Wine Lands Cycling Club Announces 2025 Updates: Annual Fees, Expanded Wine Lands Trails Network, and Holiday Permits
Wine Lands Cycling Club in conjunction with its Wine Lands Trails Partners, a collaborative initiative uniting premier trail networks across the Cape Winelands, is excited to announce enhancements for 2025.
These updates include a revised fee structure, the addition of Muratie Trails to our expanding network, and the availability of holiday permits, all aimed at enriching the experience for outdoor enthusiasts.
Expanded Network with Muratie Trails
Nestled within the historic Muratie Wine Estate, the Muratie Trails form part of the Simonsberg Trail Network, renowned for its diversity and breathtaking landscapes. Designed and constructed by trail-building pioneer Meurant Botha, these trails offer something for everyone, from beginners to seasoned adventurers.
The Dirtopia Trail Centre, located in one of Muratie’s charming historic buildings, is the hub for all trail activities. Here, visitors can purchase day permits (if they don’t have a Regional Board), gather trail information, and pick up essentials for their outdoor excursions. The venue also has shower facilities available, making Muratie a great option to park and ride and thereafter enjoy either a breakfast or lunch from their restaurant. Being a well known wine farm, why not sample some of the local produce as well in the form of a wine tasting or grab a coffee before setting out on your ride.
Muratie Trail Options for All Levels
The Muratie Trails offer a variety of routes, ensuring a suitable adventure for every level of fitness. The trails do require some level of mountain biking experience as much of the trail is on single tracks:
- Beginner-Friendly ABC Trail:
Designed with novice riders and families in mind, the ABC Trail is a smooth, wide green route perfect for beginners and children. Starting from the trailhead, it guides users to Gillooly’s Ridge, where they can opt for a 5km loop or extend to approximately 7km. - Intermediate Challenges:
For those seeking more adventure, follow the black-marked trails, which include technical sections and longer loops. Highlights include the Never-say-never-ending-again Trail, a 10km continuous singletrack that winds to the highest point of the network. This route rewards riders with stunning views of Table Mountain and the Cape Winelands, making it a must-try for intermediate riders. - Advanced Routes for Enduro Enthusiasts:
Combining loops 1, 3, and 4 can deliver up to 35km of technical singletrack, providing a full-day experience for advanced mountain bikers. These trails are perfect for those looking to test their skills and endurance amidst the dramatic landscapes of Simonsberg.
Muratie Trails join our esteemed partner networks, including:
- Bottelary Hills Conservancy
- Elgin Valley Trails
- MTO/Jonkershoek
- Stellenbosch Trail Fund
- Van Loveren Java Trails
- Wine Lands North (Banhoek Conservancy / Franschhoek Wine Valley Trails / Paarl Trails / Wellington (Wild Boar) Trails)
- Wine Lands South (Wine Lands Cycling Club Trails / Helderberg Trails)
2025 Fee Structure
The 2025 Regional Board becomes available for purchase and use from 1 December 2024. The annual fee structure supports the maintenance and expansion of all the Wine Lands trail networks. This structure ensures that we continue to provide safe, high-quality experiences across all partner networks.
Annual Memberships:
- Wine Lands Regional Membership: Grants access to over 1,335 km of trails across all partner networks, including the newly added Muratie Trails. This membership also includes affiliation with the Wine Lands Cycling Club, allowing members to apply for a Cycling South Africa (CSA) license through the club. Fees are R2,250 for adults and R1,800 for juniors and pensioners.
- Wine Lands North Membership: Provides access to approximately 450 km of trails, including Banhoek Conservancy, Franschhoek Wine Valley trails, Paarl Trails, and Wellington Trails. Fees are R1,500 for adults and R700 for children under the age of 13. Students and Seniors pay R1 ,100 while family memberships that include two adults and two children/students are available at R3200. A running or hiking band is available at R200 per membership.
- Wine Lands South Membership: Offers access to around 200 km of trails, including Helderberg Farm, Spier Wine Estate, Ernie Els, Dornier, Avontuur, Stellenzicht, and Faure. Fees are R1,000 for adults, R450 for juniors and R700 for seniors.
All new memberships and renewals are processed on www.WineLandsTrails.com / WineLandsCyclingClub.co.za. No offline renewals will be permitted this year. Those renewing their memberships can follow our simplified and streamlined renewal process on the Wine Lands Trails BOT +27 76 694 2 694 (https://wa.me/27766942694?text=Hi). Simply send the text ‘renew 2025’ and follow the prompts and complete payment. The process should take less than 90 seconds and require no username or password as long as the request is sent from the mobile number connected to your membership and your existing 2024 permit number.
Availability of Holiday Permits
As the festive season approaches, Wine Lands Trails is making it easier than ever for visitors to experience the beauty of the Winelands. Holiday Permits will be available for purchase online from 1 December 2024, offering unrestricted access to our partner trail networks.
These permits are valid until the end of January 2025 and offer an ideal option for families and adventure seekers visiting the region. Holiday permits are available for Wine Lands Regional, Wine Lands North and Wine Lands South.
Discover More
Wine Lands Trails invites you to explore our website, where trail enthusiasts can find maps, permit information, and trailhead features for partner networks. Connect with the Wine Lands Trails BOT on +27 76 694 2 694 (https://wa.me/27766942694?text=Hi) for more options including gate codes, emergencies and support on any queries.
For more information or to purchase permits, visit www.winelandstrails.com / winelandscyclingclub.co.za
Media Contact:
Nicole Waldeck
Club Secretary
Wine Lands Cycling Club
Email: hello@winelandstrails.com
Phone: +27 60 349 8242
