A very special old priory from the late Middle Ages and a separate tower with lush, rambling gardens, sitting in a charming, sleepy village

A lovely 300-year-old cottage with a tiny walled courtyard garden in a village with a good pub. You can see Dartmoor from the windows

A smart village local with original timber frames, a lively bar, elegant rooms and delicious food from the fields around you

In peaceful Burgundy countryside, a beautifully-restored farmhouse with B&B rooms, delicious regional food and an inviting pool

Restored mill house with a stream running through the garden, and warm hosts who give you suppers made from their homegrown produce

A suburban eco retreat with plenty of carefully balanced energy savings, including an untamed garden and a natural pond for wild swimming

Stow yourselves away in the west wing of this glorious house, once home to Ambrose Congreve and steeped in history, with lovely gardens

Eight miles from York, near Moors and coast, this smart historic home is just the ticket for families and small groups of friends

White-painted beams, wonky white walls and your own parking spot fairly nearby. You're near the harbour and subtropical gardens

It's quiet among the lavender plants... bees humming, sun shining. Splash in the shared pool, visit lovely villages, taste local wines

Superb, all-organic agriturismo built of straw bales and offering wonderful home-grown natural food, a delightful family, great walking

A characterful old farm small hotel with a happy range of animals and a cool pool, in a wildly lovely spot near the coast and hilltop Vejer

Swim with frogs in the freshwater pool, breakfast in the sunshine, play boules by moonlight. Châteaux don't get much more rural

A comfortable and light-filled converted stone barn in the pretty Vendée, a quiet and rural spot but just half a mile from town

A fine romantic setting for this delightful bolthole with sea views – nature lovers, walkers, dreamers and the simply loved-up will be happy

In a small town in Salento is a cool southern house of elegant simplicity, ideal for a large family, near to beaches & 45 minutes from Lecce

Take your pick from guided horse-trekking to grand banqueting at this traditional château; drive to explore WWI history and the lovely coast

Unwind here with wine tours, tastings, long walks, bird watching, cycling, or just chilling. Eat well, sleep peacefully, feel at home