CYCLING TRAILS IN SWELLENDAM
FLEUR VAN EEDEN
Swellendam, a beautiful and historic town, is just two hours away from Cape Town and George, providing the perfect weekend getaway for visitors from both areas. It has much to offer in terms of tourist attractions, restaurants and guest houses and is perfect for the outdoor enthusiast. There are many different cycling options in and around town and in the area too.
The Swellendam cycling trails below were built during the first stage of lockdown in 2020 and provided seven locals with permanent jobs during the construction phase. The trails are free and cater for kids, beginners and advanced cyclists.
SWELLENDAM ROUTES
- 33 km Red Route: 870 m climb
- 21 km Blue Route: 475 m climb
- 10 km Green Route: 236 m climb
- 5 km Yellow Route: 143 m climb
KIDDIES TRACKS
CANOLA ROUTES
These off-the-beaten-track trails offer amazing scenery as you cycle past farms in the area. They are perfect for gravel bikes as they are all on dirt roads and do not require technical skills. In Suurbraak and Malgas you can buy water, Bar-Ones, Energade and chips etc at the cafés. At the Breede River Trading Post in Malgas there is a public toilet too.
Most of these routes can be started in Swellendam or from the Oude Post Bistro & BP Fill Station in Buffeljags. Oude Post Bistro has great coffee, parking and a play area for children.
Crossing the Breede River on the Malgas pont is quite an experience. Until 2020 it was the last hand-pulled pont in South Africa. Due to safety reasons and the demand for one that can handle tractors and other farm equipment too, it was replaced with a much bigger, motorized pont. It operates from 6h00 until 18h00 daily. Choose between the following routes:
- 30 km: 473 m climb
- 51 km: 650 m climb
- 52 km: 875 m climb
- 56 km: 910 m climb
- 68 km: 1 111 m climb
- 74 km: 1 100 m climb
- 85 km: 1 270 m climb
- 93 km: 1 130 m climb (crosses the Pont)
- 123 km: 2 500 m climb
Please consult the website (www.visitswellendam.co.za) for maps, photographs, detailed information about the routes, other tourist attractions and towns in the greater Swellendam area such as Suurbraak, Barrydale, Buffeljagsrivier. Stormsvlei, Malgas and Cape Infanta, as well as restaurants and accommodation.
