Balgowan, Natal Midlands

North of Howick, in the central part of the Midlands Meander that lies between Nottingham Road and Lidgetton, lies Balgowan, one of the most beautiful parts of the country with weather that invariably rolls all four seasons into one, but which gives your visit an element of mystery that makes this part of the world so attractive.

This is the land of green, of soft wavy hills dominated by pastures and pine forests through which crystal-clear streams meander interspersed by waterfalls. Balgowan began its existence as an old trading store and train station, where local timber was received for the surrounding farms in the Natal Midlands. Today it is a geographical area, rather than a town, that starts somewhere between Nottingham Road and Lidgetton and ends before you hit Caversham. There are landmarks that are synonymous with the area like Michaelhouse School, the reputable boarding school for boys, which includes wonderful English gothic style architecture and a chapel that is open to the public.

The Glass Studio is another where the creators of glass and wrought-iron works of art produce 80% of the sand-blasted items and iron-work themselves, some to their customers’ specifications, and include anything from salt and pepper cellars to lamp work, decorated mirrors and clocks.

The iHashi Forest horse trails lie in Balgowan along Caversham Road, and the Balgowan Conservancy is working together with the Balgowan Conservancy Project to establish a mist belt forest tree trail for those with two feet. The Bosch Hoek Golf course, rated as one of the top nine-hole golf courses in the country, lies near Balgowan.