Escape to the Country Season 24 Episode 5 | North Yorkshire
Briony May Williams helps to make dreams come true for a buyer with an ambition of moving to the North Yorkshire countryside on a £250,000 budget. Then, she takes her escapee to a farm, where they are given the privilege of feeding a young lamb.
Transcript
00:00Getting the whole family in step on a country move can be tricky.
00:07And I'm going to get these two some hiking boots, some walking boots.
00:12And some thermals for Lucy.
00:14A place everyone loves can put you on the right path.
00:19I'm a fan. She's a fan, she's a fan.
00:23And bonding with the locals can leave you ready to spring into action.
00:29Yeah. Oh, she's so cute.
00:32Happy as a lamb.
00:35Before you know it, you'll be right at home.
00:39It feels like it's just your little part of the world.
00:43It just wraps itself around you, doesn't it?
00:58Harbouring an urge to escape?
01:12We're off to North Yorkshire's scenic seaside villages.
01:17Wild moorland and rolling green passages.
01:24Now they say an Englishman's home is his castle.
01:27But ask anyone from Yorkshire and they'll tell you that this whole wonderful county is their one giant castle.
01:37The thing I like the best about living in North Yorkshire is the variety of things that you can do.
01:43Whether it's the beautiful small towns, whether it's the coast.
01:46There is just so many different opportunities to have an amazing day out and none of them have to be the same.
01:56At over 3,000 square miles, this is the largest county in England.
02:02Which means would-be escapees have a lot of North Yorkshire to choose from.
02:12Research the area, make sure you've got all the advice because it is such a huge area.
02:19There's so much diversity, there's a lifelong time of exploring to be done on the North York moors.
02:25You don't need to leave them.
02:29They're a proud bunch and quite rightly so.
02:32Just looking around at some of this magnificent scenery and you realise they've got every right to be.
02:40What I really love about it is you're in the countryside but within a five or ten minute drive you can be in a lovely little market town.
02:47Where you can pick up some great artisan food, local produce and you spend your time just chatting, stopping.
02:53It's just a really nice friendly environment to live in.
02:56Now I've got a single buyer today but she has two extremely supportive daughters who I'm delighted to say are 110% behind this move to Yorkshire.
03:14So without further ado, let's meet them all.
03:17This is my house, well actually my flat.
03:20I do want some more space so hopefully, fingers crossed, that's what I find in the country.
03:26University Secretary Sue will be leaving the city of Newcastle for passages new in North Yorkshire where she hopes to nurse some very rural dreams.
03:37This might sound a little odd but my whole life I've had a desire to feed a lamb.
03:44So every lambing season I'm looking for a place to go and feed a lamb but it's never happened yet.
03:51With an offer already accepted on her current home, Sue's eldest daughter Holly, who lives in Northern Ireland,
03:57and youngest Lucy, who's based in the USA, have returned to Great Britain to help their mum look for a new house.
04:05Both my daughters have left me basically.
04:07Hi Holly, how are you doing?
04:10I really suffered with the empty nest thing but now I'm coming to terms with it
04:14and it was actually Holly and Lucy who told me to now start living my life for me and to move on.
04:21I think it's important for our mum to know that we like it as much as she does because we're going to spend a lot of time there
04:27so it's important for us all to feel like it's home.
04:30My mum's very outdoorsy, she likes taking walks in the countryside
04:33so I think that would be so much better for you to get access to the country if it's on your doorstep.
04:38Yeah, much better.
04:39But there's actually more to do in the countryside than there is in a city sometimes.
04:43I'd like to try volunteering to do some amateur dramatics.
04:47Just really develop more of the creative side, something I've never explored before.
04:53Maybe get a dog as well.
04:54Oh, the dog. Yeah, yeah.
04:59With a boy in place for her flat, Sue has a budget of up to £250,000 for her new North Yorkshire home.
05:08She's after a character property with at least two bedrooms and decent storage space as both her daughters plan to visit regularly.
05:17She'd like a small garden and to feel part of a community,
05:21close to transport links with a choice of country walks on the doorstep.
05:26I'm genuinely very excited to see what the next few days have got in store for Sue.
05:31And it's really lovely that Lucy and Holly, her daughters, are coming along to join us.
05:36It's very much about the girl power.
05:38I just need to decide which Spice Girl I want to be.
05:43We've got a viewing lined up in the North Yorkshire village of Ampleforth.
05:47But before we peek at the property, I'm taking a stroll through the village with Sue and her daughters, Holly and Lucy.
05:54Well, this is a first for me having three of you here.
05:56This is very exciting.
05:57So, Sue, what has drawn you to North Yorkshire in terms of starting your new life?
06:03Yeah, well, I started coming to North Yorkshire about two and a half years ago,
06:07and I just love it here.
06:08It's a lovely place.
06:09It's a lovely place.
06:10It's a lovely place.
06:11It's a lovely place.
06:12It's a lovely place.
06:13It's a lovely place.
06:14I started coming to North Yorkshire about two and a half years ago, and I just love it.
06:17I'm really falling in love with it every time I come more and more.
06:20It's peaceful.
06:21It's peaceful.
06:22It's beautiful.
06:23Once you're back out in the fresh air and the nature, you just want more of it.
06:27So, I'm really excited about it.
06:29What about you?
06:30I mean, you know, as daughters, you seem to be very encouraging about it.
06:33Yeah, I think she's just more of a countryside person, to be honest.
06:37It's really gorgeous.
06:38Yeah.
06:39It's mum all over.
06:40Yeah, it is.
06:41I want them to get into walking and things as well.
06:43One step at a time, Sue.
06:44One step at a time.
06:45Once we get a dog.
06:46Excellent.
06:47You really want to make the most of everything.
06:48Yeah.
06:49It's not just about, you know, the house you're moving into.
06:51It's about the entire community and everything in it.
06:53Yeah, absolutely.
06:54And in the community, see what to do.
06:56Maybe there's some yoga, some meditation, some classes I can join.
07:00Yeah, I'm really going for everything that's on offer in the countryside.
07:05And what's the one thing that you're most looking forward to for your mum in the move, do you think?
07:11I think being able to have more space, like a spare bedroom for us.
07:15I know that it's important that we come by and visit lots.
07:18What about you, Holly?
07:19I totally agree.
07:20I think outside space as well.
07:21We love all sitting outside in the summer, especially.
07:23And that will be really special.
07:25We're going to take it in turns, aren't we?
07:26Yeah.
07:27We flipped a coin and I'm going today.
07:29Excellent.
07:30We've got Lucy today.
07:31Holly, we'll catch up with you later.
07:32Yeah, definitely.
07:33Because our first property is just down that way.
07:35Oh, my gosh.
07:36Are we?
07:37That's brilliant.
07:38Yeah, great.
07:40Ampleforth is as practical as it is pretty,
07:43with a local shop and post office, a cafe, two pubs and a doctor's surgery.
07:49The bus service reaches the market town of Helmsley in 24 minutes
07:53and York City Centre in little over an hour.
07:57Rows of local limestone cottages line the lanes.
08:01And in the heart of the village is one I'm about to show to Sue and daughter Lucy
08:06who's joining us for today's tours.
08:08Leaving Holly to catch up with us at the end of the day.
08:13This village has got, you know, everything you could need.
08:15And just up here, we've got our first property.
08:19Oh, my gosh.
08:20This looks lovely.
08:22Oh, this is very pretty.
08:24Here we are.
08:26Come on through.
08:28It's this gorgeous courtyard.
08:30I love this.
08:31Look at the blossom trees.
08:33Oh, I think it's cute.
08:34I think it's cottagey.
08:35I think it's lovely.
08:37Very traditional cottage, just what she likes.
08:39Very nice.
08:40Very good.
08:41Very good, yes.
08:42I'm a fan so far.
08:43Oh, she's a fan.
08:44She's a fan.
08:45Right, shall we have a look inside?
08:46Yes.
08:48Having made our way to the rear of this attached stone cottage,
08:51we're entering the home via a conservatory extension added 10 years ago
08:56to reach a galley kitchen.
08:59Come on through to the kitchen.
09:02Oh, my gosh.
09:03Lovely.
09:04I like this.
09:05It's cute.
09:06It is cute.
09:07I don't like vast, big spaces.
09:09This is exactly...
09:10It feels homely.
09:11It feels very homely.
09:12And because this kitchen isn't vast, it wouldn't cost much to change,
09:17you know, so I've got already a little vision for this one.
09:21Tell me, Sue.
09:22Tell me the vision.
09:23What would you do?
09:25They would be great for repainting.
09:27Even, like, a little, like, greeny-green.
09:30I could definitely see myself cooking in here.
09:33In the mornings, you can have your coffee there
09:35or what do you reckon, Lucy?
09:37Mum having a coffee out here.
09:38Yeah.
09:39Listening to the birds.
09:40That sounds amazing.
09:41Fab.
09:42Well, shall we go and see the next room?
09:43Yes.
09:44Very excited.
09:45Brilliant.
09:46The remainder of this floor is taken up by a reception room at the front.
09:51Through to the main living area.
09:54Oh, very nice.
09:56It's very big.
09:57It's more spacious than I imagined.
09:59Yeah, and it's got three windows, well, a door and two windows,
10:02so that's lots of, like...
10:03That staircase is really nice.
10:05There's a lot you could do in this room.
10:07It's very much a blank slate.
10:08Yeah, it is.
10:09If we look, I'm just going to open these up, Lucy,
10:11so you can get an idea.
10:15Oh, yeah, what a difference.
10:16Yeah, that does make a huge difference.
10:18Oh, my gosh, that's a huge difference.
10:19It just feels like one lovely space that flows.
10:22Would your furniture fit in here, do you think?
10:24Yeah, this is the thing.
10:25I brought my tape measure.
10:26This is how long my couch is.
10:27This is how long your couch is.
10:28You could put it across like that
10:29and then you still have access to the stairs.
10:31And then maybe the TV there.
10:32Or get a new couch.
10:33I'm thinking a new couch.
10:34The house is more important than the furniture.
10:37Let's head upstairs.
10:38Oh, wonderful.
10:41The stairs lead to a landing space with a skylight window.
10:44We're starting our tour of the bedroom accommodation
10:47in the largest room on offer.
10:50Oh, this is lovely.
10:51It's a beautiful bedroom, Sue.
10:52I like the two aspects of both windows.
10:55Nice view.
10:56Oh, that's wonderful.
10:58And there's plenty of room for wardrobes
11:00and everything else.
11:02This is such a lovely room, isn't it?
11:04Yeah, it's very cosy.
11:05Yeah, it's perfect.
11:06So I'm going to let you have a look around
11:08and then I'll meet you in the beautiful garden.
11:10Oh, lovely.
11:11Great, thank you.
11:14Next to the main bedroom is a family bathroom
11:16featuring another skylight window.
11:18Oh, it's got a bath in.
11:20I love it.
11:21I need a bath.
11:26And there's a second bedroom for guests.
11:28So this would be your room, Holly's room.
11:30You come to stay.
11:32This is a decent size.
11:33Yeah, you could definitely put a double bed in here.
11:35I think so.
11:36And look at the lovely views, Lucy.
11:38Oh, wow.
11:39It's nice, isn't it?
11:40Yeah.
11:41You can see yourself in here.
11:42Yeah, definitely.
11:44Lots of happy faces.
11:45It's got everything that Sue's looking for,
11:47but I think the fact that Lucy loves it is a very good sign.
11:52Outside, the small landscape garden packs in a lot,
11:56including more local limestone, a seating area, pergola,
12:00and a good variety of flowering plants.
12:03But I need to find out if this measures up to Sue's expectations.
12:08Is this big enough for you, would you say?
12:10Yes, this is perfect for me.
12:11You could even do vegetables if you wanted to.
12:13This would be a great vegetable patch.
12:15Absolutely.
12:16The house is beautiful, but the garden's extra special.
12:19It really is.
12:20So taking all that into account, have we got a thought on price?
12:25I think this property is probably up for £230,000.
12:31OK. Lucy, what about you?
12:33My guess would be maybe £220,000.
12:37So it's actually on the market for £240,000.
12:40Right.
12:41But we spoke to the owners, and they have said that they are open to offers.
12:45So that's very positive.
12:46That's very good news.
12:47That's a great price, actually.
12:50This stone cottage is within budget
12:52and could be just the right base for Sue's new life in Yorkshire.
12:56The kitchen can be opened up to make one flowing space with a reception room,
13:00and there's also a conservatory, two bedrooms, plus a well-designed garden.
13:06It's in the heart of a village with great facilities.
13:11This could be a dining room as well.
13:13So we could put the table and chairs there.
13:15Yeah, it's quite big. You could definitely have a nice meal here.
13:18It felt like a warm blanket that's been wrapped around you.
13:21It's got everything that I would expect from a Yorkshire cottage.
13:25It's got the lovely stone walls and an amazing garden,
13:29and inside it's cosy and cottagey,
13:32and I could see myself really, yeah, putting my stamp on it.
13:36I think having that spare room is a huge incentive for me to come and visit.
13:41Now I know that I'll have somewhere to stay.
13:43And I like that there's room for me and my sister.
13:46I can see us all hanging out in the living room,
13:48and it's very much our kind of home.
13:52OK, all good?
13:53Yeah, great.
13:54Plenty more to see and do after you.
14:06Moving from the city of Newcastle to the countryside
14:09doesn't mean Sue will have to compromise
14:12when it comes to an active community and busy social calendar.
14:17The North Yorkshire market town of Helmsley is a buzzing place
14:21that's turned many a casual visitor into a long-term local.
14:26We're set in a really popular route if you're going to the coast
14:29or if you're heading up north, so it's a really good stopping point
14:32if you're maybe travelling further afield.
14:35We have loads of independent stores, lots of nice cafes and eateries,
14:39as well as things like a castle, the Birds of Prey Centre.
14:43Well, I'm not from this area originally.
14:45I'm from Staffordshire, but I've been to Helmsley many times as a motorcyclist.
14:50The town is full of motorcycles in the summer.
14:52I knew it was going to be a nice place to live.
14:54The advice that I would give somebody if they're moving into this area
14:58is get involved in the community.
15:00There's lots to do, whether you're involved in the local church,
15:03the village hall, sports clubs,
15:05because you will be welcomed quite warmly.
15:10Sue's keen to take that advice.
15:12As part of her visit to the town with daughter Lucy,
15:15she's come to the Arts Centre where preparations are underway
15:18for the latest production, Cider with Rosie,
15:21all under the watchful gaze of chairman of the amateur theatre company,
15:25Mike Martin.
15:29How did you get involved in theatre?
15:31I came back from drama school when I was 21.
15:35I'd lived in this area, I'd grown up in this area,
15:38and the theatre company here was really welcoming.
15:40My first job was operating a beanstalk in a pantomime
15:44with a large pulley system.
15:46And then I've started acting, started directing,
15:50started stage managing,
15:52and I've been here nearly 20 years now.
15:56So I'm thinking of moving to the local area.
16:00Are there any amateur dramatic opportunities here in the theatre?
16:04Yes, there are.
16:06It's a small core staff, but a lot of the work
16:10and almost all of the work for shows and productions on an evening
16:14is done by a team of volunteers.
16:16There are a lot of different ways you can contribute.
16:20As well as acting, you can help backstage.
16:23We need people who know about costume,
16:26people who know how to hammer bits of wood together,
16:29stage managers and so on.
16:31The theatre also has a full front-of-house operation,
16:34which is staffed by local volunteers,
16:37and so we welcome anyone who wants to be involved with that.
16:41Well, it looks like Helmsley could be getting a curtain call from Sue
16:45when it comes to her new life here.
16:48But let's see if we can throw the spotlight on the right property for her
16:51in the North Yorkshire countryside.
16:58Our next stop is the village of Tollerton.
17:01At the heart of the community here is The Green,
17:04where you can find a shop and post office open Monday to Saturday.
17:08There's a couple of pubs and a bus route to the city of York,
17:12which is around 10 miles away.
17:14It's a sought-after place to live and is made up of just 400 homes.
17:19And it's one of those, not far from that central green,
17:23that we've come to view.
17:27Beautiful little village.
17:30And this is our next property.
17:32Oh, my gosh. That's lovely.
17:35It's like a sweet shop.
17:37And I'm thinking, there's no way you've found something in my budget
17:40in this village.
17:42Ha-ha! We have!
17:44Shall we go and check it out? Yes. OK.
17:47This early 19th-century attached brick cottage
17:51with a bow front window is Grade II listed and currently unoccupied.
17:57Come on in, Hannah, the wind.
18:00Lovely. Looks so...
18:02It's a wood-burning stove!
18:05That's it coming through. Put it on now.
18:08I absolutely adore that window.
18:10I love it. It's gorgeous.
18:12And I've got my tape measure, so I do feel that...
18:15Shall we get it out again? Eight foot. Eight foot.
18:18Take the door off. Take the door off.
18:20You might be able to. It could happen.
18:22Or we might be looking at a new sofa.
18:24Come on this way.
18:26A second reception room features an original cast-iron Yorkshire range.
18:31That's amazing. That's unusual.
18:33It looks like it's an oven and a fire.
18:35Yeah, this would have been the original kitchen
18:38and that would have been the original oven back in the day.
18:41But it's still a feature. It is.
18:43It's definitely a great feature.
18:45You've got a bit of storage behind you. Ah, good.
18:48Yeah. Oh, yeah, that's a decent storage.
18:51Shall we have a look at what the kitchen looks like now? Great.
18:54There's plumbing in place here for a washing machine,
18:57but when this two-centuries-old home was upgraded
19:00to meet modern expectations of rooms with running water,
19:04a rear extension was added.
19:06It's not massive. Is this too small for you?
19:09Oh, you would think yes, because I like to cook.
19:13It would be wonderful if you could do something with the two.
19:19It would be wonderful to make it, like you said before,
19:22that was the original kitchen, to bring it back to the kitchen.
19:25This would be a nice utility, actually. Utility.
19:28Yeah, I definitely think the kitchen would be better in there.
19:31So the bathroom is just behind you there, if you want to have a look.
19:34Ah. I actually really like this.
19:37Because it's got a big window, it's nice and light.
19:40I like it. It's, like, kind of cool.
19:44The footprint upstairs is all part of the original cottage
19:48and offers a choice of two bedrooms,
19:50the larger of which is at the front of the home.
19:53Now, this would be the primary bedroom.
19:56Oh, it's nice. It's got... Look at this space.
19:59I like it. Fireplace. Oh, that's very nice.
20:02I love this bedroom. This is a big bedroom.
20:05It is a big bedroom.
20:07Yeah, you can fit cupboard space and a bed easily in here.
20:11Shall we have a look at what would be Lucy slash Holly's bedroom?
20:14Right.
20:18So this would be your spare bedroom.
20:20This is very spacious. Good size.
20:22And the window looking out to the garden is fabulous.
20:25It's really nice. Yeah, this is a good-sized room.
20:28And there's some kind of little cupboard there.
20:30I don't think it's a walk-in wardrobe, unfortunately.
20:33It'd fit a dress.
20:35It's cute, though.
20:37I think the upstairs will definitely work.
20:40The only thing is the kitchen.
20:42That's the only space that I'm finding hard to get my head around,
20:45the kitchen.
20:46Shall we go and see the outside space? Brilliant, yes.
20:51If the cottage is cramping Sue's style inside when it comes to cooking,
20:56perhaps the garden here will win her background.
20:59Steady as you go.
21:01It's a very generous, securely fenced plot
21:04that includes a paved patio off the kitchen,
21:07a sturdy shed and a large area of lawn
21:10surrounded by mature shrubs and borders.
21:13This is a huge garden.
21:15We would definitely have to get a dog.
21:17You 100% have to get a dog.
21:19And there's a blossom tree.
21:21And there's a blossom tree everywhere we go.
21:24That's a good sign.
21:26So what are we thinking in terms of price? Have we got an idea?
21:30I would predict it's £250,000.
21:35OK.
21:36I was actually thinking the same, £250,000.
21:40OK.
21:41Well, I'm delighted to tell you that it's actually on the market
21:44for £220,000.
21:45Oh, wow! Yes!
21:48That's great! That is good, isn't it?
21:50That is great. This is a really great surprise.
21:54Right, do you want to go and have another look around?
21:56Yes, definitely. All right, off you pop.
22:01This Grade II-listed early 19th-century cottage
22:04is budget-friendly and has bags of personality
22:08in a choice of two reception rooms.
22:11There are two double bedrooms, a large, fully enclosed garden
22:15and it's in the heart of a lovely village.
22:19First impressions, I was very excited
22:22because it just looks so quaint and lovely
22:25and I was excited about the village as well.
22:28I love the living room because it's got a log-burning fire
22:31and just the window, that round window, it's gorgeous.
22:35Upstairs is perfect, two very good-sized bedrooms
22:39and I actually love the quaint bathroom downstairs.
22:43Huge garden, absolutely lovely.
22:46I really like the vibes it has. It feels like a cottage.
22:49My only concern is the kitchen.
22:52I just don't see it working as it is.
22:56Right then, that's all our houses for today, shall we?
23:02You all right there? Yeah.
23:14Well, what a great day.
23:16And on the way back to our hotel,
23:19we're rounding it off by reuniting with Holly
23:22for a taste of something Sue hopes to do more of,
23:25a country walk with her girls.
23:28So, Holly, it's great to have you back with us.
23:30They're going to fill you in on everything later, I'm sure.
23:33But how are you feeling when you think of your mum
23:36moving somewhere, you know, like this?
23:38Do you think mum's going to be dragging you out for some walks?
23:41I think definitely mum's going to be dragging me out.
23:44Definitely. I'm happy to do it.
23:46Yeah. And what about you, Lucy?
23:48I'm excited. Maybe the weather, you know, could be a bit sunnier.
23:51Yeah, but you're used to Texas, aren't you? Yeah, exactly.
23:54What are you now, Sue, after today?
23:57Well, I think after today, it's also the community aspect.
24:01Everyone's friendly, everyone wants to talk and it's nice.
24:05So I think it would be really quite quickly
24:08you'd build up a network of people here, I think.
24:11So I'm looking forward to meeting people in the community
24:14and doing more of this, just more walking, more of the outdoors.
24:18And I'm going to get these two some hiking boots, some walking boots.
24:21And some thermals for Lucy.
24:23And some thermals, for sure. And a hat.
24:25And a hat, yeah. And a really big coat.
24:28Do you know what's really good for doing that, all weather,
24:31is walking, getting a dog.
24:33Ah, that's true, that's true. My point exactly.
24:36Coming from the girl who gets cold even when the sun's shining.
24:39Well, you guys have got a lot to fill Holly in on.
24:42Holly, you're with us tomorrow.
24:44Great. Lots more to see and do.
24:46So let's go get some rest and we'll get going again tomorrow.
24:50Fantastic.
25:07Despite being a very desirable location when it comes to quality of life,
25:12North Yorkshire is still a relatively affordable area
25:15compared to England as a whole.
25:17A detached house in the county sells for an average of just over £432,000.
25:24That's almost £60,000 below the national figure.
25:29But that may not be the case forever,
25:31as local estate agents are seeing some big upheavals in the market.
25:38When we had the Industrial Revolution in the 1890s,
25:41everyone left the countryside to go to the cities
25:44and now we're seeing a technical revolution
25:46where people are moving to rural areas.
25:48Where we've really benefited in rural areas is the use of broadband.
25:53We've all had to modernise our businesses
25:55and we're seeing people with considerable wealth moving into the area
25:58because they don't have to now be in their employment full time at the workplace.
26:03They can work from home.
26:08Whether it's to work from home or to take things easy,
26:11we've tracked down some great options.
26:14This Grade II listed, double-fronted Georgian townhouse has two bedrooms.
26:20Located on the edge of a popular market town,
26:23it has a guide price of £265,000.
26:28And, hello, hello, hello, what's all this then?
26:31A former police house once used to lock up local miscreants,
26:35now a very well-behaved two-bedroom home with far-reaching views.
26:40On the market for offers in excess of £350,000.
26:48Those feeling sheepish about long-term commitment
26:51can get the lay of the land with a few nights in a rural North Yorkshire holiday let.
26:56These adults-only cabins cost from £110 a night
27:01with a minimum two-night stay in low season.
27:10Yesterday could not have gone any better.
27:13Both the houses that we showed Sue
27:15had something that would really suit the new lifestyle that she's looking for.
27:19But today we've got the mystery
27:21and Sue's been talking an awful lot about wanting to be part of the community
27:25and the mystery puts her right in the thick of it.
27:30For my mystery property twist,
27:32we're shaking things up by heading to the country town of Pickering.
27:37Known as the gateway to the North York Moors,
27:40I'm letting Sue and daughter Holly explore this small market town
27:45of around 7,000 residents.
27:48Bus services to places such as the City of York and coastal Scarborough
27:53combine with good shopping and leisure facilities.
27:57So here Sue has community, convenience and connectivity
28:02but with the countryside she craves within easy reach.
28:07At least, that's my gamble.
28:09And I think the mystery house is definitely worth it.
28:14It might not be what Sue necessarily thinks she wants
28:18but, you know, we're in the heart of Pickering
28:20so it could be the best of both worlds.
28:24It's a grade two listed detached cottage
28:27that's already been turned into a cosy home by its solo lady occupier.
28:32Something that might just jibe with Sue.
28:35This property is packed full of charm and character
28:38and I just really think it's going to suit Sue's personality.
28:42Let's see if I'm right.
28:45Hello. Come on in.
28:47I'm beyond excited to show this to you because it's just so special.
28:52It's one house.
28:53It's one house. It's a detached cottage.
28:56Yes.
28:57Grade two listed.
28:58Grade two, right.
28:59And it's one of only three detached cottages in Pickering.
29:03Wow.
29:04I love it. I think it looks really queened.
29:06Could you see your mum living somewhere like this, Holly?
29:08100%. This is very you, mum.
29:10Really?
29:11I don't know why, it's just giving me Sue vibes.
29:13Shall we have a look inside?
29:14Definitely.
29:16The cottage is thought to be two centuries old
29:19and is built from local stone
29:21with the pantile roof relined and insulated just a year ago.
29:26The entrance opens into a feature-filled reception room.
29:31Come in, come in.
29:33Look at this living room.
29:35Oh, this is a cottage.
29:37I mean, come on.
29:39Wow.
29:40I love the beams, I love the ceiling.
29:42Yeah, exactly.
29:44Wow.
29:45This has got such a lovely feel to it.
29:48The stonework on the fireplace.
29:50Oh, my gosh, that's lovely.
29:52It's really unique.
29:53It's so unique.
29:54Oh, that is perfect.
29:55It feels like it's just your little part of the world.
29:59It kind of wraps itself around you, doesn't it?
30:01Yes, it does, definitely does.
30:03Now, I don't know if your eight-foot sofa would fit in here, Sue.
30:06It's not happening.
30:08I didn't know, it's not happening.
30:10But for a home like this, would you sacrifice your eight-foot sofa?
30:13Yes, it is.
30:14I need to show you the kitchen, come on.
30:18Its town location means the home benefits from mains gas,
30:22water and drainage without compromising cottage character.
30:26Oh, this is quaint.
30:28Wow.
30:29Oh, it's bigger than I would have thought.
30:31Oh, I love that brick wall.
30:35Oh, my gosh.
30:36Do you know what's really important?
30:38When you're at a sink and you can look outside.
30:41Into your oasis.
30:43This is a lovely kitchen.
30:45Could you see you and Lucy and your mum cooking in here?
30:47Definitely, and as well, I can't see any arguments happening here
30:50because there's so much room.
30:52No-one's going to get in anyone's way because there's just so much room.
30:55You guys can sit there with a glass of wine while I'm pottering.
30:58Yeah.
30:59Chopping stuff while I'm cooking.
31:01I love it.
31:02I'm getting such a vibe that I could live here.
31:04I'm going to send you upstairs.
31:06Go up and have a look and I'll meet you back outside in a little oasis.
31:09Oh, great.
31:10Wonderful.
31:14The sleeping quarters sit in the eaves of the first floor,
31:17where between timbers thought to have come from Whitby's old ships,
31:21the principal bedroom has a recently added skylight window.
31:25Wow.
31:27Oh, my gosh.
31:29Look at that.
31:30It's so bright in here.
31:32Oh, my gosh, this is lovely.
31:35I love it, Holly.
31:37It's got a lot of room, it's got a lot of space.
31:39I love it.
31:41Ah, lots of storage.
31:43This is incredible, this room.
31:45There's also a second double room for guests.
31:48Oh, my gosh, look at this.
31:50Oh, this is super cute.
31:51Look at that.
31:52There's more brick, which is nice.
31:54That's a feature, that's gorgeous.
31:57This is a good-sized room as well.
31:59This is a really nice room.
32:00I love the high ceilings and, yeah, I love that feature.
32:03Another one of those nooks.
32:04Mm-hmm.
32:05How cosy would you be in here?
32:06This is so cosy.
32:07Yeah, I'd be more than happy to have this room.
32:09Yeah.
32:10And another lovely window.
32:11Mm-hmm.
32:12Looking into the garden.
32:13Really, really nice.
32:14No, perfect.
32:15I love it.
32:16Absolutely love it.
32:17There's lots of excitable chatter coming from upstairs.
32:20And whereas the other houses,
32:22they had elements that would really fit into what Sue's looking for,
32:26I feel like this house has got everything.
32:29The cottage bathroom contains yet more quirks and corners.
32:33Oh, my gosh.
32:35This tiling is so cool.
32:37Yeah, it is.
32:39Oh, my gosh.
32:40This tiling is so cool.
32:42It's very unique, isn't it?
32:44Because it's very arty,
32:46it would almost be wrong to do anything with it, just to...
32:49It's nice and neutral colours as well.
32:51Yeah, that's perfect.
32:53Oh, and a lovely shower for it, actually.
32:57My mystery option has the smallest outside space
33:00of all the properties we've seen,
33:02but this courtyard-style garden is a south-facing sun trap.
33:07It's filled with pots and plants,
33:09an ornamental pond and a garden room
33:12with a decidedly she-shed ambiance.
33:15I've also got some local knowledge
33:17that should interest keen hiker Sue.
33:20The person living here at the moment was saying
33:22that her neighbours are part of a walking group...
33:25That's perfect.
33:26..that go up to the moors all the time.
33:28Oh, my gosh.
33:29So, apparently, there's quite a few different walking groups
33:32in Pickering, but, I mean, that would be ideal for you, wouldn't it?
33:35Yeah, that would be great for me.
33:37Well, we have to talk about price, obviously.
33:39Holly, have you got any thoughts?
33:41I'm thinking it's going to be on the top end of your budget.
33:44It's a really nice place, so, yeah.
33:46So, what are you going to say?
33:48£250,000.
33:49I was going to say £250,000 as well.
33:51£250,000.
33:52OK.
33:53But it's actually £235,000.
33:55Oh, yes!
33:56Brilliant, brilliant!
33:58Wow.
33:59That is perfect.
34:00That's amazing.
34:01Yeah, that is amazing.
34:03And it's unbelievable because it's on its own.
34:06It's a cottage on its own.
34:08Yeah.
34:09Honesty, I want to put the kettle on and...
34:11Oh!
34:12..yeah!
34:13This is very exciting.
34:14OK, will you go in, have another look around?
34:16Oh, OK.
34:21I mean, where's the paper to sign?
34:23It's pretty much sold, isn't it?
34:25She loves it.
34:26It's been well worth a roll of the dice
34:28for this detached 200-year-old cottage.
34:31Comfortably under budget, there are original features,
34:35including beams and stonework in every room,
34:38two double bedrooms and a lovely garden with a garden room.
34:42It's in a charming market town
34:44within easy reach of the North York Moors National Park.
34:48I was super excited about this mystery house.
34:51I didn't think it would be this nice.
34:53I love it.
34:54I think it's perfect for my mum as well.
34:56It's perfect size and everything.
34:58It's her all over as well.
34:59She wouldn't have to change hardly anything at all
35:02for this to be perfect for her.
35:04It's a cosy place.
35:06It'll be lovely at Christmas, it'll be lovely in the summer.
35:09It's like a little oasis in the middle of a lovely town.
35:12Like I say, I'm a little bit overwhelmed by it.
35:15It feels like my home.
35:17It just feels so good.
35:19I love it.
35:22Happy?
35:23Yeah!
35:24Yeah!
35:25Yeah.
35:26We've got lots to talk about, haven't we?
35:28Lots to talk about.
35:29That was a nice surprise.
35:31Good, good.
35:32Come on then, let's go and have a little chat.
35:34Great.
35:44As well as finding the country home of her dreams,
35:47Sue is hoping that North Yorkshire might deliver
35:50on her long-held wish of hand-feeding a lamb.
35:55To help with that, we've come to a 60-acre sheep farm in Rydell
35:59to meet Young Farmer of the Year, Catherine Sanderson.
36:03Catherine, how long has this farm been in your family?
36:07My grandparents bought the farm in 1970.
36:11Wow!
36:1253 years?
36:13Yeah, yeah.
36:14So they came here and originally they had cows, dairy cows,
36:19and then in 1999 they sold the cows and went into sheep.
36:23How long have you been helping run the farm?
36:27So I came here eight years ago when I finished studying
36:30at Newcastle University.
36:32Hey, hey!
36:33Newcastle!
36:34Oh, brilliant!
36:36So you studied agriculture at university?
36:39Yes.
36:40And what is it about farming that attracted you to it?
36:43Mainly the lifestyle.
36:45You get to be out in the countryside
36:48and I particularly like seeing the seasons change
36:52and it's been a lifelong dream of mine to feed a pet lamb.
36:56So Catherine, I don't know if you can make that dream come true.
36:59Yes.
37:00Lucky for you, we have a pet lamb.
37:02Yay!
37:07The farm currently has around 180 breeding ewes,
37:11so spring lambing is always a busy time.
37:16This little bundle of joy was born just five days ago.
37:20Oh, Catherine, who is this?
37:22This is Poppy, the pet lamb.
37:24Oh, isn't she beautiful?
37:26Is Sue allowed to feed her?
37:28Yes, of course.
37:29Are you going to show us how it's done?
37:31She will know what the bottle is.
37:33Oh, my gosh.
37:35Hello, darling.
37:36Am I doing it right?
37:37Oh, hello, Poppy.
37:38Make sure that it's tipped up so she's not getting air.
37:41That's it, right up.
37:43Why is Poppy the pet lamb and, you know,
37:46the other lambs are with their mummies?
37:48So her mum had three lambs.
37:50They only have two teats, so they can only feed two lambs,
37:53so I ended up having to take her off,
37:55which is why she's drinking the formula.
37:58If you get a lot of triplets,
38:00they do have to take off the spare lamb
38:02just so that they can rear them properly.
38:04She's really going for it, isn't she?
38:06She is. She's really hungry.
38:07How long will you have to feed her for?
38:09Lambs develop their rumen,
38:11which is their main stomach that eats grass,
38:13by about six to eight weeks old,
38:15so she'll have to stop on milk for six to eight weeks
38:18before she can eat just solid food.
38:20And how many times a day does she get fed?
38:23She gets fed three or four times a day.
38:25So what do you reckon, Sue?
38:26If this was, you know, part of your day job,
38:28do you reckon you could get into farming?
38:30100%, yes.
38:31But you'd have to do the mucking out and stuff as well.
38:33I'd do it all.
38:34For this one moment, I'd do anything.
38:37I'm just going to say that, you know,
38:39when Sue moves up to North Yorkshire,
38:41and hopefully she'll only be down the road,
38:43I'll be out here to feed the lambs any time you need them.
38:45Am I right, Sue?
38:46Absolutely.
38:47I'll do anything.
38:48Calling on her in the middle of the night.
38:50Yeah, I don't think you'd mind at all, would you?
38:52No, I wouldn't.
38:53It's lovely.
38:55Are you having any more, Poppy?
38:57Are you about...
38:59I think you might be about full after all that.
39:01Yeah, you did well.
39:02Can I have a cuddle now?
39:03Oh, you can certainly have a cuddle.
39:05There.
39:06Auntie Briony's going to be...
39:08Yeah.
39:09There.
39:10Mammy Sue's giving you your bottle.
39:12Auntie Briony will give you a little burperoo, yeah?
39:15Oh, it's a good girl.
39:17Oh, it's OK.
39:18Yeah.
39:19Oh, she's so cute.
39:22Happy as a lamb.
39:25Looks like we might have shepherded in a new calling for Sue.
39:29Now, let's see how close we are to finding her a home.
39:34It's been an absolute pleasure spending time with Sue
39:38and her lovely daughters this week,
39:40and I think there's one house that stands above the rest,
39:43but it's time to go and find out exactly what they think.
39:50Oh, well, haven't we had a lovely few days?
39:52Yeah, great.
39:53I've had such a nice time with you all.
39:56How are you feeling?
39:57Oh, a little bit emotional.
40:00It has been an amazing week, a very insightful week.
40:03Yeah, I think that's why I am an emotional,
40:05because I've been with the girls, and they've, yeah,
40:08helped me make decisions.
40:10Yeah, so it's been great.
40:12Has it really affirmed in your mind
40:14that this is where you want to be?
40:16Yes, it has, it has.
40:18But North Yorkshire is so large,
40:20and there's so many different facets to it.
40:23You've got the towns, you've got the rural areas,
40:26so that's a big decision in itself,
40:28where to live within, you know,
40:30what type of community you want to live in.
40:32But it's given me clarity.
40:34Yeah, do you really think you now see
40:36where you want to be specifically within North Yorkshire?
40:39Yes, yeah, and that's pickering.
40:41Pickering?
40:42So it's the mystery house is the one for you, you think?
40:45Yes, that's the one.
40:46It felt all right.
40:48I really felt like I could just, like, stay,
40:51put the kettle on, and that's it, I'm home.
40:54Are you going to go back and see the property, or...?
40:56Yes, going back tomorrow.
40:57Oh, my goodness, this is very exciting, wow.
41:01I can move quickly, so I'll just get on with it.
41:05Oh, I've got a goose bump.
41:07Holly, how are you feeling?
41:08Now you've seen kind of the areas and the houses
41:10that your mum might be moving to.
41:12A lot more confident, because I'd never been here myself,
41:14and seeing how nice it is, and just interacting
41:16with the community and, like, people here has been really nice.
41:19I don't know, I think it's you all over.
41:21What about you, Lucy?
41:22Yeah, it's been good.
41:23I like to see how we all work, like, here.
41:26It's like, we go to coffee shops, we see the area,
41:29and then we know that we could spend our weekends here together.
41:32So you can see your mum living here?
41:34Absolutely.
41:35There's a lot of exciting things to look forward to.
41:37Getting these two out walking?
41:38Yes.
41:39That's what you're getting for your Christmas presents.
41:41Walking boots.
41:42Walking boots!
41:43Yeah.
41:44Well, it's been a genuine joy to spend time with you all,
41:47and, you know, I really just want to wish you all the best
41:49in the future.
41:50Likewise.
41:52Well, cheers.
41:53Cheers, girls.
41:54Cheers.
41:55LAUGHTER
42:00It's been an absolute joy showing the ladies
42:03what North Yorkshire has to offer this week.
42:05It's a county that never fails to deliver
42:08in terms of property, people,
42:10and not to mention the absolutely amazing scenery.
42:14And I'm so happy with how everything's turned out.
42:17The mystery house has prevailed as the winner again.
42:21Now, Sue's life is about to change for the better,
42:24and hopefully, all going well with the second viewing,
42:28they'll soon be calling the mystery house Mum's House.
42:31I wish them all the best.
42:33Join me for more Escaping to the Country.
42:39Sue returned to the mystery house and even put in an offer,
42:43but on reflection, decided a period cottage was not for her.
42:47We did pin down her perfect location in Pickering, however,
42:51and she's in the process of buying a new build in the town.
42:56If you would like to escape to the country in England,
42:59Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales and need our help,
43:02why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.
43:25.