An old farmhouse in a hilltop town deep in wine country, with a charming owner intent on ensuring you make the most of your stay

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

A bright comfortable retreat in an enviable spot - riverside walks, Botanic Gardens and all the hip eateries of Stockbridge on your doorstep

Elegant Italian style in a sensitively-restored villa with sweeping views over rolling hills and forests

A rustic-chic bolthole with bird's eye views to gaze at from your bedroom and the beautiful garden, tucked in a quaint hamlet in Maremma

Created around a Georgian house, with lake, woodland and fields, this hotel and members' club offers great food, fresh air and much comfort

In wild Jura, surrounded by fields and heather-covered hills, a secluded farmhouse with cosy rooms and sublime views of Small Isles Bay

In a quaint village with a bakery, brasserie and shops, a handsome gîte with a wonderful pool and fashion museum

Plunge into real Spain from this ancient village house with very modern interiors, stunning views, a cooling pool and a hop from restaurants

A sweet, very private-feeling annexe in the glorious South Hams with your own west-facing garden

Part of the original Wensleydale creamery overlooking the river, with bustling Hawes and great walking country right on your doorstep

On the outskirts of Marazion, this timber clad house perched above the sea is a super pad for romantic couples

Beautifully restored medieval hall house – perfect for big family gatherings, with separate cottage, replica steam train and secluded garden

An 18th-century coaching inn right in the heart of an old Welsh drovers' town, with award-winning food and the Brecon Beacons rising behind

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

Big house with bags of character and easy access to beaches, cafés and cobbled streets, coastal paths and hidden coves

Surrounded by delightful gardens, these gîtes are serene retreats from which you can discover the Dordogne, or gently unwind