Welvanpas MTB Trails — Bainskloof

Welvanpas Farm sits in the foothills of the Bainskloof Pass above Wellington — the historic mountain corridor built by John Baird between 1848 and 1853 that remains one of the most scenic gravel passes in the Western Cape. The farm’s MTB trails, known locally as the Bains Mountain Bike Trails, thread through the fynbos-covered Bainskloof foothills on farm roads and jeep tracks with the dramatic pass mountain scenery as a constant backdrop.

What to Expect

Welvanpas trails are mountain farm riding at its most authentic — unmanicured routes through working Bainskloof terrain, with the kind of raw mountain fynbos scenery that money cannot replicate. The moderate option suits fit intermediate riders; the longer and more difficult circuit involves sustained climbing and technical descents that reward those willing to push for the views. The farm’s position at the foot of Bainskloof Pass also allows riders to add on sections of the historic pass road itself — a Victorian gravel road with outstanding mountain scenery that is fully rideable on an MTB or gravel bike.

MTB Weekend Base

Welvanpas offers self-catering farm accommodation, making it an ideal overnight base for a dedicated MTB weekend in the Wellington and Bainskloof area. Combined with Wellington’s Perdeberg MTB trails, the Paarl Mountain network (accessible via annual permit) and the broader Winelands Cycling Club network, the area provides multiple days of riding variety for visiting cyclists.

Getting There

Welvanpas Farm is on the Bainskloof Pass Road (R303) outside Wellington. GPS: -33.6234, 19.1045. Tel: +27 21 864 2527. From Cape Town: N1 north past Paarl to Wellington exit, then R303 toward Bainskloof Pass.

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🌐 Visit Official Trail Website →