Plenty of uncluttered easy space both in and out by the private pool - children love the freedom - great wine, food, and cycling country

Elegant, calm, charming B&B in a 12th-century house surrounded by fields, quiet country roads and vibrant little villages

A super old place for those who love history and Thomas Hardy. Come for enjoyable gastropub food and comfortable, traditional bedrooms

A perfectly renovated farmhouse in the grounds of a delightful château deep in the Normandy countryside, with a lovely walled garden

Fall in love with this riverside village, lost in a valley in lower Normandy, and this sunny house for couples or families

2 super family apartments in the unspoilt Serre Chevalier valley, with a private chef if you’d like one, and delightful Pippa to welcome you

A lovely villa with masses of space, filled with modern art and near to walking trails, beaches, shops and restaurants

An elegant house with ancient roots and a shimmering pool – explore the Charente countryside, drive to lovely Angoulême

Another bright, beamed and history-filled place to stay on the smart Upton Cressett estate with walks from the door and much comfort within

Magnificent views unfold over the glittering sea towards the Cap d'Antibes from this elegant 1750 manor filled with much art and history

A fabulous Belle Epoque château with much wow factor set in vast grounds with lawns and lakes, circled by a dense forest

A lovely Victorian cottage on a quiet village road, traditional and comfortable inside and with a fully enclosed garden at the back

A fortified castle in parkland, built mostly in the 1300s on the Montbazens plateau, near to the stunning Averyon gorges

Restored stone barn on a farm in the Lake District National Park, with views of fields and woods and an excellent pub nearby

A peaceful, stylish getaway for two within the charming owners' home with shared pool, fabulous views – and all of Provence to (re)visit

Bring boots, maps, your dog and an appetite for high places and deep comfort in this restored farm conversion

Explore woodlands, farmland and gardens, plunge into the heated pool, dine at Flora Restaurant at Trelowarren. This is civilized luxury

Come for plenty of space and wonderful views to the Pyrenees on clear days from this converted outbuilding in the grounds of a château