- 9 minutes ago
Escape to the Country - Season 26 Episode 18 -
Gloucestershire and Herefordshire
Gloucestershire and Herefordshire
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00But 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.
00:30What 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, a captivating region that has them all.
01:08And it's positively blossoming.
01:11It's a gorgeous time here in Gloucestershire because all the trees are putting out their lovely little leaves and the lovely little birds are making little baby birds.
01:23And there's a palpable sense of excitement in the air.
01:26Although there is a little rain forecast.
01:29But I'm not worried, partly because I have this.
01:32And also because it's said I am the sunshine presenter and it never rains on my shows.
01:37Just saying.
01:37Our escape adventure will take us to Herefordshire as well as neighbouring Gloucestershire, a county so famous for downpours it inspired a nursery rhyme.
01:48You know, the one about Dr Foster and the puddle?
01:50But clouds in this county come with silver linings, from the glistening River Wye to the verdant Forest 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, Dean.
02:18It's a beautiful place to visit.
02:19And the lakes.
02:20Lovely walks.
02:20Yeah.
02:21Places to take the children like Beech and Hurst.
02:23And with substantial village homes and peaceful riverside retreats on offer, it's no wonder escapees come from far and wide to seek their own property pot of gold at the end of this region's rainbow.
02:38Our show is available for viewing all around the world, including the country where our buyers today are living, Germany.
02:46And I was thinking about how to translate escape to the country into German, which would be Flucht aufs Land.
02:53But my preference would be Mein Traumhaus auf dem Land.
02:57My dream house in the countryside.
03:02Hello, I'm Andrew.
03:04And I'm Beate.
03:05And we currently live in Heraldsburg, which is close to Nuremberg in southern Germany.
03:09After living in a rented home near Nuremberg, Germany, for the last four years, Andrew, Beate, and her 11-year-old son, Johan, are 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.
03:34Leicester City are my foot.
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, and it's a hybrid job, so I need to go up a few days a week.
03:52So I'm 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.
03:59So undulating scenery, a mix of rivers, meadows, forests, it's very much like what home leaves, it's home for me.
04:08I miss the top coat.
04:09And I think what you're also looking forward to is the crisps, salt and vinegar, which aren't available in Germany.
04:14Yeah, so they're his favourite.
04:20Andrew 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, and are open to viewing addresses in both Gloucestershire and Herefordshire.
04:41I love the fact that Andrew and Beata are coming to this part of the countryside because, 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 because, although I lived in Germany for six years, to 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, I'm making my way to meet Beata and Andrew for introductions in a pretty rural spot,
05:27which I hope compares favourably to the German countryside.
05:30I'm so excited to be here with you guys, largely because I can practice 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 would 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.
05:55I'm excited about that.
05:57And a bit of, therefore, also a smaller community living, where I can get involved,
06:02whether it's a parent governor or being at the local church council
06:06or just helping out at the local cafe or playgroup, because I'm working remotely.
06:11So I want to get out outside of work to have some social interaction, really.
06:16What about you, Andrew? What are you looking forward to being back in England?
06:19Seeing friends and family, being able to go to live football again,
06:22rather than just watching it on television.
06:24Ah, and there is good football in Germany, I hear.
06:26There is, but Rovenham's my team.
06:28There'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 to view is in the Gloucestershire hamlet of Aelford.
06:59Around a mile and a half down the road,
07:01the village of Blakeney has post office services and a convenience store.
07:06There's restaurant dining at the King's Head and 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 I'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,
07:38so 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 you 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 since 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-cum boot room into the kitchen.
08:16I like that you can sit in the kitchen already.
08:18It's a good start.
08:19You 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, which is...
08:26You do the washing, don't you?
08:27I do now, apparently.
08:30Well, the good thing about this property is it's all facing the view,
08:33so it's all windows this way.
08:34Ideally, a bigger kitchen, but 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.
08:48Basically, this is the width of the house.
08:50It's quite simple, the layout.
08:52Even though it's long, you still see two parts of the room to it.
08:55You've got a dining area and a living area.
08:57I think it's a little smaller than 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?
09:06You still have a hi-fi.
09:07That's very retro.
09:09Oh, it's very retro.
09:10I've got a massive collection of vinyl.
09:11Really?
09:12It's good.
09:16Completing the ground floor and 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 overlooking the valley.
09:33There's a smaller guest bedroom
09:35and a family bathroom tiled in a neutral palette.
09:40Then at the other end is the principal en-suite.
09:46This whole end of the property is the main bedroom.
09:50And then through there, you've got an en-suite 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.
09:59And the big wardrobe space.
10:00And I like the fact it's en-suite.
10:02I actually quite like that room.
10:04I do like that room.
10:05Good.
10:06Yeah.
10:06So we can go out into the garden
10:09and also we can talk about the press.
10:11Mm-hmm.
10:11You lead the way.
10:18The garden comprises two-thirds of an acre
10:20with wooden and stone outbuildings that 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.
10:37The owners who grew up here,
10:39they used to just get sent out in the morning in the holidays
10:42and they'd go all the way down the valley
10:44and the mum would blow a whistle.
10:45But it was time for them to come back to supper.
10:48Excellent.
10:48And it's a good-sized garden.
10:49It's manageable, but it's big enough.
10:51And you've got your greenhouse,
10:52which you want to grow your tomatoes and such like.
10:54Maybe some courgette or something.
10:56So, yes, that's me.
10:57And Johan, is he kind of your assistant or does he...?
11:00His is to actually do the lawn mowing.
11:02So he earns his pocket money by mowing the lawn.
11:05Yeah, he likes that.
11:06And talking about money...
11:09What do you think it's on the market for?
11:125,25?
11:14OK.
11:16I'm going to go 5,50.
11:18So, £550,000.
11:19Yeah.
11:20This is on the market for 575,000.
11:23Oh, interesting.
11:24You can see the price is probably slightly higher than you thought
11:27because of the location.
11:28And the land, it's got a good plot size.
11:30Yeah, yeah.
11:34Comfortably within Beata and Andrews,
11:35£600,000 budget,
11:37this extended stone house has a kitchen breakfast room,
11:41a multifunctional reception room and three bedrooms.
11:45There's a large garden without buildings and 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,
11:57your coffee or whatever,
11:58and reading on a Sunday morning and relaxing.
12:04Fantastic location.
12:05It really gave you that wow feeling
12:08because you can take the dog,
12:10you can just go out.
12:12I see the potential in the house.
12:14Happy to do a bit of renovations,
12:17a bit of changing.
12:18The location is more important.
12:21You have that great combination
12:22of living peacefully,
12:24but if you want to,
12:26you can enjoy community.
12:28Beata and Andrew are looking for options
12:41to get stuck into local life
12:42when they return to the UK.
12:44The small Gloucestershire market town of Newent
12:47could help them get back into the saddle.
12:50Local horse hero
12:52and two-times Olympic gold medal winner
12:54Vallegro is celebrated in sculpture
12:57in the historic timber-framed market 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 to get involved with,
13:08there's even more worth championing.
13:10Newent's a fantastic place.
13:12It's got such a great community feel to it.
13:15We've got the Newent Chill Out,
13:16which is for people of all ages
13:18and runs as a youth session in the evenings.
13:20We've got some fantastic cafes within the town.
13:23Really fantastic places to go
13:25and grab a bite to eat.
13:28It's very small here.
13:29It's very compact,
13:31but it's community.
13:33I've just started a supper club.
13:35We did a curry club
13:36and then there's going to be a tapas night.
13:39It's very, very important.
13:40Community get together.
13:41Cyclists can take in
13:45the beautiful surrounding countryside
13:46on the 19- to 28-mile Newent Loop
13:50and walkers can enjoy the landscaped lake park.
13:54Well, we found Newent really by mistake
13:57some 35 years ago.
13:59Stopped off one evening on the way back home
14:02and thought what a wonderful little market town it was.
14:05People were very friendly, easy going
14:07and stayed ever since.
14:11One place our buyers can expect a warm Newent welcome
14:15is micropub The Cobblers.
14:17I think I could do me a drink.
14:19Let's go and get one.
14:19Where landlord Graham Rushton
14:22is a refreshing source of local knowledge.
14:27This is a lovely pub.
14:28How did you get to run that?
14:30Well, what happened was when
14:31myself and my partner Nicky moved to Newent 10 years ago,
14:35we stumbled across this pub,
14:37started drinking here and we drank here for many, many years
14:40when the landlady decided she wanted to retire.
14:43I came up with this crazy idea of buying a pub, running a pub,
14:46something that I'd never done before.
14:47And I suppose it brings you right into the art of the community, doesn't it?
14:51It does.
14:51We've got some real good regulars and various groups
14:53like Royal British Legion and the Rotary Club.
14:56Use the back room for meetings and band practices and stuff like that.
15:00Why Newent? What do you like about this area so much?
15:03It's a fantastic place.
15:04Good location to get round many places.
15:07You're not that far away from South Wales.
15:09You've got Gloucester, you've got Hereford nearby
15:11if you want a bigger city.
15:13There's a fantastic bus service called the Daffodil Line
15:15where you can go from Newent as far down as Ross on White
15:20and all the way up to Lidbury and all points in between.
15:24And we get a lot of people coming in to visit the pub
15:27from, you know, from Herefordshire, other parts of Gloucestershire.
15:31It's in a cracking part of the country.
15:34Yeah, and we love it here.
15:37The couple seem to have enjoyed their pint-sized taste
15:40of Gloucestershire life here in Newent,
15:42now to find a home in the area they can raise a glass to.
15:51For our next viewing, we're making our way
15:54to the Wye Valley village of Brockweir.
15:57Set on the eastern and English bank of the River Wye,
16:01facing the nation of Wales on the opposite side,
16:04one incoming church minister remonstrated
16:07that 19th-century village life here
16:09revolved around beer houses and gambling.
16:14Thanks to the present-day locals rallying
16:17to buy the last remaining pub,
16:18it's still an ongoing concern.
16:20And given there's also a community-owned shop
16:24and cafe staffed by volunteers,
16:26Beata and Andrew's respective desires
16:28could potentially be well met.
16:30So we thought this would be perfect for you.
16:37You can help out in the pub.
16:39I can help out in the shop.
16:41And this is the property,
16:42so it's not the whole thing, half.
16:43I mean, the location is just wonderful, isn't it?
16:46Uncomparable, really.
16:47It seems idyllic.
16:48This is the River Wye down here.
16:50Oh, wow.
16:51Okay.
16:51Yes.
16:52We've got this incredible landscape.
16:55That is Wales.
16:56This is England.
16:57And then beyond that is the Forest of Dean.
16:59Oh, amazing.
17:01Beautiful setting.
17:02Do you fancy looking in?
17:03Yes, please.
17:04Come on, then.
17:08This semi-detached character property
17:10dating to the 1700s
17:12has been given a sustainable modern twist
17:14with solar panels,
17:15which feed into the national grid
17:17and can even generate money
17:19from excess electricity produced.
17:21They also power the underfloor heating
17:25in the kitchen slash breakfast room,
17:28where our tour of the currently unoccupied home begins.
17:31It's a great size.
17:33A nice kitchen, lots of work surface.
17:35Open space, sitting to eat here.
17:38Yeah, there's plenty of room here
17:40for a lovely, nice, big dining table.
17:43Yeah.
17:43Our dining table would fit perfectly.
17:45Fits perfectly.
17:46Well, hold your horses
17:47because actually you've got two reception rooms.
17:49Oh.
17:50Let's continue the tour.
17:51Thanks, sir.
17:51Good.
17:54There's an additional utility
17:56and as well as a spacious kitchen and breakfast room,
17:59there are two further reception rooms,
18:02one of which is in an adjacent wing
18:04with French doors and period features.
18:08I love it.
18:09Going out again towards the nice sunny spot
18:11because it's a good size to feel cozy in.
18:15And then you've got that other reception room there
18:17which could be a diner
18:18or could be another TV room.
18:19Yeah.
18:20Exactly.
18:20Or your Hi-Fi.
18:22Yeah.
18:22Good vibes.
18:23So why don't you two go and explore the rest of the house
18:25and then when you're done find me in the garden.
18:27Well done.
18:28Have to go explore.
18:29Andrew could certainly find a fitting home for his entire record collection
18:37in the final reception room.
18:39You can have your Hi-Fi here.
18:41Well, we've got to fit nicely there.
18:42It would.
18:43And you can close the doors so you've got your own space.
18:46A ground floor cloakroom is tucked away by the foot of the stairs
18:52which lead to the four-bedroom accommodation above.
18:56At the back of the house is a double partly set into the eaves.
19:00Good size again.
19:01Yeah.
19:02Nice size.
19:03Good to be Johan's room.
19:04And this leads directly into a second, smaller bedroom
19:09with a built-in wardrobe.
19:11It can be for them to play his Xbox or his games and such like.
19:15So it gives them their separate space.
19:17It does.
19:18Yeah, that could work.
19:19Good room.
19:20Yeah.
19:21Like that one.
19:23To the front, bedroom three also has a built-in wardrobe.
19:26Good storage, so guest room.
19:31Yep.
19:32Or office.
19:33Because you've got the light coming through.
19:34Yeah, so I can put my desk here and work from here.
19:38Next to this is the family bathroom,
19:41fitted with contemporary sanitary wear and a skylight window.
19:47The final bedroom for them to peruse,
19:50again with an aspect to the front, is the principal.
19:55Lovely beams.
19:56I like the space at the top and I like the windows.
19:59You see the garden.
20:01And this one is en suite.
20:04Oh, nice big shower.
20:06And light.
20:07Yeah, that's well done.
20:08I like that.
20:08That's the feature room, isn't it?
20:10Where do you want to put our bed?
20:12That way.
20:13Oh, that.
20:13Oh, you could go that way, couldn't you?
20:14You've got sockets outside.
20:16You want to see outside, don't you?
20:18Look, if we are here.
20:19I'm on the wrong side of the bed,
20:21so you need to come over here.
20:22All right, see.
20:23No.
20:23That'd be better.
20:24Why?
20:25You are there.
20:26You are by the door to save me if anything happens.
20:35Like the bed, I'm feeling this tour could go either way.
20:39Perhaps what's on offer outside will clinch things.
20:42Despite the slope of the valley, there is a level area of lawn.
20:48Across the lane up from the house is a further plot planted with fruit trees.
20:53And below there's parking, plus a valley vista that's enough to have anyone waxing lyrical.
20:59And just around the bend there is Tintern Abbey, which is a very famous ruin that Wordsworth wrote his ode to Tintern Abbey.
21:08Ah.
21:08So it's a very historic place around here.
21:10I like the fact that you've got the nice flat area, which is good for your arm for his football goal and his trampoline.
21:16How much do you think it costs, this one?
21:17I knew you'd ask that.
21:21Considering where we are and what you said, I'd definitely go higher now.
21:25Let's say 585.
21:28Ah.
21:30575.
21:32575,000.
21:33Yeah.
21:33So this is actually on the market for 600,000.
21:36Ah.
21:37It's a location here that counts, really, isn't it?
21:39And, I mean, the property itself is beautiful because it's got its four bedrooms.
21:43And it's...
21:43It's got the potential.
21:44Loads of potential you can do in there.
21:46Yeah.
21:49The price is a guide on this semi-detached 18th-century cottage, so if interested, Beata and Andrew could certainly chance an offer.
21:58There's a kitchen breakfast room and two further reception rooms as well as four bedrooms.
22:03A good-sized garden with valley views and an edge of village location offering a community-run pub, shop and cafe.
22:11That completes the package.
22:14A bit of quirkiness is what Beata likes.
22:16Yeah.
22:16So I know that that will have gone right up there in a flagpole.
22:20Yep, quirky, I like quirky.
22:22So it got me...
22:24Very romantic, wasn't it?
22:25Very romantic, yes.
22:26Yeah.
22:27But then you're going to look at it pragmatically.
22:33This house is at the top of our budget, and there's quite a bit of work that we'd have to do just to make it how we want it.
22:39And I think that bit requires a lot of thought.
22:42The bridge at Brockweir makes it just a short trip between England and Wales, but after two viewings, how's our search doing with bridging the gap between Germany and the UK for my buyers?
23:07Oh, it's so lovely by the river.
23:11Oh, it's so lovely by the river.
23:12And we've lucked out with the weather today.
23:14Oh, it's beautiful, isn't it?
23:15Are you feeling excited that it could actually happen, that when you go and see feet on the ground, the properties, it somehow feels a bit more real?
23:22Yes.
23:22It's not only the property that comes with it, it's the whole life that comes with it, because we're moving our whole life, new jobs, new house, new schools.
23:32Suddenly it's become very real that everything changes.
23:36Yes.
23:36Have you been speaking to Johanna?
23:37How's he feeling about it?
23:38We can ask him directly.
23:39Ah, yes, the wonders of technology.
23:41Can we call him on the phone?
23:42Shall we give him a call?
23:43Yeah, do.
23:43Let's see whether we can dial him in.
23:48Ah, there he is.
23:50Hello.
23:52Hi, I'm Alistair.
23:53Nice to meet you.
23:53I've heard a lot about you.
23:55Are you looking forward to moving back?
23:57Definitely.
23:58It feels like home.
24:00We've been thinking about you, Johanna.
24:02You've not been left out of the discussion.
24:05All good things that you gave me on the list that I had to look for.
24:08I haven't seen Johanna's list.
24:10Where have you been keeping that?
24:11In my head.
24:12What about you, things you don't want?
24:16I mean, I don't like it in packed areas.
24:19So villages and countryside is the best areas.
24:24Rather close to a city, but definitely not in a city.
24:28Well, luckily, your mum and Andrew chose to come on escape to the country,
24:31so we won't be sending you to a city.
24:34Very good news.
24:35It's lovely to meet you.
24:37Thanks very much.
24:38Thank you very much.
24:39What an incredibly eloquent son you have.
24:42He's better than me, I guess.
24:44So charming.
24:45I think he would have done better on the show than both of us, definitely.
24:48Next time, you bring him along.
24:50Yeah.
24:52Also, it's Auf Wiedersehen to house tours for now.
24:56We'll be heading into mystery territory for my final property tomorrow.
24:59The average cost of a detached house in the UK is a little over £440,000.
25:18But choose Gloucestershire, and you may need to pay significantly more,
25:24as that figure rises to over £516,000.
25:29If you want your budget to go further, consider neighbouring Herefordshire,
25:33where the average sale price for detached properties is £441,000.
25:38And here's a taster of what's available in the area at the moment.
25:45This towering home was built in the 19th century as part of a scheme
25:49to beautify the Herefordshire town of Ross-on-Wye.
25:52And the striking grade-two-listed one-bedroom property
25:57appears to have achieved its ambitions.
26:00There's also a very fetching view from the roof terrace.
26:04The guide price is £350,000.
26:07This four-bedroom detached home in a Herefordshire hamlet
26:11has the region's classic black-and-white exterior
26:14with timber-clad extensions.
26:16It's recently renovated and offered at a guide price of £450,000.
26:21Back in Gloucestershire, would-be tenants might consider this
26:27detached three-bedroom farmhouse that comes with a large carport.
26:32It has contemporary interiors surrounded by fields and panoramic views
26:36for rent at £1,850 per calendar month.
26:45Ah, wunderschönes Frühlingswetter.
26:47That's beautiful spring weather
26:49greeting our second day of house hunting
26:51for Andrew and Beata's big return to the UK.
26:55And we are staying in the Wye Valley for our mystery house,
26:59but this property really pulls out all the bells and whistles
27:02on the land fronts.
27:07We're nipping over the county border to Herefordshire
27:09for a mystery property in the Wye Valley village of Walford.
27:13Set on a strategic crossing point of the river,
27:18once guarded on the opposite bank by a medieval castle,
27:21we're just a couple of miles from all the facilities
27:24in the town of Ross-on-Wye.
27:26The village itself has an active working community
27:29that includes a family-run timber yard founded in 1945.
27:34And while this Walford doesn't have a Queen Vic,
27:37it does have a pub serving chef-devised meals
27:40packed with local produce.
27:45So we've come a little further north,
27:47we're closer to Ross-on-Wye,
27:48and this is a little village called Walford.
27:51Do you know the show EastEnders?
27:52Did you ever come to any of that?
27:53I've heard of it, but I haven't watched it.
27:55That's all set in Walford, but not this Walford.
27:58I know that pub culture is very important to you, Andrews, right?
28:01It is, because when you move away from the UK,
28:05you miss it and you realise that it's different
28:08and it's quite important, I think.
28:10Well, it's got a great pub.
28:11Yeah, it's good.
28:12And, most importantly for you two, the Mystery House.
28:16Why don't you explore the village a bit,
28:17and I'll meet you there.
28:18Great.
28:19As well as the pub, there's a village hall.
28:24Buses run to Ross-on-Wye from stops on the main road
28:27from where it's just a short walk,
28:29or drive up a hillside track to my mystery offering,
28:33where I've gone ahead.
28:35This one is just perfect for kids, and even a nanny.
28:40Meet Tom, Gerry, Barbara and Margot.
28:44This is a good place to be a goat.
28:46I mean, great views, great food,
28:48nice sunshine.
28:49And the good thing is that if Andrew and Beata buy this place,
28:54then they might be able to have the goats as part of the deal.
28:57Ready-made lawnmowers.
29:02This property is a registered smallholding,
29:05giving permission to keep livestock.
29:08So, as well as a substantial house,
29:10the mystery here is the four acres of land,
29:13half of which is wooded.
29:14And with part of the long-distance Wye Valley walk
29:18running through the plots...
29:19No, you shouldn't worry, I'm not lost.
29:24I'm keeping up the element of surprise
29:26for that little bit longer.
29:32Now, that walk was not all in vain.
29:35No.
29:35The reason I brought you through that woodland
29:37is because it will belong to you.
29:40Oh, wow.
29:41If you choose to buy our mystery house,
29:45which is here.
29:46Oh.
29:48Look at that view.
29:49Yes.
29:49The mystery is really because of the land.
29:52Yes.
29:53And it's much more of a kind of farmstead sort of idea.
29:57Two acres of woodland, two acres of fields.
30:00I mean, the size of the land is quite shocking, really.
30:05I'm thinking it was going to do all the work.
30:06I quite like chickens and animals,
30:08so I wouldn't mind, especially working from home,
30:11I would have time to look after them, wouldn't I?
30:13Can we go and look at the house?
30:14Yes, please.
30:15The home on offer is a stone cottage built in 1760
30:22and remodelled in the 1930s
30:24to add a front veranda as well as brick extensions,
30:28all of which has been rendered and painted.
30:33Approaching down the hill,
30:34we enter at the back and into the Country Kitchen Diner.
30:39With view out over the valley.
30:41Oh, that's very different, isn't it?
30:43It is.
30:43So much different.
30:44That's why I'm looking at the view
30:45rather than the kitchen at the moment.
30:47So this is much more a country cottage,
30:49but you do got a big sort of washing room,
30:52boot room, utility room through there.
30:54You've got this seating area, plus the country feel.
30:57I love it.
30:57It's cosy.
30:58It's really cosy, but really practical too.
31:01I want to see more.
31:02Ask and you shall receive.
31:06Exiting through the dining 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 over than long and thin.
31:22Right, isn't it?
31:23Yeah.
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.
31:28So you go and explore upstairs,
31:30and when you're done, I'll meet you out front.
31:32Great.
31:32Let's do that.
31:37There are three bedrooms upstairs,
31:39starting with the one that could be Andrew and Beata's.
31:42I think that is the master bedroom,
31:46with the exposed stone.
31:48And you've got good use of the bits outside of the fireplace
31:51to put your storage in.
31:52I think you might bring me coffee in the morning.
31:54I think I might, yes.
31:55Then I can sit in the bed and just enjoy my coffee.
31:58Looking at the river.
31:59Look, you can see the river from here.
32:03There's also a box room used for storage,
32:06a fellow vinyl collector by the looks of it.
32:08And next to this is the family bathroom,
32:11which is fully tiled.
32:13Then completing the upstairs is bedroom number three.
32:18It's a decent size.
32:20Look at the view again.
32:21Having that view to the front, it's lovely.
32:23Yes.
32:24It's a big, big positive for the house, isn't it?
32:27It is.
32:28It is.
32:31That's the cottage,
32:32but it's also ready to go for a self-sufficient good life,
32:35complete with hencoops and workshops
32:38or perhaps an idyllically located work-from-home office or two.
32:45You've got this big space out the front,
32:48lovely views.
32:49You feel really nestled in the trees and the landscape here.
32:52Obviously, it's a challenge, the big land.
32:54The house is quite different from the other ones we've shown.
32:57I think they could really put their mark on this one.
32:59Whether or not my buyers are ready to take on this smallholding
33:06may well come down to what they have to pay for it.
33:11You found me in the great acreage of the mystery house.
33:14Yes, I can see why it was picked as a mystery house
33:17because it has done its job of going,
33:20oh, it's just the lifestyle you're looking for and what you want
33:24and you've got to think about that.
33:25How much do you think this costs?
33:27Well, because of the land,
33:29I'm going to go higher up towards our budget.
33:32So I'm going to go around £585.
33:36I'm going £600 because of the land,
33:38close to the village, due to the river.
33:41Well, I'm sad to say, Andrew, that your wife is spot on.
33:45This is on the market for £600,000.
33:49And one thing I think is worth flagging up
33:52is this is quite a sluggish market,
33:54so there's a chance that you could put in an offer.
33:57Yeah.
33:58Yeah.
33:58You can always try it.
34:02This registered smallholding offers a three-bedroom cottage,
34:06four acres of land,
34:08and an elevated position giving far-reaching views of the Wye Valley.
34:13It's on the edge of a village with a pub
34:15and just a couple of miles from the country town of Ross-on-Wye.
34:22There was the house in the valley with goats and greens
34:25and all the romantic ideas you have flowing through your mind
34:29when you see something like this.
34:31So, yes, my heart says, I want to live here.
34:34I need to put my pragmatic head on here.
34:40How's this actually going to work?
34:41Do we really want to look after animals?
34:43I've not even thought about what it would mean
34:45to have so much land and the work that would be involved.
34:50Das war's. Das Geheimnishaus.
34:53Sounds kind of weird in German, the mystery house.
34:56It does, it does.
34:56Sounds a bit more sinister.
35:00Anyway, that's all done.
35:01Let's have a little rest and then you can chew things over
35:05and then we can talk about where we go next.
35:06Brilliant.
35:07Come with me.
35:22The countryside can be very empowering
35:24and it certainly is for Claire,
35:26who made her escape to Herefordshire six years ago.
35:31My name is Claire and I moved here
35:34to rural Herefordshire from North London
35:37and I live here with my dog Fred
35:40and a variety of other animals including four sheep.
35:45Here come the sheep,
35:47four chickens and a cat called Mr. Shanks.
35:51This is the exciting moment every morning
35:56when I go and see if I've got any eggs.
36:02Yes, there's one.
36:05Fantastic.
36:06Something for breakfast.
36:09Previously a journalist living in the capital,
36:12Claire's home now is a registered smallholding
36:15with an orchard, livestock and vegetable garden.
36:19When I was in London, this was my dream where I needed to have somewhere I could grow plants.
36:26She continues to write from her rambling four-bedroom Victorian brick house
36:31where I've come to find out how the move has influenced her and her work.
36:35Hi Claire, lovely to meet you. Thanks for having me.
36:42Do come in, do come in.
36:43What a beautiful home.
36:44Well, thank you so much.
36:46Oh, I love all these floor tiles in there.
36:49A lot of this was here when I came,
36:51the floor and the units and everything,
36:53but I've done quite a lot of work decoratively.
36:55Yes, very tasteful.
36:57All these old beams were salvaged and put in by the previous owner.
37:01Oh, so they're not original.
37:02They're not original, but they look real authentic, I think.
37:04Yeah, they do, yeah.
37:05So I know you moved from quite a kind of glamorous job in London.
37:08You were in magazines, is that right?
37:10Well, that's right.
37:10Well, yes, I worked for most of my career as a magazine journalist.
37:14And then I've always meant to move to the country,
37:17and then I thought the time has come.
37:19I grew up around here in Malvern,
37:22which is about a 50-minute drive away.
37:24And my family are originally from Wales, which is quite close.
37:28And it just makes me feel more rooted.
37:30Do you find that being here is more conducive to writing?
37:33Do you get more writing done?
37:34Yes, well, I find what I'm writing about has changed, rather,
37:37because these days it's more kind of mythical, folkloric, witchy-type books,
37:42which I think is informed quite a lot by the surroundings,
37:44because Herefordshire is a land rich in folklore and, you know, goings-on.
37:49And is your garden a reflection of that?
37:51Yes, it is.
37:52I've made a garden based on five elements.
37:54So it's fire, water, earth and air.
37:56And then in the centre there's a spiral, which represents spirit.
37:58Can we have a peek outside?
37:59Yes, of course, I'd love to show you.
38:01Oh, good luck, either way.
38:08This looks amazing.
38:09Well, there's a lot here already.
38:11I've just sort of redesigned it to my own whim.
38:14In the summer that's all fire and yellows and reds and oranges.
38:17And then there's water, earth and air, with all the very tall grasses,
38:22which will come up later.
38:24Oh, beautiful.
38:27Now, a lot of your writing of late has taken a more elemental turn.
38:31How would you describe your practice?
38:33I'm mostly aligned with Druidry.
38:35Oh, yeah.
38:35And the sort of connection with nature and the land and the seasons,
38:39which is one of the reasons I've created the garden like I have.
38:43Oh, OK.
38:44And my latest book, actually, is about one of the elements.
38:46It's about water.
38:47It's called The Water Remedy.
38:48And it's about how we should care for and appreciate water.
38:51It's about searching for holy wells
38:52and appreciating spa water and springs
38:55and a little bit about the seaside and coast and estuaries, which I love.
38:59You notice you've got water right in the middle of your garden here.
39:02Yes, I have.
39:03That's a little pool at the centre of my cosmic spiral.
39:06Ah.
39:06But it's a meditation path, so you walk into the centre
39:10and then you walk out again.
39:11And it takes a surprisingly long time, actually.
39:14Well, I'm a big meditator.
39:15I love meditation.
39:16Can we walk mindfully round your spiral?
39:18Of course.
39:20Claire's path to the countryside certainly seems to have led her to a life
39:24centred on all that nourishes her.
39:27Now to see if any of the houses I've shown my buyers
39:30captured the spirit of what they're looking for.
39:39My presenter's intuition makes me feel that Beata really loved
39:44all the land and the woodland
39:47and the kind of country feel of the mystery house.
39:51But Andrew, probably it was an acre or three too far.
39:57But let's find out what they think about all the houses.
40:00How are you doing?
40:06Doing well.
40:07You good?
40:08Good.
40:08Sehr gut.
40:09Sehr gut.
40:09So has this focused your mind?
40:12What's this week taught you about your move here?
40:15It's taught us that England is for us.
40:17We are coming back.
40:19Yes.
40:19It's also taught us actually, it's a lovely area here, the Wye Valley, Gloucestershire.
40:25And I think the first house is my favourite out of the three.
40:29The land, the garden, the positioning, the quiet was superb.
40:32You just needed to make the house bigger and I thought, I was thinking all the time, what
40:36could I do to make it bigger?
40:37How could I do that?
40:37How could I change it?
40:38Beate, is there one that stood out for you as a possibility?
40:41I want to love the third house.
40:43My heart says, that's mine.
40:45So you love the mystery house?
40:46I do.
40:46The romantic feeling of having your own animals to look after and being able to just go out
40:53in the morning and walk across your own land.
40:56But the first house had land as well.
40:57When you actually look at the plot size, it's a lot bigger than your first thing.
41:00And I just think it's easy to manage and work that land than it is the other one.
41:05And I think that's a factor.
41:07What's the next step for you guys?
41:09The first house, I want to think about a bit more.
41:13The second and the third don't work for me.
41:15But the area does.
41:18The third one in particular is because of the village location, isn't it?
41:20The amenities are there on your doorstep, which really help.
41:24OK, so first and third maybe, but overall you're sold on this Y Valley location.
41:31Yes, absolutely.
41:32And if something comes on that we need to see, we go on a plane and we come back and we see it.
41:37We have to find somewhere to live.
41:39Work starts for us both over the summer, new jobs.
41:42So things have to happen and we have to make them happen.
41:46Well, keep us in the loop.
41:47It's been a real joy.
41:48And if you find somewhere, let us know and we'll come revisit.
41:52Brilliant.
41:52You'll be very well.
41:53Auf Wiedersehen.
41:54Auf Wiedersehen.
41:55Exactly.
41:55In the end, I didn't need this because apparently I am the sunshine presenter.
42:06Because there was lots of sunshine on Andrew and Beate's adventures here in Gloucestershire and the Y Valley.
42:11And I think they have fallen in love with this beautiful area of the country, which is great because in my own experience, moving from one country like Germany to the UK is quite a lot of stress.
42:22And it's great to have a wonderful prospect of landscape and livelihood stretching out in front of you.
42:29So I hope they find the place they love and I hope you join us next time for more Escape to the Country.
42:37Our couple went back to the first house for a second viewing, but in a huge twist of events, decided to shift their search closer to Andrew's family in Yorkshire.
42:47They're now in the process of buying a barn conversion there.
42:50We wish them all the best with their move.
42:52If you'd like to escape to the country in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, and need our help, why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.
43:04We'll see you next time.
43:34Bye-bye.
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