- 5 hours ago
Escape to the Country - Season 26 Episode 18 -
Gloucestershire and Herefordshire
Gloucestershire and Herefordshire
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FunTranscript
00:00...spot to set down roots in the countryside, it pays not to rush things.
00:05Can you go inside?
00:06No, no, you just have to decide right now.
00:11There are big choices to be made.
00:14The size of the land is quite shocking, really.
00:18I'm thinking it was going to do all the work.
00:21And decisions that could lead to a whole new way of life.
00:25Suddenly it's become very real that everything changes.
00:30Which do you prefer?
00:54Woodland, river, or perhaps a quaint Cotswold stone town or village?
01:00Decisions, decisions.
01:01Well, why not join us on a Gloucestershire and Herefordshire escape?
01:06A captivating region that has them all and is positively blossoming.
01:11It's a gorgeous time here in Gloucestershire, because all the trees are putting out their
01:18lovely little leaves and the lovely little birds are making little baby birds.
01:23And there's a palpable sense of excitement in the air.
01:27Although there is a little rain forecast.
01:29But I'm not worried, partly because I have this.
01:30And also because it's said, I am the sunshine presenter and it never rains on my shows.
01:37The same.
01:37Our escape adventure will take us to Herefordshire, as well as neighbouring Gloucestershire, a county
01:45so famous for downpours, it inspired a nursery rhyme.
01:49You know, the one about Dr Foster and the puddle?
01:51But clouds in this county come with silver linings, from the glistening River Wye to the verdant
01:57Forest of Dean.
01:58And you're never far away from a sunny outlook.
02:01Well, I've lived here 37 years.
02:06I think it's a lovely community.
02:09It's very easy to get out to all sorts of exciting places.
02:12The River Wye is quite near.
02:14Cheltenham's not far.
02:15Shooksbury.
02:16We're on the edge of the Forest of Dean.
02:18It's a beautiful place to visit.
02:19Lovely walks.
02:21Places to take the children, like Beach and Hurst.
02:25And with substantial village homes and peaceful riverside retreats on offer,
02:30it's no wonder escapees come from far and wide to seek their own property pot of gold
02:35at the end of this region's rainbow.
02:38Our show is available for viewing all around the world,
02:41including the country where our buyers today are living, Germany.
02:47And I was thinking about how to translate escaped the country into German,
02:51which would be Flucht aufs Land.
02:53But my preference would be Mein Traumhaus auf dem Land.
02:58My dream house in the countryside.
03:00Hello, I'm Andrew.
03:04And I'm Beate.
03:05And we currently live in Heroldsburg, which is close to Nuremberg in southern Germany.
03:12After living in a rented home near Nuremberg, Germany, for the last four years,
03:17Andrew, Beate and her 11-year-old son, Johan,
03:20are ready to return to the UK to be closer to friends and family.
03:24Well, of course, I'll miss my friends in Germany, but I have got friends in the UK.
03:28My dad also lives there, so it'll be nice to spend more time with him.
03:32I can also go to some Leicester City football matches.
03:35Leicester City are my foop.
03:36However, it's not Leicestershire, but in and around Gloucestershire, where they've set their sights.
03:44The Gloucestershire area is very pragmatic for us because I've got a new role in Birmingham,
03:49and it's a hybrid job, so I need to go up a few days a week.
03:52So, pretty close to the M5.
03:54And I quite like the way it looks, the landscape.
03:57It reminds me of Germany, where we're from now.
03:59Undulating scenery, a mix of rivers, meadows, forests.
04:03It's very much like what home leaves. It's home for me.
04:08I miss the pub culture.
04:09And I think what we're also looking forward to is the crisps, salt and vinegar,
04:13which aren't available in Germany.
04:16Yeah, so they're his favourite.
04:18Andrew and Beata have up to £600,000 to buy their Gloucestershire home.
04:27They're after three to four bedrooms, an office and a room for Andrew's large record collection.
04:33They'd like a manageable garden, a location with a nearby pub,
04:37and are open to viewing addresses in both Gloucestershire and Herefordshire.
04:42I love the fact that Andrew and Beata are coming to this part of the countryside
04:51because, as she says, it reminds her of the German countryside down in the south.
04:56And I'll have to take that on her word,
04:58because although I lived in Germany for six years,
05:01to my shame I barely left the city limits of Berlin.
05:04I was in my 20s, so it's understandable.
05:06But it's such a big move, having done that, to move from Germany back to England.
05:11So if you can find a landscape that reminds you of home, all the better.
05:20Before heading to the first house option,
05:22I'm making my way to meet Beata and Andrew for introductions
05:25in a pretty rural spot, which I hope compares favourably to the German countryside.
05:30I'm so excited to be here with you guys,
05:36largely because I can practise my German.
05:38Herzlich willkommen zurück nach England.
05:41Vielen Dank.
05:42Oh, I got it right. That's very good.
05:44You don't speak German, do you, Andrew?
05:45I don't speak German, no. I'm sorry.
05:47I welcome you very warmly back to England.
05:50It's wonderful, isn't it, to be back?
05:52Back in Britain, back in the communities, back in the countryside.
05:56I'm excited about that.
05:57And a bit of, therefore, also small community living,
06:00where I can get involved, whether it's a parent governor
06:03or being at the local church council
06:06or just helping out at the local cafe or playgroup.
06:09Because I'm working remotely,
06:11so I want to get out outside of work
06:13to have some social interaction, really.
06:16What about you, Andrew?
06:17What are you looking forward to being back in England?
06:19Seeing friends and family,
06:21being able to go to live football again
06:22rather than just watching it on television.
06:24There is good football in Germany, I hear.
06:26There is, but Rotherham's my team.
06:29There's my father's team, my grandfather's team,
06:31and my eldest son comes with me to the game.
06:34So going to the football with my son is quite important as well.
06:37Ah, well, you've come at a beautiful time of the year.
06:40Spring sunshine, blessing our house hunt.
06:43Shall we get going and see some houses?
06:44Yes, please.
06:45Yeah, come follow me.
06:46Our first appointment of view
06:53is in the Gloucestershire hamlet of Aylford.
06:59Around a mile and a half down the road,
07:02the village of Blakeney has post office services
07:04and a convenience store.
07:06There's restaurant dining at the King's Head
07:08and a takeaway fish and chip shop too.
07:12Buses include a route to the town of Chepstow,
07:15which stops not far from the rural property proposition
07:18I'm putting to Beata and Andrew.
07:20Here we are, house number one.
07:26What a lovely setting.
07:27It is.
07:28I know that you wanted a countryside location.
07:30Does it have a little German feel to it?
07:32It does.
07:33Trees, little stream at the bottom of the valley.
07:36And I love that you can see it's been extended and changed,
07:39so it doesn't look just like one long house, but it's quirky.
07:42I love the fact that when you look from the house,
07:44you see trees and you feel it in the country.
07:47Can we go inside?
07:48No, no, you just have to decide right now.
07:51No, let's go.
07:55Set high on the bank of a river valley,
07:57this stone cottage has been in the same family
08:00since the 19th century when it was built.
08:03The current occupant has added an extension and a conservatory,
08:07and the main door takes us via a utility-cumbut room
08:11into the kitchen.
08:16I like that you can sit in the kitchen already.
08:18It's a good start.
08:19Yeah.
08:19I can have your breakfast straight away.
08:21But it's got workspace, which is great.
08:23And you've got a lovely view when you're washing the pots,
08:25which is the...
08:26You do the washing, don't you?
08:27I do now, apparently.
08:30Well, the great thing about this property
08:31is it's all facing the view,
08:33so it's all windows this way.
08:35Ideally a bigger kitchen,
08:36but you can always extend it that way
08:38and make the utility room smaller.
08:40Anyway, let's continue the tour.
08:42This is the living space.
08:43So there's a conservatory here.
08:45You can look at that later.
08:46But this is the historic part of the house.
08:49Basically, this is the width of the house,
08:50so it's quite simple, the layout.
08:52Yeah.
08:52Even though it's long,
08:53you still see two parts of the room to it.
08:55Oh, you've got a dining area and a living area.
08:58I think it's a little smaller
08:59than what we expected
09:00or what we were looking for.
09:03I think ideally you would want some space
09:04where you could put your hi-fi up, couldn't we?
09:06We used to have a hi-fi that's very retro.
09:09Oh, it's very retro.
09:10I've got a massive collection of vinyl.
09:11Really? It's good.
09:12Yeah.
09:17Completing the ground floor
09:18and back off the entrance
09:19is a small shower room.
09:21Then stairs from the reception room
09:23lead us up to the home's three bedrooms.
09:25At one end is a good-sized double,
09:29which, like all the bedrooms,
09:30has an aspect to the front
09:31overlooking the valley.
09:33There's a smaller guest bedroom
09:35and a family bathroom
09:38tiled in a neutral palette.
09:41Then at the other end
09:42is the principal ensuite.
09:46This whole end of the property
09:48is the main bedroom.
09:50And then through there
09:51you've got an ensuite toilet and shower
09:53and then a sort of dressing room.
09:55I like the two windows.
09:57It makes it really light in here.
09:58Yeah.
09:59In the big wardrobe space.
10:01And I like the fact
10:01it's en suite.
10:02I actually quite like that room.
10:03Hmm.
10:04I do like that room.
10:05Good.
10:06Yeah.
10:08So we can go into the garden
10:09and also we can talk about the press.
10:11You lead the way.
10:17The garden comprises two-thirds of an acre
10:20with wooden and stone outbuildings
10:23that have electricity.
10:25There's also a paddock.
10:27The property backs onto Forestry Commission land
10:30where they'd be free to explore with their dog.
10:32The owners who grew up here
10:38they used to just get sent out
10:40in the morning
10:41in the holidays
10:42and they'd go all the way down the valley
10:44and the mum would blow a whistle
10:45when it was time for him to come back for supper.
10:48Excellent.
10:48And it's a good-sized garden.
10:50It's manageable
10:50but it's big enough.
10:51And you've got your greenhouse
10:52which you want to grow your tomatoes
10:53and such like.
10:54Maybe some courgette or something.
10:56So yes, that's me.
10:57And Johan,
10:57is he a kind of
10:59your assistant or does he...
11:00His is to actually do the lawn mowing
11:02so he earns his pocket money
11:04by mowing the lawn.
11:05Yeah, he likes that.
11:07And talking about money
11:08what do you think it's on the market for?
11:125,25?
11:14OK.
11:16And I've got 5,50.
11:18So 550,000 pounds.
11:19Yeah.
11:20This is on the market for 575,000.
11:23Oh, interesting.
11:24You can see the prices
11:25probably slightly higher than you thought
11:27because of the location.
11:28Yeah.
11:28And the land.
11:29It's got a good plot size.
11:31Yeah, yeah.
11:34Comfortably within Beata and Andrew's
11:36£600,000 budget
11:37this extended stone house
11:39has a kitchen breakfast room
11:40a multifunctional reception room
11:43and three bedrooms.
11:45There's a large garden
11:46without buildings
11:47and valley views.
11:52This is the conservatory.
11:54Oh, that's nice and airy, isn't it?
11:55I mean, you can see yourself sat here
11:57at your coffee or whatever
11:58and reading on a Sunday morning
12:00and relaxing.
12:04Fantastic location.
12:06It really gave you that wow feeling
12:09because you can take the dog
12:10and you can just go out.
12:10I see the potential in the house
12:14happy to do
12:15a bit of renovations
12:17a bit of changing
12:18the location is more important.
12:21You have that great combination
12:23of living peacefully
12:24but if you want to
12:26you can enjoy
12:27community.
12:29Beata and Andrew
12:39are looking for options
12:41to get stuck into local life
12:42when they return to the UK.
12:44The small Gloucestershire market town
12:46of Newent
12:47could help them
12:48get back into the saddle.
12:50Local horse hero
12:52and two times Olympic gold
12:53medal winner
12:54Valegro
12:55is celebrated in sculpture
12:57in the historic
12:58timber framed
12:58market hall.
13:00Look what's on in Newent.
13:02Let's have a look.
13:04Food and drink in July.
13:05And with over 50 groups
13:07to get involved with
13:08there's even more
13:09worth championing.
13:10Newent's a fantastic place.
13:12It's got such a great
13:13community feel to it.
13:15We've got the Newent chill out
13:16which is for people
13:17of all ages
13:18and runs as a youth session
13:19in the evenings.
13:20We've got some fantastic
13:21cafes within the town.
13:23Really fantastic places
13:24to go and grab a bite to eat.
13:28It's very small here.
13:29It's very compact
13:30but it's community.
13:33I've just started
13:34a supper club.
13:35We did a curry club
13:36and then there's going to be
13:37a tapas night
13:38and it's very, very important
13:40community get together.
13:44Cyclists can take in
13:45the beautiful surrounding
13:46countryside
13:46on the 19 to 28 mile
13:49Newent loop
13:50and walkers can enjoy
13:51the landscaped lake park.
13:54Well we found Newent
13:56really by mistake
13:57some 35 years ago.
13:59Stopped off one evening
14:01on the way back home
14:02and thought what a wonderful
14:03little market town it was.
14:05People were very friendly
14:06as you go
14:07and stayed ever since.
14:11One place our buyers
14:13can expect a warm
14:14Newent welcome
14:15is micropub
14:16The Cobblers.
14:17I think I could do me a drink.
14:19Let's go and get one.
14:21Where landlord Graham Rushton
14:22is a refreshing source
14:24of local knowledge.
14:27This is a lovely pub.
14:28How did you get to run that?
14:29Well what happened was when
14:31myself and my partner Nicky
14:33moved to Newent 10 years ago
14:35we stumbled across this pub
14:37started drinking here
14:38and we drank here
14:39for many many years
14:40when the landlady
14:41decided she wanted to retire.
14:43I came up with this crazy idea
14:44of buying a pub
14:45running a pub
14:46something that I'd never done before.
14:48And I suppose it brings you
14:49right into the art
14:50of the community doesn't it?
14:51It does.
14:51We've got some real good
14:52regulars
14:52and various groups
14:53like Royal British Legion
14:55and the Rotary Club
14:56used the back room
14:57for meetings
14:57and band practices
14:59and stuff like that.
15:00Why Newent?
15:01What do you like
15:01about this area so much?
15:03It's a fantastic place
15:04good location
15:05to get round
15:06many places
15:07not that far away
15:08from South Wales
15:09you've got Gloucester
15:10you've got Hereford nearby
15:11if you want a bigger city
15:12there's a fantastic bus service
15:14called the Daffodil Line
15:15where you can go
15:17from Newent
15:17as far down as Ross
15:19on Y
15:20and all the way up to Lidbury
15:22and all points in between
15:24and we get a lot of people
15:25coming in
15:26to visit the pub
15:27from
15:27you know
15:28from Herefordshire
15:29other parts of Gloucestershire
15:31it's in a
15:32cracking part of the country
15:33and yeah
15:34and we love it here.
15:37The couple seem to have enjoyed
15:38their pint sized taste
15:40of Gloucestershire life
15:41here in Newent
15:42now to find a home
15:43in the area
15:44they can raise a glass to.
15:49For our next viewing
15:52we're making our way
15:54to the Wye Valley village
15:55of Brockwyr
15:56Set on the eastern
15:59and English bank
16:00of the river Wye
16:01facing the nation of Wales
16:03on the opposite side
16:04one incoming church minister
16:06remonstrated
16:07that 19th century village life here
16:09revolved around beer houses
16:11and gambling
16:12thanks to the present day locals
16:16rallying to buy
16:17the last remaining pub
16:18it's still an ongoing concern
16:20and given there's also
16:22a community owned shop
16:24and cafe staffed by volunteers
16:25Beata and Andrew's
16:27respective desires
16:28could potentially be well met.
16:30So we thought this would be
16:36perfect for you
16:37You can help out in the pub
16:39I can help out in the shop
16:40And this is the property
16:41so it's not the whole thing
16:42half
16:43I mean the location
16:44is just wonderful
16:46Uncomparable really
16:47it seems idyllic
16:48This is the river Wye
16:49down here
16:50down there
16:50Okay
16:51Yes
16:52We've got this incredible
16:53landscape
16:54that is Wales
16:56this is England
16:56and then beyond that
16:58is the forest of Dean
16:59Amazing
17:00Beautiful
17:01Do you fancy looking in?
17:03Yes please
17:03Come on then
17:04This semi-detached
17:09character property
17:10dating to the 1700s
17:12has been given
17:13a sustainable
17:13modern twist
17:14with solar panels
17:15which feed into
17:17the national grid
17:17and can even generate
17:19money from
17:20excess electricity
17:21produced
17:21They also power
17:24the underfloor
17:25heating in the kitchen
17:26slash breakfast room
17:27where our tour
17:29of the currently
17:29unoccupied home
17:30begins
17:31It's a great size
17:33A nice kitchen
17:34lots of work surface
17:35Open space
17:36sitting to eat here
17:38There's plenty of room
17:40here for a lovely
17:41nice big dining table
17:42Our dining table
17:44would fit perfectly
17:45It fits perfectly
17:46Well hold your horses
17:47because actually
17:47you've got two reception
17:49rooms
17:49Let's continue the tour
17:51Excellent
17:51There's an additional utility
17:56and as well as the spacious
17:58kitchen and breakfast room
17:59there are two further
18:01reception rooms
18:01one of which is in an
18:03adjacent wing
18:04with French doors
18:06and period features
18:07I love it
18:09I love it
18:09Going out again
18:10towards the nice sunny spot
18:12because it's a good size
18:13to feel cosy in
18:15And then you've got
18:16that other reception room
18:17there which could be a diner
18:18or it could be another
18:19TV room
18:19Yeah
18:19Exactly
18:20Or your hi-fi
18:21Yeah
18:22Good vibes
18:23So why don't you two
18:24go and explore
18:24the rest of the house
18:25and then when you're done
18:26find me in the garden
18:27Thank you
18:27Andrew could certainly
18:34find a fitting home
18:35for his entire
18:36record collection
18:37in the final reception room
18:39You can have your hi-fi here
18:40That would be good
18:41You'd fit nicely there
18:42It would
18:43And you can close the doors
18:44So you've got your own space
18:46A ground floor cloak room
18:50is tucked away
18:51by the foot of the stairs
18:52which leads to the
18:53four bedroom accommodation
18:54above
18:55At the back of the house
18:57is a double
18:58partly set into the eaves
19:00Good size again
19:01Yeah
19:02Nice size
19:03Good to be your hands room
19:04And this leads directly
19:07into a second
19:08smaller bedroom
19:09with a built-in wardrobe
19:11It can be for him to play
19:13his Xbox
19:13and his games
19:14and such like
19:15Yeah
19:15So it gives him
19:16their separate space
19:17It does
19:18Yeah, that could work
19:19Good room
19:20Yeah
19:21Like that one
19:21To the front
19:24bedroom three
19:24also has a built-in wardrobe
19:27Good storage
19:30So guest room
19:30Yep
19:31Or office
19:32Because you've got the light
19:34coming through
19:34Yeah, so I can put my desk here
19:36and work from here
19:37Next to this
19:39is the family bathroom
19:40fitted with contemporary
19:42sanitary wear
19:43and a skylight window
19:44The final bedroom
19:49for them to peruse
19:50again with an aspect
19:51to the front
19:51is the principal
19:52Lovely beams
19:56I like the space
19:57at the top
19:58and I like the windows
19:59to see the garden
20:00And this one
20:02is en suite
20:03Oh, nice big shower
20:05And light
20:07Yeah, that's well done
20:08I like that
20:08that's the feature room
20:09isn't it?
20:10Where do you want
20:10to put our bed
20:11that way
20:12Oh, that
20:13I could go that way
20:14couldn't you
20:14You want to see
20:16outside, don't you
20:18Look, if we are here
20:19I'm on the wrong side
20:20of the bed
20:21so you need to come over
20:22here
20:22I see
20:22No
20:23That'd be better
20:24Why?
20:25You are there
20:26You are by the door
20:27to save me
20:28if anything happens
20:29Like the bed
20:36I'm feeling this tour
20:37could go either way
20:39Perhaps what's on offer
20:41outside will clinch things
20:42Despite the slope
20:44of the valley
20:44there is a level
20:46area of lawn
20:47Across the lane
20:49up from the house
20:49is a further plot
20:50planted with fruit trees
20:52and below
20:53there's parking
20:54plus a valley vista
20:56that's enough
20:57to have anyone
20:58waxing lyrical
20:59And just around
21:02the bend
21:02there is
21:03Tintin Abbey
21:03which is a very
21:04famous ruin
21:04that Wordsworth
21:06wrote his ode
21:07to Tintin Abbey
21:08Ah
21:08So it's a very
21:09historic place
21:10around here
21:10I like the fact
21:11that you've got
21:11the nice flat area
21:12which is good
21:14for your arm
21:14for his football goal
21:15and his trampoline
21:16How much do you think
21:17it costs this one?
21:18I knew you'd ask that
21:19Considering where we are
21:22and what you said
21:23I definitely go higher now
21:25Let's say
21:26585
21:28575
21:31575,000
21:33So this is actually
21:34on the market
21:35for 600,000
21:36It's a location here
21:38that counts really
21:39isn't it
21:39and I mean
21:40the property itself
21:41is beautiful
21:41because it's got
21:42its four bedrooms
21:43and it's
21:43loads of potential
21:45you can do in there
21:46The price is a guide
21:51on this semi-detached
21:5218th century cottage
21:53so if interested
21:55Beata and Andrew
21:55could certainly
21:56chance an offer
21:57There's a kitchen
21:59breakfast room
22:00and two further
22:01reception rooms
22:01as well as
22:02four bedrooms
22:03A good sized garden
22:05with valley views
22:06and an edge
22:07of village location
22:08offering a community
22:09run pub
22:10shop
22:10and cafe
22:11that completes
22:12the package
22:13A bit of quirkiness
22:14is what Beata likes
22:16so I know
22:17that that will have
22:18gone right up there
22:19in the flagpole
22:20gone yep
22:21quirky
22:21I like quirky
22:22so it
22:23Very romantic
22:24wasn't it
22:25Very romantic
22:26yes
22:26But then you've got
22:32to look at it
22:32pragmatically
22:33this house is
22:34at the top
22:34of our budget
22:35and we mean
22:36there's quite a bit
22:36of work
22:36that we'd have to do
22:37just to make it
22:38that we wanted
22:39and I think that
22:40bit requires
22:42a lot of thought
22:43The bridge at Brockweer
22:57makes it just a short
22:58trip between
22:59England and Wales
23:00but after two viewings
23:02how's our search
23:03doing with bridging
23:04the gap between
23:04Germany and the UK
23:06for my buyers
23:07Oh it's so lovely
23:11by the river
23:12and we've lucked out
23:13with the weather today
23:14Oh it's beautiful
23:15isn't it
23:15Are you feeling excited
23:16that it could actually
23:17happen
23:18that when you go
23:19and see feet on the
23:20ground the properties
23:20it somehow feels
23:21a bit more real
23:22Yes
23:22It's not only the property
23:23that comes with it
23:24it's the whole life
23:25that comes with it
23:26because we're moving
23:27our whole life
23:27new jobs
23:29new house
23:30new schools
23:31suddenly it's become
23:33very real
23:33that everything changes
23:35Yes
23:36Have you been speaking
23:37to Johan
23:37how's he feeling
23:38about it
23:38We can ask him
23:39directly
23:39Ah yes
23:40the wonders of technology
23:41can we call him
23:41on the phone
23:42Shall we give him a call
23:43Yeah I do
23:43Let's see
23:45whether we can
23:46dial him in
23:48Ah
23:49There he is
23:50Hello
23:51Hi I'm Alistair
23:53Nice to meet you
23:53I've heard a lot about you
23:54Are you looking forward
23:56to moving back
23:56Definitely
23:58England feels like home
24:00We've been thinking
24:01about you Johan
24:02You've not been left
24:03out of the discussion
24:03All good things
24:05that you gave me
24:06on the list
24:07that I had to look for
24:08I haven't seen
24:09Johan's list
24:10where have you been
24:11keeping that
24:11In my head
24:12What about you
24:14things you don't want
24:15I mean
24:16I don't like it
24:18in packed areas
24:19so villages
24:20and countryside
24:21is the best areas
24:23rather close to a city
24:25but definitely
24:26not in a city
24:27Well luckily
24:28your mum and Andrew
24:29chose to come on
24:30escape to the country
24:31so we won't be
24:32sending you to a city
24:33Very good news
24:35It's lovely to meet you
24:37Thanks very much
24:38Thank you very much
24:39What an incredibly
24:40eloquent son you have
24:41Thank you
24:42He's better than me
24:43I guess
24:43So charming
24:45I think he would have
24:45done better on the show
24:46than more
24:47Most definitely
24:48Next time
24:49you bring him along
24:50Yeah
24:50Also
24:52it's
24:53Auf Wiedersehen
24:54to Haustourz for now
24:55We'll be heading
24:56into mystery territory
24:57for my final property
24:59tomorrow
24:59But
25:01it's not
25:02in a city
25:02The average cost
25:14of a detached house
25:15in the UK
25:16is a little over
25:17£440,000
25:18But
25:20choose Gloucestershire
25:21and you may need
25:22to pay significantly more
25:24as that figure rises
25:25to over £516,000
25:28If you want your budget
25:31to go further
25:31consider neighbouring
25:32Herefordshire
25:33where the average sale price
25:35for detached properties
25:36is £441,000
25:38And here's a taster
25:41of what's available
25:42in the area
25:43at the moment
25:44This towering home
25:46was built in the 19th century
25:48as part of a scheme
25:49to beautify
25:50the Herefordshire town
25:51of Ross-on-Wye
25:52And the striking
25:54Grade 2 listed
25:55one-bedroom property
25:57appears to have achieved
25:58its ambitions
25:59There's also a very fetching view
26:02from the roof terrace
26:03The guide price
26:04is £350,000
26:06This four-bedroom detached home
26:10in a Herefordshire hamlet
26:11has the region's classic
26:13black-and-white exterior
26:14with timber-clad extensions
26:16It's recently renovated
26:18and offered at a guide price
26:19of £450,000
26:21Back in Gloucestershire
26:25would-be tenants
26:26might consider this
26:27detached three-bedroom farmhouse
26:29that comes with a large carport
26:31It has contemporary interiors
26:33surrounded by fields
26:35and panoramic views
26:36for rent at £1,850
26:39per calendar month
26:40Ah, wunderschönes Frühlingswetter
26:47That's beautiful spring weather
26:49greeting our second day
26:51of house hunting
26:52for Andrew and Beate's
26:53big return to the UK
26:55And we are staying
26:57in the Wye Valley
26:58for our mystery house
26:59but this property
27:00really pulls out
27:01all the bells and whistles
27:02on the land front
27:04We're nipping over
27:08the county border
27:09to Herefordshire
27:10for a mystery property
27:11in the Wye Valley
27:12village of Walford
27:13Set on a strategic
27:16crossing point
27:17of the river
27:18once guarded
27:19on the opposite bank
27:19by a medieval castle
27:21we're just a couple of miles
27:23from all the facilities
27:24in the town of Ross-on-Wye
27:26The village itself
27:28has an active
27:28working community
27:29that includes
27:30a family-run timber yard
27:32founded in 1945
27:34And while this Walford
27:36doesn't have a Queen Vic
27:37it does have a pub
27:39serving chef-devised meals
27:40packed with local produce
27:42So we've come
27:46a little further north
27:46we're closer to Ross-on-Wye
27:48and this is a little village
27:49called Walford
27:50Do you know the show
27:52EastEnders?
27:53I've heard of it
27:54but I haven't watched it
27:55That's all set in Walford
27:56but not this Walford
27:57I know that pub culture
27:59is very important to you
28:01Andrews, right?
28:02It is because it's
28:03when you move away
28:04from the UK
28:04you miss it
28:06and you realise
28:07that it's different
28:08and it's quite important
28:09I think
28:10Well, it's got a great pub
28:11Yep, it's good
28:12And, most importantly
28:13for you two
28:14the mystery house
28:15Why don't you explore
28:17the village a bit
28:17and I'll meet you there
28:18Great
28:19As well as the pub
28:22there's a village hall
28:23Buses run to Ross-on-Wye
28:26from stops on the main road
28:27from where it's just a short walk
28:29or drive up a hillside track
28:31to my mystery offering
28:33where I've gone ahead
28:34This one is just perfect for kids
28:37and even a nanny
28:39Meet Tom, Jerry, Barbara and Margo
28:43This is a good place to be a goat
28:45I mean, great views
28:47great food
28:48nice sunshine
28:49and the good thing is
28:50that if Andrew and Beata
28:52buy this place
28:53then they might be able
28:55to have the goats
28:56as part of the deal
28:56ready-made lawnmowers
28:58This property is a registered
29:04smallholding
29:05giving permission
29:06to keep livestock
29:07So as well as a substantial house
29:09the mystery here
29:10is the four acres of land
29:12half of which is wooded
29:14and with part of the long distance
29:17Wye Valley Walk
29:18running through the plots
29:19No, you shouldn't worry
29:22I'm not lost
29:23I'm keeping up
29:25the element of surprise
29:26for that little bit longer
29:28Now, that walk
29:33was not all in vain
29:34No
29:35The reason I brought you
29:36through that woodland
29:37is because it will belong to you
29:39Oh, wow
29:41If you choose to buy
29:43our mystery house
29:44which is here
29:46Oh
29:47Look at that view
29:49Yes
29:50The mystery is really
29:51because of the land
29:52Yes
29:53And it's much more
29:54of a kind of farmstead
29:55sort of idea
29:56Two acres of woodland
29:58Two acres of fields
29:59I mean, the size of the land
30:02is quite shocking
30:03quite shocking really
30:04I'm thinking
30:05who's going to do all the work
30:06I quite like chickens
30:08I quite like chickens and animals
30:08so I wouldn't mind
30:10especially working from home
30:11I would have time to look after them
30:12wouldn't I?
30:13Yeah
30:13Can we go and look at the house?
30:14Yes, please
30:15The home on offer is a stone cottage
30:21built in 1760
30:22and remodelled in the 1930s
30:24to add a front veranda
30:26as well as brick extensions
30:28all of which has been rendered and painted
30:31Approaching down the hill
30:34we enter at the back
30:36and into the country kitchen diner
30:38with view out over the valley
30:41Oh, that's very different, isn't it?
30:43That's so much different
30:44So I'm looking at the view
30:45rather than the kitchen at the moment
30:46Yeah
30:47So this is much more a country cottage
30:49but you do got a big
30:50sort of washing room
30:52boot room
30:52utility room through there
30:54You've got this seating area
30:55plus the country feel
30:57I love it
30:57It's cosy
30:58It's really cosy
30:59but really practical too
31:00I want to see more
31:02Ask and you shall receive
31:04Exiting through the diner
31:08dining area
31:08we cross an entrance hall
31:10So this is the original front door
31:13but as in most country properties
31:14nobody uses the front door
31:16to check out the sitting room
31:18I like that it's squarer
31:20Yes
31:20Cos I like squarer
31:21over than long and thin
31:22Right, yeah
31:23It's got that cosy feel to it
31:24Yes
31:25And the view
31:26And again, it's all about the view
31:28Yes
31:28Yes
31:29So you go and explore upstairs
31:30and when you're done
31:31I'll meet you out front
31:32Great
31:32Let's do that
31:33Okay
31:33There are three bedrooms upstairs
31:39starting with the one
31:40that could be Andrew and Beatta's
31:42I think that is the master bedroom
31:45with the exposed stone
31:48And you've got good use of
31:49the bits outside of the fireplace
31:51to put your storage in
31:52I think you might bring me coffee
31:53in the morning
31:54I think I might
31:55Then I can sit in the bed
31:57and just enjoy my coffee
31:58looking at the river
31:59Look, you can see the river from here
32:01There's also a box room
32:05used for storage
32:06a fellow vinyl collector
32:07by the looks of it
32:08And next to this
32:10is the family bathroom
32:11which is fully tiled
32:12Then completing the upstairs
32:15is bedroom number three
32:17It's a decent size
32:19Look at the view again
32:20I think that view is at the front
32:22it's lovely
32:23Yes
32:23And yeah
32:24It's a big, big positive
32:26for the house, isn't it?
32:27It is
32:28It is
32:28That's the cottage
32:32but it's also ready to go
32:34for a self-sufficient good life
32:35complete with hencoops
32:37and workshops
32:38or perhaps an idyllically located
32:41work-from-home office
32:43or two
32:44You've got this big space
32:47out the front
32:48lovely views
32:49you feel really nestled
32:50in the trees
32:51and the landscape here
32:52Obviously it's a challenge
32:53the big land
32:54the house is quite different
32:55from the other ones we've shown
32:57and I think they could really
32:58put their mark on this one
32:59Whether or not my buyers
33:04are ready to take on
33:05this small holding
33:06may well come down
33:07to what they have to pay for it
33:09You found me
33:12in the great acreage
33:13of the mystery house
33:14I can see why it was picked
33:16as a mystery house
33:17because it has done
33:19it has done its job
33:20of going
33:20oh
33:20it's just then
33:21it's the lifestyle
33:22what you're looking for
33:23and what you want
33:24and you've got to think about that
33:25How much do you think
33:26this costs?
33:27Well
33:27because of the land
33:28I'm going to go
33:29higher up
33:30towards our budget
33:32so I'm going to go
33:33around 585
33:35I'm going 600
33:37because of the land
33:38close to the village
33:39due to the river
33:40Well
33:41I'm sad to say
33:43Andrew
33:43that your wife
33:44is spot on
33:45Oh
33:45This is on the market
33:47for 600,000 pounds
33:49And one thing
33:51I think is worth
33:52flagging up
33:52is this is
33:53quite a sluggish market
33:54so there's a chance
33:55that you could
33:56put in an offer
33:57Yeah
33:57You can always try
33:59This registered
34:03small holding
34:04offers a three-bedroom
34:05cottage
34:06four acres of land
34:07and an elevated position
34:09giving far-reaching
34:10views of the
34:11Wye Valley
34:12It's on the edge
34:14of a village
34:14with a pub
34:15and just a couple
34:16of miles
34:16from the country town
34:17of Ross-on-Wye
34:18There was the house
34:23in the valley
34:23with goats
34:24and greens
34:25and all the romantic
34:26ideas you have
34:28flowing through your mind
34:29when you see
34:30something like this
34:31so yes
34:32my heart says
34:33I want to live here
34:34I need to put
34:38my pragmatic head
34:39on here
34:40How's this actually
34:40going to work
34:41Do we really want
34:42to look after
34:42animals
34:43and not even
34:44thought about
34:45what it would mean
34:46to have so much land
34:47and the work
34:47that would be involved
34:48sounds kind of weird
34:54in German
34:55mystery house
34:55It does
34:56Sounds a bit more
34:57sinister
34:57Anyway
35:00that's all done
35:01Let's have a little rest
35:03and then you can
35:04chew things over
35:05and then we can talk
35:05about where we go next
35:06Come with me
35:08The countryside can be
35:23very empowering
35:24and it certainly is
35:25for Claire
35:26who made her escape
35:27to Herefordshire
35:28six years ago
35:29My name is Claire
35:33and I moved here
35:34to rural Herefordshire
35:36from North London
35:37and I live here
35:39with my dog Fred
35:40and a variety
35:41of other animals
35:42including four sheep
35:44Here come the sheep
35:46four chickens
35:49and a cat
35:50called Mr Shanks
35:51This is the exciting
35:55moment every morning
35:56when I go and see
35:57if I've got any eggs
35:59Yes
36:03there's one
36:04Fantastic
36:05Something for breakfast
36:07Previously a journalist
36:11living in the capital
36:11Claire's home now
36:13is a registered smallholding
36:15with an orchard
36:16livestock
36:17and vegetable garden
36:18When I was in London
36:20this was my dream
36:22really
36:22to have
36:23somewhere I could
36:24grow plants
36:25She continues to write
36:28from her rambling
36:29four bedroom Victorian
36:30brick house
36:31where I've come to find out
36:32how the move
36:33has influenced her
36:34and her work
36:35Hello
36:38Hi Claire
36:39Lovely to meet you
36:40Thanks for having me
36:41Do come in
36:42What a beautiful home
36:44Well thank you so much
36:45I love all these
36:47floor tiles
36:48A lot of this was here
36:50when I came
36:51the floor
36:52and the units
36:53and everything
36:53but I've done quite a lot
36:54of work decoratively
36:55Yes
36:56Very tasteful
36:57All these old beams
36:58were salvaged
36:59and put in
37:00by the previous owner
37:01Oh so they're not original
37:02They're not original
37:02but they look really authentic
37:03I think
37:04Yeah they do
37:04So I know you moved
37:06from quite a glamorous job
37:08in London
37:08You were in magazines
37:09is that right?
37:10Well that's right
37:10Well yes
37:10I worked for most of my career
37:12as a magazine journalist
37:13and then I've always
37:15meant to move to the country
37:16and then I thought
37:18the time has come
37:19I grew up around here
37:20Oh
37:21In Malvern
37:22which is about
37:22a 50 minute drive away
37:24and my family
37:25originally from Wales
37:26which is quite close
37:27and it just makes me
37:29feel more rooted
37:30Do you find that being here
37:31is more conducive to writing?
37:33Do you get more writing done?
37:34Yes
37:34Well I find what I'm writing about
37:36has changed rather
37:37because these days
37:38it's more kind of
37:38mythical folkloric
37:40witchy type books
37:41and which I think
37:42is informed quite a lot
37:43by the surroundings
37:44because Hertfordshire
37:45is a land rich in folklore
37:47and you know
37:48goings on
37:49And is your garden
37:50a reflection of that?
37:51Yes it is
37:52I've made a garden
37:53based on five elements
37:54so it's fire, water
37:55earth and air
37:55and then in the centre
37:57there's a spiral
37:57which represents spirit
37:58Can we have a peek outside?
38:00Yes of course
38:00I'd love to show you
38:01Oh good luck
38:02Either way
38:02This looks amazing
38:09Well there's a lot here already
38:11I've just sort of
38:11redesigned it
38:12to my own whim
38:13In the summer
38:14that's all fire
38:15and yellows
38:17and reds
38:17and oranges
38:17and then there's water
38:20earth and air
38:21with all the very tall grasses
38:22which will come up later
38:24Oh beautiful
38:25Now a lot of your writing
38:28of late
38:29has taken a more elemental turn
38:31How would you describe
38:32your practice?
38:33I'm mostly aligned
38:34with druidry
38:35Oh yeah
38:35And the sort of connection
38:37with nature
38:37and the land
38:38and the seasons
38:39which is one of the reasons
38:41I've created the garden
38:42like I have
38:43Oh okay
38:44And my latest book
38:44actually is about
38:45one of the elements
38:45is about water
38:46it's called
38:47The Water Remedy
38:48and it's about
38:49how we should care
38:49and appreciate water
38:50It's about searching
38:51for holy wells
38:52and appreciating
38:54spa water
38:54and springs
38:55and a little bit
38:56about the seaside
38:57and coast
38:58and estuaries
38:58which I love
38:59I notice you've got water
39:00right in the middle
39:01of your garden here
39:02Yes I have
39:03that's a little pool
39:03at the centre
39:04of my cosmic spiral
39:05But it's a meditation path
39:07so you walk
39:08into the centre
39:10and then you walk out again
39:11and it takes
39:12a surprisingly long time
39:13actually
39:14Well I'm a big meditator
39:15I love meditation
39:16Can we walk mindfully
39:17around your spiral?
39:18Of course
39:18Claire's path
39:21to the countryside
39:22certainly seems
39:23to have led her
39:23to a life
39:24centred on all
39:25that nourishes her
39:26Now to see
39:28if any of the houses
39:29I've shown my buyers
39:30capture the spirit
39:31of what they're looking for
39:32My presenter's intuition
39:41makes me feel
39:42that Beata
39:43really loved
39:44all the land
39:46and the woodland
39:47and the kind of
39:48country feel
39:49of the mystery house
39:50But Andrew
39:52probably it was
39:54an acre or three
39:55too far
39:56But let's find out
39:57what they think
39:58about all the houses
39:59How are you doing?
40:06Doing well
40:07You get
40:07Good
40:08Sehr gut
40:09Sehr gut
40:09So has this
40:11focused your mind?
40:12What's this week
40:13taught you
40:14about your move here?
40:15It's taught us
40:16that England is for us
40:17we are coming back
40:18Yes
40:19It's also taught us
40:21actually
40:21it's a lovely area here
40:23the Wye Valley
40:24Gloucestershire
40:24and I think
40:26the first house
40:26was my favourite
40:27out of the three
40:28the land, the garden
40:29the positioning
40:30the quiet
40:31was superb
40:32you just needed
40:33to make the house
40:34bigger
40:34and I thought
40:35I was thinking
40:35all the time
40:36what could I do
40:36to make it bigger
40:37how could I do that
40:37how could I change it
40:38Beata is there one
40:39that stood out
40:40for you as a possibility
40:40I want to love
40:42the third house
40:42my heart says
40:43that's mine
40:44So you love
40:45the mystery house
40:46I do
40:46the romantic feeling
40:48of having your own
40:49animals to look after
40:50and being able
40:52to just go out
40:53in the morning
40:53and walk across
40:54your own land
40:55But the first house
40:57had land as well
40:57when you actually
40:58look at the plot size
40:59it's a lot bigger
40:59than your first thing
41:00and I just think
41:01it's easy to manage
41:02and work that land
41:03than it is the other one
41:05and I think
41:05that's a factor
41:06What's the next step
41:08for you guys?
41:09The first house
41:10I want to think
41:12about a bit more
41:12the second
41:13and the third
41:14don't work for me
41:15but the area does
41:17The third one
41:18in particular
41:18because of the village
41:19location isn't it
41:20the amenities are there
41:21on your doorstep
41:22which really help
41:23OK so
41:24first and third
41:26maybe
41:26but overall
41:28you're sold
41:28on this
41:29Y Valley location
41:30Yes absolutely
41:31and if something
41:32comes on that
41:33we need to see
41:33we go on a plane
41:36and we come back
41:37and we see it
41:37we have to find
41:38somewhere to live
41:39work starts for us
41:40both over the summer
41:41new jobs
41:42so things have to happen
41:44and we have to make them happen
41:45Well keep us in the loop
41:47it's been a real joy
41:48and if you find somewhere
41:49let us know
41:50and we'll come revisit
41:51brilliant
41:52you'll be very well
41:53Auf Wiedersehen
41:54Auf Wiedersehen
41:55exactly
41:55In the end
42:01I didn't need this
42:03because apparently
42:04I am the sunshine presenter
42:05because there was
42:06lots of sunshine
42:07on Andrew and Beate's
42:09adventures here
42:10in Gloucestershire
42:10and the Y Valley
42:11and I think
42:12they have fallen in love
42:13with this beautiful
42:14area for the country
42:15which is great
42:16because in my own experience
42:18moving from one country
42:19like Germany
42:20to the UK
42:21is quite a lot of stress
42:22and it's great
42:23to have a wonderful
42:24prospect of landscape
42:26and livelihood
42:27stretching out
42:28in front of you
42:29so I hope they
42:30find the place
42:31they love
42:31and I hope you join us
42:33next time
42:33for more Escape to the Country
42:34Our couple went back
42:38to the first house
42:39for a second viewing
42:40but in a huge twist
42:42of events
42:42decided to shift
42:44their search closer
42:45to Andrew's family
42:46in Yorkshire
42:47They're now in the process
42:48of buying a barn conversion
42:50there
42:50We wish them all the best
42:52with their move
42:53If you'd like to escape
42:55to the country
42:55in England
42:56Northern Ireland
42:56Scotland
42:57or Wales
42:57and need our help
42:59why not apply online
43:00at bbc.co.uk
43:02forward slash
43:03take part
43:29Thank you
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