Country Escapes

It’s not about the destination, but the journey. So make a pitstop at these markets and padstals for a memorable trip

1 Western Cape

Elgin Railway Market Grabouw

When the Elgin Railway Market opened its doors in April 2017, the place was packed to the stylish, wrought-iron rooftops. Live music was pumping, long queues snaked around the food stalls, the bar was five people deep and Minister of Tourism Derek Hannekom’s opening address was all but drowned out. It coincided with day one of the Elgin Cool Wine & Country Food Festival and, appropriate to the moment, we arrived by Ceres Rail steam train. Coming up for a year down the line, this elegant Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday market has got its act running super smoothly, now with more than 40 stalls with food for all tastes – sushi, Thai, Dutch, including the popular Curry Pot, Fudge Kitchen and Ella’s Elgin Farm Foods; local wines, beers and ciders, plus the cleverly named artisinal L’Gin. Local crafters are well represented with leather work, jewellery, cotton clothing and for kids there’s an Art Box maker space as well as a climbing wall and Cape Segways guided tours. Aside from the contents, the appeal of the market is the steampunk meets art-deco architecture inside the old, converted apple warehouse. And the fact that you can book one of the Ceres Rail Company steam trains from Cape Town to take you there. – Nancy Richards

021 204 1158, [e-mail], www.elginrailwaymarket.co.za

2 Mpumalanga

BFM Caster bridge White River