Ruallen: Edwardian seaside cottage

Sunny seaside home overlooking False Bay from the slopes of St James mountain. This bright and cheerful edwardian cottage is a hop skip and a jump from St James tidal pool, Kalk Bay harbor and Muizenberg surf beach. Fynbos garden. Views views views A beloved family home spanning four generations, Ruallen is one of the early beach cottages built on the slopes of St James mountain. It has been refreshed, lightened and opened up to allow the panoramic view across False Bay inside, yet it retains the intimacy of its edwardian footprint. The fully equipped kitchen and bathrooms have been modernised. The floors are crisp and white; the linen is all pure cotton percale embroidered by a local embroidery company. The deck in the indigenous fynbos garden has a view down onto the charming Kalk Bay harbour. The house is accessed up private steps which are shared by two neighbours and secured by a high gate and security camera. The host lives nearby and will be available throughout your stay. Domestic help, babysitters and driver are also available. St James Ruallen is located in the seaside suburb of St James - the secret jewel on the False Bay coast. Nestled between the trendy café society of Kalk Bay and the long surfing beaches of Muizenberg, St James is a calm oasis to retreat home to after a busy day on the Peninsula. It is the most green, least windy of the southern beach suburbs and has the most generous of Victorian tidal pools. Kalk Bay A 15 minute walk to the West , Kalk Bay has just been voted one of the ten best suburbs in the world. In Kalk Bay you will find a charming fishing harbour, Dalebrook tidal pool, a wide selection of restaurants, cafes and coffee shops and wonderful, eclectic Cape Town shopping, art galleries and a theatre. There is a beauty spa and hairdresser. Muizenberg To the East, a seaside boardwalk from the tidal pool takes you to Muizenberg in 15 minutes. Muizenberg boasts an endless sandy beach that stretches the length of False Bay. It has the best beginner waves for surfing lessons and a number of excellent surf schools should your family like to try out a lesson – all provide wetsuits, surfboards and excellent tutors. The suburb also has a wide selection of restaurants, coffee shops and bars as well as grocery shops ( Checkers) , a chemist, hairdressers, petrol garages and bottle store. Fish Hoek The unassuming suburb of Fish Hoek is a 10 - 15 minute drive away. Here you should find anything you may need : there are a number of grocery stores including Pick n Pay and Woolworths; as well as a chemist, hardware stores, hairdressers, dry cleaners, stationary shops, sports and clothing stores and beauticians. Fish Hoek beach is a lovely sandy beach in a sheltered bay. There is also a hospital and a number of churches. Simonstown, Boulders and Cape Point The main road leads you further South to the rocky penguin home of Boulders, the naval port of Simonstown and on to the Cape Point Nature Reserve at the tip of the Peninsula. There are a number of brochures and maps available at the house. St James is within walking distance of the lively suburbs of Kalk Bay to the West and Muizenberg to the East. I recommend leaving public transport, uber and cars behind and enjoying the fresh ocean air and gorgeous views from the seaside boardwalk, main road straddling the coastline or panoramic Boyes Drive. There is parking for cars in front of the house and the main road which runs from Cape Town to Simonstown is accessed down a flight of stairs. Uber and taxi services operate in the area. St James train station which services the southern suburbs main line from Cape Town to Simonstown is a 5 minute walk from the house. Trains are however increasingly unreliable and not always safe - especially in quiet times and at night.