Sterrekopje, which takes its name from a nearby peak, is a guests-only retreat, gently cradled by the upper reaches of the Franschhoek valley. It comprises meticulously restored heritage buildings — including the farm’s former cowshed and a wine cellar — all stitched together by courtyards and deep verandahs.
Some are filled with art, others row upon row of books. In the 17th-century manor house, its rounded clock gables a tell-tale sign of Cape Dutch design, there’s a Hamam-inspired bathhouse and treatment rooms — a place for transformative healing rituals for which this hotel is known.
There are full-body and Indian head massages, yoga, breath-work, hypnotherapy and dream programming, sound therapy and moon-lit meditations. A two-night minimum stay ensures guests achieve a holistic reset, but with pottery and painting, baking lessons, wild swimming, hiking and mountain biking on offer, too, you might find a week is too short.
The 11 suites feel more like sanctuaries. Hand-painted murals have been daubed on the walls, antique finds from the Dutch owners’ own travels pepper the space and Zanzibari four-poster beds come with a choice of raw linen or Egyptian cotton for optimal sleep.
Sprawling gardens invite exploration at every turn. The resident horticulturist, Leon Kluge, is ‘guardian of the soil’, a vital resource for growing nutrient-dense food. He revived the centuries-old, 123-acre farm using biodynamic principles.
There are thriving orchards, vineyards and wild, meditative spaces carpeted in indigenous grasses, flowers and medicinal herbs. Guests are invited to harvest whatever they feel like eating. Franschhoek has much to offer, but Sterrekopje is a destination in its own right.
All-inclusive stays from £640 per night — see www.sterrekopje.com for more
Credit: &Beyond
Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa: An immersive world of luxury and adventure, with conservation at its heart
Credit: The Datai Langkawi
The Datai Langkawi review: A jungle paradise with conservation at its core
On the 30th anniversary of one of Malaysia's leading hotels, Tiffany Daneff checks in to see if it's still at
Credit: Annabelle Hotel
Annabelle Hotel, Cyprus, review: A family-friendly hotel in Paphos
The classic Annabelle hotel in Cyprus is Emma Hiley's go-to hotel for winter sun trips with the whole family in
-
The BBC and the contender for the greatest April Fool's prank ever playedAs April 1 looms, Martin Fone tells the tale of one of the finest stunts ever pulled off.
-
How to disconnect from reality and feel like a new person in under 72 hoursOur round-up of the best British retreats that work wellness wonders in under 72 hours.
-
Glebe House, Devon: 'The antithesis of big brand hotels'Anna Prendergast pays a visit to Glebe House in Devon — and already can't wait to go back.
-
'As if a cathedral had been flooded with turquoise waters': The Spanish hotel where Gothic and stained glass meet time off in the sunSiobhan Reid checks in to the extraordinary and unique Landa, in northern Spain.
-
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge: The west at its wildest, showiest selfThe Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge is an experience like nothing else, as Siobhan Reid found out.
