A hilltop setting for this ancient fortress with an illustrious past. You stay in apartments or farmhouses inside or outside the walls

This small hotel with pool has elegant communal spaces, spoiling bedrooms, a lovely owner, kind staff and delicious food

Your own tranquil corner of rich history... cast a fly, have a dip, then feast in the kitchen or flop in the log-lit snug.

Tucked down a high-hedged lane on a 60-acre farm with stunning views of the unspoilt Exe valley

Characterful house in a sociable village near Frome; wander to the pub, explore Nunney Castle, relax in the garden. Breakfasts are delicious

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

Enjoy so much space in this 18th-century paper mill with uncluttered interiors and surrounded by forests, rivers and lush countryside - yet only a stone's throw away from the local bastide towns

Your own bolthole near Helmsley on the edge of North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Breakfast delivered, walks and cycle rides from the door

Very relaxed B&B at this 17th-century country house just 5 minutes from the perched village of St-Paul-de-Vence and 10 from the sea

Near the sandy beaches of the Cabo de Gata, close to the village of Níjar, is a much-loved family estate with an eco pool & exotic gardens

Bring friends or family for a rural escape in a smart and cosy house near rugged coast, breathtaking beaches and the wilds of Bodmin Moor

A magnificent Victorian clock tower on a peaceful, bird-filled estate with a garden, gorgeous views across the park and activities to join

A short stroll from the centre of historic Wimborne, a big Georgian house with beautiful interiors, original features and a lovely garden

Like staying in a family home, only with Henri III furniture and rolling green views. Energetic hosts cook, farm, hunt, chat over champagne

A treat in any season, a place to stir your soul, yield to nature and learn how to play again – with a pretty fine roost to come home to

A B&B in a WWF-protected botanical garden beside Lake Maggiore. Wander and explore, take a dip in the lake. This place invites you to unwind

Food grown, foraged and prepared with care, a carefully curated wine list, roaring fires and very comfortable bedrooms to sink into

A cosy cottage on a farm down a long winding track, wonderfully rural with footpaths across fields or along the canal