Bluestone Wales or Center Parcs

[Carrie76]

I’m trying to decide between Bluestone Wales or Centre Parcs Whinfell Forest. Anyone any thoughts on either/or?

If it rains Pembrokeshire is pretty boring (have lived here all my life). If it's lovely weather it is beautiful. The pool is small compared (we go weekly after school).

I've not been to either but my sister took her kiddies to centre parc a few years back and loved it. I personally would lean more to Pembrokeshire as it's so beautiful but I'll definitely be interested in hearing others opinions xx

Only been to Bluestone but we love it. The Blue Lagoon swimming pool and the Adventure Centre are great for wet days. We tend to go for a cottage which are all in the centre and easy walking distance to the car park, pool and other activities (bit of a steep hill but we managed ok with a pushchair). They hire out golf buggies if you want but we never bother. Tenby is a lovely little town not far away with fab beaches and great fish and chips! Folly Farm is a good day out and Oakwood theme park is literally next door.

If you do visit bluestone, places worth a visit are castell henllys Iron Age village they always have lots of activities on in summer .

Milford haven marina it's full of independent shops, has a museum and bowling alley.
Pembroke castle.

Been to Bluestone and was truly amazing place. I found it gorgeous with lots to do with the kids and would recommend it!

I think it would depend on where you live we tend toward CP as we’re slap bang between 2 parks plus H can look after kids for an afternoon and I can go to the spa

Been to both. We’re off to bluestone again this year as we loved it last time. I prefer Bluestone as it’s smaller and feels more personal and less crowded. I would do center parcs again when the kids get older though. Also bluestone is quite a bit cheaper than center parcs.

I haven't done a UK Centre Parcs in a while, but we are heading back to Bluestone this summer with 3 generations (I think we've been there 4 times in 10 years usually off season - to the extent that I had completely forgotten that Oakwood theme park is next door). I can only compare with the 3 Centreparcs we've been to in Netherlands/Belgium more recently.

Despite the rain I do like Bluestone's accommodation. I find the furnishings and bathrooms better quality and I prefer 2 storey living. Bluestone is very hilly (oh the joys of getting a pushchair up the hill in freezing winter winds), but it doesn't seem to take as long to get around. The beaches in the area are gorgeous.

We tend to use the accommodation as a base for days out, starting and/or ending with a swim (as the pool is next to the car park).

I definitely prefer Bluestone. Yes the pool is smaller but we preferred it, the lazy river that goes outside is brilliant. We liked the Iron Age Place, and the real Blue lagoon is beautiful even in winter.

Been to both lots and although similar are still v different.
I find bluestone better for younger children. Less to do there, but better for getting out and about, lots of lovely beaches near and Tenby, Folly Farm and Oakwood.
I find centre Parcs better for my children now who are 6 and 8. More activities geared to their ages, and more self contained so we never leave. I also prefer the swimming pools as often find bluestone too overcrowded. But significantly more expensive to do lots in CP.

We have been to CP longleat and bluestone and prefer bluestone. We love Pembrokeshire. Went to the iron forge, Pembroke castle, Tenby, folly farm, etc. There are loads to do outside. We also went to the adventure centre a few time, the pool and booked a few activities. The children were 2 and 5. It felt a perfect mix of paid for activities and seeing the outside. I feel CP more isolated and you are trapped inside. But there are definitely more booked activities in CP.

We loved bluestone but were off site every day. Weather was amazing and the local area gorgeous. The only thing we didn't like was the STINKER of a drive but of course depends on where you're coming from.

CP doesn't really matter what the weather is doing.

Thanks so much for replies. We’ve decided to go with Bluestone, we’re traveling from Ireland so a long journey either way!

I haven’t been to bluestone but highly recommend CP Whinfell.

It’s in a lovely area, Lake District is in your doorstep, lodges are fantastic, definitely recommend bikes and it’s so easy to park up etc.
The centre is great - indoors but with an outdoors feel, lake is great and the swimming area is fab; huge white slide (2 side by side), the wild rapid slide (outdoor) and 2 tube slides. Also there is a toddler area with a tube slide and smaller slide and a splash area.
Activities are much the same as any other CP resort BUT Whinfell is cheaper by a long way compared to other CP resorts.

We've done both. Accommodation is better at Bluestone, pools better at CP. I wouldn't go to either again as you can do everything in a less packaged way more cheaply, and not be stuck in a bubble.

Oops, bit behind!

Greedy there's loads to do in Pembs!!

Bluestone is fab. I'd recommend it every time. And Pembrokeshire is lovely too.

@Carrie76 apologies for resurrecting a zombie thread, but we're trying to decide between Bluestone and Centre Parcs for a late Feb break with a 6 year old and a 3 year old. How did you find it?

If anyone else is looking at this, what activities are included at Centre Parcs? CP works out a little dearer for the same dates, but will be cheaper in terms of petrol to get there, and about half the journey...

@Arborea we’ve been to bluestone the last 2 years and are planning on going back again this year. My kids were 7,5 and 3 the first year we went and we all loved it. Highly recommend it!