Ty Hir, Beaumaris

Ty Hir is a traditional stone cottage at the end of a quiet dead-end lane on the eastern corner of Anglesey, a few minutes' drive from Beaumaris, and its gardens are what set it apart for dog owners. Both the front and the rear are fully enclosed, and between them there is enough lawn for two dogs to run without a lead. The front garden looks straight across the Menai Strait to the Snowdonia range, which is a considerable improvement on the average morning view. Up to two dogs can stay, and treats are usually left out for them on arrival.

The owner lives locally, greets guests in person and lends out maps of the area. A striking share of the reviews come from people on their third, fourth or tenth visit, which says more about a property than any single stay does. The cottage is warm, with thick stone walls, two sitting rooms and beds that guests single out as unusually comfortable.

Walking is easy from the door. The lane is a dead end with almost no traffic and it runs straight onto footpaths across farmland. Twenty minutes downhill reaches a pebble beach that is usually empty. Beaumaris, five minutes away, covers shops and food, Penmon Point and the island's beaches are close, and Snowdonia is thirty to forty-five minutes by car.

The honest caveat is age. Ty Hir is dated inside and makes no secret of it: the kitchen is functional rather than modern, there is no dishwasher, and the television and stereo are not digital. In deep winter it can take the best part of a day to warm right through, and access is tight for a large estate car. None of that troubles the guests who come back year after year, and with a 4.8/5 paw rating it suits dog owners who would rather have a properly secure garden and that view than a new kitchen.