The Cottage at High Goonvrea on Hogsback

High Goonvrea Cottage is a charming, thatched self-catering cottage in Tor Doone Lane. It is one of the early Hogsback homesteads, built by an Italian prisoner of war. Nestling in the lee of the tor, it is set in a beautiful wooded garden. Spring is a cacophony of colour with the Azaleas and Rhododendrons. Winter can be white. But every season has its own beauty. Whether the sun is shining, or the mists are swirling, Hogsback is a place of myth and magic. Book for a magical stay. The spacious cottage has a sitting room/dining area with separate kitchen with washing machine, fridge, glass hob and microwave. It also has an Aga-type stove for warm ambiance if required. It has two large bedrooms, both with Queen-sized beds and electric blankets. One bedroom has an additional single bed. The bathroom has both a bath and a shower. There two other units on the property: the Woodland Cabin and the Garden Flat. Each sleep two people in a queen sized bed. Guests will have full access to the cottage except for one small pantry room where personal effects are stored. Our co-host, Nic, the High Goonvrea estate manager, will make you welcome. Hogsback is high in the Amatola mountains of the Eastern Cape. As you climb up the mountain pass and leave the Karoo behind, you enter a different micro-climate and another world. Hogsback is rich in natural beauty but also has other fascinating places to visit, like the Eco Shrine and the Labyrinth, art galleries and craft sellers. During the Spring Festival many of the beautiful private woodland gardens are open to the public. Tolkien is said to have been inspired to write The Hobbit here and one can imagine how Hogsback evoked Middle Earth for him. The indigenous forests, the mountain paths, the waterfalls, the winding lanes and the quaint cottages all contribute to the air of enchantment. Experience the magic of Hogsback: hike through the indigenous forest, say hello to a Hobbit, splash in the waterfalls, climb Tor Doone, admire the fascinating outdoor art installation at the Eco Shrine, walk the labyrinth at The Edge, stroll through the open woodland gardens in Springtime, make a snowman in winter, have a delicious light meal in the garden at Butterfly’s Bistro or a more formal meal at The Edge. Hogsback and High Goonvrea will always welcome you. Contact (Email hidden by Airbnb) for more information on your most relaxing holiday or weekend yet. Hike up Tor Doone or in the indigenous forests. Cycle or amble along the lanes. Drive to the various sites because the walk back up the hill to the cottage is steep! Take a gentle stroll down Tor Doone lane to the beautiful thatched chapel, St Patrick on the Hill, and allow the beauty of the Prayer Garden to calm you. Or sit quietly in the cool, dim chapel and soak up the peace. The High Goonvrea estate extends beyond the immediate 5 acre garden surrounding the house. If you walk outside the immediate garden gate you can walk through another gate and into an older and less formally tended High Goonvrea garden which is spectacular in Spring. It forms part of an additional 15 acres of woodland and forest that stretches up the hill to the bottom of Tor Doone.