I’ll never forget the drive up to Llandudno from Manchester – what should’ve been a straightforward hour and a half turned into a comedy of errors when my sat-nav decided to play silly buggers and sent us down a narrow farm track that dead-ended at a field full of very unimpressed sheep. We were laughing so hard by the time we backtracked that the stress melted away, and honestly, it set the perfect tone for the kind of unplanned adventure we ended up having.

Pulling up to our beautiful studio with its private hot tub, tucked away in the peaceful North Wales countryside just a few miles from Llandudno, I felt that proper holiday buzz. It’s the sort of rustic barn conversion that screams cosy getaway for two – think shepherd’s hut vibes inside with a definite cottage charm outside. From the moment we stepped in, it was clear this was our ideal base for unwinding, especially with the coast only five miles away and all those hidden corners waiting to be stumbled upon.

First morning, hot tub steaming under a crisp Welsh sky, we fancied a wander without a plan. That’s when the magic started. Instead of heading straight to Llandudno’s bustling pier, we took a wrong turn off the main road and found ourselves on a winding lane leading to St George’s, a sleepy village I’d never heard of. There, by pure fluke, we discovered the tiniest pub imaginable – The Kinsman Arms – with a beer garden overlooking rolling fields. We grabbed a pint of local ale and some proper pub grub, chatting with locals about their secret fishing spots along the nearby River Clwyd. It was one of those moments where you realise the best finds aren’t on any map.

The next day, fueled by that hot tub recovery session (bliss after a long walk), we set off for Llandudno but somehow veered towards the coast path near Colwyn Bay. Getting gloriously lost on the clifftop trails led us to a secluded pebble beach at Rhos-on-Sea, far from the tourist throngs. We spent hours beachcombing for sea glass, paddling in the chilly waves, and picnicking on cheese pasties from a nearby bakery we’d spotted by accident. No crowds, just the sound of gulls and the sea – pure joy.

Our pinnacle mishap came when we aimed for a quick Llandudno promenade stroll but ended up on the hills behind Penmaenmawr. The lanes twisted like a maze, and we parked at a random layby that opened onto a wildflower meadow with views over the bay you’d pay a fortune for in a guidebook. We hiked a scruffy little path to a hidden cove, where we skimmed stones and watched seals bob in the distance. It made me pause for a bit of self-reflection, sat there on the rocks: I’m always rushing about in life, planning every minute, but getting lost like this reminded me how the detours often turn out to be the highlights.

Back at the studio each evening, sinking into the hot tub with a glass of wine, we’d relive our off-the-beaten-track triumphs. Llandudno and its surrounds are full of these accidental gems if you let yourself stray – proper food for the soul. If you’re after a couples’ escape that’s more serendipity than itinerary, this is the spot. We’re already plotting a return.