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Michael-John stayed at Stanford Valley Guest Farm and had a wonderful weekend on their scenic farm. Make sure to book a weekend away at Stanford Valley Guest Farm to enjoy a charming, country weekend in Stanford.
Sometimes all you need is a good weekend in the country; with small restaurants serving good local food and wine, the beautiful views of mountains and rivers, and with just enough happening to keep you busy but just little enough to make sure you relax and unwind.
The Overberg is a great example of laid-back country living. On a weekend at the end of May, we headed out to Stanford to get away from city life and take in what this charming area had to offer.
We were staying at Stanford Valley Guest Farm which is just 7 minutes outside Stanford and about 30 minutes from Hermanus. The working farm is set against the Akkedisberg Mountains with horses quietly grazing in the fields below. The self catering rooms are located in refurbished farm cottages with some even built from the old farm stables. We spent the weekend in the Milkwood Room, an ensuite room with a kitchen area and a private patio. The oil heater in the room was a great bonus on the cold May nights. Other cottages at Stanford Valley Guest Farm have fire places, offering a cosy and romantic way to stay warm during the winter months.
The first night we took a walk around the farm and went down to visit the horses in the bottom fields. Afterwards we opted for a braai in our cottage's garden before turning in for some Settlers of Cataan, and a few games later, finally bed.
The next morning we got a lazy start to the day which was very much the order of the weekend. Sometimes a lazy Saturday morning on a farm is exactly what you need. After a good cup of coffee and breakfast we headed into Stanford to wander around the town and browse the shops and restaurants. After taking a look in a few vintage furniture and second hand stores we went across to the Birkenhead Brewery.
Going to Birkenhead had been on my to-do list for a while. As a beer lover I was pretty excited. The brewery is just on the edge of town and overlooks the Klein River and surrounding valley. We got a table in the dining area and ordered a beer tasting which costs R20 each. The beer was very good - my favourite being the Old English Ale, while the others really liked the Birkenhead Lager. After the tasting we tucked into some lunch. Luckily there was some vegetarian pub food for me which is always great to find. The others had a beer meat pie which smelt and looked amazing.
After lunch we went along to the Klein River hoping to go on a river cruise. Unfortunately no-one was around so we ended up just walking along the river for a bit. It's a really beautiful area, and next time we go we'll make sure we make a plan to go on a river cruise.
We then headed back to the guest farm and spent the rest of the afternoon in the cottage relaxing. As the sun started to set we decided to head back into town for the rugby. After our great time at Birkenhead earlier in the afternoon, we decided to enjoy the game from the comforts of their bar.
The next morning I headed out for another early morning walk around the farm, heading up to the dam at the top of the farm. It would have been really great if we were visiting in summer as I imagine the dam is the perfect place for a swim. There's even a boat on the side, but with the weather coming in I decided against a quick paddle around the dam.
Unfortunately it seems we visited during the really quiet part of the year for tourism. We chatted to some locals and were told that May brings a bit of a lull after the summer months, but before the whale season gets started.
If you're looking for a quiet country weekend then Stanford is a great option. Don't expect too much vibrancy, but if like me you're in need of some time to get away and read and relax then it's the perfect choice. The scenery is particularly beautiful so come ready to take a few too many photographs.
To find out more about Stanford Valley Guest Farm and to book a weekend away, click here.
