A return ride with various side-road options up to 25km; the Wild Olive route cuts out the top section of switchbacks which are included in the Rooikat Route.
On your bike
Hillcrest Farm is one of the trails that form a part the Tygerberg Mountain Bike Club’s trails in the Durbanville Hills.
No permits are sold at this trailhead, but day permits are sold at Bloemendal Trail Park, so most riders start at Bloemendal and make their way over the road and up past Nitida Wine Farm’s Table at Nitida restaurant, along the fence next to the road, up a short, sharp incline to the access gate. Alternatively start at the parking area.
The trail winds around the top of an old granite quarry before heading up through olive groves. Higher up, the trail takes you into vineyards along the slopes, before topping out 2.3km into the ride.
Halfway up the route splits sharply – left to the Wild Olive Trail (Green Route) and right to continue the ascent to the Rooikat Trail (Red Route).
At the top you are faced with a choice of turning right toward the Contermanskloof Trails or left onto the Hillcrest Rooikat Red Route. Turn left and savour the delights of some sublime singletrack switchbacks that meander back down to the bottom of the vineyards. An easy singletrack trail takes you around the kopjie and up to the final crest. Keep left for the final singletrack of the Hillcrest Red route. Keep left, it is worth it.
Take a deep breath, grab a sip of water and soak up the view over Table Bay to Robben Island and Table Mountain before launching yourself down the track. After 30m, hang a hard right to stay on the Red Route and succumb to the delights of smooth switchbacks and fast singletrack all the way down to the amazing cobble bricks of Elastoplast Alley before arriving back at the start/ finish area. Making whooping sounds is not optional.
This is not a difficult ride and is suitable for most levels of rider – the trickiest parts are the switchbacks and some steep ascents, and it is easy enough for riders to get off and walk them until they have gained sufficient confidence to ride them.
Off your bike
The Hillcrest restaurant serves a feast of a breakfast, and wine sales are also available.
GPS: 33 49’38.28″S 18 35’22.81″E
Bloemendal and Hillcrest Trail Network on Trailforks.com
