Peaceful Highland hideaway on a wooded lochside: spy dolphins and otters, stargaze, and soak up the deep silence

Inspiring scenery for this lavender farm near a Provençal village. Rustic eco-friendly cottages, a hump-backed bridge, a hammock by the pool

Friendly pub in rural village near Cambridge with strong community feel, great local food, garden, snug room and fresh, pretty bedrooms

An old farmhouse in a hilltop town deep in wine country, with a charming owner intent on ensuring you make the most of your stay

Fabulous Drôme gîtes: contemporary in old stone buildings, uncluttered, fresh. Take all 5 for a party, laze by pool, doze in lavender

Beautiful B&B in idyllic setting, with natural salt water pool and plenty of relaxed communal spaces

Winter fires, a summer pool, and gorgeous food all year round... Live slow in the hills of

Remote and rural, this cosy cottage is a slice of Welsh heaven, with plenty to do and see just a short drive away

Come for a bright, roomy, uber-green and accessible larch-clad space with garden and pond in pretty countryside

This grand house on the river Derwent oozes old-fashioned comfort – find traditional bedrooms, delicious food and an open fire

Come for a sense of complete peace surrounded by country and coast with wonderful interiors to boot – a bolthole for two (plus two)

Charming 4-star gîte in an 11th-century castle in the foothills of the Pyrénées. Spectacular views, leafy terrace and wild swimming nearby

A botanical beauty deep in the Loire Valley, this elegant house has history and heart in abundance

Float in the infinity pool above the canyon, dine under the stars, revel in the silence, head to the Cavagrande di Cassibile Nature Reserve

Delightful almshouse, steeped in history, in a peaceful churchyard setting with far-reaching countryside views

Jagged Dolomite peaks frame every view from this farmhouse with two neat apartments – come sun or snow, adventures in nature await

A charming comfy cottage with wood burner, delicious hilly views, walks radiating from the door. We didn’t want to leave!

An idyllic hotel-restaurant in a postcard-pretty medieval village. Warm interiors, a varied menu of local produce, masses to see and do...