Green and serene, a striking array of eco cottages on a family farm where style and comfort reign, close to the coast but far from the crowd

Simple rooms on a spotless farm, delightful hosts, delicious fruit tarts at breakfast on Sundays. The perfect stopover en route to Calais

Close to sandy beaches between Penzance and Helston, three places to stay with characterful interiors and freshly baked scones waiting

This hidden valley is the dreamiest part of South Devon. Catch the ferry across the Dart; gaze on the hills; snuggle up by the wood-burner

Live like a local. Art lovers, book lovers and walkers will be happy here above an art gallery in the centre of town

A cool converted barn on an organic farm near Brittany’s loveliest beaches, with a kitchen garden and play area, perfect for foodie families

Feel French in this very beautiful 300-year-old house with a large garden and pool in a hilltop medieval village of winding, cobbled streets

Delightful little antique-filled cottage with large walled garden and an allotment near Versailles. Gardeners will be happy

From the delicious scented garden with its limestone pool to the cool rooms with perfect linen, this is a place for a special occasion

Swim with frogs in the freshwater pool, breakfast in the sunshine, play boules by moonlight. Châteaux don't get much more rural

Step into a place full of life, colour, texture and clever design surrounded by beautiful gardens and lakes

A fine designer house and pool above the coastal hurly-burly and one of the loveliest coves in Spain, backing onto a nature park. Happy hols

Peaceful, traditional country house just 2 miles from central Dorking. Relaxed hosts, good food, beautiful gardens, walks galore - a retreat

A warm and convivial place steeped in French history with an interesting, kind host who really looks after you. Under an hour from Paris too

A luxurious 1920s manor house with superbly stylish rooms, secluded gardens and a heated pool; close to the Picardy coast

A delightful coastal house with lush courtyard gardens, masses of space, home office and terraces galore

Plenty of restful, comfortable space indoors and out in the Mediterranean garden with its courtyard pool – restaurants to walk to

A renovated barn, part stone, part wood, resembling the tobacco barns of the area with beautiful grounds surrounded by farmland