An elegant house with ancient roots and a shimmering pool – explore the Charente countryside, drive to lovely Angoulême

Starry skies, wild beauty and total peace are yours in these sustainable, solar-powered eco-lodges

Come for lots of space and a lawn for sunny days at this 19th-century farm cottage deep in the Perthshire hills near the Meikleour Arms

An airy, art-filled house for groups of family or friends, with plenty of space, a secluded courtyard and pool near the beach

A traditional Welsh cottage in a very pretty, rural setting with the river meandering past, the stunning coastal path and beautiful beaches

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

An 1820s farmhouse at the end of a quiet road in the North York Moors National Park, overlooking a forest and surrounded by fields

Elegant country château with a family feel, for big groups with or without children, and those who seek inspiration

4 comfy, stylish rooms and a wonderful host who spoils you rotten: hearty breakfasts, walking maps and Peak District views

A family-run 1700s thatched Inn in a rural hamlet with super food, a grand team to look after you and picnic benches in a pretty garden

This friendly, Scottish island B&B has the Atlantic at the end of the garden and air so clean the lichen grows like beards from the trees

Special back-to-nature, stargazing loft for couples and families, on a nature-filled estate in Piedmont

In off-the-beaten-track Tuscany, 2 peaceful apartments in a former haybarn, both carefully renovated with antique furniture

A lovely, leafy setting on a cobbled street for this peaceful retreat just off the high street in lively Stockbridge

An enchanting and relaxed château and vineyard by the river Cher in the exquisite Loire Valley - you're looked after by gracious hosts

Visit Florence, Arezzo, Siena… or revel in the beauty and peace of Casa Zia, surrounded by wilderness and lovely birdsong

Character and quirk in this fine old cooperage overlooking the vegetable garden with its own terrace and a shared pool. Walk, cycle, explore

A stylish timber frame eco build, clad with recycled steel and with an upstairs living space to make the most of the glorious sunsets