Sonali Shah marvels at the majesty of Perth and Kinross, as she helps a couple from a large town on England's south coast to find their dream country escape in Scotland. With their house-hunting budget of £425,000, lots of bookshelves, or places for them, are a top priority.
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00:00When it comes to finding the right place for a country escape, sometimes it pays to go with the flow.
00:08Look at that view. That is amazing.
00:12Although that can lead to being spoilt for choice.
00:16It's so beautiful here. Isn't it, Giles?
00:19So it's worth properly pinning down those property requirements.
00:24She can tuck me out of the way in all sorts of different parts of the house.
00:27Is that why you like it so much?
00:29It is.
00:31And you could come up with the perfect match.
00:34I'm falling in love going on here.
00:36Oh, did you mention the love word?
00:38The L word.
00:40Yeah.
00:57Whether you're after taking a high road or a low road,
01:08today's escape location combines all the best ingredients of scenic drama, calm and culture.
01:16Perth and Kinross.
01:18Breathtaking, beautiful and thrilling.
01:21Even if you live here in the village of Dull.
01:24That's right. It's called Dull.
01:26And it's in a club with an American town called Boring and a place called Bland in Australia.
01:32I'm not kidding.
01:33I think it's safe to say, though, that the 80 or so residents of Dull think it's anything but.
01:41Located in the centre of Scotland in one of 32 Scottish council areas,
01:47Perth and Kinross covers more than 2,000 square miles,
01:51which roughly correspond to the historic boundaries of Perthshire and Kinrossshire.
01:57Straddling both Scotland's highlands and lowlands,
02:01it combines classic landscapes of lochs and monroes,
02:05that's mountains of 3,000 feet or more,
02:08with fertile pastures and crop fields.
02:12The result is a bounty of scenic vistas and quality produce.
02:17For you, what is that specific charm about this area?
02:21I mean, for here, it's the mighty River Tay.
02:23I mean, the mighty River Tay runs from Loch Tay to the Atlantic.
02:27And also we have probably within the small radius of here, maybe 50 or 60 monroes.
02:31So very, very popular with hill walkers.
02:33We get a lot of visitors who are looking for produce from Scotland.
02:37So we fit that bill ideally.
02:43I've said it before and I'll say it again.
02:45I cannot get enough of these epic landscapes.
02:49And of course, I'm not alone in that thinking.
02:52Today's couple love all of this so much that they want to turn Perth and Kinross,
02:56their favourite holiday destination, into their home.
03:04So this is our home and it has been for the last 10 years,
03:07in Southbourne, a suburb of Bournemouth where I grew up.
03:10We've got a lovely three-bed detached house here with a lovely long garden.
03:14But the time has come for change.
03:16So this used to be a dining room, but as you can see, it's now full of bookcases and books.
03:22A big part of the move for me is looking for somewhere where I can expand a little further
03:27and get all of my books on the shelves, one at the same time.
03:32Retired drama teacher and book lover Phil and administrator Andrea
03:37are looking for a home with more space inside and out.
03:41For that, they've decided to head to the area they first discovered on their honeymoon in 2016.
03:49We went to the Pitlockery Festival Theatre for the first time.
03:52Loved the town, didn't we? And the surrounding area.
03:55And it offers so much. It offers a mixture of the rural,
03:59but also the sort of activity that we enjoy within smaller towns.
04:03We discovered it together, really. It was the landscape, the history, the people, the food.
04:12I shall certainly miss All Saints Dramatic Society, where I've been a member for 16 years.
04:17But if we just stay here, we'll always regret not taking the opportunity to move to Perthshire.
04:23Yes, it's been our dream for years, so we can't wait to get on and do it.
04:27We look as though we're on the verge of selling here.
04:30So, all being well, we're hoping maybe by the summer we'll be up in our new home
04:35and enjoying not just Perthshire, but the whole of Scotland.
04:40Phil and Andrea have a budget of up to £425,000 to buy their perfect property in Perth and Kinross.
04:49For that, they want a character home with three or more bedrooms,
04:53a large study for Phil's library of books, and a peaceful location with a sense of space around them.
05:00They'd like a community to get involved with, and some views would be an added bonus.
05:08This move, all the way from the south coast, all the way up here to Scotland, is so major.
05:17I feel like they've got that carpe diem mentality.
05:20If not now, when? Just go for it, and that is a great attitude.
05:24They say they want space, and in that sense, they've made the perfect choice in Perth and Kinross.
05:31The landscape here, just the air here, they're going to love it.
05:40We're starting our search in the small highland village of Kenmore,
05:44where I'm meeting Andrea and Phil on the scenic edges of Loch Tay.
05:50Well, Phil and Andrea, I think it's only fitting that we have grand views for what sounds like a very grand move.
05:57Were there any nerves or hesitation?
05:59Not at all. We've been dreaming about it for years, haven't we?
06:02Yeah, I think we fell in love with the area, and from then on, it was a case of waiting for other things to fall into place.
06:09It feels like starting a really, really new chapter in our lives, and an exciting one.
06:14What are you most looking forward to when you move here?
06:18I'm looking forward to the peace and quiet, actually,
06:21and I think as you get older, you're just wanting a bit more relaxation, but not in your case.
06:28But I want that contrast. I want to be somewhere where I can do things,
06:31whether it's getting involved with a theatre group or exploring historical sites or whatever,
06:36but then to be able to retreat and just be really quiet,
06:39and sit somewhere with, hopefully, a really attractive view, and just enjoy that for itself.
06:47This view in particular could become very local to you, because our first property is just up the road.
06:53Oh, right.
06:54Are you ready to house hunt?
06:55We definitely are, yes.
06:56Let's go.
06:58Kenmore Village is located where the River Tay meets the Loch,
07:02and was moved to its current position in the 16th century by the then-led Colin Campbell.
07:09The village hotel is reputed to be Scotland's oldest inn,
07:13and is undergoing renovation as part of a huge multi-million pound redevelopment of the area.
07:19So, along with the village shop, is currently closed,
07:22but there's a farm and gift shop specialising in local produce that remains open for business.
07:28Around a ten-minute stroll from the village centre,
07:31surrounded by trees in an area known for sightings of red squirrels, is the house we've come to see.
07:38We're approaching from the roadside access at the rear of the home.
07:44This is the property.
07:45Oh, right.
07:46Intriguing.
07:47Different.
07:48Fascinating.
07:49And it's very quiet. I can't see any neighbours at the moment.
07:51Which is the thing you've asked for.
07:53It is.
07:54You've got the trees up there behind you.
07:56You've got what Scotland is about, what Perthshire is about.
07:59And what about the property itself?
08:01I'm guessing this looks like it's a more modern extension
08:04that's been added on to what would have been the original building there.
08:07I'm kind of champing at the bit a little bit to see what it is like inside.
08:11Let me take you into the house.
08:12All right.
08:16Phil's quite right.
08:17The original building, constructed from local stone, dates to 1869.
08:23And inside are Victorian proportions that testify to that.
08:27Our tour starts in the more recent brick extension.
08:33So, a little dining area into the kitchen.
08:35Oh, yes.
08:36It leads round.
08:37Right.
08:38Ah, I can see why they built the extension, whoever did it now.
08:41I can see what you've added to it.
08:43Nice separate area there.
08:45It is, yes.
08:46For the eating.
08:47Yeah.
08:48And I started dabbling with a bit of baking,
08:50but have said I'm going to try and do it properly.
08:52Plenty of surface space for that.
08:54Yeah, yes, there is.
08:55I think it's certainly big enough kitchen-wise.
08:58And it connects nicely with that space.
09:00Yes.
09:01Exiting the other side of the kitchen,
09:03we find ourselves in the original part of the property.
09:07Ooh, lovely.
09:08That's really cosy, isn't it?
09:10It's spacious but cosy, isn't it?
09:12Yeah.
09:13I can see being tucked up in here on a winter evening as well.
09:16Winter's night, yeah.
09:17Sickly, yeah.
09:18And as you can see, you've got views out to the back of the house here.
09:21Yeah.
09:22Now, there are three bedrooms to this property.
09:24Right.
09:25Two of them upstairs.
09:26I'm going to show you the downstairs one.
09:28OK.
09:30Also on this side is a conservatory extension
09:33making the most of the views across the Tamarth Estate.
09:36And completing this floor is a dual-aspect bedroom
09:40that might also suit as a study.
09:44You could turn this into a library, so this doesn't need to be a bedroom.
09:47Right.
09:48It could be a beautiful sort of Scottish lodge-type library.
09:52Yeah.
09:53That's really useful to have that extra room.
09:55But I have seen how many books you've seen.
09:57Over 30 feet of floor.
09:58Have you seen my cardigan?
09:59Yes.
10:00I've proved it, definitely, yes.
10:02How are you feeling walking around this house?
10:04It's got that sort of cottagey feel which we've not lived in before, have we?
10:09No, my brain is whirring away here,
10:11working out what you would do with the space all the time.
10:15So have a look upstairs, see what you think,
10:17because then you'll get that overall feel of the house.
10:19OK.
10:20And then come and find me outside.
10:21Right.
10:23Upstairs, set into the eaves,
10:25is a family bathroom with skylight windows.
10:28The larger of the two bedrooms up here
10:31also has a skylight as well as a dormer window.
10:35Very nice.
10:36It feels like this might be the main bedroom.
10:39Probably, the view...
10:40Better view, yeah.
10:41..would be even more attractive from here
10:43because you're higher up to start with.
10:46The second bedroom is smaller but also benefits from a dormer window.
10:51It's got...
10:52The lovely view covered there.
10:53In some ways, that's the best view we've seen so far.
10:56I'm pleased to see that they're sort of really thinking about this space.
11:00I think it feels like the first time
11:02they're actually thinking about the actual property
11:06as opposed to just the location,
11:08and they haven't even seen all this yet.
11:12The outside space includes a level terrace
11:15with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
11:18From here, the rest of the plot slopes downwards
11:21and is fully enclosed by fencing.
11:23How does this space work for you? You don't want a huge garden.
11:26No, we don't need a huge garden. This would be absolutely fine.
11:29When the weather is just that little bit too harsh,
11:32you've got the summer house.
11:33The summer house is lovely, actually. Yeah.
11:35That extra bit of seating area.
11:37How much do you think this property is on the market for?
11:40Could be £3,000, £9,000, £5,000.
11:43I was going to go offers over...
11:47..£350.
11:48OK. Something like that, yeah.
11:50They're asking for offers over £295,000.
11:55Oh, it is down that far. Right.
11:57That's surprising.
11:58I think this is probably the right time to tell you
12:01that it's only been on the market for a week.
12:03Oh, right.
12:04It's had loads of viewings and already an offer.
12:07Right.
12:08So it's the kind of place that if you really do like the location,
12:11you are probably going to have to make up your mind fairly soon.
12:14Oh, yeah. Right, OK.
12:15We got that impression, didn't we, anyway? Yes, yeah.
12:19This attached late Victorian home is considerably under budget
12:24and comes with an open-plan kitchen and dining area
12:27plus three bedrooms, including one that might suit Phil's book collection.
12:32The conservatory and garden enjoy wonderful countryside views,
12:36including glimpses of the nearby loch.
12:39The first thing that struck me was the character,
12:42particularly of the older part of the building.
12:45It strikes me more as a sort of a holiday venue
12:49rather than somewhere necessary that I would live all of the time.
12:53I actually love that cosy lounge
12:56and also the conservatory seating area
13:00because you can admire all the views from there.
13:03It's a lovely, cosy, cottagey-type place,
13:07but I'm not sure it's big enough for our needs.
13:11I think that would be the main issue, the storage.
13:19MUSIC PLAYS
13:27Phil and Andrea are looking to move themselves
13:30and a rather large book collection to permanently reside in Perth and Kinross.
13:36Ooh, look at these. Oh, they're lovely.
13:39And where better to start writing a new chapter
13:42than the location of Scotland's oldest lending library,
13:46the market town of Crefe?
13:48It was once a stopping point for drovers of cattle
13:51on their way from remote Highland farms
13:54to sell to the city populations of Glasgow and Edinburgh.
13:58It's now a destination for visitors drawn by local specialities,
14:02including whisky and glassware,
14:04as well as its growing reputation with food lovers.
14:10I adore Crefe. I've lived here for more than 30 years.
14:14At the time, Crefe was smaller,
14:18and then, as time went on, Crefe has grown and grown,
14:22and there's now about 8,000 people.
14:25And I think the reason for that is the landscape.
14:28Above all, it's an hour in the car to Edinburgh
14:33and it's an hour in the car to Glasgow,
14:36and yet it's also the gateway to the Highlands.
14:39Crefe is also putting itself on the map
14:42as a centre for sustainable upcycling
14:45through a charity called Remake Scotland.
14:48Started in the town 12 years ago by a group of volunteers,
14:52including Fiona McGarver,
14:54it's a great place for those looking to set up home
14:57as well as start a new life in the area.
15:02Can you explain a bit about Remake and what you do?
15:05Remake is a sustainable living charity,
15:07so the front face of it is the best second-hand shop round the area,
15:11so we focus on furniture and haberdashery.
15:14We take in stock that is good value and has good standard quality,
15:18and then people purchase.
15:20Sometimes they might want to come along to the repair cafe
15:23and fix something there with our volunteers.
15:25We do have people who come on holiday
15:27and have come on holiday because we're here.
15:29We've got a really good name in terms of a destination for reuse.
15:33What sort of town is Crefe?
15:35Crefe is very community-minded.
15:37We've also got Creative Crefe, which is developing an arts centre.
15:41We've got the Highland Gathering, which is also developing a centre too,
15:44so there's lots happening.
15:46Does it have a theatre group at all?
15:48It does. I think it's got quite a few, actually.
15:50Oh, really?
15:51Yes, it's got an amateur dramatics, they put on various shows.
15:54Pantomimes are a big thing round here,
15:56so once you get into the circuit, you probably will be invaluable.
15:59I've written three or four and directed a couple of them,
16:02so, yeah, that sounds quite positive.
16:05So is there a dramatic reason for my buyers to move to this area
16:09Oh, yes, there is.
16:11But as for having pinned down the house they're ready to sign up for?
16:15Oh, no, there isn't.
16:17So we'd better get on with that house search.
16:28Our next property option is in the village of Stanley.
16:31Located on the banks of the mighty River Tay,
16:34the village was created in the 18th century
16:37to house workers for a water-powered cotton mill.
16:40Facilities include grocery shopping and pharmacy services.
16:44Regular buses run to the city of Perth, six miles away,
16:48from where there are good onward rail connections
16:51across Scotland and beyond.
16:53And it's on this route out of the village,
16:56above the river that gave birth to it,
16:59that we find the house in question.
17:05So that is the front of the house.
17:07Oh, OK.
17:08Right, and look at that view.
17:11The River Tay is why I brought you back here.
17:14That is amazing. Fantastic.
17:16It's what you call panorama, isn't it?
17:18You weren't expecting this, were you?
17:20No, definitely not.
17:21I didn't realise the river was so neat.
17:23No, the location's amazing.
17:25This stone house dates to the 1900s
17:28but was given a large extension in the 1960s.
17:31Accessed via sliding doors,
17:33this is where we begin our tour
17:35in the recently renovated kitchen and dining area.
17:39Wow.
17:40It's certainly a different arrangement, isn't it?
17:42Was that originally an outside wall, I wonder?
17:44Yeah.
17:45Could be, yeah.
17:46And then you've got the view going across there.
17:49Yeah, your breakfast bar looks out across the view.
17:51Yes.
17:52First impressions?
17:54First impression's different, but I like the location.
17:58Because obviously, this has been renovated recently,
18:01how does it compare with other rooms individually and as a whole?
18:07Let me see if I can answer that question.
18:12Next to the kitchen at lower ground level is a garage
18:15while the older footprint of the home
18:17comprises both living and sleeping quarters.
18:21There's a cosy reception room with a brick fireplace,
18:25a ground floor shower room
18:27and the first of the home's four bedrooms,
18:30which could perhaps work equally well as a book-filled study.
18:35The rest of the bedrooms are on two further floors.
18:38The first of these, above the garage extension,
18:41is a studio with its own bathroom and kitchenette.
18:47So, one of the little surprises about this house...
18:49Oh, yeah.
18:51..is that kitchenette.
18:53Oh. It is different.
18:55That's the last thing I expect to see there.
18:58Right, I can see where this is probably the main bedroom.
19:01It's an interesting space.
19:02I'm intrigued by what's through there as well.
19:04Oh, you've got a... Oh, sweet.
19:06Yes, yeah.
19:07I think you'd want this as the main bedroom.
19:09Well, yes, you've got that.
19:10It would either be that or the library.
19:12It's got to be the bedroom, hasn't it?
19:14Well, it might be a bit selfish to turn this into the library,
19:17but I didn't do it.
19:18Well, unless you're moving on your own.
19:20Could be.
19:21Can you imagine waking up to these views?
19:23Oh, definitely, yeah.
19:24Go and have a look at the other two rooms on the floor above
19:27and see how it all fits together.
19:29Right.
19:30And then let's chat.
19:31OK.
19:32The remaining two bedrooms are in the original part of the home.
19:36Each is a double and has a dormer window.
19:41Right, what's in here?
19:44That's a reasonable size.
19:46Lots of blank canvases, that's what I'm thinking.
19:48Yeah.
19:49An even nice view over across the fields there.
19:51All the way towards that way, yeah.
19:54Now they've seen all the rooms on offer
19:56and several options for book storage,
19:59let's find out what they think this one's on the market for.
20:10How did you find the upstairs?
20:11There's quite a lot of space in this house.
20:13I mean, there's a lot of potential here
20:15and the view, obviously, is to die for.
20:17You're appreciating the space?
20:19We do, yeah.
20:20The amount of space for the books?
20:22Yeah.
20:23That's a good thing in your marriage.
20:25It is, actually.
20:27I like that.
20:28Yeah, yeah.
20:30Shall we talk about price?
20:31Yes.
20:32Yes, I'm intrigued.
20:34Would it be 310?
20:36310?
20:37Yeah.
20:38I'd go a bit higher, I'd go 340.
20:41How about somewhere in the middle?
20:43Oh, all right.
20:44It's on for offers over £327,000.
20:49OK.
20:50Oh, OK.
20:51That's interesting.
20:52Yeah, it is.
20:54This stone house on the banks of the River Tay
20:56delivers a good deal of accommodation for their budget.
21:00It comes with a modern kitchen diner,
21:02four bedrooms, including an en-suite with kitchenette,
21:06and is located on the outskirts of a village
21:08with a range of shops and services.
21:10All this, plus spectacular river views.
21:14The view is fantastic, really,
21:17and it feels more spacious than our previous house,
21:21but it's just not for us, I don't think.
21:24For me, the house, I don't think, has that sense of escape about it.
21:28It feels as though I'm still moving,
21:30although there are fewer houses around,
21:32to somewhere where I'm very much among houses
21:35and I haven't turned a corner
21:38and put the life I've been leading behind me.
21:52A day of house hunts and getting to know more
21:55about Perth and Kinross under our belts,
21:58we're rounding things off at a more familiar spot for my buyers,
22:02the River Rapids in the village of Killyn.
22:07I thought I'd bring you some local treats while we're here,
22:10when in Rome and all that.
22:12Yes, looks delicious.
22:14This particular place here is Phil's, what he calls, happy place.
22:19It's so beautiful here. Isn't it just?
22:22I just love that, rushing water, the locks, the rivers, all of that.
22:26It's just rejuvenating.
22:28The last time I was here, shoes and socks came off
22:31and the feet were in the water.
22:33It just makes you feel nine years old again.
22:36One of my worries when people say
22:38that they want to make their holiday destination their actual home
22:42is that will they be able to enjoy it, survive it all year round?
22:47One of the attractions is the fact that the landscape
22:50is going to be so different every season, even every day.
22:54Perth and Kinross being located where it is in Scotland,
22:57you can go in every direction and explore somewhere new.
23:00Doing that out of season will be just as attractive
23:03as doing it in the middle of the summer.
23:05You've picked well. Thank you.
23:08We're not quite there yet, are we, with Phil and Andrea?
23:12They are deeply in love with this area.
23:14Their eyes light up as they walk around,
23:16but they don't have that feeling about a property yet.
23:19So today my aim is to charm them,
23:21and I have two properties that should be very charming indeed.
23:25Later on, we have the mystery house, which is steeped in history.
23:29Before that, it was a place where people lived,
23:32and now it's a place where people live,
23:34and we have the mystery house, which is steeped in history.
23:37Before that, a property that should bring them
23:40into the heart of a community, and given the scale of this move,
23:44we know how important that is.
23:47The house we're starting with today is in the village of Abernethy,
23:51where features include an unusual 1,000-year-old round tower,
23:56one of only two of its type in the whole of Scotland.
24:00You can find out more in the nearby local history museum,
24:03but you might also learn about the traditional Scottish fruit pudding
24:07called Clutey Dumpling that's sold in the village.
24:11There's a general store, a visiting post office
24:14and a bus route that runs to the city of Perth in around half an hour.
24:20The house we've lined up is tucked away
24:23in an elevated spot in the village centre.
24:28So this is the property that we are here to see.
24:31Interesting.
24:32I'm trying to work out whether it's something converted or a newer build.
24:36It is a conversion. You rang on there.
24:38So it used to be a joiners' workshop in the 1940s
24:41and has been converted into a house.
24:44I'm liking it, yeah.
24:46I'm hoping that you'll very much like the sizeable garage over there,
24:51because while there is lots of storage in the property,
24:54if all else fails, the books are going there.
24:57I'm thinking about your books.
24:59Yeah, well, I do that a lot.
25:02Let's head in.
25:03OK, let's go.
25:06We're in a conservation area,
25:08meaning any work done to this detached property
25:11has to meet the approval of Historic Environment Scotland.
25:15Set over two levels...
25:16We're going to go straight upstairs.
25:18Oh, OK.
25:19The main living accommodation is on the first floor,
25:23where our tour begins.
25:26It's a kitchen upstairs.
25:28Wow. It's very nice. Very nice.
25:30It's very attractive and it's got a view across the hills, which is...
25:35Always good.
25:36How would you feel about the going upstairs to the kitchen?
25:39That's fine with me. Not a problem.
25:41Yeah, it's not a problem. Not a problem, yeah.
25:43It's different but cosy.
25:44And I can see if one of us is doing something in the kitchen,
25:47the other one's sitting here, just sort of chatting, being sociable.
25:50It's the best of what we've seen, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah, it is.
25:53But this may not be the best room in the house.
25:56Oh, OK.
26:00Look at this space.
26:02Oh, what a lovely room. Yes, this is lovely.
26:05This is really attractive.
26:06I love the fact that there's, what, six windows dotted around the room.
26:10So nice. I mean, it's the nicest room we've seen.
26:12So, obviously, it's not just you two moving, but also the books.
26:16Yes, it is, yes.
26:19On this floor, there is what is classed as a bedroom,
26:23but I think could make a lovely library.
26:25Go and have a look, see what you think. Thank you very much.
26:27And then explore the bedrooms downstairs.
26:29Right. OK. Thank you. And then we'll head outside.
26:31Right. OK. Thank you. Thanks very much. We'll do that.
26:36The bedroom in question is the first of four in total,
26:39a large L-shaped room with countryside views.
26:43Oh. Aha.
26:45Oh, it goes right round the corner. Oh, it goes round the corner, yeah.
26:48That's it. Desk there, books round here.
26:51The library sorted. Yeah, if you wasted it as a bedroom, yeah.
26:54I'm getting quite excited by this room. I can tell.
26:56Over the back, it's another attractive view.
26:59This is wonderful.
27:01And then you could just shut me in here at times... Yeah, perfect.
27:04..and just enjoy the rest of the house without me. Yeah.
27:07There you go. Perfect for both of us. Perfect. Yes.
27:11Back on the ground floor,
27:12there are even more options with three further bedrooms,
27:16a double with built-in wardrobes and a smaller guest bedroom.
27:21These are served by a family bathroom.
27:24Then the final bedroom has en suite facilities
27:27and direct access to the garden.
27:29This is a nice room. Very nice.
27:31It's got built-in wardrobes already.
27:33There's an en suite, I noticed, as we came in as well.
27:35Quite a nice outlook over there.
27:38I think this is the most excited I've seen Phil and Andrea so far.
27:43They have such passion for this area,
27:45so it's nice to see some of that for this property.
27:48If they can see that potential, brilliant.
27:52Completing the ground floor is a utility room and a sunroom.
27:58The outside space is divided into different zones,
28:02with a gravelled area to the side
28:04and a patio that sits off the sunroom,
28:07where we're catching up to see if the asking price of this one
28:10keeps those excitement levels high.
28:14The outside space, not too unmanageable.
28:17So you've got this garden space
28:19and then sort of something similar-sized over there.
28:21Yeah. Which is perfect for us.
28:23All separate areas.
28:24You could do something distinctive with each one.
28:26It would keep me completely happy without my back suffering too much.
28:30That'd be good.
28:31I haven't found anything I don't like about it.
28:34Well, I think it's amazing. I absolutely love it.
28:37She can tuck me out of the way in all sorts of different parts of the house.
28:40Is that why you like it so much?
28:42It is.
28:44Shall we talk about money?
28:45How much do you think this property,
28:48that you can't find anything wrong with,
28:51is on the market for?
28:53I think I might be being optimistic. I'm going to say 350.
28:56OK.
28:57Oh, I'd go a bit higher than that.
28:59I'm going to go 390.
29:02The house is on the market for offers over £299,500.
29:10Oh, my goodness.
29:12Josh.
29:13That's amazing.
29:14Do you want to have another look around?
29:16Because the price and the house is working for you.
29:18Yes.
29:19Thank you very much.
29:20Take your time.
29:23Sitting very comfortably below Phil and Andrea's top budget of £425,000,
29:30this converted carpentry workshop has an upside-down layout
29:35with a kitchen-diner and reception rooms on the first floor.
29:39There are four bedrooms to choose from,
29:41meaning there's space for a dedicated library.
29:44And it's in a village with great history as well as incredible vistas.
29:50The price is amazing. We were stunned by the price.
29:53Yes, yeah.
29:55I think it's perfect, actually.
29:57I agree, yeah.
29:58The views are amazing.
29:59It gives us a good mixture.
30:00And it also brings out the more creative, imaginative side in me
30:04inasmuch as I can see what it would be like if we were living here.
30:10But also sort of quietly excited about finding somewhere.
30:16I'm getting a bit...
30:20..emotional.
30:23No, it's good.
30:25I feel hanky.
30:27Yes.
30:41When it comes to the cost of buying a carpentry workshop,
30:44when it comes to the cost of buying a house in Perth and Kinross,
30:47views on affordability may depend on which side of the Scottish border you live.
30:53At just shy of £367,000,
30:57the average price for a detached home here
31:00is almost £24,000 higher than the national average for Scotland,
31:05but it's significantly lower than the £491,000 average in England.
31:13And there are options to suit a wide range of budgets.
31:17This attached two-bedroom cottage in the hamlet of Pitcairngreen
31:21is on the market for offers over £169,000.
31:27For those after a fully rural lifestyle
31:30surrounded by rolling farmland and panoramic views,
31:34this detached home comes with four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
31:38Located 10 miles from the city of Perth,
31:41it's priced at offers over £579,950.
31:47And renters can also find properties to get away from it all.
31:51This three-bedroom home is surrounded by its own peaceful gardens
31:55where you can wander beside a babbling brook,
31:57or burny, as they might say in Scotland.
32:00Rent is set at £995 per calendar month.
32:12For my mystery twist, I'm going outside of their search area
32:17and over the border to Stirling, heading for the village of Gairgonnach.
32:22A small settlement of just over 700 residents,
32:26it retains a primary school, a church and a pub.
32:30A bus service runs to the city of Stirling,
32:33just over 7 miles away, in around 15 minutes,
32:36where there are onward rail connections.
32:39Several streams or burns run down from the nearby hills,
32:43and just over a bridge crossing one of these,
32:46I've gone ahead to share the property twist I've got lined up for my buyers
32:50right in the heart of the village.
33:01This mystery house is full of stories.
33:04At one point, it used to be an inn,
33:06part of it was a post office,
33:08all of that is going to appeal to a book lover.
33:11But I also think part of its mystery and part of its charm
33:15is what our couple will be able to bring to the house
33:18and the community it's in.
33:22Phil is going to love this space.
33:24Library, of course, but then it has independent access over here
33:28because it used to be the post office.
33:30Imagine the possibilities.
33:32I am taking them outside the box in terms of search area,
33:36so let's see if what my mystery provides pays off.
33:40Welcome, welcome.
33:42To the mystery house.
33:44How much of that is one house?
33:47How about I give this part to Andrea and that part to you?
33:51Right, perfect.
33:54And that bit on the side that I'm saying is your part, Phil,
34:00was once a post office.
34:02Fantastic.
34:03That's really different.
34:04That part of the house is ideal for you and a library,
34:08but perhaps you could at times open it up to the community
34:12that you would be living in.
34:14I could be completely altruistic, couldn't I?
34:16You never know, if some people come and borrow them,
34:19if Andrea's lucky, they might not bring them all back.
34:22Let's head in. Yes, please.
34:25Thought to date to 1775, this house is laid over three floors
34:30and is Grade B, equivalent to Grade 2 listing in England and Wales.
34:35We're starting our tour through the small lobby
34:37to enter the main reception room in the centre of the ground floor.
34:42You can see the character as soon as you walk in.
34:46Definitely.
34:48What a wonderful room. That is incredible.
34:50I like the fact that previous owners would have left panelling.
34:54They haven't destroyed the character of it.
34:57And look at this flooring.
34:59I love this deep windowsill. I've always loved windowsills like that.
35:02The thing about the deep windowsills is they tell you
35:05how deep the walls are going to be in lots of parts of the property.
35:08You can't hear anything outside.
35:10And that fireplace is fantastic.
35:12You have a working log fire here.
35:14That's a real feature.
35:16Yeah, I love this character and sort of cottagey-type feel
35:21because we've never lived anywhere like that before.
35:24Would you like to make your way to the library now?
35:27Yes, please.
35:32It's already partially set up for the books.
35:34Oh, yes. Oh, yes. I love it.
35:37Perfect, yes. Marvellous.
35:40Oh, my desk would probably fit in here.
35:44My desk would probably fit in there really nicely.
35:48Oh, he would be like a museum piece in the window for the rest of the village.
35:52And this is the door that goes to the outside.
35:55Oh, right.
35:57So actually you could just shut him off and have that open.
36:00Or if I want to escape without you knowing it, I can just slip out.
36:04I think she's well and truly going to give you permission.
36:10She has a bit of falling in love going on here.
36:13Did you mention the love word? The L word.
36:16Yeah.
36:20I think it's perfect for you, this room.
36:23There have been times when we've been in Scotland walking round places
36:27and I've said, if there's a heaven and it's like this, it'll do me,
36:31and this would be the room, I think.
36:34And there's still the rest of the ground floor and two more floors to see yet.
36:39At the other end of the ground floor is a large country kitchen diner.
36:44Oh, wow, this is fantastic.
36:47That's terrific. I don't think I'd change anything at all.
36:51I love this room. It's quite a quirky shape,
36:55but it's quite spacious as well and there's a lot of storage.
37:00That would really work, actually.
37:03From this, a lobby leads to the rear of the home
37:06with a small additional wing containing a ground floor bedroom,
37:10the first of four in total.
37:12And as if this mystery needed any further intrigue,
37:15a circular staircase rises up to two further levels.
37:19I feel like I'm in a castle.
37:22On the first of these is a very spacious family shower room.
37:27Who doesn't love an armchair in a bathroom?
37:30And next to this, the largest of the bedrooms with its own shower room.
37:35Ooh! Look at the size of this room.
37:38And an en-suite. And an en-suite over there, yes.
37:41And I like the fact they've left that brick wall.
37:44I think it could feel like home. It's very cosy.
37:48On the top floor are two further bedrooms,
37:51a guest twin with dual aspect and a guest double
37:55that also has windows to two sides.
37:58The view across there. The view out there.
38:00Can you imagine if we had guests come in and say,
38:02Oh, yes, you're in this bedroom.
38:04In fact, if friends came and stayed, I'd probably charge them.
38:09There's a mid-sized garden that is fully enclosed
38:12to offer a high level of privacy.
38:14With the rest of this mystery property getting glowing reviews,
38:18it's the last thing that needs to meet my buyer's approval
38:21before we get into discussing that crucial asking price.
38:28Lovely-sized garden, I think. It is. Not too big.
38:31It already looks as though it's been really attractively planted,
38:35so you've got a really big head start when you move in.
38:39So, it's your final guessing of the price of a property.
38:44You may never have to do it ever again.
38:47Well, I'm going to go £400,000.
38:52I was going to go for exactly the same,
38:54so I will go offers over £410,000.
38:58It's on the market for offers over £375,000.
39:02Right.
39:03Oh, that's amazing.
39:05That's my pen.
39:07What more do you need now?
39:09We need our estate agent to come back and tell us
39:12that we've got a date for exchange and completion.
39:14I was just waiting for you to produce a hat and pull a rabbit out of it.
39:18You're looking at the rabbit.
39:20There you go.
39:21At the end of our magical mystery tour,
39:24the price has put this 18th-century inn and former post office
39:28well within my buyer's reach.
39:31There's a large kitchen-diner, two reception rooms and four bedrooms.
39:35With a private mid-sized garden,
39:37it would place them in the heart of a lovely village
39:40with the city of Stirling a short distance away.
39:46I think this mystery house has exceeded expectations
39:50because it's not something we would have naturally looked at,
39:54but it's so perfect.
39:57I absolutely love this house.
39:59Christmas would be amazing.
40:01You can just picture how festive it would be
40:03with all the decorations up and where to put the tree.
40:06And outside is a lovely little garden,
40:09just right for what we're looking for.
40:12The whole house is just a gem.
40:15I thought I'd give Andrea and Phil a couple of minutes
40:18to just let all the love sink in,
40:21but time for me to third-wheel it now, I think.
40:28Oh, you're all smiles now.
40:30It's been a lovely week.
40:32What is the plan?
40:34We will be getting in touch with the agent
40:37to follow up on the mystery house.
40:39Everything up here has become really real, yeah.
40:42Yes, hasn't it just?
40:44And how does that feel?
40:46Years of planning, and almost like this,
40:49you knew that house was the one.
40:51I think it's amazing.
40:53We're sort of partly in shock, I think, at the moment.
40:56And it sounds like you have a bit of a backup plan,
40:59so if the mystery house doesn't work out,
41:01it's the upside-down house you can go back into.
41:04Yes, I mean, I'm still very keen on the upside-down house,
41:07so it's nice to have the two.
41:09And I certainly liked it and certainly saw the potential there.
41:12So what was it about the mystery house
41:14that pushed that to the top, do you think?
41:16Character. Character.
41:18Unique character.
41:20The history of the house is still present,
41:23and I could just see myself in every room.
41:27What does finding that house mean to you?
41:30Oh, it means everything, doesn't it?
41:33Because we've dreamt of it for so long
41:36and had so many obstacles to get to that point.
41:41And you don't take for granted
41:43that you will ever fall in love with the house,
41:46even though you're hoping to,
41:48but to actually fall in love with it,
41:50you think, well, we've got very lucky.
41:52Well, I've got everything crossed.
41:54I could not be happier for you. I really couldn't.
41:57I'm glad it's beginning to work out.
41:59Thank you very much.
42:01Get it done. Bring it on home.
42:07Oh, what joy, joy, joy.
42:09Phil and Andrea have been planning
42:11this major move up to Scotland,
42:13and more specifically Perth and Kinross, for a long time.
42:17And today, for the first time,
42:19they could see that dream within touching distance,
42:22and now they are raring to go to begin their new chapter,
42:26which reminds me, I am very relieved
42:28that I could also find a home for Phil's books.
42:31We wish them the very best.
42:33I think we are all rooting for them.
42:35See you next time.
42:37After a lot of soul-searching, Phil and Andrea decided
42:40that although they loved the mystery house,
42:43its spiral stairs may not have suited them long-term.
42:47But they continued to search,
42:49put in an offer on a house in Pitlochry,
42:52and I'm delighted to say it was accepted.
42:56If you would like to escape to the country in Scotland,
42:59England, Northern Ireland or Wales, and need our help,
43:03you can apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.