Step through a door in an old wooden gate to discover a courtyard garden on the edge of town close to golden sands

Come to be looked after very well in this meticulously renovated old farmhouse with elegant bedrooms, tasty breakfasts and a kind host

Once a shooting lodge, this stand-alone big building was part of a medieval estate and you can still see the grassy mount and dungeon tower

Tiny, suite-in-the-sky, in shabby-chic style, with all you need cleverly tucked into one room. Plus heavenly terrace with city-wide views

A traditional country house experience with plenty of space for big family get-togethers, on a very old estate with fascinating gardens

A wonderful old 1397 village inn, filled with history and character. Find gracious bedrooms, roaring fires, good food and a pretty garden

A row of old brick stables now craftily converted into a light-filled and very peaceful place to stay with a garden room and gorgeous views

On the outskirts of Marazion, this timber clad house perched above the sea is a super pad for romantic couples

A hop to Montpellier, but deep in the countryside: a romantic pad, with Moroccan rugs, ochre-limed walls and bikes to ride into the country

A serene apartment for 2 in the old fisherman's quarter in Olhão, close to amazing beaches. A special place for nature lovers and foodies

A relaxed country feel in this fine family villa. It has space and comfort for six with gardens, private pool, and tennis court

Off the beaten track and into the hills – this remote, unknown bird-filled region is faultless for outdoorsy people

An authentic, charming and spacious home with garden, pool and lake, deep in the Dordogne valley and decorated with uncluttered elegance

A pretty retreat in the grounds of a romantic château – you have your own walled garden, with terrace, pool and sunbathing area

This lovely, beamy, uncluttered Tuscan farmhouse with separate apartment is an elegant lodging on a vast fruitful estate with pool, and lovely owners

Pretty, thatched, perfectly round: a romantic village bolthole with retro touches. Grab flip-flops, leads and run the dogs on Pendower beach

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