The Starlit Path

I recently stayed at Tintagel Guest House in Cape Town, and I absolutely loved my stay. I love guest houses like these—hidden, slightly off the beaten path, and full of unexpected little details! I discovered the house is actually a Victorian building dating back to 1881. It was named after the legendary village of Tintagel, long linked to the birthplace of King Arthur, the mythical ruler who was married to Queen Guinevere before their kingdom was shaken by betrayal, secrets, and the tragic affair between Guinevere and Sir Lancelot.

Did you know?

According to Arthurian legend, King Arthur was the son of King Uther Pendragon and Queen Igraine. The story says Uther fell in love with Igraine and, with the help of the wizard Merlin, disguised himself as her husband, the Duke of Cornwall, in order to be with her. Arthur was later raised in secret before eventually pulling the sword from the stone and becoming king.

The guest house has only 8 rooms, which gives the whole place a quiet, tucked-away feeling. I love Airbnbs, but guest houses always feel warmer to me somehow. Breakfast appears every morning without you having to think about it, and when you’re traveling alone, hearing voices in the kitchen or passing other travelers in the hallway makes the world feel friendlier.

The V&A Waterfront is only about 4 km away, and the beach is around 20 minutes from the property. Outside my room stood an old pear tree covered in tiny Edwardian pears. I later learned these heritage trees date back to the early 1900s and are considered little pieces of living history. The smell was heavenly!