Sea View Escape, Penmaenmawr

Sea View Escape is a four-bedroom house on the North Wales coast at Penmaenmawr, let as a whole property, which makes it a straightforward choice for a group or an extended family travelling with dogs. There are no shared corridors or reception areas to negotiate, parking is on the road directly outside, and the house sleeps eight across four bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The booking listing does not publish a pet fee, a dog limit or a weight restriction, so those are worth settling with the owners before you book. What guests travelling with dogs do report consistently is that the welcome is genuine rather than grudging, and that the house is set up for the mess a large party makes - cleaning products and heating oil are left in, the floors are easy to sweep down, and there is outdoor space for dogs and children to share.

Position is the strongest thing here. The beach is an easy walk, as are a park for toilet breaks, a friendly local pub, the railway station and a Co-op for supplies, so a dog-owning group can leave the car parked for a day at a time. Snowdonia is about half an hour inland for hill walking, and Conwy and Llandudno lie in the other direction for a wet-weather afternoon.

Two things temper it. Dog mess left by earlier visitors has been found in the garden, which is a standing risk anywhere a succession of parties shares outdoor space, so it is worth a check before letting your own dog out. The A55 is audible from the house, though most guests say it faded into the background, and the decor is dated with firm beds. The kitchen is also stocked for fewer people than the house sleeps, so a group of eight should expect to bring an extra pan.

Best suited to larger dog-owning groups who want a coastal base with a beach and a pub on foot and the mountains within reach, and who would rather have a whole house than a hotel corridor.