As I previously mentioned, Chantelle and I recently enjoyed a relaxing (no kids!) weekend away at the Blue Gum Country Estate just outside of Stanford, which if you don’t know where it is, lies halfway between Hermanus and Gansbaai.
This heritage village was founded in 1857 and is named after its founder, Sir Robert Stanford who owned the original farmland. Situated in the heart of the Overberg, the tiny, relaxed village of Stanford is known for its beautifully preserved and renovated Cape Victorian and Edwardian styled houses and buildings, making it an absolute treat to walk about and take in all the quaint architecture around you.
And that is exactly what Chantelle and I did, first taking a slow drive around the village, before heading back to take a nice stroll down the main road. Although not particularly plentiful, there are some interesting shops and coffee stops to be seen, with the green Don Gelato ice cream shop/restaurant definitely standing out from the crowd! (Yes, we did stop to have ice cream!)
Also, located on the banks of the Klein River, Stanford boasts over 200 different bird species of which 30 are endemic to South Africa. In other words, the perfect spot if you are interested in your ornithology!
However, I suspect that most people either head out for wine or beer tasting at Birkenhead Brewery and the other surrounding wine estates, picnic at the Klein River Cheese Factory, or enjoy river cruises along the beautiful Klein River instead!
Related Link: Stanford