Wow. The sort of place you long for on dreary days - inspired architecture, heavenly views, delicious home-cooked food, a lake for swimming

A serene riverside retreat on the Lot, with manicured gardens and a shared pool, tennis court and children's playground for socialising

This cottage is stylish and serene, beautifully transformed from an old farm building – come for golf, beaches, walks and bird-watching

A 1750 one-storey former farm building, beautifully converted into a lovely hideaway for walkers, nature lovers and peace seekers

Art-filled and atmospheric, with stunning sea views and a sunny walled garden. Just moments from the beaches and charms of Lyme Regis

A small, quirky country house hotel with lovely staff, pretty rooms and heavenly food served in a pillared dining room

A charming base in historic Beaulieu - expect delicious food, traditional country-house interiors, and walks that start from the front door

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

A destination B&B. Hunker down in thoroughly spoiling surroundings with delightful owners near St Jean de Luz, Biarritz and Bayonne

A cool little inn lost in beautiful hills, child- and dog-friendly, with happy staff and award-winning food

A sustainably-designed small, family-run eco hotel within a nature park by the sea in stunning Basque country. Great food too

Cosy timber-framed cottages from which you can explore Alsace’s vine-striped countryside and traditional villages

All the bleached beauty of the beach inside this comfortable cottage; a dining terrace with uplifting sea views and arching views of Kerry

A modern take on an Iron Age roundhouse with stunning sea views in Scotland’s wild west, perfect for couples

A charming white-washed house with a pool & lovely hillside views from the terrace: sleep out here under a star-studded sky on warm evenings

A very pretty old coach house in a south London garden – perfect for a couple or a family. Friendly owners live across the courtyard

Classic coaching inn in a bustling village offers restful rooms, real ales and the Cotswolds on your doorstep

A real treat to stay in this elegant 18th-century house with pampering bedrooms, gorgeous home-cooked food and stunning gardens with pool