Two elegant village houses for big happy gatherings of friends and family with a yoga studio, spacious courtyard and glistening pool

Rural bliss at the end of the lane: a cottage for 2 with wine and local biscuits in the hamper and farmers’ markets within a 5-mile drive

Get a taste of la dolce vita in this boutique resort perched high above Sorrento, gateway to the dazzling Amalfi coast

A small hotel with gorgeous interiors, friendly staff, spacious rooms, a proper library, pretty garden and a relaxed, homely feel

For lovers of tranquillity and simple pleasures with a private pool, tennis court, stunning views and forty acres to explore

Great taste – in decor and food – and a delicious heated pool. Views swoop over field and valley; trails, villages, wineries tempt

Come for wide open countryside criss-crossed by a myriad of footpaths and this very comfortable, stylish and roomy retreat

A lovely little bolthole for two on a gorgeous estate with restaurant, deli and superb gardens, sculpture walk and wildflower meadows

Three gîtes in the Dordogne with panoramic countryside views and a swimming pool – book individually or together for a group holiday

A gorgeous barn conversion in the heart of the High Weald with superb walking, only five miles from Tunbridge Wells

This fine old inn stands in blissful peace, a field or two back from the coastal path, with cosy rooms, delicious food and a rustic style

A lovely spot in an AONB for this bright and airy converted barn, one of four round a gravelled courtyard on a 600-acre estate

Like staying in a family home, only with Henri III furniture and rolling green views. Energetic hosts cook, farm, hunt, chat over champagne

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

Such lovely views from this light-filled flat, built in the 19th century – curl up with a book and gaze out to sea

A converted 19th-century church in the Northumberland National Park with beautiful stained-glass windows and a restored tower

An enchanting Belle Epoque villa with a terraced garden and superb views across palm trees and vines to Mont Saint-Michel

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