Strand is a seaside town on the north-eastern shore of False Bay, about 48 km from Cape Town. With Somerset West and Gordon's Bay, it makes up the Helderberg, the basin below the Hottentots Holland mountains. We've lived and hosted guests here for years, and this is the list we give them when they ask what there is to do.
The short answer: more than most people expect. The beach is the obvious draw, but within half an hour you'll also find some of the Cape's oldest wine estates, a nature reserve with trails for every fitness level, a cheetah conservation centre, and one of the most beautiful coastal drives in South Africa.
On the beach
Strand Beach runs for about three kilometres along Beach Road, with soft white sand and gentle waves. It's about 15 minutes on foot from Green Gables. Swim between the lifeguards' flags in season, walk the promenade at sunrise, and stay for the sunset over the water towards the Cape Peninsula.
For a calmer dip, especially with small children, use the tidal pool on Beach Road. Further east, Gordon's Bay has two more beaches, Main Beach and Bikini Beach, ten minutes away by car. Our beaches and tidal pools guide compares them all.
Eat and drink by the sea
Beach Road is lined with restaurants, cafés and bars, many with a view of the bay. Book a window table for sunset in summer. Our guide to restaurants in Strand has our short list, from Belgian bistro food to seafood and a German beer hall.
For something different, Triggerfish Brewing in Paardevlei, about ten minutes away, has a taproom, a kitchen and live music.
Wine estates on the doorstep
Strand sits at the southern edge of the Stellenbosch wine region, and the Helderberg estates are 15 to 20 minutes away. Vergelegen, founded in 1700, has eighteen gardens to explore. Lourensford has tastings every day and a market on Fridays and Sundays. Idiom has one of the best restaurant views in the basin, and at Vergenoegd Löw you can watch the Indian Runner ducks march out into the vineyards.
See our Somerset West wine farms guide for a short list of where to taste, eat and take children.
Walks and hikes
The Helderberg Nature Reserve in Somerset West has ten trails, from a ten-minute stroll to a full-day climb to the summit. In summer, the Crystal Pools hike near Gordon's Bay takes you up a river gorge to a string of rock pools you can swim in, though you need a permit booked ahead.
With children
Cheetah Outreach in Somerset West is the stand-out: entry is cheap, and you can watch cheetahs and learn about the project's work with farmers. Add the tidal pool, the duck parade at Vergenoegd, and a picnic at Lourensford, and you have a week of school-holiday outings. Our guide to things to do with kids in the Helderberg has more ideas.
Art at Green Gables
Green Gables is home to the Helderberg Fine Art Studio, run by artist and art educator Tiana Goosen. Guests can book a painting or drawing lesson during their stay, so an art class can slot in between the beach and the winelands.
Day trips from Strand
Clarence Drive, the coastal R44 from Gordon's Bay towards Rooi-Els, starts ten minutes away and has pull-offs for whale watching in season. Stellenbosch is about 30 minutes by car, and Franschhoek and Babylonstoren about an hour. The V&A Waterfront and Table Mountain are about 40 to 45 minutes away outside rush hour.
Free things to do in Strand
The beach and the promenade cost nothing, and neither does a sunset. Watching for whales from the shore between about June and November is free, as is driving Clarence Drive and stopping at the lookouts. Walking the old harbour at Gordon's Bay costs nothing either. Several of the wine estates' gardens and grounds are free to wander, though the tastings are not.
Where to start
If you only have a day, swim at Strand Beach in the morning before the wind picks up. Drive to Vergelegen or Lourensford for lunch, and come back to Beach Road for dinner at sunset. If you have a week, add Clarence Drive, a hike in the Helderberg, Cheetah Outreach and a day trip to Stellenbosch or Franschhoek.
