Come to shed your city cares, eat wonderful local food, spend time in simple, authentic surroundings and remind yourselves about serenity

Once a hunting lodge, this unique and authentic 18th-century architectural folly sits up a quiet tree-lined drive on the edge of the estate

A large, light-filled house sitting very much on its own in the middle of the peaceful Eden Valley with masses of space inside and out

Completely refurbished 18th-century roadside inn with special views, good food, restful bedrooms and all the benefits of Another Place

Great taste – in decor and food – and a delicious heated pool. Views swoop over field and valley; trails, villages, wineries tempt

Adorable cottage with a Highland lodge feel – walk straight into the hills, swim in the Spey, relax in the whisky room and sitooterie

Perfect château B&B with pointy turrets and pale blue shutters, surrounded by gorgeous countryside, a cycle route and ancient villages

An ancient manor from the middle ages, built against a stone cliff with extensive terraced grounds, pool and parkland filled with wildlife

An ideal stopover at a handsome 1790 house on the edge of a small village surrounded by beautiful countryside and with friendly young owners

This civilised bolthole offers a quiet retreat, castle views and the magic of Edinburgh on your doorstep

Converted stables in the grounds of a manor house in a peaceful village just outside Banbury with lovely walking in the Cherwell Valley

Gloriously green rural self-catering apartments with pool and lovely, friendly owners

A peaceful grown-up place circled by meadows and woodland with helpful owners next door – a superb spot to explore the south-west

A magical medieval castello, gloriously gothic with tower, moat and ghost, fit for a Shakespearian play.

Chatty Madame is a superb cook, and her pretty house and garden in a quiet Yvelines village are equally delicious. Zip to Paris by train

An incredible living museum, dedicated to the history of Sicily and the arts. Stay in the main house or in a cottage in the fecund garden

A sparkling house for two overlooking azure waters, starry skies and Stromboli’s light show - that’ll do nicely grazie