Nottingham Road - Welcome to Nottingham Road

A detailed overview of the Nottingham Road area: Looking after Number One

zoom Draught beer brewery - Midlands Meander

A well-deserved spell among these soothing, picture- postcard surrounds is about rewarding oneself, family and close friends with the most superlative of fine times - indulging in luxury par none with all the devil-may-care of a dedicated hedonist. Nottingham Road may well lead to lofty experiences among foothills and peaks of the central Drakensberg range, plus rewarding cultural encounters, natural wonderlands and seemingly infinite arts 'n' crafts shopping along the Midlands Meander, but you'll no doubt be tempted to linger within our pampering environs.

Beck And Call

The 'mission statement' of each and every world-class lodge, gracious bed-and-breakfast, quaint public house, rustic country inn and self- catering establishment is to anticipate guests' every whim with attentive and personal service. In a manner befitting your appreciation of style and elegance, we'll feed your fantasies with sumptuous gourmet delights alongside all other prerequisites of 'The Good Life'.

Squiffy Beasts

Among these essentials, and as omnipresent as our hallmark hospitality, are the ubiquitous fruits of ,Nottingham Road Brewing Company - first supped on its Rawdons Estate premises in 1996 and now wetting whistles far and wide. Handcrafted in authentic German tradition with 100% pure malt, these beers are the real deal, and although their creators can barely keep pace with quaffing locals and visitors, mass production is thankfully not on the cards! Primarily a rich-headed draught, bottled take-away versions are on sale at the Brewery Shop, as are T-shirts that proclaim the cult-status of these 'beastly' beers. To clarify that definition - plus give you an inside edge down at the pub - call for a Tiddley Toad if it's lager you're after, or a Whistling Weasel for pale ale. Pie-eyed Possum means 'pilsner please', while imploring the barmaid for a 'heartily bitter and dark-brown porter' will see a Pickled Pig slide across the counter in your direction.

zoom Rawdons Hotel Photo: uMgungundlovu District Municipality

None For The Road

And while no one is necessarily recommending that you end up on all fours attempting to mimic these sozzled creatures, their tipsy titles do give some insight into our all-pervasive social atmosphere. In keeping with this, the thoughtful folks at Nottingham Road offer a taxi service to shuttle your party from one place of revelry to the next - who on holiday wants to volunteer for designated driver? This extremely convenient arrangement is well worth keeping in mind, for apart from the permanent places of pleasure dotting our landscape, all the fascinating events that form Nottingham Road's 'country calendar' come complete with temptations to indulge in the rites of Bacchus.

Spoiled For Choice

Which brings us to another important decision - when to visit. Apart from choosing between our lush green summer's warm days and cool nights, and winter's frosty ice-blue skies, decidedly chilly evenings and the chance of snow, planning your holiday around the highlights of our just-mentioned almanac will prove rewarding indeed. Here lies a wealth of opportunity to further explore favourite pastimes at leisure, or strike out into the uncharted world of exciting new hobbies.

zoom Poplar-lined Midlands Lanes

Puffing Billy Meets Wee Jack

Rediscover the mechanical marvels of yesteryear in September's 'Vintage and Steam' - a weekend fair that attracts up to five thousand spectators. Originally a showcase for the tractors and implements of our pioneering forefathers, the extravaganza is now a magnet for classic cars, motorbikes and buses countrywide. Manufacturers of new agricultural machinery are increasingly displaying their latest technological advances here, and future- versus-history provides a truly fascinating overview. Rapidly becoming an event of national proportions, you'll also see cart- horses and sheep dogs in action, children showing off their prize animals and the endearing sight of diminutive Jack Russell terriers trying their level best to imitate greyhound racing! Needless to say, scrumptious food will be plentiful and varied, plus the abundance of handicraft stalls will surely levitate the 'ready-folding' from your wallet or purse - particularly if you've already been to visit Pickled Pig and friends!

Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!

And be sure to leave your inhibitions at home for May's riotous two- day Sherwood Medieval Festival, where the Town Crier announces jousting and archery to test the mettle of macho men, jesters poke good natured fun at hapless passers-by and open-theatre antics cause the Bard to turn in his grave. Bedecked in one of the outrageous, locally made costumes for hire, skip along in the wake of a medieval band and convince yourself that no one recognises you! A food tent and the beastly beers are in attendance, as always, but save some tummy-space and stamina for Saturday night's indulgent piece de resistance in the village. Our eagerly anticipated Medieval Feast is where banquet-laden tables and 'buxom serving wenches' plying copious volumes of mead ensure that you need to make use of our designated driver shuttle-service! But is it where Nottingham Road's famous spectral apparitions respond to the Festival's conjuring up of Robin Hood, Little John, Friar Tuck and assorted Merry Men?

Piebalds And Rainbows

A little more decorum is required when attending the Springvale Horse Trials in August - now the most popular equestrian gathering in the country. Yet another weekend event with unbeatable catering facilities, this showcase of national saddle skills boasts a course designed to establish new levels of excellence among global show- jumping exponents. The same month witnesses a convergence of trout- fanatics at the Fly-fishing Gathering and 'pilgrimage' to Trout Bungalow, where a memorial inscription reads: 'Erected to the memory of John Clark Parker by lovers of the Gentle Art of Trout- fishing. By his untiring efforts, trout were first introduced into Natal circa AD 1844, thereby giving much pleasure to many persons.' Two days of luring fatted fish from our well-stocked streams and dams culminate in a prize-giving ceremony and unavoidable reasons to celebrate. Could that shadowy figure be the phantom of John Parker come to tie a Triple D, Walker's Killer or Wooly Bugger for old times' sake?

Overview continued...

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