A beguiling retreat for a couple or a family of four – feel cosy and secluded in a thatched cottage close to the coast

A beautiful little house in a corner of the garden: walk for miles or just to the local pub, barbecue on the deck with its rural views

Charming gardens for you and your dog in a barn conversion in rural Norfolk half an hour from coast

Fall asleep to the sound of the sea in your dreamy thatched cottage, one of 6, right on the beach for those head-clearing walks...

In peaceful walled gardens, this former convent is a quiet retreat just a stone’s throw from the Riviera coast and the best of Tuscany

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

A cosy, very comfortable stone cottage with fine views across the valley, just a couple of miles from the southern tip of Ullswater

A peaceful old ivy-clad mill with a beautiful terrace overlooking the water, sculpture-filled gardens, comfortable bedrooms and hearty food

Within the city walls and right next to the Minster, this super-smart hotel gives you gorgeous bedrooms and delicious food

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

Round up family and friends and head for the glorious South Hams and this eco-friendly barn conversion for ten with extra cottage

A small, rural cottage high in the wooded hills with long views, your own private pool, utter peace and quiet and a superb restaurant nearby

Explore Le Marche, Italy's hidden gem, from this tranquil agriturismo tucked among olive groves and fields above the Adriatic coast

An elegant French château brimming with antiques and surrounded by landscaped lawns. Enjoy convivial dinners with the perfect host

A boutique hotel on the edge of Arcachon Bay. A natural pool, zen gardens, contemporary Eastern-style interiors, and good food await

After a bountiful breakfast of Loch Fyne kippers and homemade scones, head for Oban, gateway to the isles. Return to a dram by the fire

A great base from which to explore beautiful Pembrokeshire - walk by the coast, take to the hills, check out ancient St Davids