Escape to the Country

Denise Nurse heads to Carmarthenshire for a heartwarming homecoming as a couple return to familiar territory with their young daughter. Currently based in the busy Berkshire town of Wokingham, the Paralympic gold medallist rower and his physiotherapist wife have £400,000 to find their perfect family home.

Along the way, Denise also catches up with another growing family who have already made their own escape to this beautiful part of the country.

Richie Anderson is house-hunting in North Yorkshire with Sarah. who is on the hunt for a beautiful stone cottage in a thriving community. With a budget of £220,000 and support from her son Christian, they explore a range of tempting, characterful homes.

Richie also visits a young couple who have embraced rural life on their farm, where they've started what they claim is the world's first egg restaurant.

Alistair Appleton helps a young couple search for their first home together in the Oxfordshire countryside. They are hoping for space to accommodate a rabbit palace and an impressive collection of houseplants.

Alistair also pays a visit to the University of Oxford Botanic Garden, where he discovers how nature is inspiring exciting new technological developments.

In Somerset, Mickey from the busy seaside town of Hove is ready to fulfil a long-held dream of escaping to the countryside. She wants a property with lots of land for her big, beloved rescue dog, and Jules Hudson is there to answer her prayers with a line-up of standout properties that fit the bill.

Jules also tries his hand at traditional screen printing when he visits a small studio specialising in designs inspired by nature.

After 30 years in what was meant to be a temporary home in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, today's couple is finally ready to make their escape to Wiltshire to be closer to family. With a firm belief that separate bathrooms are the secret to a happy marriage, they turn to Ginny Buckley to find them their perfect property.

Ginny takes a break from the house search to meet someone already living the Wiltshire country dream by creating jams, chutneys and pickles.

In glorious Gloucestershire, Nicki Chapman helps Peggy finally make her long-awaited escape from London. After years of dreaming, she's ready to find a home that suits her and her crew – two dogs and a horse called Tom. Emotions are running high as Nicki lines up a selection of spectacular properties from where some of the county's amazing views can be seen.

Nicki also meets a pair of street food chefs who have swapped the city buzz for a slice of country living.

An air ambulance pilot with a taste for adventure is searching for a peaceful Northern Ireland home where she can truly switch off after high-flying shifts. Originally from New Zealand, Agnieszka has lived an extraordinary life, including time spent in Antarctica, and now has £200,000 to find a place of her own within an hour of Belfast airport. Helping with the search is Briony May Williams, who also squeezes in a spirited Irish dancing lesson on the scenic shores of Lough Neagh.

Jules Hudson is in Powys, helping Lisa from Northampton achieve a life reboot. With a budget of £450,000, she wants a fresh start in the Welsh countryside for her and her two children. There's an exciting mix of homes on offer, including a 17th-century mystery mansion... or at least a wing of it.

On a break from the property shopping, Jules takes things to new heights as he canoes across the breathtaking Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, paddling a dizzying 128 feet above the ground.

Steve Brown heads to Suffolk with a couple from an East Sussex town who are utterly devoted to their three whippets and are desperate to leave their 1960s bungalow. They dream of running a small glamping escape, complete with a shepherd's hut for guests and a garden for their speedy, four-legged companions. Property picks include a striking mystery house and even homes with more than one staircase!

Steve also takes to his bicycle to test out a newly created cycling route that winds through some of Suffolk's most glorious countryside.

Alistair Appleton is in the East Riding of Yorkshire with a couple heading home after a life in France, along with their dog Daisy and a serious craving for family, friends and proper fish and chips. With £280,000 to spend, they explore a tempting mix of characterful older homes and smart modern properties.

Along the way, Alistair also learns about a local scheme helping to create affordable housing so local people can continue to put down roots in this much-loved corner of the county.

Briony May Williams travels to scenic Devon and Cornwall, helping Andrew and Will swap their busy Oxfordshire town life for something with a little more sea air and a lot less stress. With every property offering its own tempting slice of country living and some serious wow factor, choosing won't be easy.

Taking a break from the house hunting, Briony meets a south Devon escapee who bought a crumbling old farmhouse on a whim five years ago and who is still lovingly bringing it back to life today.

Richie Anderson is in rural Lincolnshire, helping John and Margaret find a large countryside home, with enough room for six visiting grandchildren, on a budget of £400,000. They explore wonderful properties, including one with a delightful garden, as well as a mystery house close to the coast. Richie also visits a former 300-acre farm now being transformed through an ambitious rewilding project.

Alistair Appleton is in north east Wales, helping a young couple hoping to find a slice of countryside heaven with room for their two children, a dog, veg patches and some chickens. From an eco-friendly modern home to a hillside mystery house with spectacular views, there's plenty to explore.

Alistair also meets a third-generation farmer who believes healthy soil is the main ingredient for a happy and sustainable future.

Denise Nurse is in the Gloucestershire countryside, helping Charlotte from Croydon in south London find a rural escape with help from her eldest son, Ben. Included in the fantastic mix of properties are character cottages, a spacious new build and an imaginative conversion, offering plenty to tempt her.

Taking a break from house hunting, Denise then heads to a local farm to meet some adorable spring lambs before getting stuck into feeding time.

In Northern Ireland's County Down, Jules Hudson helps Siobhan, with support from her sister, search for the perfect Emerald Isle home for her and her husband after years of living in the West Midlands. With golf firmly on the agenda, properties include a stunning house on the shores of the iconic Strangford Lough.

Jules also meets a barrister turned farmer and his wife, who swapped courtrooms for country life.

Sonali Shah is in the Peak District helping Andrew, and his faithful dog Edna, swap Amsterdam for a home in the UK's first National Park. Supported by his big sister, and with a budget of £375,000, he's hoping for a characterful cottage with spectacular scenery. Property picks include homes boasting fantastic views and a Mystery House which comes with something special that should appeal to his sibling!

Whilst there, Sonali also discovers how local woodlands are being transformed, as young native trees are creating a greener future following the impact of ash dieback.