A small, family-run boutique hotel sitting right at the foot of Etna with wonderful views, garden, pool and ambrosial Sicilian breakfasts

Pretty, thatched, perfectly round: a romantic village bolthole with retro touches. Grab flip-flops, leads and run the dogs on Pendower beach

Come to the wild Cévennes to hike, ride, kayak down the Hérault river – or just revel in your pretty, generous house, pool and garden space

What a surprise! Tucked into a row of tightly woven old cottages is this contemporary open-plan hideaway with huge windows and much flair

Immerse yourself, luxuriously, in beautiful rural Picardy – mirabelle jam, peaceful parkland, walking in the hills – near historic Amiens

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

Inspiring art-filled Menorcan townhouse in Mahón’s old quarter; explore the city, cycle or hike the island’s gorges and feast on seafood

A country idyll in the hills. Only 15 mins from Faro, but all is peaceful: dip in the pool, sip a cocktail in the shade, book in for dinner

A wonderful country house, a unique wine story, very luxurious rooms and suites, a spa, infinity pool and restaurant

In a quaint village with a bakery, brasserie and shops, a handsome gîte with a wonderful pool and fashion museum

A marvellous spot overlooking Rutland Water for this 1760 former hunting lodge with good seasonal British food and very comfortable bedrooms

Escape your cares here, move from terrace to terrace tracking the sun's progress and dive into the sea from your own swimming platform

The views are sensational, the bedrooms full of charm and higgledy-piggledy beams. Sip Perigord Noir on the terrace and amble to the market

If you want to come to Venice as an open-hearted traveller rather than a tourist then this is the place for you - just walk to everything

A fabulous Belle Epoque château with much wow factor set in vast grounds with lawns and lakes, circled by a dense forest

A scented garden, delicious local delicacies and those coastal landscapes. This place is a sensory feast

An historic, moated manor house dating from the 16th-century, fully restored and with all mod cons, including an indoor heated pool