Come for summer breakfasts of pastries fresh from the local bakery, afternoons reading by the pool and long, lazy lunches

Nine comfortable apartments spread over three Tuscan stone buildings; grounds overlook the surrounding vines and olive trees

Grade II-listed country hotel with lovely gardens and an excellent restaurant, a short walk from Ambleside and the top of Lake Windermere

In Andalusia, step through an ancient wooden door into this Moorish-inspired townhouse with a pool and tapas bars just moments away

Immerse yourself in nature, wildlife, sustainability and slow food high up on the edge of a National Park

Magnificent fully-catered villa with pools on an ancient wine estate, high up in a valley surrounded by hills in the very centre of Provence

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 light larch-clad space for lovers, or a retreat for walkers and writers in pretty Orford, once a medieval sea port but now on the river

A stylish, refined 17th-century house off a quiet street with its own garden and lots of generous surprises, a short hop to everything

Simple, stylish interiors at this restored cottage on a rural estate overlooking the river Tay, with farmland, forest and trails to discover

10 minutes from La Rochelle, a place of peace and style. From scrumptious breakfasts to a splash in the pool, your hosts are eager to please

This fine old Dordogne house is run by well-travelled owners, has superb views and is a luscious mix of old charm and contemporary design

An enchanting spot above pretty old Sète, the fisherman’s summer retreat has garden corners for all, cool white rooms, loads of personality

Colourful coastal apartments where you can be nicely independent and enjoy a communal café and health club with Art Deco pool

1820s cottage with long views, a lovely garden and generous extras. Alnwick is close and miles of white sandy beaches with dunes

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

Chiara’s blissfully informal hillside home is a hard place to leave... Guests can get involved with cookery courses or the olive harvest