Escape to the Country - Season 25 Episode 43 -
Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00Behind many a country move, there's a familiar dream.
00:05What do we think of this?
00:07Oh, wow.
00:08Absolutely stunning, isn't it?
00:10Amazing.
00:12It often involves waking up to a new horizon.
00:15I couldn't really ask for anything more than that view at the moment.
00:19You'll never better look at you.
00:21And what we love more than anything on Escapes of the Country
00:25is taking that vision and making it a reality.
00:28Oh, wow.
00:30I'm really enjoying just watching your face and seeing you take it all in.
00:34It's really lovely.
00:35It is.
00:36Today's destination feels like a monument to time itself,
01:02where prehistoric stones meet period homes
01:05and ancient landscapes roll into idyllic villages and country towns.
01:13Welcome to Wiltshire.
01:16You know that phrase, don't just sit there, do something?
01:20Well, on a wonderful summer's day here in Wiltshire,
01:23I'm going to turn that on its head and do absolutely nothing
01:28while you sit back, relax and get a real taste
01:32of what this wonderful county has to offer.
01:37Since before records began,
01:39people have come together in what is now the English county of Wiltshire
01:43from across the island of Great Britain and, no doubt, beyond.
01:48The megaliths of Stonehenge,
01:50thought to be a collection of English, Welsh and Scottish stones,
01:55The prehistoric site of Avebury also captures international attention.
02:00So where we are now is the Long Barrow,
02:02that's a burial ground that's over 5,000 years old.
02:05And all of the sites around are free to enjoy.
02:08And so whether you're looking at the Avebury Stone Circle
02:11or taking views of Silbury Hill,
02:13there's an enormous amount for people to access
02:15in terms of the countryside and the history within it.
02:18But when it comes to making a life in this incredible county,
02:21the motto is think global, act local.
02:24The Wiltshire countryside is so special.
02:26We're all trying to look after it.
02:28We're trying to protect the land, especially in the farming industry.
02:31My advice as someone who's coming to Wiltshire,
02:33find a pocket like a village that you absolutely love.
02:36It's a bit like buying a house, but once you find the village,
02:39it will make you feel like you're at home.
02:42Now, a decision about moving to the countryside can happen in a moment,
02:46or, indeed, it can take a lifetime.
02:48But for today's escapee, well, she's been thinking about it for decades.
02:56Hello, my name's Mercy.
02:58This is my house, which I've been in for 47 years,
03:02and I've just sold it.
03:04It's been a long-term dream of mine, really, to move out of London.
03:09I've probably been considering it for at least 20 years.
03:15So, as you can see, this is quite a large house.
03:19I'm only halfway up, and I've got another set of stairs to go.
03:23So it was a lovely family home when we were here,
03:26but now, just for me, it's a bit too big.
03:29So I paint watercolours,
03:31and I'd like to do more landscapes in the country as well.
03:37I'm also part of a quiz team.
03:39I also volunteer a lot with my church.
03:42I work with charities,
03:44and if I can give back to the community and help out,
03:48I'd be really happy to do that.
03:51Mercy, who has an MBE for many years of service to the NHS and the community,
03:57has lived in her home in Morden, South London, for almost five decades.
04:02Now that she's ready to move to the Wiltshire countryside,
04:05she's calling on someone she's known for even longer to help her find the right home.
04:10Hello, I'm Helen.
04:12My connection to Mercy is that she's my husband's first cousin,
04:17although I've known her for so long that I think of her as my cousin.
04:21We've known each other for 49, 50 years,
04:24and I'm looking forward to helping her, encouraging her,
04:29and also keeping her feet on the ground.
04:32I was very lucky to join with Mercy when she was invited to Buckingham Palace
04:38to meet the Queen and to receive her MBE.
04:40Very exciting.
04:42Yeah, and now we've topped it because we're on escape to the country.
04:48And Mercy's asked us to do the honours
04:50when it comes to finding properties for her top budget of £420,000.
04:56She likes open-plan kitchen diners for entertaining
04:59and wants two bedrooms, including an en-suite,
05:02plus a study and space to paint in.
05:06A mid-sized garden would be ideal,
05:08and the home should be in or on the edge of a village with countryside views.
05:15I love Wiltshire.
05:17It is now, of course, a vibrant 21st-century county,
05:21which, yeah, celebrates its past, but it's also very much looking to the future,
05:25and that, of course, is exactly what Mercy is doing with this move.
05:30So what better place to start her new adventure than here,
05:34in this most historic of counties,
05:37with a wonderful property market to choose from?
05:40And I get to come along for the ride.
05:45Now, I know Mercy and her friend Helen have been to Buckingham Palace,
05:49so to keep things suitably regal,
05:51we're meeting in the Saxon royal manor grounds of Wiltshire's Corsham Court.
05:57Well, I thought this would be a bit of a scene-setter.
06:00What do we think of this?
06:02Oh, wow. Absolutely stunning, isn't it? Amazing.
06:05So, Mercy, Helen, welcome to your very own bespoke escape to the country.
06:09Now, you're at a very fortunate stage in your life
06:12where you have the pick of the UK to choose from.
06:15So why Wiltshire?
06:17Well, it's such a beautiful county.
06:19There are lovely counties round,
06:21and I have seen quite a lot of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland,
06:25as well, and I have friends and family scattered everywhere.
06:28But Wiltshire is one of those places
06:31that's en route to a lot of friends and family,
06:34so either in the West Country or up into the West Midlands
06:37or back over to London.
06:39So it's an ideal spot.
06:41So are you thinking that you want to be in the middle of nowhere,
06:44or do you want that access?
06:46No, I really ideally would like to be part of a community,
06:49so kind of on the edge of a village or in a village would be ideal.
06:54That's not what she said to me yesterday.
06:56Yes, that's true.
06:58Because she said I could live in a very remote area without people around,
07:03and I talked her into being sensible.
07:06You need people.
07:07I'm so glad you're here. The voice of reason.
07:09Absolutely.
07:11Keep her feet on the ground.
07:13That's your job, Helen.
07:14Is there anybody that knows you better?
07:16Probably not, no.
07:18I know all about her.
07:20All the good and the bad bits.
07:22The good and the bad.
07:23You and I are going to have a lot of fun this week,
07:25and hopefully you as well, but I think we are going to guide you,
07:28I hope, towards a successful conclusion.
07:30Well, look, the weather is with us, we've got your budget to spend,
07:33we're all fired up, and we've got to get on with it, right?
07:35We do.
07:36Right, come on then, let's go.
07:40The first option I've got to show Mercy and Helen
07:43is in the village of Bromham.
07:45If this location looks familiar, well, you'd be right.
07:48The population of a little over 1,000
07:50includes a couple of previous escapees who now call this place home.
07:56Buses run to the towns of Devizes, Melksham and Marlborough.
08:01And a magnificent 700-year-old church
08:04is a legacy of the wealth that's flowed through
08:06from agriculture, weaving and clothes-making.
08:11An 18th-century Methodist chapel
08:13backs onto the elevated edge of village home we're here to see.
08:18Well, you said you wanted...
08:21..your new home to have a view. Would that one do?
08:24Oh, wow!
08:26Oh, that is superb. Yeah, that would do very well.
08:29Not bad, is it? But you get to see it from this.
08:32Oh, it's lovely, isn't it? It is.
08:34First thing, I think, it looks huge!
08:37Actually, not as big as you might think. Right.
08:39But there's some lovely history to this. Yeah. Built about 1650.
08:42Gosh, can you see above the door, that little sign? Yes.
08:45They date back to the late 18th century. Wow. Right.
08:48And the Sun Insurance Company,
08:50if you wanted the fire brigade to turn up, or a former fire brigade,
08:54you had to register with the insurance company.
08:57And they'd only deal with it if they saw that on the front of the property.
09:01I think this definitely rings the changes from Morden.
09:04It looks completely different.
09:06I think it looks promising. It does, doesn't it?
09:09And I can't wait to see inside. Yeah.
09:11Come on. Can I? Let's show you.
09:15Mercy has asked for a character exterior,
09:18and this Grade II listed mid-17th century home
09:21features stone mullion windows
09:23with a striking red and black Flemish bond brick pattern.
09:28Sympathetic extensions have been added to either side,
09:31and we're starting our tour of our adore in one of these,
09:34that opens into a recently fitted kitchen.
09:39Gosh, nice. Nice open feel to it.
09:42Oh, really nicely done.
09:44And plenty of cupboard spaces as well.
09:46The owner is a painter and decorator.
09:49Wow. Oh! Right, in that sense.
09:51It sort of sets the scene. Look at this floor.
09:54Yeah, very nice. Beautiful. Very nice.
09:56Enough kind of work top stuff as well. Yes.
09:59I think they've done it really well.
10:01Well, I think you'll love the living space.
10:03Come and have a look at this.
10:07There you see.
10:08Really nice little intimate dining space
10:11opening out to your living room.
10:13Yes. That's absolutely lovely.
10:15And I could fit my table in, couldn't I?
10:17You could. And take a look out of the window.
10:20Yes.
10:21And it's quite bright in here as well,
10:23cos that's what I wanted, wasn't it?
10:25Yes. What I do love particularly are these mullioned windows.
10:28Oh, these are beautiful.
10:30The stone windows, which are just super.
10:32This is where you can see the age of the cottage as well,
10:35but it's been redone really nicely, hasn't it?
10:38It's a lot smaller than you're used to, though.
10:40Yes, and I was just thinking that,
10:42but it's something I will have to get used to.
10:44My house is just too big for me.
10:46Yeah.
10:48I'm leaving Helen and Mercy to explore
10:50the rest of the ground floor by themselves.
10:53In the other side extension is a double bedroom
10:56with an ensuite shower that our potential guest
10:59can assess for her future visits.
11:01Oh, this is nice.
11:03This is very pretty. Yeah, it's perfect, isn't it?
11:05And again, you've got the views out there. Oh, yeah.
11:07Yes, we've got an ensuite in there.
11:09So that's actually all a visitor needs, isn't it?
11:12Yeah, really, isn't it?
11:14And dual aspect for lots of light.
11:16Yeah, I'll be very happy in here.
11:18Good!
11:20And completing this level,
11:22a galley room runs along the rear of the home from the kitchen.
11:26Yeah, this is an unusually shaped room,
11:28but I think you could repurpose it.
11:30You could even maybe use it for painting down here.
11:33Oh, yes, actually, a studio room.
11:35Actually, that's a great idea.
11:37And all this wall space,
11:39that could really display some of my and my sister's art.
11:42Exactly. A gallery. Yeah.
11:45Then I'm taking them upstairs from the reception room
11:48to show off the principal accommodation.
11:51Now, you don't actually have an ensuite,
11:55but you do have the roll-top bathroom,
11:58all redone in there next door.
12:00And this, we think, would be for you,
12:03see, with these lovely views again out there.
12:06That is great.
12:08That is actually an amazing view.
12:11And look how many windows.
12:13Imagine waking up to that.
12:15Yeah, I could.
12:16But also, look at the room.
12:18I mean, you've got this lovely old fireplace here.
12:20You've got storage either side.
12:22It's a good-sized room, actually.
12:24It is. So do we like?
12:26I do. I do, with that view,
12:28which is number one on my wish list.
12:31Oh, look at that.
12:33I couldn't really ask for anything more than that view at the moment.
12:37You'll never let it leave you. Yeah.
12:39Well, you wanted views, you wanted minimum two bedrooms,
12:42you wanted study space, you wanted something that was ready to go.
12:45Yes. Yeah.
12:47And Mercy also wants a mid-sized garden.
12:50Lo and behold, the plot to the front of the house
12:53is landscape to provide areas of patio seating,
12:56established shrubs, fruit trees and a summer house and pond.
13:03I think this is quite a good-sized garden, isn't it, really?
13:06Yeah. You know, it's quite a mature garden,
13:08but it's also got potential for me to potter around.
13:10Yeah. Yeah. Let's think about the price, shall we?
13:13You can go first on this one, Mercy.
13:15I would guess £400,000.
13:18OK, yeah. Helen, voice of reason?
13:21I think maybe slightly under, £390,000.
13:23This is currently on the market for...
13:26£425,000.
13:28Oh, right. I would say £420,000.
13:30Now, the vendors understand your budget
13:33and I think there is absolutely room for negotiation there.
13:36You need to start with a four. Right.
13:40Calling for some negotiation,
13:42this brick-built hillside cottage offers 17th-century character
13:46with a newly fitted kitchen.
13:48There are two bedrooms, a mid-sized landscape garden
13:51and far-reaching countryside views.
13:53It's on the edge of a village
13:55with a choice of country towns in easy reach.
14:00Being up on a hill, I can look out over the hills
14:03and we have a brilliant vista here,
14:06and especially from the bedroom.
14:08And it's been so beautifully modernised,
14:11but kept its character as well, which is exactly what I asked for.
14:16I think the lounge area's maybe a little small for Mercy.
14:20She's come from a big house,
14:22but generally I think it's just a beautiful property.
14:25I would love to come and stay here.
14:27This possibly will be the property for her.
14:40Self-confessed people person,
14:42Mercy is looking for a house here in Wiltshire
14:45and she wants a place that feels like home.
14:48It looks like another shop.
14:50The market town of Marlborough regularly draws praise
14:53for its commerce, culture and country location
14:56right on the edge of the Wessex Downs National Landscape.
15:00So what do you think of Marlborough, then?
15:02Oh, I think it's very pretty.
15:04Benefiting from one of Britain's widest high streets,
15:07it's been voted one of the best places to shop in the country.
15:11So the reason why it's so wide and high street
15:14is the market actually takes place in the middle of the high street,
15:17which is really special and very unique, I think,
15:20for British market towns.
15:23Venues for the arts include a magnificent church building
15:27with accessibility and community at its heart.
15:30So St Peter's was a church, it's now a community hub
15:33and it's an event space.
15:35We do our own classical concerts, we partner with Sound Knowledge,
15:38which is a local record store, and they put on events here.
15:41And then we have things like comedy nights, craft fairs, art exhibitions.
15:44We're quite flat and when we're not flat we have ramps,
15:47so anyone can access our building
15:49and it just gives people a place to come and have a conversation
15:52and there's always someone here to chat to.
15:55And nearby, a former chapel is another repurposed religious building
15:59that's now a cinema and cafe,
16:02where Mercy and Helen are meeting Genevieve Clark,
16:05the director of an annual multi-day book event in the town.
16:10Genevieve, tell me about the Marlborough Literary Festival.
16:14Yep, commonly known as LitFest round here.
16:17It happens at the end of September, early October.
16:19It's four days long, it's Thursday, Friday,
16:21which are mainly about outreach
16:23and linking into some children's events with local schools.
16:26And then over the weekend, it's full tilt,
16:30we have more than 40 events
16:32and some of them are sort of big-name authors,
16:35but we're really keen on supporting first-time authors as well.
16:38It must bring a huge amount of people into the town for that week.
16:41It does. I mean, locals like it,
16:44but every year it's built up so that actually people come from further afield.
16:48So are there opportunities for volunteering?
16:51There certainly are. We really couldn't run the festival without volunteers.
16:54So over the weekend itself, we probably have nearly 100 volunteers involved
16:58and often people who become volunteers
17:00then sort of migrate onto the committee at some stage
17:03and everybody has a role in sort of choosing authors
17:06and setting up the events and linking with all the different venues
17:09and selling the tickets.
17:11It's a really good fun thing to be involved in.
17:13Sounds great, doesn't it, really? Yeah, it does.
17:15You'll be welcome if you want to volunteer.
17:17Yes, absolutely. It's a happening place.
17:19Yes, absolutely.
17:22Marbara appears to have the right stuff for community-minded Mercy.
17:26So now to continue with the search for a home
17:29where she can start the next chapter.
17:36For our next viewing, we're in the village of Broad Hinton,
17:40which is within five miles of Avebury Henge and its stone circles,
17:44one of Britain's prehistoric marvels.
17:48The village itself has an ancient church that's listed in the Doomsday Book
17:52and a newly built modern hall
17:54where a range of clubs and societies have regular meet-ups
17:57and post office services are provided once a week.
18:00Hourly buses run to nearby Swindon
18:02where there are good onward coach and rail links.
18:06A choice of places to eat and drink include a pub
18:09that's just a short walk from the quiet country lane
18:12where we find our next house.
18:17To get here, we've just driven through Avebury.
18:19Yes, I know. Which I know you love. I do.
18:22But this is what I want you to think about.
18:24Wow. Well, it's so pretty.
18:27What a character. Look at the stone.
18:30I think it's great. It's in a lovely, quiet village situation
18:34but with good links through to London and the West Country.
18:37Yes. And it looks characterful on the outside.
18:40We need to see what it's like inside.
18:42Let's see what you think of it. Come and have a look.
18:46This attached home is a couple of hundred years old
18:49and once served as the village post office.
18:52Sarcen stone, a material also found in the Avebury and Stonehenge circles,
18:57is complemented with chalkstone and brick.
19:00A door to the side of the home opens into a reception room.
19:05Come on in, Mercy. What do we think?
19:08Oh, I like the window. I like the brightness of this, don't you?
19:12Look up. You've got rooms. I know. Yeah, it's great character.
19:16Very cottagey feeling. Yes, but still bright and still light.
19:20Yes. Good proportions as well. Yes.
19:23And the roomy feel continues
19:26in a spacious, open-plan kitchen and dining room.
19:29Oh, wow. This is nice. Yeah? Yes.
19:32Very nice.
19:34And you were looking for a kitchen with a... Yeah, kitchen diner.
19:38Diner, yeah. Very nice indeed.
19:40No, this really works, doesn't it?
19:42I'm really enjoying just watching your face and seeing you take it all in.
19:46It really is lovely. It is. It's really nice.
19:49It's sweet, isn't it? Yeah, and you can walk out to the outside as well.
19:52So that's really nice. And you've got a nice outlook. Yes.
19:55I like this. Yes.
19:57And it is bigger, I think, than the previous property. Yeah.
20:00Yeah, definitely. And through that door there,
20:02you've got downstairs bathroom. Right, OK.
20:06And something of a utility room. Right.
20:09And then everything else is upstairs. It's upstairs.
20:12Go on, off you go. I will catch up with you later.
20:15You can't go wrong. There's only one staircase to choose from.
20:21The bedrooms are on the first floor,
20:23starting with a generous principal set into the eaves
20:26with a gable-end window.
20:29Oh, this is lovely. Oh, this is nice, yes.
20:32Oh, yeah. I love the beams.
20:34And again, quite bright as well. Yeah.
20:37And...
20:39..walk-in wardrobe. Oh, wow!
20:42What a great space. Really good. Yeah.
20:45And you're looking out onto the front, which is nice.
20:48Yeah, I can see trees.
20:51At the other end of the landing is a guest double.
20:54Look at the beams. I love it.
20:56Oh, this is lovely, isn't it? Yeah.
20:58Oh, dual aspect as well.
21:00Oh, lovely view as well.
21:02Yeah, I could happily come and stay here.
21:04Oh, great!
21:06Completing the upstairs,
21:08a third, smaller room midway along the landing
21:11is being used as a home office.
21:14Small bedroom, study. Study?
21:16We don't have a bathroom upstairs,
21:18so this might be a potential bathroom, mightn't it?
21:21Yeah, actually, that would be a very good use of the space. Yeah.
21:24And with plumbing already in place for the kitchen below,
21:27that's a very astute thought.
21:30More creative thinking is called for outside,
21:33as a plot to the front with a stone retaining wall
21:36and gravelled area off a door to the utility room
21:39is divided by a shared gravel access drive
21:42from an additional side plot.
21:46Well, outside is where it gets a little trickier.
21:49Yes.
21:51So it's not as compact and as developed a garden
21:54as we saw with our first property.
21:56Yeah, that's true.
21:58So this is probably where your imagination needs to kick in.
22:01Yes.
22:03OK, well, let's think about the price of this one,
22:05because that's going to massively affect whether you go for it or not.
22:08Helen?
22:10I think I'm going to head for round about the £400,000 mark.
22:13Mercy!
22:15I think it's at least £420.
22:17£420?
22:19£420,000!
22:21Can you see the queue of people, like...
22:23..queuing up to spend £420,000?
22:26I know what you mean, I know what you mean.
22:28Well, here's the thing.
22:30This is currently on the market for £395,000.
22:36Oh, wow, that makes it much more doable, doesn't it?
22:40I think it's money in the budget to put in the bathroom.
22:43Yes, yeah. Would you like to have another look?
22:45Oh, yes, please.
22:47Now you know what change you've got.
22:49Right, off you go.
22:51Fabulous.
22:53It's all in the noughts.
22:55This 200-year-old former post office
22:57gives Mercy the large, open-plan kitchen-diner she's after
23:01and two to three bedrooms,
23:03depending on how she might configure the space.
23:06It's in the heart of a lovely village that has an active community,
23:09within easy reach of visitor sites such as Avebury
23:12and close to a large town with rail links.
23:15It's very characterful property.
23:18I think the beams in the downstairs and the upstairs are really nice.
23:23That really works. I love the history of this building.
23:26I think I really do like the room sizes
23:29and that kitchen-diner really worked for me. Yeah.
23:32I think I really do need to think about having a bathroom upstairs, though.
23:36You know, there are many things that can sell a property,
23:40but perhaps one of the simplest at this time of year?
23:43Lavender.
23:45Doesn't it just lift the spirit? How are we doing? Yeah, good.
23:48Our day is not over yet.
23:51One more little surprise for you.
23:58Now, just a couple of years ago,
24:00another Wiltshire househunt saw Joey being joined by her friend Sandra
24:04as Alistair Appleton steered her escape from a flat next door to Heathrow.
24:10So you've been dreaming a long time. Yeah.
24:12But it's suddenly happening. Yeah.
24:14Have you had a chance to think about what you're going to be like living here?
24:17Do you know what? I've just...
24:22She cried a lot. Yes.
24:24She cries a lot. Yes, she does.
24:28As we're just down the road from where Joey now lives,
24:31it's a great chance to inspire my buyer, Mercy, with Joey's happy ending.
24:36Although perhaps I should have brought some tissues.
24:39Oh, goodness me. Well, thank you for joining us.
24:42Thank you. And interrupting your new country life.
24:45Yeah, how rude.
24:47Well, your two stories overlap so nicely.
24:51I just thought it would make sense for you all to meet
24:54because you are doing what we are trying to help you to do this week.
24:57Yeah, that's right. You know what? You will do it.
25:00You will not regret any part of it whatsoever.
25:04Here they come. Here they come.
25:08How are you finding it, Joey? Is it a real huge change?
25:11It's a massive change.
25:13I wake up every day, even now, and I think I've won the lottery.
25:16Honestly, it's complete joy.
25:19Utter joy that I've done it.
25:21You'll absolutely love it. I guarantee it.
25:24Now, I know that you didn't purchase any of the properties that Alistair showed you.
25:29But you kept with it.
25:31Oh, yeah.
25:32You didn't give up on the dream and the idea.
25:34No, I was never, ever going to give up.
25:36But you moved in eight months ago.
25:37Yeah.
25:38Is it everything you hoped it would be?
25:41Yeah, yeah. I've got fantastic neighbours, and I love it.
25:46How big a factor in your eventual move
25:51was the process of looking through properties with Alistair and with us?
25:58Well, he literally picked the area that I ended up going to.
26:02And even now, honestly, I thank him from the bottom of my heart.
26:09He's going to be chuffed to bits.
26:11I thank him from the bottom of my heart.
26:13Because I still go to those areas now.
26:16I drive around the areas, and I think,
26:18these are the exact places that Alistair showed me.
26:20I love it.
26:21I mean, my goodness me.
26:22Are we going to see tears this week, Mercy?
26:24You never know.
26:26You know, I don't know.
26:27I've put you together.
26:28I hope this is a meeting that will develop into a friendship
26:32that hopefully will sustain you both.
26:33Oh, definitely.
26:34That would be really useful.
26:36That would be good.
26:37Yeah, we definitely should keep in touch, and you will find somewhere.
26:39Yeah, thank you.
26:40You will.
26:42As our search for Mercy's Wiltshire home continues tomorrow,
26:45who knows?
26:46These two might be neighbours very soon.
26:57For those looking to relocate to Wiltshire,
27:00it's worth knowing that property prices do average out higher
27:04than in the country as a whole.
27:06Detached homes sell for an average of £487,000,
27:11almost £50,000 above the UK figure.
27:14And demand for rental properties is also high,
27:18in part due to several military bases
27:20that attract new families to the county.
27:24One army wife who moved to Wiltshire seven years ago
27:28now works as an estate agent.
27:30So we moved here initially with my husband posting.
27:34The rental market is really, really crazy.
27:37Like, if I have to advertise one property, for instance,
27:40I at least get 50-odd viewings for that property.
27:43So rental market is really, really high.
27:45Oh, it's beautiful. I like how quiet it is.
27:48I'm a country girl from inside, so I think the nature is the best thing.
27:54If you're tempted by what Wiltshire has to offer,
27:57here's a selection of homes for sale and for rent
28:00at a range of different budgets.
28:02At offers in excess of £300,000 is a three-bed mid-terrace cottage
28:08located in a village inside the Wessex Downs National Landscape.
28:14For a guide price of £725,000,
28:17this picture-perfect 17th-century thatched cottage
28:20is a cover star of property magazines.
28:23It oozes period charm inside and out
28:26and is set in a secluded English country garden.
28:32And for a rental in a rural location,
28:34this four-bedroom detached home
28:36is offered unfurnished at £2,000 per calendar month.
28:40There are far-reaching views
28:42and an optional one-and-a-half-acre paddock by separate negotiation.
28:50Well, as you can probably tell,
28:52it is a dry-ish start to our final day of house hunting here in Wiltshire,
28:56but we do have a busy day ahead of us.
28:59Later on, I will, of course, be revealing our mystery house,
29:02which I would best describe as a rather neighbourly offering.
29:05But first, we're going to meet Matt himself,
29:08an escapee to this wonderful county
29:10who has found that an exciting and fulfilling life
29:13is not just limited to the city.
29:20We're heading to the village of Wharton,
29:23a location that Mercy is a little familiar with
29:26because she's a longstanding friend of one of its more recent residents,
29:30Matt, who she knows through work.
29:32Now, usually when I introduce our escapees
29:35to the locals on Escape to the Country,
29:37it's me doing the introductions,
29:39but on this occasion, you actually know Matt, don't you?
29:42I do. So you can introduce me.
29:45Matt Campbell-Hill is a professor, health tech consultant,
29:49former para-athlete and now sculptor.
29:52He first discovered Wiltshire whilst training for fencing
29:55in the 2020 Paralympics with Team GB in the nearby city of Bath.
30:02He decided to locate to the county permanently
30:05and now lives in this beautiful old millhouse set in a three-acre garden.
30:09Along with his wife and two sons,
30:12including ten-year-old Robin.
30:16Wow! How you doing?
30:19Nice to meet you. Matt, this is Jules.
30:21Hey, Matt. Nice to see you.
30:23Hello, Robin. Well, thank you for having us.
30:25Well, what a place you've got here.
30:27Thank you very much.
30:28This is your very own Escape to the Country, Matt.
30:30It is. It's been a real dream come true for us, to be honest.
30:33So when you pictured your escape to Wiltshire,
30:37is this what you pictured?
30:39Well, I knew it was beautiful countryside anyway.
30:43And then, of course, visiting Matt with his views of the fields.
30:47I mean, I'd really love some of that.
30:50Well, just you wait.
30:53So what brought you to rural Wiltshire?
30:56We'd been looking for a long time to find a smallholding.
31:00We had our son Robin. We've now got another one.
31:04We wanted some space.
31:07We're living in houses with tiny gardens.
31:09We wanted space. We wanted a garden.
31:11We wanted to have our own fruit, veg.
31:13And this place came up.
31:15But Robin, come on, you're about the same age as my son.
31:18What do you love about living here?
31:20I like it here because it's kind of quiet.
31:23There's a lot of space.
31:25And especially on the different sports that I do, it's very useful.
31:29Well, there you go. That's sundered out, Matt, isn't it?
31:32I mean, clearly your son loves his sport.
31:35And sport is what I suppose has really shaped your life in many respects.
31:40Yeah, sport.
31:42Certainly the last 20 years has been a big part of my life.
31:46When I had my injury, my spinal injury,
31:49it was a case of going, I need to do loads and loads of physio.
31:52What can I do?
31:54So going back into sport and throwing myself into it was really, really good.
31:57And if you start spending 20 hours plus a week doing it,
32:02suddenly I'm finding myself doing national competitions
32:05and suddenly you're competing internationally, so it goes like that.
32:08You've charted a really interesting course through your life.
32:10You're a sportsman, you're now a professional working in health care,
32:14you're teaching, and yet you've managed to create this home,
32:18giving you that sense of peace and quiet.
32:21How important is it to have a retreat like this?
32:24It's hugely important.
32:26I haven't had a single day where I've looked around and gone,
32:31I wish I wasn't here or we made a mistake.
32:34It is so beautiful every day.
32:38Being in cities, being in towns, they're great when you're working,
32:42but it's not where I'm comfortable, it's not where I want to be.
32:46And the final thing we really wanted was how much of our own food can we grow?
32:50What else can we do? So we've got these gorgeous orchards here.
32:53Just bottling our own juices and things is great.
32:57The first batch of bottled juices was produced from last year's crop,
33:01and this year's is well on the way to fruition.
33:05This is just one of our plum trees.
33:08There you go, Mercy.
33:10Oh, do I try it? Try that one.
33:12Do you love plums, Robyn? Sort of. Sort of.
33:16Matt, thank you for having us round at your place.
33:19It's been a real pleasure. And Mercy, thanks for introducing us.
33:22You're welcome. Thank you. I think we'd better get on.
33:25I've got a mystery house to show you. I think you're going to like it.
33:32And, surprise, we're staying here in Wharton for my mystery property pick.
33:38As well as being served by good rail links, a half-hour drive away in Pusey,
33:43which has trains to London Paddington in under an hour,
33:46the village has a charming 17th-century pub.
33:50The Viking Hall, built in 1911 from parish donations,
33:53hosts regular events that could give Mercy a chance
33:56to get off on a familiar footing with the locals.
33:59Although the property I've got lined up could certainly do that too.
34:05Now, you might be forgiven for thinking that I'm still at Matt's
34:09because his house is just over there.
34:11But there's a good reason for that, because our mystery house is right here.
34:16That's right. Mercy could potentially become Matt's new neighbour.
34:20As you can probably sense, architecturally it is without doubt
34:23the most unique property we are showing them this week.
34:27And what you see on the outside belies what you get on the inside.
34:31It really is one of a kind.
34:36As you can see, it is anything but conventional.
34:39It is, as we say in the trade, an upside-down house.
34:42And when you get to the top of the stairs, this is what you get.
34:48So let's check out whether my very modern mystery
34:51can turn Mercy's house hunt on its head,
34:54starting with its neighbourly location.
34:57Wow. Deja vu, isn't it, Liz?
35:00There he is. What are the chances? Oh, wow.
35:03At least you know the neighbours. Yeah. Very true.
35:06Certainly do. It's actually a nice-looking building. Yeah.
35:09Nice to see a modern house. Yes.
35:11Contrasted with the traditional ones that we've seen. Absolutely.
35:15It's very different, this. I might be taking a bit of a gamble.
35:18I don't know. You'll tell me, I'm sure, at the end.
35:21Shall we have a look? We're up for a gamble.
35:26Built in 2011, this was previously a holiday let,
35:30winning a Green Tourist Award for eco-credentials,
35:33including a water-source heat pump from the local brook,
35:36which provides the home's heating and hot water,
35:39as well as photovoltaic solar panels.
35:42We're heading upstairs to the 21st-century open-plan living space.
35:49Wow. Yes. Oh, wow. This is a nice...
35:52Oh, high ceilings. I like this. Yeah?
35:55And it's the bright and airy feel that I wanted. Yeah.
35:59And actually, looking out the window, look what a nice view. Yeah.
36:03Very nice. Not what you were expecting. No.
36:06I love the high ceilings, but I really like that line of windows
36:09they've got up there. Look at the light it brings in. Yes.
36:12That line of windows, I think, sort of leads you through to this,
36:15then, your dining end, which is not small.
36:18No, this is a large kitchen, isn't it?
36:21Wow, really spacious, isn't it? Yes. Lovely. Yeah.
36:23And you wanted open-plan. I did, yeah.
36:26Is it a wow, though? It's a wow for me. Yeah, I think it's a wow.
36:30Good so far. I think you're liking this more than you are.
36:33Well, no, I... No, I am,
36:36but I'm just wondering about visitors
36:39and how I'm going to accommodate them.
36:42Go and have an explore.
36:44Only you can make sense of it.
36:49Mercy has asked for at least two bedrooms,
36:52and this has three, starting with the principal ensuite.
36:57Oh, yes, the main bedroom.
36:59Yeah, ensuite, large shower. Oh, nice.
37:03I like the proportions in the floor.
37:06I think something about the windows,
37:09that's a door, isn't it, to the outside? Yeah.
37:12It's lacking that kind of, the big window, I think.
37:16But I think the wardrobe is in the wrong place.
37:20I think it blocks a lot of the light coming in.
37:22Oh, I think you might be right. Yeah. Yeah.
37:26There are two further bedrooms,
37:28a smaller room that might perhaps provide Mercy with a study
37:31and a double room where she could accommodate overnight guests.
37:35Do you think it will be good enough for you? I think this is OK.
37:38Yeah? Large enough? I think it's big enough.
37:41Works for me when I visit.
37:43And these are served by a family shower room.
37:47Ooh, it's lovely and big, isn't it? Yeah, it is.
37:50So two showers and no bath?
37:52No, but I don't think that's a problem.
37:54That's good.
37:57Having previously been used as a holiday let,
38:00the outside space is designed to be very low-maintenance.
38:03A large, mature willow is the chief feature of the garden,
38:07which sits next to a small brook that can be crossed via a wooden bridge
38:11and provides countryside views.
38:15Wow. Welcome to the garden.
38:18Dominated by the willow tree.
38:21I just saw a little duck.
38:23One of this year's young ducks going up the river.
38:25Would this be enough?
38:27I think so. I've got the view.
38:29It's a smaller garden, but there is space here.
38:32So it is our final price guess of the week.
38:35It's all about you, Mercy, so come on then.
38:38Make me an offer for our mystery house.
38:40£380,000? £380,000, yeah.
38:43I would go a little bit higher than that, I think.
38:46£390,000.
38:47This is currently on the market for £395,000.
38:52Oh, wow.
38:55There you go.
38:56So comfortably under budget.
38:58Yes. I do like it.
39:01I'm not 100% sure.
39:03Time to talk it over and think about the pluses.
39:06Wow. There'll be a fly on the wall on that one.
39:09It could be a long conversation
39:12because there are a good deal of positives
39:14that's offered by my 21st-century mystery house.
39:17Eco-credentials include a water-source heat pump
39:20and photovoltaic solar panels.
39:23There's a modern open-plan kitchen, dining and living area
39:27and three bedrooms, all with access onto the low-maintenance garden
39:31with its own bridge.
39:33And it's on the edge of a village with good transport links.
39:38Well, it's certainly very different from the other properties we've seen,
39:42but it is the mystery house.
39:44I think the upstairs is definitely a success.
39:47It is.
39:48And it's nice to have three bedrooms.
39:50Oh, I think the space is probably going to work, isn't it?
39:54And that unique bridge over the river.
39:57But I could actually see you living in this space.
40:00Yeah, so could I.
40:02And I've got neighbours to borrow a cup of sugar off if I need.
40:07Well, clearly, we have given Mercy and Helen much to discuss this week,
40:12but have we helped her towards realising her dream
40:15of finding a new home here in Wiltshire?
40:18Well, we're better to discuss it
40:20than in the glorious gardens at Corsham Court.
40:27Wow, this is all very nice, isn't it?
40:30So, it's been a very, I hope, interesting week.
40:35First of all, have you enjoyed it?
40:37Oh, it's been great. We loved it.
40:39And if anything, this has shown me Wiltshire is the right place for me.
40:44Good. So we know where we want to be.
40:47Have we found a property that's going to fit the bill, though?
40:50They all had aspects I loved,
40:53which makes it difficult, really, to pick out an outstanding one.
41:00So, can you now picture your perfect house?
41:06I think I can.
41:08Describe it to me.
41:10So, the views of the first house,
41:13with the size of the rooms of the second house,
41:19but the lounge, dining, kitchen of the third.
41:24With the light.
41:26So, if we could put all that into a bag and shake it up,
41:29we'd end up with the right thing.
41:30I think so.
41:31I might have to find a property and mould it a little bit
41:35into what I really want.
41:37It's been an absolute pleasure, guys.
41:38I'm sorry we haven't quite got there this week,
41:40but I am glad we have moved you further down the track
41:42to realising what it is you do want.
41:45So, same time, same place next week,
41:47and we'll do it all again, shall we?
41:50If only we could.
41:52All I ask is that you let us know what you do
41:55and where you end up,
41:56and we would love to come back, Mercy,
41:58and hopefully Helen can come and join you as well
42:00and catch up on what your new life looks like in the future.
42:04That would be great. I'd really like that.
42:06Brilliant.
42:12Well, Wiltshire's rolling and historic landscapes
42:15have rewarded us this week,
42:16as indeed have the properties we found embedded within them.
42:20As for Mercy, well, clearly her search will continue
42:23with renewed vigour, and I hope a renewed focus,
42:27knowing now a little bit more about exactly what it is
42:30she is looking for.
42:32And as we've reflected many times on Escape to the Country,
42:35that is often half the battle.
42:38Fingers crossed she will find her new home here in Wiltshire
42:41sometime very soon.
42:43I'll see you next time.
42:46After we left her, Mercy continued her house hunt in Wiltshire
42:50and found the right wine in a village ten minutes outside of Marlborough.
42:54She's now in the process of buying it,
42:56and we wish her all the very best.
42:59If you would like to escape to the country in England, Northern Ireland,
43:02Scotland or Wales and need our help,
43:04why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.