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 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

A beautiful house with Pyrenean views, generous hosts and wonderful hiking, biking and skiing nearby. A rare pearl

Fringing Tuscany countryside and fun Montone, an authentic Umbrian mansion with Slow Food, lavender fields, apartments and pool. Pure Italy

A deliciously rural stone house with charmingly simple rustic-chic interiors and saline pool - an hour from Perugia

A traditional stone bergerie high on a hill and surrounded by woods with east-facing views over the valley for stunning sunrises

Up at the top of Scotland’s west coast, a small, stylish and welcoming hotel with lovely owners and some nicely priced rooms

A foodie and friendly reinvigorated old pub, with floor to ceiling estuary views. Bring the dog and hit the coastal path

An elegant house with ancient roots and a shimmering pool – explore the Charente countryside, drive to lovely Angoulême

A beautiful old building with generous windows, arched doorways and opulent interiors in the glorious countryside by a fairy tale château

Serene retreat in the French countryside with elegant interiors and impeccable hosting from the lovely Anne-Laure

Spacious gîte in a former hunting lodge, set on one of the oldest estates in Pézenas, for a relaxing getaway with family and friends

A village setting for this family-friendly cottage-in-a-row with private garden next to the owners' pretty 17th-century thatched house

You’ve got history on your doorstep in this beautiful and serene B&B, with charming gardens and a real sense of style in every room

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

Cross an ancient stone bridge to a 1790s estate cottage, completely on its own down a little-used green lane and with the river rushing by

There's a pared-back unforced elegance to this stone barn sitting quietly in its own grounds beside a cobbled courtyard awash with roses

For retreats, groups of friends, and big families: come to recharge the senses at this special and ancient house enveloped by wild gardens