A very tastefully restored old stone stable on a gloriously rural estate with woodland gardens, lake and a deer park

Simple rooms on a spotless farm, delightful hosts, delicious fruit tarts at breakfast on Sundays. The perfect stopover en route to Calais

A stroll from the village, this comfy house in its terraced garden comes with a keen-cook's kitchen, a generous terrace and pool

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

A dear little gingerbread-style house in the prettiest part of the estate with your own pontoon and boat on the edge of a shimmering lake

A rural idyll with a hot tub under starlit skies and surrounded by gorgeous countryside in the South Lakes within a hop of vibrant Cartmel

Large, unpretentious and very comfortable family house in splendid isolation with swimming pool, tennis court and well-tended gardens

Authenticity and originality combine at this family chateau with its panelled rooms, theatrical flourishes and charming candlelit dinners

A spacious farmhouse with a pool in the grounds of a stately château. Wander the walled garden, explore the countryside and pretty villages

A surprisingly roomy interior for this pretty chocolate-box cottage in the middle of the village, just a ten-minute walk from Lulworth Cove

Hilltop farmhouse converted into a light and spacious, contemporary country house where vintage and modern happily mix. Stunning views, too

Two family and dog friendly retreats for lovers of the countryside, birdwatchers and those wishing to escape the crowds

Set off on blissful walks, trek home to crumpets and tea. There’s no better place to escape the 21st century than rural Devon

You’re wrapped in parkland here and close to the coast, gardens and war memorials. A treat of a stop-over for foodies

An 18th-century cottage for four on a working sheep farm: walk the Pentland Hills, get the bus to Edinburgh for culture

A luxurious eco-retreat plus extra room in the Space Conker in private woodland with views to the Chaîne des Aravis and Mont Blanc

Feel at ease in a lovely old townhouse filled with pictures and personality and including a separate loft apartment

A converted 19th-century church in the Northumberland National Park with beautiful stained-glass windows and a restored tower