Escape to the Country 2024 – Dorset (Extended Versions)

Having grown out of their town flat, two newlyweds with a budget of £400,000 need Ginny Buckley’s help to find a new home in the Dorset countryside that has enough space to keep bicycles, golf clubs and surfboards out of sight.

On the world-famous Jurassic Coast, Ginny also meets a lifelong fossil hunter, whose impressive treasures are now housed in a purpose-built museum near the coast where they were discovered.

[Music] today we’re in Dorset a county with millions of years of stories to tell a destination which has definitely stood the test of time with our rural escapes and with good reason if you’re looking for a healthier lifestyle then you might not need to look further than dors it this county is blessed with so many opportunities to get outside where you’ll get your vitamin D from the Sun and this is one of the Fest places in the country you know what’s more being close to the coast can also improve your mental health help you sleep and strengthen your immune system so you could say you also get a different kind of vitamin see who doesn’t love Dorset a gorgeous West country gem on the south coast of England it has a Timeless traditional appeal but throughout the region more and more contemporary influences are cropping up in the shape of award winning restaurants the Arts and adrenaline Sports It’s the Best of Both Worlds living in the countryside where you can be out walking or hiking or running or cycling you’ll often find me out on my paddle board um supping along the Jurassic Coastline following it with like a beer at a local restaurant or Cafe afterwards the county town of Dorchester was once home to the celebrated Victorian author Thomas Hardy and today it remains a place of inspiration for modern-day Visionaries looking to make their artistic Mark I moved to Dorchester 8 years ago and set up my own business as an artist Dorset is full of creatives and it’s a very inspiring place to be so there you have it Dorset delivers for all generations wanting a little more Elbow Room and some compelling scenery looks like today’s young couple have come to the right place [Music] hi I’m Andy and I’m Hannah so since the pandemic we’ve been working from home and we’re getting a bit Fed Up of not really having much space and this is where Hannah Works which is in our living room next to our kitchen and it’s a all-in-one user space and Andy always has the coffee machine on as soon as I have meeting coffee machine is loud newly W Hannah and Andy have lived in their two-bedroom flat in the Hampshire town of alers shop for the past 3 years where Hannah works as an HR advisor and Andy is a recruitment consultant they’ve needed to be near London for work but are now free to seek out a more rural lifestyle we just want to move to a place where there’s there’s more unspoiled nature um and it’s just easier to get get Outdoors without being quite close to a a builtup area uh and for me like being near the ocean or on the coast would be would be amazing and as you can tell there’s lots of cars all around us even got the nice spaces it’s always things around it nice and loud so yeah we want something peaceful that we can just escape to really they’d also like the chance to spend more time on their Hobbies which for Hannah involves painting and upcycling furniture whil for Andy is a sports Enthusiast unfortunately living in a small flap doesn’t lend itself to these Pursuits so the reason why I can’t wait to escape to the country is because Andy has all of his sports equipment that’s just cluttering up a hallway five of a bike or golf clubs or this is just one of the surfboards so yeah we’re looking forward to getting a bit more space hopefully help us find a place where we can live near the sea and Andy can get his surfboards out or 10 of them we’ll be packing up the longboards and heading to Dorset with a budget of £400,000 to find a home with a minimum of two bedrooms and space for a home office Hannah would like a garden where she can grow plants and vegetables and Andy needs a garage to store his sporting equipment they’d both love to be a short drive from the coast so Hannah and Andy what are they looking for well they’re after a fresh start obviously but they really want more space as well and they want that inside the house and also outside and I think dorsa is the perfect place to offer them that and of course it has some fantastic properties but before we get started on those I’ve chosen a quiet spot to meet the couple and hear a little bit more about their hopes for this move to the country so welcome to beautiful Dorset quite different all the shot what are you excited about getting out and doing uh for me like uh water sports um and just sort of triathlons in the countryside um lots of cycling and surfing things like that mine’s slightly less athletic I’m more excited to kind of have like the coastal walks and just kind of wander around and explore new areas as well that’s what I’m excited about and what’s also so exciting is this is your first home together yeah how does that feel I’m super excited cuz it’s just kind of creating our own life together cuz we had the wedding that we’ve been planning for like the last I don’t know two years really wasn’t it and now it’s like our next big step so it’s really excit no I’m just really looking forward to it yeah never really owned a house so well let’s get looking at some houses should we go yes a Dorset property search is beginning in the village of Li sitting within Blackmore Veil are mostly surrounded by agricultural land pretty lie is just a short drive from the town of Sherborn the thriving Village Store is stopped with bread and milk from a local bakery and farm and also offers a cafe as well as a post office and Community Bookshop and less than a 10-minute walkway is the first property we’ve come to see well we’ve got lovely blue skies which are framing very beautifully quite a modern house what do you think yeah it looks lovely um I like the dark windows I like the modern style so yeah this is this one looks good to me no it’s cool it definitely keeps you guessing as well cuz you can’t see what’s really going on I just want to have a proper look inside I think I want to have a look inside he always a brilliant start to a house it looks big as well I think it’s cuz we’re just used to such a small area yeah excited and it’s nice and Rural like really this is real Countryside this is a real Community it’s it’s not a community of second home owners so you are really going to be able to get to know and get as involved in the community as much as you want to do really brilliant how does that sound yes you’ve got a really good smile on your face there should we go inside and see if we can keep the smile definitely come on this modern detached property has been built on the site of a former garage and is just 3 years old it’s beautifully presented inside with loads of natural light and underfloor heating throughout the downstairs so come on in past the downstairs utility and shower room very nice into open plan yeah wow it’s very cool really like the floor yeah I do too it’s hard to take it all in it’s so cool it’s completely not what I expected but I think from the outside doesn’t really give it away the kitchen’s Lovely isn’t it really modern is this your style Andy like quite close to it yeah definitely I think like in terms of the spec and like all the fittings I can see everything’s done to really nice standard um I like sharp lines and clean B walls and stuff and quite minimalist as well also think it’s great how they’ve kind of petitioned off this section so gives a little bit of an idea of a separate space that’ll stop when I’m cooking and it gets too smoky there’s lots of doors you can open do you get any feelings about feeling like this could be a home it could be yeah it could be it could be it’s really unfair that isn’t it first room first house straight in could this home have we done it already can we all go the property has two bedrooms which both benefit from builing wardrobes they sit off the bright Landing where there’s also a slick and Modern Family bathroom so this is the main bedroom is it big enough I think it’s probably a little bit small yeah but I think our room is quite a lot bigger we have a really big bedroom at the moment so that’s probably but it’s a good size still yeah okay I mean the bedrooms up here are compact but you’ve got two of them um the second one could easily double as an office with like a sofa bed in yeah and you do have the thing that you probably don’t have at home which is the countryside views from the bed definitely a nice room yeah it’s lovely what do you think about the feel of the property um I think it has that kind of beachy feel like with the floors it’s quite light um I think it’s got a nice feel it’s got a nice feel for it considering it’s like really quite new I want to have a look outside as well to see the views should we go and do that yeah okay come on but before we do that there is one more room we’re yet to see a year ago the current owners decided to utilize some of the patio outside to create a space for working from home so how about this for an office with a view yeah it’s a great space it’s a great low office yeah it’s a lot better than what we’ve currently got as well cuz I use the dining table and Andy’s using the spare bedroom a lot of the time this looks like more like a a maker’s office there what’s the Wi-Fi like did a maker’s office but it’s got everything you need in here to convert it into an office sure could you share an office no no okay let’s not go there to loud I’m on the phone constantly don’t like it okay um should we go and take a look outside and really look at that view properly definitely gone after to you just next to the home office is a shed for storing bikes and boards then to the side of the property is a lawn area with an impressive southwesterly Outlook so how does the view compare with the view from it’s a great view is amazing yeah it’s just incredible to be yeah it feels really peaceful doesn’t it yeah I could look at it all day long yeah you wouldn’t get much work done particularly that was the view from the office be looking out the window all the time look it is a compact Garden but I don’t know are you big gardeners is this enough for you so I mean we’ve got a really small space at the moment haven’t we on just a balcony and I think this is actually a really good space that we’d be able to maintain you got different zones you could do a little veg plant yeah I think this is plenty big enough for outside yeah nice SP outside and eat yeah definitely you’re properly embracing the the country life aren’t you veg plots yeah we just need to learn how to do it but that’s F that’s all part of the fun isn’t it yeah but what about the surfboard storage can we get to the bottom of how many you actually have five and and it’s not just a surfboards you’ve also got B golf clubs the paddle board The Golf Club paddle board um we’re going to need a bigger shed definitely going to need a bigger shed okay so you’ve had a good look around the house what do you think this is all on the market for it’s time it’s time for that thorny question I I guess around 375 so 375,000 is your guess Andy I think I would go slightly lower maybe £365,000 okay really good guesses you’re both slightly Off the Mark it’s actually on the market for 350,000 brilliant yeah good something to think about definitely this detached two-bedroom home is on the market for 50,000 under Hannah and Andy’s top budget the open plan living area is designed perfectly for modern living with bfold doors leading out to the home office and a garden where the couple can enjoy some fabulous Countryside views from walking inside first thing I noticed was the kitchen really nice open planned living space um and something that’s definitely my style for me the property um upstairs is perhaps a little bit on the small side but I think taking into consideration the price it’s pretty good it is a modern house I think normally I would like to go for more of a period feature house just cuz of the little quirky parts to it but you do get lots of benefits with being modern it’s quite a bright space we’ve got lots of Windows I love that we’ve also got the um external workspace that would be really handy for us so yeah I could definitely see us living here got the bug now so want to see some [Music] more Hannah and Andy are hoping their move to doip will allow them to enjoy a more rural lifestyle but as a young couple they still want to enjoy the benefits and the buzz of having a well served Town within easy reach so we’re taking the couple on a trip to Waymouth on dorset’s wonderful Heritage Coast Coastline to test drive a day out in this popular Seaside town a seap port since Medieval Times Way’s popularity grew significantly in the 18th century under the rule of King George III who favored the term for his holidays at that time sea bathing was considered good for one’s health and whilst nearby pool was known for its harbor and Bournemouth for its Beach Waymouth was in the enviable position of having both and it’s the chance to be close to the water that appeals to so many of the town’s present day residents wayth is a fantastic place to live we’ve got a beautiful golden Sandy Beach a picturesque Harbor set back from that lots of people locally enjoy paddle boarding height surfing water sports we’ve got we’re obviously based on the Jurassic Coastline and with that we’ve got lots of walking um and Outdoor Pursuits locally on our doorstep so it’s overall a perfect place for um people that are keen on the outdoor area and just being outside Liz fabry owns and runs Waymouth water sports which offers a range of classes and tours to encourage people to get out on the water and having moved here over 27 years ago she’s well placed to give our couple the lowdown on this active town what’s it like kind of living here as a town they’re kind of thinking about it’s a it’s a fun town to live in it’s a it’s an extremely sporty place there’s a huge Triathlon group here which is really yeah and he’s into Triathlon so and a lot of sea swimming now is going on um coupled with the triathlon we have an Iron Man here every year which is really good not there yet what was it like moving to the area at first when I first came down here it was probably about nightclubbing for me cuz I was a lot younger but now it’s about um the lovely restaurants the wine bars the sporting clubs and just embracing everything that that wayth has to offer really the town is also well served by public transports with direct trains departing for destinations that include Bristol Southampton and London I moved here in the first lockdown um before that I was living and working in London and had a really fastpaced life uh long commutes and yeah stressful um but yeah since living here it’s just completely different like just chilled out everyone’s really friendly there’s a really really strong sense of community here so yeah it’s a really really nice place to live with a fleet of fishing vessels working out of the harbor the town is naturally famed for its Seafood hello good afternoon what do you have to see that all looks good every September it hosts seafest the Dorset Seafood Festival where people flock in their thousands to enjoy live music see Chef demonstrations and of course eat their body weighting fresh fish Che but at other times of the year there’s still plenty of opportunities to try the Catch of the Day is it good yeah some a couple have had a taste of what Waymouth has to offer but for now we’re returning to our property search I’m sure Hannah and Andy will be back very soon our next stop is just over the Border in the somerset Village of North parrot many of the properties in this attractive Village are built from local Sandstone including the pub which has been a coaching in since the 16th century there’s also a garden center and Farm Shop with a cafe and pick your own Service as well as a village hall which hosts an array of community activities organized and run by a team of local volunteers and Tu away and a quiet country lanee is our second offering having seen modern I thought we should see some country yeah yeah I love the stone on the outside that’s really nice it looks really like lovely yeah this is way more you isn’t it do we get the garage you do get the garage really you do awesome is that something that appeals to you big yeah that’s I really want something like that it’s nice to have have your own little space where I can keep things that I like um separate from from the house and all Hannah’s nice antique furniture and would you me use of it as well do you think H yeah definitely I’d like to have my own section of it as well to kind of renovate my furniture and have a little space where it can be messy yeah you can have that little corner there oh no we’re already negotiating space we’ll measure it but let’s go inside then and see if we can negotiate some space in there yeah definitely this detached Stone property is part of a small group of conversions on what was once a farm many years ago it would have housed livestock but more recently it’s been a cozy weekend home for Holiday makers so come on in oh very nice can’t tell that there were cows in here once oh wow it’s really nice that’s amazing yeah I love it yeah yeah you can definitely imagine having lovely meals around here can’t you this kitchen is much more like our style already it’s a good space too yeah really nice with the be and everything and that’s such an immediate reaction that you both had that you feel like it feels somewhere you could it’s warmer than the last place yeah it’s beautiful like the open shelving to over there you have to be tidy with open shelving they’re impressively tidy they are only the good books got there yeah and it’s nice having the window just in front of the sink as well so that lane that you can see through the kitchen window leads to some beautiful walks and cycle paths so You’ really got it all on the doorstep yeah it literally feels like you can just walk out your front door and you’re there already located to the right of the kitchen is an ideal area for anyone who’s looking to work from home but I’m actually going to hold off revealing this for the time being instead we’re heading to the other side of the kitchen where there’s a separate living room I think you might like it in here oh it’s lovely yeah this is so cozy can just imagine settling down can’t you at the end of the evening it’s quite contrast to like the open plan last one yeah yeah I think it’s good and then you’ve got log burning stove yeah that’s gorgeous I love that again have you had a real fire no it’s something I’ve always wanted yeah that’s a big tick yeah just feel so homely as soon as you walk in it just feels like homely I think yeah I can really see ourselves like living here me cooking and you reading with the fire on and you know like on a nice cozy Sunday evening glass of wine definitely yeah definitely glass of wine um well I think you’re going to like upstairs too so I’m going to let you go and explore that on your own so take a good look around the main bathroom upstairs houses a three-piece suite and serves two double bedrooms the original Timber beams were a big hip downstairs and they’re also a feature of the main bedroom where the owners have recently added a stylish paneled feature wall a it’s lovely oh I love this and I bet you like that too yeah so much storage it’s just a great size isn’t it as I really like this room and the whole house really feels really spacious which is quite surprising for a cottage I think yeah and the wood just runs through it everywhere doesn’t it I can hear them upstairs and it’s very positive they seem to be um bit overwhelmed by the space you probably don’t expect it in such an old property but this being a barn conversion you’ve got a lot more of that and I think it’s really working for them oh this is a good size too and it’s got the two windows which I really like has a second bedroom yeah could be an office too yeah it’s really nice and it flows up here kind of mirrors the other bedroom yeah before we head outside I think I’d better reveal that extra room downstairs which I know will be a welcome bonus on this property tool oh great wow I did not expect to have that there all this extra space all the utilities out here which is separate from the kitchen really nice nice and yeah you can keep the bedroom upstairs cuz this is enough space for to work isn’t it yeah it’s brilliant yeah at the property entrance there’s a gated driveway with parking for two cars as well as that double garage that Hannah and Andy were ready to go head-to-head over there’s also a low maintenance Courtyard style garden with several seating areas including a patio with a Pergola come and join me it’s a nice Spot Great spot I really like how they’ve done it and get some Vines sort of growing over the top that’ be lovely yeah nice spot for a hot tub just you know just putting that out there what do you think about the outside space is it big enough for you I think it is I think there’s a lot of potential here and there’s a lot of space to kind of sit outside different zones it’s definitely a lot of space for the plants and and everything like that and like you say just being able to sit outside in a place that feels like cornered off that’s really nice particularly in the summer that would be nice it’s a bit more interesting and just a kind of plain Garden I think isn’t it feel like another room yeah so you know what’s coming now let’s see if you can afford the hot tub to go in this corner so top of your budget is £400,000 yeah what do you think this one is on the market for I think it’s got to be near 385 do you yeah maybe 390 okay yeah I probably guess £385,000 okay so you’re both going almost top of the budget yeah okay this house is on the market for 300 and 25,000 that’s amazing yeah I’m really surprised that that I’m really surprised hot tub yeah I’ll come back for the hot tub and get a big one wow no that’s I mean that’s really good yeah that’s really exciting yeah can really see us living here I think that’s the big thing and it’s really important you know with your first home together that you don’t overstretch yourself so with this to be able to CPS EAS back on the mortgage payments have a bit of money to be able to do the things you want that does really give you a lot of peace of mind yeah no it does for sure this detached two-bedroom Bond conversion is under budget by a very agreeable 75,000 and is being sold with no onward chain recently used as a holiday let the rooms are smartly presented yet retain a homely feel that seemed to have won over Hannah and Andy and there’s the added extras of a courtyard and that large double garage the first impressions were really good M the kitchen took my breath away I sort of could see myself using that a lot and uh it just got better as we kept going through the house didn’t it yeah I think for me um I didn’t really know what I had in mind until I saw it and I really love this place um it has all the character that I like it’s the beams yeah I never thought we’d be able to get a place like this it could feels like it could be a proper home yeah this is definitely um looking like kind of what I think we want so yeah it’s exciting our first day in Dorset is coming to an end and with two properties in the bag we’re taking a moment to reflect on Hannah and Andy’s decision to make this County their home it might be Autumn but that’s not going to stop us braving the Sea Winds on the pebbled shore at lime reges anybody overseas watching this program is going to be like they’re mad in Britain we would never never ever sit on the beach in that weather no it’s true do you think when you live here you will take advantage of having things like this on the doorstep and you’ll come down to the beach and you’ll make the effort to see it all definitely I want to get my surf board right now do you is that a good Surf not really but it’s still exciting what about you Hannah I just really like being next to the Sea like having walks even on a stormy day I think it’s really nice um atmospheric and yeah it’s just a different to walking in a Woods or something like that how is your life going to change when you move here well I hope it’ll be a lot more outdoorsy um just having this on your doorstep essentially is just amazing yeah I mean I normally have to like plan surf trips months in advance and take sort of stagger time off work around weekends just so I can be this close to the see so just having that closeness would be really exciting you’re going to have a great time when you move here good doesn’t get better does it let’s enjoy come on we just need an ice cream an ice cream a hot [Music] chocolate are you contemplating a move to the Dorset Countryside then here’s what you need to know about the Canty’s property Market the average price of a detached home currently stands at just over £ 537,500 [Music] [Music] in better positions than yourself have seen quite a lot of cash buyers moving to the area so there is quite a lot of competition however Dorset has quite a variety of properties so yeah just perseverance is key if you can stay the course your reward might be a picture perfect home just as Stones Throw from some of the County’s prettiest Market towns and here are a couple to wet your appetite this attractive Cottage has two bedrooms and enjoys an enviable position close to all the amenities of a small and desirable country Town despite being built in 16004 the property has no preservation listing and is on the market for offers exceeding 550,000 if you’re not quite ready to buy but still want to make dors at your home then how about this semi detached cottage located in a village near bridport it has two bedrooms and wonderful View use from both the living room and the enclosed rear Garden it’s currently available to rent for a monthly price of 950 it’s another day of house hunting here in Dorset and I’ve been reflecting that in all the years I’ve been part of the escape to the country family I haven’t helped a first time buyer before in particular one like Andy who until yesterday had never view the property in fact this is a show of first because it’s also the first home that Hannah and Andy are buying together and I’ve really loved the excitement and the vibrancy they’re bringing to this search so I’m excited to show them the next house we’re back in Dorset for our next property and heading south towards the coast destined for the village of chid located between the seaside towns of bitport and lime region popular chid is home to two pubs and a Village Store the main draw is its fabulous location just 3/4 of a mile from the Hamlet of sea town where a large shingled Beach forms part of a world heritage site this part of the county attracts its fair share of tourists so Hannah and Andy can expect a little more bustle here but for this property I think it’s worth it here you go this is about as chocolate box as it gets isn’t it yeah it is it’s is like quintessential English Countryside Cottage it looks amazing from me outside it’s gorgeous I love it this if Hannah could like draw a house this would probably be is it is this your childhood drawing well I used to have like a little Pottery House it looked just like this I us to look at I love that yeah you can see we’re in a busier Village here but you do get a brilliant trade off for that because the sea and a lovely Beach is 15 minutes walk that way it’s like a four minute drive yeah 15 minute walk you’d have to get that dog yes okay first impressions I love it I’m desperate to go and see I’ve never been in a fch cottage so I really want to see what it looks like yeah it’s very pretty house it’s very cute isn’t it should we go inside yes please this attractive semi detached Stone Cottage thought to be over 200 years old is grade two listed it’s currently used as a second home but with beautiful features such as has exposed stonework and Timber beams throughout it’s a property I think our couple could be happy in every single day of the week oh wow I love this this is really nice I feel tall in here yeah there’s so many different features everywhere I don’t really know where to look beautiful fireplace the window seat if you look at the thickness of the walls does the sound bother you as much in here now no I think the fact that it’s a 10 15 minute walk for from the beach um and it’s so much quieter once you close that door that um yeah I could definitely get over that yeah I can definitely see us living here can you yes very much I love that that’s an instant reaction I really love it it’s just that fairy tale kind of cottage that I’ve always wanted it’s just all the period features it’s just the feeling you get when you come in I’m going to take you through that beautiful big Stone doorway there and show you the kitchen and show you the back of the house great come on there some walls aren’t they yes this is nice it feels quite nice and bright actually yeah in contrast to the other room so the kitchen kind of goes round on an L shape towards the back door and obviously this is um well it’s actually not that obvious this is an extension so it’s not yeah it’s not part of the original house you can see you’ve got yeah High ceilings more windows great slightly random with that sticking out is the oven yeah um but I think you could kind of work around that I really do think that this is an area that you could do something with you know the bones are really good yeah it would be quite easy given the right kind of planning permissions there is a grade two listing on it but because this is an existing extension you could potentially push back so you actually have a larger kitchen diner with nice big bfold doors so you’ve got your charm of your old part that would be nice I think that would be how you’d go with it yeah what are you feeling now Hannah Still Loving It are you I’m seeing there’s bits that I would want to change but it’s got all that lovely potential I really like it too well I I’m really pleased I would like you to go off and explore the rest of the house so go and have a look and I’ll be waiting in the garden when you when you’ve had a good explore all right all right thank you it’s actually quite remarkable that this property is in what is a busier Village because you really don’t get a sense of that inside side uh and I can see that Hannah in particular is completely won over by the charm that this chocolate box house offers what a fantastic response from our buyers I couldn’t have asked for more the staircase leads directly up to the larger of the two bedrooms there’s also a decent sized bathroom with a separate shower now I hope this slightly unusual layout doesn’t negatively impact on what has been until now a truly brilliant house tour I love having the two windows just here oh this is quite cool up here quite unique yeah it’s definitely not what I was expecting um I love the little fireplace there it’s like stepping back in time a bit Yeah I do really like it as a space yeah I think there’s a lot of potential here oops quite small in here but nice room yeah it’s got potential as I expected it’s proving to be a little bit more challenging upstairs but what I love is that Hannah and Andy’s positive nature means that they’re seeing Solutions rather than problems I think you could take that away yeah and maybe have this as the main bedroom or you could use it as a study like there’s lots of options again yeah the garden of this property is fully enclosed and faces West towards the hills and forests that surround the village and if there were any concerns about the space inside I don’t think there’ll be the same issue [Music] outside it’s big Cottage is compact but the garden’s pretty generous isn’t it this is a nice Garden yeah I wasn’t expecting this much space and it’s great with the levels of decking as well and you got all the fat streames and the hills yeah it just screams you’re in the countryside it really does but imagine a garden room out here with you know all I mean this would be a pretty cool place to work wouldn’t it and then at lunchtime what do you do surf you surf yeah yeah living the dream living you’ve got a lot of potential out here you do think you’ve got potential everywhere in the house as well is it too much potential for you uh not necessarily I think it would depend on what the asking price is um and then we’d be able to know how much we could do right away okay should we move on to that should I put you out of your misery yes what do you think I’m going to say around 300 80,000 yeah Hannah I’m scared to get CU I don’t know I really like it um I’m going to say 385,000 so do you like this one I love it okay I think I might be about to make you quite happy it’s on the market with a guide price of £325,000 uh oh oh dear that’s yeah the fact that it’s under 350 makes it a real Contender it does look at Hannah’s smile look at that smile just says it all really doesn’t it another wallet friendly property at £325,000 this picture perfect thatch Cottage had Hannah’s heart from the get-go and hasn’t disappointed either half of the couple it’s full of original features inside not least in the two bedrooms and there’s a sizable garden with space for a home office what’s more it’s just a 50 minute walk from the beach my first impressions when we walked up I was kind of overcome it was just the perfect thatched Cottage I’ve always wanted I think the road was a bit of an issue cuz it was super loud um but coming into the house you don’t notice that at all yeah it’s got a lovely old feel to it uh I was really surprised at how much space there is out here and they’ve obviously sort of spent a bit of money and made a bit of improvements to the Garden this house is a really big contender i’ say for as it’s a bit overwhelming the amount of work that we might have to potentially do but I think we could also make it work as it is the location is like bang on for me um so yeah with that in consideration I’m willing to to seriously think about it the Jurassic Coast world heritage site which stretches for 95 miles along dorset’s Cliffs and into East Devon is one of the most important geological sites on the planet documenting 185 million years of the Earth’s history the area is rich in fossils with thousands of visitors seeking out the best spots across the county to go fossil hunting kimmeridge Bay is one such place and renowned fossil expert Dr Steve etes has been making discoveries in this area for almost four decades he’s invited me to the Village of kimage to give me the lowdown hey Steve lovely to meet you thank you so what have you learned and are you learning from the fossils that you’ve collected over the years well 40 Years of collecting has actually revealed material that’s never been seen before so and it’s still ongoing I’m now in my elderly years uh I’m still out collecting so there’s still new material to be found so any child who’s 9 years old could go down there and find something completely new to science it’s such a joy isn’t it that to to have have science so accessible no matter what your age exactly and each fosa you find is completely unique so it’s really quite an exciting science and you can go into it as deep as you want and is there still more to to be found are there still more oh yeah thousands of years time there’ll still be stuff eroding out there’s millions of fossils but as the land erod slowly back it reveals more and more and more described as a modern-day Mary Anning Steve’s horde of almost three 3,000 fossils is now housed at the ch’s collection an independent museum opened in 2016 with the help of A5 million Grant and it’s located just a short distance from where most of his amazing fossils were Unearthed so the majority of this is your collection that you’ve found over the years we have but what it’s done now is now we’ve got Museum stations and everything else it’s become a nucleus for other collectors they wanted to stay indors it like I do so they’ve actually donated material scientifically important material to the collection so some of that we’ve got on show just describe to us how it feels when you come across something like that that is you know you can see it it’s like a creature it’s on right so that’s a good good question the feeling when you find something like that is immense it’s like winning the lottery okay but then you’ve got to excavate it without sort of damaging it too much or whatever then you bring it back you clean it so you get that really tremendous feeling of excitement when you start to reveal what it is and then you do your research and realize that something completely unique and new so it’s ongoing it’s one of those things cuz we’re a materialistic world we live in you get a new car for a couple of months you think oh it’s great but it wears off but this doesn’t this this stays with you Steve’s collection includes incredibly rare ammonite eggs as well as a 2 me long Pusa jaw but Steve’s favorite is the tiny sea urchin which was the first fossil he found at the age of five and then the museums glass fr Workshop visitors can watch Steve cleaning and preserving his latest discoveries o the inner sanctum yep so what we got going on here Steve well we got here a bit of a pleasure so what it represents is the largest collection of Bones from this particular pleas is all found to dat anywhere brilliant and you’re it’s like a massive jigsaw is you can see look it’s all got to be put back and this I know what this is cuz this every I know I’m probably like everybody will say this you this is my my favorite fossil there’s something about ammonites that I just find they’re very beautiful symmetry but it’s only partially exposed so what are you how do you get the rest of it out I’ll show you let me get my so my eyes are shot so I got to use one of these so what we do is try to remove all this rock here so you can see is obscure by what we call Matrix the the mother rock it it was deposited in okay so the idea really is to try and remove that I just show you so have it Go all right okay can you Dam can I damage the actual fossil you can do but okay I’ll try not [Music] to yeah once you get used to it it’s surprising you am I going in too deep I can’t see God no you’re fine you’re fine it’s painstaking work oh it is yeah it must be such a brilliant feeling when you reveal something that’s been covered for so long oh yeah I’ve absolutely loved coming here today thank you so much pleasure it’s been a joy good thank you how fortunate for both paleontologists and enthusiasts that Steve has chosen to share his collection with the rest of the world whilst his hunt for fossils continues I’m continuing with my hunt to on earth a new home here [Music] for the mystery house we’re journeying to easn located on the aisle of Portland as its largest Village easn is one of the main hubs in Portland with a good selection of shops as well as a formal Garden which provides an attractive focal point the tide aisle of Portland lies south of the seaside town of Waymouth and is connected to the mainland by chazel Beach which seems like rather a nice place to get our bearings before the last property viewing this is a nice spot isn’t it it’s gorgeous Sun’s come out we’re on this just the edge of this really beautiful section of uh chestle Beach yeah it’s beautiful and it’s actually linking the mainland to the ID of Portland have you guys heard of that yeah I’ve heard of it yeah it’s pretty much part of Waymouth it just continues off on this sort of little island it does indeed and it’s actually really famous for its Stone Portland Stone yeah um and it’s been used in Bingham Palace the un building in New York St Paul’s Cathedral but more importantly it’s such a cool area with a lot going on how would it feel having this on the doorstep incredible isn’t it yeah it’s it’s really cool okay well that’s good that was what I was hoping for cuz we’re actually going to go and explore a house now which is on the is of Portland cool yeah okay I’m going to go off get the mystery house ready and you just yeah enjoy the sun enjoy the view I’ll see you soon see you the house we’re here to see is less than a 10-minute drive from chz Beach so while Andy and Hannah get a taste of what life by the coast could look like I’m getting a head start on our final property tour a mystery house is this 18th century Stone townhouse so you’ll agree it looks really elegant doesn’t it and it will probably come as no surprise when I tell you that the stone it’s built from Portland Stone this is the largest house that I’m showing Hannah and and Andy and it’s definitely got the most spacious kitchen even though it’s in the basement it’s still nice and bright and light and I really love the fact that it opens up onto that spacious Sunny Courtyard Garden the chance to live by the coast holds massive appeal for our couple and here we found a property in the middle of a Place full of beaches and it means stepping away from the type of rural home that they thought they might have wanted we’ve taken the quaint Country Cottage and quite literally elevated it Welcome To The Mystery House wow it’s really handsome three stories looks it it’s actually Four stories W yes it’s the whole thing it is the whole thing what do you think of the style H I love the style it’s very symmetrical which I like you like those big almost Georgian Windows yeah is it Georgian it is yeah it’s it’s uh dates back to the 18th century beautiful so should we look inside yeah come on let’s go this detached tan house dates back to the late 18th century and is grade two listed as Andy spotted it’s set over four floors with the hold of the ground floor given over to a living room which is where we’ll start our tour so come on in W it’s nice it’s a bit smaller than I was expecting I think from the outside you kind of get the ey me quite go back quite far um it’s got lovely features like the stone wall it’s still a big room what do you think of the period features and the style um I think the windows are lovely yeah I don’t know if it’s necessarily my style inside is it not as cottagey for you do you do have the cottage in mind or I think when you walk into such like a grand exterior you kind of come in and you’re expecting maybe it’s taller ceilings I don’t know what it is yeah and don’t forget the walls are incredibly thick and So that obviously brings the room sizes in you have these walls that are you know foot and a half deep yeah I can see it’s not quite gelled with you in particular yet H but let’s carry on looking so follow me downstairs and let’s go look at the kitchen cool so definitely the most spacious kitchen that I’ve been able to find for me oh I love this this is a great kitchen yeah this is a bit of me you really got a good smile on your face what do you like about it space um it’s kind of an island uh there’s just so much potential here I like the tiling as well I’m getting the sense that the kitchen is your domain a little bit it yeah it’s an important room for me I think Hannah takes over all the other sort of spaces in terms of like creativity but I would like to the k for myself and is that a fireplace as well yeah yeah want to make a feature of that they’ve kind of covered it a bit I mean that would look lovely sort of just stacked with logs in wouldn’t it make it really sort of cozy yeah that would be nice okay and and what do you feel about the space cuz this is obviously much larger than the other properties that we’ve seen no it’s it’s an incredible Mountain space I never imagined having a kitchen this size um it’s really good it’s true the space on offer here is impressive the top two stories of the property are given over to three bedrooms with the largest one located on the first floor where there’s also a family [Music] bathroom okay it’s smaller than I was expecting yeah due to the size of the house I was expecting a bigger main bedroom but um there’s three of them yeah it’s still a fine size yeah double bed yeah this is a really good bathroom yeah double shower yeah exposed brick again not St yeah I like that stone there as well big bath yeah it’s a nice bathroom yeah I’ve been doing this a long time and in my experience how something is really about tradeoffs there is definitely a trade-off with this property when it comes to space and I’m not convinced that it’s one that they’re going to go for yeah again similar sort of size but nice room and maybe possibility to knock through into that third bedroom yeah that would be quite nice to put them together you have the whole floor as like a sort of Master Suite with a nonset bathroom well I might have to eat my words here as once again they are indeed open to the potential in this property which is just great to see and hear let’s hope they like the courtyard Garden at the rear which is spacious but low maintenance and enclosed by a wall made from you’ve guessed it Portland Stone so you’re out of breath from all those stairs yes lots of flights there you get fit in this house wouldn’t you yeah for sure and so outside face it’s a good size it’s nice yeah this is a beautiful little corner In a water feature here I really like that and also the main event the shed is that big enough for 17 million bikes and 27,000 it’s a bit on the small side this one yeah but there’s room to build a bigger one okay so you’ve had a good look round um I’m quite intrigued when it comes to the price of this one to see what you come up with I am going to go for £360,000 okay H I think maybe 345,000 actually you’re both under oh so it’s actually on the market for £395,000 so right at the top end of your budget yeah it is substantial house I do wonder if that reflection in you going under in price perhaps tells me something about how you feel about it I think it naturally does yeah I think if you really love a place you almost put a higher price on it don’t you I think if it we were to go to the top end of our budget on something we’d have to be really sure about it and I think there’s just a few too many things that that that don’t sit with us on this property okay on the market for £395,000 this detached Georgian Cottage has three double bedrooms and a great size kitchen Diner leading to a low maintenance garden with sash windows and exposed brick work it boasts the lovely period features that have been such a hit throughout our property search and is ideally position for anyone wanting to enjoy some of dorset’s most beautiful beaches this is such a lovely house there’s so much character and potential the kitchen was really large um that was a really good space I could imagine as having a space like that um I think as we went upstairs I felt more and more underwhelmed by the space yeah I think the outside really gave us really high expectations for what the property could look like inside and just because of that um we were just a little bit um disappointed by the maybe size of some of the rooms and the the amount that we might have to do to it it’s a beautiful house just not necessarily for us [Music] yeah from potential properties to people and places we’ve certainly made the most of our time here in Dorset finding that dream property for Hannah and Andy we started in the village of lie with a detached property that has a high spec open plan living space and a garden that gave them the first taste of life in the country so how does the view compare with the view from home it’s a great amazing yeah I could look at it all day long after that we crossed over the Border swapping Dorset for Somerset a modern for something a little more traditional it’s quite contrast to like the open plan last one yeah just feel so hely yeah I can really see ourselves like living here then it was time to head to the coast where a handsome two bed thatch Cottage in the village of chidu was minutes from the beach and full of period features it’s just that fairy tale kind of cottage that I’ve always wanted it’s just the feeling you get when you come in a search concluded on the a of Portland going to the top of the budget with a grand Georgia Mystery House spread over four floors oh I love this this is a great kitchen yeah this is a bit of me we’ve been right across the Cy ad D set on this house hunt and it’s time now to sit down on the beach with an ice cream and find out what they [Music] think this is glorious isn’t it it’s unbelievable yeah it’s just so beautiful I think it’s just confirmed everything we we we thought we wanted is down here um and we’ve seen some really great properties um inside our budget I think the question for me though is have you seen a property inside your budget that you could imagine making your home here I I feel like we have there’s a few actually a couple of properties that I think would be strong contenders go on which couple Andy the cottage that we saw um in North perrot I think that had a was a really beautiful space in a lovely little village and it even if it’s not exactly that one I think that’s an area that we could Explore More yes I think it was the cottage in chid I think that’s the name um it’s just beautiful the kind of cottage that you drove yeah when you imagined living in the countryside yeah those two properties the fact that they were significantly under our maximum spend yeah um would be ones that we need to really now consider my money’s on the flat cottage for the for the reason being that I think it gives each of you something so I think Hannah you get that character and that real chocolate box Cottage but I think for you Andy it’s the fact that you’ve got the beach so close by definitely I think I think that’s probably priority number one is is that is the thatch Cottage well I I’m going to be excited to see what comes next with that one I’ll be really keeping my fingers crossed for you thank you and you know I think you’re going to have such a brilliant new adventure here yeah so exciting yeah if we can really make this work and we can keep our our jobs the way they are and and and our lifestyle have all this on our doorstep uh I think all our friends will want to move down as well well cheers T [Laughter] [Music] that it’s been a glorious few days here in Dorset not least because of this incredible Autumn weather which has set the scenery off so beautifully this is a really exciting time for Hannah and Andy and move to the coast their first home together new adventures are waiting for them here and we really hope it will be in one of our houses we’re wishing them all the best for their move here to dolet join me next time on escape to the country sadly setbacks with the sale of their property have delayed Hannah and Andy making further progress with their move but they remain committed to settling indors it and have now decided to rent in the area to allow them to continue their [Music] search if you would like to escap to the country in England Northern Ireland Scotland or Wales and need our help you can apply online at bbc.co.uk slake part