Come for sea air, independent shops, great places to eat and this quirky cottage with plenty of room and a sunny walled garden

A heavenly setting for this very well-hidden cottage with its own small pool, amazing views and delightful pebble beach below

You have complete independence in your own wing beside the owner's house, with much space, a sparkling pool and balconies with views

A lovely old 19th-century inn by the sea with hand-pumped ales, fresh local and seasonal food and spoiling bedrooms, some with sea views

Vineyards, fruit trees and immaculate gardens, amazing food and wine, a sense of seclusion and sweeping views of the Tuscan hills

A beautifully curated 1910 architect-designed summerhouse, filled with light and stunning views, with gardens, grove and refreshing pool

Perched on a hillside between mountains and sea is this charming house in a modern Spanish style, engulfed by a beautiful garden with views

A magnificent medieval tower in the grounds of an 18th-century château sitting in a dreamy valley. Come for superb gardens and architecture

Vast rooms, thick stone walls and ancient flagged floors skilfully modernised to create comfort, surrounded by romantic château gardens

Proper village pub with much-praised food and cosy rooms; country walks lead from the door and Oxford is half an hour away

A sweet little gîte for two in the centre of a dreamy medieval village. Happily private but with loads to explore from your door

An entire literary estate on the Brittany coast, with a trio of restored houses, fabulous gardens and a private path to the beach

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

In an outstanding area for lovers of food and wine, here are 3 beautiful boltholes in the Alto Douro, the oldest wine region in the world

Château apartments with a heated pool, parkland and a menagerie - Gold Beach and the British Normandy Memorial are on the doorstep

Escape to this contemporary barn on a friendly farmstead with fern-fringed cliffs and walks galore on your door. Ask about ferry discounts

A charming, warm and intimate hotel tucked away on a side street just minutes from the Ponte Vecchio, with a view-filled rooftop restaurant

An eco B&B (minus hair shirt) in the stunning Meon Valley surrounded by woodland and wildlife - a Sawday's Community Champion