Taking On The Mighty 742km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape!

by Jason Boulle | Oct 3, 2021 | Bike, Bike Story Feature, Where To Ride

Gravel mountain biking and riding in South Africa, Western Cape, near Calitzdorp.

There exists an incredible gravel riding adventure right on our doorstep in the Western Cape in the form of the Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape. Local travel is very popular at the moment, and that isn’t a problem when you think about all the incredible sights and sounds that South Africa has to offer! From the mighty Drakensberg in KZN, to the majestic Blyde river canyon in Mpumalanga, the unique Cederberg landscape in the Western Cape, the vast expanses of the Karoo, and so many others. There is more than a lifetime of things to do on our doorstep so let’s get out and explore!

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — There are endless kilometres of gravel roads to explore in the Western Cape and, we discovered, some endless mountain passes!

The Western Cape itself is a treasure trove for outdoor fun and adventure; myself and Doug recently plunged right into the heart of it with a 5 day gravel riding epic from Plettenberg Bay to Stellenbosch with a whole heap of other interesting adventures thrown in along the way. 5 days of gravel grinding might sound like heaven to you or it may sound a bit intimidating (or a lot intimidating)! If that is the case, it is worth noting that the route we rode has been created to be enjoyed however you like it. Choose your favourite segments and take it easy in the luxury accommodation options along the way, smash out back-to-back 6 hour riding days, or ride the route in smaller chunks to take your time enjoying the unique character of each region, you pick what suits you!

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — 5 Days, 742km, 2 bikes, a Hilux, 3 elephants, many coffees, all of the good times! This was our Cross Cape experience! How would you do yours?

The route we would cover was taken out of the Cape Cycle Routes portfolio, a collection of stunning gravel routes that have been curated and made accessible for free to get more people out exploring the beautiful Western Cape! Ride the whole route, ride a section of it, drive it, bike-pack it, go solo, or bring your friends and family along for the good times! You can slice and dice them however you want! We had previously taken on the 360km Karoo Crossing from Calitzdorp to Knysna but this time we were in for the Mother (in-law) of all routes, the Cross Cape. 742km spanning from Plettenberg bay to Stellenbosch! This would take us through the towns of Knysna, George, Oudtshoorn, Riversdale, Greyton, Franschhoek, and a few others en route to Stellies.

We would take 5 days to cover the Cross Cape riding some choice segments, stopping to enjoy delicious local food and interesting activities, and then cover the rest of the ground in our Hilux before coming to rest in stunning BnB / lodge’s along the route. Check out the photo story below or watch the videos!

Part 1: Plett – Montagu Pass

Part 2: Montagu Pass – Stellenbosch

We’ll take you through our adventure with a photo story so you can get a better taste for what is out there waiting for you! Details on our accommodation and activities can be found at the end of the article.

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — Our 5 day adventure would begin with an early morning drive through from Cape Town to the gorgeous beaches of Plettenberg Bay! These don’t have to be purely riding adventures and we set the tone for that with our first activity!

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — Our 5 day adventure would begin with an early morning drive through from Cape Town to the gorgeous beaches of Plettenberg Bay! These don’t have to be purely riding adventures and we set the tone for that with our first activity!

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape!

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape!

The sun was out, so a stop at Bitou Kayaks made all the sense in the world! Operating out of Emily Moon Lodge on the Bitou river just outside Plett, putting paddles in the water was a great way to ease into the flow and pace of a 5 day adventure!

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — The riding portion of our first day would be a roll through the well known Diepwalle forests and into Knysna! More than just enjoying the winding gravel roads in the forest, you can explore the many hiking / running trails as well as some mountain biking routes too!

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — The riding portion of our first day would be a roll through the well known Diepwalle forests and into Knysna! More than just enjoying the winding gravel roads in the forest, you can explore the many hiking / running trails as well as some mountain biking routes too!

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape!

Bike choice on a gravel ride can be quite a tricky one it seems. Some swear by the purpose built gravel weapon other prefer a more traditional hardtail mountian bike etc. Our weapons of choice were Cannondale Sclapels which we find ride as efficient as you could want when locked out with comfortable and familiar mountain bike geometry, as we spend most of our time on trail bikes. They also allow for some fun off the gravel when the opportunity presents itself.

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — It can be a good idea to plan your holiday to coincide with local event and festivals to add some vibe if you’re looking for it. We rolled through during the Knynsa Oyster Festival which inspired a check in at 34 South on the waterfront for some deliciously fresh oysters. The Knysna Hollow was our first overnight stop and we were treated to luxury rooms and facilities. These are some of the details to think of when planning your ride and how you will punctuate the time on the bike.

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — It can be a good idea to plan your holiday to coincide with local event and festivals to add some vibe if you’re looking for it. We rolled through during the Knynsa Oyster Festival which inspired a check in at 34 South on the waterfront for some deliciously fresh oysters. The Knysna Hollow was our first overnight stop and we were treated to luxury rooms and facilities. These are some of the details to think of when planning your ride and how you will punctuate the time on the bike.

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — A hearty dinner and healthy breakfast are essentials to keep the energy levels in the green especially with a packed itinerary!

The Cross Cape Route leaves Knysna up the Phantom pass and along the Seven Passes road to George which was breathtaking in more than one sense of the word! Capitalising on the capability of the bikes we were riding, stopping for a quick trail session at the Garden Route Trail Park was on the cards!

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — A hearty dinner and healthy breakfast are essentials to keep the energy levels in the green especially with a packed itinerary!

The Cross Cape Route leaves Knysna up the Phantom pass and along the Seven Passes road to George which was breathtaking in more than one sense of the word! Capitalising on the capability of the bikes we were riding, stopping for a quick trail session at the Garden Route Trail Park was on the cards!

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — The diversity of activities and experiences to be had between Plett and George was almost overwhelming, we even managed to squeeze in some quad biking at Wild X Wilderness!
Capping off the day with a braai really bakes in the South Africanness of the journey, always recommended! A night on the Red Berry Farm in George would be our last in the Garden Route as a rather enormous mountain pass loomed in wait to take us to the Klein Karoo.

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — The diversity of activities and experiences to be had between Plett and George was almost overwhelming, we even managed to squeeze in some quad biking at Wild X Wilderness!
Capping off the day with a braai really bakes in the South Africanness of the journey, always recommended! A night on the Red Berry Farm in George would be our last in the Garden Route as a rather enormous mountain pass loomed in wait to take us to the Klein Karoo.

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — Good coffee is important before the real riding begins, we visited Il de Pain in Knynsa and Millwick’s is apparently the place for it in George! Engines revving, the Cross Cape route would take us out on the renowned Montagu Pass in the North that would lead us up and into the Klein Karoo.

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — Good coffee is important before the real riding begins, we visited Il de Pain in Knynsa and Millwick’s is apparently the place for it in George! Engines revving, the Cross Cape route would take us out on the renowned Montagu Pass in the North that would lead us up and into the Klein Karoo.

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — Montagu Pass should be on everyone’s bucket list! Whether you come in a car, bike, on foot, or off-road rollerblades (maybe it’s a thing?). The scale and beauty is something to behold. Completed in 1848, summiting at 780m, and just over 7km in length from base to summit. It certainly gives the legs a good test if you tackle it from the bottom as we did, but that just gives you more time to take in the views! This was a highlight of the trip and marked the halfway point of our journey to Stellenbosch as we covered a lot more ground in the latter 2 days.

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — Montagu Pass should be on everyone’s bucket list! Whether you come in a car, bike, on foot, or off-road rollerblades (maybe it’s a thing?). The scale and beauty is something to behold. Completed in 1848, summiting at 780m, and just over 7km in length from base to summit. It certainly gives the legs a good test if you tackle it from the bottom as we did, but that just gives you more time to take in the views! This was a highlight of the trip and marked the halfway point of our journey to Stellenbosch as we covered a lot more ground in the latter 2 days.

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — The word “lunch” was often on the brain after solid ride and particularly cresting Montagu Pass. After drinking in the majestic views from the top we rolled down the back into the hamlet of Herold. Due to the alcohol restrictions at the time, we couldn’t enjoy a wine tasting at the Herold Wines estate but that did mean we stumbled upon the Over The Mountain Tea Garden, discovering their roosterkoek and out-of-this-world scones! Worth a stop of you’re even remotely nearby!

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — The word “lunch” was often on the brain after solid ride and particularly cresting Montagu Pass. After drinking in the majestic views from the top we rolled down the back into the hamlet of Herold. Due to the alcohol restrictions at the time, we couldn’t enjoy a wine tasting at the Herold Wines estate but that did mean we stumbled upon the Over The Mountain Tea Garden, discovering their roosterkoek and out-of-this-world scones! Worth a stop of you’re even remotely nearby!

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — As you move into the Klein Karoo there is an obvious change in scenery from lush forests to the wide open expanses and smaller vegetation. On our Journey, this was also accompanied by a change in pace, and style of activity off the bike! Wildlife experiences are popular in Oudstoorn from ostriches to meerkats and even elephant feeding as we found out! The Buffelsdrift Game Lodge is just out of town and hosted us for this experience that will likely last a lifetime and we would recommend over and over!

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — As you move into the Klein Karoo there is an obvious change in scenery from lush forests to the wide open expanses and smaller vegetation. On our Journey, this was also accompanied by a change in pace, and style of activity off the bike! Wildlife experiences are popular in Oudstoorn from ostriches to meerkats and even elephant feeding as we found out! The Buffelsdrift Game Lodge is just out of town and hosted us for this experience that will likely last a lifetime and we would recommend over and over!

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — Enjoying down time (and more braais!) at spots like the Swartberg Country Manor, nestled under the snow capped Swartberg peaks, allows the serenity of the Klein Karoo to sink in. Our journey from the Swartberg on would have some big distances covered in the Hilux due to time pressure but the roads we drove have us set on coming back for more bike time!

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — Enjoying down time (and more braais!) at spots like the Swartberg Country Manor, nestled under the snow capped Swartberg peaks, allows the serenity of the Klein Karoo to sink in. Our journey from the Swartberg on would have some big distances covered in the Hilux due to time pressure but the roads we drove have us set on coming back for more bike time!

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — We had earmarked Rooiberg and Garcia’s passes as important segments on our riding hit list and man did they deliver! Rooiberg is a rough gravel pass (once again grateful for MTBs) over the Rooiberg conservancy, seemly in no-man’s-land between Calitzdorp and Van Wyk’s Dorp. Garcia’s is just about all downhill from the north down to Riversdale in the South. A tough effort and then some free miles. These kinds of kinds of roads display incredible workmanship and when tackled on a bicycle remind you to enjoy the simple things, slow down, and savour each the moment.

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — We had earmarked Rooiberg and Garcia’s passes as important segments on our riding hit list and man did they deliver! Rooiberg is a rough gravel pass (once again grateful for MTBs) over the Rooiberg conservancy, seemly in no-man’s-land between Calitzdorp and Van Wyk’s Dorp. Garcia’s is just about all downhill from the north down to Riversdale in the South. A tough effort and then some free miles. These kinds of kinds of roads display incredible workmanship and when tackled on a bicycle remind you to enjoy the simple things, slow down, and savour each the moment.

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — As one enters the Overberg, water is lo longer a scarcity and the landscape is draped in rich farmland and the more luscious varieties of the natural vegetation. Swimming becomes an enticing option en route to Swellendam and the green coated mountains contrast the vast dryness that you have just left behind, each with their own beauty.
The towns once again are the more popular tourist destinations which bring with them the abundance of adventure activities and such. We docked at the Greyton Lodge, not far from the Mother City but very much in the big mountains as out trip was nearing its close.

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — As one enters the Overberg, water is lo longer a scarcity and the landscape is draped in rich farmland and the more luscious varieties of the natural vegetation. Swimming becomes an enticing option en route to Swellendam and the green coated mountains contrast the vast dryness that you have just left behind, each with their own beauty.
The towns once again are the more popular tourist destinations which bring with them the abundance of adventure activities and such. We docked at the Greyton Lodge, not far from the Mother City but very much in the big mountains as out trip was nearing its close.

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — There is a lot of mountain to be explored in Greyton, on foot, 4 wheels, and 2! The eating is good as well, we were well looked after at Rupert’s Bistro and the Greyton Lodge!
An early morning trail mission was a no-brainer before we set out to tackle Franschhoek Pass and the last stint into Stellenbosch.

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — There is a lot of mountain to be explored in Greyton, on foot, 4 wheels, and 2! The eating is good as well, we were well looked after at Rupert’s Bistro and the Greyton Lodge!
An early morning trail mission was a no-brainer before we set out to tackle Franschhoek Pass and the last stint into Stellenbosch.

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — Stellenbosch or Franschhoek could both serve as a great endpoint for such a momentous adventure. Both will require the great long ascent up the back of Franschhoek Pass and will have plenty of wine estates that would make for excellent receptions on your final day! As alcohol wasn’t legal during our expedition, a warm cup of 18 Coffee at the Hellsend Bike Compound had to suffice, but we didn’t mind that too much!

Taking On The Mighty 742Km Cape Cycle Routes Cross Cape! — Stellenbosch or Franschhoek could both serve as a great endpoint for such a momentous adventure. Both will require the great long ascent up the back of Franschhoek Pass and will have plenty of wine estates that would make for excellent receptions on your final day! As alcohol wasn’t legal during our expedition, a warm cup of 18 Coffee at the Hellsend Bike Compound had to suffice, but we didn’t mind that too much!

Journey’s such as this are brilliant avenues into the deeper reaches of our country and its provinces. The unexpected people and places you encounter along the way open your mind and broaden your understanding of the diversity we are blessed with in our nation. To travel on a bicycle, even partly, naturally causes your pace to ease and give you time to reflect, enjoy, and be present. There is something unique about it and what the Cape Cycle Routes team have opened the door to with their gravel routes is something special to be embraced. What will your journey be?

We are itching to be back on the road again. If you’d like more info on any of our route highlights, have a look below or reach out to us on our Instagram!

CONTACT DETAILS
Bitou Kayaks Plett: www.bitoukayaks.com / 082 444 8424
Knynsa Oyster Festival: https://knysnaoysterfestival.co.za
Visit Knysna: https://www.visitknysna.co.za/
34 South: http://34south.biz/ / 044 382 7331
Knynsa Hollow: https://www.knysnahollow.co.za / +27 44 382 5401
Il De Pain: https://iledepain.co.za / 063 7145398
Garden Route Trail Park: https://www.gardenroutetrailpark.com
Wild X Adventures Wilderness: https://wildxgardenroute.co.za/ / 082 066 1197
Red Berry Farm: https://redberryfarm.co.za / 044 870 7123
George Tourism: https://visitgeorge.co.za
Over the Mountain Guest House and Tea Garden: 083 702 2272 / http://www.overthemountain.co.za
Buffelsdrift Game Lodge: 044 272 0000 / https://buffelsdrift.com
Swartberg Country Manor: https://swartbergmanor.co.za / 044 279 3188
Rooiberg Pass: https://goo.gl/maps/KUFjw8TBjpVp2hTZA
Garcia’s Pass: https://goo.gl/maps/kuFQHtWHp1GHRuZU8
Greyton Lodge: http://greytonlodge.co.za / 082 376 6667
Greyton Trails: https://www.greytonmtb.com/

Post Tags: Cape Cycle Routes, Family, Gravel Cycling, Mountain Biking, Multi-Day Adventure, Plettenberg Bay, Travel, Western Cape

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