A 17th-century townhouse sitting on a quiet side street with lots of original features and a west-facing patio screened by vines and lemons

A working farm with well renovated ancient buildings among 200 acres of pastures and forest. It's quiet here in the glorious Périgord

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

A little gem tucked on a rural Northumbrian estate with other cottages. The rugged coast and lovely Alnwick make for super day trips

Feel right at home in a thatched farmhouse on South Pool Creek, with cottage garden views, great breakfasts and a good local pub

Walkers and wild-lifers, here is your place in the Pyrenees. Colour, character, a welcoming family, log fires and delicious home cooking

Simple but stylishly furnished village house, terrific hill-top views, low-impact design, organic cooking and a hot tub; utterly peaceful

For escapists, wannabe writers and lovers of rural bliss: two boho hideaways for two (four at a squeeze) in this lush corner of Galicia

Surrounded by wildlife and water, this ultra-modern house has huge windows, white walls and designer furnishings. Blissfully remote

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

Charmingly rambling, inside and out: blazing fires, riotous patterns, oak panelling, a prolific garden and comfortable antique beds

A light, bright Georgian townhouse in a residential street directly opposite the lovely Lido and restaurant, near Clifton Village

Two cosy cottages on a former winemaking estate with private terraces, a shared pool, stunning views and glorious walks from the door

In the heart of a starlight reserve in a protected natural park, three authentic cottages with walks from the door for immersion in nature

A bit like staying with friends in a smart country house, but not having to help - an elegant refuge near Bradford-on-Avon

Escape to your own barn. Brimming with beams and natural colours - surrounded by peaceful lavender-filled gardens and corn fields

What a surprise to find a masseria in the heart of a Puglian village. Welcome to Anna’s elegant agriturismo

Escape your cares here, move from terrace to terrace tracking the sun's progress and dive into the sea from your own swimming platform