After the first three weeks of the Summer staying in Devon, South Wales and North Wales, we were delighted to return to Pembrokeshire to stay with Haven Holidays at Kiln Park, Tenby. Haven Holidays will always have a special place in my heart as all four of our children experienced their very first holiday with Haven at various stages over the last seventeen years. We have had some wonderful holidays with Haven as a family and although Lewis’s obsession with Bradley Bear has long passed, I was so excited to return with the children and make some lovely new memories of our own this Summer.

Accommodation

Haven offer a range of accommodation ranging from Standard to Platinum and we were very excited to be staying in a three bedroomed Prestige caravan with decking. The minute we stepped inside I was wowed by the gorgeous neutral decor which was not only fresh and stylish, but created such a light and spacious feel too. Although Lewis didn’t travel with us this Summer, three young children can often mean that we feel short on space but with the large patio doors and the open plan style, it meant that we had so much room inside.

I loved how the living area had two large sofas which were positioned to enjoy the views to the rear of our caravan out onto the old kilns. With the patio doors open we could even see the children on the playground from inside of our caravan which meant that whether we were on the sofa or on the decking, we could keep an eye on the kids at all times.

The caravan also had a 40 inch television and DVD player as well as integrated storage in the living area which was really useful with the five of us. That was one thing I really loved about our caravan – that there was so much storage! It’s always great to be able to fully unpack rather than live out of a suitcase and really feel at home.

For me it was the kitchen that was the real highlight of our caravan and I was obsessed with the grey units and worktops – so much so I started googling similar for our kitchen at home! With a fridge freezer, oven, grill, microwave and even a dishwasher, it had everything we could ever need for a self-catering family holiday. I also couldn’t fault the cleanliness of not only the kitchen but the whole caravan.

To the back of the bedrooms was three bedrooms – two twin and one double. All bedding is included with the Prestige caravans and the beds are made up on arrival which is always a relief after a long journey. I loved the quality of the duvets and pillows as well as the linen itself, the children’s bedding had a lovely seaside theme which really added to that holiday feel. Each of the twin bedrooms had a wardrobe with hanging space, drawers and a bedside table and the children instantly remarked on how comfortable the beds were.

The master bedroom was absolutely lovely with a large dressing table area to the right as you walked in as well as a huge light up closet to hang our clothes. As someone who doesn’t have a dressing table at home, this felt very luxurious and I really enjoyed having this space to get ready each morning.

I loved that the master bedroom also had a television too which, as you know, we don’t have at home so I always take full advantage of those lazy evenings watching tv in bed. I was also impressed that each of the rooms had USB chargers by the bed which always feel like such a bonus!

The master bedroom also had a small ensuite with a toilet and basin which is always handy for a family stay. I loved how light and airy the bedroom felt, even more so with a gorgeous neutral decor, and I really looked forward to climbing into bed at the end of a long day.

In the family bathroom you will find a toilet, sink, vanity unit for storage and an electric shower. Although it wasn’t overly large it was extremely functional and again lovely and clean on arrival.

Outside we had a beautiful private decking area with a table and six chairs which meant we could dine outside in the sunshine as well as enjoy evenings on the balcony whilst the children ran wild on the open space in front of us. Despite over looking the play area to the left, it was so peaceful and I loved spending time at the caravan, just reading a book with my feet up, whilst the children played.

Facilities

The great thing about Haven, and not just Kiln Park but each of the parks we have stayed at over the years, is that they have everything you need without ever having to leave the park if you so wish. We are always so impressed by the standard of the facilities, the entertainment and the activities offered at Haven, they really do have everything covered for the perfect family Summer holiday.

Supermarket

Although there are several large supermarkets nearby, there was large Mini Market on the park itself which was packed with reasonably priced grocery items as well as a huge selection of toys and souvenirs. Some days we were having too much fun to leave the park so it was great to be able to pop in and get what we needed to enjoy at our caravan.

Outside there is an ice cream van selling fresh ice creams and lollies, perfectly situated by the children’s play area and outdoor pool. We were lucky to experience some lovely weather during our stay so the ice cream van was very popular with our children!

Outdoor pool

As with the indoor pool, the outdoor pool had to be pre-booked either before your holiday or on arrival. We didn’t actually use the outdoor pool purely because our children chose to swim in the indoor pool (and it was a little warmer!) but it looked to be a lot of fun and with the limited numbers allowed in per session it wasn’t overly crowded either.

Children’s Playground

The children’s playground was definitely a huge hit with our children and they spent the majority of the evenings playing there, making new friends and having fun. I liked how it was fenced off with wood chippings throughout so that even smaller children could play safely.

Because of the positioning of the play area we were very fortunate that it was a stones throw from our caravan but, with Kiln Park being very large, it was quite far away from some other areas. This meant that, luckily for us, the play area was very quiet for the duration of our stay and obviously with the current situation with COVID, this was very welcomed.

Sports courts

To the rear of the park you will find basket ball courts and tennis courts, both of which can be used throughout your stay with a sports tent where you can hire sports equipment should you need it. I love that Haven really encourages families to get outdoors and keep active, that’s one thing I have noticed at each of their parks and really embraced during our stays.

Trampolines & Crazy Golf

There are also bungee trampolines beside the courts which you can book on as an extra activity, open at various times throughout the day and very popular with the children. There is also a small crazy golf course which again you can pay extra to play and looked to be a lot of fun for smaller children.

Open spaces

The park also has lots of outdoor space to explore throughout your stay and our children loved exploring the old kilns surrounding the park. There are lots of lovely walks you can take locally, or just within the park itself, or you can hire go-karts to get around the park a little quicker!

There was also a huge open playing field in front of our caravan where we saw families hosting games of cricket, football matches, playing frisbee or just enjoying the sun. It was lovely seeing the children joining in with games together and making new friends, that’s what Summer holidays are all about at that age.

Funworks Complex

The indoor facilities can all be found at the Funworks Complex, home to the restaurant, take-aways, amusement arcades, swimming pool and the entertainment lounge. It was also the only place on the park where you can access the free WiFi which was an absolute life saver for me at times with work commitments. It’s worth noting we found the phone signal was very poor at Kiln Park due to the location, so be prepared for a digital-detox and try to embrace it if you can!

As you enter the main building there was security on the door enforcing everyone who entered wore a mask, something which we found hugely reassuring. Obviously the rules have now changed so I can’t comment on the current guidelines but we found that in terms of COVID safety measures, Haven were very much on the ball and we felt incredibly safe throughout our stay.

Amusement arcade

Inside, there is a huge amusement arcade, packed with games and slot machines as well as a private area for over 18’s. Our children have always been a little young to really take an interest in the arcade games on previous holidays but this year they were very much into each of them! Many of the machines generated tickets which the children could collect over the course of the week and then trade in for a small, or if you were lucky, a large prize!

Although I was a bit twitchy about playing coin machines due to COVID, there was hand sanitiser everywhere you looked which was reassuring between games. We didn’t spent a great deal of time in the amusement arcades over the course of the week (it would have bankrupted us!) but had the weather been bad it would have been a great way to stay warm and dry.

Indoor Pool

The indoor pool (stock image below due to respecting other guests privacy) was definitely a real highlight for the children. Due to COVID you had to pre-book your slots for the week although we did find that if you turned up to swim at a time outside your slot, if there had been any no-shows they allowed you in if it was safe to do so. That meant we weren’t stuck to a rigid time table throughout the week and the children had several swims which they thoroughly enjoyed.

Evening Entertainment

Upstairs in the Funworks Complex was the evening entertainment and lounge bar where you could enjoy various shows and performances each night of your stay. With COVID rules in place this was table service only and children must be seated at all times which we found to be quite restricting so only visited the entertainment one night during our stay. I completely understand this was in accordance with government guidelines, and Haven did everything they could to make sure they stuck to these rules, but it would be lovely to revisit when the children can enjoy dancing at the disco and mixing with their friends in front of the stage like did in previous years.

Activities

The great thing about Haven is that not only does the price of your holiday include the use of the pool and entertainment facilities, but there are a number of extra activities you can book for yourself and your children at an added cost. We found that the cost of each of these activities was extremely competitive in comparison to other activity providers and the standard of each activity was very high with fully trained instructors throughout.

Archery

The first activity we booked in for was archery which was hosted at the sports tent and done in a group of eight with other adults and children. Each area had hand sanitiser to use before and after your turn and the bows themselves were wiped down with antiseptic wipes in between goes. Once the children had received a briefing on how to use the bow and arrows correctly, they took it in turns to shoot at the target.

Our instructor was a lot of fun and after allowing the children to practice their new skills he then led a number of fun games such as creating our perfect pizza with the white as the oven, the black as the base, the blue as the topping, red as tomato and yellow as cheese. They all got so into the game and it was a really fun way to allow them to really work on their archery skills.

The session really gave the children a taste for archery and we have since had a couple of lessons since we returned home. Haven really does provide the perfect environment to try something new and discover skills you never knew you had!

Segways

The one thing the children were desperate to do when we booked our Haven holiday was segways – something they have never done before and literally counted down the hours to from the moment we arrived at Kiln Park. Lucky for us we were the only family in the group and so the instructor was able to dedicate the entire session to the children and really allowed them to get the most out of the experience.

Once the children had been fitted with their safety equipment and shown the basics it was great to see them jump on board and have a go themselves. Each of them took to it instantly and in no time at all they were zooming around the tent, in and out of the markers, having the time of their lives. The instructor even encouraged Gaz and I have to have a turn which the kids loved!

I think of all the activities the children did at Haven, and actually over the entire Summer, the segways were their favourite and they haven’t stopped talking about them since. If you’re looking at activities to enjoy with your children whilst you’re at Haven, we would most definitely recommend trying this.

Pottery painting

Our last activity at Haven came on our penultimate day and coincidentally on the one rainy day of the week. Located in the Funworks Complex, the Pottery Painting is a bookable activity with a deposit taken to reserve the table and then deducted from the cost of your chosen items at the end of the session. There are a number of pots to paint all ranging in price, our children chose a dinosaur, a fairy and a sloth.

Each table receives their own carousel of paints and brushes and, after brief instructions from a member of staff, you are then allowed an hour to paint your chosen item which the children thoroughly enjoyed. On a rainy day this is the perfect activity although I would recommend booking in advance as with numbers limited, it does get booked up quite quickly.

All three of our children are extremely artistic but for Eva especially this was her dream activity. I love that Haven accommodates for everyone, whether your child is sporty or artistic, prefers free play or organised activities. At the end of our stay Gaz and I commented on how much the children had grown in confidence in such a short space of time and I think that’s one of the real benefits of a holiday such as this with so many fun activities to enjoy.

Once painted the pottery is fired and varnished which can take several days. If you are wanting to take your pots home with you then I recommend booking at the start of your stay but should you wish to book this later into your holiday you can have your finished pottery delivered to your home at a later date. Our children were beside themselves with excitement at the thought of their ornaments arriving and although Harry was over the moon to receive his the following week, we are still waiting on the girls to arrive.

The beach

Although there are Haven holiday parks throughout the UK, for me Kiln Park has a distinct advantage with direct access to Blue Flag Tenby beach. We adore Tenby, a beautiful seaside town bursting with things to see and do, and the fact we could walk from the park to the centre in just 10 minutes, as well as access the beach, is a real selling point.

The area of the beach which the park leads to is extremely quiet, even at peak season, where as ten minutes down the beach it is incredibly popular with ice cream vans, surfers and body boarders and lots of holiday makers. I love that here you get the best of both worlds and we enjoyed both the quieter spots and the busy town centre at different points throughout our stay.

We had such a great time at Kiln Park enjoying our beautiful caravan, the fantastic facilities and all of the fun activities. The children enjoyed every minute of our stay and as a family we made some wonderful memories together here in Wales. I can’t wait to share more about what we got up to during our stay but for now, I’m off to check out the Haven website to decide which of the many UK parks to visit next!

** We were invited to Haven in exchange for our review. All words and opinions are my own **