Copper Mine Cottage

Copper Mine Cottage sits halfway up the Great Orme above Llandudno, which puts one of the best dog walks in North Wales directly outside. The headland paths, the summit and the sea views are all reachable on foot from the door, and the walk down into Llandudno takes about as long as it takes to talk yourself into walking back up.

The cottage itself is a small, quiet holiday let that suits a couple or a family of four, with a log burner, a modern kitchen, easy parking almost outside and a seating area at the back. The owner is consistently described as easy to reach and accommodating, including over late changes to a booking, and guests arrive to milk, cereal, jam and a cake laid out for them. Dogs are welcome and, by the accounts of the people who bring them, settle happily in front of the fire. There is no charge for a dog, though the owner does take a refundable deposit.

One house rule catches people out repeatedly and is worth knowing before you book: dogs are not allowed upstairs. Several parties have only discovered this on arrival and had to rearrange where their dogs slept, which worked out in each case but was not what they had planned. If your dog sleeps in your room at home, plan for a bed in the kitchen instead. A low glass-topped coffee table in the living room also sits at eye height for a medium-sized dog, and guests have moved it out of the way for their stay.

On the fabric of the place, the sofas draw consistent criticism - the springs have gone in one of them, and a front bedroom mattress has the same problem. Cleanliness is generally fine but not faultless: black mould around the windows and on a shower head, and a vacuum left full, have all been reported. Dining space is tight for four.

Copper Mine Cottage suits a couple or small family with a dog who is happy sleeping downstairs, and who would rather have the Orme than the promenade. It earns a 4.4/5 paw rating.