Our garden studio/cottage is right on the pool, has its own private patio and is decorated in an eclectic style with African artwork, custom made furniture pieces, all new appliances and bedding, a custom made mosquito net and all set in our more or less indigenous garden. Recently installed Solar power means NO loadshedding and 24/7 wi-fi access. For those cold winter nights there is a queen electric blanket, a gas heater in the sitting area and an electric wall mounted heater in the bathroom. Television coverage with the full DSTV package and a flatscreen TV is available in the cottage. Both a weber and traditional barbecue/braaivleis facilities with all the relevant equipment are available. A five minute walk from the village centre, river, pub and restaurants, our guests can park their car and walk everywhere. It must please be noted that the cottage is NOT self catering although a toaster, kettle and microwave oven as well as all glassware, cutlery and crockery are all supplied.

As a born and bred Capetonian and Pietermaritzburgian respectively, and both proudly South African, Sally-Dell and I thoroughly enjoy meeting new people and informing them about our village and beautiful country. Although both retired, we keep reasonably busy with the cottage, Sal with her yoga and incredible cooking and myself with a small onsite machine shop (not used while guests are in residence), maintenance of the old house and caretaking of a second residence in the village. We are both very proud of what we have created here and always go the extra mile for our guests, the wellbeing and comfort of whom is very important to us and therefore welcome all and any critisisms in order for us to rectify any problems and keep our standards above par.

Stanford has a number of South Africas top 10 restaurants on its doorstep with Springfontein, Madre's, Searles Garista, Riverside, Stanford Valley Manor House and a good few more. Our cottage is set in the Olde part of town and is heritage listed(140 odd years old) as is the entire village. Wine tasting, exclusive dining, whale watching(in season)and shark cage diving are a few of the locally available, less strenuous activities while hiking, canoeing, horse riding and cycling are there for the more adventurous. The Klein Rivier (small river) which runs through the village is in the Guinness Book of Records for being the shortest river from source to mouth on earth and has three river cruise options on three different boats all of which offer guided, commentated cruises (approximately two hours in length) and must be booked well in advance. For special occasions, self catering is allowed and one can book the entire cruise for your party. The hiking in the vacinity is quite exceptional with Stanford Hills (above the Tasting Room restaurant), Chrystal Kloof (with permission), Vogelgat (a private reserve with pristine fynbos) and a beach walk along "Die Plaat" (the local name for the beach between Hermanus and Die Kelders) which is an entire days walk where checking of the tides is critical. All of the above is all very well but Stanfords biggest claim to fame is its peace and quiet which you can experience in abundance just sitting at the pool watching the birds at Rhus Cottage, Would love to see you here. Andy J Johnston.