Barrydale Snapshot
Squatting on the Overberg-Karoo boundary, Barrydale is an appealing little village encircled by green farmland and beautiful mountains. It is linked to the rest of the Overberg by Tradouws Pass – an inspiring Thomas Bain work of serpentine twists and turns cleverly weaving around plummeting ravines and tortuous rock formations. Like just about every other country town, Barrydale is fast succumbing to the inevitable laws of progress and being sold off to rat-race escapees. On the whole though, there is blissfully little real evidence of this development - apart from the eateries jostling for position on the R62 above the village. Business still closes for lunch, tourists are objects of local curiosity and peak hour traffic consists of the local donkeys trotting head to head.
Things To Do
- Barrydale makes for very pleasant strolling – sultry air, pretty outlook and comatose dirt avenues over the weekend. Moving beyond the village into the rolling fynbos mountains and green valleys, this unspoilt corner of the Overberg offers self-planned hiking and abundant birdlife. The tourist office (tel 028-572 1572) can point you in the right direction.
- Drive (or cycle) the inspiring Tradouws Pass. If you came in through the pass, head home via the R62 to Montagu, as it is also very scenic.
- Warmwaterberg Spa (tel 028-572 1609) is 25km from Barrydale and what most spas are not – simple and unimposing.
- Barrydale has no shortage of coffee shops/farmstalls – most of them on the R62 and all trying to cash in on the passing traffic. For eating out during the day, Country Pumpkin (tel 028-572 1019) and Clarke of the Karoo (tel 028-572 1017) have been around the longest and serve wholesome plates of food, while there are plenty of other options dotted between two.
- Ronnies Sex Shop (tel 028-572 1153), 28km further along the R62, has become a famous institution, locally and abroad. The shop sells a range of growl-in-the-dark vibrators, Viagra for flaccid bulls, farmer-strength riding crops and… You wish! Sorry to disappoint, but Ronnies is nothing but a simple pub in the middle of nowhere.
Karoo Art Hotel
Barrydale, Western Cape
A charming Karoo village is Barrydale and adding a big chunk to that charm must surely be the Karoo Art Hotel? Back in the day, there were a few constants that made up the quintessential Karoo dorp. T...
Rate Guide
From R1460 to R2880, depending on unit, guests and time of year
The Blue Cow Barn
Barrydale, Western Cape
The cottages, Ansie, Betsie, Corlie and Donsie, are named after milk cows, a throwback to when the farm was still a working dairy farm and they used to give a name to each and every cow, in alphabetic...
Rate Guide
From R650 to R1800, depending on unit, guests and time of year
Plaas Wegbreek
Barrydale, Western Cape
Plaas Wegbreek is located off the R44, 7 km from Barrydale on the R62 route. Guests can experience the serenity and safety of a quiet, Klein Karoo working fruit farm. The farm consists of 2 units. App...
Rate Guide
From R700 to R2250, depending on unit, guests and time of year
Sandy's Place
Barrydale, Western Cape
Sandy’s Place, situated in Barrydale on Route 62, is a good destination, or stopover, for visitors wishing to unwind and relax far removed from the stress and strain of city life. Rooms are air...
Rate Guide
From R600 to R1600, depending on unit, guests and time of year
Where You'll Also Find Us
Arniston (Waenhuiskrans) • Barrydale • Beaufort West • Betty's Bay • Bonnievale • Bot River • Bredasdorp • Caledon • Calitzdorp • Cape Agulhas and Struisbaai • Cape Town area • Ceres • Citrusdal • Clanwilliam & Cederberg • Darling • De Rust • Franschhoek • Gansbaai • George • Grabouw & Elgin Valley • Greyton • Heidelberg • Hermanus • Knysna • Ladismith • Laingsburg • Lamberts Bay • Langebaan • Malgas • Matjiesfontein • McGregor • Montagu • Mossel Bay • Napier • Oudtshoorn • Paarl • Paternoster • Plettenberg Bay • Porterville • Prince Albert • Pringle Bay • Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay and Kleinmond • Riebeek West and Riebeek-Kasteel • Riversdale • Riviersonderend • Robertson • St Helena Bay • Stanford • Stilbaai • Strand, Gordon's Bay and Somerset West • Swellendam • Tulbagh • Uniondale • Velddrif • Vermaaklikheid • Wellington • Wilderness • Witsand • Worcester & Hex Valley • Yzerfontein • Baviaanskloof • Cape St Francis • Cape St Francis & St Francis Bay • East London • Graaff-Reinet • Hogsback • Jeffreys Bay • Makhanda (Grahamstown) • Middelburg • Nieu-Bethesda • Rhodes • Sutherland