Grande Roche - 3 hour Winelands Cycle
Schedule
Grande Roche and the Cape Winelands
The Cape is literally surrounded by vineyards, which produce some of the world’s finest vintages. Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl are world-renowned, attracting visitors from all over the world. It is in the quaint town of Paarl that we have developed our eco-active cycling excursion. Home to the mighty Paarl Rock, the second largest granite outcrop in the world and the Taal Monument, a tribute to the Afrikaans language, Paarl is a historic town resplendent with natural wonders and some simply superb wine estates.
The Grande Roche Hotel is surely the jewel in the crown of Paarl, an elegant Cape Dutch homestead that is sprawled within a lush estate, so you are literally staying among the vineyards! Furthermore, the historic hotel has been declared a national monument and is a member of the exclusive Mantis Property group, promising five-star excellence at every turn. It is the ideal place from which to sample the magic of the Cape Winelands and there is no more unique or inspiring way than on this exclusive, cycle excursion.
The Trail:
It gets mighty hot in the valleys around Paarl, so we start this excursion at 7:30am at the Grande Roche Hotel, located within a vineyard below the majestic Paarl Rock. We gather for a cup of coffee and safety briefing where our guide explains the cycle excursion. We set off on our custom-made zebra and cheetah mountain bikes, down onto the main road, past a number of charming cafes and quaint guesthouses with the vineyards rolling down the slopes to greet us! We continue along this road out of town with the jagged peaks of the Paardeberg mountains in the distance.
We turn off this road onto the Suid-Agter Paarl Road which brings us to Fairview Cheese and Wine Estate, the perfect place to sample their selection of cheeses (brie, camembert and goat's cheese to name but a few) and awardwinning wines. We relax here, stretch our legs and refill our stomachs!
We continue on a tractor trail, meandering through lush vineyards with unparalleled views before us - Table Mountain is visible on a clear day, with farms spreading out across the deep blue horizon. This wonderful trail connects Fairview with Seidelberg Wine Estate, with over 300 years of rich winemaking tradition. Seidelberg boasts an impressive collection of vintages and must command one of the best vistas of any vineyard, anywhere in the world! We try some of their best wines, or grape juice if you prefer, before rolling down the hill onto the tarred road.
From here, we make our way back towards town, but veer off the main road towards the mighty Paarl Rock. Paarl means Pearl in Afrikaans and it is from this massive rock that the town got its name as it glistens like a pearl in the early evening. We climb up the hill, our only real climb of the day and are rewarded with magnificent views. Just below Paarl Rock, we enter the Nature Reserve, hopping onto dirt road. From here, we ease our way downhill past babbling brooks, breathing in the cool mountain air and savouring the beauty of being on the back of a bike!
Before you know it, we are back on the main road and heading towards Grande Roche for a well-deserved brunch after a simply unforgettable bike ride!
Price 2010/11 Season: R 900.00
INCLUDES:
• Bikes and all equipment
• Excellent and varied sights
• Personal service from the best guides in the industry
• Sunrise snacks & beverages, plus cheese and wine tasting
DATES:
Daily: booking essential
Start Time
7:30am
Riding Time
3 to 4 hrs
Dates
Leaves daily at 6:30am (summer)
Depart Location
Grande Roche
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