Helderberg area Area Profile

Somerset West at a glance

Whether you are a local resident of the Helderberg area, or just a visitor, every time you see the False Bay from either Sir Lowry's Pass lookout point or from the R44 approaching from Stellenbosch you will be left in absolute awe!!

Between the Helderberg and Hottentots Holland Mountains and the False Bay coastline on the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula, lie the 3 towns that comprise the Helderberg, namely Somerset West, Gordon's Bay, Strand,  all world-renowned tourist destinations, each with their own unique personality, festive vibe, and different attractions, capturing an interesting mix of everything you can imagine from various winelands, the Helderberg nature reserve to great coastal vacation destinations, with beaches a village atmosphere and lots of precious historical memories wherever you go.

Somerset West with the number plate (CFM) sometimes jokingly referred to as the City for Millionaires was founded in 1822 on part of the historic farm, Vergelegen. This historical landmark town was originally named Somerset after the British governor of the back then Cape Colony during the 1800s, Lord Charles Somerset. 'West' was added to the name Somerset  after 1825 to differentiate it from Somerset East, a town in the Eastern Cape. The town borders Strand and Gordon's Bay and is overlooked by the Helderberg Mountain (meaning "clear mountain"), a part of the Hottentots-Holland range of mountains. The Hottentots-Holland mountains surround Somerset West in an amphitheatre shape, which makes it truly one of the most beautiful views to experience! It includes more than 65 suburbs covering a large area of 61.37 square kilometres within its administrative boundaries, extending from the villages of Firgrove in the west to Sir Lowry's Pass Village in the east.

Strand was established as a holiday and fishing resort in 1714.  Before it was known as Strand, the settlement was known as Mostert's Bay. In 1970.  Strand's main attraction is the beach; 5 km of white sandy beach off False Bay. During the summer, holiday makers from all over South Africa, and abroad, come to enjoy the seaside offerings. Tourism has been a major source of local income since 1950, when the town was popular with visitors from the north of the country, and was home to many retired veterans of the Boer War.  The coast between the Lourens River mouth and Gordon's Bay is popular with beach fishermen and rock anglers. Strand is often referred to as The Strand (Afrikaans: Die Strand), which is the old name of the town.

Gordons Bay  (Afrikaans: Gordonsbaai) is a harbour town in the Helderberg Area of the  Western Cape.  It is situated on the shores of Gordon's Bay in the north eastern corner of False Bay, named after Robert Jacob Gordon, the Dutch explorer of Scottish descent. The town is known for its stunning natural beauty, water activities and animals with the most beautiful sea views looking across to the world-famous Table Mountain.

Gordon's Bay is the smaller  of the three towns in the Helderberg region (Somerset West, Strand and Gordon's Bay), Gordon's Bay was originally named "Fish Hoek", many years before the town of the same name, located on the western side of False Bay, was founded. Evidence of this can be seen on the outside wall of the local Post Office. Gordon's Bay consists of the old village, situated around the old harbour and Bikini Beach, the mountainside on the lower slopes of the Hottentots-Holland mountains overlooking False Bay, and the low-lying suburbs close to the main beach, making up the most recent expansion of the town.

It is also home to the Steenbras Dam. The road to the Steenbras Dam's viewpoint is predominantly an access road for the water filtration and treatment plant near the top of the mountain with a stretch beyond leading to the actual Steenbras Dam, taking a trip to this viewpoint is well worthwhile as the view over this section of coastline is truly beautiful with Gordons Bay's housing hugging the steep slopes and the flat lands of Somerset West beyond. From here you can also clearly see the strip mall section of high-rise buildings in the Strand, a section of exquisite flat bathing beaches. This view, over this very large extent of azure blue, deepening to ultramarine, waters of False Bay, has a most calming and tranquil effect truly a breathtakingly experience, all from one vantage point!

Schools in the Helderberg Area

Somerset West has over 10 primary schools, high schools and a tertiary higher education called Helderberg College of Higher education.

Strand has primary, secondary and tertiary education facilities, and many ECD facilities of varying quality. As of 2007, there are 19 public and private schools to choose from.

Because of the close proximity to Strand, Gordons Bay does not have a high school but boasts with a very good primary school namely Gordons's Bay Primary school.

Attractions in the Helderberg Area:

 The area is known for its scenic mountain range views as well as the spectacular surrounding ocean. It is an ideal spot for hiking, cycling, and other outdoor activities. The region is home to numerous beaches and the Strand with it 5km long stretch of white sand is a perfect family beach, with Gordon's Bay being well-known for its clear water and scenic views and beautiful harbour island.

Of course, no visit to Helderberg would be complete without sampling some of the delicious local cuisine. Whether you're looking for a relaxing wine country getaway or an adventurous outdoor adventure, Cape Town's Helderberg region has something to offer everyone.

Shopping/malls

The Somerset mall offers 204 stores with coffee shops and everything it takes to give families from Somerset West and as far afield as Mossel Bay a safe, fun-filled entertainment environment, alongside a superior browsing and shopping experience.

Restaurants

Oh Boy! Helderberg is an eclectic area, and it is not only home to some of the best restaurants in the country but also some of the best chefs in the business! Regardless of what your taste buds are in the mood for, from a 10am coffee overlooking the ocean to a business lunch an outing to a wine farm or treating yourself to a fine dining dinner we have them all. And if that is not enough there is also the local day/night markets, offering freshly prepared treats and plenty picnic venues where you can order your picnic basket on the go!

Ready to invest in the Helderberg area?

Not only are you in good hands, but you are also in the best hands! Century 21 South Africa is the franchisor of the world's principal residential real estate sales organisation. It is also NO secret that the past 2 years has seen the biggest semi-gration from other regions to the Western Cape. Simply because people are seeking better living conditions for the family and household, a better work-from home lifestyle, seasonal job opportunities and retirement. So whether you are looking to BUY, SELL, or RENT in and around Helderberg we have various types of property to suit anyone's taste and needs.