Bountiful breakfasts, the warmest of owners and Breton adventures. Enjoy romantic ruins, quaint villages and delicious seafood suppers

A wall of glass frames the sea view - take drinks on the waterfront lawn in summer, or by the crackling fire in winter

You’re wrapped in parkland here and close to the coast, gardens and war memorials. A treat of a stop-over for foodies

A 1980s Catalan mas built in a traditional style, with garden and pool, surrounded by olive trees and vineyards near the Spanish border

A peaceful grown-up place circled by meadows and woodland with helpful owners next door – a superb spot to explore the south-west

A welcoming inn with rooms on the edge of a small village. Stay in a converted barn in the pretty garden, eat delicious country fare

Inspiring scenery for this lavender farm near a Provençal village. Rustic eco-friendly cottages, a hump-backed bridge, a hammock by the pool

Enjoy views of the South Downs from this converted milking parlour for 2 or 4 - fill up on the breakfast hamper and head out on long walks

Gorgeous rooms, delicious food, gardens and lake to explore, a spoiling spa with indoor pool and much comfort between moors and the sea

An important spot for this grand 19th-century château on the banks of the Loire, steeped in history and with kind, erudite owners

Elegant historic house set in acres of grounds transports you to a bygone belle époque (with all mod cons)

A beautiful 18th-century manor house on a productive wine estate with an enticing garden, spa and pool by a nature reserve. Views soar

Peace, space and sophisticated living at a serene villa-apartment in the hills above Cannes

Old meets new in Benoit’s charming villa with courtyard pool, breakfasts to linger over and all the fun of La Baule on the doorstep

Created around a Georgian house, with lake, woodland and fields, this hotel and members' club offers great food, fresh air and much comfort

Comfortable, big family home with sparkling sea views over the Adriatic: discover the coast, explore Ancona and Loreto, enjoy the garden

A cosy cottage on a farm down a long winding track, wonderfully rural with footpaths across fields or along the canal

A lovely little bolthole to return to after days out exploring pretty Cotswold villages and walking in an AONB straight from the door