Now back in the UK, a young couple crave the outdoors lifestyle they experienced together for nearly three years in New Zealand. Nicki Chapman's helps them find a new home in the fabulous countryside of North Yorkshire, where they want to spend their spare time running, cycling and walking.
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00:00When it comes to buying property, we all have our own dreams and desires.
00:06Oh, I love it. It's great.
00:09For some, it's a decorative feature.
00:12Look at that fireplace. It's such a nice fireplace.
00:16For others, it might be something more functional.
00:19Well, there's enough room for me to work from a different room every day of the week.
00:22That's so true.
00:24Whatever you're in search of...
00:26I'm running up and down the dale.
00:28Run up there and see the house on the other side.
00:30I'll run to the top and wave.
00:32Here on Escape to the Country, we aim to deliver the whole package.
00:37Who wants to go and have another look around the house?
00:39You, please.
00:40I'll race you.
00:41Off you go.
00:58From the dales to the moors, the coast to the country,
01:07with over 5,000 square miles of sensational scenery,
01:11there's no place quite like Yorkshire.
01:19Getting lost these days is hard to do
01:22because when we're travelling from A to somewhere new,
01:25we're normally following our satnav.
01:27However, what if we followed our noses instead?
01:31Okay, you might get lost,
01:33but you also might discover somewhere wonderful just like this.
01:39So basically, next time you come to Yorkshire,
01:42please do me the favour and turn that tech off for just a bit.
01:46Believe me, you will find treasure.
01:51Today, we're exploring North Yorkshire and its border with West Yorkshire.
01:56Spread with areas of outstanding natural beauty,
01:59including much of the Yorkshire Dales National Park,
02:02little wonder so many locals never leave.
02:06I was born here and I live here now with my family.
02:10I would say just move here. It's so lovely.
02:13The region is sewn together by the rivers that give the dales their name.
02:18Nidderdale, for example, named after the river Nidd
02:21that flows through the medieval town of Knaresborough.
02:25Thousands of miles of weathered and winding dry stone walls
02:29shape fields, walkways and roads
02:31which roll into picture postcard towns and villages such as Grassington.
02:37Referred to as the beating heart of the Dales,
02:40it's one of many charming North Yorkshire market towns.
02:44So, whether it's the rivers or the roads you follow,
02:47there's beauty in just about every corner of this county.
02:57Over the years, I've become familiar with Yorkshire.
03:00It's one of our most popular escape destinations.
03:03I'm also married to a Yorkshireman.
03:06It's like a second home for me, unlike today's couple who want to make it.
03:12Hi, I'm Johnny, a charity accountant.
03:14Hi, I'm Alice, a primary school teacher.
03:17And this is our house in Birmingham.
03:21Alice and Johnny met four years ago
03:24and shortly after moved to New Zealand together
03:27where they spent nearly three years working and travelling.
03:31I managed to persuade you that it would be quite possible
03:34to live in a place like this.
03:38Managed to persuade you that it would be quite fun, nice place to visit.
03:42You weren't entirely convinced.
03:44No, I wasn't convinced at first, but we went.
03:47And, yeah, we had an amazing time.
03:50It was brilliant.
03:52So set up for cycling and walking and running
03:55and the outdoors lifestyle, which we just loved.
03:58Having returned to Birmingham last year,
04:01they miss the outdoors lifestyle they had overseas,
04:04so they're now looking to escape the city once again.
04:07We have to cross this road every time we come out of our house
04:11or go for a bike ride.
04:13We're desperate to get somewhere quieter, more peaceful with country roads
04:18where we don't have to worry about traffic and all this pollution.
04:24After visiting for holidays and with Alice having family in the region,
04:28they've decided that rural North Yorkshire is the place they'd like to call home.
04:34It is the ruggedness of a lot of the terrain
04:37and, yeah, just some beautiful countryside,
04:40plenty of mountains and some nice coastline, really,
04:43which hopefully we'll get to see more of.
04:45Yeah, and it also has good transport links,
04:48but you can still be in a village
04:50and have that country lifestyle which we want.
04:55Alice and Johnny have a budget of £550,000
04:59and are looking for a character property with three to four bedrooms,
05:03a fireplace and a manageable garden.
05:07They'd like to be within a country village community,
05:10around 30 to 40 minutes from Burley in Wharfdale,
05:13where Alice will be working,
05:15and with good transport links to Leeds.
05:22So this new home that Alice and Johnny are getting,
05:25it's the first time they'll actually have bought together
05:28and it's such a massive step.
05:30I can remember so clearly my first property
05:34and it's always the one closest to your heart.
05:37You never forget your first home.
05:43Our adventure starts in the pretty Dales village of Darley.
05:47Under 30 minutes' drive from Burley in Wharfdale
05:50and 50 minutes from Leeds,
05:52Darley offers a peaceful rural community
05:55hugged by lush fields and farmland.
05:58Amongst the traditional Yorkshire stone houses, there's a pub,
06:02plus a village shop with post office and cafe,
06:05so Alice and Johnny should have no trouble integrating with the locals.
06:09But before we head there,
06:11I'm meeting up with a couple in the grounds of Ripley Castle
06:14so we can all get a little better acquainted.
06:21So, I mean, here we are.
06:23How gorgeous is this area?
06:25It's beautiful, isn't it? Look at the lake.
06:27It's amazing, yeah.
06:28Having spent, what was it, three years living in New Zealand?
06:31Nearly, yeah, just about.
06:33How did you come up with Yorkshire?
06:35I think there are a number of factors.
06:37The convenience of this area,
06:39it really is connected to Harrogate and Leeds,
06:43but then mainly the scenery
06:45and how varied it can be given Yorkshire's such a big county.
06:48And, Alice, this is going to be the first time
06:51that you've bought a home together.
06:53Exciting times, I reckon.
06:55Yeah, it is exciting cos we live together in New Zealand
06:58but we've had to come back and settle briefly again
07:01and I think we're ready to, yeah,
07:03start our lives somewhere up here together.
07:06I think we both have similar lists in terms of what we want
07:10but we don't really know.
07:12It's a bit of a voyage of exploration.
07:14Yeah. I like the honesty there.
07:16Got some fascinating people for you to meet
07:18and, of course, properties for you to see.
07:21So shall we get cracking? Yes, please.
07:23Come on, then.
07:25Just a 15-minute drive away
07:27and we're here on the edge of Darley Village
07:30at our first property.
07:33Wanda, have you ever considered living in a mill,
07:36a converted mill?
07:38No, I don't think so.
07:40Now, don't be too scared. It's not the whole building.
07:43Just one section of it. Wow.
07:45Yeah, we love the fields. It's beautiful.
07:48It's very quiet and peaceful.
07:50We had a little look in the village.
07:52It looks lovely.
07:53Lovely stream just at the bottom of the driveway.
07:56Some public footpaths, which was great.
07:58So, yeah, first impressions are really good.
08:01Shall we step inside and see what you make of the actual home itself?
08:04Yes, please.
08:08Dating back to the 1820s,
08:10this striking mill was converted in 2012.
08:13There's a lot to see across its four floors
08:16and we're starting with the ground-floor kitchen-diner.
08:20It's lovely.
08:22From what we're used to, it will feel huge, I think.
08:25Is your current home quite small?
08:27Tiny, yeah.
08:29Two people in the kitchen, it feels crowded.
08:31Oh, really? Yeah. This is party time.
08:33Yeah, it's lovely.
08:35Ceilings are really high and, yes, loads of space.
08:38Good, good. OK, well, more to see.
08:40Let's see how we get on.
08:44The first of three flights of stairs
08:46takes us via a spacious landing to the living room.
08:51It's lovely. Yeah, again, really nice-sized room.
08:54Plenty of space, definitely.
08:56I like the windows. It looks like there's a nice view.
08:59And the beams, I like the sort of old...
09:01It gives it a nice, cosy, but also an old feel to it.
09:04I mean, mills certainly have a very strong character.
09:07We do like character.
09:09I don't think we would have considered a mill, though.
09:12It's a big space and it's on different levels.
09:14I think you might need a little tannoy system.
09:16Are you in the kitchen? I need a spare cup of tea.
09:19Or one of those old-fashioned pulley things.
09:22Oh, yes. With a bell. Yes.
09:26Up on the next level, there's a compact bathroom
09:28and a large double bedroom.
09:30On the top floor, nestled into the eaves,
09:33two further bedrooms include a cosy double plus a twin.
09:38So, we've got four bedrooms in total.
09:41Oh, wow, that's great. Yep.
09:43And this is the main one, or the principal bedroom,
09:45and it is en suite as well.
09:47So, when you're lying in bed, that is your view.
09:50That's beautiful. It looks lovely.
09:52Yeah, gorgeous rolling hills.
09:54This is a lovely room. Lots of space.
09:57The en suite looks great, fantastic. That's a bonus.
10:00Now, there's no bathroom upstairs.
10:02If you wanted a little bit of a project,
10:06perhaps that might be a good idea, to put a little en suite up there,
10:09then you can use those rooms as well.
10:11Or perhaps there's studies and you don't need one.
10:14I do need a study.
10:15So, the current owner, in actual fact,
10:17has set up the bedroom next door as a working office.
10:20So, why don't you go and take a look at that,
10:22then explore upstairs, and I'll meet you outside when you're ready.
10:26Great. OK. Thank you. Thank you.
10:29Oh, this is great.
10:31Loads of room. Could definitely see myself working in here.
10:34Maybe we both could.
10:36Little big desk for you, little desk for me.
10:39Yeah, well, that is a very big desk.
10:41Mine's not that big. It's huge.
10:43Oh, look at the beams. Oh, wow.
10:46Nice view again out there.
10:48That's a lovely space, isn't it?
10:50I could just see myself reading in there,
10:53have a nice little cup of tea.
10:55Lovely view out to the garden.
10:57Outside, there's a graveled yard to the rear
11:00and a bridge over a pond leads to an elevated lawned garden.
11:04Come on up, because I think I am queen of the castle.
11:08Such a beautiful vantage point up here.
11:10It's lovely.
11:11So, we are going to have to put a price on it.
11:14I think...
11:17£525,000.
11:19OK.
11:21I'm going to have to put a price on it.
11:23OK.
11:25I'm going to go slightly higher. I think £540,000.
11:28You are both quite wide of the mark, but in a good way.
11:32The asking price is £465,000.
11:36Wow. OK.
11:38That's interesting.
11:41At £85,000 under budget,
11:44this characterful converted mill offers a spacious kitchen diner,
11:48four bedrooms and a manageable garden,
11:51all within a rural village community.
11:55I think the space, in some ways, definitely does work for the lifestyle.
11:59There's a lot of good points.
12:01I'd like to find out more about the area,
12:04just to get a bit more of a feel,
12:06because you're sort of jumping into the unknown slightly,
12:09so that is a bit daunting.
12:12I don't think this property gave us the,
12:15this is the one, or I feel a real love for this house.
12:19I can't put my finger on it yet,
12:22but I'm hoping that that will come.
12:39When moving to a new part of the world,
12:42it's important you find your home comforts.
12:45For some people, that might be a particular food,
12:48but for many of us Brits, it's a good cuppa,
12:51and nowhere does it quite like Yorkshire,
12:54with Harrogate in particular as the place to be for afternoon tea.
12:58What's more, this gorgeous town is twinned
13:01with Alice and Johnny's old home of Wellington in New Zealand.
13:05If they're looking to feel at home, surely that'll be here,
13:08so we've arranged for them to have a good look around.
13:12It's lovely, that's a church.
13:14Yeah, let's come back for shopping. Yes.
13:17Harrogate is perfectly placed for access
13:20to both the Yorkshire Dales and larger cities,
13:23with direct trains to London in under three hours
13:26and to both York and Leeds in around half an hour.
13:29I think what's most unique about Harrogate
13:32is that we are so close to the countryside,
13:35so you can be out in Pateley Bridge,
13:38out in the countryside really quite quickly,
13:41but then when you come into the town,
13:43you've got all the benefits of just living in a town.
13:46It's a community that loves to celebrate.
13:49There's a festival for everything, from music to crime writing.
13:53There's so much going on here, like the crime festival,
13:56literally down the road. It's one of the biggest in Europe,
13:59in such a small town. We host the Great Yorkshire Show,
14:02again, we're a small town, but I think we sort of,
14:05you know, we punch above our weight in so many ways.
14:08We're more than a town.
14:10The fashionable Montpellier Quarter is filled with art galleries,
14:14antique shops, fashion boutiques, cafes and restaurants.
14:19And when you're tired of shopping,
14:21the traditional Turkish baths are a great place to relax.
14:25It's a spa town and the pump room has particularly pungent spring water.
14:31Can you smell the sulphur?
14:33Oh!
14:35A more fragrant brew is waiting at the world-famous Betty's,
14:39or one of their sought-after Fat Rascals,
14:42which is a cross between a rock cake and a scone.
14:45And where better to indulge on a sunny day
14:48than in the Grade II-listed Valley Gardens?
14:51It's got almonds on top.
14:53I think they're supposed to look like a face, two eyes and a mouth.
14:57Oh, yeah.
14:59Perhaps no-one knows their way around Harrogate better
15:02than Harry Satloka.
15:04He runs free walking tours through the town
15:07and he's kindly come to meet Alice and Johnny.
15:10So what are your favourite spots and places in Harrogate?
15:13So I think the Valley Gardens has to be by far my favourite spot in Harrogate.
15:17From the entrance, we can go for 17 acres.
15:20You can walk a mile and a half all the way up to the Royal Horticulture Gardens
15:24at Harlow Carr.
15:25You've got New Zealand Gardens, the Japanese Gardens,
15:28Pitchham Park, Crazy Golf, Disc Golf.
15:30You have to check out the New Zealand Gardens
15:32because we lived there for three years.
15:34Oh, wow!
15:35So, yeah, we know a little bit about there.
15:37Just three weeks ago, we had our 60th anniversary.
15:39The Minister for New Zealand, the Ambassador,
15:42came up here and reopened our New Zealand Gardens.
15:45And, yeah, a really strong connection.
15:48Place for us, then.
15:51Sounds like a sign to me.
15:53And where better for our young couple to get a fix
15:57they'll be leaving behind in Birmingham.
15:59But for now, we're heading back to exploring more
16:02of what Yorkshire property has to offer.
16:09For our next house, we're staying in the North Yorkshire village of Darley.
16:13Alice and Johnny loved this location,
16:16with its village community bordered by the Nidderdale area
16:19of outstanding natural beauty.
16:21So we found a home in a great position to take it all in.
16:27So, we haven't gone too far, actually, from our first property.
16:31We're still in Darley.
16:32To bring you our second property.
16:35Lovely.
16:36Yeah, it's good, isn't it?
16:37There's very sharp angles on the roof.
16:39It's quite nice, isn't it?
16:40Quite a pretty house, you know?
16:42It's pretty from the front.
16:43You've got the lovely front garden, the borders and the flowers.
16:46Nice driveway.
16:47If you just look to the side...
16:49Yes, I was just peeking across.
16:52There might be a view down there.
16:53Lovely views across the valley, maybe.
16:55Yeah.
16:56We really like the village. It'll be perfect for us.
16:59Well, if you like the village, that's a good start.
17:02Let's see what you make of the actual property.
17:07Located in the heart of the village,
17:09it's a promising start for this detached, dormer-style home.
17:13Our tour begins in the living room,
17:15where I'm pretty confident they're going to like what they see.
17:20Wow.
17:21With the view.
17:22Look at that.
17:23Takes you back, I think.
17:24Yes.
17:25Just the space of it.
17:26Nidderdale Valley.
17:27I mean, beautiful.
17:28This is all an area of outstanding natural beauty,
17:30and you're never, ever going to get bored with that view.
17:33No, I'll just stand here mesmerised all day.
17:35We don't need to see the rest of the house.
17:37I'll just stand here.
17:38Have you spotted the fire yet?
17:39There is a fire.
17:40Oh, there is a fire.
17:41There is fire.
17:42I'm still mesmerised.
17:43There are sheep in the fields and everything.
17:45Yeah, that's quite spectacular.
17:48It's lovely, isn't it?
17:49Running up and down the dales.
17:51You'll get your view up there.
17:53You keep saying, I want to run somewhere with a view.
17:55Well, you can just run up there and see the house on the other side.
17:58I'll run to the top and wave.
18:01The living room flows into a dining area,
18:03also benefiting from those unspoilt views across the countryside.
18:08I mean, at the moment, as you can see,
18:10straight in front of us is the kitchen.
18:12You'd need to get some expert advice,
18:14but I'd be tempted to take that wall out and have it flowing through.
18:18Yeah, it'd be a nice open kitchen dining.
18:20Dinner with a view.
18:21Dinner with a view.
18:23Come through and have a look here.
18:25You see, there is so much potential in this property.
18:29So, you know, you've got an average-sized kitchen,
18:31I think it'd be fair to say,
18:33but then you've got the extension,
18:34which has been done out the back here, with the utilities.
18:38I wouldn't mind doing the washing up with that view.
18:40Yeah.
18:41So I'd be tempted to open this all up.
18:44That would make an incredibly large kitchen,
18:47and how fabulous looking out over all of that.
18:49Yeah.
18:50It would be great, wouldn't it?
18:51Hopefully there's a bit of wiggle room with the budget,
18:54because I think if we don't have a little bit of that money
18:57to do what we'd want to do with it, it might not be a goer.
19:00So, fingers crossed, we'll wait and see.
19:03There's so much potential with this property
19:06if the couple have the time and vision for the project.
19:11On this level, there's a large bedroom to the front,
19:14another generous double next door,
19:17plus a shower room.
19:19Upstairs are the remaining two bedrooms,
19:22which again could provide a little project.
19:27Look at those views again.
19:29It is a good view.
19:30I wonder whether we could knock that wall down,
19:32or you could convert that room into an en-suite, maybe.
19:36That would be good, yeah.
19:37Would be some work, though, wouldn't it?
19:39We'd have to consider that.
19:40Might be doable.
19:41Might be doable.
19:42There's a sink already, so then halfway there.
19:45Outside, there's a paved driveway
19:47and an integrated garage to the front.
19:50A patio to the rear leads to a neat stretch of lawn
19:53with front-row seats to those stunning Dales views.
20:00Hello.
20:01Hello. Have you seen enough inside?
20:03We have.
20:04Yes, I can see.
20:05Yeah.
20:06And then you've got this lovely garden.
20:07Yeah, this is the perfect garden, I think.
20:09Everything we want and need, definitely.
20:11And there's a little pond up there as well, so...
20:13Yeah.
20:14Nice.
20:15Really lovely.
20:16Nice.
20:17So, we're in agreement that the house has got so much potential,
20:20but what price are we going to put on it?
20:22Oh, I'm going to go £530,000 and maybe be optimistic.
20:27Johnny?
20:28I'm going to go similar, so I'm going to go £520,000.
20:31OK, well, your top budget is £550,000.
20:35That is the asking price for this home.
20:39It doesn't leave us much room to do what we'd need to do to it.
20:44Yeah, so, I mean, the location is perfect, the views are incredible,
20:49the house is great, but it's going to need a lot of work,
20:53so that's going to take time and money, which maybe we don't have.
20:58Bang on budget at £550,000,
21:01this detached property has a semi-open-plan living and dining room
21:05with breathtaking countryside views, four bedrooms and a good-sized garden.
21:12The garden is perfect, I think.
21:14It is almost exactly what we want, so that's always a big plus.
21:17The house has a lot going for it, definitely.
21:20There's plenty we want to do, so I think that's a good sign
21:23in terms of we're starting to think that it could be somewhere we live.
21:26We love the house, we love the location, we love the views, needless to say,
21:33but I think we would need to do quite a lot,
21:36and it's going to take some thinking through
21:39whether we can actually afford to do what we would like to do.
21:52It's been an interesting day of house hunting,
21:55trying to find Alice and Johnny the first home they're buying together.
21:59We've given them a taste of Yorkshire property,
22:02but now I think it's time for a little flavour of something different.
22:07Now, I know Harrogate is famous for its tea rooms,
22:10but Ripley is famous for something else.
22:14Ice cream, and this particular parlour has been serving locals and visitors
22:19from far and wide for decades.
22:22Ripley Ice Cream has been here for as long as I can remember.
22:25I've been coming here for over 40 years myself.
22:28It's a generation thing. Families were brought here as children,
22:32they then bring the children and the grandchildren,
22:35and it's great ice cream.
22:37On a busy day, people queue down the street for this stuff.
22:41Thankfully, I'm straight to the front today.
22:44Thank you so much. You're welcome.
22:46I'll be back to pay once these have been devoured. Thank you.
22:49What a lovely way to relax at the end of a busy day,
22:52and in such a beautiful spot too.
22:55Now that we've got our treats sorted, we can concentrate on what we've seen so far.
22:59How do you feel it's gone?
23:01It's been great. We've enjoyed it.
23:03Really informative. We've learned a lot about the area,
23:06the sort of communities, how connected it can be.
23:09Yeah, it's been really good.
23:11I think the village you showed us is definitely firmly in our radar now.
23:14It was sort of the perfect village, really.
23:16It had all the amenities, had a really nice community feel,
23:19it had a lovely shop.
23:21Are you getting excited? I mean, you've got the new job,
23:24it's going, isn't it? Yeah. I mean, time's ticking away,
23:27and we have to move in August, so...
23:30Like the sand dials going, isn't it,
23:32and the grains of sand are getting faster and faster.
23:35We'll be camping on the village green if we can't find anywhere.
23:38Here's to Yorkshire.
23:40I know they've got amazing ice cream.
23:42Just got to find you the house now.
23:44Looking forward to tomorrow.
23:55Well, I really enjoyed showing Alice and Johnny
23:59around this part of Yorkshire yesterday,
24:02because not only are we trying to find them a new home,
24:05but it's actually going to be their first home that they've bought together.
24:08Today is another day, and we've still got so much more to explore,
24:12including showing them our mystery house.
24:16Now, when I say it could be a project,
24:18I'm not underestimating how much work could go into making this,
24:22the most incredible home for them both.
24:28For today's properties, we're heading over to West Yorkshire,
24:31starting in the conservation village of Braithwaite,
24:34just outside the market town of Keighley.
24:37Despite this, it's a tranquil community
24:39dotted with traditional stone properties.
24:42Less than a five-minute drive away, in the village of Laycock,
24:46you can have a pint with the locals in the pub
24:48or get involved with daily events at the village hall.
24:56So it's such a cute village. This is Braithwaite.
24:59I'm going to show you this property here,
25:01the second oldest house in this village.
25:04Amazing. Look at that door.
25:06And the roof, the lovely slate roof.
25:08Yeah, it's stunning. Beautiful windows, beautiful stone.
25:11It's a good job we're not too tall,
25:13cos we wouldn't get through the front door.
25:16How do you feel about potentially owning a slice of history?
25:20Amazing. Yeah?
25:22I mean, I did history at university.
25:24It's what I studied, so fantastic.
25:26Well, hopefully you're going to be pointing out some of the features
25:29to me as we walk around.
25:31Shall we get started? Yes, please.
25:35This former farmhouse is believed to date back to the 1640s,
25:39and the front part is Grade II listed.
25:42We're starting the tour there in the first of three reception rooms,
25:45where there's a certain feature I know Alice will be pleased to see.
25:51So I think you're going to enjoy this tour.
25:53Oh, look at it. Look at that fireplace.
25:56It's such a nice fireplace.
25:58And the owner said that's the original fireplace.
26:01Wow. I would just be curled up in front of it.
26:04Yeah, you sure would.
26:06We've managed to find you a decent fireplace at last.
26:09It just feels so cosy and warm.
26:13Yeah, I love it.
26:15Do you like it, Johnny? I do.
26:17No, it's really, really cosy, isn't it?
26:19I love the windows, actually. They're looking better on the inside.
26:22Yeah, they do, don't they?
26:24So, first room, getting a great reaction.
26:27Yeah, I mean... Going very well.
26:29I'm speechless. I just love it.
26:31I mean, look at it. That's fantastic.
26:34The character continues in the newer part of the house to the rear.
26:38What was formerly the cow shed
26:40has been tastefully remodelled into a fabulous kitchen.
26:44Lovely. Ooh, I love it.
26:46It's great. Look at it.
26:48Wow. Yeah. Loads of room.
26:50Loads of room. Great.
26:52I love the island in the middle.
26:54Oh, yeah. Even though the windows aren't very large, it still feels light.
26:58It's so cosy and country cottagey,
27:01but not cramped, I think.
27:03We'd be very happy here.
27:05This reaction is on another level.
27:08Yeah, I feel it in the heart.
27:10Yes. It's lovely.
27:12Yeah, it's absolutely stunning.
27:14And it doesn't look like there's any work,
27:16so it's much less daunting in that way.
27:18I even like the little doors.
27:20Is that a pantry in there?
27:22Yeah, that's a pantry in there,
27:24and then you've got a utility room through there as well.
27:27Yeah, that's great.
27:29And I think this is the time for you two to go and explore,
27:32cos there is a lot to see.
27:34So, do you fancy going around on your own?
27:36I mean, do shout if you need my help, if you need me to come and find you.
27:40Beside the kitchen sits a second reception room
27:43opening onto a conservatory.
27:45Our table would go here.
27:47We're already moving in.
27:49Yeah.
27:51There's also a further sitting room with space for dining.
27:54This is lovely again.
27:56I get so cosy.
27:58Ooh!
28:00Oh, I'm spoilt now.
28:02Oh, what a cosy room. This is lovely.
28:04I don't know which one I'd be in.
28:06A dining table. We'll need one for the conservatory, one for in here.
28:09How exciting.
28:11I've got tingles.
28:15Upstairs, a landing leads to a family bathroom,
28:19a single bedroom in use as a study,
28:22and another three bedrooms,
28:24all with traditional mullion windows.
28:27Yeah, wonky floor. I like the wonky floor.
28:31There's also a generous primary suite.
28:34Oh, nice. Lots of space.
28:36Lovely windows. Wardrobe.
28:38Yeah, this would be perfect, wouldn't it?
28:40Yeah, it's lovely. And an en suite as well.
28:42Sort of a wet room.
28:44Yeah, absolutely beautiful.
28:47Can't stop smiling.
28:51Now, this is going well.
28:53Architecturally, this style is so different
28:55from the other two properties that we've shown them.
28:58They don't have the country views,
29:00but what we do get is that instant affection
29:03as soon as they came through the door.
29:05They absolutely love it, especially Alice.
29:09By the sounds of it, it's just getting better and better.
29:14Turning our attention to the outside space,
29:17at the rear, there's a good-sized lawn,
29:20a private driveway with parking for numerous cars,
29:24a patio with a pergola and seating,
29:29plus a second separate paved patio with barbecue.
29:35So, from this side of the property, it's pretty big, isn't it?
29:38It's great, isn't it? You said it might be the one.
29:41I did. I did say it might be the one.
29:43So, Johnny, we know Alice loves the house.
29:46What about you?
29:47No, it's amazing. I really, really like it.
29:49There's enough room for me to work from a different room
29:51every day of the week.
29:53That is so true. That is so true.
29:55I'm going to bring you down to earth.
29:57Oh, don't.
29:58But hopefully you will continue smiling
30:00because I'm going to ask you to put a price on this property.
30:04It's only just gone on the market.
30:06Well, I can't really believe it's in budget,
30:08so I'll go slightly over at 560.
30:11£560,000.
30:13I don't think it's in budget either, so...
30:16565?
30:18Well, I think you're going to be even more pleased.
30:20The actual price is £450,000.
30:23No.
30:25Yes.
30:27Are you sure?
30:29Yeah.
30:30I'm flabbergasted, really.
30:33I'm speechless.
30:35And it has the fireplace.
30:36Where do we sign?
30:37Where do we sign?
30:38Get the checkbook out right now.
30:41Yeah.
30:42Who wants to go and have another look around the house?
30:44You, please.
30:45I'll race you.
30:46Go on, race you. Go on, off you go.
30:49£50,000 under budget,
30:51this impressive former 17th-century farmhouse
30:54seems to give them everything they want.
30:57There are three reception rooms,
30:59that all-important traditional fireplace for Alice,
31:02plus a gorgeous private garden,
31:05all in a charming West Yorkshire village.
31:09It's just got the X factor for us, I think,
31:13and we can't quite put our finger on it.
31:16The room felt comfortable
31:17and we could see ourselves living there.
31:20And then when Nicky told us the price,
31:22I was still processing that, I think.
31:25Yes.
31:26What's the catch? I don't know.
31:27Can't quite believe it still.
31:28Yeah, blowing the other two out of the water
31:30that we saw yesterday, it's right up there.
31:35If you're considering a move
31:37to this delightful part of the country,
31:39it's important you know the facts and figures first.
31:42So, listen up.
31:44The average price of a detached house in North Yorkshire
31:48is just over £432,000,
31:51which is around £21,000 lower
31:54than the national figure for a detached house.
31:58And that's a lot of money.
32:01£21,000 lower than the national figure
32:04of almost £454,000.
32:07Better still, in West Yorkshire,
32:10the average price is even lower
32:12at about £357,500.
32:19As one of the largest counties in the UK,
32:22there's plenty of property here
32:24to suit just about all budgets.
32:27For £325,000, grab your slice of the Dales
32:31with this beautiful three-bedroom end-of-terrace cottage,
32:35just a stone's throw from the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
32:40If you're in search of more space,
32:42how about this five-bedroom traditional stone-built detached house?
32:46For offers over £650,000,
32:49it has recently been fully modernised throughout,
32:52with windows to the countryside from almost every aspect.
32:56Or if you want to get to know the area before taking the plunge,
33:00then the rental market won't disappoint,
33:03with properties like this two-bedroom, two-bathroom cottage on offer
33:07for £1,400 per month.
33:11And what a base to explore the area,
33:13again right on the edge of the spectacular Dales.
33:19Our last stop on this Yorkshire tour
33:22is the picturesque village of Hawksworth.
33:27With stone buildings that line winding country roads,
33:30it's worlds away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Leeds.
33:34It was the model for the fictional village of Windy Ridge
33:38in Willie Riley's best-selling 1912 novel of the same name,
33:42and today, strolling amongst the characterful streets
33:46does feel like stepping back in time.
33:52So our final offering, of course, is our mystery house,
33:55with fantastic views of Yorkshire.
33:58But this house has a little bit of a difference attached to it.
34:01It's a bit of a project.
34:03You just need the imagination to see its full potential.
34:10Now, this is a well-built, sturdy 1920s house.
34:15So you've got one reception room here,
34:17then it comes into a second reception room.
34:20Again, really large proportions.
34:22The kitchen, slightly on the small side,
34:25but what I would do is extend out.
34:28You've got plenty of room
34:30and it would make a fantastic bespoke family home.
34:35But is it going to be the one for Alice and Johnny?
34:38Let's find out.
34:40So I'm hoping you'll have taken in that incredible view.
34:44We have.
34:45Which this mystery house looks out onto.
34:49Lovely.
34:50And we have brought you the closest to your school.
34:53It's only a ten-minute commute.
34:55Oh, right.
34:56So, first impressions, then.
34:58Yeah, it's a nice stone again, isn't it?
35:00You like the stone.
35:01Looks modern, looks light.
35:03Probably just move straight into, maybe.
35:05Well, that's where there's a little bit of a twist.
35:07You could move straight into it, but in all honesty,
35:10I think this is why we picked it as the mystery house.
35:12It is a little bit more of a project.
35:14OK.
35:15So this is exciting because it has so much potential.
35:18Yeah.
35:19Does that frighten you, Johnny?
35:21I don't know, we'll see.
35:22So for the final time, shall we step inside?
35:25Yes, please.
35:28It's great they're not instantly put off
35:30by the thought of a big project.
35:32I just hope they can visualise
35:34what this 1920s semi-detached cottage could offer.
35:39See, every time I walk into a room,
35:41I'm looking at the view again and again.
35:44We could definitely work with this.
35:47Yeah, it's a good space.
35:49Now, I'm thinking back to the previous property we showed you
35:52and the reaction there was,
35:54wow, and excited hands and everything,
35:57but I'm not getting that for this one.
35:59Would that be true?
36:00I think so.
36:01It doesn't pull the heartstrings in quite the same way.
36:04Fair enough.
36:05Yeah, it feels a bit more functional.
36:07Lots of space, but not quite as cosy or exciting.
36:10I mean, it is a spacious home.
36:12You've got quite a large sitting room here
36:15with the doors that leads us into another,
36:18well, a second reception room.
36:20Good-sized rooms, aren't they?
36:22They're not pokey.
36:23Yeah, and I wonder whether you could open it out a bit more.
36:26Also, through there is the kitchen.
36:28What you could do is take this all the way back,
36:31including the kitchen,
36:32perhaps put a utility room in and upstairs,
36:35and then you're, I don't know, increasing the footprint by...
36:38It's going to be about a third.
36:40Have you ever considered doing anything like that?
36:42I don't think we've considered it.
36:44No, we haven't, but...
36:45That's why it's the mystery house, I suppose.
36:47Something to consider that we haven't considered.
36:50But there has to be money in the budget to do it.
36:53Thankfully, they're remaining open-minded
36:56as there's still more to explore,
36:58and with the right permissions,
37:00this could be transformed into an impressive modern home.
37:04The garden goes really far out, doesn't it?
37:07Yeah, you could get a huge extension, couldn't you?
37:10I think you'd need to do that, wouldn't you?
37:12Cos this wouldn't work for us, as it is.
37:15Upstairs, there's a family bathroom,
37:18two cosy bedrooms, one of which is used as a study,
37:22a more spacious double,
37:24plus another double with views over the garden.
37:29I'm not feeling the love in the same way.
37:32No, I mean, it's nice.
37:34The ceilings are much higher, which gives it a lot more space.
37:37Yeah, it just doesn't put all my heartstrings in the same way.
37:40I don't think the mystery house is getting top marks, sadly, no.
37:45Their hearts and their minds are elsewhere.
37:48They're not concentrating on the potential of this house.
37:51But let's be fair,
37:53it's the first house that they'll have bought together.
37:56Moving to a different part of the UK,
37:58do they really want a project on their hands?
38:01I think probably not.
38:03You can see why they've brought us here.
38:05It's close to Ilkley, you could easily commute to Leeds.
38:08It's definitely a good location for us
38:10and it's so close to where I'll be working as well.
38:13There's lots of potential and you can see it,
38:15but it doesn't inspire you.
38:17The property sits on a generous plot.
38:20There's a patio to the rear with flowerbeds ready for planting
38:24and a paved path which runs all the way up the long private lawn.
38:32Look at this long garden.
38:34I mean, I love this garden, but the house has got to be right.
38:37I just don't know if we can take on a big move,
38:41new jobs and a big project all at the same time.
38:44That's a fair comment.
38:46Shall we see if you can afford to take on the project
38:49in case we can still tempt you?
38:51What do you think this house is on the market for?
38:55I'm going to go for...
38:58..nine-five.
39:00I was thinking similar. I'm thinking maybe four, six, five.
39:04I'm quite impressed, actually, with your guesstimates
39:07because the asking price is for offers over £475,000.
39:12OK.
39:14Yeah, so there would be money in the budget.
39:16There would. I don't know.
39:18I don't want to put words into your mouth,
39:20but I feel we might have lost you to another property along the way.
39:23Would that be true? Quite possibly.
39:26We left our hearts in the previous property, quite honestly.
39:30Our hearts are still there, so it's hard to drag them back.
39:34It might not be the one for Alice and Johnny,
39:37but at offers in excess of £475,000,
39:40this 1920s semi-detached cottage has heaps of potential.
39:47There are four bedrooms, views across the countryside
39:51and a large garden,
39:53with the shortest commute time we've shown them.
39:57Yeah, I mean, it's a nice house, very well located.
40:00We can see that there's potential.
40:02We're just struggling to be inspired by it
40:04in the same way as we were by property number three, I guess.
40:07This is the sort of location we've been looking at
40:10close to Ilkley, close to Leeds,
40:12but maybe a little bit conflicted because it's a project
40:16and we didn't really want a project.
40:19I think it might be a bit more than we can manage,
40:23particularly with the move and the new job.
40:25Maybe it's just too much for us to take on right now.
40:34Oh, I must admit, I'm a little bit nervous.
40:37It's like an end-of-term report.
40:39How have we done with our properties?
40:41Shall we find out?
40:44So, Alice and Johnny, I'm actually sitting on the edge of my seat
40:49because I'm not quite sure, have we done enough?
40:53Have we found you your next home together?
40:57A whisker. A whisker away.
40:59A whisker.
41:00I'd say we've booked a second viewing for tomorrow morning.
41:05That beautiful listed home in the village.
41:08Yeah, it stole our hearts. It really did.
41:11You must have got straight on the phone as we came out.
41:14Pretty much.
41:15We'll go and look at the area a bit more tomorrow, I think, as well.
41:18That's a great idea.
41:20Yeah, cos we don't know that area at all.
41:22It's not been on our radar, really,
41:24but the house itself is just incredible.
41:28I can just see us going on a long walk, taking off our wellies,
41:32going into the kitchen, making a cup of tea
41:35and then going into one of the snug rooms with the fire.
41:38I can just see it. I can see us doing that every weekend.
41:44I can visualise us there having a lovely life in the countryside.
41:47Oh, how wonderful.
41:49I think it would be great just to finish the day's work
41:52and go out for a lovely walk in the countryside.
41:54Yeah, well, term time's not that far away, the new term,
41:57and you've sold your house,
41:59so you really do have to get your skates on.
42:02Yeah, we do. We do.
42:03Well, I hope it all goes well.
42:05The deal is, if you move into that house,
42:07you invite me back to see how you're getting on.
42:09Of course. Of course.
42:11Plenty of space there. Oh, wonderful.
42:13Well, thank you both so much and all the very best.
42:15Thank you so much. You've had a wonderful time.
42:21Well, it seems our farmhouse here in Yorkshire secured top marks
42:25and we are thrilled that Alice and Johnny
42:28have secured a second viewing for it tomorrow.
42:30I hope it all goes well for them.
42:32I hope it all goes well for them.
42:34Their very first property they're buying together.
42:37I'll be keeping everything crossed
42:39and I'll see you again very soon.
42:43Alice and Johnny returned to the house and loved it just as much
42:47but decided it was too close to the town for them.
42:50They are now sure of the style of property they want, though,
42:53so the search continues
42:55and I'm confident they'll be making Yorkshire their home very soon.
43:01If you would like to escape to the country in England, Wales,
43:04Northern Ireland or Scotland and need our help,
43:07why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash takepart?
43:30.
43:35.
43:40.