Ireland

Come for Michelin-starred Irish food, cooked with flair – not fuss – for comfort and to connect with the extraordinary Burren landscape

Gardeners will be very happy staying in this generous, comfortable B&B surrounded by stunning gardens with year-round interest

Fall asleep to the sound of the sea in your dreamy thatched cottage, one of 6, right on the beach for those head-clearing walks...

Creative organic food, friendly young hosts and plenty of space to unwind at this hotel surrounded by woods and fields

Hosts who were made for B&B, these smiling ex-farmers welcome the world to their snug sitting room and simple rooms with immense warmth

Fresh, simple country charm - pretty rooms with enchanting river views, freshly baked bread for breakfast... Beautiful, fragrant gardens

A 17th-Century Irish castle on the water’s edge. Watch the yachts from your bedroom, join local wine nights, discover the rich history

Music evenings, pop-up theatre nights and great food at the Sash brasserie. You’re just a stroll from shops and bars

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

The cottage looks down over Lough Swilly, idyllic for boats and safe swims... and the neighbours are friendly, just sheep and cows

Choose the quirky, atmospheric family house or the new annexe: Paul will make you feel genuinely welcome, and provide delicious dinners

Return to warming fires after hiking in Ireland's highest mountains. Two traditional cottages on the outskirts of pretty Killorglin

Anglo-Irish meets Italian and Indian; the owners have peppered this charming home with furniture and artefacts from their broad travels

Take your time here. Lucy will take you round her wonderful garden, introduce you to her donkeys, and share her laid-back approach

The garden-blessed Lodge is quiet, friendly, cleancut and smart. Family-run and with great staff - award-winning breakfasts too

Sheep's Head Way is reputedly one of the best walks in Ireland. Come back to roaring fires, Rayburns, art and style - terrific restorations

Stay in an apartment in a 1700s Queen Anne style country house or a self-contained loft circled by 25 acres of grounds, near Wicklow mountains

Minimalist calm pervades this sleek space - designed with the majestic surroundings in mind. Big groups can spread to the cottage next door