Just 70 km east of Cape Town, the Elgin Valley is a bountiful and beautiful place. Surrounded by the craggy mountains of the Overberg, this pocket of greenery is responsible for around 60% of South Africa’s annual apple production and a significant proportion of the country’s pears, whilst also being home to the now world-famous Appletiser soft drink. Fragrant rose orchards jostle with natural Fynbos in the countryside around the small commercial centre of Grabouw, and the increasing number of excellent wineries adds to the tourism appeal of the region.
The period from September to November is renowned as the best time to visit the valley, as the multitude of orchards, flower gardens and vineyards are at their colourful best. The last weekend of October sees more than 20 gardens in the area, ranging from majestic half-century old country grounds to quirky smallholdings, bursting into flower and opening up their gates for visitors. The multitude of wine estates also readily welcome guests for wine tastings and country-style accommodation experiences in peaceful settings. Elgin Valley has the distinction of being part of the world’s first biodiversity wine route – the Green Mountain Eco Route, a groundbreaking initiative that encourages winemakers to protect the remarkable natural spoils of the Cape Floral Kingdom around Elgin. Whilst much of the valley is under agriculture, nature has been allowed to flourish in the surrounding mountains, creating some of the best mountain biking and hiking terrain in South Africa. The Kogelberg Nature Reserve is the setpiece in this regard, holding more than 1600 fynbos species in a spectacular 18 000 hectare area of verdant mountains, whiskey-clear rivers and tumbling waterfalls.
Elgin Valley offers truly phenomenal mountain biking, with riders using the huge variety of single-track trails to train for the ABSA Cape Epic. A large portion of this gruelling race takes place in the valley, but for more casual bikers, several spectacular trails at the Elgin Grabouw Country Club and the Oak Valley estate offer highly enjoyable riding. You can even opt for a sociable bicycle wine tour with stops for tasting.
There’s plenty more for outdoor adventurers to choose from, ranging from quad biking to kayaking, fly fishing, swimming in pristine rock pools and sundowner cruises on the delightful Mofam Palmiet River barge. Alternatively, the Green Mountain slack packing trail offers a casual four day hike through the region’s most picturesque scenery.
Farming, of course, plays a starring role at Elgin. Visitors can pick up some of the valley’s freshest produce from a number of farm stalls, including Houw Hoek, Peregrine, Terra Madre and The Orchard. Originally conceived as simple roadside fruit shops, the stalls today sell everything from freshly baked springbok pies to artisan breads, biltong and classic apple pie. With so much fresh produce and fine wine within easy reach, the region has also become a hub for restaurants, with the dining options ranging from the funky bistro-style Max & Elgin to the vibing Wildcats Pub & Restaurant and classy Fresh at Paul Cluver. Be sure to book a table in advance to avoid disappoint.
The valley’s accommodation offerings are just as varied, encompassing quaint self-catering cottages, rustic tented rooms and luxurious hotels. No matter where you stay, you’re bound to have an extraordinary experience in this valley of plenty. For everything you need to know about the Elgin Valley, visit www.elginvalley.co.za.
*This article was written by a TWNA journalist, Dale Hes for The Traveller magazine.