Quick Facts
E 22°42'48''
Budget Getaways Review
How about sinking deep into a deckchair facing the jagged peaks of the Outeniqua Mountains? It gets even better… The deck is attached to the century-old Horta Cottage - a lovingly restored cob house capped with a tin roof that will lull you to sleep under a good and solid Garden Route downpour.??
Appointed on a rambling 4.5ha tract of land known as Die Plos - from what we understand, a cross between a plaas and a plot - along the scenic Seven Passes road near Hoekwil, Horta is a laid-back retreat where you can do anything from nothing at all to taking bracing walks, dipping or fishing in the dam, picking your own herbs and veggies, partaking in a spot of fencing (the Three Muskateers variety) with host Susan, or learning about her gentler art of baking and preserve-making.
The cottage, a mix of wooden floors, thick cob walls and rustic antique furniture, sleeps six in three bedrooms - a double and two twins. There’s a shared bathroom with a small Continental bath, plus outdoor shower with hot water and spectacular mountain and forest views.
Off to the side of the kitchen you’ve got a dining room with six seater Oregon table and a living area that forms part of the deck, enclosed with glass sliding doors and sporting a built-in braai. There’s a TV and DVD player for rainy days as well as a good collection of books and board games.??
As an avid fan from Durbanville puts it, “Horta Cottage is a space where a person can contemplate his place in the universe.”
"Horta Cottage is really something totally different to your standard type "Bed And Breakfast " or getaway. It is a serious GETAWAY with all the necessary towns/beaches close enough to enjoy both the busy holidaymaker atmosphere and Sedgefield beauty, and yet still feel you are totally with the beauty of nature amongst the mountains and farms. Here you really have an all-in-one. The hosts, the Agrela's, live very close to nature,which is a WOW on it's own, an experience not found often any longer. People and places have beome over commercialised, they have not. I can highly recommend Horta Cottage as a romantic and even a family together place to be. The cottage still has the rustic, yet comfortable feeling. The highlight for me was having an outside shower overlooking the neighbouring farms and mountains. Horta Cottage is a must in a lifetime. The entire farm runs on rain water alone, what an experience to see that life can be lived on nature. The recent Passi magazine for the first quarter of this year actually hosted an article about the entire property and it's establishment. I strongly suggest you read the article. Well done to both Julio and Susan who are both nature loving people, and were prepared to invest big money into a run down property to make it possible for the community to share in what God has given us on earth and not take for granted. They have certainly turned a run down "Farm House" into a place of tranquility and peace."
(visited January 2013)
"A cottage with loads of rustic charm and appeal. It is a very old building, lovingly restored without compromising the "old" feel. You may just as well step back decades in time when you walk into this very tasteful space. The situation of the cottage makes it totally private, with a beautiful view of the mountains. This is a place where time slows down completely. Despite this, it has been furnished with the necessary mod cons and most importantly, a VERY good bed in the main room (I didn't try the other beds!) and top quality bedding. The bathroom has been fitted with the shortest, cutest bath I have ever seen (don't worry, there is an open-air shower outside with a view of the mountains as well!). I can really recommend this cottage and only fear it will become so popular that it won't be so affordable anymore!"
(visited January 2013)
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Rate Guide
From R900 to R2500, depending on unit, guests and time of year
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R2000 nightly for the cottage. No children under 12 years.
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From R1500 to R2800, depending on unit, guests and time of year
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Rate Guide
From R3900, depending on unit, guests and time of year
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From R1100 to R3150, depending on unit, guests and time of year
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Rate Guide
From R3500, depending on unit, guests and time of year
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Rate Guide
From R2197.25 to R3060, 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