Airy, spacious, sunny. This Lot gîte is a delight: linen curtains, oak stair, sunny pool. Sarlat and painted caves are an easy venture away

An airy, art-filled house for groups of family or friends, with plenty of space, a secluded courtyard and pool near the beach

Come for history, wildlife and a stunning garden estate with acres to roam. Bring children and dogs too. Fabulous

Gite retreats in château grounds - welcoming and wonderful for young families. Build castles in the sandpit, make friends around the pool

Picturesque cottage in the grounds of a grand manor, lovingly and creatively restored by its welcoming English owner

A 17th-Century Irish castle on the water’s edge. Watch the yachts from your bedroom, join local wine nights, discover the rich history

Set loose your inner castaway on your very own island with enthralling views and much wildlife a short boat ride from Skye

Shady spots in the garden, a pool overlooked by tall palms, a bar nook stocked with drinks and a new spa in the Serra do Açor

Crackling fires in winter, croquet in the summer. Life ticks by peacefully - rooms are engagingly old-fashioned, the garden is much-loved

High in the Tuscan hills, at the end of an avenue of cypresses, surrounded by parkland and acres of olives... a 13th-century dream

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

Gloriously green rural self-catering apartments with pool and lovely, friendly owners

A wonderful place to stay whether you enjoy golf or not, with big skies, sea views, sumptuous bedrooms, delicious food and attentive staff

A perfect spot with views of hills, forest and vines, below the beautiful village of Castelnau de Montmiral. Walks, wildlife, wine tours...

A light, bright Georgian townhouse in a residential street directly opposite the lovely Lido and restaurant, near Clifton Village

Comfortable redbrick cottage with views on the Heydon Hall estate. It’s delightfully rural, yet close to Reepham for pubs and shops

Come for the gloriously peaceful countryside and this 1700s house and garden, scrupulously renovated and with plenty of space

A lovely gîte, once a hunting lodge, with two private terraces overlooking the manicured gardens of an 1830s manor house