8 Crickhowell Cottages

8 Crickhowell Cottages puts you in the middle of a Welsh market town where the hills start at the end of the street, which is close to ideal if the dog is the reason you are travelling. The apartment sits on Standard Street in central Crickhowell, and guests with dogs consistently make the same point: you can be walking uphill within minutes of closing the front door, with the Black Mountains and the wider Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park immediately to the north and east.

The property is listed as pet-friendly and accepts up to two pets, though no fee or size limit is published, so anyone travelling with a large breed should confirm the terms before booking. What is clear from guests who have brought dogs is that the flat handles the aftermath of a wet walk well - recently refurbished, spotlessly kept, with a good bathroom and proper cooking facilities for evenings in.

Crickhowell itself does a lot of the work. Dog owners staying here mention how many pubs and cafes in town will take a dog, including one directly across the street, and a chip shop a few doors down. There is no parking at the property, but the public car park is about thirty metres away, which is short enough to matter when you are unloading a boot full of dog kit.

One thing worth knowing: the apartment shares a building, and a party with dogs found noise carrying from the flat above enough that their dogs took a while to settle. Light-sleeping or anxious dogs may notice it. For everyone else - walkers with a dog who want a town base rather than an isolated cottage - this is a strong 4.5/5.