Beautiful, and with a delightfully rambling garden, this early 16th-century manor has bags of room for happy days with family or friends

A contemporary country-house hotel with a lovely spa and peaceful gardens - Sandringham and the north Norfolk coast are close

A delightful eyrie surrounded by water, forest, wildflowers in spring and summer, views to distant islands - just a short stroll to Ullapool

Modern, timber-clad building attached to a Georgian stable block, for smooth lines, high ceilings and lots of light in glorious countryside

A luxurious springboard for the wineries, villages and treasures of south Tuscany in the magical Orcia valley - if you can bear to leave it!

A big, homely farmhouse on the Umbria/Tuscany border for family holidays filled with sunshine, outdoor frolics and good food

An historic, moated manor house dating from the 16th-century, fully restored and with all mod cons, including an indoor heated pool

A rustic gem with a rich history, a domed chapel and a fountain in the courtyard. Dine superbly, choose from an extensive wine list

Your own cottage sitting room downstairs and a swish bedroom up – breakfast in the courtyard before venturing forth to discover Canterbury

A wall of glass frames the sea view - take drinks on the waterfront lawn in summer, or by the crackling fire in winter

Close to Hexham's centre, a quietly charismatic Victorian home with fresh flowers, homemade bread, sunny courtyard and a friendly little dog

Glorious views across Northumberland countryside from this peaceful and comfortable cottage with almost an acre of garden

Your hosts couldn’t be nicer and look after you beautifully – this is a lovely, homely place with a rambling garden

Tucked at the bottom of a long track and surrounded by a gorgeous natural landscape, is this generous end-slice of a 17th-century stone farm

Down a track with a delightfully remote feel but near to the coast and with good walking and cycling; views out to sea are awesome

Get away from it all in the heart of Northumberland National Park, with walks leaving from your door and incredible dark skies at night

An eco renovation of an 1800s gamekeepers cottage, now a charming place for couples or families to immerse themselves in nature

A modern, architect-designed renovation of a 19th-century building, sitting in harmony with nature yet only a short drive from Bordeaux