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Escape To The Country - Season 26 - Episode 30: Shropshire
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00:01Today I'm with newlyweds making big plans for their future together.
00:06Shots are rolling hills when you wake up in the morning.
00:08How's that? That's the dream. That is the dream.
00:11They want to slow down, but never stop finding the fun in life.
00:15Burping.
00:16Oh!
00:18Indoor water temperature. Brilliant.
00:21Emotions will run high.
00:22It's a bit like the bridal moment.
00:24Your knees go wobbly. You can't really breathe properly.
00:26And I've got that feeling.
00:27But all in the pursuit of their happily ever after.
00:31Just like nothing I've ever seen, but everything I could have hoped for.
00:36Oh, that's what we love to hear.
01:00Shropshire, the natural border dividing upland whales from lowland England.
01:06A county of quiet beauty and wide open spaces where nature is left free to roam.
01:14If you're the sort of person that likes to follow your nose, then Shropshire is the county to be in.
01:20Whether it's fertile farmland or artisanal foodstuffs, the air here is literally full of the scent of the countryside.
01:28So, wherever the wind, or indeed this, leads you, you're going to bump into something really stupendous.
01:37Shropshire is a rural county in western England, bordering Wales and known for its rolling hills and unspoilt countryside.
01:45You won't find any cities here, but there are more than 20 lovely towns waiting to be discovered.
01:51Well, of course, the county town is Shrewsbury, but we've got towns like Churchstretton, which is referred to as Little
01:57Switzerland.
01:58And lovely much Wenlock, which is a jewel of a little town.
02:02Bridge North, which is a sort of hill town.
02:05And Clun, which is a fantastic little town, just on the Welsh border.
02:10Shropshire's smallest town, Clun is quaint and characterful.
02:14Home to just a few hundred people, it's one of the least populated towns in England.
02:19In fact, Shropshire has one of the lowest population densities in the UK, with just 101 people per square kilometre,
02:27which is less than a quarter of the national average.
02:30It may be quiet on the roads and in the villages, but when it comes to food, Shropshire makes some
02:36serious noise.
02:37Ludlow and the surrounding countryside is an incredible area for producing food.
02:43Cheesemakers, cider makers, wine, jams, all sorts of things.
02:47Of course, it was made famous in the 1990s by the various Michelin-style restaurants that were here.
02:51And on the back of that, all of these food producers have popped up.
02:56Shropshire is a hidden gem that's not discovered yet.
02:59I'd like to keep it like that because it's beautiful out here.
03:05So that's Shropshire, a county that is so spacious you could swing a cat gently.
03:11Which is a good thing because today's buyers have three of them.
03:19So I've always lived in Essex, never thought I would want to move away.
03:25And Rob took me up to Shropshire to where he'd spent his childhood summers.
03:30And I, for the first time in my life, thought I could live here somewhere other than Essex, which was
03:38a bit of a shock for me.
03:39Sue and Rob both grew up in Essex and it was through work that their paths crossed a decade ago.
03:46For the past six years, they've been living in South Woodham Ferrars near Chelmsford in a four bed detached home.
03:53We do actually really love a house because we've done so much to it.
03:56We've made it our own, but what we don't love...
03:58I'm so keen on the car park.
03:59Oh yeah, that's true. You don't like my car park.
04:01We currently have eight cars in our possession and they're all parked outside the kitchen window.
04:07Yes, you don't like that. I don't see a problem.
04:11So outside it's an issue of space, but it turns out inside's feeling the pinch too.
04:18What are you up to?
04:19Oh, I'm just having a bit of yoga practice.
04:22Well done.
04:23In the conservatory, which is my favourite room in the house, where I do most of my hobbies.
04:29But it would be nice to have a little bit more space, just so I can spell out and fit
04:35my piano in, which would be great.
04:38After stepping away from their careers in the motor industry, Sue and Rob are eager to dive into their hobbies
04:44full time.
04:46And the place they've chosen to do that? A county that's very close to Rob's heart.
04:51Shropshire. I feel very grounded to Shropshire. It's where my grandparents lived. They retired to Ludlow.
04:57And as a kid, me and my brother used to spend summer holidays being taken around and on walks and
05:03skimming stone and things.
05:05And it's just, yeah, it's just beautiful. It hasn't changed much.
05:08And I think, as well, for me, to see Rob so happy, I can tell when he's happy.
05:14He's happy when he's driving his cars and he gets the same smile on his face when he's in Shropshire.
05:20With up to £800,000 to spend, Sue and Rob are on the hunt for a detached, characterful property with
05:27at least three bedrooms,
05:28a large garden and a garage with plenty of space for Rob's car collection.
05:34They're craving total rural seclusion, so that means no neighbours.
05:38However, they would like the option of a separate annex for a holiday let to bring in extra income.
05:48It's going to be quite a challenge because, by all accounts, Sue is a dyed-in-the-wool Essex girl
05:54who loves where she's lived.
05:57And it's a big change, Essex to Shropshire.
06:00So I hope she's ready for the racing difference.
06:08Before we start the search, I'd like to get to know Sue and Rob a little better.
06:12So with the aim of starting on a high, we're meeting on one of the county's highest points.
06:18So this is Clee Hill, which I think is pretty significant for you two, right?
06:22It is, yes.
06:23Yeah, we used to travel over here on the way to my granny and grandpa's house in Ludlow, and it
06:27got known in our family as Granny's Mountain.
06:30And it was actually this for you that made me think I could live here.
06:35So was that the grand plan, Rob, that you were going to sneakily convince Sue to move here just by
06:41showing her beautiful places?
06:42Yeah.
06:43Yeah.
06:43So I always wanted to move to the countryside.
06:46And then when we came up here and you said that this is a place that you could live, then
06:51that was it, really, set in stone.
06:52So, yeah.
06:53You didn't have to work very hard.
06:54No, that's true.
06:55No.
06:56It was pretty easy.
06:57It does have a gentle energy, doesn't it, Shropshire?
06:59Yeah, it does.
07:00And it is time.
07:01Yeah.
07:01It is time.
07:01We've reached a point in our life.
07:02We got married last year.
07:04Yeah.
07:05We want to be able to spend as much time together as we can.
07:08So that's why we're retiring a little bit early.
07:11I know.
07:11Look at you, glamorous young retirees.
07:14I know.
07:14Very lucky on that side.
07:15It's not quite full retirement.
07:17We're looking for a property with an annex.
07:18So a little bit of an extra income is going to be needed.
07:21Well, we've got some lovely houses and I feel one of them might have your name written all over it.
07:25I hope so too, yeah.
07:26Shall we go see?
07:27Great.
07:28Brilliant.
07:33Our property tour is taking us just over the border into Herefordshire in the village of Burrington.
07:40Two and a half miles down the road is the village of Lentwardine, home to a local shop, a couple
07:46of cosy pubs and a chippy for that Friday night fix.
07:50The property we're here to see is a classic example of the black and white cottages that make this area
07:56so enchanting.
07:58Not that one, nor that one.
08:01It's this one.
08:02Hey!
08:04You wanted a bit of quirk and history?
08:07Wow.
08:08Picture perfect.
08:09Full of character.
08:10Out the back, there is more than enough space for your cars.
08:14Excellent.
08:14But before we go to the back, should we go in through the front door?
08:17Absolutely.
08:18Please.
08:19A smiley face.
08:19Big smiley face.
08:20Me too.
08:22This grade two listed timber frame cottage has roots stretching back to the 14th century.
08:28It's gorgeous.
08:29Yeah.
08:30I love the windows.
08:31I love the door.
08:32You love everything.
08:34We're starting our tour in the oldest part of the property, which is already run as a three bedroom holiday
08:39let.
08:40The ground floor features a cosy sitting room, a kitchen and a welcoming dining room, all full of character and
08:47ready for guests.
08:51Come on in.
08:52Oh, smiles and claps.
08:57Yeah.
08:58Oh wow.
08:58So if you come through into here, this is either the sitting room of the holiday let or your winter
09:03snug.
09:04Wow.
09:05This is, yeah.
09:06Absolutely perfect.
09:07It would make a beautiful snug.
09:08I love the exposed stonework.
09:10Yeah.
09:10It's just gorgeous.
09:12Yeah.
09:12So the great thing about this house is that this wouldn't be your main living space.
09:15Your main living space would be through here.
09:18Wow.
09:19So do mind your head, Rob.
09:22Yes.
09:23Yep.
09:23Easy to...
09:25Doesn't bother me, but...
09:26Wow.
09:28Great big heating unit there and then into the kitchen.
09:32More low beams.
09:34More low beams.
09:35And a step down.
09:36That's nice.
09:36And a step down.
09:37This is amazing.
09:38What a different sort of space.
09:40It's just like nothing I've ever seen, but everything I could have hoped for.
09:44Oh, that's what we love to hear.
09:46Let's go down into the sitting room.
09:48It's just a step.
09:51It's obviously had to lower the floors so people weren't always banging their heads.
09:54Oh, is that what they've done?
09:55Oh, yeah.
09:56And the floor is stunning.
09:58This is a great social space.
09:59Can you imagine bringing your friends and family here?
10:02Absolutely.
10:03Are you going to wow them that?
10:04Yeah.
10:05Big time, yeah.
10:06Keeping the positive momentum going, I'm sending Sue and Rob to roam the rest of this property
10:11at their own pace.
10:14They've got a choice of staircases.
10:15One, a spiral that winds up to a study in a bedroom that would be ideal for Sue's hobbies.
10:22The other, tucked away in the sitting room, leads to the principal suite.
10:27Oh, wow.
10:28That's impressive.
10:29What a great space.
10:31It's gorgeous.
10:32Yeah.
10:33Oh!
10:34Oh, wow.
10:35En suite in the bedroom.
10:37I love the bath.
10:38Not so sure about the toilet.
10:40No.
10:41I'm sure we could do something.
10:42We could do something with that.
10:44Yeah, yeah.
10:44It's so characterful.
10:46Yeah.
10:46This is gorgeous.
10:48Yeah.
10:49Back in the holiday let, another staircase leads to the remaining three bedrooms, which
10:55are served by a modern bathroom that blends surprisingly well with the cottage's more traditional
11:01features.
11:01Look at these stairs.
11:04Look at this!
11:05That's the Watland Orb.
11:07Watland Orb.
11:11Oh, my word.
11:13Oh, that's nice.
11:15Yeah.
11:15Lovely window, lovely and bright.
11:17That's another good-sized bedroom and it's just...
11:20Yeah.
11:21The south-facing garden stretches over 1.2 acres and comes with a view that's pure countryside
11:29charm.
11:30Oh, wow.
11:31Oh, wow.
11:32The church bells.
11:33Amazing.
11:34What time is it?
11:35Is the bell going to...
11:36It might chime in a minute.
11:39Wow.
11:40There's room for six cars on the gravel driveway, which is flanked by a duck coupe and an outbuilding
11:47that, with a little imagination, could become another holiday let.
11:50Oh, cool.
11:52Well, I'm allowed in a summer house.
11:54Yeah, it's got a little kitchenette.
11:55So, it's got a kitchenette.
11:56And a bedroom.
11:57So, this...
11:57Which means we could keep the house to ourselves.
12:01Yeah.
12:01This could be the holiday let.
12:02So, there's a bathroom here.
12:04Might need a little bit of work to get access to the bedroom.
12:07Quite a contortionist to get in there.
12:09But, um, it's certainly got potential.
12:12Certainly potential.
12:13Mm.
12:14They're already imagining the possibilities for the summer house, but wait until they see
12:19just how much space they'll have to play with outside.
12:22Come join me in your 1.2-acre garden.
12:26Thank you very much.
12:27Wow.
12:27Including a church.
12:28Not yours.
12:28Doesn't belong to your land.
12:29Your land goes up to this fence and the gate.
12:31Yep.
12:32And then it goes all along down this big field here.
12:34And down there, you can see where the bean poles are.
12:37Yeah.
12:37There's actually a bed of solar panels.
12:39Right.
12:40So, your energy cost will be very low.
12:42It has a ground-source heat pump, which is the most...
12:44That's brilliant.
12:44Yeah.
12:45The only thing you really pay for is a little bit of electricity in the winter.
12:49How much do you think this is on the market for?
12:547...80.
12:55I'm gonna go...
12:56I'm gonna go 790.
12:57So, really, up there.
13:00Rob, you're closer, but not quite close.
13:02It's actually on the market for 795,000.
13:04Right.
13:05Yep.
13:05Yeah.
13:06Sneaking in just under budget at 795,000 pounds,
13:11this Grade II listed cottage has five bedrooms across flexible living spaces,
13:16including a ready-to-go holiday let,
13:19plus the option for another in the outside studio.
13:22As well as being set in 1.2 acres with some scene-stealing views,
13:27the property is also fitted with lots of eco-friendly features.
13:31We are very excited by this property.
13:35Yeah, it is.
13:35It is beyond what we've ever dreamed about, to be honest.
13:39Yeah.
13:40This is such a nice space.
13:41Feels really nice, doesn't it?
13:42Very quiet.
13:44Yeah.
13:44Just perfect.
13:45It's almost too perfect.
13:47If there is such a thing.
13:48If there is such a thing.
13:49Would be hard to put our stamp on this,
13:53because it's already...
13:54It's already there.
13:55But it's been stamped in the right way.
13:56In a lovely way.
13:57But I'm sure I could get my head around that.
13:59Yeah.
14:00That wouldn't be a problem.
14:01No.
14:15Buying the perfect property is only half the adventure of moving to the country.
14:19The real magic lies in the towns and villages you'll call your new neighbours.
14:24That's why Sue and Rob are pressing pause on the property search to explore the market
14:29town of Knighton.
14:31It sits on the banks of the River Thiem, but when it comes to putting it on the map,
14:35well, that's where things get interesting.
14:39So, Knighton's quite a unique town, because it's between England and Wales.
14:44Half it's in England, half it's in Wales.
14:46I'll go that way, you'll go that way.
14:48Ready?
14:48Ready?
14:50Shropshire.
14:50Wales.
14:52Shropshire.
14:53Wales.
14:54Shropshire.
14:55Wales.
14:55Its dual citizenship, if you like, is down to its position as the only settlement to straddle
15:01offers dyke, the ancient earthwork that runs the full length of the England-Wales border.
15:07And now a favourite for walkers.
15:10One of the things I really do love about Knighton is the fact that there is so much fabulous
15:14walking.
15:15We're right on the edge of the Shropshire Hills area of outstanding natural beauty.
15:20Beyond the hills and walking trails, the town's residents enjoy a high street packed with practical
15:26and proudly independent shops.
15:29One in particular, I suspect, might appeal to Sue.
15:33We do chair yoga for older people, but we also do the vinyasa for the fitter people.
15:39I do a core challenge to really get into the core.
15:42How are we in?
15:43That's superb.
15:44Wow.
15:45I've definitely got to have a go at this.
15:49That's awesome.
15:51You've found your spots.
15:52I have found my place.
15:54I'm not the only independent shop on the high street, so we have a sewing shop next
15:59door, we have a toy shop, lots of little food shops that are amazing.
16:03Another proudly independent shop is Ross Organic, which for 18 years has been growing
16:09its own vegetables, fruit and flowers on the hills that surround the town.
16:14The colour of those apples, they just look glorious.
16:16Yeah.
16:18Anything they can't produce themselves is sourced as locally as possible from certified organic
16:23growers and wholesalers.
16:25There we go.
16:26Thank you so much.
16:27Have a lovely day.
16:28Take care.
16:28Bye.
16:31Nightin's calm, unhurried pace feels like a good match for the new lifestyle Sue and Rob are
16:36chasing.
16:36But there's still one important piece of the puzzle to find when the house hunting resumes
16:42in the morning.
17:02Another day property shopping in gorgeous Shropshire.
17:05It's lovely weather.
17:06It's lovely weather.
17:07And I'm very excited about the houses coming up.
17:09We've got the mystery house of course, which is a real wowie house.
17:15But before that, a beautifully situated and I think real contender up in the Shropshire
17:22Hills.
17:24Our next stop is in the countryside just outside the market town of Craven Arms.
17:30Enclosed to the north by the Shropshire Hills National Landscape, Craven Arms takes its name
17:35from the town's hotel.
17:37For many years it was just a village, but it began to grow with the arrival of the railways
17:42in the mid-19th century.
17:44Its station sits at the junction of the Welsh Marches and the Heart of Wales lines, making
17:50it an ideal base for exploring the borderlands between England and Wales.
17:55Though today our journey is a modest two miles west, along some country lanes to the next property.
18:03Another beautiful house.
18:05Yes.
18:05Yeah.
18:06Amazing views.
18:08Yeah.
18:08Yes.
18:09The views behind them.
18:10Quintessential Shropshire.
18:11The Shropshire Hills over there.
18:13Beautiful.
18:14What are your thoughts on your quiet suit?
18:19It's a better fit.
18:21So yesterday was beautiful and took my breath away, but it was a little bit too much for
18:27me.
18:27And I don't think that I'd ever feel it was my home.
18:30I think I was visiting somebody else.
18:34There's lots of things in this house, not to mention a big holiday let over there separate
18:40from the property.
18:41That is nice.
18:42Yeah.
18:43And if you like the view from here, you're going to love the view from the back.
18:47Right.
18:47Oh God.
18:48But we're going to go in through the front door.
18:50So hold your breath for the insights.
18:53Breath held.
18:54Breath held.
18:57Sitting proudly amidst the surrounding natural landscape, this detached cottage dates back
19:03to the early 1800s.
19:05The current owners have fully renovated the interior while carefully preserving the property's
19:11beautiful Georgian proportions.
19:13So coming into this, I think very lovely kitchen.
19:18That's a nice space.
19:19Dining.
19:19Open plan space.
19:21So yeah, stretches down into the lounge.
19:23Leaky face.
19:28Take time.
19:29People say that you have the feeling when you walk in.
19:32Yes.
19:32It's a bit like the bridal moment.
19:34Yeah.
19:35When you think, it's not going to happen to me.
19:37And then when it does, things happen.
19:40Your knees go wobbly.
19:41You can't really breathe properly.
19:43Tears start coming out your eyes.
19:44And that's when I get that feeling.
19:46And I've got that feeling.
19:48Right.
19:48There you go.
19:49My job is done.
19:50Yeah.
19:51Maybe.
19:51You don't need to do anything else.
19:52You don't need to tell us anything.
19:53I'm going to do some wash.
19:54I'm going to show you around the rest of the night.
19:56Look, come through here.
19:57This is a lovely space too.
20:00Yeah.
20:00Wow, it's huge.
20:01It's huge, right?
20:01Yeah, it's a really nice big open space.
20:04But not too huge.
20:05No.
20:06Yeah.
20:06It's just perfect.
20:08So, on this floor, you've got a winter snug at that end, which is in the old part of
20:12the house.
20:13Yeah.
20:13So, I'm going to let you explore all the rest of the property.
20:16But save the back garden for me.
20:18So, come find me.
20:19Will do.
20:19There's another little surprise there.
20:21Oh!
20:23I have to admit, I'm rather enjoying teasing the many wonderful things on offer in this elegant
20:28property.
20:30A staircase off the snug leads to three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
20:37You're running up the stairs.
20:38I'm running up the stairs.
20:40Easy now.
20:41There's plenty of time to admire it all.
20:44This is a good size, yeah.
20:47OK.
20:47Yeah.
20:47Love the beams.
20:48Yeah.
20:51I need to breathe.
20:52Nice and bright.
20:54I like it a lot.
20:58Yeah, I do.
21:00What's not to like?
21:01It stops the rolling hills when you wake up in the morning.
21:05How's that?
21:05That's the dream.
21:06That is the dream.
21:08Not that I don't love a bit of wistful reflection, there's still plenty more to see upstairs.
21:14Ooh.
21:15Ooh.
21:15That's the bathroom.
21:16Oh, nice.
21:17Yeah, nice.
21:18Yeah, it's a good size again, isn't it?
21:20Yeah, it's great.
21:21And I love the fact that every window has got a chair.
21:25They're not random.
21:26No.
21:26They're a reason for the chairs.
21:27Yeah.
21:28So you can sit and...
21:30Beautiful view.
21:32This one here gives you view of the trees.
21:34Yeah.
21:34I think you're settling in, Sue.
21:36Yeah, I think I've moved in already.
21:38Hang on, Sue, you don't even know the price yet.
21:41So I'm seeing this room as our room.
21:44Yes.
21:45With the ensuite and the dressing room.
21:47Yeah.
21:47With the little bedroom at the end.
21:50Yes.
21:50Sort of dressing room come secret space for me.
21:54The upstairs layout seems to be working for the couple.
21:57But there's another big bonus here.
21:59The detached cottage in the grounds.
22:02Ideal for turning into a holiday let.
22:04Ready?
22:05Let's have a look.
22:06Let's have a look.
22:09Is this somewhere we would stay?
22:11Oh, look at this.
22:12This is lovely.
22:13Wow.
22:15Yeah.
22:16Yes.
22:17Oh, look.
22:18It's...
22:19Oh, wow.
22:20Yeah.
22:20This is exactly what we wanted.
22:22Yeah.
22:23So...
22:24Yeah.
22:24Lovely.
22:25Yeah.
22:26Luxury.
22:27Couples retreat.
22:28I think Alistair has...
22:30It's kind of knocked out of the park.
22:31Knocked out of the park.
22:32Yeah.
22:33To coin a phrase.
22:34But this is...
22:35This is us.
22:36Yeah, it is.
22:37The garden extends over a one-acre plot featuring a double garage, a workshop on the perimeter,
22:44and, as I teased earlier, a former piggery that could become a yoga studio for Sue.
22:51Personally, I rather like how they've let nature take the lead here, but if you prefer
22:56your lawns and hedgerows a little neater, it wouldn't take much to tidy them up.
23:00And it certainly doesn't detract from what awaits in the rear garden.
23:04So, here at the back, look at the view at the back.
23:07Yeah.
23:07I think this is so gorgeous.
23:08You've got...
23:09Don't have a church, but you've got a cathedral of an oak tree.
23:11Yeah.
23:12Well, that is beautiful, isn't it?
23:13Stunning.
23:13And a field of sheep.
23:15Yep.
23:15And rolling hills in the background.
23:17Yeah.
23:17It could not be better.
23:18It really couldn't.
23:19And here, this wonderful outbuilding, which I think would be a great yoga studio.
23:23Absolutely.
23:24I think it's got your name all over it.
23:26Just the right size in there.
23:28Yes.
23:28Yep.
23:28Win, win, win, win, win!
23:30Yeah!
23:30Yeah!
23:31And now you're going to ask us that question.
23:33So, now I'm going to ask you that question about the money.
23:36Mmm.
23:37What do you think you'd have to shell out to have this?
23:41So, I'm going to go 7.10.
23:447.10.
23:46Yep.
23:46OK.
23:47OK.
23:48I'm going to go slightly more, 7.25.
23:50OK.
23:52Well, in this instance, Sue is nearer the money because this is on the market for £700,000.
23:59Wow.
23:59Well done.
24:00And that really does leave money in the budget.
24:02That leaves you a lot of money in the budget.
24:04That's cracking.
24:04Yeah, that does.
24:04Absolutely cracking.
24:05That does.
24:06Yeah.
24:08Can I have it?
24:08And everything I can see that would need doing would be within that sort of range.
24:12Can I have it?
24:13Please.
24:13Absolutely.
24:15Done deal.
24:16An incredible £100,000 under budget, this Georgian cottage blends stylish design with
24:23the rustic charm of its rural setting.
24:26The main house offers a light-filled interior and three bedrooms, whilst outside there's plenty
24:32of space in the one-acre garden, not to mention a one-bedroom holiday cottage and some rather
24:38marvellous surroundings.
24:40I never, ever expected to feel this way.
24:44And I knew, walking into the first room, the feeling has grown the more we've walked
24:49round.
24:50I really wasn't expecting to find the one.
24:52And I think we really have.
24:54And I know this is not the wrong decision.
24:55No.
24:56Because it's just...
24:56I'm crying again.
24:58I need to find that tissue.
25:00Alistair's done amazingly.
25:02Yeah.
25:03I can't believe it.
25:16With its lush scenery and open countryside, it's perhaps surprising to find that property
25:22prices in Shropshire are lower than the UK average.
25:25The typical cost of a detached home in the county is just under £422,000.
25:32Almost £16,000 less than the national figure of around £437,000.
25:38And beyond its affordability, Shropshire boasts a remarkably varied choice of properties
25:44to suit every budget.
25:46This characterful two-bedroom barn conversion offers upside-down living to maximise the countryside
25:52views from its open-plan first floor.
25:54With a courtyard garden and room for two cars on the drive, it's available for £275,000.
26:02This Grade II listed cottage has been sensitively extended with two bedrooms upstairs, a cosy living
26:09room and a large kitchen.
26:11It benefits from solar panels on the detached garage and a well-stocked rear garden all for
26:18£475,000.
26:21If house buying isn't on the cards, but you still want to enjoy a break in the county,
26:25how about this quirky retreat with real Hobbiton appeal?
26:29It sleeps two guests, so is perfect for a romantic getaway.
26:34Priced at £200 per night, with discounts for two nights or more.
26:44For our final stop, we're in the remote upland hamlet of Abdon.
26:49Perched high on the slopes of Brown Clea Hill, with sweeping views of the Corvedale Valley,
26:55Abdon is made up of just 28 dwellings.
26:58Unsurprisingly, there are no amenities here, but thankfully the village of Ditton Priors,
27:03with its village store and post office, it's just a five-minute drive away.
27:09While Sue and Rob take a look around the village, I'm going ahead to prepare the mystery house.
27:14And given where it is, they'll be glad I'm the one tasked with finding it.
27:21So, as always, this is a little shot in the dark, but this is a fantastic property, very remote.
27:27This is the most remote of all the properties we've shown Sue and Rob.
27:32But it's so quirky, so full of character, that I think, I hope, that it's going to make up...
27:39There's one thing about it that it doesn't have a ready-made annex, but I think there's lots of options,
27:45and the setting is so magnificent.
27:48I'm hoping they might fall in love with it anyway.
28:01Sue wanted character, and this house sings with character, lovingly restored and kitted out by the present owners.
28:10It's a little fantasia of taste.
28:13Fresh from their walk in Ditton Priors, Sue and Rob have now arrived for their final property tour.
28:19Come to our mystery house.
28:23What do you think? What is the face saying?
28:25She's composing her leafy face.
28:27I don't!
28:29It's pretty. It is pretty.
28:31It is pretty.
28:32It doesn't look big enough.
28:34Mmm, from the outside.
28:35Well, so the reason this is a mystery house, many reasons, actually.
28:38One is that it's by far the most remote property.
28:41Yes.
28:41So there are no neighbours. I mean, there are some farmers.
28:44I can hear the sheep.
28:45Exactly, you've got sheep.
28:46And this is a quirky house.
28:47Now, you wanted something with character.
28:49Yeah.
28:49Quirky's good.
28:50Quirky's good.
28:51This is beautifully decorated, very interesting layout.
28:54So, shall we have a look inside?
28:55Let's have a look inside.
28:57Constructed from dewstone extracted from the surrounding hills, this property dates back to the 1890s.
29:04Initially, it would have been two dwellings until it was converted into one during the 1960s, before being extended five
29:11years ago.
29:13It's perfect.
29:13Alistair, I might have to eat my words.
29:16Because we did really.
29:17You might have to eat your words. Did I hear that?
29:19Yes.
29:20You did.
29:20Come on in.
29:21Yeah.
29:22This is incredible.
29:24Yeah.
29:24Well, this house is a bit like a snail.
29:26The rooms spiral around and up, so there's lots of little nooks and crannies.
29:30But I think you'll really love the kitchen.
29:32Because it's definitely a lot little, this kitchen.
29:35Oh, wow.
29:36Very good.
29:37This is all a modern edition.
29:40Oh, my word.
29:42That is lovely, isn't it?
29:44Double height of the glass ceiling.
29:47That's incredible.
29:49You're speechless.
29:49I'm kind of speechless.
29:51I'm kind of speechless.
29:52I love the comfort areas.
29:55You can see this was the outside wall and they've built this to join up the two parts of the
29:59house.
30:01Yeah.
30:01And it feels like we're down.
30:02I guess we are down, aren't we?
30:03So we're sort of built into the hill.
30:05Exactly.
30:06We're built into the hill.
30:08There's one more room I want to show them downstairs.
30:11One that's ideal for hiding away from the rain that's just decided to make an appearance.
30:16This has made me feel that I just want to sit down.
30:19Yeah.
30:19So that's it.
30:20Do.
30:21That's a sign.
30:22If you want to sit down in a house.
30:24But this is a really well-built stone structure.
30:27It's not...
30:27Yes.
30:28It's got the plastic roof on it.
30:30We might, that's one thing, again, maybe go to one of the more modern cosy roofs.
30:34But no, there's nothing to change in the space at all.
30:37What have been?
30:38It's stunning.
30:40I'm leaving Sue and Rob to explore the rest of the property by themselves.
30:43But before even making it out of the sunroom, they seem to have got distracted.
30:48You've got a...
30:50KICKING
30:51Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
30:55He's burping.
30:56Oh!
30:58Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
30:58Indoor water furniture.
31:00Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
31:01Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
31:03Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
31:04Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
31:12then rob and sue can take their pick from any of the three bedrooms the largest of
31:17which features double doors that lead straight outside oh i love the fact it's built into the
31:24hill really just yeah i'd want to try and work it out time work it out so that we could
31:32face
31:33right out onto that for you it's breathtaking it is breathtaking lovely i think this might
31:41be the the house for both of them because rob is so self-effacing and stepping in the background
31:45and it's all about sue's feelings but he seems to really like this one as well and that would be
31:50the dream that they both fall in love with it that was another good size room wow really wasn't
31:57expecting after the last one to fill this one up to you i'll do either and annex wise we can
32:07do
32:07something can't we it depends on the price if we really need one another consideration is of
32:13course rob's car collection here there's a detached workshop next to the large gravel driveway
32:19whilst on the other side of the property there's a double garage and above that the current owners
32:25have created a craft room come snug that could serve as a fourth bedroom when guests come to stay
32:32somebody's really thought about this and they've thought about it to make it for us pretty much
32:39and this is another room i just want to sit down yeah i'll just yeah hang on
32:47and then you've got the view of the hill i bet the stars are nice here as well i think
32:53i'm in my
32:53bridal moment the garden has been lovingly maintained by the current owners spanning just
33:03under an acre it's mostly lawn but also features a greenhouse with a vegetable patch a tranquil pond
33:09and a small stream crossed by a wooden footbridge at the rear a sun terrace offers uninterrupted views
33:16of brownclee hill sadly the weather's not playing ball today so my catch up with sue and rob
33:23will have to happen somewhere a little less scenic oh the heavens have opened yeah they have
33:30certainly have which is probably a sign of blessing okay we'll take that we'll take that
33:34approve of this mystery house do you approve of it it's lovely it is absolutely beautiful yeah so how
33:42much do you think this lovely mystery house is on the market for this is a real corner isn't it
33:47i'm
33:47going to let you guess first this time i'm going to go low seven seven ten seven ten right i'm
33:52going
33:53to go six nine six hundred and ninety thousand that's optimistic isn't it and yours seven hundred
33:57and ten thousand pounds okay well actually this is on the market for hold your breath seven hundred
34:03and fifty thousand oh okay yeah it's a bit higher yeah i thought the being that bit further out would
34:10bring the price down there was my reasoning for going below seven well it's remote location isn't enough
34:16to bring down the price of this lovingly restored three-bedroom cottage but it still sits fifty
34:22thousand pounds below sue and rob's top budget with plenty of hidden extras including an octagonal
34:29sunroom and a spacious craft room upstairs it also offers an acre of mature gardens plus a double
34:36garage and workshop this is a huge spanner in the works yeah i think it's the setting the remoteness
34:45and just the eclectic decor and things which absolutely suits us and it's so nicely done
34:50but it doesn't quite have the outside space also doesn't have the holiday potential so
34:57maybe too many compromises but it is lovely and it has made us think
35:06the shropshire countryside is many things to many different people for me these rolling hills are
35:12intensely soothing but for others they're a challenge let's hike up this and get our hearts racing and for
35:18others yet again they are visually inspiring so let's meet local artist sue gould sue and her husband david
35:27swapped world travel with the army for rural shropshire life after trying a new build in gloucestershire
35:34they found their dream a charming early 1900s cottage on a one acre plot without buildings
35:40an orchard and veggie patch a former nursery teacher sue turned her love of art into a career during
35:48lockdown inspired by local wildlife from chickens to lambs she now sells her nature themed work across
35:55shropshire and online i've never been much good at visual art glitter and glue is probably about my
36:02limit but i'm very keen to learn so here i am to meet sue and do some shropshire wildlife sketching
36:14hello sue hello hey what an amazing garden you've got thank you how long have you been here uh so
36:21we've
36:21been here 10 years so we built the raised beds put the greenhouse in put the fruit cage in i
36:26just love
36:26spending time here really yeah it's just really nice too it's a beautiful spot so quiet as soon as i
36:32drove in and just down the lane and sort of saw the view and everything before i'd even looked inside
36:39for me it's it's the outside that mattered really and in terms of the house have you done much to
36:44the house or was it pretty much as it is we did have the extension on the front that's the
36:48sort of
36:48oh there we go he's making his presence known yeah yeah that's frank frank yeah he wakes us up in
36:56the morning so our bedroom window is just above the chicken coop so that wasn't very good planning really
37:01at least you don't need an alarm clock sue's art practice has now become her full-time job and she
37:07divides her time between selling her work online or at local craft fairs with producing work in her
37:13home studio this is amazing so it's like a hive of so much art it is it's my little den
37:20yeah prolific
37:21it's my 10. oh i love the owl yeah so he was one of my earlier pieces and he's a
37:28tawny i love all the
37:29detail of the feathers and this yeah thank you it's very dynamic it's beautiful yeah he's one of
37:35my favorites too and is this what you're working on now it's so detailed yeah so this is a photograph
37:41that my husband took when we were camping i just thought it was a lovely photo because obviously it's
37:46a snail but it was a wildlife notice board and it's all about the birds and also birds and he's
37:51actually crawling over the word that says brushes which of course this nemesis yeah yeah yeah so i'm
37:57going to um finish that later before producing her pieces sue enjoys working on plein air making
38:05preparatory sketches that might inspire future work i feel like a proper artist yes easels yeah i know
38:14i hope they don't blow away ever the teacher sue has convinced me to join her for one of her
38:22sessions
38:22where we'll be working with watercolor pens to sketch our noisy friends from earlier so i just sort of put
38:29some marks down on the paper yeah yeah whatever you want to do yeah try and get a bit of
38:33movement
38:34and work quickly and frank just have a go and let me down so i'm going to get his shape
38:40he's sort of
38:40like a heart shape he is yeah he's quite a nice one to draw actually
38:48it's just lovely to be outside doing something creative isn't it it is and you're finding it
38:52relaxing or well it's just frank won't keep still well there you go you see yeah that's the problem
38:58there's going to be more more just the feeling of frank he's doing he's looking great though
39:03so was this always a always a dream or has it has it come into focus more since you've been
39:08here
39:09definitely more since we've been here i mean isn't it lovely to just be in the sunshine and sketching
39:15hens after an animated start frank is finally standing still long enough for me to sketch him
39:23i suspect he's taking pity on me so grab yourself a brush working with watercolor pens
39:32means a splash of water on our paper and the sketch is transformed quite magical really the way the
39:38colors all sort of come together work from top to the bottom or just flow you know like when you're
39:47doing the frank's tail sort of start at the bottom and get some nice sweeping oh yeah that's nice
39:52sweeping and you know you get all those colors mixing together i suspect i might need a little
39:57more magic to transform my sketch sorry frank i feel like i'm not really doing any justice
40:05i think he's looking really good i think you're doing a good job there
40:08all that's left is to finish it off with a name
40:11ah this is wonderful really good thank you so i really enjoyed it i really enjoyed you
40:17gonna go and put that in a frame spending so much time with frank and it's very inspiring thank you
40:22if you've given me um like a little bit of a nudge towards getting my paints out yeah definitely do
40:26that yeah you're really good well all the best i hope it goes well thank you
40:39now i should be able to read sue's leaky face very well after this week of house hunting but i'm
40:45still
40:45a little bit clueless about which of those wonderful houses they've fallen for so let's find out
40:59so you guys how's it been what a joy showing you around shropshire going back to your roots yes yeah
41:06it has been an absolute joy and thank you very much for showing us around now you've chewed over
41:11it a little bit what what are your thoughts where where is your heart leaning so heart is definitely
41:16leading towards the house with the separate annex ah the one we saw this morning yeah yeah my heart
41:22raced when i walked in i think you could see that i think i could yeah and and it hasn't
41:27stopped really
41:28so it was temporarily interrupted by the mystery house but as soon as we came away from the mystery
41:34house i stopped thinking about it and my thoughts went straight back well that's a good sign what are
41:40the next steps for you then i think we want to organize go back again yeah so go and have
41:44another look
41:44round and just do a bit more research around it and just make sure it's absolutely right well i'm
41:49really thrilled and so lovely to have brought you back to shropshire and to introduce you to shop
41:55show nice to be here it's been wonderful yes thank you for uh for everything you've done for us to
41:59actually come on the show and find the perfect house is is it's a surprise and a delight surprise and
42:05delight you need the right fairy godmother we do we do and thank you
42:16what an amazing week in shropshire i have learnt to love and respect sue's very expressive face
42:22but wouldn't it be wonderful if the story comes full circle and rob comes back to his childhood idyll
42:28and sue leaves ethics and becomes a shropshire lass i so hope that happens and i hope you join us
42:35next
42:35time for more escape to the country
42:39a second viewing revealed the house with the annex lacked the outside space for rob's cars but the
42:45couple found a wonderful property with its own barn and paddock just outside knighton a town we
42:51introduced them to during the search their offer was accepted and they hope to settle there soon
42:59if you would like to escape to the country in england wales northern ireland or scotland and need our
43:04help why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part
43:28one
43:31so
43:33so
43:39you
43:40you
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