The historic Western Cape town of Wellington, steeped in tradition and history, lies just to the north of Paarl. Sitting at the foot of the Groenberg, Wellington lies in a green valley on the banks of the Berg and the Spruit Rivers with the vast Slanghoekberg mountains lying to the East. Wellington has an atmosphere that will captivate the visitor once he discovers the town and its attractions.
The valley in which Wellington sits was originally called the Limiet Vallei or Frontier Valley. In the latter days of the 17th Century, when French Huguenots settled the area, it became known as the Val du Charron (the Valley of the Wagon Makers). Only after the establishment of the town in 1840 was its name changed to Wellington in honour of the Duke after his defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.
Wellington has all the accommodation and attractions that you could wish for. There are miles and miles of hiking trails in the surrounding mountains, there are historic houses and museums, not to mention the numerous vineyards that dot the region. This picturesque small town is the ideal spot to use as a base for your tours of the Western Cape.