Leave crowds behind for this charming stone farmhouse in the olive groves of rural Umbria – bring friends and have it all to yourselves

In glorious rural Umbria, a spacious old farmhouse with magnificent views of mountains and Lago Trasimeno, rustic décor and a lovely pool

An extraordinary, inspiring place: eat 100% vegan food, drink organic wine, sleep in natural materials, swim in the salt-water pool

Superb rural views, excellent hiking and generous bedrooms. Cristina and Alec take good care of guests - the food is delicious

With a sauna in the woods and a Nordic bath by the lake, these carefully renovated farm buildings are a lovely slow-living retreat

Bags of rustic charm in this elegantly restored retreat, perfectly placed to explore Sicily’s rich history and beautiful beaches

Beautifully restored house with a literary history, no neighbours and private access to a sandy bay beyond the pines

You’ve got history on your doorstep in this beautiful and serene B&B, with charming gardens and a real sense of style in every room

Come for sea air, independent shops, great places to eat and this quirky cottage with plenty of room and a sunny walled garden

Find good taste, peacefulness and warm hospitality, steps away from the car-free Via Toledo, in the heart of the city

A heavenly setting for this very well-hidden cottage with its own small pool, amazing views and delightful pebble beach below

View-filled, beautifully converted and toasty warm, this old donkey shed is perfect for walkers, cyclists, peace-seekers and lovers

This 300-year-old Cotswold pub, the hub of picture-book Sapperton from which there are glorious walks, is a superb place to eat and stay

Soak up Provençal peace in a charming estate in the Alpilles, with stylish ground-floor B&B rooms, olives, vines and a friendly family dog

Atmospheric English pub with rooms by the green with its duck ponds in a pretty village, with walking and cycling routes to join

A lovingly restored 19th-century farmhouse sitting between the Galtees and Ballyhouras, with a hot tub waiting at day's end

Submerge yourself in a magical landscape of sky, water and hills from this well-thought-out retreat, where silence reigns and peace is deep

Three gîtes in the Dordogne with panoramic countryside views and a swimming pool – book individually or together for a group holiday