Sweep along the gravel drive through lawns and specimen trees to this elegant manor house with 17th-century roots

Light-filled gites share a lovely pool, with pétanque, ping-pong and bikes to borrow – bring friends and take all three

Beautifully restored historical building in the heart of Vichy with a fabulous pool and spa, just steps away from the famous Opera House

Four bright and warm cottages with gardens, for families and friends, plus activities for children and endless walks for you and your dog

Immaculate Cotswold beauty with great food, welcoming staff, handsome rooms and a sun-trap terrace, plus countryside walks from the door

A marvellous spot overlooking Rutland Water for this 1760 former hunting lodge with good seasonal British food and very comfortable bedrooms

João & Ana Luisa's stunning cottages superbly blend contemporary and traditional styles. Vineyards, beaches and restaurants are all close

Superb, all-organic agriturismo built of straw bales and offering wonderful home-grown natural food, a delightful family, great walking

Great taste – in decor and food – and a delicious heated pool. Views swoop over field and valley; trails, villages, wineries tempt

Come for a village feel, rural peace and boundless Portuguese countryside at this charming whitewashed home with a super terrace with views

Stay in the grounds of a 19th-century château turned family home, where 500-year-old oak trees shade a glorious garden

Come to be doused in nature, tradition and rare Vino Santo at this soulful retreat, girded by orchards between the Dolomites and Lake Garda

Stay on a secluded private estate by the sea - once the home of the brilliant French writer, Colette

Step into a place full of life, colour, texture and clever design surrounded by beautiful gardens and lakes

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

The view is pure Canaletto, the vibe is modern and laid back. Just minutes from all Venice’s best bits, but with far fewer tourists

An absolutely charming former cart shed, with a magnificent view of the moated château and the park, with private sauna and shared pool

A historic Cornish farmhouse, sitting pretty in its own land at the side of a valley, with comfortable bedrooms and an independent feel