Bain's Kloof Pass — Wellington to Ceres HeritageCrossing.

Distance

120 km

Duration

1 day

Climb

700 m

Clone in App Share

Curated by Rider · Updated Jun 2026

Overview

Bain's Kloof Pass — Wellington to Ceres Heritage Crossing.

One of South Africa's most historic and scenic mountain passes — Bain's Kloof was built by Andrew Geddes Bain between 1849 and 1853 using convict labour and only hand tools. The R301 climbs out of the Berg River valley at Wellington, crosses the dramatic Bain's Kloof summit at 600m, and descends to the Boland farming country at Wolseley. Continue north through Tulbagh's historic Cape Dutch streetscape before ending in Ceres, the gateway to the Karoo. The pass surface is paved but narrow with no guardrails in places — ride conservatively.

Quick facts

SurfacePaved

Distance120 km

Days1

Total climb700 m

DifficultyModerate

Loading map...

Day-by-day

The route.

ROUTE

7 stops

WellingtonStart · Start in Wellington — Andrew Geddes Bain commenced construction of Bain's Kloof Pass from here in 1849. Fuel up before the pass: no fuel between Wellington and Wolseley (~50km).

Bain's Kloof West EntryScenic Point · The R301 climbs out of the Berg River valley. Steep cliffs of the Limietberg mountains rise on either side. Stone retaining walls are original 1850s engineering.

Bain's Kloof Pass Summit — 600mMountain Pass · The highest point of the pass. Built by convict labour using only hand tools and gunpowder. Cape Floral Kingdom fynbos on the slopes. 1853 engineering masterpiece — Bain's second great pass.

Bobbejaans River Stone BridgesScenic Point · One of the historic Bain stone bridges spanning the Bobbejaans River. Rock pools below — popular cold dip on hot Cape summer days.

WolseleyRestaurant · Small Boland farm town at the eastern foot of the pass. Try local koeksisters and rusks at a roadside farm stall. Junction with the R43 north.

Tulbagh Wine ValleyScenic Point · Short side trip north to Tulbagh. Church Street was rebuilt as Cape Dutch period architecture after the 1969 earthquake destroyed the originals. Several excellent wineries — Saronsberg and Twee Jonge Gezellen.

More routes in ZA

Tankwa Karoo — Ceres to Calvinia via the R355ZA · 257 km Tradouw Pass — Swellendam to BarrydaleZA · 60 km Seweweekspoort — Ladismith Karoo Gravel GorgeZA · 90 km Pakhuis Pass & Cederberg — Clanwilliam to WupperthalZA · 75 km Prince Alfred's Pass — Knysna to UniondaleZA · 85 km Montagu Pass — George Outeniqua Historic CrossingZA · 60 km

Save this ride. Open the app.

Clone it to your planner, customize dates and stops, then ride. All free.

Get the app More routes →

Open in MotoVault

Navigate this route with GPS

Open