Modest and authentic, a top-floor apartment in an eco-friendly Provençal farmhouse, with dogs and hens. River swims are a stroll away...

High in the heavenly hills is this very smartly converted farm building, with underfloor heating, much glass, wood and exposed brickwork

Historic old house in a beautiful, traditional village. Boulangerie, bar, crêperie all a stroll away

At the foot of the Cambrian Mountains, an ancient whitewashed cottage with cosy, light-flooded interiors – a perfect rural bolthole for two

Swim with frogs in the freshwater pool, breakfast in the sunshine, play boules by moonlight. Châteaux don't get much more rural

An adorable little 1800s cottage with a garden – simple, unpretentious and filled with the owner's colourful art on walls and lampshades

Your very own château in the Dordogne for big family get-togethers and special celebrations

A cosy nest on the ramparts of an ancient fishing port, with sparkling lagoon views from a top-floor living area

A fortified castle in parkland, built mostly in the 1300s on the Montbazens plateau, near to the stunning Averyon gorges

Starry skies, wild beauty and total peace are yours in these sustainable, solar-powered eco-lodges

Come on down to this working farm for delicious organic food, an on-site sourdough bakery and crisp bedrooms in a pretty farmhouse

Serious art, lovely lighting, great sound system and a fat wood-burner belting out the heat at this super place for families or friends

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

Round up family and friends and head for the glorious South Hams and this eco-friendly barn conversion for ten with extra cottage

Enjoy warmth, comfort and some jolly good food at this family-run village inn with inviting bedrooms – a haven for weary walkers

A charming base in historic Beaulieu - expect delicious food, traditional country-house interiors, and walks that start from the front door

In a profoundly peaceful spot between arty St Ives and stunning Marazion, a hideaway for two surrounded by gardens and parkland

A beautifully restored building in a vast, open space dotted with olive trees and fragrant citrus - unwind in the calming atmosphere