Ty Ray Penmaes, Rhayader

Ty Ray Penmaes is a small detached bungalow on the edge of Rhayader in mid-Wales, and the thing that makes it work for dog owners is what sits behind it: a large garden with a covered seating area and a quiet view over the surrounding countryside. Guests travelling with dogs come back to that outdoor space more than anything else about the property - somewhere to let a dog out first thing without organising a walk, and somewhere to sit out while the dog mooches about.

The property charges for each dog, and that charge is settled with the owners directly rather than being added to the booking. Guests who have brought dogs describe it as a small sum of around GBP 10, paid by bank transfer. It is a minor cost, though the payment method is fiddly enough that it is worth agreeing both the amount and the method with the owner at the point of booking rather than assuming it will land on the bill.

The owner gets consistently warm write-ups, and the bungalow is repeatedly described as spotless - which matters more than it sounds when you are bringing a dog into a small self-catering property. There is a washing machine, genuinely useful after a wet day on the hills, and parking on site.

Rhayader is a good base for this kind of trip. The Elan Valley reservoirs and their waymarked trails are a few minutes west, and the red kites that wheel over the town are a constant fixture - guests mention watching them from the garden. Two practical things are worth knowing. The garden is large but not escape-proof, and a dog has been known to find its way out, so walk the boundary before letting one off the lead. And the bungalow is genuinely compact, so a family with a baby and a dog will find it a squeeze. The kitchen also arrives bare of basics like salt, oil and milk.

Best suited to a couple or a small family with one steady dog who want a clean, quiet, well-kept base for walking the Elan Valley, rather than anyone needing much indoor space. It earns a 4.4/5 paw rating.