The Peninsula Route

There are many good rides in and around Cape Town, with enough variety between them to ensure that no matter which way the wind blows, there will always be an option for those who want to ride.


The Peninsula Route
52km


This is a fantastic route that features part of the world famous Argus Cycle Tour route (consider this the pointy end of the world's largest timed sports event). On a calm morning early in the season, it's not hard to see why this route has captured the imagination of every bicycle owner in SA...

The Peninsula Route follows a clockwise circuit of the beautiful and characteristically peaceful coastal road that winds its way down the eastern side of the peninsula. The road passes through Fish Hoek and the picturesque Simon's Town on the south-bound first leg, which ends with a sharp climb up Smitswinkel hill. Look out for the remote accommodation on the rugged shores to the left, and try to avoid any baboons! 

Baboons on Smitswinkel

After cresting Smitswinkel with its infamous double-rise, the road turns west and any southerly head-wind soon becomes a sublime tail-wind. From here the route crosses to the western edge of the peninsula before passing through Scarborough and Misty Cliffs. Expect to see some very high speed on this fantastic, semi-rural leg of the ride! 

All good things must come to an end and so, too, will the tail-wind of the north-bound leg. Before long, the road reaches Kommetjie and the route again heads wind-ward towards Fish Hoek. Beware of traffic on this leg of the trip - after the quiet bliss of the southernmost part of the tour, even a scooter will seem obtrusive! 

Once back on Main Road in Fish Hoek, the route heads north back into Kalk Bay. Be sure to make a bee-line for the Olympia Cafe, where you can buy Cape Town's own Truth coffee, catch the weekend paper and soak up that great Kalk Bay atmosphere.

Thanks, again, Google! 

To see this route on google maps, simply click on the link below:

 Peninsula Route flyover