Nottingham Road is a village in the middle of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands that is better known for its pubs and potteries than for its size. It is a stop on the Midlands Meander, a loose trail of craft studios, cheese makers, breweries and restaurants spread over rolling green country, and the place has a relaxed, slightly bohemian atmosphere. Misty mornings are common, with dairy herds in the fields and the Drakensberg a faint blue line on the western horizon.
The history of the region is a mix of colonial farming and the older story of the Zulu kingdom. Near Howick, a short drive away, a small monument marks the spot where Nelson Mandela was arrested in August 1962 while posing as a chauffeur, and a modern sculpture of steel columns that line up to form his face when viewed from the right place now stands there. Visitors can walk the path and view the artwork, and it is an affecting thing to see, set among the fields.
The riding in the Midlands is a pleasure, with gentle hills, long bends and avenues of trees, and country roads that pass farm stalls, trout dams and little villages. The N3, the main highway between Durban and Johannesburg, runs close by and carries heavy lorries, so seek out the quieter back roads when you can. Mist and drizzle are common, particularly in the afternoons, and in summer storms can arrive suddenly, with hail. Winters are crisp, with frost on the grass, and now and then a light dusting of snow on the high ground.
For fuel, Mooi River, about sixteen kilometres away, is a sensible choice, with a population of around ten thousand and the usual services, and Howick, further south-east, is bigger still. The village itself has a few craft shops, cafés and a brewery with a pub, which is worth a lunchtime stop if you are not riding on afterward. The surrounding area has numerous bed and breakfasts and farm cottages, and booking ahead is wise on weekends. Take a layer for the evening, when mist and chill settle on the hills.