[ad_1]
In our continued seek for the perfect locations to remain in Southern Africa, we despatched our skilled reviewer Pippa de Bruyn to scour the lodging in Tulbagh.
Utilizing TripAdvisor as a base, she inspected 30 of the top-ranked choices within the Resort, B&B/Inn and Speciality Lodging classes, in addition to many unlisted choices. The end result? You received’t discover a higher tried-and-tested information to the perfect locations to remain in Tulbagh.
Additionally learn: Information to Graaff-Reinet lodging
Why select Tulbagh?
- The alpine farm surrounds, notably to the north past the city into the Winterhoek nook, are gorgeous. Tucked right into a tiny horseshoe valley created by the undulating Obiqua Mountains, the craggy Witzenberg peaks and the majestic Winterhoek Mountains, each vantage is backdropped by spectacular views.
- With peaks that rise to over 1500 metres, the crags of the Winterhoek Mountains are at all times snowcapped in winter, and the Witzenberg Mountains usually dusted – in consequence fireplaces are de rigueur virtually in all places (select a spot with entry to water in summer season although ‒ it will get darn sizzling).
- Church Road has probably the most important variety of Cape Dutch, Edwardian and Victorian provincial heritage websites in a single road in South Africa, all superbly restored publish the devastating earthquake of 1969. Inevitably tourism has cannibalized authenticity through the years ‒ a lot of the historic buildings are actually lodging, with just a few eating places, so there’s just about no sense of being a part of native life. That mentioned, it’s fairly and peaceable, notably at night time, when you may wander to a restaurant via swimming pools of old style lamp lights, serenaded by frogs and crickets.
- Wine lovers are in for a deal with exploring the unsung wine estates – you’ll want to style Saronsberg’s award-winning Shiraz (each of them) and Rijk’s Pinotage.
- With surrounds as stunning as Franschhoek, however lodging and venues half the worth, Tulbagh has develop into a vastly well-liked marriage ceremony vacation spot, and there are a selection of nice choices to host a small or massive occasion. In consequence it’s at all times busy right here, and it’s value reserving effectively upfront, or reserving for longer. A one-night keep (notably Saturday) is invariably penalized with a better price; reductions are often provided for a three-night keep and longer.
- Tulbagh is among the most LGBT – pleasant locations exterior of Cape City.
Greatest historic B&B farmhouse
1. Montpellier Manor Home
Residing within the 300-year-old gabled Montpellier Manor Home you may fake ‒ for the weekend ‒ that the antique-filled rooms and sprawling property are all yours. There’s an infinite kitchen desk, match for a banquet; lush gardens with loads of nooks to find; vine-shaded terraces apart a 14-metre pool; an exquisite hillside chapel; award-winning wines to style ‒ there’s simply a lot to love. With 4 en-suite bedrooms, and a dorm-style loft (entered by way of a reasonably steep stairway within the backyard) to sleep an extra 10, this might make the an ideal home occasion for a visitor listing of 18. If you wish to accommodate extra, the Annex ‒ a brief stroll away ‒ sleeps one other eight in 4 bedrooms (observe that the Annex could be rented as a stand- alone cottage, however the kitchen is admittedly less than snuff). There may be additionally the Picket Cottage, adjoining to the Annex, however it’s not in the identical league. A brief drive away are Rietdakkies ‒ three self-catering items clustered collectively on weathered decks; positive if you happen to’re a part of a Montpellier home occasion however there are higher locations reviewed on these pages if you happen to’re trying for somewhat self-catering bolthole within the nation.
Room tip: Any of the 4 rooms within the Manor Home (besides ‒ if you happen to’re fussy ‒ possibly the one with the frilly four-poster). Collect just a few buddies (as much as 18 if you happen to e-book the loft), and you may have the whole nationwide monument to your self.
Value: From R900 per room per night time.
Contact: montpellier.co.za
Greatest-value small self-catering cottage
2. Kloofzicht Lake View Cottage
Situated simply 4 kilometres south of the city of Tulbagh, Kloofzicht provides 4 very totally different self-catering choices (Nation Home, the Loft, and two cottages), all furnished with character, sharing entry to the massive pool with mountain views and serviced by heat assist workers. I used to be delighted by Lake View Cottage ‒ a compact unit with a pleasing format, farm-style antiques, a big open hearth and barn-style doorways that open onto a deck with attractive mountain vistas ‒ charming. The double-storey thatched five-bedroom Nation Home can also be value noting: not as historic as Montpellier, or as luxuriously completed and personal as extra fashionable Oudekloof, however the 5 bedrooms (4 en-suite) are large and comfy, and the kitchen eating desk ‒ centred on the massive open hearth ‒ a most excellent place for a protracted, lazy winter lunch.
Room tip: Lake View Cottage (it has a greater view than Backyard View Cottage) can sleep 4 however has just one bed room; if you happen to’re a much bigger household however don’t need the massive Nation Home, the double-storey Loft has two bedrooms and sleeps as much as 9 folks.
Value: Cottages from R800 per night time per cottage
Contact: kloofzichtestate.co.za
Greatest assortment of wine-farm cottages
3. Saronsberg
Saronsberg is a wine-farm gem: a triple quantity gallery-tasting room overlooks a dam from which an Angus Taylor statue rises like a legendary feminine Pan, as majestic because the mountain views and wines of equal stature. When you’ve admired the artwork assortment (appreciable) and tasted the Shiraz (heaven), it’s pure decadence to pop a bottle below every arm and stroll throughout the lawns to your cottage and lightweight the fireplace. Every of the 16 renovated labourer’s cottages is ready far sufficient aside to take pleasure in a modicum of privateness however shut sufficient to take pleasure in as a small or massive group (the ‘village’ has a complete of 51 beds). Interiors are restrained and tasteful, as you’d anticipate from an proprietor this keen about artwork, and every options a big open hearth round which the seating is organized (sadly this convivial association is uncommon within the valley ‒ far too many stoves caught in corners, or braai-style fireplaces in kitchens and eating rooms). There’s additionally a communal pool with a really good shaded perform space, furnished with lengthy tables and benches.
Room tip: Quantity 11 has unobstructed mountain views.
Value: From R1 200 per cottage per night time
Contact: saronsberg.com
Greatest non-public cottage
4. Raptor Rise Cottage
In case you’re on the lookout for privateness and peace amid rolling fields, a deep stoep from which to benefit from the mountain panorama, a spacious lounge-dining room with a big hearth, a well-equipped kitchen and a fair-sized swimming pool in your individual non-public backyard, Raptor Rise Cottage is for you. Averil and Invoice Slater renovated this with a view to keep right here whereas they fastened up their previous farmhouse, and it’s clear from the extent of element that they’re perfectionists. They by no means did transfer in ‒ the cottage was commandeered by their company, and has been busy ever since! They’re now growing different buildings on the farm ‒ Invoice not too long ago renovated the stables (located close to the principle farmhouse) into 4 very compact self-catering items (every sleeping two) and a two-bedroom household unit.
Room tip: Even if you happen to’re simply two, Raptor Rise Cottage
is the one to e-book. Sleeps as much as eight: 4 in two en-suite bedrooms that lead off the lounge; the upstairs loft (accessed by way of an out of doors staircase from the kitchen door) has 4 single beds and wonderful views.
Value: From R550 per particular person sharing
Contact: raptorrise.co.za
Greatest snow-capped mountain views
5. Mont Rouge
What a privilege to search out your self at Mont Rouge, proper on the base of the towering Winterhoek Mountains, on a stunning 60-hectare fruit farm, in any considered one of these 4 comfy cottages. Constructed as three separate items alongside a stream, the burbling waters are a mild backtrack to these unbelievable mountain vistas. Relying in your temper, you’ll both stare upon them sprawled fortunately on a settee or deck, or be tempted to clamber up. Every cottage is individually embellished with an excessive amount of care by Marisha du Plessis, spouse to one of many two third-generation Du Plessis farmers ‒ she clearly has an innate aptitude for the hospitality trade, together with her beneficiant method, and genuinely heat farm-style welcome. Marisha personifies the entire ambiance right here, which is considered one of gratitude and celebration for dwelling in one of the crucial stunning locations on the planet. Her subsequent challenge is to create swimming holes within the river for every cottage by subsequent summer season.
Room tip: Is determined by your numbers. Cottage 1 (two double bedrooms and a loft with six single beds) and Cottage 2 (one double bed room and a loft with three single beds) are semi-detached and share a deck (although they’re separated with a wall, there’s
a doorway), so a big group (as much as 15) may lease them collectively as a unit. For a romantic getaway, Cottage 3 is a big open-plan dwelling/bed room/kitchen appropriately often called Honeymooner’s. Cottage 4 sleeps six.
Value: From R1 600 per cottage per night time
Contact: montrouge.co.za
Greatest for decadent home occasion
6. Guinevere Visitor Farm
Entered off the R46, you trundle alongside a protracted grime observe to the large household dwelling of Guinevere Visitor Farm, situated out of sound and sight of any neighbours, with distant views of mountains. It’s the superb venue for a decadent home occasion, and that’s precisely what the B&B has morphed into: the week I inspected, the farm was set to host a trance occasion in its close by fields, with all of the DJs and organizers accommodated in the home. There are 9 huge bedrooms ‒ eight upstairs (of which three are household rooms, every sleeping six) and one self-catering unit downstairs; altogether the home can accommodate 32 company. Additionally upstairs is a beneficiant bar-lounge opening onto the pool and decks; downstairs is a big eating room stuffed with artwork and an enormous demo-style kitchen. It’s owner-managed by William Wyness and Carly Esterhuizen (Carly’s dad constructed the home) ‒ busy farmers, they like renting it out to teams (minimal 10) over weekends, however are joyful to supply B&B within the week.
Room tip: All of the bedrooms are huge. The downstairs unit sleeps 4, options a big hearth and has a kitchenette ‒ an excellent one to e-book if you happen to’re not a part of a celebration, or need privateness.
Value: R14 000 per night time, sleeps 28
Contact: guinevereguestfarm.com
Greatest historic in-town lodging
7. Cape Dutch Quarters and Tulbagh Resort
If you wish to be on historic Church Road, both e-book one of many B&B Heritage Rooms in Tulbagh Resort, or one of many eight self-catering decisions provided by Cape Dutch Quarters (CDQ). The Tulbagh Resort is a basic nation lodge, with fantastic workers who will bend over backwards to make your keep memorable ‒ they’ve three Heritage Rooms however are planning to renovate The Toll Home (presently the perfect self-catering home on Church Road) so as to add extra. Non-heritage rooms are in tip-top situation however somewhat bland by comparability.
With a big portfolio comprising B&B lodging of their five-bedroom Tulbagh Nation Visitor Home (accessed from both Church or Van der Stel Road, and a alternative of self-catering items all situated on Church Road, CDQ dominates the strip and acts as a casual tourism bureau for the city. Coachman’s Cottage/Household Suite (sleeps two to 4) and Wagon Shed (sleeps two) are a part of the guest-house complicated (which has a pool); reverse are The Victorian Home (sleeps six to eight) and Coach Home (sleeps two); the grand Wittedrift Artwork Manor (sleeps as much as 12 and accessible on a B&B foundation) is a brief stroll away. CDQ additionally manages Stables and Bain’s Barn, two small transformed buildings on Church Road (sleeping three and two respectively). Additionally in its portfolio is Travellers Lodge (three flats), however I’d not e-book any of those.
Room tip: The perfect room on Church Road is the Tulbagh Resort’s huge Honeymoon Suite. In case you like having a kitchenette, favourites are the compact however cute Coachman’s Cottage/Household Suite (sleeps two to 4) with a door opening onto a raised stoep overlooking Church Road, and Coach Home (sleeps two), the quaint transformed storage adjoining to The Victorian Home.
Value: From R974 per particular person sharing
Contact: tulbaghhotel.co.za
Greatest luxurious farmhouse
8. Oudekloof Wine Property & Luxurious Farmhouse
Constructed excessive up on the foothills of the mountains, the gabled Oudekloof has been superbly renovated, geared up and dressed, with a contemporary open-plan downstairs dwelling house that opens onto a deck overlooking magnificent views of the vineyards and Witzenberg mountain vary. The home is on the market on a B&B or (with advance warning) DBB foundation; higher nonetheless ‒ on condition that this has essentially the most inviting kitchen of all the massive self-catering homes in Tulbagh ‒ it may be taken over by a bunch of 10. There is a gigantic open hearth in the lounge, a big pool from which to benefit from the views and mountain trails to cycle or stroll. The previous wagon route over the Obiqua is on the property and greater than half the property’s 440 hectares is put aside to guard indigenous wildlife, fynbos and renosterveld.
Room tip: There are two different smaller self-catering choices on the farm however the five-bedroom primary home is the one to e-book. Greatest spots are the upstairs Cabernet and Shiraz suites with attractive thatch ceilings and views; Shiraz and Chardonnay each have Jetmaster fireplaces.
Value: From R250 pp sharing
Contact: oudekloofwineestate.co.za
Photos by Teagan Cunniffe
ALSO READ: WIN! A two-night keep for 2 at The Outpost in northern Kruger value R39 200
[ad_2]
Source link