Step through a door in an old wooden gate to discover a courtyard garden on the edge of town close to golden sands

A comfortable and light-filled converted stone barn in the pretty Vendée, a quiet and rural spot but just half a mile from town

Shed your urban cares here with a gorgeous living space, woods and meadows to wander and stunning views of The Black Mountains

High in the Tuscan hills, at the end of an avenue of cypresses, surrounded by parkland and acres of olives... a 13th-century dream

Light-filled gites share a lovely pool, with pétanque, ping-pong and bikes to borrow – bring friends and take all three

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

Charming cottage in a vast garden with a swimming pool and boule; walk to the nearest village, drive to Côte d'Azur in less than an hour

Come for very comfortable B&B suites with garden views in a converted 1880s barn with its own charming sitting and dining rooms

A magical Scottish Baronial-style house with stunning valley views; stroll to good restaurants, explore the spectacular Borders

You have complete independence in your own wing beside the owner's house, with much space, a sparkling pool and balconies with views

Grand Scottish home with stunning views & a tea-and-shortbread welcome. Historic castles, local festivals, golf, East Lothian beaches abound

Character and quirk in old and new design and furnishing – private terraces, a shared pool, great walking, cycling and wine-tasting

An enviable hideaway on a cobbled street high on a hill, with stunning views next to Galileo's house, the Villa Bardini and gardens

Gorgeous off-grid suites invite you to slow down surrounded by nature with long views and good food

A cosy cottage on a farm down a long winding track, wonderfully rural with footpaths across fields or along the canal

A 200-year old townhouse on a charming cobbled street with stunning views from the terraces over rooftop Olhão and down to the sea

The holiday starts on the bumpy track along to this Arts & Crafts style modern house with plenty of space and a wrap-around garden

A large, attractive 18th-century house with sweeping lawns, outdoor seating areas and two free-standing baths by an ivy-clad wall