Captivating Mountain Retreat

Tucked into the Outeniqua Mountains, at the foot of Cradock Peak, the highest peak in the Outeniqua Mountain range, with an elevation of 650m to 700m and an average temp of 16 degrees, lies this truly captivating, steeped in history, 80ha parcel of land now up for grabs!

The farm is situated near the village of Herold, on the northern side of the historic Montagu Pass, which links the town of George (in the Western Cape Province of South Africa) with the Little Karoo north of the Outeniqua Mountains.

Due to the area’s pure unspoilt, natural beauty it is famous for an abundance of outdoor activities such as bird watching, hiking, fishing, camping and mountain biking. The countryside adjoining the farm has an abundance of Cape fynbos, with Protea aurum being a dominant species. Several species of wildlife occur here, including leopard, antelope, caracal, porcupine, baboons, honey badger, the clawless Cape otter, wild hare and over 150 bird species.

Historical background:

History in this area dates back to 1765 when the very 1st farm in the area was registered.

Dwellings on the farm consist of two stone cottages which are of heritage significance (Grade 3A), showing the fabric, uses and style of buildings of the time, as well as their association with an historic event, the building of the Montagu Pass.

The main home/cottage fondly remembered as the “Öu Hotel” was known as a hotel for the accommodation of travellers and transport riders, and the smaller cottage was an outbuilding/ storeroom for produce and supplies. The writer, Pauline Smith, describes her stay here in 1912. Currently, the two buildings retain the simple rural “feel” with the stone structure of certain interior walls of the main house “Ou Hotel” exposed, although it is mostly plastered.

The current arrangement in the main house is one main bedroom with an adjacent dressing room and two guest rooms, one spacious bathroom, and a second bathroom/utility room.

The Storeroom is now a lovely 1 bedroom stone cottage, ideal for tourist accommodation or guests.

Fast Facts

-The abundant water supply to the farm is via a historic furrow from a kloof in the mountains. Water is piped and gravity-fed from a reservoir to the house, garden and nearby fields.

-The supply is plentiful, and the water is very pure. Rainfall at the southern end of the farm close to the mountain is approx. 800mm annually, while at the northern end of the farm rainfall measures approx. 400mm per year.

-The Doring River originates in the mountains above the farm and traverses the entire length of the farm from south to north, dividing the farm longitudinally.

- Two tributaries flow through the farm into the river and there are three small, sturdy bridges along the road. There are no farms or dwellings up-river from the farm

-Pastures are sufficient to easily sustain our small (80 ewes) flock of sheep.

-Most of the farmers in the broader area farm sheep. Neighbours include a wine farmer with Pinot Noir as his flagship wine, a hops farm run by SA Breweries, someone growing truffles, others growing buchu, honeybush tea (this bush occurs naturally on the farm), and proteas for propagation

-Solar system includes: 12 solar panels (6 older 200W and 6 new 550W) with a Victron inverter and one 8-10 Kva battery.

-Other useful structures include:

Prefab staff house with cooking area and bathroom accommodating one staff member - Storeroom for sacks of grain and lucerne pellets- Sheep-shearing shed Tractor house - Turkey coop - Rabbit house - Lockable container holding the solar electricity system, chainsaws, brush cutters etc

Truly a captivating, beautiful mountain retreat for the nature lover!

Marietjie Genis is a representative of Real Estate Power CC, T/A RE/MAX PREMIER, an Independently Owned and Operated franchise of RE/MAX SA.