Glamtrails ‒ exclusive walking tours with wine and food experiences ‒ is a must-do experience for discerning visitors to the Hermanus and Hemel en Aarde region in the Western Cape.
Glamtrails’ guided routes through beautiful fynbos, vineyards and farmland can be completed in a matter of hours, some a short stroll, others an uphill hike, and guests are rewarded with wine tastings, food and wine pairings and extraordinary meals at some of the premier wine farms in Hemel en Aarde.
Each Glamtrail has been researched and walked by Tim Lundy and his wife, Gillian. An accredited mountain guide, Tim regularly leads hikes in the Western Cape mountains. He is the author of Family Walks in the Western Cape, a book of easy walks for all ages and fitness levels, and he talks all things hiking on a weekly programme on Cape Talk.
“We are privileged to have been invited to develop our five walking tours in this special valley, best known for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producing wine farms such as Bouchard Finlayson, Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Newton Johnson Family Vineyards, Creation Wines and Ataraxia. We have had such positive feedback from our guests as well as the wine farms and restaurants we visit on the tours, and look forward to building a home for Glamtrails in Hemel en Aarde,” says Tim Lundy.
Partnerships are key
The spectacular trails on offer were developed over a few years and with special permission from landowners, making the experiences unique.
Bevan Newton Johnson, Managing Director of Newton Johnson Family Vineyards, has played an important role in assisting with Glamtrails’ development: “We enjoy a strong partnership with Glamtrails and look forward to sharing our wines and the food experience at The Restaurant at Newton Johnson. Glamtrails is a wonderful inclusion in enhancing and sophisticating tourism to Hemel en Aarde and Hermanus. Our natural beauty is immense and Glamtrails is one of the best ways to enjoy this.”
Frieda Lloyd, Manager Cape Whale Coast Tourism, says Glamtrails offers a family friendly activity that balances exercise and wine tasting pleasure: “Guided walks with visits to fine wine country cellars is a memorable and unique way of exploring the region while fueling up on fun, fresh air and South Africa’s best Pinot Noir.”
Tim and Gillian’s long term vision is to create a multi-day walking experience where guests immerse themselves for 3, 4 or 5 days without having to leave the valley. They plan to eventually have a product that would rival offerings like Tuscany walks; a Camino-type of experience with wine, food, historical narratives along with a community component.