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Escape to the Country Season 26 Episode 2
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FunTranscript
00:00I'm on a mission to find a country home for a couple with more in common than most it's got
00:07to be right Chris yeah I just realized I'm which Chris I'm talking to although their taste in
00:14property is a different story I think we've got to think they want somewhere that draws them in
00:24I just think the garden is beautiful she's off and brings down the house and to stage right sir
00:32oh this is gorgeous oh my word
00:54today we're in a county that's inspired some of the world's most iconic writers from Christy to
01:07Conan Doyle it can only be show-stopping Devon where every landscape steals the scene
01:14Devon isn't just a county it's full-blown theater epic moorlands and dramatic coastlines
01:25well they set the stage birdsong and crashing waves they're the orchestra and quaint villages
01:32and coastal communities they of course are the cast so sit back and relax Devon is the show you
01:40won't want to miss bordering the English Channel to the south and the Irish Sea and Bristol Channel
01:49to the north Devon is the only county in England with two separate coastlines it also boasts the
01:56largest road network in the country over 8,000 miles of it meaning even more routes to explore
02:02everything this beautiful region has to offer Devon is a very green county we've
02:10got woodlands we've got rivers beaches we've got the coastal walks here
02:23Devon is a very interesting place to visit one of Devon's most iconic and popular landmarks is Dartmoor
02:32National Park covering over 350 square miles it's the largest open space in southern England Dartmoor is an
02:40extraordinary living working landscape people have lived here for about 12,000 years it's a beautiful
02:45mosaic habitat there's the beautiful wooded valleys with the copper gold flowing rivers and stunning rocky
02:52crags we call them tours comes from an old Celtic word meaning a tower in the picturesque harbour town of
02:58Dartmouth life revolves around the water with paddle boarding and river cruises topping the to-do list but it's the
03:06community spirit here and across Devon that really makes waves Devon is such a unique place because it's so welcoming when you go into the big cities it's all rush rush rush and you can walk past someone on the street who you know and they don't even say hello I walk past someone on the street that I don't know and we stop for a chat
03:27That's the backdrop and waiting in the wings ready to take center 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
03:46We don't need to have a lead role
03:50I'm sorry
03:51I'm sorry not a lead role I'm not sure about that
03:57Retired 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-story townhouse in the suburbs of Sheffield which they've restored from top to bottom
04:21So we we had it open up we had the wall taken out to make a big open plan kitchen diner
04:28We put all new this whole new kitchen in new floors and everything and then we built this conservatory on the end of the house
04:38So 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
04:49We first visited Devon together on our honeymoon 35 years ago
04:56Fell in love with it then and we've been coming back over the years
05:00We've got lovely beaches, it's got the coastal path, it's got Dartmoor as well so it's just a great place to be
05:08Clearly coastal walks and dipping into the local theatre scene will be a big part of their new routine
05:14But their new home will also need space for one of Chris's other hobbies
05:18So here I am down in my man cave with my beloved classic bikes
05:26I've been obsessed with them since since an early age and now my sort of hobby is building restoring and riding classic motorbikes
05:36Fortunately 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
05:52It 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
06:08Or Chris and Chris as I think they like to be named
06:10Are both actors and drama teachers and 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
06:22Might I be the hero of the piece finding them exactly what they're looking for
06:28Or the villain who disappoints them
06:32Let's hope it's the former
06:34To kick off our Devonshire property search
06:36I'm heading to a village towards the edge of the Dartmoor National Park
06:40Where 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
06:53And 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 character
07:07Part of a village somewhere nice village with a beautiful church or something like that
07:11But also modern
07:13Okay yeah
07:17I mean there is much to unpack about your lives
07:19But 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
07:31Because it's a five minute walk that way
07:33Wow that's great
07:35I mean we've got our audience here
07:38I think the cast we know about
07:41We're ready to go aren't we?
07:42We're ready
07:43We really are
07:44Action!
07:45Action!
07:46Right, go on
07:47We're starting with an address on the eastern side of the National Park
07:54In the village of Haytor Vale
07:57Nestled below what is arguably Dartmoor's most famous tour
08:01This is true walking country
08:04The village itself has a pub
08:06But for a few more essentials the nearby village of Ilsington has you covered with the village hall
08:11A local store
08:13And yes another pub for good measure
08:17And just minutes from stunning trails and countryside walks is our very first property
08:22Tucked away behind timber gates
08:26Okay what do we think of this one then?
08:28Wow
08:29Oh it's lovely
08:30I love the setting
08:31I love the garden
08:32Yeah
08:33Isn't it gorgeous
08:34Yeah
08:35It's a beautiful garden
08:36Needless to say Chris it comes with the double garage electric roller door
08:42Would that be big enough for the bikes?
08:44Probably
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 1983
08:58This detached house began life as a stable
09:01And the double garage?
09:02That used to be a hayloft
09:06Clues to its former life can be found throughout
09:10Coming in
09:11Thank you
09:12Exciting
09:13And nowhere more striking than in the open plan reception room
09:17Where our tour begins
09:19For this lovely wide door
09:21Oh wow
09:22Betrays the old stable entrance
09:24Yes
09:25That's really nice
09:26Yeah
09:27Yeah
09:28Yeah
09:29Lovely and open
09:30Yeah
09:31Yeah very nice
09:32As a couple that have you know completely renovated your own home
09:35I thought you would like appreciate this
09:37Very much yeah
09:38It's been done very nicely
09:40Because like I say the original features are still in and have been reused
09:44And yet it's lovely modern and open plan
09:48So they've done it really well
09:49It just feels nice doesn't it?
09:50Yeah
09:51I like the four windows
09:52Good is it?
09:53This is this is a good smile I think
09:54Yeah
09:55Excellent right come on let's have a look at the kitchen
09:57Look at the kitchen
10:01Here we go
10:03Yeah nice
10:04It's nice
10:05It's lovely
10:06Maybe a bit smaller than we would like
10:10Yeah I mean possibly but
10:12You've got that massive you know dining area through there with the double doors
10:16Yeah that's true
10:17I think you make a fair point though about size
10:18It's got to be right Chris
10:20Yeah
10:21Yeah
10:22I just have to remind myself which Chris I'm talking to
10:26Go 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
10:39I mean well I just think the garden's beautiful
10:41So lovely
10:42She's off
10:43We'll look at that a bit later
10:46You have two big windows up there and the fabulous double doors
10:50That's great
10:51But look it's getting a little bit lighter outside
10:53It's coming out
10:54It's a little sun
10:55Which will be the perfect key to get out into the garden
10:56But let's go upstairs first
10:57Brilliant
10:58And see what you make of it
10:59Brilliant
11:00Rounding off the ground floor is a completely self-contained one bedroom annex
11:07The remaining two bedrooms are upstairs
11:10One enjoys fabulous views over the garden
11:13And access to a spacious family bathroom
11:16Whilst the principal bedroom has its own en suite
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
11:30And then you've got downstairs
11:32The third
11:33The third
11:34Is that okay?
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 okay
11:45Yeah yeah
11:46Well you want three bedrooms upstairs and the annex
11:49Oh well that will be nice
11:52I'll see what I can do
11:56I've managed to do a lot of things in my time on this show
11:59But conjuring up extra bedrooms out of thin air
12:02Sadly isn't one of them
12:04So instead let's shift our focus to the garden
12:08A place that caught Christine's eye from the very start
12:11Set in around a quarter of an acre
12:13It's southwesterly facing and beautifully landscaped
12:18Wow isn't this just lovely?
12:19It's beautiful
12:20It's beautiful
12:21It's fabulous
12:22Isn't it?
12:23It's stunning
12:24The house looks lovely
12:25It does doesn't it?
12:26And I can really see myself sitting on that patio
12:29With 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?
12:50I think £900,000
12:53£900,000 okay
12:56I'm going to say £875,000
13:00£875,000
13:02Indeed
13:03Interesting okay
13:04Well you might be pleased today that this is on the market for £850,000
13:11That's a pleasant surprise
13:15Isn't it?
13:16Yeah
13:17Yeah that's good
13:19£50,000 under budget
13:22This converted Edwardian stable is bright, spacious and full of character
13:27With two generous reception rooms and three bedrooms
13:31The double garage is ideal for Chris's motorbikes
13:34While the garden had the couple sold from the very beginning
13:37And with Dartmoor National Park right on the doorstep
13:40The location couldn't be better
13:43Well I really like the property
13:45It's been done to high specification
13:48And I like the fact that it's got some character
13:50Because it's the old stable block
13:52And you can see elements of that coming through
13:55So it's a nice blend of old and modern
13:58And then of course it's got a fantastic garage
14:02Tick
14:03There's lots of aspects of this property that I really do like
14:07I love the garden and the surrounding area
14:10But maybe it's a little bit too remote for me
14:13And I would like to see a house that's more in a village
14:17Or in a bigger village
14:19Taking an intermission from our property search
14:33Christine 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
14:45And surrounded by the stunning scenery of Dartmoor
14:48It's the ideal backdrop for a change of pace
14:51So we love Ashburton really
14:53Because it's this gateway to Dartmoor
14:55The wonderful National Park
14:56With so much to do up there and enjoy the nature
14:59I'm a keen outdoors guy
15:01So I'm super keen to get out on my mountain bike
15:04Go hiking in the moors
15:05Hopefully some night hikes as well
15:07Ashburton streets are steeped in history
15:12With some buildings dating back almost 900 years
15:15Oh!
15:16What's this?
15:17It's one of the oldest pubs in the country
15:19Mortarale estate here
15:21Wow
15:22Nice to come there
15:23Yeah
15:24Absolutely
15:25Brilliant
15:26It also boasts a wonderfully quirky and eclectic high street
15:30Full of local artisans
15:32And the kind of place that makes you genuinely excited to shop local
15:36You could be walking around in your ball gown
15:39Or you could walk around in your underpants and your welly boots
15:42And you would be accepted
15:43It's a really fantastic community
15:45With Christine and Chris keen to get involved in the local performing arts scene when they move
15:51It's only fitting they pay a visit to Ashburton Art Centre
15:55A community run hub hosting everything from comedy nights to aerial yoga
16:00So since the Art Centre started here in 2018
16:07We've had about 1200 performances on of all kinds
16:11Mostly live music of various kinds
16:13Oh wow
16:15Oh look at all the activities
16:17What have we got on?
16:18Oh look Chris, Argentine Tango
16:20Argentine Tango
16:21Now you're talking
16:23Ta-da
16:24You were beginners taster class that would be fun
16:27Wow
16:28It's a really wonderful place where people come and have a good night out
16:31They can see on their doorstep the kind of artists that they might otherwise have to travel to Exeter or Bristol or London to see
16:38So when it comes to the performing arts, Ashburton has got it covered
16:43But no intermission is complete without something sweet
16:47Mmm
16:48So good
16:49Just 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
17:17And we're making our way to the small village of Rattaree
17:21Tucked away in the hills between the Harbourn and Dart Valleys
17:24The village sits quietly on the eastern edge of Dartmoor
17:27But just five miles from the market town of Totnes
17:30And despite having a good range of amenities nearby
17:34The 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
17:47This is it
17:48What do you think?
17:49Yeah, it looks very attractive
17:50Very attractive
17:51The 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
18:00Ah
18:01But, and not wishing life away, it does kind of future-proof it
18:04Yes, yes
18:06Well, I'm afraid, yeah
18:08Not that much in the future, unfortunately
18:10Well, let's hope so, let's hope it's a long way off
18:12Looking 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
18:26Over the past five years, the current owners have carried out an extensive renovation
18:31Thoughtfully transforming it into the home we see today
18:34Okay, well, let's start in here, have a look madam
18:39Oh, it's very sweet, this is very sweet, it's lovely
18:43Yeah
18:44Yeah, I like the range
18:45Yeah, yeah, it's a real country kitchen, yeah
18:48Yeah, yeah
18:49You've changed your tune, I 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, yeah
18:58Yeah, as that makes a difference
18:59Yes
19:00But the other thing I can tell you is that they have planning permission to actually extend the kitchen that way
19:06Oh, that's good
19:07So you could knock all this out
19:08That sounds really good
19:09Yeah
19:10Chris, 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, who knows
19:25Oh, this is gorgeous
19:27Oh, my word
19:29Come on down
19:30It's so lovely
19:31Oh
19:32Into stage right, sir
19:34Wow
19:35Oh, that's beautiful
19:36Oh, that's fabulous
19:37Really lovely
19:38I mean, I wasn't expecting this
19:40That leather chair, I could...
19:41It's drawing me, I want to sit there and spend the rest of the afternoon there
19:46Yeah?
19:47Happy?
19:48Yeah, very happy
19:49You like it?
19:50I do, I like it a lot
19:51Good, phew
19:52I'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 and get this, each one comes with its own en suite
20:09Oh, this is lovely too, Chris
20:12Oh, it's been done nicely, hasn't it?
20:14Very nice
20:15It's got nice little touches like that, stained glass above the door
20:19Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah
20:20And this is nice, this en suite's lovely
20:22En suite, yeah
20:23To round off the ground floor, there's a huge utility room located right next to a shower room
20:31Then, heading upstairs, they'll find a versatile space that could serve any number of purposes
20:38Oh, this is nice
20:40Oh, wow
20:41This is very nice
20:42Very, very nice, very slightly quirky space
20:45Obviously you've got the heating flue greeting you, but it's an amazing space, isn't it?
20:51Yeah, this could be a nice second sitting room
20:54It would also make a very nice study for me
20:56It would, it would
20:58I always ask our buyers, to be honest
21:01And, you know, if you love something, you love it
21:03If you don't, you don't
21:04We can't win them all
21:06But I think we might be winning with this one
21:11The craftsmanship throughout this home is exceptional
21:14And I'm pleased to see the same level of care has been given to the outside too
21:18And, of course, Christine and Chris have made a beeline for the spot where they'd keep his beloved motorbikes
21:25So, we've got the workshop at last, let's have a look
21:29Oh, this is a nice space for you, Chris
21:31Oh, wow, yeah
21:33Yeah, I mean, this is, this is a beautiful workshop
21:36Overlooking the garden, so it's a great location, obviously not tucked away
21:39I could see myself idling away a few, a few hours in here
21:46Anyone would be spoilt for choice when it comes to outbuildings here
21:50With two summer houses, 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, planted 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 extension
22:15Which is wonderful
22:16Yeah, idyllic, it really is lovely
22:17Idyllic, that's a good word
22:19That's a good word
22:20I like to hear the word idyllic
22:21Okay
22:22How much do we think this is on the market for, sir, Chris?
22:25Oh, I'm going to say 875,000
22:29875,000 pounds
22:31I am
22:32Madam Chris?
22:33I'm going higher
22:34Mm-hmm
22:35At 925
22:36925,000 pounds
22:38Oh, interesting
22:39This 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 easier, doesn't it?
22:51Yeah, I'm really, I'm really surprised at that
22:54Elegantly renovated and boasting a stunning oak-framed extension
23:00This detached home is impressive
23:02And also 50,000 pounds under budget
23:05Its standout features include three en-suite bedrooms
23:08A flexible upper floor
23:10Numerous outbuildings
23:11And over half an acre of landscape gardens
23:15Oh, 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
23:27It's a great location
23:28It's got a nice feel to it
23:30To be honest, although the bedrooms are on the ground floor
23:33You know, it is kind of future-proofing it in some ways
23:37All in all
23:38Yeah, I could definitely
23:39I think it's a definite
23:41Goer
23:42A definite goer
23:43Yeah, a definite possible
23:44After a long day of house hunting
23:46Christine is taking a quiet moment for herself
23:47While Chris and I head back out into the garden of this second house
23:51To savour its charm one last time
23:53I've long been a very keen gardener, Chris
23:54Yeah
23:55And I think you're pretty much the same
23:56Absolutely
23:57I just love, I love being in the garden
23:58I love looking after nature
23:59Apparently, UK gardens account for more area than all of our nature reserves put together
24:14Really?
24:15Isn't that crazy?
24:16When you put it in that sort of context
24:19Yeah
24:20You realise just how important gardens are
24:22And why, I think
24:23It's such an easy win, actually, isn't it?
24:26For us to leave corners wild
24:28For all the biodiversity
24:30So, right
24:31It's so important
24:33So important
24:34So many gardens are completely cleared
24:36And then there is no space for nature
24:39But, you know, there's so many lovely wild areas being left here
24:43Within these longer, wilder areas
24:45You get the grasshoppers
24:47You know, you get the spiders
24:48You get the snails
24:49You get all of that going on
24:50Yes, it looks like a quiet, peaceful garden
24:52But, actually, there's a lot going on
24:54There's a lot happening
24:55We're being watched
24:56Yeah, yeah, that's right
24:57Yeah
24:58Well, talking of being watched
24:59Shall we go and find Chris?
25:00Oh, okay
25:15If you're considering a move to Devon
25:20Here's what you need to know about the property market
25:23The average price of a detached property in the county is just over 485,000 pounds
25:30Nearly 47,000 more than the national average of around 438,000 pounds
25:36But, zoom in on certain districts like Torbay
25:39And that figure actually drops to around 435,000
25:43So, there's better value to be found if you can be flexible on location
25:48We've handpicked a selection of properties to give you a taste of what else is on offer in the county
25:59Whatever your budget
26:01Take 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
26:11And surprisingly extensive gardens for a property of this size
26:18If 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
26:30And a beautifully mature garden completes the picture
26:33It could be yours for 600,000 pounds
26:38And finally, this Grade 2 listed 4-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 pounds
27:01Well, thanks to the sun, the house lights are up
27:04On our final day of house hunting here in Devon
27:07Now, so far we have meandered our way through Acts 1 and 2
27:11But today we head into our finale, Act 3
27:15The star of which, well, of course, that's going to be our mystery house
27:19And 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
27:30To draw our property tour to a close, our final stop is in the coastal village of Slapton
27:38We're in the South Devon National landscape here and it absolutely shows
27:43There's a community shop open seven days a week
27:46A village hall that also doubles as a post office
27:49And, just to sweeten the deal, two local pubs
27:53But before we head into the village centre to check out the mystery house
27:57We couldn't resist a detour to one of Slapton's other highlights
28:03Well, how are we doing then?
28:06Yeah, very well
28:07All ready for what's coming?
28:08Oh, yes
28:09Certainly are
28:10On a beautiful day like today on the beach
28:12But it's a lovely setting, I think, this
28:15And Broca is what I'm about to show you
28:17Which, 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
28:25Because you could walk to this from your front door
28:28If you went to our mystery house
28:30Because one of our favourite walks ever
28:33Is just at the bottom of the beach at start point
28:36How about that?
28:37Yeah
28:38Maybe it's all meant to be
28:39Yeah
28:40Yeah
28:41So I'm going to go ahead to the mystery house
28:42Open up
28:43Get it all ready for you
28:44And you can take a trip down memory lane
28:47Thanks very much
28:48Right, off you go
28:49Thank you
28:50I will see you soon
28:57This is the property
28:58I'm going to broker
28:59Now, in fairness, it's not the biggest I've shown them this week
29:02But that's the compromise
29:07Well, I say compromise
29:09I mean, just look at this place
29:12It is beautifully presented
29:14It's cute
29:15And it has that heady mix of old and new
29:18Something I know my buyers are really keen on
29:21Fingers crossed they love it
29:22Because they clearly love the area
29:26Until now, we've focused on large properties
29:29In edge of village locations
29:31So how will our couple feel about cosy cottage life
29:34In the heart of this delightful coastal village?
29:37Oh
29:39What a lovely cottage
29:40What a lovely house
29:41And you're might to say cottage
29:43Very much more cottagey than anything I've shown you thus far
29:47Right
29:48So it is a little bit smaller
29:49Yeah
29:50However
29:51Yeah
29:52Look where it is
29:53Yeah, yeah
29:54The location is
29:55Exactly
29:56We never thought we'd be anywhere like this
29:58Happy, madam?
29:59Yeah, very happy
30:00Sure?
30:01Come on then, let's have a look
30:04This detached Victorian cottage might just have the richest sense of historic character we've seen so far on our search
30:12And while it has classic cottage proportions, it's full of natural light
30:16And the decor brings a fabulous contemporary twist to the traditional feel
30:21Oh
30:23This is nice
30:24Yeah
30:25This is really nice
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
30:37And the downstairs loo as well and access out to the garden
30:40I 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?
30:50I think you've hit the mark
30:53Do you think?
30:54Yeah, I mean, no, this is, this is, it's exactly that
30:58Yeah, I would feel at home here
31:00Definitely in this kitchen
31:01Excellent
31:02Yeah, it's beautiful
31:03Well, you'll be pleased to know, too, that all the bedrooms here are upstairs
31:06Even better
31:07Yeah, we have been listening, we have been listening
31:08We have been listening
31:09Come and have a look, though, at the living room
31:14Again, not huge, but I think for you, too
31:17Very cosy
31:18Yeah, it's cosy
31:19What do you think?
31:21It is a bit small
31:23Right
31:24Yeah
31:25But
31:26But it's charming, it's lovely
31:28I love the huge fireplace
31:29Yeah
31:30The wood burner
31:31Okay, it's not the biggest, but, but, you know, I think we can live in that, you know,
31:36Like, say, in the kitchen diner
31:37I don't think you need it bigger than this
31:39Yes, there's going to be a compromise
31:41There is with any property, frankly
31:42Yeah, yeah, yeah
31:43But, my goodness me, I think the compromises here are very much with a small c, if that makes sense
31:47Yeah, yeah, yeah
31:48That sounds, that sounds very good
31:49And I did promise you a village shop
31:50I mean
31:51There it is
31:52There it is
31:53There it is
31:54It might not stock all the weekly essentials, but full marks for charm
32:02I'm leaving Christine and Chris to check out the upstairs, where they'll find two double bedrooms, one single, and a compact family bathroom
32:11Oh, this is a nice room
32:14Yeah, I like the, just the neutral paintwork
32:18Yeah
32:19It's nice
32:20Yeah
32:21Nice two windows
32:22The head height's good
32:23Good head, good head height
32:24Er, it's not the biggest of bedrooms
32:26No
32:27Are you okay with that?
32:28I think I would, er, I'd orientate the bed the other way
32:31Yeah, yeah
32:32Yeah, yeah
32:33To turn on
32:34Oh, yeah, this is nice
32:36This is a really nice room, isn't it?
32:38It is lovely
32:39This could be, erm
32:41What, the master?
32:42The main room
32:43Yeah, I mean, you've got the, erm, you've got the, the dual aspect, that's what I like
32:46Yeah
32:47So 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
32:56Outside, 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 the driveway
33:07And the south-facing garden is elegantly framed by vibrant borders with pretty pathways winding through
33:13One of which leads to a paved terrace
33:16Yes, you've got this nice sort of sleeper-lined, sunken garden almost
33:21Oh, yes, oh, it's very nice
33:22That's really nice
33:23It's lovely, I wasn't expecting this at all
33:26It's still quite a sizeable garden
33:28Yeah, yeah
33:29I, I, I see it more, more of as a seaside garden
33:32Er, I'm not quite sure why
33:34Much more sort of containerised
33:35Yeah
33:36And a lovely mix of herbs and the grasses as well
33:37Yeah
33:38I think we could all identify some of the concerns, particularly Chris, that you might have over size
33:43Yeah
33:44And scale, but let's talk about the price of this one now
33:47So I'm going to say 900,000
33:50900,000 pounds, yeah, Chris
33:53I'm going to go high as well, I'm going to say 895
33:58895
33:59895,000 pounds
34:01Okay
34:02I think this neatly rounds off the package of properties we've offered you this week
34:08Because, and you weren't to know, they are all the same price
34:13This is on the market for 850,000 pounds
34:18Wow
34:19Yeah
34:20What do you think?
34:21I think we've got to think long and hard about it, haven't we?
34:24Well, I haven't
34:25Well, I know
34:26But either way, I think you need to think about this without me
34:30Yeah
34:31With this detached coastal cottage, Christine and Chris would get that blend of old and new they've been craving
34:40Plus three bedrooms, an enclosed coastal garden and the all-important workshop
34:45It's set in the middle of a thriving village just a mile from the beach and they'd still have 50,000 pounds 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 at 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?
35:29Just outside Totnes, a 550 acre estate is being transformed
35:36Five years ago, the Sharpen Trust, which owns the estate, launched a nature restoration project to tackle biodiversity loss
35:44Since then, the whole estate is registered organic, 50 acres have been rewilded
35:51And much of the rest has returned to wildflower meadows, orchards and woodland
35:56Bringing back insects, birds and small mammals
35:59Rewilding partner Jack Skuse of Ambios Limited is giving me a tour
36:04Well Jack, that is a view, is it not?
36:07Wow
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
36:27And rewilding is a means of reversing those losses
36:32It's actually bringing wildlife back to the countryside
36:34So in terms of what we're looking at here
36:36There seems to be an obvious difference between the farmland on the right
36:41And then what's going on on the left side here
36:44Absolutely, we're embracing the process of change
36:47But it's really looking back at what we knew of as a natural landscape here
36:51Still allowing vegetation to grow
36:53In that there's structures where animals can complete their life cycle
36:57Wildlife can live
36:58And I suppose allowing wildlife to expand and do what it's good at
37:03Which is, we hope, survival with a bit of help and a bit of encouragement
37:06Yeah, absolutely
37:07The rewilding has also led to a change in wildlife behaviour
37:11With the lush vegetation creating cover for small mammals
37:15This in turn encouraged predators like barn owls and kestrels to the valley
37:20Who have since begun to feed on site
37:23And herons that would once rely solely on the river for their food
37:27Have now moved into the fields to feast on the diverse food supply
37:32The process also involves bringing back grazing animals in small numbers
37:36These are our belta galloway cows
37:39And they're really helping with the rewilding here
37:42So how does their grazing actually improve the biodiversity?
37:45Because it sort of sounds a bit counterproductive in a sense
37:47Actually, animals were a crucial role in our natural ecosystem before we came along
37:52And so a small number of animals can actually help with the biodiversity explosion
37:58But crucially, they're organic animals
38:01And that means they have healthy dung
38:03When it passes through, when the food passes through them
38:06And 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
38:34One of their latest efforts focuses on ospreys
38:37Among the largest birds of prey in the UK
38:40They are currently listed as at risk due to low breeding numbers
38:44To help address this, Jack and his team have begun building nesting platforms
38:48In 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
39:03Yeah, that's right
39:04So on the estate we've got three of these artificial nests
39:08Poles in the landscape where ospreys will hopefully at some point come to use them
39:13But also actually what we're trying to do alongside this is improve the river health
39:17So ospreys primarily feed on fish
39:20And so flounder and grey mullet will be a good food source that are in the estuary
39:26So these ospreys will hopefully, if they ever do nest on these and breed from these
39:30We'll have three, maybe four eggs that will hatch
39:33And then hopefully those young will do their own migration
39:36Will they come back to where they were hatched?
39:39That's right, they're quite loyal to their home range
39:42So we'd hope to see them come back and then, you know, find mates and breed themselves
39:47Fingers crossed it holds together
39:49Great
39:51We're going to make sure this is well packed in
39:54Tuck it into the...
39:56Absolutely, it's going to get a lot of weather up there
39:58Yeah, you don't want to be blowing it 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
40:06But 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, thanks for coming
40:17The 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?
40:38A draw
40:39A bit of a little adventure
40:40To a close
40:42Now you've had 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
40:59In this idyllic village near the sea
41:03With the shop and the pub
41:05Has made us realise, I think, that we really want to be part of a village
41:09And so for me, the Mystery House
41:11Is definitely one where I'd like to come and live
41:15So I've sold it to him
41:18But not quite yet to you, Chris
41:21Come on, what's going on?
41:23Well, I agree, the location is perfect
41:26I just found the sitting room a little bit small
41:29And the bedrooms also on the small side
41:32I'm not dismissing it
41:34But I do need to think about it
41:36I'll give you five minutes
41:37It's okay
41:38I like your style
41:39Absolutely
41:40Let's not mess them out
41:41Yes, come on
41:42Let's get in there
41:43Before someone else snaps in
41:44Are you both reassured that Devon is where your future is going to unfold?
41:50Are you?
41:51Absolutely
41:52It is a great county
41:53You've shown us three absolutely spot on properties
41:57Wonderful properties
41:58And thank you so much for that
42:01You've been great
42:02Well, it has been my great pleasure to do so
42:05I have one final request
42:06And that is whatever you decide to do
42:08Please let us know
42:09And we would love to come back in the future
42:11And it will be like this
42:13The weather's always like this with Devon
42:15It's always good
42:16It's Devon
42:17It's always sunny
42:18Good luck to you
42:19Thank you
42:20Thank you
42:21Thank you so much
42:26So how do we make sense of this week?
42:29Well, as any experienced dramatist will tell you
42:32A good tale has three key elements
42:34A beginning
42:35A middle
42:36And an end
42:37We haven't quite got to our ending yet
42:39But when finally it is written
42:41I am certain it is going to be focused
42:43Not just on a new home for Chris and Chris
42:45Here in Devon
42:47But also one focused upon community
42:50And I wish them all the very best of luck
42:52As their search continues
42:54I'll see you next time
42:56If you would like to escape to the country in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales
43:03And need our help
43:04Why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part
43:09To take part
43:39To take part
43:41One perfect Ž
43:42Because of this
43:47Nuclear
43:49pioneer
43:51Bohemia
43:52You
43:53Yet
43:54adjustments
43:55Common
43:56Montreal
43:57Go
44:00To besl術
44:01Our
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