This chalet-style maisonette sits in the folds of the French Alps. Mountains tower on all sides, snow-capped most of the year and laced with ski runs for all levels. Hiking trails will challenge keen walkers and rewards with stunning valley views from plateaus and hillsides. In the ski resort town of Argentière, the lift up to the slopes is just a ten-minute walk away. Plus, you’ve got the winter sports paradise of Chamonix a fifteen-minute drive away.

If you’re not hiking or skiing, take in the mountain view from the back garden, where there’s a picnic table for lunch on the lawn. Glass doors open up to the cosy, pine-clad living room where exposed stone and fur accents finish off the ski-chalet look. There’s a big, raw-wood dining table for group meals, a secret mezzanine hang-out nook (which can be used as an additional bed) and a traditional-style writing bureau should you need to work remotely. If you start to feel a chill in the air, get the wood-burning stove going for a cosy evening in.

Home truths:
*One additional guest could sleep on the mattress on the mezzanine above the living room, but this has a very low ceiling
*There is no private parking with this home, but there is public parking available
*In the second bedroom, one side of the double bed is against the wall
*There are very steep steps up to the second level where both bedrooms are so this place is not suitable for those with limited mobility