Something to astound at every turn where the traditional and downright quirky collide to stunning effect. Friendly, flexible hosts too

Come to be looked after very well in this meticulously renovated old farmhouse with elegant bedrooms, tasty breakfasts and a kind host

Friendly inn in the middle of Sedbergh. Lots of bedrooms to choose from, suntrap picnic area, walks in the Yorkshire Dales on the doorstep

Between Penzance and Helston and close to surf beaches, a perfect place for two. For peace-seekers and lovers of mid-century design

Up the drive flanked by grazing horses, to a warm welcome from the housekeeper and a great fire in the hall. Perfect for family gatherings

Lose yourselves in this picturesque castle, magical with its luxurious rooms and timeless atmosphere. Count and Countess are brilliant hosts

Serene retreat in the French countryside with elegant interiors and impeccable hosting from the lovely Anne-Laure

Come down to the Meon Valley and be (very gently) nudged towards a better way of living - a Sawday's Community Champion

You have complete independence in your own wing beside the owner's house, with much space, a sparkling pool and balconies with views

Kate makes you feel at home the moment you enter her great big beloved house - full of books, guitars and a piano, antiques and huge spaces

Historic old house in a beautiful, traditional village. Boulangerie, bar, crêperie all a stroll away

Elegantly restored mariner’s cottage with tasteful interiors and sweeping, uninterrupted views over the ever-changing estuary

A stunner of a setting for this restored croft house with long views to a sparkling loch and a lively village nearby. Good beaches too

A romantic and very comfortable retreat in a smartly converted dairy with a pretty garden, close to the South Downs

With Snowdonia on the doorstep and the Menai Strait at your feet, this handsome Welsh manor has history, heritage and heavenly views

A serene retreat basking above the Algarve with sea views from the garden and pool, and charming Moorish details

High on a hill in the Tyne Valley, undisturbed except by birds singing and the wind whistling; views swoop down to a magical landscape

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