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Rhodes / Barkley


NicoBoshoff

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The wife and I are planning a roadtrip in May to Rhodes and/or Barkley East.

 

I'll be taking the trusty steed along to check out some trails.

 

Does anyone have some tips for accomodation, trails, food etc?

 

Greatly appreciated.

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Hi Nico

 

Rhodes is a great place to stay. There is a bunch of guest houses there and some guest farms around the town. In Rhodes you can try the Rhodes hotel, its very old and has a great vibe to it. Also you can try Walkerbouts Inn, Dave Walker is the man to speak to there, he also used to brew his own beer which was awesome.

 

Rhodes is a great base camp to go visit Tiffendell and to go flyfishing in the area, and off course biking. I havent been there in a few years, so things might have changed.

 

Check on the net for contact details.

 

Goodluck ;)

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Shot. I got the impression that the Rhodes Hotel went south with Tiffendel closing for some time. Perhaps the town's made a comeback.

 

Anyone ever dealt with Wild Mountain Adventures in respect of the camping options on the Kraai River in Barkley East? That seems awesome but the website hasn't been updated in ages.

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We used to stay at Basie Vosloo's cottage (Gateshead) at the end of the road on the top of the mountain. Is a bit out of the way, and, let's say, um, rustic.

 

We like it tho.

Edited by davetapson
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I have stayed at Tenahead Mountain Lodge a few times. It is awesome. The lodge is at the top of Naude's Nek. You can have a nice ride from there to Tiffendel (24km one way) but it is mostly uphill on your way there.

 

If you are keen for a long ride, you can do Tenahead-Tiffendel-Rhodes-Tenahead. Should be about 80km.

 

Beware of Rhodes Hotel, last year there were a lot of issues there. The owner rented the property out to another guy who managed the hotel as his own business. Well last year somewhere there was a dispute one Sunday afternoon, and the one guy bliksemed the other one through the hotel window. From what I hear, the service went south.

 

That area is one of my favourite areas in SA. Awesome views, you can ride your bike, and you can fly fish in between.

 

There aren't any MTB specific trails in that area that I know of.

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I dont know about Wild Mountain Adventures, but check this link out.

http://www.wartrail....odation(2078615).htm

 

I have stayed in Pitlochrie, I think it is the most beautiful place inland. 7kms of trout stream, and you can actually ride some wicked cattle tracks on the farm. Its very steep there and the farm is HUGE!!!! I would defs recommend it. There is not much around the farm, about 40kms from Rhodes, 30 from Barkley East and 20 kms from Lesotho border.

 

We drove Lundean's Nek when we where there, breathtaking views!!!

post-47285-0-06084300-1396956141_thumb.jpg

post-47285-0-44642500-1396956147_thumb.jpg

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Remember to pack your climbing legs! The roads go up and does not stop. The downhills are awesome as well!

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The wife and I are planning a roadtrip in May to Rhodes and/or Barkley East.

 

I'll be taking the trusty steed along to check out some trails.

 

Does anyone have some tips for accomodation, trails, food etc?

 

Greatly appreciated.

 

Hey Nico

 

I spend time in Rhodes every year guiding people who want to fly fish in the rivers and streams that the area is well known for.

 

The Rhodes Hotel has closed, don't know if it will open again??

 

Walkerbouts is a great place, Dave and his team run a fine establishment. I like it, as it is the most central place to stay. They offer full board, dinner, bed, breakfast and lunch (packed, if needed). The pub is festive and beer very cold.

http://www.walkerbouts.co.za/

 

Rubicon has also closed, and again, I don't know if it will open again.

 

Tenahead is one of the most stunning 5 star lodges I have know of. High in the mountains, and right at the start of the Bell river.

http://www.riverhotels.co.za/tenahead/

 

You can also stay at Tiffendell, but as with Tenahead, it is also very high up...

http://www.tiffindell.co.za/

Thus nice easy ride out, but you are going to phone a friend on the way back...

 

There is a lot of self catering accommodation, both in town and just outside.

http://www.rhodesvillage.co.za/

 

And some stunning farms to stay at.

http://www.gateshead.co.za/home

http://www.ballochcottages.co.za/

 

And then Wartrails is also good.

http://www.wartrail.co.za/

 

------------------------------------------------------------

So where??

 

If you only have a few days, Walkerbouts or self-catering in Rhodes.

 

If you have 10'ish days.

3 days at Walkerbouts.

3 days at Balloch.

3 days at Gateshead.

 

Although I'm fly fishing bias... you will still love it.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------

 

Rides?

 

From Rhodes to Naudes neck - Out of Category. Just one little climb on the way back, just a cat 1.

http://www.strava.com/segments/1293417

 

From Rhodes to Tiffendell - Out of Category. Straigh back to Rhodes all down hill, back via Wartrails, some really cool riding on that one, long enough break to recover and enjoy, then some hills, not too bad.

http://www.strava.com/routes/177548

 

From Rhodes, up the Bok Spruit, really cool ride, mixed.

 

If you stay at Balloch, there are some killer rides in that area, and your up'ish already.

 

Gates Head, just go recover and take in the views...

 

 

That's what I got...

Hope it helps.

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  • 5 years later...

Nothing like blowing some life back into a very old thread hey!  :clap: Our local club are planning a Cycle tour of the area at the end of April 2020. Our itinerary is as follows:

Day 1 Lady Grey to Barkley via Joubert's pass.

Day 2 Barkley up Lundean's nek pass and back.

Day 3 Barkley to Rhodes.

Day 4 Rhodes to Tiffindell via Calisleshoek pass.

Day 5 Rhodes to Tenahead Lodge and back.

 

My question is, to someone that has been up their fairly recently,  what is the general state of the gravel roads in the area? Very rutted and corrugations? Or more on the smooth side? Do I take my light weight, Carbon frame, slightly more uncomfortable Giant XTC hardtail, or my trusted comfortable but heavy Giant Anthem? There is about a 3.5 to 4 kg difference between the two. I am 56 years old, 1.87 m and should be about 89 kg at the time. I am trying to do roughly equal training time on both at the moment. It is not a race, but I have a competitive attitude. 

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I would give the guys doing Wartrail challenge a call after next weekend. The wartrail bike leg goes up and over jouberts into lady grey so they will all ride it on Sunday.

 

I would also go stay at Balloch cottages or camp in Balloch cave for your tour instead of Barkley...

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