Le Clos de Tournes, Pas-de-Calais
Just a half-hour’s drive from the port of Calais, this charming B&B is set in a beautiful tree-lined park with a stream running through, offering the most tranquil of stays. You can choose from either the two self-contained gîtes, or the two chambres d’hôtes bedrooms set in the grand old farmhouse with a pale facade and big windows.
Breakfast is served in a pretty, typically French dining room with a long table and high chairs, and offers local specialities, including home-made jams using fruit from the orchard in the garden. The nearby village of Echinghen has two restaurants serving local dishes, while the attractions of Boulogne-sur- Mer are a 15-minute drive away.
Le Chatelard, Charente
Step back in time and live like a king at this neo-Gothic château in Passirac, lovingly maintained by owners Beatrice de Castelbajac – who inherited the castle – and Christopher Macann. The interiors have been decorated with period furniture, such as old, high-backed chairs, family portraits and ornamental fireplaces.
The chateau is primarily a B&B, but evening meals can be taken, provided you give enough notice. You’ll sleep between antique linen sheets and wake up to stunning views of the large grounds, which you can explore at your leisure. There are even a couple of bedrooms set in the tower.
