Creative owners have made a gorgeous, arty space for couples or a small group of friends; good beaches and Salcombe are close

A delightful coastal house with lush courtyard gardens, masses of space, home office and terraces galore

A recently renovated and very comfortable stand-alone limestone cottage with fabulous views on the edge of the Easton Walled Gardens

A lovely wisteria-clad inn in a traditional Cotswold village with grand walks, a pretty garden, tasty food and thoughtful bedrooms

Bags of character within and without at this four-storey village house with rooftop views over the mountains, next to a 12th-century church

A sweet bolthole around a courtyard on a smallholding, extremely comfortable, bright and spacious inside and with a communal garden

Two grand stone houses in tranquil parkland with a pool, potager and plenty of space for groups. Chickens and charm included

A peaceful grown-up place circled by meadows and woodland with helpful owners next door – a superb spot to explore the south-west

The Dordogne flows through the gastronomic heart of France, where stunning villages cling to rock faces and historic riches are in store

You’ll feel super snug in these 2 stunning eco builds blending into the wildly beautiful Isle of Harris coastal landscape

An 18th-century watermill with millrace and pond, now a smart B&B with a swimming pool and pretty gardens, run by charming English hosts

Rural French heaven at this lovely farm within four hectares. Natural materials, neutral colours and a lavender-lined pool all to yourselves

A beautiful villa with a medieval tower surrounded by formal gardens, gentle slopes of perfectly maintained vineyards and wooded hilltops

Quaint barns dotted among truffle oaks and rosemary, each one constructed the old-fashioned way and close to the Dordogne and Vézère

An ancient thatched cottage near Dartmoor with a warming log fire in winter and flowers inside and out in the summer

Tucked down a private driveway, this restored 19th-century farm building offers superb breakfasts, well-dressed beds and a beautiful garden

Come to shed your city cares, eat wonderful local food, spend time in simple, authentic surroundings and remind yourselves about serenity

Elegant house deep in the countryside with wild garden, dreamy pool, and bags of vintage charm. A promise of peace and perfect solitude