Escape To The Country Season 26 Episode 7 follows a family ready to leave their crowded south east London home behind in search of space and a fresh start on the beautiful Norfolk and Suffolk border. Steve Brown presents a selection of charming listed properties and a striking mystery house conversion, each offering character and countryside appeal. Along the journey, he also meets a couple who planned to downsize but instead fell in love with a stunning 15th-century farmhouse, proving that sometimes bigger really is better when it comes to country living.
Discover inspiring rural homes, scenic landscapes, and the lifestyle change many dream about in this heartwarming property search episode.
#EscapeToTheCountry #Norfolk #Suffolk #CountryLiving #PropertyShow
Discover inspiring rural homes, scenic landscapes, and the lifestyle change many dream about in this heartwarming property search episode.
#EscapeToTheCountry #Norfolk #Suffolk #CountryLiving #PropertyShow
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:01Here on Escape to the Country, it's our mission to fulfill our escapees' wish list.
00:07That's very cool. You've got old and new. I like it.
00:11And throw in a few extras.
00:14Definitely made it if you've got a gear.
00:15Yeah, that's it. You know you're getting somewhere, don't you?
00:19Some of which they never knew they needed.
00:22Sauna.
00:24You get your sauna eventually.
00:26There's definitely space for a sauna.
00:27This blend of expected and unexpected makes for a winning combination.
00:34Look at that. I can see a smile on the man's face.
01:05If you're the kind of home buyer who wants to have your cake and eat it, head to the Norfolk
01:11-Suffolk border.
01:13Here, the very best of both counties greets you.
01:20With more waterways than Venice, the Norfolk and Suffolk broads are the largest wetlands in the country.
01:26But get this. East Anglia, where you can find them, is actually the UK's driest region.
01:33So if you want it dry and wet, I suppose you're in the right place.
01:40Today, we're in eastern England, exploring the Norfolk-Suffolk border.
01:46Norfolk and Suffolk is two counties that are full of great food producers.
01:51I've been a farmer, really, ever since I can remember.
01:54I've always been obsessed by farming.
01:57I used to come up here in the mornings with my father when I was very little and feed cows,
02:03milk cows.
02:04They're lovely creatures.
02:06Home buyers seeking period properties in a vibrant town with great rail connections, head to the Norfolk town of this.
02:15Whilst the Suffolk village of Walberswick is an ever popular destination with holiday makers.
02:23In a converted grain silo just outside the border town of Bungie in Suffolk, Amir Montazzo runs a cafe.
02:31It's very rewarding to run a business in a rural area like this.
02:34There's a big sense of community and people are closer to each other.
02:39We know many of our customers by their name.
02:41And also being closer to nature, like being in an environment like this, is an inspiration every day.
02:53Today, we find ourselves sitting on a very pretty fence between two counties.
02:59Norfolk, this bit, and Suffolk, that bit.
03:02And our buyers have a problem.
03:04They need to choose one over the other.
03:07Hi, I'm Lindsay.
03:08I'm Natasha.
03:09Well, I've lived in this house for 14 years and South East London all my life.
03:13I've been here for four and a half years.
03:17Lindsay, who runs a property inventory business, and Natasha, a self-employed beauty therapist married 16 months ago.
03:25I met Natasha and moved in with her and the kids.
03:28And so it's kind of like her house.
03:30You've owned it for 13 years.
03:32Mm-hm.
03:33So to me, it excites me that we are getting our own home and like starting from scratch almost.
03:38I'd echo that.
03:39It's the excitement of finding the house that is actually my home.
03:44The house I'm in at the moment was always a stopgap.
03:47This is us here and terrace property, bottom of a small little close.
03:57We've tried to change our house.
03:59We've done everything we can in terms of adding the loft room, remodelling the kitchen, taking walls down.
04:06Everything that we could possibly...
04:07We redid the garden.
04:09Everything that...
04:09It didn't take long though, did it?
04:11Everything we could possibly do, but actually really are sort of bursting at the seams.
04:17Daughters, nine-year-old April and 11-year-old Willow need more space.
04:22We are a growing family of four and a growing four-month-old pup.
04:28And literally this is the extent of our living space.
04:31This is all we have.
04:33So a bit of extra space wouldn't go amiss so that I don't have to have this monstrosity in my
04:39kitchen anymore.
04:40This is where we are, my kitchen.
04:42So some space for Lindsay for his Lego would be great.
04:48Natasha and Lindsay want a detached home with three bedrooms, a kitchen diner, at least a quarter of an acre
04:55of garden,
04:56plus an outbuilding to convert into a treatment room and a home office.
05:01Their budget, £600,000.
05:15Now, it's true to say that Norfolk and Suffolk have been rivals for centuries,
05:21but one thing they do have in common is that either of them could be the perfect place for Natasha
05:26and Lindsay to live.
05:27They want to be able to open the front door, let the girls out, go and explore in a way
05:34that's just not possible in a city.
05:36So whether they end up on the north or the south side of the border,
05:40I cannot wait to show them what these two beautiful counties could offer.
05:47We're hitting Norfolk first, heading for the village of Tharston, in the south of the county.
05:53And on the village green in neighbouring Whapton, I'm meeting the couple to chat more about this exciting move.
06:01Natasha, Lindsay, lovely to meet you both.
06:04And what a great setting we've got here to start everything off.
06:07It's amazing. It's so pretty and quiet. It's a world away from what we're used to.
06:12And why now? Why is now the right time to move?
06:16I think, so Willow is about to start secondary school in September.
06:20And I think if we were able to move now, before she gets really settled into sort of her secondary
06:26years,
06:27now would be the ideal time to move.
06:29The younger one's still in primary school and she's actually desperate to move.
06:32So there'd be no trouble trying to get her...
06:35She's decided to save for a farm at the moment.
06:39So for us, the location needs to work in terms of schools and we need to be near some easily
06:45accessible shops.
06:46Also with the girls, we want it so that there's like clubs that they can get involved in.
06:51If we could get a train station sort of within reach, I mean, you know, not asking much.
06:56So I'll do my best to find you a farm next to a train station, next to a shop, next
07:01to a school, next to a club and next to a park.
07:04Perfect.
07:05Sounds good.
07:06How about we have a look then, shall we?
07:07Let's do it.
07:07Let's do it.
07:11Residents of Tharston and Whackton make use of the facilities in the nearby town of Longstratton.
07:17There's a supermarket, a GP surgery, a leisure centre, regular buses to Norwich, pubs, restaurants and cafes, plus a primary
07:27and a secondary school.
07:30Just a 15 minute walk from all these amenities at the end of a long gravel drive sits this Grade
07:36II listed 17th century timber framed cottage.
07:41Here we are then.
07:43Wow.
07:43Nice.
07:44First of the things I'd like to show you whilst we're here is this offering.
07:50Wow.
07:51That's cute.
07:52That's nice.
07:53That's not what I was expecting, but it wasn't that.
07:56But it's super cute.
07:57Yeah.
07:57In terms of land, what you've got here is nearly three quarters of an acre.
08:01Wow.
08:02So there's plenty of space.
08:04So definitely sit on lawnmower territory.
08:06Yeah.
08:08It certainly is.
08:10Wrapping around the house on three sides, guaranteeing all day sun, it is the epitome of an English country garden.
08:18With its veggie patches, chicken coops and an orchard.
08:23Wow.
08:24Wow.
08:26The garden that just keeps giving, eh?
08:29Yeah.
08:29I'm actually speechless.
08:31Wow.
08:32This is, like, I know you said three quarters of an acre.
08:35You don't realise how big that, it sounds less than it actually feels.
08:40But there's like more through there as well.
08:41Yeah.
08:42Yeah.
08:42There goes through in there.
08:44There goes through in there.
08:44I like it because there's lots of different...
08:46Areas.
08:47Areas.
08:47And, like, the first thing I see is just the girls running around here, like, chasing each
08:51other with a dog.
08:51Like, I just see them going absolutely nuts.
08:56This garden is a world away from what Natasha and Lindsay currently have.
09:00And the same can be said of the house.
09:03It's in from what I think you agree is a reasonably attractive garden.
09:09Yep.
09:09Not too shabby.
09:11It'll do, definitely.
09:12Yeah, it'll do.
09:14Cute.
09:15Nice.
09:16Again, not what I was expecting at all.
09:20Properly taken by surprise.
09:21Yeah.
09:22But it's super, super cute.
09:24It's got a lot of character, which I like.
09:26Yeah.
09:26Absolutely.
09:27Come on, let's go through that way.
09:32The property has two reception rooms.
09:35This one, the larger, is in an extension added in the 1970s.
09:40This is great with straight out onto the garden, but straight onto the kitchen.
09:44Yeah.
09:45It would flow really nicely.
09:47And just, like, thought of just sitting there and looking out and watching, like, the wildlife,
09:50the birds and everything.
09:52And, as you say, on a nice, hot day, just having those doors open.
09:54And now in the winter, just sitting all cozied up.
09:56Yeah.
09:57Yeah.
09:57Definitely.
09:58I get that feel.
10:00The second reception, in the oldest part of the house, is being used as a snug and study.
10:06This is a warm winter snug, but it does lend itself to an office as well.
10:12I mean, I don't know that you need an office this big, but this could be office slash Lego room.
10:16No, that, that, that.
10:17I don't know.
10:18I won't give you the whole room.
10:19I don't know.
10:19How would you give me the whole room, though?
10:20I don't know.
10:21Treatment room.
10:22This could be a treat, this would be a beautiful treatment room, but this would be perfect for
10:26that.
10:27Definitely, er, getting the grey matter going.
10:32There are other treatment room and office options outside, but before we investigate those...
10:38Just need to watch my head here.
10:39Yeah, watch your head.
10:42Natasha and Lindsay are heading upstairs.
10:45I just like how they've kept some, like...
10:47These original features.
10:49Well, actually, they've made a feature of it.
10:51Yeah.
10:51They've made an actual feature of that.
10:52Yeah.
10:52It's not just in passing.
10:54It's being celebrated, isn't it?
10:57A modern family bathroom serves three double bedrooms, two of which have exposed beams.
11:04Does this room feel a bit bigger?
11:06Yeah.
11:06I like them all, but I don't know, it just feels a bit more head height in this one.
11:11Outside, this stable block could, subject to relevant planning consents, provide more
11:16office and treatment room options.
11:19Sauna.
11:20Yeah.
11:21You get your sauna eventually.
11:22You get, like, there's definitely space for a sauna.
11:25There's one last bit of information Natasha and Lindsay need.
11:29So, of course, there's a price to talk about.
11:32You know, nothing's free, I'm afraid to say.
11:35What would your best guess be?
11:36Er...
11:37You want to go first?
11:37I reckon 575.
11:39Oh.
11:40So, if he said 575, which is actually what I was going to say, I'll edge slightly higher
11:43and then I'll say 580.
11:45Okay, right.
11:46So, 575,000 pounds from you, 580,000 pounds from you.
11:52You'll be pleased to know.
11:54Oh, I've lost.
11:55You'll be pleased to know you've lost because it's lower.
11:58Oh, my goodness.
12:01All right.
12:01550,000 pounds.
12:03No way.
12:04Really?
12:05My mind's blown.
12:07Yeah.
12:07Definitely pleasantly surprised.
12:09Yeah.
12:10It's amazing.
12:12This grade 2 listed 17th century cottage has a spacious kitchen breakfast room, two receptions,
12:20three bedrooms and a garden of nearly three quarters of an acre.
12:24It's on the market for offers in the region of 550,000 pounds.
12:29If our girls were here with us and they'd seen this house, we'd have a problem because
12:34they wouldn't want to leave.
12:35They would spend all day in this garden.
12:37They would build themselves dens.
12:39They'd want tree houses.
12:40They'd want play houses.
12:41And I can definitely see us gardening and doing the vegetables.
12:45And it's just a different, complete lifestyle to what we have now, but it's one that the
12:50girls are crying out for.
12:52Overwhelmed sitting here in the garden.
12:54I just, I wasn't expecting anything half like this.
12:59I can see us spending more time as a family and actually being outside, playing with the
13:04girls, enjoying the space, having barbecues and having friends come round.
13:09And it would definitely improve our family life massively, having this kind of area and space.
13:27In the heart of the Waveney Valley sits the market town of Bungay.
13:32This is cute.
13:34Look how quiet and nice it is.
13:36Oh, what a change.
13:38Officially in Suffolk, but right on the border with Norfolk, it's on the doorstep of the
13:43Broad National Park and just a 20 minute drive from the popular Suffolk seaside spots of
13:49Walberswick and Southwold.
13:51Cute little square, eh?
13:52Yeah.
13:54Really cute.
13:56Bungay's historic Buttercross is the focus of the weekly market, which is well supported
14:02by town residents and those from the surrounding villages and hamlets in both counties.
14:08There you go.
14:09You're sorted.
14:11Bingo.
14:11Bingo night.
14:12Nah.
14:13I'll drag you with me.
14:14Do I learn cricket?
14:15I could learn cricket.
14:16I could definitely watch cricket.
14:17Like that.
14:19There are very few high street brands here.
14:22Instead, the streets are chock full of independent businesses, many of which have been here for
14:27generations.
14:29Another bakery.
14:30There's loads of bakeries and cafes, isn't there?
14:32I know.
14:33Makes me happy.
14:37Of course, none have been around as long as Bungay's 900-year-old castle, built by the
14:43Bygod family.
14:45Their name now adorns a local cheese stocked at the award-winning Ursham Street Deli.
14:51One of the ones we have is the Barren Bygod.
14:54It's this one.
14:55It's based on a Brie de Moe.
14:57And the Montbelliard's house, literally, are on the marshes just over there.
15:01So, really local.
15:02On the same road, known locally as the Foodie Furlong, Nicola Milne Malone runs Giddens
15:09and Thompson Greengrocers.
15:11Bungay is a really, really vibrant town.
15:14It's full of fantastic people, full of fantastic businesses.
15:18Bungay's all about the community.
15:20Without them, I don't think we could all be here.
15:23So, they're fantastic.
15:24They support us wholeheartedly since we got here.
15:29Yeah.
15:30And they support the whole of the businesses here.
15:33A few doors down from Nicola sits the popular Ursham Street Cafe, owned by Gemma Parker.
15:40One of the beauties of Bungay, like the independent shops and the fact that you can kind of just come
15:45and it's not really busy and you can just kind of wander around.
15:49Yeah.
15:50So, a very nice place to live and work, obviously.
15:52Are you thinking of opening your own business?
15:55Well, I run a salon from home.
15:57Mm-hm.
15:58So, it would depend on the area that we move to.
16:01But I'd either look to carry on from home if people were open to that, but also be open to
16:06opening a storefront if that was the better route.
16:09Is the community quite open to new people moving into the area and new businesses opening?
16:13Yes, definitely.
16:15Everyone is very welcoming.
16:17One of the newest businesses in Bungay is the Mayfair Cocktail Bar, which was opened 16 months ago by Daisy
16:25and Silas Rayner.
16:27Bungay has a really kind of unique place in the area.
16:31It has a really cohesive community.
16:34Everyone gets on here.
16:35Everyone smiles.
16:36It's a really happy, sunny place to be.
16:38I find it a wonderful place to live.
16:41It's always been a very creative town.
16:43We've got theatre.
16:44We've got art galleries.
16:45We've got independent shops.
16:46And for years and years, it's been a creative hub for music and art, which is something we both really
16:51love about the town.
16:54Bungay's got bags to offer.
16:56But for now, our search for Lindsay and Natasha's new home continues.
17:05Our next stop is the Norfolk village of Bressingham, three miles west of the market town of Dis, which Natasha
17:12will be pleased to know is on the Norwich to London train line.
17:16Bressingham's 800 or so residents have access to a small shop, a village hall, a garden centre with a restaurant
17:24and cafe, a primary school that has a good Ofsted rating, as well as a steam museum and gardens.
17:31A ten-minute walk from which sits our next property.
17:37And how about this then?
17:41Wow.
17:42Nice.
17:42What do you think of that?
17:43Very nice.
17:44That is pretty.
17:45Yeah.
17:46Again, very cute.
17:47Very picturesque.
17:49Curb appeal.
17:51Really cute.
17:52One drive, got a gate.
17:53You got a gate this time.
17:54Yeah, definitely made it if you've got a gate.
17:56Yeah, that's it.
17:57You know you're getting somewhere, don't you?
17:59Drive with a gate.
18:00Yeah.
18:01Let's have a look, shall we?
18:02Yes.
18:04This Grade II listed detached period home is thought to date back to the 1700s and has been completely modernised
18:12by the present owner, who's lived here for the past ten years.
18:16Come on in.
18:18Oh, wow.
18:20This is really big.
18:22It's a nice big room, isn't it?
18:24Wow.
18:24We've got the beams again.
18:25We've got the beams again.
18:26Nice and spacious, but at the same time still cosy as well.
18:30It's a really big room.
18:31It's got a cosy feel.
18:32It's like a farmhouse-y feel, isn't there?
18:34Yeah.
18:34Even though it's not that, but it does sort of feel like that, I think.
18:37You kind of want to sink into the sofa.
18:39I know, that's what I was thinking, with the fire on.
18:41Yeah.
18:41Do it then.
18:42Come on.
18:42Sofas are for sitting on.
18:44Let's give it a go.
18:45Oh.
18:46Oh, see?
18:47Yeah.
18:48That's cosy.
18:49Are you not putting the kettle on?
18:52Well, that's what I call making yourself at home.
18:56But no, Lindsay, I'm not.
18:57There's loads more to see.
18:59So up through here, beautiful bathroom.
19:04This is swish.
19:06Lovely size.
19:07Yeah.
19:08This is, like, more than enough space.
19:10Yeah.
19:12Utility room.
19:13And look at all of these features and the age of this place.
19:18That's 1700s, that is.
19:19I love that.
19:19Yeah, it's amazing.
19:21Oh, wow.
19:22This is huge.
19:23Look at it.
19:24This...
19:25Yeah.
19:26This kitchen's a bit of me.
19:28This is nice.
19:29This is nice.
19:31Normally I like things that are new and shiny, but this floor is perfect as it is, isn't it?
19:36You wouldn't want a new shiny floor in here, would you?
19:38Even, like, the rustic table and everything.
19:40Yeah.
19:41I think now is as good a time as any for you two just to go and have a wander
19:45on your own.
19:45You love the kitchen, love the front room.
19:48Let's see what you think about the rest of the house and I'll see you again shortly.
19:51Cool.
19:51Perfect.
19:52Go and have a wander.
19:55I'm just going to let the house speak for itself.
20:00The downstairs accommodation continues with the second reception.
20:05Oh, cosy.
20:06Look at that.
20:06Oh, wow.
20:07Finally get a library.
20:09Yeah.
20:09Reading nook.
20:10Yeah.
20:11For all the time I'll now have to read.
20:12That's cute.
20:14From this room, stairs lead up to the first floor corridor, at the end of which is the main bedroom.
20:21Oh, wow.
20:22Wow.
20:24Wow.
20:25Wow.
20:25I was not expecting this.
20:27No.
20:27This is like a plush hotel room type vibe.
20:31Yeah.
20:32And then look at the view going over there.
20:35There's bags of storage up here.
20:38Oh, right.
20:39So these are all storage spaces.
20:42Yeah.
20:42There's another bedroom there.
20:45Oh, that goes really deep down into the eaves.
20:47Look.
20:48Oh, well, that's...
20:49You can walk in there.
20:50Yeah.
20:50And there's like more built in.
20:51Yeah.
20:52So that's like all your suitcases, Christmas, all of that and that.
20:56And at the opposite end of the house is the third bedroom.
21:00Oh, wow.
21:00Wow.
21:01Look at this.
21:02That is cool.
21:03Oh, definitely be a fight with the girls for this room.
21:06This is every child's dream, isn't it?
21:09Yeah.
21:09Because this could be the playroom bit and then, yeah, a little den for sleeping.
21:15I'm listening to what they're saying up there and all I can hear is wows.
21:18I think there was a wow for the main bedroom, a wow for the storage, a wow for the second
21:24room.
21:25I've run out of reasons they're wowing.
21:28Back downstairs at the side of the property is the rear entrance hall and a room dedicated to music.
21:36Well, this, I like this with the...
21:38It's like a boot room.
21:39Yeah.
21:39So you could come in with the dog and mud.
21:41Yeah, exactly and tripping over the girls' stuff.
21:43Oh, wow.
21:45This is like...
21:46Okay.
21:47Like a fourth bedroom.
21:48Yeah.
21:49I'd open this up as a potential bedroom.
21:51Yeah.
21:52Because it's bigger than the other one.
21:56Outside, the half-acre plot includes a large expanse of lawn and a brick-built garage
22:00with workshop that could, subject to planning, provide the treatment room and office Natasha
22:06and Lindsay are after.
22:10Hey, you two.
22:12Hello.
22:12Hello.
22:13Take a seat.
22:14Take the weight off for a moment, eh?
22:17Okay.
22:18Okay.
22:18We've got to talk figures.
22:19Who wants to go first?
22:21I'm going to say 580.
22:25580,000 pounds.
22:26Again, I'm going to say the same.
22:26580,000 pounds.
22:27Okay.
22:29I'm thinking it's like near the top end of the budget.
22:33So I'm going 600.
22:34600,000 pounds.
22:36Okay.
22:36Okay.
22:37We have a winner, ladies and gentlemen.
22:40For two reasons.
22:42Okay.
22:42You was closest.
22:43Yes.
22:44And you still guessed high.
22:45Okay.
22:46Oh, wow.
22:48575,000 pounds.
22:50Oh, okay.
22:51Pleasantly surprised at that.
22:53Yeah?
22:53Yeah.
22:54Yeah.
22:54Look at that.
22:54I can see a smile on the man's face.
22:57Oh, yeah.
22:58This grade two listed detached period home boasts a spacious country kitchen.
23:03Two receptions, three bedrooms and a music room.
23:07On a half acre plot in a quiet village just a few miles from this, it has a guide price
23:13of 575,000 pounds.
23:16I feel this one has more a homely feel to it.
23:22I did like the first one, but I don't know, it's just something about this one.
23:26So I felt the first house was more homely for me.
23:29However, this house has more usable, versatile living space for us that works better for us.
23:37than the first house.
23:40I can see a big benefit to our lifestyle being here.
23:44Technically our school run would be walking to the end of the gate to make sure we can
23:48see them walking up the road.
23:50And that would be it.
23:51Which is game changing for us.
23:53Yeah.
23:54So are we all happy?
23:56Yes, definitely.
23:57I am pleased to hear it.
24:07Our last stop today is at the most southerly edge of the Broad National Park.
24:11The Locks Inn sits in a remote spot just outside the village of Gelderston on the banks of the River
24:18Waveney.
24:19Hey, here he comes, look with the drinks.
24:23Thank you very much, Frank. Sit down with us.
24:27Frank Barrett was one of the local community who stepped in to secure the future of this 300 year old
24:33pub when it was put up for sale in 2020.
24:37This pub has meant a lot to a lot of people for a lot of years and people didn't want
24:42to see that happen.
24:43So we now have 1600 shareholders who all bought into the pub in a very short space of time because
24:49it was quite a narrow window to buy it.
24:53And now we do have the biggest shareholder ownership of a community pub in the country. I'm fairly sure. I'm
25:00going to touch wood on that. I'm fairly sure.
25:02What was the reasoning for the pub closing down in the first place for then you guys to kind of
25:06like group together to save it?
25:09So it's not a glamorous reason, to be honest with you.
25:12The reason pubs will become community pubs is they're potentially not viable. There's not enough people using them.
25:18But here it was because it needed a whole new septic system. So basically that was £120,000 to put
25:27that in.
25:28But that's to me, you know, sings community. The whole idea that strangers and friends all coming together to save
25:38something that they deem important.
25:42You know, and it must make you feel proud to be part of something like that.
25:45We're all proud. Everybody here. We're all proud. Everybody is. We've got shareholders in Australia, Fiji.
25:51Oh, right. Yeah.
25:52You know, they haven't maybe haven't been here since they bought shares, but they remember it when they've been here
25:55in the past and they bought because everybody wants to see it carry on.
25:59And now it will. It will always be a pub.
26:01Do you know, I love it. You've got a community come together to keep the local pub, which then keeps
26:10a spot for local groups and volunteers.
26:13And it just shows how much everyone comes together. Thank you so much for your time today and keeping one
26:20of these wonderful pubs alive.
26:22Oh, it's a privilege. It is. It really is. It really is. Thank you. Thank you.
26:38If you're eyeing up a bolt hole on the Norfolk-Suffolk border, here's the lowdown on property prices.
26:45The average cost of a detached house in the UK is just over £437,000. In Suffolk, it's a smidge
26:55under that at £435,000. And in Norfolk, the figure drops significantly to just over £397,000.
27:05Both Suffolk and Norfolk have got extensive coastlines, which are very appealing. I mean, I would say they are equally
27:13as beautiful.
27:14Obviously, you've got some areas which are prime locations, such as North Norfolk. In Suffolk, areas such as Walberswick, Southwold,
27:24which are hotspots for second homes.
27:26So they tend to be more expensive areas. But essentially, in the borders of Norfolk and Suffolk, prices are pretty
27:34reasonable if you compare them to the rest of the country.
27:37With that in mind, let's take a look at what else is on the market here.
27:43This Grade II listed 16th century cottage, formerly the local bakery, has a lounge with exposed beams.
27:52And a cook's kitchen that combines modern and traditional.
27:56With two bedrooms and a private south-facing courtyard, for £300,000, it could be yours.
28:04Or how about this 18th century semi-detached thatch cottage? It boasts a spacious sitting room, a kitchen breakfast room
28:13and three bedrooms.
28:14On a plot of just under half an acre, the guide price for this is £425,000.
28:23For those looking to rent, this two-bed detached property, built in 1890 as the gatehouse to a nearby manor,
28:31has a sitting room, a contemporary fitted kitchen and landscape gardens.
28:37It's available for £1,350 per calendar month.
28:45Today, it's Suffolk's turn to try and win Lindsay and Natasha over.
28:50We've crossed the border to go and see a brilliant mystery house.
28:55Our last property destination is the hamlet of Crenley Green, just a mile and a half from the small market
29:02town of Eyre.
29:03And what a feast for the Eyres it is!
29:06The town's 2,000 or so residents are spoilt rotten, with a butcher and baker, a Laszlo candlestick maker, a
29:15green grocer, a small supermarket, a pub, a library, a community arts centre and this chocolate shop.
29:22I'll get this.
29:22Thank you very much.
29:25Oh, lovely.
29:28Whoa.
29:30Owned by Helen Fraser and her husband Guy Robinson, Helen has kindly agreed to share her experience of escaping here
29:38from London.
29:39I moved here early 90s.
29:42I had both my children here.
29:43They went to school here.
29:45They loved growing up here.
29:46Not too far from the coast, which they loved.
29:49And I was working as a journalist, freelance, and I decided I wanted to be closer to them.
29:55So I started making chocolates at markets.
29:57It became quite clear, quite quickly, that chocolate was well received in the town.
30:03Where isn't it well received?
30:05I don't know.
30:05Good chocolate.
30:06People wanted a good local product.
30:09And you give it to them.
30:10I do.
30:11I do.
30:11Well, with my husband.
30:12So we'd be moving with two girls, 9 and 11.
30:15Yeah, great place to bring up kids.
30:17It's a quieter, friendlier way of life.
30:20There's a lot of support.
30:21You know your neighbours.
30:23No regrets at all.
30:26I'm leaving Natasha and Lindsay to chat and making my way across to our mystery house,
30:31which is just a five minute drive from town or a leisurely 30 minute stroll across the fields.
30:37I often find myself going round in circles looking for the perfect mystery house on this show.
30:43But not this time.
30:44The property's done it for me.
30:50There is nothing run of the mill about this former windmill, which was built in 1853.
30:57Lindsay and Natasha have been taken by the curb appeal of what we've shown them so far this week.
31:02But what are they going to make of the curb appeal of this mystery house?
31:07Let's go and find out.
31:11Hello and welcome to the mystery house.
31:16Have a look.
31:17Wow.
31:17Wow, look at that.
31:21That is different.
31:23It's a windmill.
31:25That is cool.
31:26That is cool.
31:28So you can see what was very much the original part of the property.
31:32And it doesn't need much explaining to say where the extension's been put on.
31:38Shall we get in and have a look?
31:39Definitely.
31:42The original mill is connected to the 21st century addition via a glass atrium that is presently used for dining.
31:51And in we are.
31:54I like the mix of old and new, for sure.
31:57It's definitely something that's appealing to me.
31:59I like how they've done it all in glass.
32:00You basically get the sun all day in here.
32:03It's like a little conservatory within the house.
32:05Yeah, that's it, exactly.
32:06Definitely holds itself to, like, an entertaining and, yeah.
32:11Which we'd like to do more of.
32:13How about I show you the windmill?
32:15Yeah.
32:15Please do.
32:20This is cool.
32:21Yeah.
32:21I like the, it's painted but the exposed brickwork.
32:24That's a nice look. I like that.
32:25Nice.
32:26Yeah.
32:27Really nice.
32:28Do you want to wander back that way?
32:31Look at the new?
32:32Or up for the old?
32:34We'll go chronological order and start with the old.
32:36I'm intrigued to see what's up there.
32:39Well, Lindsay, you won't be disappointed.
32:42Look at this.
32:45Ah.
32:46Wasn't expecting this.
32:47No.
32:47I wasn't expecting a cheeky en suite either.
32:50To be honest, I didn't know what to expect.
32:51But, yeah.
32:52But, yeah.
32:52This is, this is a nice size room.
32:54This is a lovely size room.
32:55Nice view from your own bed.
32:58Oh, wow.
32:58Yeah, yeah, yeah.
32:59Look at that.
33:00Yeah.
33:01Now to explore the modern extension, which houses the kitchen.
33:07All right, so that's the kitchen.
33:08Mm-hm.
33:09Still a good size, isn't it?
33:10Everything you need.
33:11Yeah, exactly.
33:12Plenty storage and stuff, so.
33:13That's fine.
33:15And two bedrooms, presented as offices.
33:19Oh, wow.
33:21Nice big room.
33:22Decent office space, but obviously makes for a good bedroom.
33:25Yeah, but it'd be a good bedroom for one of the girls straight out onto.
33:28Yeah.
33:29They'd love that.
33:35Definitely a bedroom, this one.
33:36Yeah.
33:38Definitely your colour scheme.
33:39Yeah, the colour scheme.
33:40That's it.
33:41Still a workable size room.
33:44The three-quarter of an acre plot is mostly lawned, with a stone-paved terrace and built-in
33:49barbecue.
33:50Ample parking on the gravel driveway and a big double garage.
33:55Potential for your salon.
33:58You've given up on the Lego room.
34:01Oh, same space as I've got now, really, isn't it?
34:04Yeah, yeah, yeah.
34:04And it's sort of already plasterboard, so.
34:07Yeah.
34:08Yeah.
34:08You just need a...
34:09That's definitely enough space.
34:11Mm-hm.
34:11Or maybe I'd use that one.
34:12Well, the thing is, you could reconfigure it, because that almost looks like just a stud
34:15wall.
34:16So then, if you wanted a more on an L-shaped type thing.
34:19Yeah, but you still need space.
34:20Yeah, no, but then...
34:21Oh, you have the smaller room.
34:22Yeah.
34:23Of course.
34:24Of course I'd have the smaller room, yeah.
34:29Converting the garage's wheel costs to its noses to the grindstone, as Natasha and
34:33Lindsay try to guess the price for the final time.
34:37So what do you think you might be on the market for?
34:40I'm going to say £550.
34:41Okay.
34:43Yeah.
34:44£550,000 from you.
34:47I might edge slightly higher at £560,000.
34:50Okay, £560,000.
34:53It's actually on the market for exactly £500,000.
34:56Oh, right.
34:57Oh, really?
34:59This striking windmill conversion provides a circular living room, a glazed dining atrium
35:05and three double bedrooms.
35:07On a plot of three quarters of an acre, it's on the market for £500,000.
35:13The property is very cool.
35:15Yeah, it is.
35:16And it's up our street in terms of aesthetics and marrying old and new.
35:20Obviously it's in Cardiff.
35:21But having walked around, we can't see how it would work as a family home for our family.
35:29I just can't see the girls running around and how it would flow.
35:33And the way the current owners have it set up is clearly just for them.
35:37And actually, I think that works beautifully.
35:40And if we were buying a house just for us, we'd probably be having a very different view
35:44on it and a different conversation.
35:45We've got plenty to keep us busy thinking about with the first two.
35:48Yeah.
35:49And yeah, we'll focus on those, I think.
35:52You're exactly right.
35:53Let's focus on those.
35:54How about we go and have a chat and dissect what we've seen so far?
35:57Definitely.
35:58Sounds good.
35:58Let's go.
36:08House hunting online is all well and good, but nothing beats seeing a property in person.
36:13It's only then you can get a real feel for the place.
36:16And that is exactly what happened to Hayley and Paul when they saw their 15th century Norfolk farmhouse.
36:25Hi there, I'm Hayley and this is my husband Paul.
36:28Hi.
36:28And we relocated to Norfolk, South Norfolk, about three and a half years ago.
36:32Yeah.
36:32We moved here really because...
36:34We wanted more space.
36:37Our two boys had left home so we were completely free.
36:40We wanted to go on a bit of an adventure.
36:42We were actually looking to downsize to start with, but the downsizing...
36:47Didn't happen.
36:48No.
36:49Because they found this.
36:52A detached grade two listed farmhouse with five bedrooms, four reception rooms, a separate barn and four and a half
37:00acres of land.
37:03We completely...
37:05We fell in love with it.
37:06We did.
37:06We fell in love with it.
37:09Paul, an engineer manager, and Hayley who runs a networking business, waved goodbye to their life just outside the city
37:16of Milton Keynes and started a new chapter, here in the seclusion of South Norfolk.
37:23So let's see if they're still as in love with this place as when they first saw it.
37:33Paul?
37:34Yeah.
37:34Nice to meet you, Steve.
37:35Hi, Steve.
37:35Lovely to see you both in what is a beautiful back garden.
37:42Tell you what, is it as beautiful inside as it is out here?
37:44It is. Would you like to come and have a look around?
37:45I would, certainly. Thank you. Lead the way.
37:51It wasn't just this idyllic setting that captivated the couple.
37:55We made this decision, definitely led by heart, which doesn't usually happen to me, but as soon as we walked
38:01in the door, I just had a complete emotional reaction to this house. It felt, it feels beautiful.
38:07It is beautiful.
38:08Yeah, it's hard work.
38:09It's not...
38:10Yeah, it is hard work. Bits do randomly just fall off.
38:13You know, when we moved in, you know, you opened certain windows and literally the bottom of the frame dropped
38:18off, bits of lime plaster outside just randomly fall off.
38:23Sometimes these moves and the biggest decisions are done by heart, aren't they?
38:28Yeah.
38:28You know, because you've got to feel it.
38:31Yeah, absolutely.
38:31Yeah, it does feel magical. It really does.
38:34The magic continues outside with a small woodland and a large expanse of meadow.
38:41I see why you fell in love with it, pal.
38:43Yeah, it's nice.
38:47Not bad at all, Paul.
38:50It is nice. Sometimes you have to pinch yourself, you know, when you...
38:52Yeah.
38:52We're very lucky to be living here, to be honest.
38:55Paul and Hayley use the land to run a wild camping side hustle.
38:59People book the space, it's purely there, so it's, you know, one booking, one person.
39:06Combination lock on the gate, they come in, pitch up and then they've got free reign for however long they
39:11stay.
39:11How else do you use it?
39:12We have a small Land Rover Defender meet-up.
39:16Yeah, probably do three or four a year.
39:18Just for a meet?
39:19Just for a meet on a Sunday morning, just for a few hours.
39:22It's nice to be part of a little community like that, yeah.
39:26Putting down roots in the local community was crucial to making the couple's move such a success.
39:34Norfolk is so friendly. People are really...
39:36When people say that people are friendly and chatting in Norfolk, they really are.
39:38People talk to anybody and everybody and that really matters to us.
39:41I think it's really helped us to feel part of something special.
39:44Have you felt a difference in yourself since the move?
39:48I feel so relaxed. It feels completely different.
39:51I mean, even the way that we exercise, the way that we move in nature, what we eat, everything is
39:56completely different.
39:57We've really, really, really changed.
39:59If anyone was looking to move and do the same sort of thing as you have, what would you say
40:05to them?
40:05Oh my gosh, absolutely. Go for it. It's...
40:07Yeah, it's absolutely life-changing. It's been beautiful.
40:11Yeah, hands down.
40:20So we've had two great counties, three fantastic properties.
40:24Let's see what they're thinking, shall we?
40:30Well, hello, you two.
40:33How's it going?
40:33Hello, Steve.
40:34Oh, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.
40:36And what a glorious spot to sit and have our chat about the week, eh?
40:40Definitely.
40:40So you've spent a lot of time in Norfolk and Suffolk now.
40:43Do you feel like you might know the counties a little bit better, the pair of you?
40:45Yeah, definitely.
40:47And have any of the properties really stood out for you this week?
40:50Within regards to house one and two, very, very close for me.
40:56Yeah.
40:56Very, very close.
40:57If you were to flip a coin to pick one, I'd be happy with that,
41:00taking either one, whatever it landed on.
41:02Yeah.
41:03So that's how close it is.
41:05Oh, you're kidding me.
41:06Yeah.
41:07I am the coin.
41:08Yeah.
41:09Yeah.
41:09So it's a difficult one for me because I would sort of echo Lindsay's sentiment in that actually
41:15both of them completely fitted the bill and delivered and actually over delivered into
41:21what we thought we could achieve.
41:23Yeah.
41:23I'd say overall I preferred the aspect and the gardens everything on the first house.
41:29Yeah.
41:30But the second house was the more suitable living accommodation for us and it gave us more flexibility
41:36with how to use the house.
41:38Yeah.
41:39So that house for me slightly wins.
41:41So what's next?
41:43So we're going to take some time for the rest of today to spend around this because I think
41:48we feel you've nailed the location maybe of that particular town.
41:52Yeah.
41:52I mean coincidentally that's where house number two is isn't it?
41:57So but we're very interested in finding out a bit more about that town and spending some
42:01more time there.
42:03And then for me I guess it's to talk a little bit more about house number two.
42:07Yeah.
42:08And see if that's something we would move forward with.
42:13Yeah.
42:13Or go back to have another look.
42:15I hope that what you find at this and around the property makes it somewhere that you can
42:20call a home.
42:22Thank you Steve.
42:22That's two.
42:23It's been a real pleasure you two.
42:25Thanks so much for letting me be part of it.
42:27No thank you.
42:28Thank you Steve.
42:29You've done an amazing job.
42:32Not one but two properties that are genuine contenders for Lindsay and Natasha.
42:37And they're just as at home in Norfolk as they are Suffolk.
42:41So whichever county or property they choose it doesn't really matter because either are
42:47going to be great.
42:48Join us again next time for another Escape to the Country.
42:52If you would like to escape to the country in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales
42:57and need our help why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.
43:08We'll see you next time.
43:11We'll see you next time.
43:11Bye.
43:11Bye.
43:18Bye.
43:24Bye.
43:26Bye.
43:27Bye.
43:30Bye.
Comments