A couple hope their £400,000 budget will buy them a slice of rural bliss in Moray in Scotland, where Jules Hudson is eager to show them the very best property on offer. Jules also chats to some of the residents of an award-winning village recognised as a world leader for sustainable and holistic community living.
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00:00Our escapees have very different ideas of what their new country life might look like.
00:07We've got you seven acres.
00:09Wow!
00:11And how much it might cost.
00:13She is being a bit too optimistic, just to give you a clue.
00:16Okay, go ahead.
00:17But escape with us and we'll do our best to challenge your vision.
00:22We thought that we hated you, but no, we love you.
00:24And deliver the dream home you never knew you wanted.
00:31Oh, Jules, you've floored us with this one.
00:33Isn't this stunning?
00:54Scotland is blessed with some 30,000 lochs, an estimated 2,000 castles,
01:09more than 90 inhabited islands and over 10,000 miles of coastline,
01:17including this stretch in Moray, voted as some of the most beautiful and unspoiled coast in the world.
01:24Now it's going to come as no great surprise to learn that Moray has some fabulous inland landscapes,
01:29but it's also lucky enough to have some 35 miles of coastline that it can call its own too.
01:35Popular, no surprise, with tourists and locals alike,
01:39but at this time of year it's also temporarily home to thousands of both harbour and grey seals.
01:46Swimming on their backs, chilling it out.
01:48There could not be a better scene setter for any escape to the country.
01:58You'll find Moray in North East Scotland,
02:00sandwiched between the council areas of Highland to the west and Aberdeenshire to the east.
02:06I moved to Moray about 20 years ago, straight from university.
02:11I only intended to move here for a year and really got the bug for everything that Moray has to offer.
02:17It's quite a special place, nothing's that far away, it's not a huge county,
02:22so nothing's that far away but you've got beaches, you've got mountains, you've got forests.
02:26It's really, it's quite a special area.
02:31The beautiful coastal reserve of Spey Bay has the largest shingle beach in Scotland
02:36and the 50-mile Moray Coast Trail, one of the country's most scenic long-distance walking routes,
02:42passes through traditional harbour towns.
02:45One such place is Cullen, with its fishermen's cottages, Bonny Beach and the much-photographed viaduct.
02:52Now a walking trail, it leads to another of Moray's standout landmarks, Bowfiddle Rock.
02:59One of the great joys, of course, of working on Escape to the Country
03:02isn't just having the chance to enjoy some of the UK's more exotic species,
03:07it's also helping people make life-changing moves for their futures, transforming lives.
03:13And it always starts in the same way, with a phone call from the Escape to the Country hotline.
03:19And that's a call that today's buyers were delighted to receive.
03:24Come on. Come on, girls. Good girls. Come on.
03:29Meet Maria, a higher education consultant originally from Venezuela,
03:33and Danielle, a recently retired police sergeant born and bred in Lancashire.
03:38They share their two-bed terrace, a couple of miles from the Lancashire town of Garstang,
03:43with dog Tilly, who is also a former police officer.
03:47They share their two-bed terrace, a couple of miles from the Lancashire town of Garstang,
03:51with dog Tilly, their two cats, Leo and Millie, and 26 chickens.
03:57This is Lisa, this is Lucy, White Rose, Bluebell, the grey chicken, and Henry.
04:04Avid nature and wildlife enthusiasts, the couple want to escape the hubbub of busy village life
04:10for somewhere they can pursue their passions.
04:13So these are just a few of some of the wildlife photographs I've taken this year.
04:21And they crave somewhere far more remote, secluded and surrounded by nature.
04:27I'm looking forward to living in a place that has plenty of space,
04:31safe space for our pets, in which we can roam around and enjoy everyday life as it comes.
04:40I think really it's just spending more quality time together, isn't it?
04:43That we're looking forward to in a really beautiful place.
04:49Maria and Danielle are after a detached property with an open plan layout,
04:53three bedrooms and at least half an acre of land.
04:57They also want their new home to be as energy efficient as possible,
05:01or have the potential to become so, and they have a budget of £400,000.
05:10I'm really intrigued about Maria and Danielle's move this week.
05:14They've been well supported in their life in Lancashire,
05:16with access to convenience stores, supermarkets, doctors on tap, all that sort of stuff.
05:22Life up here is not that easy, but what it gives you in return, of course,
05:27is a genuine sense of splendid isolation.
05:30And clearly, that's what they're looking for.
05:33But before we head off to our first property, I'm meeting Maria and Danielle at Cullen Beach.
05:39Wow, look at this, for a bracing start to your escape to the country, guys.
05:44Beautiful.
05:45Hear that?
05:46Yeah, absolutely stunning.
05:47Gorgeous.
05:48Beautiful.
05:49Beautiful.
05:50Beautiful.
05:51Beautiful.
05:52Beautiful.
05:53Beautiful.
05:54Beautiful.
05:55Beautiful.
05:56Beautiful.
05:57Beautiful.
05:58That's what you're after, is it?
05:59The sound of nature?
06:00Absolutely.
06:01Yes.
06:02And I know you both have a real interest in wildlife and the great outdoors.
06:05Absolutely.
06:06But let's just talk, if we can, about the creatures that are coming with you,
06:09because you've got hens, dogs, cats.
06:12Yes.
06:13There's quite a lot of you to fit in, aren't there?
06:15And she wants more.
06:16She wants alpacas.
06:18She wants to see more.
06:19She wants to see more.
06:20She wants to see more.
06:21She wants to see more.
06:22She wants to see more.
06:23She wants to see more.
06:24She wants to see more.
06:25She wants to see more.
06:26She wants to see more.
06:27Alpaca, mini goats.
06:31She'd have more land.
06:33She'd have more.
06:34Yes.
06:35So we might be looking for a kind of mini zoo for you, Maria.
06:39If possible.
06:40Yes, please.
06:42Yes.
06:43Oh, gosh.
06:44Well, I am really looking forward to showing you around.
06:46It's a beautiful part of the world.
06:48Yes.
06:49Let's do it.
06:50Shall we?
06:51Absolutely.
06:52Come on, let's go.
06:57Our first stop is the hamlet of Clochan.
07:00It's four and a half miles from the small fishing town of Buckie
07:03that overlooks the Murray Firth.
07:06A hub for the surrounding villages, Buckie has a working harbour
07:09and is popular with families who seek out the stone-built
07:12Victorian properties that line the seafront.
07:16A 15-minute drive away, tucked along a single track
07:19in an elevated and secluded spot, sits our first property.
07:27Well, look at that view behind us.
07:29Stunning.
07:30Absolutely stunning.
07:31Well, what do we think of this, then?
07:33Oh, wow.
07:34OK.
07:35Isn't it a beautiful location?
07:36House in the forest.
07:37Yeah.
07:38It's gorgeous.
07:39It is.
07:40Single track.
07:41Yeah.
07:42That view from there.
07:43Yeah.
07:44Well, as you can probably tell, this is not that old.
07:45It's only about seven years old.
07:46But it has been built to make the best of its position.
07:49Yes.
07:50It's really a blank canvas, the garden and the area all around,
07:53which is great.
07:54Yeah.
07:56And it's just stunning.
07:58Take all the boxes.
07:59Well, so far it does.
08:01Let's see what you think of the inside.
08:02Come and have a look.
08:03Oh, yes.
08:05A modern take on the classic crofter's dwelling,
08:08the vendor built this kithouse back in 2015,
08:11and as you might expect, it's bursting with eco-credentials.
08:16It was constructed using structural insulated panels, or SIPs,
08:20a method that dramatically reduces heat loss
08:22by minimising air leakage and maximising insulation.
08:26An air source heat pump heats the house,
08:28resulting in significant reductions of carbon emissions
08:31and reduced energy bills,
08:33as outside air is used for all the building's heating and cooling needs.
08:42Right.
08:44Come on in.
08:45Wow.
08:47This may not be what you were expecting.
08:51Wow.
08:52Beautiful kitchen.
08:53Very nice.
08:54Look at the view from here.
08:55I love it.
08:56I love the open plan.
08:57I do.
08:58It's very light.
08:59And what about the kitchen space?
09:00Is that going to be enough?
09:01Well, I love it.
09:02That's my area.
09:05Also down here on the ground floor is the utility room,
09:09the family bathroom,
09:10and a double bedroom that could be used as an office,
09:13a guest room, or indeed both.
09:16And upstairs, there's more living accommodation.
09:21There.
09:23Oh, wow.
09:25Come on in.
09:26Oh, wow.
09:27Oh, I wasn't expecting this.
09:29No, I knew you weren't.
09:30Whoa.
09:31I think this would be you.
09:32Very cosy.
09:33And, yeah, we have a couple of the sofas.
09:36Yeah.
09:37It's beautiful.
09:38Plenty of room here.
09:39This is the real joy of this one.
09:41Because it's been designed and built so recently
09:43and they've gone for this upside-down arrangement
09:46to make the best of those views.
09:48You're literally looking out in every direction.
09:51You're looking at just nature.
09:53And there was in my bucket list
09:55every window I want to see nature and green.
09:58Yeah, exactly.
09:59You got it.
10:00There you go.
10:01Definitely.
10:02Yeah.
10:03It's beautiful.
10:04Gorgeous.
10:05Two further bedrooms lie up here.
10:07This one currently has two single beds
10:09but would happily house a double.
10:11And then there's this one.
10:14So this would, I think, be your bedroom.
10:17Oh, nice.
10:18Oh, wow.
10:19Good size.
10:20Absolutely.
10:21A kind of spot.
10:22En suite shower room there.
10:24Oh, lovely.
10:25Lovely walk-in wardrobe.
10:26Oh, that's my department.
10:29And more storage in here, actually.
10:31Oh, excellent, yeah.
10:32It's a good size.
10:33It is.
10:36So having seen everything that inside has to offer,
10:39I'm sending them off to explore outside on their own.
10:43The house sits on a plot of just under an acre
10:46with the forest edge forming part of the boundary.
10:49The grounds are mainly grassed
10:51with plenty of spots for keen fruit and veg grower Maria
10:54to plant up as well as space for some owl buildings.
10:59So you'd fence it off.
11:01Yeah.
11:02So it's safe for the hens.
11:03Yes.
11:04And you'd have two sheds.
11:07Yeah, permanent buildings.
11:09Yeah, permanent structures.
11:10One for them as the chicken coop,
11:12one for all the storage of all the stuff, the food, etc.
11:15Yes, yeah.
11:16You know, when we began this house search
11:18in this corner of Scotland,
11:19I was really hoping we would find properties like this.
11:22The kit house is becoming part and parcel
11:25of the architectural future of this area.
11:27And my goodness me, aren't they absolutely gorgeous?
11:31I get the sense that Maria and Danielle
11:34are as taken with this property as I am,
11:36but will they be quite so enamoured with the price?
11:41So let's have a think about how much this might cost you then,
11:44Danielle, what do you think?
11:46You can go first.
11:48£325,000.
11:51£325,000.
11:54Am I being a bit too optimistic?
11:58She is being a bit too optimistic.
12:00Just to give you a clue.
12:01OK, go ahead, go ahead.
12:03OK, I'm going to be hopeful and will say £345,000.
12:09£345,000.
12:12Yeah, OK.
12:13This is currently on the market, bearing in mind Scotland,
12:15as you know, slightly different terms and conditions.
12:17Yes.
12:18Offers over £350,000.
12:23OK, yes.
12:24Oh.
12:28This contemporary eco-kit house
12:30boasts an open-plan kitchen, dining, living room,
12:33a utility room, a bright lounge and three double bedrooms.
12:37Nestled in a secluded spot of just under an acre,
12:40it's on the market for offers over £350,000.
12:47I think this property is really a contender.
12:50I can see myself in the morning just getting up
12:52and just looking out at that beautiful, magnificent view,
12:56stretching myself and breathing fresh air,
12:59which is very much a dream, really.
13:02I'd be very impressed if he can top this.
13:07It's a stunning...
13:08It really is a stunning location and property.
13:11So, yeah, Jules has done very well for the first house.
13:17I think you'd be very happy staying here for a long time, wouldn't you?
13:20Oh, definitely, yes, yes. It's a dream home.
13:22However, there is more to see.
13:25Oh!
13:26Can we better it?
13:27Well...
13:28That's a challenge.
13:29It's going to be interesting.
13:38Many of the market towns we visit have interesting claims to fame,
13:41but Forays, just off the Moray coast
13:44and one of Scotland's oldest towns, really does take the biscuit.
13:49It was once the home of Sir Alexander Grant,
13:52the creator of none other than the crumbly digestive
13:55that we know and love today
13:58and that you may well even be enjoying right now.
14:02But there's a lot more to Forays than just tasty tea-time treats,
14:06as the town's baker will tell you.
14:09To be honest, I really love it.
14:11I think it's a great place to live.
14:13It's got a real community spirit about it.
14:15I feel it's not too big and it's not too small.
14:18The High Street's really lovely.
14:20What I like about it, there's not many national chains.
14:23They're all individual, privately-owned companies.
14:26Everybody's friendly on the High Street as well.
14:28I would recommend it to anyone.
14:30And with such high praise,
14:32we recommended the town for Danielle and Maria to spend an afternoon in.
14:36That's really pretty. Oh, wow.
14:38It reminds me a bit of Edinburgh.
14:40Unfortunately, it's raining, but local landlord Gordon Brailsford,
14:44owner of one of the many family-run businesses in the town,
14:47has taken pity on our pair and kindly invited them in for a hot drink,
14:51a chance to dry out and to fill them in on what the town has to offer.
14:58So what goes on in this town generally?
15:00What does the community get up to?
15:02Where do we start?
15:04We have the Finnhorn Bay Arts Festival,
15:07which celebrates all types of culture.
15:10We're known for hosting huge events in our local park.
15:14We did a thing called Piping Hot,
15:16which was the European Pipe Band Championships.
15:18Oh, fantastic. It was great.
15:20And what was good about that was it was community-led.
15:23We are lucky that we have a project called Transition Town.
15:28And it's like a community-based allotment.
15:30Oh, really? Oh, wow.
15:32So people are growing the things that they eat.
15:34There's a purpose-built complex with raised beds and gardens,
15:39so people are growing all their own fruits
15:41and experimenting with products that don't usually sell here,
15:45or grow here, rather. Oh, amazing.
15:47So, yeah, loads of things like that to get involved in.
15:50Fantastic. Oh, I'll be able to learn a lot.
15:52Absolutely. Absolutely.
15:55Community spirit is something this town holds in high regard.
16:00A band of committed volunteers
16:02maintains the colourful flowerbeds of Grant Park,
16:05which is also home to the 21-metre-high Nelson's Tower.
16:09Wow. That's where we're going.
16:11Oh, dear. Right to the top of that.
16:14And after climbing its 97 steps...
16:18Oh, dear me. Are we there yet?
16:21..visitors are rewarded with a 360-degree view
16:25across the Murray countryside.
16:28Oh, wow.
16:31Wow. Look at this.
16:33Beautiful.
16:35How beautiful is this view?
16:37Look at the view from over there all the way across.
16:39How beautiful is that? It's lovely, isn't it?
16:41It's just stunning.
16:43And by my reckoning, from here, you can see our next property.
16:48We're heading east now to the small village of Cornhill
16:51in neighbouring Aberdeenshire,
16:53where we've found another slice of Scottish solitude with this,
16:58our second kit house of the day.
17:02Clad with Siberian larch,
17:04this single-storey home also boasts 360-degree views
17:08of the surrounding countryside.
17:10And whilst it might look rather similar
17:12to the property we saw this morning,
17:14I can tell you that it's an entirely different proposition.
17:19So, what do we think of this one, then?
17:22Wow. Wow.
17:26In an amazing location, the house is really pretty.
17:30Yeah.
17:31There's a few things to really kind of consider with this one
17:34before we get inside.
17:35I think you'll love what you find within,
17:37but outside, we've got you seven acres.
17:40Wow!
17:43You make me make goats and my alpacas.
17:46You see?
17:48Wow.
17:49Yeah.
17:50But it also comes with a bit of a bonus as well.
17:53You may hear some barking in the distance.
17:55Over there, that white building, is a commercial kennel,
17:59which comes with the property.
18:01Now, you can take that business on if you want.
18:03It currently is good for £40,000 to £50,000 a year.
18:07Wow. That's lovely.
18:09Now, I know you've not been looking for an extra income,
18:12my goodness me.
18:13It's an option.
18:14If you're retiring and you are animal lovers,
18:17they've got clients that regularly use that
18:19and might miss it if it were no longer available.
18:22So, it's something to consider.
18:24Yeah, that's true.
18:25Even if you did it for two or three years.
18:27That's definitely something different to think about.
18:30Yes, definitely.
18:31Interesting.
18:32Let's see if the house is. Come on.
18:34Oh, yeah.
18:36Already, I can sense that this property is captivating.
18:40Built in 2012, it has an environmental impact rating of A,
18:45meaning it's amongst the most environmentally friendly homes
18:48with lower CO2 emissions.
18:52Here we are.
18:54Oh, lovely.
18:55Oh, wow.
18:57Well, we'll start with this.
18:59Oh, wow.
19:00Very nice. Very cosy.
19:02Really pretty.
19:03Lovely.
19:04Again, the dining room table.
19:06Beautiful.
19:07Beautiful.
19:08Look at the fire.
19:09Beautiful.
19:10Oh, my God.
19:11It's cosy.
19:12It's really farmhouse type.
19:13Very homely.
19:14Yeah.
19:15Different feel to the first one.
19:16Yes.
19:17More traditional.
19:18Yes.
19:19It just feels really warm.
19:20Cosy.
19:21This room in itself feels really cosy.
19:23And that cosy feeling continues next door in the living room.
19:27Lovely.
19:28Another fireplace in there.
19:30Another patio doors out onto the decking.
19:33How pretty is this?
19:34And the views.
19:35You don't need to...
19:36Looking out, again, something that you asked for.
19:38Yes.
19:39To be able to see nothing but...
19:40Nature.
19:41...out of every window.
19:42You're not seeing much more than nature here, are you?
19:44Yeah, it's beautiful.
19:45It's beautiful.
19:46Beautiful.
19:48I'm leaving Danielle and Maria to explore the rest of the house now.
19:52As well as a utility room with separate access to the outside,
19:56there's a family bathroom that serves the property's three bedrooms.
20:00The smallest is set up as an office.
20:03This one is used as a guest bedroom
20:05and the largest of the three has sliding doors out onto the terrace.
20:11Very pretty room.
20:12Very good size.
20:13Beautiful.
20:14And light.
20:15I'm very surprised with this.
20:18There's so much space.
20:19Yes.
20:22I am really pleased that this property seems to be working for those two
20:25because it does offer so much
20:27and much, much more than they were ever hoping for.
20:30But my goodness me, what a package it represents.
20:35One of the biggest draws for our nature-loving couple
20:37has got to be the seven and a half acres of land on offer here.
20:42All these areas where they're obviously keeping it really natural,
20:46you could definitely have beehives.
20:49I mean, can you imagine you putting your raised beds somewhere?
20:52Yes.
20:53I mean, you've got a choice as to where you'd put your raised beds.
20:55Yes.
20:56The owner tells me that deer, foxes and hares are all regular visitors,
21:01along with a family of badgers who enjoy frequent night-time soirees
21:05and are rather partial to peanut butter.
21:08Can you imagine if they've got deer?
21:10Yes.
21:11So they have to have fencing that tall.
21:12Yes.
21:13We don't mind a deer.
21:14Wow.
21:16There's no doubt about it.
21:18This house really delivers the nature-rich lifestyle
21:21Danielle and Maria are yearning for.
21:26A lot of land to be able to enjoy.
21:28Oh, dear, dear.
21:29What about it?
21:30It's amazing.
21:31Had a good look?
21:32Yes.
21:33So, Maria, should we get to that moment when we discuss the price?
21:38I'll be hopeful and I will say offers over £380,000.
21:45Offers over £380,000.
21:47Yes.
21:48Okay, yeah.
21:49Okay, I'm going to be a little bit higher, definitely higher than that.
21:52I definitely think it's going to be offers over £400,000.
21:58Okay.
21:59It's currently on the market for offers over £300,000.
22:04That's the good news.
22:06Oh, yes.
22:07And £90,000.
22:09Wow.
22:10Okay, okay.
22:11So you're in the right sort of territory.
22:13It is spending all of your money.
22:15Yes.
22:16But consider it against the fact that it comes potentially with
22:22an earning income of nearly £40,000 to £50,000.
22:29This secluded timber-clad bungalow boasts a kitchen diner,
22:33a cosy living room and three bedrooms.
22:36Sitting in the middle of seven and a half acres,
22:39with a viable kennel business on site,
22:41it's on the market for offers over £390,000.
22:48Well, no surprise with these two.
22:50What happens next is going to be a very animated conversation.
22:54Will it result in a sale?
22:56It could, and in my view, it should.
23:03Well, it's amazing, isn't it?
23:06It's got a huge amount of land, it's got a huge amount of potential.
23:10The house itself is really pretty.
23:12It's very cute.
23:13There's a task that's been set for us to consider the business side of it.
23:18Yes.
23:19The kennels.
23:20And it's just, we won't be able to rest now.
23:23We'll be working again in retirement.
23:27Yes, so we're loving it.
23:29It's scary, because it's another very strong contender.
23:33Well, if Maria and Danielle were to make this house their home,
23:37they'd find all their day-to-day needs catered for
23:40in the fishing town of Portsoy, a 15-minute drive away.
23:44And here, at the picturesque 17th century harbour,
23:47we found a spot to pause and reflect on our day.
23:55How are we feeling about the properties we've seen so far, though?
23:58Challenged.
24:00Challenged?
24:01Challenged with regard to decide which one is best, because both have,
24:05they both have so many boxes that it takes for us.
24:10Yeah.
24:11So, hmm, a lot of food for thought.
24:13Yeah.
24:14And, Danielle, I know that part of this move is all about
24:17getting you closer to wildlife.
24:20Your passion for capturing what's out there,
24:23you know, you're not going to be wanting here, are you?
24:26Spoilt. Absolutely going to be totally and utterly spoilt.
24:29I mean, even today, looking at the houses that we've seen,
24:33the wildlife that's been around, it's amazing.
24:36It's there.
24:37Yeah.
24:38So it'll be fantastic capturing it, yeah, absolutely.
24:40Shall we have a look at what's over the sea wall?
24:42Oh, yes, please.
24:43Oh, yes, please.
24:44Come on, then, let's see what we can find,
24:46because your camera's better than mine.
24:50Visitors to Portsoy may be lucky to catch a glimpse
24:53of one of the Moray Firth's most celebrated residents,
24:56the pods of bottlenose dolphins,
24:58which can be seen swimming and playing close to the shoreline.
25:02And whilst they aren't coming out to play for us today,
25:05we're not short on other wildlife.
25:08Yeah, yeah, yeah, is it? Is it a cormorant?
25:10Yes, it is.
25:11Is that a shag?
25:16Look at those two.
25:17We often talk about the call of the wild,
25:19indeed the call of the sea.
25:21Clearly, this coastline is also working its magic
25:25upon Danielle and Maria, and so it should.
25:28And it builds on everything that we have seen today.
25:31This bit of the country really does offer them everything they're after.
25:36And it's clear to me they already seem very much at home.
25:52Now, if you're seeking a new life in the Scottish countryside,
25:55you're not alone.
25:57Latest figures reveal that Scotland's population is shifting,
26:00with numbers in cities dwindling,
26:02whereas those in many rural areas are rising.
26:06And whilst the average price of a detached house in Scotland
26:09will set you back just under £345,000,
26:13that's still £110,000 under the UK average.
26:18Here in Moray, the pennies will stretch even further,
26:22with a detached house costing, on average, just over £219,000.
26:29You can certainly get quite a lot for your money,
26:32particularly if you're moving to the area
26:34from outwith city centres.
26:36And if you're moving to the north-east of Scotland
26:39from down in England, your money will certainly go much further.
26:43And I think, given the fact that we're such a nice rural area
26:46with good school systems and everything as well,
26:48I think a lot of people have realised
26:50that they don't need to stay in a city anymore
26:53and can move to rural towns
26:55and offer their children a better lifestyle,
26:58which has certainly helped our market greatly.
27:02So take a look at what's available to buy right now.
27:06This detached Scandinavian-style bungalow
27:09has an open-plan kitchen living room,
27:12two bedrooms and a shower room
27:14and is on the market for offers around £150,000.
27:20For those with bigger budgets,
27:22this substantial detached family home in the hamlet of Longmourne
27:26boasts a kitchen dining room, a light living room and four bedrooms.
27:31Offers over £700,000 could secure it as yours.
27:36Or how about a short break in one of these wigwam lodge pods,
27:40which can sleep up to four adults?
27:43With open-plan living, dining and sleeping quarters,
27:46separate shower rooms and wood-fired hot tubs as optional extras,
27:50prices start from £90 per night.
27:57Well, at the end of play yesterday,
27:59I was pretty certain that we had got both Danielle and Maria,
28:02two really good options for them to mile over,
28:04and they were, I can tell you, talking about them long into the night.
28:08But today, well, it is another day.
28:10It is mystery house time.
28:12What they are about to see, I can assure you, they will not be expecting.
28:17Will it throw a spanner in the works?
28:19I'm pretty certain that it will.
28:22We're making our way to the coastal town of Lossiemouth,
28:26often hailed as the jewel of the Murray Firth.
28:30The town's 7,000 or so residents are blessed with two sandy beaches,
28:35the three-mile-long West Beach and East Beach,
28:38easily accessed by a bridge from the Esplanade.
28:42A haven for swimmers, sandcastle builders and surfers.
28:46Yep, even in October.
28:49On the outskirts of Lossiemouth, a ten-minute drive from the sea,
28:52we're here to explore this utterly unique property,
28:56our mystery house.
29:00Well, while Maria and Danielle enjoy the delights of Lossiemouth,
29:03I'm going to give you a sneak preview of our mystery house.
29:06Now, no surprise, on Escape to the Country,
29:08when we select our mystery houses,
29:10we do like to take a little bit of creative licence.
29:12That is what we've done here, particularly when we know
29:15that the houses that have come before it have absolutely hit the mark.
29:19Now, you could be forgiven for thinking this was in Massachusetts,
29:22but wait till you see what's on offer inside.
29:31Now, ordinarily, I would take you into the living room,
29:35or maybe the kitchen, but on this occasion, we're going upstairs.
29:40And this is why.
29:43The view of the kitchen diner,
29:47one quite unlike many I've ever seen before.
29:53Maria and Danielle have been completely focused
29:56on a lifestyle surrounded by nature,
29:58but there's an opulence to this property
30:00which I think could make them rip up their wish list.
30:04Wow, good morning.
30:06Good morning. How are we?
30:08Very well, thank you.
30:10Let's see if I'm right.
30:12It's very different to everything we've shown you so far.
30:15Up front, this doesn't come with any acres.
30:18OK. You can see the immediate surroundings.
30:20This is what you get. Yes.
30:22But I can assure you, this is so unique,
30:25you will not have been expecting to see anything like this on your travels.
30:29OK. Beautiful. Wow.
30:31It looks... It's gorgeous, looks.
30:33Doesn't it?
30:34You cheat to go in.
30:36Yeah? Yes, definitely. Come on, then.
30:41Just like our two previous properties,
30:43this six-year-old home is also a kit house,
30:46but this one took three years to complete.
30:50Get ready.
30:53Due to the intricate detail and bespoke design inside.
30:58Wow. This is what greets you.
31:01Oh, wow.
31:03Oh, my goodness.
31:05Oh, my God, look at this.
31:07Let the opulence...
31:09Yes. ..surround you.
31:11It's stunning.
31:13Your entrance, as soon as you walk in, it's like, wow.
31:16Oh, my God.
31:18This isn't the best bit. Oh, what?
31:22There.
31:24Oh, my God.
31:27How do you do that to us?
31:29This is stunning. We were making the decision yesterday.
31:33Oh, Jules, you've floored us with this one.
31:36Isn't this stunning? Look at that.
31:38Well, over here, it's the island that dominates this side of the room.
31:42You've got a gorgeous utility room through there.
31:48It's stunning. It is stunning.
31:51Why the dream? I will never have thought...
31:53I mean, this room in itself is just beautiful.
32:00The owner of this property is an interior designer
32:03who's used the house as a showcase for his clients.
32:06Also down here on the ground floor
32:08is a luxury shower room for the use of two double bedrooms.
32:15Isn't this gorgeous? It's just beautiful. Beautiful.
32:18And the runner. Nice to see stairs with a runner on them.
32:21Yes, absolutely. Lovely. Beautiful.
32:23And then you've got this little indulgent study area overlooking...
32:27What? ..that.
32:29Oh, how pretty.
32:31What else can you ask for?
32:33Well, how about a five-star,
32:36truly sumptuous principal bedroom suite?
32:42Oh, wow! This is beautiful.
32:47And you've got two walk-in wardrobes.
32:51One that way, one through there.
32:53You are kidding. Oh, well, you'll be very happy.
32:56But you get one each.
32:58Oh, no, I'll have one and a half.
33:00Oh, wow!
33:02Oh, that's stunning.
33:04See, that is a very well-designed house.
33:07It is, isn't it? Can we have a look through?
33:09Please do. Have a look.
33:11Oh, my God, this is gorgeous.
33:13Oh, look at that. It's another spa.
33:15It is. It is a spa.
33:20I've rarely heard such reactions to any property,
33:23but the excitement here is palpable, and so it should be.
33:27They're right. It's absolutely gorgeous.
33:33This property has got us all quite giddy with excitement,
33:36but we're about to temper that as we head outside
33:39to get down to business.
33:43So let's have a think about how much this is going to cost you.
33:46I'm going to have to go close to the top of the budget
33:49and say offers over £395,000.
33:53Offers over £395,000.
33:55Offers over £395,000, yeah.
33:58Maria?
34:00380. Offers over 380.
34:02Offers over £380,000.
34:04You will be delighted to know, I am sure,
34:06this has just been slightly reduced.
34:09They're now looking for offers over...
34:12..£365,000.
34:15No way!
34:19No way! Oh, my God.
34:21Will you do that to us?
34:23Oh, I need to think about so many things.
34:26Go on, go and have another look around.
34:28Oh, my God.
34:30Indulge yourselves, and why not?
34:32Because this property, let's face it, is all about indulgence.
34:38This unique, bespoke-designed detached home
34:41has an elegant entrance hall,
34:43a spectacular kitchen-living-dining room,
34:46a galleried study area and three bedrooms,
34:49including a lavish suite.
34:51Sitting on a quarter-of-an-acre plot,
34:53a ten-minute drive from the coast,
34:55it's on the market for offers over £365,000.
35:04Yes, I think, with the exception of the land issue,
35:09it's been knocked out of the ballpark on this property.
35:13Oh, yes, definitely. It's just absolutely stunning.
35:16It's a very, very strong contender.
35:18Yes, so we will have a few sleepless nights.
35:39The village of Findhorn on the Murray coast
35:42is home to the park eco-village.
35:44Recognised by the United Nations, no less,
35:47as a world leader in best practice
35:50for holistic and sustainable living.
35:54I've come to meet a few of the 500 or so residents
35:57who call this pioneering global initiative home.
36:04A place of calm, isn't it, in amongst all the buildings?
36:07Yes, it is. It's like an oasis.
36:12The community has received global commendation
36:15for researching solutions in numerous fields,
36:18including food production, energy systems and the built environment.
36:25Do you think there are models here that we can take into the future?
36:29The future, for me personally,
36:31lies not so much in trying to copy what we have here,
36:35because this won't be possible to do everywhere.
36:38People are still going to live in cities
36:40and completely different lifestyles.
36:43I think that's really important that people don't think,
36:46oh, we all have to do this.
36:48We all have to step out of our normal lives,
36:50of our normal jobs, live in eco-villages.
36:52That's not the solution. That's not possible.
36:55Yes, we can aspire to have more eco-villages.
36:57I'm all for that.
36:59But, you know, everybody can contribute.
37:01And just choose a little step and do the little step.
37:04And if you keep doing that, that's a big change.
37:07And you will inspire people and people want to follow,
37:10and things change.
37:12And that gives me a lot of optimism for the future.
37:17To wander around the village
37:19is to walk through a potted history of sustainable housing styles.
37:24These have got the feel of post-war, pre-Fab Britain.
37:28Mm-hm. So these have been built, they are the first bungalows
37:32that have been built here in the 70s.
37:35Available to all, the housing stock is a mix
37:38of privately owned and social housing,
37:40with solar panels and wind turbines to generate electricity,
37:43organic gardens and an ingenious wastewater treatment system
37:47that was the first of its kind in Europe.
37:50I just saw a for sale sign on one back there.
37:52Yeah, if you're interested. Well, who wouldn't be?
37:55I think they're fabulous.
37:57There's an energy and passion here for real and lasting change,
38:01which often leads to some quite novel ideas.
38:04The range of architectural styles here is absolutely fascinating,
38:08but I'm going to meet a man who built his house out of whisky barrels.
38:13Yes, this cluster of circular homes were constructed using marrying vessels,
38:18enormous drums used to blend mature whiskies from a nearby cooperage.
38:25What a lovely thing to reuse,
38:27particularly, of course, in this part of the world.
38:30I gather you built this, what, 35, 40 years ago?
38:34And I can see around us other examples that have clearly followed suit,
38:38but you were setting a trend.
38:40That's the way it turned out. I didn't have that intention.
38:43And when you started this process, did you see yourself as a self-builder?
38:48I had helped out in the maintenance department here.
38:51So I had, you know, I had a general familiarity with tools,
38:56but I also had a joiner help me.
38:59And then I had lots of Fintorn Foundation guests help me as well.
39:03So you all learned together. We all learned together.
39:05But I guess that's at the heart of how this community began, this shared endeavour.
39:10Indeed, indeed. That is how this community functions.
39:13And what an inspiring community it is.
39:16This quiet part of North East Scotland,
39:19a leading international player in meeting the human and natural challenges
39:23that the world now faces.
39:26Well, what a week we have had.
39:28To say that these two are spoiled for choice is, frankly,
39:31a classic understatement.
39:33But choose, of course, they must at some point...
39:37Have they got there yet?
39:39I wonder.
39:43Well, this is a bracing spot, isn't it,
39:46for our final conversation of the week.
39:49Goodness me. Have you enjoyed it?
39:51It's been absolutely amazing.
39:53Thank you so much, Jules. Yes.
39:55And how confused are you, Maria?
39:57Very. I mean, we thought that we hated you,
40:01but no, we love you.
40:05I'll take that as a compliment.
40:07We thought house number two was going to be a contender.
40:10However, today's mystery house,
40:13we're going to have to find out who it is.
40:16Contender. However, today's mystery house...
40:19..has completely thrown a curveball, hasn't it?
40:22Definitely, yes. It is a dream home.
40:25We were blown away. We immediately feel at home.
40:28And every detail of the house fitted what we ever dream about
40:34having a house.
40:36So let's try and boil this down then,
40:38because I can see that you've yet to finally reach a conclusion.
40:42Property two gives you scope, gives you location,
40:45certainly gives you space, and it gives you income.
40:49The mystery house gives you a property with looks to die for,
40:53let's be honest. Yeah.
40:55But it doesn't give you that sense of splendid isolation. No.
40:59And when we first met, this was all about you coming out here
41:03to enjoy the natural world and... Yes.
41:07..photograph it and be immersed in this landscape. Yes.
41:10It is beautiful.
41:12It's not in a town or city, which is great.
41:15It's on a track, so it's fairly safe with the animals.
41:19But we still could have a few chickens.
41:21We could reduce our numbers. Yes.
41:23I can see that you are talking yourselves into our mystery house,
41:26and why wouldn't you? It is absolutely stunning.
41:29I'm not going to press you for a final conclusion at this point.
41:32I don't think it's fair, actually,
41:34but I am confident that you are going to be making the move here
41:38sometime very soon. Is that right?
41:40Oh, yeah, definitely.
41:42Well, I look forward to hearing the good news, I hope, soon,
41:45that you have finally made an offer
41:47and that this part of Scotland will be your new home.
41:50Yes, and you will be welcome to visit.
41:53That we will.
42:00Talking to Danielle and Maria just now,
42:03you might think we've ended on a somewhat inconclusive note,
42:07but it's not because they don't like what we've shown them.
42:10The trouble is, they are spoilt for choice,
42:12and in my experience, in many respects, that is a nice problem to have.
42:16But choose, of course, they must, and I am sure they will in due course.
42:21And fingers crossed, we'll be back here very soon
42:24to see how their new life in Scotland is treating them.
42:27I'll see you next time.
42:29Well, after some considerable thought, they ruled out both our houses,
42:33a case of too much land and not enough.
42:36But bolstered by what we showed them,
42:38they've had an offer accepted on a Lochside bungalow
42:41in Argyll and Bute, West Scotland,
42:43and we wish them all the best for their move.
42:48If you would also like to escape to the country in Scotland, England,
42:51Northern Ireland or Wales and need our help,
42:54why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash takepart?
43:06.