Only 4 kms north of Simon’s Town, the little village of Glencairn, with its mountainside homes, boasts sweeping views of False Bay. Glencairn is central to all the scenic stops on the Cape Point Route, only 2 kms away from Harbour Bay shopping centre and 10 minutes drive from the penguin colony at Boulders.

But once you’re ensconced in your holiday villa, you won’t want to leave this gem of a spot, which has everything you need for the perfect holiday.

There’s Glencairn beach, a beautiful long beach with a newly refurbished tidal pool for the kids to swim and snorkel safely and explore the nearby rock pools.

Glencairn is also a great spot for whale watching in season (July to November). The wreck of the Glencairn barge lies just off the coast and serves as a popular diving haunt, with the fascinating reef that surrounds the wreck.

Across the road from the beach, there’s the Glencairn Wetland (great for bird-watching and long walks), part of the Wetland Conservation area and home to diverse plant species, birds, Cape clawless otter, mongoose and buck. Overlooking the wetland, there’s Hotel Glencairn (built in 1904), which serves the best burgers in the area. Downstairs, there’s a fab vegan café, a quirky bar, as well as a waste-free grocer stocked with organic produce and artisanal fresh breads. Up the road there’s Dixie’s Restaurant, a family-run restaurant that’s been serving hearty meals to locals and tourists alike for 40 years.

You can also take the family to visit the Scratch Patch and Mineral World Gemstone shop, where the kids can forage for shiny treasures or play cave golf while the grown-ups marvel at the collector’s gemstones and fossils available in the shop.

A holiday in Glencairn will leave you feeling rested and replenished, your mind filled with the glorious views of the bay and your skin kissed by the sun.