Understatedly stylish with French antiques, sofas and balconies overlooking town and gardens. A grown-ups' retreat, 200m from the ocean

Friendly hosts, lovely log fires, delicious dinners, interesting antiques – and Frederick’s special tours of a WWI memorial site

Old wooden sleigh beds, check-clothed tables, log fires, a courtyard of centuries-old trees, a claw foot bath. Stacks of character

Birders will love escaping up here, golfers too - visit Hatfield House, Knebworth, Cambridge - come back to a good local pub and a comfy bed

Warm, interesting hosts and a fascinating celebration of 20th-century style. Gleaming en suites, original Art Deco furniture, WWII books...

A luxurious eco-retreat plus extra room in the Space Conker in private woodland with views to the Chaîne des Aravis and Mont Blanc

A small top terrace can be booked for romantic evenings and you can lunch or dinner at the delightful floating restaurant

A tranquil and tucked-away feel for this terraced cottage with private patio, communal garden and plenty of room for six

Five tranquil apartments surrounded by Tuscan countryside just over half an hour's drive from Siena - hire them all for a group holiday

Come to the wild Cévennes to hike, ride, kayak down the Hérault river – or just revel in your pretty, generous house, pool and garden space

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

A bit like staying with friends in a smart country house, but not having to help - an elegant refuge near Bradford-on-Avon

A handsome Grade II listed pub with rooms in the heart of one of England's best foodie towns

Lovingly renovated farmhouse amid vines and sunflowers, deep in the Charente countryside - small pool in garden, beaches 45 minutes away.

Good looking barn conversion for sociable gatherings on an organic farm – meet the animals, take a day trip, go walking

A modern take on an Iron Age roundhouse with stunning sea views in Scotland’s wild west, perfect for couples

Green and serene, a striking array of eco cottages on a family farm where style and comfort reign, close to the coast but far from the crowd

A beautifully converted dairy with a magical garden in a quiet village surrounded by lovely countryside