Applewood

Families and larger groups will find Applewood works well for a week away together without feeling cramped. The converted barn has four bedrooms spread across two floors—each fitted with a zip-and-link bed that can be configured as either a double or two singles—and three bathrooms distributed so people aren't queuing. Ground-floor bedrooms come with ensuite showers; upstairs, two more bedrooms share a bathroom with a freestanding bath and shower cubicle.

The social heart is the open-plan ground floor, where the kitchen (electric oven, gas hob, dishwasher, wine cooler) opens straight onto a dining area and living room with a wood-burner and smart TV. Patio doors from both the dining and living spaces lead out to the garden, a private enclosed space with seating, patio furniture and a hot tub sauna—the sort of thing that turns an ordinary evening into something people remember. You've got parking for three cars on-site, and the essentials (linen, towels, wi-fi, heating and electricity) are included.

The barn sits in Sheinton, a small village within Shropshire's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so there's proper countryside around you rather than being hemmed in by other properties. No smoking throughout. A travel cot and highchair are available if needed.