Will and Tilly Howard had successfully run a nearby village B&B for 9 years when the opportunity arose to move to a farmhouse with barns overlooking a bucolic vineyard valley and small lake. They jumped at the chance to bring their boys up in the country and set about converting the barns into 4 self-catering cottages, complete with 20-metre lap pool and south-facing terraced gardens gazing over vineyards.
Interiors bear Tilly's trademark flair and simplicity: whitewashed walls, splashes of colour, roll-top baths, flowers, exposed beams and the odd print. Will is a dab hand at creating and reclaiming useful bits of wooden furniture. Each cottage has private space to the rear and wonderful views; the smallest is separate from the other dwellings, perfect for couples, while the largest can sleep up to 6, ideal for families. There's a kitchen garden, hammocks strung between trees, friendly cats and chickens, communal weekly pizza nights, and a couple of sociable barns complete with bars, ping-pong and pool table.
And you're in the heart of dramatic Cathar country: ruined castles, rushing rivers, authentic market towns for delicious local provisions and brocante shopping, and a wealth of wineries. Tilly can give you local recommendations for every day of the week - you're very well looked after here, but you can treat the place as your own. It's low-key, welcoming and full of character - just the sort of hideaway we like.