Bain’s Kloof Pass
Visitors wanting to escape the city bustle of Cape Town can take a scenic drive to the beautiful town of Wellington, where they’ll find good food, wine, historical attractions, stunning nature and friendly locals. Be sure to pack your mountain bike and hiking gear if you’re the adventurous type.
Take a circular drive from Wellington to compare 19th and 20th century technology: go over the twisty Bain's Kloof Pass (opened 1853) where boulders painted white on the edge of the narrow road are the only thing between you and the drop. Look out for the rock that defeated the road engineer's explosives.
Built by the intrepid 19th-century road builder who gave it his name, you can wind down an even more hairy road to the bottom. There, beside the Witte River, is Tweede Tol, a haven almost engulfed by the mountains. It’s the perfect spot for a quick snack and nature photography.
Welvanpas Farm Trails
Once in Wellington, visitors can upack their cycling gear and head out into the road. Welvanpas Farm offers cyclers the opportunity to mix exploring the history of the area with pounding down trails.
The historic farm of Welvanpas is the birthplace of former Voortrekker leader Piet Retief, who stayed on the farm until the age of 26? The farm has been in the family for 305 years and is currently managed by Dan and Retha Retief.
Nestled between the beautiful Hawekwa and Groenberg mountain ranges near Wellington, these trails offer you a real cycling treat. Fruit orchards, fynbos, forests, rivers – it is all here, and in abundance.
The trails will take you up high onto Groenberg, before descending back down to the Kromme River. You’ll have options between challenging and very steep sections or their (equally) challenging chicken runs.
The Yellow Route (17 km) leaves the start area, turning left along a well marked trail before hitting the first climb of the day; 8 km long and a mere 400 m ascent. At 1.7 km you will cross the tar road of the Bainskloof pass to crank up the slopes of the Hawekwa Mountains.
Many small mountain streams crossings and a section through a pine plantation lead you slowly towards 8.3 kms and a single-track party all over the side of the mountain. Every ounce of sweat and discomfort that you experienced on the way up will be forgotten as you crest the hill and charge over the top. No matter, if you ride it slowly or like a war hero, the trail will reward you with a ride to live in your memory for years to come.
On the way down the trail there are a couple of steep sections and a rocky drop off, but nothing too scary. You do need to be aware that the surface has lots of tiny stones over a hard base, so it can be quite slippery at times.
8km of almost nonstop single-track takes you, via some flat farmlands, back to the finish or, you can lookout for the world-famous Black Route extension to the Yellow Route and make it last longer!
This 27 km route has exhilarating single-track sections in the pine forest above Bainskloof and their names, Point Break, Route 66, Angel’s Tears, Heaven’s Gate, Super G and The Full Monty, will give you an idea of what to expect!! With a similar finish to the Yellow (17 km), it ensures you’ll still enjoy the thrill of Cool Runnings and Cool Runnings Too, coming down the Bainskloof Road.
For a less strenuous ride there is a 29 km White Route that has amazing single-track, but with less climbing, while family groups with children may like to ride the more sedate 15 km Blue Route.
Wellington was once famous for its wagon-making industry and became known as Wagenmakersvallei (wagon makers' valley) before it was renamed ...