Derlwyn, Newport

Derlwyn is a traditional Welsh cottage on a quiet back street in Newport, five minutes' walk from the middle of the village, and for dog owners the garden is what sells it. Guests travelling with dogs return to the same detail again and again: the lawn and patio behind the house are genuinely enclosed, and those with escape-minded dogs report that they stayed put. Anyone who has spent a week shadowing a dog around an open garden will understand why that keeps coming up.

Up to two pets can stay per booking. Beyond that, the cottage is set up for the practical side of a dog holiday rather than the decorative one - a well-equipped kitchen, a washing line, a warm and reliably clean interior, and enough room downstairs for a family of five and a dog to spread out.

The location does a lot of the work. Newport's shops, pubs and restaurants are an easy stroll, so an evening out does not need the car, and Newport Sands is close enough to walk to with the dog. Further afield, the Preseli Hills and the Gwaun Valley put proper hill and woodland walking within a short drive, and the beaches and coast path are what guests say brings them back.

Two caveats are worth knowing before booking. The front door opens straight into a carpeted dining area and there is no back entrance, so wet, sandy dogs arrive through the smartest part of the house - guests have asked for a hose on the outside tap for exactly this reason. And the cottage is traditional rather than recently refreshed: some visitors have found the decor and furnishings dated, the upstairs bedrooms are small with sloping ceilings, and small maintenance niggles such as the gas hob ignition have come up more than once.

Best suited to a family or couple with one or two dogs who want a walkable base near the coast, value a secure garden over contemporary styling, and plan to spend most of the day outside. On that basis it earns a 4.6/5 paw rating.