Old fashioned family fun at Eight Bells Mountain Inn

Claire recently enjoyed a wonderful weekend at Eight Bells Mountain Inn in Mossel Bay with her family.

It was with great excitement that we approached Eight Bells Mountain Inn after a beautiful drive from Cape Town. We had shown our girls some pictures, and they couldn’t wait to explore and to spend some time horse riding. Turning inland after Mossel Bay, the Inn is just 15 minutes or so along the R328 which travels on to the Robinson Pass, and Oudtshoorn.

I would say that Eight Bells epitomises “good old fashioned’ hospitality. Everything is spotless and well cared for, and the lovingly maintained gardens are delightful and absolutely brimming with birdlife. One of the palm trees was home to over twenty nests of particularly noisy, bright yellow weaver birds hard at work. Some of the staff at Eight Bells have worked here for over 30 years – and you immediately sense the family feeling, as well as the history and nostalgia.

The magnificent Oak tree which shades the entrance to the inn is estimated to be over 200-years old, and the beautiful yellowwood floors of the billiard room formed part of the original homestead, established in the 1800’s. This was the watering-hole for travellers making the journey between the Klein Karoo and the coast at Mossel Bay, on what was then a dusty ox-wagon track.

Since the 1970’s Eight Bells has been a popular choice for families – either as part of a journey along the Garden Route, or as a longer stay. Many families choose Eight Bells as an annual holiday destination – and according to the current owners, there is a repeat visitor almost every day.

We were checked in to the Rose Court – a block of rooms flanked by a pretty rose garden to the rear of the property. Our family room had two inter-leading bedrooms (one double and one twin) and one en-suite bathroom, with a flat screen TV and tea/coffee making facilities in the main bedroom. According to the owner, these rooms are next in line to be refurbished. They were perfectly clean and comfortable and offered ample space, but I would imagine some new fabrics and fittings would give them a more contemporary feel.

As soon as we had settled our bags, our girls were off to explore. Eight Bells is one of those rare places where you feel quite at ease letting the kids run free – there were the horses in the paddock to visit, the chickens to say ‘hello’ to, the jungle gym and games room to explore as well as the swimming pool, tennis court and bowling green. If you bring your bikes along, there are plenty of riding tracks, as well as hiking trails. Once we had all got out bearings, we sat down to enjoy some tea on the terrace while the girls played.

Dinner is served in the dining room, with a separate dining area and playroom for small children to have their meals. Our girls chose to eat with us, and we all enjoyed a good dinner with the highlight being my chicken curry – and the delicious strawberry Pavlova (which I reluctantly shared).

We were up early the next morning so as not to miss out on the morning donkey cart ride, followed by horse riding in the paddock. A lovely breakfast buffet in the dining room got us started for the day before we headed off. Ned the donkey did not look thrilled to be up so early on a Saturday morning, but being a dependable donkey he nevertheless obliged with a cart ride up and down the track. Next it was time for some horse riding (we had pre-bought our R20 tickets from reception), and the girls both loved their time on the very placid Nadia. More experienced riders can book to go on a guided out ride – and seeing as the Eight Bells estate covers some 400 acres, there is plenty to explore.

We chose to set off on one of the marked walking trails and we meandered down to the river, following the yellow Rooster trail. Had the rest of my family been feeling more energetic, I would have loved to have done the longer 2-hour hike to the Protea Look Out point – which apparently has wonderful views out over the surrounding valley.

Being on the Robinson Pass between Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn, Eight Bells is a popular stop-off for motorcycle riders, and later that morning the terrace was bustling with leather-jackets enjoying breakfasts and coffees. The pretty garden, which is filled with an abundance of trees and birdlife, is also a popular spot for lunch and tea, and there was a pleasant stream of people for most of the day enjoying the sunshine and the view.

We spent a lovely afternoon relaxing and reading – interspersed with lunch and later afternoon tea. The mention of pancakes was too much for my husband to resist – but it was the traditional Milk Tart that was the real winner. Slightly warm and lightly dusted with cinnamon – it was delicious!

Sunday morning was once again bustling with visitors – apparently it’s also the busiest day for lunches.

Before we left on Sunday, we had time to look around some of the other rooms. There are just 25 in total, which also adds to the small family-run atmosphere.

The Palm Court has just been refurbished and boasts brand new bedrooms and bathrooms with a light, bright and airy feel, fresh fabrics and modern bathroom fittings – these would definitely be my choice when visiting in the future. The “Swiss Village’ log cabins have also been recently refurbished and with their private balconies, lovely views and garden setting they are the most popular choice for couples. There is also one larger log cabin for families. The Pool Terrace rooms form part of a thatched wing alongside the swimming pool area and have plenty of options for families – various configurations of bunk beds can be made up which is really ideal for larger families.

Click here for more info on Eight Bells, or to book your stay.