Chas Everitt International Property in Somerset West

Somerset West (Afrikaans Somerset-Wes) is a town in the Western Cape province in the Republic of South Africa. Named after Lord Charles Somerset in 1819, it has thrived and is now the commercial and residential capital of the Helderberg Basin whilst maintaining its village atmosphere. It is situated in the Helderberg area (formerly called Hottentots Holland), about 50 km southeast of Cape Town and 10 km from Strand.

Somerset West lies within easy reach of several beaches bordering the Atlantic Ocean and lying within False Bay. The nearest, the beach at Strand, approximately 6 km from the centre of the town, is popular with those having young children and holidaymakers, as is Gordons Bay, a quaint village complete with harbour and other innocent attractions.

The town is overlooked by the imposing Helderberg (meaning "clear mountain"), a part of the Hottentots-Holland range of mountains but still distinct from the continuous aspect of the other mountains.

The entire region is renowned for its scenic beauty, flora and fauna, wine and fruit, gastronomic experiences, friendly hospitality and historical heritage.

Somerset West caters for all sport lovers with 3 golf courses (including the renowned Erinvale), a country club, soccer, croquet, bowls, squash, tennis, cricket, hockey, a pistol shooting range and golf driving range.

The town also boasts the wine farm of Vergelegen (meaning "far lying", or "far situated"), an 18th century farmhouse built in the historic Cape Dutch style. The farm is now owned by a subsidiary of the large mining company Anglo American, who have restored the farmhouse to its original magnificence and continue to produce some of South Africa's best wines there.

In the 1960s, the AECI factory between Somerset West and Strand was the second largest dynamite factory in the world. Today the town boasts the largest concentration of millionaire residents in the country.

The historic town of Stellenbosch, founded by the Dutch settlers in the 17th century is reachable from Somerset West via the R44 road that takes the traveller through the magnificent scenery of this part of the world. Wine farms dot the route as well as vegetable and fruit growing fields and mountains drowse in the background.

The wine route is part of the greater Stellenbosch wine route and incorporates wine estates from 10km out of town, the oldest wine co-operative in the country, a brewery and wine estates bordering on the town.

About 15km from Somerset West on the N2 is the fruit route which starts at Elgin and the coastal whale route to Hermanus.

Somerset West is well known for its annual display of Christmas lights erected atop the street lights of the Main Road. Each year the Main Road is decorated with an array of flashing bells, angels, palm trees and camels, reindeer, candles and even squirrels. The display started in the late 1970s as a low key affair with only a few lights, but has since grown into a major tourist attraction. The Helderberg Lights Festival (also known as the Strawberry Festival) traditionally complements these lights when the Main Road is closed off in the evening as floats, parades and flea market stalls are lined up under the lights.

Carols by Candlelight is another popular Christmas tradition that has been held annually for the past 20 years at Vergelegen (a world-class wine farm). Visitors are invited to bring a picnic basket, blanket and torch and celebrate the joy of Christmas with family and friends on the sprawling lawns amongst the historic camphor trees.

The area also has its own community radio station, named Radio Helderberg, broadcasting community notices, local news, and playing adult orientated English and Afrikaans pop music.

Somerset West is home to four private schools: Somerset House, Somerset College, Helderberg High/Primary, Somerset Private and the government schools Beaumont Primary, Somerset West Primary, De Hoop Primary, Hottentots Holland High School and Parel Vallei High School.