This architect-designed passive style house sits just behind the sand dunes at Waxham beach, one of Norfolk’s most lovely beaches

Independence at one end of the house with your own sitting room opening onto a courtyard garden. Good pub for food a few minutes' walk away

Your own cottage on a wine estate in a very beautiful part of the South Downs, famed for world-class sparkling wines

Mont Blanc looms large over this alpine chalet in quiet Les Tines, a stone’s throw from Chamonix and miles of mountain trails

An absolutely charming former cart shed, with a magnificent view of the moated château and the park, with private sauna and shared pool

Classic-modern luxury, a charming young hostess and a peaceful setting – perfect for breakfast-lovers, wine buffs and all the family

Elegantly restored mariner’s cottage with tasteful interiors and sweeping, uninterrupted views over the ever-changing estuary

Walkers, bikers, families and nature fans will love staying with ever-helpful Joan and Montse in this secluded but not too remote valley

An 1800s former watermill, now elegantly converted to give B&B rooms plus a self-catering cottage in the Côte d'Opale, superb for walking

A dear little cottage with many comforts and a private garden, off the beaten track and surrounded by mountains, valleys and trees

An elegant hotel that feels like a well-kept secret, with charming staff, understated rooms and great restaurants a short walk away

Built in 1518 to gaze across the Loire to Amboise and decorated with discreet elegance and respect for its history. Guests love it

It's quiet among the lavender plants... bees humming, sun shining. Splash in the shared pool, visit lovely villages, taste local wines

A grand-looking stone building with fabulous views across the Derwent Valley from the terrace and garden – find quirky rooms and great food

Four pretty apartments perfect for groups. A natural swimming pool, animals roaming and walking distance from a summer boat to the beaches!

Two comfortably converted farm buildings, with a shared pool on a gentle south-east sloping vineyard with wonderful views

Authenticity and originality combine at this family chateau with its panelled rooms, theatrical flourishes and charming candlelit dinners