Take a deep breath, smell the roses and stroll straight into a nineteenth-century watercolour painting. Light blues and greens are accentuated by white-washed houses with thatched roofs, rambling gardens and long, winding roads.
Welcome to McGregor, the village that time forgot. Not only is this town one of the Western Cape’s best-kept secrets, but it’s also the perfect fusion of country living and nature.
Uncorrupted by commercialism, old and new merge together, creating an authentic village feel. Here you will definitely not find chain stores and fast-food places. Instead, quaint bespoke shops, delis, and country restaurants line the streets. Even the old South African tradition of the café corner shop is still thriving where you can find anything from a pin to a pumpkin - when in season of course! Life here is slow and easy and time is measured the old-fashioned way – by church bell. And don’t forget your early morning call, courtesy of your friendly neighbourhood rooster!
Pack your things and head off to the famous Route 62. McGregor is located approximately 150 km east of Cape Town and 20 km from Robertson and lies at the foot of the Riviersonderend Mountains.
Weather and traffic permitting, it should take you about two hours from Cape Town. Turn off at the N1 at Worcester, take the R60 to Robertson - and McGregor lies 20 km south, a mere 10-minute drive away. McGregor is part of the wine route network of the Western Cape. It’s also situated at the one end of the popular Boesmanskloof Trail to the town of Greyton.
McGregor shares the climate of the Little Karoo so be prepared for sizzling summers and frosty winters.
How to tell the weather in McGregor? If even the roosters are silent, it’s hot! And if there’s snow on the mountains – head for the nearest fireplace because it’s going to be freezing!
The town was founded in 1861, and was originally named Lady Grey after Eliza, the wife of Cape Governor Sir George Grey. However, a namesake in the Eastern Cape caused confusion and in 1905 it was renamed. The honour went to Reverend Andrew McGregor, a Dutch Reformed minister who played a pivotal role in the area for nearly 40 years.
In the late 1700s the promise of fertile farming soil drew the first farmers to settle here. In the early 1800s a few houses were built to house labourers, and for use by the farming families when visiting town for church services, such as communion. These houses were called “Nagmaalhuisies”, which can be roughly translated as communion houses.
Even the irrigation system has history and consists of old-fashioned irrigation channels or “leivore” that is fed by a dam at the top of the village. A visit to this reservoir with its clear water and walk paths, makes for the ideal short walk to stretch the legs and clear the mind.
Another famous landmark is “The Road to Nowhere” - a tarred road running all the way from Robertson to McGregor, only to come to an abrupt halt just outside the village. It was supposed to continue through the mountains to Greyton and the first attempts to build a pass were made between 1865 and 1880. However, the project kept being placed on the back burner due to financial and labour constraints.
Which brings us to the best kept secret of them all: McGregor has no through-road. Not only has this kept the town off the mainstream map of commercialism, but it also gives you a good reason to never leave.
McGregor is definitely not a sleepy town when it comes to pastimes. There are activities and adventures that will appeal to everyone – from the fitness fanatic and the seeker of health and wellbeing, to the epicurean lover of art and food.
Nature and history enthusiasts will also find plenty to explore. If you want to extend your day tripto a longer stay, unique accommodation options that cater for various pockets and preferences are also available.
There are a few restaurants in McGregor, offering anything from Italian dishes and Portuguese Prego rolls to robust traditional dishes and healthy deli options.
The village lies on the southern end of the Robertson Wine Valley Route and there are a few wineries in the area. Blessed with sun-soaked soil, the terroir of the McGregor valley and slopes produce quality wines. Some of the wineries in the area are Tanagra Wines, Lord’s Wines, McGregor Winery and Koningsrivier Winery.
Whatever your style, and wherever you choose to rest your head, you’ll find it inMcGregor. From affordable backpacker-style stays and self-catering to guest houses where you’ll be treated in style and comfort.
Self-catering ranges from stylish homes to picturesque cottages. You can choose between romantic, antique, eclectic or modern - but whatever the interior, the charming views from your window and country-style living are sure to enhance your stay in the most memorable way.
Perhaps it’s the awe-inspiring mountains, the quiet country life or the abundance of natural and architectural beauty, but if a muse had her own town, McGregor would be it! The quiet and slower pace provide a creative, nurturing atmosphere that’s sure to feed the soul. Inspiration is everywhere.
Stories wait to be discovered in old rooms, words are written in the dusty roads, poems travel by wind from the mountains while visual inspiration shape shifts in every interesting building, face or rock formation that you see. The McGregor muse has inspire artists in all fields over the years and there are a few studios and galleries in the area.
While the Temenos Retreat in the village will look after your spiritual and physical wellbeing with gentle walks and even yoga, there’s also a clinic that tends to the villagers’ medical needs.
The nearest hospitals are in Robertson and Worcester (theRobertson Hospital, Worcester Hospital and a Worcester Medi-Clinic). The fresh unpolluted air, tranquility and slower space will also rejuvenate body and soul with various walking, hiking and cycling trails in the area.
There are numerous hiking trails in the McGregor area for those with itchy feet and lots of energy. The Kleinberg trail is within walking distance of town, and is an easy two-hour walk in the surrounding hills. Or go for a walk amongst the wild life at TheKrans Nature reserve or the Vrolijkheid Research Station.
The Rooikat and Boesmanskloof Trails, 13 and 14 kms respectively, offer a more challenging hike, both through mountainous terrain. Dassieshoek Nature Reserveoffers a two-day hike, as does Genadendal, or you can take the easy Waterfall hike to secluded, crystal-clear rock pools. What makes the Boesmanskloof Trail exceptional is that it starts in one town, and ends in another. Hikers can choose to start in McGregor and finish in Greyton, or visa versa. The hike starts or ends at the nature reserve in Greyton, following a trail through the Riversonderend mountainrange with a stop at Oak Falls.
McGregor is a true mountain biking heaven with a variety of routes in the area from flat and easy trails for families to hardcore single tracks and longer gravel rides.
Pop into McGregor Tourism to pick up their route map of the seven most popular mountain biking trails. Wheel amongst the wild at Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve, just 5 km out of town. Here you’ll find an easy 8 km trail along footpaths and gravel roads through the reserve– expect to see resident springboks and other mammals. For the adventurous there are four challenging trails at the Van Loveren Wine Estate, ranging from 12 km to 35 km.
McGregor is definitely not a sleepy town when it comes to pastimes. There are activities and adventures that will appeal to everyone – from the fitness fanatic and the seeker of health and wellbeing, to the epicurean lover of art and food.
Nature and history enthusiasts will also find plenty to explore. If you want to extend your day trip to a longer stay, unique accommodation options that cater for various pockets and preferences are also available.
There are a few restaurants in McGregor, offering anything from Italian dishes andPortuguese Prego rolls to robust traditional dishes and healthy deli options. The village lies on the southern end of the Robertson Wine Valley Route and there are a few wineries in the area.
Blessed with sun-soaked soil, the terroir of the McGregor valley and slopes produce quality wines. Some of the wineries in the area are Tanagra Wines, Lord’s Wines, McGregor Winery and Koningsrivier Winery.
Whatever your style, and wherever you choose to rest your head, you’ll find it in McGregor. From affordable backpacker-style stays and self-catering to guest houses where you’ll be treated in style and comfort.
Self-catering ranges from stylish homes to picturesque cottages. You can choose between romantic, antique, eclectic or modern - but whatever the interior, the charming views from your window and country-style living are sure to enhance your stay in the most memorable way.
Perhaps it’s the awe-inspiring mountains, the quiet country life or the abundance of natural and architectural beauty, but if a muse had her own town, McGregor would be it! The quiet and slower pace provide a creative, nurturing atmosphere that’s sure to feed the soul.
Inspiration is everywhere. Stories wait to be discovered in old rooms, words are written in the dusty roads, poems travel by wind from the mountains while visual inspiration shape shifts in every interesting building, face or rock formation that you see. The McGregor muse has inspire artists in all fields over the years and there are a few studios and galleries in the area.
While the Temenos Retreat in the village will look after your spiritual and physical wellbeing with gentle walks and even yoga, there’s also a clinic that tends to the villagers’ medical needs.
The nearest hospitals are in Robertson and Worcester (theRobertson Hospital, Worcester Hospital and a Worcester Medi-Clinic). The fresh unpolluted air, tranquility and slower space will also rejuvenate body and soul with various walking, hiking and cycling trails in the area.
There are numerous hiking trails in the McGregor area for those with itchy feet and lots of energy. The Kleinberg trail is within walking distance of town, and is an easy two-hour walk in the surrounding hills. Or go for a walk amongst the wild life at TheKrans Nature reserve or the Vrolijkheid Research Station.
The Rooikat and Boesmanskloof Trails, 13 and 14 kms respectively, offer a more challenging hike, both through mountainous terrain. Dassieshoek Nature Reserveoffers a two-day hike, as does Genadendal, or you can take the easy Waterfall hike to secluded, crystal-clear rock pools. What makes the Boesmanskloof Trail exceptional is that it starts in one town, and ends in another. Hikers can choose to start in McGregor and finish in Greyton, or visa versa. The hike starts or ends at the nature reserve in Greyton, following a trail through the Riversonderend mountain range with a stop at Oak Falls.
McGregor is a true mountain biking heaven with a variety of routes in the area from flat and easy trails for families to hardcore single tracks and longer gravel rides. Pop into McGregor Tourism to pick up their route map of the seven most popular mountain biking trails.
Wheel amongst the wild at Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve, just 5 km out of town. Here you’ll find an easy 8 km trail along footpaths and gravel roads through the reserve– expect to see resident springboks and other mammals. For the adventurous there are four challenging trails at the Van Loveren Wine Estate, ranging from 12 km to 35 km.
Various events are held throughout the year in McGregor turning this hamlet into a hive of activity. Find current and future events on our Facebook page.
VISIT OUR FACEBOOK EVENTS PAGEAt the heart of every town, is its community. McGregor, being a small town with aa few thousand inhabitants is especially interconnected. The community takes the saying “It takes a village to raise a child” seriously. There are various programmes to educate, uplift and offer a helping hand to young and old – because it also takes a village to care for its people.
Great care is taken to preserve McGregor and the integrity of the people and animals living in it. While the McGregor Museum preserve the past, the McGregor Heritage Society takes care to preserve the historic character of the village in the present. The dreams of its youth are tended to by First Step Ballet where the youth are taught not only the discipline of dancing, but that of perseverance, politeness and punctuality – and above all - to achieve your full potential. This message of hope and self-improvement is continued by the Breede Centre.Here training facilities are provided for the youth and unemployed as well as activities and educational support for the local children.
The animals in need are taken care of by a fundraising organisation Friends of Care while the Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary provides a safe haven for its four-legged, neglected inhabitants.
The McGregor Tourism office is located in a grand old building on the corner of Church and Voortrekker streets. Feel free to contact us for any information regarding accommodation, restaurants, places of interest, activities and events. We will gladly assist you. Also feel free to visit our Facebook and Instagram pages.
Copyright McGregor Tourism 2021.
Photographs courtesy of Mark Chipps.