Sisial-y-Mor, Dyffryn Ardudwy

Sisial-y-Mor is a comfortable single-storey holiday cottage in Dyffryn Ardudwy, a village strung along the Gwynedd coast where the sands of Cardigan Bay run up to the foothills of Eryri (Snowdonia). It has built a following among dog owners, several of whom come back year after year, and up to two dogs are welcome.

The practicalities are well judged. Everything is on one level, which suits older or less mobile dogs, there is a utility room with a washer and dryer for drying off muddy paws and coats, and the hard floors with underfloor heating make the place easy to keep clean after a day on the beach. Guests travelling with dogs mention treats laid on alongside the usual welcome pack, and the owner gets warm write-ups for being friendly and easy to reach.

For walks the setting does the heavy lifting. It is a short stroll to a long dog-friendly beach that keeps some access year round, with a pub, a butcher and shops within walking distance and Barmouth a few minutes up the coast. Beyond that there are waterfalls, drive-on beaches and any number of coast and hill routes into the national park.

Three things to weigh before booking. There is no enclosed garden, so dogs need supervising outside rather than being let out to roam, which is fine for a settled dog and less so for a bolter. There is a guard dog on the site that barks a great deal, enough that guests have raised it with the owner more than once, so it is worth knowing if your dog reacts to barking. And while cleanliness has improved on the back of past feedback, returning guests still flag the odd gap, with cleaning under the sofas getting a specific mention, which matters more in a cottage that takes dogs.

Sisial-y-Mor is best suited to owners of one or two settled dogs who want a comfortable, easy-to-clean base for beach and mountain walking, and who do not need a fenced garden. It earns a 4.4/5 paw rating.