Stanford Hotel

The Stanford Hotel offers both hotel and self-catering accommodation. With the convenience of being centrally situated in the heart of the core conservation area, the hotel is within walking distance of restaurants, coffee shops, the river, wandelpad, village shops, boat trips and historical attractions. The hotel turned 100 years in 2020, which was sadly not celebrated due to lockdown. However, there are a century of cherished memories kept safely within her stout old walls, adding so much authentic charm and ambiance to the beautifully restored 1920 building.

Area Info

The unique little village of Stanford, settled beneath the moody slopes of the Klein River Mountains, lies just inland of False Bay, forming the tip of a triangle with the coastal towns of Hermanus and De Kelders. Peaceful and largely unaffected by change, Stanford is an eclectic mix of shops, galleries, restaurants and coffee shops, and the list of activities for a largely rural village exceeds one’s expectations.

Like many of the Overberg towns, Stanford originated as a farm, de Kleine Riviers Valey (the original spelling), and the tree-lined streets today, filled with historical buildings, are testimony to the largely English influence that makes Stanford the third most historically important village in the Western Cape. The heart of Stanford surrounding the market Green - used as a venue for a monthly country market and annual boxing day cricket match - was proclaimed a South African Heritage area in 1995. The original farmhouse of De Kleine Riviers Valey, built in 1785, is one of the oldest houses still in existence in the Cape Overberg and the beautiful stone Church is thought to have been built in the 1700’s as well, although the records have unfortunately been lost.

Two of the ‘must do’s’, when in Stanford are the Birkenhead Brewery, a boutique brewery open for beer tasting and lunches, and the Stanford Walking Trail (wandelpad), which wends its way along the banks of the Klein River through the town and offers visitors some wonderful glimpses of the many birds in the area, including the endangered Blue Crane, South Africa's national bird.

Stanford now has a number of vineyards and more appear to be emerging every year and the local Klein River Cheese Farm offers some mouth watering options including a local Gruyere, one of the few made in South Africa.

The Salmonsdam Nature reserve is only 15 km away and offers 50km of hiking trails through some beautiful specimens of Cape fynbos.

De Kelders and Gansbaai are exciting destinations if you want to watch Southern Right whales and Great White sharks, and the Walker Bay Nature Reserve borders the Walker Bay Whale Sanctuary protected area offering a choice of superb land-based whale watching within natural fynbos of the area.

Units and Rooms

Issey118 Heritage Cottage

Guests: 4

Issey118 is a heritage cottage next to the Hotel. It has two en-suite bedrooms, one with a King size bed, the other with two singles. Open plan living area, wood-fired pizza oven, fully equipped kitchen, covered braai area, large garden, covered veranda

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