An idyllic blend of beauty, comfort and privacy on the banks of the Breede

River Edge Accommodation offers a superb self-catering stay in cottages on the Breede River near Wolseley in the Western Cape. Camping on the riverbank is also possible, says Brian Berkman.

- Brian Berkman

If a romantic stone-clad cottage on the bank of a beautiful river an hour from Cape Town sounds appealing, River Edge Accommodation on the Wolseley wide of Bains Kloof is your sort of getaway.

Edelgard Lategan and his team have created contemporary cottages that are supremely comfortable and, frankly, hard to leave.

A week ahead of your arrival, a detailed email is sent confirming your accommodation and listing what is available and what you should bring. And, while you’re on the way, you’ll receive, via WhatsApp, details such as the code to open the key safe. Top marks for communication.

Thanks to vineyards and mountains behind the cottage and farmland on the opposite bank of the river, it’s possible to sunbathe on the balcony or fire up the KolKol hot tub without seeing another soul. There is a kayak and a wooden skiff for guests’ use too. Farmer’s Weekly overnighted in Joubert House, one of the five stone-clad cottages on the river front. Everything we needed for a comfortable stay was there.

Four of the cottages can accommodate six people – four adults and two children. The fifth, Coetzer House, can accommodate 10.

A drawback is that only Willem Hendrik House has a jetty to allow easier access to the river.