Best Of Countryside

Cradled in the foothills of the Franschhoek mountains lies Sterrekopje, a biodiverse farm with 11 sanctuaries exists to regenerate earth, body, and soul. Guided by ancestral wisdom and a conscious way of living, this soulful place is a haven of tranquility spread across 50 hectares. A stay at Sterrekopje is more than just a stay, it’s a journey of deep rest and regeneration.

The Bull, now run by the team behind Notting Hill’s The Pelican, has an exceptional menu with meat cooked over the fire, whole market fish, and top notch veg, alongside a dynamic wine list featuring skin-contacts and Pet Nat. There are pared back, beautiful bedrooms, with elegant four posters, moss green curtains and generous bathtubs.

Nordelaia, set within five hectares of arable land, is a destination where heritage, design, comfort, and nature blend into an experience to enrich the soul and ease the mind. Sensitively built around an 800-year-old farmhouse, reconstruction was carried out over 3 years with the utmost respect and care for its heritage and tradition.

The Seegut Zeppelin, which opened this year, is located in the middle of an old landscaped park directly on Lake Constance. The spruce-clad hotel buildings are just a stone's throw from the shore. The modern solitary buildings blend unobtrusively into the protected park. Inside, the surrounding nature is impressively recreated through floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel buildings are furnished with natural materials and high-quality design, while the cuisine is based on an innovative concept with a focus on vegetarian cuisine.

South of Lisbon, Portugal’s Alentejo region is becoming a go-to haunt for those lured by rhythms of slow travel. Comporta has long attracted surfers and the stylish set, but now its neighbour, low-key Melides, is the rising star. Tranquil and untouched, it combines sandy Atlantic coastline with vineyards, rice fields and forest. This spotlight is in part thanks to the opening of Vermelho, the first hotel project from Christian Louboutin — a longterm fan of the region.

In the heart of the Camargue Regional Nature Park, Les Bains Gardians is set in a 4-hectare estate, between the characteristic landscapes of this wild region and the infinite blue of the Mediterranean Sea just a few hundred meters away.

Casa Newton is a Tuscan gem combining mid-century design and luscious gardens to create an idyllic environment. This historic villa, located on the 150-hectare Fabbrica Pienza estate, has been transformed into a new high-end boutique hotel. From rows of vines to olive groves, Casa Newton's backyard offers you endless space to walk around and explore. The 11 rooms and suites each vaunt their inimitable style, many with inspiring views over the UNESCO Val d’Orcia countryside.

Monastero Arx Vivendi is a place of deceleration, a place where you can leave everyday life behind and find time to relax, enjoy, and experience in one of the most beautiful settings in Northern Italy.

South of Lisbon towards the Spanish border and stretching out towards the Atlantic, the Alentejo region remains the unsung hero of Portugal. Undeveloped and dotted with cork forests, wildflower meadows, and white-washed villages, it is a rough and ready rural idyll where time seems to stand almost still. The place to stay is São Lourenço do Barrocal, a quietly luxurious farmhouse surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, which sits under the ancient hilltop town of Monsarez.

Quietly located on a 17-hectare estate, Sublime Comporta encapsulates the magic of the region - white beaches, cork trees, dunes, and organic gardens. The property is naturally designed to pay homage and respect to the surroundings, relying on natural materials, local crafts and artisans, and their very own vineyards. Sublime offers many activities from surfing, horseback riding, private cooking presentations, and yoga all designed to enjoy the splendor of the region.

Lupaia is an ancient Italian country estate dating back to 1622. Laid out like a tiny village, there are a lot of hidden spots and angles to explore. With just 12 rooms and suites, a restaurant, and a pool, Lupaia lies in the middle of the Tuscan countryside, in the world-renowned wine region of Montepulciano.