At this Welsh premiere resort, kids are treated to the same five-star care that parents are

Celtic Manor Resort
Coldra Woods
The Usk Valley
South Wales NP18 1HQ
01633 413 000
www.celtic-manor.com/

'You have to take a look at this,' my husband said, motioning me down a hallway at Celtic Manor Resort. He wasn't pointing out the view over the glorious greens (the sight from the floor-to-ceiling windows in our room) or the sprawling pool and 50-person hot tub in The Forum spa. Instead, he led me to a playroom with stacks of bright plastic toys and a kiddie 'cinema' (soft stadium seating in front of a TV). Next door was a room with plastic balls to wallow in, then yet another room with more plastic balls, a soft castle to climb over and a curved slide. We were soon to discover that Celtic Manor Resort's five-star promise extends to children as well as adults.

My husband, daughter and I spent two days at this sprawling resort, owned by Welsh millionaire Sir Terry Matthews and set in 1,400 acres near Cardiff in Wales. The resort has made its name as a top-notch golfing destination - in 2010 it is host to the prestigious Ryder Cup - but its appeal extends far beyond birdies and golf clinics. It was the location of Lisa B's hen party and is the planned site of a summer celebrity golf tournament organised by Ant and Dec (golfers Robbie Williams, Samuel L. Jackson and Catherine Zeta Jones are potential duffers).

Set above a massive roundabout just inside the Welsh border, the hotel's location at first seems more Travelodge than five-star resort. Because there is no sign for the hotel on the confusing roundabout, twice we chose the wrong exit, which led us 10 minutes out of our way each time. (Hint: Take the exit for the A48 to Newport.) But once you're in the hotel's grounds, you start to get a sense of its scale and beauty. Lawns climb up the hill and spread out behind the 330-room hotel. Inside, an airy atrium houses a lounge, check-in desk, concierge desk, two restaurants and a bar.

The hotel's grandeur initially made us wonder whether our 15-month-old daughter - who has a habit of finding shelves to empty and metal fittings to lick - would be out of place. We decided to pop into the pool first for a family swim before dropping her with the Hideaway Club creche (which we had booked, per policy, at least 24 hours in advance).

The pool had a special area perfect for tiny tots - shallow with a sloping entry. When we entered a little girl and her parents were playing there with water toys. Lily was delighted to paddle about in the enormous 50-seater hot tub, which was warmer than the main pool and big enough for us to help her complete a few 'laps'. So often it seems that hotels boast marvellous pools that turn out to be mouldering ill-kept caves. Celtic Manor Resort's is a cavernous room lined with windows on two sides, a perfect sunny space to get some exercise.

A creche for kids?
Our daughter's arrival at the creche was just as warm. Three staffers were ready and waiting to take notes on her teething medication, sign her in and coo over her shy smiles. The Hideaway Club has areas for several different ages and stages, each fully stocked with the appropriate equipment and toys. A special darkened room has cots and blankets for kiddies still needing naptime, nearby is an area for babies under six months - with several baby gyms and soft areas for reclining. Then there are the other playrooms stocked with toys for all age ranges. For older children, the hotel can also arrange activities like swimming lessons, football, rugby and outings to nearby attractions. All this adds up to fun for them while allowing parents a little time for themselves.

?and one for adults
Of course, we weren't about to let Lily have all the fun. To inspire a little togetherness (and remind ourselves we are a couple as well as parents), my husband and I headed down the hallway to the spa, where we had booked the Rasul Mud Treatment, which you can do á deux. In a tiled, heated room you rub mud on to your body and your partner's, marinate for a while, then rinse off with a 'tropical rain shower' of water that falls from the ceiling. My husband loved it, enthusiastically rubbing mud onto his face, over his body and through his hair. Afterward he had the Forum Full Body Massage, with the perfect therapist - the kind that explains the treatment then lets her hands do the talking. I had an Elemis facial, with products selected especially for sensitive skin. We both left floating, although I did feel a twinge of guilt at having left our little one with strangers for so long, I needn't have worried. She'd had cuddles and playtime all afternoon and kept pointing out her new favourite toys while we gathered her things to leave.

Mum and Dad? and the big guns!
The following morning when we arrived at the Hideaway Club a staffer greeted our daughter with a friendly 'Hello Lily!' We put her down in the nap room but there was too much to do to sleep. The staff catered for her interest in playing, then, when tiredness took hold, settled down with her for a story and a quiet cuddle. Meanwhile we were whisked to the nearby Treetops Shooting School for some clay pigeon practice. Like the initial impression of the hotel's location, the ride to the school through an industrial landscape seemed urban rather than upscale. But the school was voted best in the UK by two sporting magazines and the approachable informative manner of our instructor showed us why.

Our guide fitted us with shotguns, took us around to several stands, showed us how to improve our aim, correct our stance and basically ensure we hit those little orange flying saucers. Although it had been years since I'd shot, at the first stand alone I hit eight out of ten. It was exhilarating to engage in a purely adult pursuit for a couple of hours, one that we wouldn't be able to do with the baby around. The hotel can arrange a host of activities for guests both onsite and off, ranging from mountain biking, horse riding, walking, tennis, fishing?and of course golf. Even I - as a complete golf novice - was tempted to pick up some clubs and learn a few things if only we'd had more time.

Food for all
Before leaving, we picked up a meal at the Leisure Cafe for Lillian to have upon our arrival home. Food for kids here runs toward the predictable favourites. There are six restaurants at the hotel, including the fine dining restaurant Owens, featuring Welsh ingredients, and The Golf Clubhouse eaterie. We most enjoyed eating with Lillian in the Leisure Cafe, next to the pool area. It serves simple food (jacket potatoes, sandwiches, omelettes and the like) and staffers were happy to pop over to the Hideaway Club to fetch a highchair for us. I would have preferred more veggies on the menu for little ones but we found something each mealtime - jacket potato with cheese and beans, chicken sandwich and banana - that both she and we were happy with.

We grabbed our bags from the concierge desk, jumped in our car, hopped on the M4 and were back in London within two hours. We arrived home spent and happy - parents and baby both. We just hope our daughter isn't so spoiled by the five-star experience that she refuses to adjust back to home life.