Lothair lies close to the Swaziland border in an area covered with the lakes, trees and long, green grass so reminiscent of Scotland. This village, named after the title of a novel written in 1878 by the Earl of Beaconsfield, as well as the small village of Lochiel, were part of the eccentric Scotsman, Alexander McCorkindale’s efforts to establish a “Little Scotland” in this part of the world. Today, Lothair is located in the heart of one of the largest tanning-bark industries in the province, a mere 65 km from Ermelo at the end of the railway line used to transport timber from Breyten.
Lochiel is a busy forestry centre situated among plantations of pine and Eucalyptus trees. A number of hiking trails meander through the plantations and water-sport and angling facilities are available at several large dams in the area.
