An inspirational setting and an enthusiastic welcome from your hosts and their young family - lose your heart to its baroque beauty

Grand and old and filled with history, the estate and such a pretty house are a tonic, as are the well-tended grounds and parkland

On the side of a hill in the little-known Marche, a happy young farmhouse with an elegant saltwater pool, and wonderful meals from Kelda

A big, beamed contemporary barn filled with light and surrounded by unspoilt countryside for a romantic retreat.

Tradition and comfort on the border with Wales, a welcoming country-house hotel with warm rooms, pretty gardens and delicious food

Come for big, peaceful bedrooms with views, delicious home cooked breakfasts and riverside strolls through ancient beech woodland

A cracking English inn with open fires, great food, gorgeous rooms, happy staff, lovely gardens and well-kept English ales

There's a pared-back unforced elegance to this stone barn sitting quietly in its own grounds beside a cobbled courtyard awash with roses

A 15th-century hotel and spa with beamed lounges and two restaurants, standing proudly on the high street

A pair of historic houses with far-reaching views of the Cotswold Hills and walks from the gate

Everything you’d want of a lovely country inn – pretty rooms, tasty food, local ales in a beamed bar and fabulous walking

Pomegranates, persimmon and figs, the waft of rosemary on the air... we love this old 'mas' 25km from Gordes, in sweet sunny Provence

Wingham is a pretty village near Canterbury known for its thatched cottages, medieval houses, and a much-loved pub called The Dog

A 200-year-old cortijo in a totally tranquil spot with gated pool, two acres of grounds, an orchard and olive terraces with mountain views

A big warm, generous, house for a large group with a fenced garden and stunning views into the far distance. Child and dog friendly

B&B rooms, some with kitchenettes, in a lush garden setting with a river running behind. The pretty village is on your doorstep

A tucked-away and peaceful retreat from which to explore the beautiful Dordogne or simply to unwind and recharge