"A spacious kitchen, a cinema room, and a dining room for 12 people – here's a list of the essentials for hosting Christmas in the country."

"Enhancing the asset value of a country house can be done in many ways, but some are subtler than you think."

"Forget period features and Agas; here are six ultra-contemporary properties in the countryside."

"You'll need sufficient indoor and outdoor space, attractive grounds and close proximity to transport links. A lake always goes down well, too. "

"The gap is closing between properties in prime urban markets and their rural counterparts."

"It's no surprise that mansions are expensive to own and operate, so the notion that they could pay their own way is certainly appealing."

"60 schemes took part in this year's awards, with worthy winners right across the country."

"How benchmarking your property could give you savings of up to 10% a year."

"The coming year offers excitement and challenge for both the risk-averse and the risk-embracing."