The Worcester Heritage walking route is a journey of discovery into the rich architectural history of buildings such as The Drostdy, the “Moederkerk” and Beckhuis. Various sites make up the route which passes a number of coffee shops for refueling and a quiet recharge in the Garden of remembrance in Church Square.

The latest addition is the Zwelethemba Heritage Route. The origin of the township was a direct result of South Africa’s Slums Clearance Act of 1934, which allowed municipalities to demolish any area considered a slum. Worcester’s previous ‘township’ was called Sakkiesdorp and was de-proclaimed under this Act in 1950, due to overcrowding. Similar to District 6 in Cape Town, residents (African people) were then moved 5km away from town. Like a stepchild, Zwelethemba was born!

If you are looking for a circular route where you can have a fantastic cullinary experience while traveling with the kids. This route is the answer. 

Start your experience with a wine tasting at Overhex Winery on the R60. Then stop at the Pampoen Padstal on the R60, in the direction of Robertson. This is the perfect place to take fun photos of all the pumpkins on display stock up on some local, home-made products. The next stop will be Nuy on the Hill. This is a great venue to start with a hearty breakfast while enjoying the spectacular view over the Nuy valley and even further beyond to the Brandwacht Mountains. 

After breakfast, it is time to start with the Nuy wineries’ well known, award winning wines. You can do a tasting or purchase a bottle or two to enjoy outside in the sun or stock up for when going back home. From here we suggest you make a stop at the renowned Willow Creek Olive Estate where you can taste and purchase the biggest collection of olive oils and olive products. Here you can pre-book a picnic to enjoy between the olive trees. If you are really into olive oil and love a tuscan atmosphere, make your way to Lions Creek Olive estate where you will find some of the best extra virgin olive oil in the country. A stone throw from this estate you’ll find Conradie vineyards who produces boutique wines, made completely by hand, from harvesting to bottling. 

For this time of the afternoon, an ice cold craft beer at Saggy Stone will be just the thing. Saggy Stone also offers delicious food that can be enjoyed right next to a plum orchid which is absolutely breathtaking during spring when the white blossoms covers the trees. During plum season kids will have the most fun picking some fresh plums while running around and enjoying the spectacular outdoors. 

One stop not to miss is the renowned Leipzig Country House and Winery. Not only do they offer fantastic wines, they also have luxurious accommodation available for events and their very popular wine sleepovers. During asparagus season they will treat you to the most interesting asparagus dishes and wine pairings as this is one of the agricultural activities on the farm. Be sure to ask your host about their kid-friendly activities. 

To complete this route we suggest you stop at De Wet Wine Cellar. They offer a cake and wine tasting as well as a cheese and charcuterie platter option. They also offer the famous Six Dogs Gin for tasting and purchasing as this distillery is only a few kilometers away, but unfortunately can only be visited by appointment. 

This circular route is perfect for travelers who do not want to venture too far out of town or who have very little time, but would like to experience beautiful countryside scenery. The Brandwacht Mountain makes the perfect backdrop with table grape vineyards filling in the rest. Even if you are not stopping in Worcester, but only passing through on the N1, you can take a 10-minute detour and take in this exquisite view. 

The Brandwacht Valley is mainly a table grape farming area and the home of our local farmer’s market, Pure Boland Market. On the first Saturday of each month, the “Groenstoor”, which is primarily used by the table grape farmers, is transformed into the market. This is a highlight in the area and the perfect time to visit Worcester and Brandwacht if you want to get the most out of your trip. 

Brandwacht also offers great accommodation options for travellers who wish to experience farm life, but still want to be close to town. Damas, Kuruma and Summerhill Guest Farm offers luxury accommodation, with B & B options, as well as self-catering facilities. 

For those looking for a complete breakaway from the rat race, try Dhamma Pataka for a silent retreat. If you do not have enough time to break away completely, then treat yourself at Henneli du Toit’s salon and spa. 

The Brandwacht Valley is one of the top choices for mountain bikers, trail runners and hikers. Many of the private farms in the area have marked routes for outdoor enthusiasts, but please do check with Manic Cycles beforehand, as some farm grounds are not open to the public, especially during harvest season. 

Three must-visits bordering Brandwacht is the Karoo Botanical Gardens, Worcester’s Gary Player designed Golf Course and the Golden Valley Casino and Lodge. 

The Worcester Wine and Olive route consists of 12 wineries and an olive farm. It is part of an important wine region accounting for more than a quarter of the country’s national wine production. Read more here or download the full map here.