Just 16kms from Hermanus is the small village of Stanford in the Western Cape. We stopped by to get some braai supplies one evening in December. You can drive past in the blink of an eye but I do know that next time I’m in the area, I want to explore a bit more.

It has quaint little shops, galleries, restaurants and coffee shops. Along with historical building which reveals its English heritage, the village surrounds a small square where events are often held on weekends.

Things to do include brewery tours and tastings, gin tours and tastings, cheese shops and walking trails. There are a bunch of emerging vineyards, and is a birdwatchers paradise – this is where you can glimpse the endangered Blue Crane, South Africa’s national bird.