Yr Hen Felin

Yr Hen Felin is a converted mill at Pen-y-Garnedd, in the hills of Powys about half an hour west of Oswestry, and it is roughly as far from a passing-trade hotel as a dog-friendly stay gets. The property is let whole and stands in its own grounds with a large lawn, which is exactly the shape of place that suits a dog: no shared entrances, no other guests, and room to throw a ball before dinner.

The listing allows one dog. Guests who brought theirs call the mill self-contained and ideal for dogs, and describe the setting as picture perfect and genuinely off the beaten track, with a village near enough for a pub and a shop and good dog walking straight out into the surrounding countryside. Eating outside in the garden on a warm evening comes up again and again as the highlight of a stay, and the mill earns a 4.2/5 paw rating.

Some practical warnings matter more here than they would elsewhere. The staircases are steep and are not shown in the listing photos, and there is a drop immediately outside the front door that guests have called a hazard. Both are worth thinking through if you have an elderly dog, a puppy, or anyone in the party who is unsteady on their feet or has poor eyesight, and the stairs have been enough to cut a stay short. There is no mobile signal at the property and no information pack, so settle any questions with the owner before you arrive. Grass left uncut and dirty windows have also been mentioned.

Two things about the surroundings. This is working farmland, with sheep and lambs in the fields, so a dog needs to be on the lead once you leave the grounds. The garden backs onto an open stream, so keep an eye on a dog that likes water. And there are farm dogs nearby whose barking carries, which is a small thing for most dogs and a bigger one if yours is reactive.

Yr Hen Felin suits one steady dog and owners who want silence, dark skies and hill walking, and who will not mind the stairs.