A bit like staying with friends in a smart country house, but not having to help - an elegant refuge near Bradford-on-Avon

Enjoy southern life in a charming palazzo in Trapani. Come for coastal drives and baroque basilica, hand-twirled pasta and fresh calamari

A simple, artistic place to stay in beautiful countryside with an extra bedroom, sitting room and shower room in a separate building

Glorious Elizabethan manor house lovingly furnished with exceptional art and antiques by its welcoming owners

A traditional Welsh cottage perfect for a nature loving pair – stunning coastal walks, hidden coves, birdwatching and a crackling fire

Surrounded by wildlife and water, this ultra-modern house has huge windows, white walls and designer furnishings. Blissfully remote

Treat yourselves to a seamless stay in this 255-year-old manor house with dreamy gardens, sumptuous bedrooms, sparkling pool and spa

Get away from it all in 'old' France, where melons taste like melons & hikes start from the door. This rural bolthole is a serious treat

You'll feel relaxed in this big light-filled house with plunge pool and outdoor cinema; walk along the river with Portugal on the other side

Take in the stunning views, explore the narrow medieval lanes and soak up the old-world charm of one of France’s most beautiful villages

Four bright and warm cottages with gardens, for families and friends, plus activities for children and endless walks for you and your dog

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

A truly delightful place to eat and stay with gorgeous bedrooms and good food, in a village with Tudor houses and ancient church towers

This lovely, beamy, uncluttered Tuscan farmhouse with separate apartment is an elegant lodging on a vast fruitful estate with pool, and lovely owners

A grand spot with superb Peak District views for this secluded, immaculate conversion of a handsome stable block - spacious and light

A characterful coaching inn in a lively market town surrounded by manicured countryside - Chester's mighty Roman walls are close

Nature lovers ride or hike through the breath-taking landscape of Andalucia's National Park and return to comfortable cottages with views

In the gardens of a laid-back country house, a barn with books, games, faded rugs and a grand piano – a treat for convivial families