There are some roads that can rightly boast to their neighbours that they are the best in the area, and the ones that hug a shoreline are surely the winners of this boasting competition. West Drive is a road sure to make most streets envious as, not only does it flank a coastline, it is surely one of the most strolled streets in Wales.
On the seafront at Porthcawl the road that accompanies the waves starts as The Esplanade that meanders from the harbour wall and past the eateries, hotels and apartments that look out over an uninterrupted sea view.
Past the street's own seafront venue, The Grand Pavilion theatre, the road becomes more residential with substantial houses that can claim to be residing on one of the hottest real estate spots on this stretch of the coastline between Vale of Glamorgan and Gower peninsula.
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The promenade and the three beaches at Porthcawl are visited by thousands of people every year, from local day trippers to people happily staying for longer or setting up home for a while in Trecco Bay holiday park.
As the road morphs into West Drive, the hotels get bigger, the houses get bigger and the price tags get bigger, so if you want to pack up your bucket and spade and move to this road permanently you'll need a healthy budget but also be quick.
According to property portal Zoopla, the current average sold price for West Drive is £800,000 with only one sale within the last 12 months to dictate this figure. It's an exclusive street and so getting a detached house with a panoramic sea view is a bit of a rarity, with only two such sales within the last five years.
So maybe a flat or semi-detached house on the street is easier to find? Definitely not - there have been only two sales of semi-detached homes, and only four flats have been sold, within the last 10 years. Yes, there are fewer of them to find on the street than a detached home but that makes them all the more like gold-dust.
So enters a rare semi-detached home for sale - a contemporary and stylish addition to the West Drive streetscene that is looking to captivate a potential buyer with its three stories of fabulousness that includes two balconies to immerse yourself in the panoramic seaside scene.
From Rest Bay to the right towards the harbour to the left, there are waves to watch, people to peer at and gulls to gawp at; there's never a dull moment looking out at this coastal scene, even on a dull day.
The semi-detached house is an example of how to optimise a very valuable slice of prime real estate. Take a trip back in time via Google maps to 2011 and this modern abode has yet to be born. Standing in its spot by the sea instead is a very nice but rather non-descript looking detached house.
That has been skipped and in its place this pair of semis have been constructed; one original home has become two and released the full potential of this coastal plot.
It means now two lucky families can enjoy daily walks along the beach or promenade or a spot of surfing or body boarding opposite the house, to feel refreshed and revitalised within 10 seconds - all they have to do is cross the road.
And one of the two modern semi-detached homes is now for sale. The ground floor, as well as handy off-street parking for two vehicles, has two bedrooms with the front one boasting a beach, rocks and sea view. This room is not wedded to the function of a bedroom, this versatile house potentially has four bedrooms, so this room could be anything a new owner requires - a home office, a gym, a games room? There is an ensuite cloakroom off the rear bedroom, and a family bathroom as well as a utility room and storage space on this floor.
Up the bespoke oak staircase to arguably the main event in this coastal home - an open-plan kitchen diner lounge that flows seamlessly from the high-end glossy kitchen at the back, through the sociable eating zone, to the lounge at the front which then spills out onto the balcony via patio doors and into that incredible view.
Forget what's on the TV, unless it's a property programme of course, and just look at that view. It's mesmerising during the day watching the winter storms or the summer sunsets, and it's absorbing during the night, with the moon sending light beams across the water to you and the stars twinkling their approval.
If there was a toll booth on that patio door from the lounge to the balcony it would surely be making a packet, as who wouldn't want to get out there at every available opportunity? It entices you out with the promise of a different scenario every day - a non-repeatable mix of weather, waves, wildlife and strollers, sunsets and sounds.
Inside the view is rather lovely too, and worth coming back in to enjoy. The glossy white, handless kitchen is a contemporary dream space, with juicy lime green glass splashback, granite surfaces, travertine flooring, an island unit and integrated appliances that include a wine cooler.
The dining zone is the central space that oozes modern sophistication, from the oak flooring and copper trio of statement lights to the ten seater dining set. The plants visually link the space to the kitchen, with the green picked up again in the lounge area via the painted chimney breast.
There's a bonus shower room on this floor to have a peek inside too, before climbing the stairs again. On this section of the ascent be sure to admire the statement light flowing down the stairwell that adds glamour to an otherwise unused central space.
The wall is wanting you to take a look too, as it houses a very pretty and surprising addition of a circular stained glass window in tones of blue that echoes the movement of waves and reminds you of the home's coastal location.
Arrive at the top floor then and there are two bedrooms calling you, but one has the most to shout about. It's a substantial space with room for all the bedroom furniture that most people need and an ensuite, but it's the addition of a private balcony that makes this slumber zone truly shine.
From this elevated position on the second floor you feel like you are on top of planet Porthcawl, able to see for miles in all directions.
It's the best spot in the house, and there are many great ones to choose from, to see the sea and immerse yourself in the coastal location, away from the world below and stretching out to the sea in front and the sky above. Sitting out here is the best way to start your day and relax before bedtime at this special abode on this most popular of sea fronts.
This modern masterpiece by the sea is for sale with a guide price of £730,000 with Thompsons Estate Agents, Porthcawl, call them on 01656 784525 to find out more. And to make sure you never miss the best dream homes in Wales, renovation stories and interiors, join the Amazing Welsh Homes newsletter, sent out to your inbox twice a week.
