Area Information - Worcester

Worcester is the capital of the Breede River Valley, a fertile inland area referred to locally as “over the mountains”. This valley stretches from Gouda in the west and McGregor in the south, to Montagu in the east and the Karoo in the north. The Breede River Valley is the largest fruit and wine producing area in the Western Cape and is the leading race-horse breeding area in the country. This semi-arid area, which forms part of the Little Karoo, is known for its magnificent scenery and indigenous Fynbos and proteas.

Worcester was founded in 1822 after the amalgamation of two farms, Roodewal and Langerug. The town was named after the brother of Lord Charles Somerset, the Marquis of Worcester.

Worcester is just 90 minutes drive from Cape Town on the N1 highway running north to Johannesburg.

With its wide range of service and commercial facilities including fast and efficient banking services, world-class telecommunications and many more, it has become the business and shopping centre not only for the nearby towns, but for the entire Breede River Valley.

Lying more inland than Cape Town behind the Du Toitskloof and Slanghoek Mountain ranges, Worcester experiences more extremes of temperature. Summers are generally dry and hot with maximum temperatures often exceeding 30ºC. Winters are usually very windy and often cool to cold with snowfalls common at the higher elevations. Worcester gets most of its average annual rainfall of 175mm in the winter. Most of the Breede River Valley has relatively abundant precipitation (ranging from 500mm to over 1,000mm per annum), but the town of Worcester is relatively dry as it lies in a curious rain-shadow phenomenon caused by the surrounding high mountains.

The town is surrounded by verdant valleys, wine farms and spectacular craggy mountains, the peaks of which are often covered with snow in the winter. With 24 co-operative and three private wine cellars along its Wine Route, the Worcester district is one of the most important wine-making areas in the country, producing 20% of South Africa’s wine! The region is also the country’s most important brandy producing area; Worcester is home to two Brandy Cellars – KWV, the world’s largest brandy cellar, and Olof Berg Solera Cellar.

The economy of Worcester functions primarily to serve its agricultural community. As such it is a transportation hub and an administrative centre. In the last couple of years several new developments have sprung up around the Worcester Dam, namely the Mountain Mill Shopping Mall; the Golden Valley Casino, hotel and conference centre, and various business and office developments.

Worcester is a well-known educational centre boasting several schools, a college, and two world class schools for the disabled – the De La Bat School for the deaf and the Pioneer School for the blind. Worcester therefore has a relatively large disabled population with a few niche industries that supports them.

The region also boasts private hospitals and clinics that provide fast and professional medical emergency assistance. Many specialist medical services are also available.

Not only is there a lot to see and do in Worcester, but its location makes it an ideal base from which to explore the surrounding towns, vineyards and valleys. From here you can visit interesting towns such as Tulbagh, Ceres, Robertson, Montagu and/or Touws River. Situated as it is between the Breede River and the Hex River Mountains to the north, Worcester and the Breede River Valley is a real eco-destination with its magnificent mountain scenery, breathtaking views, nature reserves, and unique Fynbos flora and fauna.

The Breede River Valley is certainly a valley for all seasons. Make a stop-over in Worcester and partake in the following interesting attractions and activities that the town and the area has to offer:
 

• Kleinplasie living open air museum
• Karoo National Botanical Garden
• Golf club
• Worcester Wine Route
• Brandy Route
• KWV Brandy Cellar
• Wine tasting at various cellar

De Doorns: The Gateway of the Cape

Approximately 140kms from Cape Town and 35kms from Worcester, in the centre of the beautiful, fertile Hex River Valley, lies the little town of De Doorns. De Doorns, which means “the thorns” in Dutch, gets its name from the Acacia thorn trees that used to dominate the Hex River Banks.

The Hex River Valley is situated between the Hex River or Matroos and Quado Mountains and is known as the home of the South African table grape industry as it has been producing and exporting grapes for over a century. Today the farms in the valley grow almost exclusively table grapes and export approximately 17 million cartons of grapes annually. The harvesting season runs from January until mid-April. De Doorns proudly accommodates the wine cellar with the longest harvest season in the world.

The Hex River Valley does not only host the Matroosberg – the highest mountain peak in the Western Cape (2,249m above sea-level) – but it is remarkably picturesque and serene being as it is a valley of vineyard upon vineyard, historical Cape Dutch homesteads, and snow-capped mountains during the winter. It is particularly scenic in the autumn when the vines give rise to a display of rich variegated colour.

The name “Hex”, derived from the Afrikaans word for witch, stems from an intriguing legend from the early days of the settlement of the valley in the 18th century of a fair ghost (the hex or witch) who is supposed to haunt the Hex River Mountains. Five of the original homesteads still stand as monuments to the early settlers and there are plenty of beautiful farms to stay and trails to explore in the area.

With its moderate climate with no extremes of various elements, De Doorns and the Hex River Valley is ideally suited for agriculture and outdoor activities. Due to the topography of the valley, there is quite a variation in temperatures with average summer and winter temperatures of 28ºC and 17ºC respectively. The average annual rainfall is 337mm per year

The vegetation of the area consists of Fynbos and Karoo succulents. Several berry-producing shrubs occur that attract baboons and birds. Duikers, Klipspringers, and grey Ribbokke can still be seen along the mountain slopes. The birdlife also abounds with a few groups of eagles numbering among the various species.

Although De Doorns has all the typical town services like schools, doctors, banks, supermarkets, etc, it is within a short travelling distance of the larger medical and shopping centres of Worcester, Paarl and Cape Town. In addition to basic services, De Doorns also offers the following outdoor, sporting and historical interest activities:
 

• Bouldering
• Bowling
• Golf
• Eco adventures
• Grape and wine tasting and cellar tours
• Farm and packshed tours
• Rail rides
• Mountain biking and hiking trails
• San rock art trail
• Old homestead tours

Rawsonville

Rawsonville is a small farming town set in the midst of the vineyards of the beautiful Breedekloof. The town’s economy relies heavily on serving the surrounding agricultural community, however, wine tourism and weekend retreaters are contributing more and more to the town’s income.

The Breedekloof starts as you exit the Huguenot tunnel. It encompasses the Goudini, Slanghoek, Breede River and Rawsonville areas and is one of the largest wine producing regions of the Western Cape. There are 13 wine cellars alone within a 10km radius of Rawsonville. These cellars do not only produce award-winning wines, but most of them also offer guided cellar tours, wine tasting and wine sales.

Rawsonville lies approximately 107kms east of Cape Town and about 15kms West of Worcester. “De Goudini School” and the town of Rawsonville was founded in 1858. The town was named after William Rawson, the then Colonial Secretary of the Cape Colony. There is often some confusion regarding these two names: Rawsonville is the name of the town itself, while Goudini refers to the surrounding area.

The Breedekloof is so much more than just a wine route; the Breedekloof is where the adventure begins. The huge variety of Fynbos and Fauna and Flora, the clear mountain streams, and the majestic mountains all serve to make this a very scenic area.

There is so much on offer, that you would be hard-pressed not to find some activity that is to your liking. You can explore the area by bicycle along any one of the numerous scenic cycling routes that take you through the vineyards and past cellars. Or you can simply take a leisurely drive through the Du Toitskloof, Slanghoek Valley and the Louwshoek area. The area also offers excellent hiking and horse trails, 4x4 routes and bird watching spots. Try your hand at trout fishing in the mountain streams, or enjoy canoeing, fynbos exploration, mountaineering, abseiling or the hot water springs of the Goudini Spa.

Rawsonville and the Goudini area offers a full range of accommodation ranging from the luxurious to the basic in the form of B&B accommodation, self-catering chalets and camping.

And as if that is not enough, the great food, warm hospitality and excellent wines only serve to refresh the spirit even further.

Wolseley

The towns of Wolseley and Breë River are situated in the Southern end of the picturesque Tulbagh Valley 14kms from Tulbagh, 15kms from Ceres, 40kms from Worcester and about 90 minutes drive from Cape Town. The towns are thus easily accessible, especially since visitors can take any one of four scenic passes – the Nuwekloof, Bainskloof, Du Toitskloof and Mitchell’s Passes – to reach them.

The area is blessed with abundant water and is surrounded by the majestic Waaihoek, Witzen and Waterval mountains, which are often covered with snow during the winter. Wolseley lies on a natural watershed that divides two major river systems – the Berg River that flows into the Atlantic Ocean and the Breede River that flows in the Indian Ocean. The town is also located in the heart of the Fynbos floral kingdom with unique plants that are endemic to the Western Cape.

The area is predominantly a farming area and is suitable for a wide variety of agricultural enterprises such as fruit, vegetables, wine, olives, wheat, dairy, sheep and cattle. These agricultural industries as well as other industries such associated with the wine industry and the Elro Furniture Factory are the main sources of employment for the local community.

With its lush greenery, fruit orchards, vineyards, grazing lands and wheat fields, the Wolseley and Breë River area is very beautiful. The area offers scenic and historic drives, wine tasting, fruit packing, local pottery and home-crafts, and restaurants in addition to outdoor pursuits such as hiking, bird watching, fishing and mountain biking. There is a variety of farm accommodation available with options ranging from self-catering, camping and B&B.

As you enjoy the breathtaking views and scenery, beautiful Fynbos, fresh air, delicious food and wine, and friendly and hospitable locals, you will discover that Wolseley and Breë River are hidden treasures.

Touws River: The Gateway to the Karoo

This little railway town, which is the divide between the Hex River Valley and the Central Karoo, is situated some 185kms east of Cape Town on the N1. As it lies on the edge of the Karoo in the foothills of the Matroosberg Mountains, Touws River is known as the ‘Gateway to the Karoo’.

Touws River is situated less than 2 hour’s drive from Cape Town and Cape Town International Airport, making it the ideal location for a country break-away property, a weekend home, or a weekend getaway farm where you can try your hand at being a part-time sheep farmer.

Touws River is only an hour’s drive from Worcester – a town that offers great medical care, has a Mall with all the major chain stores, and excellent schools. De Doorns, with its extensive export table grape industry, is the nearest town to Touws River.

The vegetation of the area is predominantly succulent Karoo interspersed with stretches of Renosterveld and some cultivated lands, especially along the Touws River itself. Surrounded as it is by the Matroosberg mountains, the area also has some spectacular geological features such as sandstone folding that dates back to the Cape Fold Mountain geological activity that occurred over 150 million years ago.

Touws River has its origins in the days of booming railways: In 1877 a railway station was built on the banks of the Touws River and named Montagu Road. In 1883 the name of the station was changed to Touws River, meaning the River of the Pass. Touws River was the first major staging post and locomotive deport north of Cape Town during the building of the Northern railway line. Today, still, the graveyard of old steam engines is a major attraction.

Situated at the edge of the Karoo, Touws River is surrounded by sheep farms – the major source of income for the area. Several farms in the area have also been developed as game farms. But Touws River also offers other interesting attractions. With its hot summers and cool winters it is not called an astrological paradise, a nature-lovers and an outdoor enthusiasts dream for nothing!

So, whether you are just looking for the perfect weekend getaway, or you are in search of country living and/or affordable housing, Touws River offers the following activities to both visitors to, and residents of, this quiet little town:
 

• Aquila Private Game Reserve
• Anysberg Nature Reserve
• Touws River Nature Reserve
• Birding
• Bushmen paintings
• Hiking
• Star gazing
• Venus Astrology site
• Museums
• 4x4 and mountain biking trails
• Easy access to Hex River Valley and Ceres Karoo