Hamstead Farm Cottage

Hamstead eco-friendly Farm Cottage is a unique, cozy, two-bedroom solar and wind-powered 80 square meter split level guest house set in the grounds of the main dwelling on a working farm. There are spectacular mountain views of the Southern Drakensberg and a small seasonal dam a few meters from the front door. This is a quiet and tranquil get-away where individuals, groups and families of all backgrounds and persuasions are welcomed.

Sleeping arrangements

(NB There is a flight of six stairs between the living room/bedroom two and bathroom/bedroom one)

Bedroom one -one double bed

Bedroom two- one double bed, one single bed

Space
This space is truly far from the madding crowd, but only a half hour, gravel road journey from Underberg village. At night one can hear jackal calling and the sounds of nightjars and owls and during the day you might be lucky to spot an eland or a reedbuck on the adjoining hill. The views from Hamstead Cottage are expansive: across veld onto the little berg and beyond onto the main Southern Berg. A glass-fronted wood heating stove in the living room provides ambience and warmth on cold winter's evenings and the jetty into the dam is a romantic spot for sundowners on warm summer evenings.

Guest access
Guests will have full use of the two-bedroom, self contained cottage and the dam. There are gentle walks on the farm and the surrounds.

Guest interaction
Your hosts, Di and Athol, have been resident in the area for 40 years so they are well-equipped to advise you on the many other attractions in the area. These include hiking, fly fishing, bird watching, mountain biking, river tubing, horse riding, local restaurants and hotels and trips up the Sani Pass and into Lesotho. There is usually someone around at the main farm house for a chat or to offer help or advice.

Neighborhood overview
Underberg is situated at the foot of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park which is a World Heritage site boasting a diverse population of birds, mammals and reptiles. It is also one of the richest rock painting areas in the world and home to a wide diversity of plant life. The area offers much for the environmentalist and nature-lover. There are also many outdoor activities on offer for the sporting enthusiast with well-known trail runs, mountain bike races, endurance rides, canoe races and off-road racing events taking place during the year. For music enthusiasts the annual Splashy Fen Music Festival is a ten minute drive away!

Getting around
There is no regular public transport serving the area. However, there are metered taxis.

Other things to note
There is pocket wifi signal at the cottage so bring your own data card and ask to use our router (Vodacom speeds vary between 5 and 10mbps). Cell phone reception is good in the cottage with Vodacom, CellC and MTN coverage efiiciency in that order.


The entire property is off-grid, but has a solar and wind supply of conventional 220 volt energy. However, appliances with heating elements may only be used when the sun is shining brightly! ( E.g: hairdryer and iron)

The cottage has a secure dog/child fenced area adjacent to the side door measuring 5 x 12m.

The main house property is not fenced and we have three dogs and two horses close by.