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

A stunner of a setting for this restored croft house with long views to a sparkling loch and a lively village nearby. Good beaches too

Magnificent house with old-fashioned charm and gardens leading down to the Beaulieu River – take the footpath to Beaulieu or Bucklers Hard

A pub with rooms in the epicentre of London on trendy Westbourne Grove, a ten-minute stroll from Notting Hill

A romantic and very comfortable retreat in a smartly converted dairy with a pretty garden, close to the South Downs

Elegant rooms behind a popular village pub with country walks from the door, and the spectacular Peak District and stately homes nearby

An old-world inn full of colour, with open fires, cosy rooms, local food and the magnificent Northumberland National Park all around

A pretty little cottage in a holiday hamlet surrounded by fields, just a stone's throw from the coast and Binic for happy escapes

Share an authentic and unpretentious part of Sardinia with generous hosts. Stay in rooms set across three properties, enjoy memorable meals

A traditional coaching inn dating from the 18th century with good food served in private and public dining rooms on the Wellington Estate

Ease through a beautiful wrought iron gate to a courtyard and an elegant 1700s creamy stone holiday house, part of the château estate

Thoughtful red brick barn conversion on a working farm. Peaceful, practical and within easy reach of outdoor activities

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

Rooftop views of a Baroque town from heavenly flower-filled terraces and a truly scrumptious breakfast from Elisabetta make this one a must

A dear little gingerbread-style house in the prettiest part of the estate with your own pontoon and boat on the edge of a shimmering lake

A spacious courtyard, two ancient yews and this lovely restored house ooze charm - swim, cycle, walk in glorious countryside, taste cognac

Slow down, discover the quieter side of the island - volcanic rocks, clear seas from hidden beaches and César Manrique's Jardín de Cactus

This fine old Dordogne house is run by well-travelled owners, has superb views and is a luscious mix of old charm and contemporary design