The paddock at Lebanon Cottage is just for our guests to use during their stay.

It was set up to be used by our dog loving guests, but plenty of kids have a wonderful time there playing and exploring as well.

It’s enclosed, with plenty of space for dogs to stretch their legs, have a sniff about, or enjoy some relaxed off-lead time. It’s not what we’d call fully secure — and if your dog needs a truly secure dog park, we’re happy to recommend one nearby — but for many of our guests, it’s a much-loved part of the holiday. Some dogs run straight there the minute they arrive.

The main area is open, with a picnic bench where you can sit out, enjoy the view, sip a coffee or tuck into a takeaway while your dog potters about. 

Down at the bottom, depending on the time of year it gets a little wilder — and I’ve mown in some simple footpaths to make it easy to explore and keep it feeling inviting. From gorse to foxgloves, it's lovely to see the wildflowers growing. I find guests (and dogs!) tend to follow the same well-worn paths, so I like to keep those clear and walkable.

At this time of year, the grass doesn’t hang about. 

It’s barely the end of April and I’ve already mown at least three times. With our big mower currently out of action, I’m using the smaller one — which means a lot more steps! You might see me out there during your stay, mowing or strimming, or trimming back the edge of the parking area just next to the paddock.

It’s all part of keeping the place feeling cared for — not too manicured, not too wild, just easy and ready to enjoy. 

The kind of space where you and your dog can breathe a little deeper.