Barrydale lies at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains on the R62 in the heart of the Tradouw Valley.

At the foot of the Langeberg Mountains in the heart of the Tradouw Valley on the R62, lies the quaint village of Barrydale, a rare gem on the Cape countryside.

Only about a two and a half hours from Cape Town, Barrydale offers a wonderful weekend or holiday escape with restored Cape Dutch and Victorian-style country cottages priced from as low as R875 000, says Seeff Country managing director, Ian Badenhorst.

Any time of the year in this valley is beautiful according to agent Johan van Eeden.

Aside from fruit orchards as far as the eye can see, it is also a wine producing region of origin known for outstanding brandies and wines. The village is rapidly developing into a tourist hotspot with trendy eateries, art stores and boutiques that serve the growing mix of residents including artists and retired professionals and others who want to escape big city life and relocate to a beautiful country town with warm hospitality.

It is also growing in popularity with out-of-town buyers and though prices are still affordable compared to some other country hotspots, these are likely to spike as demand grows.

“Usually about 18 properties are sold here annually, but by mid-2012 12 properties had already been sold at an average price of R764 000. This is 80 percent up on last year, when the average price was around R450 000. Sales range from a three-bedroomed timberframe cottage that was sold by Seeff for R625 000 to R950 000 for a beautiful old cottage with wooden floors, doors and windows. An art gallery was also sold for R770 000.”

Properties for sale include a well-preserved two-bedroomed Cape Dutch cottage at R950 000. This home has also been recognised by the Swellendam Heritage Association. Those looking for a bigger property may be interested in another traditional Cape Dutch cottage that has been restored and extended on a 2 980m2 plot, for R2.5 million. The home has two bedrooms and bathrooms and a large country kitchen with a walk-in pantry, and the garden includes water features, two reservoirs, a small orchard, a vine-covered pergola and a swimming pool.

Call Johan van Eeden on 028 572 1414 or 082 827 1138.