Cliffhanger cottages near Knysna: escape to the country

By Roxanne Reid
I love back roads, forests, wilderness and the sounds of nature. Given that I live in a city, my holiday happiness depends on finding these things, no matter where I go. At Cliffhanger cottages near Knysna on the Garden Route I learnt how to escape to the country and sweep away the city dust.

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Cliffhanger cottages are on the Rheenendal Road about 15km west of Knysna. I’ve stayed at various places along this road in the past so I know it’s the quieter country cousin of the more hip Knysna – and for that I love it. At Cliffhanger, we struck gold.

Open-plan living with a wonderful view out over hills and forest

Surround yourself with nature

There are three cottages, two of them – Cliffedge and Cliffhanger – on the edge of a steep cliff overlooking a valley of indigenous forest and out over far hills. The third, Hedge Cottage, has a garden view.

We stayed in Cliffedge cottage and loved its open-plan spaciousness, its wide sliding doors to a full-length deck where we could sit and absorb the sights and sounds of nature. A pottery dish on the deck was plumbed into a bird bath in the fynbos below so we could top it up to lure the resident birds into drinking and splashing.

A number of birds visited the bath below our deck

When the mist cleared we revelled in the uninterrupted views

Owners Barry and Ingrid Young have thought of everything, from a shower with a view over the valley to an indoor fireplace for cold nights and a fan for hot summer days. There was wifi, a Weber braai, a flat screen TV, couches both inside and on the deck outside, and a well-equipped kitchen that included ground coffee for the coffee press. 

The mist covers most of the view in this shot but it cleared the next morning

Comfy spaces both inside and on the deck outside

‘We sometimes spend a night here,’ Barry confessed. And that explained why nothing we needed was missing. I wish more owners of B&Bs and self-catering units would do the same; they’d soon discover that little things like a lack of waste bins or hooks in the bathroom can frustrate their guests.

The deck at Cliffedge, with Cliffhanger cottage in the distance

The kitchen is well equipped for self-catering

No frustration here, though. The place was pristinely neat and clean, and the housekeeper had placed sprigs of fern and flowers on the bed and in the bathroom for a welcoming touch. Metal and wood sculptures – some of them made by Ingrid, others bought from local markets – gave the place a personal touch so it felt like home, only better. Ingrid was away but Barry settled us in comfortably and then left us alone. Bliss.

Even the wall hangings have a forest theme

Some of the artwork that decorates the cottage

The only thing that wasn’t perfect was the weather. The day we arrived was overcast and misty but it cleared from time to time to allow us to appreciate the view. Early the next morning I sat on the deck looking out over the treetops while patches of blue appeared between the clouds and birds chattered their welcome to the new day. 

What a perfect place this would be for a honeymoon – peaceful and private but within easy reach of lots of things to do near Knysna. 

Would I visit again? In a heartbeat. Only this time I’d stay longer.

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