Pembrokeshire, Wales - travel review
Rugged Pembrokeshire makes for a perfect weekend away.
We headed to the luxurious 5* Bluestone National Park Resort. It's built like its own Welsh village, huddled in a valley and sits just a few miles from the outstanding Pembrokeshire coastline - Britain's only coastal national park.
Guests leave the cars at the entrance and most travel around the self-contained resort on golf carts. For starters, it's just really nice to leave the car behind you as you immerse yourself into such a beautiful resort, but above this the buggies are just fun to get around on.
My home for the weekend was a lakeside lodge that sleeps four. It’s self catering, and ultra modern inside. But while the facilities and kitchen are second to none - there's no need to cook.
The resort itself is centred around a village centre, with shops, restaurants, a takeaway, bars, playground, spa and everything in between.
Surrounding this core area, there are hundreds of timber lodges, as well at cottages and studio apartments situated in 500 acres of rambling woodland containing a selection of tranquil, meandering nature trails.
Sport lovers will find endless opportunities for getting to grips with the great outdoors, and families can spend action-packed days in its enclosed Blue Lagoon water park with pools, wave machine, water slides and artificial beach.
This area also includes Steep Ravine, an outdoor activity area, an indoor playground and a medieval themed activity area. You could also hire a bike and take a cycle or walk around Bluestone’s serene woodland nature trails.
Or you can do nothing at all – other than relax, rejuvenate. The Well Spa was recently named Best Spa in Wales – and it really is just heaven on earth. Plenty of treatment rooms, offering face, body and nail treatments are topped off with a pretty courtyard and the large outdoor hydrotherapy pool. There's a salt inhalation room, hot brick sauna, herbal steam room, marine steam room, ice room, hot slate sauna and relaxation room as well as a menu of treatments.
The resort sits just a stones throw away from the unrivalled coastline, historic castles and charming market towns. But there's so much to do at Bluestone, there's not much reason to leave the resort.
Bluestone offers something for everyone. It's adventure or relaxation. It's perfect for couples, families and sports lovers. For our trip it was a wind-down trip from a week at work, but there's as much on offer for the outdoor adrenaline chaser.
We spent one of our days enjoying a morning in the spa, a drive to the coast and a long walk before heading back for a lovely meal and drinks in the village. It was topped off by a serene walk around the lake and a cosy night spent in our lodge- it was just idyllic. The lodge itself was clean, modern and comfortable. The views from our sofa were outstanding and there's a real sense of relaxation all around the resort.
Bluestone really has got something for everyone.
Bluestone operates a dynamic pricing model which means that every accommodation type and break midweek / weekend and break are unique.
Prices vary every day it is not possible to have a set price, but typically Guests wanting to stay in a 2 bedroom Lodge (sleeping 4) would pay from:
January Midweek £149
January Weekend £299
April (During School Holidays) Midweek £699
April (During School Holidays) Weekend £489
May (Not Whitsun) Midweek £249
May (Not Whitsun) Weekend £329
August (School Holidays) Midweek £799
August (School Holidays) Weekend £559
Bluestone National Park Resort is at The Grange, Canaston Wood, Narberth, Pembrokeshire. Visit bluestonewales.com or call 01834 862 400 or 08000 224520.
Well Spa: Prices start at £45 for a 30-minute spa experience, or £49 for a two-hour spa entry, 30 minute spa experience of your choice and light lunch. The Well Spa is open daily 9am-7pm. Call 01834 862 41.
