Leave the car, everything is walkable & buses are practically free. Visit restaurants, vineyards & markets from your lofty village bolthole

A fabulous Belle Epoque château with much wow factor set in vast grounds with lawns and lakes, circled by a dense forest

Light, bright and smartly decorated, this grown-up B&B is a calm retreat from the hectic whirl near charming Colwell Bay, Isle of Wight

An airy, well-designed hideaway for two in an ancient barn on a quiet farm. This is prime walking country with Hadrian’s Wall nearby.

An eye-catching ancient inn with a colourful flower garden in summer, delicious local food and very presentable bedrooms

Inspiring art-filled Menorcan townhouse in Mahón’s old quarter; explore the city, cycle or hike the island’s gorges and feast on seafood

Two elegantly renovated spaces with wonderful views, lots of activities and large gardens for making memories with family and friends

A comfy cottage for two in the quiet, leafy outskirts of Aix with easy access to the city and a kind, attentive owner nearby

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

In pretty Vernon, a peaceful and comfortably large townhouse with roses rambling around the door

An idyllic hotel-restaurant in a postcard-pretty medieval village. Warm interiors, a varied menu of local produce, masses to see and do...

Sitting next to the church in the most picturesque village in England, this ancient, handsome cottage is packed with historical interest

Delightful little antique-filled cottage with large walled garden and an allotment near Versailles. Gardeners will be happy

Towering 5 storeys above lively Palermo, a gracious B&B with sunlit rooms, lovely Sicilian hosts and breakfast in fine china on the terrace

Weaving medieval magic, this dreamy hideaway is an ideal base for nature-loving gourmands to explore the region

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

Charming, laid-back B&B in the foothills of the Algarve. All you hear are the birds, yet the beaches are a ten-minute drive

Once a hunting lodge, this unique and authentic 18th-century architectural folly sits up a quiet tree-lined drive on the edge of the estate