We took a trip to Pembrokeshire to stay at Bluestone Holiday Park last week and I wanted to give an honest review of how we found it. We arrived at Narberth station and took a quick taxi ride (two miles) to the resort. The train from Bristol to Narberth was a change at Cardiff and then Carmarthen and the taxi ride cost £10.
Let me spill the beans on one of our family’s all-time favorites: Bluestone in Pembrokeshire
We stayed in the Bluestone Cadley luxury lodge which had a double room and a twin room as well as a wet room (with bath) and a really large living space and kitchen. It was perfect for our family and would have been just as perfect for a family with two kids. We also had a little garden with a picnic table out the front of our lodge which was brilliant for eating al fresco with the lovely weather.
We decided to book a bike and trailer in advance of our stay which was a really good idea as when we arrived lots were booked up. Most people hired buggies but we were thankful for a little exercise and I had forgotten how much I enjoy cycling! Tom and I are excited to get bikes now and start cycling back home.
Bluestone National Park
Our favourite part of Bluestone was the woodland, there is something so magical about being in a forest with a child, wowed by the tall trees and nature around them. Although Bristol is a very green city it’s still a city with roads and pollution and dog mess and all the rest of it. I don’t think you realise what a difference being in the countryside makes until you can just happily let your children run free without thinking about all these things!
Tom and Wilf would probably say that the Blue Lagoon Bluestone came a close second. We went there every day (although I let them go by themselves and watched poolside with a latte on our last day). The pool was brilliantly set up for young children with a baby pool, a fun spray-type pool with a pirate ship theme, and a family pool that extended to outside.
As we hired the bikes before our trip we got half back in vouchers to spend in the restaurants. We chose to spend them at lunch at the Knights Tafarn after a particularly tiring morning and it was really delicious. We chose to self-cater for the rest of our trip apart from drinks here and there and pastries at the bakery. We did have a hot chocolate in the Wildwood Cafe after playing at the activity center, if you book ahead you can secure a space at some of their ‘once upon a time’ themed shows whilst you dine. We didn’t make it this time but have friends who loved it.
Then there’s the serene side to it – the lush walks where you can meander and explore the stunning Pembrokeshire countryside. It’s the perfect opportunity to gulp in that fresh, crisp air and feel, well, free.
Camp Smokey Bluestone
Imagine this: secluded in a hidden valley, nestled amongst towering trees, there’s this rustic, outdoor haven that seems like woodland sprites conjured up. Camp Smokey is this dreamy spot where your family can truly unplug and reconnect to nature and each other. And trust me, in the whirlwind of daily life, finding these gems is like striking parenting gold.
The first thing that hits you is the scent – that rich, comforting smell of campfire that immediately makes you want to don a plaid shirt and sing campfire songs. The kids? Their eyes became saucers of wonder, darting around, soaking in every little detail, from the crackling fire pit to the wooden benches beckoning them to sit close and toast marshmallows.
The food, oh the food, is a story in its own right. As vegetarians, I found that there were so many options and we still talk about the legendary ‘camp smokey potatoes’.
Leaving Camp Smokey, our hearts were a little fuller, our clothes smelling faintly of smoke, carrying away the kind of memories that glitter in our minds like stars. If you’re craving a slice of adventure with a dollop of coziness, Camp Smokey is your place. It’s where the magic of childhood adventures meets the joy of family togetherness.
Activities at Bluestone National Park Resort
There are lots of activities throughout each day you can book on although I would say there is plenty to do without booking them. We chose to go on the ‘bug hunt’ for under 4’s and Wilf loved it, we found lots of teeny tiny baby frogs!
The only regret I have is not visiting the spa, I think if we were to visit again I’d certainly book ahead for one of the treatments. All that walking was a shock to my legs (I’m so unfit!) so I good massage would have been ideal. I’d love to take another trip with friends or family and go visit with a girlfriend, the champagne deal did look very tempting!
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