The Cottage - Hermanus, Overberg

The Cottage looks out over the Hermanus mountains, from Green Mountain, which gave Vermont its name, all the way to Maanschynkop and beyond. It is surrounded by indigenous vegetation and the birdlife is varied and abundant.

This beautiful, comfortable self-catering cottage is ideal for a family of four or five. It has a main bedroom with a double bed and a kids bedroom with a double bunk and single bed. There is an open-plan kitchen and living room with DStv and a CD player. The kitchen has everything you'll need for self-catering and beautiful, crisp white linen and bath towels are provided.

The cottage is immaculately furnished with comfortable couches, beautifully dressed beds and even a dining room table for those family dinners. The barbecue area comes with wood for the first night and is secluded, cosy and private. There is a small dam on the property for swimming which is filled from a bore hole; the water has a high iron content which stains, so pack an old swim suit.

The closest beach is Breakfast Bay. It's quite a long way back up the dune after a day of swimming, snorkelling, fishing or exploring rock pools, but the small, protected beach is very popular and worth a visit. Onrus Beach is where the Onrus River runs into the sea; this forms a lagoon which kids love. The beach is beautiful and the waves are great, but the currents can be dangerous. Ask the closest surfer to show you how the currents run. The Vermont Salt Pan is a five-minute walk from the cottage and a must-see for bird lovers.

Here you can kick off your shoes in the quiet, comfortable surroundings and enjoy the tranquility that this quaint cottage offers.