Escape to the Country Season 23, Episode 23: Oxfordshire

1

Herefordshire Borders

Alistair Appleton border-hops between Herefordshire and its neighbouring counties today as he helps a buyer from Guernsey to find her perfect party property in the countryside for a budget of £500,000.

2

Somerset

With their current house bursting at the seams, a couple with two young sons enlist Sonali Shah to help them spend their £450,000 budget on a new home in the Somerset countryside.

3

Buckinghamshire

Three generations of the same family ask Jules Hudson to help them move from London to Buckinghamshire, a county famous for its chair-making heritage.

4

Cornwall

Cornwall, the call of the sea and Steve Brown beckon a young, water-loving couple who are looking to escape to the coastal county with their young daughter. They have £620,000 to spend on their new Cornish home. Steve also gets the chance to take to the water with a sailing school who support people of all abilities to develop their nautical know-how.

5

North Yorkshire

Sonali Shah helps a young couple wanting to swap town life in Halifax for country life in the wonderful surroundings of North Yorkshire. Taking a break from the properties, Sonali visits one of the largest farm shops in the UK, where she discovers from its customers and staff just what they think sets it apart from the supermarket chains.

6

Powys

Jules Hudson is in the Welsh county of Powys with a couple whose property wish list includes an annexe for their parents, along with at least half an acre of land for their budget of £650,000. Jules also meets a man who scours space with his telescopes, looking for large, undiscovered objects that could be on a collision course with Earth. Fortunately, he hasn’t found any... yet!

7

Devon

Devon is today’s destination, where Nicki Chapman helps a couple from south London with a £500,000 budget to search for their dream home in the countryside. Wanting to help out in the community, Nicki takes them to Appledore to meet the brave men and women who volunteer at the village's RNLI station.

8

Somerset

Two sisters want to combine their resources in Somerset to find a secluded house that has enough land to start their own music festival, though on a slightly smaller scale than the one the county is famous for. Alistair Appleton escorts them on their search and has time to visit the village of Stoke St Gregory, where an old pub has been transformed into not just the local watering hole but a community shop and café too.

9

North Yorkshire

Having spent 30 years living and working in Hong Kong, today’s escapee teams up with Jonnie Irwin in North Yorkshire with a house-hunting budget of £350,000. Away from the property shopping, Jonnie heads to the Yorkshire Dales to discover what is being done to restore and preserve one of the most environmentally important landscapes in Europe.

10

Cornwall

Wanting to be close to the coast, a couple from Birmingham have decided that Cornwall is the perfect destination for their escape, and Sonali Shah is on hand to make their dream come true. And when is a brick not just a brick? Sonali finds out by visiting a company creating habitats for solitary bees. Their method can also be used in the construction of homes for humans.

11

Anglesey

Feeling an affinity for Wales and in particular the island of Anglesey, a Canadian couple ask Briony May Williams to find them the stone cottage they’ve always dreamed of owning for their budget of £450,000. Briony also visits the island’s sea zoo to learn about their work conserving endangered marine life, including the sedentary seahorse.

12

Guernsey

It’s a first for Nicki Chapman and the Escape to the Country team today as they head to glorious Guernsey in the Channel Islands. They’re there to help find a fabulous family home for a young couple and their three children. Nicki also meets some of the island’s most famous four-legged inhabitants, a herd of Guernsey cows.

13

Ayrshire

In Ayrshire, Jonnie Irwin helps a retired couple who want to reconnect with their Scottish roots. They have a budget of £500,000 and a view over water is a property priority. Whilst in the region, Jonnie also learns about an ancient technique used to produce salt using sea water and an impressive tower of blackthorn branches.

14

West Yorkshire

In West Yorkshire, Steve Brown supports an artist who is looking to leave London to realise her ambition of living life in the countryside. Steve also visits the town of Todmorden and discovers a remarkable community project encouraging the planting and growing of food in public spaces for anyone to harvest and enjoy.

15

Gloucestershire

A soon-to-be retired vicar and her husband need Sonali Shah’s help to find a new home in the beautiful countryside of Gloucestershire. Sonali also visits Adam Henson, who, as well as being the nation’s favourite farmer, is also the custodian of his father’s legacy - a farm dedicated to the conservation of some of the rarest livestock breeds in the world.

16

Derbyshire

Looking to leave London for Derbyshire, a couple with four children need some expert guidance from Denise Nurse, as she helps them navigate the county's rural housing market in search of the perfect family home.

17

Anglesey

It's an island escape today, as Jules Hudson helps a couple from a town in Cheshire to find their dream home on Anglesey. During the busy week of house-hunting,

18

Devon

After 23 years living in Canada, today's buyer is returning to the UK for good. With a budget of £400,000, she is looking to make her rural escape to Devon, but there's a catch - she has never been to the county before. She need not worry because Nicki Chapman has, many times before.

19

Oxfordshire and Wiltshire

Briony May Williams meets a couple from London who are in the market for a new home in the countryside of Oxfordshire or Wiltshire, as long as it has enough space for them and their two young sons.

20

Argyll and Bute

An adventurous young couple from Nottinghamshire are looking to move county and country to Argyll and Bute, where Sonali Shah has some splendid Scottish properties waiting to show them. In an action-packed few days, Sonali also takes to the water on a paddleboard and to the air in a seaplane, delighting at the spectacular views on offer from above.

21

Cornwall

Denise Nurse is in the coastal county of Cornwall today, helping a couple to turn their favourite holiday destination into their permanent home on a budget of £475,000. Away from the search, Denise visits a new development that’s tackling the county’s housing crisis by prioritising the needs of local Cornish people.

22

West Sussex

Today, we have a marvellous multi-generational move to consider as Alistair Appleton guides one family, spread over four generations, to find two houses in one village. It’s a tall order, but Alistair presents a whole host of interesting property options, including the mystery house that promises to bring them closer together than they ever imagined.

23

Oxfordshire

Nicki Chapman teams up with an author from west London who wants to pen an exciting new chapter for herself in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside. Away from the property hunt, Nicki visits a small village in the county to find out why it was recently named ‘the kindest village in Britain’.

24

Cumbria

Steve Brown is on hand to help a couple of newlyweds who are looking to escape south London and set down roots in the stunning countryside of Cumbria. They have already discounted a dozen properties, so the pressure is on Steve to deliver somewhere that can become their very first home together.

25

Cambridgeshire

A keen singer from south east London, accompanied by her good friend, needs help to find a new home in Cambridgeshire with her budget of £360,000. Sonali Shah is only too happy to offer some guidance, and together they explore a range of interesting property possibilities, potential new communities and plenty of countryside.

26

Somerset

A couple from urban Hertfordshire with a £550,000 budget have their sights set on moving to the Somerset countryside, and Jules Hudson has some splendid properties lined up to tempt them. However, Jules has a big surprise up his sleeve as he questions not the type of new home they’re looking for, but the location of it.

27

Wiltshire

The pressure is on Nicki Chapman to find today’s couple their perfect property in wonderful Wiltshire, as they have already sold their London home. Away from house hunting, and being no stranger to the airwaves herself, Nicki pays a visit to one of the county’s local radio stations to find out how it helps to keep the community connected.

28

Argyll and Bute

It’s destination Argyll and Bute today. Sonali Shah tours this region of Scotland in search of a new home for a couple from a Warwickshire town who have a budget of £340,000. Sonali almost takes to the water on Loch Lomond, as she lends a hand to help a group of volunteers restoring the last paddle steamer to be built in Britain, a treasured relic of Scottish history.

29

Powys

Space for holiday lets or glamping is the priority for a couple today who are chasing a complete change of lifestyle in Wales. Steve Brown kick-starts their Powys property journey with a great selection of countryside homes with business potential. He also takes time to visit a local reservoir that was built by the Victorians but looks every inch part of the natural landscape.

30

Dorset

In true Escape to the Country style, today’s couple (both former international rugby players) want to leave London in search of a rural idyll in Dorset, and Alistair Appleton is the man to help them on their way. Aside from property, Alistair learns about the health benefits of watercress at a farm that specialises in growing this delicious and nutritious crop.

31

Suffolk

The devoted owners of no fewer than six Irish wolfhounds are in desperate need of more space for them and those countless muddy paws, so have set their sights on Suffolk for a bit more elbow room. Briony May Williams is there to guide them as they tour a selection of beautiful homes. Briony also gets to mess about on a stunning million-pound wooden yacht, a sister vessel to the ones featured in James Bond.

32

South West Wales

With the help of her mother and Jules Hudson, a buyer from suburban Surrey is looking for a new family home with enough land to start a dog-training school in south west Wales.

33

Herefordshire

With the recent arrival of grandchildren, today's globetrotting escapees are returning home for good from Malaysia and want to put down permanent roots in the Herefordshire countryside. Nicki Chapman is on hand with some great property options plus her expert advice to help plant them firmly in this lovely county.

34

Isle of Wight

With a budget of £440,000, today’s couple are looking forward to retiring from the Buckinghamshire commuter belt to a new home on the majestic Isle of Wight. Steve Brown helps them with their house hunting and also discovers why the island is an ideal location for growing dozens of varieties of tomatoes.

35

Cheshire

Cheshire may be a world away from Miami, where today’s couple are moving from, but to them, it’s a county that feels like home, and Alistair Appleton is on hand to help them settle in. As an area once famed for its silk production, Alistair also takes the opportunity to visit a factory specialising in hand-printed luxury garments.

36

Devon

A couple from the largest town in Dorset want to escape the urban sprawl to establish a new country life in Devon, and Sonali Shah is on hand to help them kick-start their property search. Sonali also learns the importance of the role local newspapers play in keeping their communities connected and informed.

37

Wiltshire

Nicki Chapman helps a buyer with a budget of £450,000 who wants to escape her ex-council flat in south London and create a new life in the Wiltshire countryside. She’s after somewhere with a bit more space for herself and her young daughter. Taking a breather from property, Nicki also discovers why the county’s chalk streams are the perfect habitat for trout when she pays a visit to a sustainable fish farm.

38

Peak District

Steve Brown meets a pair of cycling enthusiasts on the hunt for the perfect rural idyll in the Peak District. They have a budget of £450,000 to swap city life in Essex for the wooded valleys and open moorland of the national park. Steve also takes to the water when he visits one of the country’s top destinations for accessible fishing.

39

Cumbria

Alistair Appleton meets a couple who are looking for a complete change of lifestyle in the Cumbrian countryside. Their relocation is driven by a desire to be closer to their daughter, who has already made the move there. Alistair also visits one of the region’s forests and takes in some spectacular views on an exciting two-wheeled safari.

40

Devon and Dorset

Now that her sons have fledged the nest, today’s buyer wants a new lease of life in a rural home that has business potential. She’s set her sights on either Devon or Dorset, where Briony May Williams has some wonderful property options to show her. Briony also meets another entrepreneurial couple who’ve converted an old railway carriage into a fine dining destination.

41

Wiltshire

It’s an emotional journey today as Alistair Appleton helps a buyer with a £260,00 budget to escape her small flat near Heathrow airport. She is desperate for some peace and quiet, and is hoping that the Wiltshire countryside will deliver the cottage she’s been dreaming of. Talk turns from property to agriculture when Alistair meets a group of young farmers to discuss their views on the future of the industry.

42

Devon and Dorset

Today's escapees want to raise their children near the sea, so Jules Hudson takes them to view a selection of wonderful homes in the Devon and Dorset countryside.

43

Surrey

Steve Brown is on a property-hunting mission in Surrey today, with a buyer who has a budget of £500,000 to find the space she needs for her and her dog.

44

NorFolk

Sonali Shah is house-hunting in Norfolk with a buyer who has holidayed there throughout her life and now wants to make the county her home and business address. She wants to establish holiday lets and also rehome dogs in need, so Sonali takes her to a sanctuary to find out what it takes to look after the thousands of rescue animals in their care.

45

Cornwall

Nicki Chapman is in captivating Cornwall, where she has some wonderful Cornish homes lined up to tempt a buyer from suburban Surrey who is looking for a fresh start for him and his grandson. Whilst in the county, Nicki pays a visit to Newlyn Harbour and discovers how sustainability and traceability are at the forefront of the local fishing industry.

46

Northumberland

Finally able to search for their forever home and a more settled way of life, a former royal marine and a retired civil servant have £375,000 to spend and the expert guidance of Jules Hudson. Jules has a tempting selection of countryside properties to unveil for the couple, who’ve chosen to relocate closer to family in the wonderfully evocative county of Northumberland.

47

Suffolk

Ginny Buckley is in Suffolk, helping a retired couple from Essex find a new home in a thriving village as close to the county’s coast as their £475,000 budget will allow. Ginny also visits a farm during asparagus season, but before she gets to sample some freshly picked vegetables, she must learn first how to harvest them.

49

West Sussex

Alistair Appleton relishes being in his home county of West Sussex today as he shows off some of its many delights, including a selection of beautiful properties. He’s with a married couple who want to follow in Alistair’s footsteps by escaping London in search of a new life and home in the countryside.

50

Norfolk

Having fallen in love with Norfolk a little more with each visit, today’s couple have decided to make the county their home. Denise Nurse is there to help them find their forever house. Denise also gets the opportunity to take the helm of a newly restored boat that played a part in Operation Dynamo, the 1940 evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk.

51

Lancashire

After 16 years down under, Jules Hudson helps a couple to relocate back to Blighty. Their £450,000 budget might not stretch quite as far in Lancashire as it did in Oz, but Jules still has a great selection of properties that are reminiscent of the home they left behind. He also manages to squeeze in a visit to a nature reserve that was created at a quarry used to build the UK’s first motorway.

52

Dorset

Having outgrown 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.

53

Fife

A couple of Brighton seek a complete change of scenery with a move to the beautiful countryside of Fife.

54

Somerset and Devon

Alistair Appleton helps a couple escape their land-locked life in Leicestershire with a move to Somerset or Devon.

55

Yorkshire

Jules Hudson is in his element as he explores the glorious countryside of North and West Yorkshire with a couple from a market town in West Sussex. Jules has a superb selection of properties to show them, and key to their wish list is a big workshop where it’s hoped a woodworking hobby will become a profession.