Walkersons Hotel & Spa

The thatched manor sits on 800 hectares of rolling hills with horse trails, hiking paths, dams and forested groves. Sprawling gardens encompass the main building, with a large dam just a stroll away. Sit on the patio sipping on something delicious, and watch the changing skies. Wallow in a served full English breakfast outdoors at The Terrace restaurant, weather permitting (excellent casual lunch and dinner options here too). For a classy four-course affair, The Flying Scotsman is the consummate treat.

Twenty-seven rooms in the main hotel range from the two-person Lakeside and Luxury Suites to the roomier Family and Manor Suites, and the pièce de résistance, the Honeymoon Suite, with its extra-length bed, mountain views and two, yes two, bathrooms. All suites are on the ground floor, with French doors and private patios. They're large, light-filled spaces, with fireplaces and en-suite bathrooms. On the grounds are seven cottages with multiple bedrooms, ideal for families and groups of up to ten.

You're free to discover your own rhythms – do as much or as little as you wish. Head off up the mountains for superb Highveld views. Waterfalls, burbling streams and elevated lookouts can all be accessed on foot or horseback. There are a number of trout-filled dams where fly-fishing is possible, though the policy here is strictly catch-and-release. But if you feel the need to chill, settling back in a cosy nook is a perfectly acceptable pastime.