Halfway between the valleys of the Somme and the Authie, Les Mazures is a contemporary eco-lodge in the Picardy region of northern France. Contributing to sustainable development by marrying local know-how with modernity, the guest house is homely and welcoming, accommodating six people in three bedrooms.

What used to be an old vineyard has now been transformed into a modern farmhouse surrounded by the mountains of Arco, near Lake Garda. A place where nature and technology; design and elegance come together, each of the six luxury suites have their own private entrance and garden, four with kitchenettes.

With its dramatic placement and striking appearance, the Sliding House has become an architectural landmark on the Atlantic coast in Novia Scotia. Set in a coastal community near the town of Lunenberg, a World Heritage Site, the house has drawn international acclaim and is now available as a unique vacation rental.

Commissioned in 1975 by the heiress to the Waterman pen empire, this unusual gîte is actually built into the earth on a family-run vineyard in the Languedoc-Roussillon wine region. Light and airy, the result is a thermally protected house featuring a wall of south-facing glass doors opening onto a large sun terrace.

Now you see it, now you don't. Welcome to the world's first invisible treehouse, if you can find it. Inspired by the Swedish documentary film 'The Tree Lover', the mirror house forms part of the Treehotel, a unique collection of individually designed forest retreats in Harads, just below the arctic circle in northern Sweden.

Immersed in the quiet countryside between the land within the Venetian Lagoon and the Brenta River, this luxurious tented camp is just short train ride away from St Mark’s Square in the heart of Venice. The sumptuous safari-style tents are on raised wooden platforms and each have their own private bathroom inside.

A stunning combination of architecture and interior design, this unique villa is actually dug out of the mountainside and is situated directly next to the world famous hotel-spa complex, Therme Vals. Access to the house is via a nearby wooden shed, along an underground tunnel running straight through the hillside.

Stay in one of these stylish shepherd huts at Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's Park Farm in Devon, on the Dorset border. Available throughout August, the huts can only be booked by visitors who have purchased tickets for the events, or courses, held at River Cottage HQ. Visit Go Glamping for similar accommodation ideas.

Stay in one of these beautiful locally-crafted Mongolian yurts and enjoy and natural surroundings in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Located near the pretty white-washed village of Juviles in the Alpujarras, the Hooting Owl yurt site is secluded in tranquility among shady forests, olive groves and natural springs.

On the edge of the Yorkshire Dales and close to the Lake District, this Victorian gothic fantasy is less a hotel and more a family home which welcomes guests. Winner of numerous hospitality awards, Augill Castle, with its fabulous beds and great food, is a unique space to relax and unwind. A home from home with bells on.

A few years in the planning, Ecopod is a unique and exciting new concept in luxury self-catering holidays. Overlooking the picturesque Castle Stalker, these spacious open-plan and light-filled geodesic domes command sweeping views of Loch Linnhe, the mountains of Mull and the Kingairloch coastline in Western Scotland.

Filled with classic 1970s furniture, this acclaimed architect-designed beach house has been featured in numerous lifestyle publications and is considered among the best in Australia. Only an hour and half from Melbourne, and central to all the attractions on Phillip Island, this coastal getaway is 80 metres from a surf beach.

Overlooking the town of Céret in the foothills of the French Pyrenees, this eco-friendly, ancient Catalan farmhouse is set in 7 acres of woodland with fantastic views of the Canigou and the Mediterranean. A versatile property, accommodation is available on a self-catering or B&B basis, with optional yoga classes.