Eight miles from York, near Moors and coast, this smart historic home is just the ticket for families and small groups of friends

It's steeped in history and a joy to visit. Explore the vast pistes of Les Portes du Soleil... return to log fires and house-party dinners

An exquisite Provençal home for a large party, hidden behind grand gates in a small village surrounded by the pine-scented Alpilles

Come here in the summer (it’s closed Nov-April except by arrangement) for candlelit dining, chintzy bedrooms, long views over the park...

Special back-to-nature, stargazing loft for couples and families, on a nature-filled estate in Piedmont

Near Vosges mountains, a happy homely hotel surrounded by woods and flower-filled meadows with friendly hosts. Deliciously peaceful

Bright and spacious barn for two and a baby on the South Downs Way, close to Brighton and the coast

Starry skies, wild beauty and total peace are yours in these sustainable, solar-powered eco-lodges

A joy for foodies, peace seekers and lovers of period architecture… note the Honduran mahogany banister with inlaid jet and pearl

Wild and peaceful small hotel bordering National Park of Guadarrama. Listen to birdsong, hike in the sierra, spend the day in Segovia

A trulli hamlet immersed in nature, on the wilder side of Puglia with visits to white-washed hilltop towns and cooking with Nonna Maria

Inspiring scenery for this lavender farm near a Provençal village. Rustic eco-friendly cottages, a hump-backed bridge, a hammock by the pool

A smart riverside inn with airy interiors that brim with character – old beams, open fires, well-kept ales and comfy bedrooms

Big beautiful apartments in a serene setting in southern Tuscany, with pool. And courses for everyone - organised by one delightful family

A lovely little bolthole to return to after days out exploring pretty Cotswold villages and walking in an AONB straight from the door

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

This shuttered, stone maison in Gascony on the Santiago de Compostela pilgrims' route is a joy for families to spend time together

In château parkland, 10 minutes from Chinon, find books, beams and open spaces for three renovated houses, a delight for families