An impressive limestone house on three levels created within the ruins of an ancient village with uninterrupted views of the Vézère valley

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

This stately-looking former manor house set back from the road in acres of gardens serves very good food and has rustic-chic bedrooms

Delightful almshouse, steeped in history, in a peaceful churchyard setting with far-reaching countryside views

All the bleached beauty of the beach inside this comfortable cottage; a dining terrace with uplifting sea views and arching views of Kerry

Grade II-listed country hotel with lovely gardens and an excellent restaurant, a short walk from Ambleside and the top of Lake Windermere

Your own private suite in the wing of a traditional Burgundian winemaker's house in a tiny hamlet, surrounded by fields of vines

Perfect for lovers of the quintessentially English cottage - carefully renovated and classily stylish - a ramble to nearest pub

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

5 houses near Siena to make design-lovers happy; come for the rural solitude of ancient stone farm buildings with urban interiors

Bold, bright decor within the 19th-century walls of this pretty courtyard cottage, with a hot tub and long views over parkland and lake

At the gates of a country estate, two quirky hexagonal lodge houses with private outdoor seating and acres of grounds for walks and picnics

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

Come for an authentic French village experience in this old stone house next to the church with glorious countryside for walks and cycles

A seaside inn on Babbacombe Bay with views of sea and sky, rooms to feel happy in, a spa and homely, hearty dining

A cosy nest on the ramparts of an ancient fishing port, with sparkling lagoon views from a top-floor living area

A small, charming house with ravishing sea views within walking distance of a bohemian coastal village at the foot of the Teix mountain

A celebration of all things Somerset in a thatched village opposite the church and close to National Trust Barrington Court and Gardens