I’ll never forget the drive down to St Ives – we’d piled into the car in the pouring rain, full of beans about our Cornish getaway, only for me to take a wrong turn just past Hayle and end up in a massive queue for some roadworks. Typical me, isn’t it? Sat there drumming my fingers on the wheel, wondering if we’d ever make it. But as we finally crested the hill towards Carbis Bay, the clouds parted just enough to reveal the sea sparkling like a promise. Hearts lifted, we pulled up to this immaculate penthouse apartment perched high above the bay, all sleek and contemporary with those unbeatable sea views stretching out forever. First impressions? Blimey, it felt like we’d stumbled into our own little slice of luxury – perfect for our family of four.

Stepping inside, the welcoming hallway opened straight into this gorgeous open-plan living space, done up with posh Ralph Lauren fabrics and French antique bits against a crisp white backdrop that made the endless blue of the sea pop. That vast, over-sized sofa? An absolute godsend. We dumped our bags and just flopped, gazing out at the waves crashing below, already buzzing with plans for hikes along the coast path.

Next morning, the weather was on our side – bright sunshine, not a cloud in sight. We laced up our boots and headed out from the apartment down to Carbis Bay Beach, then picked up the South West Coast Path towards St Ives. It’s only a couple of miles, but what a cracker: rugged cliffs, gorse buzzing with bees, and those classic Cornish views that make you feel properly alive. We stopped at a little cove for pasties from a beach kiosk – steaming hot, proper job – and carried on, laughing as the kids skimmed stones into the sea. By the time we wandered into St Ives, past the harbour with its bobbing boats, we were knackered but chuffed.

But oh, the British weather, eh? Come afternoon, the fog rolled in thick as pea soup from the Atlantic, turning our grand plan for a longer trek to Porthminster Beach into a comedy of errors. Visibility down to nil, we abandoned ship and scurried back along the path, arms linked like a conga line, giggling at how daft we looked. Sat on that massive sofa back at the flat, wrapped in blankets with mugs of tea, we watched the mist swirl over the bay. It was one of those moments that makes you reflect – I’m always chasing the perfect day out, but sometimes the weather’s way of forcing you to chill is the best bit. No epic hikes that day, just quality time together, which turned out to be magic.

The rest of the week was a right mix: glorious sun for a stomp up to Clodgy Point, spotting seals and dodging jellyfish on the rocks; then a biblical downpour that had us improvising an indoor picnic on the living room floor. We even braved a blustery loop around the bay at low tide, wind whipping our faces, feeling like proper adventurers. Staying up high like that, every evening we’d unwind with the sea views as our telly, plotting the next day’s walk. It wasn’t all blue skies, but that’s Cornwall for you – unpredictable, beautiful, and utterly unforgettable. Can’t wait to go back.