All language subtitles for Escape.to.the.Country.S25E30.East.Devon.1080p.WEB-DL.AAC2.0.H.264-W4N70Ks

Escaping to the country can provoke
all kinds of reactions.

I've got moist eyes, palpitating
hearts, oohs and ahs.
- Feeling sick!

- Feeling sick.

I mean, that's a winner in my book.

It can be nerve-racking and
exhilarating.

- Yikes!

- Thought-provoking and challenging.

- Would our furniture fit?

- I'll let you into a little secret.

If you love a house.

- You make it fit?
- You make it fit.

But the response we're always aiming
for - to take your breath away.

- Wow!

Oh, my...goodness!
- Goodness me, look at that!

- Devon.

Its coastline needs no embellishment.

Its countryside requires no
airbrushing.

It's already picture-perfect.

Quote time.

Who said, "I have never before been
gifted

"such an abundance of natural beauty."

"Really? There is nothing like
Devon."?

Any ideas? Any guesses?

No?

Well, it was Steven Spielberg, and he
knows a thing or two

about showing off beautiful places on
the big screen.

But we know a thing or two about
showing them off

on the one you're watching right now.

Today's search focuses on the
countryside and coastline

of East Devon in the south-west of
England.

- I love this area because I've grown
up down here.

I was born on this farm here

and I love seeing people coming down
on holiday.

We've got people that have been coming
down to this caravan site

for many, many years.

And, you know, a lot of people who
come down here on holiday,

eventually come down here and live

because they just fall in love with
it.

- And who can blame them?

Amongst the thatched cob and brick
cottages of Otterton,

villagers muck in to run the local
shop and monthly cinema club,

as well as the annual summer fete.

In Branscombe, believed to be the
longest village in England,

the winding streets are lined with
characterful period homes

just a stone's throw from the beach.

- I come from Sweden, myself, and in
2006,

I came here to be here for six months.

And that is 18 years ago in September.

So, yeah, I think it gets you.

The place gets you.

- If ever there was a couple in need
of finding their dream rural home,

it's today's buyers.

They've sold their house and
everything they own

is packed up in boxes.

Suffice to say, they are itching to
make their escape to the country

as soon as possible.

- We are all boxed up and ready to go
into storage

and temporary accommodation in, oh, a
few days' time actually.

So technically, we're going to be
homeless.
- Homeless.

- Beverley and Neill, both retired
police officers, have lived

in this three-bedroom, 1930s semi in
the large town of Bromley,

originally part of Kent, for the past
30 years.

- You know that feeling you get when
you're on holiday

and you totally unwind and relax?

I think I want that permanently.

- Oh, so do I, Beverley.

So do I.

- We are great outdoor people.

We love to go hiking.

We like to go camping. Wild camping.
I'm a mountain leader.

We love to go to the mountains.

But one of my big passions for me, is
sea fishing.

- We've been thinking about this move
for quite a long time, really.

- Yeah.

- But the timing has never been right
for us.

- That's right, yeah.

- So it's been a long, long time
coming,

but now everything's lined up and
we're ready to go.

- We're ready to go. Absolutely.

- For £675,000, Beverley and Neill are
after a detached character

property with three bedrooms, two
bathrooms and a manageable garden.

It must have rural views

and be within easy reach of the coast.

With their Bromley home now sold, they
are in a very strong position,

being cash buyers and chain free.

So, for Neill and Beverley, this
really is crunch time.

They've packed up their possessions
and their old life in Bromley

and they've already moved to temporary
accommodation.

So, they need us.

They need the Escape To The Country
sprinkle of magic

to find them a new home.

Before we kick off this search, I'm
meeting the couple

at an idyllic spot in the Otter Valley

to learn more about this move.

Beverley and Neill, so good to meet
you.

And what a glorious day!

- Stunning.
- Super.

- Have either of you ever lived in the
countryside before?

- No.
- We haven't.

We've done lots of hiking and DofE
over the years,

and we love the countryside.

But we've never had that opportunity
of living in the countryside,

which is what we're really, really
keen for now.

- It's a dream.

- Why did you select Devon, though?
Why the West Country?

- We've been down this part of the
world many, many times.

Holidays, childhood holidays, and we
love it down here.

So it's just the perfect choice for
us, really.

- It's like almost coming home.

- Is it?
- Yeah.

That's what it feels like.
- It does, yeah.

- Shall we see how we get on, then?
Shall we start?

- Yes, please. Let's go.
- Yes!
- Follow me.

Our first stop is in the East Devon
village of Yarcombe,

nestled in the Yarty Valley in the
Blackdown Hills,

and a half-hour drive from the coast.

The village boasts a pub, a hotel, a
village hall, a church

and a post office that are well
supported by the 500-or-so residents

who also run regular events such as
the village breakfast,

community lunches, a Saturday market,
and an annual flower show.

Half a mile from the village centre,
in an elevated and secluded spot,

is this 18th-century, detached stone
cottage.

- Oh, that looks lovely, doesn't it?

- Amazing. Amazing.

- I do feel a little bit sick.

- Do you? Is that nerves?

Anticipation?

- I think a bit of a mixture of both,
actually.

- My heart is pounding. It really is.
- Is it?

- It's just thumping in my chest at
the moment.

- Really cute.
- Oh!

- Are you choking up?
- I am choking up.

My...my heart is pounding in my chest.

It really is. I'm speechless.

It's...
- It's absolutely...

It's...

- I could see myself here.
- It's beautiful.

- I've got moist eyes, palpitating

hearts, ooh and aahs, feeling sick.
- Feeling sick!

- I mean, that's a winner in my book.
- Yeah.

- I'm going to put you out of your
misery.

I'm going to take you inside.
- Yes, please.

- Come on, then.
- Thank you.

- The house has been extended over the
years.

And this front porch, one of the newer
additions,

leads into the oldest part of the
cottage.

So, let's see if the reactions inside
are as good

as the ones that were outside.

- Oh!
- Wow.

- Oh!

- Oh, oh, oh, your face is
basically...

..as you came through the door, I love
it.

- Wow!
- Incredible.

- Um...

- Yeah.
- Isn't it gorgeous?

The kitchen's huge.
- Yeah.

It's a good size, isn't it?

- We love that style of living

where we can entertain and be in the
kitchen

and be a part of the entertainment
there as well.

- So it works.

- And we have got a lovely table

that would fit just there, wouldn't
it?

- It would work really lovely.
- And it would work really well.

- So you've got a study behind you.
- Yes.

- You've got a utility room the other
side.

- Wow! OK.

- But we've got our sitting room here.
Shall we?

- Yes, let's.
- Please.

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

- This is a really good size.

- What a lovely space, and so much
light.

All three sides.

- Access outside.

- Oh, my gosh!

- That lovely chest of drawers that
will go there.

- That one, yeah.

- Ours will go there.
- Yeah, it would.

- That's always a good sign.

When people start saying where their
furniture...

- When you're fitting the furniture
in.

- Keen to see a little bit more?
- Yes, please.
- Yes, please.

- This property is all on one level,
with the bedroom accommodation

located off this hallway on the other
side of the house.

We're checking out the largest
bedroom,

which has an en suite shower room.

- It's lovely.
- Beautiful.

- It really is, isn't it?

- Are you still feeling the same vibe
as we're walking around?

- There is nothing that you have shown
us that has made me think, no.

- You would say, wouldn't you?
- Absolutely.

- That was quick.
- Oh, sorry.

- Beverley wears her heart on her
sleeve.

She can't play poker.

- I've a feeling we might have hit the
jackpot with this house.

And they haven't seen what's on offer
outside yet.

The grounds extend to just under an
acre

and include an area of woodland.

- This is just beautiful.

This is insane, isn't it?

Oh, this just goes on.

- Beverley and Neill, as doting
grandparents, are already thinking

about how their five grandchildren
might enjoy the grounds here.

- We could get a little treehouse or
something.

- A treehouse? Oh, that would be
awesome.

- I could build that.

- All the grandchildren would just
have a ball.

- Set at the highest point on the plot

is a secluded woodland retreat with a
decked area.

- Oh, look at that.
- Oh, would you just look at that?

The grandchildren aren't going to want
to stay with us.

They will want to stay in here.

- In addition, there's a large expanse
of formal lawn at the front

of the house, an orchard at the rear,
and a huge patio

to the side, which leads to a separate
workshop

used as an art studio.

What do you think of the garden and
the orchard?

- It is absolutely amazing.

It just keeps giving and giving.

- What price are you going to put on
our very first property?

- I think it's got to be top of our
budget.

And I'm going to say £675,000.

- OK.

- I was just below that.

I was going to say £670,000.

- Oh, OK.

- We have been a little bit cheeky
with this house.
- Oh.

- The asking price is...

..£695,000.

- OK.

- Now...
- I can see why.

- You are in a fantastic position.

Let's not forget that.

You are ready to go, but just have
that in your mind.

It really does strengthen your hand.

- Absolutely.
- It will.

- This detached, 18th-century cottage
has an open-plan kitchen

family room, a sitting room and three
double bedrooms.

Sitting on a plot of just under an
acre

on the edge of a lively village,

it's on the market for £695,000.

- Brilliant start.

Brilliant start.

Really excited, actually.

I think the family would all be
squealing with delight

if they saw this property and saying,
"Do it!

"Buy it!"

- I am just blown away with this one.
It is just stunning.

I can really see myself living here.

It is fantastic.

I could never have dreamt of a
property like this.

It's going to take some beating.

- We're pausing the property search
now and sending Beverley and Neill

for a trip on the Seaton Tramway,

which runs between the inland town of
Colyton

and the seaside resort of Seaton.

- Oh, wow!

- Blow the cobwebs away.

- The three-mile journey takes about
half an hour,

passing through the glorious Axe
Valley and the Seaton Wetlands.

- Oh, look!
- Oh, yeah!

- Little ducklings.

- Little babies, yeah! Little
ducklings.

- Oh, they're so cute.

- A fleet of 14 trams operate on the
line,

including several modern designs like
this one,

built in 2004 to be wheelchair
accessible.

- Here we are. Into Seaton.

End of the line.

- Day trippers are greeted

by the town's mile-long pebble beach,

which looks out across Lyme Bay.

- Oh, yeah, lovely. Lovely and calm.
Look at that.

- It is calm.

- I might go for a swim.
- Well, perhaps not.

- Seaton's 8,000-or-so residents are
blessed with a great range

of independent shops, including a
butcher, a book shop,

an ironmonger, and a greengrocer.

Sophie Nevitt opened her gift and
homeware shop here in 2016.

- We have the loveliest, friendliest
community with plenty to do,

including our summer carnival, outdoor
cinema,

and our infamous grizzly run.

- That, in case you're wondering,

is a tough 20-mile multi-terrain run.

No, thanks.

Lyka Rowlands who runs an Asian food
store,

moved here with her family six years
ago.

- The people around here, they're so
lovely.

It's a close-knit community.

We set up outside our store

and everybody say, good morning to
you.

Everybody say hi.

So, it's such a lovely place.

- Angela Mendham, who owns this plant
shop and cafe, agrees.

- Honestly, it's brilliant to live
here all year round.

There's plenty going on. Everyone's
really friendly.

It is a wonderful place to live. Good
quality of life.

People just chat to you in the street
and...

..yeah, I love it.

- Fabulous.

Are there any downsides to living
here?

- I know it sounds really daft -

I can't really think of any downsides
of living here.

- That's a good answer. That's a great
answer!

- After taking in the sea air in
Seaton,

it's noses back to the grindstone as
we continue our search

for Beverley and Neill's new East
Devon home.

We're heading to the village of
Feniton,

just west of the East Devon National
Landscape.

It's home to around 1,500 people who
have access

to all the everyday essentials,
including a small supermarket,

a pub and a train station on the
London Waterloo to Exeter Line.

Just under a mile from the station, on
this quiet lane,

sits our next offering.

Now, Beverley and Neill, I'd like to
propose this

as a potential next home.

- That is pretty.
- OK.

- That is pretty.
- It is very pretty.

- Classic chocolate box cottage, isn't
it?

And it does ooze charm.

- It looks lovely, but it is literally
right on a road.

There's no pavement or anything.

- No.

- And it's not set back.

So just a - that's my first thought.

- Yeah. OK.

Shall we? Are you ready?
- We are.

- Built in the 1780s, this detached
cottage is thought

to have been the old village shop and
smithy.

The main entrance is at the rear of
the property and leads

into a hallway, off which is a
downstairs cloakroom and utility.

So let's start off with the sitting
room cum dining area.

- Oh, look!

- Oh, it's a nice fireplace, isn't it?
- Yeah.

- It's beautiful. Beautiful fireplace.

- That is stunning.

- It's got lovely thick walls, hasn't
it?

I like the stone.
- Yeah, the exposed brickwork.

- The stonework there. That's nice.
- Mm.

- And you've got the beams.
- And the beams.

I do like the character. I love the
fireplace.

I like the fact that I wouldn't need a
ladder to paint the ceiling.

That's a bonus.
- You wouldn't bump your head, just.

- No.

- Could you see yourselves in here?

- I could, I could.

- Be honest. You're being polite.

You like it?

- I...I think it's lovely.

But it is much smaller.

It's got more cottagey proportions
than the one we saw before.

- Would our furniture fit?

- I'll let you into a little secret.

If you love a house...
- You'll make it fit.

- ..you make it fit.

Let's see what you make of next door.

- I do like the wooden floors.
- I know. They're lovely.

I do like that. That's really nice.

- So this leads us to kitchen-diner.

Utility room through there.

- OK.

- This is nice.

- I think that whereas they've got the
dining table in there,

in actual fact, you could have the
dining table in here

as a kitchen-diner.

And therefore you make the living room
into a bigger living space,

which would make a difference.
- Yeah.

Next door to here, is the garage.

And planning permission was given -

it's just recently run out - to
convert it into a bigger kitchen.

- Oh!

- So you would have to seek fresh
planning permission,

but it's already been granted once.

So, if budget allows, you could open
this right out.

- Wow!

- I'm leaving Beverley and Neill

to explore the rest of the house on
their own.

- Oh crumbs, these are steep.

- I'll be listening.

You know I will, because I like an
eavesdrop.

We like an eavesdrop, don't we?

There are four bedrooms in this
property,

and this one overlooks the front.

- Oh, that's lovely.
- Oh, yeah.

- Oh, look.
- Another little fireplace.

- That's cute.
- Very.

- Oh, my gosh, it's got a sink in
here.

So, plumbing's here, isn't it?
- It is.

It is.
- This is a nice-sized bedroom.

This is a good-sized bedroom.
- This is a good size.

- This bedroom, which has an en suite
shower, is at the rear of the house,

with a third bedroom and the family
bathroom opposite.

- Oh, it goes on and on, doesn't it?
- What have we got around here?

- Oh.

- In a more recent extension, above
the garage,

there's a fourth bedroom, complete
with a walk-in wardrobe.

And as we touched on earlier, the
garage below could,

subject to planning, be absorbed into
the main house

to create a sensational open-plan
kitchen-family breakfast room.

- Wow!
- It's big.

That's big.

- That's immense.
- There's a lot of storage there.

- That would make an enormous space.
- Yeah.

That would more than double that size,

I would've said, more than double.

- Probably triple, actually. It's
huge.
- Yeah.

It is huge.

- If they turn the garage into living
space, they wouldn't sacrifice

storage or parking, as there's a
stone-built outbuilding

and driveway on the other side of the
house.

In the rear garden, there's a large
paved patio

and gravelled area.

Steps lead to a second level, with a
shed, a summer house,

and a very generous veggie plot.

So the current owners, about 20 years
ago - it had been just left -

pulled it all up and started again

and they assure me you can literally
grow anything here.

The soil is so good.

- Lovely.

I love this.

I love the fact that you've got the
walkway dividing them

into little subsections, and that's
really useful for when you rotate.

- Oh, she is good, isn't she?
- Oh, yes.

- I do my rotations so that, you know,
you keep the goodness in the ground.

I could make very good use of that
space.

- So, what are we thinking?

- Down to the nitty-gritty.
- Yeah, sorry.

Back to reality.

Asking price?

- I'm probably going to go around
about £660-£665,000.

- £665,000?
- Yeah.

- And I'm going to say £645,000.

- The asking price for this property
is £575,000.

- Oh, my gosh.
- Oh, my goodness.

- So, £100,000 under your top budget.
- Yeah.

- Oh, wow!

- That would leave scope for...
- Yeah.

- ..any improvements.

That's...
- That's very interesting.

- That's a lot of food for thought
there.

- This detached character cottage has
a sitting room, a kitchen-diner,

and four bedrooms, with a generous
split-level garden.

On the edge of a popular village,

it's on the market with a guide price
of £575,000.

- It's a lovely cottage.

I'm just not entirely sure that it
would work for us.

- Yeah, I agree.

- We would have to do some things to
make it work

as well as we'd like it to.

I guess we just potentially

just don't want to be the ones to do
the work.

- I think perhaps we're...

Our hearts are maybe somewhere else.

- I think they might be!

- We're rounding off our day and
making the most

of the evening sun back in the grounds
of our hotel.

This is just a taster of what your new
life is going to be like.

- And what a very nice taste it has
been.

- Isn't it? Isn't it?

- It's just idyllic, isn't it?

End of the day. Blue skies, sunshine.

Look how relaxed we all are.
- I know.

- We've been here a couple of days

and I feel so much more relaxed
already.

- I suppose in a way, we're not quite
there yet.

But we've got you a little bit closer.

- We just feel very, very at home
here, don't we?

- We do.

I have had that feeling, I really
have,

these last couple of days.

- Do you think you're going to sleep
well tonight?

- I don't know. I don't know.

Yeah, that's good and bad, isn't it?
- We've got a lot to think about.

- A lot to think about.

- Well, of course it's not over yet,
is it?

We've still got to show you our
mystery house.

But, I do want you to relax.

Soak in those rays.

Yeah, and just enjoy the Devon
countryside.

- We can do that.
- We can do that.

- We can absolutely do that.

- If you're sold on living the Devon
dream,

here's what you need to know about
property prices in the region.

Whilst the average cost of a detached
house in the UK

currently stands at just over
£429,000,

here in Devon the price rises to more
than £480,000.

East Devon prices are even higher, at
just over £534,000.

Let's take a peek at some other
property options

currently on the market.

This semidetached period cottage has
two bedrooms, a sitting room

and a recently refurbished
Shaker-style kitchen

which leads to a conservatory.

Outside, a large patio extends to a
garden which enjoys

uninterrupted countryside views.

On the market for £330,000.

Offers in the region of £445,000 could
secure you

this semidetached stone cottage.

It has two receptions, a kitchen with
solid oak worktops

and three double bedrooms.

In the market for a rental?

This attractive home offers a living
room with doors

onto a courtyard garden, a
kitchen-diner and three bedrooms.

For £1,400 per calendar month.

Another glorious day here in East
Devon.

We had such a strong start yesterday
with Neill and Beverley, but today,

oh, I've got something very special in
store.

An extraordinary mystery house in a
very grand location.

Sound good?

We're making our way to the village of
Rousdon,

close to the Dorset border.

Destined for an address inside the
Rousdon estate.

Right. Here we go.

- Wow, look at that. That's a bit
grand.

- This 350-acre estate was completed
in 1878.

The seat of a wealthy tea and spice
importer.

- This is very country manor, isn't
it?

- The original estate consisted of a
Tudor-style mansion

with a fine array of cottages and
houses.

- Wow! Oh, my goodness.

- Goodness me, look at that.

- NICKI LAUGHS

25 years ago, its transformation into
an exclusive community

of 104 homes began.

- It's like its own little village.

Oh, look at that little church.

Oh, this is stunning.

- It's just gorgeous.

- Most of the homes here are
conversions

or redesigns of existing structures.

But 38 properties are new builds.

Are you ready for our mystery house?

- Yeah, I'm definitely ready for a
mystery house.

- Come on, then.

And our mystery...

..a spacious end-of-terrace, is one of
them.

- Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Oh, my goodness.

- Yikes!

- That is beautiful.

- It's really interesting because it's
so different

from what we've been looking at.
- Yeah.

There's so much to love about our
mystery house,

not least the fact that...

..this estate has its own private
beach.

- Oh, my gosh!

- Oh, what a dilemma!

- This is really interesting now.
- That has...that has...

- This is, um...

I mean, it looks gorgeous.

- Let's get inside and I'll explain it
all to you.

Come on.
- Oh, wow.

- This house was completed in 2005 and
beautifully blends the heritage

and character of the original estate

with modern design and plenty of
space.

Quite a lot to explore with this
property.

Kitchen down there.

But I want to start off with the
sitting room.

Where have you gone?

Were you having a sneaky peek then?

- Sorry, sorry. We were, we were.

Sorry.

- Do you know, it's so funny, I came
striding in.

You're very good, Neill.

Striding in to say, "Let's start with
the sitting room,"

turn round and I'm on my own.

- I couldn't help myself, sorry.
- I know.

I get it.

Our mystery house has grabbed
Beverley's attention.

And who can blame her?

- It's lovely.

I think this is a... this is a great
room.

- That looks beautiful, the fireplace,
yeah.

- I love that you've got the doors
there,

doors there, window there.

Everything is saying, oh, wow.

Lovely.

But I need to see more.
- Yeah.

- To see where it fits in amongst
everything else.

- OK, that's fair enough.

You've already had a cheeky peek.

- I know, sorry!

- Let's go back and have a look at the
kitchen.

So, some of us have already had a look
inside the kitchen.

But Neill, for you...
- Thank you.

- ..I'll give you the proper tour.

- Oh, my!

- It's a nice kitchen.
- This is a beautiful kitchen.

- It's a lovely size.

- I mean, just look how many cupboards
there are.

It's just fabulous.
- Very little to do.

- Very little to do.

- I mean, it's...it's perfect, isn't
it?

- You could literally just move right
in.

- It's lovely.

- Beautiful.

- Well, I can't wait to hear what they
make of upstairs.

- I mean, it's all very, very nicely,
newly done, isn't it?

- It is.

- There are four bedrooms in total.

This is one of the smaller ones, but
is still a roomy double.

- Look at the shape of this room.

- Oh, yeah, look at that.
- That's a great shape.

- Bright and airy. Lovely.

- As is this one.

There's a third double, with an en
suite shower.

- Oh, another bright room.
- Really lovely.

That's a good size, isn't it?

- They are nice sizes.

- And a very spacious family bathroom.

- Oh!

- SHE LAUGHS

- Wow, this is huge. This is huge.

Look at that.
- This is...

This is a huge bathroom.
- Isn't it?

Oh, loads of space.

Serves as an en suite for this room.

Look at this. This is a big room.

- I could... I would actually say we
would have this one,

because it's bigger than that one.

- Oh, potentially.

- I could do this.
- I could do this.

We need words with Nicki.

- I think she's in trouble now.
- She's in trouble.

- She's now making us having to think
too hard.

- So difficult. She's made it so
difficult.

- So yesterday, I could honestly say I
thought it was job done.

And then the mystery house rears its
very pretty head.

And it only gets prettier outside,
because this house was built

in what was once the Victorian walled
garden.

At the rear, a large paved terrace
spans the width of the house

and leads on to a lawn with

a secluded seating area, which boasts

delightful views across the estate's
impressive grounds beyond.

- This is just gorgeous.

- There's one last thing our mystery
house offers our home-buyers.

Within this country estate, there's
clubs here as well.

There's also a hotel, just further
down.

So if you have people wanting to stay,
they could do.

You have a coffee shop just at the end
of the road.

But they also have a very active
social life here.

- And the downside?
- Yes.

- Well, there isn't one.

The one place I thought might slightly
trip us up

are the service costs.
- Right.

- Yeah.

- Because normally when you come into
a place like this,

they can be pretty hefty.

And you've got to find that every
single year.

The maintenance for looking after the
estate

comes out at around £850 a year.

- Oh, wow.

- I was amazed.

- Pleasantly surprised at that.

- I thought the maintenance here was
going to run into the thousands.

But it doesn't.
- Yeah.
- I would have said so.

I would have said so.
- So let's do money.

- Ohh!

- What are we thinking?

- £660,000. That's what I'm saying.

- £670,000.

- OK. And the asking price...

The owners are looking for offers
around £690,000.

- Oh! Crumbs! Right.

- OK.

I see why.

- You are in a marvellous position.

I would have a really good, healthy
conversation.

And on that note, I'm sending you back
in. Go on!

Off you go.
- Thanks for this.

- You're very welcome.
- See you soon.

- Yeah.

You see, they thought life was easy.

Life's never easy.

I don't want to push them,

but I really think they should
negotiate on this one.

It's a splendid house in such a
marvellous setting.

Don't forget, we're surrounded by an
incredible community.

The coast and countryside as well.

Surely that's got to be a win-win.

Our modern end-of-terrace mystery
house boasts a kitchen-diner,

a sitting room, four double bedrooms,
and a good-sized garden.

In an exclusive development with a
private beach,

this property is on the market for
offers in excess of £690,000.

- We didn't want to see a new build
and this is a relatively new build.

It was not on our wish list at all

and that's not very helpful for us
now.

Thank you very much!

Because now we've got to really think.

We have to think about the lifestyle
that we want

rather than just the house.

- Yeah.

- For many people, the escape to the
country dream

means slowing down, taking it easy and
relaxing.

Sounds idyllic, doesn't it?

But for one couple, it meant the exact
opposite.

Meet Harry and Emily, who, once they
made their escape,

decided it was high time they became
farmers.

In 2014, Harry and Emily moved from
London

to this corner of East Devon.

Their vision - to turn this 100-acre
farm into a viable business

using the traditional farming methods
of yesteryear.

- So we've got nine different
varieties of heirloom tomatoes

that we kind of send up to restaurants

in London and locally.

Um, so what I'm doing is I'm removing
the bottom third

of the foliage, which will allow kind
of airflow

and reduce the chances of kind of
getting blight.

- As well as growing fruit and veg,

the couple farm sheep, pigs, cows and
chickens

and have an on-site butchery, as well
as a brewery.

They've adopted a regenerative farming
approach

with its focus on soil health, aiming
to prove it's possible

to significantly reduce agriculture's
environmental

footprint and tackle climate change.

So, this city girl has come equipped
with her wellies

and is prepared to get her hands
dirty.

Although I might just watch because
Harry and Emily seem

to have everything under control -
don't they?

Emily and Harry, lovely to meet you.

Who's this?
- Truffle.

- Hello, Truffle.

You have a very successful business
here.

But did you know, literally from day
one,

that you were going to be farmers?

- I've always had it in me.

I've always been very passionate about
it.

- But you don't come from farming
backgrounds, yourself?

- No, when I told my dad I was
becoming a farmer,

he was like, "What are you doing? Are
you mad?"
- Really?

- "That sounds like really hard work."

Which, he was right.

But, um...

And I met Emily in Australia, and we
were living a very holistic

lifestyle and growing all our own veg,
keeping chickens and stuff.

So I think...
- Yeah...

- We kind of got into it. Got the
vibe.

- Yeah, exactly. Caught the bug.

We were very fortunate to find this
place,

and, yeah, we made this home.

- We started off working on a few
farms,

and then one thing moved on to another
and we ended up here.

- We've had to learn the hard way with
most things.

Yeah, we've made a lot of mistakes,
but we were young

and we had a lot of energy, so
that's...

- You're still young! You're still
young!

- So that suits us.

We could get our hands dirty.

- Today, I too am prepared to muck in.

Look at the hungry pigs.

I've come in my brand-new boots,

but these piggies didn't get the
message.

You can't eat my wellies, I'm telling
you now.

Not eating my wellies.

Until two generations ago, organic,
sustainable farming was the norm,

with animals an essential part of the
farm ecosystem.

- The pigs in our farming system,
they're the agitators.

- Agitators.
- So they agitate the field.

They kind of root it up.

They create opportunity for kind of
birds

to find worms and other insects.

They provide opportunity for all the
different plant species

to kind of germinate and seed.

The chickens are doing a bit more
fertilising,

and the cows are kind of the
lawnmowers

that are creating the different levels
of grass and...

- All working together.
- All working together.

For us, farming was really about
creating

a kind of vibrant, live ecosystem.

Our passion is how do we bring life
back into the farm,

wildlife, and kind of make a beautiful
place

that's also beautiful to be enjoyed by
us, and also highly productive.

- As our forebears well knew, good
land management

affects far more than just the food we
produce.

- So we are farm to fork, essentially.

We try and create a circular economy.

So we have the microbrewery.

So, with the brewed grain that comes
back and feeds the pigs,

the pigs, eventually, you know,

they're raised here on all the
different pastures

and the agroforestry system.

They then - we have a butchery on
site.

So they go through the butchery

and then we then we have a charcuterie
business as well.

So then, yeah, we make delicious pork
products there.

- Well, the final step is, it either
goes out to restaurants

or it's available for sale on our
website.

- Yeah. But it's all done here. No air
miles.

- Yeah. No miles.

- And minimal waste.
- Yeah.

If I took you back ten years to your
lives in London,

I mean, could you have foreseen what
you were going to achieve here?

- No.
- No. We've had an amazing journey.

It's been up, down, left, right

and kind of, we got here in the end.

And, yeah, it's nice to be here.

- You do look so happy. I'm sure
you're exhausted.

But you wouldn't change it for
anything, would you?

- Wouldn't change it.
- How lovely.

Thank you for just showing a little
part

of your lives with us today.

- Thank you very much.
- Pleasure.

- Now, I really don't need an excuse
to come down to the coast,

but I've got a fantastic one today,
because we need to find out

what Beverley and Neill are truly
thinking.

And to do that, we're on the beach at
Lyme Regis,

just over the border, in Dorset, three
miles from that mystery house.

Where are we at, guys? Because I'm now
totally confused.

- Join the club.
- You're confused?

My goodness me.

Yeah, we're all... my head's all over
the place now.

- Is it?
- It really is.

- We thought that yesterday it was a
done deal.

- It was in the bag.

- I hear our daughter's little voice

saying she'll love the olde worlde one
- she'll love that.

- Let's just clarify, the olde worlde
one

is the very first property we showed
you.

- The very first.
- Single living...

- The old property.

- But the mystery house has really
made it quite difficult

because we weren't expecting that
house

and we weren't expecting it to have
the effect it's had on us.

- They're very different.

- Yeah.

- And it's the differences I'm
processing in my head.

- So, what do you think you've learned
from the last few days?

- I think it's potentially not
necessarily just about the property.

It's about the lifestyle that comes
with that property.

So, location is really important

because that is the lifestyle that
you're buying into.

- If you were a betting couple,

what would you put your money on at
the moment?

- I think maybe you're sitting on the
modern?

- OK. And I think you're sitting on
the character.

- So, what are we going to do, then?

Are we going to go and have a second
viewing anywhere?

- I think that probably both of them
need, because they are so different.

- I think so.

- I think it's probably one of those
two.

- I'd even go as far as to say it's
going to be one of those two.

- Would you, Neill?
- I think it'll be one of those two.

- It's a small win, but whatever
happens,

we wish you all the very best.

You deserve your retirement.

You really, really do.

And I know you're going to be very
happy down here.

Thank you both, and love to the family
as well.

- Thank you very much.
- Thank you, Nicki.
- Thank you.

- It's interesting, isn't it?

You think you know what you're doing.

You've decided to sell your home,
you've packed up your possessions

and then Escape To The Country, comes
along

and certainly puts the cat amongst the
pigeons.

Or should that be the chip amongst the
seagulls?

For Neill and Beverley, they had it
all planned out,

and have now fallen in love with two
of the three houses

that we showed them.

Now, we're not going to get an answer
today, are we?

But I know, whatever happens, they are
going to be truly happy

living here in the West Country.

We wish them all the very best and
I'll see you again soon.

But you know what?

In the meantime, I'm going for a
paddle.

Oh!

It's freezing!

The following day, once the dust had
settled,

Beverley and Neill returned to our
first house.

They still loved it and made an offer,

which, I'm thrilled to say, was
accepted.

I hope the corks will be popping soon

when they get their keys to their new
Devon home.

And if you would like to escape to the
country in England,

Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales,
and need our help,

why not apply online at...?