[Disclosure: We were invited for a complimentary stay at Bluestone, including a spa experience and a meal for two at Black Pool Mill. We paid for everything else, including food, activities etc]
Despite not having kids of my own, I’m no stranger to a holiday park. Having missed out on them as a kid, I couldn’t wait for my first Center Parcs experience. We went in our 20s with another couple and loved it.
I’m not sure why – a packed swimming pool, over-priced food, rounds of crazy golf in the rain just somehow did it for us. So much so that we went back with other friends and their daughter when she was a toddler – seeing firsthand that however much fun it is for adults, it’s 100 times more magical for kids.
I hadn’t been since, but remain convinced that holiday parks and resorts are something we should never dismiss out of hand. No, they’re not a boutique hotel in a far-flung city, or a luxurious all-inclusive resort, but there’s something about them that smacks of fun. Plus, in recent years they’ve all very much upped their game providing nice accommodation, a broad range of activities, and pretty good food and drink that caters for the whole family, or even groups of friends.
Bluestone in Pembrokeshire isn’t brand new. It’s been around a while and despite slipping under my radar, judging by the number of people I know who it turns out have holidayed there or heard of it, is pretty popular. I can see why. Forward thinking, well thought-out, tucked away in beautiful Wales, and not too unreasonable price-wise for the basic booking, it’s a great option for a staycation. And no, you don’t need kids to be welcome there.
We were invited for a short break to check out everything Bluestone has to offer, so I’ve put you together a comprehensive guide in case you’re thinking of going. Because nobody should overlook a holiday park – at least once….
Where is Bluestone Resort?
Bluestone Resort sits in the heart of Pembrokeshire in Wales. It’s literally slap bang in Pembrokeshire National Park – so basically just open countryside., It’s just 20 minutes from stunning coastline, and feels a million miles away from reality to be honest.
What makes Bluestone different?
Bluestone was once a dairy farm. Owner William McNamara decided he wanted to turn it into a sustainable holiday resort. He opened Bluestone in 2008 – the first of its kind in a National Park – aiming to enhance the national park by protecting and helping wildlife with an ambitious biodiversity plan.
The whole resort was designed with sustainability at its heart, using next-level innovation from being the first company in the world to recycle disposable nappies and use them to make and lay tarmac on new paths and roads on the resort, as well as building its own 11-hectre solar farm and heating its water park using locally-sources biomass instead of oil.
Where do you stay at Bluestone?
In your own lodges. We stayed in one of their new St Govan platinum lodges that opened in 2023 and it was quite frankly brilliant. Beautifully designed, well appointed, and the right balance of swish and cosy, making it perfect to relax in after a day’s activities but still feel like a retreat.
The platinum lodges at Bluestone are just one accommodation. They have something for everyone, from studio apartments right up to a lodge that sleeps up to 12. One or two-bedroom cottages, lodges including accessible options, bigger lodges for larger families and groups.
Many of the lodges, including our platinum lodge, have an upside-down layout, so you can look out over views while you’re relaxing, then toddle off downstairs when it’s time for bed.
Some, including our lodge, come with your own complimentary golf buggy to get around the resort, or you can hire one. The whole resort is pretty much car-free, so once you’ve unloaded your stuff into your new home for the week or weekend, you deposit your vehicle back at the car park then embrace the feeling of being far far away from reality. Hire a golf buggy, hire bikes, or use the power of your own legs to get around the resort.
If you do go for a platinum lodge, they’re pretty plush. The kitchen diner was all floor-to-ceiling glass, making it light and bright, with a huge sofa for chilling in front of the flame-effect fire. Plus a really well-equipped kitchen so if you don’t want to eat out you can whip up a feast for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
There is a sun-room off the main living space that in summer has fully-retractable glass doors, giving you what would be a lovely indoor-outdoor space. In winter, it’s a light, bright room where you can soak up the sun without setting foot outside. There is even an extra little TV room on the upstairs floor – perfect for us for relegating the boys when they wanted to watch the football, or equally great if children need a quiet space to take in a bit of Peppa or whatever it is kids watch these days…
Downstairs we had three bedrooms – one with en-suite – and a family bathroom. All were pretty well sized, and the en-suite was lovely. Jack and Jill sinks. A freestanding bath. Great shower. Everything you could want really. And let’s not forget the complimentary toiletries, decent, fluffy towels and general lovely decor. We didn’t actually have a wardrobe and storage space was a bit on the sparse side, but there was a hanging rail and bedside tables that helped.
Needless to say, it’s a great space for a family. Plenty of bedrooms and the ability to configure them slighty different for children, plus I spotted a travel cot if you need one. Home from home, just with a tonne of fun stuff and magical experiences right outside.
What can you do at Bluestone?
Pretty much anything. I’ve been to Center Parcs before and I’m fairly sure Bluestone offers as many activities and entertainment as you get there. Similarly to CP, the activities aren’t included in your price, so you’ll have to pay extra. Some work out quite pricey, others less so, so it depends on your budget whether you want to push the boat out.
If you’re after water-based fun, the Blue Lagoon is where you need to be heading. Flumes, waves, a lazy river, swimming lessons and more. We didn’t make it in while we were there but went to have a look and it really is a water-babies’ paradise.
The Hive is an indoor venue that’s all about learning through play. They stage various activities here that sound great for kids, and there are also all sorts of climbing walls and a fun-looking zipline, plus a cafe and even glow in the dark bowling. Perfect for family fun.
Nearby is the Serendome – a huge dome that creates a kind of indoor-outdoor feel. It’s undercover to protect you from the elements, and packed with stuff to do from aerial adventure courses to street food vendors, as well as the Cloud Theatre where they stage all sorts of events and entertainment.
For me, the Serendome was one of the most magical places during our pre-Christmas trip, with a dusting of snow over everything, and an occasional snowstorm accompanied by music, not to mention Christmas cocktails at the bar and Christmas entertainment in the Cloud theatre.
At the heart of Bluestone lies ‘The Village’. As its name suggests, this hub is created like a colourful little village, with traditional pub the Knight’s Tafarn – perfect for afternoon drinks and snacks, family dinners, and for our boys to watch the football, not to mention a quiz and live music on some nights.
The Village is home to various restaurants too. More on that later but there are plenty to choose from. There’s also a children’s play area, a shop for provisions if you need anything for your lodge, and a lovely little coffee shop called Ty Coffi.
There are plenty of outdoor activities to get involved in at Bluestone. We signed up for axe-throwing but sadly got lost en-route and weren’t allowed to get involved. Take note – do NOT be late for axe-throwing or you’ll miss out. The silver lining was that it meant we swapped (and paid a bit extra) to do zip lining instead which I reckon might have been better.
Zip lining and various other activities take place at the ‘Steep Ravine’ in another part of the resort, where adrenaline is the name of the game. There’s even an outdoor restaurant over here, Camp Smokey, though it’s closed in the winter months sadly.
If outdoor fun is your thing, you can sign up for paddleboarding and kayaking on the lake near the village in the spring and summer. All of these are literally the tip of the iceberg of what you can do. But hopefully you get the gist that there’s plenty to get involved in – and as much or as little as you like. One day we had activities all planned in, others we just mooched around, soaking it all up.
Is there stuff for adults to do at Bluestone?
It may be billed as a family resort, and lots of the activities are aimed at children and families, but there’s plenty to do for adults at Bluestone too. We got our adrenaline fix courtesy of zip-lining, and enjoyed exploring the resort, soaking up the atmosphere in the Serendome (including the bar).
Bluestone also has a lovely spa – you can book a two-hour experience that allows you access to the outdoor whirlpool, steam room, ice bath, sauna and relaxation area where we wiled away some time chatting with a cocktail or prosecco.
You can book treatments at the spa too. My friend had a facial and massage and declared them absolutely brilliant. And if you do book a treatment, you get the two hours in the spa anyway, so it’s a great way for adults to enjoy themselves.
If you want something a bit more low-key, there’s plenty of great walks around Bluestone and nearby. We explored the woodland, leading us through to Black Pool Mill – a mill converted into a beautiful restaurant that you can visit for lunch or dinner. Read more about our meal at Black Pool Mill here.
If you want to explore beyond Bluestone, there are maps available for walks in the area. You can also hire bikes and take y9urself off on a bike ride. We got to nearby Narberth which is a lovely little town perfect for a little mooch around. The beaches are also reachable by car if you fancy a day out – just go and collect your car and head for the coast.
If you want something a bit different, you can book off-site activities too. From river adventures and coasteering to ‘offshore’ adventures where you can spot orcas and other marine wildlife on a grand day out. Or, of course, if you’re after a holiday you can just easily chill out at your lodge, as we did one afternoon, nibbling on lovely food and tucking into a few civilised drinks in the warmth and comfort of your home from home.
Where can you eat at Bluestone?
Italian? Steak? Cocktails? Pub grub? You can pretty much find it all at Bluestone and I’m fairly sure nobody will go hungry. Most of the restaurants are fairly family friendly, and from what I could see they don’t have particularly late sittings, but this wasn’t a problem for us.
The pub, the Knight’s Tafarn, was a good place for snacks. Have the nachos, you won’t regret it. Upstairs above it the Oak Tree served up much better Italian food than I thought it would be, including some tasty arancini and some banging pizzas. You can also get takeaway pizzas delivered to your lodge as another option if you don’t want to ‘eat out’.
The Farmhouse Grill has more of a pub feel. We scoffed some simple fare in there but it was tasty and service was good. They promise fabulous cocktails but I’m not sure I’d give them any awards. That said, is this the kind of place you’re coming to for extraordinary cocktails? Probably not. And they were nice enough to quaff after a day of fun.
Through the woodland or a short drive away you’ll find Black Pool Mill. This one is worthy of a full review so go and check it out here. Or you could grab yourself some supplies (or take them with you) and cook up a storm at your lodge. After all, it would be a shame not to use the fabulous kitchen and everything in it while you’re there.
How do you get around Bluestone?
As mentioned, Bluestone is a car-free resort, so once you’ve unloaded your car into your lodge and taken it back, you won’t see it again until you pick it up. Which is kind of the whole point. It’s meant to be an adventure – a place you can embrace your surroundings. Sounds corny, I know, but from some parts of the resort you’ll have amazing views across rolling hills and a glimpse at the Pembrokeshire countryside.
If using your own legs is a bit off-putting or a bit too much for little ones, there are other ways to get yourself around Bluestone, which is pretty big to be fair. Our Platinum Lodge came with its own golf buggy, which could be plugged in at the lodge then used to make our way to and from different parts of the resort. I think you can hire buggies even if your lodge doesn’t come with one.
Alternatively, you can hire bikes to get around the resort, or to get to nearby places – or even take your own with you if you’re organised.
What is close to Bluestone
Is Bluestone good at Christmas?
In a word – yes. We visited Bluestone in the first week in December and it was a Christmas extravaganza. As an adult, I was blown away by the festive fun so for children I’m pretty sure it would make for a magical break to remember.
From the minute you arrive, you’ll feel like you’re in a winter wonderland. Lights everywhere, people’s golf buggies adorned with tinsel and decorations, and a whole programme of Christmas activities.
We soaked up snowstorms in the Serendome with Christmas cocktails in hand and watched Christmas shows in the Cloud Theatre by night. We watched Rudolf singing Christmas tunes in The Village, and caught a bit more al fresco entertainment outside the beautifully-lit Village buildings.
Elves walked among us as we mooched around the resort, and while I was too old for a special kit to write my letter to Santa (which you get in your info pack if you’re a bona fide child rather than a 41-year-old masquerading as one), we did join everyone watching Santa make his way round the lodges collecting people’s letters in his tractor. Magical moments, even for this adult.
