Greyton

Greyton was laid out in 1854 at the foot of the Riviersonderend mountains and has kept its shape: thatched and gabled cottages, streets lined with oaks, and gravel roads that the village has repeatedly chosen not to tar, which is the clearest statement of the local ethos. It has drawn artists, retirees and weekenders from Cape Town without becoming a resort, and there is a genuine village life underneath - a Saturday market, a long-running arts festival, restaurants that close on Mondays. Behind the village the Greyton Nature Reserve runs into the mountains with walking trails, and the historic footpath over the range to McGregor is a two-day hike that walkers do in both directions. The neighbouring Moravian mission at Genadendal is a few kilometres away and predates Greyton by more than a century.

What you'll find

• The gravel streets - roads the village has chosen not to tar, under oak avenues.
• The 1854 layout - thatched and gabled cottages in the original village plan.
• The mountain reserve - trails from the edge of the village into the Riviersonderend range.
• The McGregor path - a historic two-day walking route over the mountains.

When to go

September to April. Two days. Winter brings rain and cold but green mountains.

Practical notes

Restaurants and shops keep village hours and many close early in the week. Accommodation books out for festivals. The McGregor trail is long, unmarked in places and needs a permit. It is quiet by design - people looking for nightlife will not find it.

Nearby

Genadendal is a few kilometres away; Caledon and the N2 are south.

Key facts