I’ll never forget the drive to Summertime Lodge last summer, that golden stretch of July when the Welsh sun hangs high and lazy, turning everything into a postcard. We’d piled into the car from Manchester early doors, me navigating with a dodgy signal on my phone, the kids bickering over crisps in the back. Conwy was calling, all that seaside promise just a couple of hours away. But typical me, I took a wrong turn near Colwyn Bay – nothing major, just an extra loop through sun-dappled lanes lined with bursting hedgerows heavy with blackberries. “Dad’s lost again!” the littlest one piped up, and we all had a right laugh. By the time we trundled into Abergele, the sky was that perfect blue you only get in high summer, with the sea winking in the distance.

Pulling up to Summertime Lodge felt like stumbling into a secret garden. Tucked in a quiet spot just a stone’s throw from Conwy’s edge, it’s one of those cosy lodges that screams “holiday escape” – wooden cladding glowing in the afternoon light, a cheeky hot tub bubbling away like it knew we’d need it after the drive. The seasonal magic hit us straight off: summer’s warmth wrapping around like a favourite jumper, the air thick with the scent of cut grass and wildflowers nodding in the breeze. We unloaded in a flurry, suitcases bumping over the gravel, and there it was – our three-day bolthole, perfectly pitched for lazy days in Wales’ sunniest corner.

Stepping inside, the first impressions were pure joy. The open-plan living space was bathed in light from those big windows, summer rays bouncing off cream walls and making the place feel twice as big. Plump sofas begged for a flop, and the kitchen was kitted out with everything you’d need for al fresco feasts – though with the weather this lush, who wants to cook indoors? We cracked open a bottle of rosé (chilled to perfection, naturally), and the kids dashed straight out to the enclosed garden. It’s a proper suntrap, that garden, with loungers angled to catch every ray and a barbecue primed for evening sizzles. Midday heat shimmered off the fence, turning the whole setup into a private oasis. I caught myself grinning like an idiot – when was the last time I’d properly switched off?

That first afternoon set the tone, all shaped by summer’s generous hand. We wandered a quick five-minute stroll to the nearby sands – Abergele’s beach isn’t flashy, but in July it’s heaven. Golden dunes fringed by marram grass, waves lapping lazy under a cloudless sky. The tide was out, exposing vast expanses of wet sand perfect for paddling, and the sea was that inviting turquoise, warm enough for a dip without turning blue-lipped. The kids built epic castles while I skimmed stones, the sun toasting our shoulders just right. No crowds, mind – just us and a few dog-walkers savouring the heat. Back at the lodge, we rinsed off under the outdoor shower (bliss after salty toes), and lounged in the hot tub as the sun dipped low, painting the sky in pinks and oranges. Bubbles and banter – proper family gold.

Evening brought that soft Welsh twilight, the kind that lingers till half nine. We fired up the barbie, grilling local sausages from the village shop (thick, herby beauties that tasted of summer holidays). Eating outside as the air cooled gently, fairy lights twinkling on, it was idyllic. A bat flitted overhead, and the distant murmur of the sea lulled us. Lying there later, stars popping out one by one, I had a quiet moment of reflection. Life’s mad rush back home feels miles away in summer’s embrace – here at Summertime Lodge, with Conwy’s gentle vibes and endless daylight, I realised how much I needed this reset. First impressions? Unbeatable. If you’re chasing that seasonal sweet spot, this is your spot.