A nicely priced inn on Shaftesbury's high street with a warm contemporary style and some excellent food – fine local walking waits

A pretty upside-down cottage, formerly a dovecote, lovingly restored with sustainability the focus

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

Everything you need is here: a wood-burner for winter, a pool and spacious terraces for summer, and peace and beauty all year round

5 houses near Siena to make design-lovers happy; come for the rural solitude of ancient stone farm buildings with urban interiors

Immerse yourself in nature, wildlife, sustainability and slow food high up on the edge of a National Park

A rustic gem with a rich history, a domed chapel and a fountain in the courtyard. Dine superbly, choose from an extensive wine list

Proper village pub with much-praised food and cosy rooms; country walks lead from the door and Oxford is half an hour away

Nestled in lovely grounds, this country pub serves up cracking food and real ales. Wonderful walks nearby, comfy rooms to rest for the night

A lovingly converted eco barn overlooking a wildflower valley in arty Pembs. For honeymoons and mini moons... a slice of heaven!

You're overlooking the main square in medieval Umbertide from this cosy, second-floor apartment, so you'll feel very much like a local

A 1750 one-storey former farm building, beautifully converted into a lovely hideaway for walkers, nature lovers and peace seekers

Between Florence and Siena, stay in one of five stylish apartments on a family-run agriturismo; they delight in sharing this slice of heaven

Your own cottage on a wine estate in a very beautiful part of the South Downs, famed for world-class sparkling wines

Such a special place, right on the historic Georgian quay – a cosy, friendly place with dogs, children and families welcome in all parts

If you need a great place in which to relax and don’t want to pay too much for it, try these excellent suites, which spoil you all the way