West Scarborough

West is a five-bedroom private house overlooking the village of Scarborough, on the Atlantic side of the southern Cape Peninsula, twelve kilometres from the Cape Point gate, with a glass-fronted living room that takes in 180 degrees of mountain and sea, a sunken deck over the village and daily housekeeping in the rate. Ten guests aged twelve and over, five en-suite bathrooms, Russ and Marion Weston as hosts.

Five en-suite bedrooms sleep ten: four in the main house and one in Heavenly House, a two-storey chalet just above it with its own living room and kitchen. We’d put it forward for two families with teenagers, since the house takes guests from twelve, or for a group of friends who’ll walk, surf and sail more than they sit by a pool. Of the Cape Town villas we place, it’s the one for the wild end of the peninsula.

THE HOUSE

The lounge, dining area and kitchen share one open-plan space on the ground floor behind an entirely glass front, with a reading corner and a dining table for shared meals; the kitchen is fully equipped. A TV lounge sits at the back, carved into the rock, with a large flat screen and the lit rock face in view, and upstairs there’s a library with a quiet workspace. The interiors are made so that every room looks at the ocean.

THE BEDROOMS

The Dock Room, on the ground floor by the sunken deck, has its own entrance, a private courtyard, an oversized round window, a fireplace and an en-suite bathroom. The Deck Room has a private entrance too, an en-suite and a balcony sheltered from the south-easter, which makes it the morning sun spot. On the first floor, Portside has a spacious en-suite and a private balcony over the ocean, and Starboard an en-suite and a large window that opens fully in place of a balcony. Heavenly House, a few steps from the entrance, puts a balcony, a living room and a full kitchen on its ground floor and the bedroom upstairs, with mountain views running down to the sea, a large bath and a separate shower. The owner doesn’t list bed sizes, so we confirm them when we quote.

OUTSIDE

Outdoor spaces at every turn: the sunken deck above Scarborough village, a corner out of the summer wind, a bonfire for the evening and a braai. No pool is listed; the sea is the point. Parking is for three cars in all.

THE STAFF AND THE EXTRAS

Housekeeping of the bedrooms and the communal areas is daily and included. A private chef, laundry and extra housekeeping are arranged beforehand at a charge, and Russ and Marion can set up catering by local chefs, guided nature walks, cycling, surf and kiteboarding lessons, sailing on False Bay, deep-sea fishing and yoga or Pilates, all subject to weather, sea and season.

THE RULES

Guests from twelve years up, day visitors included; access is by stairs only, with no lift. Only registered guests stay overnight, ten at most, and day visitors come by prior arrangement. Parties, events and outside providers need written approval, quiet hours are 10 pm to 8 am, there’s no smoking indoors and no pets, and wildlife is never fed.

THE LOCATION

Scarborough is a village on the Atlantic coast with a largely unspoilt beach, coffee shops and three restaurants, craft breweries not far off, twelve kilometres from the Cape Point Nature Reserve toll gate. Boulders Beach and its penguins and Simon’s Town harbour are across the peninsula on False Bay, Kommetjie and the surf beaches up the coast. For the whale season and the quiet months, our guide to winter in Cape Town covers the off-season on the peninsula.

To check dates or request a quote for West, write to [email protected].