Birders will love escaping up here, golfers too - visit Hatfield House, Knebworth, Cambridge - come back to a good local pub and a comfy bed

Superb rural views, excellent hiking and generous bedrooms. Cristina and Alec take good care of guests - the food is delicious

The views are sensational, the bedrooms full of charm and higgledy-piggledy beams. Sip Perigord Noir on the terrace and amble to the market

Medieval manor house and busy farm. A welcoming atmosphere, big bedrooms, breakfast in the baronial great hall by the cosy log fire

Swim with frogs in the freshwater pool, breakfast in the sunshine, play boules by moonlight. Châteaux don't get much more rural

On the outskirts of Marazion, this timber clad house perched above the sea is a super pad for romantic couples

Families and walkers will be happy at this unfussy seaside retreat with beaches down the road and coastal paths right by your door

A sweet little gîte for two in the centre of a dreamy medieval village. Happily private but with loads to explore from your door

On a sleepy hillside near Noto, the peace is profound at this country estate set in a modern property with a spa, gym and generous suites

Explore Le Marche, Italy's hidden gem, from this tranquil agriturismo tucked among olive groves and fields above the Adriatic coast

An elegant hotel that feels like a well-kept secret, with charming staff, understated rooms and great restaurants a short walk away

The wow factor is set to eleven at this magnificent château steeped in French history and surrounded by acres of land (and a moat)

A magnificent medieval tower in the grounds of an 18th-century château sitting in a dreamy valley. Come for superb gardens and architecture

High on a hill in the Tyne Valley, undisturbed except by birds singing and the wind whistling; views swoop down to a magical landscape

Created around a Georgian house, with lake, woodland and fields, this hotel and members' club offers great food, fresh air and much comfort

A sustainably-designed small, family-run eco hotel within a nature park by the sea in stunning Basque country. Great food too

Share an authentic and unpretentious part of Sardinia with generous hosts. Stay in rooms set across three properties, enjoy memorable meals