A drive over Bainskloof Pass via Wellington
One of the Cape's great mountain passes, built in the 1850s, is under an hour from the valley.
If you like a beautiful drive, Bainskloof Pass is one of the best in the Western Cape, and it starts in Wellington, about 45 km from Riebeek Kasteel.
The pass was built by the road engineer Andrew Geddes Bain, using convict labour, and opened in 1854. It runs for about 18 km on the R301 between Wellington and the Breede River valley towards Ceres, and it is now a national monument. Originally made for horse-drawn traffic, it still has its old stone walls and narrow bends. After several years of roadworks it reopened in June 2022.
At the top, at about 594 m, the road meets the Witte River, which drops through a steep cleft with rapids, waterfalls and natural pools. In summer there are spots to swim; take care, and stay off the rocks when the water is high.
Wellington itself is worth a stop for its wine and brandy farms and its tree-lined streets. In March the Wellington Wine Harvest Festival celebrates the start of the harvest.
Drive slowly, use the lay-bys to look, and be back in the valley in time for dinner.
