23 Ambleside Retreat

PROPERTY DESCRIPTION

Self-catering guest house 70 metres from the beach — Umtentweni, Port Shepstone, KZN South Coast.

Escape to the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, where the warm Indian Ocean is a two-minute walk from our back gate, straight onto the sand.

23 Ambleside Retreat is a solar-powered property set in a walled garden with a swimming pool and thatched lapa. Four separate units — a main house, two cottages and a first-floor apartment — sit together on one property. Book a single unit, or take the whole retreat for up to 19 guests.

Whoever you are travelling as:

• Couples — a private cottage with its own patio and braai.
• Families — the Holiday Home, four bedrooms and the run of the garden and pool.
• Contractors and long stays — a comfortable, quiet base with secure parking, Wi-Fi and laundry.
• Large groups — the whole property, for a reunion, a retreat or a milestone birthday.

Power and water that stay on. Sixteen solar panels run the property and there is a backup water tank, so the lights, the Wi-Fi and the hot water keep working through municipal outages. A split-system heat pump in the main house living room means warm winter evenings and cool air in summer.

Security taken seriously. The property is fully fenced with automated gates, parking is behind locked gates in an area monitored by a Ring security camera, and the front gate opens from your own phone — just give us your number.

Something you will not find at most beach houses. Catherine is a qualified osteopath, physiotherapist and massage therapist, and treatments can be booked on site during your stay. The owners live on the property and are on hand when guests need them.

On the property: swimming pool, thatched lapa, multiple braai areas, free Wi-Fi, solar power, backup water tank, laundry service, secure parking behind automated gates, baby cot available.

PETS

Dogs are welcome in Cottage 1, Cottage 2 and the Apartment, and we do not charge extra for them.

The Holiday Home is not pet friendly. If you are travelling with a dog and need space for a larger group, please talk to us before booking.

We take small to medium dogs — our units are not large, so very big breeds are not a comfortable fit. The whole property is fenced, and the garden can be divided into sections with gates so your dog has a run of its own.

GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BOOK

• Bathrooms in the Holiday Home. The Master Bedroom has its own en-suite. The Purple Room, Blue Room and Sunroom share one large family bathroom (bath, shower, toilet, basin), plus a separate guest toilet in the hallway. Ideal for one family or group travelling together — worth knowing if you are booking as separate households. Both cottages and the Apartment have their own private bathrooms.
• Hot water. The main house and cottages run on electric geysers powered by our solar system, so you still have hot water during an outage. The Apartment has a gas geyser — the one thing here not on solar. If the water runs cold there, the gas bottle has simply run out: tell us and we will swap it straight away.
• The Apartment is on the first floor, up a flight of stairs. It has the best view on the property, but is not suitable for guests who struggle with steps.
• Mosquitoes. We are a coastal garden property, so there are mosquitoes in the warmer months. Plug-ins are provided in every unit.
• The Holiday Home does not take pets. The cottages and the Apartment do.
• Television. Smart TVs with Netflix streaming. There is no DStv and no local broadcast channels.

THE UNITS

23 Ambleside Holiday Home — sleeps 10

Four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and the run of the garden and pool. Not pet friendly.

• Master Bedroom — king bed plus a single, en-suite bathroom with bath, shower, basin and toilet.
• Purple Room — double bed plus a single.
• Blue Room — double bed plus a single.
• Sunroom — an open room off the lounge with a sea view, with a sleeper couch.

The Purple Room, Blue Room and Sunroom share one large family bathroom with bath, shower, toilet and basin. There is a separate guest toilet in the hallway.

The dining room seats eight and has a desk for anyone who needs to work. The lounge has recliners, a large smart TV with Netflix, and a split-system heat pump for warmth in winter and cool air in summer. The kitchen is fully equipped, with microwave, dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer.

23 Ambleside Apartment — sleeps 4

The best view on the property. First floor, up a flight of stairs, looking out over the garden, the pool and the ocean. Pet friendly.

Fully self-catering with a complete kitchen. Open-plan living area with a high table and four barstools, two single beds and a smart TV. The bedroom has a double bed and generous hanging and cupboard space. Private bathroom with a large shower.

23 Ambleside Cottage 1 — sleeps 2

A private, open-plan cottage for two, separate from the main house, with its own patio and braai. Pet friendly.

Heat and eat, not self-catering. Fridge, microwave, kettle and tea and coffee making facilities — enough for breakfast and a light meal, but not a full kitchen. Guests who want to cook properly should look at Cottage 2 or the Apartment. Private bathroom.

23 Ambleside Cottage 2 — sleeps 3

Fully self-catering, and the best of the smaller units for a couple with a child. Pet friendly.

A double bed in the bedroom and a single bed in the lounge; an extra bed can be added for a small fee. Private bathroom with shower. Full kitchen with gas stove, microwave, fridge, kettle and toaster. Braai available on request.

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Umtentweni sits just north of Port Shepstone on the KZN South Coast, and the beach at the end of our road is wild, clean and usually empty.

Seventy metres on foot to the sand, through our back gate and down the dune path. Third Avenue restaurant — good food, genuinely well priced — is a short walk, as are the local shop and bottle store about five minutes away.

Five minutes by car: larger shops and restaurants, and Port Shepstone Country Club and golf course. Oribi Plaza is 3.3 km away.

Twenty minutes: Shelly Beach Mall and South Coast Mall.

Arriving by bus from Johannesburg? Coaches stop in Port Shepstone at the Shell garage or Oribi Plaza, a short drive from us.

Whales and the sardine run. Whale season here runs September to November — quieter beaches, warmer days, and the whales pass right by. The Umtentweni Conservancy Whale Deck is 2.3 km away and is one of the recognised viewing points on this coast. The sardine run traditionally reaches these beaches in June and July, though it follows the water temperature and shifts each year.

The Umtentweni Conservancy Trail is on the doorstep, and the area is quiet and safe for running and walking.

Nearby: golf, horse riding, game drives and game viewing, mountain biking, cycling, guided walks, tennis, fishing and swimming.

GUEST QUESTIONS, ANSWERED

Is 23 Ambleside Retreat pet friendly? Yes, in three of our four units — both cottages and the Apartment — and we don't charge extra for dogs. The Holiday Home does not take pets. We take small to medium dogs, and the property is fully fenced.

How far is the beach? Seventy metres, about a two-minute walk from our back gate straight onto the sand. The beach is unspoiled and usually empty.

Do you have power during outages? Yes. Sixteen solar panels run the property, so lights, Wi-Fi and hot water stay on. There is also a backup water tank.

Is it self-catering? The Holiday Home, the Apartment and Cottage 2 are fully self-catering with complete kitchens. Cottage 1 is heat-and-eat: fridge, microwave and kettle, but no stove.

Can we book the whole property? Yes. All four units together sleep up to 19 — suitable for family gatherings, reunions and retreats.

Is there secure parking? Yes. Parking is behind locked automated gates in an area monitored by a Ring security camera. The front gate opens from your phone.

Do you have a pool? Yes, a swimming pool in the garden with a thatched lapa, shared by all four units.

Can we braai? Yes. There are multiple braai areas, and Cottage 1 has its own private braai on the patio.

Is there anything for families with babies? A baby cot is available on site.

Can I get a massage during my stay? Yes. Catherine is a qualified osteopath, physiotherapist and massage therapist, and treatments can be booked on site.

When is the best time to see whales? September to November. The Umtentweni Conservancy Whale Deck is 2.3 km away.

When is the sardine run? Traditionally June and July, though it depends on water temperature and shifts year to year.

How do I get there from Johannesburg by bus? Coaches stop in Port Shepstone at the Shell garage or Oribi Plaza, a short drive from us.

Is there DStv? No. Smart TVs with Netflix streaming, but no DStv and no local broadcast channels.

Do the bedrooms have private bathrooms? In the Holiday Home the Master Bedroom is en-suite; the Purple Room, Blue Room and Sunroom share a family bathroom, and there is a separate guest toilet. The Apartment and both cottages have their own private bathrooms.