Posted on March 29 2017
Mountains, rolling hills, scenic drives & delicious food in the Underberg Fields of Gold! This was a mini vacay that was good for the soul…There’s something that majestic mountains and deep quiet do for a person that can only be matched by the constant rumble of rolling ocean waves. For me anyway, these are my top two sanity savers!
Every once in a while one just has to get far far away from the norm, the every day routine, to clear the mind and rejuvenate the body. Even if it’s just for a few days – it makes a huge difference.
If you’d like to read more from my travel adventures and coffee shop visits take a peek at In the Foothills For a Day – Underberg, The Litchi Orchard & Delish Sisters Coffee Shop and Makaranga Garden Lodge & Enchanted Gardens.
So last Sunday I headed north to the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains, otherwise known as the Underberg. The little town of Underberg is so quaint, I just love it there – around every corner there is something pretty to take in, and the fresh mountain air does wonders!
We left Durban at about 8:30am and arrived in Underberg around 11:30am, but we did make a few stops along the way to pick up hot drinks, and the keys for our cottage. There was a drastic drop in temperature as soon as we reached Kloof! So it was pretty chilly in the mountains…I think Autumn has arrived up there.
It was straight to the famous Olde Duck for lunch…If you’re ever in Underberg I highly recommend this restaurant and coffee shop!! I’ve been there 4 times now and I’ve never been disappointed….Their food is always fresh and delicious. They make great tea time treats and desserts as well.
I couldn’t help but have the butternut soup for lunch, it was the perfect day for a hearty healthy soup! And then I indulged in a decadent chocolate mousse cake….It was divine!! (If anyone knows how they get those cute little polka dots in the chocolate sponge cake, let me in on the secret!)
I saw this strawberry jam as we were leaving and it’s sort of a tradition of mine that when I’m on holiday and I see homemade jam – I buy some! How could I resist this one?
With full, happy tummies, we went off to find our home for the next two nights….Valley View Cottage. One of the cutest places I have ever stayed! Apart from the INCREDIBLE VIEW, the cottage itself is just gorgeous, it’s open plan and has high wooden ceilings, big windows and french doors that open onto the large verandah. It’s furnished with homely, comfy furniture. Wingback chairs, dark wood tables and lots of cozy cushions and throws. The two bedrooms are very spacious. One has a double bed and the other has two single beds. The cottage has two bathrooms – one with a bath and the other with a shower.
The feature I loved most about the inside of this cottage was undoubtably the fireplace! It had been ages since I’d snuggled up next to a fire in the evenings, and with the cooler weather, this is just what we did! I loved it.
This is definitely a place I would go back to….to wake up to this view every morning has to be something special! I would love to see these mountains covered in snow….maybe a plan for next year!!
Monday was a wake up slowly, have a lazy breakfast on the verandah, go out mid morning for tea kinda day! The skies were crystal clear and bright blue. On our morning drive we stumbled across a cute little restaurant and coffee shop called The Old Hatchery (check out their website here) where we stopped for a drink and a wander. They have a beautiful waterfall on the property and their little self catering cabins look super cute!
We ended up back at the Olde Duck for lunch…I had the chicken salad which was the best salad I’ve had since I moved to Durban, and then a waffle with ice cream and syrup!!!! YUM!
The rest of the day was spent back at Valley View Cottage relaxing, reading, napping and then taking a walk up the dirt road to see where it lead…..The fields were just beautiful at sunset with the mountains in the distance. They brought new meaning to the saying “fields of gold”.
I’m sure I will be back to this little piece of paradise in the Underberg Fields of Gold beneath the great Drakenberg Mountains… And until then, I’ve got the photos to remind me to take time out, rest, and be kind to myself. I hope you will do the same this week! Do something that’s just for you, just because! And never feel bad about it.
Tomorrow I’ll be back to cooking up a storm and posting recipes for you, until then, have a great day!!
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