Media and Blogger Pack
Transcription
Media and Blogger Pack
Updated October 2015 #Bluestonewales facebook.com/bluestonewales @bluestonewales BLUESTONE MEDIA & blogger GUIDE Find your wild thing at Bluestone with free range fun & relaxation throughout the year. A perfect free range destination Bluestone National Park Resort is a luxury short break destination situated in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, UK. Awarded and reaccredited with a five star rating by Visit Wales, Bluestone opened in July 2008 and has nearly 300 luxury lodges, cottages and studio apartments set in 500 acres of spectacular countryside. It has plans to expand with a further 60 luxury lodges as part of a third phase expansion. This pack contains relevant information about Bluestone to assist journalists, bloggers and the media. Situated within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, close to the famous coastal town of Tenby and next to the magnificent Preseli hills, Bluestone is an all year, all weather short break holiday destination offering free range fun and relaxation like no other. For more media information, please contact Bluestone’s Marketing department on 01834 869900 or e-mail pr@bluestonewales.com Guests use Bluestone as a base to explore the stunning surrounding countryside, coast or famous Pembrokeshire Coast Path, or to just to shut out the outside world and forget all those stresses and strains. 02 WWW.BLUESTONEWALES.COM Email: PR@bluestonewales.com 03 BLUESTONE MEDIA & blogger GUIDE The resort is ideal for: ■ Self catering breaks ■ Stress free holidays ■ Family holidays ■ Generational family escapes together ■ Adult and romantic breaks Wild fun and relaxation in brief: ■ 500 acres of private Pembrokeshire countryside ■ Indoor Blue Lagoon water park ■ The undercover Adventure Centre where the great outdoors comes indoors ■ The Steep Ravine with its amazing zip wires, including Sky Wire zip rope course, high ropes, tree climbing and Camp Smokey ■ The Tournament Field where fun battles commence ■ The exclusive Well Spa Retreat with its relaxing and invigorating treatment rooms, saunas, thermal suite and hydro pool FAST FACTS ■ Five restaurants serving a range of cuisines using locally sourced and produced ingredients wherever possible ■ Bluestone opened in July 2008 and employs over 500 people. ■ A village pub for great ales, wines and bar meals ■ Wild walks and cycle routes ■ Nearly 300 luxury lodges, cottages and studio apartments surround a private village. ■ Amazing wildlife, flora and fauna for all ages to explore and have adventures in – including beast hunts ■ Over 100 all weather, all year activities for all ages and abilities. Bluestone offers the perfect escape and best of all worlds ■ Set in 500 acres of spectacular Pembrokeshire Coast National Park countryside in West Wales. ■ National award-winning environmental and sustainable credentials, including Level 5 of the Green Dragon Environmental Standard. ■ Use crops grown by local farmers to heat our water park and Adventure Centre environmentally with a biomass heating system and solar energy on some of our lodges to heat water. From the young to the old, the adventurous to the chilled; free range fun and relaxation is synonymous with Bluestone. And we hope guests will find their wild thing at the same time. In 2014 Bluestone introduced a range of new activities and facilities to enhance the guest experience even more. These included: ■ Sky wire zip course with zip wires from 40ft to 260ft ■ Gold panning at Camp Smokey ■ Rock climbing at the Adventure Centre ■ Experience a new route into the Steep Ravine with our new boardwalk ■ A new village treehouse and treetots play area and more. 04 WWW.BLUESTONEWALES.COM Email: PR@bluestonewales.com 05 BLUESTONE MEDIA & blogger GUIDE ACCOMMODATION FACTS Nearly 300 lodges, cottages and studio apartments ■ 13 types of luxury lodges to suit all > > > > > > > > > > > > > Caldey Caldey Adapted Ramsey Gateholm Skomer Dinas Caldey Connect Grassholm Pembroke St David’s Tenby Tenby Connect Dinas Bunkhouse ■ Traditional Welsh stone cottages > One bedroom > Two bedroom ■ Stylish and modern Studio apartments ACCOMMODATION Rooms with more than just a view Whether escaping to Bluestone for adventure or relaxation, one thing guests can expect is their own private space within a luxury lodge, cottage or studio apartment. Bluestone prides itself on its accommodation. Unique and finished to an extremely high standard, all accommodation is designed to inspire and connect with the surrounding environment, while ensuring sumptuous comfort. The lodges range in size from two to six bedrooms, capable of accommodating between four to fourteen people in a high standard of furnishings. The Dinas Bunkhouse caters for up to 14 people in style and comfort and is designed for large groups. It includes double-bunks in three bedrooms and twins or a double in the fourth. Within the village sit a range of one and two-bedroom stone cottages, ideal for individuals, couples and families. 06 WWW.BLUESTONEWALES.COM Email: PR@bluestonewales.com 07 BLUESTONE MEDIA & blogger GUIDE Breaks to suit all from the adventurous to the relaxed There’s no typical break at Bluestone. It’s all about having free range choice, while urging guests to find their wild thing. Whether it’s family wanting to get together, couples wanting a romantic escape, or guests just simply wanting to get away and do something different. We cater for all. From the moment a guest books their holiday they can go on to choose over 100 activities, spa treatments, meals, and much more all from the comfort of their home prior to arriving and in the knowledge they can just chill when they reach us for their special luxury short break holiday. Online experience before guests arrive Bluestone’s new website allows guests to experience the resort before they arrive. From booking accommodation and activities, to choosing the adventures they want to have. The online experience is a great gateway from which to explore Bluestone, along with engagement through Twitter www.twitter.com/bluestonewales (@bluestonewales) & Facebook www.facebook.com/bluestonewales to find out more. 08 WWW.BLUESTONEWALES.COM Email: PR@bluestonewales.com 09 BLUESTONE MEDIA & blogger GUIDE adventure-packed activities for all ages n Steep Ravine Sky Wire zip wire course, high ropes and adventure course n Splashtastic fun at the Blue Lagoon water park n Go on beast hunts in the wood n Medieval action on the Tournament Field n Camp Smokey and its outdoor eating experience n Wild walks and outdoor activities n Jump, slide, and even rock climb at the Adventure Centre n Refuel at the Wild Wood Café n 4x4 adventures n Wildlife adventures n Lakeside canoeing and rafting n Cycling adventures n Pan for gold at Camp Smokey Wild adventures, activities & more Chilled moments n The Well Spa Retreat n Thermal suite n Holistic spa treatments n Dine in style at the Oak tree restaurant n Relaxing country walks n Pub meals at The Tafarn and regular entertainment, pub quizzes and live music Every guest is unique – so is Bluestone n Freshly cooked meals at the Farmhouse Grill Bluestone understands that no guest is the same. Some want to get away from day-to-day life to chill and relax, while others want fun and activities that get their adrenalin flowing and heart pumping – and to find their wild thing. n Relaxing cycle rides n Luxury accommodation Over 100 all year, all weather activities for families, friends, couples and individuals Whether it’s generations of a family wanting to get away to spend some rare quality time together, friends wanting to share and celebrate an occasion, or loved ones wanting to get away for a romantic getaway, Bluestone provides the recipe for a perfect break. From the adrenaline pumping Steep Ravine with its Sky Wire zip wire course and high ropes, battles on the medieval Tournament Field, aqua fun at the Blue Lagoon water park or clambering around in the Adventure Centre. There’s messy or creative adventures for kids, thought-provoking and physical adventures for teenagers and adults, and relaxing walks, tours and specialist activities for everyone. 10 WWW.BLUESTONEWALES.COM Email: PR@bluestonewales.com 11 BLUESTONE MEDIA & blogger GUIDE Free range and fun-fuelled activities Have fun, find your wild thing & get messy Bluestone is all about free range fun for all and finding your wild thing. Whether for the young or the young at heart, there are allweather, all-year opportunities to get out and play. An explorer, an adventurer or an adrenalin junkie. Young or old, there’s an abundance of indoor and outdoor activities to suit all. Here are just a few: For the young: Mini Rangers Junior Rangers Celtic Rangers 4x4 Off Road Safari for children n Pond dipping nArchery n Baby Sensory n Baby Massage n Messy play n n n n For all ages: n Tournament Field n Steep Ravine nKayaking nArchery n Laser Clay n High ropes n Laser combat n Lantern workshops n Beast hunt n Hidden secrets history walks n and much more 12 WWW.BLUESTONEWALES.COM Email: PR@bluestonewales.com 13 BLUESTONE MEDIA & blogger GUIDE All weather fun in the Adventure Centre Jump, slide, putt, and test your love of heights at the Adventure Centre which is free to staying guests. A giant countryside themed adventure playground with four large linked towers, complete with suspension bridges, crawl tubes, nets and ladders winding their way through, round, up and down, a climbing wall and high ropes course. Aqua Adventures The Blue Lagoon water park features an indoor wave machine, a rapids river ride and two enclosed flume rides that leave the coracle-shaped building and bring you back into the main swimming area at pool level. Free to all staying guests, the Blue Lagoon can provide hours of family fun. The Blue Lagoon water park features an indoor wave machine, a rapids river ride and two enclosed flume rides that leave the coracle-shaped building and bring you back into the main swimming area at pool level. Free to all staying guests, the Blue Lagoon can provide hours of family fun. A lazy river exits the building to an outdoor bubble pool. There is an 14 outdoor and indoor spa pool ideal for relaxation and fun, two interactive wet play. There are loungers, patios, observation decks and timber walkways and the temperatures and humidity within the structure are maintained at constantly perfect levels. Feeling peckish? Head to our poolside Fish Shack for a choice of quality food and drinks including a choice of snacks, sandwiches, paninis In 2014 we introduced an amazing climbing wall allowing guests to experience the fun and thrills of rock climbing in the safe and dry surroundings of the Adventure Centre. A soft play area with ball pool, spiral slide and bouncy castle keep the younger ones active, while the whole family can have fun playing mini golf. Also within the Adventure Centre is the Circus Zone, NRG Zone and Messy Play. and more. Introduced in 2014 is a new interactive play area for the young to experience the fun of the Blue Lagoon. Overlooking the whole complex are wet and dry café and bar areas. Oh, and in what is believed to be a world first, Blue Lagoon is heated by biomass. Warmth is provided by the nearby energy centre. WWW.BLUESTONEWALES.COM Email: PR@bluestonewales.com 15 BLUESTONE MEDIA & blogger GUIDE Fly into the Food Adventures at the Wildwood Café Go wild in the wood, or at least in the Adventure Centre’s Wild Wood Café. Make your visit to the Adventure Centre that extra bit special with some great grub and plenty of fun at our new Wild Wood Café. With its giant tree house, forester’s cottage, nest pod and squirrels drey set around a giant 20ft tree, you’ll feel like you’ve entered a magical wild world with all the sounds and smells of the wood and its inhabitants. And with plenty of fun entertainment and activities for youngsters, including our famous interactive dinner shows, it’s also a great place for special occasions. Steep Ravine Overcome your fears and get your adrenalin pumping at the Steep Ravine, In 2014 Bluestone opened the awesome Sky Wire zip wire course. An array of zip wires ranging from 40ft to 240ft through the wooded ravine. There’s also the high ropes adventure course. Walk through the wooded canopy through a range thrilling experiences above Camp Smokey. They are designed to challenge you physically and mentally while still having leaps of fun. An ice, rock and tree climbing activity allows guests to try their hand at climbing as if in different terrains but without leaving the confines of Bluestone. Woodland Warrior Laser Combat is like paintball, but without the paint and without the pain! It fires lasers and all hits are recorded. The woodland arena is set at the top of Steep Ravine in a dedicated wooded area. Battle it out on the Tournament Field Set above the Steep Ravine, the Tournament Field is a great place for some fun battles with family, friends and other guests. 16 WWW.BLUESTONEWALES.COM It includes an array of challenges, from archery and laser clay shooting, to trebuchet, giant catapults and much more. Email: PR@bluestonewales.com The Tournament Field is one place where you’ll definitely find your wild thing and want to come back for more during your stay. 17 BLUESTONE MEDIA & blogger GUIDE Wild walks, talks, fascinating fun & history Visitors can take in the splendour of Bluestone by foot, by bike or even by buggy. But sometimes they want to know more about the area, its history and the environment they’re in. Needless to say, here at Bluestone we’re always keen to tell everyone about how great the local community and wider area in and around Pembrokeshire is. Our resident historian, Terry John, hosts regular walks and cycle tours around Bluestone and the locality, explaining the history of the area. Guests can book on these before and during their stay – helping them to get out and learn much more about the area they’re staying in. Dining In We also host regular visits and tours to other attractions and areas of interest – from historic castles to beautiful beaches. Bluestone prides itself on using local food ingredients and produce wherever possible. And that’s important for us as we provide a wide choice of culinary choice for our guests who expect the best. Activities Team As well as providing your own thrilling entertainment through the wide range of activities and events at Bluestone, our very own activities team are always about providing even more fun. They could be singing, reading interactive stories or putting on a show. Keep an eye out for them and a range of events and activities throughout the year. Whether it’s a sandwich or baguette from Millers Bakery, good old fashioned pub grub at The Tafarn, some freshly cooked delicious dishes at The Farmhouse Grill, or an extra special dining experience at our Oak tree restaurant. Why not sample some delicious fish and chips from our Chippy? Located just up from the village past the Treehouse play area, where you can enjoy a taste of the seaside without leaving the resort! Then there’s the fun of eating outdoors at the Steep Ravine’s Camp Smokey, complete with barbecue and smoke pit, to the excitement of the Wild Wood Café at the Adventure Centre. In fact, guests have so much culinary choice it’s hard to choose what to eat each day. They can start the day with a hearty breakfast at the Wild Wood Café each morning, a tasty lunch in the Knights Tafarn and a sumptuous dinner at the Oak tree. For those seeking relaxation or invigoration at The Well Spa Retreat, there are a range of great snack and drink options at the spa’s very own Caffi Môr. There’s also Kids Hour, Live Music at The Tafarn, a Medieval Gameshow, Pub Quiz and much more. 18 WWW.BLUESTONEWALES.COM Email: PR@bluestonewales.com 19 BLUESTONE MEDIA & blogger GUIDE Free Range Relaxation We don’t just talk about the environment – we care for it. Busy day? Why not relax at The Well Spa Retreat. Exquisitely appointed, it boasts saunas, steam rooms, treatment rooms and a hydro pool. Guests can pamper themselves with a range of treatments before relaxing in the spa’s Caffi Môr for a snack, drink and even maybe some champagne? The Well Spa Retreat offers a wide range of soothing, relaxing and invigorating treatments and packages, including spa days and experiences. Working with ESPA, guests can sample and enjoy treatments from fully trained staff who can provide consultations and advice. THERMAL suite facilities include: n Treatment rooms Spa breaks Bluestone offers a range of specialist breaks to entice individuals, partners and friends to sample and enjoy the exclusive Well Spa. Environmental responsibility is central to the Bluestone ethos. It shapes every aspect of the resort. Award for its environmental work on a day-to-day basis. It retained this level again in 2013. From the use of natural, sustainable materials wherever possible, to solar-heated water in some of our lodges and a unique biomass energy centre which provides carbon-neutral heat for Blue Lagoon and the Adventure Centre. It was also named an Exemplar of Excellence in rural development at the UK 2011 Business in the Community Awards after receiving the regional award for Wales from BITC Cymru/Wales. In 2012 it was re-accredited with its ‘Big Tick’ from the BITC. In 2012, Bluestone achieved Level Five of the prestigious Welsh Government-backed Green Dragon In June 2012 Bluestone was awarded the coveted Business Commitment to the Environment (BCE) Management for Resource Efficiency Premier Award, and in July it received the British Venture Capital Association’s UK award for Community and Environmental Action. Last year we helped a charity raise over £15,000 just by recycling our printer cartridges. But we never rest on our laurels;we’re committed to the continued development and improvement of our environment – your environment. Diamond Woods From overnight and weekend breaks, to mid-week and specialist days. What better way to unwind and relax from the strains of dayto-day life? Our spa team are on hand to provide advice and consultations and offer a range of spa and beauty treatments. n Brick sauna n Celtic sauna n Herbal steam room n Marine steam room n Ice pod n Dry salt room n Feature showers n Wet jets 20 WWW.BLUESTONEWALES.COM Wales’ first Diamond Wood, a project to create 60 woodlands throughout the UK celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, has been planted at Bluestone. project will join together two parts of the ancient Canaston Woods for the first time in centuries, creating 60 acres of new natural woodland habitat. Bluestone started planting 35,000 trees in November 2011 and the Guests and local schoolchildren have been involved in the planting Email: PR@bluestonewales.com throughout the project. It was the first Diamond Woods project to start planting in Wales and one of the first to be revealed in the UK. 21 BLUESTONE MEDIA & blogger GUIDE Let’s be social For more media information, enquiries or media announcements about Bluestone, please contact: The Marketing Team T: 01834 869900 E: PR@bluestonewales.com www.bluestonewales.com Twitter: @bluestonewales Facebook: www.facebook.com/bluestonewales Did you know: n Bluestone opened to its first guests in July 2008. n The Bluestone concept consists of nearly 300 stylish, luxury lodges, cottages and studio apartments set around a private village, designed in the traditional Welsh style, and featuring a range of facilities for the exclusive use of staying guests. n Bluestone has been created in 500 acres of natural splendour near Narberth, 22 in Pembrokeshire’s historic Landsker borderlands. Much of the site – including the village and all accommodation - lies within the renowned Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. n Bluestone has been created over two valleys. While the village and all accommodation lies within the northern valley, the southern valley has a more active flavour. n Facilities in the southern valley include the Blue Lagoon water park and the Adventure Centre. n Bluestone offers a wide range of all-weather on-site activities n Guests are encouraged to use Bluestone as a base from which to explore Pembrokeshire, sample the county’s many activities and attractions, and absorb its culture, heritage and natural WWW.BLUESTONEWALES.COM splendour. Partnerships have been forged with many of the county’s best attraction providers and an imaginative menu compiled of visits and pursuits to suit all tastes. n Environmental responsibility is an important part of the Bluestone ethos. The company employs the Green Dragon environmental management system and achieved Level 5 in 2012 and reaccredited with the level in 2013. n Efficient use of energy and use of renewable energy are hallmarks of the Bluestone design and operating plan. The Caldey lodges have solar gain panels to heat water, while Blue Lagoon and the Adventure Centre are both heated via an on-site biomass energy centre, which burns miscanthus grown by a cooperative of local farmers, and woodchip. Email: PR@bluestonewales.com n Bluestone currently employs over 500 people in yearround posts, and continues to recruit. The company is committed to recruiting local people to fill its vacancies, as far as possible. 23