I’ll never forget the drive up to Conway – or rather, the comedy of errors that got me there. We’d set off from Manchester full of beans, me navigating on my phone while my other half drove, both buzzing about our little getaway. But halfway through, right near the A55, I managed to send us down some winding B-road that Google Maps swore was a shortcut. Turns out it was more of a scenic detour through sheep-dotted fields, with the car juddering over potholes like it was auditioning for a rally. We arrived a good half-hour later than planned, laughing at my rubbish sense of direction, but honestly, it just amped up the anticipation. As we pulled up, the sea air hit us first – salty and invigorating – and there it was, this cosy ground-floor studio tucked away in Llandudno, looking every bit the perfect bolthole for two.

Stepping inside felt like a warm hug. It’s all one bright, welcoming space: a compact kitchen for knocking up brekkie, a neat dining spot, and the sleeping area right there, all set up for lazy mornings under the duvet. We dumped our bags, chucked some treats in the fridge – cheese, biscuits, that sort of thing – and I zapped a quick snack in the microwave while brewing a cuppa. First impressions? Spot on. The enclosed patio out back sealed the deal, with its little table and chairs begging for afternoon lounging.

The joy of this holiday was doing precisely nothing, and I mean that in the best possible way. No grand plans, no ticking off lists. We’d wake late, potter about in the kitchen making tea and toast, then flop onto the patio with books in hand. The sun filtering through, birds chirping, and just the gentle hum of the sea not far off – it was pure bliss. I’d lose myself in a trashy novel, feet up, while she dozed off with hers. Lunch? Whatever was in the fridge, eaten al fresco if the weather played ball. One day, we wandered the five-minute stroll to the beach, grabbed fish and chips from a nearby spot, and brought them back to devour on the patio, sand still on our shoes. No need to go far; the beach, the promenade, all those Llandudno treats were right on the doorstep.

Evenings blurred into more of the same – slow dinners cooked up from local shop finds, a glass of wine, and stargazing from the garden until the chill sent us inside. There’s something magic about slowing right down like that, isn’t there? I caught myself one quiet afternoon, book forgotten on my lap, just watching the clouds drift by. Work stress, daily grind – it all felt miles away. Gentle reminder to myself: I’m rubbish at switching off back home, always faffing about, but here? It came naturally. A week of these lazy cottage days recharged me more than any hike ever could.

Conway – or Llandudno, really – delivered the ultimate chill-out. If you fancy parking up, forgetting the world, and just being, this is your spot. We left feeling lighter, already plotting a return.