We couldn't wait to experience a weekend away at The Villa. Space, freedom, luxury and remote peace and quiet.
Situated on the 101 hectare Goodwill Mountain Farm - just a 10 minute drive from the heritage village of Stanford - this getaway offers magnificent views in a remote location.
The Villa is a renovated farmhouse perched amongst the ancient fynbos on the edge of a gorgeous mountainside dam. This well-lived-in Villa was formerly the home of farm owners Richard Perryer and Patricia Sundstrom, and remains infused with their love of all things natural, calming and spiritual. Art and personal decor adorn the walls, the furnishings all inherited family pieces.
It was more remote than we expected, and is set well away from the other cottages on the farm, which was a huge bonus. We were very excited when the Villa peeked out from behind the pine trees after a winding gravel road through the pine forest and olive plantation.
On opening the front door, our breath was simply taken away. Volume, space and sunshine is what greets you and an utter feeling of bliss as you stare across the dam onto the enveloping mountains. This truly is a great getaway when you need timeout from the daily hustle of life.
There are four bedrooms. Each named after the four classical elements of earth, air, fire and water, and two have amazing views over the dam. 'Fire' is the master bedroom with a full en-suite. It is the most private of the bedrooms and is located on the East wing of the property with views across the dam and the mountain where, in winter, a spectacular waterfall can be seen from its windows. 'Earth' has a bathroom immediately adjacent and is located closest to the front door and entertainment area, while 'Air' and 'Water' share another bathroom and are located on the Western wing of the house. 'Water' even boasts its own private waterside deck - and really does have spectacular views.
The beds are extremely comfortable, and fitted with good, plush linens. Each bedroom comprises of a king size bed, or can be separated into twins at guests' request. Cupboards in all the rooms (except Earth which has a hanging closet) ensure that you can unpack and settle in for longer stays. Fans are provided for warmer weather and hot water bottles for winter.
It's in the communal areas that this property truly comes into its own. There's an enormous open plan living space that not only offers comfortable sofas, a fireplace and a massive dining table, but also boasts sliding glass doors leading onto the spacious waterside verandah. Here there's yet another super-sized dining table, and pool-style steps to access the dam for swimming. A Weber is provided for guests to braai. There is also a fire-pit near the house for evenings where one would like more of a bonfire and fireside conversation.
Although there is no TV, there is some Wifi and cellphone reception. A bluetooth enabled sound system is also provided for your stay to listen to & enjoy some music. You must bring your own tunes though, but luckily with the Wifi you should be able to stream Spotify or iTunes with ease.
The kitchen is equipped with everything you need to effortlessly cater for a large group of people - there's even a second gas cooker and fridge in the separate scullery. Tea, coffee and sugar are provided.
And if you somehow tire of hanging out in this wonderfully remote paradise, the owners can arrange yoga and horse-riding sessions, and the coastal wonders of the Walker Bay nature reserve are only a 40 minute drive away.
For the price, we recommend a group stay for maximum value. There is ample space for everyone to enjoy a section of the Villa without getting in each other's way, and even an additional reading nook in the shape of a mezzanine reading corner above the kitchen. If you're bringing dogs, and for those that enjoy hikes, keep in mind this is natural, wild mountain territory. A troop of baboons call this area home, and can be seen wandering down to the Villa in the afternoons.
