Eight Bells Mountain Inn used to be one of my regular stops on tour back when I was a tourist guide but since then I haven’t had a chance to visit. Until a few weeks ago. A return trip from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth meant that I had to stay over in Mossel Bay to be able to do some business on the Garden Route and Rene’ Bongers, MD of Eight Bells heard that I was heading that way and invited me to come and spend the night.
Eight Bells started out as a holiday farm 80 odd years ago and has developed over the years to become a full service hotel with 25 en-suite bathrooms. I was lucky enough to stay in one of their log cabins which is only a short walk from the main building.
The log cabins are great accommodation and feels a bit more private than being inside a hotel so ideal for honeymoon couples – which I clearly wasn’t being on my own on this trip. But I wasn’t complaining. As I mentioned, Eight Bells is a full service hotel so I decided to have dinner in the Oakroom Restaurant, the hotel’s in-house restaurant. I noticed a tour group having pre-dinner drinks in the lounge area so I made sure I was in the restaurant before them. What amazed me most during my stay was that I recognized the two ladies working there from when I used to stay and that is a good 10 years ago. Just shows that the staff is like family. The food was just as good as I remembered as well with the ostrich bobotie my meal of choice this time around.
Waking up early the next morning this was the view waiting for me outside my cabin. The Outeniqua Mountains in their full glory. Its been a while since I’ve crossed from here over to Oudtshoorn on the Robertson Pass but as I’m heading to the Garden Route it may have to wait a bit longer for my next trip over.
After a hearty breakfast I took a walk around the grounds before heading off to Mossel Bay. The outdoor facilities include everything from a swimming pool, tennis courts, squash courts and bowling green to hiking trails and horse rides. The perfect family break away. *makes note on my “to visit with the family” list*
Disclosure: I stayed at Eight Bells Mountain Inn as guest of the hotel
but paid for my own dinner and transport
Love the log cabins. Will put on my list too.
Love places like this… will add it to my ever growing Wish List 🙂