A rare treat to stay in this lovely stone farmhouse in the Durham Dales with acres of private farmland and magical interiors by Rita Konig

Contemporary studio in a classic Cotswold village. Peaceful bolthole for creatives and walkers - with shops, cafes and pubs a stroll away

Big house with bags of character and easy access to beaches, cafés and cobbled streets, coastal paths and hidden coves

A humdinger of a pub, hidden in a sleepy village in the Surrey Hills, oozing character and charm and with delicious food and comfy bedrooms

Contemporary boathouse for all the family. Find rock pools, a shingle beach and plenty of ozone in the salty Cornish air

Escape to a corner of Italy where the view hasn't changed for centuries and you feel like you’re on top of the world. Dreamy food and pool

Good old-fashioned service, fresh and gleaming surroundings, great food and very comfortable rooms at this rejuvenated roadside inn

Relaxing B&B with views of woodland and fields, a cottage garden and friendly poodle. On a quiet lane, a stroll from the middle of Mells

A serene restaurant-hotel on Chesil beach, with a perfect view of the big blue sea. How restorative can a hotel be?

Tradition and comfort on the border with Wales, a welcoming country-house hotel with warm rooms, pretty gardens and delicious food

A lovely gîte with cool lines and its own shady terrace plus pool, gardens, fountain and a relaxed family-friendly feel

Thatched cottage perfect for families; surfing at Croyde, walks on Exmoor, sunny barbecues in the garden and cosying up by the wood-burner

A delightfully Lilliputian Georgian cottage with all mod cons at the end of a terrace just a short walk to shops, cafés and the beach

A medieval monastery, stunningly revived, in untouristy, car-free Pisciotta. Sip greco on the terrace; scramble through olives to the sea

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

Escape your cares here, move from terrace to terrace tracking the sun's progress and dive into the sea from your own swimming platform

Comfortable apartment steeped in Breton history, in a beautifully renovated gabarier’s house overlooking the marine estuary

Converted barn with the most welcoming owners – the garden and pool are all yours; explore a less touristy part of the Dordogne