On The Road: Die Laaitjie.

Do yourself a favour the next time you’re feeling slightly overworked, stressed, tired, uninspired or just imprisoned by the city, book a cottage at Die Laaitjie. Actually, let me elaborate. If you’re feeling overworked, stressed, tired, uninspired or just imprisoned by the city, or none of the above, book a cottage at Die Laaitjie.

Die Laaitjie is a quiet place. It’s a collection of beautiful cottages in the mountains above Robertson. Nowhereland, really. Which is why it works – there’s really nothing there. Just a few simple white cottages, large green mountains, some orchards and a river with a pond for skinny-dipping. It works because you can be close to the nearest cottage, but clever layout means you don’t need to see them. It works because you feel closer to the stars at night rather than Cape Town, just 2 hours away. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to share with good people only.

To give you an idea of the bliss, this past weekend as example. Friday night: Steak frites, red wine and a couple games of Speed. Saturday: river-running, suntanning, smashing bottles of Everson’s stupidly good pear cider, smörgåsbording on Frankie Fenner’s ‘bloody mary’ chourizo (the best sausage I’ve had since 1723), pork rillette and stinky cheeses, drinking too much Roundstone Blanc de Noir, braaiing bacon-wrapped monkfish skewers and fat prawns, a coal-roasted pork shoulder that was forgotten and turned unexpectedly deliciously crispy and ending with homemade panna cotta. Oh, and Sunday: lazing in bed as long as humanely possible. Of course.

www.dielaaitjie.co.za