Coastal country living
An authentic yet lavish beach house settled within the seaside village of Kleinmond, Soudt offers a tranquil escape along the revered Western Cape’s Whale Route.
Over a white garden wall and a thick bank of indigenous greenery, Kleinmond beach presents itself as a giant sickle shape of deep blue sea, edged with shreds of a white lace wave line. It’s a glorious view and must have been the deciding factor for the positioning of the cottage – the first in the area – in the 1860s.
Much of the authenticity of the original beach cottage remains. With deep window ledges revealing the width of the walls that naturally insulate the interior from summer heat, or the cooler months from June to September. A break here offers the wonderful simplicity of a real beach holiday. Sand that may not have washed off entirely in the outdoor shower will fall on either slate, terracotta or sturdy wooden boards. All practical surfaces that invite a barefoot seaside break.
Albertyn Huis offers ample space and different areas for a group of family and friends to converge. While a large Oregon pine dining table dominates the kitchen area, a boma area with a fire pit and braai – through double doors to a sheltered courtyard – is where summer evenings are likely to play out. There is a second dining table on the sea-facing veranda. It is a clever arrangement. At any time of the day and in any wind conditions, there is shelter and sun. A slatted reed roof breaking the strong light on the front veranda.
It is both a simple and sophisticated house, unfussy yet comfortable, welcoming and practical. White crockery and kitchen basics are arranged on suspended shelves. For holiday cooks, this means being part of the conversation that may rally between the kitchen, the boma area, and the adjacent living room. Where extra deep sofas invite a sprawl, rather than provide formal seating.
Meandering the whale route
You will also sleep well here. The thatched roof filters the sound of the sea but it will be there on the edge of your dreams. A white sound to lull you into a restful night. After all of the adventures along the shoreline, in nature and around the house. That’s what Albertyn Huis encourages you and the clan to do, so emphatically. To be as active as you like, in a gleeful childlike manner. To explore, swim, surf, and snooze. To build sandcastles in the breeze, and bond.
What we love!
- There are fabulous walks and hikes in the area. The famous wild horses are often seen in the reeds beyond the lagoon edge.
- There are a couple of two-seater canoes which guests may use on the lagoon which is a stone’s throw from the house.
- The laidback village of Kleinmond is only a few minutes away on foot. The position of the house offers complete privacy and quiet. It’s great for family getaways as you’re able to cycle and walk around the neighbourhood, feeling perfectly secure.
- The community of residents are all friendly and welcoming, always providing tips on the area’s activities.
- The property is great for multigenerational family holidays, with plenty of space to either congregate together, or recline in perfect seclusion.
What you need to know…
- Parking is available outside in a shady spot under the trees. There is no formal garaging.
- Please note there is no TV at Albertyn House. (This is due to the owners preferring to live life more simply whilst on holiday).
- There is a 2-bedroomed cottage which is also available to book if your party is larger.
- For all cycling enthusiasts, The Kleinmond Cycle Club offers tips and tours on spectacular mountain routes that can be in accordance with your cycling experience. You can purchase day or week-long permits to explore the region. There are also kids’ cycle routes.
- Carry Me Home coffee shop is a great place to stock up on the baked goods and lovely deli delights.
- Spend a day in the spa at the Arabella Country Estate enjoying some seriously good pampering, or a round of golf at one of the best 9-hole golf courses in South Africa.
- Explore the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens – an easy drive away from the property where you and the family can immerse yourselves in nature, surrounded by hundreds of hectares between the mountains and the ocean, traversing the Kogelberg Biosphere and Reserve.
- If Albertyn Huis is not available on your dates, browse our full collection of exclusive-use holiday houses in the Kleinmond.
Written by Les Aupaias
Edited by Colleen Ogilvie