'That GB on the mountain - do you know what it stands for?" Gordon's Bay locals will ask with a quiz-master glint in their eyes. They'll be referring to the anchor and "GB" painted white on to rocks on a side of the Hottentots Holland Mountains just above their town.

"Duh!" you'll probably think.

The "badge" has become something of a landmark for travellers. It's visible for kilometres away from the little seaside town and, if you turn your vehicle off the N2 at Somerset West and head towards the white markers, you'll eventually end up driving along Beach Road to the Old Harbour at Gordon's Bay.

You'll know when you've entered Beach Road - the sea will be on one side and the retro character of the town on the other. It's lined with little shops and cafés - not the trendy sort you'll find in Camps Bay, but old seaside-village types oozing home-grown character.

There's a shop selling everything from vegetables to plastic buckets and spades, another one bursting with an overwhelming number of second-hand books, a few restaurants covering Italian, fish and chips and the like, a gift shop (think sea-shell ornaments, bright beach clothing, hats and postcards) and a few ice cream shops. And lots of estate agents, but happily no high-rises - yet.

There's plenty to do around Gordon's Bay, but it's the charming beach town atmosphere that most visitors find appealing. While some might delight in what the land side of Beach Road has to offer (including walks up the mountain), the bay is undeniably the big attraction.

The main beach's warm water, which is often calm, is a tempting place to frolic a weekend away. Bikini Beach is another popular place to pitch an umbrella - it's a protected spot next to the Old Harbour and locals are very proud of its Blue Flag status. There's not much parking around the Old Harbour area, so it's best to tuck your brolly under an arm, sling a towel around your neck and head there on foot, having parked in the main beach car park.

On the down side, Gordon's Bay can get really windy in early summer, but there are still plenty of things to keep you occupied during a weekend away.

If you're going for a chilled-out weekend, we recommend you spend a few hours in the Bikini Beach Book Shop, gather some reading material and find a quiet spot. (But do it soon - it's yet to be finalised, but there are plans for a new housing development to go up on the slopes above the Old Harbour, and for a crayfish factory that'll run 24 hours a day, to be built near the naval base.)

Oh and by the way, if someone asks you what the "GB" on the hillside stands for, it's not Gordon's Bay. It stands for General Botha, the name of the naval academy based at the Old Harbour.

So who was Gordon?

Gordon's Bay was named after Robert Jacob Gordon, a Dutch colonel and acting governor who, history books say, in 1779 was the first European to record reaching the Orange River. It's said that the colonel referred to the Gordon's Bay area as "de combuis" (the kitchen).

Highs

• The water's warm.

• Very chilled, friendly atmosphere.

• Easy access to Cape Town and winelands.

Lows

• The wind.

• Parking is a problem in high season.

Check out the Crystal Pools Hike here