Little Walk Cottage

Designed by a conservation architect, with gable ceilings and picture windows giving a real feeling of space, you should immediately feel at home here. Views soar over lovely countryside, there’s a wildflower meadow and a lake which you can swim or fish in. Artists and writers may install themselves in the garden room and seek inspiration from all the nature surrounding them.

Chill out in the high-beamed open-plan living room/dining room/kitchen – cooks will find all they need with basics in the cupboards, plenty of kit and a very generous welcome pack with own label wine, local plum bread and butter.

Roomy, beamed bedrooms are up a couple of steps, both with lovely views over the garden, nice art and handmade curtains; there are two bathrooms, one with a shower, the other a bath. Spill out onto a patio with furniture for sunbathing, barbecue suppers and evenings listening out for the owls. Walk up to the owners’ tennis court and bash a ball about.