Towns and suburbs

Glencairn

History of Glencairn

Scottish residents likely named Glencairn after an area in North Scotland. It is located about 4 km north of Simon’s Town, the suburb sits in the Els River valley, home to a wetland reserve. An early map from 1870 shows the river, which was originally called Elze, possibly derived from “Esselstein’s River.” Fishermen have trekked the beach for many years.

Christoffel Brand farmed vegetables along the “Elsje’s River”, while a tannery operated in Elsje’s Baai. The area also hosted other farms, including Hartenbosch, now known as Da Gama, and Brooklands.

Further up the valley. Welcome Cottage Farm featured a mill where local farmers brought their grain for grinding. ‍The mill was probably built around 1820 by J. H. Brand. TheFarm was transferred to Thomas Brownrigg Wools, a merchant, in 1828. The mill operated until at least 1842, when the Farm was auctioned and bought by Frances Bateman Pinney, who began vegetable farming. It can be seen within the South African Navy sports grounds.

‍Sandstone from the Glencairn quarry was needed for building the Naval Dockyard in Simon’s Town. Stone was loaded onto a barge and transported across the bay. It was owned by the Divisional Council and opened in 1898. But closed for a brief period between 1914 and 1918 during WW1. The quarry permanently closed in 1978. Today, the old quarry has a new lease on life as a shooting range with False Bay Sport Shooting Club.

The Cape Glass Factory, established in Glencairn in 1902, sourced sand for the glass from the vast dunes which covered nearly the whole of the valley. Ohlsson’s Cape Breweries had a large stake in the business, but it was not profitable and closed only 3 years later. The factory attempted to produce bottles entirely by machine but was unsuccessful. Although the enterprise was short-lived, excavations have uncovered intriguing remains.

The postcode in Glencairn is 7975

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Things to see and do in Glencairn:

 

  • The Beach: Is popular for dog walking, windsurfing and kite-surfing
  • Glencairn Wetlands: These are protected and populated with Indigenous fauna and flora, with great bird-watching opportunities
  • Glencairn Quarry ‍. The sandstone that was cut at this quarry was used to build the Dockyard in Simon’s Town. All the stone was loaded onto a barge and transported across the bay. The quarry was owned by the Divisional Council and was opened in 1898, then was closed for a short time between 1914 and 1918 during the Great War. It was then taken over by Strong & Moore before it was closed permanently in 1978. Today, the area is currently used as a shooting range with False Bay Sport Shooting Club.
  • Cape Glass Factory ‍The ruins of the Cape Glass Company Ltd, a sadly short-lived enterprise, can be seen at Glencairn Heights. Sand for the glass was extracted from the dunes, which almost covered the whole valley. Ohlsson’s Cape Breweries had a stake in the business, but unfortunately, it was not profitable and closed after only 3 years in 1905. It was, however, the first place in the world established to manufacture bottles solely by machine.
  • Glencairn Mill  ‍. The ruins of this mill are at the South African Navy sports ground that was part of Welcome Cottage Farm in 1812. The water mill was probably built around 1820 by J. H. Brand. Welcome Farm was transferred to a merchant, Thomas Brownrigg Wools, in 1828. The mill was in operation until at least 1842, when Welcome Farm was auctioned, along with the mill and bakery. It was bought by Frances Bateman Pinney, who farmed vegetables on the land.
  • Whale Watching: In-season
  • Excellent hiking routes in the mountains
  • (Sacred site )Pyramid All-seeing Eye, This site embodies a fiery, male energy and looks oddly like the symbol on US dollar bills. dean@sunpath.co.za
  • At 3122 Glen Road in the valley, on a slope in a natural fynbos area, is a labyrinth with one-meter-wide paths and two-meter-wide borders of indigenous plants.  0834840294
  • Scuba Diving around the wreck of The Clan Stuart, which ran aground in 1914.
  • –Glencairn Tidal Pool, which was built in the 1920s

  • Useful numbers

  • Police: 021 786 8646
  • Traffic department: 021 786 8646
  • Fire: 0214003908
  • Water: 0860 103 089
  • Electricity: 0860 103 089
  • Ambulance: 10177
  • Post office; Fishhoek 021 782 2916
  • Closest hospital: False Bay Hospital-ER- 021 782 1121
  • SPCA: 021 700 4140
  • Schools: The closest schools are in Fish Hoek

Updated November 2025

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