A delightful holiday home for a big family or group of close friends. Children and dogs can charge about safely, you can unwind completely

An old farm worker's cottage, niftily done up and nicely remote, with walking and fishing on the doorstep, four miles from Hadrian's Wall

Landscaped gardens, orchard and potager blend into Normandy countryside. Return from rural walks to a log fire and comfortable armchairs

A privately-owned cottage, full of interesting things, on tranquil farmland within the NT Stackpole Estate a 20-minute walk to the coast

Stylish hotel for couples and families on the side of a peaceful Cotswold hill with big views, a choice of rooms and a 500-acre estate

An 18th-century listed cottage in a pretty terrace with a private courtyard garden and pond, just a short walk from the high street

A nicely priced inn on Shaftesbury's high street with a warm contemporary style and some excellent food – fine local walking waits

A 17th-century townhouse sitting on a quiet side street with lots of original features and a west-facing patio screened by vines and lemons

Magical sunshine-filled grounds with olive trees, palms, cacti and carob surround the charmingly-coloured stone of these 1750 farm buildings

An eye-catching ancient inn with a colourful flower garden in summer, delicious local food and very presentable bedrooms

Elegant farmhouse B&B. Drawing room with a log fire, generous breakfasts with home produce, cookery courses and friendly welcoming hosts

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

This is a superb base to explore the island's glittering bays, vibrant coastal cities, mountains, valleys and forests

A characterful Northumberland cottage-that-once-was-a-barn, with peaceful pond views and some serious stargazing

Fringing Tuscany countryside and fun Montone, an authentic Umbrian mansion with Slow Food, lavender fields, apartments and pool. Pure Italy

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

The Dordogne flows through the gastronomic heart of France, where stunning villages cling to rock faces and historic riches are in store

Spoiling bedrooms, fabulous food and a lovely position lost in the hills make this Lakeland inn hard to resist - bring your walking boots