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!

[moocowmrs]

Oh didn't follow the link, but still can't think why it's a bad idea. Might be me though x

[NormHonal]

OP I wouldn't worry about what that blog says. We have stayed in a Ramsay this year and it had been very recently repainted and was spotless. It was lovely. My only very small quibbles were a) as PP has said, not enough room on towel rails with swimming kit as well - same applies at Center Parcs and b) a few trailing blind cords, but I simply tied them up out of the way.

We didn't spend much time on-site apart from evenings. There are some fabulous local beaches to explore.

The golf cart is heaps of fun but not sure how easy it would be with a baby.

I think your idea of using wet room as a bedroom is feasible but there might even be room to put the cot in the hallway between the bedrooms if you take a piece of card and some blu-tack to blackout the small window in the door.

Have a wonderful time!

[lisbapalea]

Thank you, and thank you for the reassurance! Actually on reading that blog I decided that its author was a bit of a pompous moaner so I am ignoring its negativity!

I am too excited for the holiday to be talked down, and I'm very glad that I have the thumbs up on my extra bedroom idea, or that there could be another alternative!

[moocowmrs]

Ah read it now, oh it will be fine, she sounded very pompous indeed ! Many people I have spoken to that have visited whose opinion I trust have only fab things to say.
We are having two nights in Bristol onway so leaving after school today !!

[lisbapalea]

Hope you have a great time moocowmrs - I still feel a bit lost in packing!
I feel like I am bringing far too much but trying to pack "light" for rain and sun, for 4 people including a baby and with no washing machine for a week, is proving a bit of a challenge!

[lisbapalea]

Well we're here and DD2 is sleeping in DD1's ensuite bathroom - result!

Really impressed so far with the finish of our place, but have yet to explore properly.

Thanks to those who gave me the thumbs up for using a bathroom as a bedroom - am feeling very creative!

[moocowmrs]

Just to finish the tale from me also I am very impressed our house is fabulous, everything we could need, pool good children's activities great, take away delivery hot and yummy not haute cuisine but fine after a long day playing !

[EssexYumMum]

As this thread isn't too old I thought I'd tag on my questions in the hope that once again MNers would impart your knowledge and advice.
We're going to Bluestone in August - first visit.

Are the sporting/active activities on site? Apparently the horse riding isn't.
Also which is the nearest beach, and nearest horse riding centre?
Are these in the direction towards London or opposite? If towards London and it's more than a few miles then we can do the beach on the last day after checking out.

When you hire out the golf buggy for the week, do you have to return each evening and pick up again each morning and if so, how far? If not, where by the cottage is it parked? Is it secure?

If we take our own bikes is there anywhere indoors we can secure them? when we stayed at Crieff Hydro, there was spacious indoor storage do we didn't have to bother with bike locks.

Thanks!