A Springtime Visit to Bluestone Wales

We last visited Bluestone Wales back in November 2014 for their Kingdom of the Elves Christmas experience and fell in love with the place there and then, despite the wet weather.
It also holds fonds memories for me too as it was the where Sebby took his first steps and learned the art of puddle jumping, with the help of his big brother.
We were invited back to Bluestone over half term and as I was travelling with the little ones and my eldest daughter and her boyfriend, opted to stay in a large 4 bedroom lodge at Preseli View.

When Bluestone say luxury, they are not kidding. The lodge was bigger than my own house, beautifully decorated with an open plan, expansive kitchen and large living /dining area.

Upstairs, there were three bedrooms, two twin and one double + en suite, plus a separate family bathroom.

There was a further twin room and a huge wet room downstairs, meaning that the lodge would comfortably sleep 8.

Unlike some holiday homes that ask you to bring your own linen, Bluestone provide soft beds made with crisp cotton and all the mod cons you could possibly want on a visit including digital TV’s, DVD players, WIFI, fresh linen and towels, fridge freezer facilities and a well equipped kitchen as standard. They even include dishwasher tablets and some cleaning equipment.

We would have been quite comfortable staying in our lodge for our entire stay but the thing about Bluestone is that there is so much to do for both kids and adults that there is no way you could squeeze it all in on one visit, but we were going to do our best to try.

The one place we had to visit on a daily basis was the Blue Lagoon Waterpark which is open to residents only from 9am until midday, making it the quietest time to visit, but it never got uncomfortably busy during our stay.

You enter the pool via an indoor beach style entrance that is perfect for young swimmers, follow the lazy river that takes you outside and then back in again, with fun fountains and bubbles to negotiate. For swimmers who like a bit of adrenalin, there is a rapids river ride and two log flumes plus they put the wave machine on every half an hour which the kids loved!
Young adventurers can also enjoy a pirates’ shipwreck Torrwr Mor, the younger ones can enjoy the little water cove, where parents can sit and watch them play at a table with a cup of coffee if they don’t want to get wet.
Another of the activities Isaac wanted to do was the High Ropes and Zip Wires. Sadly, being small for his age has its disadvantages and he wasn’t tall enough for the outdoor course, however, he was tall enough for the course inside the adventure centre.

He whizzed around it with no fear at all whilst we enjoyed the soft play, a spot of crazy golf and the bouncy castle.

During our visit to Bluestone Wales, we celebrated Abbey’s birthday and decided to book one of their 10 restaurants / cafe’s for a birthday meal – finally settling on Farmhouse Grill. The restaurant served a good variety of freshly cooked food whilst offering a small children’s play area which kept the little ones occupied whilst we waited for dinner.

I was really impressed by not only the food, but also the service. They were attentive but not over-bearing and I managed to sneak a birthday cake in for Abbey that they were more than happy to bring it out for me, all gathering to sing Happy Birthday to her when the time came.

Of course we managed to fit some dessert in too, with the kids making some ice cream covered in sweets, Abbey opting for the most luxurious milkshake I have ever seen…

………and I sampled a rather boozy Pimms eton mess, which was amazing.

Another place I had vowed to eat during our visit was Camp Smokey as I had missed it on our last visit. Set at the bottom of the Steep Ravine, it is a bit of a walk for little legs, but it is well worth it as Camp Smokey lets you dine al fresco with barbecue style food on offer.

I opted for a bowl of chilli con carne, whilst the kids plumped for hot dogs, although I think they were saving themselves for dessert though as it was toasted marshmallows and S’Mores on offer!

I cannot fault Bluestone for their hospitality. There are activities to entertain all ages including arts & crafts sessions, the Bluestone Ranger program and sports activities for the kids and a spa for the adults, or you can just mooch around the site finding all its hidden gems, like this new park in the heart of the village.

Bluestone Wales is set in the heart of the Pembrokeshire countryside, with wildlife roaming the site completely unabashed by everything going on. Bluestone is car free, except on arrival / leaving day, and you can hire a golf buggy to get around or choose to walk. We chose the latter and it is certainly doable if you don’t mind climbing a few hills, although my top tip is to find the short cuts!

The lodges are set fairly close together, enough for you to meet your neighbours but far enough apart for you to be able to relax without being disturbed. In the centre of Bluestone is a village which contains most of the restaurants, a couple of shops, the spa and the play park.

It is also a great place for exploring south-west Wales and we enjoyed trips out to Tenby and Folly Farm, which are both a short drive away.
The only thing I was disappointed to miss was the Zip Wires but I hope to return soon when Isaac is finally tall enough to join me!
Disclaimer: We were guest of Bluestone Wales for the purpose of a review. All thoughts and opinions are our own.
 
 

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