Come to be cosseted in this gloriously peaceful retreat among beautiful gardens with much old-fashioned charm and excellent food

Taste the wine, plunge into the granite pool, play billiards in the library, linger outdoors as swallows swoop – eat delicious local dishes

A very pretty old coach house in a south London garden – perfect for a couple or a family. Friendly owners live across the courtyard

Glorious airy living space in this superbly restored barn, a terrace with long views and a pool across the garden - bikes to borrow too

This elegantly restored house with stunning views to snow-capped peaks is a testament to the owners' love of art and antiques

Gorgeous thatched country cottage bolthole for two - perfect for a romantic escape - bring the pooch and explore Somerset

An ancient stone cottage on an organic winery with vines as far as the eye can see, chickens wandering, horses grazing and huge open skies

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

Simple and rustic, this early 1700s farmhouse has warmth and charm, surrounded by countryside in the Perche

Be inspired by hilltop views, unwind in beamed rooms by huge fireplaces or scramble down to the beach for family adventures

An L-shaped former farmhouse is now a gorgeous place to stay, just half an hour from the sea or the mountains and near interesting villages

Characterful and family-friendly apartments on this lovely wine-country estate: great hosts, glorious grounds and pool, home-grown food

A small, rural cottage high in the wooded hills with long views, your own private pool, utter peace and quiet and a superb restaurant nearby

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

You’re right in the midst of Portuguese life here: cafés, shops and restaurants buzz and there are panoramic views from the roof terrace

Explore country markets, churches and châteaux - return to a gite in private parkland with an artist's studio on site, and a blissful pool

Beautiful light-filled eco-homes in Loch Lomond National Park – Scotland’s treasures are easily reached from here

Come to this delightful house, a marriage of old stones and modern furniture, for pure remote air, great outdoor sports and fine dining