Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
blue
& GREEN
Bluestone
is the new face of vacations
in Wales: eco-friendly yet cutting-edge,
luxurious, and nicely quaint. This village
sweeps across two woodland vales in
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, just
inland from Pembroke. More than 350
lodges, cottages, and studios (2-6 beds)
are built from local, sustainable materi-
als, have solar panels to heat water, and
triple glazing. Yet the heart of the vil-
lage looks like a historic hamlet, with lit-
tle shops including a butcher's (with
locally sourced meat) and a baker's. A
pub rubs shoulders with a plush spa,
plus restaurants and a sports club.
There's a children's club, high ropes
course, cycle hire, forest craft lessons,
and more. Beaches are a short drive
away. And then there's the Blue Lagoon,
an indoor/outdoor water park designed
to look like an upturned coracle (a small
boat), with the U.K'.s largest indoor
wave rider, flumes, rivers, pools, hot
tubs, and wooden walkways, all heated
by the same biomass plant that serves
the main resort buildings. Bluestone
guests get free access, but the
Blue
Lagoon
(www.bluelagoonwales.com) is
open to the general public. Bluestone,
Canaston Wood Narberth, Pem-
brokeshire SA67 8DE (
&
01834/
888174;
www.bluestonewales.com),
offers 3-night stays around weekends
(from £225 double), 4-night stays mid-
week (from £225), among other options.
18
can still be viewed as a fortified town. The castle, on the banks of the River Pem-
broke, has been impressively restored. Its round keep is 23m (75 ft.) high with walls
5.5-m (18-ft.) thick, and topped by a dome. There are towers, battlements, passage-
ways, and oak-beamed halls, which children love. The castle is where the Tudor
dynasty began; it was the birthplace of Henry VII. Admission is £4.50 adults; £3.50
children 5 to 15. It is open March and October daily 10am to 5pm; April to Septem-
ber daily 9:30am to 6pm; and November to February daily 10am to 4pm.
Where to Eat
Lamphey Court Hotel
WELSH/BRITISH This smart hotel, between Pem-
broke and the sea, has two options. The formal Georgian Restaurant is open on Friday
and Saturday. The Conservatory is open daily for lunch, and is especially lovely when
you can sit out on the patio. Both serve local food, including lobster from nearby
Freshman Bay, River Teifi salmon, and lamb from Pembrokeshire's Preseli Hills. Main
courses are accompanied by the fresh vegetables of the day and feature oven-baked
rump of Welsh lamb on horseradish mash drizzled with honey, chili, and rosemary oil.
Lamphey Court Hotel, Lamphey.
&
01646/672272.
www.lampheycourt.co.uk. Reservations required.
Main courses £16-£22. AE, DC, MC, V. Georgian Restaurant: Fri-Sat 7-9:30pm. Conservatory: daily
noon-2:30pm.
Normandie
INTERNATIONAL Snuggled under the medieval walls, this old
coaching inn is now a stylish, modern restaurant and bar. The main menu focuses on
Tenby-caught fish and seafood, whether Welsh beer-battered cod or mussels in a
cream sauce, plus local steaks. Also featured are pizza and baguettes stuffed with
ingredients such as Carmarthenshire ham. There's a courtyard, and several
bed-
rooms
(£85 double).
Upper Frog St., Tenby.
&
01834/842227.
Fax 01834/844714. www.normandietenby.co.uk. Main
courses £6.95-£16. AE, MC, V. Daily noon-9pm.
