Eight Bells Mountain Inn is an owner-managed hotel with a superb location near the Robinson Pass over the Outeniqua Mountains. It is therefore well-suited for visiting the Little Karoo (on the other side of the pass) or as a first stop on your way along the Garden Route. The site was originally a small homestead (built in 1816) for travellers en route between Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn. Many features in this hotel, for example the 45cm thick walls of the billiard room, are part of the original homestead. Over the years the hotel has grown as the horse stables were converted and additional chalets were built. It now has excellent sporting and leisure facilities. The hotel has 25 en suite rooms, thatched chalets and log cabins all in the rolling gardens. Some face the mountains or the Palm Court garden. Others are close to the Swimming Pool terrace or part of the hotel's main building (Rose Court).
It's particularly recommended for walkers and families with a host of leisure activities on the 400 acre estate include swimming, tennis, squash, bowls, billiards, horse riding and a range of walking trails from 30 minutes to several hours in duration. Proteas and wild flowers are a feature in late autumn. TGCSA 4 star hotel.
Children can enjoy early suppers and then watch a video in the family room adjacent to the dining room leaving the parents a little bit of time to themselves.
Family
Romantic
Spa
Walking
Country: South Africa
Region: Garden Route
Area: Robinson Pass
Accommodation Rating: Premier
Rooms: 25
Meals: Bed & Breakfast
Location: Mountain
Eight Bells is recommended for walkers and families. One of our consultants will gladly help you with any further questions.
Kate stayed there with her family in July: "Eight Bells is one of the few traditional mountain resort hotels left in South Africa, and as long as you accept that you are staying at a mountain resort hotel rather than a stylish country house hotel, you'll enjoy your stay, especially if you are travelling with children. There's a range of activities for children and some great walking trails for all the family. The kid's dining/playroom next to the main dining room is a great idea and allows you to enjoy dinner with your partner whilst the children are amusing themselves next door (rather than being marooned in a bedroom with a babysitter they don't know).
Eight Bells' location is also good. It is the closest lodge on the Garden Route to Cape Town so that the drive is a comfortable 4 hours rather than the 5+hours you'd have to allow for Knysna or Plett, and you can enjoy both the Little Karoo attractions or the beaches without too much travelling."
