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Short filmTranscript
00:00It's said that finding your dream home is like finding true love, when you know, you know.
00:07I just want to sit down now, get myself a cup of tea and sit down and just...
00:11Let me help you out there. Come along.
00:15Although the course of true love doesn't always run smoothly.
00:19Thinking about it, you could have two ponds with a...
00:22No. I like it. Nice and firm.
00:25Differing opinions are commonplace, but they can be worked out.
00:31Plenty of space for a pond as well.
00:33Oh, done.
00:34Build a lake here.
00:35There we are. Build a lake, fill it with carp.
00:38All I say is be careful what you wish for.
00:42Oh, my word.
00:44Oh, my goodness me.
00:45I said you're going to want to.
00:47Oh, my goodness me.
00:55Coastlines, castles and countryside. Any ideas?
01:23That's right, Carmarthenshire, also known as the Garden of Wales, which makes this county the best county in which to see daffodils, a.k.a. daffs.
01:39Not only are they the symbol of Wales, they're nature's way of saying the winter's over, stand by for spring and summer, which means another great year of escaping to the country.
01:53The county of Carmarthenshire in West Wales offers the best of both coast and countryside, as Catrin, born and bred hair can tell you.
02:03The city of Carmarthenshire is one of the most expensive cities in the country.
02:09There's a lot of wood, a lot of wood, a lot of wood, a lot of wood, a lot of wood, a lot of wood, a lot of wood.
02:20The county town of Carmarthenshire sits on the banks of the river Tawie and is popular with young families seeking affordable homes, good schools and nature on their doorstep.
02:32Larne, once the home of Welsh poet and writer Dylan Thomas, is filled with colourful fishing cottages and a host of places to satisfy the hungry visitors who come to soak up the inspiring views.
02:45In the communities around here, the people are incredibly friendly.
02:49They like to know about you, they want you to know about them and they're very keen that anybody that moves into the area is welcomed and gets involved in local community life.
03:02It has got, as far as I'm concerned, pretty much everything that anybody could possibly want and I love living here.
03:08And so to today's couple who've sent us an SOS, a message in a bottle if you will, they want to escape from the tiny island of Jersey and we are more than happy to come to their rescue.
03:23I'm from Swansea originally and there's a word in Welsh called hyraith which is like an extreme form of homesickness and a longing for your home and I really feel at my age that's what's happening to me now, I really am missing home.
03:40Nigel, a retired GP and his wife Chrissie, a retired occupational therapist, have lived in this five bed detached family home on the southwestern tip of Jersey for the past 27 years.
03:56This is Jess, our lovely cockapoo. We've loved this beach, we've spent so many hours walking along here, chucking tennis balls, chucking stones but we're looking forward to walking on new beaches and new coastal paths in Commandershire.
04:10Nigel plans to lift his retirement at full throttle.
04:14That's my Harley over there, which I loved a bit.
04:19And there's another reason I want to go back to the UK, so I know every blade of grass on this island now and essentially you can either go clockwise or anti-clockwise on a 9x5 island.
04:30So I am kind of looking forward to feel the wind in my head, what's left of it and put the bike through its places.
04:40Chrissie and Nigel want a detached property with four bedrooms and around an acre of garden.
04:49A double garage for Nigel's motorbike is a must and they'd like to be close to a village.
04:54Their budget, £700,000 with a little bit of wriggle room if required.
05:00After 30 years living on the small island of Jersey, this is a big move for Nigel and Chrissie, coming to the mainland and coming back to a part of the world they know really well.
05:20Oh, I can see why Nigel cannot wait to get his motorbike onto the mainland.
05:25Look at this, it's got roads that go for miles.
05:28Before our Carmarthenshire tour gets underway, I'm meeting Chrissie and Nigel near the banks of the river Towie to learn more about their move.
05:44Chrissie, Nigel, welcome to Wales. A bit of a homecoming for you, Nigel.
05:48It's always coming home when I come back to Wales.
05:51And for you, Chrissie, you've spent a lot of time in this part of the world as well.
05:53Well, we met here as students back in the late 70s and lived here for a while afterwards.
05:58Yes, and I've got very fond memories of family holidays just across the estuary here, so it's lovely to be back.
06:03You've both retired.
06:04Yes.
06:05And you've decided this is where you want to settle down.
06:08Yes, yes.
06:09Our children are now in the UK.
06:10They're not coming back to Jersey, so we want to be closer to them.
06:13Talk me through some of the things you'll be getting up to.
06:16I suppose canoeing, fishing, kayaking, cycling.
06:21And a little birdie tells me, one more hobby or something you might want to put a water feature in.
06:26I've always had ponds in every house we've been to, and they've got bigger and bigger and bigger.
06:31What's going to keep you happy?
06:32My needs are much, much simpler, just being outdoors in wonderful scenery like this, just going for walks every day.
06:38It's really important for my headspace to be outdoors and walking, either on my own or with our lovely dog.
06:43We're going to have some fun, aren't we?
06:45We certainly are. Really looking forward to today.
06:47Let's go look at some houses.
06:48Fantastic.
06:51Our search begins in the small market town of Kidwelly, 10 miles south of the county town, Carmarthen.
07:00Nigel has fond childhood memories of this place, having fished here with his dad.
07:05The Gwendryth Estuary remains a popular spot for fishing as well as bird watching and picnicking,
07:12whilst the town centre has all the daily essentials covered.
07:15On a quiet, no-through road on the edge of town is the first house we've lined up for Chrissie and Nigel to view.
07:22So, this is our first property.
07:27My goodness.
07:29Wow.
07:30This is the old vicarage.
07:33OK.
07:33Yes, and it was built in 1895.
07:37Gosh, it looks really impressive.
07:39Well-maintained.
07:40Well-maintained, isn't it?
07:40Yes.
07:41This obviously has views looking out onto the village and the town.
07:45You've got neighbours close by.
07:46Is that something you'd be looking for from this move?
07:48To me, that's quite important.
07:49Yes, I wouldn't want to be too remote.
07:51I mean, the houses, they're not on top of each other, are they?
07:54They're not on top of each other.
07:54You're not really overlooking.
07:55So, it'll be absolutely fine.
07:56It's quite a large plot looking at it.
07:58How much ground is with it?
08:01So, it's just under about an acre.
08:03Really?
08:03Yeah, that wraps around.
08:04Oh, wonderful.
08:05OK.
08:06That's definitely sit-down lawn moments here.
08:08There you go.
08:09Come on, let's have a look inside.
08:12The lawn's in better nick than mine at home at the moment.
08:14This imposing property is every bit as grand inside as it appears outside.
08:23Right.
08:25Wow.
08:26So many doors everywhere.
08:28Let me show you through this one.
08:29Oh, OK.
08:31OK, so, a sunny daffodil room.
08:35Beautiful.
08:37Oh, it's just glorious.
08:39It's lovely.
08:39Oh, look at that.
08:40Yeah.
08:41Yeah.
08:41You must have had servants at one point.
08:43Spot on.
08:44And that gives us a clue of the number of rooms as well, doesn't it?
08:46There you go.
08:48One of my questions, because it's got all these features, is it a listed building?
08:52Are you limited what you can do?
08:54That's a great question.
08:55And a great answer for you is no.
08:57Wow.
08:57It is not listed.
08:58OK.
08:59So, you have the opportunities to do things.
09:01And I think that's going to come into play as I show you through here with what was the kitchen.
09:06Shall we have a look?
09:06Yes.
09:06OK, so, here is the kitchen, which would have been in the servants' quarters.
09:13OK.
09:13Yes.
09:14Oh, my gosh.
09:14What do you think of this space?
09:16It's a little bit on the dark side.
09:18A little bit on the dark side.
09:19But, you know, workable, isn't it?
09:21Yeah.
09:21You've got a nice worktop here.
09:23A fair amount of storage.
09:24And look at this.
09:25I know.
09:26Wow.
09:26I think you'd probably want a slightly larger kitchen.
09:29Probably a slightly larger kitchen, yes.
09:30Yes, but it's workable with, isn't it?
09:33There's potential here to revamp it a little bit.
09:35There's a massive pantry through there.
09:37Pantry?
09:38Go have a look.
09:38Go on.
09:39Go on.
09:42I'd love a pantry.
09:43Have a little plate.
09:44Oh, wow.
09:46Oh, how useful.
09:47Oh, look at that.
09:47How useful is this?
09:49This is brilliant.
09:50The thing with this house is it's going to be like a magical mystery tour.
09:54OK.
09:54There are so many parts.
09:55You're getting the feel already.
09:57I think if we were to move here, I think I'd probably want to maybe extend into there just
10:04to open the room up a little bit.
10:05I was tend to start knocking on walls.
10:07And how would you feel about doing some major works if you wanted to make alterations?
10:11We do have a builder who could help us if we needed to do significant work to the property.
10:15Structural work.
10:18I don't expect any concerns regarding the size of the largest reception.
10:23Oh, she's lovely.
10:24This is a lovely room.
10:25Isn't it gorgeous?
10:26It's so light.
10:28But I love this room.
10:29I just love the openness of it.
10:31Yeah.
10:31It's really morning.
10:32I'm just loving all the fireplaces.
10:34Oh, gosh.
10:34Look at that.
10:35I mean, it's really reminded me of my parents' house.
10:39It's really weird.
10:40Next door, there's a dining room, as well as a ground floor loo, a study and a fourth, cosier
10:48reception.
10:48Oh, look at this.
10:52Another great fireplace, isn't it?
10:54Gosh, is that hand-painted, do you think?
10:56I don't know.
10:56It might be.
10:57It's not tile, is it?
10:58No.
10:59Stunning.
11:00It's all lovely.
11:01We wouldn't see each other, would we?
11:03You know?
11:03So many rooms.
11:04We'd just have our own suite of rooms.
11:04No, but I'd just bring the bill.
11:06I'd just hit ding and you'd appear like a genie.
11:08Oh, no, I would not.
11:09I so would not.
11:09Upstairs, the generous proportions continue.
11:19Okay.
11:20More light.
11:21Another light.
11:21More high ceilings.
11:23Double aspect here.
11:24Lovely.
11:25And this is the main bedroom.
11:26I was going to ask, it is the main bedroom.
11:27Because there's an en suite right there.
11:29Oh, okay.
11:30Can I see the en suite?
11:31Yes, go and have a look.
11:32As we specified.
11:36Okay, well, it needs to be replaced, but that's fine.
11:39Yeah.
11:39You could put a nice walk-in shower in here, couldn't you?
11:42It's in the right place.
11:43It's a good size.
11:45Exactly.
11:45And it's an en suite.
11:46Perfect.
11:48The family bathroom serves four more roomy doubles,
11:52including this one, the largest.
11:54Oh, my goodness.
11:56Another lovely bedroom.
11:58We won't be short of space.
12:03There's also room aplenty outside,
12:05with a two-storey former coach house
12:08that boasts a loft, a workshop, and a garage.
12:12More bicycles than me.
12:13That would take some day.
12:15And the lawnmowers.
12:16That's good storage space,
12:16because we need storage for our bikes,
12:20and also your motorbike.
12:21There's certainly enough storage here.
12:24As for the garden...
12:26This is big enough to justify a sit-down.
12:30Just about.
12:31Is it, really?
12:32Yeah.
12:33And a pond would go nicely over there.
12:36Actually, the bank, thinking about it,
12:38could have two ponds with a...
12:39No.
12:40I like it.
12:41Nice and firm.
12:42Chrissie says no.
12:43Yeah.
12:44OK.
12:44The final piece of information you need is the price.
12:47So, how much do you think this property's on the market for?
12:51Perhaps £580,000.
12:54OK.
12:54No, I'd go higher.
12:56I'd probably go £650,000.
12:58So, £650,000?
12:59£650,000.
13:01OK.
13:02Well, you win this one.
13:03It's on for £575,000.
13:07Offers in the region of.
13:08Yes.
13:08OK.
13:08Yes.
13:09That's a stunning house.
13:11It's a beautiful house.
13:13And seeing it on a day like this just brings out the best,
13:15and it really doesn't it.
13:16It does.
13:18This detached Victorian vicarage
13:20has four reception rooms and five bedrooms.
13:24On a plot of just under an acre,
13:26and with a two-storey coach house,
13:28it's on the market for offers in the region of £575,000.
13:34It is a big house.
13:35I've lost count of how many rooms there are within the property.
13:38Very, very spacious.
13:40Maybe it's a little bit bigger than we actually need,
13:42but it is a stunning property.
13:44I'm weighing up the pros and cons
13:46because it will take a fair bit of work
13:49to get it to a level where we'd be happy with,
13:52but emotionally it really has actually hit me.
13:55I was actually welling up looking at some of the rooms.
13:59So, you know, beautiful place.
14:02Well, that was a good start, wasn't it?
14:03It was a great start.
14:04Oh, the sun is out, and we've still got more properties to see.
14:08Let's go.
14:08Since we're in the neighbourhood,
14:24we're sending Nigel and Chrissie into Kidwelly
14:27to explore what the town offers its residents,
14:30as well as those who live in the surrounding parishes and villages.
14:33You'll be spotted for dog walking, won't you?
14:36Oh, I know, I know.
14:36Yeah.
14:38Life in Kidwelly is fantastic.
14:41We have the most amazing people,
14:43really old Welsh town feeling.
14:45People are still well connected.
14:47You know, they know their neighbours.
14:49We're very community-focused, and it looks really sleepy,
14:52but Kidwelly has lots of little groups.
14:55We have three large community halls,
14:58and you can do everything from green mat bowling
15:00to archery, radio-controlled car club,
15:03which is my guilty secret.
15:05Lindy hop, knitting, history clubs, gardening clubs,
15:08horticultural society is so busy.
15:12Kidwelly boasts one of the best-preserved Norman castles in Wales,
15:17known by even the town's very youngest residents
15:19thanks to a popular Welsh nursery rhyme.
15:22Peggy has been dressing up as the old lady of Kidwelly
15:43for the past 25 years.
15:45Kidwelly's very welcoming.
15:47We're in between two lovely towns,
15:50Clenelli and Cermathen,
15:52and there's so much to do here for all ages.
15:56A popular family destination
15:58is Parky Box Farm Shop and Cafe
16:01on the outskirts of town.
16:03Oh, Welsh cakes.
16:05Oh, we have to buy some of those.
16:07The trouble is, none of this is going to help my diet,
16:09is it, really?
16:12It started life 20 years ago
16:14as an honesty box and a local smallholding.
16:17Hi, guys, you all right?
16:20And Amy, one of the staff here,
16:22has kindly agreed to share her experience of living here.
16:27Well, you're going to love this area.
16:28It's fantastic.
16:29You've got beautiful views, great countryside.
16:32There's lots of beaches around here.
16:33You've got Pembrae, which is a few little drive down the road.
16:35That's lovely.
16:36That's a long beach.
16:38If you want to take the dogs to a walk,
16:39if you've got animals at all.
16:40But I'm a keen cyclist.
16:41OK.
16:41So are there any coastal paths?
16:43Absolutely, there are.
16:45Are they nice and flat?
16:46There's actually going to be one opening up come autumn.
16:48So that's going to be the Towie Valley.
16:49Yeah.
16:50And how long is that?
16:51So it's going to be about 12 miles long.
16:53Right.
16:53And that runs all the way from Aberglary Lee
16:55down to Fairvach.
16:56And is it all on the flat?
16:57All on the flat.
16:58It's actually the old railway line.
17:00Brilliant.
17:01So that would be amazing.
17:02To take advantage of the plentiful opportunities
17:06to explore this beautiful part of the world,
17:10Nigel and Chrissie need a base.
17:12So our house hunt continues.
17:15We're making a beeline for the village of Klangannock,
17:18five miles east from the town of St. Clairs.
17:21The 3,000 or so residents in the town
17:24are well served by a train station,
17:27a supermarket,
17:29a chippy,
17:30several pubs and cafes,
17:32plus a craft centre.
17:34An eight-minute drive from St. Clairs
17:36in the village of Klangannock
17:37sits this impressive detached bungalow.
17:40Well, this is the next property.
17:45Oh, that's nice, isn't it?
17:45That's lovely.
17:47Chrissie was at one point quite keen on a bungalow
17:50for when we become old and decrepit.
17:52Old and decrepit.
17:53Well, I did wonder,
17:54as an occupational therapist,
17:56there's something you'd be thinking about
17:57for many, many, many years.
17:59The practicalities.
17:59The practicalities.
18:00Yeah, so a bungalow is a good one
18:03for, yeah, as we get older.
18:05And it just looks really well-maintained as well.
18:07I just like the sort of appearance of the gate
18:09and the paved driveway
18:11and the drive up to the house.
18:13Let's have a look inside.
18:15OK.
18:15Absolutely.
18:18Built in the 1980s,
18:20the vendors have lived here
18:22for the past 20 years.
18:24About 10 years ago,
18:25they created this huge open-plan kitchen,
18:28dining and living room.
18:32Oh, wow.
18:34Wow, indeed.
18:35This is a...
18:36This is a way.
18:37Lovely.
18:38Fabulous.
18:39I love that Christmas.
18:42This kitchen would make you...
18:43I just want to sit down now,
18:44get myself a cup of tea and sit down and just...
18:47Let me help you out there.
18:49Come along.
18:50And a proper range at the end,
18:52which you've always wanted.
18:53Look at these units.
18:54Yeah, I love it.
18:55Absolutely love it.
18:56The clean lines,
18:57I love the colour,
18:58I love the style of the kitchen units,
19:00I love the oven.
19:01Mmm.
19:02Excited to see more.
19:03You are, aren't you?
19:04I can tell.
19:04Well then,
19:05let me not make you wait.
19:07Come this way.
19:08Let's go.
19:10So this leads round to a lovely sitting room area as well.
19:13This is lovely.
19:14You wouldn't have to change anything,
19:16would you,
19:16in this area at all?
19:17No.
19:17Be very happy with that.
19:18It's just perfect.
19:18Happy just to move in.
19:19I could definitely live here, I think.
19:21You could definitely see us as far as living.
19:22As much as I loved the previous house,
19:24the emotional attachment,
19:25yeah, a bit overwhelming
19:27and a little bit too much to do.
19:29Yes, yes.
19:31But this is clearly just walking and live here.
19:34And off you go.
19:35Yes.
19:37Open plan living has hit the mark
19:40and this house offers even more.
19:43Oh!
19:44Yes, oh, indeed.
19:46So that wasn't the main lounge then?
19:47No, that was the main.
19:48Oh, my goodness.
19:49Come on in.
19:50Look at this.
19:51I'm trying to take it all in.
19:53So it's two lots of patio doors,
19:55two windows,
19:57stunning fireplace.
19:58That's one heck of a fireplace, isn't it?
20:00And that is bath stone.
20:01This is lovely.
20:02And I just love the decor.
20:03I love these muted colours,
20:04the creams and the sort of soft greys.
20:06Yeah.
20:07As I said,
20:07it's really nice.
20:08There's nothing I feel I'd need to do or change.
20:14I don't expect the bedrooms will disappoint either.
20:17Three doubles, all a similar size,
20:19overlook the front of the house
20:21and share a family bathroom.
20:25The largest double at the rear
20:27has fitted wardrobes
20:28and an ensuite shower room.
20:32Nicely, isn't it?
20:32I don't know how we're divvy them up.
20:36I'd have these four.
20:37You could have those too.
20:41The fifth and final bedroom
20:43is being used as a library comes snug.
20:46And another room.
20:47Another room.
20:48Goodness me.
20:49The cross-frame and the spinning bike
20:52would fit nicely in here.
20:53They could.
20:53Or in a multi-gym.
20:54Yes, yes.
20:55And your weights as well.
20:58We could not have picked a better day
21:00to have this house tour.
21:01The sun is shining,
21:02the daffodils are blooming,
21:04and I really feel that Chrissie and Nigel
21:06are taking to this house.
21:07The temperature's rising for sure.
21:09And they're even starting to plan
21:11where they'll put the gym.
21:14Yeah, you wouldn't want to change anything, would you?
21:17Well, I would change library off the door into gym.
21:22But that's just a screwdriver.
21:26There's also an office.
21:28Oh, lovely.
21:29The study as well.
21:30Study area.
21:31Gosh.
21:32We could have bookshelves all across the wall, though.
21:36My goodness.
21:37Oh, and a garden room.
21:41Oh, this is really nice.
21:42Or we could be posh and call it an orangery.
21:44This is looking good.
21:46Looking very good.
21:48The space inside is matched outside.
21:52Take it all in.
21:53Gosh.
21:55I'm absolutely loving the size of this.
21:58With a plot that extends to 1.2 acres.
22:04Oh, my goodness.
22:05It's really well-maintained.
22:07And plenty of space for a pond as well.
22:09Oh, done.
22:10Build a lake here.
22:11You could.
22:12There we are.
22:12Build a lake.
22:13Fill it with carp.
22:14Yeah, my mind's racing.
22:16Nice vegetable plot somewhere.
22:18Yeah, absolutely vegetable plot.
22:19Absolutely pond.
22:21Possibly a little orchard at the top.
22:23And there's a little greenhouse behind there as well.
22:25That's a greenhouse as well.
22:26Yes.
22:27And the neighbour has a digger so they can help you with the pond.
22:29Oh.
22:32I don't know what to say.
22:33It's got everything.
22:34One more thing.
22:36Guess the price.
22:37Oh, my goodness.
22:38Oh, gosh.
22:39Do you think?
22:39I would think well over £600,000.
22:41£650,000.
22:43£650,000.
22:44I'm thinking more.
22:46I'll just go above Chris.
22:47I'll say £675,000.
22:50£675,000.
22:52Oh, it's even Stevens.
22:54This one goes to you.
22:55Excellent.
22:55Spot on.
22:56Really?
22:56Yes.
22:57It's on the opposite of the region of £675,000.
23:01Yeah, I can see why.
23:03Yeah, yeah.
23:04That's brilliant.
23:06This modern, detached bungalow features an open-plan kitchen living room, a separate lounge and five bedrooms.
23:15On a plot of just over an acre, it's on the market for offers in the region of £675,000.
23:23I love the fact that it looks an extremely well-maintained property.
23:26I love the colours, the muted colours.
23:29I love the kitchen.
23:31Walking condition, really, wouldn't have to do anything, would we?
23:34Possibility of a gym, a study, a nice big garden for me to play in, which makes me very happy.
23:42This house is certainly edging it at the moment.
23:44Mm, definitely.
23:45Well, by edging it by some...
23:46Significantly, I would say, yes.
23:47...significant margin.
23:53We're wrapping up our day back where we started.
23:55Overlooking the river Towie.
23:58But this time, Nigel and Chrissie's twins are joining us for sundowners.
24:03Well, Tom and Karis, welcome to Wales.
24:06Is this a part of the world that you know well?
24:09Did you used to holiday here as kids?
24:10Yeah, we used to visit our grandparents here quite a lot because they lived in Swansea.
24:14And it was just, it's a really lovely, beautiful place.
24:17So it would be really lovely to visit mum and dad here.
24:19And I studied at university just down the road in Swansea as well.
24:23Wonderful.
24:24This is about being closer to you as well as getting back to a part of the world that you really love.
24:28All due to these two.
24:31Mostly.
24:32Buttered.
24:33Well, we've got all the family together.
24:34Shall we have some family games?
24:36Yeah?
24:36I've got one for you.
24:38How many of dad's hobbies can you list?
24:40Oh, gosh.
24:41It's golf.
24:42All right.
24:42Tennis.
24:44Gardening.
24:45Rugby.
24:46Oh, male voice choir.
24:48Matt, cheating!
24:50Don't know what the family room's on.
24:52That's cheating.
24:52That's how it's cheating.
24:53What is cheating going on?
24:54Baking, baking.
24:55No, we haven't.
24:56No, baking.
24:57It's a degeneration game.
25:00It's all moving goes fast.
25:02Yoga.
25:03Tennis.
25:04Fishing.
25:05Fishing.
25:06Fishing.
25:06I don't fish.
25:09I appreciate the miming.
25:11Helps.
25:11Oh, gosh.
25:12Cycling.
25:14Rowing.
25:15It's still not finished.
25:16We'll be here for another half hour.
25:17And everyone forgot the big one or the new one.
25:20Oh.
25:21Riding on his sit-on mower.
25:23Oh, of course.
25:24That's not a hobby yet.
25:27It will become one.
25:28That's an aspirate for later.
25:31There's one hobby that's not on Nigel's list.
25:34Photography.
25:35Shall we grab a selfie?
25:36Absolutely.
25:37All right.
25:39Don't know if I've done this before.
25:41Everybody in?
25:42One, two, three.
25:43Head-eye.
25:44Head-eye.
25:45Head-eye.
25:45If Carmarthenshire's coast and countryside is calling you, here's the lowdown on property prices.
26:11The average price of a detached house across Wales is just under £331,000.
26:18Head to West Wales and your pounds will stretch further, with Carmarthenshire offering the best value for bunny in this region, where detached homes cost on average just over £281,000.
26:30Let's have a nose at what else is currently on the market.
26:39Offers in the region of £299,000 could land you this detached, three-bed property with a living room, modern kitchen and scenic views.
26:50This detached, four-bed, four-bath family home has two receptions, a kitchen breakfast room and an enormous sunroom.
27:03Outside, there's a double garage and an extensive timber deck with views across the countryside.
27:08It's priced at offers in excess of £500,000.
27:14For a short break, this characterful stone cottage sleeps up to four guests in the two upstairs bedrooms.
27:22On the ground floor, there's a comfortable lounge, a spacious country kitchen and access to the garden with its estuary views.
27:31Prices start at £295 for a short stay for two people.
27:38It's time for your favourite part of the programme and mine.
27:42It's the Mystery House and I cannot wait to show Chrissie and Nigel what I've got up my sleeve.
27:47What's that? Pond, you say, Nigel?
27:49I think we can do a little better than that.
27:55The Mystery House sits in a remote location, three and a half miles from the village of Bank of Ellen.
28:01Here, Nigel and Chrissie will find the local chapel, a village hall, a pub, a shop with post office and a fresh milk vending machine stocked by the local dairy farm.
28:15A ten-minute drive from the village, in a secluded spot, sits this detached character cottage built in the mid-1800s on the site of a former water mill.
28:27It's the smallest property we're showing Chrissie and Nigel, but it comes with a supersized plot.
28:33Forget about the pond, Nigel. We've found you a lake.
28:36Nigel and Chrissie asked for nature, they asked for water and great walks.
28:43And for the Mystery House, we're giving it to them all in their back garden.
28:47Look at this.
28:57To me, this is what escaping to the country is really all about.
29:01A remote spot, lots of nature and the sound of birdsong.
29:07Now, this plot has nine acres and a couple of lakes.
29:10That could sound quite daunting, but it's also a wildlife reserve.
29:14So all you have to do is let nature take its course and welcome in the ducks, the geese and even some beavers.
29:21The beavers have been here for the past six years and were introduced by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales,
29:30who work with community groups and landowners on initiatives to rebuild biodiversity.
29:37Beavers are nocturnal, so I'm not sure we'll spot them today, but that's not going to stop us from trying.
29:43Oh, my word.
29:46Oh, my goodness, me.
29:47Come on.
29:48I said you're going to want to pass.
29:49Oh, my goodness, me.
29:51Come with me.
29:52I wanted a pond.
29:53It is jaw-dropping.
29:55And I wouldn't even have to take my canoe anywhere.
29:57You wouldn't.
29:58That's exactly right.
29:59I could just...
29:59I could just...
30:00You could just go round and round all day, couldn't it, with his lunch and his fishing.
30:04He could do all his hobbies here and you won't lose him.
30:08And the added bonus is that you get neighbours right here in the form of a family of beavers.
30:16Oh, God, this is too much.
30:19Really?
30:20This is unbelievable.
30:24Stoned.
30:25We could never have anticipated it would be anything like this, could we?
30:29I'm not often speechless.
30:30You think you've known me now, Denise, on for a couple of days.
30:32You have stumped me.
30:34We've actually stumped you.
30:35I'm speechless.
30:36Let's have a look at the property itself.
30:38Yeah.
30:39OK.
30:39And then we'll get back out here and really explore some of this.
30:42I'd love to.
30:42Fantastic.
30:48So we're in the house now and this is the living room, which, of course, allows you to sit and continue to look at the view.
30:55And look at the view.
30:56Yeah.
30:57I could just look there all day.
31:00You could, couldn't you?
31:01Just all day.
31:03No, you're not going to get us out of here.
31:04I don't mind.
31:06You might have to pay for it first.
31:07But other than that, but what do you think of this as a living room?
31:11It's lovely.
31:11It's lovely, but I actually don't care about the house now.
31:13I love it.
31:15I'll leave the house up to Chrissie.
31:17So, Chrissie, I don't know.
31:18Over to you.
31:19I love the lounge.
31:20To be sitting in your lounge and just to be looking out on something like that.
31:23Fantastic.
31:24The vendors added the awning across the patio as part of refurbishment works, which included overhauling the kitchen breakfast room.
31:36Into the kitchen.
31:37Oh, this is lovely.
31:39This is really nice.
31:40It's very cottagey, isn't it?
31:42Oh, look at the beams.
31:43You've got beams.
31:44Gosh.
31:45Now, this is really, really nice.
31:46It is big enough.
31:48And there's the oven.
31:49With the bar and the table.
31:51Lots of storage.
31:52Yes, I love the colour.
31:54And just across the way there, there's a massive utility room as well.
31:57Lovely.
31:59Opposite the kitchen, across the entrance hall, is the sitting room, currently used as an office.
32:05Oh, this is lovely.
32:08That's the wall with the original stone.
32:10Yes, really nice.
32:11That's really good.
32:12Very cottagey again.
32:13Your desk here.
32:14I couldn't tune bookcases.
32:17Lovely.
32:18I know, it's lovely.
32:19I love the stone work.
32:20And the stone as well.
32:21It's got a lovely feel.
32:21It's obviously a nice family home, isn't it, as well?
32:24Lovely feel about the place.
32:27Upstairs, the family bathroom serves a double bedroom with a roof light, a single bedroom and a small double.
32:35I don't know how the current owners can leave this place.
32:37No, it must be a real wrench for them.
32:39It's a stunning property.
32:41It's a surreal show that the kids aren't with us, isn't it?
32:42I know, I know.
32:44They'd be putting a deposit down for us.
32:46The fourth and final bedroom is the largest.
32:53Oh, this is lovely.
32:56So, double aspect, en suite.
32:59It's a very spacious room, isn't it?
33:01Fitted units.
33:02I think it's bigger than our current bedroom, isn't it?
33:04It's much, much bigger than our current bedroom.
33:07Is it an en suite?
33:07Yes, there is an en suite.
33:08Yes.
33:08Excellent.
33:11That's all you need, isn't it?
33:13Yeah.
33:13Yeah, really nice.
33:15Everything we've seen has been absolutely perfect.
33:17Now to the nine acres.
33:22The site sits at the confluence of two rivers and is enclosed by a predator-proof ring fence.
33:28It includes half an acre of meadow, a large lake with several islands and a smaller lake.
33:35In addition to a garage, there's a former cow shed and hay barn, both in need of repair, plus a newly built timber summer house.
33:44But you could do a lot with this.
33:46It's been really nicely made.
33:47Yes, it has.
33:50I could live out here.
33:52And Chrissie can have the house.
33:54I live in the shed.
34:02Oh, it is stunning here.
34:04Beautiful.
34:06But there's one thing we still need to talk about, and that's how much you think it's on the market for.
34:11The upper end of our budget, maybe a bit more, £715,000.
34:17OK, so opening bid, £715,000.
34:20£715,000.
34:22Oh, this place is priceless.
34:23What did you say?
34:25£715,000.
34:25I'll say £716,000, then.
34:31£716,000.
34:32Absolutely.
34:32OK, this house is on the market for £699,999.
34:41Oh, we went far off, then.
34:42Offers in the region of.
34:44OK, that's interesting.
34:46It's worth stretching for this, isn't it?
34:48No, you're not going to find anything like this, are you?
34:51Well, you obviously did.
34:53We did.
34:53But once you've got it, no-one else will.
34:55This detached character cottage has two receptions, a contemporary country kitchen, and four bedrooms.
35:05The nine acres of land includes two lakes, several islands, and a family of beavers.
35:12The price?
35:13Offers in the region of £699,999.
35:17I wasn't expecting a lake, which has just blown my mind.
35:23Two lakes, in fact.
35:24Two lakes.
35:26I could just sit here all day.
35:29I've already imagined myself in my canoe with my fishing rod and the sit-down lawnmower.
35:36I loved the house when I first saw it, and the location is absolutely stunning.
35:41I just wonder if it's big enough.
35:43But there are options to extend the property, I'm sure, and that's something we'd need to look at quite closely.
35:57More often than not, when people move to the countryside, they're looking for a slower pace of life.
36:02Some peace, quiet, and a chance to embrace some me time.
36:07However, for others, a move to pastures new is about exciting new challenges.
36:12And for Nick and Paul, a brand new business.
36:17So, hi, Nick. What are you baking there?
36:19Hello, good morning. I'm doing a coffee and walnut cake.
36:23This is one of our popular cakes in the shop.
36:26There's always a good selection of cakes here.
36:28And this is always one of the routine jobs that Nick's doing every day.
36:32Eight years ago, Paul Raven, a tea connoisseur, and Nick Lee, a keen baker, ditched their careers in adult education in the North Wales city of Wrexham to pursue a completely new life in Carmarthenshire.
36:46It's a blustery day, but here we are at Kidwelly Quay, one of our favourite escape spots here on the Carmarthenshire coast, just a few minutes away from where we live.
36:59And whatever the weather, this is what we like to do, get out in the countryside and enjoy the area.
37:05The pair combined their two loves, tea and baking, to open a tea shop in the centre of Carmarthen.
37:14That looks nice.
37:16Well, I've never been one to pass on a cup of tea, so let's go and say hello.
37:23Hello.
37:24Hello.
37:25Hi, I'm Denise. Nice to meet you.
37:27Nice to meet you.
37:27Hi, Denise. Lovely to meet you.
37:29Well, thank you for inviting me to your tea shop, Nick and Paul.
37:32It is gorgeous.
37:36The couple stocks over 100 varieties of tea from all across the globe, including several from Wales.
37:43One of the most popular is their own blend of Welsh breakfast tea.
37:48And they've set up a business right in the heart of town, and it feels like quite a community space as well.
37:53I see all the different activities you have going on here.
37:56I think that was part of our focus right from the beginning, not just to land a shop here, but to open the doors, to celebrate what's going on in the town.
38:06Our window displays are always nothing at all to do with tea, but more to do with what's happening, what are the events, what are the things that we can join in and celebrate together.
38:15So, the local theatre, the youth theatre, we get involved with the River Festival, we've got a window display full of fish at certain times in the year.
38:23And how have you been received? I'm sure you've been embraced by the local community.
38:27Oh, yes, hugely.
38:29We had a comment the other day that said, you must never leave Carmarthen, which is, you know, a compliment in itself.
38:34So, I think we're here to stay.
38:38At the end of each day, the couple leave the hustle and bustle of Carmarthen behind and head for the sanctuary of their home in the Gwendraith Valley.
38:47It's a wonderful spot, overlooking the valley.
38:51Every day we look out at that and don't take it for granted. It's wonderful.
38:55It's almost, um, it's almost that you can breathe differently.
38:59We definitely unwind at the end of the day.
39:02And you're learning the Welsh language, which is lovely.
39:04Yes, this is a really Welsh community.
39:07Carmarthenshire is about 50% Welsh-speaking.
39:10And the village where we live is very much a Welsh community as well.
39:16So, I thought it was important to have a go.
39:19So, doing Dusky Camryg, I'm learning Welsh.
39:22And I'm able to chat with customers.
39:24I wear a lanyard that says I'm learning Welsh.
39:27And that means that customers are prompted to chat with me in Welsh.
39:30Sometimes they try an order in Welsh.
39:32And I say, well, I hope I'll bring you what you want, what you're ordering.
39:36And most of the time it works perfectly OK.
39:38So, yeah, it's really supportive.
39:42They're really encouraging, even when I make mistakes.
39:45People appreciate that we're having a go.
39:47And they really like the fact that we've taken the effort to join in.
39:52And even if it's just a hello or how are you, it goes a long way.
39:58Does it feel like you've made an escape?
40:00Oh, definitely.
40:01It's still a really good feeling to know that we've come here, we've done it.
40:09And it's something I wouldn't give up at all.
40:12I tell you what, neither would I.
40:17Tea and cake in the Carmarthonshire countryside is nothing short of heaven.
40:22To find out if we've found Nigel and Chrissie their own slice of paradise, we're reconvening here on Clan Steffen Beach.
40:32Well, we've made it down to the water's edge here.
40:38How are you feeling now that you've seen everything and had a moment to kind of mull it all over?
40:42There is definitely a front-runner.
40:44We are going to go back, hopefully this afternoon, to visit the Mystery House,
40:48just to open that gate and look at that lake and the surrounding scenery and the rivers and the ducks
40:55and hear about the otters and beavers.
40:57Wow.
40:57I have to say, I like the second house a lot, but the Mystery House has blew me away.
41:04I could see myself living there now.
41:06Chrissie thinks it's a little bit small, but I have offered to throw all the furniture away.
41:10I think we need more accommodation both downstairs and upstairs,
41:14so I would be tempted to put a very large conservatory on the front of the house overlooking the lake.
41:19Upstairs, I'd like to make a fourth bedroom.
41:22I mean, as it is, you can get in there and live there.
41:24And the, what I call, minor issues, the Chrissie's phrase, are all fixable.
41:31We don't need all the furniture we've got in Jersey,
41:34and to be honest, the more we take, the more expensive it's going to be to move.
41:37Yes, yes.
41:37And I never thought we would be talking about downsizing on this trip,
41:40because the plan wasn't to downsize as such,
41:43it was to take everything from our detached five-bedroomed house where we are now,
41:47which is crammed to the girls, and move all of that to South Wales.
41:50But it sounds as if, happy days, you know, we can start to...
41:54We've solved a new problem you didn't know you had.
41:56We'd be upsizing plot-wise, and no excuse to dig a pond, no.
42:02You don't need to do that, but you can circle the lake many times.
42:07With his ride-on lawnmower, yeah.
42:08There we go.
42:09With my mower.
42:10What do you think you'll take away from this journey?
42:12To expect the unexpected and embrace the unexpected, really,
42:15because we weren't expecting to see a property like that.
42:18It's been an absolute pleasure.
42:20Cannot wait to come and revisit you here.
42:23I look forward to you visiting.
42:29Chrissie and Nigel came to us with a longing to return to this beautiful county,
42:34and they had open minds as to exactly what kind of property would be right for them.
42:38They've embraced everything we've shown them, from the old to the new.
42:42But I think Chrissie said it best.
42:44In life, as on this show, you have to expect the unexpected.
42:49One thing's for certain, Carmarthenshire will soon be their home.
42:53I'll see you next time on Escape to the Country.
42:56If you would like to escape to the country in Wales, England, Northern Ireland or Scotland,
43:01and need our help, why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.
43:12See you next time on Escape to the Country.
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