Bluestone National Park Resort might actually be the perfect family getaway – and not just because there are sofas and a bar in the soft play. (If you know, you know.)
Throughout my (rather wet) four-night stay at the purpose-built village in Pembrokeshire, Wales, there’s always something going on, guaranteed to keep my sons, five and three, entertained – as well as us adults.
After unloading our car and checking into our three-bedroom St Govan Lodge, we head straight out to explore the 500-acre site’s multiple restaurants, shops, huge pool, and play areas.
But, with so much to see, trying to cram it all in on a short stay is almost impossible, even if we’re able to whizz past the walkers and cyclists in our golf buggy (included with our accommodation, but available to rent otherwise).
We lose hours to Serendome – the resort’s indoor-outdoor playground with multiple spots to explore and places to eat.
It’s got swings, a huge sandpit area and a splash zone – so a change of clothes for your little ones is recommended.
There are also bookable options, which cost extra, like the Sky Walk, which is an indoor climbing frame, and Wacky Racers, where kids can paint their own karts before racing them.
Next door is The Hive.
Lisa Snell and her family check into Bluestone National Park Resort in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Above is their accommodation – St Govan Lodge, which comes with a golf buggy (pictured)
Cosy: Above is the interior of Lisa’s three-bedroom lodge
‘We lose hours to Serendome – the resort’s indoor-outdoor playground with multiple spots to explore,’ says Lisa. Pictured is one of Lisa’s sons playing there
As well as swings, a sandpit area and a splash zone, Serendome offers bookable options, including the ‘Sky Walk’, an indoor adventure course that one of Lisa’s sons is pictured playing on
Its indoor play tower and air maze is a huge hit with our family, although trying to get the kids to leave takes all my powers of persuasion.
But it’s the Blue Lagoon Water Park that’s a firm favourite for our two boys.
The subtropical indoor water park has a wave pool, lazy river and some thrilling water flumes that certainly aren’t for the faint-hearted.
Bookable swim classes include ‘Water Babies’ for children under three, while kids who are more confident swimmers can try ‘Merschool’, where they’ll ‘be transformed into a mermaid’.
The pirate takeover with music and inflatables is also not to be missed.
As a family of four travelling with two young children we don’t experience some of the more thrilling activities for older children and adults, such as axe throwing, archery and laser tag in the woods.
The Blue Lagoon Water Park (pictured) is ‘a firm favourite’ for Lisa’s boys. She says: ‘The subtropical indoor water park has a wave pool, lazy river and some thrilling water flumes that certainly aren’t for the faint-hearted’
Lisa’s sons hunt for fairies in the woods surrounding the resort
Lisa and her family spend a ‘spectacular’ evening deep in the forest at Camp Smokey and enjoy ‘Smokey Joe’s Shindig’ – ‘where dancing on chairs is actively encouraged’ and ear defenders are available. She says: ‘We sing the night away while being served a delicious barbecue spread’
But our kid-friendly itinerary is exhausting enough for me and my wife, so we tag-team childcare and sample the delights of The Well Spa.
The Thermal Suite Experience with its steam rooms and saunas is a must, and there are plenty of treatments to choose from.
Just a couple of hours away from the kids leaves me feeling relaxed and ready to parent again.
Refreshed, I head out with the gang into the beautiful surrounding countryside.
We go hunting for fairies in the woods and spend a spectacular evening deep in the forest at Camp Smokey and enjoy ‘Smokey Joe’s Shindig’ – where dancing on chairs is actively encouraged (ear defenders are available behind the bar for younger children or those more sensitive to noise).
We sing the night away while being served a delicious barbecue spread.
With so many entertaining spots – including so many protected from the rain – Bluestone cements itself as a superb all-year-round destination for young, very young, and old (er) alike.
The Hive (file image) ‘is a huge hit’ with Lisa’s family. She writes: ‘Trying to get the kids to leave takes all my powers of persuasion’
Thrilling activities for older children and adults include axe throwing (file image), archery and laser tag in the woods
