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

João & Ana Luisa's stunning cottages superbly blend contemporary and traditional styles. Vineyards, beaches and restaurants are all close

Come for the gloriously peaceful countryside and this 1700s house and garden, scrupulously renovated and with plenty of space

Glass-and-timber doors bathe you with light, gaze at big skies and the river Dart lapping. Sublime year round, it's one of our favourites

A stunning setting in acres of citrus groves for this lovely old farm with 16th-century roots, a big pool, hammocks and a restaurant

A small, stylish hotel lost in the country with beautiful rooms, excellent food, fine walking and a river passing directly outside

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

Step into the valley region from this beautifully restored 17th-century house surrounded by saltwater and freshwater canals and lakes

An elegant townhouse, built in 1830 and once the sous-préfecture for Rochefort, with spacious, light-filled rooms and a garden with pool

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

A really friendly French family home, steeped in history and tradition with delicious home-grown food, a lovely garden and peaceful pool

In château parkland, 10 minutes from Chinon, find books, beams and open spaces for three renovated houses, a delight for families

High-up, simple apartments, pools with fabulous views; kids play-things and donkeys, the glittering coast, Rapallo and Portofino down below

Come to be wrapped by wind and waves from this unique nest with an outdoor bath facing west - nature lovers and adventurers will be seduced

Unwind in glorious Northumberland with beaches, proper dunes, ancient castles and two cosy cottages with open fires, sea views and gardens

A converted old granary next to a traditional Welsh longhouse in a deeply rural setting for unfussy nature lovers

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

A handsome old country manor house in the heart of the Loire castles surrounded by parkland, forests, lakes, small hamlets, vineyards and châteaux