Victorian Home with Pet-Friendly Garden, Holyhead

This Victorian house on the edge of Holyhead is set up for dogs rather than simply tolerant of them, and it makes an easy base for Anglesey's beaches and coast path. It sleeps six across a set of generous rooms, with a fireplace that guests light on cold evenings and a kitchen equipped well beyond the usual holiday-let minimum.

The garden is the feature that matters most. It is fully fenced and secure, so dogs can be let out off the lead, and owners travelling with more than one dog give it as the main reason the house works for them. Inside, dog bowls and a dog towel are left out, which is a small thing that saves packing space and suggests pets were thought about rather than merely permitted.

Walking is the other draw. Penrhos beach and the woodland park beside it are around five minutes away on foot, both dog-friendly and both with sea views, so the first walk of the day does not need the car. The ferry port, the town's supermarkets and the A55 are all a few minutes' drive, which is why the house comes up so often as a stopover for people sailing to Ireland with a dog.

Two caveats are worth knowing. The house sits on a reasonably busy road, so the lead goes on at the front gate even though the back garden is secure, and the off-road parking at the rear is tight - instructions are sent in advance and they repay reading. The property also accepts cats as well as dogs, and there have been reports of a musty smell and of wear to the sofa left by previous animals, so anyone in the party with an animal allergy should ask about it before booking.

Best suited to families or groups of up to six travelling with dogs who want a secure garden, beach walks from the door and a straightforward run to the ferry, and who will factor in the road outside. It earns a 4.6/5 paw rating.