Prince Albert Tall House

There's a huge amount to like about PATH, including: - The design. It's stunning and so photogenic, so much so that it feels a little alien in its environment. Love the colour of the plasterwork. - The thoughtful welcome pack of snacks, bread and butter – unexpected but very much appreciated... - The massive, pet-friendly garden. Our dogs had the time of their lives and would disappear for hours sniffing around and eyeing the neighbours' cat. - Easy check-in and out. - General generosity. Aside from the welcome pack, there was also bottled water, lots of firewood and fire starters, olive oil and balsamic vinegar, more than enough coffee for our needs, and so on. It's such a nice touch. - The various outside seating areas, which makes finding shelter from the wind easy.

There were a few unexpected bugbears, including: - The upstairs sliding doors don't seal properly. It was windy during our stay and the wind whistle became annoying and really affected our quality of sleep. It also meant we could hear neighbours partying. - Surprisingly, the property already requires a bit of maintenance. The lounge walls are cracking, so much so that my partner wasn't comfortable sitting on the sofa beneath the cracks as it seemed the plaster was pulling away from the walls. - Perhaps a silly criticism considering the purpose of the design, but worth mentioning: privacy is compromised. The massive windows and doors really capitalise on the views, but that also means keeping the blinds closed whenever anyone gets dressed, uses the bathroom, etc. (views from the road are unobstructed). Note, too, that the downstairs loo has a sliding door that doesn't hide sounds, while the upstairs loo is completely open. It's a huge, open-plan space and there's an echo...

The Prince Albert Tall House is a breathtakingly beautiful house, and one can sense that every space was designed with purpose. The purpose being to relax and immerse yourself in the beauty of the Karoo. Staying here allowed us to switch off and recharge. From the materials, to the appliances, to the fittings and space planning - everything is well thought through and of high quality. Would most definitely visit again!