The Studio at The Aloes Farm  Verified Listing

The Aloes Farm has two well appointed, upmarket cottages: The Studio and The Gallery. The Studio can sleep up to six guests and The Gallery can sleep up to five or six guests (an additional single mattress can be placed on the floor if necessary). Both cottages have three bedrooms and two bathrooms that have been tastefully decorated, where simple mid-century lines complement the original art on the walls. The cottages each have an open plan kitchen, dining room and lounge area that spill onto large patios. The kitchens and dining rooms are amply equipped for cooking and dining, and the lounges have comfortable couches and chairs surrounding fireplaces supplied with abundant wood to ensure that you can cuddle cosily if it is a chilly Hilton night.

All the beds are of a very high quality and are made up with pure, crisp, 100% cotton linen. Each bedroom is equipped with a wall heater and portable fans for your comfort. For either ambience or comfort, a wood-burning fireplace graces the living space (firewood and kindling are provided). Both cottages have spacious en-suite bathrooms with a generous-sized corner bath and separate shower. The Gallery's bath is also a spa bath!

The kitchens in both cottages are amply equipped with everything needed for a self-catering stay, including a fridge-freezer, microwave, gas stove and oven, coffee machine, dishwasher and so on. The dining room has sufficient crockery and cutlery for six guests.

A variety of board games are available for children and adults to play. A cot and highchair are available on request at no extra cost. Free Wi-fi is available through out the cottages, and a smart TV is in both lounges and has access to Netflix. An HDMI cable is provided should guests wish to plug in a device to watch TV from another platform. There is ample free parking right next to each cottage.

Although the cottages are not serviced as part of the standard booking, daily servicing (cleaning, making beds, washing up, etc.) can be arranged with your host at an extra cost.

The Aloes Farm is an active 10 ha small-holding, bordering the Hilton College estate. This stunning property provides a unique combination of rural living just five km from the N3 highway. Sitting astride the main dolerite ridge that extends from Hilton, the farm has spectacular panoramic views to the east that overlook Albert Falls Dam and Wartburg, and to the west towards the Nhlozane Peak and the Drakensberg where The Giant can be seen silhouetted against the sunset on clear evenings. All these natural features contribute to an amazing sense of space and peace, and guests are welcome to walk through farmlands and natural veld, to savour the quiet and peace of the area, enjoying the evening call of jackal, the burble of fiery-necked nightjars or the sharp whistles of reedbuck.

The Hilton area is very well endowed with good schools, many of which offer boarding facilities, and The Aloes Farm is conveniently located immediately adjacent to the Hilton College estate and within 10 km of St Anne’s, Laddsworth and Cowan House schools. It is thus an ideal stay for parents who are attending school sports events or other functions, or just visiting their children.

The D494 district has a remarkedly low incidence of crime and local residents will attest to the general sense of safety and security that we enjoy, which means that guests can relax with a peace of mind.

Both cottages have portable kettle braai's (BBQ's) and enjoy spacious views from their respective patios. The Studio's gardens extend across farmlands to the Berg, and The Gallery has magnificent views overlooking Albert Falls Dam and beyond – the perfect place for relaxing sundowners or a braai. The Gallery has a firepit which enjoys the spectacular views across the valley. Both gardens have been designed by Littlefields Landscaping, and when sitting at the large patio tables it is the perfect spot to enjoy peaceful moments with family and friends. There is abundant space for children to play on the lawn as parents relax and catch their breaths.

Both cottages have functioning vegetable gardens in their gardens for guests to enjoy. The range of vegetables is seasonal, but one can usually pick lettuce, spinach and spring onions, as well as herbs such as mint, basil, sage and rosemary.

The Aloes Farm is a pet-friendly space, and guests are welcome to bring their pets with them. Both the guest houses are enclosed with electric fencing that will contain all but the smallest and most determined escapee, and there is ample space in the gardens and the fields beyond for pets to exercise and play.

The Aloes Farm is in a prime position for you to enjoy the very wide range of activities found in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, including all those associated with the popular Midlands Meander. Without having to leave the property, guests are welcome to walk around the farm and enjoy the sense of space and rural life. There is a large network of mountain bike and trail-running trails within a few kilometres of The Aloes Farm, including the 18 km network in the plantations near Grace College (freely open) and the 40 plus km of trails in the Hilton College Estate (access requires a permit).

The Aloes Farm is a stone’s throw from Hilton College and is thus the perfect place for friends or family who are attending The Hilton Arts Festival, Hilton-Michaelhouse Rugby, or other sporting events. Many sporting and cultural events are based in the Midlands and The Aloes Farm is perfectly positioned for families or groups of friends competing in events such as the Midmar Mile, the Duzi Canoe Marathon, the Comrades Marathon, or the Nelson Mandela Marathon.

Despite having a rural atmosphere, The Aloes Farm is conveniently close to Hilton Village and the N3 highway. The Hilton Village has many coffee shops, restaurants and art galleries for guests to enjoy. One of the features that make one feel you truly are ‘getting away’ is the fact that the last 2km you travel on before arriving at the cottage is dirt road. We love that we feel as if we live in the country and yet are 5km away from the Hilton Life Hospital and Woolworths!