PENHILL PEPPER TREE TOON TJ I E SR I V I E R , N U Y VA L L E Y, C A PE W I N E L A N DS
Magnificent Naudesberg
Views
It’s rare to find a country retreat as unique and authentic as Penhill. A scenic 90-minute drive away from Cape Town, you’ll spot its towering twin palms long before the outcrop of whitewashed buildings set on endless emerald lawns comes into view. It is nothing short of an oasis in the ruggedly beautiful Nuy Valley, so it’s easy to imagine this wonderful historical place as it was some 300 years ago when it was built as a refreshment station on the busy route to Stellenbosch, Swellendam and Graaff Reinet, pre-dating the N1.
Having been lovingly restored, Penhill has literally gone back to its roots, although, rather than a stop for the ox wagons of before, it’s now a private and very special place for groups of up to 24 people to relax and replenish body, mind and soul. And to have a whole lot of fun, too, as it’s perfectly suited for hosting fabulous parties, from formal affairs to outdoorsy bashes that make the most of the glorious natural surrounds. There are dams and pools for splashing about in, a court for tennis as well as boules and croquet, not to mention trails for gentle walks, more strenuous hikes and runs, and mountainbiking. While there are dozens of lovely, picturesque spots where everyone can gather for meals, teas, sundowners and to be sociable in general, there’s also more than enough space on the 3 500 acre property with its welltended garden to find quiet time alone with a book. Where better for a nap than propped up under a tree beside the dam?
Similarly, the layout of the various lodgings – Penhill West Grange, Penhill East Grange, Penhill Manor House, Penhill Fruit Barn and Penhill Pepper Tree (all of which can be booked separately or as an exclusive group) – also allows plenty of room to breathe, which is what sets it apart from so many other places. Situated on the far side of the dam with magnificent views of the Naudesberg in the distance, Penhill Pepper Tree is the most private of the lodgings on the farm. It is also the farm’s original homestead and the oldest dwelling in the Nuy Valley, having been built in 1750 from mud bricks, poplar beams and thatch. Today this sensitively restored, air-conditioned home accommodates four people in two double bedrooms, with en-suite bathrooms. It has a fully equipped kitchen, dining room and sitting room, with a wood-burning stove, satellite TV, WiFi and sound system and its own plunge pool.
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