Gite retreats in château grounds - welcoming and wonderful for young families. Build castles in the sandpit, make friends around the pool

Delightful hamlet of beautifully restored cottages with a pool, surrounded by fields, forest and deer. The perfect spot for a digital detox

Historic, indulgent, atmospheric – and the Contessa is so warm. Vineyards, restaurants, operas, walks...La dolce vita on Slovenia's border

Five beautiful suites in the south wing of this fairy tale castle, filled with architectural features, family history and much grandeur

An 18th-century listed cottage in a pretty terrace with a private courtyard garden and pond, just a short walk from the high street

Visit Florence, Arezzo, Siena… or revel in the beauty and peace of Casa Zia, surrounded by wilderness and lovely birdsong

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

A heavenly inn on Fife’s south coast – the terrace overlooks the beach, lovely food waits within, chic rooms are a steal

Hike down secret paths and along the Suffolk coast before a superb lunch or supper at this friendly inn; sweet bedrooms too

Come for big, peaceful bedrooms with views, delicious home cooked breakfasts and riverside strolls through ancient beech woodland

Grand and old and filled with history, the estate and such a pretty house are a tonic, as are the well-tended grounds and parkland

Good restaurants, beach walks, a grand welcome for dogs: that’s Whitstable. Bring friends and stay in this smart house close to it all

A cottage in a conservation village with logs in the burner, sloe gin on the table, and a good dining pub you can walk to

Three gîtes in the Dordogne with panoramic countryside views and a swimming pool – book individually or together for a group holiday

A handsome little château perched on the edge of a verdant valley, with wonderful views, lots of space and a rambling garden

Spread out in much style with friends or family in a beautifully renovated Victorian farmhouse at the foot of the Howgill fells

Fragrant gardens full of fruit trees, a lovingly renovated house just a few minutes’ walk from the village, and excellent breakfasts

On the doorstop, Dovedale, Buxton, Chatsworth House... Come home to snooker, books, logs, a patio with views and masses of lovely space