High class: an ideal gateway to developing a hiking habit

Dusting off his hiking boots after the guts of two decades, Chris Stevenson discovers the joy of north Wales’s mountain trails and also ditching a tent in favour of a hotel and spa

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Looking at my scuffed walking boots, the tread worn by the last time they touched Welsh soil back when I was 17, as well as the swiftly thinning lining of my rucksack, I realised it was time for some new walking kit.

This reflection had come when thinking about a fresh trip to Wales, including some hiking around Eryri (also known as Snowdonia). The last time I hiked was during my Duke of Edinburgh expeditions when I was a teenager, lugging my tent, copious amounts of Kendal Mint Cake and several tins of spaghetti hoops (a severe mistake, it turned out, due to the added weight) around with my mates.

I’ve been trying to get fitter over the last 18 months and this seemed like a good opportunity to add to my weekly swimming and football sessions, as well as a chance to get away with my partner Anna, who loves a hike – and does not share my distrust of heights.

I’ve got nothing against tents – in fact, I appreciate a night under the stars – but this time I was set on a slightly more comfortable setting as a base. Enter The Quay Hotel and Spa, a four-star stay on the waterfront of Conwy Estuary, which has added a £1m spa to help relax those weary legs.