Bryn Derwen Coach House

Bryn Derwen Coach House is a five-bedroom holiday house set in wooded grounds just outside Bethesda, and its layout suits dogs about as well as a group house can. The property sits in its own pocket of a three-house cluster, with a walled garden and additional lawned areas that give a dog somewhere secure to stretch out off the lead. Guests travelling with dogs have singled that walled garden out as the thing that made the stay work.

Up to two pets are allowed per booking. Beyond that the property has not published fee, weight or breed terms, so anyone travelling with a larger dog, or wanting to know what a dog adds to the cost, should confirm the details directly before booking.

The house is geared to mixed groups rather than couples: five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a hot tub, an outdoor play area, board games and several sitting areas, plus enough outdoor furniture that a party can spread out. Practical basics are stocked on arrival, including loo roll, hand wash, dishwasher and laundry tablets, towels and kitchen cloths. The owners answer quickly, and there is a maintenance manager living nearby who turns up the same day when something needs attention.

Bethesda is a working village with a supermarket and a convenience store rather than a tourist strip, which is handy for a self-catering week. It is a good base for Eryri: Beaumaris, Betws-y-Coed, Caernarfon Castle and Llanberis are all 20 to 30 minutes away, and the zip line at the old slate quarry is a few minutes up the road.

Two things to weigh. The house can run warm in summer and not every bedroom window opens, which matters if your dog struggles in heat. And with a hot tub and a play area, this is a property built for large family groups, so it is at its best when the dog is joining a crowd rather than looking for quiet. On that basis it earns a 4.6/5 paw rating.