Independent B&B in an ancient hamlet with modern interiors, immaculate bedrooms and a pleasant wooden terrace for sunny days

Mont Blanc looms large over this alpine chalet in quiet Les Tines, a stone’s throw from Chamonix and miles of mountain trails

Gloriously green rural self-catering apartments with pool and lovely, friendly owners

An elegant townhouse made up of two apartments on a lively piazza a short stroll from the sea. Live like a local in pretty Monopoli

Premier cru vineyards at the door, an original wine cellar for tastings, and a heated pool with vineyard views

A much-loved Tuscan villa restored to elegance: dinner on the terrace, frescoes, rose garden, a small spa…and Florence a 20-minute drive

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

An oh-so-special B&B in Palermo's ancient heart. This city at the edge of Europe, with its Arab-Norman-Byzantine heritage, is fascinating

A beautifully converted building, part of an old mill, now a gorgeous place to stay with the stream running through and shared parkland

Charming manor house B&B, packed with character, interest and history, sitting in extensive gardens and with elegant bedrooms

Quirky townhouse on the edge of the Peak District, with country walks from the door, plus shops, cinema, heritage centre, bistros and pubs

A small, family-run boutique hotel sitting right at the foot of Etna with wonderful views, garden, pool and ambrosial Sicilian breakfasts

Two villas on opposite shores of a big lily-covered lake, fed with natural spring water from the Ticino river and surrounded by gardens

Off the beaten track and into the hills – this remote, unknown bird-filled region is faultless for outdoorsy people

A fortified castle in parkland, built mostly in the 1300s on the Montbazens plateau, near to the stunning Averyon gorges

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

A renovated barn, part stone, part wood, resembling the tobacco barns of the area with beautiful grounds surrounded by farmland

Gite retreats in château grounds - welcoming and wonderful for young families. Build castles in the sandpit, make friends around the pool