A very grand façade for this handsome Charente village house with a beautiful, peaceful garden, creamy stone walls and olive trees

Attractive country barn - great for two families sharing, for river trips, for playing in the pool, for running free

A classic period property right on the river, perfectly placed to explore the delights of nearby Marlborough

At the foot of the Cambrian Mountains, an ancient whitewashed cottage with cosy, light-flooded interiors – a perfect rural bolthole for two

Like staying in a family home, only with Henri III furniture and rolling green views. Energetic hosts cook, farm, hunt, chat over champagne

Come for big skies, loch views, much wildlife, acres of forest and a charming wood-clad cottage from which to explore such a remote spot

Peaceful escape for couples in the grounds of a stately Tudor manor house; watch the wildlife from your garden, explore the nearby coast

Welcome to a cosy, country-rustic bolthole for four, in a friendly, community village inn, with some of the best food in Shropshire

Delightful little antique-filled cottage with large walled garden and an allotment near Versailles. Gardeners will be happy

A stone built 18th-century tower in a pretty valley dotted with fruit trees for quiet and relaxed days recuperating from life in the city

Portuguese elegance, artistic décor, breakfast on a fountain'd patio or by the fire: a treat. Step out to a kaleidoscope of Lisbon city life

Off the beaten track and into the hills – this remote, unknown bird-filled region is faultless for outdoorsy people

A beautifully renovated traditional manor house with extensive gardens and orchard, a pool with a deck in a meadow and a terrace for dining

Hike the Wild Boar Fells, get cosy at home with books, games and DVDs, and meet the farm’s hens, cows and sheep

A beautifully converted building, part of an old mill, now a gorgeous place to stay with the stream running through and shared parkland

Magnificent views unfold over the glittering sea towards the Cap d'Antibes from this elegant 1750 manor filled with much art and history

Head inland for grand walking or to the glorious coast from this very pretty cottage with a private garden, suitable and safe for dogs