By Roxanne Reid
When we arrived to stay at The Earthy Inn in Greyton in the Overberg, an African hoopoe was bobbing around on the lawn looking for an afternoon snack. He cocked his head and looked at us, then went back to his task. He reappeared a few times in the three days we stayed there, and each time I could feel I was more and more relaxed, the Greyton peace sinking into my bones.
When we arrived to stay at The Earthy Inn in Greyton in the Overberg, an African hoopoe was bobbing around on the lawn looking for an afternoon snack. He cocked his head and looked at us, then went back to his task. He reappeared a few times in the three days we stayed there, and each time I could feel I was more and more relaxed, the Greyton peace sinking into my bones.
Although The Earthy Inn doesn’t advertise itself as anything more than a ‘room’ – i.e. not self-catering or even B&B – we discovered it’s actually much more than that.
There’s a couch in the room for lounging during the day and a big table and folding chairs on the porch outside where you can sit with a view of the garden. There are sun loungers under a big shade umbrella, and a Weber if you want to make a braai.
There’s a couch in the room for lounging during the day and a big table and folding chairs on the porch outside where you can sit with a view of the garden. There are sun loungers under a big shade umbrella, and a Weber if you want to make a braai.
There’s tea and coffee (including a plunger), even rusks for your first morning. There’s a bar fridge to keep your wine cold. There’s a kettle and some cutlery and crockery, so although there’s no kitchen sink or microwave as there would be in self-catering accommodation, there’s enough to make you happy if you keep things simple.
We did that by eating lunch at a different restaurant in Greyton each day (there are around 10 of them), then relaxing with wine and fresh rolls or crackers and cheese in the evenings. That way, it was easy to rinse plates and cutlery in the bathroom basin without too much fuss.
Attention to detail
Given that I like to make notes about my travels each day on my laptop, I loved that there was a desk, which made the job quick and easy. You’ll be surprised how few places offer somewhere to sit to write or edit photos. Free unlimited wifi was a great perk too.
Given that I like to make notes about my travels each day on my laptop, I loved that there was a desk, which made the job quick and easy. You’ll be surprised how few places offer somewhere to sit to write or edit photos. Free unlimited wifi was a great perk too.
In fact, there was lots of evidence that owner Collette has given much thought to equipping and decorating her separate-entrance guest room. A king-size bed is always a luxury. There were wooden floors and scatter rugs, a chest at the foot of the bed big enough to hold two suitcases, a TV, a Bluetooth speaker, a wall of shelves with books and objects d’art, and a cottage-pane window overlooking the pretty garden and the mountains beyond.
The bathroom was large and pristine, with both bath and shower. I liked the eco-friendly toiletries and the fact that buckets were provided as a way of encouraging us not to waste shower water while we waited for it to get hot. A heated towel rail and towelling robes were a touch of luxury for cold, wet winters, and there was an oil heater and electric blanket in the bedroom too, with a fan for hot summers.
The Earthy Inn is at the far end of town near the nature reserve, so there’s not much passing traffic. We parked our car off the road under a security light.
The Earthy Inn is at the far end of town near the nature reserve, so there’s not much passing traffic. We parked our car off the road under a security light.
Relax and refuel
There’s plenty to do in Greyton – think hiking, biking, art route, restaurants, craft beer, wine estates and more – so it’s nice to have a peaceful home base to come back to. We fell into a rhythm of exploring in the morning, having lunch at one of the local restaurants, then returning to The Earthy Inn mid-afternoon. We’d take a lazy wander around the garden, sit on the stoep to admire the mountains of the nature reserve, read a book or have a snooze under the garden umbrella.
There’s plenty to do in Greyton – think hiking, biking, art route, restaurants, craft beer, wine estates and more – so it’s nice to have a peaceful home base to come back to. We fell into a rhythm of exploring in the morning, having lunch at one of the local restaurants, then returning to The Earthy Inn mid-afternoon. We’d take a lazy wander around the garden, sit on the stoep to admire the mountains of the nature reserve, read a book or have a snooze under the garden umbrella.
In the evening, we’d pour a glass of wine and enjoy the changing colours as the sun went down. It rained a little on our first evening, the smell of it refreshing, the sound hypnotic. Once it was dark we’d put on the fairy lights on the stoep and just sit and stare into space. These are moments to treasure, when there’s nothing you need to do but relax and breathe in the fresh air, when everything is right with the world.
If you’re energetic, you can borrow two of Collette’s bicycles and explore the village or ride one of the trails around the village and in the foothills. If you think you might do some shopping on your village cycle, ask for the old-fashioned blue one with a basket in front.
And if you’re planning a romantic weekend getaway, mention it when you book. Collette can organise sparkling wine and chocolates in your room, a beauty treatment or a wine shuttle to the Hemel en Aarde valley.
And if you’re planning a romantic weekend getaway, mention it when you book. Collette can organise sparkling wine and chocolates in your room, a beauty treatment or a wine shuttle to the Hemel en Aarde valley.
When you’re considering where to stay in Greyton, you’ll find a whole bunch of options (I’m told there are something like 300 beds in the little village), but The Earthy Inn is a place I can personally recommend.
Given how busy the village gets on the weekend, I prefer a midweek visit, but this obviously isn’t an option for everyone.
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Given how busy the village gets on the weekend, I prefer a midweek visit, but this obviously isn’t an option for everyone.
You may also enjoy
15 things to do in Greyton in the Overberg
Why to visit Genadendal Moravian mission village
Like it? Pin this image!
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