Escape to the Country guest explains heartbreak behind downsizing move

22 December 2023 , 12:42

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An Escape to the Country guest has opened up on the sadness behind her decision to relocate

A house hunter has opened up on the heartbreak behind her decision to ask Escape to the Country for help in finding a new, smaller property on the south coast.

The BBC daytime show aims to locate new homes for its guests in some of the most picturesque places in the UK. Thursday's installment saw Kathy call on presenter Briony May Williams to assist her in relocating from her six-bedroom property in Hampshire.

Kathy made contact with the programme after her five grown-up children moved on from the family home and her husband David tragically passed away - leaving her to share her huge house with just her dog, Betsy. "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," she said of her decision to relocate.

Guest Kathy told Briony May Williams that her five sons had fled the nest and her husband had tragically passed away, leaving her alone in a six-bedroom home

Kathy continued: "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."

With a cool £925,000 at her disposal, Kathy told Briony of her desire to run a holiday let business, or have the potential to create one, as part of her plan. Joined by her son Connor, Kathy was then given details of four stunning properties the host had identified as options.

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The first - Grade II listed thatch cottage - went down particularly well with Connor who described it as "mint" despite its low ceilings on the ground floor. It had the potential for a holiday let, but was £25,000 out of budget and so the group moved on to the next.

Another thatched home, this time in Dorset offered sweeping views and just a 15-mile drive to the beach. It proved a hit with a structure already in place to support the holiday let by means of a two-floored converted garage. At £850,000 it proved an attractive proposition.

The third property, again a Dorset house valued at £850,000, was an attractive sandstone Georgian former farmhouse, incorporating a converted dairy in the garden that already generated letting income in excess of £30,000. Kathy wasn't so keen, however, and moved onto Briony's final suggestion.

The "mystery house" was a second Grade II listed cottage dating back to the 16th century, but despite this was huge in size and featured three floors and a self-contained flat. Unconvinced, Kathy decided she would carry out more research on the area before making a final decision.

But wherever Kathy ends up she admitted she knew that David would be right there watching over her. "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," she gushed.

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Alan Johnson