An 18th-century whitewashed cottage, characterful and comfortable and with a large private garden, just minutes from the coast by car

Lovely old manor house and clever garden with a relaxed, happy vibe and home-baked or homegrown treats on arrival and at breakfasts

A sweet retreat for a nature-loving couple, with soul-searching views and the smell of the sea. Logs and Breton cider are on the house...

An airy Estate Manager's House set in pretty grounds with a pool, orchard, barbecue and private terrace for long lazy days in the sun

A chic bolthole in a sleepy Suffolk village with seriously good food, stylish bedrooms, riverside walks and Suffolk’s wild coast

A country house, elegant and unstuffy, at the heart of a working Lazio olive farm. Lunch by the pool or unwind at the hot spring spa

Come to the wild Cévennes to hike, ride, kayak down the Hérault river – or just revel in your pretty, generous house, pool and garden space

Fall asleep to the sound of the sea in your dreamy thatched cottage, one of 6, right on the beach for those head-clearing walks...

A bright and prettily beamed barn with very comfortable interiors, private outdoor seating and a shared courtyard for barbecues and games

A red-brick cottage and Shepherd’s hut in a magical garden with a cookery school and views over the South Downs

A niftily restored 1934 traditional Hebridean croft house with a herb garden and stunning sea views across Loch Snizort to Trotternish

A finely crafted staircase, a friendly owner next door, an Alpine garden to die for - groups large and small will love this old watermill

A peaceful, romantic village escape for couples, plus a babe-in-arms, attached to the welcoming owners' home in the Scottish Borders

A magical family house with its toes in the water, a beach either side and Padstow’s pretty harbour and restaurants down the road

Gloriously cool in summer, cosy in winter, a 365-day-a-year retreat. Just a 10-minute promenade along the beach into the fun heart of town

Charming cottage in the Peak District National Park for hill walking, cycling and bird watching, or simply unwinding amid much beauty

This stately-looking former manor house set back from the road in acres of gardens serves very good food and has rustic-chic bedrooms

A very thoughtful and peaceful house with a garden for happy holidays with family or friends, surrounded by glorious countryside for walks