A 18th-century house with pool in a small town with friendly owners and a tropical garden of banana, fig and, of course, frangipani

The views take your breath away, the breakfasts are beautiful, and you feel like you're staying in the home of dear friends

An ancient thatched cottage near Dartmoor with a warming log fire in winter and flowers inside and out in the summer

Simple but stylishly furnished village house, terrific hill-top views, low-impact design, organic cooking and a hot tub; utterly peaceful

Retreat to a classically styled, elegant apartment for four - private and peaceful - in a characterful, super-central area of Rome

An open-plan kitchen, sunny terrace and fruitful gardens shine at this private hillside villa. From here, it's easy to ski, swim or sunbathe

Rooms with rooftop and mountain views, luxurious in their simplicity, heavenly breakfasts out on the terrace, and a cultured, caring owner

A delightful eyrie surrounded by water, forest, wildflowers in spring and summer, views to distant islands - just a short stroll to Ullapool

A fortified castle in parkland, built mostly in the 1300s on the Montbazens plateau, near to the stunning Averyon gorges

Pretty, thatched, perfectly round: a romantic village bolthole with retro touches. Grab flip-flops, leads and run the dogs on Pendower beach

Pomegranates, persimmon and figs, the waft of rosemary on the air... we love this old 'mas' 25km from Gordes, in sweet sunny Provence

A beautifully-restored Georgian farmhouse at the end of a lane, with ancient pastures and orchards filled with wildflowers and streams

A babbling brook, the sound of birdsong and centuries of history steeped into the walls of this medieval barn, plus a heated indoor pool

Deep luxury, superb service and a wealth of delightful things to admire at this small hotel on a very quiet street in the heart of the city

One of the loveliest houses in a very lovely village. Pretty rooms have parquet floors and white walls, the food is a delight

Stay in a lovely 18th-century townhouse in one of the prettiest villages on the Loire surrounded by unspoilt countryside

Surrounded by vines and swept by sea breezes, two lovely, simple gîtes with a gorgeous shared pool and a courtyard for boules

A charming comfy cottage with wood burner, delicious hilly views, walks radiating from the door. We didn’t want to leave!