Ffynnon Bach, Llanberis

Ffynnon Bach is a modern, spotless cottage on a working farm at Deiniolen, in the hills just north of Llanberis, and it makes a strong Snowdonia base for walkers with dogs. Up to two dogs can stay for a £25 pet fee. Inside it is bright and new - open-plan living and kitchen, recliners in front of a log burner, comfortable beds and skylights in the bedroom that make for good stargazing on a clear night.

The one thing to understand before booking is the garden. It is not attached to the cottage, and because the property sits on a working farm you cannot simply open a door and let a dog out - dogs need to be on the lead around the buildings, and small dogs can slip through the garden boundary. Dog owners raise this consistently, and it is the single most common reservation about the place. The owners, Sharon and Murray, handle it well: they will tell you when one of their fields is clear so dogs can have a proper run off the lead, and there are lanes and fields all around for walking and toileting. But this is a lead-on property, not a secure-garden one.

What you get in return is the position. The cottage looks out over open countryside with animals around it - a hit with children as well as dogs - and both the eastern and western approaches to Yr Wyddfa are within easy reach, with beaches and the rest of north Wales rarely more than half an hour away. The owners meet guests, leave fresh milk and a bottle of wine, and dig out extras such as a high chair when asked.

Worth noting: the living room gets little direct sun, so outside the summer months it can feel dark and cool, and the log burner earns its keep. Best suited to walkers with one or two dogs who are content keeping them on the lead around a farmyard in exchange for an immaculate, genuinely well-equipped base. It earns a 4.7/5 paw rating.