Read the judge's green questionnaire on Mas Perangel

This is a low-key place, making no real noise about what they do - they just do it. It's a classic mas (Pyrennean farmstead) - ancient stone buildings at the end of a long bumpy track, four dogs, rabbits, turkeys, muscovy ducks, a bashed up old Renault van, donkeys and views to die for.

The self-catering place is at the back of the house, looking over Mont Canigou, one of the area's most important peaks. It's private - we didn't hear a thing from the family in the house next door - and you choose how much you want to get involved.

The owners, Jocelyne and Andre Bonnet, talked of having guests round for dinner sometimes, taking them for walks in the hills, having kids help out with the animals etc.

I'm so glad the awards have revealed this sort of place: relatively unknown, simple, rustic, low impact and very French (in the best possible way).

The story: they have spent the last 12 years doing this place up with their own hands - it was a complete wreck. Collapsed roofs, no floors.

Their dream was to live somewhere miles from the chaos of modern life, where they could grow their own food, bring their children up with an understanding of nature, and where they could be part of a strong community. They have succeeded.

What's it like to visit? Is it value for money?

It's a wonderful place, a real French farmstay with a family who love where they live and are deeply involved in keeping it that way. It's simple/rustic, pretty low key and adequately comfortable.

The sort of place you could go and write for a week. The downsides: plastic mattress protectors under the sheets; views of the polytunnel from the little decking area (but hey, you're on a farm, what do you expect?). This isn't luxury self-catering, but I'd be really happy to come for a week.

And finally finally.... What is the single most significant achievement it has made regarding local people, the environment and/or conservation?

Making a living from such a low-key smallholding, and doing it organically. And the woodburning central heating system (sorry... I know this makes it two...!).

NOMINATED BY: I would like to nominate a self-catering mas in the Eastern Pyrennees that is to me the wildest, most unspoilt and most breathtakingly beautiful place to spend a week or two of your life. It's called the Mas Perangel and it's near a little village in the Pyrennees Orientales called Prunet et Belpuig. It's extremely remote and the owners are smallholders. They grow their own vegetables and keep chickens, goats, sheep, donkeys and a handful of cows.

The mas has solar panels for the hot water and the heating is wood-fuelled (the wood comes from the owners's woods and contributes to responsible forest management). The mas does have a swimming pool, which is I think fed from the river which runs through their land. The place is so remote that the only access to it is a long, winding dirt track that shoots off the road between Prunet and La Bastide.

We've spent days in the past on walks "from the door", exploring the woods, streams and peaks that surround the Mas. The woods are often full of edible treats like wild strawberries, wild thyme and rosemary and gorgeous cepes and girolles.

I think the Mas Perangel and its owners are a shining example of good ways to earn a living by staying in harmony with nature - Andreea Petre-Goncalves, Brussels

Times recommends

• The 10 best bits of travel gear
• Soho's classy, cheap new townhouse
• Germany's perfect Christmas city