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Escape to the Country Season 26 Episode 1
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FunTranscript
00:00Making a country escape may start with a dream, but it can be serious business.
00:14It's time to ask those tough questions. What's really important to you?
00:19Sometimes a new location seems strangely familiar.
00:23This feels like coming home.
00:26So be careful what you wish for, because we might just find it.
00:34Could be it.
00:35I know. We'll have to go cry in the woods now.
00:56Today, an escape that offers green countryside and sandy bays all to yourself, yet has a friendly face right around the corner.
01:16And if hills are alive with the sound of music, these ones are singing to the soul.
01:22We're off to Argylland Butte.
01:25Every now and then you find yourself somewhere so beautiful that if you were a painter, you'd paint it.
01:32If you were a writer, you'd write about it. If you're Sir Paul McCartney, you'd compose a number one hit and sing it to the world.
01:41That's what he did about this place, Kintyre, in Argylland Butte.
01:45Are there actually bagpipes on the beach or is that just in my head?
01:51Comprised of two historic counties on the west coast of Scotland is the Unitary Council area of Argylland Butte, which includes the remote Kintyre Peninsula.
02:03Stretching for 30 miles, it enjoys secluded bays, breathtaking scenery and neighbours who look out for one another.
02:11Yeah, everyone's so supportive, everyone helps each other. It's a good, strong, old-fashioned community.
02:17It's more or less an island life, really, because, you know, it's 130 miles to Glasgow and so once you're down here, it's just like living on an island, really, isn't it?
02:27Yeah.
02:28A 100-mile long-distance path takes in the very best the peninsula has to offer, from castles to coastlines.
02:36It stretches from Tarborough right down to Campbelltown and down to the Mullican Tire at South End and all the way back round.
02:43But many a local will tell you, to truly appreciate the beauty of this place, you need to stop a while and soak in the stillness.
02:52The ability to be somewhere quiet, just to listen to the water.
02:57For one half of today's couple, Argyllum Butte feels like a home away from home, but then again, it would.
03:12He's been here more than 50 times. The other half has visited just once, but once is all it took for her to want to call it home too.
03:22So you don't really like living in towns, do you?
03:25No, yeah, I prefer the countryside and wherever I've lived, it's been pockets of countryside and lots of towns and I want to reverse that and have pockets of towns and lots of countryside.
03:39My home, as you can see, got neighbours very close by on both sides.
03:45After meeting online a year ago, Sarah and Gordon hatched a grand plan to move from their separate homes in the Cheshire towns of Northwich and Widness to start a new life together on the Kintyre Peninsula.
04:00He introduced me to the area in January, stopped off at Gretna Green, did a hand fasting ceremony, which was really romantic.
04:07And then you brought me to your favourite place in the world?
04:10Oh, it's like a second home to me and it does feel like home.
04:17Gordon makes furniture from reclaimed materials and is after a proper workshop with no near neighbours to disturb.
04:25This room is currently the conservatory but I'm using it as a workshop to set up a furniture design business and I'm sure you're not supposed to use selfies as a workbench.
04:40Sarah dreams of a self-sufficient garden and throwing herself into art.
04:45So I'm a quirky part-time artist and hopefully I'll become a quirky full-time artist and be inspired.
04:52It's going to be an explosion of creation.
04:56Gordon and Sarah have a budget of up to £250,000 to buy a character property.
05:04They'd like one to two bedrooms, somewhere for Sarah's art studio, a workshop or space to build one and a garden to grow veg.
05:12They prefer more rural locations and are happy to take on a project.
05:23I love how ambitious this move is.
05:26They want to live off the land and they want to start two new careers and creative ones.
05:31They're sort of doing that thing of living or starting to live the dream they've always had but people aren't brave enough to do it and they're doing it.
05:45Before we get stuck into property details, I'm meeting up with them on one of the best beaches on Kintyre, Carradale Bay.
05:55Do I really need to ask either of them why they want to move here?
06:00Gordon, this is a bit of a tell me I want to live in Scotland without tell me I want to live in Scotland situation.
06:05Look at this place. It's awful isn't it?
06:09Can you pinpoint what it is about this area in particular that just thought this is it, this is where we want to be?
06:16For me, no I can't. I just can't.
06:19But also I feel like this move is really brave in terms of the change of lifestyle also you're both looking for.
06:26Absolutely.
06:27This is not just about moving your current life here, is it?
06:30No.
06:31This is a brand new start for us, isn't it?
06:33It is, yeah. Yeah, absolutely.
06:35It's the first time you're buying together.
06:37Yeah, it is.
06:38Yeah.
06:39And we do have slightly different tastes.
06:42Slightly.
06:43You said that really hesitantly but really pointedly as well.
06:46No, we don't.
06:47We joke about it.
06:48We do joke about it.
06:49You're more traditional character, aren't you?
06:51I like to be surrounded by things that make me smile whereas Gordon likes.
06:56I like contemporary clean life but the compromise, I think we are so opposite but we do compromise and we fit each other very well.
07:05And I think it's going to be the same with the house as well.
07:07Well this is why we're here isn't it?
07:08Yeah.
07:09To find our compromise.
07:10And that's why you brought me in to stand right in the middle to sort you two out.
07:13That's why you're the referee.
07:14Right, certainly sounds like you're both raring to go.
07:16Oh absolutely.
07:17Let's get on with the house hunting.
07:18Yeah, fantastic.
07:19For our first house we're staying on the coast and heading to the tiny hamlet of Runa Heron.
07:30A mile and a half south at the village of Tain Loan you can catch a 20 minute ferry ride to the community owned island of Ghir.
07:39Near the ferry terminal there's also a tea room serving food and homemade cakes.
07:44A bus runs south to the shops and services of Campbelltown 20 miles away and just a short way along the same coastal road in the other direction is the house we've come to see.
07:57Ooh.
07:58Ooh.
07:59I like that.
08:00I got a ooh.
08:03That is a pretty house.
08:05It is.
08:06Isn't it?
08:07Yeah.
08:08Absolutely.
08:09That is lovely.
08:10With some very pretty views.
08:11Absolutely beautiful.
08:12It's very chocolate boxy isn't it?
08:13Absolutely.
08:14And you can really zhuzh it up as well.
08:15Yes.
08:16Yeah.
08:17Which you know, we can rely on an artist to do that.
08:18Yeah.
08:19Absolutely.
08:20But let's see what you can do inside.
08:21Definitely.
08:22Okay.
08:23Let's go.
08:24Located on a designated area of panoramic quality and originally a school, in recent years this provided accommodation for the principal teacher after a new school building was erected next door.
08:38A central front entrance leads to a hall with a reception room to each side.
08:43But we'd start in this living room.
08:46Look at the size of this.
08:47Wow.
08:48Oh, I can imagine the evening lighting here.
08:50Yeah.
08:51Oh, I can see a reading seat there.
08:55Maybe a little art as well.
08:56Yeah, lovely.
08:57A lovely, exactly, window seat.
08:59Yeah.
09:00All right, the little corners in, but it's not too much character for me.
09:03Because they're quite clean lines, but there are bits of character.
09:07It's not plain white.
09:08Yes.
09:09You've got detail.
09:10Yeah, yeah.
09:11But not too much detail.
09:12No, nice big doors as well.
09:14It just feels, yeah, very welcoming.
09:17And on the other side, another reception room, which is currently a dining room.
09:21Oh, okay.
09:22But they're both adaptable rooms.
09:23Yes.
09:24And that's good when we've got the kids coming up to stay, so they can have their own room to hang out in.
09:29Great.
09:30Fantastic.
09:31You will have to share a kitchen though.
09:32It's not a two kitchen place.
09:34Lead the way.
09:35Okay.
09:39The hall leads to the back of the house, where there is a utility and boot room, as well
09:43as the kitchen, with sliding doors out to the garden.
09:49Such a bright kitchen at this end of the house.
09:51Really bright.
09:52It is.
09:53I do love those lights.
09:54Absolutely.
09:55And you've got these skylights.
09:56Yeah?
09:57That's fantastic.
09:58Absolutely fantastic.
09:59It is.
10:00It's a good space as well.
10:01Good size.
10:02And then there's lots of worktop space.
10:03I know it's a bit of a cliche when people say we can put our stamp on it, but it's true.
10:07It's a good base.
10:09Yeah.
10:10Great.
10:11Great.
10:12It's a good place, which we'll fight about.
10:14Yeah.
10:15That's fantastic.
10:16I like the fact that I can watch you and see what you're up to in the...
10:20Keep an eye on me.
10:21...in the workshop.
10:23We'll get to the outside space in good time.
10:27Completing the ground floor is a cloakroom, and next to this, stairs leading to the sleeping
10:32quarters, reached across a large landing.
10:36And then this is like a room in itself, before you get to the rooms.
10:42We start in the largest of three bedrooms, located at the front of the house, with an aspect
10:48towards the coast.
10:50I think you'd make this your main one.
10:52Absolutely.
10:53Yeah.
10:54I mean, look at that.
10:55Amazing.
10:56It's fantastic.
10:57It really is.
10:58The dimensions are great, and you can see artwork on these walls.
11:02It's got a nice feeling, hasn't it?
11:04So go and have a look at the other bedrooms, explore the rest of the house, and then I'll
11:08meet you outside.
11:09Fantastic.
11:10Next to the main bedroom is the family bathroom.
11:15And on the other side, still at the front of the house, is another good-sized double room.
11:22Again, you can see straight across, can't you?
11:28The final bedroom, number three, is at the back and has space for a double bed or creative
11:34endeavours.
11:35So far, so good on the internal layout.
11:39And outside, there's a quarter of an acre of garden.
11:42This includes the detached outbuilding Sarah spied from the kitchen, which is set up as
11:47a workshop with additional storage, ideal for Gordon's furniture business plans.
11:53You have a lot of space out here, don't you?
11:57I can see where the garden vegetables are going to go.
12:00Absolutely, yeah.
12:01Yeah.
12:02It's lovely.
12:03Shall we talk about the price of the property?
12:05How much do you think it's on the market for?
12:08I think it is offers over $240.
12:14OK.
12:15And I'm going to say offers over $215.
12:19Over $215?
12:20Yeah.
12:21For offers over £245,000.
12:25Ah, OK.
12:26So it is...
12:27So you were closer.
12:28Top of budget.
12:29Yeah.
12:30It's a lot of house, isn't it?
12:31It is.
12:32So that doesn't surprise me, actually.
12:33It is.
12:34It is.
12:35This detached, sizeable former schoolhouse provides two reception rooms, three bedrooms
12:40and a separate workshop in the garden.
12:43Located in an area of panoramic quality, there are wonderful views of countryside and coast.
12:51There is lots of space in this house.
12:53I can definitely scope out one room straight away for an artist's studio.
12:58The light's amazing for me.
13:00And the environment is really inspirational as well.
13:04The views really just blew us away.
13:06And I'm really looking forward to seeing what the sunsets look like on this west side.
13:11It's an amazing house.
13:12Yeah.
13:13And there's space out here as well.
13:14And the workshop for me.
13:15It's incredible.
13:16Absolutely beautiful.
13:17House number one is definitely a contender.
13:32Gordon and Sarah are looking to live a rural and largely self-sufficient life after their move to Kintyre.
13:39But to make a go of their plans for furniture making and artwork businesses, they need access to community and facilities.
13:47With fewer than 5,000 residents, Campbelltown may seem on the wee side.
13:53But boosted by sales of herring to Europe in the 19th century, it grew to become what is now the fourth most populous settlement in Argyll and Butte.
14:03And the largest town on the Kintyre Peninsula.
14:06I moved here from Tarbert, just about a wee hour up the road.
14:09So, to me, this is the big city.
14:11Because Tarbert only is a very small place.
14:14The cinema is brilliant.
14:16Oldest purpose-built picture house in Skokings.
14:19Oh, it's beautiful.
14:20The tickets are cheap and they've got a pay-it-forward scheme.
14:22It's really nice.
14:23You can buy a ticket for someone who doesn't have enough money.
14:26For those who are looking to follow in Sir Paul's musical Kintyre footsteps, the town holds several annual music events,
14:35including a songwriters' festival.
14:37Although the locals are already singing Campbelltown's praises.
14:41It's just a nice place to live.
14:43It's very relaxed.
14:45It's got lots to do.
14:46It's really never a dull moment.
14:48That's the best way I would describe it.
14:50Whiskey Week at the end of May is when the three local distilleries celebrate the historic and continued importance of the drink in the area.
14:59Back in the 1800s, Campbelltown was known as the whiskey capital of Scotland.
15:04At one time, there were up to 37 operational distilleries.
15:07And the reasons for that, good supply of water, great supply of barley.
15:11And a couple of hundred years ago, the majority of distilleries were in remote rural areas because they were far away from the excise man, the tax man.
15:19So you could hide a little bit of what you were doing for yourself.
15:22Someone who's drawn to the town is landscape painter Joseph Loganbill.
15:28Here he is.
15:29Hi, Joseph.
15:30Hiya.
15:31Is he?
15:32Hi, I'm Sarah.
15:33Nice to meet you.
15:34Hi, I'm Gordon.
15:35Hi, Gordon.
15:36Beautiful artwork.
15:37Hey, thanks.
15:38Yep.
15:39I love being out here painting and friendly people come along and say hello, which is great.
15:43I've noticed your accent isn't from here.
15:45Whereabouts are you from?
15:46So we emigrated from Kansas nearly six years ago, a wife and three girls.
15:51Okay.
15:52And my wife's dad is an organist at Glasgow University.
15:55Oh, wow.
15:56So we're kind of wanting to be in the Argyll and Butte proximity and found the house we wanted and it's not crowded.
16:03And yeah, so it's been a really good move for us.
16:06So I'm a part time quirky artist.
16:08So in terms of visiting the galleries and getting inspiration and meeting other artists like yourself, other particular galleries that you could recommend to us?
16:17So I show here locally in Campbelltown at Coastal Design.
16:20Okay.
16:21And up at Tarbert at Old Library Gallery, even up at where I live at Moosdale, there's a group of painters that get together every Monday and a little local church hall and they enjoy having a, you know, coffee and they just enjoy working together and they do some nice work too.
16:40Campbelltown has scope for Sarah and Gordon to get creative with their new life plans.
16:46Oh, little houses over there.
16:48I don't want to live in one of those rooms.
16:50Yeah.
16:52Now back to finding the house that inspires them to set up a Scottish home together.
17:04Our next offering is in the coastal village of Carradale.
17:08The population of a little under 600 as well as a regular influx of tourists is served by a village hall, a golf course, a community shop with post office and a bar and restaurant.
17:22From there, it's about a mile and a half to Portree Bay, where on a no through road is the property we have lined up for Sarah and Gordon.
17:32Ooh.
17:33Do you do that with every house?
17:34Oh, no.
17:35Especially this one.
17:36Only the good ones.
17:37Wow.
17:38It's calm.
17:39It's a stillness.
17:40It's lovely.
17:41It is.
17:42It's gorgeous.
17:43Absolutely gorgeous.
17:44I actually feel...
17:45I feel so calm.
17:46I feel great.
17:47Mm-hmm.
17:48I do, yeah.
17:49So you're feeling calm and at peace out here.
17:51This...
17:52This feels like coming home.
17:53This is lovely.
17:55Excited.
17:56You haven't even seen most of this.
17:57I know.
17:58That's the thing.
17:59We just have the driveway.
18:04Sarah may already be sold on the driveway of this bungalow, built in the mid-1960s and set in its own coastal plot of around a third of an acre.
18:15Wait until she sees inside as we step up into the home via a glass-paned extension.
18:22Into a sunroom.
18:25Then on to the main reception room with views to the coast.
18:30Ooh.
18:31And then you come into this.
18:32Oh, look at that.
18:33Oh, look at that.
18:35That is great.
18:38Yeah, um...
18:40I went away.
18:41Yeah, it's...
18:42The view is incredible.
18:43You wouldn't get tired of that, would you?
18:45It's wonderful.
18:46It really is.
18:47Yeah.
18:48And I like the fact you've got the window at the side there as well.
18:51So you've got that dual aspect.
18:52Dual aspect.
18:53That's great.
18:54That's exciting.
18:55And it feels...
18:56You're a bit giddy.
18:57I'm not at home.
18:58Yeah, again, it's that feeling sort of like, yeah, it's...
19:00Yeah.
19:01It's a different feeling to the first one.
19:02I feel like he's willing to move in.
19:04You are.
19:05Yeah, yeah.
19:06Shall we go and have a look at the kitchen before we get onto the views?
19:08Yes.
19:09OK.
19:10Yeah.
19:11Accessed directly from the reception room is a kitchen and breakfast room that faces inland.
19:17There's plenty of worktop space.
19:18Yeah.
19:19Potential again.
19:20Absolute potential.
19:21Feels like an artist's home to me.
19:22I don't know why, but it does.
19:23And you're sort of hugged by all those trees in here.
19:26I know.
19:27It feels nice.
19:28It does.
19:29Actually, the house gives you a hug as well.
19:30It's not just outside.
19:31Yeah.
19:32It's wonderful.
19:33There are two bedrooms with this property.
19:34OK.
19:35Go and explore, and then we'll take in more of the view outside.
19:38Lovely.
19:39Great.
19:42There I was, thinking they looked right at home in the first property, and now we're
19:48here.
19:49Look at them.
19:50They are beaming, they are relaxed, and they feel very much at home.
19:56The first of this bungalow's two bedrooms has a corner aspect, again, hugged by the trees.
20:02Next to this is the family bathroom with a bath and electric shower.
20:07Then, back on the side of the home facing the sea, is a large double room that could
20:12be Gordon and Sarah's.
20:14Oh, my goodness.
20:16Look.
20:17The view again.
20:18Look.
20:19We've got a dual view.
20:21Oh, my word.
20:22It feels as if it's on your lap.
20:24It's right there.
20:25And then we've got the room.
20:27Yep.
20:28The loft level above has also been fully boarded.
20:33And with a gable end window providing good light, Sarah could adopt this as a studio.
20:39This property feels like one of those artists in residence places.
20:44So I can see why Gordon and Sarah are so excited.
20:48As soon as they walked in, they could feel that too.
20:52Exciting times.
20:53I know.
20:54Do we have to leave?
20:56There is still the question of the asking price to address outside in the garden, where
21:01the wraparound plot featuring many mature trees includes options for spots to erect a workshop.
21:09And there's attached storage.
21:11This is really naughty of you.
21:13Yeah, by giving you everything you want.
21:15Yeah.
21:16Oh, gosh.
21:17Please tell me off more.
21:19It's wonderful.
21:22No, it is.
21:23What do you think this property is on the market for?
21:25I think it's for offers over £240,000.
21:30I think it's overall budget, babe.
21:32Mm-hm.
21:33So I think this is going to be offers over £260,000.
21:40£260,000.
21:41It's actually on the market for offers over £215,000.
21:48£215,000.
21:49Oh, wow.
21:50That is amazing.
21:51Yeah.
21:52All that for that.
21:53Incredible.
21:54I've not often seen people look and feel the way you have done in that house.
21:58Yeah.
22:01Could be it.
22:04I know.
22:05I think we'll have to go cry in the woods now.
22:09Wow.
22:10This detached 1960s bungalow has the coastal location thereafter, with a sunroom and main reception
22:18set up to bring in those views.
22:20There are two bedrooms and a plot of around a third of an acre.
22:24It's on the edge of a village with a beach on the doorstep.
22:28It's got a studio written all over it, hasn't it?
22:30Yes.
22:31Wonderful.
22:32The lights.
22:33Yeah.
22:34It's just everything that I was really looking for.
22:38It's got the views, it's got the quirky feel, the garden surrounding it.
22:43It's just amazing.
22:45The house doesn't have an outbuilding, but there are so many options to build.
22:49That would be a nice first project for us.
22:51It will be, yes.
22:52Yeah.
22:53a delicately.
22:54Yeah.
22:55We're better to toast a successful first day of viewings than back in the heart of Campbelltown,
23:10at Scotland's oldest independent distillery.
23:14Director of Sales and Marketing David Allen is set to give us a taste tour.
23:20David, what I've done is I've brought you customers, regulars,
23:24because they are looking for a house not too far from here.
23:28And I thought, look, we've seen a couple of houses.
23:31Shall we go celebrate the day?
23:33Fantastic, yeah, why not?
23:35So you have three whiskeys that you make here?
23:37That's right, we have our triple distilled non-peated whisky.
23:41So it's the lightest style of whisky that we produce at the distillery.
23:45We refer to it as a breakfast whisky.
23:47It's one you start off with.
23:49With complex.
23:50Why not, why not, yeah.
23:52And then we have what we're known around the world for.
23:54It's 80% of production, lightly peated, quite a complex, more robust whisky.
23:59And then on to more peated, more smoky whisky.
24:02Which is your favourite?
24:04Oh, that's like asking me to pick my favourite child.
24:07Yeah, we all have a favourite child on any given day, we know that.
24:13I have a soft spot for long row, so I'm going to pick long row for my dram today.
24:18It's lovely, that's very smooth.
24:20It doesn't burn at all.
24:22So have you got any sort of, other than Sonali, obviously,
24:25famous people that come here just for their whisky?
24:30No, Sonali might be the most famous, I think, yeah.
24:33Great!
24:34Let's start live, right?
24:35Yeah.
24:36And, you know, we should also do a little toast.
24:39Oh, yes.
24:39Because today, by the way, first day of house hunting, two houses they liked.
24:44One they absolutely loved.
24:46Well, we may be on our way to picking our favourite dram,
24:55but I wonder which house will be top of the barrel as our search continues tomorrow.
25:00Despite its astounding natural beauty and huge coastline,
25:16house prices in Argyllum Butte remain favourable when compared to Scotland as a whole.
25:22The average price of a detached home is just over £305,000.
25:28That's £42,000 lower than the Scottish average.
25:33And with a look at the Kintyre Peninsula in particular,
25:37here's a selection of other properties also available at the moment.
25:41This two-bedroom terraced stone cottage offers charm and character
25:47with views of the countryside plus a peaceful garden.
25:50It's on the market for offers over £124,500.
25:57For space inside and out,
26:00it would be hard to rival this five-bedroom, four-bathroom detached home.
26:05Become the host with the most with its generous accommodation.
26:09That's if you can tear yourself away from magnificent views of the Kilbranen Sound.
26:16Offers over £445,000 are invited.
26:21And to experience why Gordon's been on holiday to the area more than 50 times,
26:26you might consider a stay in this one-bedroom shepherd's hut on a farm.
26:31It sleeps up to two guests and dogs are welcome too.
26:36Priced at £135 per night for a minimum two-night stay.
26:41The day after our house hunters appear to have found the one is always an intriguing experience,
26:54especially when it centres around a mystery house.
26:56They are going to love its location.
26:59They will be obsessed by the view of that, I have no doubt.
27:02But will the amount of work that they will inevitably want to put into it be an adventure too far for?
27:11We're starting today not far from where we left our house tours yesterday,
27:17just to the north of the village of Carradale.
27:20You can't not come to this on a day like today, can you?
27:29Since you both absolutely loved this side of the peninsula yesterday,
27:35I thought I'd bring you back here this morning.
27:36If you're on to a winner, don't change it.
27:38Did you sleep?
27:40No.
27:42I slept really well, by the way.
27:43Oh, that's good.
27:44Yeah, good for you.
27:45Please fire you.
27:46What kept you up?
27:48The fact that both houses had what we'd asked you for, really.
27:54I guess I was wrangling with the first house was very you,
27:57and the second house was very me.
27:59You're sort of sitting on the fence until you see the mystery house.
28:01I know.
28:03What do you want to see?
28:04I'd like something that pokes us off the fence.
28:06I'm assuming what you really want is this view on a daily basis.
28:11Let that thought wash over you, take in the view, enjoy it.
28:14It's a glorious day.
28:16And I'm going to go and check on the mystery house.
28:18I'll send you the address.
28:19Come and find me.
28:20You know your way around.
28:24It's great.
28:26Well, they won't have far to come,
28:28because the mystery house is located just a few metres down the shore road,
28:33looking out on that spectacular view.
28:35The water's there, and the mystery house is right here.
28:39Look at it.
28:40A gorgeous cottage.
28:42Unfortunately, one of the mysteries of the mystery house
28:46is no one knows where the front door key is.
28:49That's all right.
28:49We can adapt.
28:50I'll take them round the back.
28:52But the real mystery that I'm not going to tell them
28:56until the end of our tour
28:58is that although this period stone cottage
29:00with more recent timber side extension
29:03is in need of updating,
29:06we have tried to factor that into their £250,000 budget.
29:11So bear that in mind
29:12and see what you think the asking price might be.
29:16Now, Gordon and Sarah say they want to do work.
29:19They're willing to do it.
29:20But how much are they willing to do?
29:22And you can see immediately.
29:23It almost needs a couple
29:25that has the creativity that they have.
29:29So let's see whether this mystery seaside cottage
29:32will get those creative juices flowing
29:34or trigger artist block.
29:37You found us.
29:38By us, I mean me and the mystery house.
29:41She's been waiting for you.
29:43Oh, she's beautiful.
29:44It's stunning.
29:44It is so pretty.
29:46And then look at this.
29:48It's wonderful.
29:49It's absolutely stunning.
29:53This.
29:54This.
29:55Look at the lintels.
29:56Look at the stonework.
29:57And the extension as well.
29:59Yes.
29:59It's time to ask those tough questions.
30:01What's really important to you
30:03and how much work you want to put in.
30:07OK.
30:08Because that is really the core of the mystery house.
30:12It needs your love, care and attention.
30:15OK.
30:15It needs your brain.
30:17With my buyers suitably prepped,
30:20we're taking that back door
30:21through a bootroom-cum utility
30:23and via the galley kitchen
30:25to really enjoy this cottage's crowning glory,
30:30the view from the reception.
30:32I thought I'd take you into this living room first.
30:34Is that just a picture or is that a window?
30:38Because it's knocking at the window
30:41and asking if we can play out.
30:43If you want that,
30:44then find something to do with this.
30:46That's what I'm battling with, yes.
30:48It is definitely quirky.
30:49Yeah, and it does...
30:52My point of view, it does need work.
30:54Yes.
30:54But that's good.
30:55I mean, that's it.
30:55This is your everything space, really.
30:57It is, yeah.
30:58There's a separation of the kitchen,
31:00but it flows into here.
31:01Yes.
31:02You could have a table in here.
31:03We could work with it.
31:04We could, yeah, absolutely.
31:05Yeah.
31:06Downstairs loo.
31:06I say downstairs.
31:08It's the bathroom.
31:09Yeah.
31:09It's the loo.
31:10Mm-hmm.
31:11OK.
31:11That's quite large, though.
31:13It's got my cogs wearing away.
31:15Absolutely.
31:15I can feel the history as well, can you?
31:17Absolutely, yeah.
31:17It's breathing out, isn't it?
31:19Yeah.
31:19It really is.
31:20Let me take you to one of the bedrooms.
31:22OK.
31:22So you start to see how the house feels.
31:24Yeah.
31:27From the reception room,
31:28a ship's ladder provides access to the attic
31:31with potential for conversion.
31:33Then to one side in the extension
31:35is the larger of the two bedrooms,
31:37which has dual-aspect windows.
31:39And in the footprint of the original cottage
31:42is bedroom number two.
31:46I like this one,
31:48even though it's the slightly smaller one,
31:49because I think the view is...
31:51That is beautiful, isn't it?
31:53Yeah.
31:54It just draws your eye, your mind,
31:58your emotions, your creativity and everything out there,
32:01doesn't it, your imagination?
32:02It's, yeah.
32:03What do we want in here?
32:04We just want the bed, don't we?
32:05That's right.
32:06I'm looking at the space rather than the decor.
32:08It's, yeah.
32:09And I think the space will have to change long-term.
32:12Yes.
32:13But that's something that you're keen to do anyway, isn't it?
32:15So if we walked into somewhere
32:17where we didn't need to do anything,
32:19you wouldn't find something...
32:19I'd still do something.
32:21Yeah, that's right.
32:21Is he knocking down walls?
32:24Yes.
32:24Yes.
32:25Yeah.
32:25Well, why don't you go and do some of that planning?
32:27OK.
32:28And it's time to make some decisions, really.
32:30I know.
32:31I know.
32:32It's the business end of our search.
32:33Oh, wow, wow, wow.
32:34It really is.
32:35Right, come on then.
32:36Let's go.
32:39Here's the kitchen.
32:42It's wee.
32:44It's...
32:44It's a wee.
32:45Good job.
32:46We can live with it for now and then...
32:48It's a galley.
32:49Yeah.
32:49It needs to open up.
32:51Yes.
32:51Of course, those plans will cost money
32:55and although the garden surrounds the home,
32:58boasting an orchard, woodshed, greenhouse
33:01and a beautiful selection of shrubs and flowering plants,
33:05there's no obvious place for Gordon to work
33:08on his sustainable furniture.
33:10This garden almost has this magical quality about it.
33:15I'm wondering if they might think it wouldn't suit a workshop.
33:20Of course, before they can put any plans into place,
33:24Gordon and Sarah need to consider what they might need to pay.
33:28Have you come up with a figure yet?
33:30So the Mystery House is a potential?
33:33Yes.
33:34Unfortunately.
33:35Oh, just depending on the price.
33:38There's a big hint there.
33:40Time for you to make your final guesses.
33:42How much do you think the Mystery House is on the market for?
33:46So I'm thinking £245,000 offers over?
33:51My guess is, you know, I'm going to be really cheeky.
33:55I'd say offers over £215,000
33:58and I'm going to be way off, aren't I?
34:02Is that because you're sort of factoring in the work
34:05that you've got to do within your budget?
34:06So you'd like it around there?
34:08Yeah, there are certain things that we will need to do straight away.
34:11We need the extra budget.
34:12It is on the market for offers over £185,000.
34:21Oh, my word.
34:22No.
34:24No.
34:24The price was part of the mystery,
34:26but I couldn't obviously reveal that part until right now.
34:29So I wasn't so cheeky then, was I?
34:31No, you weren't.
34:32You were not cheeky enough.
34:33Sometimes you need to cross the line.
34:36This is exciting.
34:37It is.
34:38I call that a hat trick.
34:42My mystery stone cottage comes in considerably below budget
34:46and has a reception room with a picture-perfect view,
34:50two double bedrooms, a versatile attic and a wraparound plot.
34:55It's located right on the coast in a very quiet location.
34:59Your head's wearing, isn't it?
35:02It is, yes.
35:03And it's hurting.
35:06The mystery house couldn't be more special, could it?
35:09I mean, look at what's around us.
35:11To be able to wake up to this every day,
35:14I immediately feel relaxed.
35:17Great for the creativity.
35:19View steals the show
35:21and it just wants you to come out and play
35:23and we will be, definitely.
35:26And try to get some work done as well.
35:27This sunny weather has helped Argyllum Butte sparkle,
35:35so it's been easy to see
35:37why Sarah and Gordon think that this place
35:39is the perfect escape for them.
35:42But you know I like to meet people
35:43who've already been there and done that.
35:46Nikki and Cara moved here to Kintyre six years ago
35:49with their horse-riding adventure business already set up.
35:53Hi, I'm Cara.
35:55And I'm Nikki.
35:55And together we set up and run
35:58Wilderways horse-riding adventures.
36:00Currently now in the Mall of Kintyre
36:02on our 100-acre farm.
36:04And we are literally living the dream.
36:07We are having such a great time.
36:10After meeting over a shared love of horses 12 years ago,
36:14Nikki and Cara decided to ditch their jobs
36:16as a freelance ecologist and rural surveyor
36:19to set up an adventure horse-riding business together.
36:24I knew our life was going to be full of adventure
36:26but also that probably anything was going to be possible
36:29if I had Nikki at my side.
36:31There was one night we were camping on the beach,
36:33we had the ponies grazing at our back
36:34and we just said to each other,
36:37God, wouldn't it be amazing if we did this every day?
36:40They've been here on their 100-acre farm
36:42at the southern end of the Kintyre Peninsula
36:45for the last six years.
36:47And today, Nikki's made time to show me around.
36:51Hello!
36:51Hello, Sin Ali!
36:52Nice to see you!
36:53Yeah, really nice to see you.
36:54What a place you have here!
36:56I know, isn't it wonderful?
36:57Do you want to come and meet the horses?
36:59Yes, please.
36:59Let's go down the glen.
37:02There are more than 100 animals to care for on the farm,
37:06including four pigs,
37:08two dogs
37:09and a total of 22 horses.
37:13Wow!
37:14Look at these horses!
37:16Who's this?
37:17This is Raven.
37:18Hi, Raven!
37:18She's our supermodel, aren't you, darling?
37:22She's a big lady of the herd.
37:24This is the working herd here.
37:26Oh, yeah?
37:26And the other lot?
37:28The babies and the family groups
37:29and that sort of thing.
37:30So the up-and-comings, plus a few elderlies.
37:32So the business sort of came before you got this place.
37:36Yeah, that's right.
37:37We've been running it since 2016,
37:39but we used to be a bit of a pop-up,
37:42so we would arrive at someone's field
37:43with 12 horses and take people out riding.
37:46Trailers and you'd go, right.
37:48Off we go, yeah.
37:48It was really difficult
37:50because we didn't have any security
37:51for the grazing.
37:53And so what sort of thing
37:54can people do with the horses?
37:55Kind of adventure trekking.
37:56We go off-road, up the hill,
37:58through the rivers,
37:59and then we do beach gallops.
38:00We take the horses in the sea,
38:02go swimming in the sea.
38:03How did you pick which part of Scotland
38:06to then base yourself in?
38:07What drew you to the area?
38:09Was it this farm?
38:11Yes, it was this farm.
38:12And, yeah, it was this green stuff,
38:14to be honest, the grass.
38:15It's just a lovely place to live.
38:18I mean, listen, there's nothing.
38:22Nothing but birdsong?
38:23No.
38:27It may be quiet,
38:28but caring for so many animals
38:30is a lot of work.
38:31So Nikki and Cara run a volunteer programme
38:34where people can stay and help out
38:36while gaining experience and new skills.
38:40Malia is here for three weeks
38:41before she returns to Germany
38:43to continue her studies.
38:46Hi, Malia.
38:47Hello.
38:47Who's this?
38:48This is Echo.
38:49Oh, hi, Echo.
38:51So you've been volunteering for a couple of weeks.
38:53You've got, what, a week to go?
38:54Yes.
38:55What sort of things have Nikki and Cara got you doing?
38:58So, basically, in the morning,
39:00I just start feeding all the animals.
39:02Then I get my food,
39:04my breakfast,
39:06and then we get the horses,
39:07and then either we go on a ride
39:09or have a lesson,
39:10and then at the end of the day
39:12it's just mucking out
39:13and cleaning up everything,
39:16and then I'm done.
39:16I know it's only been a couple of weeks,
39:18but what have you made of life here?
39:19No city, really close,
39:21and that's what I really like.
39:23You can hear everything,
39:25the wind and the trees
39:27and the birds just singing
39:28to be one of the nature.
39:30That's such a good way of putting it.
39:33Nikki, Cara and their volunteers
39:35clearly find greener pastures
39:37in this corner of Vark Island Butte.
39:39Now to see if we've come up with a house
39:42to give free reign
39:43to my buyers' imaginations
39:44here on the Kintyre Peninsula.
39:50Gosh, they really took on the challenge
39:53of that mystery house head-on, didn't they?
39:56Are Sara and Gordon really brave enough
39:59to take it on, though?
40:01Let's go and ask them.
40:02Thinking about when you'll move here
40:09and you'll be here every day.
40:11Absolutely.
40:12I know.
40:12I can't wait.
40:12I know.
40:13Right.
40:14You know I want answers.
40:15Yes.
40:15What is our plan?
40:17Now that I've come in,
40:18meddled,
40:19sorted your life out,
40:20how are you going to continue this?
40:23OK, so you did leave
40:24a bit of a mess behind,
40:25unfortunately.
40:26So, next steps,
40:28I think we're going to go back
40:29to the...
40:30Mystery house.
40:31It's charmed you.
40:33Yes, it did.
40:34It did.
40:35So much potential.
40:37It's incredible.
40:37The views as well,
40:38just absolutely.
40:39Is that it?
40:41Was it the views?
40:42That's right.
40:43What do you want
40:43from that second viewing?
40:45I guess in your head,
40:46you want to kind of map out
40:48the work that we probably
40:50could do.
40:51Yeah.
40:52And would need to do.
40:54But again, we've got,
40:56hopefully,
40:56we've got a good couple
40:57of decades left
40:59to get it exactly
41:00how we want to.
41:01And I've saved you
41:02a bit in the budget.
41:03You have.
41:03A lot.
41:04You have.
41:04You've got a bit
41:05back in our back pocket
41:06to be able to make it
41:09exactly how we want it,
41:10which is amazing.
41:12Just magical.
41:13It was.
41:13Aw.
41:14I've got everything
41:15crossed that you're
41:16going to make this happen.
41:18Why wouldn't you
41:19make this happen?
41:20I mean, house number two,
41:22you know,
41:22please don't let anything
41:23go wrong with the
41:24mystery house,
41:24but if house number two
41:25is still a really
41:26strong contender.
41:27That's good to hear.
41:29I've got a plan
41:30and a backup plan.
41:32Check you out.
41:33What an honour
41:34to be part of the process.
41:35So thank you
41:36for making the call.
41:38Yes.
41:39I want to be the first
41:40person you call
41:40once it all happens.
41:42Yes, absolutely.
41:43That's the only thing I ask.
41:44We've got your chair
41:45in the garden,
41:46a nice cup of tea,
41:48or maybe some of
41:49the whisky that we try.
41:50Oh.
41:52Another reason to come back.
41:58Every time I visit
42:00Argylland Butte,
42:01the scenery here
42:02takes my breath away.
42:05And this week,
42:06our houses did that too.
42:07Gordon and Sarah
42:09were taken aback
42:09by all three
42:11of our properties.
42:12Though I have to admit,
42:13after seeing their reaction
42:15in house number two,
42:16I wasn't sure
42:17if that mystery house
42:19would turn their head.
42:21I knew it would challenge them.
42:22But would that view
42:24of the Isle of Arran
42:25be enough
42:26to charm them?
42:27As it turns out,
42:28the answer
42:29was a very solid yes.
42:30And I'm so excited
42:32they're going back
42:33to the mystery house
42:34for a second viewing.
42:35And I cannot wait
42:36to revisit them
42:37when they start
42:39their new life here
42:40on this stunning coastline
42:42in Scotland.
42:43See you next time.
42:46After we left them,
42:47Sarah and Gordon
42:48went for a second viewing
42:49on the mystery house.
42:51They're ready to proceed
42:52with an offer
42:52just as soon as a buyer
42:54is found
42:55for Sarah's house
42:56in Cheshire.
42:57We wish them
42:57all the very best
42:59for the future move.
43:01If you would like
43:02to escape to the country
43:03in Scotland, England,
43:04Northern Ireland
43:05or Wales
43:06and need our help,
43:07why not apply online
43:08at bbc.co.uk
43:10forward slash take part.
43:26We'll see you next time.
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