Tourist attractions: scenic routes and wine tasting

The Robertson Wine Route

Distance from our guest house accommodation in Swellendam: ca. half an hour's drive.
Robertson Wine Valley represents about 50 wineries from Ashton, Bonnievale, McGregor and Robertson - from small family owned boutique wineries to medium state-of-the-art estates and large modern wineries. This increasingly popular Western Cape wine route offers a landscape of flower fringed roads, majestic mountains, the mighty Breede River, spectacular vineyards and world class wines.
In Robertson you can also visit Birds Paradise, with more than a hundred species of birds such as macaws, hyancins, conures, pelicans and lots of waterfowl. Walkways leading through palm trees and to a coffee and curio shop.
More information: www.robertsonwinevalley.com

Swellendam - Suurbraak - Tradouw pass- Barrydale - Montagu - Swellendam

Depending on your interests and stops this route will take about half a day or a day.
The London Mission established Suurbraak as a mission station in 1812. It is an un-spoiled country village with old dwellings sheltered by old oak trees. The community live close to nature using old methods from the past. The mountains are full of fynbos and bird life. Cattle paths act as mountain trails for hikers and mountain bikers.
Via the Tradouw pass, a 315m mountain pass with spectacular scenic views, you arrive in Barrydale. Barrydale retains its rural, old world charm. Many artists found their home here. Visit the curio and antique shops. You can enjoy hiking trails and bird watching.
From Barrydale to Montagu it is half an hour's drive. The road is part of the legendary Route 62. Montagu is a good place to get a brief taste of the Little Karoo. Soaring mountains that display reds and ochre's, and from September to October the gentle tints of peach and apricot blossoms flood the valley.
Montagu is famous for its hot springs (the Montagu Springs Resort), situated less than 3 km outside of town. Several open-air pools of different temperatures and a couple of jacuzzi's, situated at the foot of cliffs. It is a very popular tourist attraction in weekends and during school holidays.
Also, rock climbing, hiking trails, and a recommend three-hour tractor ride to the top of the Langeberg Mountains, with a traditional 'potjiekos'-meal. For the cultural interested persons, the local museum and the Francois Krige Huis are also worth a visit.
The scenic drive through Cogman's Kloof Gorge brings you on your way back to our accommodation in Swellendam

Greyton and Genadendal ('valley of grace')

Distance from your accomodation in Swellendam: ca. 75 minutes' drive
Greyton, shaded with old oak trees, is based around a core of Georgian and Victorian buildings. Stroll down the streets and visit the antique and tea-shops. The town's main attraction is the 'Boesmanskloof Traverse' (a 14 km hiking trail) that takes you from the oaked streets of Greyton across the Riviersonderend mountain range to the glaring Karoo scrubland around the town of McGregor. (Permit needed)

A few kilometres from Greyton you will find Genadendal the 'valley of grace'. Established in 1737, it is South Africa's oldest mission station, founded by Moravians. Today, the population of this principally coloured town numbers around four thousand people, adhering to a variety of Christian churches, no longer just Moravian.
Explore the Mission Museum and wander through the town, down to the rural graveyard, spiked with tombstones dating back to the early nineteenth century. Few facilities, except for a tearoom just off Church Square.