Bottelary Hills MTB Trails

The Bottelary Hills MTB Trails are the product of a remarkable collaboration between 20 private working wine farms in the hills outside Stellenbosch, united under the Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy (BHRC) since 2011. With 130km of trails crossing vineyards, farmland and conservation areas, the network funds the preservation of critically endangered Renosterveld fynbos — less than 5% of which remains in the Western Cape.

What to Expect

The trails traverse rolling hillsides featuring vineyards, working farm roads and purpose-built singletrack. While never too technical, there are challenging climbs and a variety of distances catering to all fitness and skill levels. Multiple colour-coded loops allow riders to choose their distance and difficulty, and the network can be accessed from several named starting points at different wine estates. Highlights include the infamous Mongoose Downhill (loose and fast with a small drop) and the Fish Eagle section with sweeping views over Table Bay and Cape Town. The setting — riding through working wine farms with the Stellenbosch mountains as backdrop — is genuinely stunning.

Bottelary Hills is part of the greater Winelands Trails regional permit network, meaning an annual regional permit gives access to 1,400km+ of trails across the entire Winelands region.

Access Points and Facilities

Access points include Jordan Wine Estate (most popular), Hazendal Wine Estate (with restaurant and café), Zevenwacht Wine Estate, Devonvale Golf and Wine Estate, Asara Wine Estate and Overgaauw Wine Estate. Each has its own day permit sales point and parking area. Bike boards must be displayed on handlebars at all times as a condition of permit access.

Getting There

Multiple access points along Bottelary Road between Stellenbosch and Kuilsrivier. GPS for Jordan Wine Estate (main access): -33.9157, 18.7748. Contact: 083 448 0810 or info@bottelaryconservancy.co.za

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🌐 Visit Official Trail Website →