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00:03when looking for the right spot to set down roots in the countryside it pays
00:08not to rush things no no you just have to decide right now there are big choices to
00:18be made the size of the land is quite shocking really I'm thinking I was going to do all the
00:24work and decisions that could lead to a whole new way of life suddenly it's become very real
00:31that everything changes
00:57which do you prefer woodland river or perhaps a quaint Cotswold stone town or village decisions
01:05decisions well why not join us on a Gloucestershire and Herefordshire escape a captivating region that
01:12has them all and it's positively blossoming it's a gorgeous time here in Gloucestershire because all
01:22the trees are putting out their lovely little leaves and lovely little birds are making little
01:27baby birds and there's a palpable sense of excitement in the air although there is a little rain forecast
01:33but I'm not worried partly because I have this and also because it's said I am the sunshine presenter
01:40and it never rains on my shows for saying our escape adventure will take us to Herefordshire as well as
01:48neighbouring Gloucestershire a county so famous for downpours it inspired a nursery rhyme you know
01:54the one about Dr Foster and the puddle but clouds in this county come with silver linings from the
02:00glistening River Wye to the verdant Forest of Dean and you're never far away from a sunny outlook
02:09well I've lived here 37 years I think it's a lovely community it's very easy to get out to all
02:15sorts of
02:16exciting places the River Wye is quite near Cheltenham's not far Shooksbury we're on the edge of the forest
02:22it's a beautiful place to visit lovely walks yeah places to take the children like Beach and Hurst
02:30and with substantial village homes and peaceful riverside retreats on offer it's no wonder escapees
02:37come from far and wide to seek their own property pot of gold at the end of this region's rainbow
02:42our show is available for viewing all around the world including the country where our buyers today
02:50are living Germany and I was thinking about how to translate escaped the country into German
02:55which would be flucht aufs land but my preference would be mein Traumhaus auf dem Land my dream house
03:03in the countryside
03:07hello I'm Andrew and I'm Beate and we currently live in Heroldsburg which is close to Nuremberg in
03:13southern Germany after living in a rented home near Nuremberg Germany for the last four years
03:21Andrew Beate and her 11 year old son Johan are ready to return to the UK to be closer to
03:28friends and family
03:29well of course I'll miss my friends in Germany but I have got friends in the UK
03:33my dad also lives there so it'll be nice to spend more time with him
03:36I can also go to some Leicester City football matches Leicester City are my football
03:43however it's not Leicestershire but in and around Gloucestershire where they've set their sights
03:48the Gloucestershire area is very pragmatic for us because I've got a new role in Birmingham and it's
03:54a hybrid job so I need to go up a few days a week so pretty close to the M5
03:59and I quite like the way it
04:01looks the landscape it reminds me of Germany where we're from now undulating scenery a mix of rivers
04:07meadows forest this it's very much like what at home leaves it's at home for me I miss the
04:13pub culture and I think what you're also looking forward to is the crisps salt and vinegar which
04:18aren't available in Germany yeah so they're his favorite
04:25Andrew and Beate have up to 600,000 pounds to buy their Gloucestershire home they're after three to
04:33four bedrooms an office and a room for Andrew's large record collection they'd like a manageable
04:39garden a location with a nearby pub and are open to viewing addresses in both Gloucestershire and
04:46Herefordshire I love the fact that Andrew and Beate are coming to this part of the countryside because
04:56as she says it reminds her of the German countryside down in the south and I'll have to take that
05:02on
05:02on her word because although I lived in Germany for six years to my shame I barely left the city
05:07limits of Berlin I was in my 20s so it's understandable but it's such a big move having done that
05:14to move
05:14from Germany back to England so if you can find a landscape that reminds you of home all the better
05:24before heading to the first house option I'm making my way to meet Beate and Andrew for introductions in a
05:31pretty rural spot which I hope compares favorably to the German countryside I'm so excited to be here
05:40with you guys largely because I can practice my German
05:42Herzlich Willkommen Zuruk nach England
05:45Vielen Dank
05:46Oh I got it right that's very good you don't speak German do you Andrew?
05:50I don't speak German no I'm sorry
05:52I welcome you very warmly back to England
05:54It's wonderful isn't it to be back back in Britain back in the communities back in the countryside
06:00I'm excited about that and a bit of therefore also small community living where I can get involved
06:06whether it's a parent governor or being at the local church council or just helping out at the local cafe
06:13or playgroup
06:14because I'm working remotely so I want to get out outside of work to be to have some social interaction
06:20really
06:20What about you Andrew? What are you looking forward to being back in England?
06:24Seeing friends and family and being able to go to live football again rather than just watching it on television
06:29I mean there is good football in Germany I hear
06:31There is but Rotherham's my team there's my father's team my grandfather's team and my eldest son comes with me
06:39to the game
06:39So I go into the football with my son that's quite important as well
06:42Ah well you've come at a beautiful time of the year spring sunshine blessing our house hunt
06:47Shall we get going and see some houses?
06:49Yes please
06:50Yeah come follow me
06:56Our first appointment of view is in the Gloucestershire hamlet of Aylford
07:04Around a mile and a half down the road the village of Blakeney has post office services and a convenience
07:10store
07:11There's restaurant dining at the King's Head and a takeaway fish and chip shop too
07:17Buses include a route to the town of Chepstow which stops not far from the rural property proposition
07:23I'm putting to Beata and Andrew
07:28Here we are house number one
07:31What a lovely setting
07:32It is
07:33I know that you wanted a countryside location
07:35Does it have a little German feel to it?
07:37It does
07:38Trees
07:39Little stream at the bottom of the valley
07:41And I love that you can see it's been extended and changed so it doesn't look just like one long
07:45house
07:46But it's quirky
07:46I love the fact that when you look from the house you see trees and you feel it in the
07:52country
07:52Can we go inside?
07:53No no you just have to decide right now
08:00Set high on the bank of a river valley this stone cottage has been in the same family since the
08:0519th century when it was built
08:08The current occupant has added an extension and a conservatory
08:12And the main door takes us via a utility come boot room into the kitchen
08:21I like that you can sit in the kitchen already
08:23It's a good start
08:24You can have your breakfast straight away
08:25But it's got workspace which is great
08:27And you've got a lovely view when you're washing the pots which is there
08:31You do the washing don't you?
08:32I do now apparently
08:35Well the great thing about this property is it's all facing the view so it's all windows this way
08:39Ideally a bigger kitchen but you can always extend it that way
08:43And make the utility room smaller
08:45Anyway let's continue the tour this is the living space
08:48So there's a conservatory here
08:49You can look at that later but this is the historic part of the house
08:53So basically this is the width of the house so it's quite simple the layout
08:56Even though it's long you still see two parts of the room to it
08:59Oh you've got a dining area
09:01Another living area
09:02I think it's a little smaller than what we expected or what we were not looking for
09:08I think ideally you would want some space where you could put your hi-fi up couldn't we
09:11You still have a hi-fi that's very retro
09:13Oh it's very retro
09:14I've got a massive collection of vinyl
09:16Really?
09:17It's good
09:21Completing the ground floor and back off the entrance is a small shower room
09:26Then stairs from the reception room lead us up to the home's three bedrooms
09:31At one end is a good sized double
09:33Which like all the bedrooms has an aspect to the front overlooking the valley
09:38There's a smaller guest bedroom
09:41And a family bathroom tiled in a neutral pallet
09:45Then at the other end is the principal en suite
09:51This whole end of the property is the main bedroom
09:55And then through there you've got an en suite toilet and shower
09:58And then a sort of dressing room
10:00I like the two windows it makes it really light in here
10:03Yeah
10:03And the big wardrobe space
10:05And I like the fact it's en suite
10:06I actually quite like that room
10:08I do like that room
10:10Good
10:11Yeah
10:13So we can go out into the garden and also we can talk about the price
10:16You lead the way
10:17Thank you
10:22The garden comprises two-thirds of an acre
10:25With wooden and stone outbuildings that have electricity
10:29There's also a paddock
10:32The property backs onto Forestry Commission land
10:35Where they'd be free to explore with their dog
10:42The owners who grew up here
10:43They used to just get sent out in the morning
10:46In the holidays
10:47And they'd go all the way down the valley
10:49And the mum would blow a whistle
10:51But it was time for him to come back for supper
10:53Excellent
10:53And it's a good sized garden
10:54It's manageable but it's big enough
10:56And you've got your greenhouse
10:57Which you want to grow your tomatoes and such like
10:59Maybe some courgette or something
11:01So yes that's me
11:01And Johan is he a kind of your assistant or does he
11:05His is to actually do the lawn mowing
11:07So he earns his pocket money
11:08By mowing the lawn
11:10Yeah he likes that
11:11And talking about money
11:13What do you think it's on the market for
11:18525
11:19Okay
11:20And I've got 550
11:22So 550,000 pounds
11:24Yeah
11:24This is on the market for 575,000
11:28Oh interesting
11:29You can see the price is probably slightly higher than you thought
11:32Because of the location
11:33Yeah
11:33And the land
11:34It's got a good plot size
11:35Yeah
11:36Yeah
11:38Comfortably within Beata and Andrew's £600,000 budget
11:42This extended stone house has a kitchen breakfast room
11:45A multifunctional reception room
11:48And three bedrooms
11:49There's a large garden without buildings
11:51And valley views
11:57This is the conservatory
11:58Oh that's nice and airy isn't it
12:00I mean you can see yourself sat here
12:02At your coffee or whatever
12:03Yeah
12:03And reading on a Sunday morning
12:05And relaxing
12:09Fantastic location
12:10It really gave you that wow feeling
12:13Because you can take the dog
12:14You can just go out
12:17I see the potential in the house
12:19Happy to do a bit of renovations
12:22A bit of changing
12:23The location is more important
12:25You have that great combination
12:27Of living peacefully
12:30But if you want to
12:31You can enjoy community
12:43Beata and Andrew are looking for options
12:45To get stuck into local life
12:47When they return to the UK
12:49The small Gloucestershire market town
12:51Of Newent
12:52Could help them get back
12:53Into the saddle
12:55Local horse hero
12:56And two times Olympic gold medal winner
12:59Valegro
13:00Is celebrated in sculpture
13:02In the historic
13:02Timber framed market hall
13:04Look what's on in Newent
13:07Let's have a look
13:08Food and drink in July
13:10And with over 50 groups
13:11To get involved with
13:12There's even more worth championing
13:15Newent's a fantastic place
13:17It's got such a great community feel to it
13:20We've got the Newent chill out
13:21Which is for people of all ages
13:23And runs as a youth session
13:24In the evenings
13:25We've got some fantastic cafes
13:27Within the town
13:28Really fantastic places to go
13:29And grab a bite to eat
13:32It's very small here
13:34It's very compact
13:35But it's community
13:37I've just started a supper club
13:39We did a curry club
13:41And then it's going to be a tapas night
13:43And it's very important
13:45Community get together
13:48Cyclists can take in
13:50The beautiful surrounding countryside
13:51On the 19 to 28 mile Newent loop
13:55And walkers can enjoy
13:56The landscaped lake park
13:58Well we found Newent
14:00Really by mistake
14:02Some 35 years ago
14:04Stopped off one evening
14:05On the way back home
14:07And thought what a wonderful
14:08Little market town it was
14:09People were very friendly
14:11Easy going
14:12And stayed ever since
14:16One place our buyers
14:18Can expect a warm Newent welcome
14:20Is micro pub
14:21The Cobblers
14:22I think I could do me a drink
14:23Let's go and get one
14:25Where landlord Graham Rushton
14:27Is a refreshing source
14:29Of local knowledge
14:32This is a lovely pub
14:33How did you get to run that?
14:35Well what happened was
14:36When myself and my partner Nicky
14:38Moved to Newent
14:39Ten years ago
14:40We stumbled across this pub
14:42Started drinking here
14:43And we drank here for many many years
14:45When the landlady decided
14:46She wanted to retire
14:47I came up with this crazy idea
14:49Of buying a pub
14:50Running a pub
14:50Something that I'd never done before
14:52And I suppose it brings you
14:54Right into the art of the community
14:55Doesn't it?
14:56It does
14:56We've got some real good regulars
14:57And various groups
14:58Like Royal British Legion
14:59And the Rotary Club
15:01Use the back room for meetings
15:02And band practices
15:03And stuff like that
15:05Why Newent?
15:06What do you like about this area so much?
15:08It's a fantastic place
15:09Good location to get round
15:11Many places
15:12You're not that far away from South Wales
15:13You've got Gloucester
15:15You've got Hereford nearby
15:16If you want a bigger city
15:18There's a fantastic bus service
15:19Called the Daffodil Line
15:20Where you can go from Newent
15:22As far down as Ross
15:24On White
15:25And all the way up to Lidbury
15:27And all points in between
15:29And we get a lot of people coming in
15:30To visit the pub
15:31From, you know, from
15:34Herefordshire
15:34Other parts of Gloucestershire
15:36It's in a cracking part of the country
15:39Yeah, and we love it here
15:42The couple seem to have enjoyed
15:43Their pint-sized taste
15:45Of Gloucestershire life
15:46Here in Newent
15:47Now to find a home in the area
15:49They can raise a glass to
15:56For our next viewing
15:57We're making our way
15:58To the Wye Valley village
16:00Of Brockweer
16:03Set on the eastern and English bank
16:05Of the River Wye
16:06Facing the nation of Wales
16:08On the opposite side
16:09One incoming church minister
16:11Remonstrated
16:12That 19th century village life here
16:14Revolved around beer houses
16:16And gambling
16:19Thanks to the present day locals
16:21Rallying to buy the last remaining pub
16:23It's still an ongoing concern
16:26And given there's also a community-owned shop
16:28And cafe staffed by volunteers
16:30Beata and Andrew's respective desires
16:33Could potentially be well met
16:40So we thought this would be perfect for you
16:42I can help out in the pub
16:44I can help out in the shop
16:45And this is the property
16:46So it's not the whole thing
16:47Half
16:47I mean, the location is just wonderful
16:51Uncomparable, really
16:52It seems idyllic
16:53This is the River Wye
16:54Down here
16:54Down there
16:55Okay
16:56Yes
16:56We've got this incredible landscape
16:59That is Wales
17:00This is England
17:01And then beyond that is the Forest of Dean
17:04Amazing
17:06Beautiful setting
17:07Do you fancy looking in?
17:08Yes please
17:08Come on then
17:12This semi-detached character property
17:15Dating to the 1700s
17:17Has been given a sustainable modern twist
17:19With solar panels
17:20Which feed into the national grid
17:22And can even generate money
17:24From excess electricity produced
17:27They also power the underfloor heating
17:30In the kitchen
17:31Slash breakfast room
17:32Where our tour of the currently unoccupied home begins
17:36It's a great size
17:38Nice kitchen
17:39Lots of work surface
17:40Open space
17:41With sitting
17:42To eat here
17:43Yeah
17:43There's plenty of room here
17:45For a lovely
17:45Nice big dining table
17:47Yeah
17:48Our dining table would fit perfectly
17:50Fits perfectly
17:50Well, hold your horses
17:52Because actually
17:52You've got two reception rooms
17:54Let's continue the tour
17:56Excellent
17:59There's an additional utility
18:01And as well as the spacious kitchen
18:03And breakfast room
18:04There are two further reception rooms
18:06One of which is in an adjacent wing
18:09With French doors
18:10And period features
18:12I love it
18:13Going out again
18:15Towards the nice sunny spot
18:16Because it's a good size
18:18To feel cosy in
18:20And then you've got that other reception room there
18:22Which could be a diner
18:23Or it could be another TV room
18:24Yeah
18:25Exactly
18:25Or your Hi-Fi
18:26Yeah
18:27Good vibes
18:28So why don't you two go and explore
18:29The rest of the house
18:30And then when you're done
18:31Find me in the garden
18:32Thank you
18:32I will do
18:33Go explore
18:34Andrew could certainly find a fitting home
18:40For his entire record collection
18:42In the final reception room
18:44You can have your Hi-Fi here
18:45That would be good
18:46You'd fit nicely there
18:47It would
18:48And you can close the doors
18:49So you've got your own space
18:53A ground floor cloak room
18:55Is tucked away by the foot of the stairs
18:57Which lead to the four bedroom accommodation above
19:01At the back of the house
19:02Is a double
19:03Partly set into the eaves
19:05Good size again
19:06Yes
19:07Nice size
19:08Good to be Johan's room
19:10And this leads directly into a second
19:13Smaller bedroom
19:14With a built-in wardrobe
19:16It can be for them to play
19:18His Xbox and his games
19:19Yeah
19:20So it gives them their separate space
19:22It does
19:23Yeah, that could work
19:24Good room
19:25Yeah
19:25Like that one
19:27To the front
19:28Bedroom three
19:29Also has a built-in wardrobe
19:33Good storage
19:34So guest room
19:35Yep
19:36Or office
19:37Because you've got the light coming through
19:39Yes
19:39So I can put my desk here
19:41And work from here
19:43Next to this is the family bathroom
19:45Fitted with contemporary sanitary wear
19:47And a skylight window
19:52The final bedroom for them to peruse
19:54Again with an aspect to the front
19:56Is the principal
20:00Lovely beams
20:01I like the space at the top
20:02And I like the windows
20:04You see the garden
20:06And this one is en suite
20:09Oh, nice big shower
20:11And light
20:11Yeah, that's well done
20:13I like that
20:13That's the feature room, isn't it?
20:15Where do you want to put our bed?
20:16That way
20:17Oh, that
20:18Oh, it could go that way, couldn't it?
20:19You want to see outside, don't you?
20:23Look, if we are here
20:24I'm on the wrong side of the bed
20:26So you need to come over here
20:27No
20:28That'd be better
20:29Why?
20:30You are there
20:30You are by the door
20:32To save me
20:33If anything happens
20:40Like the bed
20:41I'm feeling this tour
20:42Could go either way
20:44Perhaps what's on offer outside
20:46Will clinch things
20:47Despite the slope of the valley
20:49There is a level area of lawn
20:53Across the lane
20:54Up from the house
20:54Is a further plot
20:55Planted with fruit trees
20:57And below there's parking
20:59Plus a valley vista
21:01That's enough to have anyone
21:03Waxing lyrical
21:06And just around the bend
21:07There is Tintern Abbey
21:08Which is a very famous ruin
21:09That Wordsworth wrote his ode
21:12To Tintern Abbey
21:13So it's a very historic place
21:15Around here
21:15I like the fact that you've got
21:16The nice flat area
21:18Which is good for your
21:19And for his football goal
21:20And his trampoline
21:21How much do you think it costs
21:22How much do you think it costs this one
21:22I knew you'd ask that
21:25Considering where we are
21:27And what you said
21:28I'd definitely go higher now
21:30Let's say
21:32585
21:35575
21:36575,000
21:37So this is actually on the market
21:40For 600,000
21:42It's a location here
21:43That counts really
21:44Isn't it
21:44And I mean
21:45The property itself is beautiful
21:46Because it's got its four bedrooms
21:48And it's
21:48It's got the potential
21:49Loads of potential
21:49You can do in there
21:50Yeah
21:54The price is a guide
21:56On this semi-detached
21:5718th century cottage
21:58So if interested
21:59Beata and Andrew
22:00Could certainly chance an offer
22:03There's a kitchen breakfast room
22:04And two further reception rooms
22:06As well as four bedrooms
22:08A good-sized garden
22:10With valley views
22:11And an edge of village location
22:13Offering a community-run pub
22:15Shop and cafe
22:16That completes the package
22:18A bit of quirkiness
22:19Is what Beata likes
22:21So I know that
22:22That will have gone
22:23Right up there
22:24In a flagpole
22:25Gone, yep
22:25Quirky, I like quirky
22:27So it got me
22:28Very romantic, wasn't it?
22:30Very romantic, yes
22:31Yeah
22:36But then you're going to look
22:37At it pragmatically
22:38This house is at the top
22:39Of our budget
22:39And we mean there's
22:41Quite a bit of work
22:41That we'd have to do
22:42Just to make it
22:43How we want it
22:44And I think that
22:45It requires a lot of thought
23:00The bridge of Brockweer
23:02Makes it just a short trip
23:03Between England and Wales
23:04But after two viewings
23:07How's our search doing
23:08With bridging the gap
23:09Between Germany
23:10And the UK
23:11For my buyers
23:14Oh, it's so lovely
23:16By the river
23:17And we've lucked out
23:18With the weather today
23:19Oh, it's beautiful, isn't it?
23:20Are you feeling excited
23:21That it could actually happen
23:22That you're, you know
23:23When you go and see
23:24Feet on the ground
23:25The properties
23:25It somehow feels
23:26A bit more real
23:27Yes
23:27It's not only the property
23:28That comes with it
23:29It's the whole life
23:30That comes with it
23:31Because we're moving
23:31Our whole life
23:32New jobs
23:34New house
23:35New schools
23:37Suddenly it's become
23:38Very real
23:38That everything changes
23:40Yes
23:41Have you been speaking
23:42To Johanna?
23:42How's he feeling about it?
23:43We can ask him
23:44Directly
23:44Ah, yes
23:45The wonders of technology
23:45Can we call him on the phone?
23:47Shall we give him a call?
23:48Yeah, do
23:49Let's see
23:50Whether we can
23:52Dial him in
23:53Ah
23:54There he is
23:55Hello
23:56Hi, I'm Alistair
23:57Nice to meet you
23:58I've heard a lot about you
23:59Are you looking forward
24:00To moving back?
24:02Definitely
24:03England feels like home
24:05We've been thinking
24:06About you, Johanna
24:06You've not been left
24:07Out of the discussions
24:09All good things
24:10That you gave me
24:11On the list
24:12That I had to look for
24:13I haven't seen
24:14Johanna's list
24:15Where have you been
24:15Keeping that?
24:16In my head
24:17Oh, for gracious
24:18What about you
24:18Things you don't want?
24:21I mean
24:21I don't like it
24:22In packed areas
24:24So villages
24:25And countryside
24:26Is the best areas
24:29Rather close to a city
24:30But definitely not
24:31In a city
24:32Well, luckily
24:33Your mum and Andrew
24:34Chose to come on
24:35Escape to the country
24:36So we won't be
24:37Sending you to a city
24:38Very good news
24:40It's lovely to meet you
24:41Thanks very much
24:42Thank you very much
24:43What an incredibly
24:45Eloquent son you have
24:46Thank you
24:47He's better than me
24:47I guess
24:49So charming
24:50I think he would have
24:50Done better on the shore
24:51Than more folks
24:52Definitely
24:53Next time
24:53Bring him along
24:54Yeah
24:56Also, it's
24:58Auf Wiedersehen
24:59To house tours for now
25:00We'll be heading
25:01Into mystery territory
25:02For my final property
25:04Tomorrow
25:04But it's not
25:06In a city
25:18The average cost
25:19Of a detached house
25:20In the UK
25:21Is a little over
25:22£440,000
25:24But choose Gloucestershire
25:26And you may need
25:27To pay significantly more
25:29As that figure rises
25:30To over
25:32£516,000
25:33If you want your budget
25:35To go further
25:36Consider neighbouring
25:37Herefordshire
25:38Where the average
25:39Sale price for detached
25:40Properties is
25:42£441,000
25:45And here's a taster
25:46Of what's available
25:47In the area
25:48At the moment
25:50This towering home
25:51Was built in the
25:5219th century
25:53As part of a scheme
25:54To beautify the
25:55Herefordshire town
25:56Of Ross-on-Wye
25:58And the striking
25:59Grade 2 listed
26:00One bedroom property
26:02Appears to have
26:03Achieved its ambitions
26:05There's also a very
26:06Fetching view
26:07From the roof terrace
26:08The guide price
26:09Is £350,000
26:12This four bedroom
26:14Detached home
26:14In a Herefordshire
26:15Hamlet
26:16Has the region's
26:17Classic black and white
26:18Exterior
26:19With timber clad
26:20Extensions
26:21It's recently renovated
26:23And offered at a
26:24Guide price
26:24Of £450,000
26:28Back in Gloucestershire
26:29Would-be tenants
26:30Might consider this
26:32Detached three bedroom
26:33Farmhouse
26:34That comes with
26:35A large carport
26:36It has contemporary
26:38Interiors
26:38Surrounded by fields
26:40And panoramic views
26:41For rent at £1,850
26:44Per calendar month
26:50Ah, wunderschönes
26:51Frühlingswetter
26:52That's beautiful
26:53Spring weather
26:54Greeting our second
26:55Day of house hunting
26:56For Andrew and Beate's
26:58Big return to the UK
27:00And we are staying
27:02In the Wye Valley
27:03For our mystery house
27:04But this property
27:05Really pulls out
27:06All the bells and whistles
27:07On the land front
27:12We're nipping over
27:13The county border
27:14To Herefordshire
27:14For a mystery property
27:16In the Wye Valley
27:17Village of Walford
27:19Set on a strategic crossing point
27:22Of the river
27:22Once guarded on the opposite bank
27:24By a medieval castle
27:26We're just a couple of miles
27:28From all the facilities
27:29In the town of Ross-on-Wye
27:31The village itself
27:32Has an active working community
27:34That includes a family run timber yard
27:37Founded in 1945
27:38And while this Walford
27:41Doesn't have a Queen Vic
27:42It does have a pub
27:43Serving chef devised meals
27:45Packed with local produce
27:50So we've come a little further north
27:51We're closer to Ross-on-Wye
27:53And this is a little village
27:54Called Walford
27:55Do you know the show
27:56EastEnders?
27:57Did you ever come to any of that?
27:58I've heard of it
27:59But I haven't watched it
28:00That's all set in Walford
28:01But not this Walford
28:03I know that pub culture
28:04Is very important to you
28:05Andrews, right?
28:06It is
28:07Because it's
28:08When you move away
28:08From the UK
28:10You miss it
28:11And you realise
28:11That it's different
28:12And it's quite important
28:14I think
28:14Well, it's got a great pub
28:15Yeah, it's good
28:17And most importantly for you two
28:18The mystery house
28:20Why don't you explore the village a bit
28:22And I'll meet you there
28:23Great
28:26As well as the pub
28:27There's a village hall
28:29Buses run to Ross-on-Wye
28:31From stops on the main road
28:32From where it's just a short walk
28:34Or drive up a hillside track
28:36To my mystery offering
28:38Where I've gone ahead
28:40This one is just perfect for kids
28:42And even a nanny
28:45Meet Tom, Jerry, Barbara and Margot
28:48This is a good place to be a goat
28:50I mean, great views
28:51Great food
28:52Nice sunshine
28:54And the good thing is
28:55That if Andrew and Beata buy this place
28:58Then they might be able to have the goats
29:00As part of the deal
29:01Ready-made lawnmowers
29:07This property is a registered smallholding
29:09Giving permission to keep livestock
29:12So as well as a substantial house
29:14The mystery here is the four acres of land
29:17Half of which is wooded
29:19And with part of the long-distance
29:22Y-valley walk running through the plots
29:26No, you shouldn't worry
29:27I'm not lost
29:29I'm keeping up the element of surprise
29:31For that little bit longer
29:37Now, that walk was not all in vain
29:39No
29:40The reason I brought you through that woodland
29:42Is because it will belong to you
29:44Oh, wow
29:46If you choose to buy our mystery house
29:49Which is here
29:51Oh
29:52Look at that view
29:54Yes
29:54The mystery is really because of the land
29:57Yes
29:57And it's much more of a kind of farmstead sort of idea
30:01Two acres of woodland
30:03Two acres of fields
30:05I mean, the size of the land
30:07It's quite shocking, really
30:09I'm thinking who's going to do all the work
30:11I quite like chickens and animals
30:13So I wouldn't mind
30:15Especially working from home
30:16I would have time to look after them, wouldn't I?
30:18Can we go and look at the house?
30:19Yes, please
30:20Yes, please
30:23The home on offer is a stone cottage
30:25Built in 1760 and remodelled in the 1930s
30:29To add a front veranda
30:31As well as brick extensions
30:33All of which has been rendered and painted
30:38Approaching down the hill
30:39We enter at the back
30:41And into the country kitchen diner
30:44With view out over the valley
30:46Oh, that's very different, isn't it?
30:48It is
30:48So much different
30:49So I'm looking at the view
30:50Rather than the kitchen at the moment
30:51Yeah
30:51So this is much more a country cottage
30:54But you do got a big sort of washing room
30:56Boot room, utility room through there
30:58You've got this seating area
31:00Plus the country feel
31:02I love it
31:02It's cosy
31:03It's really cosy
31:04But really practical too
31:05I want to see more
31:07Ask and you shall receive
31:11Exiting through the dining area
31:13We cross an entrance hall
31:43So this is the original front door
31:44Starting with the one that could be Andrew and Beata's
31:48I think that is the master bedroom
31:51With the exposed stone
31:53And you've got good use of the bits outside of the fireplace
31:56To put your storage in
31:57I think you might bring me coffee in the morning
31:59I think I might
32:00Then I can sit in the bed
32:02And just enjoy my coffee
32:03Looking at the river
32:04Look, you can see the river from here
32:08There's also a box room used for storage
32:10A fellow vinyl collector by the looks of it
32:13And next to this is the family bathroom
32:16Which is fully tiled
32:18Then completing the upstairs
32:20Is bedroom number three
32:23It's a decent size
32:24Look at the view again
32:25Having that view to the front
32:27It's lovely
32:27Yes
32:28And yeah
32:29It's a big, big positive for the house
32:31Isn't it?
32:32It is
32:32It is
32:36That's the cottage
32:37But it's also ready to go
32:38For a self-sufficient good life
32:40Complete with hencoops
32:42And workshops
32:43Or perhaps an idyllically located
32:46Work from home office
32:47Or two
32:50You've got this big space out the front
32:52Lovely views
32:54You feel really nestled in the trees
32:56And the landscape here
32:57Obviously it's a challenge
32:58The big land
32:59The house is quite different
33:00From the other ones we've shown
33:01And I think they could really put their mark on this one
33:08Whether or not my buyers are ready
33:09To take on this small holding
33:11May well come down to what they have to pay for it
33:16You found me in the great acreage of the mystery house
33:19Yes
33:19I can see why it was picked as a mystery house
33:22Because it has done its job of going
33:25Oh
33:25It's just then it's the lifestyle
33:27What you're looking for
33:28And what you want
33:29And you've got to think about that
33:30How much do you think this costs?
33:32Well, because of the land
33:33I'm going to go higher up towards our budget
33:37So I'm going to go around 585
33:40I'm going 600
33:42Because of the land
33:43Close to the village
33:44Due to the river
33:45Well, I'm sad to say, Andrew
33:48That your wife is spot on
33:50Oh
33:50This is on the market for 600,000 pounds
33:55And one thing I think is worth flagging up
33:57Is this is quite a sluggish market
33:59So there's a chance that you would
34:00Could put in an offer
34:02Yeah
34:02Yeah
34:03Can always try
34:07This registered small holding
34:09Offers a three-bedroom cottage
34:10Four acres of land
34:12And an elevated position
34:14Giving far-reaching views of the Wai Valley
34:18It's on the edge of a village with a pub
34:19And just a couple of miles
34:21From the country town of Ross-on-Wai
34:26There was the house in the valley
34:28With goats and greens
34:30And all the romantic ideas you have
34:33Flowing through your mind
34:34When you see something like this
34:36So, yes
34:37My heart says
34:38I want to live here
34:42I need to put my pragmatic head on here
34:44How's this actually going to work?
34:46Do we really want to look after animals?
34:48I've not even thought about
34:49What it would mean to have so much land
34:52Than the work of their role
34:55Das war's
34:56Das Geheimnishaus
34:58Sounds kind of weird in German
35:00The mystery house
35:00It does
35:01It does
35:01Sounds a bit more sinister
35:04Anyway
35:05That's all done
35:07Let's have a little rest
35:08And then you can chew things over
35:10And then we can talk about
35:10Where we go next
35:12Come with me
35:26The countryside can be very empowering
35:29And it certainly is for Claire
35:31Who made her escape to Herefordshire
35:33Six years ago
35:37My name is Claire
35:38And I moved here to rural Herefordshire
35:41From North London
35:43And I live here with my dog Fred
35:45And a variety of other animals
35:47Including four sheep
35:49Here come the sheep
35:52Four chickens
35:53And a cat called Mr Shanks
35:59This is the exciting moment every morning
36:01I go and see if I've got any eggs
36:07Yes, there's one
36:09Fantastic
36:10Something for breakfast
36:14Previously a journalist
36:15Living in the capital
36:16Claire's home now
36:18Is a registered smallholding
36:20With an orchard
36:21Livestock
36:22And a vegetable garden
36:24When I was in London
36:25This was my dream
36:27Really
36:27To have
36:28Somewhere I could grow plants
36:31She continues to write
36:32From her rambling
36:34Four bedroom Victorian
36:35Brick house
36:36Where I've come to find out
36:37How the move has influenced her
36:39And her work
36:43Hello
36:43Hi, Claire
36:44Lovely to meet you
36:45Thanks for having me
36:46Do come in
36:47What a beautiful home
36:49Well, thank you so much
36:50I love all these
36:52Floor tiles
36:53A lot of this was here
36:55When I came
36:56The floor
36:57And the units
36:58And everything
36:58But I've done quite a lot of work
36:59Decoratively
37:00Yes, very tasteful
37:02All these old beams
37:03Were salvaged
37:04And put in
37:05By the previous owner
37:06Oh, so they're not original
37:07They're not original
37:07But they look really authentic
37:08I think
37:09Yeah, they do, yeah
37:09So I know you moved from
37:11Quite a kind of glamorous job in London
37:13You were in magazines
37:14Is that right?
37:15Well, that's right
37:15Well, yes
37:15I worked for most of my career
37:17As a magazine journalist
37:19And then I've always meant
37:20To move to the country
37:22And then I thought
37:23The time has come
37:24I grew up around here
37:25In Malvern
37:26Which is about
37:27A 50 minute drive away
37:29And my family
37:30Originally from Wales
37:31Which is quite close
37:33And it just makes me feel
37:34More rooted
37:35Do you find that being here
37:36Is more conducive to writing?
37:38Do you get more writing done?
37:39Yes, well I find
37:40What I'm writing about
37:41Has changed rather
37:42Because these days
37:43It's more kind of
37:43Mythical, folkloric
37:45Witchy type books
37:46And which I think
37:47Is informed quite a lot
37:48By the surroundings
37:49Because Herefordshire
37:50Is a land rich in folklore
37:51And, you know
37:53Goings on
37:54And is your garden
37:55A reflection of that?
37:56Yes, it is
37:56I've made a garden
37:57Based on five elements
37:59So it's fire, water
38:00Earth and air
38:00And then in the centre
38:01There's a spiral
38:02Which represents spirit
38:03Can we have a peek outside?
38:05Yes, of course
38:05I'd love to show you
38:06Either way
38:13This looks amazing
38:14Well, there's a lot here already
38:15I've just sort of
38:16Redesigned it
38:17To my own whim
38:18In the summer
38:19That's all fire
38:20And yellows
38:21And reds
38:22And oranges
38:23And then there's water
38:25Earth and air
38:26With all the very tall grasses
38:27Which will come up later
38:28Oh, beautiful
38:32Now a lot of your writing
38:33Of late
38:34Has taken a more
38:35Elemental turn
38:36How would you describe
38:37Your practice?
38:38I'm mostly aligned
38:39With druidry
38:40Oh, yeah
38:40And the sort of
38:41Connection with nature
38:42And the land
38:43And the seasons
38:44So which is one of the reasons
38:46I've created the garden
38:47Like I have
38:48And my latest book
38:49Actually is about
38:50One of the elements
38:50Is about water
38:51It's called
38:52The Water Remedy
38:52And it's about
38:53How we should care
38:54And appreciate water
38:55It's about searching
38:56For holy wells
38:57And appreciating
38:59Spa water
38:59And springs
39:00And a little bit
39:01About the seaside
39:02And coast
39:02And estuaries
39:03Which I love
39:33I notice you've got water
39:34Because I've shown my buyers
39:35Capture the spirit
39:36Of what they're looking for
39:44My presenter's intuition
39:46Makes me feel that
39:47Beata really loved
39:49All the land
39:51And the woodland
39:52And the kind of country feel
39:54Of the mystery house
39:56But Andrew
39:58Probably
39:58It was an acre
39:59Or three
40:00Too far
40:01But let's find out
40:02What they think
40:03About all the houses
40:10How are you doing?
40:11Doing well
40:12Wie geht's?
40:13Good
40:13Sehr gut
40:13Sehr gut
40:15So has this
40:16Focused your mind?
40:17What's this week
40:18Talked to you
40:19About your move here?
40:20It's taught us
40:21That England is for us
40:22We are coming back
40:23Yes
40:25It's also taught us
40:26Actually
40:26It's a lovely area here
40:28The Wye Valley
40:28Gloucestershire
40:30And I think the first house
40:31Is my favourite
40:32Out of the three
40:33The land
40:34The garden
40:34The positioning
40:35The quiet
40:36Was superb
40:36You just needed
40:38To make the house
40:38Bigger
40:39And I thought
40:39I was thinking all the time
40:40What could I do
40:41To make it bigger?
40:42How could I do that?
40:42How could I change it?
40:43Beata's the one
40:44That stood out
40:44For you as a possibility
40:45I want to love
40:46The third house
40:47My heart says
40:48That's mine
40:49So you love
40:50The mystery house?
40:51I do
40:51The romantic feeling
40:53Of having your own
40:54Animals to look after
40:56And being able
40:57To just go out
40:58In the morning
40:58And walk across
40:59Your own land
41:00But the first house
41:01Had land as well
41:02When you actually
41:03Look at the plot size
41:04It's a lot bigger
41:04Than your first thing
41:05And I just think
41:06It's easy to manage
41:07And work that land
41:08Than it is the other one
41:10And I think that's a factor
41:11What's the next step
41:12For you guys?
41:14The first house
41:15I want to think about
41:17A bit more
41:17The second and the third
41:19Don't work for me
41:20But the area does
41:22The third one in particular
41:23Is because of the village location
41:24Isn't it?
41:25The amenities are there
41:26On your doorstep
41:27Which really help
41:28Okay so first and third
41:31Maybe but overall
41:32You're sold on this
41:34Y valley location
41:35Yes absolutely
41:36And if something comes on
41:37That we need to see
41:40We go on a plane
41:41And we come back
41:41And we see it
41:42We have to find
41:43Somewhere to live
41:44Work starts for us
41:45Both over the summer
41:46New jobs
41:48So things have to happen
41:49And we have to make them happen
41:50Well keep us in the loop
41:52It's been a real joy
41:53And if you find somewhere
41:54Let us know
41:55And we'll come revisit
41:56Brilliant
41:57You'll be very well
41:58Thank you
41:58Auf Wiedersehen
41:59Auf Wiedersehen
42:00Exactly
42:05In the end
42:06I didn't need this
42:08Because apparently
42:08I am the sunshine presenter
42:10Because there was lots of sunshine
42:12On Andrew and Beata's adventures
42:14Here in Gloucestershire
42:15And the Y valley
42:16And I think they have fallen in love
42:18With this beautiful area of the country
42:20Which is great
42:21Because in my own experience
42:23Moving from one country
42:24Like Germany to the UK
42:25Is quite a lot of stress
42:27And it's great to have
42:28A wonderful prospect
42:30Of landscape
42:31And livelihood
42:32Stretching out in front of you
42:34So I hope they find
42:35The place they love
42:36And I hope you join us next time
42:38For more Escape to the Country
42:42Our couple went back
42:43To the first house
42:44For a second viewing
42:45But in a huge twist of events
42:47Decided to shift their search
42:49Closer to Andrew's family
42:51In Yorkshire
42:51They're now in the process
42:53Of buying a barn conversion there
42:55We wish them all the best
42:56With their move
42:58If you'd like to
42:59Escape to the Country
43:00In England
43:00Northern Ireland
43:01Scotland
43:02Or Wales
43:02And need our help
43:04Why not apply online
43:05At bbc.co.uk
43:07Forward slash
43:08Take part
43:09We're in the best we see
43:10We'll see you next time
43:38We'll see you next time
43:39Now we'll see you next time
43:39You
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