If the Newlands Valley had a lake, it would be packed with tourists. But it doesn’t – and is isn’t.
The valley is dotted with 500-year-old family-owned farms. Shearing day is reason to rush home from school.
Sons get school out of the way ASAP and follow their dads into the family business. Neighbor girls marry those sons and move in. Grandparents retire to the cottage next door.
With the price of wool depressed, most of the wives supplement the family income by running B&Bs – virtually every farm in the valley rents rooms.
The road has one lane, with turnouts for passing. When you reach the summit, the glacial-shaped wilds – once forested – now not – are breathtaking.
