La Motte's hiking a trail a stunner, boots and all!
2011-01-20
ONE can hardly imagine more stunningly beautiful surroundings for a hiking trail than the Franschhoek Valley. In the heart of this most scenic landscape lies La Motte estate, well-known as a wine producer of excellence, popular tourist destination and its commitment to environmental preservation - now also home to a picturesque hiking trail. With a view to creating public awareness of nature and affording its visitors the opportunity of exploring the beauty of its mountain, La Motte has created a hiking trail along the foothills behind the estate. Nature lovers can now get really close to some of La Motte’s greatest treasures – the abundant bird-life, a protea garden, a wealth of indigenous flora and, occasionally, a gaze of surprise from a member of the fauna population. To crown it all, of course, the breathtaking vistas of the Franschhoek Valley. Altogether, the route stretches over five kilometres, while the hiking trail section itself is two kilometres long. Time required is approximately two hours when walking and three hours when strolling. The latter is strongly recommended, because that’s how you absorb all the beauty to the full. It is a circular route, starting and ending on La Motte’s farmyard, with safe and convenient parking, on the doorstep of other interesting La Motte attractions such as a sociable tasting room, the Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant, a museum containing impressive art exhibitions and a quaint farm shop, as well as disa tours in season. Running along a mountain landscape, the trail requires a fair amount of fitness – it has a Grade 1B rating. Therefore, taking children under ten years of age on the trail is not recommended. Hikers are supplied with a comprehensive route map containing, inter alia, information about the surrounding mountain landscape, fauna and flora bound to be encountered along the route, vineyard activities on La Motte, as well as a brief history of the estate. The hiking trail is a further expression of La Motte’s commitment to the highest conservation and biodiversity standards, through which the estate has earned BWI Champion Status, awarded by the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative. The trail is endorsed by the Mountain Club of South Africa. Hikes (R50 per person) have to be pre-booked at the La Motte Tasting Room, on 021-876-8820 or tasting@la-motte.co.za The trail is open Mondays to Saturdays (09:00–14:00) except on Christian religious holidays.
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