ETTC 21 Apr

were some of the most likely in the UK to be happiest with where they live couple unspoiled countryside with a sense of community spirit it's understandable why one of today's buyers is keen to get back to his roots dance loving couple Julie and Scots met in 2001 and have lived together in Epsom Surrey for the past 16 years we first met at a party and at the time I was still living over here and Scot was living over in the Forest of Dean and we spent nearly two years of traveling on the m4 to see each other and then eventually we decided that we wanted to be together and Scott moved over and lived here and sinfoni yes she's definitely a classy lady sometimes when you meet someone it's you sort of know it's the right person and I knew that then and I thought I'm going to travel down the m4 a long time Scott works as a carpenter and with their move to the country it's keen to have more space to expand his business my mission is to become a cabinet maker and I think I need to be around trees and that his suppliers know not to do on wood right wood and have a lot more space to do that I think Julie's a lifelong love of books directed her to turn her back on her media career after a visit to her local library I love reading I love books I love chatting to people about books and I like getting to know people sort of in the community that you come across when you're in the library so yeah it's been a great job I should be very sad to leave my job in the library but hopefully find a similar job over in when we move over along with working as a network library assistant and a virtual PA from home julie hopes that the move will enable her and scott to take on a holiday let business so I'm hoping doing a holiday light or B&B type situation although I know that that's busy and you're changing sheets and things like that we'll just have more quality time I think to do some all of our hobbies Scott's and Julie's nine-year-old daughter Daisy will be joining them but for Julie's two older daughters from her previous marriage Tasha and Chloe it's time to spread their wings I've got two older children and I think they probably haven't been ready for us to leave until now they're 23 and 21 and I think you know that it will it was always it will always would have been tricky before all so kind of move without them because they didn't want to move with us so now that they're old enough I think it's kind of a good time be nice to our daughter Daisy to experience living in the country and just nip off to the woods on a bike yeah to worry about traffic in that kind of thing home for the last 26 years for Julie has been a 1930s Tudor style property and while Scott is excited by the move Julie is approaching it with some trepidation I think for quite a few years we've sort of been drifting along in a happy way and I think we sort of come to that point where we're so pinpointing what we want to do I've always lived around this area I've not moved far so this is a big gonna be a big change for me so I'm definitely the more nervous of the two but I'm looking forward to the challenge yeah I think this is a big chance for us to buy a place together yeah and move and do something together around them let things happen too yes Scott and Julie are searching for a family home in the Welsh borders although they are drawn to the WHI valley and Monmouthshire they're open to properties either side of the Welsh English border I'm catching up with our house buyers to hear more about what they're looking for in their new property [Music] Julie and Scott welcome to the Welsh border thank you it's very beautiful today isn't it just I'm assuming you don't want to be too isolated I don't want to be Scott's a little more relaxed about where we are but I'd like to have some sort of community around us so you're not the only house in the middle of nowhere tell me about the house that you're looking for okay so we're looking for something a bit magical a bit of a WOW house something that's got some land workshop a worker's workshop because you're coughin and are you wanting to build that business as well yeah definitely at the moment where we were I've got to sort of workshops and they're too small really and one of Daisy's requirements is that she's got a place for her toys and building bricks and stuff like that so it would be really nice to be able to have her bits in a separate area so I've got a sense of space what do you want the house to look like what's magical to you I think it's got to sort of have sort of period qualities and in the sense that it's like an older house just somewhere with land maybe a little stream would be nice trees not necessarily about the view as such but just as long as really nice surroundings and it would be lovely telling you - they're not so fast about that what about the number of bedrooms well hopefully my two other daughters will come and stay and we'll hopefully have friends and family stays so a minimum of three bedrooms I guess in the actual property but with an annex or something or holiday left - well remind me of your budget 610 is that budget if it was the like an amazing oh my god we've got to have this house 620 I'm going to take six hundred and twenty thousand pounds top budget but I understand that it's got to really have every yeah yeah you do have some properties lined up and you look very eager to start this let's get going let's go Julie and Scots have a maximum budget of 620 thousand pounds to spend on a country home with special appeal they're searching for a detached character property with a minimum of three bedrooms to allow space for family to visit outbuildings for Scots workshop and enough land to enable them to set up a holiday let business we have a tempting assortment of strong contenders that they'll hopefully fall in love with however they'll need to consider the value of each property and take a guess on the price before I reveal it to them and finally the mystery house may work its magic but risks being a step too far into the unknown for Julie the first stop on our tour of the Welsh borders is just under four miles from the village of noonim on seven new nama is a thriving village whose heritage has been heavily influenced by its location on the banks of the river 7 in the late 18th century it was one of the most significant cargo ports in the area and was on a pivotal poaching route it's attractive Main Street with clock tower has a village shop a pharmacy and all the necessary amenities still housed in buildings built on the back of its wealthy maritime trade just ten minutes drive away we arrived at our first property where we begin Julie and Scot search for a country home garden quite an entrance it is lovely for you over there and you didn't even warn I didn't want a few I wasn't even worried about that but now I like it yeah that's good it's intriguing it's on there yeah let's go inside this detached house originally dates from the 1700s however it's been extended over the years to create a comfortable family home through the porch we're entering the oldest part of the house across the hallway into the morning room and through to the living room so nice and bright in the lovely bay window there this is a great space for entertaining it is I like this it's big enough there's obviously a bit going on outdoors over there yeah you've got a walled garden courtyard area just through there as well we're just separate really from this part of the goal that's very nice I like that not yeah yes that was another little wish list they love Bernal isn't it like it like the beam ceilings that's like a nice thing too high enough for skillet yeah she's so far light flows throughout this house as we move from the living room through the good sized dining room and into an impressive open plan space oh yes very nice is it new it looks like a it looks certainly looks you doesn't it we have to ask our carpenter friend / yes ik it's really nice it's so nice I really love it I love the colors and the floor definitely yeah so you approve of the downstairs downstairs it was that kept on giving didn't it it's a bit more and a bit more it's all it looks better on the inside than the outside I think leads you to believe let's go and see if the upstairs there are enough rooms on the ground floor to allow Julie and Scott to turn them into an office space or family room the downstairs also benefits from a conservatory a utility room a handy cloakroom and a bedroom it's got its very own entrance which gives it the potential to be converted into a self-contained annex upstairs there are three further bedrooms all with ensuite bath or shower there's a bright comfortable double with feature fireplace a good-sized single room with window to the garden and across the landing is an extensive master with its own dressing room and ensuite with shower the main bedroom is quite something it is it's a lovely shape it's unusual because it kind of goes around the dressing room area there again it's light as well you've got the bay window view out onto the river 7 which is incredible and then this it's visual aspect view either side isn't it yeah that's definitely my favorite view there but you like the house it seems to suit you yeah definitely let's go and see the grounds that come with oh yes the front lawn enjoys views of the surrounding pasture land stretching towards the river 7 and to the back there's a private garden with relaxing patio area for the quirky water feature and outbuildings with potential as a garden room or office space and workshop here Julie and Scott could expand their interest in gardening so will this be the one they'll choose to come home to to roost in you have about an acre in total with this property it's a huge yard and isn't it it's lovely it's very it's interesting it's not around you it's they've got apple trees and pear trees are you likely to garden yeah yeah what about the price go for it yes I'd say five hundred and eighty thousand pounds okay we're going higher I think I'm gonna say five nine five you are spot-on yay okay it is on the market that's the guide price five hundred and ninety five thousand pounds so under budget mm-hmm I don't know if you feel that leaves you enough yeah I think you will I think so Wow have a look around now that you know the price you can fully start to assess whether this is something that might work okay and I'll come and find all right thank you coming in 25,000 pounds under budget this bright country property would enable Scott and Julie to enjoy life as a family as well as branch out their business interests with its four bedrooms outbuilding set in an acre of grounds and potential to create a self-contained annex it also has the benefits of village life just a short drive away I've been really impressed with this first house it's so bright and airy I love the fact that you could entertain here the lounge is nice and big definitely got a feeling of ourselves living here I could imagine Daisy Daisy would love it I think Julie likes it as well a lot from her responses so far so that's very promising well how lovely that the first house we've seen together that's potential definitely it's a really good start but the question is how will it compare [Music] the hills and valleys of Wales are known for their culturally rich tradition of song and thriving art scene with their love of dance we've sent them to a perk of any Scots birthplace to find out about the unbroken tradition of Welsh club dancing at the town's borrow theater our dancers are meeting up with professional award-winning clog dancer - door Phillips semi how did the tradition of cook dancing sort beginning wales well the clogs themselves were like workmen shoes consent is hard they'd be in factories on the farms they buzzed and they make a lot of noise and why not entertain yourself maybe in the pub showing off who can do the the best sort of rhythms and they then jumping in with some tricks and who can do the best tricks or most of the tricks so it's been just keep it on going well the shoes actually made of so the bottom are wood man leather on the top and some nails to hold it all together so they're quite basic what Scott and I do a bit of Swing dancing so is that gonna stand us in good stead yeah any sort of background in any dancing helps you've got a bit of rhythm and a bit the fitness maybe but one way to find out let's try it okay with their traditional wooden clogs on Julie and Scots are ready to take to the stage okay first thing is your step walking care of that okay so do two noises for each step the heel and in backwards opposite way front twist well in next step is called pitter patters right sounds like this fast slow it down literally put weight on one leg and kick the heel of the other oh right then a bit of movements a bit of trick so close to the first one quite simple clapping underneath your leg okay just legs are still just doing this all the time yeah Welsh clog dance features props which are used by the dancer in a sequence of moves t'adore has one of these tricks up his sleeve for his novices to try one laughing Wow what are these for well you'd see these back in the day in the pubs which was around I'm going to dance a there's a lot we'll try your tricks similar to the clapping by passing them underneath the legs like this the other way might be a bit short for you grab the broom nice and tight and then just jump in here yeah I think can we leave that to you do you reckon I'd say what can you show us some of the things you can do yep cool let's go watch while Julie and Scott catch their breath tada gives them a show of how this tradition is staying alive [Music] [Applause] [Applause] and Finnerty good luck finding a house [Music] we're exploring the Welsh borders with Scot and Julie from Epsom Surrey who are making a lifestyle change and dancing their way into the country with a healthy budget of six hundred and twenty thousand pounds they're searching for a family home with some land to broaden their income horizons coming up well Julie find what she's looking for in the mystery house Oh gorgeous theme there are two sets of stairs I was one of my like wow things if it had two sets of stairs yeah so no and I'll tell you the story of the bird the mouse and the otter hello Flo 17 years old the way she's holding the fish in her very dangerous it's day two of our property search and later on I'll be revealing our mystery house which certainly has a lot to offer that may just be a little bit too rural for Julie before that we're heading to a property which I'm sure will allow Scot to indulge his creative side our next property stop lies in lang Garin on the western edge of the Y Valley some five miles away is the village of Witt church posted around the impressive Victorian red brick clock tower there's a village shop a cafe and a pub which was once a coaching inn in a rural location just a short drive away this proposition could be just what our buyers but dreaming of I know the weather's turning we're property touch of two hulls but I really feel this property may have something for each of you oh good what do you think about how it looks I'm impressed with the outside I really love that and stone chimney oh that's going on it looks like it might have a double garage for you there yeah very nice yeah yeah now we just need to find out whether you like the house itself this detached home set in a rural location was once split into three cottages and dates back to 1840 so it'll be interesting to see if the interior is to their taste this is where you really see the renovations that have been done this is great yes it's very news me mmm but yet retains the character of a house having been built in the 80s yeah it's a nice sort of practical shape it comes around like that yeah they've got the deep window sills yeah and you have this addition of a Garden Room so there is a separate dining room but actually you could have your dining room in this area yeah oh that is a lovely area for Daisy probably not the whole room because you'd loved it too you have quite a sizeable utility room just through there so that's why you don't see a phone jet that's like that that can act as a bit of a boot room so if you're going out for a muddy bike ride or you know you can go straight into that room but how does it feel so far yeah it feels great I think yeah the boot room thing like that though yeah let's explore more okay follow me off the kitchen we pass a fully tiled high spec wet room and the dining room which enjoys wonderful views out into the garden at the opposite side of the property we enter the living room so as well as the garden room next to the kitchen at the other end of the house is the main living room that's right this is really cozy with isn't it but yeah nice big window sills it's got a log burner as well yeah this would work so how are you feeling so far about very positive very positive we're in agreement which is always positive I'm now hoping the upstairs won't let you down on fingers crossed okay let's see on the upper floor there are four bedrooms and inviting double sets into the eaves a single room along with one being used as a study all served by a character family bathroom with roll-top bath hopefully they'll like the decor and dimensions in the main one this is the biggest of all the bedrooms wow this is lovely it's me long it's like the shape as well yeah I did it that sort of country feel yeah an amazing view that's very pretty out there isn't it well it didn't disappoint upstairs we got to hear it so what's left to see just the outside yeah yeah we like make or break the deal and I have more to reveal Oh outside there's huge potential for Julie and Scott to realize plans for their future businesses surrounded by beautiful landscape outbuildings and land I think we're onto a win here you have 1.2 acres with this property as well I I mean you fall in love with the property already but then you have this fabulous view I know the colors are just beautiful aren't they perfectly autumnal today over there is an additional plot of land that already has planning permission for a 2-bedroom Wellings you could build your yurts there or you could build a holiday light or actually a home to sell on so there's another business opportunity but the carpentry business is ready to go on day one you've got workshops there yeah it's an instant workshop perfect so much to consider and think about which probably should discuss price you'd like to go first you go first thank you I'm gonna say more I'm gonna go six hundred and twenty thousand pounds then a full budget I'm gonna say six hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds it is on the market for five hundred and ninety-five really no joking no I wouldn't be that means Wow Wow do I smell an offer I think you might do goodness your reaction shows you how much in your air coming in some 20,000 pounds under budget this property in Monmouth sure would allow Julie and Scot flexibility in setting up their country businesses with its four bedrooms outbuildings kitchen garden all wrapped up in over two acres of land it's also not far from a vibrant village this house is fantastic the size of it it's a nice big area spaced house is perfect and the planning permission it's perfect the extra land or what more can you say really its salt I think we've fallen in love with it I think it it just has everything we need and more I can't believe them yeah I can really see myself here I feel bad dragging you away but see you love so much but time is ticking so I must the meandering river seven forms a natural border between England and Wales before meeting the Severn Estuary thousands of rare birds from the farthest reaches of the globe flock here every year the Slimbridge wetland center in Gloucestershire provides shelter for 30,000 wild fowl during the winter months it was the mastermind of naturalist Sir Peter Scott and is often hailed as the birthplace of modern conservation opened in 1946 the centre's wetlands are of special scientific interest and is the focus of the conservation work he helped pioneer on a very autumnal day I'm meeting up with the reserve manager Dave painter to hear more about this haven for wildlife Dave hello hello lovely to meet you tell me why this reserve is so significant for conservation this is a really important wintering area for large numbers of waterfowl we're over on the west coast of Britain we're in the full flow of the Gulf Stream this is what's happening now it's warm ish and it's wet even through the winter so it's a really valuable wintering site for large numbers of birds with it being autumn this is an important time of year for you a really exciting time of year lots of changes at the moment birds are moving from their breeding grounds to their wintering areas that means we're losing some they're heading further south down into Africa perhaps others are arriving from the Arctic and they're arriving in big numbers now we'll be increasing steadily over the next few months and how long will they stay they'll stay right through the winter the first big departures will be towards the the end of February early March covering some eight hundred acres this Nature Reserve is in the midst of a substantial renovation program remaining true to the vision of Sir Peter Scott the ambitious project will include new visitor attractions as well as improving the natural habitat for the wildlife that calls it home you have got quite a project on your hands here haven't you We certainly have this is the duck turquoise an ancient duck trap that's used for catching birds originally to eat but when Peter Scott came here he saw a way of catching birds to ring them to learn about them it works using a dog ducks have this this what seems like a strange instinct at first if they see a predator like a fox or have a foxy looking dog and that will walk into the netting tunnels around here and the ducks will follow it and we can actually use that instinct to then catch those those dogs and we will put a metal band a metal ring on their leg take a few vital statistics and then we let the bird go and learn a lot about the movements how long they live that kind of thing elsewhere on the site I'm meeting up with John crooks who cares for some of the tiniest mammals who also live here hello John we have a little harvest mouse a smallest rodent in Britain on the smallest wetland animals but here we have a breeding program and there's some releases but thankfully their behavior is changing everybody associates them with the sort of corn fields the crop fields but there as they're changing they're moving back into the wetlands which is actually their original home so that's good news I want to try and hold one but I'm not sure I'll be able to contain him although just let it at a free-range oh my gosh there we go oh yeah so light so light and they weigh even when they grown up about the weight of a two pence piece and actually when they're born though the size of a baked bean really yes yeah how's my elbow down there by five okay very happy I think from one of the smallest mammals to one of the wettest down on the riverbanks it's feeding time for slim bridges family of North American river otters so this is their favorite food yes they they adore any sort of fish their favorites actually the expensive stuff salmon and trout but today they've got some sprats as you can see there we go so we have mom who's this one she's Flo she's 17 years old the way she's holding the fish in her very dangerous and who's down there down there's Minnie then haha is usually mom's favorite so she tends you tend to see these two together we've actually got wild otters out on the reservists Slimbridge but also wonderfully in the UK our otters are increasing in number and again it's if we look after the wetlands if we look after the habitats there's homes to these marvelous animals so visitors here can see wild otters they might have a chance but actually this is where they can exactly this is where I can talk to all the visitors all I guess and get them on the side of otters and then if they're on the side of otters they're on the side of the weapon's how inspiring to see some of the vital work which is going on here at Slimbridge to continue to preserve Britain's natural wetlands [Music] our mystery house stands on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park and is under six miles from the market town of hay on wye known as the town of books Julie would be able to lose herself in book shops at every turn and for over 30 years hay on Y has hosted the annual literary festival which draws visitors from across the world just a 15 minute drive from the center of town in the pretty hamlet of true guide we find the mystery house which will put Julie's reservations of living in a rural location to the test your eyes stunning from the outside can you see why it's a mystery there doesn't seem much else around apart from absolutely amazing scenery over there that compromise if it ends up being a compromise is that it's a little bit further away from amenities that even you would have liked you don't mind being wrong no I don't mind at all so now we have to see if you like the house near Liam you're nearly there now yes I think you're winning on dating from the 17th century this detached mystery stone barn conversion has been recently refurbished hopefully the interior will persuade Julie that country living has its benefits I step down into here oh my goodness look at this that's wonderful oh it's a curvy kitchen have you ever seen a caricature okay that's beautiful that would be so good to work in I love it it's beautiful it really is I love it it's the sort of flow of the kitchen and it's a lovely area here and dining table and it's going out so where you want to go out to and you can look out there and it's beautiful yeah the big windows the wood everything the layout Wow my favorite part of this room apart from the views is that oak door yes I was just a same thing should we go and see where it leads to let's look you have an extra living room area well this is gorgeous - Oh gorgeous see there are two sets of stairs it was one of my like really wow things if it had many stairs yeah so I've never heard that on a request list before just means sort of quirky and unusual well this certainly has that level of charm twoness it's got wood burned it yes is lovely cool and I don't know if you've spotted but there's an it then goes down further into a study but I was thinking daisies daisies little premier half brilliant it's got everything isn't it so you would come here after dinner maybe a glass of port or whiskey and then return I liked your better the timber construction creates authentic character throughout this mystery property Julie's wish for quirky are certainly granted upstairs with each room flowing from one staircase to the other the four bedrooms are served by a beautiful bathroom with roll-top baths and a smaller shower room this is next to a bedroom with the added feature of a small balcony over the living room the landing makes a handy sleeping area and up a few stairs we're checking out the one earmarked for them oh goodness me a suitable master suite yeah just oh wow that's huge Shh breath away it's incredible the beams there are just lovely aren't they and those windows and that view well we keep looking at the views from inside let's go outside enjoy them which staircase because much of the magic of this Mystery House comes from its location surrounded by stunning scenery there are out buildings including a garage with land which could enable our buyers to fulfill their business dreams [Music] standing in what would be your land about an acre just over amazing right off of that is amazing yeah it does take your breath away doesn't it are there any negatives to this property the only negative is that it is in the middle of nowhere yes but it's the perfect house it's outside of your initial search area isn't it but is there a problem yeah I know that's what we've got to consider would the price help yes I think it will be a top budget because I love it so much I'm gonna goes six hundred and twenty thousand pounds well I'm the same I love it so much I'm gonna go higher than six hundred and twenty-five thousand okay it is on the market for six hundred and fifteen thousand pounds okay so I was the winner well the family's a winner if you choose to move in explore the mystery with 5,000 pounds spare it turns out to our mystery barn conversion is their perfect wow house even the rural location hasn't put Julie off the character feel and timber beams throughout the living areas and four bedrooms have impressed them as has the quirky high spec kitchen what's more it's all wrapped up in over an acre of speechless they go that's this house makes us speechless I think I think it is the absolute perfect house yeah yeah it's the quirkiness the yeah the atmosphere through staircases just yeah it's fab the only thing is is it too remote and I've got to consider why that's a poisoning yeah I've given you quite the conundrum oh you really have very much well it seems I've given Julian Scott quite a dilemma with two houses they absolutely love but the question is which one will come out on top well Julian Scott I feel like our house hunting journey together just got better and better I think it did it was like a roller coaster sort of adventures Lynne so which houses are in the running I think the two that we saw today are definitely in the running so this is the house with the planning permission and the mystery yeah yeah the planning permission house was a citrus old yeah there was nothing I couldn't imagine anything it's all right no changing from that and then you shall just Mystery House came along which was perfect in every way apart from maybe being a bit sororal but and whether I can overcome that but yeah they're both in the running so you have questions about each of them which is why you want to go back for a second viewing yes and I think what we try and do is arrange to see the one with the planning permission in the Mystery House with our daughter Daisy and see what she thinks and she can help us make a decision really well I can't wait to hear what you decide you know and then perhaps I can come on revisit thank you thank you very much thank you for having us it's been an absolutely our search for a country home for Julianne Scott has gone from strength to strength each offering has had its positives and made them question their priorities the house itself the land and business opportunities or location Scott's has been wanting to move back here to the Welsh borders for a while and despite Julie's worry about being isolated I think the magic of the mystery house has made her feel right at home and it's great news they're going back to visit not one but two of our properties I wish them the very best of luck see you next time on escape to the country if you'd like to escape to the country in whale

Channel: Dutch Boy

Views: 53,455

Rating: 4.8826981 out of 5

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Id: 6sFiEW_AM9E

Length: 40min 1sec (2401 seconds)

Published: Tue Apr 21 2020