This route leads through a land of wild mountains, and remote river valleys that have been bypassed by the clamour of commerce. Villages retain their appearance of a century or more ago, except perhaps that their oak trees have grown larger and more noble. A little more than half of this route is on good gravel roads — the rest is on tar.

The south-east end of Robertson’s railway station, turn south out of Voor‑trekker Street towards McGregor. About 2km later, the road crosses the Breë River on the Victoria Bridge. Immediately after the bridge, turn left.

This road passes the Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve on your left. Also on your left is the McGregor Co-operative Winery, which is open to the public during the week for tasting and sales, and makes an interesting stop. Beyond the winery, the road crosses a bridge before entering McGregor, 18 km from Robertson. The picturesque architecture of the town merits a short walk through its streets.

To leave McGregor, turn left from Voortrekker Street into Van Reenen Street (this is a gravel road). After about 2km the road takes a sharp left bend. On the right here is the old Rhebokskraal homestead, with a gable dating from 1874.

At the T-junction 1,6 km later, turn right, noting your kms. 18,5 km later, turn right onto gravel for Stormsvlei, then turn right again 6 km later at the T-junction. After a further 3,3 km turn right onto tar at the T-junction.

The road winds down through the scenic Stormsvleipoort . Towards the end of the pass, broad vistas suddenly open out before you — pull to the side of the road for the view over the fertile valley of the Riviersonderend.

Continue through the poort, cross a narrow bridge over the Riviersonderend (river without end), and enter the tiny settlement of Stormsvlei. There is a hotel here, and a holiday resort on the river bank that caters for picnickers (small entry fee, braai places, water, toilets)

Stormsvlei to Greyton

At the T-junction 1,3 km beyond the river, turn right onto the N2. Continue on the N2 for 19 km to the town of Riviersonderend. Roughly 2 km beyond the town, turn right from the N2 onto gravel for ‘Lindeshof, Greyton, Genadendal’, and note your kms as you turn.

After 5,3 km go left at the fork where the road to the right leads to Lindeshof School. Pass another road to Lindeshof School on your right, and 16,2 km from the N2 go right at the fork, immediately passing a road on your right.

As you crest a hill just over 2 km later, there is a sign on your left that reads ‘Historical Monuments’. When clear of the hill, pull off the road. On the right side of the road, opposite the signboard, there is a small brick pillar with a plaque. This denotes Ziekenhuis (hospital), a cave that provided shelter for invalids on the old road to the interior. Among the initials carved on the rock are ‘OB’ , believed to be those of the 17th century explorer Oloff Bergh.

Turn right at the T-junction about 500m later. After a further 1,6 km, in which you cross three narrow bridges, turn left at the T-junction.

About 3,3 km later, on the left, is the homestead of The Oaks, dating from 1792.

Roughly 10 km later you cross a bridge on the outskirts of Greyton. 400-500m later turn right at the fork into High Street. Turn right onto the tarred main street at the Central Hotel. (The hotel and one or two other establishments in the town serve lunch.) Where the tar ends, turn left, following the sign for the ‘nature reserve’, and turn right at the T-junction. Continue to the gate of the nature reserve and park under the oaks. There is an attractive walk into Noupoort (narrow gorge) — allow 40-60 minutes. You can picnic at the entrance to the park, but there are no facilities.

Greyton to Villiersdorp

Return to the main street and drive towards the south-west end of town. Note your kms as you pass the hotel. The road surface changes to gravel after 600 m. After a further 4,1 km turn right for Genadendal. After a few hundred metres you pass the police station on your left, and 1 km later you pass the post office, also on your left. Turn left 100m later, and after a further 300-400 m turn right to park near the church for a stroll around the historic mission complex.

Retrace your route and 1 km beyond the post office tum right next to the police station. 200m later turn left, and 600m later turn right at the T-junction — noting your kms. After 11,2 km (after crossing the Riviersonderend) turn right for Villiersdorp. The route runs alongside the Riviersonderend and passes the entrance to the large Helderstroom prison complex on your right. After 18, 7 km on this road, turn right at the T-junction onto tar (R43). The road climbs for 3 km, then descends Floorshoogte to cross the wall of the Theewaterskloof Dam.

After 18,9 km on the R43 turn right at the T- junction with Main Street in Villiersdorp, noting your kms. After 1,6 km (at the road that leads on your left to the Co-operative) there is a large, old-fashioned steam-engine on the corner. Roughly 6,5 km later you reach the crest of the Rooihoogte (red heights) pass, and as you descend there are good views ahead over the Bree River valley. Roughly 9 km later on your left there is a large picnic site under oaks.

Roughly 15 km later turn right onto tar for Doomrivier and Scherpenheuwel, and 500m further turn left onto gravel, noting your kms. 7,5 km later, turn left for Worcester. A few hundred metres beyond the turn, the road crosses the Bree River over a long causeway.

1,4 km later, there is almost a ‘reverse fork‘ — turn right here for Eilandia. 7 km later you can see that the road ahead narrows and crosses a cattle grid — take the road that curves to the right here.

Just short of 14 km later, turn right at the T- junction onto tar. After 12,2 km a road on your right leads to the river resort of Silver Strand on the outskirts of Robertson