After our busy time in the valley of Stanford playing at Klein River Cheese Farm, lunching at Stanford Hills, visiting Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary, on our last morning we decided to do a bit more exploring of the village itself…
We’d been given a map of The Wandelpad and never having heard that there was even a river running through the town we knew we needed to find out more….
The Wandelpad trail was initiated in 1993 with the establishment of the Stanford Conservation Trust, the aim of which is to protect and preserve Stanford’s natural and architectural heritage.
The beauty of staying right in the center of town is that you can walk everywhere so we headed out the door on foot and set off down the gravel road past pretty little cottages complete with rambling roses and oak treed gardens to complete the English country scene.
And then we discovered The Wandelpad… what a discovery it was! This reed-lined river path flanked by views of the Stanford Hills is kids paradise personified. My kids grabbed the biggest sticks they could find and ran off to explore…. and I tried to keep up!
This is truly one of the hidden gems of Stanford and well worth a walk. We had no idea it was even here and it’s certainly one of the best things about the village. I can totally see why someone would sell up their city lives and swop them for life overlooking this scene.
Our walk took us about an hour and a half – maybe longer – we lost track of time. Along the way we discovered magnificent climbing trees, wide open spaces, benches to rest and watch the abundant birdlife and a playpark with views of the church and village.
Apart from a few complaints of sore legs, we all managed to keep going with the promise of an ice-cream from the genuine Italian gelateri, Don Gelato, just round the corner from our accommodation!
Don Gelato is inspired by the desire to share the seasonal and traditional flavours of authentic Italian gelato with his friends. Made from selected organic ingredients supplied by farmers in the Overberg region or directly imported from Italy this is gelato at it’s best – free from artificial flavourants or colourants.
The House of Don Gelato has a cosy, friendly atmosphere where each visitor is treated like a new friend. Pop in to enjoy a delicious ice-cream or cup of coffee or spend a bit longer enjoying breakfast, lunch or other sweet Italian treat in the garden courtyard out back. (P.S. You can also find Don Gelato at the Food Market in the V&A Waterfront or in Hermanus, if you can’t quite wait for your next Italian gelato fix!)
Sadly it was time to say goodbye to Stanford but we weren’t in too much of a rush to leave so decided to pop for lunch at Birkenhead Brewery, and what is a visit to Stanford without a glass of their Honey Blonde Ale?
Read more about our weekend in Stanford here:
A Saturday morning in Stanford
Klein River Cheese Farm
The Tasting Room at Stanford Hills
Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary
Don Gelato Contact Details
23 Queen Victoria Street, Stanford
Tel: 081 805 7470
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.dongelato.co.za
Opening Hours:
Thurs – Mon: 08:30 – 17:30
Stanford Tourism Contact Details
13 Queen Victoria Street
Stanford
Overberg
7210
South Africa
GPS: -34.439292, 19.455573
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.stanfordtourism.co.za
Tel: 028 3410 340
Mobile: 072 895 6865
Opening Hours:
Winter hours: 1 June – 30 August
Mon – Friday 08:30 – 16:30
Saturday 09:30 – 16:00
Sundays and non religious public holidays 10:00-13:00
Images: Kathryn Rossiter
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Nice to discover these secret places with you although I am crossing the world !!