seek a bigger property across the Channel.

I started endurance riding about seven years ago with my only horse,

Redwin, and it's an absolutely massive thing in France.

They are the best in the world at it,

so it would be a really good place to be based.

Endurance riding is controlled long-distance cross-country

racing on horseback, and Lindsay competes at an international level,

with ambitions to improve her sporting standard further.

But, Lindsay doesn't have the space to keep her horse

at their existing property. So, she has high hopes that

a move to Brittany will afford them more land for even more horses.

I started looking online at equestrian properties in France

and just couldn't believe what you could actually

get for your money over there.

The basic financial reason of freeing up

the equity in paying off the mortgage is attractive in itself,

but the lifestyle also would also be great...

more land, more animals, possibly if we're running a business,

you know a holiday business...more people to meet.

And the beautiful food and rather nice wine as well

that comes from France.

Both parties have enjoyed many holidays in France,

but this potential move is a huge leap of faith,

as neither of them have actually been to Brittany before.

There was an awful lot to find out, know, and understand,

and we are quite naive about the French property market

and everything that the move would entail.

I mean, we both got school boy, school girl French,

and when I bought a few books to sort of bone up before the trip,

I was actually surprised at how much it came back.

When it comes to the new French property,

our buyers hoped to find something similar to their current home,

which has a large, sociable kitchen-diner

where they love entertaining with friends and family.

The type of property we are looking for would be traditional,

not modern...would be rural...

Yes, we don't really do contemporary, I don't think, or modern, new builds.

The house has to have a nice fire or wood burner in the main living area.

The one thing about this property that it lacks is land, basically,

and being able to see my horses in a field outside the window

would be just fantastic.

Luckily for Lindsay, she was able to take early retirement

from a career in publishing.

So, she can dedicate all her time to her beloved horses and sport.

But, Paul is self-employed

and aims to keep working, despite a move to the continent.

I work in intellectual property rights licensing,

so I broker agreements between people who own

famous brands and characters

and people who make things like video games, clothes, etc.

In terms of meetings, I have to probably go to London

fairly regularly, but that wouldn't be impossible from abroad.

These days with technology,

it's really easy to keep in touch with people.

The plan is to sell up their barn to finance the move,

and they have a clear idea of what they're willing to spend

on the new French menage.

Our budget for this project is £250,000.

As Lindsay and Paul are looking for an equestrian property with

good access to bridleways, we are focusing the house search

on the more rural areas inland.

And now our couple have arrived here in France, we're meeting up

to finalise the details of their planned continental move.

-It's the first time you've actually been here!

-Yes, that's right.

So, why Brittany? Why the appeal?

Well, I'm into endurance riding at home,

and when we looked at France there were two areas

that were perfect for it.

One is Brittany, and one is Limousin, in the middle.

But, Brittany is like South Cornwall, it's close to home,

so that looked like the perfect area.

I mean, it is beautiful around here, isn't it?

And, I know the horses are a big part of your lives.

Paul, are they as important for you as they are for Lindsay?

Definitely not!

-I'm really here to crew and fund the whole enterprise.

-Really?

Well, when you're taking part in the events that she takes part in,

you really do need a support team.

It's a bit like a pit stop crew in Formula One.

They come in occasionally needing feeding, and watering, and checking.

So, that's my main role is looking after the crew

when we're on a riding event.

So, let's talk about the house, this all-important house, and land.

What exactly are you after?

Well, the land has got to come first, that our top priority,

so, land and stables.

A nice traditional style house

because that's what we've always looked for in the UK,

and the icing on the cake would be if there was some kind of gite or

a little cottage that could provide maybe a bit of rental income.

So, how much land are we talking ideally?

I think it's about 10 acres is what Lindsay's got in mind

for the horses in the stabling with paddocks.

We have a dog, so it would be really nice to have

a boot room type of place where we can wipe him down after a walk

instead of dragging all the mud into the house.

So, is there any leeway on the budget?

For that perfect house, yes,

I'm sure we would be able to find a little bit of leeway.

Good, that perfect house... I can feel the pressure!

Let's see if we can convince you this is the place

you want to move to with that dream house with land attached.

-Come on, let's go.

-Fantastic.

On a budget of £250,000 or thereabouts,

our buyers are after a traditional, rural property

with a country kitchen-diner, a wood burner, and a boot room.

The accompanying land needs to be broadly 10 acres,

ideally with stables.

And, the potential for a gite to generate extra income

would be a real bonus.

We found a range of attractive, Breton properties to tempt them,

but I'll be keeping a price a guessing game

until the end of each tour.

To finish up, they'd better hold their horses for the mystery house,

a property which will push their rural aspirations to the limit.

Our buyers are new to the area, so we'll also be giving them

a hands-on experience of everyday Breton life.

There'll also be the chance to meet locals to arm them

with a better awareness of French customs and culture before

they make a permanent commitment to this relocation.

We're kicking off the property search

right in the heart of Brittany, near the village of Mellionnec.

Less than 500 residents live behind by vibrantly coloured shutters

in traditional stone properties.

Every two years, the community in Mellionnec swells

when artists from all over Brittany flock here to create

striking installations in public spaces and private gardens.

As well as the fascinating sculptures,

the village is also serviced by a restaurant, bar, and farm shop.

And, in the outskirts of the village,

and down a long country lane, lies a renovated farmhouse

that dates back to the turn of the 20th century,

and is the place we've chosen as our first house.

So, Lindsay and Paul, how exciting! This is your first property.

-Fantastic! No, it looks really lovely.

-Yeah?

-Yes, love the balcony.

Do you like the approach?

-I do love the approach.

-Our own private lane.

-I know!

Well, you're right, actually, because it is a dead end...

it's like a cul-de-sac here.

-Is it? OK, nice.

-Fantastic.

-It's attractive, isn't it?

-Yes, it is. Very attractive.

And, the current owner has been here since 2008,

and has done extensive work...

And I'm talking re-wiring, you know, everything.

So, as you can see, it does look in good condition.

-It looks immaculate, it really does.

-Has it got any land, then?

Well, you never know, it might have. Well, let's step inside.

-We'll start off with the house. Come on.

-Fantastic.

Built of granite, the accommodation is spread over three levels.

We're starting in the main reception areas on the first floor.

-So, come on in to your first property.

-Can't wait to look inside!

-You've been itching, haven't you?

-I know!

-So, as you can see, it's sort of an open plan layout.

-Right, yes.

-Dominated by this impressive fireplace.

-It's very striking.

Yes, very impressive fireplace, isn't it? It's a big space actually.

From a practical point of view, any kind of hard flooring

is great for the dog, and animals, and mud, and that kind of thing.

So, beautiful wooden floors, actually.

Yeah, these are the originals. 1912 they were put down. It's oak.

Oh, oak floor...best, isn't it?

You might notice a separate dining area there,

as well as the open-plan-ness of the kitchen.

So, two areas if you wanted to eat.

Well, funny enough, our current house is,

in a way, open plan like that. It flows just straight

from the kitchen into the dining bit, and then the lounge area.

-The all-important kitchen is next door.

-Fantastic.

-Who cooks in this relationship?

-Me.

-You're the chef?

-Yes, I'm the chef.

Really pleased to see a range because that's what I cook on at home.

So, fabulous from a cooking point of view...

The actual scale of it...it's not the biggest kitchen in the world,

but it's big enough. It's as large as you need it to be.

-Have you seen enough? Should we continue?

-I think we can.

The stairs are in a central hallway at the back of the property,

and we're heading up to the second floor

where a spacious landing upstairs leads to three bedrooms.

Two of the bedrooms are served by a large modern family bathroom,

leaving the biggest one potentially for Lindsay and Paul.

And here is the all-important master bedroom.

-And it also has an en-suite.

-Oh, well look at that!

-Fantastic.

-We've never had one of those before, have we?

-We haven't, no.

Oh...once you've had an en-suite you're never going to go back.

It's not as big as what we've got at home, but I like the beams.

You're right, it's not the largest master bedroom,

but luckily all the ceilings are about eight foot high.

The doors seem oversized to me, as well.

So, you do sort of get that spacious feeling. So...so far so good?

-Yes, thank you very much.

-Let's head back downstairs.

The current owners kept horses themselves

and had their equestrian lifestyle in mind

when they designed the final story down on the ground floor.

-Now, you might think that we've shown you everything...

-Yes!

But, as you can see, there's a little bit more.

-A little bit more, yes.

-An extra floor.

-It's sort of a utility room/kitchen.

-It is, yes. Interesting, yeah.

So, you've got lots of space.

Again, with the animals, with the dog...

-might have more than one dog when you move...

-You never know.

A fantastic area to come in,

leaving the rest of the house clean and tidy.

And, there's a little bit more

-because behind me you've got a proper boot room/tack room.

-Oh!

-You've got a downstairs shower.

-Right.

-Is this a bonus?

Most definitely a bonus!

Because we spend all our life tramping mud

into the front door at the moment.

So, a little back exit that you could do that with is a really good idea.

Yeah, leave all the coats and shoes...

-A little bit more still to show you.

-OK.

-We're about to find out...

-Come on through.

-I'll close the gate.

-Yes, please.

-So...

-Stables!

-You've got nine stables in total.

This huge building, which as you can see is dry,

which is very important. The land, which I know is just as important...

-you have just over seven acres of land.

-Oh, OK.

-Let's take a look at that all-important land.

-OK.

And I'm also going to ask you a price as well.

So, start thinking about that. Follow me.

This first property doesn't come with holiday accommodation,

but the large barn has far more stables than Lindsay requested,

and room for more. So, they could be options.

When it comes to land, there are four more lawned areas

immediately surrounding the house,

as well as some seven acres of paddocks

bordered by mature trees and woodland.

So, how much for the house, the land, and that huge barn?

£200,000?

I think it's going to be near the top end of our budget,

so I'm going to say £240,000.

-You're the closest. The asking price is just over £242,000.

-Yes...

-Right.

-How do you feel about that?

-I expected it, actually.

Yeah, I did expect that.

I would say go back and take a look at the house,

-but I think the barn might win the day.

-I think you might be right.

-Give me a shout when you're ready.

-OK.

-Thank you.

Well, I think Lindsay's face said it all.

They want this new equestrian lifestyle, and our first property...

well, I think it delivers on all fronts.

My only concern...we've got a lot to beat now with house number two.

Just under budget, the first option is a detached renovated

three-storey farmhouse with open-plan living and kitchen areas,

three bedrooms, a large utility room,

an extensive barn with nine new stables, and seven acres of land.

I think it's absolutely beautiful. Immaculately done out.

A much higher standard than we were expecting.

And, it's got more stables than I was expecting as well,

so that's absolutely fantastic, too.

-Look, a brand-new floor.

-That's brilliant.

And, the land is just beautiful. To die for.

The actual setting is really nice, and the views are incredible,

out across the fields and onto the trees over the hills there.

And, the layout, the configuration, the outdoors space with the barn...

It all works really well.

-OK...you happy? You've seen enough?

-Yes, thank you very much.

Great start, really, wasn't it?

A fantastic start, Nicki, really fantastic.

-Because this is the first time you've been to Brittany.

-Yes.

And, it's important that, well...

This is going to be your new way of life hopefully, not a holiday.

-You're taking it seriously.

-Yes.

So, how do you feel, the two of you,

of actually staying in a rental tonight?

Let's put the hotel to one side.

Let's find you somewhere that you can be on your own,

-really absorb what this life is going to be like.

-Oh, I see!

-That's really intriguing.

-That's really fantastic.

-A bit of a surprise.

-A big surprise!

-We've got it all lined up...

-OK...

-Going to be on your own and see what life in Brittany

-is truly like.

-Brilliant, that's great.

We've arranged for Lindsay and Paul

to stay in a charming gite near the town of Gouarec.

-This is nice.

-Oh, it is. Oh, the big stone fireplace.

The big stone fireplace with a wood burner. What about the kitchen?

Yeah, that'll do, won't it? Let's go and explore upstairs.

-Yes, indeed areas.

-Oh, this is pretty.

Oh, that's very nice, isn't it?

And after they've had a good look around,

they head out to a local supermarket to buy provisions

and oil their rather rusty language skills.

Bonjour.

Onions...

-What do you fancy? That, do you?

-That'll be nice, thank you, sir.

-Bonjour.

-Bonjour.

Merci.

Au revoir.

Laden down with supplies, they head back to prepare and cook a meal

before sitting down to dinner and reflecting on the first property.

-It's really small.

-Hm.

Now, what it did lack is the holiday gite potential property.

No, there is that. But, there is always the glamping option

that we had spoken about in the past.

-Get some yurts in.

-Get some yurts in, yes.

It's early morning at the start of our second day

of property hunting in Brittany.

And, already the practical and financial realities

of Lindsay and Paul's prospective move are starting to sink in.

Having slept on what happened yesterday,

it obviously throws a lot of questions in the air because

we can afford to buy, but there is more to it than that, isn't there?

Well, the question is, can we afford to live here once we've bought,

so we need to understand more about

-the financial set-up of taxation and so forth.

-Yes.

We know we can buy here, can we live here? That's the question.

Good morning. You can hear it's early, can't you?

Now, Paul and Lindsay have never been to Brittany before.

We thought it was great for them to actually spend the night

in the heart of the village to get the real French way of life.

Let's see how they've got on. It's quite early...

Good morning!

-You're up...

-Bonjour, madame!

-Bonjour!

-You're up bright and early this morning.

-We are, absolutely.

-So, how was your first night in the village?

-It was lovely.

Meet any of the villagers, any of your neighbours?

-The immediate neighbours, yes.

-Yeah, we did.

Everyone has been really friendly and helpful.

And what did you do last night? Did you go shopping?

We did go shopping, yes.

-How was your French?

-Minimal.

-But you got by?

-We did.

-Yes, un petit peu.

Got plenty more to show you today, so let me close the door,

lock up...should we get started?

-Yes, please.

-Great.

For our next stop, we're heading four miles

from the village of Langonnet.

All the essential and luxury amenities can be found

in this well-served village,

including a post office, general store, bakers, and creperie.

A few miles drive out of Langonnet into the quieter, rural wilds,

we find out next house.

Right...here we have our second property here in Brittany.

And another very well-maintained one at that by the looks of it.

Everything looks new...all the pointing in the roof.

And, traditional style again, which is exactly what we wanted.

Beautifully done, and again it gives you a sense of space.

We're not overlooked at all by neighbours here.

No, you're not, are you?

Something that people strive for back in the UK.

Indeed...hard to achieve.

-Right, well, should we start with the house first?

-Yes, please!

Featuring a south-facing front aspect,

this property was completely rebuilt in 2000,

but using traditional materials to retain a rustic feel.

So, the entrance leads straight into the main sitting area.

Open plan, you've got reclaimed stone up there all exposed,

which I think gives it quite a warmth.

So, you've got this huge space here

which leads into a massive conservatory.

I call it conservatory, but it's actually got the slate roof as well.

-Right, so it's like a garden room.

-Overlooking paddocks and paddocks.

And, I will tell you now the current owners bought this house

because they could see all their land from literally every window.

-That was what enticed them to buy it.

-Yes, interesting.

So, the open-plan-ness...

it sort of continues over here with the kitchen.

Perhaps not the largest kitchen,

-but there's everything here that you need.

-It is compact.

On the ground for, we also have a huge utility room which

leads us onto the garage/tack room as well. Mm-hmm! Yes.

Can we have a little look at that?

But, let's head upstairs, because I want to show you the bedrooms.

Upstairs on the first floor,

a large family bathroom serves four bedrooms in total.

Two are large double rooms, then there's a single used as a study,

and lastly, at the end of the landing, is the master bedroom.

The recesses for the windows are lovely, aren't they?

Looks like it's got a good view out of there,

so, I think again we're going to

look at the space, and not the decor.

-This house at the moment...I think we would want to do a lot to it.

-Yep.

So, it's really going to depend on what you show us outside.

O-o-o-h...she's sneaky, isn't she?

She's done well, we've been here quite a while

and we've just mentioned the land, haven't we?

The all-important land. Well, now, it's a very valid point.

So, on that note, Paul, if you wouldn't mind leading the way,

let's head back downstairs...

-OK.

-And see what it has to offer.

That ties up the accommodation for Lindsay and Paul,

which just leaves the horses to be considered.

And, there's a stable block with two stables to cater for them.

There's also plenty of land for the horses,

or even sheep and yurts, too...if they should so choose.

There are eight acres of pasture and gardens adjoining the house,

as well as an additional five separate acres of woodland nearby.

But, of course, all of this comes at a cost.

Who wants to go first?

Lindsay has to go first because I was miles out yesterday.

-You better get it right today.

-Oh, probably won't.

It's a difficult one because it is a nice property,

there's a lot more to the property then there was yesterday,

and it's got a lot more land,

but I'm just thinking perhaps just a little bit less.

-I'm going to go with £230,000.

-Right.

Yes, my thoughts are running along similar lines,

and I'll come a bit under that at that, £220,000.

Well, that's interesting because the asking price is just under £190,000.

-No way!

-See, you're pleasantly surprised with that, aren't you?

Oh, that is ridiculous. That's amazing.

That's a surprise, by comparison as well.

So, why don't you start off with the all-important stable run,

just for you, Lindsay.

-Well, it's somewhat important.

-Go on. Take your time.

Paul, he is a remarkable man, isn't he?

He's so supportive of Lindsay's passion.

But, this move is about changing the way they live their lives...

The horses play such an important role.

But, I want them to be happy where they live.

And how can you fail to be impressed with that property,

with all this land on that price...

It's tremendous.

Over £50,000 under their £250,000 budget,

this property is a spacious,

detached home with open plan receptions in kitchen,

a sunroom, four bedrooms, two stables, and 13 acres of land.

-Let's go in and see...

-New stable door...

It's a decent size.

The superficial or cosmetic decor is absolutely,

definitely not to our taste. So, we would need to do a lot there.

I think through doing that,

you could make the property a lot more welcoming and homely.

For example, changing the tile floor to a wooden floor...

the kitchen could be modernised

and perhaps brought more into the main room there

for the purpose of socialising and living in day-to-day.

This house...it has more land, and it's a nice property.

But, it just doesn't have that wow factor for me.

Would you keep the sheep, or would you move them out

-and do something else?

-No sheep, all horses. What were you expecting?

All horses...no chickens, perhaps?

Oh, we might go for the chickens, yeah.

In all seriousness, are you surprised

what your money will buy in this part of France?

Very much so, yes. The reason for coming here was that we...

I thought that was the case, but it's quite incredible

-how much more you do get for your money.

-It is amazing.

We've still got more to show you... so, should we jump into the car?

Yes, please!

Whilst Paul and Lindsay's dream of moving to France is

all about getting more turf under their feet, there's a different

greenery that's been putting Brittany on the map for centuries.

The small fishing village of Roscoff on the far northern shore

provides one of the richest sources of seaweed in the world...

with over 200 varieties found.

Harvested on a commercial scale since the 14th century,

the seaweed has been used for fertilizer, fuel, and food.

So, to give our buyers a taste of the coastal delights of this area,

we've arranged for them to meet

Bernard Curfnell, an expert in this valuable marine harvest.

Today, Brittany's seaweed industry employs over 1,000 people,

and modern technology has made harvesting much easier

than the ancient method, which was backbreaking work.

Here we are. Just at the low tide.

You see that here we've got many species of seaweed, and in the past

we were harvesting seaweed in May or June with a little sickle.

In winter, we were harvesting with another tool, which is a big rake.

The men were going in the sea to harvest seaweed like that.

-You see? And they were bringing that back to the beach.

-Very effective.

And, we can eat seaweed, too.

You see that here...

-that is named in Breton language, "bidin zout"...

-Bin zout?

"Bidin zout," that is a red seaweed which is eaten.

You can eat that with cheese and in omelettes...that can be interesting.

So, we can have many, many recipes with seaweed.

Around 80% of Europe's seaweed production takes place in Brittany.

And, since it's also the crepe capital of the world,

Chef Helen is going to show our buyers

how to create a classic Breton dish, but with a briny twist.

The batter is a closely guarded family recipe,

and the filling uses three different types of seaweed...

..which is then unloaded with butter,

and served with leeks and scallops.

-Here she goes.

-Yep, good luck, Linds.

And now they've been shown the ropes,

Lindsay and Paul are going to have a go at making their own

before they sit down to lunch with Bernard on the quayside.

I can't wait to try this! It looks delicious.

It looks absolutely fantastic, Bernard.

Oh, yes...it really does go together.

It's great.

The taste of the sea...it really comes through the flavour.

-You've got a taste of the seaweed.

-Very much so.

With a local dish to add to their repertoire, we need to get back

to the property hunt to see what we're dishing up next.

Our third property is close to the tourist hotspot Huelgoat,

in Armorique Regional Natural Park.

Huelgoat is an elegant village the lies on a peaceful lake.

With a square lined with bars and shops,

as well as a good range of other facilities.

The area is known for its wonderful scenery of ancient woodland,

arboreta, and granite rock curiosities.

And one particular 100-tonne boulder is reputed to move using

just the lightest of touch.

We're stopping in the woods to put it to the test.

Ready...push!

-Wow, superpowers!

-Superpowers!

-Oh, my, it is moving.

-Yeah, it's going.

-That's amazing.

That's enough rock 'n' roll for now

as we've got a property to view which is a short drive away.

So...if I can get you to just turn around here,

have a little look back...

-As you can see, we've walked down this little road.

-Wow.

-Which property do you think it might be?

-Any one of them!

Well, all of that side, and most of this side is your next property.

-Brilliant!

-We are not greedy, but... I'm quite pleased about that.

-Yeah!

-So, quite a lot of property.

-Quite a lot of property.

Absolutely. They look old and sturdy.

They certainly are, some of these buildings have been here

-since around 1780.

-Wow! That's amazing...they look it.

They've got real character, haven't they?

This intriguing lot would offer Paul and Lindsay

huge business possibilities, as well as catering

for their sporting needs.

In terms of holiday accommodation,

there are three well-presented gites.

One with two bedrooms, then another two, each with one double bedroom,

and there's a further cottage on offer yet to be renovated.

But, we're going to start with the owner's quarters.

-So, do come on in.

-Ohh!

-Oh, that is nice.

-Yeah?

-Oh, yes, very interesting, isn't it?

Lindsay, you're very taken with the character and the charm.

As you walked down the mews, your face lit up,

-and in here you like it, don't you?

-I like it a lot, actually.

I love the stone fireplace, the flooring...

very, very practical, which is great.

And then, the kitchen is lovely and modern. Looks very new.

I'm spying a range there which is looking pretty good.

-That's important, isn't it?

-Got to have a range.

-I do like a nice cooker. Spot on.

-All the character is fantastic.

I can imagine myself by the fire with a pint of Breton ale.

-Hasn't taken you long, has it?

-No, it never does.

-So, so far, so good, then?

-Yeah, really brilliant.

And remember that this is sort of your accommodation.

We've got to get that in your head

because there is still so much to see...

OK, I'm going to take you through here.

-So, come into your sitting room.

-Oh, wow, it's extremely cosy.

I think you can feel the warmth before you actually see the fire.

The heat is coming off it.

And, you know when people talk about when we have the wood burner going

-it heats the whole house...

-Yes.

-You can see why, can't you?

It's drifting up that staircase and through the ceiling.

The staircase in the sitting room leads up

to a large, first-floor double bedroom and shower room.

But, we're ascending another staircase back in the kitchen-diner,

and heading to the remaining first-floor rooms.

This is probably quite unusual. It's going to appeal to you.

-It's going to appeal to me, it's a tack room!

-You're not doing that.

Here is your tack room. Now, some might want to move those outside.

I think so.

But, I want to show you this space because I think, Paul,

-this space could be yours.

-Ahh! A study, you mean.

-Study come dressing room.

-Yes, yeah.

-That's a good idea.

That works, doesn't it. It's lovely and light up here, isn't it?

Let me show you the master.

So, size-wise...how do you feel about up here?

Although it's got the sloping ceilings which gives it

tonnes of character, you've still got head height.

It's not too horrendous for you at all, is it?

So, should we go and discuss the gite option in more detail?

This main farmhouse is attached to one of the one-bedroom cottages.

And between all three of these rental properties,

the current owners estimate an annual turnover

of upwards of 18,000 Euros.

Now this is where we can start talking business potential.

Ah-ha! Let's see.

-So, three gites in total.

-Right.

-This one has two double bedrooms.

One down here, one upstairs with the bathroom upstairs.

But, all of them have been fitted out to this calibre.

Really nicely done up to the standard people seem to

expect these days in holiday lets.

So, we've explored the home and the business.

That leaves just one last thing on the check list...

and that's land for Lindsay's horses.

-This is so exciting!

-It's like a walk in the woods at the moment.

It is, it's lovely.

The plot extends to just under seven acres which is mostly meadow

with plenty of shelter from trees, woodland and hedgerows.

If you can imagine a horseshoe,

how apt, around this little bit of forest is your land.

-Ah, lovely.

-Just under seven acres.

A little bit of it is woodland...just under.

I'm sorry, I'm going to cry!

I'm going to have to go for a minute and let's shoot again.

Look, I even got some horses in the field to complete the sale.

-See, look we've lost her.

-I know, what is she like?

-You've gone as well, haven't you?

-She has, quite funny.

-Can I rescue you back?

-I don't know actually.

-Come on.

Come and talk to me.

Explain to me, because obviously horses are such a big part

of both of your lives, what this means,

when you see the final piece of this jigsaw with this property.

-What does it mean to you?

-It's just beautiful.

It's just such a lovely field surrounded by the trees,

gorgeous setting, the house is beautiful and, you know...perfect.

Oh, Linds, you're so emotional.

Paul, you started to well up, but I didn't give tears from you, did I?

No, I was reacting to Lindsay.

The only field I've ever cried at is Villa Park.

-In sympathy.

-Exactly.

-So, it really does mean a lot to you.

And I think that just seeing this huge paddock

sums it up quite well, doesn't it?

Oh, it would be absolutely amazing. Yep, absolutely.

We're going to wander through more of the land

whilst Lindsay composes herself.

But, there's even more to excite her in the form

of a brand-new timber stable block that's less than a year old.

And now both Lindsay and Paul have had a tour of this

considerable enterprise, they need to put a price on it all.

Well, you've seen the stables, you've seen the land,

you've seen all the properties...

We got such an amazing reaction from you,

can we put a price on this property?

I'm going to have to go the high-end of the budget and say £245,000.

Right.

It does need some work doing on it,

so, despite all those good things that Lindsay likes,

I'd hope there'd be a bit in the budget,

maybe a small amount so, £240,000?

The asking price is just over...

£210,000.

-This place is crazy, isn't it?

-Like you.

-I can fix it up for that.

-Yeah. Yeah.

There's still plenty actually to explore with this property,

because there's so much to it, do you fancy, I'm sure you do,

-having another look around?

-Yes.

-I think we need to get our bearings.

And also from the business potential...there's so much there.

Have a good look, do your sums,

what it would cost to do it up to the standard you want it.

-And I'm hoping it comes out all right.

-Yes.

-I think it might.

-Off you go. Thank you.

I love it when a plan comes together.

This property, this land, the stable block, the gites...

it has everything that they want. And guess what...it's under budget!

Once again a good deal under budget, this proposition offers

a traditional two-bedroom farmhouse,

a ready-made business of three rental cottages,

as well as a potential project to create a fourth gite.

There's also a brand-new timber stable block,

and some seven acres of prime grazing land.

But, Lindsay may not be at the finishing line just yet,

as she has just one more fence to jump,

and that's convincing her husband, who has growing concerns

about income tax, as he will still need to work

when they make this significant move.

My thoughts on this property I can hardly put into words

to be quite honest, and it's just got absolutely everything.

This hasn't fulfilled the brief, it is the brief.

Yeah, it's a wonderful house. It's a wonderful many houses, actually!

So, I think Lindsay already sees herself here,

and I definitely can as well.

There's still the tug of the UK

and everything that's important about moving to a foreign country.

But, all of those things are surmountable, so...

I think Lindsay's sold, and with a little persuasion I would be too.

You know, you two, it is quite remarkable sitting here.

You have your own row of mews houses.

It's incredible, it's just incredible, it is.

Don't you get emotional again.

Come on, I've got to drag you away now.

The motive for Lindsay and Paul's escape

is their passion for horse endurance racing.

And, seven years ago another British couple had the very same impulse.

Endurance riders, Lis and Graham,

live on a 30-acre stud farm in a small village,

40 minutes from Huelgoat, and have invited us

along to share their experiences of the Breton equestrian life.

I'm heading off with the lads leaving Lindsay, Lis,

and Harry the dog to lunge one of the horses in need of some gentle

exercise after a recent injury.

So, how easy was it to move the horses over to France,

or how difficult?

Well, it took us a year to register them

with the National Haras, which you need to do compete nationally.

We've got about 30 national competitions within an hour of here.

-Which is fantastic.

-Oh, 30! Paul will faint.

When you compete here,

you ride through little villages

and there's all of the villagers sitting outside their houses

with water for you and they set up stalls for you to have

oysters and wine at 10 o'clock in the morning, and...

-I can't imagine that at home!

-No, it's fantastic.

Lis and Graham have both competed for team GB, and now breed and train

purebred Arabian endurance horses for a living.

They are committed to caring for 14 horses at their farm,

but they still find time for other non-horse related enterprises.

-She is beautiful, isn't she?

-Yeah, she is.

-She could do with a bit of brush.

-Yeah, keep me working.

So, you boys can chat, and I'm going to be doing the work.

Now, I do see that you have a gite there,

are you letting it out for holidays?

Yeah, Lis lets it out, been letting it out for the last two years.

It's all right. It's not a massive amount of money,

but it's a backup so...

Would you advise it?

Yeah, now we know more about what you can and can't do.

-Is the tax system complicated out here?

-Extremely.

-The dreaded questions.

-This is what we'd heard.

Overall, is it a higher rate of taxation across...

-Yes, it's more like 50%.

-Is it?

But, obviously, after all that red tape it's been worth it for you?

I think so, yeah. I think so.

With some of the daily chores completed,

we're getting back together for a well-earned break

over a bottle of vin rouge.

You obviously love your life over here...

is there anything you would do differently...

you know, like a piece of advice you'd give a couple

coming out here to live?

Make sure you've got enough money not to work.

I like that. Cheers!

Is there anything else that has, sort of, come as a surprise,

because you obviously did your homework,

-and I'm sure you're going to say to us that's key...

-Oh, absolutely.

Research, research, research.

Do you find it's important to speak fluent French

to get on with the locals, so to speak?

Not fluent, but I think it's important to make an effort.

You do need to speak French, it is so important.

We still go and have lessons.

Have you found it easy to make new friends over here?

You do find people ask you around for dinner, and you go, "I can't.

"I'm competing this week." And they go, "Oh."

Another time they'll ask you, and you'll say, "I'm competing",

and then you don't get asked again.

So, you end up socialising with people that have the same

-sort of lifestyle.

-But, it must be a great way of making friends.

-When you've got a passion as you all have.

-Oh, absolutely.

You have an instant bond, don't you?

Within the sport, certainly, and within horses.

Most of the French people we've met have been through horses.

If they've got any more questions,

-you know they're going to be in touch.

-Not a problem.

-They'll see you at the competition. Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Cheers.

Lis and Graham have shared useful information

about work and recreation.

And, when it comes to buying property in France,

there are a few further pointers to bear in mind.

Sales taxes and legal fees typically range from 7-10%,

and are paid on top of the property price.

But, usually all estate agents costs are included.

And if you too fancy French equestrian life,

it's well worth checking

if planning commission would be required to convert any

outbuildings for change of use, and whether there are rights

to hunt or shoot over the land you're interested in buying.

Before signing on the dotted line, be sure to seek sound legal advice.

It's been a long day for our buyers

and they've had plenty of information to absorb,

so I'm leaving them to find somewhere for dinner

to mull it all over.

It's the final day of our house hunt,

and at the rented gite, Lindsay and Paul are starting their day

the French way, with some warm croissants.

-Oh, fantastic.

-Voila.

OK, so what do you think Nicki is going to show us today, then?

-The mystery house...

-The mystery house.

-What could it be?

Well, they could take us back to England.

-Say, what's wrong with Hampshire?

-Yeah.

Well, I'm really enjoying this house hunt here in Brittany.

And, yesterday's property provoked tears from Lindsay...

we are talking tears of joy. And Paul was equally impressed.

So, today it's time for our mystery house.

But, I think this is going to be rather interesting

because it has the potential of giving them everything

that they want, but on a much bigger,

or should that be "le grand", scale.

The hunt for our final property takes us to the village of Motreff.

Surrounded by unspoiled beautiful Breton countryside, Motreff offers

a local store and restaurant, as well as a couple of bars.

A ten-minute walk down a private lane brings us to our mystery house.

It gives Lindsay and Paul more than four times the land

they asked for, so will really challenge their rural aspirations.

So it is very nearly mystery house time,

but I'm going to do something a little bit different.

I want us to go away from the house,

-because I want to show you the land first.

-Oh, I see.

How important is land to you, Lindsay?

Oh, very important, as you know.

So, how would you feel about owning 45 acres?

-Well, it's just not enough!

-Oh, my goodness, me.

Now, you're also probably keen to see the property itself.

Let's go and have a look at it

and then we can discuss it a bit more.

Of the incredible 45 acres, 30 are given over to pasture land.

Accompanying all this land is a property that started life as a

Breton farmhouse and was completely renovated seven years ago.

So, I want you to keep your eyes down...

And we'll stop us here.

-And you can look up, because this is your mystery house.

-Oh, my goodness!

I think it looks beautiful, I really do.

I think it looks absolutely beautiful.

-Right, so...we ready?

-Yes!

To one side of the farmhouse are two huge stone barns

ripe for a renovation project.

We're starting in the kitchen-breakfast room

of the main property.

Now, with this farmhouse there are no complaints about being

-cold in the kitchen.

-Oh, very toasty, isn't it?

-That's lovely and toasty.

-Because you have a wood range there.

-Oh, a traditional range.

-Fabulous.

Feel free to take your coats off because it is warm.

It is a little bit on the warm side, isn't it?

-So, do you like the kitchen?

-I love the kitchen.

Could you see yourself in this kitchen, both of you?

It's got a real traditional farmhouse kitchen feel,

just like you want it to be... authentic.

I want to take us through down these steps, if you'd like to follow me...

-Just mind your head.

-Yes, I'm all right.

That's my job, banging my head.

You're a little bit taller, Paul, you're a little bit taller.

This is us, isn't it, really?

-It is our style if you think of our current house.

-Yeah, absolutely.

What a beautiful unit in the corner.

Just behind us we've got an open staircase there.

That leads up to a large double bedroom with a bathroom.

So, if you have guests come to stay,

-they've got their own wing of the house, if you'd like.

-Very nice.

If you fall out, we can get rid of them.

We've seen the outbuildings, you might want to put them

in there after a little bit of work, but if you want them

to have luxury, they can stay on the side of the property.

-Very nice.

-We'll allow them.

-So, have you seen enough in this room?

-I think I'm itching to get on.

Of course, great, let's head back through the kitchen.

On the other side, back in the main part of the house,

is a smaller, cosier living room, once again with a log burner.

This part is laid out over three storeys

with the first floor completely given over to the master suite.

I love this aspect!

-And it's not often I get excited about bathrooms.

-Oh, my God!

Barely room to swing a leopard.

It's vast, you could play tennis in here!

So, this would be your bathroom.

I'm going to show you your bedroom in just a moment.

But then, above us, there's a further two bedrooms.

-Oh, another storey? I didn't realise that.

-So, four in total.

OK, well, let's show you the most important bedroom

-which will be yours.

-OK.

-That's quite spectacular, isn't it?

-That's very nice, yeah.

I feel like I'm staying in a hotel,

-in a luxurious country house.

-Absolutely!

So, I'll let you explore the rest of the house on your own

a bit later, because I'm itching to take you outside

because there's still a little bit more to show you.

Good grief.

Back outside, there is so much space and potential for stabling,

so whilst Lindsay checks out the scope,

Paul and I are going to look at the business options in the large barn.

-So...so many buildings with this property.

-It's huge, isn't it?

And obviously been here a very long time to judge by

those roof joists and beams.

Possibility of converting it into a gite?

Well, it's what they call a blank canvas, isn't it?

A shell of a building.

It's a major property developer task to turn it into gites,

but it's clearly got all that potential.

Let's see how much money you've got left over to do it.

-That's the important one, isn't it?

-Yep.

-All right?

-Very good, thank you.

Now our buyers have had a chance to examine all the buildings

and a fraction of the land, we need to put a price on it all.

So, who wants to go first for the last time?

I prefer you to give me a guide!

OK, well, it's an immaculate house and there's an awful lot of it.

And there's a vast amount of land, so I can't see that this house

is going to be within our budget, so I'm going to say £255,000.

-OK.

-OK, and, I agree with all of that.

We would need quite a lot of money to fix the place up,

but nevertheless I still think it's over budget,

so I'm going to say £275,000.

Well, you're both right in the fact that it is over your budget...

the asking price is just over £269,000.

-Right.

-I was close, for a change!

-Look, he's happy, not at the price!

Oh, yeah, sorry...happy to win the game, "oh, no" on the price.

Now, some of the fees are included in that price.

Have a real good think, this could work for you.

-OK. Our mystery house, off you go!

-Thank you.

When I left this couple last night, I mean, I know Lindsay didn't

sleep at all for that mews-style property we showed them.

You know, she thought that was in the bag.

We now introduced the mystery house and it's blown it open again.

Paul and Lindsay did say they could stretch their budget

for the perfect property, and the mystery lot does tip over

their £250,000 target figure.

A traditional former farmhouse with bags of rustic appeal,

it comes with a country kitchen breakfast room, two living rooms,

four bedrooms, outbuildings aplenty, and a whopping 45 acres of land.

Well, the mystery house is very interesting.

The actual house itself has been done very recently

and to very high standard, it's really nice and,

pretty much entirely to our taste.

I think, for me, it's possibly a bit much house and a bit much land,

but it is just an exceptionally beautiful building.

And the owners have done a fantastic job with it.

I could see myself living in the farmhouse and having

outbuildings and land around it on a much smaller scale than this.

If the whole thing was finished and done,

well, we wouldn't be able to afford it,

but it would be an absolutely incredible property for somebody.

-It's vast, isn't it?

-Huge.

-Are you all right, you two?

-Yes, hello!

-You look exhausted.

You thought you'd seen everything yesterday, didn't you,

and then we show you the mystery house.

-That's right, the joker in the pack.

-Oh, yes.

Just to throw you, so I think the best thing is,

you two should spend some time together, have a chat,

talk through all those options,

and then the three of us will find out

-what your next step is going to be.

-OK.

Back at their rented gite, our buyers are packing up to leave.

They have a lot of thinking to do,

and potentially some life-changing decisions to make.

Well, that's it, we've shown Paul and Lindsay our properties

here in beautiful Brittany, but have they been convinced enough

to make the move? I can't wait to find out.

So, Paul and Lindsay, this has been your first time ever in Brittany.

Tell me, what's it been like living in the centre of a beautiful village

-in a wonderful gite?

-It's been really enjoyable

and really interesting. It does give you

a feel for what it would be like to do it for real, so to speak.

And walking along the little lanes,

looking at the views... it's just beautiful.

It has completely lived up to expectations.

Well, let's get down to the details, shall we?

Showed you quite a few properties...put me out

of my misery, I think I know, just confirm it for me, Lindsay.

I think we are looking forward to having a conversation with

-the owners of the mews house.

-Fantastic!

I mean, that was quite a reaction that we got off you, wasn't it?

It really was.

Tell me, what was it about that property...because I think

we were all quite taken aback by it when we walked down that

beautiful little lane to that open pasture land, and my goodness...

You were overcome, weren't you?

Yeah, it was so pretty walking through

the little wooded bit with the trees, and then suddenly

coming across that field and seeing the horses in there.

It was just... Yeah, absolutely loved it.

Your house is ready to go straight on the market,

so, where do you go next?

Well, we're certainly going to pursue that property,

we need to have a discussion with the owners

We've got a few things to check, but we'll follow up.

-Definitely?

-Definitely.

-Oh, yes.

-OK, then, how quickly

are you going to be returning to Brittany?

-Well, it would be lovely to come back quite soon.

-Straightaway!

-Really?

-The more you see the more you want to see

and get right into the details.

Are you nervous about selling your property in the UK

and putting all your eggs in one basket over here?

The tax system does seem very complicated

and we do have to be sure that we can afford to live here

because it looks like, if you move, then it is a one-way ticket.

We may explore the possibility of trying to have our cake and eat it

by finding some way of hanging onto that property and move here.

Listen, you two, it's been an absolute pleasure,

and we wish you all the very best.

Thank you, Nicki, we've really enjoyed it, and thank you

-ever so much for all your help.

-Yes, it's been fantastic.

Couldn't have picked a better couple to drive around Brittany with.

And we couldn't have picked a better host.

Whilst Lindsay has been chomping at the bit at the thought of moving

to France, I sense that Paul has had his reservations.

But, after showing them the delights of Brittany,

it seems he's on board, too.

Now, we've showed them a house that they both fell in love with,

and if they can sort out their finances

they could be living the Breton way of life here

with their horses very soon.

I certainly hope so. Until next time, bye-bye.