A fabulous country boozer, revamped in style with a buzzy atmosphere, great food and welcoming bedrooms - good walking countryside too

Five beautiful suites in the south wing of this fairy tale castle, filled with architectural features, family history and much grandeur

Your host runs home and B&B with effortless efficiency and you'll find shiny, spotless rooms to retreat to after a day's exploring

Return to warming fires after hiking in Ireland's highest mountains. Two traditional cottages on the outskirts of pretty Killorglin

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

Converted stables on a fruitful and beautiful estate with gardens, sculpture walks, wildflower meadows and a farm-to-fork restaurant

A romantic creekside cottage down a web of narrow lanes in a tumbling green valley – mess about on the water to your heart’s content

This stately-looking former manor house set back from the road in acres of gardens serves very good food and has rustic-chic bedrooms

A mix of bold colours, modern art and vintage finds give this classic French mansion bags of personality

Something to astound at every turn where the traditional and downright quirky collide to stunning effect. Friendly, flexible hosts too

Beautifully restored historical building in the heart of Vichy with a fabulous pool and spa, just steps away from the famous Opera House

Come to discover the ancient history of Dornes in a spectacular riverside setting - one point of the famous 'Templar Triangle' of Portugal

A beguiling retreat for a couple or a family of four – feel cosy and secluded in a thatched cottage close to the coast

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

Fall in love with this riverside village, lost in a valley in lower Normandy, and this sunny house for couples or families

A rare treat, 700 metres above sea level and girdled by forests, waterfalls, chestnuts and olives, this is the place to come for solace

A stylish base for those who want to explore the beautiful north – expect good food, stylish interiors and a pretty market town

A sweet bolthole around a courtyard on a smallholding, extremely comfortable, bright and spacious inside and with a communal garden