Citrusdal's hidden treasure

Petersfield cottages, near Citrusdal in the ‘golden valley’ of the Olifants River, offer a farm stay with privacy, stunning views, and utter peace. Brian Berkman reviews a remarkable getaway spot.

- Brian Berkman

People have been drawn to Citrusdal and the greater Clanwilliam region in the Western Cape for hundreds of years. Although the town of Citrusdal was established only in 1916 by the Dutch Reformed Church, there is archival evidence of Dutch explorers being led by San people over the Piekenierskloof in 1660 to follow the path of elephants in the area, hence the name of the local river, the Olifants. This area is also known as the golden valley.

As the name of the town indicates, high-quality citrus has long been grown in the area, nurtured by the fertile soils and hot, dry summers, and irrigated by the river. This particular part of the valley is lined with farms producing easy-peeler citrus varieties.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

In the mid-1800s, James McGregor arrived at the Cape from Scotland and in due course set up a trading post at Modderfontein, at the foot of the Piekenierskloof Pass, where people could outspan their oxen and trade supplies. His daughters would cook a meal and travellers could stay overnight. Modderfontein and its Old Village were recently sold after being in the McGregor family for 140 years. Today, a McGregor descendant, Hedley Peter, continues the family tradition of hospitality just a few kilometres away on his farm, Petersfield.

“I grew up in the Victorian house on one of my great-grandfather’s farms,” says Peter.

A WORKING FARM

Petersfield is a citrus, rooibos, sheep and cattle farm just off the N7. In 1995, Peter began letting secluded self-catering cottages on his farm, and today operates a thriving enterprise.