Cowies Hill stands 10km (6 miles) west of the beaches of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal Province. Now a suburb of industrial Pinetown, upmarket Cowies Hill was originally a farm owned by the mayor. In addition to being near Pinetown's industrial hubs, Cowies Hill is close to the office parks of neighbouring Westville. The comfortable B&B guesthouses of Cowies Hill are therefore popular with visiting business executives. Some of the lodges also offer self-catering units. Although a sedate suburb, Cowies Hill has become something of a household name to fans of the world-famous Comrades Marathon as it is a key section of the race. For the health-conscious, Virgin Active Gym is a stone's throw away. Not much further is the extensive Pavilion Mall which is next-door to the highly respected Westville Hospital. Foodies will be delighted with the abundance of excellent restaurants and pubs in the vicinity. A word of caution - if you want to stay in Cowies Hill during the Comrades Marathon, book well ahead!