A pair of artists need Alistair Appleton's help to find an inspiring rural retreat in Somerset where they can further indulge their creativity.
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00:00If escapees could paint their dream country home, it might look a bit like this.
00:06Goodness me.
00:08Wow.
00:09This one really does take your breath away.
00:12With an outlook like this.
00:13That is such a great view.
00:15That's what they call a picture window.
00:18Beautifully framed, yes.
00:22And in surroundings like these.
00:25Gorgeous garden.
00:26Beautiful.
00:28Here on Escape, we do our very best to balance all those essential ingredients.
00:35People talk about people having a heart reaction when they walk into a house, and I've well
00:42and truly got that with this.
00:43Do you feel the same?
00:44I feel my heart is pumping.
00:45Somerset.
01:08It's got coastline, rolling green hills, and who can resist its famous cider?
01:14Not forgetting, of course, its internationally renowned dairy foods.
01:20There are plenty of reasons to move to this utterly beautiful county, un-bree-lievable
01:28countryside, lovely towns and villages, and ta-da!
01:32Of course, wonderful local produce like this cheese.
01:37What could be fetter?
01:40Somerset, dear viewer, is five cheesy puns.
01:45Pretty e-damn clever.
01:47Six!
01:48Six scooter ones.
01:51Seven.
01:53Lying in the West Country, there's a lot more to Somerset than its fantastic cheese.
01:59No fewer than five areas of outstanding natural beauty are enjoyed and admired by its million
02:05residents as well as visitors throughout the seasons.
02:10Somerset is such a great county to live in.
02:12I mean, it's the landscape to start off with.
02:14You've got the Quantocks, you've got the Mendips, the Poldons, you've got Exmoor, you've got
02:18the seaside, and you've got the levels as well.
02:21There's so much variety, so much richness, and we've been here for 25 years and we love
02:25it.
02:27But it's not all about what Mother Nature has provided.
02:31Visitors can lap up the county's rich culture, found in spots like Arty Bruton in the Somerset
02:36Hills, and medieval Dunster, with its many listed buildings, majestic castle, and annual
02:43music and arts festival.
02:45So whatever floats your boat, Somerset is an excellent choice for a country escape.
02:54Moving house, especially when you're moving to a new area, can be a little bit scary and
02:58requires really a leap of faith, but I don't think that's going to be a problem for our
03:03buyers today, because they made their own quite considerable leap of faith when they
03:08first met.
03:11Hi, we are Dan and Jo.
03:16We met just before Christmas in 2019, and of course by March 2020 we were thrown into
03:22a lockdown situation.
03:25And I moved in with Jo.
03:26Fortunately it paid off and we've been together ever since.
03:31I'm a painter.
03:32This is what I spend every day doing.
03:34Just finished this one, we're just heading off to France shortly.
03:37I love being close to the gardens as I paint birds, it's nice to see birds.
03:42And this is where Dan works.
03:45Welcome to my fairly small office, it's a repurposed bedroom.
03:49This is where I've been working as a graphic designer for the last three and a half years.
03:53I'm looking for a slightly bigger studio space where I can not only do this, but I can also
03:58reignite a previous career which was also working as an artist.
04:03After jumping into their relationship feet first, Jo and Dan are now looking to take
04:08another big step by buying a Somerset home together.
04:12It's really exciting, and I mean we haven't even bought a sofa together, it's all going
04:17to be new territory, so it's really exciting.
04:21Nervous laugh.
04:23It's really exciting.
04:25The five children they have between them are now grown up, and Jo's four-bedroom detached
04:30house is on the market.
04:33But the couple will be moving with their two dogs and need to accommodate Jo's youngest
04:36daughter when she's not at uni.
04:39We came to Somerset because we thought that it might be somewhere that would suit us,
04:42because it's got quite an artistic vibe, lots of artists and musicians, and we absolutely
04:47loved it.
04:48We fell in love with it.
04:49Just been really bowled over by Somerset.
04:50We went to Bath and I saw graffitied on the side of a wall by the canal the words Don't
04:55Die Wandering, and we kind of thought that was a bit of a sign, didn't we?
04:58That is.
04:59We don't want to die wandering.
05:00We want to do it.
05:01We're ready to start something together, a blank canvas.
05:07For a top budget of £900,000, Jo and Dan want a three-bedroom detached property with
05:12an open-plan kitchen-diner for keen cook Dan, and a studio space where each of them can
05:18potentially run workshops to generate an income.
05:21They'd like a decent garden and want to be located in or close to a community.
05:36Oh, Somerset is looking so gorgeous for Jo and Dan's hunt, and it's such a great county
05:44for creatives.
05:46Got Glastonbury Festival, of course, and then Froome, it's bursting with artists, so I think
05:52it's going to be a good fit for them both.
05:55It's also interesting that they moved in together so quickly and then lockdown sort of kept
06:00them together, but I guess that forges something really powerful, so I'm hoping that they have
06:06the same gumption and excitement when it comes to choosing a house.
06:14The couple will be pleased to know that the first house is waiting for us at the edge
06:17of the town of Froome, as requested.
06:21But before we head there, we're meeting to catch up and take in a Somerset view that
06:25wouldn't look out of place in an art gallery.
06:28Look at this.
06:30Oh, thanks for choosing Somerset, I love it here.
06:33The levels all laid out for your delectation.
06:36Absolutely stunning.
06:37It's quite breathtaking.
06:38Do you know this area well?
06:39Well, we don't know this area.
06:41We've been to Froome quite a few times, which is how we fell in love with Somerset.
06:47People always talk about looking for their tribe, and whenever we come here we just feel
06:52that we fit, and everyone we meet is a long-lost friend.
06:56It just feels right.
06:58And I'm also very impressed with you moving in so quickly.
07:00Well, we were thrown into a situation where we had to make a decision quickly, weren't
07:04we, with the lockdown, and we got on so well, we took a risk.
07:09So maybe reckless is the way we need to be.
07:12But this is the first time you've bought together?
07:14Yeah, we've been living in my house, and now we're ready to turn a page and start the new
07:22chapter together.
07:23Very exciting.
07:24So are you ready to see some property?
07:26Absolutely.
07:27Definitely.
07:28Follow me out.
07:29Froome has already won Joe and Dan over with its creative vibe, and they're not alone,
07:39as it's recently been voted the best place to live in Somerset.
07:44It's jam-packed with independent shops, and has fantastic street markets showcasing local
07:50delicacies and artisans' work.
07:53There are festivals year-round, with the arts celebrated over 10 days in July.
07:59The town's well-connected too, with direct trains to destinations including Bristol and
08:04London.
08:05Our first viewing is just a 20-minute walk from the action.
08:10So here we have our first offering, looking out over beautiful fields, and this rather
08:17splendid building.
08:19This is from the 1940s, and then the farmer who owned this sold off all the land around
08:25it.
08:26That is amazing.
08:27Very impressive.
08:28It's got a 30s vibe, which is a good decade, I always think, and that is also what I'm
08:32very interested in.
08:33The view.
08:34Because that is stunning.
08:35Yeah.
08:36Inside is, I think, really beautifully light and bright, so let's hop in there.
08:41Perfect.
08:42Framed by two cherry trees, this former farmhouse is based on the arts and crafts architectural
08:48style.
08:49I'm told that when it was constructed just after the Second World War, a German ex-prisoner
08:54of war, working on the farm at the time, helped to build it.
08:58Come on in.
08:59So into the hall, and then this beautiful, bright kitchen diner.
09:04Wow, that is fantastic.
09:07So much light.
09:09So much light.
09:10Mmm.
09:11Mmm.
09:12I love the fact, actually, that you can see through to the garden from outside.
09:15I feel we need to acknowledge the island.
09:16We do.
09:17You like an island?
09:18I think we like an island.
09:19Let's have an island.
09:20I can imagine you cooking here.
09:21Dan's a great cook.
09:22Oh, really?
09:23He's a great cook.
09:24So we, his kitchen.
09:25So on the other side of the hallway, there's a very nice sitting room, but in terms of
09:32your artwork, and your artwork to come, I think these rooms would be more interesting.
09:37Fantastic.
09:38Twenty-three years ago, the neighbouring garage and wood store were transformed to create
09:43this stunning garden room.
09:46Come on in.
09:48Aha!
09:49The long room.
09:51So I thought this would be a great studio.
09:53This is an art studio, isn't it?
09:54This is, yeah.
09:55I can already feel the battle as to who gets this one.
09:59Well, before you fight too much, on the other side is an unconverted double garage, big,
10:05big space, with a lot of storage behind this wall.
10:09This is great.
10:10I could see you in here.
10:11I could paint in here.
10:12Because we both work at home all day, every day, it's quite nice for us to have our own
10:16spaces.
10:18The ground floor also has an additional galley kitchen, leading to a utility, an ideal space
10:24for cleaning paintbrushes, perhaps.
10:27Well, downstairs seems to have captured our creative couple's interest, and the first
10:32floor is just as impressive.
10:35We're heading to the main bedroom, which comes with its own shower room.
10:40Wow!
10:41That is such a great view.
10:43That's what they call a picture window.
10:45Beautifully framed.
10:47Framed.
10:48Yes.
10:49Goodness, you could spend a long time looking at that, couldn't you?
10:52I mean, is this what you were dreaming of?
10:54I think the light in this house, I think, is one of the things that I think immediately
10:58strikes us.
11:00Really light.
11:01It's great.
11:02Really wonderful sort of space.
11:03Well, I'll let you explore all the various rooms, and when you're done, find me in the
11:07garden, and we can talk about the money.
11:11This beautiful bedroom is one of five, each off a long hallway.
11:16The one next to the main bedroom is used as an office, with double doors onto a large
11:21balcony.
11:22Wow.
11:23Let's have a look at this.
11:24That is spectacular.
11:25I think you could spend an awful lot of time looking at that view.
11:26You could.
11:27I can imagine us coming up here.
11:28At the end of the day.
11:29At the end of the day.
11:30Day's toil.
11:31Watching the sunset.
11:32Also up here are two more bedrooms, a snug single and a bright double, along with a fully
11:53tiled family bathroom.
11:57The house sits on a quarter of an acre plot, with a large driveway to the front and a secluded
12:03rear garden with raised beds, a lawn, and a paved terrace.
12:08And our wish list was a big garden, and this is probably, it's on the smaller side of big,
12:14but it's still a good size, and it's full of beautiful plants.
12:19So that's maybe enough about horticulture, let's talk economics.
12:23What do you think the price of this one is?
12:26I'm going to guess £895,000.
12:28Well, there is a little bit of work, I think, to do to make that second studio, and I feel
12:33one of us has to be a bit more optimistic, so I'm going to say £875,000.
12:40It's actually on the market for offers over £900,000.
12:42Right.
12:43Okay.
12:44Well, I'm not surprised.
12:45There's always a conversation to be had, and maybe you could put in an offer.
12:51For offers above £900,000, this former farmhouse has a spacious kitchen diner, five bedrooms,
12:58a mature garden, and the potential to create his and her studios.
13:03It offers panoramic countryside views, and it's just a stone's throw from the centre
13:08of Froome.
13:09I think Jo and I, we always talk about just the house having something, indefinable.
13:16I think this house definitely has it.
13:18We love the sense of light, the amazing view, so yeah, very tempting.
13:23I think Dan and I can go into things in a very over-positive light, so at the moment,
13:29I'd want to just live here.
13:30Hey, have you seen everything you want to see?
13:31I think so.
13:32I think so.
13:33Excellent.
13:34Well, I'm going to drag you away from your beloved Froome because we've got more of Somerset
13:38to explore.
13:39Exciting.
13:40Exciting.
13:44Those explorations are switching their focus from Somerset property to Somerset scenery,
13:50with a quiet spot to unwind before we call it a day.
13:53There's nothing artists like more than a great view, and this one, looking out across the
13:57Somerset levels and beyond, is just that.
14:02Well, look at us, painting away.
14:06It's wonderful.
14:07Do you actually do a lot of sketching outside?
14:10Only occasional, to be honest.
14:12I think some artists are plein air artists and they're out all the time, which must be
14:16a wonderful lifestyle.
14:17I probably spend too much time in a studio.
14:19Yeah, I think we're getting more into it, and I think it's that difference they talk
14:23about between looking and seeing.
14:24I think it really makes you see.
14:26So, before I start absolutely wiping the floor with you with my excellent art, which is not
14:32going to happen, tell me about the first day.
14:35I mean, are you feeling the Somerset vibe is really kind of getting into your bloodstream?
14:40Definitely.
14:42Every time we come, it just confirms again that we really like to be here.
14:47I think we're discovering more and more, it's just the sheer expanse of some of the views
14:52you actually get in Somerset, it really is breathtaking.
14:56Are you starting to think about what it would actually mean to live here?
15:00What would it actually mean for your lifestyle?
15:04That's really hard to answer because you have to sort of throw a wild guess as to how things
15:09might change.
15:10It's quite nice not knowing how they might change.
15:12I was going to say exactly the same.
15:14It's about sort of setting up the conditions, if you like, but not quite knowing what that's
15:19going to mean.
15:20So, we do know that we want studio spaces, we want creative community, we want to be
15:27sort of in an inspiring landscape, but where that will take us, not entirely sure.
15:31Which is a bit like art, right?
15:33You have a white page and you step into it.
15:36Yes.
15:37Already, this landscape is so completely different.
15:42We do have wonderful landscape where we live, but it's just very different and this is,
15:46this is inspiring.
15:47That's great.
15:48We've gone straight on to the paint, so I'm going to do that.
15:51Yeah, it's much more fun.
15:54We've got plenty of time and we've got the whole of tomorrow as well, so just let the
15:57juices flow.
15:59It's a new day here in Somerset and I'm hoping the sun is a harbinger of good things to come
16:15because it's a busy day.
16:17We're going to end with the Mystery House, which I hope is going to play to Dan's expressed
16:21interest in having a little bit of an income stream coming in.
16:24But before that, a really super property, which I hope they're both going to fall in
16:30love with.
16:33Our property travels today start in the village of Mere in the Somerset Levels.
16:37There's a close-knit community here and locals make use of a farm shop for everyday essentials,
16:43but for a wider selection of groceries, it's just a 10-minute bus ride to Glastonbury,
16:48or a little quicker by car.
16:52The attractive St Mary's Church, which dates to 1323, used to belong to Glastonbury Abbey
16:59and stands near the village's 14th century Grade I listed Fish House.
17:06It's the only surviving monastic fishery building in England and was used to store fish from
17:11the ponds that once surrounded it.
17:14Just in front of it is the gorgeous property we've come to see.
17:23I am excited about this one.
17:26This is a beautiful spot.
17:28You've got Glastonbury Tor there, the Mendip Hills on the other side, the River Brew, and
17:35then your house, possibly.
17:40What's the alternative word for wow today?
17:42I guess we need more wow words, don't we?
17:44This is also for you, I think, Jo, this is really good, because this is the confluence
17:48of three RSPB bird reservations.
17:53And you get kingfishers on this river, giant egrets, herons.
18:00I might cry.
18:02I might, actually.
18:04But this is an extraordinary building.
18:06So it was just workers' cottages, but it's been beautifully extended to make the most
18:11of the riverfront.
18:12And it also extends over here.
18:14This building is yours, too.
18:16And also on the other side, there's a holiday let.
18:18My goodness.
18:19Blimey, that is a lot to take in.
18:22So an income stream of around upwards of £35,000 a year, should you wish to run it as holiday
18:29lets.
18:30Goodness me.
18:31Wow.
18:32This one really does take your breath away.
18:34Are we going to have a look inside?
18:37Yes.
18:38Definitely.
18:39This is early Victorian, dating back to 1836.
18:42It's built from blue lyrestone and topped with a slate roof.
18:47As we approach the front of it, there's something to see at every turn.
18:53Spot a kingfisher.
18:56The entrance to the house is reached by a gravel driveway and accessed through a stone
19:01porch.
19:02Come on in.
19:03Into the little hallway.
19:04I love these flagstones.
19:05So this is a little winter snug, but mainly, I think you're going to spend most of your
19:11time here.
19:12Oh, dear.
19:13I've seen people cry on seeing houses on a sketch of the country and thought that that
19:21would never happen to me.
19:22But it's bringing tears to my eyes.
19:23It's a magical space.
19:24It really is.
19:25Magical is the new wow.
19:26It really is.
19:27Magical is the new wow.
19:28Yeah.
19:29I'm just watching the birds.
19:30There's so many birds.
19:32I know we're all looking at the river, but it is a beautiful kitchen area.
19:35It's all this marble worktop, fantastic butcher's block island.
19:40Yeah, there's so many different kind of textures, surfaces.
19:44Wood, stone, marble.
19:46Yeah.
19:47Love the blue in this kitchen.
19:48So the river and the house's colour palette are working for our artists.
19:54Just next door, in the oldest part of the house, is a small garden.
19:59Just next door, in the oldest part of the house, is another cosy snug.
20:03Here we get a bit more sense of the history.
20:05This would have been the actual cottage in itself.
20:09Probably in its entirety would have been this room, two up, two down.
20:14And then the mirror image on the other side of this wall, which is now the holiday let.
20:19Gosh, this house just has it.
20:22It really does.
20:24Yeah, you're speechless.
20:26I am.
20:28But I feel I'm going to give you lots of time because you're obviously going to have to soak it all in.
20:32Yeah.
20:33Right, here we go.
20:36At the top of the stairs is another reason to pause.
20:40Wow, and there is that view again.
20:45I'll just stay here for an hour if that's all right.
20:48There's a large family bathroom up here and three double bedrooms.
20:52Every room is beautiful.
20:56And each is just as good as the last.
20:59People talk about people having a heart reaction when they walk into a house and I...
21:05Well, I guess I've well and truly got that with this.
21:08Do you feel the same?
21:09I feel my heart is pumping.
21:13Well, the rollercoaster ride's not over yet because on the top floor is the primary suite.
21:19Up here there's a small bedroom cum dressing room and a smart shower room.
21:24Then the main event.
21:27Oh, look at that.
21:29The view over the stream.
21:30That's a framed painting. I mean, that literally is, look.
21:34Amazing.
21:35Can you pinch me, please?
21:38I don't think I'm really... I'm not really awake.
21:41Our magical tour continues in the holiday lets.
21:45The one next to the main house is stylishly kitted out with a kitchen diner,
21:50a double bedroom and a living space complete with river views.
21:56The second holiday let is in a converted barn with a kitchen and living area downstairs.
22:03It's beautifully designed.
22:06And a double en suite bedroom above.
22:10Outside, the garden includes a private lawn and a fantastic deck overlooking the river.
22:17Then there's a converted double garage, which I think has artist studio written all over it.
22:27This is a great studio space.
22:29I can't think of a more perfect studio to work in than this.
22:34It would be incredibly inspiring.
22:37With that view.
22:38Yeah, yeah.
22:39With the birds right there.
22:41Wow, I don't think I could have imagined a better reaction to this property if I'd written it myself.
22:47All that remains now is to price this incredible waterside home.
22:54How much do you think it is?
22:56I have a horrible feeling that you've shown us heaven and that we won't be able to afford to buy a ticket.
23:02So I'm going to guess, and it is purely a guess, at £925,000.
23:09Dan?
23:10Maybe even a little bit more.
23:12£935,000.
23:13So £935,000.
23:17So I'm afraid you're both wrong.
23:20Because this is on the market for...
23:24..£875,000.
23:28We love you, Arthur.
23:31That's great, right?
23:32Yeah.
23:33That's incredible.
23:34Amazing.
23:35Wow, I mean, yeah, I can't get over it.
23:39For £875,000, this Victorian home comes with a beautiful reworked living space,
23:46five bedrooms, two holiday lets providing substantial income potential, and a studio.
23:53The wraparound garden includes a riverside deck and stunning views.
23:58All located on the edge of a charming village.
24:01It's beyond our wildest dreams.
24:04Can't imagine anything more beautiful.
24:09This feels like it's offering us something so much more than a house.
24:12I mean, this is just a whole new kind of way of life, potentially.
24:16And, yeah, just an amazing opportunity.
24:21As if I hadn't shown you enough, I'd forgotten to tell you that this river has otters in it.
24:26Obviously.
24:27But I'm going to have to take you away from the river brew, I'm afraid.
24:31Ready?
24:32Ready to leave?
24:33Not ready.
24:46If you're feeling seduced by a Somerset postcode,
24:49then we've done some number crunching to help you on your way.
24:53It's clearly a desirable destination,
24:55because a detached property here will cost you around £480,000.
25:01Which, although above the average UK price of just under £454,000,
25:07it's a lot less than the detached average in neighbouring Dorset.
25:11There, expect to pay about £548,000.
25:17Our buyers, looking for a country life,
25:20are in the lucky position of having an extremely healthy budget.
25:24But in a large county like Somerset,
25:26there are homes to suit budgets big, small and everything in between.
25:34Take this attractive whitewashed period property, located on the edge of a village.
25:39It's thought to date back to the late 1800s,
25:42has five bedrooms and many original features,
25:45along with some contemporary twists.
25:47It's on the market for £625,000.
25:54For less than half that, priced at offers over £300,000,
25:58how about this cute grade two listed cottage, with two bedrooms.
26:03It has a cosy interior, a brand new kitchen,
26:07a newly built garden studio and a bedroom.
26:11And endless views.
26:15Or if you just fancy a visit to the area,
26:17what about a night or two under the stars in a bell tent,
26:20on an adult-only glamping site near Cheddar Gorge.
26:24Equipped with a king-size bed, a barbecue as well as a stove,
26:28the tents are a home away from home.
26:31You might need to leave the kids behind, but dogs are welcome.
26:35Prices start at £100 a night for two people.
26:42For our property swan song today,
26:45we're travelling to the village of Compton Dundon.
26:48Sitting between two hills, there's a pub, post office and village hall,
26:53and the narrow lanes are dotted with attractive cottages,
26:57many built of blue lyrestone that's so prevalent in this area.
27:01There are views around every corner,
27:04and the village's place of worship perches on a mound,
27:08above our next property.
27:11And I've come to open up before Joe and Dan join me.
27:15This one, look at the thatch.
27:17It's perfect escape property.
27:20Probably the oldest one that we're showing,
27:22but the house is not everything. Come with me.
27:26But there's also this amazing business option,
27:30because Dan was interested in, and certainly seemed inspired by,
27:33the option of having some money coming in
27:35so he didn't have to do quite as much computer work.
27:38This gives them not one, but four holiday-let potentials.
27:43It's another enticing package,
27:45and I can't wait to show them all this one has to offer.
27:49Welcome to Compton Dundon,
27:51a lovely location for our mystery house.
27:54Lovely views again. Wow.
27:56But the reason that we've brought you here
27:58is that the last property was a beautiful house,
28:01obviously, with a business attached.
28:03This, in some ways, is a business with a beautiful house attached.
28:07OK.
28:08Because these cottages here,
28:11all the way down the garden to a lovely shepherd's hut,
28:15these are an up-and-running business
28:18that bring in upwards of £50,000 a year.
28:21Wow.
28:22I love the way the whole house sort of just follows the arc of the road.
28:26Yes, your sort of hairpin bend.
28:28Yeah, it kind of bends with it.
28:30Interesting.
28:31Interested to see what you're going to show us.
28:33Let's have a look inside. OK.
28:36The main home is this pretty thatched cottage,
28:39thought to be over 200 years old,
28:41with newer additions at each end.
28:46Mind these steps.
28:49This is the dining room.
28:52And this is the kitchen.
28:56This is probably the smallest kitchen that we've offered,
28:59but it's also probably the most original.
29:02This house is probably the oldest one that we've shown you.
29:04I think it's still a pretty good size.
29:06We've seen quite a lot, and I'm trying to now be picky,
29:10but it is hard to be picky with this.
29:12It is lovely.
29:13You've got a little boot room there,
29:15and a little walk-in larder, which I always love.
29:17What's distinct about this house
29:19is that there's very clear delineations
29:21between where you live and where your paying guests stay.
29:25When we first arrived,
29:27the paying guest aspect
29:29is quite a big part of the overall kind of footprint,
29:33so it'll be interesting to see how it all works.
29:35Let's go and look at your living space.
29:37Round your head.
29:40It's a windy, wiggly caterpillar.
29:43It is.
29:44And then this, I think, is a fabulous room.
29:46Look at that.
29:48So this is the kind of hairpin bend.
29:50You can see, yeah.
29:51Was the road built around the house?
29:52Following the arc of the road, yes.
29:53Or was the house built around the road?
29:55That's a good question, isn't it?
29:57Well, what I'd like you to do is,
29:58just because it's a mystery house,
29:59I'd like you to really explore this one.
30:01So you can go upstairs,
30:02but also the options for the paying guests.
30:06And you will find me mostly sitting in the garden.
30:10I can't.
30:11OK, all right.
30:13Go explore.
30:15As well as the sitting room,
30:17there's a more informal family room come study,
30:20and then a wooden staircase leads to the sleeping quarters.
30:27Up here there's a family bathroom and three bedrooms,
30:30with the floor plan matching the unusual layout downstairs.
30:35Really quiet little road.
30:37Yeah.
30:38Oh, we're above the sitting room.
30:40Yeah.
30:41The way it's framed at the end with that stone wall,
30:43really nice.
30:44Yeah.
30:45These huge thick walls again.
30:46Four windows.
30:47Yeah, yeah.
30:48I've never seen a room this shape before,
30:50which gives it lots of character.
30:52I think, yeah, this room is a really, really,
30:54really interesting sort of shape.
30:57This main bedroom has an en suite shower room,
31:00and there's also another double, as well as a single.
31:05That's the main house covered,
31:07but there's even more on offer in the guest accommodation.
31:11Three holiday lets are in a converted barn,
31:14two are one bedroom, self-catering apartments.
31:20Wow, look at this.
31:22Yeah.
31:23It's huge thick walls again.
31:25Yeah.
31:26These wouldn't even necessarily have to be rooms like this.
31:29I mean, these could be even artist studios
31:31that you rent out, for example.
31:35There's one on the first floor,
31:36which I suspect Jo and Dan will have their own plans for.
31:40So this is perhaps more properly the art space.
31:43Here's the painting space.
31:45Yeah.
31:46Yeah.
31:47With the...
31:49There's a tower over there.
31:51Somerset keeps delivering amazing properties
31:54and stunning locations.
31:56There's also a garden room downstairs,
31:58which is let out as a B&B.
32:01Out in the beautifully manicured gardens,
32:04we find the last of the holiday accommodation.
32:07Gorgeous garden. Beautiful.
32:11Let's have a look what's down the end of this long path.
32:16A rather fabulous shepherd's hut.
32:19Wow, look at that.
32:21That hut has got my name on it.
32:29That is so sweet.
32:31It's got everything, hasn't it?
32:33The bed's hidden behind there.
32:35I reckon that table goes down and that pulls, and there's the bed.
32:39You're a genius.
32:41With the grand tour over, there's just one thing left on the agenda.
32:45Hello.
32:46Come join me in the lovely lawn.
32:48It's beautiful.
32:49How did you get on? What did you discover?
32:51We found the shepherd's hut down here.
32:53Beautiful. Did you pull down the bed?
32:55No. Did you?
32:56I did.
32:58It was great.
32:59So cheeky.
33:00What are your thoughts walking around?
33:02We love the idea that there's some possibility
33:05of earning out of the property,
33:07but I think for us that's just going to be too much of a commitment.
33:11How much do you think this is academically?
33:13How much do you think this is worth?
33:15So I'm going to say 840.
33:18840,000 pounds.
33:20I'm going to go a little bit lower and say 825.
33:24825,000 pounds.
33:26Well, in this instance, you're both a little low,
33:30because this is actually on the market at 900,000 pounds.
33:33Is it? Wow. OK.
33:35Our surprising mystery house is priced right on budget.
33:39Its fuller period charm has three bedrooms,
33:43beautiful gardens and four holiday lets,
33:46meaning the potential for a generous income,
33:49and options for art studios.
33:51The property's located in a beautiful spot within a quiet village.
33:56Yeah, I can see why Alistair has shown us this.
33:59Full of charm and full of potential income.
34:02This will make a really fantastic opportunity for somebody.
34:05Do you think you've seen enough?
34:07I think we've seen enough today. Yeah, I think so.
34:09OK, so shall we find somewhere to gather all our thoughts?
34:12OK. All right.
34:16MUSIC
34:25Relocations to the countryside come in all shapes and sizes,
34:29and this couple took on another mammoth move
34:32when they left their one-bed cottage behind them
34:35and swapped it for a four-bed country home in the Levels.
34:39We're Grace and Ryan, and we moved to Somerset two years ago.
34:43I bought a house in Surrey and decided to buy one in Somerset
34:46with my parents.
34:47We kind of went from a place of no garden in the middle of a town
34:51to suddenly having four acres and trying to live the good life.
34:55Yeah, the good life.
34:57You know, the conventional sense of growing veg,
35:00living off the land, having some chickens.
35:04And they've also added to their family.
35:06Baby Arthur arrived a year ago.
35:09But it hasn't been all plain sailing in Somerset.
35:12The dream, that's what we wanted, you know, like everybody else.
35:15But we kind of came into a few problems as well along the way.
35:20Yeah, just a few, you know, flooding, septic tank, bees in the chimney.
35:25I forgot about that one. I forgot about that one too.
35:28Although they've had a few teething problems,
35:30the couple have no regrets about their move,
35:33and they even blog about their new life.
35:37So this is hopefully in the future going to be our silver birch woodland.
35:41That's the idea.
35:42I think it's called Betula Pendula.
35:44Oh, sorry, Mr. Latin.
35:46I just read the label.
35:47Oh.
35:48It's been the best thing we've ever done, I think.
35:51Without a doubt.
35:53I just wish we had done it sooner.
35:56Well, despite the ups and downs, they do make it look very joyful.
36:00So since I was in the neighbourhood,
36:02I thought I would pop in and see how it actually is on the ground.
36:07Hello, hello, hello.
36:10Hi.
36:11I feel like I've been here before because I've seen your online channel.
36:14Does it look all right in person?
36:16It looks, actually it looks a lot better
36:18because it was all winter when I was watching you.
36:20Yeah.
36:21Can I have a look?
36:22Yes, of course, yeah.
36:23First off, Ryan's taking me to meet the brood.
36:26Look at your chickens, they're so glamorous.
36:29So how's it been, you're still working in your old job, is that right?
36:32Yep, I still work full time as a data scientist.
36:36Yeah, so the plan is to end that as soon as I can
36:40and give this a go full time and see if we can make money from this life.
36:44Yeah.
36:45Because I know that you were thinking about glamping,
36:47which lots of people who've moved to the countryside think about doing.
36:49Yeah.
36:50So the plan is now to set up some maybe tents or cabins at the back,
36:55investigate all the planning permission that comes with that as well.
36:59And how do you divvy up the labour?
37:01Do you do everything together,
37:03or do you do something and Grace does something?
37:05All the gardening is Grace and her mum, Katie.
37:09They do all of the vegetables, planting, flowers.
37:13I'm kind of the more constructual, building fences, repairing stuff.
37:19Well, I'm going to let you get on with the chickens.
37:21I'm going to go and find Grace.
37:23Thank you very much.
37:24No problem.
37:26Grace and her mum have created this half-acre vegetable garden.
37:30Here they grow everything from chickpeas to courgettes,
37:33and it looks like their polytunnel will soon be bursting with juicy produce.
37:39Your tomatoes are doing so well.
37:42Now, you're in charge of the garden, Ryan was saying.
37:44Yeah.
37:45Is that something you had any knowledge of before, or have you learnt on the hoof?
37:48Yeah, we had grown a few things, and by that I mean like one courgette plant, one tomato.
37:53Didn't expect to grow at this scale quite so quickly,
37:57but, yeah, it's just going so well, and I just really, really enjoy it.
38:00Are you growing for your family?
38:03At first it was for our family and friends, and currently it still is,
38:06but we have got a few plans for maybe providing to restaurants.
38:10We want to grow different varieties of food that you can't get in supermarkets.
38:13Oh, what are you growing?
38:14Well, we've grown cucumbers.
38:16That's like a cucumber mixed with a melon?
38:17Yeah, so it looks like a little mini watermelon.
38:19It's the size of a grape, but it tastes like cucumber.
38:22We're also growing loads of heritage tomatoes that look like different colours.
38:25Oh, good.
38:26So, yeah, that's a future plan possibility.
38:29Well, it's absolutely wonderful.
38:31I feel slightly jealous of your tomatoes because they're so much healthier looking than mine.
38:35I'll give you some plants to take back with you.
38:37Please do.
38:38Yeah, OK.
38:43Before I head home with plants securely under my arm,
38:45there's just time for a word or two of advice about escaping to the country.
38:51You know, we meet people all the time on this show who dream of doing what you've done,
38:55and what would your advice be to them?
38:58It's a lot of hard work,
39:00especially if you're planning on doing a job to sustain your life to begin here.
39:04All my free time is tidying up the place, starting projects, and it's quite physical.
39:10Has Somerset made it easier?
39:12I'd never been to Somerset before viewing this house.
39:15You know what, we weren't even looking at moving to Somerset,
39:17and it wasn't until we found this house that we were like,
39:19this is the one, and looked at the area, and we were just like, this is beautiful.
39:24So I don't know, but it just feels so right.
39:27It's very inspiring. You've made it look very easy. I know it hasn't been easy.
39:31But even when it's gone wrong, you've made it look quite fun.
39:34Yeah.
39:35Yeah, I think you have to.
39:36If you're not willing to accept all the challenges and find the happy, funny sides,
39:41it's not going to work.
39:43Good advice.
39:44Thanks, guys.
39:45No, thank you.
39:46Hey, come back again.
39:47Ah, well, I'll bring my tent.
39:56The property gods have really smiled on us in Somerset, as have the weather gods,
40:01but I wonder which of our offerings has really excited Jo and Dan.
40:07Let's find out.
40:12Hey.
40:13Hello.
40:14Oh, what a lovely week we've had.
40:16I'm really hopeful that we've moved your search forward.
40:20What are your thoughts at the end of the week?
40:22We've had a really amazing week.
40:24We did love the house on the edge of Froome with the stunning views,
40:29and I went to sleep last night thinking very hard about that
40:33because you could walk straight into the town, and we do love the town.
40:37Had no idea what was going to happen today.
40:40Either being a bit cagey or what is going to happen next?
40:45It has been quite an emotional rollercoaster.
40:47Shall I talk about the river house?
40:48Yeah, okay.
40:49So we went to see the river house, obviously, this morning.
40:52That was totally unexpected, which offered us not just a home
40:58but a new life with so much potential
41:02and the most beautiful art studio that I could ever picture as a bird painter
41:07that looks out on RSPB.
41:10That's unbelievable.
41:12So...
41:13There's going to be a butt on the edge of my seat.
41:16Well, then we had some lunch, didn't we?
41:18And so while you wandered off to the car, I phoned the estate agent
41:23and made an offer.
41:25Ah! No way!
41:27That's so exciting.
41:29We can certainly picture a wonderful life there.
41:32Yes, I can picture a wonderful life for you there too.
41:35We feel really good all the way through.
41:37Oh, well, I so hope that comes off.
41:39That would be just magical.
41:41What a great week.
41:42It will be a great gift to the county, I'm sure,
41:44with your artistry and vision.
41:52I've been coming to Somerset for more than 15 years
41:55with Escape To The Country.
41:57And weirdly, I've never been to Glastonbury town,
41:59I've never been to Froome town,
42:01because we don't go to towns very often.
42:03And coming here with Jo and Dan has really opened my eyes
42:07to the weirdly intense creative spirit of this county.
42:12And I am crossing everything, physical and spiritual,
42:15that they do get that river house and that they move here
42:18and that they start producing wonderful, wonderful art.
42:22And I can't wait to come and see it.
42:25And I can't wait to see you
42:27on the next edition of Escape To The Country.
42:31Jo and Dan fell hard for the river house,
42:35but after giving it much thought,
42:37they were drawn back to their beloved Froome.
42:40It's not disappointing news, though,
42:42as they decided the lovely 1940s property was the one,
42:46the very first house I showed them.
42:48They've since had an offer accepted,
42:50and we wish them the very best with their new Somerset life.
42:54If you would like to escape to the country in England,
42:57Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, and need our help,
43:01why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.