Escape To The Country Season 26 Episode 11 visits the stunning landscapes of North Somerset, where Alistair Appleton helps a young couple searching for the perfect countryside home to begin married life and start a family. From charming cosy cottages to an impressive property boasting spectacular views across the Mendip Hills, this episode is filled with inspiring rural living opportunities.
Alistair also explores the Somerset Levels, meeting a local woman who has discovered the art of peaceful, meditative ‘me time’, showcasing the calm and balance countryside living can offer. Experience the beauty of North Somerset and discover why country life continues to capture hearts.
#EscapeToTheCountry #NorthSomerset #CountryLiving #MendipHills #BritishTV
Alistair also explores the Somerset Levels, meeting a local woman who has discovered the art of peaceful, meditative ‘me time’, showcasing the calm and balance countryside living can offer. Experience the beauty of North Somerset and discover why country life continues to capture hearts.
#EscapeToTheCountry #NorthSomerset #CountryLiving #MendipHills #BritishTV
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00:03A longing to be closer to the land inspires many a city escapee.
00:08This is amazing.
00:11But some can head off in an unexpected country direction.
00:15I've always wanted to live somewhere that feels a little bit like a holiday home, somewhere in the Mediterranean.
00:21We're there to keep things on track.
00:23I love having everything within a stone's throw away from where I live.
00:27How's that going to work?
00:30And focus on the priorities.
00:33This is really about the future and putting a slightly more rational head on.
01:03For those after a life in the countryside that's also close to the coast, but who don't want to step
01:09too far away from the city connections, join us as we make tracks to North Somerset and follow in some
01:16very ancient footsteps.
01:20Oh, Somerset has put a real spring in my step and I wonder if that's because of the ley lines.
01:27Some believe in powerful lines of earth energy that connect up landmarks and prehistoric sites.
01:34Very spiritual, very groovy.
01:37And although the scientists haven't proved that they exist, believers will tell you that Somerset is absolutely full of them.
01:45And even if you're a hard-bitten skeptic, I defy you to come to this enchanting landscape and not feel
01:52a jolt of energy.
01:56Located in the west of England, the ceremonial county of Somerset includes the smaller district of North Somerset.
02:06Flanked by the national landscape of the Mendib Hills and the Bristol Channel with views towards Wales, the area's coastal
02:14towns include Western Supermare, Portishead and Clevedon, home to a Grade 1 listed pier.
02:22North Somerset is a great place to live. I've lived here all my life and the people here are just
02:27wonderful.
02:28And it's just a marvellous place to get out in the fresh air and explore the countryside.
02:35You can be in Wales in next to no time, so there's a lot of countryside over there you can
02:39get to.
02:39You're very close to the south-west Devon, Cornwall, that area, but you're also close to Bristol and you can
02:44get to London fairly easily as well.
02:46So it's nice to have everything here, a lot of nature on your doorstep, but still be able to connect
02:51with other places as well.
02:55When I first moved out of Bristol, I really felt like I was going to miss everything that the city
03:00had to offer.
03:01I realised very quickly that everything we needed was here. There's so much in North Somerset for children.
03:07You've also got some beautiful coastlines and forests.
03:16Our couple today are busy, busy people. They're planning a wedding, a new family, a new job and escaping to
03:24the country.
03:25Luckily, I can help them with that last one. Although I've always fancied myself as a wedding planner too.
03:33At the moment we live here in Soaps Cross, which is pretty much the most central place you can live
03:38in Bristol.
03:39But we're about to get married and start a family.
03:41And so we decided that maybe it'd be nice to look out on green fields instead of...
03:46Student flats. Student flats.
03:49I'm just going to do a quick tour of our Bristol flat. It doesn't get a lot of natural light,
03:53so we tried to bring some more light in by using mirrors.
03:56But it's pretty dark, which is annoying because it means you don't wake up very easily in the morning.
04:03Fiance's Janky, a specialist pharmacist, and Tom, who heads a creative studio from home, currently have no outside space for
04:11themselves and their dog, Pascal, at the Bristol City flat.
04:15It's one of the reasons they're looking to move back to Tom's former countryside stomping ground of North Somerset.
04:22I'm a bit of a country boy. I'm from Wales and Somerset. And yeah, I want to introduce Janky to
04:27my way of life.
04:28I'm a city girl and I have been used to having everything within a 15 minute walk of where I
04:33live.
04:34Tom really likes being grounded to where he is by seeing the sea or hills.
04:41Particularly because I work from home as well, so I feel like I'm just a bit trapped in the city
04:45centre the whole time.
04:46So we're really looking for somewhere that's got a couple more bedrooms, a lovely garden for Pascal, and a nicer
04:53commute for me to get to my new job in Weston.
04:58Janky and Tom have a budget of up to £500,000 and are looking for a detached or semi-detached
05:04home with three bedrooms to accommodate potential future children.
05:09Tom needs space to work from home and they also want a dog friendly garden, off street parking and some
05:16nearby facilities.
05:17They also prefer hills to flat landscapes.
05:26This is a lovely move and also unusual because our couple are not moving very far.
05:32But that sort of move from the cities, which are so exciting when you're young, to the countryside, is so
05:40good for the soul.
05:41It's such a tonic.
05:42And we live in such an accelerated world that I think we need to get closer to the ground.
05:50It's those ley lines that's what we need to be close to.
05:57Our first viewing of the day is on the outskirts of the village of Hutton.
06:01But before I show them the house, let's get grounded in the local landscape, which is, after all, a lot
06:07of what this move is about.
06:13Oh, look at the view, so beautiful.
06:16Although this is probably not so strict because you've only driven, how far is it from your flat?
06:19Like 45 minutes.
06:20I don't know.
06:21I don't know.
06:22Four hours to get here.
06:23So you know this better than me.
06:24Yeah.
06:25But it's a different world.
06:26It's a different world from the centre of Bristol, that's for sure.
06:28So you're the country boy, Tom.
06:30Janky, you're the city girl.
06:31I am.
06:31I love having everything within a stone's throw away from where I live.
06:37How's that going to work?
06:38I have loved living in the city, but I'm ready to not be overlooked by everybody and be able to
06:45look out my window and see green and see the sky.
06:47That's what happens when you live in the countryside.
06:50And is it right that it's your flat?
06:52I bought that quite a few years ago, so this will be our first joint venture.
06:58Yeah.
06:58How's that going to go?
06:59Are you good at buying things together?
07:00Are you good at compromising?
07:02We have very different styles, I would say.
07:04I like minimal, I like clean, I like functional.
07:07Tom likes a lot of sort of neutral colours, whereas I'm very happy to throw in a bit of green,
07:12put in some orange.
07:14A bit of green.
07:15A lot of green.
07:16My bedroom in Bristol is fully green.
07:18So I'm looking forward to seeing how Tom can put these ideas into reality.
07:25I am looking forward to coming back in a year's time and seeing how this pans out.
07:29Yeah.
07:29I think we all are.
07:30Yeah.
07:31Well, let's get going.
07:33The first property's not far.
07:34Follow me.
07:39Hutton provides a well-regarded pub serving meals, a hairdresser's and a village hall with community activities that include a
07:47monthly music night.
07:49Several buses a day run to nearby Western Supermare.
07:53And with a primary school located just a 15-minute walk from the house, I'm showing my buyers this could
07:58be just the spot for their family plans.
08:04Come on in.
08:05Look at this garden.
08:06It's amazing.
08:07Wow.
08:07Look at this.
08:08I love it.
08:08And look at this.
08:10Wow.
08:11Look at this view.
08:12This view is unbelievable.
08:13Can you see the sea?
08:14And that's where you're going to be working.
08:15It's Western.
08:16Ah, yeah.
08:16Yeah.
08:17You can send up a flare to let Tom know you're going home.
08:19Tom, I'm coming home.
08:20Yeah.
08:21Get dinner ready.
08:22And then this is your, possibly, your new home.
08:25Yeah, it looks nice, yeah.
08:27Really nice.
08:27You can't really see that much from this angle.
08:30Yeah.
08:30So I'm excited to look inside and see what it has to offer.
08:34It's a cottage, but it's definitely got some more modern adjustments, which I really like.
08:39Come on, let's have a look.
08:42Perched prettily on its sloping plot at the edge of the Mendip Hills, this stone cottage,
08:47thought to be at least two centuries old, has brick extensions to the front and side,
08:53then rendered and painted to unify old and new.
08:59We start via the main entrance in an extended section.
09:07Straight in from the front door into the lovely kitchen.
09:10Wow.
09:11This has all been modernised.
09:12This is really nice.
09:13Nice, yeah.
09:14There's good countertop space, and if you include this as well.
09:17I can see myself working here with the view, which would be incredible.
09:19Because you're going to be working from home, is that right?
09:21Yeah, I do work from home, yeah.
09:22My only concern is there's not that much cupboard space, so in terms of storage for the kitchen.
09:29Well, there is a utility room next door.
09:32Oh, wow.
09:32And more storage there.
09:34Oh, nice.
09:34But then the main living space is through here.
09:39Next to the utility room is the family bathroom, fitted with a shower cubicle.
09:45And also on the ground floor, on the other side of the main entrance, is a study, which
09:49could be used as a guest bedroom.
09:53Then, in the footprint of the original stone cottage, a multifunctional reception space
09:58is set over two levels, which the current owners have modernised by replacing fireplaces
10:04with more energy efficient central heating.
10:09Wow.
10:10So you've got the dining area up here, steps down into the living area.
10:13So it's open plan on a small scale.
10:15Yeah, I like it.
10:16I like the views that you can get out the windows and you can see bits of the garden
10:19and things.
10:20I like this little nook over here as well that they've got.
10:23I like that they've kept some of the original features, like the beams.
10:25Yeah.
10:25It's just been really nicely finished, I think.
10:27At the moment, I think it will be a good size for the two of us, but if our family
10:30ever
10:31extends, it might be a little small.
10:34We can explore the rest of the property.
10:35Well, the rest of the property is upstairs.
10:37Yeah.
10:37Shall we go upstairs?
10:38Yes.
10:41Stairs from the entrance lobby lead up to two first floor bedrooms.
10:46The first of these is a double, with a south-facing window and storage set into the eaves.
10:52The principal is a larger double room, again with a south-facing aspect.
10:58And they've got a walk-in wardrobe here.
11:00Oh, lovely.
11:01Wow, yeah.
11:01So this would probably be your room.
11:03Yeah.
11:04It's nice.
11:04It's smaller than I had hoped.
11:07It's a little too small for me.
11:09But, well, I can have a look and see how much space there is in the wardrobe.
11:14It is walk-in.
11:15Oh, wow.
11:17This is cool.
11:18There's loads of storage there.
11:19Yeah.
11:20You can fit loads of clothes in there.
11:21Right.
11:22Does that allay the size worries a little bit?
11:25A little bit?
11:25Yeah.
11:25Yeah, a little bit.
11:26Yeah, we can make it work.
11:28And the nice thing is that you've got the downstairs study, which could at a push be another bedroom.
12:01Yes.
12:02And a generous garage-come workshop set into the hillside, which has off-street parking
12:07to the front.
12:09And Tom's work-from-home options include a summer house.
12:14Oh, this is so cute.
12:17With a view.
12:19We could look at getting a way of running power here, and then we could use it as a home
12:23office or something.
12:24Yeah.
12:24Yeah.
12:24You could be working from home, I could be working from the hospital, and we could wave
12:27at each other.
12:28I want an inspiring space to work.
12:29Yeah, exactly.
12:33But will spirits remain raised when they hear the asking price?
12:38Yes.
12:39I don't know if you checked out this lovely little option here.
12:42Yeah, we did.
12:43It was really nice.
12:44Really nice.
12:44Really nice space.
12:44We thought we could get some electricity up there.
12:46Or solar panels.
12:48Oh yeah, solar panels.
12:49Me to the country.
12:50Yes.
12:50Off-grid.
12:51I live off-grid, you see.
12:52Ah.
12:52So I'm all about, like, you don't have to get electricity up there.
12:55You can just put solar panels.
12:56A space heater.
12:57Yeah.
12:58Done.
12:58Yeah.
12:59So how much do you think this little slice of cottage heaven would cost?
13:03Oof.
13:05I think because of where it is and the view, I think we're looking at probably 495.
13:11Really?
13:12Yeah.
13:12I was going to go a bit lower because, you know, it's not as big as other properties, maybe.
13:19I was going to go 450.
13:23Interesting.
13:24Yeah.
13:24It's on the market for 480,000 pounds.
13:28Ah.
13:29Okay.
13:31This extended stone cottage provides open plan living and dining, two to three bedrooms,
13:37panoramic views, and a location on the outskirts of a village with a primary school a short walk away.
13:47Oh, it's a barn door.
13:48Oh, that's great.
13:49Look at this.
13:50Yeah.
13:51Yeah, you could stand over the coffee with Pascal in the garden.
13:54Yeah, he could be running around over here.
13:56Yeah.
13:56And that view from this door.
13:57Yeah.
13:58Just incredible.
14:01I really like this property.
14:02It's got a really nice vibe inside and I think it's been really tastefully done up.
14:06We really would prefer to have three bedrooms.
14:10I'm concerned that it's not quite big enough for what we need.
14:14The garden is absolutely stunning, but if I'm honest, I don't think I've got the energy to go around and
14:19completely terrier proof it so that Pascal can't get out.
14:22At this point in our lives, I'm not sure it's the right one for us.
14:36Janky and Tom are looking to swap the buttle of Bristol for a more relaxed, family focused way of life.
14:42Just eight miles west from the city, the town of Portishead draws many in the same boat with its combination
14:50of coast, countryside access and community spirit.
14:56It's got a boutique shops and stuff, which is pretty nice.
14:59Yeah.
15:00I've lived in Portishead for seven years.
15:03I moved here from Bristol.
15:05It's got a fantastic, thriving community.
15:08Really supportive.
15:09From a business point of view, people come and buy from our shop and other independents.
15:15They really want to support their high street.
15:19Oh, look.
15:21Wow, this looks great.
15:22What can I get you guys?
15:24Right.
15:24What would you recommend?
15:25So the cookie's really lovely.
15:27It's 72% chocolate and then the vegan dark chocolate banana cake is lovely as well.
15:32I think we'll take both of those.
15:33Both of those?
15:33Yes, please.
15:35Cookie there.
15:41The town's open air pool and associated cafe are managed by a community trust and the coastline is cared for
15:48by an environmental group.
15:52I used to live in Bristol city centre and I decided to move out of the city to be more
15:57in the countryside.
15:58I joined Turn the Tide of Portishead, which was just set up and it's all about reducing litter and plastic
16:03waste in Portishead.
16:07Portishead once boasted a fishing industry and later a deep water dock.
16:13Those have made way for a marina and tranquil beauty spots such as Battery Point.
16:24It's just we and I vibe.
16:26It feels that there's a lot of people in our situation who are moving here as well, which is really
16:30good.
16:31The views may be peaceful.
16:33Oh, Pascal would really love it here.
16:35Yeah.
16:35But the tide here is notoriously strong, making the local RNLI a vital emergency service with a volunteer crew that
16:45has plenty to sing about.
16:47Blow the man down, police, blow the man down.
16:50So the 85ers are a sea shanty band based in Portishead.
16:54Blow him right back into Portishead town.
16:57We're all active volunteer lifeboat crew we all go to sea.
17:01And we like to sing a few songs and we raise some money for the RNLI and some other charities.
17:06Give me some time to blow the man down.
17:15Thank you and thank you for the singing and thanks for what you guys do as well.
17:20Come and find us at the lifeboat station.
17:21Yeah.
17:22Sunday mornings, Tuesday nights.
17:23We're always there.
17:26Well, Janky and Tom seem to have hit things off on the right note in Portishead.
17:31Now to find a countryside home that's also in tune with their future plans.
17:41We're in the village of Westbury Submendip for the next offering.
17:46Around four miles from Tom's mum in the city of Wells.
17:50The local limestone which features heavily in the village is known for durability and versatility as well as appealing tones.
18:02Facilities in the village itself include a community shop with post office.
18:07As well as a pub that's just a stone's throw away from the house we're here to view.
18:14Wow.
18:15Oh, wow.
18:16This is really nice.
18:18This is our second property.
18:19Look at all the greenery.
18:21You probably know this.
18:21This is like four miles from Wells.
18:23Do you know Westbury Submendip?
18:25I'm familiar.
18:26It's pretty close.
18:27But I've never looked at property here.
18:28It's a great village.
18:29There's a primary school.
18:31It's really lovely.
18:32I love it.
18:33Yeah.
18:33I really like it already.
18:34So, Tom, you wanted something a little more modern.
18:36I did.
18:37It's actually quite a modern house.
18:38It's back from the 80s.
18:39Shall we take a look inside?
18:41Yeah, I'd love to.
18:42Yeah, come on.
18:45Built in 1986 from Mendip Stone, this detached home is set over three levels.
18:51Eco-credentials include double glazing and climbing plants, some of which, research shows,
18:58offer great environmentally friendly natural insulation.
19:02Our tour starts with a flight of stone stairs to reach the main entrance hall.
19:09Yeah, so you come into this nice, I think, kind of modern feeling.
19:13A bit Scandinavian, maybe, Tom?
19:15Yeah.
19:16And the house kind of goes in all directions, down and up and across.
19:21Yeah.
19:22Wow, yeah, it's really nice.
19:23Cool.
19:23I like it.
19:24Yeah.
19:24Yeah, I like it.
19:25I really like it.
19:26Yeah.
19:26Yeah.
19:27All of the living spaces are on this level, starting with the kitchen.
19:34Ah, an island.
19:36Room for an island.
19:37A little island, yeah, but you don't need much, do you?
19:39Nice and white.
19:40It feels really light as well.
19:41Yeah, lots of windows, which is really great.
19:43Mm, I really like the colours of the tiles as well.
19:46And the floor is fab.
19:47Yeah.
19:48So does this feel a bit more your speed?
19:50Yes.
19:51100%.
19:51Yeah, I'm really enjoying this already.
19:54I've always wanted to live somewhere that feels a little bit like a holiday home.
19:57Somewhere in the Mediterranean.
19:59And this is really giving that kind of feeling, I think, for me.
20:02Yeah, yeah.
20:03Can't wait to see more.
20:04Well, good.
20:04Let's loop round to the left and we go into the two reception rooms.
20:09So here you've got a proper set up, well, it's a library really, but also a dining room.
20:14Yeah, really nice.
20:15Wow.
20:15I love this light fixture.
20:17Yeah.
20:18Something we've always wanted is just somewhere to put all of our books.
20:20Yeah.
20:20And then this is your kind of cooler sitting room, television room.
20:25Wow.
20:25This is lovely.
20:26This is giving Greek villa, isn't it?
20:28Yeah.
20:29Yeah.
20:29The white painted.
20:31Yeah.
20:31I love it.
20:32It's really lovely.
20:33Yeah.
20:34I really like this inside, outside, like these double doors leading straight outside.
20:38Yeah.
20:39Makes it feel like you're on holiday all the time.
20:41Yeah.
20:41Which is what we really wanted, something like that.
20:43Yeah.
20:43Really lovely.
20:44Yeah.
20:44I think it's going to be easier if you two just go and explore on your own and then you
20:48can loop through the gardens and you'll meet me here in the sun.
20:51So off you go and explore.
20:54It's amazing, isn't it?
20:55How just the feel of a house can win someone over, regardless of any of the practicalities.
21:02The bedrooms are set across two further levels, one above and one below this one, reached
21:08from stairs in the entrance.
21:10Wow.
21:11Wow.
21:12Oh, it's split level.
21:13Yeah.
21:13That's really cool.
21:14I like that you can see through the stairs as well.
21:17The level above provides a WC set into the eaves and a large principal suite which has
21:23a double glazed dormer window.
21:29A window out onto the road, which is really interesting because you can't hear the road
21:33noise from here.
21:34No.
21:35This comes with its own shower room.
21:38I'm feeling a good vibe from this space already.
21:42Me too.
21:42Yeah.
21:43Me too.
21:44There are two further bedrooms on the lower floor.
21:48Wow.
21:48Look at this.
21:49Mmm.
21:51The first is large enough for a double bed or could work as a home office.
21:56Good size room.
21:57Yeah.
21:57Nice and cool down here as well.
21:59Yeah, really nice.
21:59Yeah.
22:00And it's still bright even though we're on a lower level.
22:03Yeah.
22:05There's a family bathroom.
22:07With a bath!
22:07I miss having a bath!
22:09I know you have.
22:12And finally, bedroom number three is a larger double.
22:15In some places, this would even be considered the master bedroom.
22:18Yeah.
22:18So, it's a really good size.
22:20Yeah, it's really, really lovely.
22:21It just feels really like a holiday home, doesn't it?
22:24Yeah, it does.
22:25It feels like we could be in Italy or somewhere like that.
22:27This house is selling itself to these guys.
22:29Who knew that they wanted a Mediterranean villa in the Mendips?
22:32Yes.
22:35Vacation vibes continue outside as a series of courtyard gardens across different levels
22:41feature many potted plants, which are included in the house sale.
22:45I love what they've done with all this.
22:47They've got trees, everything's in pots.
22:48It's really, really nice.
22:49This is very, very you, isn't it?
22:51Very me.
22:52Yeah.
22:52Alistair has really nailed this house.
22:54Yeah.
22:54Yeah.
22:57Oh, wow.
22:59This just keeps going on.
23:00Look at that massive palm tree.
23:02Yeah.
23:03Yeah, this is a dream terrace for me.
23:05Look, there's Alistair.
23:06Part of your exotic display.
23:09This is amazing.
23:11Do you like it?
23:12I really love it.
23:13And you've got this huge double garage, which you could do all sorts of things further
23:16down the line.
23:17Yeah.
23:19Do you think you can afford it?
23:20What do you think the price tag on this one is?
23:22Gosh.
23:22I think this is going to be high.
23:23Okay, you go first.
23:25I think this is going to be 500.
23:27I think it's our max.
23:28Yeah.
23:28I actually think this is above our budget.
23:30I think this is 520, 530.
23:32Well, you're both wrong, I'm afraid.
23:34This is on the market for 475,000 pounds.
23:40Wow.
23:40Well, you go and explore and I'll meet you at the front when you're done.
23:43Well, thank you.
23:44Enjoy.
23:47This late 20th century Mendip stone house has two reception rooms and three bedrooms.
23:53There are Mediterranean style courtyard gardens and it's located in the heart of a great village
23:59just four miles from the city of Wells.
24:05I love this house.
24:07The feel is just really magical.
24:08It just screams us and our style.
24:14Obviously the issue here is that there's no lawn, which was really quite a deal breaker for us.
24:19But I'm sure there are ways that we could find solutions for making sure that Pascal also has a really
24:23good quality of life.
24:29And they're crossing the Mediterranean back into rural England.
24:33Thank you very much.
24:34Welcome to the Mendnits.
24:35That was a good one, wasn't it?
24:36Oh, look at those smiley faces.
24:40If you are happy, I'm happy.
24:41Come on.
24:55To round off today's North Somerset house tours, we've come to Draycott Slate's viewpoint,
25:01where my buyers could be forgiven for feeling they've got the world at their feet.
25:08You don't get these views from your flat and pistol, do you?
25:11You certainly do not.
25:12No.
25:13What an incredible tapestry of England laid out.
25:16It's really beautiful.
25:17I feel very peaceful.
25:18And how are you feeling overall about the big move?
25:21Especially you, because this is Countryside Central.
25:24It is.
25:25I am looking forward to it.
25:27I was nervous at first, but now that we've seen properties and been out in the countryside,
25:32just the feeling of space is just so lovely.
25:34So yeah, looking forward to it.
25:36And have you got the kind of little butterflies of like,
25:38Oh, actually this could really happen.
25:40Yeah.
25:41I think particularly with that last house, yeah, just really got me very excited for the future.
25:45Yeah.
25:46Like it's just on the cusp of happening.
25:48Yeah.
25:49Well, we've always got the Mystery House tomorrow, so, you know.
25:51Yeah.
25:52There will be more butterflies ahead.
25:53Oh, yeah.
25:54Hopefully.
26:09The average cost of a detached house in the southwest of England currently sits at £502,000.
26:17In North Somerset, that figure is a little higher, at almost £524,000, with prices increasing further
26:25the closer you move towards Bristol.
26:28But the market has cooled in recent months, so there are deals to be made.
26:34There's a lot on the market at the moment.
26:36There is a lot of choice.
26:37But we've got an area which is very popular for people to move to.
26:40You've got good squalling around, great connectivity.
26:44You've got an airport within 30 minutes.
26:47So there's a lot to offer for the area.
26:48And I think, generally speaking, that escape out of the city is a big draw.
26:55And if you're tempted to move to North Somerset, check out some of the other picks from the current property
27:00options.
27:02This three-bedroom, semi-detached home converted from a 19th-century stables could have you chomping at the bit.
27:09There's a lovely tiered garden with a summer house and interiors full of country character, offered at £345,000.
27:20Or you could reign supreme in your own castle.
27:23With three bedrooms and an outlook to spy all who approached from land and sea from the terrace,
27:29or through feature windows, this comes with an asking price of £795,000.
27:39Renters might also consider this attached character property.
27:43It has solar panels, four bedrooms and comes fully furnished.
27:49This peaceful, leafy setting is really something to write home about.
27:53So as luck would have it, there's a post box right outside the door.
27:57It costs £1,850 per calendar month.
28:04The sun is still shining on our property search here in Somerset and Janky and Tom are off to the
28:10mystery house with me.
28:11And I think this is going to be an interesting one.
28:13And it's going to insert some rational thinking about the future into their very heartfelt adventure here.
28:22My mystery house is located a little outside of the village of Dundry.
28:28It's a desirable location due to its proximity to Bristol, just a 15-minute drive away.
28:34And the magnificent tower of the village church is a local landmark.
28:41There's also a primary school as well as a pub.
28:46Whilst Janky and Tom check out the area, I'm already at my mystery pick to give you a sneak preview.
28:55Yesterday was so much about heart and feeling.
28:58Oh, I love this, I love that.
28:59And so here we are with a house that is already being future-proofed by a small family,
29:05just in case they want to have a family.
29:08I think it's a good one. Shall we see?
29:13This mystery option is attached to its neighbour to the left of the porched entrance
29:17and features an original stone cottage with rendered extension.
29:22It's designed to test whether what my buyers have asked for on paper is really what they want in reality,
29:28because this hits all the beats of their stated wish list.
29:32Yes. You see, this house is much more practical,
29:36because if they decide to have kids, this is like a perfect family home.
29:41And we know that because their little family lives here.
29:43We've got a little person already giving it a trial run.
29:47But how will my sensible mystery option fare in the eyes of my buyers?
29:54Good morning, good morning, good morning.
29:56Good morning. Hello.
29:57It's time for the mystery house.
29:59Wow, this is really beautiful.
30:01This is really about the future and putting a slightly more rational head on.
30:07Mmm.
30:08And this is a family house.
30:10It's not all of it.
30:12It's like this bit.
30:13I really like it.
30:14I really like stonework on the outside of a building.
30:17And you can fit two cars in here, which is great.
30:19Shall we take a look in?
30:20Yes, please.
30:21Come with me.
30:25Dating back to 1694, and built from locally quarried stone,
30:29with a tiled roof that extends just slightly below that of its attached neighbour,
30:34our tour begins through the entrance porch,
30:36into the largest of the reception rooms.
30:41Come on in.
30:44Into the oldest part of the house.
30:46Oh, wow.
30:48That's really nice.
30:50Flagstones on the floor.
30:51Ah!
30:52This is really nice.
30:53Big, deep walls.
30:55You can see the old part of the house.
30:57The old walls, yeah.
30:57How thick the 17th century part was.
30:59Yeah.
31:00So through there, there's another study slash bedroom.
31:02They're using it as a bedroom at the moment,
31:03but that would be a great workspace.
31:05We're leaving the 17th century through into the modern era,
31:09and this lovely kitchen.
31:11Oh, wow.
31:11It does have a kind of sunny conservatory,
31:15which you could make an eating space quite easily.
31:18Yeah, it's fantastic.
31:18It's really lovely.
31:19Yeah.
31:19And a huge skylight as well.
31:22Yeah.
31:22Wow.
31:23Yeah, it's got really great potential, I think.
31:25So I'm going to let you explore upstairs on your own,
31:28and then come find me in the garden.
31:30Well, thank you.
31:31See you in a minute.
31:36Stairs from the main reception lead to the three bedrooms upstairs.
31:41This is nice.
31:44The first and largest of them is at the attached end of the home
31:48with a front-facing aspect.
31:50Oh, wow.
31:51Original floorboards.
31:53Yeah, this is nice.
31:53This is a really good size.
31:55This is really nice.
31:55Yeah.
31:58Next, along the corridor, the family bathroom provides a bathtub and a shower.
32:03At the opposite end of this floor is a further good-sized double bedroom,
32:07again with an aspect to the front.
32:13Ah, nice.
32:14They're using this as the must bedroom.
32:16Yeah, still a good size, isn't it?
32:18Yeah.
32:18Yeah.
32:18I mean, you could do either, couldn't you?
32:20Yeah.
32:20I really love that room on the end.
32:25Finally, tucked at the back of the house, the smallest bedroom, number three.
32:31Oh, look.
32:32They've got this as a little nursery at the moment.
32:35But look at the view out of this window.
32:37Look at that.
32:38Future little Tom and Janky baby might have an amazing view of Bristol.
32:41Yeah.
32:42It is rural.
32:43We're in the countryside.
32:44Beautiful views that way.
32:45And I know that Janky wants to have a big country experience, but she's young,
32:51and she also would probably like to be able to zip into Bristol when she can.
32:57This garden has that all-important lawn, and being securely enclosed is dog ready.
33:04Features include a hot tub, a pond, and a barbecue, as well as magnificent countryside views.
33:12Wow.
33:13Woo!
33:14This is amazing.
33:16What a view.
33:17And then this is the village.
33:19Dundry, look at the church.
33:20It's a beautiful church.
33:20Oh, yeah, you can see it.
33:21We've heard of Dundry.
33:22It is a sought-after place to live.
33:24It's a very sought-after.
33:25These houses don't come up very often.
33:27Yeah, it's lovely.
33:28I love the garden.
33:29Mm-hmm.
33:29And I think we could do some good ball throws for Pascal here.
33:32Mm-hmm.
33:32First point is you have to buy it.
33:34So how much do you think it costs to buy this property?
33:36I think this is top budget.
33:38I think this is 500, maybe more.
33:41Yeah, 550, maybe pushing.
33:44550?
33:45Yeah.
33:45We wouldn't be that cruel.
33:46This is actually on the market for 500,000 pounds.
33:49Okay, yeah, so our budget.
33:51Okay.
33:51Top of the budget.
33:52Yeah, yeah.
33:53And I think we could comfortably live here for now.
33:56Absolutely.
33:56Sure.
33:57Yeah.
33:57Yeah, yeah.
34:01Coming in right on budget, this attached 17th-century cottage has period features, a large, bright
34:08modern kitchen, three bedrooms upstairs, a good-sized dog-friendly garden plus far-reaching
34:14views, as well as proximity to a popular village and the city of Bristol.
34:20I really like the mystery house.
34:22It has surprised me that Alistair's chosen a house that is more sort of drawing back into
34:29that.
34:29What were those things on that list that you needed?
34:31Good.
34:33We've got off-street parking, gated off-street parking, a garden with an incredible view,
34:39and the fact that there's a young family living here already, I think, is a really good sign.
34:49So we are done in Dundry.
34:51Done in Dundry.
34:52And we're done with the houses, actually.
34:53That's all I've got to show you.
34:54Oh, they've all been really beautiful.
34:56Let's go and do some head-scratching.
34:57Yes.
35:08Jenke and Tom have been very focused in their plan to move from city living to the great outdoors.
35:15Lots to ponder, lots to consider.
35:17But for some people, deciding where to go to is as simple as sticking a pin in a map.
35:25It's the land that called me, I think, as much as the village.
35:29It's really powerful land here.
35:31Everyone thinks about Glastonbury, but Glastonbury Town is just the other side of the marshes
35:36that we have outside of Wedmore.
35:41Born in Bristol and raised in a Somerset town, Jane moved to London at 18,
35:46working in Hackney as a travel writer and spiritual healer for decades.
35:51But after being drawn to return, she now lives in a rented village home on the Somerset Levels.
35:57People do ask me why I swap the very exciting urban jungle of East London, Hackney.
36:04And there's lots of answers, really.
36:06But I guess the main one is nature and all its feelings.
36:10So just connecting to the land, the birds, the earth, the earth meet my feet,
36:18really resources me, connects me to myself and also to my work as a healer.
36:27Jane's taking me on a little road trip in her trusty red camper van
36:31to find a spot for us to tune in to the peaceful, natural surroundings.
36:36How long have you been here now?
36:38A year and a half.
36:40And I don't have any intention of going back to...
36:43of leaving Somerset, let alone going back to London.
36:46Really? So it's a done deal. The countryside is one.
36:48Yeah, it's just a feeling that everything is here.
36:52And I think that my healing work was part of what caused me here as well
36:55because it's like the connection to the land.
36:57It kind of supports my healing work, but it really supports me.
37:01When I moved, I found that there was something about the countryside
37:04that made things go more smoothly.
37:07I wonder whether you noticed that?
37:10Yes. I mean, I feel like, you know, it's a vibration.
37:13It's like a resonance.
37:15I think when we relax a bit, which is what happens in the countryside
37:18because it's slower and people generally have more time,
37:21the body knows what to do.
37:24So...
37:25So, yes, it's very powerful.
37:31To get a sense of what Jane feels she can harness from the natural world,
37:35we're stopping off at one of her favourite places.
37:38It's a beautiful spot by the water's edge.
37:44My spiritual practice comes from Tibetan Buddhism,
37:46so I'm interested to know how Jane defines hers.
37:51How would you describe your work?
37:53I did my training in Glastonbury
37:55and I call it Celtic shamanic healings.
37:58I feel like it's back to kind of indigenous wisdom.
38:02Do you want to have a lie down?
38:03I always invite that whenever people want it.
38:07Do you want to have something over your eyes?
38:09Oh, it's just lovely.
38:13So I've got some flower water here.
38:15You might smell it above you just to kind of just clear the air and energy.
38:19Oh, yeah, I love the purification.
38:23I don't know if there's anything that you want to call in or bring in for your healing.
38:26Yeah, new beginnings, new beginnings.
38:29New beginnings.
38:29So how would that feel?
38:31Would it be, I feel...
38:32I feel brand new, yes.
38:34I feel brand new, yeah.
38:35Green shoots.
38:36So I can feel that energy as you say that.
38:39I feel brand new.
38:39You smiling.
38:47And then you begin to feel yourself lying in a magical landscape.
38:53Not unlike this landscape that we're in today.
38:56And this emerald green landscape is filled with unconditional love, but also plants and birds and wildlife.
39:07And you're feeling truly connected to yourself and to all that is.
39:21Oh, Jane, that was wonderful.
39:23Oh, good.
39:25It does make such a difference lying on the ground.
39:27Mmm.
39:28How are you feeling?
39:29I feel very clear.
39:31Actually, that was very helpful.
39:32I'm going to give you a hug.
39:33Oh, yes, please.
39:36Thank you for trusting.
39:37Mmm.
39:38Thank you for this.
39:39It's such a great story that you came and you're doing it here and it's so much more powerful here.
39:50Admittedly, I need no persuading of the healing powers of the earth.
39:54But if you're a skeptic, just go outside and lie on this beautiful planet and let it do its magic.
40:02I wonder if the power of the land has brought things into alignment for my buyer's house search.
40:12Oh, what a glorious sun-filled week in Somerset with Janky and Tom.
40:17Let's find out which property rang their bell.
40:25Well, it's been an absolute joy. You are very, very quality house buyers.
40:31And it's been so nice to be showing you, partly because you know the area quite well, but also just
40:36the whole story of your togetherness and your future life is very inspiring.
40:39Mm-hmm.
40:40What's your reflection on the couple of days that we've been looking at properties, particularly at the Mediterranean house with
40:45all the palms and the olive trees?
40:47You seem to be really in love with that.
40:49My heart sang as soon as I walked in. I loved everything about it. I think we've stepped on it
40:54and I think we've thought that there are some practicalities that make that house probably less viable if we're being
41:01realistic.
41:01It's been a real surprise, the mystery house. We've led with our heads more than our hearts. Yes, with that.
41:10Bringing us to Dundry, I think, was a great call, Alastair, because it definitely feels country, even for me, but
41:16it's only 20 minutes from all the people we know and all the things that we love in Bristol.
41:19The access to the amenities, the access to our friends and our support network, I think is actually going to
41:27be really important.
41:28So it feels like maybe the mystery house is a contender? I think so, yeah.
41:32Yeah, a lot of positive aspects about the house.
41:35And where are you in terms of actual being able to proceed?
41:38So my flat is on the market at the moment, so we're just waiting for an offer to come in
41:42on that and then we're ready to go.
41:43So I hope that it happens and do invite us if you buy somewhere.
41:47For sure.
41:47Please, come back and see us.
41:53Oh, this has been such a wonderful week in Somerset.
41:57I mean, Janky and Tom are fantastic home buyers, but it's been really interesting because, well, a couple of reasons.
42:03One, you don't have to move a million miles away from where you live to get the country experience.
42:08As we found out with the mystery house, you can actually just be 10 minutes away and it still feels
42:13like a rural escape.
42:14And the second and I think really interesting thing is that often on the show,
42:18we're encouraging people to just go with your heart because it's the heart that really matters.
42:22And here we were sort of actually encouraging these guys to think a little bit into the future and plan
42:29ahead for their hopefully bouncing bonnie babies.
42:33But whatever happens, I wish them all the best and I hope that you join us next time for more
42:39Escape to the Country.
42:43Well, the twist in the tale is that it was the heart that won over in the end.
42:48Janky and Tom put an offer on the Mendips home with the Mediterranean feel and are waiting a buyer for
42:54their Bristol flat to move that forward.
42:57We hope it all works out for them.
43:00If you would like to escape to the country in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales and need our help,
43:06why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.
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43:43Amen.
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