- 4 months ago
- #escapetothecountry
- #devonproperty
- #coastalretreat
In this picturesque episode of Escape to the Country, Jules Hudson guides two retired drama teachers from busy Sheffield to the serene landscapes of Devon. On their quest for a peaceful coastal retreat, they explore charming homes—including a stunning period cottage with a garden paradise near the beach. Plus, Jules visits an inspiring 550-acre rewilding project full of wildflowers and wildlife.
#EscapeToTheCountry #DevonProperty #CoastalRetreat
#EscapeToTheCountry #DevonProperty #CoastalRetreat
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00:01I'm on a mission to find a country home for a couple with more in common than most.
00:07It's got to be right, Chris.
00:09I've just found for a moment saying which Chris I'm talking to.
00:13Although their taste in property is a different story.
00:16I think we've got to think long and hard about it.
00:19Well, I haven't.
00:22They want somewhere that draws them in.
00:25I just think the garden's beautiful.
00:27She's off.
00:30And brings down the house.
00:32Into stage right, sir.
00:34Oh, this is gorgeous.
00:36Oh, my word.
01:00Today we're in a county that's inspired some of the world's most iconic writers.
01:06From Christie to Conan Doyle, it can only be show-stopping Devon, where every landscape steals the scene.
01:14Devon isn't just a county.
01:20It's full-blown theatre.
01:22Epic moorlands and dramatic coastlines.
01:25Well, they set the stage.
01:27Birdsong and crashing waves.
01:29They're the orchestra.
01:30And quaint villages and coastal communities, they, of course, are the cast.
01:36So sit back and relax.
01:38Devon is the show you won't want to miss.
01:42Devon is the only county in England with two separate coastlines.
01:54It also boasts the largest road network in the country, over 8,000 miles of it.
02:00Meaning even more routes to explore everything this beautiful region has to offer.
02:08Devon is a very green county.
02:10We've got woodlands.
02:12We've got rivers.
02:14Beaches.
02:16We've got the coastal walks here.
02:24Devon is a very interesting place to visit.
02:28One of Devon's most iconic and popular landmarks is Dartmoor National Park.
02:33Covering over 350 square miles, it's the largest open space in southern England.
02:39Dartmoor is an extraordinary living, working landscape.
02:42People have lived here for about 12,000 years.
02:45It's a beautiful mosaic habitat.
02:47There's the beautiful wooded valleys with the copper gold flowing rivers.
02:51And stunning rocky crags, we call them tours.
02:54Comes from an old Celtic word meaning a tower.
02:57In the picturesque harbour town of Dartmouth, life revolves around the water.
03:02With paddle boarding and river cruises topping the to-do list.
03:06But it's the community spirit here and across Devon that really makes waves.
03:11Devon is such a unique place because it's so welcoming.
03:14When you go into the big cities, it's all rush, rush, rush.
03:18And you can walk past someone on the street who you know and they don't even say hello.
03:23I walk past someone on the street that I don't know and we stop for a chat.
03:26That's the backdrop and waiting in the wings ready to take centre stage are today's buyers.
03:39Yes, well, being on the stage, you know, it's one of those things that is always in one's blood.
03:48We don't need to have a lead role.
03:50I'm sorry.
03:51We could be walking or walking backstage.
03:53I'm sorry.
03:54Not a lead role.
03:55I'm not sure about that.
03:56Retired drama teachers Christine and Chris met over 45 years ago when Christine auditioned for the role of a spider in a play Chris was directing.
04:08She landed the part of Miss Webb and spun a web that caught Chris too.
04:13For the past 25 years, home has been this four storey townhouse in the suburbs of Sheffield, which they've restored from top to bottom.
04:22So we had it open up, we had the wall taken out to make a big open plan kitchen diner.
04:29We put this whole new kitchen in and new floors and everything.
04:34And then we built this conservatory on the end of the house.
04:39So while it's no small thing to leave behind a home they've poured so much love and care into, Christine and Chris are ready to trade it all for a life in Devon.
04:50We first visited Devon together on our honeymoon 35 years ago, fell in love with it then, and we've been coming back over the years.
05:00It's got lovely beaches, it's got the coastal path, it's got Dartmoor as well, so it's just a great place to be.
05:09Clearly coastal walks and dipping into the local theatre scene will be a big part of their new routine, but their new home will also need space for one of Chris's other hobbies.
05:19So here I am down in my man cave with my beloved classic bikes.
05:27I've been obsessed with them since an early age and now my sort of hobby is building, restoring and riding classic motorbikes.
05:37Fortunately, Christine and Chris have a generous budget of £900,000 to find their dream home.
05:46They love the period features in their current house, so they're looking for something that blends character with a contemporary edge.
05:53It then needs three bedrooms, a workshop or outbuilding and a large garden, all on the edge of a Devonshire village.
06:00Well, I am fascinated by the fact that both Chris and Christine, or Chris and Chris, as I think they like to be known, are both actors and drama teachers.
06:15And as actors, clearly they have played many different roles.
06:18I guess my role in all of this is kind of obvious, but might it be extended?
06:23Might I be the hero of the piece, finding them exactly what they're looking for?
06:29Or the villain who disappoints them?
06:32Let's hope it's the former.
06:34To kick off our Devonshire property search, I'm heading to a village towards the edge of the Dartmoor National Park, where I'm meeting my couple to discover what sparked their move down south.
06:46Well, Chris and Chris, welcome back to Devon, a part of the country.
06:50I know you spent a lot of your time together exploring and now a place where hopefully you'll make your new permanent home.
06:57Yeah, it's exciting.
06:59Yeah, really exciting.
07:01So in terms of your new property then, what have you been imagining?
07:05Some of it was some character.
07:07Part of a village somewhere, a nice village with a beautiful church or something like that, but also modern.
07:16OK, yeah.
07:17I mean, there is much to unpack about your lives, but I think the motivations for moving here kind of speak for themselves.
07:23But, well, I mean, this is certainly a scene setter and a half.
07:27Absolutely.
07:28And if you like all this, you're going to love property number one, I hope, because it's a five minute walk that way.
07:34Wow.
07:35That's great.
07:36I mean, we've got our audience here.
07:39I think the cast we know about.
07:42We're ready to go, aren't we?
07:43We're ready.
07:44We really are.
07:45Action.
07:46Action.
07:47Right.
07:48We're starting with an address on the eastern side of the National Park in the village of Haytor Vale.
07:58Nestled below what is arguably Dartmoor's most famous tour, this is true walking country.
08:03The village itself has a pub, but for a few more essentials, the nearby village of Ilsington has you covered with the village hall, a local store and, yes, another pub for good measure.
08:16And just minutes from stunning trails and countryside walks is our very first property, tucked away behind timber gates.
08:26OK.
08:27What do we think of this one then?
08:29Wow.
08:30Oh, it's lovely.
08:31I love the setting.
08:32I love the garden.
08:33Yeah.
08:34Isn't it gorgeous?
08:35Yeah.
08:36It's a beautiful garden.
08:37Needless to say, Chris, it comes with the double garage, electric roller door.
08:43Would that be big enough for the bikes?
08:45Probably.
08:47Shall we get on with it?
08:48I mean, this is act one.
08:49Please.
08:50Yeah.
08:51There it is.
08:52Right.
08:53Love to look inside.
08:56Originally built in 1903, this detached house began life as a stable.
09:01And the double garage?
09:03That used to be a hayloft.
09:06Clues to its former life can be found throughout.
09:10Come on in.
09:11Oh, exciting.
09:13And nowhere more striking than the open plan reception room where our tour begins.
09:19So this lovely wide door.
09:21Oh, wow.
09:22Betrays the old stable entrance.
09:24Yes.
09:25Oh, that's really nice.
09:26Yeah?
09:27Yeah.
09:28Yeah.
09:29To the stalls.
09:30Lovely and open.
09:31Yeah?
09:32Yeah, very nice.
09:33As a couple that have, you know, completely renovated your own home, I thought you would appreciate
09:37this.
09:38Very much, yeah.
09:39It's been done very nicely.
09:41Because like I say, the original features are still in and have been reused.
09:45And yeah, it's a lovely modern and open plan.
09:48Yeah.
09:49So they've done it really well.
09:50It just feels nice, doesn't it?
09:52Yeah.
09:53Good.
09:54This is a good smile, I think.
09:55Yeah.
09:56Excellent.
09:57Right.
09:58Come on, let's have a look at the kitchen.
10:02Here we go.
10:04Yeah, nice.
10:05It's nice.
10:06It's lovely.
10:07Maybe a bit smaller than we would like.
10:11Yeah, I mean, possibly, but you've got that massive, you know, dining area through there
10:16with the double doors.
10:17Yeah, that's true.
10:18I think you make a fair point though about size.
10:19It's got to be right, Chris.
10:20Yeah.
10:21Yeah.
10:22I've just found for a moment to say which Chris I'm talking to.
10:23Go easy on me, it's day one.
10:29Next up is the living room, located on the other side of the main reception.
10:34Here we go.
10:35Oh, it's nice, nice looking out onto the garden.
10:38Yeah, isn't it?
10:39Well, I just think the garden's beautiful.
10:41So lovely.
10:42She's off.
10:44We'll look at that a bit later.
10:46You know, two big windows up there and the fabulous double doors.
10:50Oh, that's great.
10:51But look, it's getting a little bit lighter outside.
10:54It's coming out.
10:55Which would be the perfect key to get out into the garden.
10:57But let's go upstairs first.
10:58Brilliant.
10:59And see what you make of it.
11:03Rounding off the ground floor is a completely self-contained one-bedroom annex.
11:08The remaining two bedrooms are upstairs.
11:11One enjoys fabulous views over the garden and access to a spacious family bathroom,
11:16whilst the principal bedroom has its own ensuite.
11:20There.
11:21How about this for you?
11:23Oh, this is lovely.
11:24You do.
11:25It's very nice.
11:26Oh, that's great.
11:27So, two principal bedrooms up here, really, and then you've got downstairs...
11:32The third.
11:33The third.
11:34Is that OK?
11:36It's not ideal.
11:38It's not ideal.
11:39In what respect?
11:40Just for my taste, I suppose.
11:42You want everything upstairs?
11:43Upstairs.
11:44Yeah, OK.
11:45Yeah, yeah, yeah.
11:46All right.
11:47Well, you want three bedrooms upstairs and the annex, so...
11:49Oh, well, that would be nice.
11:50I'll see what I can do.
11:53All right.
11:55I've managed to do a lot of things in my time on this show, but conjuring up extra bedrooms
12:02out of thin air, sadly, isn't one of them.
12:05So, instead, let's shift our focus to the garden, a place that caught Christine's eye
12:10from the very start.
12:12Set in around a quarter of an acre, it's south-westerly facing and beautifully landscaped.
12:18Wow, isn't this just lovely?
12:20Oh, it's beautiful.
12:21It's fabulous.
12:22Isn't it?
12:23Absolutely stunning.
12:24The house looks lovely.
12:25It does, doesn't it?
12:26And I can really see myself sitting on that patio with a drink or something.
12:31So, Chris is already painting a picture of what life might be like here.
12:35I suspect there's a little more reticence from you, Chris.
12:38Yes.
12:39Well, let's talk about the price, then, and see how that sort of frames it.
12:44What do you think this is on the market for, Adam?
12:49I think £900,000.
12:53£900,000.
12:54OK.
12:55I'm going to say £875,000.
13:00£875,000.
13:02Indeed.
13:03Interesting.
13:04OK.
13:05Well, you might be pleased today that this is on the market for £850,000.
13:12Oh!
13:14That's a surprise.
13:15That's a pleasant surprise.
13:16Isn't it?
13:17Yeah.
13:18Yeah, that's good.
13:20£50,000 under budget, this converted Edwardian stable is bright, spacious and full of character,
13:28with two generous reception rooms and three bedrooms.
13:32The double garage is ideal for Chris's motorbikes, while the garden had the couple sold from the very beginning.
13:38And with Dartmoor National Park right on the doorstep, the location couldn't be better.
13:44Well, I really like the property.
13:46It's been done to, you know, high specification.
13:49And I like the fact that it's got some character, because it's the old stable block,
13:53and you can see, you know, elements of that coming through.
13:56So, it's a nice blend of old and modern.
13:59And then, of course, it's got a fantastic garage.
14:02Tick.
14:04There's lots of aspects of this property that I really do like.
14:08I love the garden and the surrounding area, but maybe it's a little bit too remote for me,
14:14and I would like to see a house that's more in a village or in a bigger village.
14:20Taking an intermission from our property search, Christine and Chris are off to explore the historic market town of Ashburton,
14:38getting a taste of what Devon has to offer beyond bricks and mortar.
14:42Tucked away in the south of the county and surrounded by the stunning scenery of Dartmoor,
14:48it's the ideal backdrop for a change of pace.
14:51So, we love Ashburton, really, because it's this gateway to Dartmoor, the wonderful National Park,
14:56with so much to do up there and enjoy the nature.
14:59I'm a keen outdoors guy, so I'm super keen to get out on my mountain bike, go hiking in the moors,
15:05hopefully some night hikes as well.
15:10Ashburton streets are steeped in history, with some buildings dating back almost 900 years.
15:16Oh, what's this? It's one of the oldest pubs in the country.
15:20Walter Raleigh stayed here.
15:22Wow.
15:23Oh, well, I'd have to come there, wouldn't I? Yeah.
15:25Absolutely.
15:26Brilliant.
15:28It also boasts a wonderfully quirky and eclectic high street, full of local artisans,
15:33and the kind of place that makes you genuinely excited to shop local.
15:37You could be walking around in your ball gown,
15:39or you could walk around in your underpants and your welly boots, and you would be accepted.
15:44It's a really fantastic community.
15:47With Christine and Chris keen to get involved in the local performing arts scene when they move,
15:52it's only fitting they pay a visit to Ashburton Arts Centre,
15:55a community-run hub hosting everything from comedy nights to aerial yoga.
16:03So, since the Arts Centre started here in 2018, we've had about 1,200 performances of all kinds,
16:11mostly live music of various kinds.
16:14Oh, wow.
16:16Oh, look at all the activities. What have we got on?
16:19Oh, look, Chris. Argentine tango.
16:21Argentine tango. Now you're talking. Ta-da!
16:25Oh, beginners. Taster class, that would be fun.
16:27Fab.
16:28Yeah, it's a really wonderful place where people come and have a good night out.
16:32They can see on their doorstep the kind of artists that they might otherwise have to travel to Exeter or Bristol or London to see.
16:39So when it comes to the performing arts, Ashburton has got it covered.
16:43But no intermission is complete without something sweet.
16:47Mmm. So good.
16:50Just imagine, you know, if we're living down here, then...
16:53How much work?
16:57We could come every week.
17:00I think it's fair to say Christine and Chris have enjoyed their time in Ashburton,
17:04but the show must go on and it's about time we got back to the house search.
17:15It's on to the second act of our property tour and we're making our way to the small village of Rattaree.
17:22Tucked away in the hills between the Harbourn and Dart Valleys,
17:25the village sits quietly on the eastern edge of Dartmoor,
17:28but just five miles from the market town of Totnes.
17:32And despite having a good range of amenities nearby,
17:35the property itself feels wonderfully private and hidden away.
17:39Well, isn't this nice?
17:41Oh, lovely.
17:42Wow.
17:43The sun has lit the stage for act two.
17:48This is it. What do you think?
17:49Yeah, it looks very attractive.
17:51Very attractive.
17:52The thing with this one, and it slightly worries me because of your reaction to the first one,
17:55is that all the principal bedrooms here are on the ground floor.
18:01But, not wishing life away, it does kind of future-proof it.
18:05Yes, yes.
18:06Well, I'm afraid, yeah.
18:08We're not getting any younger.
18:09And not that much in the future, unfortunately.
18:11Well, let's hope so. Let's hope it's a long way off.
18:13Looking forward to seeing inside.
18:14Shall we?
18:15Yeah.
18:16Let's have a look.
18:22This detached house from the 1930s has only just hit the market.
18:27Over the past five years, the current owners have carried out an extensive renovation,
18:32thoughtfully transforming it into the home we see today.
18:37Okay.
18:38Well, let's start in here.
18:39Have a look, madam.
18:40Oh, it's very sweet.
18:41This is very sweet.
18:42It's lovely.
18:43Yeah.
18:44Yeah.
18:45I like the range.
18:46Yeah.
18:47It's a real country kitchen.
18:48Yeah.
18:49Yeah, yeah.
18:50You've changed your tune.
18:51I thought you'd come in here and say this was too small.
18:53It's just very appealing.
18:55Maybe it's the light.
18:56I think it's lighter.
18:57Yeah.
18:58Yeah.
18:59Does that make a difference?
19:00Yes.
19:01But the other thing I can tell you is that they have planning permission to actually extend
19:06the kitchen that way.
19:07Oh, that's good.
19:08So you could knock all this out.
19:09That sounds really good.
19:10Yeah.
19:11Chris, a man of your collider, you could knock this about in no time.
19:14Luckily, the renovations here were left to the professionals.
19:18And when you enter the living room, it really shows.
19:21This, I hope, might seal the deal.
19:24Who knows?
19:25Oh.
19:26Oh, this is gorgeous.
19:28Oh, my word.
19:29Come on down.
19:30It's so lovely.
19:31Oh.
19:32Into stage right, sir.
19:33Oh.
19:34Wow.
19:35That's beautiful.
19:36Oh, that's fabulous.
19:37Really lovely.
19:38I mean, I wasn't expecting this.
19:40That leather chair.
19:41I could...
19:42It's drawing me.
19:43I want to sit there and spend the rest of the afternoon there.
19:46Yeah?
19:47Happy?
19:48Yeah.
19:49Very happy.
19:50You like it.
19:51I do.
19:52We like it a lot.
19:53Good.
19:54Phew.
19:55I'm sending Christine and Chris off to explore the rest of the property by themselves.
20:00As I mentioned earlier, all the bedrooms are on the ground floor.
20:04There are three in total.
20:06And get this.
20:07Each one comes with its own en suite.
20:10Oh, this is lovely too, Chris.
20:13Oh, it's been done nicely, hasn't it?
20:15Very nice.
20:16It's got nice little touches like that.
20:17Yeah.
20:18Stained glass above the door.
20:19Oh, yeah.
20:20Yeah.
20:21And this is nice.
20:22This en suite's lovely.
20:23Well, en suite, yeah.
20:25Oh, yeah.
20:26To round off the ground floor, there's a huge utility room located right next to a shower
20:31room.
20:32Then, heading upstairs, they'll find a versatile space that could serve any number of purposes.
20:38Oh, this is nice.
20:39Oh, wow.
20:40This is very nice.
20:41Oh, wow.
20:42This is very nice.
20:43Very, very nice.
20:44Very slightly quirky space.
20:46Obviously, you've got the heating flue greeting you, but it's an amazing space, isn't it?
20:51Yeah.
20:52Like, this could be a nice second sitting room.
20:55It would also make a very nice study for me.
20:57Yeah, it would.
20:58It would.
20:59It would always ask our buyers, to be honest.
21:02And, you know, if you love something, you love it.
21:04If you don't, you don't.
21:05We can't win them all.
21:06But I think we might be winning with this one.
21:11The craftsmanship throughout this home is exceptional.
21:15And I'm pleased to see the same level of care has been given to the outside, too.
21:19And, of course, Christine and Chris have made a beeline for the spot where they'd keep
21:24his beloved motorbikes.
21:26So, we've got the workshop at last.
21:29Let's have a look.
21:30This is a nice space for you, Chris.
21:32Oh, wow.
21:33Yeah.
21:34Yeah.
21:35I mean, this is a beautiful workshop.
21:36Overlooking the garden.
21:37So, it's a great location.
21:39Obviously, not tucked away.
21:40I could see myself idling away a few hours in here.
21:47Anyone would be spoilt for choice when it comes to outbuildings here, with two summer
21:52houses, a potting shed and a wood store all on offer.
21:55They sit within a wonderfully landscaped half-acre plot featuring a mix of lawns, matured trees,
22:02planted beds and seating areas.
22:05Out here, where do we start?
22:08As you've seen, workshop over there.
22:10And then this lovely sort of elevated view of that fabulous oak.
22:14Brilliant.
22:15Extension.
22:16Yeah.
22:17Which is wonderful.
22:18It's idyllic.
22:19It really is lovely.
22:20That's a good word.
22:21That's a good word.
22:22I like to hear the word idyllic.
22:23Okay.
22:24What is it on the market for?
22:25So, Chris?
22:26I'm going to say 875,000.
22:30875,000 pounds?
22:31I am.
22:32I am.
22:33Madam Chris?
22:34I'm going higher.
22:35Mm-hmm.
22:36At 925,000.
22:37925,000 pounds.
22:38Oh, interesting.
22:39Mm-hmm.
22:40This is currently on the market for 850,000 pounds.
22:45Wow.
22:46I wasn't expecting that.
22:47No.
22:48That's amazing.
22:49Makes it a bit easy, doesn't it?
22:51Yeah, I'm really surprised at that.
22:56Elegantly renovated and boasting a stunning oak-framed extension,
23:00this detached home is impressive and also £50,000 under budget.
23:05Its standout features include three ensuite bedrooms,
23:08a flexible upper floor, numerous outbuildings
23:11and over half an acre of landscape gardens.
23:14Oh, I think this is a lovely property.
23:18Really attractive.
23:20I love that room with all the glass,
23:23looking out onto this gorgeous garden.
23:25And the same for me.
23:26I think it's great.
23:28It's a great location.
23:29It's got a nice feel to it.
23:30To be honest, although the bedrooms are on the ground floor,
23:34you know, it is kind of future-proofing it in some ways.
23:37All in all, yeah, I could definitely...
23:40I think it's a definite...
23:42Goer.
23:43A definite goer.
23:44Yeah, a definite possible.
23:49After a long day of house hunting,
23:51Christine is taking a quiet moment for herself,
23:54while Chris and I head back out into the garden of this second house
23:57to savour its charm one last time.
24:00I've long been a very keen gardener, Chris.
24:03Yeah.
24:04And I think you're pretty much the same.
24:05Absolutely.
24:06I just love...
24:07I love being in the garden.
24:08I love looking after nature.
24:10Apparently, UK gardens account for more area than all of our nature reserves put together.
24:16Really?
24:17Isn't that crazy?
24:18Isn't that crazy?
24:19When you put it in that sort of context...
24:20Yeah.
24:21You realise just how important gardens are and why, I think.
24:24It's such an easy win, actually, isn't it?
24:27For us to leave corners wild for all the biodiversity.
24:30So, right.
24:31To thrive.
24:32So important.
24:33So important.
24:34So many gardens are completely cleared and then there is no space for nature.
24:39But, you know, there's no...
24:41There's so many lovely wild areas being left here.
24:44Within these longer, wilder areas, you get the grasshoppers,
24:47you get the spiders, you get the snails, you get all of that going on.
24:51Yes, it looks like a quiet, peaceful garden, but actually, there's a lot going on.
24:55There's a lot happening.
24:56We're being watched.
24:57Yeah.
24:58Yeah.
24:59That's right.
25:00Yeah.
25:01Well, talking of being watched, shall we go and find Chris?
25:02Oh.
25:03Okay.
25:04If you're considering a move to Devon, here's what you need to know about the property market.
25:24The average price of a detached property in the county is just over £485,000,
25:30nearly £47,000 more than the national average of around £438,000.
25:37But zoom in on certain districts like Torbay and that figure actually drops to around £435,000,
25:44so there's better value to be found if you can be flexible on location.
25:49We've handpicked a selection of properties to give you a taste of what else is on offer in the county,
26:00whatever your budget.
26:02Take this fantastic white-rendered cottage in a picturesque village.
26:06For an asking price of £300,000, you'd get two bedrooms, plenty of character features
26:12and surprisingly extensive gardens for a property of this size.
26:19If you're after some colourful curb appeal, it doesn't get much better than this detached cottage in a quiet hamlet.
26:25Inside, four bedrooms and a modern kitchen complement far-reaching countryside views,
26:31and a beautifully mature garden completes the picture.
26:34It could be yours for £600,000.
26:37And finally, this Grade II-listed four-bed mansion has been completely modernised,
26:44offering 4,700 square feet of elegant, light-filled living space.
26:50Set within two acres of parkland, it's available for £925,000.
26:58Well, thanks to the sun, the house lights are up on our final day of house hunting here in Devon.
27:08Now, so far we have meandered our way through Acts I and II,
27:12but today we head into our finale, Act III.
27:16The star of which, well, of course, that's going to be our mystery house.
27:20And as for setting, well, we could not come to Devon without popping down to the seaside at least once.
27:25And fingers crossed, my drama-loving buyers will love what I'm about to show them.
27:33To draw our property tour to a close, our final stop is in the coastal village of Slapton.
27:39We're in the South Devon national landscape here, and it absolutely shows.
27:44There's a community shop open seven days a week,
27:47a village hall that also doubles as a post office,
27:50and, just to sweeten the deal, two local pubs.
27:55But before we head into the village centre to check out the mystery house,
27:58we couldn't resist a detour to one of Slapton's other highlights.
28:04Well, how are we doing then?
28:07Yeah, very well.
28:08All ready for what's coming?
28:09Oh, yes.
28:10Certainly are.
28:11Beautiful daylight today on the beach.
28:14But it's a lovely setting, I think, this.
28:16And Broca is what I'm about to show you,
28:18which, of course, is our final offering, our mystery house.
28:21But this one is slightly different.
28:23But what it does give you is access to this.
28:26Because you could walk to this from your front door if you went for our mystery house.
28:31Because one of our favourite walks ever is just at the bottom of the beach at start point.
28:37How about that?
28:38Yeah.
28:39Maybe it's all meant to be.
28:40Yeah.
28:41So I'm going to go ahead to the mystery house, open it up, get it all ready for you.
28:45And you can take a trip down memory lane.
28:47Thanks very much.
28:48Right.
28:49Off you go.
28:51I will see you soon.
28:57This is the property.
28:59I'm going to Broca.
29:00Now, in fairness, it's not the biggest I've shown them this week, but that's the compromise.
29:07Well, I say compromise.
29:10I mean, just look at this place.
29:13It is beautifully presented.
29:15It's cute.
29:16And it has that heady mix of old and new, something I know my buyers are really keen on.
29:22Fingers crossed they love it because they clearly love the area.
29:26Until now, we've focused on large properties in edge of village locations.
29:32So how will our couple feel about cosy cottage life in the heart of this delightful coastal village?
29:38Oh.
29:39What a lovely cottage.
29:41What a lovely house.
29:42And you might just say cottage.
29:44Uh-huh.
29:45Very much more cottagey than anything I've shown you thus far.
29:47Right.
29:48So it is a little bit smaller.
29:50Yeah.
29:51However...
29:52Yeah.
29:53Look where it is.
29:54Yeah, the location is.
29:55Exactly.
29:56It could be better.
29:57We never thought we'd be anywhere like this.
29:58Happy, madam?
29:59Yeah, very happy.
30:00Are you sure?
30:01Yeah, yeah.
30:02Come on then, let's have a look.
30:03This detached Victorian cottage might just have the richest sense of historic character
30:10we've seen so far on our search.
30:12And while it has classic cottage proportions, it's full of natural light.
30:17And the decor brings a fabulous contemporary twist to the traditional feel.
30:24This is nice.
30:25Yeah?
30:26This is really nice.
30:27This is really nice.
30:28It's gorgeous.
30:29Yeah.
30:30I like it because it's so light.
30:32It's so light.
30:33You've also got quite a generous utility room behind the fireplace and the downstairs
30:38loo as well and access out to the garden.
30:41I mean, when we first met, Chris, you were saying you'd love a mix of old and new.
30:46I mean, I think this is that.
30:49What do you think?
30:51I think you've hit the mark.
30:53Do you think?
30:54Yeah.
30:55I mean, no, this is, this is, it's exactly that.
30:58Yeah.
30:59Yeah.
31:00I would feel at home here.
31:01Definitely in this kitchen.
31:02Excellent.
31:03Beautiful.
31:04Well, you'll be pleased to know too that all the bedrooms here are upstairs.
31:06Even better.
31:07So we have been listening.
31:08We have been listening.
31:09Come and have a look though at the living room.
31:11Yeah, not huge, but I think for you too.
31:17Very cosy.
31:18Yeah.
31:19It's cosy.
31:20What do you think?
31:22It is a bit small.
31:23Right.
31:24Yeah.
31:25Yeah.
31:26But.
31:27But it's charming.
31:28It's lovely.
31:29I love the huge fireplace.
31:30Yeah.
31:31A wood burner.
31:32Okay.
31:33It's not the biggest, but, but, you know, I think we can live in that, you know, like
31:37you say, in the kitchen diner.
31:38I don't think you need it bigger than this.
31:40Yes.
31:41There's going to be a compromise.
31:42There is with any property, frankly.
31:43Yeah.
31:44Yeah.
31:45Yeah.
31:46Very much with a small C.
31:47If that makes sense.
31:48That sounds, that sounds very good.
31:49Yeah.
31:50And I did promise you a village shop.
31:51I mean.
31:52There it is.
31:53There it is.
31:54There it is.
31:58It might not stock all the weekly essentials, but full marks for charm.
32:03I'm leaving Christian and Chris to check out the upstairs, where they'll find two double
32:08bedrooms, one single, and a compact family bathroom.
32:13Well, this is a nice room.
32:15Yeah.
32:16I like the, just the neutral paintwork.
32:19Yeah.
32:20It's nice.
32:21Yeah.
32:22Nice two windows.
32:23The head height's good.
32:24Good head, good head height.
32:25It's not the biggest of bedrooms.
32:27No.
32:28Are you okay with that?
32:29I think I would, I'd orientate the bed the other way.
32:32Yeah.
32:33Yeah.
32:34Determine.
32:35Oh, yeah.
32:36This is nice.
32:37This is a really nice room, isn't it?
32:39It is lovely.
32:40This could be.
32:41What, the master?
32:42The main bedroom.
32:43Yeah.
32:44You've got the, the jewel aspect.
32:46That's what I like.
32:47Yeah.
32:48So you've got the window overlooking the garden.
32:49I like looking out.
32:50Yeah, yeah.
32:51I love this deep window.
32:52You've got the nice deep window.
32:53Oh, that's lovely.
32:54Outside, the presentation is every bit as impressive as it is inside.
33:01Of course, there's space for the motorbikes with a double garage and plenty of room on
33:06the driveway.
33:07And the south facing garden is elegantly framed by vibrant borders with pretty pathways winding
33:13through.
33:14One of which leads to a paved terrace.
33:16Yes, you've got this nice sort of sleeper lined sunken garden almost.
33:21Oh, yes.
33:22Oh, it's very nice.
33:23That's really nice.
33:24It's lovely.
33:25I wasn't expecting this at all.
33:27Still quite a sizable garden.
33:28Yeah.
33:29Yeah.
33:30I see it more, more of as a seaside garden.
33:33I'm not quite sure why.
33:34Much more sort of containerised and a mix of herbs and the grasses as well.
33:38I think we could all identify some of the concerns, particularly Chris, that you might
33:42have over size and scale.
33:45But let's talk about the price of this one now.
33:48So I'm going to say £900,000.
33:51£900,000, yeah.
33:53Chris?
33:54I'm going to go high as well.
33:56I'm going to say £895,000.
33:59£895,000.
34:02OK.
34:03I think this neatly rounds off the package of properties we've offered you this week because,
34:09and you weren't to know, they are all the same price.
34:13This is on the market for £850,000.
34:18Wow.
34:20Yeah.
34:21What do you think?
34:22I think we've got to think long and hard about it, haven't we?
34:25Well, I haven't.
34:26Well, I know.
34:27But either way, I think you need to think about this without me.
34:31Yeah.
34:34With this detached coastal cottage, Christine and Chris would get that blend of old and new
34:39they've been craving, plus three bedrooms, an enclosed coastal garden and the all-important
34:45workshop.
34:46It's set in the middle of a thriving village just a mile from the beach and they'd still
34:50have £50,000 left to play with.
34:53I think the Mystery House has thrown a spanner in the works because of its location.
34:59And taking us to the beach first of all, that really pulled up my heartstrings.
35:06The Mystery House has definitely sort of brought things into perspective for me.
35:11The location here is a step up, but it's a beautiful house, but it is that bit smaller.
35:18Yeah.
35:19And can we make that jump, that compromise?
35:22Just outside Totnes, a 550-acre estate is being transformed.
35:37Five years ago, the Sharpen Trust, which owns the estate, launched a nature restoration project
35:43to tackle biodiversity loss.
35:46Since then, the whole estate is registered organic.
35:4950 acres have been rewilded and much of the rest has returned to wildflower meadows, orchards
35:55and woodland, bringing back insects, birds and small mammals.
36:00Rewilding partner Jack Skuse of Ambios Limited is giving me a tour.
36:04Well, Jack, that is a view, is it not? Wow.
36:08There's Totnes in the distance, you can see, and then Dartmoor in the horizon.
36:12We're overlooking the River Dart Valley, so this is the estuary that runs up to Totnes.
36:16It's the perfect composition, isn't it?
36:18Stunning.
36:19But for those not in the know, just define rewilding.
36:22What we want to try and encourage is wildlife returns.
36:25We've lived through massive losses, and rewilding is a means of reversing those losses.
36:32It's actually bringing wildlife back to the countryside.
36:35So, in terms of what we're looking at here, there seems to be an obvious difference
36:39between the farmland on the right and then what's going on on the left side here.
36:45Absolutely, we're embracing the process of change, but it's really looking back at what
36:49we knew of as a natural landscape here.
36:52Still allowing vegetation to grow, in that there's structures where animals can complete
36:56their life cycle, wildlife can live.
36:59And I suppose allowing wildlife to expand and do what it's good at, which is, we hope,
37:05survival, with a bit of help and a bit of encouragement.
37:07Yeah, absolutely.
37:08The rewilding has also led to a change in wildlife behaviour, with the lush vegetation
37:14creating cover for small mammals.
37:16This, in turn, encouraged predators like barn owls and kestrels to the valley, who have since
37:22begun to feed on site.
37:24And herons, that would once rely solely on the river for their food, have now moved into
37:29the fields to feast on the diverse food supply.
37:33The process also involves bringing back grazing animals in small numbers.
37:37So there are Belta Galloway cows, and they're really helping with the rewilding here.
37:43So how does their grazing actually improve the biodiversity?
37:45Because it sort of sounds a bit counterproductive in a sense.
37:48Actually, animals were a crucial role in our natural ecosystem before we came along.
37:53And so a small number of animals can actually help with the biodiversity explosion.
37:59But crucially, they're organic animals.
38:01And that means they have healthy dung.
38:04When it passes through, when the food passes through them, and it comes out the other end,
38:08that's really healthy for all the insects that then feed on it.
38:11So they are naturally processing the landscape, aren't they?
38:14And in those pats live dung beetles.
38:17Yeah.
38:18Crucial food source for bats.
38:20And we live on a really important migratory route for greater horseshoe bats.
38:24So now those bats have got a wonderful food source here that they didn't otherwise have.
38:28Fantastic.
38:30The Trust is constantly exploring new ways to further restore the landscape.
38:35One of their latest efforts focuses on ospreys.
38:38Among the largest birds of prey in the UK, they are currently listed as at risk
38:43due to low breeding numbers.
38:45To help address this, Jack and his team have begun building nesting platforms
38:49in the hope of attracting ospreys to the estate.
38:51And today, I'm joining in to lend a hand.
38:54So I can see an example over there, Jack, one you made earlier.
38:58So you're just loosely tying these together to create the base of a frame.
39:04Yeah, that's right.
39:05So on the estate, we've got three of these artificial nests.
39:09Poles in the landscape where ospreys will hopefully at some point come to use them.
39:14But also actually what we're trying to do alongside this is improve the river health.
39:18So ospreys primarily feed on fish.
39:21And so flounder and grey mullet will be a good food source that are in the estuary.
39:27So these ospreys will hopefully, if they ever do nest on these and breed from these,
39:31will have three, maybe four eggs that will hatch.
39:34And then hopefully those young will do their own migration.
39:37Will they come back to where they were hatched?
39:40That's right, they're quite loyal to their home range.
39:43So we'd hope to see them come back and then, you know, find mates and breed themselves.
39:48Fingers crossed it holds together.
39:51Great.
39:52We're going to make sure this is well packed in.
39:55Tuck it into the...
39:56Absolutely.
39:57It's going to get a lot of weather up there.
39:58Yeah, you don't want to be blowing out, do we?
40:00So tuck it in well.
40:01I have to say, it does look really inviting.
40:04I've broken a lot of rural properties in my time, James, but never built one.
40:08Best of luck with the project.
40:10And I really hope to hear that finally the ospreys have moved in and made it home.
40:15Our pleasure.
40:16Thanks for coming.
40:24The curtain is about to come down on this house search,
40:27but not before one final crucial element.
40:30It's decision time.
40:36What a spot, eh?
40:37To draw...
40:39...briss an adventure...
40:40...to a close.
40:42Now you've had a...
40:44...a moment to kind of look through all the properties we've shown you.
40:48Is there a clear favourite?
40:50What's your favourite, Chris?
40:52Well, the second property was wonderful with that extension,
40:56but coming to the Mystery House in this idyllic village near the sea with the shop and the pub has made us realise, I think, that we really want to be part of a village.
41:09And so for me, the Mystery House is definitely one where I'd like to come and live.
41:15So I've sold it to him, but not quite yet to you, Chris. Come on, what's going on?
41:24Well, I agree. The location is perfect. I just found the sitting room a little bit small and the bedrooms also on the small side.
41:32I'm not dismissing it, but I do need to think about it.
41:35I'll give you five minutes. It's OK.
41:37I like your style. Absolutely. Let's not mess about.
41:41Yes, come on, let's get in there before someone else snaps in there.
41:45Are you both reassured that Devon is where your future is going to unfold?
41:51Oh, yeah, absolutely. It is a great county.
41:54You've shown us three absolutely spot-on properties, wonderful properties, and thank you so much for that.
42:01You know, you've been great.
42:03Well, it has been my great pleasure to do so.
42:05I have one final request, and that is whatever you decide to do, please let us know, and we would love to come back in the future.
42:12And it will be like this, because the weather's always like this is Devon.
42:15It's always good. It's Devon.
42:17It's Devon. It's always sunny.
42:19Good luck to you.
42:21Thank you so much.
42:27So how do we make sense of this week?
42:29Well, as any experienced dramatist will tell you, a good tale has three key elements, a beginning, a middle, and an end.
42:37We haven't quite got to our ending yet, but when finally it is written, I am certain it is going to be focused not just on a new home for Chris and Chris here in Devon, but also one focused upon community.
42:50And I wish them all the very best of luck as their search continues.
42:55I'll see you next time.
42:59If you would like to escape to the country in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, or Wales, and need our help, why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.
43:10We'll see you next time.
43:11Bye.
43:40Bye.
43:41Bye.
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