Stanford to Swellendam on dirt

[Prince Albert Cycles]

Anyone who has done this with as little tar as possible. Suitable for gravel bikes .

Am out of my comfortable route knowledge in this area .

Thank you

Arno 

[NC_lurker]

Keen to see what gets suggested. Haven't ridden it but have looked at route options between Malgas (Breede) and Stanford.

[guidodg]

I have ridden the route but in different sections and directions but it is perfectly doable with only a short section of tar from Stanford to the Napier road...a short section of N2 and a short section of tar on the R317 pass towards Montagu...see the routes below and link them up into a single route..

From Stanford you take the R326

Turn left onto the R316 and and after 300m take the dirt road to the right

Coming up this dirt road from the R316 you turn right at Jongensklip to Klipdale so you can pop out on the N2 near Riviersonderend.

From Riviersonderend its 5km of N2 then turn left onto a dirt road which takes you to the R317 to montagu

Then left onto the R317 towards Montagu for about 11km...then right onto a dirt road all the way to Swellies

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/8070859363

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/7511108841

Edited July 6, 2025 by guidodg

[NC_lurker]

1 hour ago, guidodg said:

I have ridden the route but in different sections and directions but it is perfectly doable with only a short section of tar from Stanford to the Napier road...a short section of N2 and a short section of tar on the R317 pass towards Montagu...see the routes below and link them up into a single route..

From Stanford you take the R326

Turn left onto the R316 and and after 300m take the dirt road to the right

Coming up this dirt road from the R316 you turn right at Jongensklip to Klipdale so you can pop out on the N2 near Riviersonderend.

What about staying further south and meandering via Napier to Ouplaas (just before De Hoop), then north to join the N2 just before the Breede bridge at the outskirts of Swellendam?

Edited July 6, 2025 by NC_lurker

[Prince Albert Cycles]

1 hour ago, guidodg said:

I have ridden the route but in different sections and directions but it is perfectly doable with only a short section of tar from Stanford to the Napier road...a short section of N2 and a short section of tar on the R317 pass towards Montagu...see the routes below and link them up into a single route..

From Stanford you take the R326

Turn left onto the R316 and and after 300m take the dirt road to the right

Coming up this dirt road from the R316 you turn right at Jongensklip to Klipdale so you can pop out on the N2 near Riviersonderend.

From Riviersonderend its 5km of N2 then turn left onto a dirt road which takes you to the R317 to montagu

Then left onto the R317 towards Montagu for about 11km...then right onto a dirt road all the way to Swellies

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/8070859363

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/7511108841

Thank you . Links don’t open I assume I must follow you on Strava . What is your Strava username 

[guidodg]

also a possibility but I cannot comment on that Ouplaas section since I have not ridden it😉

[Stephan]

Hi Arno, I have done many of these roads. Will share route tomorrow when back at my computer. Not possible to do 100% gravel though. 

[guidodg]

Greyton_Stanford_gravel.gpx Greyton_to_Swellendam_gravel.gpx

[Prince Albert Cycles]

Just now, guidodg said:

Greyton_Stanford_gravel.gpx 2.82 MB · 0 downloads Greyton_to_Swellendam_gravel.gpx 5.32 MB · 0 downloads

Thank you 

[Stephan]

What I would do: 

https://www.strava.com/routes/3377209556174780016

Day one: Stanford to Bredasdorp. 

Day two: Bredasdorp to Swellendam. 

[NC_lurker]

2 hours ago, Stephan said:

What I would do: 

https://www.strava.com/routes/3377209556174780016

Day one: Stanford to Bredasdorp. 

Day two: Bredasdorp to Swellendam. 

Cool, that's the general route I thought would work well.

Question, the section between Stanford & Elim doesn't your route go through private land? 

[Stephan]

Nope. Rode it in December. Unless it is now private. 

Edited July 7, 2025 by Stephan

[Anthem24]

Interested to see that Komoot's gravel ride option takes in the lovely Sandy's Glen Pass, but no idea whether all those roads north of the Caledon-Napier road are indeed open. 

Edited July 7, 2025 by Anthem24
typo

[NC_lurker]

1 hour ago, Anthem24 said:

Interested to see that Komoot's gravel ride option takes in the lovely Sandy's Glen Pass, but no idea whether all those roads north of the Caledon-Napier road are indeed open. 

From previous Google maps exploring I seem to remember seeing a lot of little roads interconnecting to be able cut across like that, which might potentially suggest farm roads & gates..

I've only tried Komoot twice and on both occasions it tried to route me through closed access farm roads.

[Prince Albert Cycles]

4 hours ago, Anthem24 said:

Interested to see that Komoot's gravel ride option takes in the lovely Sandy's Glen Pass, but no idea whether all those roads north of the Caledon-Napier road are indeed open. 

Pse invite me to this ride on komoot arno@princealbertcycles.co.za

[Mamil]

This is what I would do - I've ridden the first 100km of this en route to Montagu from Hermanus

 

Stanford to Swellendam.gpx