A Tranquil, Family-friendly Winelands Getaway at Val du Charron Wine and Leisure Estate

Wellington is one of my favourite, though personally more undiscovered parts of the Cape Winelands.

This small town has plenty of country charm, stunning mountain vistas and amazing wine farms, accommodation and restaurants to enjoy so it’s definitely a destination we plan to explore more as a family in time.

For now though, it’s enough to have spent two luxurious nights at one of Wellington’s long-standing, beautiful institutions in Val du Charron Wine and Leisure Estate.

With two on-site eateries, a gorgeous farm setting (with views to rival anywhere in the world) and luxury accommodation, you might not even be tempted to leave the estate during your stay.

And even if you do, it will be for a very short excursion, so great is the peaceful pull that Val du Charron has over its visitors – and dare I say – most especially its overnight guests.

This beautiful, historic estate, which is a proud member of Cape Country Routes, is tucked away in the scenic Bovlei Valley among the beautiful farmlands.

At the same time, it is only a short drive away from Wellington proper and some local attractions, including the stunning Bainskloof Pass (which is, regrettably, often closed due to construction or rockfalls), hiking trails and more.

Where We Stayed: Val du Charron Wine and Leisure Estate

Val du Charron is family-friendly accommodation at its finest, with parents and little ones being able to enjoy four-star accommodation together (they also have stunning five-star accommodation).

And while this Wellington estate is undeniably stylish, it is also incredibly functional.

Its spacious layout makes it easy to settle in with little ones, offering wide open spaces, as well as excellent facilities and amenities that even make travelling with a busy toddler a breeze.

The fact that you can dine at two family-friendly restaurants on-site or enjoy generous buffet breakfasts during your stay makes things simpler too. 

Perhaps the estate’s biggest ‘bonus’ drawcard, though, is the impressive mountain- and vineyard-views that it enjoys. Particularly from the rooms and the restaurants (although almost every corner of the farm offers breathtaking views).

You have a spectacular panoramic perspective across the sweeping valley, while also enjoying neatly manicured lawns, the Boma Bar, main guest pool (an attraction all on its own and tempting even in early winter as the region’s warm temperatures persist!) and beautiful garden spaces.

The estate’s four-star Guest House offers beautifully appointed rooms, each with their own impressive views, stylish furnishings and art decor, spacious showers and perhaps best of all, patios or balconies that overlook the mountains and pool beyond.

For families, the estate offers dedicated Garden Family Rooms and Family Rooms, which feature highlights like snazzy bunkbeds (complete with charging stations for tech-savvy kids).

Otherwise, you can book a magnificent family stay in the Manor House, which can comfortably accommodate four adults and two children under 7.

Regrettably, the Couch House is not child-friendly. But it is ideal for couples seeking a private, romantic getaway.

In-room Amenities:

To name just a few of the amenities on offer at Val du Charron, you have:

• Fast, complimentary Wi-Fi (this is available across the estate).

• In-room drinks station, complete with a minibar, electric kettle and gourmet coffee and tea supplies.

• High quality towels, bedding and toiletries, along with exceptionally comfortable beds.

• Flatscreen TV, safe and hairdryer per room.

• Air conditioning, which is ideal for those scorching summer days in the Wellington winelands.

Restaurant, Bar or Pub On-site?

Yes, there are two lovely, incredibly scenic on-site restaurants in Pizza Vista and The Grillroom. Both serve up a selection of great, yet varied food and drinks.

These restaurants are happily also both family-friendly.

Just a note for parents of young kids: We had to customise our meals according to our toddler’s dietary needs but this worked perfectly for us and our baba.

The restaurant teams were so helpful with this and the kitchens produced exceptionally tasty results for our budding foodie.

On-site Spa?

No, Val du Charron does not offer an on-site spa. Rather do a search online for spa facilities in the immediate area.

Family-friendly?

Yes, this estate is happily family-friendly. The team warmly welcomes old and young alike!

Please note: There is no on-site childminding service though so please look after your children carefully, as this is a working farm and has large bodies of water.

For young children, a camping cot (with bedding) can be provided upon request. This makes settling in with a baby or toddler quite seamless.

Older children, meanwhile, will definitely love the spacious Family Rooms, along with the wide array of outdoor play attractions, nearby adventures and pool.

Pet-friendly?

While guide dogs may be permitted, as it is a working farm with its own animals and luxury accommodation to boot – Val du Charron is unfortunately not pet-friendly.

Budget-friendly?

Yes, in my opinion because it offers both affordable luxury accommodation and on-site eateries.

Although the Manor House and Coach House are naturally more high-end accommodation offerings and they are thus priced accordingly.

Outdoor Facilities

This safe, secure wine and leisure estate boasts vast outdoor lawns, beautiful pools (the Guest House has a giant, sparkling pool with a boma bar, outdoor seating and more to enjoy. While the Manor House and Coach House each offer their own delightfully private pools), scenic viewing spots, tranquil garden spaces, peaceful vineyard walks about the farm (which we loved) and safe, secure parking for visitors and overnight guests.

Beyond this, the estate has a dedicated children’s splashpad, jungle gym and fun outdoor play area by Pizza Vista.

Val du Charron also offers access to the popular Wild Boar Trails, which are popular among mountain biking and running enthusiasts.

For adults, you can savour the estate’s excellent wines through tastings or enjoy an insightful cellar tour.

Nearby to the estate, there are also some local Wellington attractions, including Bainskloof Pass (which may be closed at the time of your visit but check ahead), James Sedgwick Distillery, the historic walk and local churches, museum and the Old Tannery.

Location, Location

Val du Charron Wine and Leisure Estate is wonderfully central in the farmlands, a short drive from the town proper.

It is situated on Bovlei Road in Wellington and is within easy driving distance of a host of local attractions, historical landmarks, outdoor adventure (from horse rides and hikes to so much more).

It also enjoys relatively close proximity to neighbouring towns like Paarl or, if accessible, Ceres.

Interleading or Family Rooms?

Yes, the estate especially caters to families through its spacious Family Rooms and Garden Family Rooms within the Guest House, which, in total, offers a staggering 40 rooms overall.

The Family Rooms though are specifically designed for those travelling with children.

For larger extended family or friend groups, the exclusive Manor House or even booking adjacent twin/king rooms provide the ultimate, connected getaway.

Website for More Information:

www.vdcwines.co.za

Val du Charron is available on Instagram and Facebook. Be sure to connect with and follow them there!

You can also check out Cape Country Routes’ website or their Facebook, Instagram or YouTube for more information.

Booking Link:

To book a stay in the Guest House and Manor House, please see here.

To book a stay in the Coach House, please see here.

Alternatively, please contact the Val du Charron team directly.

To book a dining experience or for more info on the estate’s restaurants, please see here.

Contact Details:

Val du Charron Wine and Leisure Estate: +27 (021) 873 1256, +27 (079) 886 1775 (WhatsApp number) | stay@vdcwines.com

Cape Country Routes: +27 (021) 023 3611 | bookings@capecountryroutes.com

Pizza Vista and The Grillroom: Please see here for more info on the restaurants.

Wild Boar Trails – MTB and Trail Running: Please see their Facebook page for more info.

Hosted or Fully Paying:

We were kindly hosted for a two-night stay at this quality estate by Val du Charron and Cape Country Routes. However, as always, all views and opinions remain entirely my own.

As part of our hosted stay, we enjoyed a complimentary in-room minibar, buffet breakfasts (included in your stay), a lunch and dinner (we did dinner at Pizza Vista and then lunch at The Grillroom the next day) and some lovely Val du Charron wines.

All drinks, gratuity and extra snacks were purchased and paid for separately by us.

How It Rated:

Overall, our stay at Val du Charron Wine and Leisure Estate was excellent.

Given this, I can award a pretty effortless 10/10 to the estate teams (particularly Evans and his Guest House staff), our beautiful Guest House accommodation and the generous, tasty breakfast buffets we enjoyed.

We made the most special family memories and felt so welcome here, especially as parents with a young, boisterous toddler.

I cannot recommend a visit to or stay at Val du Charron enough. It really is one of those serenely peaceful and ultimately, luxurious places tucked away in our beautiful Cape Winelands.

A Special Accommodation Discount for My Readers:

1) Head over to the official Val du Charron website's accommodation page.

2) At the top of the subsequent booking page, click on "Do you have a promo code?" link.

3) Enter my code "TAWVDC" into the text box and click the "Apply" button.

4) Your discount will then apply to your booking. :)

In Closing

Thank you so much to Val du Charron Wine and Leisure Estate and its teams (including Pizza Vista and The Grillroom staff) and Theresa of Cape Country Routes for hosting us for this peaceful family-friendly stay, along with the hosted food and wines we enjoyed as part of our visit.

About the Author

Tamlyn Ryan

Hands-on mum by day, travel blogger and freelance writer by night, Tamlyn Ryan passionately runs her travel blog, called Tamlyn Amber Wanderlust – Travel Writing and Photography, from her home base of Cape Town, South Africa.

Tamlyn is a hopeless wanderer, equipped with an endless passion for road trips, carefully planned holiday itineraries and, above all else, an innate love for the great outdoors and supporting local tourism.

Her blog caters to solo travellers, families (with and without children), college students and couples.

And now, as a new mum, Tamlyn is travelling around with fresh eyes, seeking even more family-friendly activities and experiences for young and old alike to enjoy!

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