The Western Cape has a lot to offer the visitor and resident alike. Within an hour or two from Cape Town are a multitude of quaint, homey small towns that offer stunning scenery, beautiful natural features and relaxation.

Travel an hour up the east coast and you’ll find Hermanus, a small coastal town, famous for the migration of the whales in autumn. Flanked on one side by the tiny seaside town Onrus, and on the other the by the smaller farming town of Stanford, the Hermanus area is a great spot for a weekend or even a day out, offering great eating out, art, craft markets, and even a movie screening on Friday nights.

In the town of Hermanus there is a variety of brilliant local restaurants, such as Savannah café, an owner-run café, serving delicious light lunches and delectable cakes. Just outside Hermanus, on the Stanford road is a local microbrewery, the Birkenhead, where visitors can sit and sample all the beer in the weak afternoon sunshine, while enjoying the tranquil views of the valley.

Over the hills and far away…well, through the mountains and about a two and a half hours drive, lies the tiny town of Montagu. In the Robertson valley, this area has become popular over the years for the amazing quality of wines, particularly sweet muscadel and red wines.

Another draw card for the area is the Hot Springs. Visitors to the Montagu area can go the hot springs, just out of town, for R60 for a day pass, or you can stay in the Avalon Springs resort and have unlimited access to the healing hot waters. Even if you don’t believe they’re as magical as the website would have you believe, you can’t deny that wallowing in hot pools isn’t relaxing.

The town of Montagu is a study in old world charm. From the Victorian era farmhouses, Cape Dutch gabled homes and the art deco Montagu Country Hotel, the town is a beautiful mix of architecture and natural beauty. Dispersed among the houses are vineyards and orchards, intensifying the country feel of the town.

Food in Montagu is homey and old-fashioned; accommodation in the guesthouses is personal and friendly, making this a short holiday to remember. The landscape offers much in the way of photo opportunities, with dramatic mountainous backdrops and orderly vineyards, stretching away into the distance.

So next time you have itchy feet and need to get away, think closer to home, within a few hours any side of Cape Town, you can find a beautiful little town, delicious wines and food, and come back rested and relaxed.

Article by Sigi