The Shepherd’s Cottage

Accommodation - Nieu Bethesda - THE SHEPHERD’S COTTAGE

Experience Rustic Charm at The Shepherd’s Cottage

Nestled amidst the picturesque landscape of The Rest farm, The Shepherd’s Cottage offers a tranquil retreat for those seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. Perched atop a hill, with sweeping views of Alwynkop and Compasberg, this cozy cottage provides a front-row seat to the daily rhythms of farm life.

Comfort in Nature

Step inside to discover a fully equipped kitchen and an inviting open-plan lounge and dining area. With one room featuring a plush double bed, another with two comfortable single beds, and a third cozy nook for solitary sunrise views, the cottage accommodates both families and couples with ease. The bathroom boasts modern amenities, including a flush toilet, shower, and bath, while an eco-friendly compost toilet outside offers a refreshing alternative.

All-Season Delight

Whether you visit in the warmth of summer or the chill of winter, The Shepherd’s Cottage ensures a delightful stay. In the summer months, a sprawling peach tree provides shade for outdoor relaxation, while thick walls keep the interiors pleasantly cool. As winter sets in, a charming Bosca fireplace casts a warm glow throughout the cottage, turning icy winters into cozy adventures.

Embrace Nature’s Bounty

Indulge in a barbecue under the starlit sky at the small braai area, offering panoramic views of the setting sun. With its rustic charm and serene surroundings, The Shepherd’s Cottage is the perfect getaway for couples seeking solitude or families yearning to reconnect amidst nature’s embrace.

The Rest Farm Retreat in the Serene Sneeuberg Mountains

Retreat. Heal. Reconnect.

We experience the seasons acutely up in the mountains. Snow is not uncommon in winter and summer floods create dramatic patterns in the landscape. 

The spring is celebrated with beautiful veld flowers and the fruit trees are their best as they display their blossoms. While we rarely experience the searing heat of the lowlands, hot summer days are enjoyed in the river sheltered by the poplar grove. Autumns are dramatic, as the forest turns from green to red, gold and orange.

Homemade bread, farmstyle meals, grassfed Karoochoice meat and eggs (when available) can be purchased on the farm (bread and meals need time to make). We are one hour away from the nearest grocery shop so you need to bring everything else!

No load-shedding! We are powered by solar!

We have two rustic, family sized, self catering cottages available on the farm. We also have three cute caravans that are fully equipped. In the summer months, camping is a fun and good value option

We recommend a digital detox but we do have good wifi connection if you need it.  There is no cellphone signal on the farm.

We are committed to reducing our footprint on this earth

We are guided by a strong environmentally sustainable policy in our farming and guest houses.  We have decided against en suite bathrooms and energy hungry appliances because we are working actively towards water and energy conservation.

We invite you to join us to reduce your footprint too!

The water is the best you will find to drink.  If you don’t need to use it for other things then don’t!

We like to reuse, recycle, repair and compost!

Pets are welcome if they are well trained and not tempted to hunt.  Ours is a sensitive ecosystem and we ask you to respect it as such.

Accommodation - Nieu Bethesda - THE SHEPHERD’S COTTAGE

The Shepherd’s Cottage

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Getting to The Rest
We are half way between Cape Town and Johannesberg (about 8 hours in either direction) half an hour off the N9 highway. We are an hour from Graaff-Reinet and 25 minutes from Nieu Bethesda.

To Drive: Email us for directions and check on the current state of the road and how your car will fare on the dirt roads.

Carpool to workshops: Join the event on the Facebook page and see who is keen to carpool. Email us to put you in touch with other drivers coming from your area.

Bus: Both Intercape and Translux stop in Graaff-Reinet. We will arrange to pick you up from the bus station and bring you to the farm directly or via a guest house (buses usually arrive at awkward times in the late or early hours.)
Email us to arrange this.

Fly: Catch a flight to Port Elizabeth and hire car to drive to the farm (this is a four hour drive).
Co-ordinate with other workshop participants who want to do the same. Email us for directions.

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