All the rustic charm of Stanford's Blue Gum Country Estate

A stay in Stanford is like a breath of fresh air. There’s no sense of urgency in the quaint town based alongside a gorgeous river, with views for days.

That’s why we most appreciated our room’s magnificent balcony, ample in-room heaters and the fireplaces at the main restaurant to ward off the winter chill, as we couldn’t steer ourselves away from those picturesque windows.

It’s easy to see why Blue Gum Country Estate once again topped the four-star country house category at Sanlam’s Top Destination Awards 2018.

Nature is top of mind here, with guests asked not to bring phones into the restaurant – I snuck mine in for this review, of course. If there’s an all-important call you just can’t miss, Anton will be happy to change your ring tone to one that sounds like a frog!

Nature-minded, naturally

There’s also a mosquito-netted four-poster bed, complete with firm base and melt-under-your-head soft pillows, with a mini chocolate to sweeten your dreams. But you’re encouraged to spend at least some of your night time outside, star-gazing from a lounger or around the enormous boma fire pit for those chilly nights. There’s a handy star chart in the room if you’d like to know exactly what you’re looking at.

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Boma Fire pit at Blue Gum Country Estate #winter #boma #fireplace

A post shared by Blue Gum Country Estate (@bluegumcountryestate) on Jun 29, 2018 at 12:18am PDT

While cruises on that lazy river mean Stanford’s usually a firm favourite in the warmer summer months, there’s a fireplace at each of the dining rooms of the on-site Barke restaurant, so you can go all out with the two- or three-course dinner option.

You can also order from the a la carte lunch menu at any time of day, featuring favourites like toasted sandwiches, wraps and a selection of pastas.

There’s lots to smile about the next morning, as breakfast is included in the room price, with a large wooden table boasting a cold buffet option to nibble from while waiting for your hot order.

We enjoyed the muesli with stewed fruit and fresh fruit slices; cold meats, cheeses, and spreads; as well as tiny baked quiches and croissants.

Rustic comfort and country charm

There’s also the breakfast standard of filter coffee plunger or tea, with speciality options like flat white or chai available at an extra charge.

There’s a strong sense of rustic comfort at Blue Gum Country Estate, with the well-appointed rooms of the manor house decorated to the theme of the room name. We were allocated Elephant, which meant all the paintings, sculptures and even the bath-salt scoop featured the trunked creature.

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Carpaccio the lonely Springbok #springbok #bluegum #carpaccio

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The rooms also feature all the creature comforts from home like seasonal gowns; paperback books; thick blankets to cosy up in; a coffee station with sachets of tea, milk and sugar and two welcome biscuits; and a bar fridge to fill with the various goodies from your town sightseeing at the local breweries, wine farms and cheese stalls.

Bonus if you visit on a sunny day: Behind a flower-dotted hedge is a very chilly pool with loungers to sun yourself and bring a smile to your face as you watch birds and butterflies frolic.

With walking trails just begging to be explored, we found Blue Gum Country Estate the perfect base from which to explore the likes of Panthera farm, or as a base for a longer trip to Hermanus or Gansbaai for whale viewing or shark-cage diving. Naturally.

*Leigh Andrews was a guest at Blue Gum Country Estate. For more information, email az.oc.mugeulb@snoitavreser call 028 341 0116 or visit www.bluegum.co.za, and follow Blue Gum Country Estate on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.