Clarens is a getaway that caters to the tastes of every type of visitor, offering a world of art, history, stunning natural beauty, breath-taking mountains and so much more, and there are other great places to visit that are just a short drive from Clarens itself.
Although gold and diamonds were what brought people to the Free State first, making it one of the richest regions that many fought over during the Gold Rush, there is a gem of another kind nestled against the Maluti Mountains, and that is the picturesque village of Clarens!
Clarens has withstood bloody battles during the Anglo-Boar wars with grace, in fact, there are many references and sites that stand as witness to these battles fought by the locals to get out from under colonial rule, which definitely satisfies history buffs on a visit to Clarens.
Of course, the only place to stay is at Clarens Eddies Self-Catering/B&B! The reasons for this are multitude, from the hospitality of the team that looks after you while you make you home there in the self-catering units and non-self-catering rooms available, to the comfort, peace and privacy contained in this tasteful B&B!
Mountain bikers arrive in droves from every corner of the world to take full advantage of the crisp fresh air and beautiful trails just waiting for them to explore, and they come back year after year. In fact, they are not the only two-wheeler fanatics who love Clarens, motorcyclists also make Clarens their destination for an early morning Sunday cruise an easy three hour cruise from Johannesburg and Bloemfontein, and four hours from Durban.
Spending just a day in Clarens is not enough though, so bear that in mind when you hitch your mountain bike to your car or trailer! The fresh country air and sights along the mountain biking trails are going to have you going out more than once during your stay at Clarens Eddies!
You don’t have to be a high level mountain biker to enjoy the biking trails in Clarens, there are more than enough trails to suit even the most novice of mountain bikers, and then of course there are those that are right up there in terms of challenge for the pro’s and adrenalin junkies!
For any mountain biker staying in Clarens, mountain biking in the Golden Gate National Park is a must! It’s a whole lot more exciting to cruise through this beautiful area in the open air and on your own steam, and despite the fact that the majority of the roads are tarred, there are more than enough trails to follow up hills to make it worth your while!
If you are tough enough for it, the Rebellie Game Farm mountain bike trail, which is only roughly 12km from the doorstep of Clarens Eddies, is a real challenge, taking you along various trails that are made up of adrenalin pumping descents from eerily steep climbs, dodging obstacles along the way that include sandstone and other rocks that have made this area home for centuries! Not for the faint-hearted!
There is a trail virtually everywhere you look in this mountainous valley so it’s not essential to stick to these, as long as you know the safety rules and don’t pack on any trail alone, this is the place to make the most of not fighting traffic in a city to get to your favourite mountain bike trail!
The Bokpoort mountain bike trail is another not to be missed, the scenery is beautiful but it’s a seriously tough one too, but, when you get to Clarens Eddies to book in, the friendly staff will be able to tell you about every trail there is to be ranged, and, you will have the most comfortable place to rest your head at the end of a hard ride, and the most caring team to make it a really special end to the day!