Ease yourself into a rather more gracious lifestyle from this sweet retreat on a historic estate with gorgeous walled gardens

Tiny, suite-in-the-sky, in shabby-chic style, with all you need cleverly tucked into one room. Plus heavenly terrace with city-wide views

A family retreat high above the river Dordogne and deep in woodland - with heated pool, games room and village restaurants a stroll away

In a Valencian resort, a captivating and hospitable place - deal for groups of family or friends too, with independence plus B&B service

Serene, panoramic views from picture windows at this off-grid romantic bolthole in the hills with a cosy wood-burner and local treats

For families and friends, foodies, surfers and lovers of southern Spain’s historic, vibrant Costa de la Luz

In wild Jura, surrounded by fields and heather-covered hills, a secluded farmhouse with cosy rooms and sublime views of Small Isles Bay

A dramatic house with stylish interiors – designed to bring the outdoors in so you feel wrapped in nature. Great for families or friends

Contemporary boathouse for all the family. Find rock pools, a shingle beach and plenty of ozone in the salty Cornish air

An oh-so-special B&B in Palermo's ancient heart. This city at the edge of Europe, with its Arab-Norman-Byzantine heritage, is fascinating

Simple but stylishly furnished village house, terrific hill-top views, low-impact design, organic cooking and a hot tub; utterly peaceful

Come for a village feel, rural peace and boundless Portuguese countryside at this charming whitewashed home with a super terrace with views

5 houses near Siena to make design-lovers happy; come for the rural solitude of ancient stone farm buildings with urban interiors

Come to walk, cycle, fish and hunker down in style in front of the wood-burner - sleep in deep comfort in a lovingly converted barn

Come for sea air, independent shops, great places to eat and this quirky cottage with plenty of room and a sunny walled garden

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

A charming gite tucked into acres of ancient parkland, with an outdoor kitchen and deer wandering by at dusk