Secret Window

This breathtaking former quarryman's cottage offers you the ultimate escape. It's only accessible from the water so you're free to get on with the important business of relaxing. Alternatively, take inspiration from its owner, renowned author and journalist Guiseppe Guin, and crack on with that book you've always had inside you, free from the noise and distractions of everyday life.

Inside, exposed stone walls lined with leather-bound books, an antique stove, and a kitchen carved from granite make the home feel like a place out of time. With its lakeside setting on a wooded hillside, there's definitely a 'Lord of the Rings' vibe about it.

Two double en-suite bedrooms continue the theme, with plenty of curios and trinkets lining the walls. Just choose between the lake view room, where you'll hear the sound of the waves lapping at the shore, or the forest view chamber that looks out through the laurel trees.

Home truths:
*The home is accessible from the lake only – you'll need to park your car in Faggeto Lario (space provided) – only arrival and departure transfers are included
*The host can provide a baby cot and a high chair, at an extra cost
*Transfers during your stay can be organised easily
*At capacity, two guests will be sleeping on a sofa bed in the living room
*There's in-person check-in before 7pm, after which it's self check-in with a key box