Woodcliffe Farm House & Cottage Click on a photo to enlarge it. Description: The accommodation comprises of Farm accommodation, self-catering cottages and chalets. Things to do are walking, trout fishing, horse-riding and Dinosaur footprints to be seen. The farm has quaint thatched guest cottage situated several hundred meters from the guesthouse and enjoying views between sandstone cliffs to the high berg and beyond. The area is like the KZN Drakensberg but more remote than anything you dreamed of. There is a sense of space and true wildernes Woodcliffe is not licenced & Guests are advised to bring their own drinks Facilities Woodcliffe Cottage: situated at the start of the trail, this modern cottage has three bedrooms with four single beds and one double, bedding and towels. There is also a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom with bath, shower and toilet, electricity, hot water, a stove, fridge and other furnishings. Wood and a grid are supplied for braaiing, as well as garden furniture. Tok's Cave: situated under a large, deep overhang and offering a magnificent view, this cave can be used for the first and second nights of the trail, or just for the second. With dung floors and three small rooms built at its closed end, it has a large supply of sheepskins in lieu of beds, a braai grid, a couple of pots, a kettle, lamp, firewood and water. There is also a pit toilet nearby. Up to 30 people can overnight here. Shepherd's Cave, not far from Tok's Cave, offers similar facilities. Reed Park: a stone cottage lying in a valley deep in the mountains, this can sleep between 12 and 15 people. Water has to be fetched from a nearby stream, but a three-plate gas burner makes hot water possible. There are also a couple of pots, a kettle and lamps as well as a table and five chairs. A pit toilet is situated a little way from the cottage. Wide Valley: a disused farmhouse with basic facilities including sheepskins, a gas burner, a pot, kettle and lamp, plus outside toilet. Fifteen to 20 people can overnight here. The Trail: This trail can be walked in a variety of combinations lasting from one to four days. There is a 15-km walk to Tok's Cave, from where the first day is a circular walk of 13 km (without backpack). Day two goes from Tok's Cave to Reed Park, a distance of 13 km, which includes an 800-m ascent. The third day is 14 km and includes a 550-m climb followed later by a 700-m descent leading to Wide Valley. The last day is relatively short— only 9 km, including mild uphills and a steep descent back to the farmhouse. Although this is not an easy trail and certainly not recommended for beginners, it traverses an area of spectacular scenery, and the utter remoteness of its mountains and valleys gives the hiker a truly off-the-beaten-track experience. Hikers who feel they may not cope with the steep ascents and descents can hire donkeys to carry their packs. However, prior arrangements have to be made. Hikers who want to spend the night at Woodcliffe Cottage and walk the first day with only day-packs can make arrangements to have their packs transported to Tok's Cave the following day—this will incur an additional charge. What to see and do: This area is rich in indigenous flora. A short botanical walk, known as the Picnic Forest Trail, has been laid out near Woodcliffe Cottage, to identify many of the species encountered along the trail. Trees include stinkwood Qcotea bullata, ouhout Ieucosidia sericea, horse wood Clausena anisata, mulberry-leaf trimeria Trimeria grandifolia, red pear Scolopia mundii and many more, while cross -berry Grewia occidentalis and cat-thorn Scutia tnyrtina, and several species of pro-tea, are some of the shrubs or smaller trees found here. Wild flowers abound in spring and early summer. A list of trees on the Picnic Forest Trail is available upon request. Bird life is abundant and a list of no fewer than 153 species has been drawn up, including hamerkop, black eagle, African goshawk, lanner falcon, crowned crane and spotted eagle owl—to name a few. Mammals include baboon, black-backed jackal, Cape clawless otter, caracal, Cape mongoose, dassie, grysbok and reedbuck. There are numerous examples of Bushman paintings in the mountains of the Woodcliffe Trail, but special—and not always easy—detours have to be taken to see them. Hikers who are particularly interested in viewing the Bushman paintings should make special arrangements with the Sephtons before starting out. Non-hikers are also catered for and can stay in Woodcliffe Cottage and just relax or go for short walks. Trout fishing is available and short horse trails can be arranged upon request. Woodcliffe Farm is on the Farmhouse Accommodation and Bed & Breakfast lists and visitors can stay at the main house on a bed-and-break-fast or full-board basis. What to take: Other than the usual hiking equipment, the following items are essential: sunblock (not just sun-cream—the sunburn can be very severe), rainwear right through the year, warm clothes and a warm sleeping bag. Swimwear is a welcome extra in summer, while sturdy boots are essential for the difficult terrain. Because the area is so remote, hikers are advised to buy all supplies at home and not to rely on stocking up locally—it is likely that the small towns and villages in the area will not be able to oblige. Weather: Summer day temperatures can be as high as 32°C, while winter night temperatures can drop as low as -15°C. The summer maximum average temperature is 25°C, and the minimum average 13,9°C. The winter minimum average temperature is 3,3°C while the maximum average is 17,6°C. Snow occurs regularly in winter. The annual rainfall is 800 to 1 000^ mm, falling between October and March with February and March being the wettest months. Thunderstorms are common, particularly in December and January, while hailstorms are also frequent at this time. Thick mist often occurs during the rainy season. The fishing on the Woodcliffe farm and surrounds is varied and greatly rewarding for the fly fisherman who takes the trouble to fish the area thoroughly. The fishing on the Little Pot can be divided into 2 distinct sections viz, above and below the weir. Above the weir has been devoid offish for a few years but has been restocked and the promise of this section of river is immense. The weir its self and its immediate vicinity is (he ideal place to start for the less experienced angler, with allot of small but eager fish, and easy casting opportunities. As one moves upstream the fishing is more difficult .with steep banks and lots of trees. Here the fishing is more suited to nymphing with lots of runs and undercut banks. This continues until one reaches the ruins of an old dam. above this the nature of the river changes to one of extreme beauty. When last I fished the river the fish had not yet migrated this far up the river but it is hopefully just a matter of time. The upper part of the river is perfect for the dry fly.The river is strewn with large boulders and has lots of pockets, and pools shallow enough for the dry fly, but deep enough to hold fish of some size. The water is mostly very clear and although the sides of the valley are steep, they are free of alien vegetation and trees, and perfect for the upstream nymph or dry fly .Its one of those valleys so lovely that the fishing is almost incidental. Below the weir the nature of the river changes as the gradient of the valley flattens out. The river is slower, the pools deeper and longer and most importantly the fish much bigger. The first few hundred meters below the weir is a long mn mostly devoid of insect and fish life. However as soon as the river starts to meander it creates deep undercut banks .and these in conjunction with the roots of the willow trees form ideal holding lies for some large fish( 2 - 3 Ibs plus ). Ideal water for deeply drifted nymphs but be prepared to be snapped off fairly often. In our experience the most effective flies have been peacock woolly buggers, olive nymphs and pheasant tail nymphs. Lastly, for the experienced fisherman a small stream joins the Little Pot river from Redcliffe farm passing just below the Woodcliffe farmhouse. This is a Lilliputian water requiring stealth and a full array of small stream tactics, but rewards one with lots of little fish in the 8 inch range, and then even' now and again a 12 or 14 inches. Its the type of stream that you think you will try for an hour or so, and then end up spending the whole morning there. As you work your way up the stream thins to the point where you think it can't possibly still hold fish,and then you see another flash of silver in the stream. Price Info: Rates: R154.00 p/p/night self catering R242.00 p/p/night Bed & Breakfast R350.00 p/pnight Dinner / Bed / Breakf

Maclear, Eastern Cape Address: Off R56 Directions / Map In-Room Facilities: None, or no information available On-Site Facilities: Farm Stay Close-By Facilities: Fishing - River

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