A friendly, generous, big old house with not an ounce of pretension. Big families will adore gathering here to have fun and unwind

A restful space with a pretty garden in a quiet Derbyshire village - the pub a short stroll away and Chatsworth near

A few minutes' walk to the beach, a coastal stroll to Penzance - a sunny stylish Victorian cottage with blissful views and a spa bath for 2

Romantic little hideaway on a manor estate. Peaceful views over farmland to the sea from the gardens – walk to the beach in 25 minutes

The Gautiers have the finest sense of how to treat guests: dreamy bedrooms, fantastic food & the pool beneath the orange trees is a delight

Independence in your own barn in the garden. Easy-going hosts - tea & cake, glass of wine, advice on trips out. Walk to the pub for dinner

Winter fires, a summer pool, and gorgeous food all year round... Live slow in the hills of "the new Tuscany": the peaceful, pastoral Marche

An elegant townhouse, built in 1830 and once the sous-préfecture for Rochefort, with spacious, light-filled rooms and a garden with pool

A historic Cornish farmhouse, sitting pretty in its own land at the side of a valley, with comfortable bedrooms and an independent feel

Shady spots in the garden, a pool overlooked by tall palms, a bar nook stocked with drinks and a new spa in the Serra do Açor

An old-world inn full of colour, with open fires, cosy rooms, local food and the magnificent Northumberland National Park all around

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

Visit the walled city of Evora, have dinner with the friendliest hosts, pet the dogs & donkeys. Head out for culture, vineyards and menhirs

An exquisite Provençal home for a large party, hidden behind grand gates in a small village surrounded by the pine-scented Alpilles

A sylvan hideaway tucked into the hills of the Southern Alps, full of Provençal charm inside and out – Saint-Cézaire and the coast are close

Hike the Wild Boar Fells, get cosy at home with books, games and DVDs, and meet the farm’s hens, cows and sheep

For escapists, wannabe writers and lovers of rural bliss: two boho hideaways for two (four at a squeeze) in this lush corner of Galicia

A slice of rural heaven close to the Pembrokeshire coast - good rooms, hearty food, wonderful walks and beautiful beaches wait