Preparation for Bluestone?

[lisbapalea]

Hi there,

We're off to Bluestone in a month's time, to stay in a Ramsey lodge with DDs 4 and 6mths. I keep getting emails from them encouraging us to prebook stuff, but before I do, I wanted to check what mumsnetters who have been to Bluestone before would recommend?

Given that we have a baby, is a golf buggy thing un-necessary (I assume it won't take a carseat??). I gather we can drive throughout the park anyway, or have I got that wrong?

I was thinking of hiring bikes for us and DD1, with a trailer attachment, or seat attachment for DD2. Is it too hilly for a 4yr old?

Also, is it frowned upon to NOT buy your food from the Bluestone supermarket?! I thought we would pop to a supermarket on our way there and pick up the essentials for the trip and maybe use the Bluestone shop for topping up.

Any other suggestions or recommendations, either for pre-booking for the park itself, or for stuff we should check out in Pembrokeshire while we're there!

Thanks!

Oh can I hijack a little please, we are going to bluestones at the same time the beginning of next month, my question was do we really need to pre book meals out, I will book some activities but don't really want to tie us in to set nights out. Going with 3dc.
I will wear my mums net scarf and have a Pom bear packet in my back pocket !!!

Ha! I'll give you a secret wink if I spot you!

I love love loved the golf buggy. It wouldn't take a car seat but neither does it go more than 5 mph. It's hilly, very hilly so unless you have thighs of steel the bike trailer option is not a goer.

You drive on the first day then have to move the car to the car park and then it's a car free site until leaving day.

We took food - the shop is well stocked but ££.

One thing we also took was a clothes airer because although the bathroom had a heated rail, it wouldn't take bath towels plus swimming towels and costumes.

We have older dc so prebooked archery etc.

If you want to eat out on the first night - I would book that. And if there's a fairy tale night in the cafe near the soft play - Wildwood? I'd book that too.

Oh I saw the theme night at the cafe, is that worth it fun etc. Any other tips re eating out ?

Sorry just another question, we are staying in a 3 bed stomer lodge what I was wondering was is there a gate on the stairs, have 3 dc was hoping to have them upstairs and us down as don't really want doc down and us up x

We are at Bluestone at the moment and are having a lovely time despite the weather not being great. We are in a Skomer lodge which has stairgates fitted (permanent fixtures) at the top and bottom of the stairs and also has two Ikea antilop highchairs (spotlessly clean). We haven't hired a buggy - although they look like fun, it's certainly not been necessary for us. It is hilly but the distances between the areas are nowhere near as far as it looks on the resort map and my 17 month old has managed to walk pretty much everywhere. I also have a 4yr old and he has been in his element at the indoor play area and circus room, which are free. We haven't needed to book any activities at all.

The supermarket is pretty well stocked and reasonably priced but it is fine to bring shopping in - we brought some with us, but keep in mind you will have to carry it from the car park if you don't bring it when you arrive as you need to leave your car in the car park after arrival.

This is our first time here and chose this as an alternative to centreparcs - this is much nicer IMO, much quieter and more relaxed with more for younger children to do.

Have fun!

We hired bikes with a trailer attachment, which my DTs loved, and only had to walk up a couple of hills. Golf buggy nice but expensive, depends on how much you like cycling!

No cars in resort so do a big shop on your way there and then just top up from the Bluestone shop, which is fine, not outrageously expensive.

Personally I thought the onsite restaurants were DIRE. As was the takeaway. Kitchens really well equipped though so I'd plan to eat in if I went back. Take DVDs and some good books. Bathrooms are nice so maybe some pampering stuff for a nice night in too.

Take rucksacks for putting swim stuff etc in if you use bikes or buggy.

Wellies for going through the woods.

Get off site and exploring a bit it it's sunny - Pembrokeshire beaches are STUNNING!

Oh, and our lodge had stair gates but they were a bit rickety and DTs (2.5yo) figured out how to open them in about 10 seconds...

No cars on site after the first day.

There is a bus that drives around but it's not that frequent.

Depending on where you are, there can be quite a steep hill between the car-park and you.

Swimming pool great. Other activites OK but my dcs are older so might be more exciting for littlies.

Thank you for your top tips, looking forward to it and exploring the area x

Never been to Bluestone as I live in Pembs, but I'd definitely take your 4 y/o to Folly Farm if you're doing days out.

Offsite the beaches - barafundle is our favourite. We liked the day trip to Caldey Island too. Take torches. We didn't bother with bikes as it's so hilly and a small site, but we were in a v central location.

Fine to take your own food but don't forget to buy and scoff lots of welshcakes while you're there!

OMG the Welsh cakes. And that cakey thing - Barrabrack or something...

Blimey - thank you all so much for these tips!! DH, who is usually a bit cynical about my use of (dependence on?!) Mumsnet, is amazed by how much extra info we now have - he has been converted!

We will not bother with the golf buggy - we're trying to be frugal and as DD1 is a pretty good walker I think we should be OK. And I think we'll make a call on the bikes once we're there, depending on where our place is.

Glad to hear you're having a great time cottonheaded - I can't wait for our holiday now!

Thanks all, is it easy to leave or is it like cp where they hate you trying to escape !

Any other attractions we should see do you think.

No it's easy to pop out.
Lovely national trust beaches, dozens of castles, definitely recommend Folly Farm - go early in the week and you can get a cheap return ticket if you fancy going back, there's loads to do there.
For older ones there's a theme park with a wooden roller coaster right next door.

Personally I'd skip the welsh cakes and bara brith, and go straight for the Tregroes toffee waffles - less traditional, but much nicer!

I'd also avoid Oakwood (the theme park) like the plague. The [[http://www.thedinosaurpark.co.uk/ Dinosaur Park is good for smaller dc though.

Oops, sorry, failed link, should be Dinosaur Park

Very easy to pop out. Nearest supermarket quite a way though. (We took supplies, ate out and ordered takeaway too!) It is very hilly. We always have a buggy.
Look at when check in is. (You don't want to arrive too early and with no food!!)
Lego room and indoor play good fun. Kids loved pool.
We stayed in an upside down lodge (Ramsey?) Stairgates top and bottom.

Umm those waffles look very yummy indeed, hoping the weather is on our side and we can make the most of the gorgeous beaches really.

I have now succumbed to the constant emailing and booked a couple of things for the dc on one day mid week, we are going for seven nights. And the dinner show thing.

I'm fairly familiar with Bluestone (local-ish) . IME , if your child is a good walker, I'd avoid the golf buggy. I don't find the hills particularly bad.

yes definitely bring your own shopping. the shop is well stocked though and you can order takeaway to be delivered to your lodge. I had booked a table for dinner in the main restaurant and it was quiet at 5 but was getting busier after 630ish.

I would be happy to answer any more questions.

I would highly recommend folly farm and a walk around the bosherston Lillyponds ( only if 6 month old has a baby carrier/sling).

I am seriously considering using one of the bathrooms in our Ramsey Lodge at Bluestone as a 3rd bedroom so that DD2 has somewhere to sleep by herself (6mths - in a travel cot) - would that make me a terrible person?

She's just quite noisy at night so I think she'll wake DD1 if they share, plus DD1 wakes earlier than DD2 so she will wake the baby once she's up and chatting in the morning.

And Dh and I would really like a week of half decent sleep, and maybe some privacy! We've had DD2 back in with us for the last week as her room is infected with bird mites (a whole other thread!), and I had totally forgotten how disruptive it is having a baby in the room!

Am I bonkers to even consider this - I found this site with extra pictures of the bathrooms - the shower room looks like it could easily fit a travel cot in it!!

bathroom as bedroom

I think this is fine, a good idea, we are arriving at bluestones on fri ! Can't wait x

Urgh - just actually read that site that I linked to - had only found it by looking for photos of the bathroom and didn't scroll down past the first couple of pics!

Wish I hadn't found and read it now!!!