AS you will have seen in my previous post, I was in the Hemel en Aarde valley for Creation Wines’ 21st anniversary celebration in February. I don’t even like driving from town to the southern suburbs at night so obviously I had to stay over.
Carolyn Martin from Creation pulled some strings, as she does, and so it came to pass I was to stay at The Guardian, luxury self-catering accommodation. However, I did not stay in the actual “public” accommodation but in the beautiful private home of owners Derek and Sharon Wilson. What a treat – the generosity of my hosts who could not have been nicer, and the comfort, art and decor.
For paying guests, there are two options: the apartment, below the main house, and what Derek calls the “cottage” which is way more than that in my head. Double storey, with two en-suite bedrooms (king beds or twin) upstairs under the thatched roof, a vast open plan kitchen and entertaining area, as well as a stoep and outdoor braai with a sweeping view of the mountains, my own entire house would probably fit on the ground floor with space to spare.
The Guardian is well-placed on the R320 to make visiting nearby wine farms an easy jaunt. Hermanus itself is what, about 15 minutes away? Depending on the stop-go roadworks though. Also, the Karwyderskraal road might look tempting as a short cut from the R43 but don’t do it. Mountain Passes South Africa says: “This rough gravel road is enjoyed by mountain bikers and adventure motor cyclists, as it is quite challenging in some sections with a variety of road conditions which can vary greatly depending on the time of year.”
Take the extra 10 minutes and stay on the tar, unless you enjoy careering all over gravel roads, in which case, go ahead.
The sheer luxury of The Guardian makes it look super expensive but it is in fact more affordable than you’d think. Click here for more information, and I’ll let the pics tell the rest of the story.
