Rickety Bridge Manor House

The thatched manor house has retained its traditional Cape Dutch feel, with original exposed yellowwood ceilings and polished Oregon pine floors adding rustic warmth and a sense of cherished history. There are two guest lounges with comfortable couches and open fires, and a quaint breakfast room alongside the country kitchen. On warm summer mornings, breakfast is served outside on the terrace or next to the swimming pool, and we recommend you head to Paulina’s restaurant for lunch. Free wi-fi.

The trio of luxurious guest rooms (one on the ground floor, two upstairs) each have a unique style that blends Cape Dutch vintage furnishings with contemporary decor, including deliciously modern touches like underfloor heating, satellite television, minibars and tea- and coffee-making facilities. All have en-suite bathrooms with huge bathtubs and separate showers. The upstairs suites are particularly charming, set cosily beneath the thatched eaves, with glowing timber beams, and beautiful views of the mountains.

Rickety Bridge is a working vineyard, so the activities here focus, unsurprisingly, on wine. Take a tour of the cellar to appreciate the process, then visit the testing rooms. Stroll through the beautifully maintained grounds, play boules on the lawn, and have lunch at Paulina’s. Visit nearby Franschhoek village, with its great restaurants, gorgeous (if pricey) boutiques and colourful artisan markets. Hike or bike the mountain trails, explore on horseback, and admire the vintage cars at the Franschhoek Motor Museum.