Escape To The Country Season 26 Episode 29 heads to the breathtaking landscapes of Northumberland, where Jules Hudson helps Sarah from Newcastle upon Tyne trade city life for peaceful countryside living. She is searching for privacy, tranquility, and a family home with uplifting views — and one exceptional property delivers exactly that.
Along the journey, Jules visits the beautiful walled garden at Capheaton Hall, filled with vibrant colour and timeless countryside charm. This inspiring episode showcases the appeal of Northumberland living and why so many buyers are drawn to its scenic beauty and relaxed pace of life.
#EscapeToTheCountry #Northumberland #CountryLiving #RuralLife #BritishTV
Along the journey, Jules visits the beautiful walled garden at Capheaton Hall, filled with vibrant colour and timeless countryside charm. This inspiring episode showcases the appeal of Northumberland living and why so many buyers are drawn to its scenic beauty and relaxed pace of life.
#EscapeToTheCountry #Northumberland #CountryLiving #RuralLife #BritishTV
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00:02Here on Escape to the Country, we ask our house hunters to take a leap of faith.
00:07Wow!
00:08I told you the views get better.
00:10Oh, wow!
00:12They put their trust in us and hope that we deliver.
00:15Oh, wow!
00:18Oh, this is the curveball again, isn't it?
00:22It may not always feel like we're hitting the mark.
00:25Can you see the merits of that idea?
00:27Yes, I can. Whether it's going to actually work for me, I'm not sure,
00:31because I'm still set on being in a field.
00:34But as the saying goes, fortune favours the brave.
00:38Yes, I think you've done good.
00:42Good fortune!
00:44Good luck!
01:12If you're in search of serenity, maybe even sparsity, or heart-racing hikes, with breathtaking vistas across rugged terrain, look
01:25no further.
01:26Northumberland's got it covered.
01:28Wide skies, empty beaches and hills that seemingly go on forever.
01:34In many respects, I think, Northumberland's remoteness is its magic.
01:38It's a place where you can really breathe, that feels wonderfully untouched by a sense of modern hurry.
01:45Or to put it another way, it's the perfect place to escape to the country.
01:51As the least densely populated county in England, with not a city in sight, you can lose yourself in the
01:58wild and untamed landscapes of Northumberland.
02:01Walking for miles without seeing a single soul in the county's national park.
02:06But there's more than just walking on offer here.
02:09For me, the joy of cycling in Northumberland is really special.
02:14Cycling Time Hill was set up many years ago now, but it was basically a group of like-minded people
02:19who enjoyed riding bikes.
02:21What people don't get, I don't think, is how the combination of landscape and quiet roads adds up to what
02:29I think is probably the best place in England to ride.
02:32Northumberland National Park has England's cleanest rivers. It also has England's darkest skies, so it's a great place to go
02:39stargazing.
02:40And it's also the most tranquil national park. We call it England's last great wilderness.
02:47And once you've exhausted the national park, why not wind down in one of Northumberland's many picturesque towns?
02:53One such gem is Anik. With its 11th century castle, cosy eateries and local shops, it blends heritage, hospitality and
03:03the unique spirit of the region.
03:10Well, today's buyer is looking for a family home that will provide them with peace, privacy and room to breathe.
03:16All of which I am sure they are going to find here in Northumberland's countryside.
03:24Yes, you are.
03:26Yes, you are.
03:29Retired business owner Sarah has lived on the coast close to Newcastle-upon-Tyne for over 20 years,
03:35with her architect husband Mark, their three children and their two boxer dogs.
03:40Where I live is absolutely beautiful, but there's so many people there now.
03:47You can't relax when you're out here because you've got all these people going past.
03:52There's no privacy. I would like some privacy.
03:56Sarah and Mark have put their house on the market and now want to leave the busy seaside behind.
04:01Now that the kids have left home, we've got five bedrooms, four of which aren't being used.
04:06I've had 20 odd years of fun and love and happiness there and now I want to do that somewhere
04:14else.
04:16The thing that I'm looking forward to most about moving to the country is getting up in the morning, opening
04:23the doors and just letting the dogs run.
04:26It would be nice to hear birds and quiet and trees rustling and wind blowing.
04:31Close friend Anne made the move from coast to country seven years ago, so Sarah thinks there's no better person
04:38to assist her on the search and Mark is in agreement.
04:42You're quite an impulsive person, I think.
04:45Yeah, I'll go with my heart a lot, don't I?
04:47Yeah, and hopefully we'll have some good fun and we'll see some really lovely places.
04:51But you're going to bring me back in, aren't you?
04:52That's exactly what I'm going to do, yeah. For once in my life I'll be the sensible one, yeah.
04:58Sarah and her husband Mark have a budget of £550,000 and are looking for a rural character property, preferably
05:06detached, with at least two bedrooms, a double garage and a large secure garden for the dogs.
05:18Now Sarah and Mark have ambitions to move.
05:21They want peace, they want privacy and, importantly, they want somewhere for their two bouncy boxes.
05:28It sounds simple enough, we'll see, but if it gives us the excuse and the opportunity to explore this rich
05:36and historic landscape, I'm in.
05:41Before our Northumberland tour gets underway, introductions are in order.
05:46So, I'm meeting Sarah and her good friend, Anne, on the edge of the National Park.
05:54Well, Sarah, Anne, welcome to your very own escape to the country, particularly for you, Sarah, and I know your
06:00husband Mark, who can't join us this week, but Anne has come along for the ride to see if we
06:05can get you a country life here in the North East.
06:08I am so pleased you gave us a call because I love any excuse to come back up to Northumberland.
06:14But an opportunity now for you and your husband to try something different.
06:19Yeah, totally.
06:20I mean, how different is it going to be?
06:22Oh, complete change at the moment.
06:24We're by the coast, see the sea every day, got the beach on our doorsteps, so couldn't be a more
06:31drastic compromise.
06:34Drastic is quite extreme, isn't it?
06:37Yeah, it's just time for a change.
06:40Anne, you have made your own escape to the country just a few years ago.
06:44Yeah, seven years ago I moved from the coast near to where Sarah lives now and moved out into Northumberland,
06:50quite rural, and absolutely loved it.
06:54Never looked back. It was one of the best things I've ever done.
06:58But we should talk about Mark, your husband, who isn't here, but he's given you licence to go and find
07:03you all a new home.
07:05Yes, he has. Yes. We don't buy houses together. We've never bought a house together.
07:10Seriously?
07:11Seriously. This will be our third move.
07:14Yeah. The first move, he went on holiday and I sold his house and bought another one.
07:21Right.
07:22And the second move, I was at work and he rang us and said, I've just bought a house.
07:28And yeah, so...
07:29So it's your turn now, your turn to buy it.
07:31Yeah, it's my turn now, so, you know.
07:33We have Northumberland to explore and I never ever tire of it. I cannot wait. Shall we?
07:39Shall we?
07:40Shall we?
07:40Right, let's go.
07:43We're kicking off the property search just south of the National Park in the village of Baden Mill.
07:49It has everything you'd need for a quiet life in the country.
07:53A village shop, footpaths in every direction, plus a pub and hotel to refresh after a long day walking the
08:01nearby Hadrian's Wall path.
08:03There are also good transport links to the larger towns and cities of Hexham, Carlisle and Newcastle.
08:09It's a seclusion Sarah is looking for, and five minutes' drive from the village, our first property offers just that.
08:16Say that, Sarah. Oh, this is what we're thinking about for number one.
08:21Wow.
08:23Yeah?
08:24So much bigger than what I thought it was going to be.
08:26Yeah.
08:26It's very quirky, lots of different levels.
08:28Okay.
08:29Which I think will appeal to your quirky nature.
08:33Yeah.
08:33That sounds interesting.
08:34Let's see what you think. Come on.
08:37This detached characterful cottage dates back to the 18th century and operated as a school for a hundred years until
08:45it was converted into a family home in the 1970s.
08:49The front door leads into a porch and a dining room, which we're heading straight through to the main reception
08:56room.
08:57Oh, this is nice.
08:58Yeah.
08:59Fantastic view.
09:00Oh, look at that view.
09:02Oh, three sides.
09:03Yeah?
09:04Yeah.
09:05We've lost her.
09:06We've lost her to the view.
09:08Sorry, sorry, I'm in my little world.
09:10Yes.
09:10Nice.
09:11The views are amazing.
09:13Well, they just get better.
09:14Oh.
09:15Yeah, trust me, they get better.
09:16But let's continue.
09:20With views like this, it's no wonder the current owners have lived here for over 50 years.
09:27So, here's the kitchen.
09:29Now, you tell me, Sarah, is this big enough in that we are, I know, downsizing?
09:35Compact.
09:36It's a little bit claustrophobic for me.
09:38I feel it's a bit, just a little bit too small.
09:42I do like the quirkiness of it.
09:43I like this little, little hole in the wall.
09:47I love the beams.
09:49Yeah, I do feel it's a little bit claustrophobic.
09:52Closed in.
09:53Interesting.
09:55The kitchen might not be doing it for Sarah, but I'm confident this next room will.
10:02Wow.
10:03I told you the views get better.
10:05Oh, wow.
10:06Yeah.
10:06You did, um...
10:09Oh, yes.
10:10That is, yeah.
10:12That's pretty spectacular.
10:13I mean, you could have kitchen dining in here, perhaps, if you wished.
10:16I could live in here.
10:17I think you kind of would.
10:18I think they do, actually.
10:21I'm speechless.
10:22And that doesn't happen very often, does it?
10:24No, it definitely doesn't happen very often.
10:25Could you do something with the kitchen?
10:27What kitchen?
10:28Right.
10:28I forgot about the kitchen.
10:29Right, okay.
10:31It's the views, isn't it?
10:32You would just sit here and I'd never leave.
10:35I'd just sit and drink wine and coffee and gin and look out the window and...
10:40Yeah.
10:40You just wouldn't leave this room.
10:42It's spectacular.
10:44It's absolutely beautiful.
10:47Well, you can't beat reactions like that.
10:50Beside the kitchen, there's a family bathroom and a hallway leading to two bedrooms on the ground floor.
10:55One in use as a study and the other with an open plan en suite.
11:01Further down the hall, past a spiral staircase and again on the ground level, is the largest bedroom which is
11:07used as the principal.
11:09Okay, so this is the master?
11:11Yeah.
11:11Got a shower in the corner there.
11:14But again, a bit of imagination, a bit of cosmetic.
11:17I'm sure you could re-jig it.
11:20Maybe it's a little bit too quirky because I'm not sure how this layout would.
11:24Yeah, maybe it just needs a bit of thought though.
11:27Yeah.
11:27Well, before we get outside and talk about the price, I think you should have a look upstairs.
11:32Okay.
11:33Try that spiral.
11:34Yeah.
11:35Exciting.
11:36Give it a go.
11:37Give it a go.
11:38Yeah.
11:38Don't want to try this one after too many gins.
11:40No, absolutely not.
11:41That's why horizontal living is for you.
11:44Go on, let me go.
11:49The layout might be challenging, Sarah, but there is a lot on offer here.
11:54Upstairs, there's a further double bedroom, a shower room, plus a fifth bedroom, featuring yet more views.
12:03I mean, every single window has a different view and they're all fantastic.
12:09I do have one thing.
12:11We're very close to the year 69.
12:14Oh, right.
12:15Yeah.
12:16Ah.
12:16It was all going so well.
12:19But there's still more to tempt Sarah, like this attached double garage with mezzanine.
12:25Ooh.
12:26Well, this looks interesting, Anne.
12:28Mm.
12:28I mean, it's a big garage, but you probably need a bit more space than this.
12:33But, interesting staircase up there.
12:38Wow, this is a useful space.
12:41Oh, wow, this is massive.
12:45Oh, Mark would love this.
12:46Yeah, this is a kind of man cave.
12:50A mature garden surrounds the property with raised herb beds, fruit trees, and at the far end of the lawn,
12:57a timber outbuilding with a hot tub.
13:01I mean, we have reveled at these views, haven't we?
13:04We have.
13:04And this garden, again, it was designed to be child proof, but would it keep your dogs in?
13:09It would definitely keep the dogs in, yes.
13:11Yes.
13:11So, what do you think, Sarah, our property here is on the market for?
13:17I'm going to go under budget.
13:18Yeah.
13:19And I'm going to go 500.
13:20500,000 pounds.
13:22Okay.
13:22Anne, as a seasoned country dweller yourself, come on, give us your expertise.
13:26Well, I think with all those bedrooms and these views, it's got to be more 525.
13:33525,000 pounds.
13:35Yeah.
13:35Interesting.
13:36It's on the market for offers in the region of 495 pounds.
13:43Oh!
13:43Well done.
13:44So doable.
13:45Yeah.
13:46With change, to make any changes you wish to make.
13:48A lot of change, yeah.
13:49Yeah.
13:50So that would cover the cost of...
13:52Yeah, yeah.
13:52A few things.
13:53Making it personalised.
13:55Yeah, yeah.
13:56I think we're off to a pretty good start with this former schoolhouse.
14:00It has five bedrooms, three reception rooms, including a stunning sunroom with far-reaching
14:06views, and the wraparound garden is ideal for the dogs.
14:10All this for offers in the region of 495,000 pounds.
14:15I love this house.
14:17I love the quirkiness, the character in the property.
14:21For me, the biggest thing that puts me off this house is how close it is to the A69
14:27and the constant noise.
14:29And I think Mark would find that a problem as well.
14:49In the heart of the Tyne Valley, just south of Hadrian's Wall, is the market town of Hexham.
14:55Its ancient abbey stands as a symbol of Hexham's medieval past, but its town centre tells a more
15:01modern story, with a wealth of independent shops, cafes and restaurants filling the popular
15:08marketplace.
15:10This is cute, isn't it?
15:11Yeah, it's really, really beautiful.
15:13And it's got a bandstand.
15:15Oh, you can look for the trumpets.
15:18That might be something for your retirement.
15:23For Sarah, Hexham could be a great hub when she needs a taste of town living.
15:28There's a definite sense of pride here, from beautifully kept shopfronts to community-led
15:33projects.
15:35It's a lovely community at Hexham, really nice business supportive group.
15:40We all help each other, support each other, and yeah, really friendly and welcoming.
15:47That's what makes Hexham so special, is the community spirit and the fact that people want
15:51to join in and make it better and work together.
15:55So it's a really special, lovely place to live.
15:58There's even a community-run cinema that's still going strong after nearly 90 years.
16:04We're a cinema that show new release films, so families can come and enjoy the latest blockbuster.
16:10But we also really pride ourselves on our diverse programme and being able to offer something
16:16a bit different.
16:17On Tuesdays, the town really comes alive with its weekly market.
16:22And as luck would have it, today is Tuesday.
16:25Oh, these are nice.
16:27Oh, beautiful.
16:28They're gorgeous then.
16:31Just around the corner is a cafe that I've heard is pretty popular, where owner Grant has
16:36offered to meet up with the ladies to share more about local life.
16:42Hi there, guys.
16:43How are you doing?
16:43Hi.
16:44Hi.
16:44Good to see you.
16:45And you.
16:46So as I was coming in, I saw there's a yoga sign.
16:49Yeah.
16:49Is there much activity or things going on here?
16:52So we do loads of community stuff here.
16:54Right.
16:54Okay.
16:55So we do a yoga breakfast club, wellness nights.
17:00We've done private dining nights.
17:02All right.
17:02We've had like a private chef come in and do all the Italian themed.
17:05I mean, we do all sorts, as much as we can.
17:07Where are you guys thinking of moving in from?
17:09I'm coming in from the coast.
17:11Okay.
17:11The community here is so lovely.
17:13I mean, it's really welcoming.
17:14You won't struggle to find people that you get along with similar interests.
17:17Everyone's really, really nice.
17:21If the locals haven't won Sarah over already, the food surely will.
17:25But don't get too comfortable though, ladies.
17:28We've got a property search to get back to.
17:35Our next property destination is the village of Wall.
17:39Close to, you guessed it, the one built by Hadrian.
17:42It's another village wrapped in glorious Northumberland countryside.
17:46The church isn't the only place to congregate.
17:49There's also a village hall and green.
17:52So here we are then in the village of Wall.
17:55Have you ever been here before then, Sarah?
17:57You must have been.
17:58I've driven through it, but I've never stopped here.
18:00Well, you might be stopping for a bit longer than you'd planned if you like this.
18:04All of it?
18:05All of it.
18:06Okay.
18:07The only thing to deal with out here really, because it is pretty.
18:09It does sort of sell itself, doesn't it?
18:11Is this.
18:12The road, obviously.
18:14A little bit noisy.
18:15Right.
18:16However, and you're going to have to take my word for this.
18:18When you're inside and in the garden at the back, in the garden, you just don't notice it.
18:23Hard to believe stood here.
18:25Yeah.
18:25I'll take your word for it, but we'll see.
18:27We'll see.
18:29Two former cottages knocked into one with an integrated garage.
18:34This traditional stone house is a real gem.
18:37And I'm sure Sarah is going to be charmed once we get through the front door.
18:41A staircase greets us upon entry, splitting the cottage into two with a dining room to
18:46the left and a particularly warm and cosy reception room to the right.
18:51When the door is shut, oh, hear the silence.
18:56You're right.
18:57Yeah.
18:58Yeah.
18:58I hate to tell a man that he's right, but you're right.
19:01Jules is always right.
19:03We've worked that out by now.
19:05That's a phrase I never hear at home.
19:08Look at what you get when you get in here.
19:10Nice.
19:10This is lovely.
19:11Themes.
19:12I like the wobbliness of it.
19:15Perfectly imperfect.
19:16Just like the staff.
19:18Yeah, exactly.
19:20What did I tell you?
19:22Charmed.
19:23This, I think, is super.
19:26Come on in to this garden room come, kind of dining room.
19:31Oh, this is nice.
19:33This opens it up a bit, doesn't it?
19:35Doesn't it?
19:35Yeah.
19:36And look at the garden that you get.
19:37I'm dying to get out there!
19:39Don't worry.
19:40There's lots to explore out there.
19:43Jules, I have to admit, you're right.
19:45I've come in here.
19:46I can't hear that road at all.
19:48All I can hear is the water feature that's in the garden.
19:51I am desperate to get out there and see that garden.
19:56You will.
19:57You will.
19:57All in your time.
19:59It's just so warm, isn't it?
20:01Yeah.
20:01I mean, sometimes, you know, you get into these and they're absolutely freezing because
20:05of all the glass, but this one's just so warm.
20:08I think you rather like this.
20:09Yeah, I do.
20:10I think this is lovely.
20:13But there's more to see inside before I let them loose in the garden.
20:17Now, I know what you're going to say about this, Sarah.
20:19You're going to tell me that it's not big enough.
20:25It might be.
20:27It might be big enough.
20:28No, I might be going to tell you that.
20:30Well, let's just say you have.
20:33However, in its favour, I think, is the view out to the garden, you know, the skylights,
20:38and I think the functionality of it, actually.
20:40It's not as...
20:43Claustrophobic.
20:43Yeah.
20:44Yeah.
20:44I felt a bit compressed from the other one, whereas this one was the skylights.
20:48Yeah.
20:49Yeah.
20:49It feels a bit more open.
20:51I think they've made good use of the space that's in the kitchen.
20:54Yeah.
20:55It hasn't put us off.
20:56Good.
20:57Yeah.
20:58Good.
20:58Now, in terms of downsizing, you've got five bedrooms at the moment.
21:02Yes.
21:02And you don't really want five.
21:03No.
21:04This has three.
21:05Okay.
21:06That's good.
21:06There you go.
21:08Go and find them.
21:09House is yours.
21:10Go and explore.
21:13A second staircase leads up to a family bathroom and a double bedroom.
21:18Well, this is nice, isn't it?
21:20Oh, and there's the views.
21:21Fabulous views.
21:22Northumberland just keeps giving them.
21:24I could sit here in the morning, have a cup of coffee.
21:28Afternoon glass of wine.
21:29Can you hear that?
21:30Can you hear that?
21:31No traffic.
21:32Yeah, you can't hear it at all, can you?
21:33No traffic.
21:34No, it's really good.
21:36Off the hallway, there's another double bedroom.
21:39Oh, no.
21:40This one's nice.
21:41It's a nice seal aspect.
21:42Yeah, nice.
21:42And through a second door, there's even more.
21:46Oh.
21:47Wow.
21:48Oh.
21:50Yeah, this is nice.
21:53Oh, this is the curse ball again, isn't it?
21:56Yeah.
21:57This is lovely.
21:59Oh, this is really nice.
22:01Oh, dear.
22:03Yeah.
22:04Oh.
22:04I think you didn't want to like it.
22:06I didn't.
22:06On the way in.
22:07But this is really, really lovely.
22:09It is a lovely house.
22:10Jules was right.
22:11Yeah.
22:12Don't act so surprised, Anne.
22:13I know a good house when I see one.
22:15And this one is the gift that just keeps on giving.
22:19Connected to the bedroom is a dressing room and an en suite.
22:23It just keeps going.
22:25Back downstairs, there's a very handsome study.
22:29And I know somewhere else the ladies are itching to explore.
22:33Yeah.
22:33Let's go see the garden.
22:35I'm so excited.
22:37I don't think it'll disappoint.
22:40A large lawn, a paved patio, fruit trees, a greenhouse, a summer house.
22:47You name it, this garden probably has it.
22:51Hopefully you've enjoyed what you've seen up there.
22:54But I think what you get out here just adds to the mix, the rich mix.
22:58Look at it.
22:59Oh, I like this.
23:01It's different sections, different sort of like little hidey holes.
23:06It's a beautiful garden.
23:07Absolutely.
23:08Wow.
23:09Yeah.
23:10Lovely, isn't it?
23:10Yeah.
23:11Come back.
23:12Come back.
23:12I'm going to let you explore it all later on.
23:14Oh.
23:15You need to know.
23:16You need to know how much is on the market for.
23:20So, Anne, because you love this, I know.
23:22I do love this.
23:23I think it's really nice.
23:24And I think it's going to be near the top of Sarah's budget.
23:27So I'm going five full five.
23:30545,000 pounds.
23:32Yeah.
23:32Okay, Sarah.
23:33I think it might be a little bit over.
23:35Oh.
23:36I think it might be on for 560.
23:39560,000 pounds.
23:40Well, here's the thing.
23:41You're kind of right.
23:43Oh.
23:44It offers over 545,000 pounds.
23:49Right.
23:50So you might need to go give Mark a call.
23:52I just want to get into this garden.
23:55I just want to explore.
23:56Go on, then.
23:56Go and explore.
23:58Go and see what your boxes would make of it.
24:00Okay.
24:02Sarah asked for character and this extensive cottage definitely delivers.
24:07Three bedrooms, a separate kitchen, dining room and living room, plus a fabulous sunroom
24:12and a garden you could get lost in.
24:15All for offers over 545,000 pounds.
24:18I think I've got my work cut out to top this one.
24:22I am completely in love with this garden.
24:25I love all the little bits of it.
24:28It's just amazing.
24:29It would be perfect.
24:31Yeah, I agree.
24:31I think it's really lovely.
24:32And we've forgotten about the road noise.
24:35Any road noise, haven't we?
24:36As soon as we come in here, it becomes a non-event.
24:38Yeah, Jules was right.
24:40Yeah.
24:40My only concern is garage.
24:43If we had that double garage, I would buy this house today.
24:47I would go past the kitchen, but I haven't got the garage.
24:58I'd say it's been a pretty successful day of house hunting, but before we call it a day,
25:03I've got a little something up my sleeve that I think could provide a bit of inspiration
25:07for garden enthusiast Sarah.
25:10I want you to see this.
25:12The walled garden.
25:15Look, Capheaton Hall, have a look at this lot.
25:20Oh, wow.
25:20This is something, isn't it?
25:22Isn't it?
25:22Mm.
25:23And the light is just perfect.
25:25And what I love about this walled garden, and I do love a walled garden, it has to be said,
25:29is that it is genuinely productive.
25:32Yeah.
25:32All right.
25:34Capheaton Hall has been in the same family since the 13th century.
25:39It's very much a working estate, and we've come to meet owner Willie Brown Swinburne.
25:44Willie, great to see you.
25:45Good to see you.
25:46Let me introduce you to Anne and to Sarah.
25:48Hi, Willie.
25:49Nice to meet you.
25:49Hi, Willie.
25:50Good to meet you.
25:51We are very lucky because ordinarily, Willie, this is your private walled garden, isn't it?
25:55Well, yes, but...
25:58You've been very kind to let us in.
25:59Not at all.
25:59It's great to have anyone who appreciates it, really.
26:02Well, I...
26:02It can get quite lonely.
26:03Absolutely love a walled garden, and we are very happy to come and keep you company,
26:08and maybe lend a hand if we need to.
26:09Well, yeah, always happy to take that.
26:12How lovely.
26:13I mean, amongst the estate, you've still got your walled garden here, and it's so nice
26:17to see it so productive and looking so colourful.
26:19Yeah.
26:20Well, it's the one place that really, over the years, has never been neglected.
26:24Yeah.
26:25And, yeah, we try and keep it as productive as possible, but also as pretty as possible.
26:32It's just beautiful.
26:35At the minute, I can only grow herbs because we've got so much salt coming in off the sea.
26:40Really?
26:40So, you know, just to get an idea...
26:43You probably don't get many frosts, do you?
26:44No.
26:45No, I don't get many frosts, but I get a lot of salt water.
26:47That's what you need to watch out for, frosts.
26:49Yeah, yeah.
26:50I only live about ten miles that way, and coming here, it's definitely inspiring me to be able
26:55to do more, because I keep thinking it's too cold and we can't do this, but actually,
26:59just look at this.
27:01Yeah.
27:01I'm going to race back there after we've done all of this.
27:04Well, we're happy to give you a hand, Willie.
27:05Well, do.
27:06I've got some, er...
27:07Secondary.
27:08Right.
27:08Handy tools here for you.
27:09There we go.
27:10You know what you're doing.
27:11Yeah.
27:12Let's do this.
27:13Yeah.
27:14Let's have a sniff of these, too.
27:16Wow.
27:17Yeah, that smells like cellar.
27:20I think Sarah could learn a lot from somewhere like this.
27:24With the abundance of plants and herbs here, she's probably not going to want to leave.
27:28I'll just stay here.
27:30It'll be fine.
27:31Yeah.
27:32I'm quite happy.
27:33Well, I think you've got a couple of willing volunteers here.
27:36Yeah, absolutely.
27:36Absolutely.
27:37Well, all volunteers welcome.
27:51If you, like Sarah, are thinking of making a move to Northumberland, here's what you need
27:56to know before you go.
27:58And you might be pleasantly surprised.
28:01The average price of a detached property here is just over £348,000.
28:07That's more than £16,000 below prices in North Tyneside.
28:12It's also way below the UK figure of £438,000.
28:19However, if you're in the market for a semi-detached home, the prices drop even further.
28:26Take this one, a two-bedroom stone cottage in a pretty village.
28:30For £290,000, it offers a large gated garden, a traditional country kitchen and a cosy reception room.
28:39Or how about this distinctive and detached former chapel?
28:43Decorated with original features, it has countryside views, open-plan living and is surrounded by a pretty garden.
28:51It's priced around £325,000.
28:56Perhaps you're looking for a short-term break to discover all the county has to offer.
29:02From £100 a night for two, this spacious wooden hut is set in a meadow and just minutes from Hadrian's
29:08Wall.
29:08After a day exploring, you can unwind and dine on the wraparound deck or stargaze through the skylight from your
29:16comfy bed.
29:22Well, we have one more day of house hunting ahead of us here in Northumberland with Sarah and her very
29:27good friend Anne.
29:28So far so good, but coming up today, it is of course time to reveal our mystery house.
29:34Now, we do know that Sarah has green fingers and maybe has some ambitions to keep one or two animals.
29:40Well, our mystery house, I hope, will satisfy all of those ambitions.
29:44And here's the thing, it's not a million miles away from where I am stood now, in the heart of
29:49a thriving village community.
29:53For our final offering, we're travelling north to the village of Bellingham.
30:01Final day ahead of us.
30:03Yep.
30:04How are we feeling about the prospect of this new country life?
30:10I'm so excited. So excited.
30:12I woke up this morning, opened the curtains and there was little rabbits jumping all over the grass in front
30:17of the hotel.
30:18My heart was like, yes, this is what I want.
30:22We're disappointed you haven't used any of your Geordie accent yet though, Jules.
30:26I mean, myself, like, I love it up here. It's, it's, it's gorgeous, isn't it?
30:30Do you? Do you really?
30:31Aye, aye.
30:32I didn't like cities like me. No.
30:35Do you like that?
30:36Aye.
30:36You didn't like it.
30:37You did like it.
30:38I did.
30:38Aye, aye.
30:39Aye.
30:40And what should you like it? Like, really like it?
30:42Oh.
30:43Absolutely.
30:44Massive.
30:45Honestly.
30:46I don't give compliments lightly, but Julesy, that is the best Southerners Geordie accent I have ever heard.
30:52Well, you're both, you're both very keen.
30:53Jules, me.
30:54Where have we gone?
30:56Gan.
30:56Where have we gone?
30:56Where have we gone?
30:57Where have we gone?
30:58Where have we gone is a little secret.
30:58No, no.
31:01No.
31:02I'm not a little secret.
31:03The Julesy accent aside.
31:04I have a very Northumbrian mystery house to reveal, but first a pit stop in the village
31:10that serves it.
31:11Well, you two.
31:12I'm very excited to reveal our mystery house.
31:15But before we do, I thought we'd pause here in Bellingham.
31:18Is this a village that you've been to before?
31:21I've been through it. I think it was a very long time ago, though.
31:25OK, well, I think this is a really interesting option for you.
31:28It's not the splendid isolation that you had pictured originally
31:31of life in a field.
31:33But can you see the merits of that idea?
31:36I can see the merit. Yes, I can.
31:39Whether it's going to actually work for me, I'm not sure,
31:41because I'm still set on being in a field.
31:44OK, but what if we gave you a property
31:46that gave you access to all of this
31:48but still had a sense of space around it?
31:51Is there such a thing?
31:52Well, hard to find, but I think we might have done it.
31:55Have you done it?
31:56Well, get this.
31:57Our mystery house is literally, literally,
31:59a two-minute walk down there.
32:01Oh. All right.
32:03So why don't you explore all that Bellingham has to offer?
32:07Maybe find a coffee, if you're lucky,
32:09and I will go to our mystery house and I will meet you there.
32:11Sounds like a plan.
32:13Go on, then. Off you go. Enjoy.
32:14See you soon.
32:15Don't spend too much money. You need it for your house.
32:21Bellingham is a popular destination
32:22for tourists wanting to explore the Northumberland National Park,
32:26but it has an active local community as well.
32:30I'll look at you. Yoga and Pilates.
32:32I'll try, too.
32:33I think you're more of Jiu-Jitsu or a mixed martial arts person.
32:37You can see me doing that, hey.
32:41I've arranged for the ladies to visit local resident
32:44and shop paler Moira Hobson
32:46to learn a little more about what's on offer here.
32:49Hello there.
32:50Oh, hello. Hi.
32:52Some lovely things in here.
32:54It smells gorgeous in here.
32:56Oh, thank you.
32:57It's all the soaps. I make all the soaps myself.
32:59So do you live in the local area, then?
33:01I live at Falstone, which is just on the way to the reservoir,
33:04but Bellingham is just a fabulous little village.
33:07So you've got butchers.
33:09He also does bread at the weekends.
33:10Right.
33:11We've got a hardware store.
33:12We've got a chemist.
33:13We've got practically everything you could possibly want, really.
33:19While Sarah and Anne explore all the delights of Bellingham,
33:24let me give you a little taster as to what our mystery house is all about.
33:29Even though we are in the heart of this community,
33:31it's on a really generous footprint.
33:35Gorgeous property.
33:36Had much done to it over the years.
33:38It's got all this space out here for the dogs.
33:40And, as you can see, some very welcome.
33:43And with this house search, all important.
33:45Garaging space.
33:47Fingers crossed this draws together everything I've learned
33:51about what Sarah and her husband, Mark, are after.
33:55She'll be surprised as to the location,
33:57but I genuinely think this could work.
34:00Plus, it's also got a croquet pitch.
34:05So could this impressive 19th century stone property be the one for Sarah?
34:12Who said how something shouldn't be fun?
34:16There you go.
34:17There you go.
34:17Hold on.
34:18I'm trying to set the scene for our mystery house.
34:21What do you think?
34:22Yes.
34:23You might have outdone yourself this time.
34:26I think this with the dogs.
34:29Oh, yes.
34:32You can walk to the pub, to the shop.
34:35Lots of advantages.
34:36Yeah.
34:37Looking positive.
34:38I'm hoping we've saved the best till last.
34:40Yeah, looks like it.
34:41This might be my favourite.
34:43There you go.
34:43Come on, let's have a look.
34:44Let's get you in.
34:50A short walk down the private driveway takes us to a side entrance.
34:55We enter into a utility room and head on through to the first of three reception rooms.
35:01So you tell me, Sarah, what do you think of this?
35:06Oh, this is good.
35:08And I mean, it's quite a small room, but because you've got the big window and a view of the
35:13nice garden.
35:14Yeah.
35:14So, completely different views to the other houses that we've seen yesterday.
35:19Yeah.
35:20But I think I prefer this.
35:21There's more to it.
35:24Off the dining room, overlooking the garden, is a lovely sunroom.
35:28And then the flow through here into the kitchen.
35:31The fact that you've got the dining through there.
35:34Again, the pair of you flowing between these spaces.
35:36Could you flow here?
35:38I could flow here.
35:39I'll definitely be going to flow through here with you.
35:42Good.
35:42We're excited.
35:43We are.
35:44Yes!
35:45I haven't found anything wrong so far.
35:48Excellent.
35:49Yeah.
35:50Let's have a look at the living room.
35:52This is going well.
35:55Oh, this is cute.
35:57Oh, this is nice.
35:59Yeah.
35:59It's really warm and welcoming, isn't it?
36:01I'm loving it.
36:02Loving it.
36:03Yeah.
36:04We're going up to nine, I think, here.
36:07Sarah's loving it, so that's good.
36:09Yeah.
36:10I think it's...
36:10I'm at nine.
36:11Yeah.
36:11I'm at nine.
36:12I'm sending the ladies to explore upstairs, which I'm hopeful will notch those scores up
36:18to a ten.
36:20Oh, so this must be the principal room, then.
36:23Well, it's a good size.
36:24Yeah.
36:25Nice.
36:25Light.
36:26Good.
36:27Window check.
36:28Okay.
36:29No neighbours.
36:31Positive.
36:32Yeah.
36:32En suite.
36:33Tickety-tickety-tickety-tickety-tick.
36:36So far, so good.
36:40Might be getting the checkbook out.
36:43Checkbook talk?
36:44And we're only halfway through the tour.
36:48There's a second double bedroom with views up to the village, a bright family bathroom,
36:52and a third spacious double.
36:57Wasn't expecting this.
36:58This is unexpected, isn't it?
37:00Yeah.
37:00I was expecting a little box room.
37:02And another lovely view in the garden.
37:04And not overlooked.
37:06Oh, Sarah.
37:07Oh, dear.
37:08You're in danger.
37:09Oh, dear.
37:10And there's still a lot to explore on the generous plot outside.
37:14Mature trees and hedges give privacy.
37:17An extensive lawn wraps around the front, back, and side.
37:20But it's the detached outhouse that might just be the icing on the cake.
37:25Ah.
37:27Come and have a look.
37:28Oh, wow.
37:29Uh-oh.
37:31Jules, this isn't a garage.
37:32I have seen houses smaller than this.
37:35Have you?
37:35I mean, it's great, isn't it?
37:37Oh, yes.
37:38Yes.
37:38Because I think, yeah, you did good.
37:42You think the poor is doing good?
37:44I love it.
37:45Yeah, you did good.
37:46Yeah.
37:47Yeah.
37:47And it's not in a field.
37:49It's not in the country.
37:50It's not out in the middle of nowhere.
37:53But I love it.
37:54Well, let's go and think about how much it's worth, shall we?
37:57Oh, no.
37:57No.
37:58I swear you're going to tell me I can't afford it.
38:02I just knew the mystery house would deliver, as it so often does.
38:06So, it's our final price guess of the week, madam.
38:13Go on.
38:14I think you've blown my budget out of the water, and I think you've gone £600,000.
38:19£600,000.
38:20Yeah.
38:21Wow, that is a big old leap, isn't it?
38:23Yeah.
38:23Yeah, Anne?
38:23Um, I think it's smaller, um, so I think...
38:28OK, maybe I'll change my mind.
38:29No.
38:31I think it's more around about £520,000.
38:34£520,000.
38:36OK, let's make this nice and easy.
38:39This is on the market for £500,000.
38:43Wow.
38:44So, you've got change to make some changes.
38:46Oh, wow.
38:47She's already mentally moved in.
38:49Yeah.
38:50Do you think?
38:51I'm not surprised, because clearly this house has everything Sarah wants, as well as something
38:57she didn't know she wanted.
38:59It comes with three receptions, three double bedrooms, a large, secure garden, views, and
39:05of course, it's just a short walk from the village centre.
39:09Under budget at £500,000, what's not to love?
39:14I might have lost my heart to a house in Bellingham.
39:18Uh-oh.
39:19It's absolutely perfect.
39:21It's not what I asked for.
39:23It's not what I expected.
39:25But it's home.
39:26It's my new home.
39:27Oh, my God.
39:29That's my house.
39:36Well, what a week we've had with Sarah and her friend Anne, herself, of course, a new
39:42escapee to country life.
39:44We've given them three, I think, really interesting properties to choose from, but without a doubt,
39:48there is one very obvious favourite.
39:51The question is, what will she and husband Mark potentially do about it?
39:56Well, where better to find out than just a stone's throw from the banks of the River
40:00Tyne?
40:07Hi, Jules.
40:08Hello.
40:09This is all a bit exciting, isn't it?
40:11Well, what a fabulous week it has been.
40:15Now, my sense is that of the properties we have shown you, there is clearly one obvious
40:20favourite.
40:21I would have to say you're right.
40:23I hate to admit a man is right, but you are right.
40:26Not for the first time this week, which is, you know, praise indeed.
40:30The mystery house, clearly.
40:32Definitely.
40:33It was just perfect.
40:34The minute I walked in, you got a feeling of, yes.
40:39But let's just break this down, then, because when we met, there was talk about living in
40:43the middle of nowhere, didn't want to be new people.
40:46Yes.
40:47Okay, so a few of those requirements might have went out the window.
40:50As soon as the mystery house appeared.
40:53It's just beautiful.
40:55Can I say, though, Jules, that we've only been in Bellingham for a short time and she's
41:00already made loads of friends.
41:01No surprise.
41:03So, let's think about Mark for a moment.
41:05Has he had time to consider where you're at or is he just going to go with it?
41:12Well, I have sent him the details of the house and we both want to come up and have a
41:18look, well, my second look, his first look in a couple of days.
41:23Fabulous.
41:23So, no offer just yet, but a second viewing for you, a first viewing for Mark.
41:28I think he'll absolutely love it.
41:30I think he'll be getting a phone call saying thank you.
41:33Wow.
41:34Well, look, it's been a lot of fun.
41:36Thank you for...
41:37No, thank you.
41:38...inviting us to come along and give you a hand.
41:42Honestly, it's been a real treat.
41:44Let us know how you get on with your second viewing.
41:46And let us know what Mark thinks.
41:48And, fingers crossed, once you've sold your home, you could be well on the way.
41:54Fingers crossed.
41:54We've had a great time, haven't we?
41:55Thank you very much.
42:00Well, it's going to come as no great surprise that every house search here on Escape to the Country begins,
42:05of course, with a wish list drawn up not by us, but by our buyers.
42:10But even though they may have dotted every I and crossed every T, not for the first time,
42:15has a property all by itself revised that list, torn it up.
42:19And that, of course, is exactly what has happened to Sarah with our mystery house.
42:24But now, hopefully, fingers crossed, she and husband Mark will be making the move from the coast to the countryside
42:31to revel in all of this big, beautiful, beguiling Northumberland.
42:38I'll see you next time.
42:42Well, Sarah was right.
42:44Mark did absolutely love it, too, and the couple has had an offer accepted on our mystery house.
42:50They'll be making their escape to the country very soon, and I wish them all the best.
42:57If you would also like to escape to the country in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales, and need our
43:03help,
43:03why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.
43:08MUSIC PLAYS
43:13MUSIC PLAYS
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