Nottingham Road, Natal Midlands

As a child, I always thought Nottingham Road was the equivalent to ‘The Wind in the Willows’ in KwaZulu Natal, and indeed, this beautiful part of the world with its old-world country taverns and traditional old family farmland is reminiscent of the children’s classic written in 1908.

Nottingham Road is a village easily reached from the N3 between Johannesburg and Durban, only 20 minutes from the foothills of the Drakensberg.

The landscape here is truly the green rolling hills of Natal, dotted with fly-fishing dams and an ordered beauty that has earned Nottingham Road its place in the heart of the Midlands Meander – an eclectic mix of arts and crafts, restaurants, and a wide range of sporting, environmental and historical pursuits that was originally created to attract visitors off the beaten track.

‘Notties’, as the locals are apt to call Nottingham Road, began as a tented camp, set up by the Sherwood Foresters in 1856 as a military fort to protect farmers in the area from raiding San hunter gatherers, who were indigenous to the area. In 1880 work on the Durban-Johannesburg railway began, running past the original Fort Nottingham by over 20 miles, to stop at Karkloof Station. The village that grew as a result of the station later became known as Nottingham Road.

Nottingham Road locals are a friendly bunch, and there is plenty to do in the area, starting with a visit to the Nottingham Road Brewing Co - a rustic brewery that produces beers with original names like a ‘whistling weasel pale ale’, a ‘pie-eyed possum pilsner’, a ‘pickled pig porter’ and a ‘tiddly toad lager’ - you can understand why ‘Wind in the Willows’ would come to mind.

Travellers' Reviews

2 Reviews from SA-Venues.com travellers. All reviews are verified.

Verified reviewvery good

We loved the quaintness and charm of Nottingham Road. We were fortunate enough to experience some of the snow, which made it even more magical. This really is a very special little destination.

Esther (Knysna)

Verified reviewexcellent

I havent visited Notties for over a year now so a visit is well overdue and I think this year I might have to spend a few days there in June - who knows, I might strike it lucky and experience an African snowfall. One of my dearest friends lives in Nottingham Road and Ive been visiting the village for years - its one of my most favourite places and I love the fact that it can still be so chilly in December that one can quite easily sit by a log fire to warm up! There are great shops, restaurants and coffee shops - definitely worth a visit.

Helen Rushton (Cape Town)

In the vicinity

Hotels & other accommodation options

Things to do in the area

Noteworthy attractions

Find accommodation in Nottingham Road

FIND / South Africa Accommodation / KwaZulu Natal Accommodation / Natal Midlands Accommodation / Nottingham Road Accommodation

Nottingham Road as a destination

Want to stay overnight?

Dates

When would you like to stay?
Choose dates

Number of Guests

Why book with SA-Venues.com
  • Your card is safe with us; strictest card verification in the industry and we don't store card numbers.
  • No airy fairy service fees; you save!
  • We care. Service with integrity.
  • Multiple payment methods:
    credit card, SID instant EFT, bank transfer.
  • All Nottingham Road property owners / managers are verified (our experience protects you from online fraud).
  • Secure your booking
Our Payment Protection Guarantee only applies if your deposit payment is made via SA-Venues.com
Destinations
South Africa. Explore. Experience. Stay

SA-Venues.com® has been assisting travellers with their South Africa travel plans since 1999, and is the largest, independent online travel guide for South Africa available in both English and German.