I’ll never forget the drive down to Pembrokeshire – what should’ve been a straightforward jaunt from Carmarthen turned into a comedy of errors when the sat-nav decided to play silly buggers and sent us on a detour through some narrow lanes that made our old estate car feel like a tank. We were bouncing along, kids in the back moaning about needing the loo, and me trying to keep the peace while my other half fiddled with the map app that kept losing signal. By the time we spotted the sea glinting in the distance, I was frazzled, sweating like I’d run a marathon, and questioning why we hadn’t just stayed home with a tent in the garden.

But oh, pulling into that beautiful coastal village of Amroth was like flipping a switch. There it was, this cosy yet contemporary flat right in front of the sea, with spectacular views that hit you like a breath of fresh Welsh air. We’d been buzzing with anticipation all week – emails back and forth about beach walks and cream teas – but nothing prepared us for those first impressions. Parked up, we grabbed the bags and headed to the entrance, only to face another mini mishap: a steep flight of stairs up to a shared courtyard with the other nearby flats. Lugging suitcases, picnic hamper, and a sulky teenager’s guitar case, I nearly tripped over my own feet, puffing and panting like an unfit uncle at a wedding. “This is character-building!” I joked through gritted teeth, earning eye-rolls all round.

Once inside, though, it was pure magic. Recently renovated, the place had this charming, bright and airy feel that instantly melted away the arrival chaos. Spread over two floors, it slept our family of five perfectly – a comfy king-size double on the ground floor for us, and up in the eaves, a family room with three singles that the kids claimed immediately, giggling about the sloped ceilings like it was a treehouse. Located above a cracking bar and grill, the smell of grilling fish wafted up, tempting us before we’d even unpacked. A short stroll to the local pubs and shops meant we could pop out for essentials without the car, which felt like a godsend after our road woes.

That first evening, we cracked open the windows to the sound of waves crashing below – honestly, it was mesmerising. We wandered down to Amroth’s pebbly beach, just steps away, skimmed stones (me spectacularly badly, as usual), and watched the sun dip behind the cliffs. The next morning, over brekkie with those views, I had a quiet moment of self-reflection: amid the holiday hustle, how often do we rush past these simple joys? Here, with the sea as our backdrop and the flat as our perfect base, it felt like we’d stumbled into a little slice of paradise. Sure, the journey was a faff, but it made the arrival all the sweeter. If you’re after a family spot in Pembrokeshire that ticks every box, this is it – mishaps and all.