M&C Caravan Hire, Sunnysands

M&C Caravan Hire is a privately let static caravan on Sunnysands Caravan Park at Talybont, on the Gwynedd coast between Barmouth and Harlech, and it is a genuinely good pick for a dog. The stand-out feature is the outdoor space: the van has its own enclosed decking with a gate that locks, so a dog can be outside with you without being on a lead the whole time. That is rare enough on a caravan park to be the main reason to choose this one over its neighbours.

The beach is a few minutes away on foot, and guests with dogs point to it as the reason the location works - quiet sand that rarely feels crowded, with the mountains behind the park giving the van its views. The caravan itself is described as clean, comfortable and better equipped than most hire vans, with a full-height fridge freezer and a lot of small practical extras. The owner is widely praised for being responsive and easy to deal with.

Two things to weigh. The first is housekeeping between lets: guests have arrived to find dog hair worked into the lounge carpet, and crockery and pans that needed washing before use. It is a small thing, but worth a check on arrival if anyone in your party is sensitive to it. The second is cost on the park rather than in the caravan - the on-site shop and fish shop are consistently flagged as expensive, and the swimming pool runs on paid 45-minute slots, so it is worth bringing supplies with you.

The park sets the dog rules rather than the van's owner, and they are short and reasonable - leads and clean-up, listed below. Neither the park nor the van publishes a pet fee or a limit on numbers, so agree both with the owner when you book.

Best suited to dog owners who want a quiet, self-contained coastal base in southern Snowdonia with secure outdoor space of their own. It earns a 4.5/5 paw rating.