Two restored mill buildings in the serene French countryside, with river views and artful interiors – a peaceful self-catering escape

A warm retreat in a charming Sussex backwater, with a changing menu of fabulous food, and well-furbished bedrooms upstairs

A beautifully renovated lighthouse with stunning views from the lantern room. Pretty bedrooms, great walking and fabulous breakfasts

A magical medieval castello, gloriously gothic with tower, moat and ghost, fit for a Shakespearian play.

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

Retreat to a classically styled, elegant apartment for four - private and peaceful - in a characterful, super-central area of Rome

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

A handsome house with breath-taking mountain views: perfect for summer holidays and walking in spring and autumn

Artists, poets, nature lovers, walkers and dreamers will be happy in this simple, airy suite surrounded by a fecund garden and much peace

A cosy, courteous, family-run hotel with ‘chocolatines’ and cherry jams at breakfast, Basque dishes at dinner, and gorgeous rolling views

A peaceful retreat with yoga and activities to restore and renew, in the Andalusia hills between Granada and the Mediterranean coast

You have the whole North Wing of this beautiful old farmhouse with a private east-facing courtyard for early morning tea as the sun rises

A deliciously rural stone house with charmingly simple rustic-chic interiors and saline pool - an hour from Perugia

Birders will love escaping up here, golfers too - visit Hatfield House, Knebworth, Cambridge - come back to a good local pub and a comfy bed

Delightful hamlet of beautifully restored cottages with a pool, surrounded by fields, forest and deer. The perfect spot for a digital detox

Light-filled retreat full of character and vintage finds, with handmade touches and farm-fresh produce on your doorstep

A glorious retreat for nature lovers with a natural swimming pool, bikes to borrow and the timeless soundtrack of the water surrounding you