Ysgubor Ucha, Ruthin

Ysgubor Ucha is a small stone-built Welsh cottage set in farmland near Llanelidan, about six miles south of Ruthin, and it feels set up with dogs in mind from the moment you arrive. It is a one-bedroom cottage for two, with a big bedroom looking out across the fields towards Moel Famau, and up to two dogs are welcome.

The garden is the main draw. It wraps around three sides of the cottage, it is enclosed, and it is a good deal larger than it looks in the photos, so dogs can potter and sniff about safely while you sit out on the patio. French doors open onto it straight from the kitchen. Dog owners come back to the same details again and again: a welcome tray of homemade bread, scones, jam and eggs, a jar of dog treats, a drawer of dog towels, toys and poo bags, and an outside tap for rinsing muddy paws.

The owners, Karyn and Neil, live next door. Guests describe them as warm and helpful but happy to leave people to themselves, and a striking number of visitors are on their second, third or fourth stay. Inside there is a log burner, a well-equipped kitchen and a washer-dryer, which earns its keep after a wet day in the hills.

The setting is quiet and properly rural. Moel Famau, Loggerheads and the Clocaenog Forest trails are a short drive away, and there is a dog-friendly pub about a mile down the lane, though the walk back is steep. You will need the car for almost everything else, including Ruthin and Llangollen.

Two things are worth knowing. The front of the garden has a gate onto the lane, and owners of small dogs or determined escape artists have had to block or keep an eye on that corner, so check the boundary when you arrive. Cows and sheep graze the neighbouring fields and often wander right up to the fence, which most dogs enjoy, but a dog that chases livestock will need watching.

With a 4.4/5 paw rating, Ysgubor Ucha suits a couple with one or two dogs who want a peaceful countryside base, a secure garden and hosts who clearly like dogs as much as their guests do.