Clydfan No 1, Trearddur Bay

Clydfan No 1 is a large detached house a short walk up from the beach at Trearddur Bay, on the west coast of Anglesey, and it works well for the kind of trip where the dogs come as a matter of course rather than as an afterthought. The whole house is yours, it sits in a quiet residential spot away from traffic, and there is a garden and a games room, so a wet afternoon does not mean everyone piling onto one sofa.

Dogs are clearly expected here. Guests arriving with them mention a welcome pack that includes treats for the dog alongside the milk, juice and bottle of wine left for the humans, and parties of eight with two dogs report the house absorbing them without anyone feeling on top of each other. There are four large bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dining table that seats ten, a kitchen with more seating again, and a hot tub in the garden.

The beach is about ten minutes on foot, with the bars, cafes and restaurants of Trearddur Bay on the same walk, so it is easy to build a day around the coast and come back without moving the car. The Holy Island coast path and the smaller beaches at Porth Dafarch and Rhoscolyn are a short drive further on.

Two caveats. Guests who arrive without a dog have noticed that the carpets and sofa carry a doggy smell, so the house suits people bringing one rather better than anyone sensitive to it. And the layout is not built for toddlers: concrete steps down to the garden, an open staircase and a high step at the front door, with no safety gates provided - worth knowing if a small child is travelling alongside the dog. Otherwise this is a comfortable, generously sized base that earns a 4.7/5 paw rating, best suited to larger family groups who want the beach on foot and space for the dogs indoors.