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00:02Escaping to the country can evoke a wide range of feelings. Anticipation. Can't wait to get in
00:08there. Would you like to get in there? Let's go and get in there, come on. Trepidation. Don't ask
00:16the question. I've got to ask the question I'm afraid. And often inspiration. I thought it was
00:25time to supersize the view. Certainly done that. Can't beat that. And of course, what we feel when
00:34we find our escapees their dream home is a huge sense of gratification. They're all sort of tingled.
00:42I know. Yes, I know. A couple of hairs standing up. Whatever. Yeah, lovely. Really, really good feeling.
01:10The beauty and grandeur of this landscape has inspired the likes of composer Edward Elgar,
01:17who lived here for many years, as well as the authors CS Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien,
01:22who were frequent visitors. So where are we? Worcestershire, up in the Malvern Hills.
01:30It's a bit like nature's roller coaster up here. Sweeping views and hidden trails. You know,
01:37whether you're hiking or biking or just enjoying the views, it's a really magical place. Now,
01:44your legs might not thank you, because some of those trails are pretty steep. But your soul will
01:49absolutely love it. The West Midlands County of Worcestershire is home to a large swathe of the
01:58Malvern Hills, located in the south-west of the county and struggling the border with Herefordshire.
02:06The hills stretch for miles and miles. So wherever you live in Malvern, you're only a few steps away,
02:11really, from common land. We also have spring water, which people can collect and drink for free,
02:17and that's supposed to have curative properties. The town of Upton on Severn, with its Georgian
02:26architecture and scenic riverside walks, is the perfect base for exploring the hills. As is the
02:32village of Hanley Swan, with its village green, pub and duck pond. I've moved here 16 years ago,
02:39from Berkshire. And I'm up the hills probably three or four times a week, just taking a different route
02:47each time, and it never seems boring. There's always something new to see. It's just a fantastic
02:52place to live, and it's just the perfect location for the quality of life for us and our kids.
03:00Shirley Sheridan is the squire of So Excited, a visually impaired border Morristown side, based in the
03:06town of Malvern. I love exploring the Malvern Hills with my guide dog, Mikey. You walk up the
03:16Worcestershire Beacon, and you will get a sense of space up there, without a doubt.
03:28Let's meet today's couple, whose love of exploring the UK has inspired a life-changing decision.
03:35They are ready to swap the constant hum of the M25 for the charm and calm of Worcestershire's Malvern
03:41Hills. So Keith, here you are cooking your signature paella dish out in the garden, which currently can
03:53only seat about six people. And what we want is a new house with a much bigger garden. You can
03:59entertain
03:59even more people. And I'm just going to tip the camera so you can see that you can get an
04:03even bigger
04:04paella, and do that with them. For the past 17 years, Amphia and Keith have lived together in this
04:12one-bedroom end-of-terrace Victorian cottage in the Hertfordshire commuter town of Rickmansworth.
04:18Our big word is, we're upsizing! Because they're now retired, this house simply ain't big enough for
04:25the both of them. My current man came, and not really quite big enough. Keith plays golf, and I have
04:34to
04:34share my very, very small living room with this sort of stuff. They've just accepted an offer on their
04:42home and have viewed around 16 properties, but haven't found anything they like.
04:48Yes, I think we've been mostly disappointed, and we have worked out that we're actually not very good at it.
04:53So we are relying on Escape to the Country to work out what it is we actually do want, and
05:00what we can achieve.
05:02And I guess find that property that we couldn't find.
05:05No pressure then! Well, Keith and Amphia know they do want a detached property with three bedrooms and a spacious
05:12kitchen diner.
05:13Outside, they're after a workshop or garage for Keith, a good-sized garden, and they want to be within walking
05:19distance of a village pub.
05:21Their budget? £520,000.
05:34I'm really excited about Keith and Amphia's upsize to the Malvern Hills.
05:39But what slightly concerns me is that they've looked at loads of properties and not managed to find anything that
05:44works for them yet.
05:46However, we love a challenge on Escape to the Country, and I'm confident we can find them a house they
05:51will call home.
05:56A Worcestershire meander through the Malvern Hills begins in the village of Hanley Castle, six miles south-east of the
06:02town of Great Malvern.
06:04Chock full of period properties, its residents benefit from a secondary school, a pub and a cricket club.
06:12Along with a 900-year-old church that sits on the village green, where I'm meeting Amphia and Keith to
06:19chat more about this move.
06:21What a glorious day we've got for our house. It's beautiful, isn't it?
06:26So lucky.
06:27So come on you two, why are you making this move now? What is it about this point in your
06:32life?
06:33Stopped work. Yay! Don't use the W word.
06:37Excellent. What do you imagine life being like when you live here? What's your vision for it?
06:43There's no, in a way, perhaps no preconceived ideas. We just want to be able to get our roots somewhere
06:50and find out what's going on around and then just, yeah, get involved.
06:54Is this the kind of area you have in mind for when, you know, for making a move too much?
06:59I want to know where the village hall is. I want to know where I'm going to go to do
07:03all my activities.
07:04And Keith's talking about possibly taking up beekeeping. So, and there was a beekeeper here when we pulled up in
07:09the car.
07:10Okay. Okay. And it's peaceful as well. That's lovely.
07:13This is gorgeous. Well, that is music to my ears. I'm very happy because the first house that I want
07:17to show you is right here in this village.
07:20Excellent. Yes. Fantastic. Okay. Follow me. Thank you. Thank you.
07:29This detached grade two listed cottage, believed to date back to the 1660s, is the first property we've lined up
07:36for Anthea and Keith to view.
07:39It's been thoroughly and sympathetically renovated by the current owners, who consulted with the Society for the Protection of Ancient
07:46Buildings
07:47and hired timber frame specialists for the restoration work.
07:54So, we don't have too far to walk because nestled here right in the centre of the village is our
07:59first property.
08:00Fantastic. Oh, that's lovely. It's gorgeous. It's so chocolate box, isn't it?
08:05Yes, absolutely. Lavender in the front, geranium by the front door. Yes, beautiful. Beautiful. The windows, the doors.
08:12Exactly as a child, you would draw a cottage. The location is just gorgeous.
08:17The pub, the church, the house, just ideal. It's beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
08:23Can't wait to get in there. Would you like to get in there? Let's go and get in there. Come
08:28on.
08:31The house has been upgraded with new electrics, plumbing and heating. Conservation-grade solid oak double-glaze windows were installed.
08:40And insulation was enhanced with sheep wool, cork and wood wool boards, finished with thick lime plaster.
08:47The interior features stripped and lime-washed exposed beams and elegant cream tiles throughout the ground floor, complete with underfloor
08:57heating.
08:58So, come on in. Whoa, yes. Oh, lovely.
09:05Certainly a little bit more room than the house.
09:08Oh, no, really lovely. Ideal for somewhere to eat. Fantastic. No, I like it.
09:15You can see the age when you get in there, can't you?
09:17But they've done a lovely job with their units. Modern units and stuff.
09:21Perhaps I'd like it a little bit more open-play, only because, you know, I enjoy cooking and it's more
09:26of a...
09:27It's like a theatre when I, you know, love to have other friends around and they can see what you're
09:31doing.
09:31Might be a bit limited here.
09:35The kitchen opens into a room beyond, which features more of those lime-washed beams.
09:41And I just love those so much.
09:43Look at this here. This is the old bread oven.
09:45Wow. Oh, how lovely. Look at this.
09:48Would you call this a snug?
09:49It's whatever you want it to be. It could be a dining space.
09:52Yes, actually. You can be cooking and the rest of us can be sitting around a table with the wine.
09:59This leads to a second reception.
10:02I think this is going to be the living space where you'll spend quite a lot of time.
10:06Oh, yes. Yes.
10:08Ooh. Lovely.
10:10It is. Not a big fireplace.
10:11Yep.
10:12And it's very much my vibe of white walls.
10:15Somebody's worked really hard in here to get it up to the stand. It's fantastic.
10:20Well, Anthea, this vibe continues upstairs.
10:25Yeah, I feel like this might be the main bedroom.
10:30Gosh!
10:31It is quite big, isn't it?
10:32Nice feature, isn't it, to have that chimney breast.
10:35You can say there might be wardrobes, but just about enough for me.
10:41I think we'll sort something else off the case.
10:47There's a second double at the rear of the property and next to the fresh, contemporary family bathroom, a third
10:53and final bedroom.
10:56The whole place is bigger, so there's a lot more room here than in the current house.
11:01Oh, we've got, absolutely.
11:03Which works.
11:06Now, I happen to know that Keith is very keen to find a local cricket club.
11:11So I'm feeling rather smug about this next bit.
11:14Because at the end of this very pretty garden is a gate.
11:18And it opens onto the village cricket pitch and the pavilion beyond.
11:23This is amazing.
11:25And look at the view of the hills in the background.
11:28Super.
11:28And what an amazing situation for a cricket club if you could just sit there with that view.
11:33I mean, even I quite like it.
11:34Yeah.
11:35And I don't really like watching cricket.
11:39Well, there's plenty to occupy Anthea in the garden.
11:42The door from the rear reception opens to a gravel seating area from which steps lead up to a long
11:48lawn bordered by mature beach hedges.
11:52In terms of size, how does this compare to what you've got now?
11:55Oh, it's lovely, about twice the size.
11:58Easily twice the size.
11:59And it's a lovely flat space, good for entertaining, which is really what we want.
12:04There's just one final piece of information that Keith and Anthea need.
12:09Your budget is £520,000.
12:12Yeah.
12:12Where do you think it sits in that?
12:18475, I'm going.
12:19OK.
12:20I'm going to go a bit more actually.
12:24495.
12:25£495,000.
12:27Yes.
12:27OK.
12:27Anthea, you are almost bang on.
12:29All right.
12:30It's £50 short of £500,000.
12:33Right.
12:33So you're really close.
12:34And it has an awful lot going for it.
12:37It really does.
12:40This thoughtfully renovated Grade II listed cottage offers a contemporary kitchen diner.
12:45Two receptions, three bedrooms and a good-sized rear garden.
12:49Sitting in the heart of a sought-after village, it's on the market for £499,950.
13:01Can you see us living here?
13:03I'm not 100% certain.
13:05No, I'm a bit with you.
13:06I think the jury's out.
13:07There's things about it which are great and other things which I'm not so sure about to
13:11be honest.
13:11And probably a little bit more quirky actually than I thought it was going to be when you
13:16look from the outside.
13:17We're not very quirky.
13:20Beautiful house from the outside.
13:22It's absolutely stunning in the most idyllic location.
13:26It's wonderfully quirky and beautifully old, but much as this is gorgeous, this probably
13:30wouldn't be a forever home because it's not going to suit us in perhaps 15 years' time.
13:34We probably won't be fit enough to deal with the stairs and the things that old properties
13:38like this have.
13:42The house looked lovely from the outside.
13:44Other aspects left me a little bit unsure actually.
13:49It's a listed building so not really quite sure where that leaves us if we needed to
13:53do anything else at any time.
14:08The town of Great Malvern lies at the foot of the Malvern Hills.
14:12This former Victorian spa town once drew visitors with the healing powers of its spring water.
14:20That's really good.
14:22I've got it.
14:24It's really good.
14:27Today people come to experience the Malverns on foot or by bike, using the many trails
14:33that lead directly from the town into the hills.
14:36Some even opt to take in the spectacular scenery from the sky.
14:43And when they're done there's a host of cafes, tea rooms and restaurants in which to refuel.
14:49How long have you been open here?
14:52Four years up here.
14:56Malvern's a fantastic, really friendly, welcoming community.
14:59We are so incredibly lucky to have the hills on our doorstep.
15:01Even just a short walk up in the hills can give you a good reset, help put things in perspective.
15:06There's so many fantastic independent businesses here.
15:08You've also got the likes of Malvern Theatre, Three County Showground,
15:11which hosts an array of really good events that bring people in from all around.
15:14So yeah, for a small, fairly small little town, there's a lot going on.
15:20The town has a train station with direct links to Hereford, Birmingham and London.
15:25And the M5 and M50 are both within a 20 minute drive.
15:30This heady mix of great transport links and breathtaking scenery, plus a thriving high street,
15:37ensures the town consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the Midlands.
15:42Malvern is very vibrant at the moment.
15:45The community spirit is lovely.
15:47For a small town, you'd think we were a village really, because everybody's so friendly.
15:52Keith and Anthea are sure to make friends at the Malvern Cube, a community and arts centre,
15:57a short walk from the town centre.
15:59Michelle Newell, the manager, and Aidan Lawrence, who runs the local U3A group,
16:04have kindly agreed to give Keith and Anthea a rundown on what goes on here.
16:10We've got a bustling cafe, which operates Monday to Friday.
16:15We've got quite a detailed event programme, so we have live music most weekends.
16:20We've got three resident theatre groups that are based here.
16:23We've got a gardening group, which is very active.
16:26Brilliant.
16:27Keith, I'm aware that you're quite interested in DIY, is that correct?
16:30I certainly am, yeah.
16:31I've got a little repair shop, I suppose, in my garage at home.
16:35There's plenty of opportunity here.
16:37We've got a repair cafe that's one of the largest in the country.
16:41So they're always looking out for volunteers, and that means monthly.
16:44I'm a member of the local University of Third Age, and the Cube is one of our primary venues.
16:49Fifteen of our groups use the Cube on a monthly basis.
16:53So that's everything from table tennis, painting groups, belong to a play reading group.
16:59I've been here nine years. I moved here for the hills and for the theatre.
17:03And it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
17:05Oh, good. Well, can't wait.
17:08It's just the sort of place we want to get involved in. Amazing.
17:14Having explored the town, I thought we'd end our day soaking up the vistas from one of the many vantage
17:19points on the hills.
17:27This is why you're moving here, isn't it?
17:29This is just perfect. It's absolutely lovely.
17:32Breathtaking.
17:33I could just sit here for hours looking at that. It's incredible.
17:36Which is quite something because Anthony is not prone to sitting down for a very long time at any time.
17:41No. But how do you feel now you're here and we've spent some time exploring?
17:45We can actually do this. Well, we will actually do this. We have to actually do this.
17:51The house has been sold and, yeah, if we don't find somewhere we're going to be homeless.
17:57I don't want to see you without anywhere to live here and having to use this lovely bench as a
18:02place to curl up the night.
18:03Well, I've slept on benches before.
18:04I could think the worst place is to spend the night, but anyway.
18:07We have a great day's house hunting waiting for us tomorrow.
18:11And I am really feeling quite confident that we can find something that will give you that pulling on the
18:17heartstrings
18:18and also will prove to be a good practical choice for you as well.
18:22Absolutely.
18:23Because, let's face it, the sooner you're here enjoying this, the better.
18:26That would be fantastic.
18:27Can't wait.
18:27Yes. It is a beautiful place.
18:29Quite idyllic.
18:43We got off to a great start yesterday.
18:45Anthea was excited and emotional.
18:48And Keith?
18:49Well, I think we saw his practical side.
18:51But I have high hopes for today's two properties, which of course include the mystery house.
18:57And I think that they will encourage Keith to wear his heart on his sleeve.
19:03Our day begins in the Worcestershire hamlet of Broadmoor Green, just under two miles from the village of Brunsford.
19:10Where there's a family-run cafe and grocery store, a pub, an organic farm shop with a cafe, as well
19:19as a golf club and a cricket club.
19:22A four-minute drive from which sits our next property.
19:29Oh, look at this.
19:31It's pretty, isn't it?
19:33Wow.
19:34Oh, my gosh.
19:35It's gorgeous.
19:36It's a little hidden gem in a very, very friendly, active village.
19:41Absolutely lovely.
19:43I love what they've done with the garden.
19:44English Country Garden, quintessential.
19:47I think it's lovely.
19:47I love all these different types of fir tree, you know, the pines.
19:50They're beautiful.
19:51And just, like, the frontage is gorgeous.
19:53Really.
19:53Very special.
19:54Bright and light.
19:55Good.
19:55Well, you've got two entrances that you can use.
19:58There's one over there, but we're going to go around the side.
20:00So, shall we go and check it out inside?
20:02Yes, please.
20:02Come on, not wait.
20:03Can't wait.
20:06This detached cottage dating back to the early 1900s has been home to the present owners for the past eight
20:12years.
20:13During that time, they've refurbished the property to a high standard, reworking the layout to create a spacious kitchen diner,
20:21which is where we're heading first.
20:26Here we go.
20:28So, I know the kitchen and the entertaining space is important to you guys.
20:33Wow.
20:33Yeah, no, that's brilliant.
20:34This is...
20:37Yes.
20:37Fantastic.
20:38Gosh.
20:38This is exactly what we'd sort of wanted hoped for.
20:42This is probably one of the most important spaces for us.
20:44The kitchen diner was the one thing that we really valued above all else, and this is better than I
20:50could do.
20:50I think even to the outside, we said it's got a nice feel about it, but four coming in, and
20:54this just enhances that.
20:57I'd love to be able to perform my cooking skills in this kitchen and this space.
21:02Ideal, absolutely ideal.
21:06The first of this property's two reception rooms is directly off the kitchen.
21:11I think you might need to duck slightly.
21:13It's fine for me.
21:15I don't wear high heels anymore.
21:17This is amazing.
21:18Oh, this is gorgeous, actually.
21:19You can see the character.
21:21Lovely.
21:22And the ceiling, although it's low, it makes it really nice and cosy.
21:26So, come on into what I think will be the main living space.
21:28This is more of a nice, cosy reading room.
21:32Slightly higher ceiling height in here.
21:34Yes.
21:35Slightly brighter, bigger rooms.
21:37Oh, it's really stunning, and having the choice of two rooms means that Keith can watch sports, and I can
21:42do something else in another room.
21:44It's cute, isn't it?
21:46I mean, it's a little bit lovely.
21:47It feels really warm and homely.
21:48So, no, I like that.
21:50I'm delighted.
21:52Very impressed.
21:52Absolutely delighted.
21:53Yes.
21:53A little sort of tingle, doesn't it?
21:55I know, yes.
21:56I know.
21:56A couple of hairs standing up on the back of my neck or whatever.
21:58Yeah.
21:58Lovely.
21:59Really, really good feeling.
22:04I'm hoping these positive feelings will continue upstairs.
22:09This staircase in the cosy snug leads to a spacious family bathroom with a roll-top tub and a separate
22:15shower.
22:16It serves two double bedrooms, one with two roof lights and original exposed floorboards, and this one in the more
22:24modern addition to the house.
22:27Gosh, look at this room.
22:30Oh, this is perfect.
22:32Isn't it so much character to it?
22:34It's superb.
22:35Lovely.
22:35Beautiful, beautiful views.
22:37Just beautiful.
22:38I mean, fancy waking up to that.
22:40Lovely views out of that window as well.
22:42I know.
22:43I know.
22:46Back through the sitting room, a door leads to the main entrance hall.
22:52Beautiful glass.
22:53It is lovely.
22:54Oh, watch the little step.
22:55OK.
22:56This is fantastic.
22:59Off which is a downstairs shower room.
23:02Wow.
23:03Brilliant.
23:05This staircase leads to a mezzanine-style guest room.
23:09Oh, this is ideal.
23:11Meaning guests can have their very own wing of the house.
23:15Oh, quite exciting, actually.
23:16I know.
23:16I can't fault...
23:17I can't really fault anything.
23:19All just...
23:20No.
23:20Overall, it's just...
23:22No, it's just perfect.
23:28Outside is just as impressive.
23:30The front garden faces east, ideal for enjoying a morning coffee,
23:35whilst the west-facing rear garden catches the late afternoon and evening sun.
23:41Oh, this is so pretty.
23:43It's a brook running through.
23:45Gosh, look.
23:46Absolutely.
23:47Roses.
23:48Ideal.
23:48Oh, and sweet peas growing up in the tree, honestly.
23:51Couldn't be more perfect.
23:55The garden is divided into several distinct areas.
23:58In addition to the lawn, there's a patio, a shed, plus a summer house with a covered deck.
24:05And from every single angle, you can enjoy views across the open countryside.
24:13I'm just trying to figure out which corner of the garden would be my gin and tonic spa.
24:21I get a feeling Keith and Amthea feel this place is priceless.
24:25But, of course, that's not how it works here on Escape.
24:28So let's get down to the nitty gritty.
24:32Don't ask the question.
24:33I'm going to ask the question.
24:35I've got to ask the question, I'm afraid.
24:37Your budget is £520,000.
24:40I'm going to go full price, £520,000.
24:43£520,000.
24:44OK.
24:44Keith?
24:45I wouldn't be surprised if it was a little bit more, actually.
24:47I was at £530,000.
24:49Right, so you're going over.
24:50OK.
24:51It is over budget.
24:52It's on the market for £550,000.
24:55OK.
24:55I don't want you to get too dismayed with that because we feel there is a deal to be done
25:00on this property.
25:01OK.
25:01And you are in a very strong position.
25:03Yeah.
25:04So having sold, having a very short chain.
25:07I'm sure you can see the value in it.
25:09Oh, gosh.
25:09I mean, there's nothing to do.
25:11It is absolutely pristine.
25:13Yeah.
25:13Completely pristine.
25:15And moveable innable.
25:17Moveable innable, absolutely.
25:18The upsize begins here.
25:22This detached Victorian cottage boasts a spacious kitchen diner, a cosy snug, a sitting room and three bedrooms.
25:30Outside, there are beautiful cottage gardens to both the front and rear.
25:34And it's on the market for offers over £550,000.
25:41The house has just met every expectation.
25:45It's everything we're looking for in a house, really.
25:47And more.
25:49And more.
25:53We've seen absolutely nothing that has begun to match up to this.
26:00We've not even been remotely tempted to any of the others.
26:05So this is way, way above and beyond our expectations.
26:10So could not be happier.
26:13And now we can just all go home.
26:14There's no need to go to another one.
26:32If the magic of the Malvern Hills is enticing you to move here, here's the lowdown on property prices in
26:39the area.
26:39The average cost of a detached home in the UK is a little over £436,000.
26:46In Worcestershire, the price rises to nearly £456,000.
26:51And within the district of the Malvern Hills, it's just shy of £493,000.
27:01Take a look at some more properties currently on the market.
27:05This Grade II listed terrace cottage has been beautifully refurbished.
27:10And features a living room, updated oak kitchen, two double bedrooms, a modern bathroom, and a dinky rear courtyard.
27:21It's on the market for offers in the region of £220,000.
27:26Also Grade II listed, this detached three bedroom cottage has a spacious sitting room, an inviting snug, and a large
27:35kitchen diner with luxury cabinets and granite worktops.
27:39Outside is a cottage garden with stunning views.
27:42And it's available for £625,000.
27:49Or why not escape to this shepherd's hut, perfect for a short break away from the modern world.
27:55It sleeps too, and has exclusive access to a wet room, loo and self-catering space just a few steps
28:02away.
28:03Prices start from £130 for a two night minimum stay.
28:15It's time for our mystery house.
28:17And as we have a potential contender in the mix, we thought we'd take a risk and cross the border
28:22into Gloucestershire.
28:23Swapping one protected landscape for another.
28:26We're heading for the village of Lydbrook in the Forest of Dean.
28:32This busy community has a local store and a post office.
28:36A fish and chip shop and a couple of pubs, which are within walking distance of this.
28:43Our mystery house.
28:45A substantial detached home built in the 1800s on the side of the valley.
28:51I've got a great period property to show Anthea and Keith next.
28:55But as fabulous as the house is, our mystery property is really all about this view.
29:04Our mystery house swaps the hills for a valley and offers Keith and Anthea a bit of a makeover opportunity.
29:13So we've got a classic Victorian property that really maximises the views from every room.
29:18But what I really like about this is the fact that Anthea and Keith could put their own stamp on
29:23it by just doing a little bit of work.
29:29It's not in the Malvern Hills, but it is in another of the UK's most ancient and cherished landscapes.
29:37So for our mystery house, I really felt that so far on the search, we've supersized the house definitely in
29:44the properties I've shown you.
29:45Certainly supersized the garden with that last property.
29:49But I thought it was time to supersize the view.
29:53Certainly done that.
29:55Yeah, can't beat that.
29:58The house sits on a plot of around three quarters of an acre, with the garden divided into several different
30:05levels.
30:06Interesting proposition.
30:09Not quite sure at the moment, the altitude and the garden on a slope.
30:14Should we go and explore inside?
30:16Yes, please.
30:16Get the lay of the land.
30:17Yes, please.
30:18Then we'll come back out and just explore a little more out here as well.
30:21Okay, come on.
30:21Thank you very much.
30:25The conservatory at the side of the house leads into the main entrance hall.
30:30To the rear lies an office and music room, and overlooking the front of the property sits the kitchen and
30:36two receptions.
30:37The slightly larger of the two is used as a dining room, with the neighbouring reception in use as a
30:43sitting room.
30:46Very nice little snug room, and the stone.
30:49It's very sweet.
30:51I think I'd want to make the windows a bit bigger or something, because that just is to die for
30:56out there, and you don't feel you're getting the max of it.
30:59My natural inclination would be to sort of open things up a bit.
31:05The thought had also crossed my mind.
31:08Subject to the relevant planning consents, a beautiful open-plan kitchen, living, dining room that capitalises on those views could
31:16be created here by knocking together the two receptions and the current kitchen.
31:24Are you open to that?
31:27Well, not to depend on the cost of the house in the first place.
31:31Yes, that's the big question.
31:32You have to look at that.
31:33And, because I don't think either of us want to be particularly hands-on at our age, so we'd need
31:38to have the budget to throw the money at someone else to do the work for us.
31:42OK, I get that.
31:43Yeah.
31:46Upstairs, a modern family bathroom serves three double bedrooms. This one is the largest.
31:54Oh, this is a nice room. Gosh, those stone walls, look at that.
31:59Yeah, they are incredible. The view looks even better from this one.
32:03It does, doesn't it?
32:04Yeah, no, it's lovely.
32:06But the view, and the idyllic setting, don't seem quite enough to charm them.
32:13All I can think about is the amount of money we'd want to spend to make it our sort of
32:17style here, and it's all a bit overwhelming.
32:25There's another double next door, and a cosier double next to that.
32:29But Keith and Anthea's hearts, well, they're somewhere else.
32:34We were definitely spoiled by the previous house, so this leaves us, you know, a little bit too much to
32:41do, really, I guess.
32:42Yeah, I mean, in a way, I'm secretly a little bit relieved that we haven't been shown another property that
32:50had really won our hearts.
32:52I feel exactly the same.
32:56However, I still want to know what they'd value this property at, but before we do that, there's one last
33:02piece of information they should know.
33:07On the back of the house, you've got a whole array of solar panels.
33:11Okay.
33:11The current owners live without any energy costs.
33:15Wow.
33:15Because of the solar.
33:16That's amazing.
33:18Yeah, it's a big plus for the property, isn't it?
33:20Definitely.
33:20It's a huge plus, huge plus.
33:22Well, the one thing we haven't covered on the house yet is what it's on the market for.
33:25Hmm.
33:26So, would you like to have a guess? Your budget is £520,000.
33:33I'm going to have a stab at £495,000, I think.
33:37Okay.
33:37£495,000.
33:39£510,000.
33:40£510,000.
33:41Okay, okay.
33:42Well, Keith, you are almost bang on, actually.
33:45It's on for £50, under half a million.
33:48Okay.
33:49Lovely.
33:49Yes.
33:53This detached Victorian home offers a kitchen and two receptions that overlook the spectacular scenery of the Forest of Dean.
34:00In addition to a study and music room, there are three bedrooms upstairs.
34:05It sits on a plot of three quarters of an acre and comes with a price tag of £499,950.
34:16It's a lovely prospect, but I think probably not for us.
34:21I don't think we're brave enough to undertake the work that we would want to do to make our mark
34:27on it.
34:28I wonder if it's about you being brave enough or if it's more about the fact that your heart has
34:33been left in that other home.
34:35Or a little piece of it.
34:36Yeah, I think so.
34:37A very large mark.
34:37I think you're right, yeah.
34:39Yeah, yeah.
34:39It has definitely been, yes.
34:40Definitely sparkly, that previous property.
34:42And unfortunately, even with this amazing vista, I don't think we've got the heart for that sort of project, actually,
34:50at our age.
34:51Well, let's bid that farewell and let's head off on our way.
34:53Yes.
34:53Bye-bye.
34:54Bye-bye.
34:54Come on.
35:04If you're dreaming of escaping to the country and looking to swap the 9 to 5 for something new and
35:09fulfilling, but you need a bit of inspiration, look no further than Sarah and her family, who nine years ago
35:16followed their passion and made their move here to the Malvern Hills.
35:25Hanny and I were living in South London with the children.
35:29Hanny was working in the city and he was awake and gone to work before the children were up and
35:34was getting back just after the children had gone to bed.
35:36I was working part-time and looking after the kids and it just kind of felt like we were two
35:41people living separate lives but in the same house.
35:45And we decided something had to change that we wanted to be doing something together again.
35:51That thing, it turned out, was brewing. Sarah quit teaching and her husband gave up his career as a financial
35:59executive.
36:00They sold their three-bed semi, bought this five-bed detached family home with just over an acre of land
36:07and began brand new careers as brewers.
36:13It's been brilliant bringing the children up here out in the countryside.
36:16Have you enjoyed living in the country, growing up here?
36:18Yes, we have a big garden to play rugby.
36:22What do you like about it?
36:23I like at school, when I get to have forest school.
36:33I think we all love him.
36:38If there ever was a family that followed their passion, doing what they love, which others can enjoy too, then
36:45it's Sarah's family and I can't wait to meet her.
36:50Hey Sarah.
36:52Hi.
36:52Hi, nice to meet you.
36:54Talk about living the country life.
36:56The most amazing vegetable plot.
36:59Chickens.
37:00Yeah.
37:00And the views from this place are incredible.
37:03Why did you ever move?
37:04I can't imagine.
37:05Yeah.
37:10In a serendipitous moment, early on in their brewing career, Sarah stumbled across a hop farm, just five minutes from
37:17their new home, owned by a farmer with a keen interest in running an on-site brewery.
37:23His eyes lit up and they kind of said, oh, well, we always thought what a brilliant idea it would
37:27be to have a brewery here on the farm.
37:29Brilliant.
37:29So they showed us their old chicken shed and that's where we moved in.
37:35Amazingly, the hop shed is the only brewery in the UK actually located on a hop farm, which makes for
37:42a seriously sustainable beer.
37:47Most brewers in this country import hops from America or New Zealand is now got very fashionable hops, but we've
37:55always only used locally grown hops.
37:57So we're lucky the farm here, they grow quite a lot of varieties of hops, but there's other local farms
38:03that grow different varieties.
38:04So we buy their hops as well, but it's all locally grown.
38:08And do you have a cut off that you won't go beyond for your hops?
38:10It's about, it's only about 10, 15 miles from the brewery.
38:14Brilliant.
38:14They're all grown.
38:15And then when we've finished brewing, all the grain and the yeast goes off to the local pig farmer who's
38:20two miles down the road.
38:21So that all gets reused.
38:23We've got a list of people who want the hops, spent hops.
38:26They're brilliant for the garden, for mulch or for turning into compost.
38:29It's quite a niche thing to have done, to have come out here, known to the brewery.
38:35A fine line between bravery and stupidity, I think.
38:39Yeah, yeah.
38:40The brewery runs five days a week, with the tap room open on Friday afternoons and Saturdays, so that locals
38:49from the surrounding villages and towns can come and enjoy local, award-winning beers.
38:56Is this where I get to retest my barmaid skills to see if I can remember what to do?
39:01Yep.
39:01OK.
39:02What is this one?
39:03Which one are we trying?
39:04So this is a pale ale, it's 4%, it's a nice easy drink, it's perfect for this kind of weather.
39:09Nice.
39:09So this one is brewed with three new local hop varieties, so it gives a lovely tropical fruity kind of
39:14easy drinking pint.
39:16Right, let's go.
39:17How's that look?
39:18That's not bad.
39:19Would you give me a job?
39:20Maybe not quite a full measure, but you know, that's fine.
39:23Well, you know, just thinking about the profits, Sarah.
39:26Thinking about your profits.
39:27Let's give it a go.
39:32That's really good.
39:33Can you just leave me here with a couple of these please?
39:36Wow, it's really fresh and zingy.
39:41Nine years on and Sarah and her husband's brewery on a hop farm in Worcestershire is the result of a
39:47shared dream, a heck of a lot of hard work and a whole lot of love.
39:57Well, it's time to catch up with our couple and find out where their thoughts lie.
40:01And I don't think I'm going out on a limb if I say that they have a firm favourite.
40:12What a spot to sit down and catch our breath, chat about the last couple of days.
40:17I guess the question that remains is, have we found a potential home and a community for you to throw
40:26yourselves into and really get involved in?
40:28Have we managed to do that?
40:29I think so.
40:30Yeah, definitely.
40:30I think you may well have done.
40:31We both think so.
40:33Yes, yes.
40:33Obviously it was settling.
40:34House number two.
40:35Yes.
40:36Really was that house for us.
40:38It just felt very homely.
40:40And it was a nice feeling, sort of a warm feeling almost as it wrapped you up.
40:43I could just see us there.
40:45And I said, you know, the most important area for us really was the kitchen diner.
40:48That was the place that we were most interested in.
40:50And that just knocked us off our feet.
40:53And I suppose, you know, the two parts to the house, really.
40:56You know, we've got guests come and they've got an area to themselves.
40:58Yes.
40:59It was a little over budget.
41:00So I think our next step is probably to have a conversation with the estate agents and just find out
41:07what a real figure might be.
41:10Mm-hmm.
41:11And I envisaged an overnight stay up here early next week.
41:15Yes.
41:15Really?
41:16Oh, yes.
41:16I want to come back and just go for a drink in the local pub and just find my feet
41:23in the community and the surrounding area.
41:26Do you think there's a potential offer on that property on the cards, Keith?
41:29Yes, definitely.
41:31Definitely.
41:32Yes.
41:33Without a doubt.
41:34I think we want to offer a sensible, we want to make a sensible offer.
41:37So I think we need to know roughly what the expectations are and then need to work out if we
41:42can match them.
41:43Well, we wish you all the best.
41:45Thank you very much.
41:45And I can absolutely see you in your new life down in this area.
41:49So let us know.
41:50Let us know when you become local residents.
41:53And thank you.
41:54No, thank you very much to you and all the team.
41:57Amazing.
41:57You will be the first person to put me back for a gin and tonic.
42:00Oh, I've already found my spot in that garden.
42:02Oh, no.
42:03Ooh, no.
42:08Anthea and Keith have been a great couple to house hunt with over the last few days
42:12because of their positive attitude to life and the excitement they've got about upsizing
42:17to the countryside.
42:19I'm so happy that we have finally managed to find them a house that they both genuinely love.
42:25I know they are ready to make this move
42:27and we wish them all the best
42:30with their new life here
42:31in this gorgeous part of the UK
42:33Join me next time on Escape to the Country
42:38Keith and Anthea
42:39returned to our second property
42:41and although their initial offers
42:43were declined
42:44they upped their budget
42:46and I'm thrilled to say settled on a price
42:48that suited everyone
42:49We wish them every happiness in their new home
42:52in the Worcestershire countryside
42:56If you would like to escape to the country
42:58in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales
43:01and need our help
43:02why not apply online at
43:04bbc.co.uk
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