We headed to Bluestone Resort in Wales for a three-generation family getaway. Having visited Centre Parcs in England a few times, we fancied a change – somewhere with plenty of activities and facilities for the kids, but with a slightly different feel.
Bluestone is a 5-star luxury holiday destination set within 500 acres of wild Welsh countryside in Narberth, Pembrokeshire, and has been named the number one holiday park in Wales (and 3rd in the UK) for the fourth year running by Which? Magazine. After hearing glowing reviews, we booked a four-night summer holiday, packing up our two daughters (aged 6 and 9) and my parents (in their 70s) for a fun family trip.
St Govan Lodge
Accommodation at Bluestone ranges from cosy cottages to spacious holiday lodges, sleeping anywhere from two to fourteen guests, all tucked away amid rolling hills, open meadows and peaceful woodland. We stayed in a St Govan Lodge, part of Bluestone’s new Platinum range. Our lodge slept up to six people and came with a golf buggy for exploring the site, a bright sunroom, a fully equipped kitchen, three double bedrooms, a large open-plan lounge with a log burner, one family bathroom and an en-suite.
The rooms were bright, clean and wonderfully spacious. My parents claimed the bedroom furthest from the kids for a bit of peace and quiet, while the two bathrooms proved a real bonus. We handed the family bathroom over to my parents, while the four of us shared the en-suite – a huge space with two double sinks, a bath, and a separate shower. Above the bath, twinkling ceiling lights added a magical touch at bathtime that our girls absolutely adored.
The kitchen was impressively well-equipped, with a full-size fridge-freezer and a large bin – two things we’ve always missed at Centre Parcs, where we can never fit all our food in the fridge and end up stashing rubbish in bags. There was also a good-sized oven, microwave, and a large dining table with space for about seven people, perfect for family meals.
Our favourite feature of the lodge was the first-floor sunroom. With two sets of bi-fold doors and a perspex wall, you could open it right up to the outdoors and soak in the glorious floor-to-ceiling views. Because it’s sheltered from the elements, we could still let in the fresh air even when it rained. In the evenings, once the girls were in bed, we loved settling in there with a glass of wine, watching the stars.
Bluestone golf buggies
Our lodge came with a six-seater golf buggy included in the price, but if yours doesn’t, don’t worry – they’re available to hire. If you’re travelling with someone who has mobility issues, I’d definitely recommend getting one, as it makes hopping from one area to another so much easier. The site isn’t huge, so walking is perfectly doable, but the buggies are great fun. Depending on where you’re staying, you might also find it handy for zipping down to the village in the morning to pick up a coffee and some pastries.
The pool at Bluestone
The Blue Lagoon pool at Bluestone isn’t as modern as Centre Parcs, and instead of a glass dome it has a wooden roof, which makes it a little darker inside – but we actually loved it for several reasons. First, unlike Centre Parcs, you don’t need to book a time slot; you can simply turn up and stay as long as you like. The pool has a wave machine, lazy river, outdoor rapids, and a couple of slides, plus a dedicated area for under-5s and a few jacuzzis dotted around.
We especially enjoyed the rapids, as my youngest had just reached the height requirement, meaning we could all ride together as a family – and then drift lazily around the river. Another highlight was the staff throwing in inflatables and balls for everyone to play with, which completely made the kids’ day.
The Hive at Bluestone
The Hive is Bluestone’s indoor interactive play zone, packed with fun for all ages. Inside you’ll find soft play, a giant inflatable bouncy castle, a climbing wall, basketball court, glow-in-the-dark bowling, and even a zip wire that whizzes right around the building. It’s the perfect spot for a rainy day, and our girls couldn’t get enough of the bouncy castle – made even better by the brilliant staff who joined in the games, leaving us free to relax on the nearby sofas with a coffee. There’s even a bar, so parents and grandparents can unwind while the kids burn off some energy.
Not everything in The Hive is free – you’ll need to pay for the climbing wall, zip wire and bowling – but the rest of the activities are included at no extra cost.
The Serendome
This was easily one of my favourite parts of Bluestone. The dome-like structure is essentially a vast covered adventure zone, with open sides that let in plenty of fresh air – perfect for days when the weather isn’t playing ball. Inside, there’s sand and water play areas, the Bear Boutique, the Sky Walk and Sky Walk Mini (multi-level aerial obstacle courses), food and drink stalls, interactive play zones, and the Cloud Theatre, which hosts performances, discos, and parties.
We spent a lot of time here as it felt really special – the perfect spot to relax with a drink while the kids played. We went to both the silent disco and the leavers’ party at the Cloud Theatre, and I’d highly recommend them. The theatre itself is beautifully decorated, like a fairy-tale wonderland, and during the parties foam falls from above to create a snow-like effect, while giant inflatable balls bounce through the crowd. It all adds up to a truly magical experience.
Activities at Bluestone
Bluestone offers a huge range of activities to suit all ages and energy levels, from adrenaline-fuelled adventures like zip lining, high ropes and the Sky Walk, to gentler pursuits such as archery, nature trails and craft workshops.
We went kayaking together on the pretty lake, with ducks swimming right alongside us. My older daughter took part in Merschool, where she wore a beautiful mermaid tail, learned how to swim like one, and even collected “precious gems” from the bottom of the pool. Both girls also tried the Off Road Rangers 4x4 driving experience and loved learning how to steer, park and reverse – especially when they were presented with their very own "driving licences" at the end.
My youngest had a go at the Sky Walk Mini, which was just the right height to be exciting without being too scary. It boosted her confidence so much that she surprised us all by tackling the very high zip wire in The Hive later in the week!
Of course, there are plenty more activities on offer, but for us this was the perfect balance – with one day spent exploring nearby Tenby and the rest enjoying The Hive, the Serendome, and wandering around the village.
The Village at Bluestone
We loved the village area at Bluestone, which looks just like a traditional Welsh village with brightly coloured buildings and winding little lanes. Here you’ll find restaurants, a cosy coffee shop, a traditional emporium (gift shop), a small convenience store, an outdoor play park, and even a spa.
For me, this was one of the things that really set Bluestone apart from Centre Parcs – it felt far less commercial and had bags of character. It was the perfect place to unwind with a drink and soak up the atmosphere.
We enjoyed a fantastic meal at the Farmhouse Grill pub, which offered an impressive range of dishes – even my vegetarian stepmum was pleasantly surprised by the options. They also had a box of fidget toys and squishies for the kids, which kept them happily entertained while we waited for our food.
Just opposite the village, you can follow trails leading to various walks and tracks. We chose a beautiful nature walk that wound through the forest, where we spotted fairy houses and came across willow sculptures that told tales of Welsh legends. There was even a mermaid tail statue for the kids to pose with – plenty to keep them entertained along the way. My parents are keen walkers, but the children aren’t always so enthusiastic; this time, there was so much to see that they didn’t complain once!
Bluestone's eco credentials
Bluestone isn’t just about great holidays – it’s quietly becoming a bit of an eco trailblazer too. They’ve set themselves the ambitious goal of being the UK’s first fossil fuel-free holiday park by 2025, and they’re already well on the way. At the moment, 97% of the energy they buy is fossil-fuel-free, and their Blue Lagoon pool is heated by locally sourced biomass instead of gas, which saves over 1,000 tonnes of carbon a year.
In 2024, they opened a huge solar farm that will power about a third of the resort, and even swapped diesel for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) across the site. Being in the middle of a National Park means they’re extra careful about looking after the landscape too.
Some of their eco-friendly ideas are downright clever – like making pathways out of 60,000 recycled nappies (yes, really), turning 80 tonnes of food waste into green energy and fertiliser every year, and converting used cooking oil into biodiesel. All in all, they’re showing that you can have an amazing family break without costing the Earth – literally.
Final thoughts
We’ve been to Centre Parcs many times with my parents, but I can honestly say I don’t think we’ll ever go back after experiencing Bluestone.
It felt far less commercial than Centre Parcs, we all loved the charming village area with its local coffee shop and restaurants. The whole site was beautifully scenic, and exploring it by golf buggy was such a fun and memorable way to get around.
One of our favourite things was the pool – no booking required, and you can stay as long as you like. Even during the busy summer holidays, it never felt overcrowded. The entertainment in the Serendome was also a highlight. We went to the silent disco and leavers’ party, and the magical touches – like bubbles and inflatable balls falling from above – made it unforgettable.
All the activities we tried were a big hit, and I loved that there were also plenty of free things to enjoy, like the nature trail and the Hive’s soft play. The staff were brilliant too – even on the big bouncy castle they joined in games with the kids, giving us a chance to relax with a coffee.
Our accommodation was perfect: spacious, stylish, and right next to The Hive, yet still wonderfully quiet and peaceful.
The only con I can report was the occasional dodgy water pressure in the mornings, which I think was due to a temporary issue. Unfortunately, this also meant the pool was closed on our last day – much to the girls’ disappointment, as they’d been hoping for one last go on the rapids.
There are also loads of places to visit nearby, like the picture-perfect seaside town of Tenby, Barafundle Bay, one of the most beautiful beaches in the UK, and Pembroke Castle—a stunning medieval castle and the birthplace of Henry VII, to name but a few!
Pricing info
Lodges- prices start from £360 for 3 nights
Activities- Off Road Rangers, from £22.50 (additional passengers £5 each), Merschool from £28.50, Kayaking (double) from £25, Sky Walk Mini, from £12.95.
The Hive zip wire- £15 for two goes.
For more information and pricing visit: Bluestone
Claire Tapley is a digital editor for Yours.co.uk. She is a journalist with over 16 years' experience writing for women over 50. In her previous role she was deputy editor on Yours magazine for nine years, before moving over to Yours.co.uk. She is extremely passionate about all things health related, specifically fitness and healthy eating. She has a huge amount of knowledge on all areas that interest women over 50 including health, wellbeing, finance, food, tech, beauty and fashion.