- Western Cape
- Drakenstein Rural
- Hermon
Hermon, Drakenstein Rural, Western Cape
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Hermon is a small village just outside the town Riebeek Kasteel on the route between Wellington and Gouda. Only an hours’ drive from Cape Town, these small towns that make up the Riebeek Valley have become very popular for weekend getaways for “Capetonians”.
Here the landscape is a patchwork of vineyards, wheat fields, olive groves and wide open spaces creating the tranquil atmosphere that welcomes its guests to this little piece of paradise. Although Hermon is but a dot on the map it has been here since forever with generations of families living and farming in the area. The area is full of trendy delis and shops and plenty of wine and olive estates to visit for a leisurely lunch or tasting.
The peaceful and tranquil town of Hermon is the perfect base from which you can explore Malmesbury, Wellington, Riebeek Valley and the Limietberg Nature Reserve where you can expect to see dassie, klipspringer and baboons. Keen fishermen can bring their rods for trout fishing on the Berg River. Country Markets and outdoor activities are the order of the day and the Riebeek Valley offer both with arts and crafts and fresh produce in abundance and nature hikes and trails all around you.
There is a range of accommodation on offer from quaint Guest Houses and B&B’s to self-catering and Farm accommodation.
Places to Visit
Things to do and see
- Mullineux Wine Estate
- Het Vlock Casteel Olive & Wine Farm
- Pulpit Rock Winery
- Riebeek Cellers
- Meerhof Wines
- Kloovenburg Wine & Olive Estate
- Kasteelberg Mountain Bike Route
- Riebeek Kasteel Community Garden Project
- Du Vlei Farmstall
- Pieter Cruythoff Hiking Trail
- Bartholomeus Klip Renosterveld Reserve
- The Gallery, Riebeek Kasteel
- Aitsa Shopping
Climate
Hermon receives approximately 555 mm of rain annually with the majority of its rainfall occurring during the winter months.
Summer months, November to March will have average temperatures of between 16˚C and 30˚C.
Winter months, May to August will have average temperatures of between 6˚C and 15˚C.
Transport
There are daily flights intoCape Town International Airport . Hermon is approximately 90 km away along the N1 and R44 . Car hire facilities are available at the Airport.
Festivals
March – Wellington Wine Harvest Festival:Come and enjoy top award winning wines along with good food, entertainment and markets. There are three designated entertainment venues to visit – Diemersfontein, Boaman Family Vineyards & Welbedacht Wine Estate.
May – Riebeek Valley Olive Festival:A must for olive and wine lovers! For one weekend only, a number of farms in the area will open their doors to tours and tastings allowing visitors to learn, taste and buy olive-related produce. The Olive Emporium, a grand marquee set up in the centre of Riebeek Kasteel town, offers numerous sampling and buying opportunities for all sorts of deli type treats.
November / December – Malmesbury Christmas Lights Festival & Market:Join the locals in celebrating the start of the festive season which begins with a street parade, carols and lighting of the main street lights. After the opening, the Xmas shopping can commence at the numerous stalls offering gifts, home-baked goodies, food and drink and an array of other products.
History
Hermon started as a missionary station named Rondeheuwel (Round Hill) and town only began to grow in 1873 when Thomas Bain was asked to extend the railway line from Wellington toWorcester .
The name Hermon is of Hebrew origin, “ker-mone”, meaning “abrupt or “Mountain Peak” with reference to the biblical Mount Hermon. It is thought to have been named after the dominant “Kassteelberg” only 10 km away which rises abruptly up to 299 metres above the Riebeek Valley. The meaning of the towns name has, over recent years, been broadened to also indicate “elevated” or “exalted”.