I went to the UK holiday park with a huge indoor swimming complex and adventure zone – it’s as good as Center Parcs
IT’S not customary in our household to encourage the children to stomp on their dining chairs and scream while eating, but this weekend we have made an exception.
In fact, we have actively encouraged Anna and Adam to sing and dance as loudly as possible. So we served our dinner first to get it out of the way.
Mouths were watering as the smell of barbecued food filled the air at Camp Smokey, an open-air diner at the bottom of a steep ravine in the heart of Bluestone National Park Resort in Pembrokeshire.
The live music from Smokey Joe’s band had us tapping our toes and singing along throughout this shindig, and was the perfect accompaniment to our rustic feast.
Music and dancing aren’t the only high-tempo activities on offer within this ancient Welsh woodland.
Just six miles from the market town of Narberth in east Pembrokeshire, the resort is tucked away amid 500 acres of countryside — and there are plenty of adrenalin-filled adventures to be had amid the trees, giving the likes of Center Parcs a run for its money.
For starters, there’s Woodland Warriors — where guests can have a go at “shooting” family and friends during a round of laser combat — or High Ropes, an obstacle course 60ft up in the treetops.
My family had to go one step further, as usual, and decided to take part in Sky Wires — an exhilarating, two-mile zip-wire course which sent us flying through the forest.
After a safety briefing, we watched as our guide Ricky breezily jumped off a 100ft-high platform and whizzed across the ravine.
I’m not sure quite how I managed to follow, or keep my eyes open throughout, but I’m glad that I did as the views were spectacular and left everyone in our party feeling euphoric.
Back on the ground, we then hopped into our electric golf buggy for a leisurely tour of the resort.
Climbing walls
We set off from our Platinum Lodge — a luxurious, upside-down pad with stunning open-plan interior and views to match.
Our first stop was the Serendome, a giant transparent dome packed with free and affordable activities for children, whatever the weather.
These include a miniature Sky Walk for little daredevils, Wacky Racers wooden go-karts, water and sand play and live shows.
Over at The Hive, climbing walls, messy play and miniature zip lines await little ones.
Glowzone mini-bowling is another family favourite for all ages, with lit-up lanes and fun facts illuminating the walls.
From there, we steered our buggy towards Bluestone’s charming village.
Dotted with colourful cottages, similar to those you would find in nearby Tenby, it’s also home to shops, restaurants, cafes and even an outdoor play area. We stopped at Ty Coffi for a well-deserved cuppa.
The cafe serves a great selection of hot drinks, milkshakes and cakes, and Anna and Adam played in the adjacent playground, their laughter mingling with the tunes of a steel band performing at the bandstand.
The picturesque village also features a shop for essentials and various restaurant options. An Italian feast at the Oak Tree or juicy steak at the Farmhouse Grill are both delicious options.
There’s also the Knights Tafarn pub, which has a casual feel and accepts walk-ins, making it very convenient for spontaneous visits. Just around the corner from the village, the Well Spa is an award- winning haven of relaxation.
It offers heavenly treatments and has a Celtic thermal suite featuring saunas, steam rooms and sea-salt caves designed to help guests rebalance and rejuvenate.
I decided to indulge in my first hot stone massage, an experience that left me feeling utterly zen.
Rejoining the family, I found them zooming down the flumes at Blue Lagoon, Bluestone’s free indoor swimming complex.
I stuck to the Lazy River as I was still feeling so peaceful following the spa. Or I was, until the klaxon sounded, signalling the start of the wave machine.
But with so much fresh air and fun family activities under my belt, even the biggest wave couldn’t wash off my state of relaxation.
GO: BLUESTONE, WALES
STAYING THERE: A three-night stay in a four-person classic lodge costs from £750 during peak season or from £1,000 for a six-person Platinum lodge in peak season.
A four-night midweek break in December costs from £480 for a four-person lodge and from £660 for a six-person lodge.
See bluestonewales.com.