It’s always so exciting to go on holiday. Even more so when you arrive, to find that your accommodation is lovely! We were booked in to stay at Caldey Lodge, Bluestone and it totally surpassed our expectations.
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Caldey Lodge Bluestone
We had no idea what to expect when we opened the door to Caldey Lodge at the Bluestone National Park Resort in Pembrokeshire.
But our anticipation was rewarded with the most brilliant little home from home! Similar to the kind we’ve stayed in at Center Parcs.
The front door opened to reveal a little hall with a coat rack and space for shoes and wellies, then an internal door led into a fabulous open-plan living space.
First off was the kitchen.
It had a lovely modern L-shaped design — with cream gloss units — that wrapped around the wall of the lodge.
It was full to bursting with everything you could possibly need for a self-catering holiday.
We had a kettle, toaster, a microwave, an oven and hob, a dishwasher — literally everything — including the kitchen sink! ;)
Dining and Living Areas at Caldey Lodge
The kitchen opened out to a little dining area — complete with a table and four chairs plus two highchairs.
One highchair and one cot is available for free with each lodge, but if you need any more — which we did of course — you have to pay a little extra. It was £12.50 for an extra cot and highchair, which we thought was really reasonable.
Next to the dining table was a seating area which housed two small sofas, a coffee table, plus a TV (with Freeview*) and a DVD player.
*This was great news for the twins, one rainy afternoon, as it meant they had CBeebies on tap!
It was a great sized space for our little family of four.
The Twinkles loved the fact they had lots of room to play and the space was clean and bright.
One word of warning though — the wooden floors can be pretty slippy for little people, who are running around in socks! I’d recommend packing some slippers — or socks with grips on the soles — to avoid any potential accidents!
Anyway, on with our tour…
The Bedrooms at Caldey Lodge
The bedrooms in Caldey Lodge led off from the main living space.
We had a lovely double room, complete with a chunky oak wardrobe and a dressing table. A comfy bed with fresh, clean bedlinen and stacks of lovely fluffy towels.
The boys had a separate twin room, again with lovely wooden furniture and fresh towels.
We reconfigured the space and were able to fit the two hired travel cots, side by side, as they are in the twin’s own nursery.
Up until last week, when we’ve been away anywhere, they’ve always slept in their little pop-up tents from Koo-di, which have honestly been one of the best baby items we’ve bought.
We’ve been using them since the boys were around 5 months old and it’s only now that they’re starting to get a little too big for them.
So without the safety net of our own, tried and trusted, travel cots I was a little worried, especially as there were no blinds at the windows — and the curtains seemed a bit thin — but they slept really well the whole time we were away.
No early morning wake up calls and a peaceful night’s sleep was had by everyone!
Does Caldey Lodge Have a Bath?
The booking form states that the Caldely Lodges have a wet-room so initially I was a bit concerned about the lack of a bath.
But, as you can see from the photo, the lodge did have a bath.
And a very powerful shower too, which was much appreciated — particularly by my aching limbs — after cycling around Bluestone each day!
All in all, the accommodation at Bluestone was perfect for our little holiday in Wales. Clean and modern with more appliances than you can shake a stick at!
It was lovely to go somewhere that offered such comfortable living arrangements; the standard of cleanliness was really good and there was plenty of room for our little family.
If I was being super-picky, I would perhaps suggest blackout blinds for the bedroom windows — and my boy would have liked filled salt and pepper pots in the kitchen (as he cooked 2 out of the 4 nights we stayed and this is something that you just wouldn’t think to bring with you on holiday!) but that really is being picky.
Thanks Bluestone for the most perfect mid-week break. We will definitely be back!
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
Blimey – complimentary – you did well! We stayed in Feb half term, and, whilst we were also very very happy with the cottage ( we had a Gateholm lodge, just behind yours by the looks of it), staff, service, and all of the facilities and extra activities we booked were completely excellent and spot on…..it wasn’t that cheap….at all. Whilst it’s quite reasonable during term time, the difference in cost between term time and holiday time is in fact quite drastic.
That said we still want to go back again this summer and would totally recommend to all families.
Bluestone seem to have got it all very right.
We did — and it was amazing!!
Good point about the difference in cost — re term-time v school holidays — it’s a shame isn’t it? Although I definitely thought it was much more reasonable than similar places we’ve stayed at. We’ll definitely go again! x
Do you remember which lodge number you stayed in? We are trying to book the caldey lodge and want one with a bathroom instead of a wet room but we’re told by the call centre that none of the caldey lodge has a bathroom.
Thanks
Hello Jessica! I think it was number 15! As you can see from the photos, it definitely did have a bathroom — and not a wetroom. Unless they’ve updated them since last March?
It looks fab! I want to go now! I agree with you about the blinds. I wish more places had them. Until recently we carted around sheets of blackout material and masking tape with us!
It was BRILLIANT Morna — I really can’t recommend it enough! Totally with you re the blackout material! I’ve been thinking of getting some portable ones from the the Gro Company! ;)
Caro your lodge looks lovely and your photos are fantastic, it seems so modern and spacious x
It was perfect for our little family Sarah! It was a great size and had everything we needed! (apart from salt and pepper!! :) X
Wow this is a fab post and very informative! Can’t wait to go in June!! So excited. I think our twins are going to love it too :) Great post. Jess xxxx
It was SO good Jess! We had a ball! Harry and Lottie will really love it — there is so much for littlies to do x
Fabulous photos of a lovely holiday. Every time I read a post I know we just have to go!! Soon!
Thanks lovely! It was really fab — your girls would love it! X
Great review lovely and very informative. It’s always nice to feel that little more prepared when traveling and now after reading tis I will know what to expect (especially from a twin mum point of view) we can’t wait to stay, so very excited. I am so glad you had fun and a well deserved break. xxxx
Thanks darling! You’ll absolutely love it! Just remember to ask for an extra cot and high chair! ;) x
Lovely photos and a fab review. It looks lovely and relaxing there.
Thanks so much Gemma! It was really relaxing… apart from cycling up the hills ;)
The lodges look like they are kitted out beautifully. I would definitely like to pay them a visit one day :) Thank you for linking to #PoCoLo x
Thanks so much! They really were (apart from salt and pepper!) we didn’t want for anything at all! ;)
aww I love Bluestone. We last visited in 2009 and I would love to return again #TwinklyTuesday
Thanks so much Michelle — me too! I was so impressed with the set up there — I can’t wait to go back either! :)
wow so lucky it looks lovely Twinkly Tuesday
Thanks Mac — it was excellent. And just what we needed too! :)