A stone built 18th-century tower in a pretty valley dotted with fruit trees for quiet and relaxed days recuperating from life in the city

This small hotel with pool has elegant communal spaces, spoiling bedrooms, kind staff, delicious food and panoramic mountain views

A lovely old cottage in the grounds of a Provençal mas with a delightful private courtyard, use of a large pool and a magnificent garden

Come for history, wildlife and a stunning garden estate with acres to roam. Bring children and dogs too. Fabulous

This lovely, beamy, uncluttered Tuscan farmhouse with separate apartment is an elegant lodging on a vast fruitful estate with pool, and lovely owners

Bustling Fowey harbour sweeps out below this Victorian townhouse. Walk to shops and restaurants, hike the coastal path, return to comfort

A cottage in a conservation village with logs in the burner, sloe gin on the table, and a good dining pub you can walk to

An 18th-century watermill with millrace and pond, now a smart B&B with a swimming pool and pretty gardens, run by charming English hosts

A newly built house facing the sea and surrounded by acres of land – perfect for swimmers, sailors, nature lovers and peace seekers

A sweet, very private-feeling annexe in the glorious South Hams with your own west-facing garden

Simple, stylish interiors at this restored cottage on a rural estate overlooking the river Tay, with farmland, forest and trails to discover

A rural haven in a lovely garden with comfortable bedrooms, brilliant breakfasts and bikes for hire – explore the Parque Natural

Stylish interiors, beautiful rooms, lovely staff and wonderful food – all this in the Forest of Dean with great walking and cycling trails

A botanical beauty deep in the Loire Valley, this elegant house has history and heart in abundance

A grand, pale stone townhouse in the centre of lively Épernay with plenty of good restaurants nearby

Glorious airy living space in this superbly restored barn, a terrace with long views and a pool across the garden - bikes to borrow too

In a commanding position surrounded by private land, this old manor house is excellently equipped and ideal for a big family holiday

A comfy cottage for two in the quiet, leafy outskirts of Aix with easy access to the city and a kind, attentive owner nearby