Colwyn Bay Promenade

The promenade at Colwyn Bay stretches for a proper mile along the North Wales coast, and it's one of those rare seaside walks that actually delivers. You get decent sand, a sweep of bay that catches the light nicely, and on clear days the views across to Llandudno's headland are worth the trip alone.

It's really a place for a gentle wander rather than dramatic scenery. Families with younger kids will find the beach safe and accessible, the prom wide enough for pushchairs, and enough ice cream stops to keep everyone happy. Walkers tend to use it as a warm-up stretch or a cool-down after tackling the bigger coastal paths nearby. The promenade itself is free and open year-round, though summer obviously brings the crowds and the best weather for lingering.

Allow an hour or so for a leisurely stroll each way, longer if you fancy a sit-down with a coffee and a book. The bay can get a bit grey and dreary in winter, so timing matters. Spring through autumn is when it shines.

If you're staying at one of the local parks - Dinarth Hall is closest at less than two miles - this works perfectly as your daily leg-stretch between longer outings. It's the kind of place that doesn't demand much from you but rewards a bit of attention. Not dramatic, but genuinely pleasant, and the kind of walk locals do properly often, which usually means it's worth doing.