Cosy apartment for two in a cluster of farm buildings near Hawkshead, surrounded by countryside and with a good pub a stroll away

Explore country markets, churches and châteaux - return to a gite in private parkland with an artist's studio on site, and a blissful pool

Superbly renovated rooms in a famous town-centre inn at the heart of the Loire châteaux region, excellent food

Elegant rooms with all the bells and whistles of a swish hotel, surrounded by vines and perfectly placed to explore Tuscany and Umbria

Come for authentic restoration, chic Savoyard décor, breathtaking views of the Portes du Soleil, and a chairlift a 7-minute drive

A tranquil cabin for two in rural countryside near arty Totnes: there are walks from the door and all of Devon is yours to explore

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

An elegant one-bedroom apartment with lovely medieval church views, set within a stunning Georgian property in the Wye Valley AONB

A country house, elegant and unstuffy, at the heart of a working Lazio olive farm. Lunch by the pool or unwind at the hot spring spa

Stay in the wilds of south Cork, where new life is being breathed into a much-loved family home and you can simply join in

Lavender shortbread and baked peaches for breakfast at this most artistic of homes. The courtyard with magnolia and orange trees is lovely

An 1860 stone built mas, ensconced in rows of vines, with an inviting pool, rambling garden and south-facing bedrooms linked by a balcony

Charming gardens for you and your dog in a barn conversion in rural Norfolk half an hour from coast

Tucked down a lane in an iconic village with an ancient dew pond, this thatched cottage is filled with art, sculpture and surprises

Tuck yourselves away down a long drive in this 200-year-old cottage with a pretty garden on the beautiful Wootton Hall estate

An 18th-century cottage in a tranquil village, formerly the bakery, now restored to perfection with oodles of space and much comfort

Come for a bright and breezy cottage with a little courtyard garden, a fine foodie pub on your doorstep and sandy beaches just minutes away

A colourful modern folly, designed to surprise and celebrating the life (and death by motorbike) of an imaginary Essex woman called Julie