There is a side to the Western Cape that most road trips tend to overlook. Beyond the wine farms, coastal towns and well-worn weekend routes, the road north opens into a landscape of mountains, wheat fields, small communities and places with stories of their own.
Versfeld Pass, Piket Bo-Berg, Piketberg, South Africa / DominusStella / Wikimedia Commons
The newly launched Green Piketberg Route 366 brings many of them together, linking Piketberg, Goedverwacht, Wittewater and Redelinghuys along the R366 and surrounding roads.
It’s a route shaped as much by its people as its scenery, connecting travellers with local farms, food producers, heritage sites and community-run experiences.
Start in Piketberg
Piketberg sits beneath the mountain that gave the town its name, making it the perfect place to start. The town’s history stretches back to the 18th century, when farming and the establishment of a church community began shaping the area. Today, historic buildings and the local museum offer a glimpse into that past before the road leads you towards the mountains.
The Versveld Pass is one of the first reminders that this is no ordinary country drive. Built in 1943 and later widened and tarred, the winding pass climbs through Piket-Bo-Berg, opening onto mountain farms, fynbos and wide views across the countryside.
This is also farming country, known for proteas and other agricultural produce, with a local farmers’ market offering a chance to meet some of the people behind it.
A taste of Goedverwacht
Further along, Goedverwacht brings another dimension to the route. The historic Moravian village is home to community-led experiences that include visits with local female farmers, backyard food gardens and traditional bread baked in outdoor wood-fired ovens.
It’s the kind of stop that stays with you because it’s not simply about seeing a place. You get a glimpse into how people live, grow food and keep traditions going.
That community connection is central to Green Piketberg, which aims to ensure tourism creates opportunities for local growers, makers and entrepreneurs rather than simply passing through their towns.
Come hungry
Food is another reason to linger along Route 366. In Piketberg, The Flying Fig serves farm-to-table food beneath wild fig trees, using seasonal ingredients sourced from Goedverwacht and surrounding farms.
Then come the roadside stops: Desert Rose Farm Stall for rusks, pies and mosbrood; Winkelshoek Padstal for roosterkoek, homemade bread and preserves; and Skrik Van Rondom Farm Stall, where rooibos products, game meat and biltong reflect the region’s agricultural character.
It’s the sort of road trip where a farm stall can be as much a destination as the destination itself.
Towards Redelinghuys
Beyond Piketberg, the landscape opens into the Sandveld and the road begins to reveal some much older stories. Near Redelinghuys, Diepkloof Rock Shelter contains evidence of human occupation stretching back tens of thousands of years, including evidence associated with early symbolic behaviour.
Then there is Verlorenvlei, a Ramsar-listed wetland and important habitat for birdlife. The landscape becomes quieter here, with the vlei stretching out beneath the open sky. At Die Rooi Stoor Farm Stall, you can stop for something freshly baked and take in the view across the wetland.
It’s a stretch of road for anyone who would rather swap packed itineraries for a few good stops and an open horizon.
Make a weekend of it
There is enough along Route 366 to turn the drive into a proper weekend escape, with experiences ranging from hiking, cycling and birding to heritage, archaeology and farm-to-table dining. Farm stays and country accommodation are also available along the route.
Spring brings its own distinct appeal, when the surrounding landscape takes on seasonal colour.
Just remember that much of this is working farmland and sensitive natural habitat. Stick to designated routes, leave wildflowers where they grow and support the local businesses that make the journey possible.
Take the road north
Green Piketberg Route 366 is not built around one big attraction. It’s story lies in the pieces: a mountain pass, a farm stall, a village garden, freshly baked bread, an ancient rock shelter and a wetland alive with birdlife. Together, they paint a fuller picture of the Piketberg countryside and the people who have shaped it.
Sometimes the best road trips are not the ones that take you furthest. They are the ones that make you pull over, look around and realise you have found yourself somewhere you might otherwise have driven straight past.
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