I’ll never forget the drive down from Glasgow to Girvan – that cheeky moment when the sat-nav decided to play silly buggers and sent us on a detour through some winding single-track roads. We ended up behind a tractor chugging along at snail’s pace, laughing our heads off as the kids in the back seat started a chorus of “Are we there yet?” But honestly, it was the perfect ice-breaker for our lazy Ayrshire getaway. By the time we rolled into town, the anticipation was buzzing – those first glimpses of the sea sparkling under the late afternoon sun had us grinning like idiots.

Pulling up to the duplex apartment, right along the coast, we were gobsmacked. It’s this cracking two-floor setup, spread over the first and second levels, with three bedrooms that sleep six comfy enough. One look at those massive sea views from the windows, and we knew we’d hit the jackpot. Racing up the stairs (well, the other half did; I took it steady with the bags), we tumbled into the open sitting room. Hardwood floors gleamed underfoot, and we all flopped straight onto the sofa, flicking on the Smart TV for a bit of mindless binge-watching. The place just screamed “relax” – perfect for us lot who’d planned a holiday of doing bugger all.

Upstairs, the kitchen-diner was a dream for low-effort meals. We chucked some spuds in the air-fryer, zapped a ready meal in the microwave, and let the electric hob do the heavy lifting while we lounged in the reclining chairs. There’s even a gaming corner with a PlayStation 5 and some retro arcade machines – Pac-Man had the teens hooked for hours, but I mostly stuck to scrolling through my book downloads. After dinner at the big table for six, plates went in the dishwasher, a quick load in the washing machine, and then it was bubble time in the first-floor Jacuzzi bath. Pure bliss, that – soaking away the drive’s stresses with the sound of waves outside.

The real star, though, was the enclosed garden. We’d claimed it from the off, dragging out loungers to catch the last of the sun as it dipped towards the sea. I spent hours there with a cracking paperback, feet up, sipping tea from a flask, watching gulls wheel overhead. No rush, no plans – just the joy of slowing right down. One afternoon, I caught myself staring out at Ailsa Craig on the horizon, thinking how daft it is that we pack our lives with rush back home. Here, time stretched out lazy-like; the kids pottered with games inside, my other half dozed on the sofa, and our polite little dog curled up in a sunbeam. Evenings blurred into nights in one of those king-size beds, lulled by the sea’s murmur.

We did venture out once or twice – a gentle wander to Girvan Beach for toes in the water, or a peek at the lighthouse from afar. But mostly? It was all about those do-nothing days, recharging in this coastal gem. South Ayrshire’s got that magic for switching off, and this spot made it effortless. Can’t wait to go back and do even less.