Happiness On The Rock: A Luxury Country Getaway in Piket-Bo-Berg

The journey to Happiness on The Rock, a Cinderella-like old farmhouse in the secret valley of Piket-Bo-Berg, is a special experience. You’ll meander through the village of Piketberg (where you can stock up on necessities) before ascending the picturesque Piketberg Mountains via Versfeld Pass. The narrow road twists and turns all the way to the top of a plateau, on top of which a beautiful, relatively undiscovered part of the Western Cape is revealed. Here, the cooler climate is conducive to fruit and flower farming, with rows of orchards along the way.

It’s not hard to fathom why the owners fell in love with the area and its community, and then decided to transform the house into a magical luxury destination.

Situated next to a dirt road just off the main road, the property beckons with its charming and unpretentious exterior. At night, an old tree strung with fairy lights lights up a ginormous rock that becomes a striking sight – the inspiration behind the house’s name.

The lodgings

The delightful, warm and welcoming home is full of stylish personality – from the bright open-plan kitchen and living areas (with an enclosed fireplace that cosies up the entire space) to the library room (chock-a-block with books and games) and the elegantly designed bedrooms and bathrooms.

Tactile elements such as wicker, wood and leather combine with fine linen and cottons in gentle hues to create a sense of laidback luxury. Top-of-the-range fittings and fixtures, and luxuriously soft furnishings and bedding, complete the picture.

• three bedrooms (king beds)
• two bathrooms (main is en-suite)
• fully equipped kitchen
• pizza oven
• indoor fireplace
• outdoor fireplace
• private pool
• complimentary wi-fi

While you’re there

If you don’t feel like preparing your meals in the fully kitted-out kitchen, light a fire in the pizza oven, or built-in braai on the verandah, but first, take your pick of produce from the fruit and vegetable garden to perk up your dishes.

Visiting the monthly Farmers Market on Kruistementvlei Farm is a must. It’s a 10-minute drive from the house and you’ll be delighted by the variety of country fare on offer: traditional moerkoffie, homemade eats, farm-fresh fruit and vegetables and oodles of charming handmade knickknacks.

Feel like stretching your legs? There are numerous hiking trails among the orchards and further afield. At Groot Winterhoek you can do the Waterfall trail: beautiful scenery with pristine rock pools for cooling down.

The area is also a mountain biker’s paradise, with The U, an annual event that takes place in September. Other sporting options include the well-known paragliding launching point at Versfeld Pass on the way to Piket-Bo-Berg.

The quaint village Porterville is also worth a visit, with a golf course and a dam for fishing as well as the Houdconstant Country Market that offers tractor and pony rides for children.

Nighttime calls for wrapping up in a fluffy blanket pulled from the basket on the verandah before relaxing on a comfortable chair and marveling at the star-spangled country sky.

Distance from CT 1 hour 47 minutes
Child friendly? Yes
Pet friendly? Yes
Wifi Yes, free
Sleeps 6
Cost From R5 500 per night (depending on season)
Where to find it The House at Piket-Bo-Berg, Piketberg, Western Cape
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