All language subtitles for Escape.to.the.Country.S25E32.The.Jurassic.Coast.1080p.WEB-DL.AAC2.0.H.264-W45Ps

Escaping to the country can be a
mind-bending journey.

Good to show you another thing to
boggle your brain.
- Absolutely.

You're very good at doing that!

- Full of twists...

- It's absolutely perfect. I love it.

- ..and turns...

- Bungalow, I'm not so sure, actually,
to be honest.
- No?

Cos they're coming right back in
fashion, bungalows.
- Are they?

- Everybody wants to live on one
level.
- OK.

- ..but we're here to hold your hand
and hopefully deliver your dream.

- Oh, my goodness.

- You want light, you get light.

- Oh, I absolutely love this.

- Really?
- I do.

- The Jurassic Coast.

Spanning a 95-mile stretch of the
Dorset and Devon coastline,

it's the only place on Earth where
rocks from the Triassic,

Jurassic and Cretaceous periods can be
seen in one place.

It's a fossil hunter's paradise.

But beware of the winged descendants
of dinosaurs that fill the skies.

Ice cream or chips?

Ice cream or chips? Take your pick.

They are a perfect... Argh!

Watch out from above.

Argh!

Seagulls!

Sandwich-snatchers, picnic pirates,
the lot of them!

And what's worse...

..is they also steal the best vantage
point.

Because from up there, they have a
bird's-eye view

of this beautiful coastline.

Today we're in the southwest of
England,

dipping our toe into Somerset,

but focusing most of our search on the
counties of Devon and Dorset

in the villages and towns within
striking distance

of the Jurassic Coast.

- We used to come down on holidays.

Then eventually we liked it so much,

I bought a place here and that was,
you know...

So I've been here for ten years now

and it's the best place I've ever
lived.

- The tranquil seaside town of
Budleigh Salterton in Devon

lies on the edge of a pebble beach

beneath spectacular red sandstone
cliffs.

For Dorset-based landscape artist Mark
Harris,

the real draw are the inland market
towns and villages.

- I know this county like the back of
my hand

and I've walked inland and I've
obviously painted the coast.

The coast is clearly what a lot of
people come for, and it's famous,

it's a World Heritage site,

but if you go two clicks inland,

the scenery is incredible and you've
got coombes

and valleys, castles, heathland.

It's particularly special.

- Ashmore, Dorset's highest village,
is one such place.

Thatched cottages circle the pond,

which is the focal point for the Filly
Loo,

a traditional folk festival that
celebrates the summer solstice.

Sometimes life events can leave us
feeling a bit tidal,

like the tide has gone out

and all you're left with is sand and
seaweed.

But then, of course, the tide
eventually comes back in.

And for our buyer today,

things have been at a pretty low ebb
this year,

and I'm hoping that her move to the
countryside,

and particularly to the coastline, is
going to really buoy her up.

Ten years ago, Saadia, a retired
teacher, married Terry

and moved into his five-bedroom
detached home

in East Grinstead, Sussex.

- I love this garden.

Terry works so hard with this.

He built the patio, he built the pond,

he built this mausoleum, that he calls
it, here behind me!

And you know, we used to sit here in
the summer during the evenings

and look at the sunset, and he'd have
a glass of whisky in his hand

and I would have a glass of wine.

I really miss that now, because
although his spirit is here,

because he put so much love into this
place,

his physical presence isn't here.

So I really, really miss that.

- Terry died five months ago

and just weeks later, Saadia also lost
her mother.

Now, with friend Richard on hand to
help,

she's decided it's the right time to
escape to the country.

- Ever since I've known Saadia,

she's been facing lots of challenges
in her life.

Now is a good time for her to start
the next chapter.

- Saadia is happy with a detached,

semidetached or terraced property

with some outdoor space and two
bedrooms.

Since she plans to stop driving when
she moves,

she wants to be near to village
amenities.

She would also be as close to the sea
as possible.

Her budget - £300,000.

Having moved out of the city

into the countryside myself on my own
many moons ago,

I really am feeling very empathic
towards Saadia doing the same thing

after a tough year, starting afresh
out in the countryside.

And so having Richard by her side is
going to be really helpful

and hopefully I can also throw in my
tuppence worth,

because what's really important is she
finds a house

that she feels safe and happy in.

And that's what we're all about.

Before our search begins, I'm meeting
Saadia and Richard

at the Dorset stretch of the Jurassic
Coast

on the beach at Lyme Regis

to understand more about what this
move means for Saadia.

Ah, we do like to be by the seaside,
right?

- Absolutely.
- It's beautiful.

- Very nice. Lovely to meet you both.
- And you as well.
- Thank you.

- And, Saadia, I know you've had a
really tough year.
- Yeah.

- So hopefully we can turn things
around.

How are you feeling about the move?

- Oh, I'm feeling optimistic about the
move

and I really feel it's something that
I want to do.
- Yeah.

- So, it's the right thing.

- Richard, do you think this is going
to be a good move for Saadia?

- Yeah, I think it's really what she's
had in her heart

for a long, long time.

- So what's the lure down to this part
of the world, the Jurassic Coast?

- Well, I want warmth and sunshine.

- THEY LAUGH

It's a little chilly today, but...

- And I've read that it's, you know,
one of the warmest places to be.

And also, my sister lived here for a
year

and I came to visit her and I simply
loved it.

- So your budget is around 300,000, is
that right?
- That's right, yes.

- So you know that this is quite a
sought-after place?
- I know. Yes.

- Are you prepared that you might not
be able to be right on the seaside?

- Absolutely, absolutely.

I know I will have to compromise in
some sense.
- OK. Yeah.

- Yeah.
- So did you have your sights set on
living here in Lyme Regis?

- Near Lyme Regis.

Not necessarily actually in it.
- OK.
- But that would be lovely.

That would be the icing on the cake.
But I know I have to compromise.

- Shall we go and start viewing?

- Smashing.
- Sounds brilliant.
- You lead the way.
- Thank you.

- Our house-hunt begins ten miles
north of Lyme Regis,

just over the border in Devon,

in the village of Chardstock,

four miles south from the market town
of Chard.

This peaceful village has a community
hall and a shop

and post office that's run by some of
the 900 or so residents.

Just a three-minute walk from the
shop,

we found this delightful
end-of-terrace cottage.

So this... This one here is the
offering.

- Ooh!
- Freshly painted for your arrival.
- That's lovely.

- SHE CHUCKLES

- The roof all cleaned up for you.
- Absolutely.

It's very pretty. It's absolutely
lovely.
- Yeah.

- Yeah, this is really lovely.

And I like... I love the quiet.
- Yeah.

- You know, it just has some lovely
birdsong.
- Yes, yes.

So we're in Chardstock, which is about
20 minutes' drive from Lyme.

- Uh-huh. OK.
- But it's an hour on the bus.

- Right. Oh.
- Do you drive?

- I do drive, but I don't like narrow
roads.

- Oh, OK. You'll get used to that!

You have to get used to that if...

- I'm really not very confident. I
think I'll rely on the bus.

I don't mind if it's an hour.
- Yeah.

Do you know this neck of the woods?

- I know Chard, actually,

because I did my last teaching
practise there.
- Oh, really?

- And it and it was so delightful.

I really liked it very much indeed.
- Yeah.

Chard is your nearest town really to
do your shopping and stuff.
- OK.

It's probably changed a lot.

That was more than 30 years ago.

- Richard, I know you are a surveyor
by trade, so what is your expert...

- Quick, quick view is that someone's
spent some money on it.

- Yeah.
- Kept it in a good condition.

That roof looks like it's brand-new.
- Yeah.

- Shall we have a look inside?
- Mm.
- Love to.
- Come on.
- Thank you.

- The cottage has been a much-loved
second home for the owners,

who have maintained it to a high
standard with recent improvements,

including new roof tiles, guttering
and fasciae.

Come on in.
- Thank you.

- An entrance hall leads into the
sitting room.

And then come into the main living
space.

- Oh.
- Yeah, that's a good size.

- Delightful.
- Yeah?

- As delightful inside as it is
outside.

Yeah. And I love the beams.

- You've got nice storage here.

- Lovely. That's good. We always need
that, don't we?

- Under-stair cupboard.
- Mm-hm.

- You've got good proportions. You can
fit two settees in here.

That's not a bad indication. It's...
- No, it's cosy.

- Yeah.
- It's cosy, and yet it's not, you
know, it's not poky and dark.

- Exactly. Not dark, no.

- And you've got plenty of...
- You've got plenty of height.

- Yeah.
- I don't have to worry about that!

- So...
- No, no, it's so lovely. So far, I
like it very much indeed.

- Let's have a look at the kitchen.
- It's got a lovely feel.

- And a really nice modern kitchen.

I can totally see Saadia here.
- Absolutely.

I love the colour as well!
- Yeah.
- You know?

- A bit of maritime blue.
- Oh, absolutely.

And it would just suit me because I
actually am not a cook.

- Are you not? Oh, good!
- So I just...
- Believe me, she's not a cook!

- I just make salads!

So it's absolutely perfect.

I love it. I really, really love it.

- Well, there's more to love upstairs.

So you've got good storage here on the
landing.
- Right.

- And then two bedrooms.
- Uh-huh.

- This is probably the one that's used
as the main bedroom.

- Right.
- Because it's got another big
wardrobe.
- Mm-hm.

- It goes up in the eaves.
- Yeah, that's all right.

Great. I like that shape, actually.
- Yeah?

- It reminds me of Heidi - up in the
loft!

- And so you've got an en suite, which
is actually a Jack and Jill,

so we can go through into the other
bedroom, which is just next door.

You've got a shower and a bathtub.
- Lovely.

I really like the fact that there's a
separate shower.
- Yeah.

And then, you know, when you have
guests,

you can just divvy up the time in the
bathroom.
- Yes.

- Have a knocking system. And then
this is the guest room.

- Right.

Mm-hm.
- But it does have this lovely window
seat.

- Yes. Lovely.
- Looking into the garden.

- It's not a bad size at all, is it?

- I'd say it's a good size for a
spare.
- Yeah.

And actually, what I would do, would
be - part of my art room

and part guest room as well.

- This house seems to seems to suit
Saadia very well indeed

and I hope the outside will, too.

The enclosed south-facing garden has a
small lawn

and a gravelled seating area.

- I like gardening, but I don't want
to be a slave to a garden.

So I want something that's really
easily maintained.

And...
- This is easily maintained.
- Absolutely.

And I can see a lot of my pots would
fit along the gravel there.

And I love this here by the gate.
- It's good.

- Yes. Roses around the gate.

- Yes!

- So let's come to the always thorny
issue of money.

How much do you think this perfectly
formed property

is on the market for?

- Well, because I want it to be within
my budget,

I'm going to hazard a guess at
£280,000.

- OK.
- Richard?

This is where I get embarrassed

because I'll probably get this
completely wrong.

I'll go a little bit higher.

I'll go with £285,000.

- Actually, you're both really close.

But actually, it's a tad higher.

It's actually on the market for just
shy of £290,000.

- Mm. Interesting.

- This lovely end-of-terrace cottage
has a cosy living room,

modern kitchen, two double bedrooms,

and a compact south-facing garden.

It's on the market for £289,995.

- I'm feeling so excited.

I'm so thrilled that you found this
one

and I'm very, very impressed indeed
because with the first house,

I feel I could actually move in and
live here.

But what I would say, if I'm honest,

I'm disappointed that I couldn't walk
to the sea from here.

But the house itself is absolutely
delightful and charming,

and I would love to live here.

- She's realistic enough to realise

that living by the sea does come at a
price

and she might have to consider some
sort of compromise.

- Dorchester, the county town of
Dorset,

lies just seven miles inland from the
Jurassic Coast.

- I love those the old buildings here.
- Yeah, I know.

It hasn't changed much in about 200
years, I would have thought.

- That's what's so lovely about it,
isn't it?

- Since the Mayor of Casterbridge was
walking around!
- Yeah!

- It was once the home of author and
poet Thomas Hardy,

who based his fictional town of
Casterbridge on Dorchester.

Many of the buildings from Hardy's
time still stand,

but today they house a more modern
selection

of independent shops and businesses.

- It looks lovely and olde-worlde,
doesn't it?

- It's got that old world feel, hasn't
it?
- Mm.

- The old Brewery Square has been
redeveloped

into a luxury residential and retail
quarter.

- I settled here with a small family,
young family.

It's a really great place to bring up
kids.

It's a really nice environment.

- And then I settled here because I
wanted a slower pace of life

and a better work-life balance.

I love it here compared to London.

My morning walk with the dog is along
the beach.

We've got amazing coastal paths and
forests.

Yeah, it's brill.

- The Grade II listed Corn Exchange

plays host to live music, theatre and
dance.

Plus, there's a great music scene.

- So the music scene in Dorchester is,

I think it's very vibrant

and quite varied.

There's lots of young, up-and-coming
artists and bands coming through.

We put some gigs on here.

And of course, the joy of decks.
- The joy of decks.
- The joy of decks.

Once a month, we have an open deck
session. Everybody's welcome.

You can just come along, have a good
time, have a dance.

And we get such a diverse bunch of
people and music played.

- Yeah.
- It's a lot of fun.

So it feels a very welcoming, safe
area, Dorset.

I brought...

Well, we both brought our children up,
you know, around here.

And I've come out here

and the community has been so
accepting and so wonderful.

- Marcia is not the only one

to experience Dorchester's warm
embrace.

- I think it's the most amazing
community ever, to be honest.

I've been here for seven years now

and it's just very warm,

very welcoming, very loving and caring
and supportive.

So, yeah, it's an amazing community
here in Dorchester.

- Inside Hamza's restaurant, Saadia
and Richard

are meeting council community leader
Jed Germodo,

who's a good contact for Saadia's
ambition

to do some volunteering in the area.

- Well, at the moment, I work for the
National Trust.

I volunteer for them and I really
enjoy that.

So something similar to that would be
great,

but I'm open to lots of other
opportunities.

- There's plenty of charities and
volunteering groups

that are looking for volunteers.

There's a few groups, whether you're
into art,

you're into supporting local
children's choirs or just sports.

- Oh, that's good to hear.

- There'll be a queue of people and
local groups

that will be wanting you to join them.

- That sounds great, doesn't it?

- It's clear Sadia wants to find her
place in a community.

Now it's back to the task of finding
somewhere she can do that.

We're hopping over the border into
South Somerset now,

headed for the market town of Chard.

If Saadia wants to ditch her car when
she moves,

this town has everything on the
doorstep,

including a library and a new leisure
centre.

Buses to the Jurassic Coast take
around an hour and 15 minutes.

Right in amongst it all sits our next
option,

a single-storey semidetached house
dating back to the 1930s.

Come and take a look at this.

- Right.

- This is an old bungalow that has
been extensively remodelled.

- Right.

- So how do you feel about A, living
in a market town,

and B, living in a bungalow?

- Well, the market town is fine.

Bungalow, I'm not so sure, actually,
to be honest.
- Really?

- I've never really just considered
them. It's a new opportunity.

- Ah, they're coming right back in
fashion bungalows.
- Are they?

- Everybody wants to live on one
level.
- OK.
- Yeah.

- Well, compared to the other one,

which was really olde-worlde
prettiness,

this isn't quite the same thing, is
it?

- It's a more 1930s bungalow pretty.
- Yeah.

Right.

- Well, as I say, I think...

I think this is an indoors...
- OK.
- ..sort of event.

So let's go indoors.
- Yeah. All right.

- I'm not unduly worried by Saadia's
lukewarm response

because thanks to a top-to-toe
transformation

by the present owners,

this is one seriously stylish house.

Come on in.

- Thank you.

- The porch is the size of most
people's bedrooms!
- Yes, absolutely.

- But take a look at the main event.

Woohoo!
- Oh, wow.

Hey!
- Oh!

- Oh!
- This is a nice surprise.

- Ah, yeah. I told you.

- You did, indeed.
- Who doesn't love a big kitchen?

- Yeah.

- No, I very much like the space that
there is here.
- Yeah.

- And the open-plan is great.

So certainly this makes a good
impression.
- Mm-hm.

Well, you're not short of rooms here.
- Oh.

- So if you follow me, I'll give you a
whistle-stop tour.

You can explore in more detail, but
you've got a room here.

Could be a craft room.

It's now a dining room.

- Right. OK.

- An absolutely beautiful bathroom.

- Wow!
- It's so nice.
- Goodness me!
- Like from a magazine.

This might be a good craft room

because it's nice and sunny. Got doors
into the garden.

Here's an office. Could be a bedroom.
- Goodness me!

- Yes, I told you!

And then, finally, here.

This is the bedroom.

- Wow. I'm so amazed.

- Yeah.
- You just couldn't tell, could you,
from the outside...

- You cannot tell, no.
- ..how deep it goes back?

My goodness. Yeah. And this is a
lovely size, too, isn't it?

- Yeah. Absolutely. Lovely storage.

- Mm! Yes.
- Beautiful finish throughout.

- Absolutely.

Gosh.

- Those "goshes" and "oh, goodnesses"
will only continue outside,

for that has been just as thoughtfully
designed.

And beautifully done.
- Absolutely!
- Lovely...

- And it's got all these different
areas as well.
- Yep. Exactly.

Got a little swing seat.
- Yes.

- You've got a water feature, lovely
outside dining.

- Everything you could actually wish
for.
- This is great.

- Yes, I love that.
- And then some outbuildings at the
back.

- Oh, my goodness.

You're really challenging me.

- I know. You see?

Don't be down on bungalows.

- No, I won't any longer!

- So the missing part of the puzzle is
the price.

- Oh, right.
- Yes.
- Yes.

- How much do you think this
bungalow...
- Right.
- ..costs?

- Well, I actually think it's going to
be more than my budget.
- Mm-hm.

- So I would say...

I think £350,000.

- OK. And, Richard, what do you think?

- I'd like to think it's under budget
at 295.

£295,000.

- Ah. Very good.

This is right on your budget.

This is on the market for £300,000.

- Wow. Really? My goodness.
- So you could have it.

- Well, I think that's quite a
bargain, actually.
- I think so, too,

with all of this lovely space...
- Because of all the space

and everything. And the way it's been
done as well.
- Yeah.

This 1930s semidetached bungalow
delivers a sociable,

open-plan kitchen/living room, a
separate dining room,

three bedrooms and a luxurious family
bathroom,

along with a thoughtfully landscaped
back garden.

It's on the market with a guide price
of £300,000.

- And the beautiful bath and the
separate shower,

which is really quite spacious.

- Very.
- It's absolutely wonderful.

I love the bathroom.
- Yeah.

- This would be the perfect work room.

I could have my sewing machine and
everything there.

- And a workbench there.
- Yeah.

- I like the fact you've got some
lovely doors there.
- I do.

- She's found that craft room, she's
got the guest room,

and she seems to have the dream
bathroom

that she didn't really think she
needed,

but having seen it, she's fallen in
love with it.

- The minute I stepped inside, my
goodness me,

I was just blown away.

A, by the space, by the light,

by all the different rooms.

There's so much potential.

You could do so many things with it.

And the bathroom, well, the bathroom
just exceeds my dreams.

- Having tantalised Saadia

with some beautiful homes further away
from the coast,

we're squeezing in one more viewing
back across the border

in the Dorset town of Lyme Regis,
where we started our day.

Saadia has already expressed her love
for this town,

which has all the day-to-day
essentials covered

and also boasts a centuries-old
harbour,

a golf course, a theatre, and numerous
clubs and societies.

Most importantly for Saadia,

it puts her within walking distance of
the sea.

On the edge of the town, in a quiet
cul-de-sac,

we've uncovered this semidetached
property.

So this is our Lyme Regis offering.

- Right. Thank you.

- So it's a 1980s property.

- Mm-hm.
- We're about ten-minute walk from the
seafront.

- Wow.

- So this is probably as close as you
can get to the sea.
- Mm-hm.

That is a very great draw.

- Let's go and have a look.
- Yeah.

- The present owners, who've lived
here for ten years,

tell us that if they weren't after
more space for their growing family,

they'd never consider moving because
they love it here.

Come on in.
- Thank you.

- So it's a very simple layout.

You've got the...

DOOR SHUTS

..sitting room with the staircase
going up.
- Mm-hm.

- Not a bungalow.
- No!

- And through into the kitchen in the
back.

And then two bedrooms upstairs.
- Right. OK.

Well, this is an all right space.

- A little bit dark.

- Yeah. But I certainly don't mind
wielding a paintbrush

or hanging wallpaper or something like
that, you know?

- But it's a question of whether you'd
want to, you know,

do that and live closer to the sea.

- I know. It gives me a lot of food
for thought.

- Shall we look in the kitchen?
- Uh-huh.

- So the kitchen's a lot lighter.

- It certainly is. Yes.

- Yeah.
- This is fine, size-wise, as well.

I'm not looking for lots and lots of
space.
- Yeah.

- So I think this would be...

..would be fine.

- Hmm. The question is whether FINE is
good enough.

Upstairs, a family bathroom serves two
double bedrooms.

- Oh, OK.
- It's a good size.

- Yes. It's fine. It's...

The word I was looking for downstairs
is functional, isn't it?

This will do.

- "This will do"?
- It'll do.
- OK.
- Yeah.

I'm not looking for a mansion.

- No. Space-wise, because you are...
You don't need much space.

- Not really.
- But you could have space.
- I could, yeah.

- You've seen what the space could be.

- Yes, absolutely.
- It's whether you are tempted by it.
- Yeah.

- Like the lovely kitchen and the
lovely bath...
- I know, I know, yes.

- Can you succumb to...
- I don't know yet.

I've just got lots and lots to think
about.

- Yeah.
- So I don't want to make any
decisions just yet.
- Yeah.

- And you don't have to, Saadia.

And anyway, there's more to SEA in the
second bedroom.

- The view...
- Oh, yes!

I can actually see the sea.
- ..out across..
- Yeah.

How lovely to look out at that every
morning,

to see what the weather's doing.
- Yeah.

- And how I want to...
- And then go back to bed!

- And how I want to spend my day.

Yeah. No, that's lovely.

- To be near the sea or not near the
sea,

that's the burning question.

- I just think I have a lot to think
about, Alistair.
- Yes.

- You know, because my dream was to
live by the sea,

and this is only ten minutes away, so
that's a big draw.
- Yes.

- I can do things...
- And you can see the sea.
- Yeah.

And I can do things to the house to
make it more attractive.
- Of course.

- You know? So, erm...

But I don't know now.

Now that I've seen those other two
properties,

I don't know if living by the sea is

actually the be-all and end-all for
me.
- Right. Yes.

- You know, maybe just coming down to
it once a week

or twice a week or something would be
enough.

- Yes, yes.

- So I really have to get my thinking
cap on.
- Mm.

So in terms of finances,

how much do you think this property
will cost,

ten minutes from the sea?

- I think I would say something like
£260,000.

- Mm-hm.
- 260?

I'm thinking it's more than that.

290,000.

- OK.

- Well, in this instance...

..Saadia you're right.
- Wahey!
- Oh, my goodness!

I'm amazed.
- It's on the market for £260,000.

- Oh, brilliant.
- That's...
- Well, I'm glad. I'm glad.

I'm glad I'm wrong!

- This 1980s semidetached property has
a living room, a kitchen,

two double bedrooms and a paved rear
garden.

Just a ten-minute walk from the
seafront

in the highly sought-after town of
Lyme Regis,

it has a guide price of £260,000.

It's good to show you another thing to
boggle your brain.

- Absolutely. You're very good at
doing that!

- So do you need any more time here?
Or should we kind of peel off and...

- No, I think that's enough time,
thank you.
- Great.

Well, let's go and regroup and, you
know,

maybe we can sift through some of the
things from today.

- Yeah. OK.
- Come with me.
- Thank you.

- Since we're just a stone's throw
from the shore,

that's exactly where we're heading

to wrap up what's been a rather
thought-provoking day.

It feels like we've had a lot to
digest today.
- Absolutely.

- I just wondered whether you're
thinking about

the fantasy of living all on your own,

or maybe the reality of wanting some
community,

wanting want some support?

- I think probably the first reaction
is to get away from everybody

and just be by myself.

And although I like my own company,

I am actually quite a sociable person.

- I can see.
- So...
- Yeah.

- You know, so I probably want some
kind of balance.

That's why the town makes sense,

because there's transport there so I
can get to places,

people can come to me easily.

- You say you don't want to drive,

but I do think that if you live in the
countryside,

particularly if you're going to live
in a little village...
- Yeah.

- ..you're probably going to have to
just grit your teeth

and drive down those little lanes.

The secret is, there's not many people
driving on them.

- No.
- No, the driving part really, really
doesn't appeal.

It just makes me feel stressed.

- Right.
- And I don't want to feel stressed
any more.
- No.

- So perhaps there's an answer there.
- Yeah.

- SO I'm very grateful to the fact
that you are widening

what I thought I would see

and really making me delve more deeply
into myself

to really think about, analyse what is
it I really, really want.

Is it really just to be by the sea?

Is there more that I need in my life

in order to be fulfilled and satisfied
and content?

- Yeah.
- You know?
- These are exactly the questions

that, I think, under the bonnet,

everybody's thinking that when they
move to the countryside

because that's kind of what it's
about.
- Mm-hm. Yeah.

- Well, we could get an ice cream,

but from bitter experience, I know
that's not always the safest.

- You may not have the time to enjoy
it!
- So maybe we'll...

- It may be snatched from you.

- We'll enjoy the sea for a little
while longer.
- Yeah.

- Then we should get a good night's
sleep

because we've got another day
tomorrow.
- Absolutely! Yes.

- You must be pooped.
- And today...

Well, today's been a lovely, lovely
day.

It's been tremendous.

- If you fancy a slice of Dorset or
Devon's coastline

or countryside to call your own,

here's the lowdown on property prices
in the region.

Whilst the average cost of a detached
home in the UK

currently stands at

just over £429,000,

in Dorset, it's more than 515,000.

You'll get more for your money in
neighbouring Devon,

but prices here are still well above
the UK average

at just over £480,000.

Let's take a look at some other
properties currently on the market.

This three-bed detached chalet
bungalow

has a large kitchen-diner and two
receptions,

including this one with doors out on
to the decking and the garden below.

It's on the market for £580,000.

With a guide price upwards of
£375,000,

this Grade II listed, three-bed
thatched terrace cottage

has a sitting room, a contemporary
kitchen-diner

and a large paved rear garden.

Yearning for a few nights away?

With a super king bed, comfy sofa and
en suite shower,

this luxury yurt also has a large deck

from which you can soak up the
countryside views.

Prices start from £145 per night for
two people.

Sometimes it's not about escaping
somewhere new,

but actually returning back to where
you're from.

Which is why I'm off to meet Carina,

who, after a long journey abroad,
living in Australia,

has come back to where her heart is,
which is Dorset.

In 2012, Carina George was dragged,
her words,

to a yoga class by a friend.

It turned out to be a life-changing
event,

instilling a sense of peacefulness

more powerful than she'd ever felt
before.

Carina now teaches yoga, and today,

here, on Boscombe Beach,

she's kindly agreed to put me through
my paces.

- And as we inhale, stretch the right
leg up, back up towards the sky.

Three-legged dog. Bend the left right
leg, slacking the hip.

- The word yoga is derived from the
Sanskrit for union,

in reference to the sense of balance
between mind and body,

which yoga aims to achieve.

- If you want to just hang here
holding the elbows,

just hang in ragdoll.

Let the body completely relax over the
legs.

- I'm particularly interested in the
therapeutic effects of yoga,

which studies have shown to be
numerous.

Physical benefits include strength,
endurance, and flexibility.

Clearly, I have some way to go on that
front.

Whilst the rewards for our mental
wellbeing include reducing stress

and enhancing positive mind states.

- We bend the legs. We step it through
to seated.

Crossed ankles, coming all the way
down.

- You did that much more elegantly
than me! Thank you so much.

- Pleasure.

- Oh, it's so nice practising on the
beach, Carina.

- It's beautiful, isn't it? Yeah.
- Do you teach on the beach?

- I teach one-to-ones on the beach. A
lot of one-to-ones.

- So my husband teaches yoga.

I'm more interested in the mind stuff,
so the meditation stuff.

- Yeah, absolutely.
- But obviously they're so
interlinked.

Do you bring elements of the mental
meditative stuff into your practise?

- I teach both meditation yoga,
breathwork,

but with the more restorative
practices

is where I kind of fell in love with
it

when I had quite a serious diagnosis
of cancer.

I had to kind of go into the more...

Get more of an understanding of the
mental,

the meditation side of it.

And that's when I could only arrive on
my mat

and all I could do was just breathe
and just be in stillness.

And that's all I could physically do
at the time.

And that's where my journey kind of
changed dramatically.

- So how long were you battling
cancer? Are you OK now?

- Yeah, yeah. So I'm in remission now.

So it was seven years ago.

It was stage two cervical cancer.

And I had the chemotherapy and
radiotherapy.

And, for me, it was more about, "How
can I help with this?"

It was just getting on the mat

and just going into that space of
meditation that helped me.

It just completely changed everything.

I think sometimes as well we think,

or we're programmed to think yoga is
these fancy postures

that we have, when actually, it's
really not.

It's a way of life. It's actually...

The simplicity of yoga is, you know,
bring it back just to the breath,

just to arrive on your mat

and just maybe stay there for five
minutes and breathe.

That's your yoga practise for the day.

- So there you have it.

Yoga needn't be about being super
stretchy.

Simply paying attention to the breath

can make a make a lasting change to
your day.

What became very clear during our
adventures in Lyme Regis

yesterday afternoon is that the sea is
really important for Saadia.

Perhaps more so than character or
being out in the countryside.

So I've left Saadia and Richard on the
beach here at Beer,

another super gorgeous beach,

because our Mystery House is not a
million miles away.

And I think it's a great candidate

for combining a little bit of
character, a lot of sea,

and a little twist.

We found it in Devon on the edge of
the seaside town of Seaton

and within walking distance of
neighbouring Beer,

a gem of a village that I think Saadia
will love.

For starters, there's the beach,

one of the few along this stretch of
coastline

where fishing boats are launched
directly from the shore.

The high street is lined with
characterful buildings

which house several watering holes,

plus shops that provide all the daily
essentials

and cater to the needs of day
trippers.

But beware of local opportunists

and keep your chips and ice cream
close, folks.

Home buyers pay premium prices to live
in Beer,

with the average cost of a house
currently more than £500,000.

So how have we managed to secure
something for Saadia?

Clue?

It's not a house.

As you can imagine, finding a cottage
or property

here in this part of Devon and Dorset
near the beach

is quite a big ask.

However, finding Saadia an apartment
in a converted hotel?

That we can do.

Aha!

This elegant apartment puts Saadia
within a 15-minute walk

of Beer beach and village

and an easy half hour stroll to the
centre of Seaton.

Come join me. So obviously it's not
the whole house!
- No!

Well, actually, Alistair, I wouldn't
want the whole house.
- Yeah, quite.

It's one of these apartments up

with the big bay windows looking out
over the sea.
- Uh-huh.

Oh, fantastic. That sounds wonderful.

- Well, we haven't really talked about
apartments.

- No.
- How do you feel about apartment
living?

- Well, it would have been my choice
B, actually.
- Right.

- But it's worth considering.

- How many choices are there?

- It goes down to C!
- OK.
- You're OK.

- So it's the middle choice.

- Or there might even be D - a
caravan.
- Fine, OK.

So not top choice, but not bottom
choice.
- That's right.

- I just love the location and the
fact it's set in like a,

to me it's like this hidden valley.

- Yeah.
- It's sort of tucked away.

- Exactly.
- Oh, exciting.

- Do you want to look inside?
- Let's go.
- Yeah, absolutely.

- Come on.
- Thank you.

- The apartment has been used by the
present owners

as their holiday home for the past ten
years.

Come on in.

- Thank you.

- So we'll look at all these rooms
later on

because I want to take you to the main
event.

- All right.
- Oh, this is a great space.

What do you think about this?

- Oh, my goodness!

- You want light, you get light.

- Oh, I absolutely love this.

- Really?
- I do, yes.

- Take a step forward and look at the
view.

- Oh!

Oh, my goodness me!

I shall never want to leave it!

- So that view is...
- Yeah.

- That's actually the end of Seaton
Beach.

- That's Seaton?
- Yeah.
- It's a big room. One room.

- Yes.
- But it's got that sort of spatial
feel that's like...
- Yes.

- You can dine.
- Yeah.

- Breakfast, look out the window, get
that light.

- And not move!
- Not move for a while.

- And not move for the whole day,
yeah.

It is a treat.

Next door, the kitchen has been
recently refitted.

Do you think you'd manage in this?
- Absolutely.

It's fine, because, as you know, I
don't cook very much.

So it's enough just to boil the kettle
and make a salad.
- Yeah.

- Which is all I do, really.

- This does everything you need.
- Absolutely.

- A newly spruced up shower room
serves the two double bedrooms.

This is the main bedroom.
- Uh-huh. OK.

It would serve my needs and it's fine.

Yeah.
- Enough storage? Do you have lots of
clothes?

- I do have lots of clothes.

- You might need another wardrobe,
then!

A slightly bigger wardrobe.

- I could have one along that wall.
- You could have one fitted, yeah.

- Yeah. And that would be enough.

- And then there's a bedroom, which
could be your workroom.

- Lovely.
- It's good. It's a good size.
- Yeah!

- I think it's OK. It's the
decorations.

- Yes.
- Nice and neutral.

- So this is the...

Oh, they're still chatting. That's a
good sign.

That means they're thinking it
through, which is excellent news.

Ah, yes. Come on in.
- Oh, wow.

This is quite a good size, isn't it?
- Yeah.

I think this would make a lovely
workroom.
- Yeah. It certainly would.

- It would make an excellent workroom.

- I'd have my sewing machine under the
window.
- Yeah.

- You know, I won't feel, hemmed in or
anything.

- No.
- So that's fine.

- You're so easy to please when it
comes to space.

- Yeah, because I live in a very big
house now...

- And it's too big.
- It's too big for me, yeah.

- Saadia's downsizing requirements are
perfectly met

in the beautiful communal landscaped
gardens.

Looked after by a gardener,

Saadia can enjoy them without lifting
a finger.

Gardening services and all other
running costs

are covered by the annual service
charge of £2,500.

What are your thoughts about the
actual asking price?

- Well, I think it's absolutely
lovely.

I would go for something like
£280,000.

- OK. Richard?
- I'll go a bit higher.

I'll say 285,000.

- Well, in this instance, you're both
heading the wrong direction

because this is actually on the market
for £50 short of £260,000.

- Oh!
- Oh, OK, that's even better, I would
say.

- That's even better.

This elegant Victorian apartment

has a light-filled living room with
sea views,

a recently refitted kitchen and shower
room,

as well as two double bedrooms.

Sitting in communal landscaped
grounds,

within walking distance of the beach,

it's on the market for £259,950.

- I'm absolutely thrilled that he
showed me this because I love it.

It's just the perfect setting.

And there's this beautiful view from
this room as well.

And it's spacious enough for me.

- This place is giving her a bit of a
buzz.

It's so warm. It's so naturally
beautiful and peaceful.

It's what I really want for her.

- This house tour seems to completely
rotate around the sea.

We've tried to go inland, see a few
properties with trees and hills,

but Saadia seems to be drawn back to
the coast.

So we're going to end the day where we
began it, on Beer beach,

and find out what they're thinking.

Hey.
- Hi, hello.

- How's it going back at Beer Beach?

- Yes. It's a lovely place to be.

- How are you feeling about the whole
week?

- Oh, my goodness, it's been amazing.
It really has.

It's been a whirlwind.
- Yeah.
- A good whirlwind.

And you've shown me some amazing
places, really,

that I don't think I would have seen
had I been looking myself.

I'm torn between two, I must say.

I loved the first one because that was
so, you know,

so beautifully English with roses
around the door.

And it was olde-worlde and quiet.

But it felt more cut off than the
mystery one, really.

And of course, this last one you
showed me, the Mystery House,

was a fantastic location with those
beautiful walks

and the shop not far away, and
practical as well as beautiful.

- And, Richard, watching from the
wings,

what have you noticed has come into
focus in Saadia's house-hunt?

- Very subtle changes in her...

In her attitude.

I mean, what trumps it is the
location, I think.

So that Mystery House really seemed to
do the business.

- Yeah.
- Yeah. And it's quiet and peaceful as
well.
- Oh, really?

- It's away from the hubbub.
- Yeah.

And yet...
- And yet I can get there, should I
want it.

- ..ten minutes to the beach, yeah.
- Absolutely, yes.

- Which is very special.
- Yeah.

- And so what happens next? Where are
you in terms of your...

Because your house hasn't sold yet.

- No, unfortunately.

But I hope soon.

I'd want to look in more detail,

ring up the agent for the Mystery
House.

- Wow.
- It's worth investigating.

So that's my plan of action.

That's what I'm going to do with the
Mystery House.

But I'm going to sleep on it first.

- Right. Yes, of course, because this
is a very momentous move for you.

You know, you will be leaving your
husband's house, that was his house,

and then this would be your first home
on your own.

So you want to get it right.
- Absolutely.

- I'm so pleased. Do keep us in the
loop, whatever happens.

- Yes, indeed, I will.

- And, yeah, we come here quite often,
so we can come and visit for tea.

- You'd be very welcome, I assure you.

- What a lovely person Saadia is.

And what an interesting challenge for
us,

because very often, we're looking for
houses in the countryside

for people who want big gardens, big
rooms, big houses.

And actually, Saadia's requests were
quite modest.

But the meaning of her move was really
massive

because it's a very important change
in her life

and she needs to focus in on what's
significant,

what's going to uplift her soul,
what's going to be meaningful -

to be near the sea, to have peace and
quiet,

but not too isolated.

So I really hope she finds the perfect
solution to her problem

and I hope that you join us next time
for more Escape To The Country.

If you would like to escape to the
country in England,

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