Tesselaarsdal, Cape Overberg

In the heart of the Cape Overberg, roughly 21 kilometres from Caledon and the N2, lies the quaint, virtually unheard of village of Tesselaarsdal. It is one of those little towns that is close to everything - 38 kilometres from Stanford, 45 kilometres from Hermanus - with beautiful scenery and a series of agricultural small holdings that are selling fast to a group of artists and organic small holders who have discovered that Tesselaarsdal is probably the best kept secret for miles around.

The village, once you are there, invites strolling, not least for the views, the rolling hills and the incredible vistas of fynbos. Tesselaarsdal is also swiftly becoming another 'second home' village for Capetonians who have discovered the pleasure of driving but an hour and a half to end up in the 'country' for the weekend. And prices have not yet gone through the roof.

Tesselaarsdal is part of a new route, known as the Cape Country Meander. The route is designed to include eight rural Cape towns, six mountain ranges, three passes, seven dams, and a whole experience of what small town living is like in the Western Cape. The towns include Grabouw, Botriver, Caledon, Riviersonderend, Tesselaarsdal, Greyton, Genadendal and Villiersdorp.

Small wonder that holiday homes, artist's studios and hideouts are emerging in Tesselaarsdal, or that a group of potters, known simply as Bakgat, make this their home, where they process their own clay and grow a whole lot of ingredients for a series of sauces they produce in their kitchen, including the herbs they grow themselves. The sauces and relishes are then placed in some of the practical pottery and sold all over the Western Cape.