This remote corner of the UK is enchanting, rich in history and blessed with some of the most breathtaking landscapes imaginable. Encircling it all is one of the most dramatic coastlines found anywhere on earth, where sheer cliff faces are interspersed at regular intervals with world-class sandy beaches.
Right at the heart of it all sits Bluestone National Park Resort, nestled within 500 acres of unspoilt Welsh countryside and so seamlessly blended into its surroundings that, despite its considerable size and hundreds of lodges, you'd barely know it existed until you were well inside.
That's not to suggest it falls short as a modern and luxurious holiday destination, particularly regarding its newest lodges. They were truly stunning. Bluestone is in Pembrokeshire so it's a lengthy drive from pretty much everywhere — but it's absolutely worth the journey, particularly if you incorporate it into a broader holiday exploring this corner of Wales. If you're searching for a holiday destination closer to home, especially if you'd rather avoid the current uncertainty surrounding flights, it comes highly recommended — though bear in mind it's in Wales, so expect unpredictable weather!
Bluestone comprises roughly 300 stunning timber lodges of varying sizes, nestled across rolling hills close to the charming town of Narberth. At the heart of the resort lies its purpose-built village, home to a couple of dozen delightful, colourful stone cottages, a handful of restaurants, several shops (stocking an impressive selection of Welsh produce, beers, spirits and toys), a spa, a pub and a playground (conveniently allowing parents to keep watch over their children from the beer garden).
Also within the resort is a sizeable indoor play area known as The Hive, the Blue Lagoon — a generous swimming facility boasting both indoor and outdoor slides and a wave machine — and the Serendome, a covered indoor-outdoor adventure play area offering everything from a theatre to an extensive aerial adventure course. On the whole, the resort is arguably better suited to younger children rather than teenagers (mine are aged 10 and under), though visitors can judge for themselves. Having holidayed here for a decade, the appeal shows no signs of fading.
My stay was in one of Bluestone's new Platinum Collection lodges — immaculate and exquisitely designed throughout. The St Govan Lodge (named after a striking stretch of the nearby coastline) featured three bedrooms sleeping six guests and two bathrooms, including a stunning en suite complete with rain shower, freestanding bath, twin sinks and a soothing starlight ceiling effect.
There was a generous upstairs open-plan living space featuring a dining room, a "cwtch" (a cosy room with two chairs and a television for unwinding, working or providing the children some peaceful time) and a sun room, a magnificent new addition for Bluestone lodges with two fully retractable glass walls. Despite the chilly conditions, we opened them completely to inhale the Pembrokeshire air and absorb those views. In summer, it would be blissful sipping prosecco or a chilled beer alongside enjoying the scenery.
The lodges arrive fully-equipped with an oven, microwave, fridge freezer, dishwasher and even an air fryer, which we utilised extensively for breakfasts and an evening meal around the six-seater dining table. Following a home-cooked meal on our first evening, we relaxed into the enormous u-shaped sofa before a warm electric fire.
The Platinum Lodges also include their own electric buggy to assist you in navigating the resort. This proved the highlight of my five-year-old's holiday as we trundled along in our six-seater at 6mph playing the "beep the horn at everyone you pass" game. The lodges also feature their own buggy charging point.
All Bluestone's lodges, accommodating between two and 14 people, include kitchen and open plan living spaces, while the cottages in the village contain one or two bedrooms. They're not all up to the standard of the Platinum Lodges but remain nevertheless charming places to spend a week or long weekend.
Checking in is a breeze. For the majority of the park's visitors, it's a drive-through affair: pull up at the welcome lodge, follow the one-way system around to your own lodge, unload your vehicle, then leave it in the car park at the resort's perimeter and forget all about it until departure time. Outside of check-in and check-out hours, Bluestone operates as a car-free resort, meaning you can wander the roads or cruise your buggy in complete peace and safety.
For Platinum Collection guests, the process is even more seamless. We had our very own exclusive entrance, check-in lodge, car park and buggy pick-up point. No more than five minutes could have passed between checking in and heading off to the lodge by buggy.
A sign displayed in Bluestone's village reads "there's no bad weather in Pembrokeshire, just the wrong clothes". As someone who visited during a weekend when conditions swung dramatically from glorious blue skies and bright sunshine to howling winds and torrential rain, I couldn't agree more.
Bluestone boasts a wealth of outdoor pursuits for the whole family, ranging from stand-up paddleboarding on its lakes to cycling, archery, exploring woodland trails, zip-lining, and rustic alfresco dining and marshmallow-toasting at Steep Ravine and Camp Smokey (both of which reopen in June following storm damage that forced their closure). The entirety of Pembrokeshire and its award-winning beaches are also right on your doorstep.
If the weather turns, there's plenty to keep everyone occupied indoors. My children were captivated throughout the entire day. Begin with a dip at the Blue Lagoon Water Park, an indoor pool warmed to perfection (utilising locally sourced biomass) featuring four flumes, a wave machine, toddler splash zones and a lazy river. While it's showing signs of age in places and might benefit from some refurbishment in the fairly near future as it nears its 20th anniversary, this doesn't diminish the sheer enjoyment on offer.
The Hive indoor activity centre boasts soft play, an enormous bouncy castle, climbing walls, messy play, and a cafe-bar upstairs where parents can unwind while the youngsters exhaust themselves. However, the standout moment of my visit this time was witnessing my two children attempt Adrenaline, a circular zipline suspended from the ceiling which saw them soaring high above the play area. They emerged beaming with delight.
The Serendome is an indoor-outdoor adventure play space housed beneath a vast transparent dome containing everything from a multi-level aerial adventure course where children (and adults) can cycle across a zipwire three storeys up, to an amphitheatre-style theatre where we enjoyed a local male voice choir performance on St David's Day and joined in with a silent disco. There's also a bar and several pop-up food stalls. There's also The Well Spa, a peaceful, adults-only sanctuary featuring thermal experiences, hydrotherapy, saunas, steam rooms and an array of indulgent treatments. The children's mother retreated here for two hours of tranquillity while the youngsters burned off energy on the Serendome's aerial adventure course.
One of the greatest pleasures of Bluestone is the ability to prepare and enjoy a meal in your upstairs open-plan dining area with panoramic countryside views surrounding you. Whether it's breakfast bathed in morning sunlight or an intimate evening dinner with a glass of red wine while the wind and rain batter outside, we always ensure at least one family meal takes place in the lodge.
However, there are numerous dining-out alternatives available. Our favourite is the Farmhouse Grill, a relaxed and rustic eatery serving steaks, burgers, fish and children's meals.
The Oak Tree offers pizza and other Italian cuisine, there's traditional pub fare at the Knights Tafarn (where a crackling log fire provides warmth on chilly winter days and a beer garden allows you to bask in the summer sun), quick bites at the NRG Lab in The Hive and alfresco dining at Camp Smokey. Don't expect award-winning food, but it's perfectly enjoyable.
There's more sophisticated dining at the stunning Black Pool Mill, a recent addition to Bluestone's culinary offerings which sits off-site and is a 20-minute stroll along a clearly-signposted path or brief drive away.
We didn't venture outside Bluestone for a single moment during our three-night stay. We never do. However, should you fancy a change of scenery, Bluestone is the only UK holiday resort situated within a national park, meaning you're surrounded by protected landscapes with straightforward access to both coast and countryside. You are truly spoilt for choice in every direction, nestled in one of Britain's most naturally stunning locations. Just five minutes down the road lies the charming town of Narberth, brimming with independent shops, exceptional restaurants and regularly named amongst the finest places to live in the country.
Also within easy reach are Britain's smallest city of St David's, with its magnificent cathedral, the picturesque harbour village of Solva, and the utterly breathtaking St Govan's Head, where a tiny chapel is built into the cliff face just above thundering waves below. A walk here is truly unrivalled. World-class beaches in the area include Barafundle, Whitesands, Freshwater West and East and Marloes Sands.
The coastal town of Tenby is a mere 25 minutes away, ranking amongst the UK's most beloved seaside destinations, boasting four beaches within a short stroll of the town centre. Venture a little further and you'll discover the harbour village of Porthgain, which, despite its modest size, is home to one of Wales's finest dining establishments and one of its most celebrated pubs.
I love Center Parcs — but I prefer staying in Bluestone. And don't simply take my word for it. For the third consecutive year, it has been crowned the finest holiday park in Wales — and third best across the UK — by holidaymakers and Which? readers, seeing off heavyweights such as Center Parcs, Haven, Warner, Butlins, Parkdean and many more.
Bluestone’s prices vary by accommodation type and time of year. Here are examples of costs for the upcoming season:
40 PerFlyer
