Rating the Trails with my Jimny and my boys: Van Gaalen cheese Farm Hiking Trail Magaliesberg

Rating the Trails with my Jimny and my boys: Van Gaalen Cheese Farm Hike, Magaliesburg 2014

Some background information

Van Gaalen’s cheese Farm MTB and Hiking trails are situated at the foot of the majestic Magaliesberg Mountains. They are open six days a week from 08h00 to 17h00. Please note they are closed on Tuesdays.

They produce cheese according to traditional Dutch recipes which is then sold at their farm shop. Any quantity of cheese can be bought at the farm shop, as well as a selection of wine, preserves, souvenirs, sweets, Dutch delicacies, odds and ends.

They have a lovely rustic type restaurant and have full function facilities for weddings, corporate functions, team building and any kind of festive occasion. Tailor made proposals can be arranged like lunches for tour groups, a picnic and wine tasting or pairing.

They also offer stunning picnic facilities at the banks of the Skeerpoort River on the farm. The picnic hampers however do need to be booked at least a day in advance.

                                                  

Accommodation is available at their ‘Milk Cottages’, and day permits are available for the Skeerpoort MTB or running trails. The Milk Cottages are part of the working Van Gaalen Kaasmakerij. They offer accommodation in the original cheese room that was converted into two 2-bedroom cottages in 2002. D’oude Kaaskamer is the perfect home away from home for guests that enjoy the piece and quite of country life. In 2012 a studio and 3rd cottage was added. The cottages are self-catering perfect for that quick family breakaway.

Cheese Tours:Van Gaalens offer tours explaining how cheese is made right from the actual collection of the milk to the final product their cheese.  They have been conducting these tours for 18 years. The tours take place on every Wednesday and Saturday morning and last 1hr and 15 minutes. Great idea for school children!! At the time of this post the costs were:

Costs are R 85.00 per person. School children pay R 55.00. This price includes the tour as well as cheese tasting. A cup of coffee or juice and a slice of Dutch apple cake are also served.

For groups reservations can be made on other days. Bookings are essential for groups.

Restaurant & picnic:In the garden restaurant your can enjoy mostly ‘cheesy’ food and salads from their a la carte menu. Some typical Dutch dishes like ‘Kroketten’ are on the menu too. Children are welcome. They have a great jungle gym and farm animals to entertain young and old. Breakfast is served from 08h30 to 12h00

Skeerpoort Trails:

Skeerpoort is a village in the foothills of the Magaliesberg Mountains. Its community enjoys country lifestyle, privacy and takes care of their environment

The actual Trails were developed by Erik Schipper and includes over 30 private properties for horse riding, hiking, birding and mountain biking (mainly single track). The manicured route took a lot of preparation and maintenance and attracts many sports people to the area. Many adventure events occur here. If you would like to walk, hike or mountain bike, you can get a day permit and sign an indemnity at the farm. R 50.00 for adults, R 25.00 for high school students and accompanied primary school children free.

For horse trails: you can contact Hollybrook farm at 082 - 552 1285.

Rules and regulations for use of the trail are as follows:

•        Sign indemnity for permit

•        Helmets are compulsory

•        Wear protective eye wear

•        Horses have right of way, then MTB

•        No dogs allowed

•        Keep to set marked trail

•        Keep clean and close gates

•        Respect owner’s privacy

•        Trail will be closed for races

•        We recommend that you carry a cellphone for safety

Directions:

Directions from Johannesburg: Follow Hans Strydom Road, Kya Sands, to Lanseria. (Alternatively from Fourways, take Cedar Road, directionsSun City. At T-junction turn right direction Lanseria.) You are now on the R 512.

Our Experience:

Jordan and I were joined by a few other people today. We started off with some entertainment as the man who was taking everyone’s details and money had obviously enjoyed a party the night before and was somewhat hung-over.  I signed an indemnity form, and filled in a separate form with my contact details, and then confusion seems to take over as it then appeared that only the mountain bikers were to sign indemnity not the walkers. More mountain bikers arrived and the crowd was now growing – which I think became a little too much for him. We did try to behave and kept our stifled giggles under control, but shewee he was entertaining. He did have a great knowledge of the trails and was very passionate about which trail we should be walking.  We then paid – which seem to add to the confusion but once sorted we asked for the loo.  We were told to “just walk down there and push the door”. He handed the map of the hiking trails and we now went in search of this mysterious loo.

We were not sure “where down there was” and started looking for buildings that resembled anything from a long drop to the bush!! Jordan then said lets go into the “large building to our right” this is the main building were the cheese factory, shop and restaurants are. We eventually found the loo right at the end of the long walkway and did not have to “just push the door” as it was been held open.!!  The loos are very clean. The cheese factory looked really cool and the little shop selling all sorts of amazing and yummy stuff. Will definitely be coming back with the rest of the family!! Lots of Cape Dutch items on sale in their trademark White and Blue colours, including some stunning tins.

We eventually found the Start and immediately a large Bull Mastiff dog and a small black “Schipperke”  dog ran in front of us and would wait patiently for us to follow, leading the way.  We thought “Samson” and “Delilah” as we fondly nicknamed them would soon run back to the farm. But to our delight these two walked the entire way with us and when we were not too sure which route to follow the two would stop look at us and encourage us to follow them.  We did the entire way until they finally lead us back to the restaurant. I have since found out they are a regular feature on the trails guiding walkers and many of my mountain biker friends!!

Most of the hike is shaded and you start off walking through an incredible bamboo forest. This forest is rather spectacular and the boys thought it was super cool.  We discovered a weir with a small waterfall; the dogs actually lead us to it!  The signage was at times a little difficult to follow but we did not get lost as we just followed our trusted four legged guides when in doubt!

 

 

 


The paths are really very pretty and the lanscape is quiet breathtaking and you soon forget that you live close to the city and fell really close to nature!

 

 

Our ever faithful guides!

The path keeps close to the river with several bridges and a floating bridge which creates a crisscross trail. We stuck to the main trail and came to the floating bridge. We did not know at the time that this bridge is rather famous amongst the mountain bikers. We started to walk across only to discover it was not quiet the floating bridge and made a hasty retreat back. After much debating and deliberation from the others in the group it was decided the lightest person would ferry the back would take the back packs across to the other side one at a time. He managed to do this without sinking. The guys went across first and as the ladies were about to cross over, several mountain bikers came to attempt to cross the bridge.

 

 just for fun I got these two pics off the Van Gaalan's website they say it all!

We of course waited and watched.  This proved to be very entertaining with the guys psyching themselves up first in military style and then racing across to the other side peddling madly– any hesitation would end up with the rider and his bike in the river. This is precisely what happened to one unfortunate biker who half way across came unstuck, got his shirt hooked into the floating bridge with his head held under the water.  Jordan ran to the one side of the bridge with the large dog and weighted the bridge down which lifted the biker’s head out the water. One of his friends who had suffered the same fate previously and I ran from either side of the bridge and managed to pull him up and bring him across to our side with his bike!! After all this we still needed to cross to the other side. After lots of psyching ourselves and nervous laughter we took turns running across and got our boots wet. This was actually the highlight of the hike and highly recommended.

Initially we thought this walk was far too easy but as we continued it brought about a couple of slightly more challenging areas and was a lot of fun.  This is great trail run country and we will be back to trail run it in future. There were a lot of gorgeous wild flowers and bird life. Because most of the trail is in shade and therefore it is a great walk to take the kids along – just avoid the floating bridge – further along is a more stable crossing.

We then completed our route and came back to the Cheese Factory and went for a light lunch.  The food was delicious and not too expensive and you have the choice to eat outside or inside.  The views are spectacular and the fresh country air is intoxicating.

All in all it’s a great hike, stunning views, great fresh country air, fantastic family outing and gettaway. We will definitely be back. My sister brings my mom here when she comes up for KwaZulu Natal and they both loved the place and I am really glad I finally made the effort to come.  

Adveneturekim.com difficulty rating is a 4/10

                                                                  Overall experience 9/10

Happy Trails
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