Sir Lowry’s Pass Vilage is a town near the base of Sir Lowry’s Pass, about 60 km from Cape Town, South Africa.
In 1846 there was a Post Office, run by a postmistress, Mrs Walters, and six farms in the area. 43 years later the first steam train stopped there in 1890. The railway station later became the Post Office. The waiting room was also used for English Church Services in 1925, as there was no church building at the time. Wild flowers grew in profusion on the mountains and hills around the village and selling them was a major source of income for the villagers in the early 1900s. Today the little village is flanked by up-market residential estates and various wine farms.
Sir Lowry’s Pass is a mountain pass on the N2 national road in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It crosses the Hottentots-Holand mountain range between Somerset West and the Elgin valley, on the main national road between Cape Town and the Garden Route. A railway line also crosses the mountain range at this point.
The pass is 4 lanes wide and is subject to heavy traffic, especially at the start and end of holiday periods when many people travel in and out of the Cape Town area, and is sometimes seen as an accident black spot.
The summit of the pass is at 920m. There is a viewpoint at the summit and this point is also used as a paragliding launch point. Baboons are often seen in this area. The top of the pass was formerly the start of the Boland Hiking Trail, but this section of the trail was closed after a number of deaths due to the difficult hiking conditions. On the Grabouw side, the road passes the Streenbras Dam.
Where to stay in Sir Lowy’s Pass Village
With breath-taking views of the Hottentots Holland Mountains and False Bay, the accommodation in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village includes luxury lodges, garden cottages and chalets, self catering and bed and breakfast.
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Where to eat in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village
No matter what your taste, Sir Lowry’s Pass Village has a variety of restaurants to suit you.
Things to do in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village
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Horse RidingCome and enjoy a beautiful horseback ride through the various vineyards of the Helderberg and through a few of the surrounding wine farms. The natural bird-life and beautiful mountains will add to the tranquillity of the ride. Some of the rides go through forests where the trees only slightly allow a glimpse of sky. With the only sound being the horse’s hooves on the earth, you will feel complete peace and relaxation. Read more… |
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Paragliding | Sir Lowry’sOne of the flying sites of Paraglide South Africa is from the look-out point at the top of Sir Lowry’s Pass on the N2, a mere 30-minute drive from Cape Town and a stone’s throw from Somerset West, Gordon’s Bay and Strand, at the edge of the Hottentots Holland mountain range. This site is flown during the off season when the winds are in a westerly direction, and what makes this site different is that you step out of the car and onto the launch site, no walking required. Read more… |
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Blue RockIf you are looking for fun, sun and adrenaline; then Blue Rock is the ideal place. Blue Rock is a hidden-away paradise … you will feel like you have been on a mini-holiday! |
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Helderberg Wine RouteThe Helderberg Mountains makes their presence felt on all of the wine estates on this route. The scenery and the terroirs are very similar to those found in the Stellenbosch area and some of South Africa’s best known and oldest estates can be found here. The Helderberg Wine Route offers its splendour all year round. In addition to the many fine wines available, a visit to the region may be complemented by a meal in one of the excellent restaurants, a hike or horse-ride in the mountains, a swim at one of the nearby beaches, or a visit to shops and craft market. Read more… |
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Sir Lowry’s Pass Village MarketA Community Family Market not to be missed! The Sir Lowry’s Pass Village Market will be hosted every second Sunday of the month. The Market with Meaning. Our focus is LOCAL, HANDMADE, NATURAL and WHOLESOME! |
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More things to do in and around Helderberg:
Type of Activity |
Activity & Area |
| Sport/Adrenalin | ✓Strand/Somerset West – Play a round of Golf at Strand Golf Club, Somerset West, or Erinvale Golf Course ✓ Gordons Bay – Surf at Bikini Beach or Koeel Bay ✓ Gordons Bay – Go Deep Sea Fishing ✓ Gordons Bay – Hike the Danie Miller Hiking Trail up to the GB sign ✓ Gordons Bay – Rent a bicycle & cycle around our Village ✓ Gordons Bay – Go Scuba Diving ✓ Kogel Bay – Hike up to Crystal Pools (permits required) ✓ Sir Lowry’s Pass – Go Horse Riding at Journey’s End ✓ Somerset West – Go Hiking at the Helderberg Nature Reserve (Check our Events & Entertainment Page for Guided Hikes) ✓ Sir Lowry’s Pass – Paraglide from Sir Lowry’s Pass Lookout Point (seasonal) ✓ Sir Lowry’s Pass – Spend the day at Blue Rock where you can Cable Water Ski, Wake Board, Fufi Slide, Play Paint Ball, swim in the Badi or have a picnic ✓ Somerset West – Hit a couple of balls at the Vodacom Golf Driving range ✓ Somerset West – Mountain Biking at Schapenberg located at Ongegund Lodge ✓ Somerset West – Spend the day at Helderberg Farm where you can Mountain Bike, Hike one of their Trails, try the 4×4 Route, play Laser Games or go Gravel Carting ✓ Somerset West – Play Paintball at Helderberg Farm ✓ Grabouw – Go on a quad biking adventure ✓ Grabouw/Stellenbosch – Go on a Segway Adventure ✓ Strand – Rent a surfboard from Son Surf School at Strand Beach & learn to Surf ✓ Gansbaai – Go Shark Cage Diving ✓ Betty’s Bay – Go Sand Boarding |
| Sight Seeing/Other | ✓ Gordons Bay – Browse for some reading at Bikini Beach Books ✓ Gordons Bay/Strand/Somerset West – Treat yourself at one of our Spa’s ✓ Gordons Bay – Visit an Art Exhibitions by our local artists – exhibitions take place the last weekend of every month. Visit our Events & Entertainment Page for info. ✓ Gordons Bay – Take a scenic drive up to the Steenbras Water Treatment Plant ✓ Somerset West/Sir Lowrys Pass – Tour the Helderberg Wine Route ✓ Lwandle – Visit the Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum ✓ Somerset West/Strand – Visit our famous Bird Watching spots ✓ Somerset West – Go shopping at Somerset Mall ✓ Somerset West/Gordons Bay – Visit one of our local Craft Markets ✓ Gordons Bay – Take a scenic drive along Clarence Drive to Hermanus ✓ Betty’s Bay – Visit the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens ✓ Hermanus – Go Go Whale Watching (seasonal) ✓ Western Cape – Do the Brandy Route |
| Family Activities |
✓ Gordons Bay – Spend the day at one of our beaches |
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