With the Christmas and New Year festivities behind me I wondered how I would get through the month of January with the long, dark winter nights, the cold wet weather and the possibility of snow. So the suggestion of taking a few days holiday in West Wales at the end of January to review Bluestone Holiday Village was agreed to with a bit of in trepidation.
I must admit I did feel in need of a few days off, but cycling, high wire through the Steep Ravine and an archery lesson were perhaps not the kind of thing I was used to…but that was the whole idea… It was about doing something different…trying something new, so I agreed to take up the challenge…Oh but did I also mention that Bluestone is a 5 star holiday village and that I would also be treated to a massage in their Spa!
My husband, 15 month old daughter and I headed off with a few food necessities, lots of warm and waterproof clothing and the bikes. Bluestone operates a no car policy and although we had our own bikes they do provide bike hire facilities once you get there.
I hadn’t been to this part of Wales before, it was a very straight forward journey, although from Tunbridge Wells was a little longer than I would like in a car, but the beauty of the area soon made me forget the car journey. Bluestone Village has been created in the heart of the spectacular Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, West Wales, sitting within 500 acres of amazing countryside and woods near Narbeth, close to the famous coastal town of Tenby.
The village comprises of 280 luxury timber lodges, cottages and studio apartments and is suitable for all ages, groups large and small and at any time of year.
The information said the gate opened at 4.30pm and this is exactly what happened. At exactly 4.30pm the gates went up so that we could drive to our lodge situated overlooking the lake, we had until midnight to return the car to the long stay car park where it would stay for the remainder of the week.
If you have ever seen the 1960s series ‘The Prisoner’ with Patrick McGoohan, set in Portmeirion, North Wales, there felt a slight resemblance, as people passed us on golf buggies, a perfect mode of transport for anyone who felt that cycling was a little too strenuous.
The lodge was beautiful, with decor and furnishing you would find in a Boutique Hotel, leather sofas, flat screen TV, Villeroy & Boch tableware. You can order a welcome pack of food from the village store, we had tea, coffee, local milk, butter, chocolates and a bottle of wine waiting, a perfect start to a holiday.
We had access to their Blue Lagoon water park which was amazing, wave machine, an area like a river, taking the swimmer on a current outside into the fresh air, slides, water falls and children’s area. We also had access to the adventure play area, a child (and adults) dream, giant tree house for climbing, high wire for children and plenty of space to run and play should the weather be too wet and wild outside and when everyone is hungry they can retreat to the Wild Wood Cafe for refreshments.
The staff were wonderful and friendly. Richard tried the high wire activity through the Steep Ravine and I tried the archery, which I discovered I was very good at, in the summer months they have Camp Smokey down in the woodlands and I hear they have live music playing while the camp fires burn.
It was invigorating, cycling through in the ice cold rain, I don’t usually cycle but managed the hills with ease and having the no car policy meant we could safely cycle with the bike buggy.
The food in The Yard was excellent, along with the band, Preseli Pete and the Bluestone Boys who entertain the diners on Tuesday and Saturdays throughout the year.
For those who like fine dining they have Carreg Las (only weekends during off peak season) and if you don’t fancy self catering but don’t want to venture out they have an excellent takeaway service.
And when you have done all the activities or you just fancy a lovely relaxing break then a trip to The Well Spa is a must.
From the outside it looked like a small cottage, in the heart of the Village, but once inside the Spa was spacious and beautifully decorated, not unlike some of the top spas found in London hotels. The spa offers saunas, steam rooms, ice pod and a dry salt room, an outdoor plunge pool, 11 treatment rooms and are specialists on Decleor and Espa. So after my wonderful Celtic Massage I managed to steal an extra half an hour in their relaxation room before returning to my husband and daughter… the perfect way to end my memorable trip to Bluestone.
www.bluestonewales.com
