The Paddock, Killyleagh

The Paddock is a modern self-contained annex on a smallholding on the Shore Road outside Killyleagh, looking over County Down farmland towards Strangford Lough. It is a straightforwardly good place to bring a dog: the garden is enclosed and secure, the accommodation is all on one level, and there is a country park a couple of minutes away that guests describe as the highlight of the stay for their dogs.

That park is Delamont, and the owners hand over a permit for it along with the welcome hamper, which is a generous one with home-baked scones and a stocked fridge, plus a handbook of local suggestions. The owners live next door and strike the balance most self-catering guests want, available if something is needed and invisible otherwise.

The smallholding itself is part of the appeal and part of the calculation. Horses, pigs, chickens and a cat share the yard, and the owners keep dogs of their own. For a sociable, steady dog this is a very good time. For one that chases livestock, the enclosed garden becomes essential rather than a bonus, and lead discipline crossing the yard matters.

Inside there is a double bedroom, a well-equipped kitchen, a decent lounge and dining area and a shower room off it, all finished to a higher standard than the star rating suggests. The location works hard too: Killyleagh has places to eat and a large supermarket that stays open late, the National Trust properties at Castle Ward and Rowallane are close by, and Belfast is around forty minutes' drive, so the setting is rural without being cut off.

Two practical notes. The wifi is reliable in the bedroom but patchy in the living room, so the smart television is not always usable. And there is a step down from the bedroom into the kitchen that is easy to forget in the dark, worth a thought if your dog moves around at night. Neither stops The Paddock earning 4.8/5, and it suits couples with one or two dogs who want a quiet base for the Down coast and Strangford Lough.