The Whitehall

The salt tang off the Irish Sea reaches you before you've even unpacked, and on clear mornings the light bouncing off Colwyn Bay's wide crescent beach has a particular shimmer that makes you want to linger over breakfast.

This is a good-value base for couples or small families exploring the North Wales coast — guest house rooms if you want a proper bed and four walls, or a camping pod if you're after something a bit more adventurous without going full canvas. Dogs are welcome by arrangement, so worth asking ahead if you're bringing one along. Colwyn Bay itself sits midway between Llandudno and the wilder stretches toward Conwy, with the pier, promenade walks, and mountain biking up in the Eryri foothills all within easy reach.

It's open year-round, which makes it handy for off-season coastal breaks when half the campsites have shuttered. Campfires depend on what's allowed when you arrive, so check at reception. Expect a straightforward, no-fuss seaside stay — nothing fancy, but honest and well-placed for pottering along the coast or striking inland when the weather turns.