Wales holds a powerful, magnetic spell over my daughter and me. For her, Wales is, simply, “the land of the dragons and the elves”. But for me, the allure is no less magical.

The minute I breathe in the mineral-rich air of coastal Pembrokeshire, under a furiously swirling cloud canvas, something miraculous happens to my stress. It disappears.

And that is no mean feat for a knackered working mum limbering up to another advent.

Stocking up on Christmas cheer was exactly the motivation for our return to Bluestone — a luxury eco holiday resort deep within the Welsh national park. We had been invited to wind our way back along the M4 over the toll bridge (or “troll bridge” as my Amber calls it), soaked in November exhaustion.

Fortunately, the jewel in Bluestone’s festive crown is the Kingdom of the Elves, a mindbogglingly hypercolour, turbo-charged Christmas workshop for little elves and their parents. And this is how I found myself, together with my oldest schoolpal Liz and her angelic three-year-old elf Joshua, dancing next to a giant Rubik’s cube.

Our youngsters were mesmerised by the interactive theatrical session, which recruits children to earn a crop of Elf School badges by hunting snowballs, finding toys and bouncing around a succession of impossibly glittery, rainbow-hued wonderlands. Brace yourselves, because this elf spirit is powerful stuff! The energy generated by our smiling elfin mentors among the youngsters during this two-hour experience was palpable. (Word to the wise, here, though: do not approach this experience with a hangover).

In the unlikely event that Kingdom of the Elves will leave you still feeling a bit ‘bah humbug’, Bluestone also offers storytime with Santa, puppet shows and reindeer dust workshops, or hang your wish on Santa’s magic tree.

Bluestone, which opened in 2008, is nestled in a lovely spot beneath the Preseli hills and close to the impossibly pretty town of Tenby. My friend Liz, a similarly fun-seeking and sleep-deprived mum (is there any other kind?) hails from Narberth but had never visited before. Before long, we were skipping about amongst the lakeside lodges during our short stay, with our children looking decidedly free range and without a tantrum in sight.

Visit Wales awarded Bluestone a five-star rating for its relaxing, luxury short breaks in the resort, which has nearly 300 luxury lodges, charmingly converted old two-up, two-down cottages and studio apartments set within 500 acres of spectacular countryside. This is Wales in winter, so it is important not to fear the mad weather, but embrace it, with the sky changing minute by minute from glorious golden sunshine to violet rages of rain in seconds. As Liz put it: “I’ve never been anywhere where I’ve enjoyed the rain so much! The lakeside view helped —I had a lovely moment with a cup of coffee before anyone else was awake, just gazing over the lake as the sun rose. The mist rising was so atmospheric.” Pack your wellies (I forgot and my six-year-old sploshed about in glittery gold trainers) and get outside.

The whole resort is car-free but you can hire an electric golf buggy once you’ve dropped off your bags, if you don’t want to stretch your legs too far. Adventurous, outdoor types are spoilt for choice here with The Steep Ravine with zip wires, sky rope course, tree climbing and Camp Smokey. You can make as many free trips to the indoor Blue Lagoon water park as your dophins desire and the Adventure Centre is the hub of all things kid-shaped, with loads of undercover softplay fun, adjoining the treetop Wild Café.

Whether it’s here, guzzling hot chocolate and a mellow ale, or enjoying a gorgeously hearty Welsh breakfast or delicious buffet array in the village restaurant, green credentials are in abundance. Produce for all the delicious meals is locally sourced and crops grown by nearby farms are used to heat the water park and Adventure Centre. Your lodge will be toasty warm not at the expense of the environment (which would be ironic, somewhere as beautiful as this), but thanks to a biomass heating system and solar (when the Welsh sun shines) panels.

And, yes, although Christmas is indeed all about the kids, I urge you to step inside the cocoon-cosy Well Spa. Liz and I felt vaguely over-indulgent and naughty booking ourselves in for a massage session, while the kids enjoyed some daddy daycare, and the two free hours’ access to the herbal sauna, salt room, ice cave and outdoor jacuzzi... But soon all those troubles had melted away, leaving us starry-eyed, relaxed and distinctly less Grinch-like when we returned to our little elves. Bliss.

 

FACTBOX:

  • Bluestone Wales, The Grange, Canaston Wood, Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Wales, SA67 8DE.
  • Kingdom of the Elves runs until January 4. Breaks booked over this period include a free elf workshop ticket worth up to £32.50 for each member of your party.
  • Two-night festive breaks from £23 per person, per night. Four-night breaks from £16pppn and five-night Christmas breaks (December 22-27) from £42 pppn.
  • To book a stay, visit bluestonewales.com or call 01834 887186.