Agriturism in Le Marche, Italy

There are plenty of rural places to stay in Italy that offer local, organic produce, but La Locanda near the hilltop town of Urbino in Le Marche goes the extra mile to do its bit for energy conservation. Surrounded by ancient, protected oaks, the 1920s farmhouse has been converted into a well-insulated modern, smart country house with six double rooms as well as a self-catering apartment for two…

There’s purified water, solar heating and a wood-fired stove fuelled by coppicing from the 185-acre farm woods where you can gather truffles in autumn. There’s a riding school next door and a gentle afternoon circular walk around the farm that will help work up an appetite for the homemade gnocchi and walnut liqueur.

· A room in the farmhouse costs €104, B&B. Apartment costs €680 for a week. Horseriding €20 per hour. 0039 0722 330303, vallenuova.it

This article, by Richard Hammond, was first published in the Guardian.