Glen Gowar MTB Trails (Closest City/Town: Somerset East)

Eastern Cape - Western Region EC

Glen Gowar MTB Trails

CLOSEST TOWN > Cookhouse

TRAIL DESTINATION > Glen Gowar Guest Farm

DISTANCE > from 14km

GRADING > Easy to difficult

OVERVIEW

The ride follows the Ann’s Villa gravel road (off the Somerset East-Cookhouse road) to Rietfontein, then follows a jeep track into a forested kloof where the vegetation morphs from Karoo scrubs to dense, indigenous
forest.

On your bike

The adventure starts, with a 10 metre wide river waiting to be crossed. During the next 3 km you may cross the river as many as 5 times, sometimes cycling through half a metre of water while coping with rocks and muddy clay.

Clear mountain streams along the way will seduce you into the odd drink stop and allow you to wash some of the mud off the bike. Huge yellowwood and milkwood trees, draped in bearded moss, line the route until the vegetation again opens up into typical Eastern Cape fynbos. Numerous single-track sections lead from the jeep track, clattering along rocky slopes and down into dense kloofs where kudu, rhebok and bushbuck hide.

Once you reach the top of the Zuurberg Mountains, a stunning vista stretching from PE to Somerset East opens up. Take a break and then hit the downhill all the way back. Glen Gowar trails offer the perfect weekend getaway, with all levels of riders catered for.

Off the bike

Glen Gowar guest house is only 30 km from the amazing Shamwari Game Reserve, Addo Elephant National Park, the Zuurberg Game Reserve and Darlington Dam with its boating and fishing amenities and a brand new rhino camp. Bird-watching, hiking, quad-biking and hunting during the winter are other outdoor activities offered in the area.

CONTACT:

Route information: Peter Gowar
Address: PO Box 1, Cradock, 5880
Telephone: 042 235 1577 or 083 945 4785
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

GPS: 32°48’44.6”S 25°38’18.4”E

Weather: {weather Somerset East, South Africa}

FAST FACTS

GRADING:

Easy to Difficult

DURATION:

Various – from 90 minutes

CONFIGURATION :

Various return options – from 14km

START POINT:

Glen Gowar Guest Farm

TERRAIN:

Cycle along the jeep tracks with various options of single track and expect muddy clay and rocks

MAP:

Available at the Guesthouse

CELL RECEPTION: Yes

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

R50 (guests only)

FACILITIES:

Guesthouse, ablutions, kiosk,

BEWARE OF:

River crossings, erosion ruts

HOW TO GET THERE

From Cookhouse towards Somerset East on the R63. Turn left on the Ann’s Villa road and drive for 7km.

BEST TIME OF YEAR

From April to August; winter temperatures from 0–21°C and summer from 18–36°C.