Escape to the Country Season 24 Episode 2: Pembrokeshire (2023) | FULL EPISODE
[Music] here on escape to the country we make it our mission to give our buyers what they want we can't fault you on this one so far so far so good even when she wants one thing you know what they say happy wife happy life absolutely and he wants another are you getting excited about this house the house is lovely it felt like it hurt him to say that it's one of the trickest situations to navigate but we're on Cloud9 when we deliver this is a little [Music] dos pem Brookshire a magical County with a rich and vibrant Welsh Heritage that's been hailed as one of the world's best coastal [Music] destinations pem's amazing National Park follows much of the County's spectacular Coastline now here's a fun fact for you at its widest if you were to head from the coast in land it would be around 10 mil wide the narrowest point Point well if your name's youin bolt you can get from one side to the other in less than 10 seconds my advice to you though would be to take a more leisurely walk and really get to enjoy this all inspiring scenery Pembrook Shar sits in the most southwesterly corner of Wales I've lived in pire my whole life the great thing about it is it's got so many beautiful beaches as a surfer that's great news for me I've also got a great sense of community here and I love it the 186 mile Coastal path boasts 52 beaches and is dotted with towns and Villages from yester [Music] year 10B in South pem Brookshire has a pretty Harbor topped with brightly colored Georgian houses many of which will set you back at least a co1 million in the north of the County you'll find gems like lower toown with its cluster of keyside cottages the old Harbor is the backdrop for a series of sculptures that celebrate the town's Heritage by local artist John CLE pmri show is the perfect place to build a lifesty it's got a culture of farming but also a culture of missioning style restaurants it's perfect if you would like to be busy and to be really ingrained in the culture there lots of things to do do but also if you want to just come and sit and walk and do nothing it's the perfect place to [Music] be as I made my way here to Wales and saw the most incredible Sunset it reminded me of just how beautiful PM Brookshire is and for me it doesn't just have a few of the things that make the perfect escape to the country oh no it actually has them in Spades and I believe that today buyers feel exactly the same every time we come to pmri show I personally just feel the stress just Falls away and I feel my shoulders dropping and I think you find it the same don't you exactly the same Ruth who's just sold her gym business and husband Craig an electrician and Builder live in the Wilshire town of chiam this four-bedroom detached property has been their home for the past 10 years and it's the latest in a long line of doer uppers so since buying this house um we've created an Annex I've had to fit three bathrooms two kitchens raise floors raise ceilings raise ceilings it's been rewired and I sort of think our next project should be something similar to this would be IDE I would like a house that's finished I'm really looking forward to being able to live in a house that's actually done and not a building project for a change so we don't really agree on what we're looking for what they do agree on is that their new home should be detached have at least two bedrooms and a spacious open plan kitchen Diner they'd like a large garden and a holiday let all the opportunity to create one if a property does need work those costs must come out of their £650,000 budget [Music] so Ruth and Craig have spent years working hard but also years having this dream that one day they can actually live in pen Brookshire they've been here numerous times on holiday but now the time is right and this is where it gets interesting because from what I can gather they want very very different things from this move yeah Ruth it's all about the home but for Craig he definitely wants something to do so we're going to call that the project so I think it's going to be quite a tricky ask I think it's going to be fun and I want to make sure both of them are happy with the end [Music] result before we start our house search in Earnest I'm meeting Ruth and Craig in a lovely little spot on the shore of the DLI in the heart of the national park well welcome welome to pemr here Ruth and Craig but in a way I feel you should be welcoming me because you know this County so well having been here numerous times on holiday and you now want it to be your future home yes yeah we've spent a lot of time here over the last 10 years now I get the impression how can I say it politely that you want two different things two different houses in way yeah definitely I want what he can see at the end without all the work in between and ideally you'd like holiday let potential is that right yeah so we've got a holiday let at the moment um and we'd like to carry on um and do that if the house doesn't have holiday Le potential is that going to put you off or not if I've got the land to put the holiday lets on then no it's not a problem so how are we going to keep you both happy if you find a house that was finished but he had holiday lets to do then it keeps him quiet and would you quite like him to have a sh yes should we get started yeah yeah let's do it our first stop is in the village of lud Church a 2 and 1 half mile drive from the coast and less than 10 minutes from the town of naruth its multicolored Edwardian and georan streets are filled with shops selling Fine Art antiques copious amounts of local food and drink as well as a liberal sprinkling of pubs cafes and restaurants it also has a train station with regular services to haford West 10B cardigan and Karan down an unmade track shared with just one other neighbor sits the first house we've lined up for Ruth and Craig to view oh that's pretty and is this Farmhouse thought to date back to the [Music] 1840s so may introduce you to our first property lovely yeah it looks finished from the outside that's the first which from my point of view it's fantastic yes the house has been done to a great standard which I'm going to show you but there's always potential for a project how does that sound good perfect yeah perfect let's have a look come [Music] on Craig will have to wait to see those potential projects as the house has been completely overhauled by the present owners following a 2-year modernization project so you've got a very attractive toed porch practical and you got a doggy and it leads us into our country kitchen which I really like it's open but it's not cavernous so it's still homely and cozy yeah I really like it great the kitchen's perfect is they really you got that look on your face Craig he's quiet which means he probably likes it a lot there's not a lot to do here is there H Craig seems disappointed at the lack of work required but Ruth is thrilled we're not going to stop there cuz I'm going to squeeze past you and take you through the drawing room oh another nice room yeah love the fireplace you also have the added advantage of a conservatory as well H yeah I don't like conservatories but this no this is this is okay isn't it definitely use this a lot so so far so far I'm liking it yes are you yeah you know what they say happy wife happy life absolutely I'm confident we'll get a happy husband too he's just got to wait a little longer we're heading upstairs now to check out the bedrooms oh that's lovely so this is the main bedroom you have an on Suite there again all beautifully done yeah it is nice it is really nice but it's finished so what's the overall vibe that I'm getting I'm not quite sure it's a bit scary because I think you know what I've seen so far I love and it mean we've got to do something I knew soon as we come in you'd like it yeah are you getting excited about this house the house is lovely always don't like it hurt him to say that I'm letting them explore the rest of the upstairs on their own as well as the family bathroom there are two further bedrooms this one is used as a dressing room oh it's bigger than I was expecting yeah and a third bedroom overlooks the front of the house oh it's another nice room yeah I actually like the dressing room as a bedroom B so perhaps that could be my bit of project change some bedrooms around don't you worry Craig I promised you a project and it's outside the house is on a plot of a third of an acre and tucked in the corner is a workshop and Studio space if you just look at the concrete you can see there's a bit of a footprint there there was a building there a few years ago sadly the tree came down and took it out so I'm just thinking of plan planning permission and perhaps the opportunity to build a holiday Le building what do you think with your Professional Eye I'm thinking with the base down you've got a wooden Lodge would go on here beautifully depending on size and spec Log Cabin kits can cost from £4,000 upwards plus the cost of Labor so if this property is to be a serious Contender it needs to come in under Ruth and Craig's top budget of £650,000 what are we thinking when it comes to the price I'm going to say 575 £575,000 oh you think it's going to stretch us I think this is going to be 600 the asking price they asking offers in the region of £550,000 oh wow yeah yes just got a bit better this detached Victorian Farmhouse boasts a contemporary kitchen Diner a Charming living room a self-facing conservatory and three bedrooms it sits on a plot of a third of an acre and with the relevant planning permission there's potential to create a holiday let it's on the market for just under £550,000 now I know we were joking earlier on but we really do want Craig to be as happy with this move as Ruth and it sounds like this property has everything they need and the potential for more I can definitely imagine myself living in a place like this I wasn't expecting quite such a almost visceral reaction to it it almost Works doesn't it I don't think there's anything really that doesn't work if it was ideal I would want a little bit more land but we could make this work to do the lodge there is quite a short project and then i' realistically find another for the first time in my life I'd have to find something that isn't work I might have to go back to Hobbies no change of heart we still love it the first one is it it might get better it might get better I'm loving the optimism but we're going to be push to beat this but we're going to give it a try come [Music] on Saunders foot is a classic seaside resort with the perennial appeal of ice cream deck chairs and fish and chips in recent years it's become one of wells's most sought after destinations so we're sending Ruth and Craig there to see what all the fuss is about yeah it's pretty isn't it yeah for starters there's its fabulous location slap bang in the coastal National Park then there's it three sandy [Music] beaches it's stunning isn't it it's a lovely beach perfect for the dogs to run around on we'd have dogs going in One Direction grandkids going in the other direction part of the town's charm is its remoteness the nearest Motorway is nearly an hour away from Saunders foot train station located a mile outside the town there are direct Mainline services to Swansea in 90 minutes and to Pembrook in 35 but to be honest there's everything you need here including excellent restaurants cafes and pubs where you can sample the daily Halls of welks and crabs landed at the harbor the town's 2 plus residents can get involved with more than 50 Community groups lifelong resident Simone known as Sai has kindly agreed to give our couple the inside scoop on the Saunders foot lifestyle hi hi nice to meet you nice to meet you too hi hello what an amazing place to live and work it's absolutely amazing isn't it I mean you've only got to look at that beach it's just stunning great for dog walking loads of water sports down here as well I hear you're interested in paddle boarding I have just started this year but I do it on a lake so don't have tides and wind and waves to to deal with absolutely you'll have to come see us and help and advice yes we get you out on that paddle board we get you surfing Craig um perhaps kayaking do kayaking yeah yeah so what's the pace of life like here s obviously slower than a city but it's still quite vibrant we've got a New Year's Day swim lots of the locals get involved with that hundreds of people come down to watch that to we've got a Rowing Club there's a good Community here there'll be lots of things for you to do Pub quizzes you've got the beaches you've got the prelli mountains half an hours driveway it's nice and peaceful and quiet and slower pace of Life absolutely that's just what we want yeah what we're looking for isn't it and our search to find what they want will pick up again first thing tomorrow [Music] I'm really enjoying my time taking Craig and Ruth around Penbrook here they did warn me that their priorities were very different and that became evident with our first property however I think they both liked it but don't want to count my chickens too soon because what we are doing is we're showing them a county which they know and love but areas that they haven't discovered before and that's certainly going to be the case today we're making our way into the pen Brookshire National Park to the seaside village of [Music] amroth it's half a mile long flat Sandy Beach is an excellent spot for rock poing and during very low tides the remains of a drowned Forest are exposed with fossilized tree stumps antlers and early human stone tools visible in the sand a leely half hour stroll from the beach so ideal for paying guests on their Halls we find our next property oh it's very pretty property is pretty so this is a property that not only is in the national park but we also have SE views yeah fabulous views yeah it's a really nice looking house do you think I would say the best so far really yeah shall we step inside yes let's go this house had been in a complete state of disrepair when the present owners purchased it 2 years ago following a total renovation it's been operating as a lucrative holiday let but I'm proposing it could make a great home for our couple oh wow it's very nice isn't it it is very nice I like the fact that painted the beams gives it some character doesn't it and the fireplace lovely does it feel like a home as you walk through the door yes yeah it very good let's take you next door to the kitchen okay oh again done to a impressive High spec it's smaller than what we're used to it's doesn't feel small though does it it's big enough yeah you've got a utility room just off the kitchen and downstairs shower room as well and there's more storage so you got your white goods out there okay brilliant I'm giving Ruth and Craig free reign of upstairs where a family bathroom serves three good siiz bedrooms the largest overlooks the front of the house what a lovely room and a good view yeah you could spend hours just looking at that on the opposite side of the landing is a second double so this would be good room for the grandkids really if you yeah we could get couple of single beds in there can't we for the or leave it as a double for for the kids for the grown-ups yeah and at the rear of the property a twin room okay so here's the single room for the grandkids and they've got storage and a different view so you got Countryside views we're heading outside now where I've saved the best till last on the other side of your property you will see a field there's a gate and there's a deric building right at the back quite a large plot of land that is currently owned by the owners here and they are selling it separately but whoever buys this house gets first refusal on that land okay in addition to that it already has planning permission granted for two log cabins things oh that's good interesting very interesting this one does this tempt you oh very much so yeah it's got an awful lot going for it this place okay it comes down to the crunch what do you think this house is on the market for just the house just the house yeah I'm going to be really hopeful and say around 460 460,000 Craig let's be optimistic and say 430 oh 43,000 you are hoping aren you okay well the asking price for this house is £475,000 okay so let's just park that there mhm how much do you think they're asking for the plot next door I would expect it to be at least £150,000 okay Ruth again I'm going to be hopeful and say £100,000 £100,000 this is little do because the asking price I want to say it quietly so no one else here £50,000 with the planning permission already granted okay well I've got a back track now so the house worse £475,000 50 525 your top budget was and that's irrelevant I think it's sort of like almost City should we not bother with the next day they just knock it on the head and get down the P I think that's Craig telling me that this is a done deal this beautifully renovated three-bedroom detached property is being marketed for £475,000 the adjacent plot with planning permission is priced at £50,000 that's a grand total of £525,000 [Music] you might have pulled a rabbit out of the Hat here I think for the first time we may actually be on the same page and we both really love this property which is a bit of a miracle really location view done Ruth wanted finish house done I wanted a project done we wanted income stream done I would say at the moment you're going to struggle to show us something that fits the brief better than [Music] this if pen Brook sh stunning Coastline has swept you away is what you need to know before you make the move here the average price of a detached property in the UK is just over £ 458,000 in pen Brookshire it's more than 00,000 lower at just over £340,000 so take a look at what's currently on the market this detached character Cottage has two reception rooms one with an original bread oven and a contemporary country kitchen with dining area upstairs a family bathroom serves two double- bedrooms and a third single room used as a study outside there's a pretty Cottage Garden split across several levels the asking price £450,000 make an offer over £375,000 and this recently renovated detached Cottage could be yours it has two reception rooms one with the feature fireplace and a contemporary kitchen Diner upstairs there's a stylish bathroom with a sunken bath and four bedrooms the largest of which has views across fishguard Harbor to the rear a good siiz Garden looks out across Open [Music] Fields if you're in the market for a short break then perhaps this might float your boat boat powered by solar energy it has an open planned kitchen Diner sitting room with a wood burning stove a bathroom and one double bedroom with doors onto The Veranda sleeping up to four people prices start from £50 per night in low season with a minimum two nights stay it's Mystery House time and we're hopping over the border into kedigian heading for the village of clang goid Moore 3 mil from the coast of Cardigan residents use the facilities in neighboring clid which sits on the North Bank of the river tyy and whilst Ruth and Craig take a wander around the village I'm giving you a sneak preview of this our Mystery House so right at the beginning of this search Craig and Ruth joked that ideally they'd like two separate houses well this is the mystery and their wish may come true because behind me you have this exceptional old traditional Farmhouse so Ruth could be very happy here however we can't forget Craig can we just take a look at these impressive barns yes he said he wanted a project but I'm calling this PC project Craig not only does our Mystery House satisfy Ruth and Craig's property desires it supersizes them it's the largest house we're showing them has the biggest renovation project and comes with an acre of land I think we've hit the jackpot but will they so welcome to your Mystery House it's huge the good news is both properties on either side are part of the Mystery House okay we can't afford it do you want to start off with the house or with the barns the house house it is come on the barns which we'll explore later were built in 1820 the main house stays back to 1910 2 years ago the owners added a huge rear extension to create this spectacular kitchen dining living room which is where we're starting our viewing how is this for a kitchen entrance oh my word what are you doing to me I even accept I don't need to do anything doesn't I'm quite happy not to do anything of upside you you'd live in this well we'd both live in this don't need the rest of the house really it is beautifully done you might not need to see the the rest of the house Craig but trust me it's worth taking a gander so you've got this as a reception sitting room which I think great size pretty generous yeah it's really nice and bright light I could see Christmas in here with fire going yeah grandkids and wrapping paper everywhere well when they do all come to stay there are areas that they could actually be in they've got their own Wing if you like it sort of got a self-contained flat on that side you've got a bedroom now downstairs okay you've got a really good size bathroom as well a kitchen ex stroke utility room and then another reception room we can't fult you on this one so far so far so good and I'm confident they'll find little to Grumble about upstairs the largest of the three bedrooms could provide Craig with a little job oh huge oh you got enough storage so that was going to be a shower room was it oh that's a project and I got something today Project it's lovely next to the family bathroom there's another double the windows are FB aren't they cuz they're so big and open and I love the wooden window sills as well and low yeah it's got character then there's the third and Fin final bedroom wow it's another big room isn't that yeah this would be two singles easily yeah happy happy and we intend to make you even happier Craig here you have the barns in actual fact it's two barns and a Coach House at the End okay now there is a covenant on this building when The Farmhouse was sold out of the hands of the local Farm they put a covenant on that this can be refurbs can be done up as long as it's for family members restrictive covenants tend to be used to ensure that certain standards are upheld by the residents of a property a solicitor can check whether there are grounds to form the basis of any claim to remove a covenant and depending on whether the application is disputed the process can take between 18 and 24 months once this particular Covenant restricts holiday Le conversions there is a solution the other idea that the owner had was you actually do this up to live in yourself and you can always rent that one out no no one else is getting yeah if we live here we live there yeah and we have to try and get R well a conversation would have to be had would yes financially it has to work so we you know we have have to have an income well why don't you take the opportunity to go and have a look on your own and think it through and you know where I'm going to be don't you on the balcony oh I'm going to be sitting on that balcony absolutely work has already begun on the first of the two barns oh that's um toy room is it yeah but it could be a lounge could L Kitchen that's a fake W that can come out it has power lighting and a first floor that has been boarded out this give you a sense of what could be done though doesn't it yes easily The Bar Next Door in use as a garage has a similar layout and then there's the Old Coach House wow two story and stairs up an amazing roof it's just a lot of work isn't it and this is just a small portion there's a lot more that side through there it's [Music] mindblowing the property is being sold using the modern method of auction an online process designed to open up auctions to buyers who require mortgages the successful buyer pays a non-refundable fee to reserve the property a cost on top of the purchase value fees vary but for this property it's 4.2% of the final selling price there are pros and cons to this method of buying but some of the benefits to the buyer include purchase prices that are typically 10% less than the market value speedier sales since you have to complete within 56 days and binding agreements which remove the danger of being consumpt at the last minute well let's discuss finances what price are you thinking I think it's going to be 640 640,000 doesn't leave you much from your top budget does it okay Craig I'd be very surprised if it was under £700,000 okay I'm not going to do a dance but I will tell you the asking price or offers over £550,000 okay did know bizarrely I was hoping you were going to say it was way out of our budget so we didn't have to consider it and now it's close enough that we are going to have to do some work we have to consider it we can't walk away now without exploring it further can we in an idilic spot on a generous 1 acre plot this impressive Farmhouse has a showstopping kitchen Diner three bedrooms and a self-contained one-bed Annex subject to planning and the ter terms of the Covenant the outbuildings are ripe for conversion the owners hope to achieve a price of £550,000 and Ruth and Craig will need to factor in the additional reservation fee of 4.2% of the final Purchase cost well this morning we thought we would put we would put an offering on what was our nailed on dead First Choice this has just changed everything really [Music] but creating the letting business is a huge amount of work I just think it's it's going to be worth it for our [Music] life so if all goes according to plan and I love it when a plan comes to fruition Craig Ruth will be moving to PM Brookshire very very soon but let's meet Sue and Adrian who made their Country Escape here from London four years ago and I'm interested to find out how their life has changed I'm guessing for the [Music] better there is not a day that goes past that at some point that day we think we love where we live um and it's a very special place place with very special people in it yeah and that place is Clan gofen set in the prelli Hills just 2 miles from the beautiful expansive beaches on pmri shire's North Coast the couple found this traditional Farmhouse nestled in 5 acres of land and painstakingly restored it from dereliction to create a luxury BNB in doing so they also completely transformed their lifestyle I joined the local Male Voice Choir in havord West um Sue's taken up Up Hol street she loves um upholstering things for the bed and breakfast the bed and breakfast is a fantastic part of our life the people we meet through it are lovely without exception there isn't anyone that stayed at our place that we wouldn't have back [Music] Sue and Adrien are quite literally and to use that old cliche living their dream life here in pemrick Shire so I thought I should come and meet them and well just for a little while live that dream life with them the oldest part of The Farmhouse States back to the 1530s and even the newest editions are more than 140 years old but the property had been derelict for more than 40 years when Su and Adrian bought [Music] it hello hello Adrian is it lovely to meet both and you what a stunning spot this is incredible and all this is yours yes yes oh I'm going to have to hear more about all this story do you want to come on it I'd love to thank [Music] you initially the couple lived in a static caravan on site whilst they rebuilt the house to include a breakfast room and Lounge for guests plus three beautifully appointed bedroom suites but I'm checking out the heart of what is their own home oh wow this this is wonderful isn't it and I'm guessing this didn't look like this when you bought this property no this building had very little roof just a little bit up here and it used to be the old dairy and the windows didn't have glass they were just gors to let all the air circulate and flow so it was uh very different Sue formerly an operations director for a prestigious interior design company now takes the role of head chef and housekeeper whilst Adrien who used to work in sales for a design and build company is front of house and head groundsman together the pair have ambitious plans to Rew much of the five acres here and nurture a woodland for which which they've already planted more than a thousand trees today I'm helping them plant some [Music] Willow we just pick out a piece of Willow that's about pencil thickness yeah chop it off Y and then take all the little branches off and then cut about that much these little rods of Willow are known as Willow whips we plant that straight into the ground and it'll root it'll root and grow all of these are Willow whips that were planted two years ago it's fascinating to think that you can plant one tree and get so many other trees from it Willow grows fast up to 2 m a year so you don't have to wait long for results these the lower branches that one that one that one and then about here when you're ready just cut it off and that can go straight into the ground yes right in you go let's pop you in here find a nice little space and would you ever trade your old lives back again no no not for a second not for a second yeah if you've got a dream you need to follow it and on that note it's time to return to the task of helping Ruth and Craig to follow theirs what a predicament what's their next step going to be I genuinely can't call this one so let's find out what they've got to say this is a rather delightful spot isn't it it's lovely so you've had a little time to think about it it is a m massive step but where are we now well I think this morning I thought we'd found the house that we were going to move to so did we then you dropped a bombshell with the mystery house and for me it's I absolutely love the house the house is perfect is the coastal property still a contender if the Covenant can be lifted then on the Mystery House on the mystery house then that's that's out out of the equation straight away then we have to concentrate on we'll go back and have a look at the other house yeah for two that want different things you are very much together and I'm going to throw this one in if the mystery house doesn't worked out go back and see the coastal property won't you yeah definitely thank you for all your help well you're very welcome it has honestly honestly been our pleasure and we do wish you the very best of [Music] luck well that was an interesting one wasn't it with Craig and Ruth and I thought with that se view house that well we had it in the bag it was a given and then what happens the Mystery House comes along and blows it out of the water so fingers crossed the paperwork gets sorted because it is a spectacular home with so much potential in the most beautiful of locations and you know what I'm looking forward to being invited back to see how they're getting on and I'll see you again next time bye-bye Ruth and Craig returned to the house near the beach to chat with the vendor they've also scrutinized the legal pack for the Mystery House both properties are still in the mix and Ruth and Craig are hopeful that as soon as they've sold their home they'll be able to move forward with one of our two properties if you would like to escape to the country in Wales Northern Ireland Scotland or England and need our help why not apply online at bbc.co.uk slake part [Music]
2025-04-05 00:42
