A marvellous spot overlooking Rutland Water for this 1760 former hunting lodge with good seasonal British food and very comfortable bedrooms

A traditional coaching inn dating from the 18th century with good food served in private and public dining rooms on the Wellington Estate

The largest of three secluded cottages that share a gravel courtyard and a beautiful garden with cathedral views

Come to the wild Cévennes to hike, ride, kayak down the Hérault river – or just revel in your pretty, generous house, pool and garden space

Come to stay in a fine old townhouse with elegant proportions, high ceilings and a rambling, English-style garden close to Mont Saint-Michel

A lovely old house and rambling garden in a medieval village with a monumental château, 12th-century church and a good local restaurant

A perfectly romantic and gorgeously restored bothy in a garden on a hillside by the sea, with grand views over the mountains of Skye

An historic, moated manor house dating from the 16th-century, fully restored and with all mod cons, including an indoor heated pool

Delightful almshouse, steeped in history, in a peaceful churchyard setting with far-reaching countryside views

Straight out of a fairy tale, a rustic cottage by a babbling brook: a magical escape for couples, the craggy coast in easy reach

This stately-looking former manor house set back from the road in acres of gardens serves very good food and has rustic-chic bedrooms

Welcome to the delights of a 15th-century Breton manor house, a meandering river inhabited by otters, and hosts who adore what they do

Gather your favourites for a getaway in deepest France. Bike the countryside, dip in the heated pool and sprawl out in this inviting space

An elegant solution to a hotel - no rooms, but 13 charming villas in the heart of the maquis, nearly all with a private pool

Bring boots, maps, your dog and an appetite for high places and deep comfort in this restored farm conversion

A thoughtfully renovated cottage in a small hamlet with garden, courtyard and pool. The peace is palpable but you're near to bustling Tusson

There's a lovely welcome at this manoir near the sea with its family-friendly room arrangements (cottages, kitchens) and its outdoor pool

A gorgeous big old house on a farm in a very quiet part of Wiltshire - the undiscovered North Wessex Downs, filled with wildlife and an AONB