GOODWILL MOUNTAIN RETREAT, STANFORD

I’m always a little sceptical when a place is called a “villa”, but The Villa on Goodwill farm earns its name: Even though the busy town of Stanford is only a stone’s throw away, you feel far from civilisation. The space, the silence, and a dam the size of an Olympic swimming pool right outside your bedroom put this weekend retreat in a league of its own.

On the farm’s website, owners Richard Perryer and Patricia Sundstrom say the name Goodwill was derived from the Afrikaans word “welgesind” and as soon as you arrive you can feel that everything here is designed to make you feel good.

The house is big, with four bedrooms that can accommodate 8 – 10 guests. On the ground floor is a living area with a kitchen and seating around a fireplace, three bedrooms and two bathrooms. ( The en suite main bedroom has big windows on two sides overlooking the dam and the Kleinriviersberg.) The fourth room with two single beds is on a mezzanine floor and the loft above the kitchen has two daybeds where the kids can sleep. The house is very well equipped. The kitchen even has a separate scullery and the bathrooms have environmentally friendly soap made on the farm. There’s

Wi-Fi, but why not turn your phone off for a change?

You’ll probably come here to explore the farm’s hiking and running trails, tick a few birds off your list and visit Stanford, but I predict you’ll spend most of the day relaxing outside and swimming in the dam. And in the late afternoon, when the mountain slopes turn golden, you’ll finally get out of the water to dry on the sun-baked tiles while dragonflies hover over waterlilies and pine trees reflect back at you from the water surface. Time to light that braai fire…

Where? About 4 km from Stanford. Follow the R43 north; once you’ve crossed the Klein River, turn right at the first dirt road you come to and follow the signs.

The Villa is situated high up a mountain slope.

Rates: R3 800 – R5 000 per night for the whole house, depending on the season and days of the week.

Contact: 063 602 5626; goodwillmountain.com