Old meets new seamlessly here: ancient stone, lofty beams, good comfort, wood-burner, Jacuzzi/spa and space to relax in the designer garden

Sumptuous rooms with Renaissance-inspired art, infinity pool and gardens, just a short drive to Mantua’s historic city centre

Stay just minutes from the sea in colourful Donaghadee for wild swims, island visits, bird watching and coastal walks

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

A 17th-century traditional Welsh longhouse in a very sheltered spot facing south and with a pretty garden surrounded by fields and meadows

A small yet elegant place for couples or small groups to enjoy the open countryside, rest, join a cooking course or book a massage

Come for fine food and drink, sumptuous bedrooms and a relaxed, informal atmosphere at this gorgeous Cotswold manor house with ancient roots

An art-filled home poised above Hastings Old Town in a wonderfully private, peaceful spot and with a lush, tropical garden

A treat of a country retreat in the North York Moors National Park with lovely high ceilings, a log-burner, much comfort and fabulous views

Up at the top of Scotland’s west coast, a small, stylish and welcoming hotel with lovely owners and some nicely priced rooms

A grand yet very homely place with tasty home cooking and 200 acres to explore. Play golf, sail, cycle – wonderfully informal

A wall of glass frames the sea view - take drinks on the waterfront lawn in summer, or by the crackling fire in winter

Traditional bedrooms lie under the beams of this fascinating country mansion - a grand, hospitable B&B near St Malo and sand beaches

Lavender shortbread and baked peaches for breakfast at this most artistic of homes. The courtyard with magnolia and orange trees is lovely

Tucked at the bottom of a long track and surrounded by a gorgeous natural landscape, is this generous end-slice of a 17th-century stone farm

A small, trendy hotel, very much of its time, with oodles of style, stunning bedrooms and fantastic staff

A striking cabin, drenched in light, with views over open countryside to the Sugar Loaf in the distance

Come for stunning views down to the bay of La Herradura and this traditional, family-focused 1990s house on three floors