Warm interiors, pretty bedrooms and excellent breakfasts – good value in a very handy central spot

Up, up and away to this stunning cottage perched 1400 feet high in the National Park with big skies, grand walks and much comfort indoors

The view is pure Canaletto, the vibe is modern and laid back. Just minutes from all Venice’s best bits, but with far fewer tourists

This small hotel with pool has elegant communal spaces, spoiling bedrooms, kind staff, delicious food and panoramic mountain views

Four gîtes in the château’s vast barn, one in the tower. Magnificent mountain and valley views, and Sandrine’s regionally inspired meals

A red-brick cottage and Shepherd’s hut in a magical garden with a cookery school and views over the South Downs

A detached 1960s house in a fabulous position with beautiful views over the mountains and plenty of space for walkers and skiers

A beautiful cream stone building in the grounds of a grand château, with a large and view-filled outdoor terrace for peaceful dawdling

Gem-like in a deep park among meadows, a family-friendly château with 2 stylish cottages. Join the lovely owners for dinner, dip in the pool

A botanical beauty deep in the Loire Valley, this elegant house has history and heart in abundance

A big warm, generous, house for a large group with a fenced garden and stunning views into the far distance. Child and dog friendly

A stone built 18th-century tower in a pretty valley dotted with fruit trees for quiet and relaxed days recuperating from life in the city

In pretty Vernon, a peaceful and comfortably large townhouse with roses rambling around the door

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

Charming trulli apartments promise rustic comfort and panoramic views (horses too). Perfectly placed for exploring the area

The perfect country cottage made of pretty Quercy stone, with generously sized rooms and outside dining with gorgeous rural views

Nature lovers will be tempted to this gem of a village cottage in the Duddon Valley – a truly peaceful slice of the Lakes

Popular with families, this Glen of Rannoch mountain-view cottage with a homely atmosphere is a cheerful place to stay year-round