Where else is breakfast served by candlelight in winter? Friendly staff, lovely bedrooms, off-street parking and Arthur’s Seat all wait

Come for sea air, independent shops, great places to eat and this quirky cottage with plenty of room and a sunny walled garden

A converted old granary next to a traditional Welsh longhouse in a deeply rural setting for unfussy nature lovers

Full of country-hideaway chic, this special holiday home is in one of the loveliest parts of the Var, surrounded by 10 private acres

The largest of three secluded cottages that share a gravel courtyard and a beautiful garden with cathedral views

A swishly renovated detached hideaway up a hill, surrounded by vineyards and with a covered deck for sweeping views just outside Beaune

An island of oyster farms, salt pans and white beaches, woolly donkeys, countless push-bikes and the odd celeb – we love the Ile de Ré!

A honey-hued family home clad with vines and roses with a swimming pool and heaps of space – perfect for families

Foodies will love the irresistible cooking - along with local wine and a typically Tuscan setting. Bedrooms are pretty

A townhouse with a walled garden by the church in a peaceful village where friendly Scottish owners feed and look after you well

Come for a delightful old stone house in gentle, undulating countryside, with charming hosts, fabulous food and a huge dollop of fun

Simple country cottage living on a working organic farm. Bring your hiking boots or bikes, stride out from the door

What a setting! Gentle terraces, gardens, meadows and jaw-dropping views of Mont Blanc - just metres from Courmayeur

A lovely old traditional pub with a merry fire, locals and dogs, a bright conservatory, large garden and excellent food, especially fish

Cross an ancient stone bridge to a 1790s estate cottage, completely on its own down a little-used green lane and with the river rushing by

A deliciously cool loft hideaway set among tall sycamores in the grounds of the main house, with a New York Tribeca feel and much comfort

Big house with bags of character and easy access to beaches, cafés and cobbled streets, coastal paths and hidden coves

A warm, comfortable and light-filled 1800s cottage with south-facing garden and absolutely wonderful views over the Kyles of Bute