Casale lo Scopeto

Casale lo Scopeto, a farmhouse dating from the nineteenth century, stands high on a hillside over the Lima valley, near Bagni di Lucca in northern Tuscany. Restored by the family who own it, it keeps a simple country character, and the only soundtrack up here is goat bells and cicadas.

It sleeps 10 guests across five bedrooms, which makes it a natural choice for families travelling with children.

Each of the five bedrooms has its own bathroom and can be set up as a double or a twin, so the house works as five doubles or as two doubles and three twins.

Ceiling fans cool the bedrooms in summer, and central heating, heated towel rails, an open fireplace and a wood-burning stove keep things comfortable in the colder months.

Downstairs there is a large entrance hall, a sitting room, a dining room with space for 12, a well-equipped kitchen with dishwasher, oven and gas hob, a laundry room and a separate WC.

The heated infinity pool sits above the house, built into the natural terracing of the hillside, with open views across the valley and lighting for evening swims. It is fenced and gated, and the pool house has a shower, WC and fridge, along with ten sun loungers, two parasols, table tennis and plenty of inflatables.

Children also get a large trampoline, and the house can supply cots, high chairs, stair gates and plastic tableware. A built-in brick barbecue and an outdoor table for 12 complete the picture. This holiday villa with heated pool in Tuscany does not accept pets.

For everyday shopping, the CONAD in Bagni di Lucca carries the usual baby supplies, and the local pharmacy stocks infant formula.