Lothlorien Cottage, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen

Lothlorien Cottage is a small self-catering cottage in Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, in the Amman valley on the western edge of the Brecon Beacons, and it takes up to two dogs. Indoors it is a genuinely comfortable base: guests consistently describe it as spotless, cosy and better equipped than expected, with a well-stocked kitchen, comfortable sofas, a spacious bathroom and welcome basics such as bread, milk and butter waiting on arrival. There is a shop and a takeaway within reach, and the Black Mountain and western Beacons are a short drive for proper walking.

The honest caveat is the outside space, and it is the thing dog owners need to know before booking. The garden is not secure, and guests travelling with a dog have found it will not reliably contain one. It has also drawn repeated comment for being overgrown with weeds and brambles. The immediate surroundings are not well suited to letting a dog off the lead either, so this is a cottage for a dog that is happy on a lead and walked properly elsewhere, not one you can turn out into the garden while you make breakfast.

The other thing to weigh is the road. All the bedrooms face the main road, with a street light close enough to keep a room bright at night and a steady background of traffic, both of which a light-sleeping dog will notice. Hot water in the shower has been described as variable, and while most guests rate the cottage well, a minority have found the property did not match their expectations from the listing photographs.

A pet charge is not spelled out in the property's listing, so confirm it when you book. Two dogs are accepted, which is more generous than many cottages of this size.

This works for owners of a settled, lead-walked dog who want a warm, well-equipped and inexpensive base for walking the Amman valley and the Black Mountain, and who will not miss a secure garden. On the strength of what guests travelling with dogs report, it earns a 3.8/5 paw rating.