Good old-fashioned hospitality in a quiet Highlands cottage ringed by roses and roe deer. Forest and coastal walks, shortbread and tea

A very pretty old coach house in a south London garden – perfect for a couple or a family. Friendly owners live across the courtyard

A bright and prettily beamed barn with very comfortable interiors, private outdoor seating and a shared courtyard for barbecues and games

Glorious, thoughtful food, ales and wines using 'as much good stuff they can lay their hands on' at this restaurant with lovely rooms

A lovely gîte, once a hunting lodge, with two private terraces overlooking the manicured gardens of an 1830s manor house

Pops of colour and neon signs bring fun to this smart and warm family home near Brancaster beach

This elegantly restored house with stunning views to snow-capped peaks is a testament to the owners' love of art and antiques

You're only a whisper away from history in this family-run château, where rose gardens, sumptuous bedrooms and generous breakfasts wait

A romantic and very comfortable retreat in a smartly converted dairy with a pretty garden, close to the South Downs

The views are green, both cottages are homely and comfortable and the gardens have direct access to the riverbank footpath for walks

Airy villa for four overlooking Lake Como. Stunning views, private sunny terrace - a peaceful communal garden to wander too

A handsome house with breath-taking mountain views: perfect for summer holidays and walking in spring and autumn

A modern, architect-designed renovation of a 19th-century building, sitting in harmony with nature yet only a short drive from Bordeaux

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

Mesmerising sea views from this big comfortable hillside house near Deià with a big pool, verdant gardens and sun-trapping terraces

Hilltop château on the edge of a small village half an hour from Saint-Émilion, with a lovely garden, a swimming pool and two lakes

Return to warming fires after hiking in Ireland's highest mountains. Two traditional cottages on the outskirts of pretty Killorglin

A beautiful old farmhouse, carefully renovated with great authenticity and charm, surrounded by other farm buildings and a walled garden