Daytime BBC show Escape to the Country has been helping house hunters find their dream country homes in some of the most beautiful corners of the UK for many years. The series, which first aired back in October 2002, often features families, couples or individuals looking for a fresh start after living in a city, or going through a complete change or circumstances.
Kathy was living in a six-bedroom house in a busy Hampshire town when she got in touch with BBC producers. The mum-of-five was feeling the loneliness of the empty walls as her grown-up sons had flown the nest.
Left by herself in her large home, Kathy started considering where she saw herself in the future, and where she would like to call home. She decided that a relocation to the West Country may be on the cards as she felt "comfortable" there.
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Kathy's escape to the country came three years after the death of her beloved husband, David, meaning it was just her and Betsy the dog in the house, reports WalesOnline. Kathy said: "For as long as I can remember I've always wanted to move to the country or down to the Dorset coastline, it's somewhere that I went as a child on holiday and I just feel a connection to it, and I feel comfortable there.
"My lifestyle now is basically, I'm just treading water, I don't feel like I got a purpose anymore, so I need something to get me up and going, I need something that's going to keep me focused again. I want a new lease of life, a whole new life."
The move for Kathy to her favourite childhood area was joined by a healthy £925,000 budget and the desire to have a holiday let business, or potential to create one, as part of the property proposition. Joined by son Connor, presenter Briony May Williams had four fabulous properties to show Kathy and hopefully tempt her too, as she had already sold her Hampshire house.
Property number one was nestled into a Devonshire village called Dalwood and it was the chocolate box Grade II-listed thatched cottage that is many people's idea of a dream property in the country. Kathy seemed to like it but Connor seemed to be instantly smitten with an exclamation of 'that is mint!', even though in some of the ground floor rooms he had to duck to avoid hitting his head on the cottage ceiling beams.
The holiday let would need a bit of work, utilising the existing summer house and using the ground floor shower room. Kathy seemed to be considering this picture perfect house even though it came in over budget at £950,000 but for the right property she was willing to increase her budget.
Property two was another thatched cottage, this time across the county border and into Dorset along a country lane with sweeping views near the village of Whitchurch Canonicorum and a 15 minute drive to the coast. Kathy and Connor were impressed with this offering and even thought it had a Mediterranean vibe due to its walled garden.
Inside, the house was a hit with Kathy, especially the kitchen diner, and the holiday let potential in the garden via the double garage which already had a first floor with stair access, so she thought as the structure was already in place, it wouldn't be too big a job to create the holiday let of her dreams. This property was on the market for £850,000.
Property three was a very attractive sandstone Georgian former farmhouse near Bridport, Dorset, with grandeur, space and light found in the main house and a converted former dairy in the garden, a stunning holiday let already generating between £30,000 and £40,000 per annum. But not even this sound business proposition and the sweeping views that surrounded the house could make Kathy fall in love. The property was on the market for £850,000.
The mystery house is a Grade II-listed cottage that dated back to the 1500s but not what most viewers were probably expecting because it was huge, with three staircases, a self-contained flat, and a oodles of space, rooms and quirky nooks and crannies. So much holiday let potential inside and a huge amount of space for a family home for her children to come and stay, but it seemed Kathy was not totally taken by the maze of spaces on offer. The house was for sale for £900,000.
Considering all four properties, Kathy was most taken with property two but was keen to research the area more thoroughly and was going to rent in the area first but was definitely going to go for a second viewing. She took her friends to see property number two but somehow was then put off by the thatched roof - so the search continued after the programme was filmed.
But wherever Kathy ends up she knew that David would be right there behind her. Kathy said: "He'd be shoving me, he'd be really pleased for me that I'm finally moving forward and starting to live again and get out there and enjoying life."
Escape to the Country is available to watch on BBC iPlayer, with this story appearing in series 23, episode 6.
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