This road trip takes you in a circular route from our guest house via Grabouw to Franschhoek and Stellenbosch back to Lourens River Guesthouse. First you leave from our property and turn left into Lourens Street and at the second stop sigh you turn left again onto the N2.
Travel towards the Hottentots Holland Mountain range. Your first mountain pass is Sir Lowry’s Pass. The summit of the pass is at 920m.
The pass was named after Lowry Cole, the Governor of the Cape Colony at the time when it was built.
After about 21 kilometres from the guest house you turn left into the village of Grabouw. This valley is the centre of the apple growing country. A further 5 km on, you will see a sign “Villiersdorp / Franschhoek” and you turn left here. You are travelling the
R 321 eastwards through the fruit growing region. After 10 km stop at the left on the untarred area in a hairpin curve and take in the view over the valley and the dam and take some photos of the magnificent scenery.
Continue your trip passing the huge Theewaterskloof Dam. Turn at the end of the bridge left onto the R45 towards Franschhoek. Driving along the Palmiet River and the fynbos region of the Hottentots Holland Mountains until you find a parking area on your left hand side (after approx. 1 hour into your trip and 70 km from our guest house). You are on the top of the beautiful Franschhoek Pass. Stop here for an awesome view into the valley. Please lock your car doors.
Drive down the curvy road and enjoy Franschhoek. The tranquil village is known for its French Huguenot heritage, fine wines and award winning restaurants. The picturesque and historic town has a long main road with clothing, jewellery, antique, interior and coffee shops. Stop for a wine tasting, lunch or coffee. Walk through Main Road and enjoy the many different things and sights on offer.
Hop on board the Franschhoek Wine Tram and discover the beauty of the Franschhoek Valley. It offers eight hop-on hop-off tours giving passengers a variety of wines, views and experiences to enjoy.
Leaving Franschhoek along the R 45 passed numerous wine farms stop at L’Ormarins; the home of the Franschhoek Motor Museum and a must-see for car enthusiasts. Showcasing over a 100 years of automotive history the museum’s collection exceeds 220 vehicles – ranging from an 1898 Beeston motor tricycle to a 2003 Ferrari Enzo supercar – and more than 80 exhibits will be on view at any one time, displayed in four de-humidified halls with a total floor area of 2700 m², and presented in chronological order.
A short drive afterwards on the R45 and then turn left onto the R 310 in the direction of Stellenbosch. After approx. 2 km in the heartland of South Africa's premiere wine region lies the legendary farm of Boschendal. The wine farm is uniquely guarded by both the Groot Drakenstein and Simonsberg mountain ranges. Set in the Drakenstein Valley surrounded by lush gardens and vines, the original farmstead complex is now a national monument with a rich and intriguing history of more than 300 years. Today, Boschendal is a Cape winelands icon and an acclaimed wine and food destination. The vineyards and fruit trees have been joined by vegetable gardens and a growing herd of free range, 100% pasture fed Angus cattle reflecting the commitment to serving wholesome farm-to-table food.
Continue your trip on the R 310, first through the village of Pniel and over the Helshoogte Pass. The summit is 387 m above sea level and the Helshoogte Road is in total 15 km long.
The beauty of historical Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa, reveals a vibrant university culture. Walk through the heart of the town, that lies somewhere near the oak-lined Dorp Street and enjoy the history and architectural heritage. A must to visit is "Oom Samie se winkel" which means "Uncle Samie's Shop" in Afrikaans. The shop is situated near the lower end of Dorp Street in central Stellenbosch. You will find anything South African in this mixture of a museum and an old shop including wines from the local wine estates, antiques, confectionary, sweets, jams, furniture and curios.
From here you drive on the R 44 and now called Strand Road towards Somerset West and back to Lourens River Guesthouse.
The scenic beauty of the Winelands will remain in your memory long after your return home.
