Ashton

The small town of Ashton on Route 62 is in the middle of a fruit-farming and wine-growing area so there are some nice wineries, farm stalls where you can buy all manner of local produce, and even a cheese estate. Ashton is conveniently situated on the R60 between Robertson and Swellendam, and close to the western side of the scenic Kogmanskloof Pass on the R62 to Montagu. It’s a beautiful pass with spectacular geological features, a pretty stream and a Boer War fort dating back to 1899.

Steam train buffs will want to stop at the municipal offices in the main road for a quick look at the class 14 CRB steam locomotive that was commissioned in 1919 and used on the Worcester-Mossel Bay rail section until 1983. The surrounding mountains are popular with climbers, mountain bikers and ramblers.