The Ritz Beach Cottage

The Ritz is situated on the beach with the best sea views in Blythedale. Going to the beach merely requires that you stroll down the front garden, through the dunes and 'voila' - you will find yourself on a stunningly beautiful stretch of beach, with rock pools and gullies to be explored during low tide, and far from any crowds. Blythedale is a beach paradise. It is one of the few places left on the North Coast where you can walk for miles and miles along the beach and hardly see another person. The beach is dog-friendly and so is The Ritz, so long walks with your pooch at sunrise or sunset are the order of the day.

The house sits in an elevated position so that whether you are sitting in the lounge, lying on your bed, relaxing on the wooden deck or swimming in the pool, your view is directly over the waves and the sea. So, even back at the house you can continue your dolphin and whale watching. When it comes time for bed, let the sound of the waves lull you into a relaxing deep sleep.

The main house consists of three bedrooms - The main and second bedrooms are air-conditioned and have king-size beds with down duvets. The third bedroom has three bunk beds. The main bedroom is en-suite while the other two bedrooms share a family bathroom and separate toilet. Linen is provided but not towels, and all bedrooms have ceiling fans. The main house sleeps up to six adults or a family of four adults and three children, thereafter the garden cottage is available by arrangement for extra bedrooms - see below).

There is a brand new modern kitchen with gas cooker, extra large thermofan oven, granite tops, microwave oven, double door fridge/freezer, dishwasher and clothes washing machines. The appliances are top quality and Masterchef wannabe's will love preparing food here.

The communal area of the house is an open-plan lounge, dining room, bar area (with own separate fridge) with sliding glass doors opening onto the front verandah and covered wooden sundeck, swimming pool and entertainment patio so that your view whether you are inside the house, in the pool or braai'ing on the deck is just sea. A Hi-Fi, TV, DVD player and DStv are available.

There is a double lock-up garage beneath the house and a built-in braai next to the pool.

The Ritz has automated entrance gates and garage doors to make access to the property easy and quick.

There is a separate self contained garden cottage consisting of two bedrooms (one with air-conditioning), lounge, kitchenette and bathroom containing toilet and shower. The cottage can be utilized by larger groups needing the extra rooms (and is available for use by arrangement).

Pets are welcome by arrangement (the property is fully walled).

Blythedale Beach has probably the lowest crime statistics of the North Coast, nevertheless the property is very secure and the house is alarmed and linked to 24 hour armed security (you will see the Security vehicle that patrols our beach 24 hours a day).

A daily cleaning service is available on request. For stays of longer than three nights the cleaning service must be taken.

Blythedale Beach is situated 72 kilometers north of Durban on the Dolphin Coast. It is a small community with excellent beaches on an unspoilt coastline. Fishing, musselling, and crayfishing (with the appropriate licences) are excellent, whale-watching from July to November is exceptional and there is a huge population of bottle-nosed dolphins that are resident year round.

There are some outstanding golf courses in the area, Prince's Grant is 7km's away, Zimbali a little further. Excellent shopping is available in Ballito (20km's to the South) whilst the bustling ethnic town of Stanger (site of Shaka's Memorial) is only 7km's inland. Blythedale provides easy access to the Lake St Lucia World Heritage Site (one hours drive North) with the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve a little further away. There is a crocodile farm at Sheffield Beach (15km's to the South).

Take long walks along the beach. Go surfing, body boarding, bring down your mountain bikes and go exploring through the vast sugar cane fields behind Blythedale, go bird watching at the Umvoti River Conservancy (home of the rare red-winged pratincole), or just let your senses soak up the sound of the sea as you let go of the stress of the city. Essentially, just relax.