I’ll never forget the drive up to Llandudno from Manchester – it was meant to be a straightforward hour and a half, but no, we decided to take the scenic route through the Conway Valley and promptly got stuck behind a flock of sheep being herded across the road. There we were, me and the missus, tapping our fingers on the steering wheel, laughing about how this was peak Welsh countryside chaos. By the time we arrived, the sun was dipping low, casting that golden glow over the hills, and I could already feel the holiday buzz kicking in.

Pulling up to the cottage on this little smallholding just outside Abergele, about five miles from Llandudno, we were gobsmacked. It’s the larger of two semi-detached ones, perfect for us even though it sleeps six – plenty of space for a cosy couple’s break with room to breathe. Ground-floor bedroom and shower room, which was a thoughtful touch, three bedrooms upstairs including a massive king-size double we claimed straight away, plus a double and a twin. The open-plan living area is a dream: bright and airy with a fitted kitchen, a comfy corner sofa for lounging, and a dining spot right by patio doors that swing open to an enclosed patio. That first evening, we cracked open a bottle of wine, fired up the hot tub, and just soaked it all in – country views over the pastureland, total sun trap, pure bliss.

Next morning, we wandered into Llandudno, barely a ten-minute drive, and it felt like stepping into a postcard. The promenade was buzzing gently with dog walkers and families, the sea sparkling under that big Welsh sky. We grabbed fish and chips from a proper seaside spot – none of your fancy nonsense, just crispy batter and mushy peas – and munched them on the beach, toes in the sand, watching the tide roll in. Later, we hopped on the Great Orme Tramway, chugging up the hill for those sweeping views over the bay. It’s daft how something so simple can make you feel like a kid again.

Back at the cottage, it was all about those little pleasures. I tried my hand at cooking a roast in that well-kitted kitchen – lamb from a local butcher we spotted in Colwyn Bay – but managed to set off the smoke alarm with slightly overzealous Yorkshire puds. Cue much waving of tea towels and helpless giggles; the missus reckoned it was my way of keeping things lively. We spent evenings bubbling in the hot tub, stargazing, or just reading on the patio as the sun set over the fields. One night, a family of rabbits hopped right up to the fence – magic.

Reflecting on it now, sat back home with the grey drizzle outside, I realise it’s the quiet bits that stick: no rush, no schedules, just us pottering about, embracing the gentle mayhem of cottage life. It was one of those breaks that reminds you what matters – good company, fresh air, and a hot tub to melt away the world. We’re already plotting a return; Llandudno’s got our hearts.