Primrose Cottage

Having travelled around the world together, Denise and her husband David, amateur astronomer and retired tour manager at the Observatory, now welcome you to their stone cottage on grounds dotted with fruit trees and grapevines.

There is a double room en-suite and a twin bedded room with private bathroom. All rooms are equipped with heaters and electric blankets for those cold winter nights. We also have undercover parking for all vehicles to shelter them from the frost. There is an excellent music collection and an extensive library for those who want to relax and experience the snow in comfort. An authentic English breakfast is provided in the yellow wood dining room.

Take time to relax on the drive from Matjiesfontein, enjoy the Karoo scenery and stop occasionally to listen to the silence. The climb through the Verlatenkloof pass is stunning, after which the telescopes at the observatory can be seen quite clearly on the eastern horizon. Sutherland has become well known for the Southern African Large Telescope, inaugurated in November 2005 at the already world-famous observatory. Visitors should take advantage of one of the regular, extremely interesting tours of the observatory telescopes including the visitors centre and the SALT project.

For those interested in history, there are military graves in the Boer war cemetery and a tour of the NG church where the soldiers were billeted is a must. A door containing graffiti written by the soldiers can still be seen. Sutherland is also the home of the Louw brothers, well known Afrikaans authors. Their house is now a museum.

For the birdwatcher, Sutherland has a species count of 191, more than 20 of which are endemic. Most of these endemics can be seen within the grounds of Primrose Cottage at the right time. Let David and Denise identify these birds for you and of course point out the constellations visible in the incredibly clear night skies over Sutherland.

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Reviews

  • "Primrose Cottage, a home away from home."

    02 March 2020

    "Our hosts David and Denise were absolutely awesome, they certainly made us feel at home and comfortable, receiving us as we arrived. After a long drive offered us refreshments and shared all about Sutherland, which was very interesting.The breakfast we were served was delicious, small detail is very important to them. Thank you to both David and Denise for an home from home experience!Thinus and Tina."

  • "Denise and Davids hospitalty"

    18 December 2019

    "Breakfast excellent."

  • "Delightful!"

    15 December 2019

    "Such a lovely stay with David and Denise who were such gracious hosts. The accommodation was clearly prepared with love and pride and Denise had thoughtfully booked dinner and stargazing for us.We loved our visit!"

  • "Snow in September!"

    28 September 2018

    "Good clean comfortable and spacious accommodation with room to "breathe". Was good to have electric blankets! Nice little lounge area and b/fast room. Good tasty b/fast and v friendly, helpful and knowlgeable owners. Description of "on-suite" pushing it a bit with shower in the b/room and toilet in the cupboard! Might be an idea to fit an extractor above the shower to get rid of steam?"

  • "Supremely comfortable and cosy stay!"

    25 August 2018

    "Denise is a marvellous hostess with wonderful attention to every detail for a delightfully comfortable stay. Her home is immaculate and filled with much loved antique furniture which adds delightful character. In Sutherland's icy winter, we didn't notice the cold for a moment once we were inside. She also prepared us a delicious vegetarian breakfast of fruit and mushrooms on toast which we thoroughly enjoyed! Denise also has all the interesting places to visit right at her fingertips, and kindly booked us in for a tour of the observatory. I highly recommend staying here if you are in Sutherland."

  • "Primrose Cottage - Highly reommended."

    19 August 2018

    "What a fantastic experience staying at Primrose cottage. Everything was great from the friendly greeting upon arrival comfortable room to the fantastic breakfast the next morning. One the best cheese omelettes I have had recently. I can highly recommend Primrose. Fantastic value for money!!!"

  • "Two nights in Sutherland highly recommended"

    20 May 2018

    "Wonderful hosts thank you for making us so welcome"

  • "Stargazing in the Karoo"

    12 January 2018

    "Our host and hostess at Primrose Cottage welcomed us as if we were family. They had thought of everything! Denise made bookings for us and as she and Dave have travelled all around the area they could advise us of the best places to visit. The breakfast was 5!"

  • "Primrose Cottage is great!"

    08 January 2018

    "We can definitely recommend staying over at Primrose Cottage when visiting Sutherland. We had a very comfortable room and the breakfast was really great. The owners are warm and friendly and have made our stay special by taking a genuine interest in us and making time to talk to us while we were there. This is definitely the place where we will stay in future if we visit Sutherland again. The best accommodation in town! Thank you, Denise & David!"

  • "Beautifully Authentic!"

    02 January 2018

    "The rooms were absolutely beautiful and it felt just like home. Denise and her husband were so generous and welcoming it felt like we became part of the family. I would definitely recommend Primrose Cottage to anyone looking for an authentic Sutherland experience."

  • "BEYOND OUR EXPECTATIONS"

    25 December 2017

    "Our stay in Sutherland will forever be a special memory. Primrose Cottage, David and Denise were the very best of hosts and their suggestions of places to see and things to do kept our days and evenings so busy that we will need to come back. See you in Winter"

  • "Sutherland more than stargazing"

    15 December 2017

    "We were so welcomed at this B&B that we felt immediately at home. Had some nice converstaions with the owners. They were extremely helpful , had already made some reservations for us (one in a restaurant we couldn't keep , but the night at Jurgen's telescopes was excellent). Two small glasses and a caraffe with port was an extra that was appreciated. The toilet in a cupboard was for extreme privacy, not for claustrophians, but who cares if you can look at such a starry heaven afterwards.We loved every moment of our stay. To be recommended without hesitation.PS There is petrol in Sutherland, so you can fill up here before travel further on. Gravel road to Kenhardt is excellent , no need for a 4x4."

  • "Delightful stop over in starry Sutherland"

    08 August 2017

    "Wonderful hosts, comfortable room. Excellent breakfast. Thank you!"

  • "Warm Welcome on a Cold Day"

    03 August 2017

    "Denise made forget the cold weather with her warm welcome. Had a lovely stay at this very comfortable establishment."

  • "Great value and super friendly hosts"

    17 July 2017

    "A quaint little cottage in Sutherland, run by really friendly hosts. Spotlessly clean and great value"

  • "Treated like a STAR!"

    11 July 2017

    "David and Denise have perfected the art of giving you what you need even before you know u need it! Denise took the liberty of making bookings at SALT and at the restuarants before we arrived. This assured us of experiencing Sutherland in its true splendour. The guest house was so homely and cosy! Breakfast delicious! If it wasn't cloudy we couldhave bragged re stargazing with David. Will be sure to return to experience that snippet of the Galaxy with them. The experience was out of this world nonetheless!"

  • "My vissit to Sutherland"

    29 June 2017

    "Thanks for everything Denise. It was lovely meeting you.That warm bed, macnificient breakfast and coffee. I will surely recommend you. Thanks for your friendliness"

  • "Seeing the amazing night sky in a homely setting"

    19 June 2017

    "David and Denise were very accommodating, helping us to fit in our astronomy tours with having a cup of tea. The cottage is very well situated, close to all Sutherland has to offer. We enjoyed the tours very much, even though it got very cold outside at night (wear many layers of clothes and a beanie). Inside the room though, it was well heated and we appreciated that. We also appreciated the chats and advice about viewing the stars, types of wines, wildlife and the best routes to drive on the rest of our trip. For a homely stay in Sutherland, you can't do better than Primrose Cottage. Thanks for the great hospitality."

  • "Primrose Cottage"

    22 May 2017

    "Very enjoyable stay. Clean and comfortable. Delicious breakfast and very hospitable hosts who made us feel very welcome."

  • "Comfort"

    25 April 2017

    "Lovely friendly hosts, who's only interest is to make your stay enjoyable and comfortable."

  • "Comfort, knowledge and unitrusive hospitality in Sutherland , Karoo"

    24 December 2016

    "David and Denise, our hosts in Primrose Cottage , provided all we needed to experience in Sutherland: the relaxed , calming pace of this charming Karoo town, star gazing with insight and transformative effect ( David's knowledge of the sky , galaxies , stars , planet etc... is enchanting as it is his humble, respectful yet witty way of dialogue ), and the best suggestions on how to enjoy your time in Sutherland. <br/>It is obvious that the couple travelled as the attention to detail Denise put in creating comfort and welcoming experience is obvious in every corner of of their charming cottage ( the background music , great coffee, rich library , comfortable beds , etc, etc... ) .<br/>We truly believe that staying in Primrose Cottage made a huge difference to our experience. <br/>Worth while shifting your holiday dates to get the accomodation in Primrose Cottage ."

  • "The perfect hosts"

    09 September 2016

    "You get to a small town like Sutherland and then you realize: the people makes the place and not the surroundings.<br/>Denise and Dave were those people. They are responsible for the fond memories we'll have of Sutherland.<br/>Denise walked the extra mile to book dinner (best lamb shank ever), book a tour to SALT and was always ready with a recommendation where to have coffee or a snack.<br/>Breakfast was absolutely delicious!<br/>Dave went out of his way to show us Jupiter which would have set before our evening stargazing tour."

  • "A most pleasant stay with wonderful hosts!"

    01 August 2016

    "We had a most enjoyable two night stay at Primrose Cottage. A wonderful English breakfast (that coffee!), cosy and warm beds, good linen and Denise and David being assisting and caring hosts all the time, ensured a verypleasant stay - and we would highly reccommend it."

  • "Cold nights but warm welcome"

    08 July 2016

    "We had a pleasant stay at Primrose cottage. We had a comfortable room and the electric blanket and heaters were appreciated. Our hosts were very welcoming and we enjoyed our many chats."

  • "A lovely break"

    10 December 2015

    "My sister and I came to Sutherland to see SALT and the star gazing. Denise was so helpful in booking dinner and star gazing for us. The welcome was first class and the room was just what we needed. The beds were clean and comfortable and there were lovely fluffy towels in the bathroom. Breakfast was comprehensive and delicious. A lovely stay and highly recommended."

  • "Weather Forcast"

    02 October 2015

    "<p>Every time Iwatch the weather forcast on tv anThBestB&amp;ed Enjoyablesee SLD I am reminded of a warm comfortable stay at "Primrose Cottage" hosted by a wonderfulcouple of Lancastrians.</p><p>I fully recommend "Primrose Cottage" to anyone visiting the Observatory.</p><p>The Brothers Whibread</p>"

  • "Primrose Cottage"

    31 August 2015

    "Denise and David are truly exceptional hosts, super friendly and make every effort to make the stay memorable. You'll be warm even on the coldest nights and their breakfast is five star. David is worked at the observatory and passionately shares his knowledge of the universe.&nbsp; Denise is equally passionate about making her guests feel more like family members and clearly loves her role.&nbsp; We made the perfect choice.<br />"

  • "Brrrrrr cold"

    03 August 2015

    "Had a great time at Primrose Cottage, Denise and David were great hosts and made all the arrangements for us. Even our car was protected from the icy rain!"

  • "Stay on 22 May 2015"

    25 May 2015

    "<p>It was lovely, very professional, very friendly, very helpful andthe surprise of a loo in a cupboard (which works very effectively). The recommendation, and booking for us, of the restaurant resulted in the most tender and delicious lamb shank we have ever tasted.</p><p>Good value for money and highly recommended for a short stay.</p>"

  • "Good base for Sutherland"

    10 May 2015

    "We spent two nights at Primrose Cottage and found Denise and Dave to be exceptionally helpful and friendly hosts. They advised us well on local activities. Dave gave us an additional demonstration of the stars that complemented the SAAO visit. We enjoyed the extra cups of tea!"

  • "wonderful hosts."

    09 May 2015

    "Denise and David were the most wonderful hosts, so friendly , we often chatted for 1 - 2 hours before we realised we had places to go and things to do, such a treat! REALLY enjoyed the glass of wine and chat each evening. Breakfasts were wonderful, could not ask for anything more, such a variety and so well presented each day."

  • "Warmest welcome!"

    24 January 2015

    "What a welcome we received! And this from people previously totally unknown to us. As I had booked this as a surprise for my husband's birthday we were stunned by all the personal small touches, including a birthday banner over the mirror in our room, a welcoming glass of white wine,... Denise also took care of all the reservations (to the Observatory, for dinner at a restaurant). The cherry on the cake was David's very knowledgeable explanation of the gorgeous starry sky! He studies Astro-Physics and - by laser pointer - brought the whole sky to life for us: on a basic level for myself but on a very in-depth level for my husband who is a retired space engineer. David just started this as a private venture but should definitely expand this. I think a lot of people would enjoy his calm and private explanations where he answers all your questions in a very knowledgeable way. No need to tell you we were both in high heaven! Have been travelling the world for over 40 years but never had a welcome such as this one! Thank you so very much, Denise and David, we'll definitely send our friends to you! Come and see us in Belgium! Roland & Marleen"

  • "Charming and Friendly"

    05 January 2015

    "Extremely considerate hosts that helped us by booking dinner and activities. The guesthouse has everything you need. Good breakfast and great coffee. Highly recommended."

  • "Fell In Love with Sutherland"

    03 October 2014

    "This little cottage and its wonderful hosts are a big reason my girlfriend and I fell in love with Sutherland on our weekend there. Wonderful experience! I hope to return one day."

  • "Primrose Great"

    18 July 2014

    "Hospitality at Primrose is the best I have come across to date. Dave and Denise make you feel at home from arrival to departure. The house is basic yet super clean with cosy white linen.Coming back from stargazing at 22h00 and very cold we were surprised with hot chocolate with a smile. (on the house, compliments from Denise).By the time we got to Primrose, Denise already booked our dinner table, visit to salt and stargazing at Jurgh's place.Dinner was expensive at Cluster d'Hote but worth the expense. Karoo lamb chops and shank that Dr Tim Noakes will die for.Well done Dave and Denise."

  • "Perfect hospitality in the quietness of the Karroo."

    22 April 2014

    "Dave and Denise are the perfect hosts in this lovely quiet getaway, complete with crisp white linen and all the warmth you could want in a guesthouse. The coffee and breakfast were delicious and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Dave is extremely knowledgeable about the stars and that is what guests to Southerland have come for. Denise will direct you to everything you may need in the little friendly town. We'll be back. Thank you, Primrose Cottage."

  • "Friendly and Inviting Hosts"

    13 December 2013

    "I needed a place to stay while on a business trip (3 nights) to Sutherland. Primrose Cottage and their hosts, Denise and Dave, were very accommodating. The twin room was simple and cosy.I enjoyed my stay there, and I would recommend it to friends and family if they were staying in the area."

  • "Average"

    12 August 2013

    "The cottage was very neat and tidy and Denise was very friendly. However we did not realise that this is actually their residence, as one can see from the stuff around that they actually live there, and have just moved out for us! Further more..we were very unhappy about the "sleeping couch" that was provided for the 5th person. It was a rolled out mattress fit for a child...when I tried to discuss this with her, she was not interested at all! I am sure if this has happened to her, she would not have been happy sleeping on a fold out mattress on the floor, fit for a child, definitely not a 'biggish' adult male! The 5th person was an extra income for her, as her occupancy for 4 people was filled! We had no problem in paying for the breakfast that was included! This left a sour taste of money is everything, and we will not be back!!"

  • "Very nice"

    13 May 2013

    "We only stayed one night at Primrose Cottage and could have easily extend for another couple of days as the hospitality from Denise was outstanding and the room was very cosy and nice and warm. We liked the toilette in the cupboard."

  • "Haiku (17 syllable poem)"

    12 March 2013

    "This haiku was left in the visitors' book at Primrose Cottage Early morning light Place of discovery, stars And simplicity We really enjoyed our stay with you and appreciated all the advice, not to mention the outstanding tour of the observatory. We hope to return one day."

  • "Excellent"

    25 January 2013

    "Excellent personal service and hospitality. Will recommend without doubt."

  • "Warm hospitality!"

    12 January 2013

    "Enjoyed our overnight stay. Neat, clean room. Fantastic breakfast beautifully served and hosts who were so warm and welcoming."

  • "Excellent hosts"

    07 January 2013

    "Very friendly hosts and tried to do everything in their power to make our overnight stay memorable. Clean and very neat Thank you!"

  • "New Year's Eve at Primrose Cottage"

    06 January 2013

    "Thank you Denise and David for all your arrangements to make our stay in Sutherland such a pleasant experience. You not only recommended the best sightseeing and dining Sutherland has to offer but also did all the bookings! We enjoyed your British/South African hospitality! Hope to be back one day."

  • "Comfortable, friendly"

    08 December 2012

    "A warm welcome, a comfortable room, good information about town and area and, not least, a heart breakfast. We were very happy and recommend without hesitation."

  • "Thank you"

    24 October 2012

    "Excellent hospitality and if your planning an observatory visit, this is certainly the Sutherland B&B as David is an Observatory guide."

  • "Thank you"

    17 July 2012

    "We went there to find snow and instead found wonderful hospitality. Should we go to Sutherland again we would definitely make use of Primrose again. Thank you to Denise and Dave. God Bless."

  • "Great"

    06 June 2012

    "Great stay with wonderful hosts. Room has everything you need, including heaters!"

  • "Brilliant"

    26 April 2012

    "We had a lovely stay, it was like home from home."

  • "Comfortable"

    03 March 2012

    "Excellent, comfortable, good food. Denise and Dave are the ultimate hosts. Highly reccommnded, particularly for Dave's knowledge of Astronomy."

  • "Well-run and comfortable lodgings"

    12 January 2012

    "We only stayed one night. The accommodation was very clean and comfortable. The breakfast superb. The hostess made reservations in advance at a restaurant for supper, which was most thoughtful as the number of visitors was high and the places were fully booked. She also suggested a stargazing experience which was most educational and enjoyable."

  • "A welcome break"

    09 January 2012

    "The owners are friendly and helpful, and kind enough to book dinner and stargazing for us; they are very easy to chat to. The rooms were lovely and clean. Breakfast was marvelous and included in the price of the accommodation. All in all, a very nice stay for the night. Thank you David and Denise."

  • "Meets every need"

    02 January 2012

    "Ideal for a visit to Sutherland. Most welcoming and accommodating. Very comfortable room and delicious breakfast."

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