Take a suite with champagne, strawberries and a tower, swim in the saltwater pool, eat a Castilian cocido - unwind in rural peace!

A beguiling retreat for a couple or a family of four – feel cosy and secluded in a thatched cottage close to the coast

Enfolded in gentle Dorset hills and surrounded by trees, a perfect wooden hut for 2 near beaches, River Cottage HQ and many beautiful walks

Provençale-meets-English country house to great effect – cycle Mont Ventoux, walk to the monastery, visit Roman towns and vineyards

A 15th-century hotel and spa with beamed lounges and two restaurants, standing proudly on the high street

Old beams and rich history: a dramatic setting for fireside chats, superb breakfasts (home-reared, baked, grown) - and Midsomer Murders

Ease into a slower way of life from this beautiful Tuscan farmhouse surrounded by vineyards in the valley below medieval Montepulciano

An impressive limestone house on three levels created within the ruins of an ancient village with uninterrupted views of the Vézère valley

A serene retreat basking above the Algarve with sea views from the garden and pool, and charming Moorish details

Popular with families, this Glen of Rannoch mountain-view cottage with a homely atmosphere is a cheerful place to stay year-round

Victorian almshouse with architectural pedigree, sweeping countryside views and easy access to charming local towns

Irresistible for art, design and heritage-lovers, bird-watchers and those who love to explore Norfolk's wide open spaces

This grand house on the river Derwent oozes old-fashioned comfort – find traditional bedrooms, delicious food and an open fire

A stunner of a setting for this restored croft house with long views to a sparkling loch and a lively village nearby. Good beaches too

Swim in the pool overlooking vineyards, try the wines and oil made onsite, get cosy by log fires or head to the nearby beach

Three spacious manor apartments with views for big gatherings of family or friends. Walk to the beach or the pub, play tennis and croquet

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