A big, comfortable house with heated outdoor pool in 17 acres of gardens. Mountains, river swimming, hiking nearby; coast within the hour

An old-world inn full of colour, with open fires, cosy rooms, local food and the magnificent Northumberland National Park all around

Everything you need is here: a wood-burner for winter, a pool and spacious terraces for summer, and peace and beauty all year round

A charming 17th-century village inn, a destination place for foodies and real beer lovers, with very comfortable and stylish bedrooms

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

A light-filled B&B packed with family memories and heirlooms in a small hamlet tucked into the foothills of the Dolomites

In the gardens of a laid-back country house, a barn with books, games, faded rugs and a grand piano – a treat for convivial families

Manor house in the grounds of a quintessential 18th-century French château with pretty gardens and lots of space just 3kms from Bayeux

A spacious and bright old sandstone farm building with private garden, all one one level and with lovely views over fields and countryside

A lovely listed cottage, just stumbling distance from a good pub in a quiet village surrounded by spectacular walking and cycling country

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

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

An elegant, super central bolthole for two (or three): stroll everywhere, hop on a vaporetto, sit in piazzas drinking cappuccino, live like a local

Stay in a lovely 18th-century townhouse in one of the prettiest villages on the Loire surrounded by unspoilt countryside

Between Penzance and Helston and close to surf beaches, a perfect place for two. For peace-seekers and lovers of mid-century design

History, tranquillity and genuine warmth in a beautifully restored medieval château, deep in the heart of the countryside

A great base from which to explore beautiful Pembrokeshire - walk by the coast, take to the hills, check out ancient St Davids