February 14th 2024.
In yesterday's episode, the popular BBC show "Escape to the Country" made a surprising move and broke their own cardinal rule. For those unfamiliar with the show, it follows individuals or couples who are searching for their dream rural property in the UK. However, in this particular episode, house-hunting hopefuls Maryan and Michael decided to go against the norm and look for their ideal home in the Scottish Highlands.
Living in a bungalow on the Isle of Wight, Maryan and Michael were tired of taking the ferry to work and longed for a more adventurous lifestyle. They set their sights on creating their own idyllic rural life in the Scottish Highlands, specifically in the beautiful Cairngorms National Park. Not only were they searching for their dream property, but they also hoped to turn their love for mountain biking into a business by setting up a hub on their new Scottish land.
With a budget of £650,000, the couple had a list of must-haves for their ideal property, including a minimum of three bedrooms, bike storage, a workshop, a large plot of land, and a staircase (a must for Maryan, who was tired of bungalow living). The first property they viewed was an old school house from 1875, boasting five bedrooms and 0.75 acres of land in the Cairngorms National Park near Glenshee, Perth and Kinross. Although the location was near a busy road, it had great potential for business.
However, it was the second property that really captured Maryan's heart. As she entered the house, she was faced with a stunning wooden staircase and was moved to tears. This was a major departure from the show's usual countryside settings, as the house was actually located in the town of Grantown-on-Spey. Despite this, presenter Jules Hudson believed that the location could help their business thrive and the couple was blown away by the property. "Showing them this property, in a town, on Escape to the Country, might be a gamble but it might pay off," he said.
The huge property, with its five bedrooms and original Edwardian features, including multiple fireplaces and a built-in drinks cabinet, was listed at £560,000 - well below the couple's budget. But it was the third property, a mystery house with 10 acres of land, that truly captured the couple's imagination. Maryan was immediately impressed by the grand entrance and described the property as feeling like "home and hugged". Built around 1870, the house had a unique interior and also boasted an indoor pool, steam room, and sauna. With four bedrooms and plenty of potential outdoor space, this property was priced at £30,000 more than the Edwardian build.
In the end, it was the third property that stole the couple's hearts. Despite the charm of the staircase and drinks cabinet in the second house, they couldn't stop thinking about the vast acreage and potential of the third property. They knew they could make it their own and create their dream rural life. And as for the show breaking their cardinal rule, well, sometimes rules are meant to be broken.
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