;){kind=logo}
THE BEST OF MOUNTAIN BIKING IN WELLINGTON
Posted by Sunè Samuels on 06 September 2018 5:40 AM CAT
Wellington is a small town in the Western Cape that has a big mountain biking heart. Get ready for spring, head outdoors and experience nature.
In Wellington mountain bikers are spoilt with quality mountain biking places to ride. Wellington has the most amazing variety of routes, sublime single-track and a rich historic heritage.
The mountain biking routes are nestled between the beautiful Hawekwa and Groenberg mountain ranges just outside Wellington. The trails are mainly on single-track, winding through orchards, vineyards, pristine fynbos and past stunning waterfalls. The trails will take you up high onto Groenberg, before descending back down to the Kromme River. You’ll have options between challenging and very steep sections or their (equally) challenging chicken runs.
The Wellington routes are some of the most scenic in the country. Be prepared to be spoiled by views of pine plantations, flat farmlands, waterfalls, dense forest and tranquil streams.
Some of the exhilarating single-track sections has names such as Point Break, Route 66, Angel’s Tears, Heaven’s Gate, Super G and The Full Monty. This gives you awill give you an idea of what to expect while riding!
Most of the Wellington routes are on well drained soils which makes them great for winter riding too.
The newly opened Wild Boar Trails trail centre at Val du Charron Wine & Leisure Estate is an exciting new addition to the mountain biking offering in Wellington which combines existing with new routes to provide riders some test and thrill experiences.
Pieter van Wyk has been building trails outside Wellington for almost 10 years. His trails are known to be some of the most flowing and enjoyable trails one can ride on. Having worked on the ABSA Cape Epic Route Team for 8 years, he knows what riders want! The Wild Boar Trails are actually a re-launch of the well-known Welvanpas Trails with quite a number of new sections added and a whole network of trails which is now being made available to riders and trail runners.
Five marked trails will start and finish there, with two other separate trails starting/finishing at Doolhof Wine Estate and the Hawequas Scout Adventure Centre respectively. One other trail involving open gravel roads for people who don’t want too much single track also starts at VDC but must be followed using a GPS.
There is a total of 45 kms of trails with 1500m of climbing
The names of the Trails/ Loops are as follows:
Wild Boar – 45km
Warthog – 38km
Porcupine – 26km
Hedgehog – 17km
Sections of all of the above trails are regularly used during the ABSA Cape Epic, Nissan Trailseeker and other events. They all finish with the fantastic flowing Golden Mile, and the Happy Hog downhill section’s name also indicates the pleasure riders will get from riding there.
Other trail options are: Potbelly (for the kids) – 3km, Flat Hog (GPS route) – 42km, Cross Country (at Doolhof) – 4.5km, Scouts Trail (at Hawequas Scout Adventure Centre – 20km – this entire trail was used during the 2018 ABSA Cape Epic Time Trial).
Costs and logistics
Day permits cost R60pp and can be bought at the trail centre at VDC using cash, card or Snapscan.
Other amenities
Two fantastic restaurants are available for visitors at Val du Charron Wine & Leisure Estate: The Grillroom and Piza-e-Vino.
Contact and web details:
View the video that showcase what Wild Boar Trails has to offer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NNn3N9TO58
