Violets Wonderland Cottage, Llandudno

Violets Wonderland Cottage is a small, characterful terraced cottage on Bodafon Street in Llandudno, a couple of streets back from the seafront, and it has become a reliable pick for dog owners visiting the north Wales coast. It is a whole cottage rather than a room, so a dog is not sharing a landing with strangers, and guests travelling with a pair of small dogs have found it secure enough to relax in. Doors and gates hold, which is the thing you actually want to know before booking somewhere quirky and old.

Nothing is published about a pet fee, a weight limit or restricted breeds, so agree the number of dogs with the owners when you book. The cottage leans heavily on character - it is decorated with a sense of fun and guests describe it as cosy and rather magical - and that character comes with the compromises of an old building.

The largest of those is parking, or rather the absence of it. There is no space at the cottage. Guests have solved it by booking the station car park online in advance, which works out cheap over a weekend and is covered by cameras, but it does mean carrying bags, and a dog's bed and bowls, the last stretch on foot. If your dog is elderly or you travel heavy, factor that in.

The other layout quirk is that the bathroom and toilet are on the ground floor, with nothing upstairs. That is fine for most people, awkward for anyone with mobility problems, and worth knowing if you are the sort to be up and down in the night with a restless dog. Sleeping arrangements include bunk beds, which suit children rather better than tall adults.

Where the cottage earns its keep is position. The promenade, the pier and the Great Orme are all walkable, and the Orme gives you a proper hour or two of climbing and coast views - keep a lead handy, as sheep and the resident goats range freely up there. Some stretches of Llandudno's beaches carry seasonal dog restrictions over the summer, so check the signs on the day. Best suited to couples or a small family with well-behaved small-to-medium dogs who are happy to travel light and walk in from the car.