Quick Facts
E 25°05'50''
Budget Getaways Review
Lets face it, the trip from Jozi to Plett isn’t for the faint hearted, what with today's sugar-loaded kids and the Venter buckling under it's load of surf boards, bikes and XBoxes. The SA motherland is a monster and even in the Voortrekker days, getting from one end to the other was never meant to be a one day affair.
Thank heavens then for Colesberg and The Barracks, a cool oasis on a quiet street in this low-key N1 town.
With a guestbook that sings little but praise - “A well kept secret!” says one; “Very comfortable, friendly hosts and excellent food,” says another relieved traveller - there doesn't seem much need to explore the alternatives. (Like that spot under the bridge where dad's Valiant broke down all those years ago, and the vinyl seats melted all over the road...)
Originally built in the mid-1800’s and used as a barracks during the Anglo-Boer War, the restored building offers five spacious ensuite rooms with a mix of Queen and twin beds, and a sixth family unit that sleeps four. The latter (and one other unit) are pet-friendly - even Fifi needs to stretch her legs from time to time.
Common to all rooms is the option of B&B (well worth considering in the Colesberg culinary vacuum), telly, air-con, private patios, ensuite bathrooms with bath and shower, secure off-street parking and close proximity to the central dining room, which serves rosemary-infused Karoo lamb and other home-cooked meals like ouma used to make.
And then there's the pub, which carries a collection of brandies and other beverages - just the thing after a pleasant day dodging longhaul trucks.
Not much more to say: The Barracks makes a convenient N1 uitspan, with a combo of comfy and clean accommodation, friendly hosts, safe parking and good food.
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