Think city pollution, noisy traffic, the stresses and strains of a long, hard day at work, and a list of 101 undone household chores.
Now obliterate all that with a quiet smile, closed eyes and the conjuring of a dreamscape of peaceful surrounds. Think rolling lawns, towering trees, manicured gardens and sweeping views. Think pampering at a spa…
It’s a dream that can easily come true after only a 45-minute drive from the hustle and bustle of Durbs, at the Hilton Country Estate and Spa.
It’s a 20 hectare spread reached after just a few minutes’ drive from the N3 Hilton off-ramp. Pass the Hilton Hotel, take a sharp left at the Shell garage and you’ll reach large gates at the end of Park Lane.
Offering a 180º view overlooking Pietermaritzburg, the estate has come under management of Signature Life Hotels in recent months and many changes are afoot, but without taking away any of the ambiance and quiet elegance that has made this a sweet retreat since it first opened seven years ago.
Hilton Country Estate and Spa was established in 2004 by the Hillcove family as an eight-room luxury boutique hotel, and in October 2006, a R3 million spa was completed which was voted one of the top four resort/hotel spas in the country at the Les Nouvelles Esthetiques South African Spa Awards of 2007.
Changing times, however, have seen the spa reduced in size. It was recently relocated to its original, smaller premises where, given a facelift, it is doing brisk business again, and the bigger spa premises are now being renovated into a modern conference centre with additional accommodation.
The estate at present offers six rooms, including a two- family cottage and a luxury suite and in addition to accommodating guests for many of the local high-profile cultural and sporting events, the estate is a popular venue for families of the regional schools who travel to the Midlands for term breaks and school occasions.
Points worth noting are that the rooms are serviced daily; parking is available; there are no internet facilities yet but management is looking at installing Wi-Fi; the rooms have no telephones; television access is restricted to SABC and e.tv channels; babysitting facilities are available at a surcharge; and checkout time is 11am.
The restaurant is in the main building, which also accommodates spacious lounges, and it’s an area facing a tiny, open-plan country cottage-like kitchen. It offers a very small lunch and dinner menu, although plans are afoot to increase both the menu and seating area soon.
Breakfast is served from 6.30am to 10.30am and the restaurant is open for supper until 10pm.
For bookings or any further information contact general manager Lindy Naidoo at 033 343 1485. - The Independent on Saturday