I’ll never forget the drive up to Penmaenmawr – rain lashing the windscreen like it had a personal grudge, and me fumbling with the satnav while my partner dozed in the passenger seat. We’d taken a wrong turn somewhere near Conway, ending up in a narrow lane that had me convinced we were about to meet a sheep head-on. A quick U-turn and a shared giggle later, though, and there we were, pulling up to this charming second-floor flat perched just outside the village centre. From the moment we stepped inside, hearts lifted – the place felt like a cosy hug, with its light-filled living room/diner spilling out views across the bay to Puffin Island, Anglesey, and the Great Orme. I could already picture lazy evenings there.

We’d booked it for a proper do-nothing break, you see – no grand plans, just us, some books, and the art of slowing right down. After lugging our bags up the stairs (a bit of a huff for me, I admit), we flopped onto that massive sofa and cracked open a couple of teas. The anticipation of arrival had me buzzing – would the views live up to the photos? Blimey, they did and then some. First impressions? Spot on. It’s the sort of spot perfect for a couple, close enough to pop out for village essentials but far enough to feel like a proper escape.

The joy of it all was in the sloth-like days that followed. Mornings started late, with coffee in hand, staring out at the sea doing its moody Welsh thing. There’s a lovely garden area too – nothing fancy, just a shared green space to potter about in when the fancy took us. I’d lounge on a bench with a dog-eared paperback, listening to the gulls squawking over towards the bay, while my other half sketched idly or napped under a brolly. We’d wander down to the local shop for pasties and milk, maybe amble along the promenade for a breath of salty air, but that was it. No hikes into Snowdonia proper, no rushing to Bangor – just pure, unadulterated idling.

One afternoon, I caught myself mid-yawn, book slipping from my lap, and had this gentle moment of reflection: when was the last time I’d let the world spin without me? Work’s always nagging, emails piling up, but here in this flat, with the sunset painting the horizon pink and gold, it all faded. We’d flick on the telly for some rubbish quiz show, feet up, sharing a bowl of crisps. Dinner was simple – fish and chips from the village takeaway, eaten on our laps while watching the lights twinkle across to Llandudno. Evenings melted into that sofa bliss, the bay’s gentle lap outside lulling us into early nights.

It was blissfully ordinary, that holiday – no Instagram moments, just real recharge. If you’re after a spot to switch off on the North Wales coast, this is it. We left feeling lighter, already plotting a return for more of the same. Proper tonic for the soul.