A handsome château filled with intrigue and interest on the edge of a Bastide town in Landes. Your charming host looks after you with aplomb

In the city of Trapani, at the foot of Mount Erice, a nobleman's villa with a warm heart and exotic gardens. A hop from the Egadi Islands

A pleasing (not very little) place to stay in the heart of a wood within the unspoilt countryside of the South Downs National Park

A really well thought-out escape for a small family with children. A big garden, pool, petanque court and play barn for indoor fun

This secluded New Forest inn is a magnet for families in summer: a good pint and the log fire make it a superb winter hideaway too

The smallest of three secluded cottages that share a gravel courtyard and a beautiful garden with cathedral views

Romantics will love this small converted hut-on-a-hillside surrounded by pines and olives with stunning views over the old town and the sea

Unwind in elegant interiors and set out on long walks in beautiful countryside; Chichester and Winchester are near

A gracious 17th-century manor house and a pretty Grange hidden down a tree-lined drive and with stunning views over woodlands

A grand old chartreuse, dating from 1649, with terrace, garden and pool surrounded by tranquil countryside and near a pretty village

Former blacksmith’s workshop in a chocolate-box corner of the New Forest, where clematis climbs the trellis and all you hear are the birds

Attractive country barn - great for two families sharing, for river trips, for playing in the pool, for running free

A comfortable and light-filled converted stone barn in the pretty Vendée, a quiet and rural spot but just half a mile from town

A light, bright, art-filled space with private garden on a quiet residential street just a short walk from shops, markets and good food

Once a lofty edifice for music recitals, now an original place to stay - with stained-glass windows, a bed on a stage and wild gardens

Gorgeous rooms, delicious food, gardens and lake to explore, a spoiling spa with indoor pool and much comfort between moors and the sea

Charmingly rambling, inside and out: blazing fires, riotous patterns, oak panelling, a prolific garden and comfortable antique beds

Be spoiled in this large stone house, with sumptuous bedrooms, thoughtful breakfasts and a verdant garden, just minutes from the city