Jules Hudson explores one of the UK's most beautiful locations today as he sets about finding the ideal Wye Valley property for his house hunters. Having put their Portugal home on the market, they've recently been touring the UK in their beloved camper van named Dave and are itching to settle down somewhere with more space inside and out!
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00:00A move to the countryside can open your eyes to a whole new world.
00:06So let's start up here.
00:07I'm fascinated to see what we're going to see.
00:11Your mind may run wild with ideas.
00:13I've eyed up that oven over there already.
00:16You could rediscover passions.
00:18I can feel a set on mower coming on.
00:21Well, it's funny you say that.
00:23The excitement might even get the better of you.
00:26Are we twitching to write a cheque at this point?
00:30Yeah, possibly.
00:33And the prospect of what's on offer could really pull at the heartstrings.
00:38So I'm going to cry.
01:00The Wye Valley.
01:03Dramatic scenery everywhere you look.
01:06From captivating hills meeting wide open skies
01:10to lush forests lining the landscape below.
01:13All seamlessly weaved together by the river that gives the valley its name.
01:19Now, staycationing.
01:22It's a new term, but in truth, it's not a new idea.
01:26In fact, we Brits have been doing it for well over 250 years.
01:29And it all began here in the Wye Valley
01:32when our forebears took boat trips on this very stretch of river.
01:36And what's more, well, we're still coming by the boatload today.
01:40Every year, some 7 million visitors come here,
01:43proving that it is unarguably one of the most beautiful parts of the UK.
01:51Spread across the border between England and Wales,
01:54the Wye Valley encompasses parts of Herefordshire, Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire.
01:59Covering 126 square miles,
02:02it's an area of outstanding natural beauty and a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.
02:08I get up to canoeing, paddleboarding, rock climbing, hill walking.
02:12There's plenty to do around here.
02:15There's no better way to explore the valley than from the river,
02:19where you'll drift past pretty cottages dotted up the hillsides
02:23and historic villages such as Tinton,
02:26with its striking abbey ruins making its mark on the riverbank.
02:30Towns like Ross-on-Wye offer a cosmopolitan buzz,
02:34but you're never too far from the serenity of the surrounding countryside
02:38or the country locals.
02:41It's a tourist favourite all year round,
02:44and those of us lucky enough to call this area home hold it in high regard.
02:50I don't know whether it's the light, quality of light,
02:53or whether it's the pace of life, or the river itself, the River Wye itself.
02:57It's very magical.
03:02Now, the UK is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world,
03:06and perhaps it's no surprise then that caravanning and campervanning
03:10has really taken off in popularity,
03:12as many more of us use them to explore the countryside.
03:15But as for today's buyers,
03:17well, they're looking to swap their home on four wheels
03:20for something a little more permanent.
03:23Earlier in the year, Karen and Steve sold their UK home in West Sussex
03:27with a plan to live out their retirement in their holiday home
03:30on Portugal's Silver Coast.
03:32It's incredibly rural, and this is down the bottom of the drive,
03:36and if I zone in a bit, you can just about see the house at the top of the hill.
03:41They hope to split their time between their Portuguese house
03:44and travelling around in their beloved campervan.
03:48So this is Dave.
03:50He's really well designed and split into rooms.
03:53I've managed to make up a few dishes that take up less space,
03:58but I've also had a few tantrums because of the lack of space as well.
04:04But having recently enjoyed a lengthy nomadic trip
04:07around the British countryside in Dave,
04:09Karen and Steve made a huge decision.
04:13We realised that being in Portugal is a long way away from the UK,
04:19a long way away from family, from friends,
04:22and just gradually through the year I think we both individually
04:26came to the conclusion that we weren't so sure about settling in Portugal.
04:33So they've put their Portuguese pad on the market
04:36and hopped back aboard their campervan in search of an eco-friendly lifestyle
04:40in and around the Wye Valley.
04:43We're looking for a place ideally on the edge of a village
04:47with a sort of community and a pub.
04:50Yeah, that's because you want to get to know people, yeah?
04:53Yeah, definitely.
04:55Nothing to do with a beer or anything like that?
04:57Well, I must admit in Portugal I do miss a good English beer.
05:02Karen and Steve have a budget of £650,000
05:06and are looking for a detached three-bedroom characterful property
05:10where they can live a more sustainable life.
05:13As a nutritionist and food writer, Karen would love a large kitchen to work in
05:18and they both like a garden with space to grow vegetables.
05:22All in a quiet rural location near a community.
05:27From what I've heard about Karen and Steve so far,
05:30I think I'm about to meet a couple of old-school adventurers.
05:35And that is really intriguing.
05:38They've put their life in the back of a van,
05:40they've set sail to try and find a new chapter, a new lifestyle here in the UK.
05:48It's a challenge, but they are used to challenges, these two.
05:51I think we're in for a really interesting week.
05:54I think we're in for a really interesting week and I cannot wait to meet them.
06:01We're getting the wheels of our search in motion in the rural village of Linton.
06:08Around three miles east of the historic market town of Ross-on-Wye,
06:12Linton offers peace and tranquillity all wrapped in Herefordshire's gorgeous green landscape.
06:20So where better to meet up with our couple?
06:25Wow, Karen and Steve.
06:28All the way from sunny Portugal to a slightly drizzly Wye Valley.
06:33Yeah, good decision, huh?
06:35What are we doing?
06:36What are you doing?
06:37Well, I think you've absolutely come to a great spot,
06:40one of my favourite parts of the country, no surprise.
06:43Now I know, Karen, that recently you were diagnosed with MS.
06:47I imagine that had a huge impact on your decision to change your lifestyle.
06:53To change life in general, really.
06:56Yes, absolutely.
06:58I had to give up my career,
07:00but we just decided that we wanted to do all of the things that we wanted to do now,
07:04rather than leave it.
07:06And fortunately, Steve is incredibly supportive,
07:09and whatever it takes, really.
07:12So we just do have adventures now,
07:15and then the aim is if we do it all, we'll just do it all over again.
07:18So it's all to play for.
07:19We've got to get you out of the campervan into something a little more permanent.
07:22Yes, that would be nice.
07:23And if you like this aspect,
07:25you're going to love our first property,
07:27because it's just around the corner.
07:29Fantastic.
07:30Come and have a look.
07:34Yes, just a short walk from that beautiful spot,
07:37we found them this.
07:40So there we go.
07:41What do you think of our first offering?
07:43It looks really cute, really lovely.
07:45Yeah?
07:46That's really nicely done, isn't it?
07:47It is, yeah.
07:48I love this, the wooden outside bit.
07:50Yeah, that's the most recent addition.
07:52Now the kitchen.
07:53We're going to start in there.
07:54Okay.
07:55But as you can see, we haven't got acres to play with here.
07:57No.
07:58But we have got parking over there,
08:00which I think would accommodate Dave in there.
08:02Yeah, he'd squeeze in there.
08:03That would work.
08:04And possibly a small car too.
08:05But it's a nice little spot, this,
08:07and you're within easy reach of Ross, Monmouth,
08:10and the local kind of hot spots,
08:12but it's peaceful.
08:14Yes, it's lovely.
08:15And the birds.
08:16Shall we?
08:17Yeah, definitely.
08:18Get out the rain?
08:20First impressions, not too bad,
08:24but I'm convinced I'll really win them over once we get inside.
08:30Come on, out the weather.
08:32Oh, yes.
08:33What do you think?
08:34What a lovely space.
08:35Yeah?
08:36Yeah, that's a lovely kitchen.
08:37Really lovely.
08:38It's bigger than Dave, isn't it?
08:39Oh, yeah, definitely.
08:40Definitely.
08:41A bit more space.
08:42Yeah.
08:43I've eyed up that oven over there already,
08:45and I'm already thinking,
08:46oh, I could do some cooking stuff in here.
08:48And loads of light.
08:49Yeah.
08:50That's really nice.
08:51That's the first thing you get.
08:52Yeah.
08:53Definitely.
08:54It is beautifully uncluttered.
08:55Yeah.
08:56So it does mean you can see exactly what you get
08:58and think about where your furniture might go,
09:01because I imagine you haven't seen that for a while.
09:03It's all in stores, isn't it?
09:05Well...
09:06We haven't actually got that much.
09:07We don't like clutter anyway,
09:09which you can't have in a camper van.
09:11Yeah, yeah.
09:12But I think this is lovely.
09:13Yeah.
09:14It looks really interesting.
09:15I'm looking forward to seeing it.
09:16Yeah, come and have a look in here.
09:17OK.
09:18This is very cosy.
09:19Ah, right, yes.
09:20Exposed beams.
09:21I was just trying to work out
09:22whether I needed to duck through there.
09:24There are a couple of places in here
09:25you might want to think about it,
09:27but hopefully not in here.
09:28No, it's a really good space, isn't it?
09:30Yeah, that's a lovely room.
09:31It's all separated into little zones in itself.
09:34There's a real contrast of materials and colours, isn't there?
09:38Mm.
09:39With the painted bricks, the quarry tiles,
09:41the sandstone or whatever stone they did.
09:44Yeah.
09:45It's really interesting.
09:46Yeah.
09:47I'm feeling some colour in here would be,
09:49would be really, make it even more magical.
09:51Good.
09:52Well, let's hope the magic continues.
09:53OK.
09:54Come up here.
09:55Let's have a look upstairs.
09:57There's another cosy sitting room to the far side of the stairs,
10:01along with a good-sized utility room.
10:05Up above, we find three bedrooms,
10:08all with unspoilt views across the countryside,
10:12plus a family bathroom.
10:14And then this.
10:17Oh, my goodness.
10:18Wow, what a room.
10:19Oh, wow, that's fantastic, with the doors as well.
10:22Yeah.
10:23Yes, you could pop out there for your morning coffee.
10:25Yeah.
10:26Oh, yeah, and we would.
10:27Yeah.
10:28Open the curtains.
10:29And you've got the en-suite too.
10:30Yeah, OK.
10:31Curiously, part of its sort of store is a holiday let.
10:34It has this little kitchenette.
10:36That surprised me.
10:37Make my tea there in the morning.
10:39Oh, well, yes.
10:40Well, that's really nice.
10:41That's a good-sized en-suite, isn't it?
10:43Yeah.
10:44This room is just fantastic, isn't it?
10:46It's a great space.
10:47Can you do this in death?
10:48Can you just, you know, you can't really?
10:50No, no.
10:51Not really.
10:54Dare I say, the quirky inside of this property
10:57seems to be working for them.
10:59I just hope the same can be said once they get outside.
11:03Nestled into the hillside,
11:05the garden, set across different levels,
11:07is just as characterful as the property interior.
11:11As well as the terrace off the bedroom,
11:13there's another gravel terrace off the kitchen,
11:16with views over the surrounding fields towards the Malvern Hills.
11:21Steps descend onto large stretches of lawn,
11:24where there's also an outbuilding.
11:27This is where it gets a little more,
11:29it's not so much complicated as perhaps unconventional.
11:33So the garage is there.
11:35Yeah.
11:36And it's had an additional carport put on it,
11:38all of which I think is up for grabs
11:40in terms of what you might want to do with it.
11:43Home office then? What do you think?
11:46Possibly, although I think it might have the space for that inside.
11:50So the outside kitchen, outside living area.
11:56Is that something you're bringing back from Portugal,
11:58the outside kitchen area?
11:59Yeah.
12:00I love that.
12:01Yeah, definitely.
12:02Well, let's talk about the price of this one then, shall we?
12:04OK. A shot in the dark, because I really have no idea.
12:07I'm going to go for £625,000.
12:11OK.
12:12Yeah, it is really hard, but I was thinking £630,000.
12:15Both very respectable estimates.
12:17OK.
12:18However, you are way off.
12:20Oh, OK.
12:21This is currently on the market for...
12:23£499,950.
12:27No way!
12:28Oh, gosh, we are off. OK.
12:30You're off to the tune of £150,000.
12:32Yes. OK.
12:33Wow.
12:34Yeah.
12:35Yeah, I'm really shocked.
12:37Are we twitching to write a cheque at this point?
12:40Oh, I... Yeah, possibly.
12:43I heard Steve's thought, oh, I can stop working.
12:46Yeah.
12:50I think the price has well and truly bowled them over.
12:54At £150,000 under budget,
12:57this spacious, characterful, detached house offers them four bedrooms,
13:02plenty of space outside and that rural location they desire
13:06just a short walk from the local village.
13:11The house inside, I think, is a space that we can definitely work with.
13:16I have to say, I'm not too sure about the outside space.
13:20You have to weigh all these things up, so there's positives and negatives.
13:24Our place in Portugal has an incredible outlook.
13:27This beats it, I think, so that's fantastic.
13:31Outside takes a little bit more imagination, a little bit more thinking,
13:36but at the price, we could spend quite a lot of money
13:40and potentially make things work, so it's a definite possible, I think.
13:55We know our couple love to travel,
13:58and along the way they've been known to enjoy a festival or two,
14:02pitching up in their motorhome, Dave.
14:04So we're better for them to get a sense of life in this part of the world
14:08than the place known locally as the festival capital of the Forest of Dean.
14:15That flower display.
14:17Very pretty, very pretty.
14:19Around four miles from the River Wye,
14:22the Gloucestershire town of Colford hosts yearly events
14:26featuring everything from food to music and even busking festivals.
14:30The historic Grade II listed clock tower marks the centre of this market town,
14:35with the surrounding streets lined with a range of independent shops,
14:39cafes and restaurants.
14:43A local curry house, always useful to have.
14:46Indeed. And a micro-pub.
14:49That's all right for you.
14:51And an ideal place to escape the drizzle on a day like today
14:55is the town's deli, to sample a taste or two of the county's produce.
15:00They look good. I'll have to get some of them.
15:03Right, we'll take these then.
15:07A good network of roads allows for easy bus access
15:10to the nearby towns and cities, including Monmouth and Gloucester.
15:14Whilst we're still fairly close to big cities,
15:17we're 45 minutes away, it's just like its own little bubble.
15:21If it's a feeling of community Karen and Steve are looking for,
15:25there's no shortage of it here.
15:27I just think we're so lucky.
15:29We have two butchers, for example.
15:32We have two independent bakers.
15:34We have three florists.
15:36We have amazing gift shops,
15:38lovely places to eat and drink, an award-winning micro-pub.
15:42So there really is something for everyone,
15:45and within all those businesses you'll be greeted with a positive smile
15:49and just a real sense of pride to be here in the town.
15:53As well as businesses, there are community groups
15:56providing initiatives for the locals to get involved in,
15:59and I think Karen and Steve will be particularly interested
16:02in the work that Perry Harnaby is doing here in Colford.
16:06So Perry, tell us about Colford Grows.
16:09It's like a community group with the aim of bringing people together
16:14through growing plants, growing food, flowers,
16:18and it's a group that recognises that a lot of people
16:21simply don't have the space to do so.
16:23We're hoping it's going to be able to fill a gap
16:25in terms of getting people into growing their own fruit and veg and flowers,
16:29but also to bring the community together in a centralised space as well.
16:33That's lovely.
16:34Well, my lockdown project was to build five raised beds,
16:38so if we end up close to here, I'll come and help you do them.
16:41We need all the help that we can get, yeah.
16:45Well, we'd better get back to the property search then,
16:48and hopefully our next house will lead them one step closer
16:51to a life near here.
17:00Our second option is to the west of the Wye Valley
17:03in the Herefordshire village of Llangaron.
17:06It might be a small and rural place, but it has an active community
17:10with regular events held in the village hall,
17:13as well as a contemporary community centre within its 14th-century church,
17:17and it's well connected to the larger hubs of Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye.
17:24So, number two.
17:26Yes, wow.
17:27Hidden amongst this complex of buildings.
17:29Yeah, I'm fascinated to see what we're going to see.
17:32So, from here, I think you get a really good idea...
17:35Yes.
17:36..of all that this one might offer you.
17:38Yes, that's quite something, isn't it?
17:40It's really lovely. That's lovely.
17:42Somewhere to fire your arrows out of.
17:44Yes.
17:45If you ever need to. No, that looks lovely.
17:47It's a very impressive entrance.
17:49I like it, and the sense of space.
17:51Well, that, I imagine, is what you are craving.
17:54Yes. I mean, love, Dave, as you do.
17:56Come and have a look inside. OK.
17:58Fantastic.
17:59Dating back to the late 1800s,
18:02this former barn was converted to a residential home in 2011,
18:07but it could have had a very different transformation.
18:10As the owner tells me, it was once eyed up
18:13by Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant as a potential recording studio.
18:19So, here we go, then. The exact opposite...
18:22Gosh, yes. ..to the camper van.
18:24Very much so. That's a lot of space.
18:26Wow. Come on in.
18:28Wow. Would it work, practically?
18:30Erm, possibly.
18:32Yeah. We need to see... We need to see more.
18:35But, again, it's so lovely and light in here, isn't there?
18:38Well, that is... Yeah, that is true.
18:40So, that's really lovely. And warm.
18:42Underfloor heating in here. Oh, lovely.
18:44We like underfloor heating. It's all built to modern regs,
18:47so it's lined and insulated. Yeah.
18:49It feels much more modern than the one this morning.
18:52But it has its cosy element, too. Come and have a look.
18:55Little dining area in here. Yeah.
18:57And then this is the kitchen,
18:59and if there were a compromise to be made on this one,
19:02I suspect this is probably it,
19:04because it's not the great big open-plan kitchen, darling,
19:07you might have perhaps expected. No.
19:09But, no, I mean, it's a reasonable size.
19:11It's not a small kitchen, is it?
19:13Well, and you would know what that is.
19:15Yeah, absolutely. It's got four burners.
19:17Yeah, we can pass for each other.
19:19I've always thought of barn conversions as too big.
19:22You rattle around in them, but spaces like this are nice.
19:27There's a lot to take in with this property.
19:30Across the living room sits a double bedroom used as a snug
19:33and a downstairs shower room.
19:36On the first floor, split across two wings
19:39to either side of the impressive vaulted ceiling,
19:42there are two more double bedrooms up one staircase.
19:45Then a family bathroom and the largest double bedroom
19:49up a second set of stairs.
19:52This is the master bedroom.
19:54It's big enough, isn't it? Yeah, absolutely.
19:56It doesn't need to be huge. No, the bed will fit in here.
19:59Yeah. It's all really lovely, isn't it?
20:01It's a good-sized room again.
20:03This could work as an office with a sofa bedding, couldn't it?
20:06It's a very different layout, isn't it?
20:08Well, the idea of having two staircases is just mad.
20:12It is, yes.
20:13If you had grandkids or something,
20:15you'd have them at one end of the house
20:17and you could hide away at the other.
20:19Well, that's true.
20:21With these kind of buildings, one of the problems can be
20:24that what you gain with one hand, you take away with the other.
20:27Big living space, yes, very impressive vaulted ceiling,
20:30but in terms of bedroom sizes, maybe they're a bit disappointing.
20:34We'll have to wait and see and find out.
20:36But all in all, it's a really good proposition.
20:40Oh, cosy snug.
20:42Oh, no, that is nice. Yeah.
20:44Retire in here in the evening. Come and retreat in winter.
20:47And that's under the barn roof, the window.
20:50Yes, I mean, it's a little dark, obviously, but...
20:53But it's an evening room, isn't it, I think? Yes. Yeah, yeah.
20:57Outside, a large lawn garden lies to the front,
21:01with views across neighbouring fields
21:03and a shared graveled area to the rear.
21:06There's also a private brick storage barn
21:08that used to house the farm animals,
21:10but I'm pretty sure of something else
21:12culinary Karen will have in mind for it.
21:17Oh, somewhere to keep all your bikes and everything.
21:20Yeah, that's true.
21:22Or you could turn this into an outside kitchen again.
21:25That's interesting. Yeah.
21:29Oh! This amazing spring weather.
21:32It's beautiful, isn't it? Absolutely.
21:34What do you think of upstairs, then?
21:36It's interesting. You know, the separation is something to think about.
21:40And I don't know, they were a little bit dark.
21:43In terms of the outdoor space,
21:45if I came back here in a year or two's time,
21:48and you'd moved in, what would I see here?
21:50Well, there'd certainly be areas for vegetables being grown,
21:55so there'd be a lot of colour in this garden.
21:58So let's have a think, then,
22:00about how much this one might be on the market for.
22:03I'm going to say £550,000. OK, Karen?
22:06I'm going to say £525,000.
22:09When this went on the market back in June of 2022,
22:13it started at £675,000. Wow.
22:17It's now reduced to the round figure of £600,000.
22:21Right. OK. OK.
22:23So it's still doable. It's still doable, yeah.
22:26Is it resonating? Do you need to have another look?
22:31Do you want to have another look?
22:33Well, if you don't, it's not worth it.
22:35I get the feeling you've probably seen enough.
22:38I think, for me, that the kitchen is nice,
22:41but there's a very small area for a table,
22:44and I just don't think that it possibly would work for us.
22:51I don't know. Possibly not.
22:53Well, that's fair enough.
22:55It might not be the one for Steve and Karen,
22:58but this great 19th-century detached barn conversion
23:02is £50,000 under budget
23:04and comes with a huge open-plan living space.
23:07Four bedrooms, a large garden with lots of scope for outdoor living,
23:12plus sufficient parking for Dave.
23:17So, we should probably call it a day.
23:19Sounds good. Maybe go and find a cup of tea?
23:22That definitely sounds good.
23:24Got any ideas where we might go?
23:26I know a nice camper van.
23:28Come on, then, let's go.
23:34So, at last... Yes.
23:36..I get to meet the other man in your life.
23:38Yes.
23:39Welcome to the only home we have in the UK.
23:43Well, Dave, you've done them proud. Well done, mate.
23:46This is genuinely so cosy.
23:48I mean, I can imagine it on a lovely summer's day,
23:50but I can also imagine you parked up somewhere in the Lake District
23:54with the wind and the rain.
23:56In Scotland, we had quite a few nights
23:58where we just rocked gently all night
24:00because it was gale-force winds outside.
24:02I mean, we talked about this kind of urge
24:05to now get on and make a new home for yourselves.
24:08What I love about both of you is that you're not rushing it.
24:12You're going to savour the making of a new home, aren't you?
24:15Yeah. It's got to be the right place.
24:17There's no point in it not being the right place.
24:19Yeah, and if we have to live in a few more apartments,
24:24spend some more time in the camper van before we get there,
24:27that's just another adventure to us, so that's fine.
24:31And that's what you two are, isn't it?
24:33You are a pair of adventurers.
24:36That's one word for it.
24:38Our journey's not over yet, but you will be keeping Dave.
24:41Oh, definitely. Definitely. He comes where we go.
24:44He's part of the family.
24:46Well, here we are. Here's to Dave, then.
24:48Cheers.
24:59Well, it is the start of our final day of house hunting
25:01here in the Wye Valley with Karen and with Steve.
25:04It's still a bit blustery, still a bit rainy,
25:06but we have got plenty on.
25:08We've got two more properties to come today.
25:10We will finish, of course, with our mystery house,
25:12but first we are heading to the forest, the Forest of Deed,
25:16a dark and mysterious place in the eyes and ears of many people around here.
25:20However, it is full of beautiful property as well.
25:23So, let's see if they're ready to go.
25:27I hope they're dressed.
25:29Morning.
25:30Good. You are dressed.
25:32Yeah, we're all ready and raring to go.
25:34Good morning. Morning, mate. How are you?
25:36Yeah, very good. Thank you.
25:37All set for more fun?
25:38Definitely.
25:39Come on forward to it.
25:40Let's go spend some money.
25:43Heading out of Herefordshire and into Gloucestershire,
25:46our first property of the day is in Viney Hill.
25:50It's a peaceful hillside village,
25:52but there's no shortage of places to eat and drink.
25:56With its own pub, plus another three in the nearby village of Blakeney,
26:00Steve and Karen will have plenty of opportunity
26:02to get to know the locals here in the Forest of Deed.
26:09So, we've come through the forest,
26:11almost to the banks of the River Severn,
26:13on the other side, to offer you this.
26:16Oh, it's really pretty, actually.
26:18Yeah, that's a lovely-looking cottage.
26:20We're not sure exactly when it was built.
26:22I'm going to say probably late 19th century,
26:24something like that, I would have thought.
26:26Probably farm workers' cottages.
26:28But it is afforded with amazing views over the Severn behind,
26:32and an enormous garden.
26:35And as you can see, we've got more community around you here.
26:38It's still got the space.
26:39It's still got that feeling of being separate.
26:42But, yeah, having people around, that's good.
26:45And it's quiet.
26:46It is so quiet.
26:47All we can hear is the birds again.
26:49Right, well, let's go in and see what you think.
26:51Fantastic.
26:54A promising start,
26:56and personally, I think this detached cottage
26:58will not disappoint once they cross its threshold.
27:04Oh, wow, yeah.
27:06Gosh, lovely.
27:07I love this coloured kitchen.
27:09Yeah? Yeah, yeah.
27:10That's really nice.
27:11Very nice.
27:12And you've got all this as well,
27:14which has been knocked through, obviously,
27:16to give you living space straight off the kitchen.
27:18Wow.
27:19That's a good start.
27:20It is.
27:21Lots of wows.
27:22I know, I like it, that's why.
27:24I'm going to just keep saying wow, I think.
27:26Excellent.
27:27Excellent.
27:28Well, I mean, it's certainly a step up from what Dave offers you.
27:31And there's some big furniture in here,
27:32but it's not lost either, which is nice.
27:34Come and have a look.
27:35And again, you've got the connection this time.
27:37In the summer, with this open and everything else,
27:40that would be lovely.
27:41He's selling it to himself.
27:44Well, right, come on.
27:45Let's see some more.
27:46Yeah.
27:48Now, this currently has got set up as dining space.
27:51Right, yeah.
27:52I love the stone.
27:53It's a little dark in here, but then it's lower ceilings,
27:56but I don't know if that really matters.
27:58It is complemented with the snug next door,
28:01which has a wood burner in it already,
28:03albeit covered in boxes.
28:05Quite flexible as well, then.
28:07Yeah, I have no idea what we'd do with it,
28:09but there's plenty of rooms, that's the key.
28:12Yeah, exactly.
28:13Yeah.
28:14Nice problem to have.
28:15Yeah, absolutely.
28:16Yeah, definitely.
28:17Yeah.
28:19Back to just one staircase this time,
28:21and at the top,
28:22a large landing leads to the bedrooms
28:24as well as a generous family shower room.
28:27Oh, blimey.
28:29More rooms in rooms.
28:30Oh, halls in halls as well.
28:32Yes.
28:33Yeah.
28:34It's very light.
28:35Oh, and it just keeps coming.
28:37OK, and then there's an ensuite through here.
28:40The room looks quite sterile at the minute
28:42because it's all white.
28:43Yeah.
28:44With colour, it'd be quite a warm room, I think.
28:47It would.
28:49Across the landing,
28:50there's a cosy room with space for a double bed
28:53and the largest of the three bedrooms.
28:56Oh, gosh, this is a big room.
28:58Oh, yeah, that's lovely.
28:59Yeah, it's nice.
29:00Oh, and it's got the views.
29:01Oh, yeah, no, that is a really nice bedroom.
29:03Yeah.
29:04So the other one could be a spare bedroom.
29:06Yeah, that would be the guest suite.
29:08Yeah.
29:09Indeed.
29:10Well, while they are exploring
29:12all that upstairs here has to offer,
29:14let me give you a sneak preview
29:17The garden here would provide them.
29:19It is absolutely enormous,
29:21certainly the biggest we've shown them this week
29:24and definitely the most practical.
29:27It's already beautifully laid out
29:29and at the end of it are views over the Severn.
29:32You don't get those very often.
29:38Oh, now this has got lots of space, hasn't it?
29:40Yeah, look at this.
29:41Wow, there is so much scope out here, isn't there?
29:43Oh, my goodness me.
29:44You could have a lot of fun.
29:46Yes, I do.
29:47A fire pit, I can put my freaky pot.
29:49Yes, a fire pit.
29:51That's fantastic.
29:53And then right at the end is this, Steve,
29:56which I think is really interesting.
29:58It's actually twice as deep as you can see from here.
30:00Oh, wow.
30:01Oh, okay.
30:02And then next door we've got this little raised platform decked area
30:04from which you can look out and see the Severn.
30:06Oh, yeah, I can see it in the distance through the back.
30:09That's amazing.
30:10So let's have a think about
30:12what this lot might be on the market for, shall we?
30:14I'm going to go for £625,000.
30:17Okay.
30:18I'm going to be optimistic.
30:20I'm going to say 580.
30:24£495,000 is what this would cost you.
30:29No.
30:30With all this space.
30:31I'm thinking you probably want to have another wander around this one.
30:34I think so, yes, yes.
30:35Go on then.
30:37Off you go.
30:38Yeah.
30:40It's clear that this one has got them really quite excited
30:43as it has a lot to recommend it.
30:45For £495,000, this is a lovely detached cottage
30:50with a country kitchen perfect for Karen,
30:52three double bedrooms and a beautifully landscaped garden,
30:56all within a peaceful countryside setting
30:58with far-reaching views across the River Severn.
31:05I think I can see us in the house, in the space,
31:08see Karen in the kitchen and spending the evenings in here,
31:12spending the days outside.
31:14I think it's, yeah, it's a space that would work for us.
31:18Oh, well, I'm a bit blown away, to be honest with you.
31:22This house makes me feel like it could quite easily be our home.
31:27For anyone considering a new life in this part of the world,
31:31you might want to take note of the following information
31:34before you get going.
31:37Although the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean
31:39are intertwined geographically,
31:41property prices can seem miles apart.
31:45The average price of a detached house in Herefordshire
31:48is around £36,000.
31:51However, property in the Wye Valley area
31:54of outstanding natural beauty will come at a premium.
31:58But head a short drive towards the Forest of Dean, though,
32:01and you could find similar-sized property for up to £30,000 less.
32:07So the local market's good, it's still buoyant,
32:09we're still seeing high levels of bio-activity,
32:11definitely edging towards a bit of a greener,
32:13a bit of a greener, a bit of a greener,
32:15a bit of a greener, a bit of a greener,
32:17a bit of a greener, a bit of a greener,
32:19definitely towards a buyers' market.
32:21I think there is a lot more properties on the market,
32:23perhaps, than there was before.
32:26Now might be the perfect time to make that move, then,
32:29so here's a peek at what else is currently on offer.
32:33For £279,000, how about this charming,
32:37two-bedroom rural cottage?
32:40It has a cosy living room with character features
32:42and a lovely country kitchen.
32:46Or if it's modern living you're in search of,
32:48search of, there's this four bedroom barn conversion complete with a sleek kitchen
32:53and an open plan living area which perfectly complement its vast interior.
32:58Outside space includes a neat lawn garden and patio area where you can take
33:03in the local countryside, all for £795,000.
33:11And if you're looking for a place to stay while you explore the Wye Valley
33:15and Forest of Deane, this lovely converted cowshed is within easy reach
33:19of both. Book for three or seven nights with prices starting at £400.
33:32We're back in Herefordshire for our mystery house which is situated just
33:36outside Ross-on-Wye where I'm leaving Karen and Steve to take a good look
33:41around. It offers all the vibrancy of a well-stocked market town but is wrapped
33:46by captivating rural scenery. So they'd have everything they need within a short
33:52drive while still getting that quiet country living they're searching for.
33:57So this is it but I'm not gonna let you in the door just yet.
34:04The house I hope will speak for itself but it's what's out here that I think is
34:09really gonna work for Steve and for Karen. This is the biggest plot we've
34:13shown them so far. It has developed veg areas, amazing views, genuinely immersed
34:19in this landscape and I certainly get the feeling after everything I've
34:23learned over the last few days that the outdoor space is now as important as
34:27what they're gonna find indoors. So hopefully our mystery house will work.
34:35Wow. Here we go. Okay. At long last the wait is over. Yeah. Isn't it lovely? It's fantastic and it's so
34:48peaceful. Yeah. But this is what we are brokering to you as our, I would say it's
34:53not really mystery house as much as mystery garden. Oh okay. Because you've
34:58got three quarters of an acre with this one. Oh okay. A garden which I think you
35:02are gonna particularly love. Oh great. Come on let's do it. Situated in an area known locally as the dam,
35:11this delightful detached house delivers heaps of character from the minute you
35:15step inside. Well let's start in here. Gosh yes. That's an interesting space. It is an interesting space.
35:24Interesting good? Interesting not so sure? It just feels a little squashy but that
35:29doesn't necessarily mean a problem. Squashy Karen? Yeah. That's the word. It is now. Well let's get unsquashed and get in here.
35:40Because this might help to make sense of it because it all does sort of
35:44interconnect through. Okay yeah this is. That's a bigger room. A bigger room, more space.
35:49Yeah. I'm thinking just the two of you. For the two of us it would be fine.
35:53Definitely. It's just visitors and can you accommodate that? But I think you
35:59could. We are next to the kitchen here. Come and have a look. Only put in about four years
36:03ago. Right. Probably a bit more Dave sized. Yes it's very nice but it is very small.
36:10Yeah. But you've also got a nice utility room through there. Right. I think
36:14interestingly the first house and the third house looked really small and then
36:19you go inside and they felt quite big and this one to me looked bigger and
36:24then you come inside and it feels quite small. The upside with small things
36:28Dave is it means there's less to look after. Well that is very true. Less to heat and less to clean.
36:32I say that about Karen. On that note I'm gonna let you both run upstairs.
36:39Lovely. Go and have a look and I'll meet you at the garden. Okay. Well it is often
36:43said that you know good things come in small packages. This may just be that.
36:47However the real bonus with this one isn't necessarily what's inside it's
36:52what's outside and hopefully that will swing it.
36:56Oh this. Wow. That's a huge room. Oh yes. Yes that is a surprise. There's an
37:03ensuite shower room. Oh yeah. Yeah and look at the views. Two aspects. Yeah.
37:08Wonderful view. Yeah very much so. Yeah it's beautiful out there. Another two
37:14double bedrooms are found upstairs both with views across the garden and the
37:18countryside beyond. Back downstairs is a study that could also double as a
37:23bedroom. Gosh what a great study. Sofa bed as well. Yeah we might have to fight
37:32about who gets the study upstairs and the study downstairs. I think this is
37:36probably mine. No this is mine. And the views outside. Well that's what I was looking.
37:43There's the mystery right there. Oh look this lovely pond. One of a number of
37:50other water features that are here. Oh yeah. Okay. But the key thing is what's
37:54down here. Come and have a look at this. You've also got a nice mature vegetable
37:57area through there. Yeah. Oh that looks enticing. Amazing rhubarbs. Here we are.
38:04You see how it all kind of opens up. Wow. And it goes on. Wow it does go on. Oh gosh.
38:10So yeah three-quarters of an acre. I can feel a set on mower coming on. Well it's
38:15funny you say that because the owner's prepared to chuck his mower in with to
38:19whoever buys it. Oh well there you go. Oh that's a bonus. Definitely a bargain. So shall we have a think about how much this one might be worth. Well I'm gonna go
38:28five hundred and fifty thousand pounds. Okay. I think five eighty with the land. It
38:34is on the market at five hundred and ninety-five thousand pounds. So fifty
38:39thousand under budget. Yeah. Yeah. I've got a warm feeling about it. What do we
38:44think then? Is this a real contender? Yes. Oh it is now. Around fifty thousand pounds under budget
38:52this well-presented detached house offers living space with lots of
38:57potential plus three bedrooms. But let's face it it's all about the garden here
39:02for these two. At around three-quarters of an acre it presents pockets of
39:06possibilities throughout. Surrounded by calming country quietude.
39:13There's a lot of things to do but you know in the meantime it's pretty
39:19wonderful as it is. Yeah in the meantime you don't actually have to do anything.
39:22If we could enjoy it. We could. Yes. I've got ideas in my head as to what what I
39:31can do and produce in the garden and then what I can do with that and then
39:36how I can share that with with other people. Kind of that whole thing where
39:41you you're connecting with what you're growing and then you're putting your
39:45energy into that and then you're sorry I'm gonna cry. But yeah that idea.
39:54Well this week we've given Steve and Karen I think four really interesting
40:04options to choose from and normally at this stage in the process as our house
40:08tours have come to an end I've got a pretty good idea as to which property
40:12buyers might actually pick. But on this occasion if I'm absolutely honest I
40:16don't think I actually know. Well of course there is only one way to find out
40:21and that is to ask them.
40:27Goodness me guys. Now this is unusual for me but I am struggling to figure out
40:32what you are going to do next. I think we can forgive you for being confused as
40:38to how we feel because I think we are as well. For me personally the obviously the
40:44garden at the Mystery House was just wonderful and I could see us in it. For
40:49me the house is a bit difficult to get my head around and I just didn't
40:54really feel it that much. As opposed to house number three which I really loved
41:00and I would happily live there. So I need you know move the house that would be
41:08fine. That's an expensive project. If only it were that easy. I think the fourth
41:16house for me was the one of the four. The third house had a wonderful garden as
41:22well. I wasn't quite as taken with the house as Karen but I certainly could see
41:28it working. The Mystery House it may well be the place. I still don't know. I think
41:35we need 24 hours to digest and decide whether we want to take that one forward.
41:40I think you need to take Dave to the top of a hill. Watch the sunset. Yeah. Think
41:45about the things that really mattered and really worked and really made your
41:49heart jump. And then yeah just let the dust settle a bit and make a sensible
41:54decision. Yeah. And if you keep looking I wish you all the best of luck. Thank you.
41:59Thank you very much. Just let us know where you go. Yes we will.
42:06Well the mighty River Wye here has been a constant companion throughout our
42:10house search this week with Steve and Karen. And much like the river I suppose
42:15their search is just going to keep rolling along for some time to come. But
42:20hopefully soon they will eventually settle down. And that means that Dave,
42:25their beloved camper van, can have some much-needed rest. But I'm afraid to say
42:30he's not going to get it just yet. I'll see you next time.
42:35Well I wasn't wrong. Whilst I am pleased to say Karen and Steve did go back to
42:41the mystery house, sadly they decided it wasn't going to work for them. So our old
42:47school adventurers hopped back aboard Dave and visited properties in Somerset,
42:51Dorset and finally Devon where they've had an offer on a house accepted. I wish
42:58them all the very best of luck. If you would like to escape to the country in
43:03England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland and need our help why not apply
43:07online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.
43:33you