24.4 ha Farm in Barrydale

Set against the mountains of the Klein Karoo, a short drive from the village of Barrydale on Route 62, Penford Farm is a 24.35-hectare off-grid property that brings together productive land, established water infrastructure, comfortable accommodation and genuine privacy. It is the kind of self-sufficient Karoo smallholding that buyers look for over years and rarely find.

At the centre stands a characterful three-bedroom farmhouse of approximately 150 m2, looking out across the grazing lands. There are two bathrooms, one en-suite, a lounge warmed by a fireplace, and a generous farmhouse kitchen, all finished with the reed ceilings and country detailing that give the house its character. It reads as the natural heart of the farm: established, comfortable and lived in.

A separate one-bedroom cottage with its own garden and sunny stoep sits apart from the main house, suited to guests or extended family. In addition, two self-contained furnished cabins serve as staff accommodation, each with a bedroom, kitchen and living area, power, hot and cold running water and internet connectivity, sharing a bathroom.

What distinguishes Penford Farm is that it runs off-grid for both power and water. A 16 kW solar system supplies the property, an independent water supply serves it, and wireless internet keeps it connected which makes the farm workable for remote work and semigration without dependence on Eskom or municipal supply. With no municipal electricity or water accounts, monthly running costs are modest for a property of this size. Practical infrastructure includes a two-room workshop, a tack room, a 20 m x 20 m shade house and dedicated storage, enough to support anything from hobby farming to a working smallholding.

The land itself is genuinely useful. Roughly 13 to 14 hectares of flat arable ground, all former lucerne lands, are divided into ten manageable camps. Approximately one hectare is currently under lucerne and one under oats, with the balance carrying kweekgras and natural Karoo grazing. A further five hectares of established olive trees are in place and offer real restoration potential for a buyer prepared to bring them back into production. The flat terrain and existing camp layout suit horses, livestock and fodder production equally well.

Water is the farm''s strongest asset. Two boreholes are operational, yielding 3 300 and 4 000 litres per hour respectively, and a third is already connected to power and ready for a pump. Seven boreholes exist on the property in total. The farm also holds registered river water rights, entitling the owner to two irrigation turns, known as leading days, in every 30-day cycle when the river is running, fed through a new concrete sluice system and an established furrow.

Penford Farm is held over two separate titles, Portion 62 of 21.79 hectares and Portion 0 of 2.56 hectares, and the two portions may be sold separately. The smaller parcel carries two older barns, a residential structure and a windmill, offering restoration or development potential for the right buyer. The setting takes in expansive mountain views and views over two dams, and the position on Route 62 would lend itself to tourism-related development, subject to the necessary municipal approvals.

Whether you are semigrating to the slower rhythm of the Karoo, looking for a lifestyle farm with real agricultural capacity, or simply seeking room to keep horses under open sky, Penford Farm offers space, water and self-sufficiency in equal measure, within easy reach of Barrydale''s shops, restaurants and the R62 wine and tourism route. Contact Ruth Goodman to arrange a private viewing.