Quick Facts
E 20°15'10''
Budget Getaways Review
Appelkooskop has the makings of a Budget Getaways gem: total seclusion, old-time character, and attention to understated detail. We also reckon it's one of those places where life's urban smog simply evaporates the moment you duck into the front door.
This quaint stone cottage sits stoksiel alleen in a silent valley not far off the R319 between Swellendam and Bredasdorp. When we say alleen, we mean ALLEEN - the nearest human is 3km away at the farm's main house, where friendly hosts Nalise and Mike live the good life.
Arriving at your hermitage first thing to take note of are the welcoming home-baked bread and rusks, followed by the awesome silence, open skies and surrounding hills. All yours and yours alone to enjoy.
The cottage is a tastefully-styled abode, inside and out, in a mix of rustic stonework, raw plastered walls and antique bits and pieces gathered over the years.
If your travel mate is the type who, at dinner time, cranks up the dimmers ("to see what I'm eating"), fear not: Appelkooskop is Eskom-free. Yippee! Instead you can enjoy the romance of candles and paraffin lamps.
Within the cool stone walls you have a double bedroom with Queen bed and ensuite bathroom with shower. The kitchen, with gas stove, fridge, dining area and fireplace, is open-plan to a cosy sitting room.
Throw open the double doors to the covered voorstoep and you have an instant panoramic vista of God's splendour - best appreciated to the soothing sounds of sizzling chop. A built-in braai is provided to this end.
Appelkooskop has 'romantic' written over it, but if the babysitter happened to pull a fast one, there's a cosy loft area with twin beds. 
Children pay 50% of the adult rate.
Total seclusion can be a shock to the system, so you may experience a sudden attack of restlessness. In this case De Hoop Nature Reserve, Bredasdorp and Malgas are a short drive away, while the farm itself offers scope for long walks, mountain biking and sundowners at a nearby lookout point with a 360-degree view of the Overberg.
Appelkooskop: as recommended by all good hermits.
"Stunning stunning romantic weekend away. No cell phone signal or electricity, but hot showers. Bliss. The only improvement would be a bath."
(visited May 2014)
"What a fantastic little piece of paradise. If you are looking to get away from it all, this is your answer. The cottage is lovingly furnished and decorated, but retains its local charm. We stayed for four nights with our three month old daughter, taking long walks along the farm tracks and relaxing on the stoep, stargazing till late in the evening. Hope to visit again soon."
(visited April 2014)
"Sal verseker weer terugkeer. Rus vrede en kalmte soos min daarbuite. Net jammer geen selfoon opvangs, ma dis dalk ook n goeie ding. Sien julle binnekort."
(visited May 2013)
"Loved it! Exactly what we needed to get away from the busy city life. Piece full, calm, no electricity - only candle lights. Very romantic. I would go visit anytime again. Love the bread that Marlinda made as well.
(visited April 2013)
"This was exactly what we needed, a break from everything and everyone. Having no electricity and the only fresh water is a water tank outside makes you feel like you stepped back in time. It was very warm for the time we where there, but you get use to it quickly and feels good to cool off using the hose. What I would suggest for improving the place some in the future is getting a splash pool and if possible a shade tree close to the house. All in all a wonderful relaxing stay and would love to re-visit in a few years to see how the plants have grown. Oh and the warm freshly baked bread and the rusks was the best we ever had, that's all we ate the first day!"
(visited December 2012)
"We really enjoyed our get-away-from-it-all experience and Marlinda's prompt responses and willingness was really special. Sitting on the stoep and relaxing; walking in the hills; it was really great."
(visited December 2012)
"Such a nice place for a breakaway! And the kids loved it too. Wish it was close by."
(visited October 2012)
"Absolutely fantastic!"
(visited October 2012)
De Melkportaal Cottage
Bredasdorp, Western Cape
Surrounded by gum trees and fronted by generous green irrigation fields, De Melkportaal Cottage is your go-to for a rustic-luxury weekend on a real macoy dairy ...
Rate Guide
R395pp per night (discount for kids); minimum cottage rate applies.
Haze Vlakte Self-Catering Accommodation
Bredasdorp, Western Cape
Perfectly placed along the lawned banks of the Nuwejaars River, and set within the wider Nuwejaars Nature Reserve, Haze Vlakte Farm offers three gorgeous, semi-detached u...
Rate Guide
R1600 nightly for the semi-detached units; R1600 nightly for River Cottage. Check in 3pm check out 10am
Wegbreek
Bredasdorp, Western Cape
Once home to the farm hand of Middeldam Plaas, this little worker's cottage has been spruced up, and together with its big sister, Middeldam Plaashuis, offers an authenti...
Rate Guide
From R270 per person nightly for the cottage, depending on number of guests. Minimum rate applies.
Bergen Dam Cottage
Bredasdorp, Western Cape
Bergen Dam is a very nicely renovated worker's cottage sitting stoksiel alone on the foothills of the Soetmuisberg mountains. The uninterrupted views spilling out from ...
Rate Guide
R430pp per night (discount for kids); minimum cottage rates apply
Haarwegskloof Renosterveld Reserve
Bredasdorp, Western Cape
Located in a remote area midships between Swellendam and Bredasdorp (40km), your accommodation at this WWF-owned nature reserve comes in the form of a converted milking s...
Rate Guide
R2250 nightly for the cottage (sleeps 6); minimum two nights.
Middeldam Plaashuis
Bredasdorp, Western Cape
It started seven generations ago with the first Uys arriving at Middeldam, unpacking the wagon and trying his luck with a spot of farming. His efforts paid off, 'cause to...
Rate Guide
From R225pp nightly; minimum R1350 nightly for the house; minimum two-nights over weekends
Staandakkie Guest Cottage
Bredasdorp, Western Cape
Be it a last-minute country wedding invite or an aversion to the hefty chalet rates at De Hoop Nature Reserve, Staandakkie Guest Cottage clears all the hoops when it come...
Rate Guide
R750 nightly for the cottage.
Aloe Canyons Guestfarm and Wildlife
Swellendam, Western Cape
Off the beaten track and tucked along the banks of a river - with an outlook over rugged hills - Aloe Canyons Guest Farm and Wildlife is nature lovers territory. The riv...
Rate Guide
From R900 to R1600, depending on unit, guests and time of year
Where You'll Also Find Us
Arniston (Waenhuiskrans) • Barrydale • Beaufort West • Betty's Bay • Bonnievale • Bot River • Bredasdorp • Caledon • Calitzdorp • Cape Agulhas and Struisbaai • Cape Town area • Ceres • Citrusdal • Clanwilliam & Cederberg • Darling • De Rust • Franschhoek • Gansbaai • George • Grabouw & Elgin Valley • Greyton • Heidelberg • Hermanus • Knysna • Ladismith • Laingsburg • Lamberts Bay • Langebaan • Malgas • Matjiesfontein • McGregor • Montagu • Mossel Bay • Napier • Oudtshoorn • Paarl • Paternoster • Plettenberg Bay • Porterville • Prince Albert • Pringle Bay • Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay and Kleinmond • Riebeek West and Riebeek-Kasteel • Riversdale • Riviersonderend • Robertson • St Helena Bay • Stanford • Stilbaai • Strand, Gordon's Bay and Somerset West • Swellendam • Tulbagh • Uniondale • Velddrif • Vermaaklikheid • Wellington • Wilderness • Witsand • Worcester & Hex Valley • Yzerfontein • Baviaanskloof • Cape St Francis • Cape St Francis & St Francis Bay • East London • Graaff-Reinet • Hogsback • Jeffreys Bay • Makhanda (Grahamstown) • Middelburg • Nieu-Bethesda • Rhodes • Sutherland