Now in its 24th series, Escape to the Country is much-loved, aspirational and factual property programme, hosted by a group of knowledgeable and colourful presenters, who provide insight and information with a sprinkling of entertainment, although their prime role is to help prospective house buyers find their dream home in the country.
In each episode, the buyers are taken on a journey of discovery in the form of three to four idyllic country properties, the last being a ‘mystery house’ and, in a bid to help them get a deeper understanding of their chosen local area and community, they are also exposed to local country life, including visits to beautiful towns, iconic British monuments, historic homes, or experiencing traditional rural trades and crafts.
16 – 22 Sept: Episode 26 – Worcestershire
Jules Hudson is on a house hunting mission in South Worcestershire with a young couple who have just got engaged and are looking for their first joint house purchase with a budget of 300k pounds.
Episode 27 – Gloucestershire
Jules Hudson is helping a self-confessed city-lover to break free from the Big Smoke and find some countryside calm where she can raise her young son. With a budget of £850k, Gloucestershire is the chosen location and little sister is coming along for support. Whilst in the county, Jules also tries his hand at some 19th century building skills within the walls of an abandoned Gothic mansion.
Episode 28 – Buckinghamshire
Alistair Appleton helps a house hunting couple find a country home with their £700k budget and get back to nature in Buckinghamshire. Whilst in the area, Alistair visits an entrepreneurial snail farm which produces high end snail caviar, where he samples this unusual gastronomic delicacy.
Episode 29 – Snowdonia
Jules Hudson heads to Snowdonia with buyer who wants to downsize and move closer to relatives. For a £350k budget, she’s after a new house as well as a new business and has brought her son along to help. Away from the house hunt, Jules joins one man and his dog to learn about shepherding in the region’s protected landscape.
Episode 30 – North Yorkshire
Jonnie Irwin is on a house hunting mission with a couple who have £750k to break away from their London suburb and find a rural family home in North Yorkshire. Whilst in the county, Jonnie learns how to make a traditional wooden walking stick from a craftsman based in the heart of the Yorkshire Moors.
Episode 31 – East Midlands
Sonali Shah is on a mission to help find a country home for £300k in the East Midlands for an eager buyer who has brought along her friendly neighbour for support. While in the region, Sonali pays a visit to an Edwardian house in Worksop, now managed by the National Trust, and steps back in time to learn about everyday life and work in the East Midlands during that era.
Episode 32 – North Yorkshire
Margherita Taylor is in North Yorkshire helping a lady who has £500k to find a country property back in her home county. During her time there, Margherita hits the production line at an organic farm who specialise in seasonal veg and fruit boxes.
Episode 33 – Dorset
Jonnie Irwin is house hunting in Dorset with couple who have a £650k budget to realise their dream of retiring in the country. And Jonnie also gets a real taste of the county when he visits an award winning dairy farm putting the county’s cheeses on the culinary map.
Episode 34 – Rutland
Margherita Taylor is in the country’s smallest county helping a young mother to carve out a new country life for her family with a budget of £450k. And no trip to the county is complete without visiting Rutland Water where Margherita will get a hands-on course in fly fishing to find out what she might catch for dinner.
Episode 35 – Oxfordshire
Jules Hudson is house hunting with couple who have a £500k budget to start a new life in the Oxfordshire countryside, closer to loved ones. Sticking with bricks and mortar, Jules also visits an impressive 17th century Jacobean house where dust and cobwebs play a vital role in its story of survival.
Episode 36 – West Sussex
Nicki Chapman is helping a couple who want to turn their backs on London life, to fulfil their long held dream of a move to the countryside. Armed with a very substantial budget of £1.1m, they’ve set their sights on a new life in West Sussex. Away from the house hunt, Nicki visits one of the county’s greatest architectural gems, Chichester Cathedral, where she tried her hands at ringing the bells.
Episode 37 – Lancashire
Ginny’s house hunting mission is to help a couple of empty nesters with a £600k budget relocate to the Lancashire countryside, putting them healthy distance from their grown up children. Along the way, Ginny heads to the Victorian seaside resort of Blackpool and gets her teeth into the heritage of that popular sweet staple, the stick of rock.
Episode 38 – North Dorset
Ginny is tasked with helping a couple who have £375k to find their “forever home” in the Dorset countryside. While there, Ginny visits the renowned Lyme Regis Boat Building Academy, and takes an exhilarating trip in a traditional sailing vessel.
Episode 39 – North Devon
Sonali Shah heads to the North Devon countryside to help a career minded couple with £950k to spend on a family home and start up a holiday-let business. While in the county, Sonali visits the UK’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve to learn about the long term ambitions to connect people and nature, and efforts to conserve one of the most fragile grassland areas in the South West.
Episode 40 – Shropshire
Margherita Taylor is property hunting in Shropshire with a couple of keen gardeners who want their £425k to buy them a country home with ample space for them and their hot tub. While in the county, Margherita samples some of Shropshire’s pioneering local produce at Chadwell Park Farm, which has successfully turned its hand to making vegetable juices from its salad crops.
Episode 41 – North Cornwall
Ginny Buckley is on a house hunting mission to help a couple with a £525k budget find a country home in North Cornwall to retire to. Along the way, Ginny visits the annual Royal Cornwall Show, which has showcased the county’s heritage for over 220 years. While there, Ginny samples the traditional nettle covered Yarg cheese, and sees if a very rare breed of sheep manages to win a “best in class” rosette.
Episode 42 – South Wales
Today, Jonnie Irwin is house hunting in the South Wales countryside with an itinerant couple who have £600k to find a rural retreat close to their growing grandchildren. While in the area, Jonnie heads to the south coast of Monmouthshire, and tries his hand at catching a salmon using the rare art of lave net fishing, a traditional skill which stretches back 400 years.
Episode 43 – Yorkshire
Sonali Shah heads to Yorkshire to help a couple of retired teachers with a £450k budget find a country home and finally return to their family roots. Along the way, Sonali meets a young Dales farmer who is using his dairy herd to produce Icelandic inspired Skyr yoghurt.
Episode 44 – Yorkshire Dales
Nicki Chapman is on a house hunting mission in the Yorkshire Dales with a pair of brothers, one of whom wants his £500k budget to furnish him with a country home in rural isolation. Whilst in the area, Nicki joins the Dales Park Rangers and helps them on their everyday rounds as well, as learning about the growing popularity of geocaching with walkers.
Episode 45 – Somerset
Today Sonali Shah is in rural Somerset, helping a retired teacher return to her West Country roots and find her country home with a £385k budget. While in the county, Sonali visits a local farm which has diversified into lavender growing. With the fields in full bloom, Sonali sees how the crop is harvested, and has a chance to try her hand at making traditional lavender products.