Robertson Valley
Robertson is known as the 'Jacaranda capital of the Western Cape', and is situated at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains in the fertile Breede River Valley.
The twin natural attractions of the regal Langeberg ranges and the tranquil Breede River make for a spectacular setting, while an easy 90 min drive to Cape Town adds to its appeal as a weekend destination away from the city crowds. The picturesque Robertson Valley is renowned for its wines of connoisseur quality, beautiful roses and thoroughbred horses.
This charming little town is surrounded by sprawling vineyards and orchards that stretch from the outlying farmlands to the heart of the town. Visitors can enjoy viewing the stunning Victorian and Georgian houses that line the street, the historical Pink Church and the Powder House. Robertson is great for all seasons and has something to offer every traveller.
Relax on the Breede River with a fishing rod, canoe, boat or skis. Visitors to Robertson can savour delicious wine as Robertson has the ideal conditions for producing classic blends, including white wines, sherry and brandy. It is also well known for its champion racehorses. Robertson is quite central to the other wine regions of the Western Cape, and is only 160 kilometres from Cape Town.
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking in and around Robertson is quite popular. The Oestervanger MTB Route is located in the Breede River Valley close to the town and winds via vineyard and natural fynbos. The variety of track conditions (hard-pack, rocky stretches and sandy patches) will challenge the enthusiastic rider.
A sandy section of road leads to ‘Boskloof’, the latter offering some technical riding. Dawid-se-Pad is a return ride with three shortish, steep gradients, along an otherwise gently rolling slope – save some stamina for these ascents. Loose stones may make fast downhills tricky, so take care on the descents.
Hiking
The Dassieshoek Nature Reserve outside Robertson offers a splendid (although difficult) hiking trail that will challenge even the toughest hikers. The Arangieskop hike is sometimes called the ‘Kilomanjaro of the Cape’ - it is a two day, 22 km trail with serene views from the top of the summit. You’ll stay overnight in a beautiful little cabin, completing the steady climb over two days.
Day one is approximately 9.5 km and will take about 8 hours to complete. The steady climb does have intermittent flat bits that allow one to drink in the views of the Robertson Valley. For the rest, it is a constant zig-zag up the mountain. Day two is a difficult descent, following a circular route and an ascent to the top of Dassieshoek peak.
This will offer beautiful views over the Koo Valley. Drink in nature and enjoy the spectacular test of endurance amongst the scenic landscape of the Robertson area.