Having taken a leap of faith, today's couple from Scotland stuck a pin in a map that landed in lovely Lincolnshire. Sonali Shah tours the county with them, showing them the very best property the county has to offer for their £220,000 budget.
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00:00When planning a country escape, there's a whole lot more to consider than property prices.
00:07You must try out the ice cream before you buy a house in the area.
00:11Absolutely.
00:12Finding something to your taste means considering what's on the inside...
00:17It's fantastic. I love the wood finish.
00:21..as well as what's on the outside.
00:24I can see cabbages for miles.
00:27..and being decisive about what to keep or what to cut
00:31is the best way to end up with the right result.
00:35If you leave a thin stem at the top,
00:37it will just produce another thin stem and a floppy bloom.
00:40Oh, yeah. It's like cutting hair.
00:42Yes, yes. Short, back and sides.
00:56MUSIC SWELLS
01:09Combining golden sand,
01:12a sea of blue
01:15and fields of green,
01:17the colourful character of lovely Lincolnshire
01:20sometimes expresses itself with a bit of commotion too.
01:26Don't forget Glastonbury and Woodstock,
01:28because it's this county that's thought to be the birthplace of the rock festival.
01:33It was 1967, the summer of love,
01:35and the tiny metal shed in the town of Spalding is where it all began.
01:40On the bill, Pink Floyd, Cream and Jimi Hendrix,
01:43who, legend has it, finished his set by picking up his guitar
01:47and chucking it at a stack of speakers.
01:49It doesn't get more rock and roll than Lincolnshire.
01:53Located on the eastern side of the centre of England,
01:57the county of Lincolnshire has what it takes
02:00to make would-be country escapees feel one in a million,
02:04because that's roughly the number of people
02:07who already make this beautiful part of the world home.
02:12Lincolnshire just offers a lovely way of life.
02:16It's a great place to raise a family.
02:19There's plenty to do for children, people my age, the retired.
02:24It's just a fabulous place to live.
02:28The coastline provides miles of natural sand
02:31peppered with traditional seaside resorts,
02:34whilst inland, the county's famously flat farming landscapes
02:39are joined by the lesser-known rolling Lincolnshire wolds
02:42with their pretty villages and market towns.
02:45I live in Lincolnshire for 18 years,
02:48and it's a quiet and nice place to bring your kids up
02:52where you can enjoy the countryside.
02:56And there's fresh vegetable, everything fresh.
03:08We don't often come here to Lincolnshire on Escape To The Country.
03:11In fact, I've only been house hunting here a couple of times.
03:15But those that live here will tell you it's glorious.
03:18They like to think that it's a well-kept secret,
03:21but it must be a secret that today's couple are in on,
03:24because they're willing to move all the way from Scotland to be here.
03:28Hi, I'm Les. And I'm Lucy.
03:31We want to escape to the country.
03:34We want to go to Lincolnshire.
03:36We're here at St Cyprian's Church.
03:38I retire as rector of St Cyprian's in just three weeks' time.
03:42And I retire as assistant priest.
03:45Like all the homes Lucy and Les have shared
03:48through 36 years of married life,
03:51their current home in the Scottish town of Kirkintilloch,
03:54near Glasgow, is tied to their work for the church.
03:58One thing I don't like, I don't think you do either, is this fireplace.
04:02At least we'll have a place of our own. We can do what we choose to it.
04:06And if we had to own this place, this would have gone a long time again.
04:11As well as being able to choose and adapt a home
04:14the way they want it for the very first time,
04:17they hope the move will allow Les to expand his hobby
04:20of upcycling wood pallets into furniture
04:23and let Lucy put her mark on a garden.
04:26But their choice of location is a bit of a gamble.
04:30We don't particularly know Lincolnshire.
04:32Truth be told, we stuck a pin in the map
04:35and came up somewhere near Lincolnshire.
04:37It looked the right sort of place, didn't it?
04:39I want especially to be within a fairly easy reach
04:44of our son and daughter who live in London and Birmingham.
04:47We've always lived where we work
04:50and the house we've lived in has always been part of the job that we've done.
04:54This is a chance for us to explore somewhere new, really.
04:58As first-time buyers, Les and Lucy are relying on life savings
05:02to purchase their Lincolnshire home
05:05and have an absolute maximum budget of £220,000.
05:10For that, the property would have to be perfect
05:13with at least two bedrooms, a dedicated dining space,
05:17a workshop option for Les and a manageable garden for Lucy.
05:21They'd like access to public transport
05:24and single-storey living would be a bonus
05:27as they say they're not getting any younger.
05:36It's intriguing that Lucy and Les didn't really know Lincolnshire before
05:43but they've chosen it for what it can offer them.
05:46It is quite exciting that at this stage in their life
05:50they are buying their very first property together.
05:54They've not done this before.
05:56They've always adapted to a space they've been given.
06:00Maybe I am a little nervous about how this might go.
06:06We're starting our house tours
06:08on the rural outskirts of the village of Wainfleet St Mary
06:12but first we're catching up in the grounds of our hotel
06:15on the southern edges of the Lincolnshire walls.
06:20Lucy, Les, I'm particularly excited about this move
06:24because it'll be the first time that you're choosing something together.
06:29How are you both feeling about that?
06:32A little bit nervous.
06:35I'm not the most decisive person in the world.
06:38What are you nervous about in particular?
06:41I don't know how to decide.
06:44Not agreeing.
06:47I was wondering whether you may say that.
06:50You've got a third wheel.
06:52You've got a bit of a gooseberry for the next couple of days
06:55so you can always refer to me.
06:58So we need the workshop space.
07:00If possible.
07:02Are there other hobbies that we need to consider?
07:05We've thought of all sorts of things like pottery
07:09and I guess it'll be a chance to try out things
07:13and see what really grabs us.
07:17And also we want to maintain close links with a local church.
07:22I love leading services.
07:24I'm a minister. I hope to keep doing that.
07:28Having a chance to get to know a community like that is quite useful.
07:33Well, it's just enjoyable.
07:35How is Lincolnshire starting to feel?
07:38It's very pretty here.
07:40We'll certainly be enjoying the countryside as we do have a lot to explore.
07:44Are you ready?
07:45Yeah, absolutely.
07:46We need to find you a house.
07:47I'm looking forward to it.
07:48Let's go.
07:52My first property is on the edges of Wainfleet St Mary,
07:56a village with its own brewery dating to the 19th century.
08:00It's a short walk over the river to the market town of Wainfleet All Saints.
08:05This provides for everyday needs such as groceries, takeaways and doctor's surgery.
08:11There are several bus routes and a station with trains
08:14to the coastal resort of Skegness five miles away,
08:17as well as further afield to Grantham and Nottingham,
08:21which offer onward national connections.
08:24Just under a mile from the station, my first house sits surrounded by farmland.
08:31Lucy and Les, welcome to house number one.
08:35That's really nice.
08:37Look, the flat area, the big flowers, the trees, great views from the house.
08:41It feels rural even though you're well connected.
08:43Yes.
08:44What do you make of the house?
08:46It's really nice.
08:48I like the first impression.
08:50It's a nice shelter front garden here, which is attractive.
08:54Let's head inside and see what you make of it.
08:57This semi-detached brick home dates back to 1914
09:01when it was built to provide farmworker accommodation.
09:05Recently renovated, including a replacement of the roof with reclaimed tiles,
09:10our tour starts at the rear of the property.
09:15And then this door leads straight into this gorgeous kitchen.
09:21That's fantastic. I love the wood finish.
09:24The range cooker as well, that's brilliant.
09:27It's very stylish, isn't it?
09:29Yes, it is, but practical.
09:31Talking of practical, so you've got a utility room with a view.
09:35And they've just done it fabulously.
09:37You can see all the gorgeous detail.
09:40Yeah, they've done what they really...
09:43What they wanted.
09:45And they've kept a lot of original features. Let me show you.
09:49At the front is a reception room, which includes a home office area.
09:55It's not huge, but it's still comfortable.
09:57And then the wooden floors.
09:59Yeah, these are the original. Those cupboards are original.
10:02This is the biggest room.
10:04You can get a set of hearing aids, watch the telly.
10:07What do you need, really?
10:09Nice for the two of you, and then when you have guests,
10:12it will definitely feel a little fuller.
10:14That's what family get-togethers are. That's not a problem.
10:17Shall we head upstairs? Yes.
10:20All three bedrooms are on the upper floor,
10:23which is served by a family shower room,
10:25recently fitted out with a contemporary finish.
10:29Each of the two guest bedrooms provides a rural view,
10:33and both are freshly painted in crisp white.
10:37Bedroom 3 is the largest on offer.
10:40Located at the front, it comes with some high-gloss built-in storage.
10:47Now, this would be yours.
10:49I like the brick finishing. That matches the kitchen, doesn't it?
10:52Yes. A little bit different. It's nice.
10:55And the thing about the rooms up here is there's views.
10:58Yes. I can see cabbages for miles.
11:02Is there a bit of you in here, do you think, Lucy?
11:04I suppose I'm reserving judgment a little bit at the minute,
11:08because I'm trying to process the fact that it is a slightly smaller space.
11:13I think the fact that they've got the personality,
11:16they're actually a smaller space, but nice shapes, features.
11:20It's all that together as the package, which is good.
11:23The overall impression is beautiful.
11:27Perhaps what I have to show them outside may allay those size worries.
11:32So, in terms of extra space, you have this whole area here,
11:36storage, more storage, and then what could be a little office or hobby room?
11:41Have a look, see what you think, and come and meet me.
11:44OK. Thank you.
11:47This versatile single-storey brick-built addition
11:50has both power and a water supply.
11:54Yeah, and a great place for your second freezer.
11:58It's useful extra space, isn't it?
12:00It's too good for your wood and sawdust.
12:03No, you're right there. You're right.
12:06With a good-sized plot surrounded by the big-sky landscape so typical of Lincolnshire,
12:12there are lots of alternative locations for Lez's woodwork shed,
12:16as well as room to grow Lucy's gardening ambitions.
12:21Quite a surprising amount of space, ground-wise, yeah.
12:25Plenty for your veg.
12:27Yeah, I can see the potential.
12:30And everything's done.
12:32Yes. Oh, yeah. You could move straight in.
12:35It's time for the question you probably don't want me to ask,
12:38which is how much do you think this property is on the market for?
12:41Perhaps £210,000. I think it must be the very top end of our budget at least.
12:47£195,000.
12:49Mm-hm.
12:50It is on the market for £225,000.
12:54OK. Yeah, yeah.
12:55Which I know is a little bit naughty,
12:57but knowing your absolute max budget,
13:01we did have a word with the owner,
13:03and they said they would be open to a sensible offer.
13:06I'm not surprised.
13:08It's got so much going for it.
13:12This early 20th-century farmworker's cottage
13:15has a recently fitted kitchen, a separate reception room and three bedrooms.
13:21There's a good-sized garden with additional brick-built accommodation.
13:25It's in a rural location, but walking distance from a market town
13:29with a railway station and very close to the coast.
13:34I think it's an absolutely fabulous house.
13:36I mean, it looks fantastic from outside.
13:39Inside, it's really brilliantly done up.
13:41It's a work of art. It's craftsmanship of the best order.
13:44It's got character, it's got interest.
13:47It's just great. But, yeah, I could live here.
13:50I like it. There's a nice feel.
13:53It's been so beautifully done,
13:55and it's got some nice space outside.
13:58All round, it's very nice.
14:01It's almost too nice for us.
14:13Lucy and Les are looking forward to more leisure time in retirement,
14:17so to find out what's on offer in the wider surroundings of Lincolnshire
14:21beyond their house viewings,
14:23earlier in the week, they took a look around the former spa town of Woodall Spa.
14:28It's got the Britain's smallest shoe shop here.
14:31Don't tempt me. I like some of those.
14:36After the discovery of mineral-rich springs here in the 19th century,
14:41tourists flocked to bathe in the supposedly healing waters.
14:45The resulting impressive hotels were later put to use by the RAF
14:50and the famous Dam Busters during the Second World War,
14:54a heritage that's celebrated with a 1940s-themed festival,
14:58complete with a yearly vintage fly-by.
15:02The mineral baths are no more.
15:05It's amazing there's this much woodland right around the town, isn't there?
15:08Yeah, it's great. Real greenbelt.
15:12But just a short walk from the centre of town, in the ten-acre Jubilee Park,
15:17there is a heated outdoor pool and a host of other facilities.
15:22We have lots of activities, places you can go to.
15:26So you've got the Kinnaman in the Woods, the golf course,
15:29lots of independent shops and food shops.
15:32And then, of course, you've got Jubilee Park, which is in the heart of Woodall Spa,
15:36and we offer everything for all ages, and it's just a great place to be.
15:42Debbie Boone moved to the town 17 years ago.
15:46She hosts pottery classes from her studio,
15:49where we've sent Lucy and Les to investigate what living here could offer them.
15:54So what do you think is special about Woodall Spa?
15:57I honestly can't see that I would find anywhere
16:00that gives me everything that Woodall gives me.
16:03There's just so much to do here.
16:05You either can do nothing at all and just enjoy the peace,
16:08or you can get involved in so many things.
16:11The nature and the walks around Woodall are amazing.
16:14You notice how woody it is.
16:16It's just surrounded by woodlands.
16:19Walking is something I really enjoy.
16:22What are you looking for in a location?
16:24I did some pottery a long time ago when I was very young,
16:29and I really enjoyed it.
16:31I just thought that now I'm probably going to have a bit more time when we're retired.
16:37It might be something I could get back into.
16:39Absolutely.
16:41What are you doing here then? That looks sort of nature-based.
16:44I'm making a series of coasters.
16:46Right.
16:47Actually, would you like to help me? I'd love it if you would.
16:51Yeah, that would be good.
16:52Fantastic. How about you?
16:54I'll put some glaze on for you if you like.
16:56Oh, thank you.
16:58Well, it looks like Les and Lucy could find everything they want
17:02for their retirement here in Lincolnshire.
17:04So Lucy, is this inspiring you to get back to pottery?
17:08Yeah, it's quite relaxing, isn't it?
17:11Yeah, it is.
17:13Let's see if we can track down a home for those coasters.
17:20My next property offering is in the village of Friskney.
17:25The village and its parish has a community of almost 2,300.
17:30There's a local shop, a couple of pubs, a village hall,
17:34and church dating to the 12th century.
17:39A bus route runs to Skegness on the coast in around 20 minutes
17:43and the town of Boston in the other direction in around 40 minutes.
17:48A very convenient hop for Lucy and Les to make
17:51should they opt for the next potential home I've got lined up.
17:58And here is property offering number two.
18:02I think it looks a good size from outside.
18:05It does kind of say, yeah, this could be friendly.
18:08Got bus stop across the road.
18:10That sounds ideal.
18:12I think it's great. Love to see more.
18:14It's welcoming you in. Yes.
18:18This attached bungalow is thought to date to the 1960s or 70s.
18:23It's currently unoccupied,
18:25so let's see what they make of this single-storey blank canvas
18:29as our tour starts through the central entrance hall.
18:32Come in, come in.
18:34Into a reception at the front.
18:37This is what I think would be your proper living room.
18:40No, it's a nice space.
18:42I like the size of the windows and good views out.
18:45I could envisage what we already have fitting in,
18:48a couple of chairs and a settee and a telly.
18:51I wonder if this is just welcoming you that little bit more
18:55because it feels more like you.
18:57I think that's spot on. Let's head to the kitchen.
19:00The central hall leads us to the rear.
19:04You see those proportions in this hallway.
19:06There used to be a bookcase here.
19:09And then with the kitchen, you get a walk-in larder with a view.
19:14Yes. This is a good-sized kitchen, yeah.
19:17It doesn't need to be any bigger than that,
19:19especially with a larder and a utility through there, look.
19:22The units look relatively new to me.
19:25It looks very... Ready to use.
19:27Ready to move into.
19:29Have a look around the bedrooms yourselves
19:32and then let's meet outside.
19:34With three bedrooms on offer here,
19:36Lucy and Les could opt to use one as the dedicated dining room thereafter.
19:41Perhaps the smaller room next to the kitchen,
19:44which has views over farmland.
19:47This could be a dining room, couldn't it?
19:49It could.
19:51It's nice to have a clear view out of the window, isn't it?
19:56Yeah, no, it's a good space.
19:59It's got the space that they need, it's got the light,
20:02and it's on one level, which is such a bonus.
20:06Looking good so far.
20:09There's a family shower room and two further bedrooms,
20:13both of which are good-sized doubles,
20:15one at the rear of the home and one at the front,
20:18giving Lucy and Les the option of which to make their own.
20:22I quite like the view out to the front on this one.
20:25Oh, nice, light, long, soft.
20:27Ideal.
20:28Yeah.
20:29But we could get a bed in and furniture.
20:32Of course, Les plans for some of that furniture
20:35to be made from his pallet upcycling skills,
20:38and as luck would have it, there's a garage with carpentry potential.
20:43It's a good size.
20:44Yeah, and the window as well.
20:47This would be perfect for the workshop.
20:50There's a driveway providing off-road parking,
20:53and the front garden is edged by a dike.
20:56The back garden has a patio area and a lawn backing onto open fields,
21:01where they can watch the progress of the farming year.
21:04I'm keen to hear what they think
21:06and whether they feel it fits with their budget.
21:11Did I hear you planning furniture in those bedrooms?
21:15Probably.
21:16It just feels like the sort of space
21:19that we could fit into and use quite positively.
21:23And are you both on the same page?
21:25Yeah, I think it's a cracking bungalow.
21:28It'd be the sort of place I suppose we were looking for.
21:31How much do you think this bungalow is on the market for?
21:34I'm going to go for around the £200,000 mark.
21:38OK.
21:39Hopeful.
21:41£195,000.
21:43OK.
21:44It is on the market for...
21:47..£165,000.
21:51Quick.
21:53£165,000.
21:55That's music to my ears.
21:59This very budget-friendly bungalow
22:01puts Les and Lucy's Lincolnshire wish list firmly in reach.
22:05There's a kitchen with a separate utility,
22:08three bedrooms, a garage with workshop potential
22:11and it's in a village with an active church
22:14plus a bus route to the coast.
22:17It's us. It's the sort of place we would love to live.
22:20We've got the youngest people around
22:22and mobility may be an increasing problem,
22:24but bungalows is fine for that.
22:26There's no stairs, everything is on the same floor.
22:29It's great.
22:30I could see myself living here.
22:32So could I.
22:33We can see a tractor ploughing the field
22:36and I grew up on a farm
22:38and it sort of feels kind of familiar and a bit homely.
22:44Did you see everything you wanted to see?
22:46Yes, I think so.
22:47Yeah, that was a great house. Thank you.
22:49Shall we head to the coast, since we're so close?
22:51Sounds good.
22:52Let's do that.
22:59Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside
23:02and where better than Skegness Pier
23:04to round off Les and Lucy's introduction to the area.
23:09While we were house hunting today,
23:11how did you find each other's reactions?
23:14I think with the first house,
23:17I was sort of a bit wary
23:19because I was not feeling quite as positive as he was sounding,
23:24but we both felt very much the same
23:30with the other house that we've seen.
23:33I think you were more decisive than I thought you were going to be.
23:37Part of the reason that you're moving
23:39is you wanted to be near the sea.
23:42There's a sort of rhythm about the sea
23:44and to look and you know there's another place the other side of it.
23:49You spend every holiday collecting shells on the beach.
23:52We've got chests full of shells that Lucy's collected on the beach.
23:58They sort of say, pick me up.
24:01There'll be plenty of them here for you.
24:03Yeah.
24:05There's something else just calling to be picked up
24:08before we head back to the hotel.
24:10Two strawberries right here for you.
24:12Here we go. I went with mint-chopped chip.
24:15They're already melting.
24:17It's so warm.
24:19Thank you very much.
24:20You must try out the ice cream before you buy a house in the area.
24:23Absolutely.
24:24And we'll be checking out more property
24:27to put them in regular reach of seaside ice cream tomorrow.
24:41Lincolnshire property prices are very favourable
24:45when compared to neighbouring areas.
24:47At just under £312,000,
24:50the average cost of a detached home in the county
24:54is almost £110,000 lower than Norfolk on its southeasterly tip
25:00and £172,000 lower than England as a whole.
25:05Les and Lucy have a budget of £220,000,
25:10but if you have more to play with,
25:12these are the types of properties also on offer in the area.
25:16For a coastal outlook and a garden that leads to sand dunes and the sea,
25:21dive into this three-bedroom semi in Skegness
25:24with a modern kitchen-diner, an outdoor pool,
25:27and a private beach.
25:29This three-bedroom semi in Skegness with a modern kitchen-diner
25:33and outdoor features, including a summer house.
25:36The guide price is £450,000.
25:41Offering a substantial slice of Lincolnshire village life,
25:45this handsome late-19th-century detached house
25:49has a contemporary rear extension.
25:51The arresting interiors include an open-plan kitchen-diner
25:55and five bedrooms.
25:57On the market with a guide price of £635,000.
26:03Or for a short stay with a vintage twist,
26:06there's the option of glamping in a vineyard.
26:09A two-night stay in this well-appointed shepherd's hut
26:12with a private bush bath costs from £79 in low season
26:17with discounts for longer stays.
26:19It sleeps two and is dog-friendly.
26:23We are having a great time in Lincolnshire this week.
26:27The sun is shining, our house hunters are smiling,
26:30and we're in a great position with the properties
26:33because we have found somewhere they absolutely love.
26:36But if I had a pound every time someone said to me,
26:40if I could pick up this property and put it there,
26:43well, I'd be able to buy one of these properties.
26:46So that's what I want to do today for Lucy and Les.
26:49I want to use the magic of the mystery house
26:52to pick up a property and just change its location.
26:57My mystery is taking us close to the coast in the village of Winthorpe,
27:02but within close walking distance of the busy seaside town of Skegness.
27:07Before I reveal that to Les and Lucy, I'm meeting them on the beach.
27:13So I thought it would be lovely to come back to Skegness.
27:16Speaking of Skegness,
27:18did you talk about what I might have in mind for the mystery house?
27:22Is there something you'd like to see?
27:24I think we've sort of clarified in our mind
27:26that probably a bungalow is the right sort of thing to be looking for.
27:29How would you feel about being a little bit closer to the sea?
27:32It could be a plus, yes.
27:35Yeah, I think it'd be great.
27:37Because that is the reason I've brought you back to Skegness today.
27:41The mystery house really isn't too far away.
27:45The sun is out for us this morning.
27:47Enjoy it while I go off and check everything's all right at the mystery house.
27:51I'll send you the address. Come and meet me.
27:53OK, thanks.
27:57The property twist I have lined up
28:00that could put this stunning stretch of sand in daily reach
28:04is just a stroll away in Winthorpe.
28:07Here the outlook is more a sea of green fields
28:10that might well remind Lucy of her childhood on a farm.
28:14There's also a church community to get involved with.
28:17So let's make hay while the sun shines
28:19as I level with you over my final option.
28:23And here we are at the mystery house,
28:25less than a mile from where I left our couple at the beach.
28:28And do you see what I mean about picking up house number two
28:31and putting it somewhere else?
28:35This is the first and only detached home I'm showing them.
28:39But another mystery compromise I'll be revealing
28:42is that it doesn't have much garden.
28:44However, it is the only one with a ready-made dining space.
28:49And you can imagine them here.
28:51Dining table there, maybe a reading corner over here.
28:54We need Lucy to go a bit potty with pots out there to make all of this ping.
29:00I could well have a battle of the bungalows on my hands.
29:03Time to bring it on as we find out what Lucy and Les make of it.
29:08Welcome, welcome to your mystery house.
29:11No, it's a really nice bungalow.
29:13Well, from outside.
29:15And as you'll have noticed on your way to me,
29:17not too far from the beach at all.
29:19No, but equally very close to the countryside,
29:22just along there and at the back of those bungalows and everything.
29:25So a really nice spot.
29:27Now you may have two bungalows that you love.
29:30As you'll notice, it's detached.
29:32Yes, I did notice.
29:35Maybe a touch bigger than house number two.
29:37You're going to give us a problem here.
29:39Good problems only from me. Let's head in.
29:43This detached brick and tile bungalow was built in the mid-'70s
29:47and sits on a corner plot.
29:49But with a garden so high on my retiree's wish list,
29:53the fact there's not much to tend to outside adds the mystery twist here.
29:58First, though, we're heading inside the recently rented home,
30:02which is presently vacant.
30:06So you've got a little porch and quite a nice-sized hallway
30:10into the kitchen diner.
30:14Wow, that's interesting.
30:17It feels like such a great space.
30:19It does.
30:21There's like a glass wall there, isn't it?
30:24So much light.
30:26So you can keep an eye on the neighbourhood from this side.
30:29And I see your green fingers out there along that wall
30:33making something really pretty to look at every day.
30:36Yeah, making it just a little bit more interesting.
30:39To be able to do the cooking and still talk to people
30:43gives a nice family feel.
30:45Shall we head to the living room?
30:47Les, it's just across the hallway.
30:49Plenty more to see with this house.
30:53The main reception room is dual aspect.
30:56It's a good-sized space.
30:58You're doing well on the sizes of the rooms.
31:00The proportions, that you're more sort of used to, in a way.
31:04Yeah, I guess.
31:06How does it compare with the bungalow that we saw yesterday?
31:10Yeah, it compares very well.
31:12You might even be ahead on one or two things.
31:17My mystery seems to be demonstrating an advantage
31:20in the battle of the bungalows so far
31:22as I send Lucy and Les to investigate the remaining accommodation,
31:26starting with the first of three bedrooms,
31:29a guest double with built-in storage.
31:32I guess it's a spare room, but it's a good size, isn't it?
31:35And fitted wardrobes.
31:37It saves a huge amount of space.
31:39Yeah.
31:40A second guest room is more compact.
31:44A bit smaller.
31:46Good study size.
31:48Good floors. You could just keep those as they are.
31:52Yeah.
31:53The family bathroom has a welcome feature.
31:58Oh, it's even got a bath place as well as a shower.
32:02Yeah, that's good.
32:04It could just swing it, you know.
32:06It could.
32:08Then the main bedroom, number three,
32:10includes fitted wardrobes and a feature wall.
32:14We can keep this wallpaper.
32:16You like the cheetahs or leopards or whatever.
32:18Well, it's a bit more interesting this summer, isn't it?
32:22We're going to have to do some serious thinking.
32:24There we are. We have to get the brains working.
32:28Outside, hard-standing leads to a detached garage.
32:34It's a good space.
32:36And it's got power in it already.
32:38Oh, that's handy.
32:40It does look sturdy and...
32:42And feels a bit more secure with the doors and everything.
32:46I actually think this bungalow is working for them in a better way.
32:50Obviously, the garage, but also the bath.
32:53See, it's these little things.
32:56The main garden is fully fenced and includes decking and lawn,
33:00but a mystery compromise is that it's not the largest,
33:04so I'm wondering if it's enough for Lucy's gardening plans.
33:09Compact garden size that you've got here.
33:13This looks like a workable space
33:16for somebody who's not going to be doing
33:19huge excavation projects or anything.
33:22Just jazz it up a bit with a few flowers, that sort of thing.
33:26So, plenty of positives.
33:28Shall we talk about the other P price?
33:30Well, I've said the same thing every time,
33:32but I would go slightly higher.
33:34I think it's on for £210,000.
33:36OK.
33:37I'm going to be optimistic and say £205,000.
33:44£205,000?
33:45It is actually on the market currently for £220,000.
33:50I can understand that.
33:52Have another look around and then I'll meet you outside.
33:55Yeah, OK. Thank you.
33:57It may be at the very top of their budget,
34:00but this marvellous mystery offers them detached single-storey living,
34:05a kitchen and dining room,
34:07separate reception room and three bedrooms.
34:10The detached garage is workshop-ready
34:13and it's in a residential location close to countryside,
34:16less than a mile from the beach,
34:18with the transport links and services of Skegness on their doorstep.
34:23My first impressions are wow, really.
34:27It comes pretty close to being perfect, I think.
34:31Early in the morning, down to the beach, might become a habit.
34:36I don't think we thought our budget would extend to something like this.
34:40We're fairly simple folk.
34:42But I'm just amazed at the fact it's detached,
34:45it's got an independent garage.
34:47It's all good. It's just got everything going for it.
34:57We all know that house hunting can be tiring work
35:00and sometimes you've just got to stop and smell the roses.
35:04And as UK gardens are bursting full of colour and fragrance,
35:08I'm going to do exactly that.
35:13I'm near the market town of Hall Beach
35:15to meet rose-growing couple Chris and Margaret Styles.
35:19They started growing roses from a back garden
35:22after Chris was made redundant in 1999.
35:26But business bloomed into this three-acre site
35:30where they now offer 400 varieties to the public.
35:35Did you know a lot about roses when you first started?
35:38I didn't, no.
35:40You had to learn on the job.
35:42I had to learn, yes. I've learnt a lot from him.
35:45Yeah, and also going to shows is a very good way of learning.
35:49So you went from a garden to all of this?
35:52Yes. So we're currently growing around 45,000 roses.
35:56So behind you is year one. This is how they start at the beginning.
36:00Chris and Margaret import rootstock from Holland
36:04where the sandy soil encourages a deep and straight taproot.
36:08To create the different varieties,
36:10the young shrubs are grafted with a bud
36:13to introduce the genetic material
36:15that influences the type of flower the mature rose will produce.
36:19So you're sort of almost putting two bits together...
36:22Yes. ..to make your chosen variety.
36:24Yes, yes. It's a very complicated and skilled job.
36:28We have a clever man.
36:30It's a very skilled job
36:32and a good rose budder can do up to 5,000 of those in one day.
36:37That's incredible.
36:40That's not the only job that needs doing.
36:43Front of house at the nursery,
36:45it's a constant battle to keep everything looking blooming marvellous.
36:50My mother's request is that you teach me how to look after roses
36:54cos I'm bad at it. Yeah.
36:56What should I be doing?
36:58When you plant them, give them plenty of room.
37:00Put them in a position where they're going to get
37:03at least half a day's sun.
37:05Give them enough room for the wind to get through
37:07and for them to breathe.
37:09That helps keep diseases at bay.
37:11Do they need food?
37:13They do. It's the most important thing, really.
37:15Almost more important than watering.
37:17Twice a year, spring and about the middle of July,
37:21give them a handful of granular rose feed
37:24sprinkled all the way around.
37:26That contains potash
37:28but it also contains trace elements like iron, manganese, boron.
37:32So roses need their multivitamins too.
37:34They do, yeah.
37:36Deadheading roses is very important
37:38because you'll get repeat flowers.
37:40So modern roses start flowering in June
37:43and if you deadhead and cut back,
37:45they'll keep going until November, even December.
37:49Do you find that people are sort of scared of deadheading,
37:51they don't want to get rid of it?
37:53I think that's one of my top tips, is don't be afraid.
37:56Chris is showing me how to be ruthless with roses.
38:01This rose here, because it's finished flowering
38:04and there's nothing left on it...
38:06There's nothing left.
38:07..you need to cut that back down three or four leaves.
38:09Down to here? Down to there, yes.
38:11Oh, gosh, see.
38:13And by going lower, you'll produce a thicker,
38:16stronger stem that will support the flower.
38:19If you leave a thin stem at the top,
38:21it will just produce another thin stem and a floppy bloom.
38:24It's like cutting hair.
38:26Yes, yes. Short, back and size.
38:30With my newly found confidence and some freshly pruned blooms...
38:35Hello, Margaret, I've come bearing gifts.
38:37Oh, thank you.
38:39..I'm ready to help Margaret with wrapping
38:41one of the 1,000 gifted rose orders a week sent out in June.
38:46How are people choosing? By colour, by name, a bit of both?
38:50A bit of both, mainly name.
38:52Really? Mainly name?
38:54So tell me about this rose, what's its name?
38:57This one is Dolce Vita.
38:59Folds are looking lovely.
39:01So we just bring them up and turn it round,
39:05bringing the corners in,
39:07just like when you're making the corners on a bedsheet.
39:10Yeah, it feels very nurse-like, actually.
39:14Twizzle it round.
39:16Well, it is a nursery. Let's see if my bedside manner measures up.
39:20So that one's going out for a wedding.
39:23Oh, beautiful. What's it called, this flower?
39:27Oh!
39:29Smells absolutely gorgeous.
39:31We'll have to keep a close eye on this,
39:33I don't want to ruin someone's amazing day.
39:36Who packed this?
39:39You can just tell them a child did it, it's fine.
39:43I love these.
39:45Twice round, round the back, round the front.
39:52Shall we curl?
39:54There we go.
39:56I think the wrapping's a bit uneven.
39:58I might have to stick to smelling the roses.
40:01I think so.
40:04Well, I didn't promise today's buyers a rose garden,
40:07but I did say I'd try to find them a home.
40:10So let's catch up with how that's going.
40:15Well, I've given them a little time to ponder,
40:18but, you know, I'm a busy woman, got things to do,
40:21got to talk to other people, and now it's time for tea.
40:29Now, afternoon tea is always a good way to catch up.
40:33Where are your heads at the moment?
40:35I think what happened was I reacted to each house with my heart
40:40and then the practicality sort of seeped in.
40:43But for me, the mystery house was just, I think, ideal for us.
40:49The location just tips the balance for me.
40:53It's close to so much of what's useful to be close to
40:58and yet doesn't feel like it's in the middle of a town.
41:02Being that close to the beach is very tempting.
41:05What will you do now?
41:07I think we're hoping to have a second viewing tomorrow.
41:10Perfect.
41:11And I think we will be looking to putting in an offer.
41:15That's such great news.
41:17You were a little nervous about being indecisive,
41:19but you feel the same about it, don't you?
41:21Oh, that's quite unusual.
41:24Because everything felt right, didn't it?
41:26And it's a house that had no worries.
41:28The practicalities are there and you can move in
41:31and start having the fun that you want to have.
41:34It's still a little bit scary.
41:37I think the process of retiring can be difficult,
41:40but this has sort of switched our brain onto this,
41:43what happens next, and I think that's been good.
41:46Well, all the very best with that second viewing.
41:49And fingers crossed it all works out.
41:51We will certainly keep you in touch.
41:54To your new life.
41:56Cheers.
42:02When I first met Les and Lucy, there was a nervous energy,
42:07worries about never having bought a property together,
42:10worries that they might be indecisive,
42:12that they might not agree on things.
42:14But in the end, the search was actually pretty simple
42:18and what I learnt over this journey with them
42:21is that some of those nerves came from finding it difficult
42:25to leave their current life behind.
42:27But now they have a fresh focus
42:29because they have seen a property that they both like
42:32here in Lincolnshire and they've had a glimpse into their future.
42:36I wish them the very best of luck
42:38and I'll see you next time on Escape To The Country.
42:41I'm absolutely delighted to say that Les and Lucy
42:44returned to the mystery bungalow
42:46and put in an offer that was accepted.
42:49They hope to be moving in very soon
42:51and we hope they'll have much happiness in their new home.
43:00If you would also like to escape to the country in England,
43:03Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales,
43:06why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.
43:36.