COACH trips have travelled a long way since the days of the bone-shaking charabancs of the 1920s. Even in the 1980s, I can remember a pub “beano” to Great Yarmouth in which weary passengers had to get out and push the clapped-out vehicle.

Today’s coaches are no longer the buses of old. They come equipped with all mod cons and are not solely the domain of the “blue rinse brigade”.

The first port of call on my Welsh weekend was Conwy. Its magnificent castle commands a stunning position overlooking the River Conwy.

The local guide’s enthusiasm for his subject seemed to get the better of him when he referred to Henry VIII’s “disillusionment” of the monasteries. But I suppose he had a point, for the monks at least.

A walk around the impressive battlements of this splendid coastal fortress afforded superb views of the ancient walled town.

Down by the quay, I paid a visit to the smallest house in Great Britain. Paying a visit was perhaps the correct phrase… I’ve seen bigger loos!

The compact and bijou property was last inhabited in 1900, and the final tenant to squeeze into the one-up one-down was 6ft 3ins tall.

The first night was spent at the Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel, in Denbighshire. This 185-room hotel in the Clwydian Hills also houses the National Portrait Gallery, with 19th century collections from three of the UK’s national galleries. There are 260 acres of parkland featuring formal gardens with woodland walks, an aviary and a maze. There are also First World War practice trenches which were used by troops from the nearby Kinmel Training Camp to prepare for the brutal realities of the Western Front.

The adults-only hotel has a health suite with swimming pool and an indoor bowls complex as well as providing live evening entertainment.

At Portmeirion, on the Llyn Peninsula, I was taken back to my 1960s childhood watching The Prisoner in black and white on the box. The cult TV series was filmed in this superb setting with its trompe d’oeils and multi-coloured buildings. The coastal village was the brainchild of conservationist Clough Williams-Ellis, who completed his dream development in 1976 – 50 years after it first opened.

Nowadays, catching a train is a fairly mundane affair. But it was a real pleasure to board the Welsh Highland Railway on the journey from Rhyd Ddu to Caernarfon.

The wonderful narrow-gauge steam locomotive rattled its way through the beautiful countryside and the heights of Snowdon could be seen in the distance.

As the little locomotive pulled into the station, there was a fantastic view of Caernarfon Castle, which guards the western entrance to the Menai Straits. The fairytale fortress was where Prince Charles was invested as the Prince of Wales on July 1, 1969.

Llandudno was a revelation. A wonderful untarnished Victorian resort in a majestic position in the sweep of the bay between the limestone headlands of Little Orme and Great Orme.

Tacky amusement arcades blight many a seaside town in Great Britain. But not in Llandudno. The grand 19th century hotels look down on the wide prom which curves around the bay. This is how seaside resorts used to be – and should still be today. It’s a place with style.

I stayed at the classy Imperial Hotel, a four-star gem among the tiara of hotels which adorn the prom.

Beautiful Bodnant Garden is a must visit. Giant redwoods and sequoias loom large in this plant-lovers’ heaven which nestles in 80 acres of stunning Welsh real estate above the River Conwy.

My weekend ended with Sunday lunch at The Groes Inn, the oldest licensed house in Wales.

As I tucked into my bangers and mash, I reflected on my “taster trip”.

On my holidays in the UK, I had always made tracks for the Lake District or Scotland. Why I had never considered Wales before, I really don’t know.

But, like my lunch, it tasted great – and I’ll be back for seconds.

Fact file

•The best way to see North Wales is on a coach tour. Let someone else do the driving as you relax and get a great view of this beautiful region. Most coach operators from Yorkshire who are members of the Coach Tourism Council (coachtourismcouncil.co.uk) operate tours to North Wales – it is one of their most popular destinations. Most operate door-to-door services with local pick-up points.

•In North Yorkshire operators include Eddie Brown Tours (eddiebrowntours.com 01423 321246) and Bibby’s of Ingleton (bibbys.co.uk 015242 41330) who pick up from Harrogate and Knaresborough • Eddie Brown: June 19-22, Spectacular Snowdonia £339pp, staying at Warners Bodelwyddan Castle and including three nights dinner and breakfast, cabaret entertainment and excursions to Llandudno and Swallow Falls. Or July 14-18, Snowdonia’s Floral Tracks £439pp. Staying in Beddgelert at three-star Royal Goat Hotel, this tour takes in the best of Snowdonia with mountain railways and gardens including Bodnant and the Welsh Highland Railway.

•Bibby’s offers a five-day Llandudno tour with four nights DBB and two train journeys included in the price of £299pp and taking in Conwy, Betwys-Coed, Snowdonia and the Llanberis Pass For more information, go to: visitwales.com