High in the Tuscan hills, at the end of an avenue of cypresses, surrounded by parkland and acres of olives... a 13th-century dream

Between Penzance and Helston and close to sandy beaches is a sweet space for four. Good for young families and all garden lovers

A friendly rural town pub with smart rooms, locally inspired menus and Cheshire and north Wales to explore – bring the dog too

Walkers, bikers, families and nature fans will love staying with ever-helpful Joan and Montse in this secluded but not too remote valley

Come for an exceptionally inviting 17th-century inn, a chocolate-box Cotswold village, excellent local food and ales, very comfortable rooms

Great staff, beautiful design, a fine old building and sublime food make this 600-year-old inn a perfect escape all year round

Charming cottage in a vast garden with a swimming pool and boule; walk to the nearest village, drive to Côte d'Azur in less than an hour

A niftily converted barn with high vaulted ceiling sitting on a hill with wonderful views over a newly-created lake and the Stour Valley

An ancient inn, spruce and restorative, in a picture-perfect village with open fires, tasty food and stylish, comfortable bedrooms

A sleek, light-filled, beautifully designed, minimalist space for 4 with wrap-around views from the living room and pool

A bit like staying with friends in a smart country house, but not having to help - an elegant refuge near Bradford-on-Avon

A Victorian house on a 5000 acre estate, snazzily renovated and tucked down a track with a private lake, in the quieter part of Cumbria

Elegant country château with a family feel, for big groups with or without children, and those who seek inspiration

Elegant Italian style in a sensitively-restored villa with sweeping views over rolling hills and forests

An island of oyster farms, salt pans and white beaches, woolly donkeys, countless push-bikes and the odd celeb – we love the Ile de Ré!

A dear little gingerbread-style house in the prettiest part of the estate with your own pontoon and boat on the edge of a shimmering lake

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

Unwind here in the rolling hills with the river bustling along, your own secluded garden and an unpretentious cottage full of character