Welvanpas MTB Trails (Closest City/Town: Wellington)

Western Cape - Cape Peninsula & Winelands

Welvanpas MTB Trails

CLOSEST TOWN > Wellington

TRAIL DESTINATION > Welvanpas Farm

DISTANCE > Options from 8–18km

GRADING > Moderate

OVERVIEW

Many mountain-bike trails in the Cape claim to have the most amazing variety of routes, sublime singletrack and a rich historic heritage. Welvanpas is no different, and in this case you get exactly what is advertised.
If you like to mix exploring the history of the area with bombing down bike trails, how about the fact that 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, this trail offers you a real cycling treat. Fruit orchards, fynbos, forests, rivers – it is all here, and in abundance.
So purchase your trail permit and saddle up – we are riding the Yellow route.

On your bike

Leave the start area and turn left. Follow the well-marked trail and you will hit the first climb of the day. Actually it is the only climb of the day; it goes on for 8km but only climbs 400m. At 1.7km you will cross the tar road of the Bainskloof Pass. Be careful of any traffic. Across the pass, take note of the sign warning you of snakes and continue up the slopes of the Hawekwa mountain range.

You will cross many small mountain streams, and most people take this opportunity to refill their water bottles with ice-cold water. There are some areas of this trail that go through a pine plantation, but mostly the route is exposed to the sun, so in summer plan your riding time well.

Keep looking at your bike’s odometer as it creeps agonizingly slowly towards 8.3km, because when it hits that magic number a singletrack party is going to happen all over the side of the mountain you have just been swearing at. Every ounce of sweat and discomfort that you experienced on the way up will be forgotten as you crest the hill, gasp some water and charge over the top.

Countless people have looked for the path to Nirvana. You just rode up it.

The great thing about the singletrack on the Welvanpas Yellow route is that it can be ridden by a novice at a sedate pace, or faster by the big boys who live by the motto of ‘In the lead, or in the trees’. No matter whether 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 to scare you too badly. 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.

Eight kilometres of almost nonstop singletrack takes you, via some flat farmlands, back to the finish where you can take a dip in the swimming pool fed by the same mountain streams you crossed on the way up the hill. The water is cold.

For a less strenuous ride there is an 18km White route that has amazing singletrack, but with less climbing and not as much of the adrenaline factor as the Yellow route. Family groups with children may like to ride the more sedate 10km Blue route.

The White Route - 20 km. This route has challenging climbs and technical descents.

The Yellow Route - 17 km. This route has gradual climbs up the slopes of the Hawekwa Mountains followed by 4km of sweet single track descents.

The Blue Route - 8 km. This route follows large sections of the White Route but without the more challenging sections.

Off the bike

Coffee shop and craft sales are available at the start. There is hiking in the Limietberg Nature Reserve or you can go on a game drive at the Bontebok Ridge Nature Reserve. The Limietberg Nature Reserve also has a camping site. There’s also horse riding, game-drives and just driving around to view the beautiful scenery. And of course, there are great wines to be sampled.

CONTACT:

Adventure Cycles in Wellington, tel: +27 21 873 7434

Route information: Pieter van Wyk
Phone : 082 8573180
E-mail : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ,
Website : www.graveltravel.co.za

GPS: 33°39’51.59”S 18°58’24.94”E

Weather:

Cloudy 9 ^oC
Humidity: 87%
Wind: NE at 4 mph

Tue	12 ⇒ 14 ^oC	» Clear «
Wed	9 ⇒ 14 ^oC	» Mostly Sunny «
Thu	11 ⇒ 15 ^oC	» Mostly Sunny «

FAST FACTS

GRADING:

Moderate

DURATION:

1–2 hours

CONFIGURATION :

Options from 8–18km

START POINT:

Welvanpas Farm

TERRAIN:

Mostly singletrack, steep uphills and fast downhill

MAP:

None; trail is well marked

MORE INFORMATION:

Phone 082 8573180 Website : www.graveltravel.co.za

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

Day fees for MTB trail payable at coffee shop at
start point

FACILITIES:

Coffee shop and craft sales

BEWARE OF:

Heat in summer, steep downhill sections on narrow
singletrack

map

HOW TO GET THERE

From Wellington, take Church Street (the road to Bainskloof) out of Wellington towards Ceres. After Bovlei Cellar (on your right), turn left at Redemption Shoes, then immediately right again. At the T-junction turn right and follow the road (it becomes a dirt road) until you get to Welvanpas Farm. Parking is in the field on your left.

BEST TIME OF YEAR

Summer can get very hot, so plan to ride early in the day. In winter the trails can be shrouded in mist and clouds on rainy days.

Welvanpas MTB

Welvanpas 1

Welvanpas 2

Welvanpas 3