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One of the most gorgeous spots to retreat to on a weekend, the rustic little village of Tesselaarsdal has a delightfully undiscovered feel to it. Bundle the dogs in the car (yes, it’s dog friendly!), pack the mountain bikes, and within two hours (from Cape Town), you’ll arrive at this charming little smallholding above set on the hillside above the village. One of Bella Rosa’s original cottages is a barn-like room that dates back 100 years and is steeped in history – it housed the decendants of freed slaves until just 30 years ago as the farm was part of Johannes Tesselaar’s original farm dating back to the 1700’s, which he bequeathed to slaves in 1810.
Today, a characterful low-ceilinged main farmhouse and two cottages sleep 14 in a cluster of bedrooms around the enclosed pool, making it a great escape for family get-togethers. Summers are spent dipping in and out of the pool, lounging on the lawns and reading, and eating and braaiing outdoors on the stoep. In winter, log fires are lit and the kitchen fills with wonderful aromas of delicious roasts and baking bread while days are spent walking the hills behind or mountain biking on the trails in the area, if not wine tasting in the nearby Hemel en Aarde valley. So pack the games and cards and put away the phones as this is the perfect detox spot (although there’s wifi if you need it) and create precious family memories together. Day trips to Hermanus, Stanford and the Walker Bay coast are easy – there’s plenty to do here if you book a long stay.
Reviewed by Michelle Snaddon
Sleeps 14 (max 10 adults)
What we love:
• that it’s just over 20 minutes from Caledon, 15 minutes from Stanford, 20 minutes from Creation Wines on the Hemel en Aarde wine route, and just over half an hour to Hermanus.
• the long stoep – magical for meals outdoors and lazy afternoons with a good book
• that this is a wonderfully cosy winter house with two interior fireplaces (one in the living area and one in the kitchen) plus the outdoor braai on the stoep
What you need to know:
• The last 20 minutes of the journey is on dirt road.
• The two bedrooms inside the main house share a bathroom which is open-plan to the main bedroom. There is also a guest loo.
• In the outdoor cottages surrounding the pool, there are an additional four bedrooms, two with ensuite bathrooms. The other double bedroom is interleading with the kids’ dorm room (sleeps 4) and these two rooms share a bathroom which is ensuite to the double room but can be accessed from the courtyard too.
• There is one restaurant in the village; The Postkantoor Café. They offer breakfast and lunch and you can book a candlelit evening meal (for six or more) if you call two days ahead.
• Bella Rosa is dog friendly but with summer snakes in the area, it’s wise not to let them wander too far. The pool courtyard is large and can be closed off for them.
Dog Friendly
Based on 14 reviews
Guest reviews are written by our customers after their stay at Bella Rosa.
We had a lovely stay at Bella Rosa. The quaint property was very tastefully decorated, comfortable, and perfectly suited for our family. The owner was also very responsive to our queries. Lovely and relaxing stay.
Bella Rosa was an absolute dream, and we were so lucky with the weather!! It really is an incredible place- and that stoep! AMAZING!
Bella Rosa was delightful, the house is super comfortable furnishings are beautiful and we could not fault it. The staff were friendly and being able to take our dog was a bonus. We will definitely recommend it and we hope to revisit.
We had a lovely time, it is a beautiful setting and the house is incredible, feels like somewhere in a small village in Europe. I absolutely love the antique crockery!
Hats off once again for your unerring taste in beautiful boltholes - I would have been so terribly depressed without this reprieve from lockdown. Thank you so, so much for making my birthday wishes come true, and please pass on my gratitude to the owner too.
What a beautiful comforting home - truly a perfect hideaway... have returned to the city feeling incredibly nourished.
WOW - that was just what the doctor ordered!
We felt that the home was really well appointed and loved the characterful furnishings and lay out. There were wonderful personal touches everywhere which made the stay more personal. The staff were great and helpful and it was really helpful to have swimming towels provided for our stay. The linen, towels etc were all of great quality and the kitchen was well equipped with everything that we needed.All in all we had a wonderful relaxing time !
Bella Rosa was quaint and very comfortable with everything we needed to make our stay memorable. We can highly recommend Bella Rosa to anyone looking for a restful weekend away. Many thanks to both Perfect Hideaways and Karneels who was most efficient and looked after us.
Thank you so much for your recommendation…Bella Rosa was just heavenly. It’s softly layered, farmhouse feel was a treat for the senses and offered a true sanctuary for us city-weary lot! The kids played for hours in the pool whilst the grown-ups barely left the stoep…and there was much belly laughter from both camps! We all loved the place and plan to make a yearly pilgrimage!
We absolutely loved Bella Rosa.
We had a wonderful weekend at Bella Rosa and would highly recommend it and come back for another stay!
We had a most enjoyable time at Bella Rosa, thank you. Kaneels was most helpful, accommodating and certainly very proud of his garden and vegetable garden! On the whole, a very pleasant experience and we are looking forward to our next Perfect Hideaways holiday!
We loved it!!! it’s a beautiful home set in a wonderful environment. We would definitely like to return!
R4 500 - R7 000