Ou Skool in Robertson (Accommodation Review)
Finding the perfect Robertson family getaway
We love breaking the day-to-day routine of our busy lives by going on a weekend getaway to 'the middle of nowhere'. And so over the Mother’s Day weekend (8–10 May), we packed up and headed to Ou Skool in Robertson. At just a two-hour drive away, we found a hidden gem that offers the best of both worlds. It feels remote with no cellphone reception, but is actually close enough to town to stock up on groceries or head out for a country breakfast.
"Ou Skool" translates to "Old School" in Afrikaans, and the name pays direct homage to its heritage. Built in 1905, the old building has been beautifully restored into a luxury farm stay. It currently is in the top 5% of homes on Airbnb due to its many positive reviews and reliability, earning a well-deserved "Guest Favourite" badge. Andre knows what small details make a big difference, and he is a ‘Superhost’ on the platform. After spending a weekend there, we can see why. It’s safe to say that it won’t be the last time we stay at this beautifully restored school.
The Roasted Dad Travel Tip: If you love secluded gems like this but want to explore another Western Cape valleys, read my reviews of Huizen Living (Verloren Cabin) in the Breede Valley or our favourite mountain valley hideaway: 360on62 Mountain View Farm Cottages in Montagu.
Breakfast at Christina’s - the Van Loveren Family Vineyards
On Saturday the sun came out and we took the gap to explore Robertson. We started our morning with breakfast at Christina’s on the Van Loveren Family Vineyards.
While wandering around the estate afterward, we bumped into Nico Retief - the second generation of the Retief family who has been running Van Loveren since 1980. Nico’s passion for the farm is infectious. The moment we showed an interest, he took us on a full personal tour of the gardens, and we left with bags filled with fresh farm produce. It was a real highlight to experience genuine country hospitality firsthand.
Later that afternoon, we bumped into Nico again at the Quarters Shopping Centre in town. Despite Robertson being a small town, this shopping centre has everything you need, from grocery stores to clothing shops. It made it easy to source the rest of the ingredients I needed to make the dishes I had in mind for lunch and supper.
The breakfast setup itself is elaborate. There is a French Continental buffet where you can help yourself to a generous spread including artisan breads, freshly baked croissants, homemade jams, granola, yoghurt, rich Dalewood cheeses, and fresh fruit.
Why Ou Skool is a Paradise for Kids
Back on our own farm-for-the-weekend, the afternoon sun was warm enough to slide open the glass stacker doors towards the patio. The eco-friendly swimming pool relies entirely on the natural filtration of plant roots rather than chemicals. Aiden, Olivia, and Harvey spotted some frogs along the edges. Despite the water being freezing, Aiden and I braved the cold for a quick dip.
The landscaped garden is filled with lavender, roses,and other flowers. Just behind the house, there’s a koi pond with a little fairy tree. Andre leaves out containers with bird and fish food, and the kids loved feeding the fish and resident peacocks, guinea fowl, and chickens.
Note on pets: While Ou Skool is pet-friendly, we opted to leave ‘The Roasted Dog’ -our French bulldog, Oscar- with our housesitter for the trip. If you have a well-trained dog who can resist the urge to chase the birds, pets are allowed at the accommodation.
There apparently is a rescue cat named Donut (adopted from the SPCA) but he stayed out of sight during our stay.It was once known as ‘Rooikamp’ house, a name derived from the words 'rooineck ' (red neck) and ‘koeikamp’ (cow camp). These Afrikaans slang terms referred to the English troops and commoners respectively.
Wildlife Warning: The valley is home to cheeky local baboons. You cannot leave any food unattended on the outdoor dining table. If they get too close, there is a paintball gun available to chase them away.
What made this accommodation a children’s paradise -beside the free-roaming birds- was the elevated playhouse. Reached via a ladder and exited down a long slide, the playhouse itself is packed with toys, dolls, and a chalkboard. Honestly, we didn’t need to pack a single toy for our weekend away which made packing for our trip so much easier.
Homemade pancakes for Mother’s Day
Since I enjoy cooking, having good cooking equipment always makes a stay for me. At Ou Skool I was in my element. The kitchen is well-kitted out and includes a La Germania gas oven. There is an indoor braai with meat hooks (more about that later) and an outdoor wood-fired pizza oven.
On Sunday it was Mother’s Day, and so Lianne had a lie-in while the kids played in the lounge nearby. The space underneath the coffee table is packed with puzzles and classic board games such as Scrabble, Charades, Monopoly, Jenga, 30 Seconds, and the classic South African Boereplaas.
I fired up the gas stove and whipped up a batch of South African pancakes using my own family recipe. Andre really understands hospitality; he provides his guests with a generous selection of local produce that includes artisanal honey, homemade jam, rusks, olives, and fresh farm eggs. The farm jam and honey paired perfectly with the pancakes and the rusks meant bring ‘The Roasted Mom’ a little treat with her first coffee of the morning.
Eventually, Aiden came up to me and asked “When can we let Mom down?” The kids proudly escorted her down the mezzanine stairs where she was spoiled with their art works and gifts, before we all tucked into the pancakes.
Having a dishwasher meant that clean-up was effortless - the ultimate luxury when you are on a getaway. Luckily the sun was shining that morning, because Ou Skool runs completely off-grid, independent of Eskom. The property is powered by a robust 7.2 kW non-grid-tied inverter system backed by two 6.2 kWh lithium batteries. This provides enough electricity, provided you avoid running high-draw appliances when the sun isn't shining.
Fire, Cast Iron, and Wood-Fired Pizza Oven Cooking
The accommodation is a chef’s paradise. Below the indoor braai, crates on wheels are loaded with firewood on one side, while another is filled with cast-iron pots -including a traditional potjie pot- and proper leather oven gloves hung on the side. The first crate of wood is provided, additional wood can be purchased using ‘honesty SnapScan’. I went through several crates of wood during our stay - I just love a cookin on the fire.
For lunch and dinner, I used both the indoor braai and the pizza oven. I slow-roasted a whole chicken in an oven dish in the wood-fired pizza oven, then cooked it further in the cast-iron potjie pot in a butter chicken sauce. Once cooked I shredded the meat, and served it on naan flatbreads, garnished with toasted coconut shavings and fresh coriander. The flavour profile from roasting chicken inside a wood-fired pizza oven is unbelievable.
MasterChef recipe comingsSoon! Keep an eye on my recipe page - I'll be sharing the full step-by-step recipe soon.
The indoor braai features traditional meat hooks designed to hang your ingredients Argentinian style. I’ve never stayed at an accommodation that provided this before, and now that I’ve tried it I absolutely want one at home! I hung a mix of both fresh ingredients and meat on the hooks: butternut, pineapple, onion, sweet peppers, and a leg of lamb.
While I was busy cooking and The Roasted Mom was crocheting, Aiden, Olivia, and Harvey were having the time of their lives in the playhouse. They were incredibly bleak when the winter clouds finally rolled in and it started to pour. Thankfully, we had preemptively brought a few things from the playhouse inside so they still had plenty of entertainment. The kids even teamed up to complete a massive dinosaur puzzle together on the coffee table while we packed up the car. It was the perfect wrap-up to a weekend defined by exactly what we needed: good food, family time, and breaking the day-to-day routine.
From the Argentinian-style braai hooks to the magical children's playhouse, Andre has truly thought of everything. As we drove back home to Cape Town, we were already planning our next trip to Robertson. Next on our bucket list is taking the kids to Bird's Paradise.
If you're looking to swap city life for a family-friendly escape, do yourself a favour and book a stay at Ou Skool. You can unplug in nature, cook to your heart’s content, and the kids will be preoccupied at the playhouse.
Book your stay: Ou Skool on Airbnb
Follow their journey:@ouskool_robertson on Instagram
More Western Cape accommodation reviews
Explore Franschhoek in a charming guest house: Our Stay at The Corner House Residence in Franschhoek
Our favourite mountain valley hideaway: 360on62 Mountain View Farm Cottages in Montagu
For child-friendly luxury in the Franschhoek winelands:
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed are solely our own and based on our experience. At times we may be compensated for reviews placed on this blog, we always maintain the right to share our true opinion on the full experience, to maintain our integrity and the authenticity of the review posted.
About Shawn Godfrey
Photo credit: Niki M Photography
Shawn Godfrey is an entrepreneur based in Cape Town, South Africa. After the Covid-19 lockdown saw his business in financial distress, cooking was the creative outlet that helped to keep him sane. To keep track of his recipes, and encourage friends and families to join him, he starts his instagram account The Roasted Dad.
Fast-forward to late 2021 - on a whim Shawn (encouraged by his wife Lianne) enters MasterChef South Africa. It is a crazy time of life: running a 200 people business and struggling to keep it profitable, two small children with a third on the way, and about to move into a new house. But when Shawn gets selected to be one of the 20 contestants participating in the fourth season of MasterChef South Africa, he decides to go all in. Leaving his 7-month-pregnant wife to look after their then three and one-year-old children, he battles it out and comes back home five weeks later with the trophy and a million rand prize money in his pocket.
It all started with an Instagram account, but The Roasted Dad is so much more now. Shawn has stayed his entrepreneurial self and whilst he hosts Private Dinner Parties and Cook-with-Me Demos, does Restaurant Take-Overs, he still runs the lighting company and several other businesses.
On his blog, Shawn shares Restaurant Reviews and Accommodation Reviews, and gives an insight into the wild and wonderful life he leads together with his wife Lianne, and their three children Aiden (6), Olivia (4) and Harvey (2).
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