Enjoy hiking through the beautiful Wellington valley in the winelands of the Western Cape – 72 km from Cape Town, South Africa.

Local guides, fully accredited and well versed in the history and culture of the area, will accompany you and take you through indigenous fynbos, vineyards, fruit orchards and olive groves. Stop and taste the Wellington wines and olives produced in this fertile valley. Meet the wine-makers and learn more about their award-winning wines. Meet the local characters of the valley and hear their interesting stories.

If you love the outdoors, wine-tasting and walking and scenic walking/hiking trails; this is an ideal walking holiday for you.

We have a selection of walks to choose from – ranging from 3 to 4 days’ walking. (See the section on Walk options.) Walk at an easy pace and enjoy the scenery as you discover the hidden treasures. All you carry is a light day-pack: we transfer your luggage to your overnight stop.

At the end of each day we provide comfortable accommodation in specially selected guest houses, including old historic wine farms which have been modernized and upgraded to South African star-rating standards, each offering delicious country cuisine.

We encourage you to form your own party and to book as a group. We have found that the optimum party size is 8 to 12 people (with 2 people sharing a room). The minimum group size is 8 people, and this ensures exclusivity of your party. If you have less than 8 people we can still waitlist you as a small group and will try to secure the required number of people for a tour by joining two smaller groups together. We can accommodate groups of more than 12 people, but this would be by special arrangement.

As the Wellington bowl experiences extreme heat during summer, we have two walking seasons, Autumn and Spring, these periods provide the best walking conditions in the Wellington area.

WALK ROUTES
1) Wellington Wine Walk – The original (3 days 3 nights)

-Arrival Day :
Check-in at Diemersfontein Wine and CountryEstate just outside Wellington any time after 14:00. (DBB). See directions. Meet your guides here for a walk briefing followed by your first wine-tasting.
-Walk Day One: BUCHU AND OLIVE TRAIL (14KM) Happy Hiking Group
Day One of your Wellington Wine Walk starts early. Your guides will come to the Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate car park to collect you. You will be taken by tractor and trailer from Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate to the foot of the original Du Toit’s Kloof Pass. Walk uphill for about 45 minutes and then stroll along contour paths through the forest and fynbos. Then walk downhill through the biggest and oldest buchu and olive farms in the country and proceed to the impressive Cascade Country Manor for lunch. After lunch visit their lovely waterfall – a popular site for wedding photographs. The afternoon walk involves walking through more olive groves to Druk-my-Niet for a well-deserved wine-tasting. Finally cross the road to Augusta Kleinbosch, where you will check in for the night (DBB).

Level: Moderate, some uphills, but mostly level and downhill.

-Walk Day Two: KUIER TRAIL (16KM)
("Kuier" means having a relaxed and sociable visit. In this case we visit some very innovative farms.)
Your guides will come to Augusta Kleinbosch to collect you. Hike uphill for about 45 minutes through vineyards. Walk along a contour path around a koppie and past some interestingly shaped granite rocks. Proceed on to the top of the hill for a presentation on the healing properties of Buchu and vine propagation (“stokkies”), while taking in the panoramic view all around you. Taste some of Elsabe’s delicious olive products and pinotage jam. After a good kuier proceed on to Hildenbrand Estate for a wine-tasting accompanied by a light lunch. From here hike through more vineyards to your next guest house: Dunstone Country House, Val du Charron or Monte Video (DBB) – depending on availability.

Level: Moderate, a few uphills, mostly level.

-Walk Day Three: BOVLEI WINE TRAIL (9KM)Doolhoh Labyrinth
Your guides will meet you and take you by shuttle up to the old tunnel on Bain's Kloof Pass (half way up the pass) from where you will start walking down on a steep farm track through the fynbos and vineyards to the Doolhof Estate for your first wine tasting. Walk on to Welvanpas (where Piet Retief, the Voortrekker, lived as a child) for your second wine-tasting accompanied by a light lunch. Proceed through the Bovlei valley, past the vine nurseries. The shuttle will collect you to take you to a final wine-tasting at Bosman’s Family Vineyards restored state of the art wine–cellar at Lelienfontein. The shuttle will wait for you and take you back to Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate where your walk ends.

Level: Downhill and level, easy hiking.

[Optional extra night]

An optional extra night’s accommodation at the end of your walk is a popular choice, particularly for groups from afar, as it allows you to relax and really enjoy your last night together before heading back home – not to mention the luxury of having a bit of a ‘lie-in’ the next morning!

Please contact us if you wish to get a quote for the extra night.

2) Wellington Wine Walk – The original (4 days 4 nights)

- Arrival Day :
Check-in at Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate just outside Wellington any time after 14:00. (DBB). See directions. Meet your guides here for a walk briefing, followed by your first wine tasting.

- Walk Day One: BUCHU AND OLIVE TRAIL (14KM)
Day One of your Wellington Wine Walk starts early. Your guides will come to the Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate car park to collect you. You will be taken by tractor and trailer from Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate to the foot of the original Du Toit’s Kloof Pass. Walk uphill for about 45 minutes and then stroll along contour paths through the forest and fynbos. Then walk downhill through the biggest and oldest buchu and olive farms in the country and proceed to the impressive Cascade Country Manor for lunch. After lunch visit their lovely waterfall – a popular site for wedding photographs. The afternoon walk involves walking through more olive groves to Druk-my-Niet for a well-deserved wine-tasting. Finally cross the road to Augusta Kleinbosch, where you will check in for the night (DBB).

Level: Moderate, some uphills but mostly level and downhill.

- Walk Day Two: KUIER TRAIL (16KM)
("Kuier" means having a relaxed and sociable visit. In this case we visit some very innovative farms.)
Your guides will come to Augusta Kleinbosch to collect you. Hike uphill for about 45 minutes through vineyards. Walk along a contour path around a koppie and past some interestingly shaped granite rocks. Proceed on to the top of the hill for a presentation on the healing properties of Buchu and vine propagation (“stokkies”), while taking in the panoramic view all around you. Taste some of Elsabe’s delicious olive products and pinotage jam. After a good kuier proceed on to Hildenbrand Estate for a wine-tasting accompanied by a light lunch. From here hike through more vineyards to your next guest house: Dunstone Country House; Val du Charron or Monte Video (DBB) – depending on availability.

Level: Moderate, a few uphills, mostly level.

- Walk Day Three: BOVLEI WINE TRAIL (9KM)
Your guides will meet you and take you by shuttle up to the old tunnel on Bain's Kloof Pass (half way up the pass) from where you will start walking down on a steep farm track through the fynbos and vineyards to the Doolhof Estate for your first wine tasting. Walk on to Welvanpas (where Piet Retief, the Voortrekker, lived as a child) for your second wine-tasting accompanied by a light lunch. Proceed through the Bovlei valley, past the vine nurseries. The shuttle will collect you to take you to a final wine-tasting at Bosman’s Family Vineyards restored state of the art wine–cellar at Lelienfontein. The shuttle will wait for you meet you and take you back to Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate where your days walk ends.

Level: Downhill and level, easy hiking.

Walk Day Four: GROENBERG TRAIL (12KM)
Option A

Your guides will meet you to start your walk in the Bovlei Valley. You will head up the hill to Twyfeling and proceed upwards against the slopes of Groenberg. As one gains altitude the views become increasingly breath-taking. You continue around the foothills and go down through Linton Park Estate. From there a short walk takes you to the Langkloof Rose farm for lunch. After lunch you follow a vineyard trail to the tasting facility of Mischa farm for your last wine tasting. From here you are shuttled back to Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate where your walk ends.

Level: Uphill for about two hours with plenty of photo stops to catch your breath, then downhill and level.

Option B

Your guides will meet you to start your walk in the Bovlei Valley. You will head up the hill through Twyfeling farm with its beautiful historic farmstead. Continue up the valley through the vineyards to another historic farm, Nabygelegen, belonging to James McKenzie for another wine tasting. After the tasting you will head down the valley and across several wine farms towards the historic Bainskloof Pass. Continue down for a while and cross over to Oude Wellington for a leisurely lunch and an optional brandy tasting. The shuttle will collect you here and take you to Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate where your walk ends.

Level: Uphill for about two hours with plenty of photo stops to catch your breath, then downhill and level.

Optional extra night

An optional extra night’s accommodation at the end of your walk is a popular choice, particularly for groups from afar, as it allows you to relax and really enjoy your last night together before heading back home – not to mention the luxury of having a bit of a ‘lie-in’ the next morning!

Please contact us if you wish to get a quote for the extra night.

Wellington Wine Walk 2 – The new option (2 days 2-3 nights)
Arrival Day

Check-in at Cascade Manor Guest House (Paarl area) anytime after 14:00. Your guides will meet you on the front verandah at 17:30 for a short briefing. At 18:00 you will have an olive oil tasting. Dinner, bed and breakfast at Cascade Manor.
Walk Day One: (12KM)

08:00 am start: Start walking up the slopes behind the waterfall to Buffet Olive groves, here you will have an informative talk on olive farming. Proceed through the buchu fields and fynbos up onto Kleinbosch Koppie with its stunning views. Descend to the contour path and down to Imbuko cellar on the farm Uitkyk. Here you will stop for lunch and a wine-tasting of Imbuko wines. After lunch walk to Diemersfontein through more buchu fields and the Uitkyk vineyards. Check in for the night at Diemersfontein Country Estate. 18:00 Wine-tasting at Diemersfontein. (Dinner, bed and breakfast.)

Level: Moderate, some uphills and downhills.

Walk Day Two: (15KM)
08:00 am start: Walk up along the Diemersfontein boundary. Walk along the historic Trekpad to the “Horseshoe” Road. Proceed to Welvanpas (Jacques Smit) where you will have a wine-tasting on their front stoep. Walk through the guava and plum orchards accompanied by the farmer who will tell you about farming practices. After a port tasting in the vineyard you say good bye to the Smits. Continue your walk to Alkmaar or Oude Wellington for a tasting and lunch. After lunch you will continue your walk to the start of the historic Bains Kloof pass. From here you are shuttled back to your cars.

Should you be staying a 3rd night................ Proceed through the vineyards to your next overnight stop in the Bovlei Valley. Guest houses, Monte Video Guest House(on the outskirts of Wellington), Val du Charron and Dunstone Country House.. (Dinner, bed and breakfast.)

Level: Easy, level trails.

Walk Day Three: BOVLEI TO GROENBERG (12KM)

Your guides will meet you to start the day with a walk to Vrugbaar where you’ll pay a visit to Anna Cillie at her manor house for an interesting talk on the history of the farm and their products. Proceed upwards against the slopes of the Groenberg mountain enjoying the magnificent scenery along the route. Drop down into the valley for a wine tasting at Bosman Family Vineyards. After the tasting you will have a short walk up the hill to Arauna where you will have an interesting talk and tasting of their products (sauces, mustards, tapenades, dessert toppings etc) and then continue your walk to Mischa Estate for lunch and your final wine tasting.The shuttle will wait for you and take you back to Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate where your walk ends.

Level: Short, uphill, level.

Optional extra night

An optional extra night’s accommodation at the end of your walk is a popular choice, particularly for groups from afar, as it allows you to relax and really enjoy your last night together before heading back home – not to mention the luxury of having a bit of a ‘lie-in’ the next morning!

Please contact us if you wish to get a quote for the extra night.