Postcard-perfect lagoonside hideaway
Of all of the off-grid beach houses, Hout Huisie at Schrywershoek – near Churchhaven in the West Coast National Park – is closest to the water and has the most magical relationship with the lagoon.
Hout Huisie is enviably positioned all on its own near the tip of a little peninsula in Schrywershoek and backed by a marshy wetland. With no shops or restaurants to distract you, this is a place to unwind and let your days be governed by the moods of Langebaan Lagoon and the gentle rhythms of life in this West Coast hamlet.
Centerpiece of the community is a small Anglican church and a picturesque graveyard where one gravestone inscription reads, ‘Sakkie Pieterse, a man who would give his last fish.’ There are three clusters of whitewashed, chalkstone cottages strung along a bluff overlooking lagoon beaches where boats are drawn up on the sand. The older buildings, many dating from the 19th century, have end-chimneys, reed ceilings, window frames and rafters fashioned from the timbers of wrecked ships and interiors full of flotsam, antiques and lagoon memorabilia.
In the 1960’s Theodore Wiehahn bought Schrywershoek, a large farm that extended across the peninsula from lagoon to Atlantic. The blue-roofed timber bungalow is a distinctive landmark sitting alone on a sandy point just south of the hamlet of Churchhaven. The interiors are rustic chic, with two bedrooms and a lovely deck that’s only a few paces from the beach. The sweep of white sand at your doorstep is effectively a private beach, never frequented by more than a handful of others from distant cottages.
Humble yet charming and comfortable
The cottage is filled with the presence of the lagoon, its quiet lapping a dreamy constant, its kaleidoscopic blues and greens a balm to the eye after the harshness of the surrounding veld in summer. One of the privileges of staying at Hout Huisie is that guests have sole access to the southern end of the lagoon, which lies within the farm’s borders. You can wander for hours along these pristine shores, impossibly rich in bird life, and not see another person.
Guests spend their days watching the parade of flamingos that stain the lagoon rosy pink, picnicking on the beach, cycling in the national park or walking the lovely paths through marshlands and fynbos covered dunes. Evenings here, in this remote West Coast haven, are simply ethereal. Take a seat in the spectacular braai lapa at the water’s edge and crack open a cold one as meat sizzles on the grid. The wind has dropped and the sky’s palette is reflected in the water. You watch as an old timer rows his fishing boat into the deeper blue of the channel. Soon the night sky – free of light pollution – is thickly packed with stars, their pinprick lights mirrored in the lagoon.
This cottage provides a perfect family hideaway throughout the year: each season has something different to offer. Take your bicycle, kayak, running shoes, hiking boots, bucket-and-spade, loads of reading material … and let this magical corner of a magical lagoon help you unwind, re-evaluate and recalibrate.
Hout Huisie is currently available for photo shoots, versatile in its ability to echo beach or island locations in Greece, the New England coast, the Caribbean or just about anywhere in the Mediterranean. And if you’re seeking a castaway, Robinson Crusoe chic experience, look no further!
What we love!
- What makes Hout Huisie so special is its isolated location and intimate relationship with the lagoon. The water changes hue throughout the day.
- A paradise for hikers and mountain-bikers.
- The pristine, fynbos surroundings deep inside a National Park.
- A back-to-basics, barefoot lifestyle at the water’s edge.
- It’s the perfect launchpad for viewing the spring flowers in Postberg’s wildflower reserve, within the National Park.
- Exploring the shoreline with its magnificent birdlife, especially the huge flocks of flamingos. Lagoon birding is exceptional with more than 250 species recorded. In summer the shallow, southern (Schrywershoek) part of the lagoon is home to the largest number of migrant waders in South Africa, including curlew sandpiper, little stint and turnstones. Look out for specials such as bar-tailed godwit, terek sandpiper and chestnut-banded plover.
What you need to know…
- Make the most of life on the lagoon: there are SUPs and Kayaks available to rent during your stay.
- This is 100% off-the-grid and a place of tranquillity. Please keep it this way.
- Only 12-volt batteries can charge a mobile phone and laptop.
- Sunshine is needed to recharge the batteries. Use solar sparingly please.
- Water is pumped into the water tanks from a water source, a precious resource. Please be mindful and use sparingly.
- Guests need to bring their own drinking water for the entire stay as there are no shops nearby.
- The road is sand and can be loose in places.
- The nearest neighbour is about 100 metres away.
- No dogs permitted as this is a National Park with wildlife.
- Hout Huisie is available as a shoot location, offering some of the most uncluttered, picturesque and remote landscapes up the West Coast.
- If Hout Huisie isn’t available on your dates, browse our other hideaways in Churchhaven or up the West Coast.
Reviewed by Justin Fox
Edited by Michelle Snaddon