Special Places to Stay - More than a bed for the night

Two hours from Calais, on the crest of a hill in deep countryside, a solid little farmhouse just right for a family or close friends. Red terracotta tiles run throughout the ground floor; there's a sitting room with fine oak ceiling beams, old-fashioned easy chairs, a brick fireplace with logs in winter, piles of DVDs, books and board games. In the dining room, a refectory table for eight, a patterned rug, a huge mirror; in the light, well-equipped kitchen, a table for six and a further fireplace. The master bedroom is also on this floor, with its feather-filled duvet and pretty patchwork quilt, and so is the one large shower room that the household shares. Then up well worn stairs to a long, large, uncluttered sleeping space under the eaves – white, open, airy, all beautiful gnarled timbers and endless views. Stow most of the party up here and they'll be happy. Fencing keeps the frisky cows framed in their buttercup meadow, leaving you the run of the big garden. As dusk falls, you can sit, chat and barbecue as the poplars rustle and the fairylights twinkle like fireflies. Good value, gorgeous views.