Home and away: properties here and abroad

Away – Cherry Creek Ranch, Montana, USA. The perfect hideaway for someone who really wants to be alone, Cherry Creek Ranch is an island of just under 100 acres completely surrounded by three million acres of the Beaverhead National Forest in Montana. The views you see will be enjoyed only by the owner – there are no other buildings or lights in sight, just trees, meadows and creek. Your only neighbours will be elk, deer, antelope, grouse and partridge. But its remoteness doesn’t mean you have to slum it. The property has underground an underground electricity supply, fibre optic telephone and broadband satellite internet connection, and the accommodation includes cabins for the owner, guests, caretaker, a sauna and barn. On the market for US$2.195m through Hall and Hall (+406.656-7500). Photograph: Hall and Hall

Away – Francavilla d’Ete, Le Mache, Italy. This four-bedroom villa is perfectly situated with stunning views over the farmland and woods of Ascoli Piceno in Le Marche, towards the Monti Sibillini, Umbria’s highest mountains, and is just 30km from the sea. Accommodation is split over four levels with the living and dining rooms, kitchen, laundry room, workshop and double garage on the ground floor. The property comes with more than eight acres of land, most of which is leased to a neighbouring farmer. The house, which has just had its price reduced by €100,000 to €650,000, is on the market through Cluttons Italy (00 39 075 8450100). Photograph: Cluttons Italy

Wreck of the week – Manse Cottage, Rathen, Aberdeenshire. This manse used to be the home of the caretaker for a nearby graveyard and has subsequently been used as a meeting hall by the church. It’s now a 38’ by 12’ shell, and would probably take about £25,000 to restore to habitable use according to the estate agent, but then could make a charming two bedroom holiday home constructed entirely to the owner’s taste. There’s no planning permission as yet, but the fact that it used to be a home should make that reasonably easy to acquire. The neighbours in the graveyard are interesting too: occupants include the grandparents of the Norwegian composer Edvard Greig. On the market for £45,000 through Forbes Property (01346 517124). Photograph: CKD Galbraith

Home – Kerris Cottage, Somerset. This Grade II-listed cottage in the village of Compton Dundon, Somerset, has many period features with some dating back to the 1400s: it boasts heavily beamed ceilings, a screens passage with cobbled floors, inglenook fireplace and bread ovens. The three bedroom, two bathroom property is smartly presented, and has a large garden mostly laid down to lawn. Sherbourne, Glastonbury and Castle Cary are all within easy reach. On the market for £550,000 through Chesterton Humberts (01935 812323). Photograph: Chesterton Humberts

Home – Balquhandy Farmhouse, Dunning, Perthshire. This traditional stone built farmhouse offers lovely views over the surrounding countryside and Ochil Hills, including its own paddock (the grass is currently kept down by the neighbour’s highland cattle). The rooms are all a generous size - the kitchen, for example, is 16’6” by 15’ and the master bedroom, which is on the ground floor, is 17’ by 12’5” - and immaculately presented. Dunning village, Auchterader, Perth and Gleneagles are all within easy driving distance. On the market with a guide price of £390,000 though CKD Galbraith (01738 451111). Photograph: CKD Galbraith