Messy play and massages at Bluestone spa, in Wales

‘What have you been doing to your back?’ asked my masseur at the Bluestone spa, with a mixture of alarm and deep concern. It seems that when I said my shoulders might be a bit tight, I had understated the problem.

press trip*

Briefly? Pregnancy, breastfeeding and carrying an ever larger baby around on one hip (plus a large helping of contorting myself into bizarre positions to pick her up, put her down and let her sleep). It was my first massage in over a year, since a couple of antenatal pampering sessions, and probably the most needed of my life.

Filling in the form before the appointment, I found myself ticking relaxation, stress relief and reducing tension as my reasons for the treatment, and sank so happily (tiredly) onto the massage table that the therapist at The Well Spa at Bluestone could probably just have left me there for 30 minutes and I’d have been happy.

Even better, I was indulging in my favourite treatment, a hot stone massage, which I love as the smooth stones give a really deep tissue massage without someone having to gouge their thumbs into your back.

Given the knots in my shoulders, light pressure wasn’t about to cut it though and balanced right on the edge before pleasure tips into pain, I had more than 12 months’ stresses and strains worked out of me, finishing with a few smoothing motions which produced some alarming cracking noises and a feeling of dribblingly blissed-out contentment.

When I finally hauled myself up, I felt around 2cm taller and as if I had somehow got a brand new back.

The little Bluestone spa, a short walk from our cottage in the village, even has its own hydrotherapy pool, as well as saunas, steam rooms, salt room, ice pod and 11 treatment rooms, plus a teen spa (which also holds pamper parties for different ages groups from five upwards), relaxation room and its own restaurant.

Quite a difference from my morning on day 2 at Bluestone – checking out the Adventure Centre with Minnie for a messy play session.

It’s one of the options aimed at the youngest age groups – activities start with baby sensory for under 12-months, then Toddler Sense and Under the Sea for 13 months to three years – and our session was themed on woods.

So we started by going outside to pick leaves, bark and bits of plants (Minnie uncharacteristically turning down the chance to stroke and destroy the bushes) before heading back in to play with four different messy mixes, from mud to sticky green gunk with bits of tree, and a boggy concoction.

As the youngest there, Minnie was more interested in watching the others play at first, before finally hitting her stride when being allowed to stir the bits in the light green ooze of the bog area, swishing the stick back and forth before enthusiastically banging and sweeping it… covering both her and me with generous amounts.

All of which meant we had to skip the fun-looking Wild Wood cafe with its treehouse and fairy lights, not to mention the soft play area (and adventure playground, Lego room, Circus Zone) and head back for a bath. There’s only so much wet wipes can do.

After cleaning us both down, and leaving my entire outfit in the tub (thank god for water soluble paint…), we managed to check out a few more facilities. 

In the interests of trying as much as possible for the review, lunch had been fresh baguettes from the bakery (and some seriously good cake for later, to go with our dinner provisions from the shop) rather than heading back to The Yard, where we’d had breakfast. The morning buffet has everything from fruit and cereal, pastries or full Welsh breakfast, while there’s a regular Sunday lunch carvery and themed meals in the evening.

Perfect for kids, as everyone can choose their own, it’s almost permanently buzzing so there’s no worries about disturbing the neighbouring table. Having said that, if you’re looking to relax, the constant buzz can be a bit overwhelming, especially with babies, so it’s something I’d probably only do occasionally on a longer trip.

Then, around naps, we explored a bit further with a walk round the lake, spotting the tiniest frogs, water lilies and swallows flitting around before hopping into the buggy to eye up some of the lodges.

And at the edge of the resort is the Blue Lagoon water park – but by now bedtime (Minnie’s) was on the horizon, and we would have to postpone that until the next day…

For more ideas of things to do in the area, check out my three days out in Pembrokeshire with kids

Images courtesy of Bluestone

Disclosure: My stay and activities were hosted by Bluestone