This is the second instalment of Niki’s recent road trip…
After our stay in Franschhoek, we continued over the mountains and through the Franschhoek pass towards Robertson and onto Swellendam near the well-known Route 62. We stayed at a gorgeous little hotel called Schoone Oordt. What a beautiful place!! It is run brilliantly by Richard and Alison who are true professionals and experts in making you feel comfortable. Alison even does her own unique breakfasts in the mornings – aside from the traditional bacon and eggs (which she can do if you want), she will serve a lovely muesli which she makes herself, baked apples, and for us she made french toast with a twist – served with bacon and banana. Yum! Maybe not to everyone’s tastes but I certainly enjoyed it !
I was pleasantly surprised by the stay – entering the grand, old house when we first arrived, I expected a stiff welcome but instead was pleasantly greeted by Richard and Alison who are warm and friendly. After our welcome drink of wine / ice tea and snacks, we immediately felt at home.
The rooms are superbly 5 star standard with elegant country-style furnishings, creating a warm and cosy atmosphere! There’s a splendid tea and coffee station with your very own home-baked crunchies (well needless to say those didn’t last very long). The bathrooms are a mixture of ‘old fashioned’ and modern features – it really works well and the open showers are superb. The rooms also come complete with fireplace – all ready to go with fire starters and matches so being a cold, rainy day, this was perfect for us to snuggle up with a good book.
The town of Swellendam is a beautiful historical town and built in 1853 Schoone Oordt encompasses everything that Swellendam represents. This grand manor house has been delightfully resorted and is hard to miss when you take a stroll through the historical part of the town. But not easily seen from the road are the magnificent lawns and swimming pool surrounded by rose gardens and fountains. It does feel like you have stepped back in time. There are eight luxury cottages and a honeymoon suite.
One thing that does remain in my mind when I think of Schoone Oordt is the attention to detail! Alison and Richard really live up to this and I can truthfully recommend this establishment for a 1 or 2 night stay, when passing through to Cape Town or onto the Karoo / Route 62 towards Oudtshoorn or along to the towns of Mossel Bay and to the Garden Route. It’s a great place to stay if you enjoy the countryside or like the historical nature of the area. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!
