I found a beautiful family retreat in the Welsh countryside – it's a rare find that all ages will love

I love taking my kids away, but I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a huge fan of family-specific destinations. I realise holidays when your kids are young are all about keeping them entertained, but I try as much as possible to find places that cater (as much as possible) to adults too.

Give me somewhere remote, surrounded with beautiful countryside and somewhere the children can run wild and have plenty to keep them entertained and I’m happy. But that is notoriously hard to find.

So when I recently went to Bluestone, in the heart of the Welsh countryside, for a weekend, I was pleasantly surprised to find it offers the closest thing to a even balance for keeping adults and kids happy that I’ve found in the UK to date. Here’s why…

About Bluestone Wales

Located within 500 acres of wild Welsh countryside in Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Bluestone is a 5-star luxury holiday, which has been named the number one holiday park in Wales (and #3 in the UK) for the fourth year running by Which? Magazine.

The UK's first fossil fuel-free holiday park, Bluestone welcomes 150,000 guests each year - its unique location making it an ideal destination to experience the beautiful outdoors.

On our day of arrival we were able to access the park and all of its facilities from 11am, with early check-in to our lodge at 2pm. Greeted at reception on arrival, we were given a map to navigate around the park, keys to our lodge and to gain access to the swimming pool and the electric buggy included in the price of our lodge.

The park is large, with activities and places to visit spread across a lot of land, a fair amount of which is very hilly. The resort is car-free, so the buggy was not only one of the things the kids and adults enjoyed jumping on the most to explore, but also made getting around a lot easier. For anyone with young kids who has experienced the 'walk moan', or anyone with mobility issues, I can highly recommend adding a buggy to your holiday booking (if not already included). Note: You need a UK driving licence to hire and operate a buggy.

Inside the resort is a wide range of activities to keep everyone entertained, including the Blue Lagoon water park, the Serendome, a huge indoor-outdoor adventure playground which is perfect for unpredictable weather and indoor activity hub The Hive to name a few.

And that's just what's on the resort - outside you are no more than 30 minutes away from some of Wales's most beautiful beaches and countryside. We visited Tenby during our stay for fish and chips on the beach, and went for a local walk in the heart of the National Park – there really is something every age will love here.

Accommodation

From 2pm we were able to check in to our accommodation - St Govan's Platinum Lodge. Part of Bluestone's luxury range, walking into this 'upside down' house took our breath away. Located on the edge of a large pond, the platinum lodges have a sunroom, in which two sides of bi-folding doors open right up, letting you sit upstairs in the open with the most beautiful view. Note: there is a clear balcony all around the sunroom for safety.

We had the most beautiful weather the weekend we stayed, and the sunroom was where we spent the most time. In a world where we are consumed by technology, it was like a breath of fresh air, literally. No screens in this room, just nature on our doorstep - brilliant for the kids, and the most relaxing, beautiful setting for adults.

As I mentioned, the house was 'upside down', with the bedrooms downstairs and living area upstairs. It came with all the mod cons you might expect - coffee machine, dishwasher, and, this sounds ridiculous, but separated recycling bins ready for use, which was a highlight for me. Other practical and very handy items included an air dryer, hoover and iron.

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We had three bedrooms, two double and one twin. The main double had the most stunning ensuite, with a rainfall shower and a huge bath. Another bathroom, also with bath and shower was situated between the other two bedrooms. Hangars in all rooms were provided, as were towels.

Outside of the platinum lodges, Bluestone has a number of other accommodation options, including more holiday lodges and cottages, which can host between two and fourteen guests and suits budgets of all sizes. The spacious cabin-style lodges, and colourful terrace cottages create a relaxed atmosphere, nestled within rolling hills, meadows, and tranquil woodland.

Electric Buggies & Bike Hire

I couldn't not include a section on the buggies at Bluestone as they were such a highlight for the kids and I. As I mentioned earlier, the resort is very big, with activties spread across a huge area, and these buggies were a life-saver with tired children. Especially as we were on the go all day and across a lot of different activities. They only go up to 6mph, so it's a very leisurely, safe drive. They are kitted out with seat belts for everyone and are very easy to operate.

During our stay we saw many buggies had been decorated, obviously by people who have stayed before and were celebrating special occasions. The kids and I still talk about how much fun they were, and will be a must when we go back.

If you don't fancy a buggy, there are also bikes available to hire too.

Activities & Swimming

Bluestone has the Blue Lagoon water park, which guests can use as much as they like during a stay. You don't have to book, although at busy times you get given a wristband for a two-hour session. The main pool is very big, and while it did seem crowded at times, there are two breakout areas for smaller kids if it gets too busy, plus slides and a lazy river to enjoy too. It also regularly puts waves on too - a favourite for adults and kids alike.

The pool has strict rules on photography inside, however there are many chairs next to the pool so you can sit and watch if you don't want to swim. There is a policy with young kids, however, with one adult per one young child. Unlike other parks I have been to, there are no free life jackets for kids, however there is a shop where you can buy these or armbands and noodles before entering the pool should you need them.

The changing rooms were clean and had a lot of space and family changing options. A pound coin is needed for the lockers, which is definitely something to note before going in.

Other activities include The Hive - an indoor play area that my kids would happily have stayed in all weekend. There was soft play (for big and little ones), a huge inflatable, football pitch and table tennis (£2 hire for 30-mins of paddle use).

The Serendome is another inside-outside activity hub, that has a water play area, climbing wall, park area, sand play, plus bars for food and drink while you're there. If it's raining, this and The Hive are a life-saver to keep the kids busy and adults relaxed too.

All of the above is included in the cost of your stay, but there are also bookable activities while you're there. My youngest took part in the mini crossbow and Camp Smokey Discovery Den session, which they both thoroughly enjoyed. My eldest (9) and I went in a double kayak on the lake for an hour, and I would highly recommend that to anyone. We spent 30 mins exploring the lake, before the instructors got us involved in various games with the other guests and it was great fun.

There are a range of activities for all ages, all of which are bookable before and during your stay, depending on availability.

Food & Dining

Having only been at Bluestone for three nights, we didn't get to experience all of the dining, and the evening we were due to eat at the Farmhouse Grill our youngest wasn't feeling well. However, the menu looked lovely, and we were regulars at the Ty Coffe shop in the village, and can highly recommend the coffee and ice cream.

Camp Smokey has a grill-style menu and often has live music at 'shin-digs', which we were keen to experience, however it was booked up during our stay. That was one thing I noticed, how busy the dining places get - I would definitely recommend booking these sooner rather than later.

On site there is one grocery store, which has all the food essentials you might need. It is, as you would expect, more expensive to buy on the resort, but handy if you've forgotten something or need a milk refill. Otherwise, the closest big supermarket is a good 20-minute drive away, so worth bringing groceries along with you if you don't want to waste any holiday time food shopping.

Before you book

• How to book: Visit the Bluestone Wales website for details and availability on all villages
• Prices: Dependant on time of stay - Autumn prices start from £480
• Where: Canaston Wood, Narberth, Pembrokeshire, SA67 8DE
• Best for: All ages
• Don’t miss: Blue Lagoon Water Park, The Hive, Serendome, Electric Buggy
• When to go: All year round
• Insider Tips: Hire a buggy! It's great fun and makes getting around (especially with moaning kids) a breeze