Two family and dog friendly retreats for lovers of the countryside, birdwatchers and those wishing to escape the crowds

Enter through an impressive stone arch to discover this 16th-century fortified manor house with a gorgeous communal dining and seating area

An elegant, super central bolthole for two (or three): stroll everywhere, hop on a vaporetto, sit in piazzas drinking cappuccino, live like a local

A light, spacious house sitting on a nature reserve for very comfortable stays and magnificent birdwatching, walking, cycling, riding

Small country hotel in a riverside setting near Giverny, with a superb restaurant and a charming village a few minutes’ walk away

You’re in the heart of untamed countryside here, beside the river Oise, welcomed by friendly hosts who cook and care for you

Come down to the Meon Valley and be (very gently) nudged towards a better way of living - a Sawday's Community Champion

Spacious bedrooms, friendly hosts and a classic English country house in a peaceful hamlet with walks from the doorstep

In a bustling port town on the Adriatic coast, this family-run hotel is warm, welcoming and just minutes from beaches and restaurants

Close to the honeypots of Domme and Sarlat, a hideaway for 2 in an ancient French hamlet. The apartment is serene, the views are glorious

Smart, spacious house for 12 with great views over the family vineyard - arrange a tasting, walk the Cotswold Way, cycle the canal towpath

A small, quirky country house hotel with lovely staff, pretty rooms and heavenly food served in a pillared dining room

In a profoundly peaceful spot between arty St Ives and stunning Marazion, a hideaway for two surrounded by gardens and parkland

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

A pleasure to stay in such a dreamy château surrounded by a beautiful terrace, elegant gardens and parkland, a lake, river and waterfall

Two riverside properties with incredible views, for walkers, sailors, dogs... and self-caterers who aim to be spoiled rotten

Elegance and ease mark this gentle group of Loire-Valley buildings, with soft-textured interiors and the owners’ fine hospitality and food