By Bridget March
In a nutshell
Understated yet stylish, unpretentious but sophisticated, The Quay Hotel is the ideal home to surrounding views of unspoiled rural beauty.
Where is it?
Picturesquely positioned in Deganwy, North Wales, the coastal retreat is set in an idyllic waterside location overlooking the Unesco World Heritage Site of Conwy Castle, the rugged Welsh cliffs and stretching Irish Sea.
Perfect for?
It's ideal for hand-holders who want a romantic and relaxing rural retreat. Outside the hotel, Deganwy boasts rich medieval military architecture, perfect for exploring, while nearby Llandudno boasts an award-winning pier, beautiful marine drive and tramway taking tourists to the summit of the Great Orme, a stunning limestone headland.
Eating and drinking
We balanced out the culture-vulturing with some indulgent drinking and dining at the sophisticated Vue hotel restaurant. Our Anglesey scallops were fresh, meaty and tender, the smoked salmon mousse was light yet super-creamy and the ratatouille presented in mini bell peppers was a treat for the eyes as well as the taste buds.
Best bit
Modern met medieval when we unwound on our smart room's balcony before the jaw-dropping view of Conwy Castle. We watched a stunning sunset behind the estuary and Welsh cliffs, heard waves lap and seagulls swoop and felt serene as we soaked up the unspoiled scenery.
Worst bit
I can only imagine booking a room without a view and missing out on this memorable experience.
Spa
Their smart spa offers numerous luxury ESPA treatments to further help you unwind. After an invigorating deep tissue massages and a relaxing hot stone therapy, we left feeling less tense and more gorgeous.
Anything else?
Special offers include £35 per person per room only in January and three nights with dinner each night, breakfast and one spa treatment for £225 per person per night. See www.quayhotel.com/offers.html for more details. The spa is also offering three for £49 or five for £79 on various treatments through March.
Getting there
The Quay Hotel and Spa is located 46 miles from Chester, 62 miles from Liverpool and 81 miles from Manchester. Deganwy is the nearest rail station.
See www.quayhotel.com for more information.
Looking for more romantic break ideas? Check out our favourite escapes or book your own UK weekend break with allaboutyou.com's fabulous hotel finder.
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