This has to have been the worst year ever experienced by most people, universally, which means that if you can get away and head for Clarens in the Free State, the pure fresh air and wide open spaces will help to blow all your troubles away.

It doesn’t matter if you only have a weekend to getaway, if you live in Durban, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein, the trip will only take a little over 4 hours from each of these locations.

In fact Clarens has always been a favorite weekend hideaway for many taking the short journey to what’s fondly known as The Jewel of the Free State, and finally, after a total lockdown, the team offering the best accommodation at Clarens Eddies Self Catering/Bed & Breakfast is back in full swing.

There is more than enough fresh air to go around, and with the lowest rate of infections, the Free State is the perfect weekend break, or for a few more days than just a weekend.

The welcome extended by the staff at Clarens Eddies is so genuine that you can’t help wanting to stay a little longer, or to visit again and again to become another of the regulars who won’t stay anywhere else in Clarens.

It’s not just the welcome that lets you know you’ve hit a bulls eye by choosing to stay at Clarens Eddies, it’s also the fact that as locals, the staff and owner Dawn Trevelyan will be the perfect guides to you in terms of finding the best hiking trails, restaurants and over 20 things to do in Clarens, and they do it with joy!

This is a team that’s received the Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame from 2015 to 2019 from TripAdviser and Booking.com, which should give you a pretty clear idea about what to expect when you book into Clarens Eddies!

Clarens should be on the bucket list for anyone that loves a rich history, which is the case with Boer War Sites, Bushmen Paintings to be found in the sandstone cliffs around this 100 year old village, as well as the Basotho Cultural Village not far from Clarens.

Visiting Clarens any time of the year will always be a stroll down the annals of time and history, no matter where you look. There is also unmistakable evidence of a rich past in the sandstone architecture still to be found in many houses, art galleries and restaurants in and around the Village Square.

This beautiful valley, combined with staff that really care that you enjoy an unforgettable holiday in Clarens, makes it one of those destinations you can never get tired of. 

It’s certainly off the beaten track, which must account for the phenomenal art displayed in galleries along the Art Avenue. Your unit at Clarens Eddies is also a miniature art gallery, with paintings and other artwork displayed beautifully in this stylish accommodation.

If you’re ready for more than just a bit of fresh air, affordable accommodation that’s stylish and designed for comfort, then this is the time to contact Clarens Eddies to make your booking.

This is the truth, a truth many who have visited Clarens in the Free State and stayed at Clarens Eddies Self Catering or B&B will testify to! In fact, here’s link to testimonials you may want to explore, before you go any further in finding out what makes the accommodation at Clarens Eddies so special and well-loved!

These are real testimonials posted online, and, once you’ve checked out the 9.4 average score earned by this team, you’ll be chomping at the bit to experience the very same kind of service excellence, along with genuine care at this awesome, affordable accommodation in Clarens.

Owner Dawn Trevelyan poured great care into building Clarens Eddies in 1999, designed to meet with her own high standards, paying attention to the smallest detail and displaying creativity with décor that would lead to private, comfortable and stylish accommodation for her guests, and she has more than achieved this!

The team at Clarens Eddies will lay everything on for you winter, spring, summer or autumn, however, they don’t provide meals as they are a few minutes walk from Clarens many restaurants. They’ll make sure you’re warm when you need to be and cool when it’s necessary on hotter days!

They’ll also arrange delicious picnic baskets at your request and make sure you eat at the best out of over 20 restaurants in the Clarens Village Square. 

Clarens is very much a holiday destination you can enjoy at any time of the year, the beauty is constantly changing into something even more beautiful as the seasons pass, and though you may need a warm jacket for the cooler nights here and there, in every other way, the team at Clarens Eddies will be at your service 24/7!

There’s vibrancy about Clarens nestled at the foothills of the Maluti Mountains that makes it an eclectic mix of art works produced by many artists who came to visit and stayed, as well as being home to well known Clarens Brewery, loved for the finest hand crafted beers and ciders presented with awesome food as well!

Along with spectacular scenery, whether from your window or on a hike, there is simply no comparison at any other holiday destination other than this one affectionately called The Jewel of the Free State!

There’s always a special on accommodation to be had if you keep an eye out on the Clarens Eddies website or call the team. These specials make it possible to enjoy staying a few more days, despite the state of our economy.

You’ll find that the accommodation at Clarens Eddies is very versatile, in a sense that it’s been designed to welcome families, groups of friends or couples on a romantic getaway, with units ranging from between 2 to 6 guests, up to a maximum capacity of 16 guests.

Privacy, style, hygiene and service excellence all-round, make Clarens Eddies the best accommodation in Clarens, with all the mod-cons of technology at your fingertips, such as fast, free WiFi access and a big screen TV featuring selected DSTV channels.

If you love comfort, cleanliness, activities and entertainment on your holiday, then Clarens Eddies is definitely up your alley. Callingo this awesome team to make your booking will be your first step towards a holiday destination you will return to, again and again! 

 

Affectionately called the ‘Jewel’ of the Free State, Clarens beckons visitors from everywhere in South Africa and from the four corners of the world to indulge themselves in a world of diversity, all of which is contained in a valley that holds a picturesque village that’s over one hundred years old.

If anyone you know tells you they’ve been to Clarens and there’s nothing to do there, you can be absolutely certain that they’re lying to you, more than likely just so that they can keep it their secret!

No matter how many words are used or written to describe this village lying at the foothills of the Maluti Mountains and the Rooiberg Mountain range, they will never come close to the actual experience of spending time in this kind of magic, steeped in history and art.

For lovers of history

If it’s history you’re after, you’ll have it in spades in and around Clarens! From the architecture in the village that reflects the shades that only sandstone can produce, to relics of the Anglo-Boer War, there is something to pique the interest of lovers of history.

Ancient history is represented by the fossils left behind by dinosaurs, while the lives of the hunter-gatherers known as the San people, or Bushmen, are beautifully preserved in the art they left behind in search of peace, when war broke out between the Basotho Nation and the then Boer settlers.

For lovers of nature

Clarens Nature reserve is right on your doorstep if you’ve brought your well-worn hiking boots along for the ride! If you’re lucky enough to be staying at Clarens Eddies, well, you’re in for a real treat, because owner Dawn Trevelyan will take you on a guided mountain walk that will take your breath away, not through exhaustion, but because of the awe-inspiring beauty you’ll find along the way.

If you’ve always dreamed of exploring the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho from the perfect base, then Clarens Eddies is the perfect home away from home from which to start the adventure. The border is just over 40 minutes away from Clarens, and, with the Maluti Mountain range calling you to greater heights, you’ll be absolutely saturated in the beauty of this area.

There’s a lot more than this for nature lovers in Clarens, however, there’d have to be another five pages added to this one to expand on it all! 

Hop into a hot air balloon and you’ll get a really good idea of just why it is that artists and photographers from around the world fall in love with Clarens too!

For lovers of art

Well, there’s absolutely no shortage of art in Clarens. It’s called the Art Mecca of South Africa, and with good reason. The indescribable beauty that has made this village home to so many artists’ means that you can take your pick of galleries to visit for what comes out of this region artistically – it could take a while though, since there are around 18 or 20 art galleries that line what is called the Art Route in Clarens!

For lovers of food

All that fresh air is going to make you very hungry, so, it’s just as well you’ll have the pick of around 30 eateries that cater to everyone from full-on vegans and vegetarians to lovers of Baked Chicken Pesto, Pizza, Oxtail Stew, Beef Curry, Pasta Deluxe and so much more.

Ice-cream and coffee shops rub shoulders with the now famous Clarens Brewery, and you’ll also be able to splurge on cheese and wine along with a visit to Red Stone Craft Gin.

What is mentioned here in terms of food, wine, beer, coffee and gin is simply a tiny taste of what you’ll find in the flesh when you visit Clarens!

Book your stay at Clarens Eddies for the most comfortable home away from home, from which to launch your adventure into all that Clarens has to offer!

 

One of the best things you can do to make sure that you’re not going to choose the wrong accommodation for your holiday, is to find out what guests have to say about it, before you make your booking!

We’re not talking about testimonials that have been wrung out of guests on-site, these are independent online testimonials that are being referred to with regard to Clarens Eddies B&B or Self Catering!

On booking.com, Clarens Eddies is rated as ‘Excellent’ at a score of 9.5 out of 181 reviews, which is something not to be sniffed at!

This a score that cannot be disputed, not only in light of what guests have to say about their stay with this team, but also in light of the fact that according to booking.com and TripAdvisor, Clarens Eddies has been awarded Certificates of Excellence Hall of Fame from 2015 – 2019, without fail!

What guests have to say – we’ll leave the names out for now, but you can view these recommendations here for yourself:

“Exceptionally friendly hostess and staff. Conveniently situated within walking distance of the centre of town. Awesome unit. We couldn’t have asked for more.”

Now if you live in Johannesburg, Durban or Bloemfontein, how can you resist being a hop skip and a jump away from a weekend in awesome accommodation like this!

“The lay-out of the room is thoughtful and tasteful. Exceptionally tidy and clean. Dawn is passionate and delightful.”

Interested yet? Here’s a little more!

“Very clean. Good value for money, Quiet position. Dawn gave us tips and good advice and we went on guided hike with her in Clarens. Kitchen appliances modern and well equipped.”

Okay, just a little more!

“Great price. Walking distance to town and close to other places of interest. Friendly and helpful host and all an all great place to stay for a stopover or even a longer holiday.”

The point is, Clarens Eddies is the ideal accommodation in Clarens for any holiday, whether it’s a romantic weekend getaway or full family holiday!

There is everything anyone could possibly need in the rooms and in the self-catering units, including beautiful views of either the Rooiberg Mountain Range (Red Mountains) or Maluti Mountains.

The beds are notoriously comfortable, the linen squeaky clean and everything else that’s laid on is in top condition, no threadbare rugs or covers allowed here!

If you’ve booked for a romantic weekend away in Clarens, you have the choice of a self-catering unit for two, or one of two rooms that have the basics such as a microwave, fridge, toaster and kettle at the ready for when you want to eat in.

If you’re bringing the whole family, you’ll have the choice of units that sleep 4 or 6, and, with the specials on right now, 6 of you could easily pay just less than R270 per night, per person!

These are discounts that are really well-timed for pockets that have been drained by what COVID-19 has done to what was already an economy hitting rock bottom!

The upshot? If you’re looking for stylish, comfortable and affordable accommodation in Clarens for your next break, now’s the time to make your booking with Dawn and her team, post haste!