Beaconvlei - The Boat House

Beaconvlei - The Boat House

Contact Details Robyn Hulley or Alex Drew +27 (0)33 234 4486 +27 (0)33 234 4367 +27 (0)83 245 7123 Enquire now View Rates

Description

The Boat House, situated 20m from the edge of our 50 acre private dam, is a picturesque, fully equipped thatched cottage, which sleeps up to five people. It consists of one large and luxurious en-suite bedroom and a large open plan living room with a bunk bed and sleeper couch, and a second bathroom. The Boat House is warmed in winter by a fireplace and heaters. Braai facilities are available, and the lounge is equipped with TV.

Nestled in the heart of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, and situated centrally on the famed Midlands Meander, Beacon Vlei boasts one the largest private dams in the area, affording panoramic views of water and beautiful countryside.

The dam provides excellent trout fishing! In fact, the 1965 Natal record rainbow trout was caught in this dam by Michaelhouse pupil Frank Stacey. The monster trout weighed 10.2 pounds (about 4.6kg)! We stock our dam annually with only the healthiest brown and rainbow trout from the Drakensberg. Guests are welcome to fish and use the boats free of charge. Please note that we only allow fly fishing and rods are available to hire.

Beacon Vlei is registered with Birdlife South Africa as a Birder Friendly Establishment. Some of the birds of special interest found on Beacon Vlei include the Crowned Crane, Purple Heron, African Fish Eagle, Olive Woodpecker, African Jacana and Marsh Harrier. We are a birding site on the Midlands Birding Route and are confident that during the spring and summer months the multitude of birds that flock to our dam and the surrounding wetland will delight most birders. We are also extremely lucky to have a pair of Crowned Cranes nesting in the wetland around the dam. Trails, viewpoints and picnic spots around the dam and property provide our guests with hours of entertainment and relaxation.

Depending on the season, duiker, reedbuck and bushbuck can be sighted. Other wildlife on Beacon Vlei include otters, jackal, porcupine and genet.

We are dedicated to providing our guests with a relaxing and therapeutic stay. Whether this means taking it easy at one of the top quality day spas in the area, or challenging yourself to something more adventurous, such as mountain biking, horse riding, canopy tours, birding the Midlands Birding Route or hot air ballooning, Beacon Vlei and the KwaZulu Natal Midlands has it all! We can arrange bookings for these and other activities in the region, as well as advise on the many arts and crafts shops found on the Midlands Meander. We are also surrounded by a selection of great restaurants, and can make these reservations as well.

A good night's sleep is one of the most important of life's luxuries. All our beds are of the highest quality and we only use the finest cotton linen and down duvets. We offer our guests a choice of down and synthetic pillows and we adhere to strict hygiene standards as stipulated by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa. Our soaps are handmade using 100% natural ingredients by La Source Soaps, a KZN Midlands based company.

Three charming dwellings exist on the farm. The Boat House (self-catering), The Manor House (bed & breakfast) and Crane Cottage (self-catering) which are all elegantly, appropriately and comfortably furnished.

The Boat House is an ideal setting for a romantic getaway, or a family retreat. Situated 20 m from the dam's edge, it is a picturesque thatched cottage, which sleeps up to five people. It consists of one en suite bedroom and a very large living room with a sleeper couch and a bunk alcove. There is a second bathroom and the kitchen is fully equipped. The main bedroom and living room have panoramic views over the dam and spectacular surrounding countryside. The lounge fireplace ensures that, even on the coldest of winter days, the Boat House is a cosy environment. The lounge is also equipped with TV.

The Manor House is a beautiful and tastefully decorated country farmhouse which has two en suite double bedrooms and a four sleeper family suite. All the rooms take in sweeping views of the dam and surrounding countryside. Each room is supplied with tea and coffee making facilities, and have heaters for winter warmth.

The Crane cottage is a newly built Natal Farmhouse style cottage which has 2 king bedrooms both en suite, a large open plan living, dining and kitchen area. There is a large fireplace and Flat screen Tv in the living area and a double sleeper couch. Crane Cottage has a very large covered veranda which boasts spectacular views over our 23 hectare private dam, perfect for braaing and relaxing. The cottage is situated 25m from the water’s edge and has access to a 30m long jetty stretching out into the dam.

Breakfast is served in the dining room, around a striking, custom made White American Oak table, warmed in winter by a roaring fire. Fireplaces are a prominent feature of the house and the atmosphere that they create greatly enhances the Midlands winter experience. The collection of old and new books that line the walls of the public lounge area offer hours of interesting reading. The lounge is equipped with TV, and the pool table provides hours of entertainment on a rainy day.

Manor House Bedrooms:

All of the bedrooms in the Manor House are special! Each has its own character and theme, which is the result of three generations of our family's love and dedication to the farmhouse.

The Blue Room is the most grand of all the Manor House bedrooms, with its eye-catching restored wooden floors. It has stunning views over Cliffe Dam, the garden and rolling hills. This double room also has its own fireplace and access into the garden. The en suite bathroom is a large, carpeted room with a bath.

The Green Room is another very comfortable double en suite room, with superb views of Cliffe Dam and the surrounding countryside. The room is bright, airy and fully carpeted, and the bathroom is fitted with a bath.

The Family Room consists of two inter-leading bedrooms. The main room is a double, and the second has two single beds. It is also located on the front side of the house, with views of the dam and surrounding farmlands. The large bay window makes a great reading and relaxation area. The bathroom is separate but is next door and dedicated to the room.

Bedding and hygiene:
We believe that a good night's sleep is one of the most important of life's luxuries. All our beds are of the highest quality and we only use the finest cotton linen and down duvets. We offer our guests a choice of down and synthetic pillows and we adhere to strict hygiene standards as stipulated by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.

Gradings and Associations:
Beacon Vlei has been graded a four star country house by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa, and is also a member of the Midlands Meander Association, KZN Tourism and Pietermaritzburg Tourism. We are a Birder Friendly Establishment and we are very active participants of the Balgowan Conservancy and Midlands Birding Route.

Bedroom seating:
All of the rooms have adequate and comfortable seating for at least 2 people.

Rates

RATES – 2009

Additional breakfasts – R55.00 pp

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