Review: Celtic Manor Resort, Wales

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.