Listed below are a few grave road MTB Routes in and around the East London area. This info was kindly supplied by a local MTB legend. These routes will in the near future all be mapped and made available on this site.

This route can be ridden as an add-on to the Hemple’s Farm XC route. (See Cross Country and Single track Routes) It includes a really long steep climb (Sole Destroyer!!!!) on gravel road heading out towards the Thornpark area. Various options are available to increase distance.

Contact Antoinette: 043 7266510 / 083 441 1108.

Lilyfontein Area.

Ride out from East London on the N2 towards Umtata or drive and park at the Gonubie Farms Hall. There are plenty of lovely gravel roads in the area. Route selection can vary from 12 km to 70+ km.

Some suggestions:

At the Stop sign at the Gonubie Farmers Hall / Brakfontein turn off - turn left. Continue along the tar road, past the Lilyfontein School /Oribi Lawns turn off. About 2km on you will get to a sign “Lilyfontein Catholic Church”. Turn left there onto a gravel road. Continue along this road until the road forks (1) (Farmhouse with red roof on the left) Take the left fork and continue along that road. There is a steep down hill that takes you down into the Gonubie River Valley. After the 2nd causeway the road becomes more of a jeep track. After approx 2km you will get to a farmhouse on the right close to the road. The dogs will probably bark at you! Shortly thereafter the road will go between an abandoned old farmhouse and shed. Turn around there and head back. If you carry on you will go onto private property as the road ends at the last farm. It will be a nice steep 3+ km climb back out of the valley.

A lovely quiet route with lots of birds in the valley.

OR: 

As above until you get to the fork (1) in the gravel road. Take the right fork and continue until you get to the tar road. Turn left and ride up the hill where you will see the Lilyfontein Lutheran Church on the left. The road becomes gravel and goes through the rural settlement. Continue on that road until you get to a Y Junction (2) Take the right fork. You will eventually go down a really long downhill approx 4km. If you carry on you will eventually come to the Blue Waters Police Station. Do an about turn at any stage you wish and ride up the 4km hill. Good training esp. on a windy day. Head back the way you came. (2006 Buffalo Challenge Half Marathon Route)

OR: 

You will need a map for this route.

As above until your get to the Y Junction (2). Take the left fork. This will take you on a long 70km+ ride with various options. (The 2006 Buffalo Challenge Marathon Route)

Many areas along the route do not have cell phone reception.

Contact: Anne 043 7374648 / 083 650 9717 for more info or route map.

Another nice ride that is not too difficult is to ride as if going to the Farmers Hall. (Or drive there and park, ride back to the stop sign at the off ramp) Turn Right at the stop sign at the top of the off ramp. Go over the highway and then turn left a few 100m further onto a gravel road. The E L Tomato Packers will be on your left. Continue along that gravel road until you get to a 4-way stop (3) Turn Right and continue along that road until you reach the tar road. Turn left onto the tar and then 50m further turn right. Ride past Crossways Spar then take the left fork to Kwelera Mouth. (Right will take you to Sunrise on Sea… also a nice ride)

Continue along the tar road and ride into Kwelera. (Watch out for the little speed hump at the bottom of the downhill… it’s not very well marked) The road curves to the left just after the hump. After the last houses the road becomes a gravel track and loops back along the sea heading towards the river mouth. Stop there, admire the view and then ride up the short uphill back to the tar road. Turn right and head back the way you came. Approx 25km from the Farmers Hall.

(Park at Crossways if you want to shorten the ride)

As above until you get to the 4 way stop (3). Ride straight through the 4 way stop and carry on past the little farm “Travelers Rest”(on the left) about 1.5km further. Carry on straight until you get to a Y junction (4). Take the right fork and carry on down that road, across the causeway over the Kwelera River and up the steep hill. Do not turn off this road, carry on straight and after quite a few ups and downs you will come out on the East Coast Resorts Road just north of the Cintsa East turnoff. (5) From here you can either turn around and retrace your tracks, or turn right and head back to Crossways and head back to the Farmers Hall as if you had been to Kwelera Mouth. 

Or: if you want a longer ride you have 2 more options.

1) Turn left onto the East Coast Resorts road and continue until you get to the N2. Turn left onto the N2 and head back until you get to the Farmer’s Hall / Showground’s off ramp or East London if you rode all the way.  This loop approx 30km from the Farmers Hall and back.

OR;

2) If you want an even longer ride with more hills:

Turn left (as above) onto the East Coast Resorts road. After about 1km there will be a Tainton sign. Turn right here. The road soon becomes a gravel road. There is a lovely up and down section through trees and 3 causeway crossings. Beware of monkeys.. both animal and those on 4 wheelers. After the 3rd crossing there is a long steep winding climb of about 3.5km. The route has many ups and down. The gravel road is good. Stay on that road until you get to a fork in the road at the end of a short steep hill. You will see a village ahead on the right and a steep hill near a farmhouse ahead on the left. Unfortunately that is the route. Take the left fork, up the really steep hill and carry on until you come to a T-junction. There will be a graveyard on the right. Turn left and you will come to the N2 within a few 100m. Turn left onto the N2 and head back towards E.L.

 If you want, you can then take the East Coast Resorts road, and turn off right when you get to (5) and ride back on the gravel road to the Farmers Hall on the outbound route. This route approx 50+km from the Farmers Hall.

 

Thanks a stack for this cool info Anne!! She can be contacted for more info at: 043 7374648 / 083 650 9717.