Normandy Escape to the Continent

This iconic landmark behind me shares some remarkable similarities

to one off the Cornish coast of Penzance.

But I'm not in Cornwall. In fact, I'm not in any part of the UK.

So where am I? Why don't you join me in just a few moments to find out?

Today's house-hunters want something grand and we aim to please.

I feel as if I've sort of arrived in some grand dame's boudoir.

LAUGHTER

Some things fulfil their lofty ambitions...

Oh, wow. I like this. This is lovely...

in every way.

..but others don't quite make the grade.

Oh, God.

Welcome to Escape To The Continent

and the historic region of Normandy in northern France.

St Michael has been celebrated across the centuries

as defender of the church and this majestic monastery,

Mont Saint-Michel, was dedicated to his name by Benedictine monks

over 1,000 years ago.

And just a couple of hundred miles across the water

lies its British counterpart, St Michael's Mount, which was gifted

to the monks of Normandy by Edward the Confessor in the 11th century,

providing a striking mirror image across both sides of the Channel.

Mont Saint-Michel stands proudly as THE most iconic setting

to this stunning region.

Just a hop over the Channel, France is our nearest neighbour

and Normandy one of the closest regions.

Lying on the northern coast, it's made up of Upper Normandy

and Lower Normandy,

which together form a region roughly the size of Belgium.

With extensive lush pasture, apple orchards and cattle herds,

Normandy is substantially agricultural

and known for its production of cider, Calvados and camembert.

This region has a rich military history,

from the Norman Conquest of Britain in 1066,

which set off from what is today the charming fishing port of Barfleur,

to the 1944 D-Day landings,

which are marked by remnants of defences

and memorials all along the coast.

Another poignant reminder of this past is the American cemetery,

which brings in visitors from all around the world.

With some stunning coastline a little further off the beaten track,

the Cotentin Peninsula provides unspoiled sandy beaches.

It's no wonder thousands of Brits take their holidays here

and thousands more have made it their home.

Last year, the average cost of detached properties back home

increased by over 6% to an eye-watering figure

of just under £275,000.

However, during the same period, the average cost of a similar property

in Lower Normandy, to the west of the region,

dropped to around £110,000.

And there are some incredible bargains still to be had here.

For example, if you pick a detached cottage in the more remote areas

of the region, you could pay as little as £62,000.

Although if you want to live by the coast, expect to pay a premium.

But whatever your budget, there are hundreds of stunning properties

on offer and let's hope one or two of them can tempt today's buyers.

Keith and Elaine currently live in Norfolk.

They first met 30 years ago at a friend's dinner party.

Some years later, three or four years later,

is when Keith joined the Civil Aviation Authority,

which is where I worked.

And popped his head round my office door and said, "Hey, guess who's here?"

And we became firm friends.

But it wasn't for many years that we turned that

friendship into something more.

Four years ago, they both retired,

Keith from his career in electronic engineering

and Elaine from human resources.

We've come at a time in our lives

where we feel we've got an awful lot more life to live yet. It's a chance.

There's no reason why we have to stay here.

It's an opportunity to go and live that life somewhere else.

And living in France is set to be the next chapter.

It all kind of started about three years ago,

when we had a holiday in Normandy and...

when we were there, we felt this tremendous sense of feeling at home.

It was that particular holiday that I can remember,

when we were sort of cycling around the areas of France,

and thinking, "Wouldn't it be nice to stay here and not to go home?"

So the plans to relocate began, but it's proved a little complicated

because there's not just the two of them making the move.

I have two horses.

I've been very lucky cos Keith has really embraced my...

-passion for horses.

-I'll go out on a bike with Elaine the a horse.

Gives me some exercise and gives the horse some exercise.

I don't know what Elaine does.

Whilst Elaine's passion is for horses,

Keith has a more melodic pastime.

Play the piano a bit.

Lots of high notes, lots of low notes and lots of duff notes.

Keith also tends his 645 square feet of vegetable plots -

something he hopes to continue in their new home.

And this move is all about slowing down, taking things easy

and enjoying life.

One of the motivations for moving to France is a more relaxed,

stress-free lifestyle.

I concur.

Our search will take place in Lower Normandy, the area they know best.

In particular, the departments of Calvados and Manche.

I'm the meeting them in France to dig a little deeper into what

they're looking for in this continental relocation.

Well, Keith and Elaine, welcome to Normandy.

I'm looking forward to the next few days, I hope you are.

-BOTH:

-Absolutely!

-Yeah, well, that's good.

See, you're in unison straight away - that's a good sign.

-Been looking forward to it for ages.

-Let's hope this carries on.

Why Normandy, though? What is it that appeals so much?

I mean, I personally have been coming to Normandy for 20 years,

and I've always been impressed by the spaciousness of it

and the quiet.

So, what's the situation with your current property back in Norfolk?

Well, we've spent the last year preparing it.

We've had the stables reroofed, we've put in a new bathroom,

just to sort of get it ready to sell.

We've just touched on the horses there

-cos that's a real passion for you, Elaine, isn't it?

-Yes, yes.

I ride for pleasure, I don't compete, and...

mostly I just like being around them.

So, let's talk about this perfect property.

-What exactly are you looking for?

-It's old.

-Yes. Very French.

Very French.

In terms of size, four bedrooms, ideally,

three reception rooms, ideally.

Downstairs bedroom would be wonderful for aged mother

to come and stay. And importantly, obviously, land and...

-facilities for the horses.

-How much land ideally would you like?

Well, we have three acres at the moment, which is fine for two horses.

More would be nice, but at least three.

-So any definite no-nos for this move?

-No barn conversions.

Through gritted teeth. You've thought about that, haven't you?

Other than that, I think we're pretty open-minded, aren't we,

in terms of style and structure?

Do you think you're both quite sort of unified with this search,

looking for the same thing in the property?

By and large, I think we are.

I've probably got more grandiose tastes in terms of houses.

-This is true.

-Go on, make me scared. What are you after?

-Chateaux.

-LAUGHTER

So, let's discuss the finances with this big move.

Remind us of the budget.

-£400,000 is the maximum.

-But for that...

..400,000 I'd want everything, sort of stables and everything in place.

Well, we do have some splendid properties to show you.

-So, shall we get started?

-Yes, please.

-Oh, yes, please.

-Lovely.

For a top budget of £400,000,

they're seeking an old and typically French house with four bedrooms,

three reception rooms and somewhere to accommodate Elaine's

elderly mother comfortably when she visits.

Keith would like some land for his vegetable plots,

but it's land for the horses which is crucial in this search -

at least three acres of good pasture land.

And the final piece of the jigsaw is a stable block to house the horses.

And we've got four fantastic options, which could deliver

their dream of rural French living in some lovely settings.

During the search, our house-hunters will be staying in a typical

French house in order to immerse themselves in day-to-day life here.

Our final offering is the Mystery House, a property that might

challenge their ideas but really is rather extraordinary.

To give them the pastoral setting they're after, we're looking

at country villages and small towns and our first is Champ-du-Boult.

With a population of less than 500, it's a quiet rural village,

but like many in France it does have its own shop,

tabac, bar and restaurant.

It's surrounded by an agricultural landscape and is just minutes

from the St Sever Forest and the Lac du Gast,

where there are miles of bridle pathways

designated for horse riding.

Set in its own land away from close neighbours

is house number one.

I think it's always very exciting, the very first property in Normandy.

-Wow. Quite large, I'd say.

-It does...

-It's bigger than I expected.

-Love the stonework.

-Right, shall we get started?

-Yes, please.

-Yes.

Please follow me.

This 19th-century stone farmhouse is made up of three sections.

The central part was gutted and renovated seven years ago

and forms the main house.

-So, why don't we start off with the...our kitchen?

-Oh!

I wasn't expecting this room to be the kitchen, I don't know why,

-but it's very nice.

-And it is a good size, isn't it?

-It is a good size. This is a huge table.

-Yeah.

But this isn't all because there is a utility room, as well.

Oh, I was going to ask that cos I can't see any washing machine or anything.

-Yes, it's nice.

-Let's continue.

-Great.

-To a rather...rather warm drawing-room.

-It is warm, isn't it?

-Because just check out that fire.

-Ah, I see.

-Yes.

-Oh, a wood burner.

-So, what do we think of the actual room?

It's really nice. Nice size. Nice shape, actually.

-I like the exposed brickwork around the fireplace.

-It's quite cosy, though.

Even though it's a big size, it's quite cosy.

The way the house is set up at the moment,

-this is the main reception room.

-Right.

However, there is more to this property.

Behind that wall is a large garage with storage and potential on top.

But if that wasn't enough,

the other side of the kitchen there's gite potential,

but you could actually extend out or make that a separate annexe.

'Extending into the sections either side would more than double

'the downstairs floor area and add more reception space.

'Ordinarily, renovation of the inside of a property doesn't require

'authorisation, but change of use does.

'You should check the planning rules with the local mayor's office before starting work.'

-Working so far?

-Yes.

Right, well, I'm going to take you two upstairs.

Upstairs there are two double bedrooms with oak flooring

and classic rural views.

There's also a small office and a family bathroom...

..which just leaves the master suite.

This is the master because, not only does it have this wonderful

-fireplace, granite, but you've also got an en suite, as well.

-Lovely.

It's nice.

It's perfectly big enough because all you do in the room is sleep, isn't it?

I will say one thing -

there's a really nice view out of the window. It's a nice view.

-Yeah.

-I like that.

Now, Keith, in a way, the house is your domain, isn't it?

And, Elaine, I bet

-the first question you wanted to ask was, "What's for the horses?"

-Yes.

But you've been very good. You've held back.

-Keith, do you think it's time that we showed her?

-Yeah, OK.

-All right.

If you wouldn't mind leading the way, let's head outside.

They both seem to like the classic French style of the interior,

but it's outside that things really come into their own.

What's on offer for the horses is pretty special.

-Elaine, I think you might like this stable block.

-Yes, very much. Yes.

American barn, just my sort of dream stabling.

Yes, it's absolutely lovely.

All these have been made actually in the UK and brought out here.

-Oh, I wondered. Oh, you've even got this feed.

-Even got your feed.

-Yeah, yeah, the spinning feed troughs.

-And you've got six.

Automatic waterers.

Now, you didn't want to retire, you wanted an exciting new chapter,

I think you might be getting some more horses and ponies.

-I quite like the idea of running a livery, actually.

-Do you?

-I do.

-Yeah.

-Well, the question is, is there enough land?

-That's a good question.

-To do that here?

That is a good question.

So, let's go outside, into the sunshine,

and see what we have.

As well as the extensive stable block,

there are hay store, outbuildings,

and an open-sided barn,

which provides field shelter for the horses.

And the land on which all this sits

is pretty spectacular too.

-You've got a paddock behind us...

-Mm-hmm.

..all the way around.

You've got these paddocks here.

But then, in addition to that,

-you've got paddocks across the road.

-Oh, gosh.

You've got this huge field here

and then you've got the field going up the hill -

-that's probably the largest of them all.

-Mm-hmm.

-They have a deal with their local French farmer.

-Uh-huh.

He cuts the grass for them and they go 50-50.

-They keep half the hay.

-Yeah.

-He keeps half.

-Oh, right.

-Perfect.

The total, the acreage, for this house

is 25.

Oh! Goodness. OK.

So, 25 acres, that doesn't scare you?

Erm...erm...

In association with a local farmer,

-I think it's fine!

-No!

An awful lot of land,

an awful lot of outbuildings

-and a substantial farmhouse.

-Yes.

-Yes.

My goodness, what's it worth?

You've got to guess the price.

I'm going to say...

360,000.

OK.

I'm going to be really cheeky

and hope it's a little bit less than that!

I'm going to say 350.

You're both jolly close, actually.

The asking price is just over £356,000.

-Oh, good!

-Ah.

-Keith, you're the closest.

-Yeah.

-That's a good price.

-It is.

-Yeah, I mean...

-I think it's realistic.

-Why don't you take some more time?

-Uh-huh.

There's two boys in that back field I'm sure you want to say hello to.

Why don't you start off with the horses?

Take a good look around

and I'll try and find you when you're ready.

-OK, lovely.

-Fine, good. OK.

-Thank you very much.

Priced at £44,000 under budget,

this package offers a stone farmhouse

with four bedrooms,

plus room to create an annexe for Elaine's mother

and the extra reception rooms they need.

There's space for Keith's vegetable plot

because there are 25 acres of land,

but the crowning glory of this option

is the top notch stable block

already in place for the horses.

Well, these look like very happy, healthy horses.

-They must be getting good nourishment from their pasture.

-Yeah.

Oh, gosh!

Space!

-A lovely big, empty space...

-Yeah.

..that you could do whatever you want with.

We could put your mother in here!

SHE LAUGHS My mother would love it in here!

It would need a bit of work! THEY LAUGH

The upstairs of the house is really nice.

We like the bedrooms very much.

The downstairs...

beautiful sitting-room, loved that.

But, for us,

maybe not enough rooms downstairs.

We could think about using

some of the undeveloped space,

but we'd need to think seriously about

whether we're up to that kind of project.

To be honest, I didn't expect to see such wonderful facilities.

The stabling is great.

It's just the sort of thing I'd design myself.

The paddocks are lovely.

I'd say this is definitely on the shortlist.

I know we've only seen one,

but, yes, this is definitely one to think about.

-Ah, I thought I might find you in here!

-THEY LAUGH

-I'm going to have to drag you away, I'm afraid.

-OK.

-OK.

This has set the bar pretty high, hasn't it?

-It has, yes. The stables are wonderful.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

Good. Right, shall we hit the road?

-Absolutely, yes.

-Let's do that.

-Fine.

For our next property,

we're travelling ten minutes north

to the town of Saint-Sever-Calvados.

It's a small town, which centres on the Notre Dame church,

with its distinctive separate bell tower.

There are bakeries, banks, a post office

and other shops and services,

making it a great place for day-to-day needs.

Our next house is less than a five-minute drive away,

yet still has a wonderful rural setting.

-I'm lost for words.

-NICKI LAUGHS

Standing here, I feel very proud

showing you this property.

It's absolutely lovely.

It looks so beautifully maintained everywhere.

Is it brand-new?

This actually dates back to the 16th century, can you believe?

-It's amazing, isn't it?

-It's lovely.

It's a lovely position as well.

-That's taken your breath away, Keith, hasn't it?

-Yes, I'm speechless.

As we came round the corner,

it kind of got longer and longer!

-I thought, "Is it ever going to stop?"

-Yeah.

Very good.

-Yes.

-Yes, it's definitely got the wow factor, hasn't it?

-It has got the wow factor.

-Yeah.

-Shall we step inside?

-Love to.

-Yes, please.

-I'm looking forward to showing you two around this property.

-Good.

The building has been renovated over the last ten years,

including new slates on its huge roof.

And, inside, local French artisans have done a great job too.

-Step into your kitchen!

-THEY LAUGH

-Come on in!

-Oh, wow!

SHE LAUGHS

-Yes.

-Yes. I like this.

This is lovely...

in every way.

I love these double height rooms, they're fantastic.

-Especially in the kitchen.

-Yeah.

-It's great, isn't it?

-Yeah.

It's really lovely.

And it's been divided up, so you've got your dining area here,

-but still an open plan kitchen.

-Mmm.

Lovely. Right, well, big thumbs up?

-Absolutely.

-Yes, I like that!

Right, keep going.

So, here is your drawing-room...

complete with wood burner.

-Oh, yes.

-This is very nice.

It kind of has two halves to it.

Yes, it's actually quite a warm-feeling room, isn't it?

-So do you like it?

-Yeah, I like it, I like it.

Yes, this area particularly is really,

-kind of, cosy and snug, isn't it?

-Yeah, yeah.

I mean, you couldn't fault it. It's beautifully done.

Yes, it is, it's lovely.

I've got loads more to show you.

-Let's try upstairs, shall we?

-OK.

-Good idea.

'This house is on three levels.

'The remainder of the ground floor is an unconverted storage space.

'Up on the first floor are two of this property's four bedrooms,

'including a double and the master,

'which has a large en suite bathroom and a dressing room.

'There's a further bathroom on this floor, as well as a summer kitchen.

'As the land at this end of the house is higher,

'there's a door out onto a decked area,

'offering perfect accessible accommodation for Elaine's mother.

'But we're going across the first floor study area,

'all the way up to the second floor.'

Come on up...

-because this is the big reveal.

-Oh, lovely.

-Oh, right!

Oh, look at that!

-There we are, this is an old mill house.

-Yes.

-Ah...

-Right.

-OK...

-Now it makes sense.

-It does make sense.

16th century, run by the monks, there used to be four waterwheels,

-there's still one in existence.

-Oh, right.

You may just about hear it.

Now you mention it...

I've kept you away from all the windows

because I'm going to go outside in a minute and show it to you.

I'm intrigued by the mechanics of it.

I want to find out what is still working and what isn't.

-The good news is, quite a lot of it is working.

-Mm.

They try to be as self-sufficient as possible

here in this property, the current owners.

It produces so much electricity, it runs the house

-and they sell the rest back to the grid.

-Oh, goodness!

-I like it.

-It's actually a proper working watermill.

-Yes, I like that.

A working watermill.

On this level you've got another bathroom, two further bedrooms and

the one at the end is a really good size with that beautiful A-frame.

So we've still got more to explore

and we've got to discuss what's outside as well, haven't we?

-Yes, I'm looking forward to that.

-Oh, yes, absolutely.

So inside the house, the layout is a little bit unusual

and outside it's the same.

There are lots of different sections in the 4.9 acres

this property offers.

-Who loves growing vegetables?

-Me, me!

You've got a vegetable patch all along here.

The current owners are organic.

You've got your greenhouse here, you've got a building here,

a little outbuilding, it's got a tractor in it at the moment.

-For about £3,000, you could turn that into a stable block...

-OK.

-..if you wanted to.

-Right.

-Yeah.

Because standing here, you might have gathered,

-there isn't, at the moment, a stable block.

-No, OK.

-The land carries on behind those trees...

-Yeah.

There's a parcel of it on the other side of the stream

-and, just across the road, there's a paddock as well.

-Right.

-Right.

So you wanted the grandiose house.

-We've got quite close, haven't we, Keith?

-We have, yes.

The compromise would be a little bit of work for the horses.

So, in a way, we've got to find out

whether this property is under, on or over your budget.

It's a difficult one.

I'd say pretty well on our budget, so 400,000.

So I'm going to go for 415.

Well, the asking price is...

offers in the region of £345,000.

-Oh, wow!

-Oh, God.

-Oh!

-Yes...

-That really is food for thought, now.

-Yes.

So would you like another look around?

-Yes, we would.

-Yes.

-Please do.

-With fresh eyes.

-Good.

I'm pleased. I love this property.

At £60,000 under budget,

this converted mill is a unique property, giving the four bedrooms

and the opportunity for an accessible annexe that they wanted.

Plus, there are three reception rooms, including a dining room.

Outside, the 4.9 acres contains an up and running vegetable plot

and pasture land for the horses, but there's work to be done

to create a stable block and fence-in the land.

Gosh, that's a feature and a half

to have on the back of the house, isn't it?

It is, isn't it? That's what you call a water feature.

Well, our first impressions of the house were just amazing

because it just seemed to go on and on and on forever

as we approached it.

It is an amazing, truly amazing house.

It's been wonderfully and very thoughtfully renovated.

And, of course, then you've got the added bonus of all the

original heritage features of the watermill,

which makes it a very special and spectacular property.

As far as the grounds are concerned,

it's got everything that I would want in terms of my hobby

of growing vegetables and fruit and all of that.

It's probably got more than I would need, to be honest.

The horses are another matter.

I must admit, I was disappointed there are no stables.

The land is in small pockets and not many of them, quite honestly,

are suitable for grazing for horses.

If it wasn't for the horses, the house on its own would be

fantastic but, as you know, the horses are quite high on my list.

-So have you both seen enough?

-For now, certainly.

Some very interesting houses here in Normandy.

It's been a good day, hasn't it?

-Really good.

-It's been a very good day.

-Very interesting.

-Excellent. Let's hit the road.

-OK.

To offer our buyers a feel of how it might be to live in France,

we're ending the day in the village of Landes-sur-Ajon.

We thought that rather than, perhaps, you staying at a hotel,

that you might like some time on your own to reflect,

-perhaps go out, explore, a little bit of shopping...

-Mhm.

-..so we've organised a cottage for you...

-Oh, lovely.

-Oh, very nice.

..in a very pretty hamlet next to the church.

So enjoy, have a lovely restful evening.

-Thank you, Nicki.

-Thank you, Nicki, bye-bye.

Oh, that's nice. Cook up a storm here for a few days.

Yes.

Having seen two good options today,

Elaine and Keith now have a chance to reflect

on the huge decision they're making.

I know there's a danger of, you know, just because you really love

somewhere when you've come on holiday,

doesn't mean that you can make a life there.

I do genuinely feel that this is somewhere that

-I'd really like to live.

-I'm glad you feel that way.

In the past, I have felt, sometimes, that I've been driving it.

I got the feeling I was the one who was, "Let's do it, let's do it."

And now we're both, kind of, back up in the "Let's do it" mood.

-I think this is about ready.

-We need to cook pasta, don't we?

It's the second day of our house-hunt in the French

region of Normandy, helping Keith and Elaine relocate from Norfolk

with a budget of £400,000.

Whilst we're here, they're staying in their own cottage to get

a taste of authentic French life.

By choosing Normandy, Keith and Elaine have selected a region

with fine equestrian credentials.

Normandy is horse country and the area of Orne

boasts more horse residents than people.

It's also home to over 2,500 stud farms,

including the most famous of France's national studs,

the Haras du Pin.

As horses here are Elaine's passion,

I'm taking her to meet horse owner and expat Helen,

who moved out here eight years ago

and occasionally guides tours here of the National Stud.

-Helen, lovely to meet you.

-Hi, nice to meet you, Nicki.

-Can I introduce you to Elaine?

-Hi, Elaine.

-Hi, good to meet you.

Now, when he suggested that we met you at the National Stud,

I didn't expect it to look like this.

Well, no. This is... The Haras du Pin, the National Stud of Le Pin,

the little village up the road.

It's the oldest and largest of the 22 that we have in France.

-It looks very grand, doesn't it?

-It's magnificent.

-It looks regal.

Yes, well, it's funny should say that because it was commissioned

by Louis XIV, 1715 was when it was finished and he used

the same architect as was used on the Palace of Versailles.

It has, actually, become known as the "Versailles for Horses".

Elaine is passionate about horses

-and so am I, so we're really looking forward to it.

-Great.

Well, you're going to be in for a treat.

The national studs were created to breed horses

for military campaigns.

Later they bred for farming and industry and, finally,

for sport and leisure. Here in Le Pin,

there are around 30 stallions

used for stud across ten different breeds.

Every Thursday, the courtyard is transformed into an

outdoor theatre, showcasing some of the 230 horses kept here.

The performances also include carriage driving,

which is a tradition kept alive by officers at the stud.

APPLAUSE

-Helen, that was amazing!

-I know. Every time I see it,

it's just staggering, absolutely.

Shall we go back to your stables?

-Yes, absolutely.

-Oh, wonderful.

We're heading a few miles down the road to Helen and her

husband Jules' home,

which they bought and renovated when they moved here.

Elaine knows about living and looking after horses in the UK,

but wants to know more about the realities of doing it in France.

So, Helen, who have we got here? You're handsome.

-Well, this is Solomon.

-And then the other little one next-door?

This is our old lady, and she's Hattie and we reckon

-she's probably about 20/24, something like that.

-Is she?

-Yeah.

Do you know many people that have actually brought their horses

over with them from the UK?

Yeah, there are quite a few people that have brought them over.

Some people have experienced difficulties with their passports

and things, but generally I've heard, you know, good things.

Is it quite mild here then in the winter?

-Erm... No.

-Right.

Last winter was exceptional in that it was mild,

but we have been here and I think it's been -17 and

we have very hot summers. When it is hot, it's very hot

and sometimes it'll be 35, something like that.

Because you always hear Normandy having very mild temperatures,

but they're quite extreme.

Yeah, that's extreme in midwinter, but it is wet.

-It's wetter than England.

-Yes.

-Is it?

-Yes.

-There you go...

Actually, Norfolk, East Anglia, is the driest part of England,

so it would be going from one extreme to the other, wouldn't it?

Yes, you'll notice a big change then.

Helen, this has been so, so helpful, but if you don't mind,

we'd like to pick your brains just that little bit more

about what it takes to make the move

and what life in Normandy is really like, if that's all right with you.

-That's absolutely fine. Let's get these back to the field, shall we?

-I'll leave you two to it.

Moving to Normandy is not all about the horses.

Elaine and Keith will be transferring their lives here

lock, stock, and barrel, a process that's quite daunting.

With eight years' experience, we're hoping Helen and her husband Jules

-can offer them some useful tips.

-Hi.

-Hi.

-It's Jules, isn't it?

-It is, indeed, hello.

-Lovely to meet you

-and what a fine spread.

-Nice to meet you too, hello.

-Hi, Jules, I'm Elaine.

-Hello, Elaine, hi.

-Goodness, we've been spoiled here.

-Gosh, this looks nice.

-Yeah.

You're most welcome.

I was going to ask, what was it that made you choose here, Normandy?

I suppose, in a way, we weren't brave enough to take a step

far south, we wanted to stay within a reasonable commuting distance,

and for the last seven years

I have been commuting back and forth to England, working.

-How do you do that? Do you fly, do you use the ferry?

-No, no, I ferry, I drive and ferry.

Can I ask, I hope it's not being too personal,

but do you get paid in the UK or do you get paid in France?

-No, I work and I'm paid in the UK...

-Right.

..and I'm a UK taxpayer.

It's one of those quirks of the system, that you can continue

to work and pay national insurance and tax in the UK

and the French will accept that.

Once you start to work over here, then it becomes a different

situation and then you have to come within the French tax system.

They now tax pension lump sums, for example,

which, again, was something that

wasn't the situation even five years ago.

So I think it's important to get the right advice on tax matters

-because you can make some fairly desperate mistakes, financially.

-Yes.

What about the property, are there any tax implications with that?

Very much so.

They do levy council tax, or the equivalent of council tax,

on all the outbuildings.

So if you innocently build barns or sheds,

you will suddenly find you're paying what's called a taxe fonciere

-on those buildings.

-Yes.

It's not an enormous tax, but it's something, again,

you need to be aware of.

-I didn't know that.

-So how much do you love that stable block now?

I still love it but, obviously, I'm going to have to pay for it.

Coming to France, culturally it's different, different heritage,

different history, the language...

What difference has it made to the lives that you lead

and your lifestyle, your well-being, coming here?

The pace is much slower over here.

We often joke that sometimes it's like Britain was

-in the '50s and '60s.

-Yeah.

Shops don't open on a Sunday and sometimes not on a Monday,

and sometimes not on a Wednesday afternoon.

Whilst that can be incredibly frustrating,

if you need something on a Sunday or Monday,

ultimately it infuses into you that sense of calm.

It's really lovely to hear mine and Keith's thoughts, kind of,

reinforced by yourselves, really.

-And you've actually confirmed the way we feel about it...

-Thank you.

..which is really lovely, so thank you.

-It's the best news for us, isn't it?

-It is.

And that's such great advice, so thank you so much.

I think before we go, because you've gone to such a great effort,

we should, perhaps, have a cake or three.

Thank you.

And when our buyers join over 250,000 British expats

in France, there are a few details they'll need to consider.

Buying a property here incurs fees and taxes of around 8%

plus agents fees, which vary from 4% to a hefty 12%.

As many as 50% of French houses are sold privately to avoid these

fees, so keep your eyes peeled for "For Sale" signs.

Healthcare is also a consideration, particularly for retirees,

as the French system involves some private top-up insurance.

Making sure you have provision for this is essential.

For our next offering, I'm taking Elaine and Keith to the town of

Gavray, which is the closest of all of the locations to the coast.

It's a delightful and well-used agricultural town with weekly

livestock markets, as well as farmers' produce markets.

There are a variety of shops and services, such as bakeries,

hairdressers and banks, serving a population of less than 1,500.

LAUGHTER

We have some friends.

Five minutes up a hill, to a spectacular elevated position,

is our next property.

What you make of the actual house itself?

-First impressions are it looks a little small...

-Yes.

..but that could be deceptive.

We'll, you know, keep our countenance until we see the inside.

Well, let's step inside and see what you make of the interior.

-OK.

-OK.

Made from local stone and slate, this single-storey house is modest

but, with a little reconfiguring, it could give them everything

they need, and inside the rooms are surprisingly spacious.

Right, so you walk through a tack/boot room

into your French country kitchen.

-Actually, it's a very nice kitchen.

-It is very nice, yeah.

It's larger than I expected, from the impression of the outside

of the property, but it's a lovely kitchen.

It's a nice, solid-looking kitchen.

It is more French than English, as well.

It is, yes. How old is the house?

-Well, use the word house...

-Ah...

This is the point where I tell you that it used to be a barn.

-We're in a barn conversion.

-Oh!

And I thought, "I won't say that outside because

"it might put Keith off."

But it was actually a barn and it dates to around the 1700s.

-I see.

-But, as you can see, it's been converted really well.

Is there another formal dining space?

So you've got a dining area in here but, you're right,

just through this door, a little bit more.

It's got wooden floorboards throughout here and, in a way,

this room... This drawing room has been divided into two,

dominated by that huge fireplace.

-Yes, yeah.

-How do you feel, though? Because this isn't a grand house.

This is a large room. I mean, it is, but I think it...

For me, the overpowering feeling is that it's cramped.

As the property, the cottage, stands at the moment,

there's two large double bedrooms, a utility room

-and a family bathroom, literally on the other side of that wall.

-OK.

-Oh, right.

-Right.

-OK.

You know what? We'd have to live differently if we bought this house.

Well, in a way, we were thinking that this is your property

-because we've got something up our sleeve for your guests.

-Ah!

Back through the door.

The downstairs bedrooms could become reception rooms

as there's sufficient space in the roof to create a master bedroom

up there, but I'm sensing this place just isn't grand enough for Keith.

If they did carry out renovations, though, there is somewhere

handy they could stay during the works.

So an added surprise at the rear of your property,

-you have your own gite.

-So we do.

-Yeah.

Again, deceiving on the outside.

-It's actually got three double bedrooms.

-Good Lord, has it really?

Yes.

It's surprising. They are obviously very adept at making buildings

that look quite small actually have a lot inside.

-There's the added bonus of a small pool as well.

-Oh, OK.

So if you did have friends with young children...

Oh, yes, yes, I do have friends with young children.

..it could be perfect, couldn't it?

'The separate guest gite would be useful for longer staying guests,

'like Elaine's mother.

'For outside entertaining, there's a decked area

'to the side of the main house.

'That leaves us with the equestrian facilities that are on offer.'

So we finally get round to the equestrian side,

-a stable block, of sorts, in front of us.

-OK.

At the moment, the one on the right is for storage -

I think there's a tractor and a mower in there.

You've got additional storage here, it's all very dry.

And then, just on the left, you've got four stables,

two are larger than the other, but with access to the back fields.

-Oh, right.

-I see.

-So you can leave it open and then the horse can

-come in during the night.

-That's really nice, that's really nice.

And, of course, land. Now, ideally, you wanted three acres

-for your two horses.

-At least, yeah.

-This is 4.9 acres.

Right, OK.

So the way it's set up is, you've got a paddock in front of us,

goes all the way down to the road.

It's quite well fenced actually.

It goes along, it goes behind us.

You've got another separate paddock at the back of the property

and then an additional one,

and I think the owners have, it must be at least four horses here.

-Yeah.

-Yes.

-We've got to try and put a price on this property with the gite...

-Yeah.

..the land and the stable blocks.

I'm going to say its way under budget -

I'm going to say 275,000.

I was thinking of the low threes, maybe 310.

My word, here we go.

The asking price is...

just under £208,000.

-Oh, goodness.

-Hmm.

-Right, so it's way down.

Way down.

It does mean there's ample funds to develop the top of the

-main house then, doesn't it?

-Yeah.

Why don't you have another look and explore the gite,

start off with the gite? Because it does need a little bit work,

-but wonderful accommodation for friends and family coming to stay.

-Yes, it is, yeah.

-Thank you, guys.

-Thank you.

-Cheers.

For roughly half their budget,

this barn conversion currently offers two bedrooms,

but could be extended upwards to create a master suite

and more downstairs reception space,

which would provide them with everything they're after.

There's also a three-bedroom gite with a bonus swimming pool.

For the horses, there's a stable block

and 4.9 acres of paddocks and fields.

So, this is the stable block.

-Oh, it would be easily modified, to be honest.

-Yeah.

I mean, if you wanted to go the whole hog, you could easily

-just turn it into a small American barn type.

-Yeah.

-You could, actually, make this really nice.

-Yeah.

Well, we had high hopes when we walked up the drive that we

would find something really spectacular at the end of it.

Sadly, that was not to be,

except for the view, which is absolutely stunning.

I mean, all of this is fantastic.

It's a nice house and the rooms inside are good -

there's perhaps not enough of them for us.

One positive I did pick up from it is the idea of a separate

annexe for our guests is a good one because they can get on

and do their own thing, we can do the same.

So that definitely has a lot going for it, having a separate gite.

Ah, now, I wonder if that second

viewing on your own has made all the difference.

-I'm afraid it hasn't.

-No?

-No.

-Sorry.

-Shall I whisk you away?

-Yes, please.

-Please do.

Central to this French relocation is

making sure facilities are right for the horses.

To find out how easily they can access affordable supplies,

Keith and Elaine are visiting a local equine store.

I think the feed's over here.

Pardon, monsieur.

Je cherche...pour les chevaux.

-Oui.

-Pour chevaux ne pas travaille.

Oui.

-Le prix, s'il vous plait?

-14 euros.

-Oui, merci beaucoup.

-Un sac.

I'm trying to work it out,

so it's 15 euros and I think I'm paying about £12 a bag

at the moment for that sort of everyday feed.

-Well, that's about the same price.

-It's about the same, isn't it?

-Yeah.

It's actually really reassuring to know there are places like this.

OK, it was worth coming here then.

Yeah, it was definitely worth coming here. And to find, you know,

friendly people to answer your questions and put up

with your awful French.

Immersing themselves in local life and culture is also very important,

so they're heading into town to explore.

Shall we go in? Will we be brave?

In France, food and the general cost of living is comparable with the UK.

Some items, such as wine and beer, are less expensive and others,

such as domestic appliances, can be considerably more,

so it might be worth bringing them out with you.

For Elaine and Keith, a move to France

is not about making cost savings -

it's about starting a new exciting life.

To actually adopt a new culture, to actually live in a

-different place is intensely stimulating.

-Mhm.

It's almost like starting over, it's almost like being 18 again,

you know, we've got a different life ahead of us.

You know, a different culture, different surroundings -

it's all quite exciting.

It's our final day, here in Normandy,

looking for a house with land that's

right for a Keith, Elaine and their horses

and within their £400,000 budget.

During our time here, they've been staying in a rented house,

but we need to find them a more permanent property

and we've got one last offering to show them.

I have no idea what they might throw at us for the Mystery House.

Maybe the mystery is just being somewhere we've never been before...

-Could be, yeah.

-..like a magical mystery tour.

-Well, good morning to the two of you.

-Ah, bonjour.

-Bonjour, Nicki.

-How are we?

-We're fine.

I bet you dreamt of houses last night.

Well, I've got one more to show you.

-Shall we hit the road?

-Yes.

-Come on, then.

-Cheers.

For our Mystery House, we've travelled east to the town of Trun,

away from the part of Normandy Keith and Elaine know well.

Trun itself is a very pretty

and well-kept town, with an active community.

There are plenty of shops and services, from butcher and bakers

to pharmacies and cafes.

We're pushing Keith and Elaine as the location is out

of their preferred area and the horse facilities need some attention.

But if they want grand, our Mystery House deliverers.

Here is...

-your Mystery House.

-It's lovely.

-Now, that's old.

-Yes, it looks very old, doesn't it?

-Yes.

It dates back to the 14th century,

-a very traditional timber-framed house.

-It's stunning, isn't it?

-Shall we take a look at the house?

-Yes, please.

-Yes, great.

'This is a unique property, which I'm hoping will give Keith

'that touch of grandeur he's fond of.'

So, the front door leads straight

into the main body of the property.

-You're dominated by that stone fireplace.

-Yes, yes.

-That is magnificent.

-That's a proper fireplace, that is.

-Yes.

-Yes.

You really do feel the age as you walk through the door, don't you?

-Yeah.

-Yeah. But it's lovely tall rooms, though.

Although it's very old, 14th/15th century, the way it's been

done is actually quite open-plan

-because you have your dining area behind us.

-Yes.

-That's nice, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, it's a good size.

It is a manor house, but it's not enormous.

Right, a small manor.

-And, Keith, you teased me right at the beginning...

-Did I?

..and you said, "If you could find me a chateau."

-How have I done with the manor house?

-Eh... Close.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Let's see what you make of the French kitchen.

-OK.

Ah, it's bijou.

LAUGHTER

-Small but perfectly formed.

-Oh! And the best view.

-Oh, wow, yes, it is, isn't it?

-Yeah, yeah, splendid.

Would it be fair to say it's a functioning kitchen?

It is a very functional kitchen, yes,

and with the dining room right next-door...

-Yes, you'd have to use that all the time, wouldn't you?

-Yes.

It's nicely fitted, though. I actually do rather like it.

-Excellent, right, we're going to head upstairs now.

-OK.

The ground floor has impressed with its large baronial living space

and upstairs the stately feel continues.

Of course, being our Mystery House,

nothing is what it seems.

I feel as if I've, sort of, arrived in some grand dame's boudoir.

LAUGHTER

Yes, it could be... I'm a grand dame and it can be my boudoir.

That will continue, actually, because you've got the boudoir here

-and you've got the dressing room next-door.

-Ah, I see.

-Oh, wow.

It's quite large.

And then you've got your own bathroom with storage.

And then, to the left of that, there's actually a staircase leading

-up to the third floor...

-OK.

..where you've got a further two bedrooms,

large generous size and a shower room, as well.

-Oh, I see.

-Right, OK.

-Good.

Well, I think this property, this house, is just for the two of you

because, for guests and family, we've got something else to show you.

-Oh, right.

-There is more?!

'I think the house is big enough for Keith and Elaine...

'..and the guesthouse is also generous.'

-So we've sorted out your property...

-Yeah.

-..the grand manor house,

and then friends and family can stay at this converted gite.

-Uh-huh.

-I see.

-Right.

-What was it converted from?

-It used to be an apple press for cider...a cider press.

-Right.

-You've actually got three bedrooms upstairs...

-Gosh.

..and quite a good-sized downstairs.

It would be fair to say...it needs a little bit of love and attention.

-Ah, right, OK.

-You've got your own pool, just over there.

Yes, and there's plenty of space

-for a vegetable bed somewhere.

-Yes, yeah.

-We've got to discuss the famous horses, haven't we?

-Yes.

-Yeah.

-Let's look at the land and see what you think.

-OK.

-Right.

As well as the fantastic swimming pool, the grounds contain

parkland, an orchard and a paddock for the horses.

Just around the corner, there's somewhere for the horses to go,

the current owners have horses.

-And there's an outside stable, but it is very, very basic.

-OK.

-I see.

So, looking at our property,

it looks like a proper Tudor home, doesn't it?

We've got to try and put a price on this, the gite,

-with all that land.

-Yes.

Quick think, erm, 395.

I'm going to go a little bit lower and say 375.

Well, you're the closest, Keith, £356,000.

356, gosh!

-I think that's a pretty fair price, actually.

-It's a very good price.

-Do you fancy a wander on your own?

-Yes, please.

-Yeah.

And then you've got quite a lot of a acreage to explore, haven't you?

-I'll try and find you when you're ready.

-OK.

-Thank you.

All right, thanks, Nicki.

Priced at £44,000 under their top budget,

this handsome timber-framed manor house offers grand living

space with an impressive reception room and generous master suite.

There are six bedrooms, with three in a separate guest gite.

The property offers 7.5 acres of land,

including an orchard and space for vegetables.

And for the horses, there's a large paddock and a field shelter,

which could be upgraded to a stable block with the remaining money.

-This is rather nice.

-Amazing, isn't it? It's quite a nice little...

This is a nice room. It actually looks like a formal dining room.

This is a nice house on its own, actually, isn't it?

It's quite an imposing building and the rooms are quite imposing,

quite luxurious.

It's all beautiful and then there's the advantage of having the gite,

perfectly OK as it is.

There's certainly lots of potential

and enough land for the horses.

A little bit of stabling required,

but look at the scenery, it's just gorgeous.

Everywhere is just gorgeous.

We've shown our buyers all the houses.

They now need to mull over what they've seen.

In the far west of Normandy is the town of Saint Jean.

Founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century,

it became a centre for weaving and draping.

In the 19th century, the woollen yarns produced here were

used by the wives of Breton fishermen to create

incredible wind and waterproof garments

for their husbands' long days and nights at sea.

The Breton sweaters they knitted have since become

an iconic Gallic emblem.

I'm meeting Luc le Senecal, director of the Saint Jean clothing company,

which has been making them for over 150 years.

Ah, Bonjour, Luc.

Bonjour, Nikki. Welcome in Normandy.

Thank you very much. Pleased to meet you.

I thought the Breton sweater would have come from Brittany

and I've obviously got that wrong.

It actually originates here in Normandy, but why is that?

Mostly in Normandy due to sheep and the wool.

I'm a big fan of stripes. I would love to see how the

traditional Breton jumper is actually made.

Please, follow the guide.

The locally sourced wool is woven into jumpers

by over 300 workers in this factory.

Now, I hope you don't mind me mentioning this, Luc, but when you

think of an iconic Frenchman, or woman, you always envisage them

with the Breton jumper, don't you?

-Absolutely.

-Why is that though?

Oh, it comes from the past...

when people from Brittany or Normandy used

to sell garlic and they used to

go on boats, mainly to Britain,

-so that's why you have this image.

-It's not a stereotype - it's true!

It's true.

The classic Breton top is still made according to certain rules.

You have an eight-inch T-shirt, 21 stripes -

it was the official regulation for the French Navy.

And why did they pick 21?

-There are two stories.

-Go on.

-Yeah?

So the first one is that, when a sailor used to fall over

the boat, it was easier to see him in the sea.

The second story is linked with Napoleon

and Napoleon's 21 victories over Britain.

I like, very much, this version.

I'm going to go for the first version,

the safety of the sailors, not Napoleon.

The jumpers were first knitted using a closely guarded

stitching technique passed down from mother to daughter.

It was this that give them their reputation for warmth

and water resistance.

Today, the knit is still very tight and, as such, uses a substantial

amount of wool - over ten miles per jumper.

They are letting me have a try at putting one together.

What happens if it goes wrong? Will you unpick it for me?

-Don't worry.

-OK.

Shall I take this one?

So you just push that slightly and then go.

That's very good.

I think you're being kind, I've buckled it.

Now, if I turn it the right way round...

From there it looks really good, but I don't think it's going to

quite make the grade, somehow. Look at that shocker.

Now exported to more than 35 countries, this sweater has

gone from practical fisherman's garment to a style classic.

Chief designer Jacqueline works

on keeping this heritage item relevant.

So, Jacqueline, when did go from being a functional garment

to fashionable?

Yeah, it's all about Coco Chanel.

She just saw this worker wearing their knit jumper

and an inspiration for the striped fashion just came from that moment.

Legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel used the Breton stripe

in her 1917 collection

and, since then, it's been a symbol of style that has endured.

What is it about stripes?

It's classical chic.

-Chic.

-Chic.

-Chic.

-That's the chic.

Do you think I could be chic?

-Could I try on a few Breton different tops?

-Of course.

-Yeah.

Perhaps I'll achieve chic while I'm here in Normandy.

We've shown Keith and Elaine all our properties here in Normandy,

but have we got close with any of them?

It's time to find out.

Well, Keith and Elaine,

we've had a few days here now in Normandy.

-I think we've driven around quite a large part of the region, haven't we?

-Yes.

-Certainly shown you parts that you hadn't visited before.

-That's right.

Yes, you've brought as much further south

and east then we've ever been to before.

So, Keith, out of all the properties that showed you and,

my goodness, we showed you grand ones,

we showed you smaller ones with land, did any of them come close?

Well, I suppose, you know, taking into consideration the important

horse factor, the first property that we saw was probably the

only one that came close because it had such good equestrian facilities.

We would have to do an awful lot of work on the house in order to

get it to what we would like.

What about flipping it on its head

and that very, sort of, long...converted mill house?

That seemed to give everything you wanted in a house.

I think, yes. I mean, from a house point of view,

that was our favourite, you know, definitely.

There would have been work to do for the horses,

but it comes down to the location.

-Right. Oh, that's interesting.

-Definitely.

-It was just a little bit too far south for you.

-Yeah, yeah.

If we could combine, say, the mill house with

the land from the first property, then that would be ideal.

-Elaine, more determined than ever to move out here?

-Yes.

I mean, this has definitely motivated us this week

and I can't wait to come back.

-Well, that's the best news, isn't it?

-Definitely.

That is the best news. I know, in the past, you haven't found your property.

Sadly, we didn't either. We got close, but not quite close enough.

Let's hope it's out there in the future for you. Thank you very much.

-No, thank you very much.

-Thank you for your help.

-Yes, thank you.

So that's it with Keith and Elaine.

And having explored this stunning region, well,

we know their budget is realistic,

but finding the perfect home with the stable block, the land

and everything they want has proved hard to find.

I hope they have better luck in the future.

I'll see you again on Escape To The Continent