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	Our Area & History Our Area  Somerset Lodge is ideally situated between the sea and the winelands and is the perfect base for your stay in the Western Cape. Beaches, mountains, winefarms, shopping, golf are all within a few minutes drive.  The first time visitor to our area could be forgiven for believing they had arrived in paradise. Rarely does a destination offer everything a visitor could wish for, sea, mountains, climate and lifestyle. Somerset West has it all.  Fishing, diving, snorkelling, boat cruises, swimming, beaches, surfing and whale watching are all available. The magnificent blending of the two oceans, Indian and Atlantic can be viewed from Cape Point. From Steenbras dam you can view all of False Bay, from Strand to Muizenberg and across to Table Mountain.  The Helderberg Mountain towers over Somerset West. From the nature reserve there are numerous walking and hiking trails geared for children and adults alike. For the more adventurous there is the notorious Suicide Gorge over Sir Lowry's Pass through Grabouw and Elgin into the Overberg.  Just twenty minutes from Cape Town Airport visitors can still sense a feeling of village life mixed with metropolis. For golfing enthusiasts we have a number of golf courses in the area including Somerset West, Strand, Arabella, Paarl, Westlake, Devonvale, Rondebosch, Mowbray, Spier, Hermanus and Erinvale, host to the 1996 world championships.  Good schools and educational facilities surround the area. Nurseries, crèches, pre-primary and high schools cater for all the family needs.  The famous Stellenbosch wine route is just down the road. Ostrich and game farms are close by. Simplicity and elegance comfortably blend . From biltong and braais (dried meat and barbeques) to the comforts of Michelin rated restaurants in a relais et chateau setting, you can truly experience wonders here.   Our History The land on which Somerset Lodge now stands was originally known as the Arksey Farm,which was utilised primarily as apple and pear orchards. The farm was originally named "Arksey" in 1784 after the village of the same name in Yorkshire. The legendary "Still" on the old farm has long been demolished but its memory and purpose lives on to this day in what has to be described as South Africa's quaintest pub- the " Arksey Village Pub" located on the property of Somerset Lodge.    The property at that time ran from what is now Somerset House School which is located on the old Cloetenberg farm right down to what is now the Somerset West Country Club and consisted of many hundreds of acres.    Before its first sub-division a dirt track ran through the middle of the farm. That little dirt track has since developed and is now Main Road. Sir Lowry Cole, engineer and architect of the British Empire would have crossed the farm when grading what has subsequently become Sir Lowry's Pass, gateway to the Overberg.    In 1820, Lord Charles Somerset graciously allowed the thriving little community in the area to be named after himself. Thirty years later, the farmhouse which is now Somerset Lodge was built and has served as the resting spot for travellers passing through the area ever since. The building is of Cape Dutch design and the original Oregon pine and 18 inch thick walls can still be viewed.    In the 1940's the Arksey Farm guesthouse, as it was known, was the geographical centre of the village of Somerset West. It became a boarding house, or doss house, for the returning soldiers of World War Two. Upgraded in the 1960's it became a popular Lodge for international visitors and locals alike.    Situated on 4874 sq. metres of land Somerset Lodge is the last piece of privately owned property on Main Road Somerset West with undeveloped open space and gardens. Although barren, two of the original fruit trees still claim their place in the garden. Ownership has changed hands three times since the 1960's and Simon and Andrea intend keeping the spirit of Somerset Lodge going for many years to come.