I’ll never forget the drive up to Penmaenmawr – we’d set off from Manchester full of beans, sandwiches packed and the satnav chirping away happily. Then, halfway along the A55, disaster struck: a cheeky little puncture from what must’ve been a rogue bit of Welsh grit. There we were, me and Sarah, faffing about on the hard shoulder with the spare tyre, laughing at how we looked like proper amateurs. Took us an hour, but by the time we rolled into the village, the sun was dipping low, and honestly, it just added to the adventure.

Pulling up to the place, my heart did a little flip – it was even better than the photos. This charming second-floor flat, perched just outside the centre of Penmaenmawr, screamed cosy couple’s retreat. We hauled our bags up the stairs (good job we travel light), and stepped into the living room/diner, bathed in this gorgeous light from the big window. The views? Blimey, straight across the bay to Puffin Island, Anglesey, and the Great Orme in Llandudno. We dumped everything and just stood there, gobsmacked, as the sunset turned the sea all pink and gold.

From that moment, the holiday became all about doing sod all – and I mean that in the best possible way. No grand plans, no hiking marathons into Snowdonia (though it’s right there if you fancy it). Just lazy days unfolding like a proper treat. Mornings started with brekkie on that massive sofa, me with a cuppa and a book, Sarah sketching the view. The flat’s got this shared garden out back – nothing fancy, but a proper suntrap with a couple of benches and pots overflowing with flowers. We’d potter down there mid-morning, armed with coffees from the little shop down the road, and flop into loungers. Hours vanished reading trashy novels and watching gulls wheel over the bay. One afternoon, I swear I dozed off with my book on my face – woke up to Sarah giggling and the Orme glowing in the distance.

Lunches were lazy affairs: fresh bread, cheese from the local deli, maybe a wander to the beach at low tide for a paddle and an ice cream from the Penmaenmawr prom. Afternoons blurred into napping, more reading, or just staring out the window as clouds scudded over Conway Bay. Evenings? Cosy on the sofa again, telly on low, sharing a bottle of wine while the sky bruised purple. No rush, no schedules – just that delicious slow-down that makes you realise how knackered everyday life leaves you.

Looking back, it was a gentle nudge to myself: I’m always chasing the next thing, but what if the joy’s in the pause? We left feeling recharged, not knackered from gallivanting. If you’re after North Wales coast vibes without the frenzy – beaches, hills, and all – this spot’s pure magic for switching off. Can’t wait to go back and do even less.