Escape to the country: where to go on your next family holiday

Picturesque Pembroke's Bluestone National Park offers everything from zip lining to a fun-filled waterpark. Nick Judd finds out more

(All pictures courtesy of Bluestone National Park)

Striking the perfect balance between getting away from the trappings of modern life and finding entertainment for the whole family can be difficult, which prompted our visit to Bluestone National Park Resort. Situated in beautiful Pembrokeshire, it promises contemporary living with stunning surroundings and “free range fun” for the family. And it didn’t disappoint.

Time out

Bluestone’s accommodation is divided into 10 zones of unique eco-friendly lodges, each with its own charms, and all surrounded by different adventures. Our wooden lodge slept six and combined functionality (think downstairs bedroom for the grandparents) alongside luxury, with glorious high ceilings and green space providing sumptuous sanctity. This seclusion proved handy when our children – aged two and four ­– broke acceptable decibel levels at 5am due to their excitement. A mezzanine floor, perfect for reading and playing, was perfect for family bonding.

In the zones

With endless indoor and outdoor activities, numerous shows and a diverse range of restaurants, Bluestone is a conveyor belt of fun – a child (and parents’) dream. The Blue Lagoon waterpark is the centrepiece: a vast, eco-friendly dome with pool, wave machine and kids’ play areas. It also has a lazy river, hot pools and slides, and we went every day. Sometimes twice!

Getting around

Bluestone is wonderfully spacious, so consider a bike, buggy or bus. With little legs in tow, we opted for a rechargeable electric buggy. It was fun, and came in handy for flagging legs and tempers, though we loved exploring some areas by foot (or scooter).

Play and do

The indoor Adventure Centre, with its soft play, crazy golf, climbing facilities and more, was a big hit. It was here that our two enjoyed a sensory show and themed dinner. All the live entertainment around Bluestone is excellent, the Ranger Show our particular favourite. The staff are gifted and attentive, the performances fun. I even won a spa day pass for skipping blindfolded on stage, and subsequently visited the Wellness Spa – an absolute must for mind, body and soul.

More to explore

Outdoor activities remain on our to-do list, including kayaking, a 4x4 safari, tree climbing and coasteering, and we look forward to trying more as our kids grow older. We’ve already booked our return and plan on exploring more of Pembrokeshire. Put simply, Bluestone is the perfect place for adventure, rejuvenation and making memories as a family.

To book an unforgettable family break and make memories you'll cherish forever, visit Bluestone's website