Secret Sanctuaries

We’ve explored all through the hills and valleys of the UK and Europe, looking for the places that almost don’t want to be found. Here are some of our favourite discoveries, where you can retreat from the world and immerse yourself in rural peace. Take a dip in the pool, visit the spa or just sit out on the terrace and look at the views before you head in for dinner. These are places so remote, relaxing and romantic that you’ll never want to leave.

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Cavens Gallery

Cavens 1 - Gallery

Cavens 2 - Gallery

Cavens 3 - Gallery

Cavens 4 - Gallery

Cavens 5 - Gallery

Cavens 6 - Gallery

Cavens 7 - Gallery

Cavens 8 - Gallery

Cavens 9 - Gallery

Cavens 10 - Gallery

Cavens 11 - Gallery

Cavens 12 - Gallery

Cavens 13 - Gallery

Cavens 14 - Gallery

Cavens 15 - Gallery

Cavens 16 - Gallery

Cavens 17 - Gallery

Cavens 18 - Gallery

Cavens 19 - Gallery

Cavens 20 - Gallery
Cavens
Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway
From £250 p/n

Hotel

5 rooms for 2
A splendid supper à la carte (three courses) is included here, together with airy rooms and sweeping gardens. The Solway Firth is close

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Domaine le Bois des Dames Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 1 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 2 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 3 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 4 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 5 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 6 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 7 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 8 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 9 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 10 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 11 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 12 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 13 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 14 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 15 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 16 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 17 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 18 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 19 - Gallery

Domaine le Bois des Dames 20 - Gallery
Domaine le Bois des Dames
Chantemerle-lès-Grignan, Drôme
From €185 p/n

Hotel

10 rooms for 2
A real treat to stay in this elegant 18th-century house with pampering bedrooms, gorgeous home-cooked food and stunning gardens with pool

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Castello di Postignano Gallery

Castello di Postignano 1 - Gallery

Castello di Postignano 2 - Gallery

Castello di Postignano 3 - Gallery

Castello di Postignano 4 - Gallery

Castello di Postignano 5 - Gallery

Castello di Postignano 6 - Gallery

Castello di Postignano 7 - Gallery

Castello di Postignano 8 - Gallery

Castello di Postignano 9 - Gallery

Castello di Postignano 10 - Gallery

Castello di Postignano 11 - Gallery
Castello di Postignano
Sellano, Perugia
From €160 p/n

Hotel

20 rooms for 2 - 5
The medieval village of your dreams is here on an Umbrian hillside: rich hotel suites, trattoria, library, pool…in finely renovated houses

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Old Whyly Gallery

Old Whyly 1 - Gallery

Old Whyly 2 - Gallery

Old Whyly 3 - Gallery

Old Whyly 4 - Gallery

Old Whyly 5 - Gallery

Old Whyly 6 - Gallery

Old Whyly 7 - Gallery

Old Whyly 8 - Gallery

Old Whyly 9 - Gallery

Old Whyly 10 - Gallery

Old Whyly 11 - Gallery

Old Whyly 12 - Gallery

Old Whyly 13 - Gallery

Old Whyly 14 - Gallery

Old Whyly 15 - Gallery
Old Whyly
East Hoathly, Sussex
From £150 p/n

Bed & Breakfast

4 rooms for 2
All the luxuries that make a B&B very special - wonderful food, smart rooms and a garden replete with pool, orchard, tennis and lake

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The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 1 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 2 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 3 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 4 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 5 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 6 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 7 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 8 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 9 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 10 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 11 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 12 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 13 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 14 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 15 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 16 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 17 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 18 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 19 - Gallery

The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage 20 - Gallery
The Llanfendigaid Estate: Dove Cottage
Rhoslefain, Tywyn, Gwynedd
From £123 p/n

Self-catering

1 place for 4
A pretty upside-down cottage, formerly a dovecote, lovingly restored with sustainability the focus

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Fianca l'Osso Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 1 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 2 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 3 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 4 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 5 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 6 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 7 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 8 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 9 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 10 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 11 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 12 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 13 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 14 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 15 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 16 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 17 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 18 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 19 - Gallery

Fianca l'Osso 20 - Gallery
Fianca l'Osso
Belvédere Campomoro, Corse du Sud
From €145 p/n

Bed & Breakfast

5 rooms for 2 - 4
This B&B is a superb base to explore the island's glittering bays, vibrant coastal cities, mountains, valleys and forests

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B&B El Oasis Gallery

B&B El Oasis 1 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 2 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 3 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 4 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 5 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 6 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 7 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 8 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 9 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 10 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 11 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 12 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 13 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 14 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 15 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 16 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 17 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 18 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 19 - Gallery

B&B El Oasis 20 - Gallery
B&B El Oasis
Almuñécar, Granada
From €75 p/n

Bed & Breakfast

3 rooms for 2
Treat yourselves to some downtime at this lush, semi-tropical hideaway with big pool, delicious breakfasts and charmingly rustic bedrooms

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Villa il Cardinale Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 1 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 2 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 3 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 4 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 5 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 6 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 7 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 8 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 9 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 10 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 11 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 12 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 13 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 14 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 15 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 16 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 17 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 18 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 19 - Gallery

Villa il Cardinale 20 - Gallery
Villa il Cardinale
Bel Poggio, Rome
From €1400 p/n

Self-catering

1 place for 12
Vast house on an ancient Roman site with big terraced garden and pool. Grand yet homely, with air-con, spa and only 8 km to the city

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Magnolia House Gallery

Magnolia House 1 - Gallery

Magnolia House 2 - Gallery

Magnolia House 3 - Gallery

Magnolia House 4 - Gallery

Magnolia House 5 - Gallery

Magnolia House 6 - Gallery

Magnolia House 7 - Gallery

Magnolia House 8 - Gallery

Magnolia House 9 - Gallery

Magnolia House 10 - Gallery

Magnolia House 11 - Gallery

Magnolia House 12 - Gallery

Magnolia House 13 - Gallery

Magnolia House 14 - Gallery

Magnolia House 15 - Gallery

Magnolia House 16 - Gallery

Magnolia House 17 - Gallery

Magnolia House 18 - Gallery

Magnolia House 19 - Gallery

Magnolia House 20 - Gallery
Magnolia House
Galaroza, Huelva
€575 p/n

Self-catering

1 place for 12
An ancient village house hiding a treasure trove of delights and a gorgeous garden with a pool, 90km from Seville

Offer

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