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00:01Today I'm with newlyweds making big plans for their future together.
00:05Shots are rolling hills when you wake up in the morning. How's that?
00:09That's the dream. That is the dream.
00:11They want to slow down, but never stop finding the fun in life.
00:15Burping.
00:18Indoor water furniture. Brilliant.
00:21Emotions will run high.
00:22It's a bit like the bridal moment. Your knees go wobbly.
00:25You can't really breathe properly. And I've got that feeling.
00:27But all in the pursuit of their happily ever after.
00:31It's just like nothing I've ever seen but everything I could have hoped for.
00:36Oh, that's what we love to hear.
01:00Shropshire, the natural border dividing upland Wales from lowland England.
01:06A county of quiet beauty and wide open spaces where nature is left free to roam.
01:14If you're the sort of person that likes to follow your nose, then Shropshire is the county to be in.
01:20Whether it's fertile farmland or artisanal foodstuffs, the air here is literally full of the scent of the countryside.
01:28So, wherever the wind, or indeed this, leads you, you're going to bump into something really stupendous.
01:37Shropshire is a rural county in western England, bordering Wales and known for its rolling hills and unspoilt countryside.
01:44You won't find any cities here, but there are more than 20 lovely towns waiting to be discovered.
01:51Well, of course, the county town is Shrewsbury, but we've got towns like Churchstretton, which is referred to as Little
01:57Switzerland.
01:58And lovely much Wenlock, which is a jewel of a little town.
02:02Bridge North, which is a sort of hill town.
02:05And Clun, which is a fantastic little town, just on the Welsh border.
02:10Shropshire's smallest town, Clun is quaint and characterful.
02:13Home to just a few hundred people, it's one of the least populated towns in England.
02:19In fact, Shropshire has one of the lowest population densities in the UK, with just 101 people per square kilometre,
02:27which is less than a quarter of the national average.
02:30It may be quiet on the roads and in the villages, but when it comes to food, Shropshire makes some
02:36serious noise.
02:38Ludlow and the surrounding countryside is an incredible area for producing food.
02:43Cheesemakers, cider makers, wine, jams, all sorts of things.
02:47Of course, it was made famous in the 1990s by the various Michelin-style restaurants that were here.
02:51And on the back of that, all of these food producers have popped up.
02:56Shropshire is a hidden gem that's not discovered yet.
02:59I'd like to keep it like that because it's beautiful out here.
03:05So that's Shropshire, a county that is so spacious you could swing a cat gently,
03:11which is a good thing because today's buyers have three of them.
03:19So I've always lived in Essex, never thought I would want to move away.
03:25Rob took me up to Shropshire to where he'd spent his childhood summers.
03:30And I, for the first time in my life, thought I could live here somewhere other than Essex, which was
03:38a bit of a shock for me.
03:39Sue and Rob both grew up in Essex and it was through work that their paths crossed a decade ago.
03:45For the past six years, they've been living in South Woodham Ferrars, near Chelmsford, in a four-bed detached home.
03:53We do actually really love a house because we've done so much to it.
03:56We've made it our own.
03:57But what we don't love...
03:58I'm so keen on the car park.
03:59Oh, yeah, that's true.
04:00You don't like my car park.
04:01We currently have eight cars in our possession and they're all parked outside the kitchen window.
04:07Yes.
04:08You don't like that.
04:09I don't see a problem.
04:11So outside, it's an issue of space, but it turns out inside's feeling the pinch too.
04:18What are you up to?
04:19Oh, I'm just having a bit of yoga practice.
04:22Well done.
04:23In the conservatory, which is my favourite room in the house, where I do most of my hobbies.
04:29But it would be nice to have a little bit more space, just so I can spread out and fit
04:35my piano in, which would be great.
04:38After stepping away from their careers in the motor industry, Sue and Rob are eager to dive into their hobbies
04:44full-time.
04:46And the place they've chosen to do that? A county that's very close to Rob's heart.
04:51Shropshire, I feel very grounded to Shropshire. It's where my grandparents lived.
04:56They retired to Ludlow. And as a kid, me and my brother used to spend summer holidays being taken around
05:02on walks and skimming stone and things.
05:05And it's just, yeah, it's just beautiful. It hasn't changed much.
05:08And I think as well, for me, to see Rob so happy, I can tell when he's happy.
05:14He's happy when he's driving his cars and he gets the same smile on his face when he's in Shropshire.
05:20With up to £800,000 to spend, Sue and Rob are on the hunt for a detached, characterful property with
05:27at least three bedrooms,
05:28a large garden and a garage with plenty of space for Rob's car collection.
05:34They're craving total rural seclusion, so that means no neighbours.
05:38However, they would like the option of a separate annex for a holiday let to bring in extra income.
05:48It's going to be quite a challenge because, by all accounts, Sue is a dyed-in-the-wool Essex girl
05:54who loves where she's lived.
05:57And it's a big change, Essex to Shropshire.
06:00So I hope she's ready for the racing difference.
06:08Before we start the search, I'd like to get to know Sue and Rob a little better.
06:12So with the aim of starting on a high, we're meeting on one of the county's highest points.
06:18So this is Clee Hill, which I think is pretty significant for you two, right?
06:22It is, yes.
06:23We used to travel over here on the way to my granny and grandpa's house in Ludlow
06:26and it got known in our family as Granny's Mountain.
06:30And it was actually this view that made me think I could live here.
06:35So was that the grand plan, Rob, that you were going to sneakily convince Sue to move here just by
06:41showing her beautiful places?
06:42Yeah.
06:43So I always wanted to move to the countryside and then when we came up here and you said that
06:49this is a place that you could live,
06:50then that was it really, set in stone.
06:53You didn't have to work very hard.
06:54No, that's true.
06:56No.
06:56It was pretty easy.
06:57It does have a gentle energy, doesn't it, Shropshire?
06:59Yeah, it does.
07:00And it is time.
07:01Yeah.
07:01It's time.
07:01We've reached a point in our life.
07:03We got married last year.
07:04Yep.
07:04We want to be able to spend as much time together as we can, so that's why we're retiring a
07:09little bit early.
07:11I know.
07:11Look at you, glamorous young retirees.
07:14I know.
07:14Very lucky on that side.
07:15It's not quite full retirement.
07:17We're looking for a property with an annex, so a little bit of an extra income is going to be
07:21needed.
07:21Well, we've got some lovely houses and I feel one of them might have your name written all over it.
07:25I hope so too, yeah.
07:27Shall we go?
07:27Great.
07:28Brilliant.
07:33Our property tour is taking us just over the border into Herefordshire in the village of Burrington.
07:40Two and a half miles down the road is the village of Lentwardine, home to a local shop, a couple
07:46of cosy pubs and a chippy for that Friday night fix.
07:50The property we're here to see is a classic example of the black and white cottages that make this area
07:56so enchanting.
07:57Not that one, nor that one.
08:01It's this one.
08:03Hey!
08:04You wanted a bit of quirk and history?
08:07Wow.
08:07Picture perfect.
08:09Full of character.
08:10Out the back, there is more than enough space for your cars.
08:13Excellent.
08:14But before we go to the back, should we go in through the front door?
08:17Yes, please.
08:18A smiley face.
08:19A big smiley face.
08:20Me too.
08:22This Grade II listed timber frame cottage has roots stretching back to the 14th century.
08:28It's gorgeous.
08:29I love the windows.
08:31I love the door.
08:32You love everything.
08:34We're starting our tour in the oldest part of the property, which is already run as a three-bedroom holiday
08:39let.
08:40The ground floor features a cosy sitting room, a kitchen and a welcoming dining room, all full of character and
08:47ready for guests.
08:51Come on in.
08:52Oh, smiles and claps.
08:57Yeah.
08:58Oh, wow.
08:58So, if you come through into here, this is either the sitting room of the holiday let or your winter
09:03snug.
09:04Wow.
09:05This is, yeah, absolutely perfect.
09:07It would make a beautiful snug.
09:08I love the exposed stonework.
09:10Yeah.
09:10It's just gorgeous.
09:12So, the great thing about this house is this wouldn't be your main living space.
09:15Your main living space would be through here.
09:18Wow.
09:19So, do mind your head, Rob.
09:22Yes.
09:23Yep.
09:23Easy to...
09:24That doesn't bother me, but...
09:26Wow.
09:28Great big heating unit there and then into the kitchen.
09:32More low beams.
09:34More low beams.
09:35And a step down.
09:36That's nice.
09:36And a step down.
09:37This is amazing.
09:38What a different sort of space.
09:39It's just like nothing I've ever seen, but everything I could have hoped for.
09:44Oh, that's what we love to hear.
09:46Let's go down into the sitting room.
09:48It's just a step.
09:51So, obviously, you had to lower the floors so people weren't always banging their heads.
09:54Oh, is that what they've done?
09:55Oh, right.
09:55That's clever.
09:56And the floor is stunning.
09:58This is a great social space.
09:59Can you imagine bringing your friends and family here?
10:02Absolutely.
10:03You're going to wow them, right?
10:04Yeah.
10:04Big time, yeah.
10:05Keeping the positive momentum going, I'm sending Sue and Rob to roam the rest of this property
10:11at their own pace.
10:13They've got a choice of staircases.
10:16One, a spiral that winds up to a study in a bedroom that would be ideal for Sue's hobbies.
10:22The other, tucked away in the sitting room, leads to the principal suite.
10:27Oh, wow.
10:27Oh, wow.
10:28It's impressive.
10:29What a great space.
10:31It's gorgeous.
10:32Yeah.
10:33Oh!
10:33Oh, wow.
10:35En suite in the bedroom.
10:37I love the bath.
10:38Not so sure about the toilet.
10:40No.
10:41I'm sure we could do something.
10:42We could do something with that.
10:44Yeah.
10:44It's so characterful.
10:46Yeah.
10:46It's just gorgeous.
10:47Yeah.
10:49Back in the holiday let, another staircase leads to the remaining three bedrooms, which
10:55are served by a modern bathroom that blends surprisingly well with the cottage's more traditional
11:01features.
11:02Look at these stairs.
11:04Look at this.
11:05That's the Watland Orb.
11:07Watland Orb.
11:11Oh, my word.
11:13Oh, that's nice.
11:14Yeah.
11:15Lovely window, lovely and bright.
11:17That's another good-sized bedroom and it's just...
11:20Yeah.
11:21The south-facing garden stretches over 1.2 acres and comes with a view that's pure countryside
11:28charm.
11:30Oh, wow.
11:30Wow.
11:32The church bells.
11:33Amazing.
11:34What time is it?
11:35Is the bell going to...
11:36It might chime in a minute.
11:39Wow.
11:39Wow.
11:40There's room for six cars on the gravel driveway, which is flanked by a duck coupe and an outbuilding
11:46that, with a little imagination, could become another holiday let.
11:50Oh, cool.
11:52Wow.
11:52Mild and a summer house.
11:54Yeah, it's got a little kitchenette.
11:55So, it's got a kitchenette.
11:56And a bedroom.
11:57So, this...
11:57Which means we could keep the house to ourselves.
12:01Yeah.
12:01This could be the holiday let.
12:02So, there's a bathroom here.
12:04Might need a little bit of work to get access to the bedroom.
12:07Quite a contortionist to get in there.
12:10But it's certainly got potential.
12:12Certainly potential.
12:13Mmm.
12:14They're already imagining the possibilities for the summer house, but wait until they see
12:19just how much space they'll have to play with outside.
12:22Come join me in your 1.2 acre garden.
12:26Thank you very much.
12:27Including a church.
12:28Not yours.
12:28It doesn't belong to your land.
12:29Your land goes up to this fence and the gate.
12:31Yep.
12:32And then it goes all along down this big field here.
12:34And down there you can see where the bean poles are.
12:37Mm-hmm.
12:37Yeah.
12:37There's actually a bed of solar panels.
12:39Right.
12:40So, your energy cost will be very low.
12:42It has a ground source heat pump, which is the most...
12:44That's brilliant.
12:44Yeah.
12:45The only thing you really pay for is a little bit of electricity in the winter.
12:49How much do you think this is on the market for?
12:547...80.
12:55I'm gonna go...
12:56I'm gonna go...
12:56I'm gonna go 790.
12:57So, really, up there.
13:00Rob, you're closer, but not quite close.
13:02It's actually on the market for 795,000.
13:04Right.
13:05Yep.
13:05Yep.
13:05Yeah.
13:06Sneaking in just under budget at 795,000 pounds, this Grade II listed cottage has five bedrooms
13:14across flexible living spaces, including a ready-to-go holiday let, plus the option for
13:20another in the outside studio.
13:22As well as being set in 1.2 acres with some scene-stealing views, the property is also fitted with
13:29lots of eco-friendly features.
13:31We are very excited by this property.
13:35Yeah, it is.
13:35It is beyond what we've ever dreamed about, to be honest.
13:39Yeah.
13:40This is such a nice space.
13:41It feels really nice, doesn't it?
13:42Very quiet.
13:43Yeah.
13:44Just perfect.
13:45It's almost too perfect.
13:47If there is such a thing.
13:48If there is such a thing.
13:49It would be hard to put our stamp on this, because it's already there.
13:55But it's been stamped in the right way.
13:56In a lovely way.
13:57But I'm sure I could get my head around that.
13:59Yeah.
14:00That wouldn't be a problem.
14:01No.
14:15Buying the perfect property is only half the adventure of moving to the country.
14:18The real magic lies in the towns and villages you'll call your new neighbours.
14:24That's why Sue and Rob are pressing pause on the property search to explore the market town of Knighton.
14:31It sits on the banks of the River Thiem, but when it comes to putting it on the map, well,
14:36that's where things get interesting.
14:39So, Knighton's quite a unique town because it's between England and Wales. Half of it's in England, half of it's
14:45in Wales.
14:46I'll go that way, you'll go that way.
14:48Ready?
14:48Ready?
14:49Shropshire.
14:51Shropshire.
14:51Wales.
14:52Shropshire.
14:52Wales.
14:54Shropshire.
14:55Wales.
14:55It's dual citizenship, if you like, is down to its position as the only settlement to straddle Offers Dyke, the
15:03ancient earthwork that runs the full length of the England-Wales border.
15:07And now a favourite for walkers.
15:09One of the things I really do love about Knighton is the fact that there is so much fabulous walking.
15:15We're right on the edge of the Shropshire Hills area of outstanding natural beauty.
15:20Beyond the hills and walking trails, the town's residents enjoy a high street packed with practical and proudly independent shops.
15:29One in particular, I suspect, might appeal to Sue.
15:33We do chair yoga for older people, but we also do the vinyasa for the fitter people.
15:39I do a core challenge to really get into the core.
15:42How are we in?
15:43That's superb.
15:44Wow.
15:45I've definitely got to have a go at this.
15:49That's awesome.
15:51You've found your spot.
15:52I have found my place.
15:54I'm not the only independent shop on the high street, so we have a sewing shop next door.
15:59We have a toy shop.
16:00Lots of little food shops that are amazing.
16:03Another proudly independent shop is Ross Organic, which for 18 years has been growing its own vegetables, fruit and flowers
16:11on the hills that surround the town.
16:14Look at those apples.
16:15They just look glorious.
16:17Yeah.
16:17Anything they can't produce themselves is sourced as locally as possible from certified organic growers and wholesalers.
16:25There we go.
16:25Thank you so much.
16:26Have a lovely day.
16:28Take care.
16:28Thanks.
16:31Nighting's calm, unhurried pace feels like a good match for the new lifestyle Sue and Rob are chasing,
16:36but there's still one important piece of the puzzle to find when the house hunting resumes in the morning.
17:02Another day property shopping in gorgeous Shropshire.
17:05It's lovely weather and I'm very excited about the houses coming up.
17:09We've got the mystery house, of course, which is a real wowie house, but before that a beautifully situated and
17:18I think real contender up in the Shropshire Hills.
17:24Our next stop is in the countryside just outside the market town of Craven Arms.
17:30Enclosed to the north by the Shropshire Hills National Landscape, Craven Arms takes its name from the town's hotel.
17:37For many years it was just a village, but it began to grow with the arrival of the railways in
17:42the mid-19th century.
17:44Its station sits at the junction of the Welsh Marches and the Heart of Wales lines, making it an ideal
17:51base for exploring the borderlands between England and Wales.
17:55Though today our journey is a modest two miles west, along some country lanes to the next property.
18:03Another beautiful house.
18:05Yes.
18:06Yeah.
18:06Amazing views.
18:08Yeah.
18:08Yes.
18:08The views behind it.
18:10Quintessential Shropshire.
18:11The Shropshire Hills over there.
18:13Beautiful.
18:14What are your thoughts on your quiet suit?
18:19It's a better fit.
18:21So, yesterday was beautiful and took my breath away, but it was a little bit too much for me.
18:27And I don't think that I'd ever feel it was my home.
18:30I think I was visiting somebody else.
18:34There's lots of things in this house, not to mention a big holiday let over there separate from the property.
18:41Oh, wow.
18:41That is nice.
18:42Yeah.
18:43And if you like the view from here, you're going to love the view from the back.
18:47Right.
18:47Oh, God.
18:48But we're going to go in through the front door, so hold your breath for the insights.
18:53Breath held.
18:54Breath held.
18:56Sitting proudly amidst the surrounding natural landscape, this detached cottage dates back to the early 1800s.
19:05The current owners have fully renovated the interior while carefully preserving the property's beautiful Georgian proportions.
19:13So, coming into this, I think very lovely kitchen.
19:18That's a nice space.
19:18Dining.
19:19Open plan space.
19:21So, yeah, stretches down into the lounge.
19:23Leaky face.
19:28Take time.
19:29People say that you have the feeling when you walk in.
19:32Yes.
19:32It's a bit like the bridal moment.
19:34Yeah.
19:35When you think, oh, it's not going to happen to me.
19:37And then when it does, things happen.
19:40Your knees go wobbly.
19:41You can't really breathe properly.
19:43Tears start coming out your eyes.
19:44And that's when I get that feeling.
19:46And I've got that feeling.
19:48Right.
19:48There you go.
19:49My job is done.
19:50Yeah.
19:51Maybe.
19:51You don't need to do anything else.
19:52You don't need to tell us anything.
19:54Okay.
19:54I'm going to show you around the rest of that.
19:56Look, come through here.
19:57This is a lovely space too.
20:00Yeah.
20:00Wow, it's huge.
20:01It's huge, isn't it?
20:01Yeah, it's a really nice big open space.
20:03Yeah, look.
20:04But not too huge.
20:05No.
20:06Yeah.
20:06It's just perfect.
20:08So, on this floor, you've got a winter snug at that end, which is in the old part of the
20:12house.
20:13Yeah.
20:13So, I'm going to let you explore all the rest of the property.
20:16But save the back garden for me.
20:18So, come find me.
20:19There's another little surprise there.
20:21Oh!
20:23I have to admit, I'm rather enjoying teasing the many wonderful things on offer in this
20:28elegant property.
20:30A staircase off the snug leads to three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
20:37You're running up the stairs.
20:38I'm running up the stairs.
20:40Easy now, there's plenty of time to admire it all.
20:43This is a good size, yeah.
20:47OK.
20:47Yeah.
20:47Love the beams.
20:48Yeah.
20:51I need to breathe.
20:52Nice and bright.
20:54I like it a lot.
20:58Yeah, I do.
21:00What's not to like?
21:01It stops you rolling hills when you wake up in the morning.
21:05How's that?
21:05That's the dream.
21:06That is the dream.
21:08Not that I don't love a bit of wistful reflection, there's still plenty more to see upstairs.
21:14Ooh!
21:15Ooh!
21:15That's the bathroom.
21:16Oh, nice.
21:17Yeah, nice.
21:18Yeah, it's a good size again, isn't it?
21:19Yeah, it's great.
21:20And I love the fact that every window has got a chair.
21:25They're not random.
21:26No.
21:26There's no reason for the chairs.
21:27Yeah.
21:28So you can sit and...
21:30Beautiful view.
21:32This one here gives you view of the trees.
21:34Yeah.
21:34I think you're settling in, Sue.
21:35Yeah, I think I've moved in already.
21:38Hang on, Sue, you don't even know the price yet.
21:41So I'm seeing this room as our room.
21:44Yes.
21:45With the en suite and the dressing room.
21:47Yeah.
21:47With the little bedroom at the end.
21:50Yes.
21:50Sort of dressing room come secret space.
21:53Yes.
21:53For me.
21:54The upstairs layout seems to be working for the couple.
21:57But there's another big bonus here.
21:59the detached cottage in the grounds.
22:02Ideal for turning into a holiday let.
22:04Ready?
22:05Let's have a look.
22:06Let's have a look.
22:09Is this somewhere we would stay?
22:11Oh, look at this.
22:12This is lovely.
22:13Wow.
22:15Yeah.
22:16Yes.
22:17Oh, look.
22:18Ist.
22:19Oh, wow.
22:20Yeah.
22:20This is exactly what we wanted.
22:22So...
22:23Yeah.
22:24Lovely.
22:25Yeah.
22:26Luxury couples retreat.
22:27I think Alistair has...
22:30It's kind of knocked it out of the park.
22:31Knocked it out of the park.
22:32Yeah.
22:33To coin a price.
22:34This is good.
22:34But this is...
22:35This is us.
22:36Yeah, it is.
22:37The garden extends over a one-acre plot featuring a double garage, a workshop on the perimeter,
22:44and, as I teased earlier, a former piggery that could become a yoga studio for Sue.
22:51Personally, I rather like how they've let nature take the lead here.
22:54But if you prefer your lawns and hedgerows a little neater, it wouldn't take much to tidy
22:59them up.
23:00And it certainly doesn't detract from what awaits in the rear garden.
23:04So, here at the back, look at the view at the back.
23:07Yeah.
23:07I think this is so gorgeous.
23:08You don't have a church, but you've got a cathedral of an oak tree.
23:11Yeah.
23:12That is beautiful, isn't it?
23:12It's stunning.
23:13And a field of sheep.
23:14Yep.
23:15And rolling hills in the background.
23:17Yeah.
23:17It could not be better.
23:18It really couldn't.
23:19And here, this wonderful outbuilding, which I think would be a great yoga studio.
23:23Absolutely.
23:24I think it's got your name all over it.
23:25My name all over it.
23:26Just the right size in there.
23:28Yes.
23:28Yep.
23:28Win, win, win, win, win.
23:29Win, get, get.
23:31Now you're going to ask us that question.
23:33So now I'm going to ask you that question about the money.
23:36Mmm.
23:37What do you think you'd have to shell out to have this?
23:41So I'm going to go 7.10.
23:457.10.
23:46Yep.
23:46Okay.
23:47Okay.
23:47I'm going to go slightly more, 7.25.
23:50Okay.
23:52Well, in this instance, Sue is nearer the money because this is on the market for £700,000.
23:59Wow.
23:59Well done.
24:00And that really does leave money in the budget.
24:02That leaves you a lot of money in the budget.
24:04Yeah, that does.
24:04Absolutely cracking.
24:05That does.
24:06Yeah.
24:07Can I have it?
24:08And everything that I can see that would need doing would be within that sort of range.
24:12Can I have it?
24:13Please.
24:13Yeah, absolutely.
24:15Done deal.
24:17An incredible £100,000 under budget, this Georgian cottage blends stylish design with
24:23the rustic charm of its rural setting.
24:27The main house offers a light-filled interior and three bedrooms, whilst outside there's plenty
24:32of space in the one-acre garden, not to mention a one-bedroom holiday cottage and some rather
24:38marvellous surroundings.
24:40I never, ever expected to feel this way.
24:44And I knew walking into the first room, the feeling has grown the more we've walked round.
24:50I really wasn't expecting to find the one.
24:52No.
24:52I think we really have.
24:53And I know this is not the wrong decision.
24:55No.
24:56I'm crying again.
24:57It fits.
24:58I need to find that tissue.
25:00Alistair's done that amazingly.
25:02Yeah.
25:03I can't believe it.
25:16With its lush scenery and open countryside, it's perhaps surprising to find that property
25:22prices in Shropshire are lower than the UK average.
25:26The typical cost of a detached home in the county is just under £422,000, almost £16,000
25:34less than the national figure of around £437,000.
25:38And beyond its affordability, Shropshire boasts a remarkably varied choice of properties
25:44to suit every budget.
25:45This characterful two-bedroom barn conversion offers upside-down living to maximise the countryside
25:52views from its open-plan first floor.
25:55With a courtyard garden and room for two cars on the drive, it's available for £275,000.
26:02This Grade II listed cottage has been sensitively extended with two bedrooms upstairs, a cosy living
26:09room and a large kitchen.
26:11It benefits from solar panels on the detached garage and a well-stocked rear garden, all
26:17for £475,000.
26:21If house buying isn't on the cards, but you still want to enjoy a break in the county,
26:25how about this quirky retreat with real Hobbiton appeal?
26:30It sleeps two guests, so is perfect for a romantic getaway.
26:34Priced at £200 per night, with discounts for two nights or more.
26:44For our final stop, we're in the remote upland hamlet of Abdon.
26:49Perched high on the slopes of Brown Clea Hill, with sweeping views of the Corvedale Valley,
26:55Abdon is made up of just 28 dwellings.
26:58Unsurprisingly, there are no amenities here, but thankfully, the village of Ditton Priors,
27:03with its village store and post office, is just a five-minute drive away.
27:09While Sue and Rob take a look around the village, I'm going ahead to prepare the mystery house,
27:14and given where it is, they'll be glad I'm the one tasked with finding it.
27:21So, as always, this is a little shot in the dark, but this is a fantastic property.
27:26Very remote. This is the most remote of all the properties we've shown Sue and Rob.
27:32But it's so quirky, so full of character, that I think, I hope, that it's going to make up...
27:39There's one thing about it that it doesn't have a ready-made annex, but I think there's lots of options,
27:45and the setting is so magnificent.
27:48I'm hoping they might fall in love with it anyway.
27:50All right.
28:01Sue wanted character, and this house sings with character.
28:06Lovingly restored and kitted out by the present owners.
28:10It's a little fantasia of taste.
28:12Fresh from their walk in Ditton Priors, Sue and Rob have now arrived for their final property tour.
28:19Come to our mystery house.
28:23What do you think? What is the face saying?
28:25She's composing her leafy face.
28:27How do I know?
28:29It's pretty. It is pretty.
28:31It is pretty.
28:32It doesn't look big enough.
28:34Mmm, from the outside.
28:35Well, so the reason this is a mystery house, many reasons, actually.
28:38One is that it's by far the most remote property.
28:41Yes.
28:41So there are no neighbours. I mean, there are some farmers.
28:44I can hear the sheep.
28:45Exactly. You've got sheep.
28:46And this is a quirky house.
28:47Now, you wanted something with character.
28:49Yeah.
28:49Corky's good.
28:50Corky's good.
28:51Beautifully decorated.
28:52Very interesting layout.
28:54So, shall we have a look inside?
28:55Let's have a look inside.
28:57Constructed from dewstone extracted from the surrounding hills, this property dates back to the 1890s.
29:04Initially, it would have been two dwellings until it was converted into one during the 1960s before being extended five
29:11years ago.
29:13Alistair, I might have to eat my words.
29:16Because we did really.
29:17You might have to eat your words. Did I hear that?
29:20You did.
29:20Come on in.
29:21Yeah.
29:22This is incredible.
29:24Yeah.
29:24Well, this house is a bit like a snail.
29:26The rooms spiral around and up, so there's lots of little nooks and crannies.
29:30But I think you'll really love the kitchen.
29:32Because it's definitely not little, this kitchen.
29:35But coming to this space, this is all a modern edition.
29:40Oh, my word.
29:42That is lovely, isn't it?
29:44Double height with the glass ceiling.
29:47That's incredible.
29:49You're speechless.
29:49I'm kind of speechless.
29:51I'm kind of speechless.
29:52I love the comfort areas.
29:54You can see this was the outside wall and they've built this to join up the two parts of the
29:59house.
30:01Yeah.
30:01And it feels like we're down.
30:02I guess we are down, aren't we?
30:03So we're sort of built into the hill.
30:05Exactly.
30:06We're built into the hill.
30:08There's one more room I want to show them downstairs.
30:10One that's ideal for hiding away from the rain that's just decided to make an appearance.
30:16This has made me feel that I just want to sit down.
30:19Yeah.
30:19That's it.
30:21That's a sign.
30:22If you want to sit down in a house.
30:24But this is a really well-built stone structure.
30:27It's not...
30:27Yes.
30:28It's got the plastic roof on it.
30:30We might...
30:30That's one thing.
30:31Again, maybe go to one of the more modern, cosy roofs.
30:34But no, there's nothing to change in the space at all.
30:37It's stunning.
30:40I'm leaving Sue and Rob to explore the rest of the property by themselves.
30:43But before even making it out of the sunroom, they seem to have got distracted.
30:47We've got...
30:55He's burping.
30:56Oh!
30:58Indoor water furniture.
31:00Brilliant.
31:01That will make a lovely soundtrack for Sue when she's doing her yoga.
31:05In the hallway, there's a downstairs shower room.
31:08Whilst upstairs, there's a larger bathroom with a four-piece suite.
31:12Then Rob and Sue can take their pick from any of the three bedrooms.
31:16The largest of which features double doors that lead straight outside.
31:21Oh!
31:22I love the fact that it's built into the hill.
31:24It really...
31:26It's a W.
31:27Yeah.
31:28I'd want...
31:29To try and work it out that you can see.
31:31To try and work it out so that we could face right out onto that view.
31:35It's breathtaking.
31:37It is.
31:38Breathtaking.
31:39Lovely.
31:40I think this might be the house for both of them.
31:43Because Rob is so self-effacing and stepping in the background and it's all about Sue's feelings.
31:47But he seems to really like this one as well.
31:50And that would be the dream, that they both fall in love with it.
31:52That was another good-sized room.
31:54Wow.
31:56Really wasn't expecting, after the last one, to film this one.
32:02Up to you.
32:03I'll do either.
32:05And annex-wise, we can do something, can't we?
32:08It depends on the price.
32:10Yes.
32:10If we really need one.
32:12Another consideration is, of course, Rob's car collection.
32:15Here, there's a detached workshop next to the large gravel driveway,
32:19whilst on the other side of the property, there's a double garage.
32:23And above that, the current owners have created a craft room come snug
32:27that could serve as a fourth bedroom when guests come to stay.
32:32Somebody's really thought about this and they've thought about it
32:36to make it for us, pretty much.
32:39And this is another room.
32:40I just want to sit down.
32:41Yeah.
32:42I'll just, yeah.
32:43Just sit down and watch the city.
32:43Hang on.
32:46I'd like to show up.
32:47Oh.
32:48And then you've got the view of the hill.
32:50I bet the stars are nice here as well.
32:53I think I'm having my bridal moment.
32:54You're having a bridal moment.
32:58The garden has been lovingly maintained by the current owners.
33:02Spanning just under an acre, it's mostly lawn,
33:04but also features a greenhouse with a vegetable patch,
33:07a tranquil pond and a small stream crossed by a wooden footbridge.
33:13At the rear, a sun terrace offers uninterrupted views of Brownclea Hill.
33:18Sadly, the weather's not playing ball today,
33:21so my catch-up with Sue and Rob will have to happen somewhere a little less scenic.
33:27Oh, the heavens have opened.
33:29Yeah, they have.
33:30They certainly have.
33:31Which is probably a sign of blessing.
33:32OK.
33:33We'll take that.
33:34We'll take that.
33:34I approve of this mystery house.
33:36Do you approve of it?
33:37It's lovely.
33:38It is absolutely beautiful.
33:40It is absolutely beautiful.
33:41Yeah.
33:41So how much do you think this lovely mystery house is on the market for?
33:45This is a real quandary, isn't it?
33:46I'm going to let you guess first this time.
33:48OK.
33:48I'm going to go low seven.
33:49Seven, ten.
33:50Seven, ten thousand?
33:52Right.
33:52I'm going to go six, nine.
33:53Six hundred and ninety thousand.
33:55That's optimistic, isn't it?
33:56And yours is seven hundred and ten thousand pounds.
33:58OK.
33:59Well, actually this is on the market for, hold your breath,
34:02seven hundred and fifty thousand.
34:04Oh!
34:04OK.
34:04Yeah.
34:05So a bit higher.
34:06Yeah.
34:06I thought being that bit further out would bring the price down.
34:11Yeah.
34:11That was my reasoning for going below seven.
34:14Well, its remote location isn't enough to bring down the price of this lovingly restored
34:18three-bedroom cottage, but it still sits fifty thousand pounds below Sue and Rob's top budget.
34:25With plenty of hidden extras, including an octagonal sunroom and a spacious craft room upstairs,
34:32it also offers an acre of mature gardens, plus a double garage and workshop.
34:39This is a huge spanner in the works.
34:42Yeah.
34:43I think it's the setting, the remoteness, and just the eclectic decor and things which absolutely suits us.
34:49And it's so nicely done, but it doesn't quite have the outside space.
34:53It also doesn't have the holiday-let potential.
34:57So, maybe too many compromises, but it is lovely, and it has made us think.
35:06The Shropshire countryside is many things to many different people.
35:11For me, these rolling hills are intensely soothing, but for others they're a challenge.
35:15Let's hike up this and get our hearts racing.
35:18And for others, yet again, they are visually inspiring.
35:22So, let's meet local artist Sue Gould.
35:25Sue and her husband David swapped world travel with the army for rural Shropshire life.
35:32After trying a new build in Gloucestershire, they found their dream.
35:35A charming early 1900s cottage on a one-acre plot, without buildings, an orchard and veggie patch.
35:43A former nursery teacher, Sue turned her love of art into a career during lockdown.
35:48Inspired by local wildlife, from chickens to lambs, she now sells her nature-themed work across Shropshire and online.
35:57I've never been much good at visual art.
36:00Glitter and glue is probably about my limit, but I'm very keen to learn.
36:03So, here I am to meet Sue and do some Shropshire wildlife sketching.
36:14Hello, Sue. Hello.
36:15Hey, what an amazing garden you've got.
36:19How long have you been here?
36:20So, we've been here ten years.
36:22Ah.
36:22So, we built the raised beds, put the greenhouse in, put the fruit cage in.
36:26I just love spending time here really.
36:28Yeah, it's just really nice to...
36:29It's a beautiful spot, so quiet.
36:31As soon as I drove in and just down the lane and sort of saw the view and everything,
36:37before I'd even looked inside, for me it's the outside that mattered really.
36:42And in terms of the house, have you done much to the house or was it pretty much as it
36:45is?
36:45We did have the extension on the front, the sort of...
36:48Oh, hello.
36:48There we go.
36:50Oh, he's splendid.
36:51He's making his presence known, yeah.
36:53Wow.
36:53What's he called?
36:54That's Frank.
36:54Frank?
36:55Yeah.
36:55He wakes us up in the morning, so our bedroom window is just above the chicken coop,
36:59so that wasn't very good planning really.
37:01At least you don't need an alarm clock.
37:04Sue's art practice has now become her full-time job and she divides her time between selling
37:09her work online or at local craft fairs with producing work in her home studio.
37:14This is amazing.
37:15So it's like a hive of so much art.
37:18It is.
37:19It's my little den.
37:20You're so prolific.
37:21It's my little den.
37:22Oh, I love the owl.
37:24That's wonderful.
37:25Yeah, so he was one of my earlier pieces and he's a tawny.
37:28I love all the detail of the feathers and this.
37:31Yeah.
37:33It's very dynamic.
37:33It's beautiful.
37:34Yeah, he's one of my favourites too.
37:36And is this what you're working on now?
37:37It's so detailed.
37:38Yeah.
37:39So this is a photograph that my husband took when we were camping.
37:43I just thought it was a lovely photo because obviously it's a snail, but it was a wildlife
37:47notice board and it's all about the birds and I'll say birds and he's actually crawling
37:52over the word that says frushes.
37:53Frushes.
37:54Which of course.
37:55This nemesis.
37:55Yeah.
37:56Yeah.
37:56Yeah.
37:57So I'm going to finish that later.
38:00Before producing her pieces, Sue enjoys working on plein air, making preparatory sketches
38:06that might inspire future work.
38:09I feel like a proper artist.
38:10Yes.
38:11Easels.
38:12Yeah.
38:12I know.
38:15Actually, I hope they don't blow away.
38:18Ever the teacher, Sue has convinced me to join her for one of her sessions where
38:23we'll be working with watercolour pens to sketch our noisy friends from earlier.
38:27So I just sort of put some marks down on the paper?
38:30Yep.
38:31Yeah.
38:31Free and easy.
38:31Whatever you want to do.
38:33Yeah.
38:33Try and get a bit of movement and work quickly.
38:35Come on, Frank.
38:36Just have a go.
38:36Don't let me down.
38:37Come on.
38:39So we're going to get his shape.
38:40He's sort of like a heart shape.
38:41He is.
38:42Yeah.
38:43He's quite a nice one to draw, actually.
38:48It's just lovely to be outside doing something creative, isn't it?
38:50It is.
38:51Are you finding it relaxing or...?
38:53Well, it's just Frank won't keep still.
38:54Well, there you go, you see.
38:55Yeah.
38:56That's the problem.
38:59There's going to be more just the feeling of Frank.
39:01He's looking great, though.
39:04So was this always a dream or has it come into focus more since you've been here?
39:09Definitely more since we've been here.
39:11I mean, isn't it lovely to just be in the sunshine and sketching hens?
39:17After an animated start, Frank is finally standing still long enough for me to sketch him.
39:23I suspect he's taking pity on me.
39:27So grab yourself a brush.
39:30Working with watercolour pens means a splash of water on our paper and the sketch is transformed.
39:36Quite magical, really, the way the colours all sort of come together.
39:42Work from top to the bottom or just flow, you know, like when you're doing the Frank's tail,
39:48sort of start at the bottom and get some nice sweeping.
39:51Oh, yeah, that's nice.
39:52Sweeping.
39:52And, you know, you get all those colours mixing together.
39:55I suspect I might need a little more magic to transform my sketch.
40:00Sorry, Frank.
40:01I feel like I'm not really doing you justice.
40:04You'll explain the difference.
40:05I think he's looking really good.
40:06I think you're doing a good job there.
40:08All that's left is to finish it off with a name.
40:11Oh, this is wonderful.
40:12That's cool.
40:13Really good.
40:14Thank you, Sue.
40:14I really enjoyed it.
40:16I really enjoyed it.
40:17Are you going to go and put that in a frame?
40:18Spending so much time with Frank.
40:20And it's very inspiring.
40:21Thank you for giving me like a little bit of a nudge towards getting my paints out.
40:25Yeah, definitely do that.
40:27Yeah, you're really good.
40:28Well, all the best.
40:29I hope it goes well.
40:39Now, I should be able to read Sue's Leaky Face very well after this week of house hunting,
40:44but I'm still a little bit clueless about which of those wonderful houses they've fallen for,
40:50so let's find out.
40:59So, you guys, how's it been?
41:02What a joy showing you around Shropshire, going back to your roots.
41:06Yes, yeah, it has been an absolute joy, and thank you very much for showing us around.
41:10So now you've chewed over it a little bit, what are your thoughts?
41:13Where is your heart leaning?
41:15So, heart is definitely leaning towards the house with the separate annex.
41:19Ah, the one we saw this morning?
41:20Yeah, yeah.
41:21My heart raced when I walked in.
41:23I think you could see that.
41:24I think I could.
41:25Yeah.
41:26And it hasn't stopped.
41:27Really?
41:28So, it was temporarily interrupted by the mystery house, but as soon as we came away from
41:34the mystery house, I stopped thinking about it and my thoughts went straight back.
41:38Well, that's a good sign.
41:39What are the next steps for you then?
41:41I think we want to organise to go back again.
41:43Yeah.
41:43So, go and have another look round and just do a bit more research around it and just make
41:48sure it's absolutely right.
41:49Well, I'm really thrilled and so lovely to have brought you back to Shropshire and to
41:53introduce you to Shropshire.
41:55So nice to be here.
41:56It's been wonderful.
41:56Yeah.
41:57Thank you for everything you've done for us.
41:59To actually come on the show and find the perfect house is…
42:03It's a surprise and a delight.
42:04Surprise and delight.
42:06There you go.
42:06You need the right fairy godmother.
42:08We do.
42:09We do.
42:10We do.
42:10And thank you.
42:16What an amazing week in Shropshire.
42:18I have learnt to love and respect Sue's very expressive face.
42:22But wouldn't it be wonderful if the story comes full circle and Rob comes back to his
42:27childhood idyll and Sue leaves Essex and becomes a Shropshire lass.
42:32I so hope that happens and I hope you join us next time for more Escape to the Country.
42:39A second viewing revealed the house with the annex lacked the outside space for Rob's
42:44cars, but the couple found a wonderful property with its own barn and paddock just outside
42:50Knighton, a town we introduced them to during the search.
42:54Their offer was accepted and they hoped to settle there soon.
42:59If you would like to escape to the country in England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland
43:03and need our help, why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.
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