Just 2 hours from Cape Town, off the scenic Route 62 in the farming village of Barrydale, you will find the best accommodation in Barrydale in the form of the quirky, relaxed, and welcoming Karoo Art Hotel.
Rebranded in 2015, and now enjoying an extensive revamp (opening in 2022), this is a little country hotel that showcases and celebrates Art in a big way. Every room in the hotel is individually decorated, part of it by an internationally-renowned design collective, Magpie Collective. Aside from the eye-catching interiors and artworks, much of it for sale, the art of winemaking is celebrated with one of the best wine lists in South Africa recently awarded the Diners Club Diamond Award, the highest possible wine list award and the only establishment in the Klein Karoo to achieved such an honour. If Karoo cuisine is an art (and it is!) then this is the studio where it is practiced best, being a winner of the Klein Karoo Gourmand Restaurant Award, and a member of the international gastronomic guild Chane des Rtisseurs.
Accommodation at Karoo Art Hotel
Take your pick from 15 en suite rooms, all completely individual in character but offering classic Karoo accommodation with a creative twist. Most are furnished with king- or queen-size double beds (with additional mattresses available if you are traveling with kids); various single-bed configurations are also available.
Whichever room you choose you get the extra luxuries that count: top-quality mattresses, soft percale linen, piping hot showers. With the exception of the Garden Suite, all rooms are located on the first floor, some with views from balconies overlooking the village or garden. Note that access to this floor is by staircase the only lift in the village of Barrydale is the one youll experience in spirit!
The Karoo Art Hotel offers secure off-street parking. Barrydale is quite safe and we have never had any damage to cars or break-ins over the last 4 years, even with cars parked in the on-street parking bays outside the hotel. However, for car clubs and motor cycle clubs that require additional peace of mind, we would be happy to appoint a night watchman for a small additional charge (or complementary, should the whole hotel be booked). For cycle tour groups we offer a secure overnight locked storage facility in our historic Belanti Theatre and Bioscope for their bicycles.
Karoo Art Hotel is an ideal home base from which to explore the magnificent Klein Karoo! Barrydale is within easy reach of the Warmwaterberg hot water springs, and the well-known lunch stop Ronnie’s Sex Shop.
While Barrydale is the ideal overnight stop on the way to Oudtshoorn and the famous Swartberg Pass, or the fertile charms of Wilderness and the Garden Route, Barrydale is most certainly a destination in its own right. It is home to international and local escapees and artists, eager to trade in urban neuroses for the intimacy and charm of village life. The village is surrounded by soaring mountain views and big blue skies.
There are a number of hikes, trail runs, off-road biking, and cycling to go on. The town is filled with artists, winemakers, and a host of other very interesting people you are bound to meet around every corner.
The Klein Karoo town of Barrydale
Enclosed in a narrow valley at the foot of the Langeberg Mountains, within easy striking distance of the majestic Swartberg Mountains, the rural Klein Karoo town of Barrydale is surrounded by two extremes: the fertile fruit-producing Tradouw Valley, transformed in spring by swathes of blossoms, and the starkly beautiful Klein Karoo. Unlike the vast plains of neighbouring Groot Karoo, this is a semi-arid yet richly vegetated region, host to some 1440 plant species, most of them succulents, many of them endemic to single mountain slopes, and a delight for hikers, road trippers and amateur botanists.
With its streetscape softened with fields of fruits and vineyards, and an eclectic mix of residents artists, farmers, spiritualists, restaurateurs, mechanics, birders, botanists and more Barrydale retains a timeless small-town charm, so hard to find these days. You may meet many of them at the Karoo Art Hotel kroeg(bar), which is still as is traditional in countryside towns the social heart of the village, and has been since 1888, when the hotel opened. Or meet them while you stroll the picturesque streets. Directly opposite the hotel is Magpie, the internationally renowned design collective that is not to be missed.
One of the reasons so many come to visit and never leave, is the sun: it always seems to shine in Barrydale, which means that every season brings its unique pleasures. During the summer, the many swimming holes in the Tradouw River in the nearby majestic Tradouw Pass beckon (read more about the Klein Karoo Mountain Passes). The late afternoon brings cool coastal breezes to temper the heat, allowing for pleasant evenings. When the sun starts to set, residents sit back and sip their regions delicious wines, while hadedas and other birds provide a uniquely African soundtrack. While the summer months are ripe with fruit, autumn welcomes the protea season, providing colourful displays of South Africas national flower which continue well into winter. As the air cools, the valleys and mountains are coloured with the distinctive orange splashes of flowering aloes, along with milk bush and succulent veld all bursting into flower, and waterfalls start to gush from the surrounding mountainslopes. This of course is also the season to dip in the hot mineral waters of the nearby rustic spa resort at Warmwaterberg. It truly is a year-round destination, and in order to take in everything Barrydale and its surrounds have to offer, a few days are definitely needed.
Time allowing you could head to nearby Joubert Tradauw wine estate for a typical wine tasting experience in one of the most gracious wine estates on the R62. Brandy tasting is also famous to this region.
Barrydales Walking Trails
The Bertus Cooke Trail
1. The old trail starts at the town cemetery on the R62 Montagu/Ladismith road, crosses a water furrow, continues up the mountain and turns west at the top. From this ridge a beautiful view of the Klein Karoo landscape can be seen. This hike takes about 2 1/2 hours, making it ideal for a family outing.
2. Extension A starts before the top of the ridge where the trail splits to the east. On the apex of the last mountain, and before the descent, there are remnants of an old fort. From here, one has views in all directions. Hikers can either continue onto Extension B or return via the tar road to Barrydale. This trail takes about 2 1/2 hours to walk.
3. Extension B can alternatively be reached by driving on the R62 road towards Ladismith until the first farm gate on the left (at the top of the hill). Park here. A section of this trail goes through a canyon where, after rain, the rock pools fill up and spoor of buck and baboons can be seen around the sandy edges. This trail is ideal for bird lovers and those who really went to get into the Klein Karoo landscape. There is a braai area/picnic spot where you can rest and then carry on walking. However no fires / braais are allowed any more. This trail takes about 3 1/2 hours to walk.
The Moerasrivier Trail
1. Down Van Riebeeck Street to the T-junction, left into Van Coller, then right past the school on a dirt road. The starting point is just before the road turns right past a labourers cottage adjacent to the Municipal Farm.
2. Up Tinley Street towards Smitsville, where the road turns sharply to the right, then take the first left and first left again. A short way along, you will see the beginning of a dirt road which runs directly to the Municipal Farm.
Klein Karoo Entertainment for Junior Guests
There are a host of activities available for our Junior guests such as table tennis, trampoline, board games, colouring in, movies are available daily (please enquire at reception).
Ronnies Sex Shop
Ok, this is not in fact a sex shop, but that hasnt stopped this unpretentious bar on the side of the R62 from attracting travellers from all over the world, most of them intrigued by the salacious promise scrawled on the wall. Other than being a bit of a marketing phenomenon, entry is free and the beers are cold. Ronnies Sex Shop is situated a leisurely 15 minute drive from the Karoo Art Hotel.
Soaking in hot mineral springs
Theres nothing quite like immersing yourself in a hot mineral water pool, fed directly from the mountain. Warmwaterberg Spa (8am to 5pm daily, R30 entry) is a hot mineral spring situated between Barrydale and Ladismith on the R62, approximately 15 minutes drive from the hotel.
Warmwaterberg Hot Mineral Springs Spa, is regularly rated as the top hot water springs destination in the Western Cape. It is particularly lovely to visit outside congested periods (e.g. school holidays), when the owners will allow non-residents to stay as late as 10pm and stay you will; theres nothing quite like drifting in the sensuous warm water, looking up at a million stars glittering overhead. Insiders tip: The water in the pool gets replaced every Tuesday, so Tuesday night is a particularly good night to visit!
Tradouw Pass
Known variously as the Tradoux and Tradouw Pass, as well as the way of the woman, this masterpiece of road engineering was completed in 1873 by the brilliant Thomas Bain. This is the same man who built the Swartberg Pass (Oudtshoorn to Prince Albert), the Seweweekspoort Pass just off the R62 between Ladismith and Calitsdorp, the Robinson Pass (from Oudtshoorn to Mossel Bay); Garcias Pass (from Riversdale to Ladismith), Meiringspoort, the Seven Passes Road (after the number of passes along the route from George to Knysna, ending in the Homtini Pass near Knysna), the Cogmans Kloof Pass between Ashton and Montagu and the Koo Pass near Montagu. Most of these passes are within day-trip range from Barrydale, making the Karoo Art Hotel the ideal home-base to explore a huge number of historic scenic passes built by Thomas Bain.
Renowned for its wild flowers in spring, clusters of blazing orange aloes in late autumn and waterfalls that appear during the winter months, the Tradouw Pass is situated in the heart of the Capes ancient folded mountains. It links Barrydale with Swellendam, the historic Cape Dutch-era town located on the N2. There are a number of natural swimming holes in the Tradouw River in this pass, making ideal swimming spots in majestic natural surroundings in summer time! Locals come tap pure mountain water here regularly to drink at home: the fountain of eternal youth?
The Tradouw Pass provides a truncated loop back to Cape Town if you do not have the time to head all the way east to the Cango Caves at Oudtshoorn and the Garden Route.
Tradouw Pass Swimming in Natural Pools
There are beautiful waterfalls and pools near the Tradouw Pass, and numerous walking trails; enquire at reception. Guests often go for a refreshing swim in the rock pools in summertime!
Completed in 1873, the Tradouw Pass was built by Thomas Bain, the same man who built the Swartberg Pass, the meandering cliff-hugging road that links Camps Bay to Hout Bay in Cape Town, and the complex passes between George and Knysna, to mention but a few of his road constructions that provide such pleasure to this day. Also worth a visit is tiny Suurbraak, the quaint hamlet at the other end of the Tradouw Pass.
Route 62
Route 62 is quite simply the best driving tour you can take in the scenically splendid Western Cape. It is a wonderful route that takes you from Cape Town, via Oudtshoorn (Cango Caves) onwards to the Garden Route. Or you could drive via Langkloof to Port Elizabeth, always on predominantly traffic-free roads, through vast empty plains and fertile valleys, past towering cliffs and tumbling streams, dense shaded forests and rustic farm scenes, ancient geological outcrops and many charming towns and villages (one of the best being Barrydale of course!).
Route 62 is particularly popular with cycling tours and motor bike riders, this being likened to the Arizona of South Africa. It also allows a full circular loop, with the road trip returning to Cape Town via the faster, more developed N2, with splendid possibilities for overnighting all the way.
Aside from the many mountain passes on Route 62 (with a few optional detours, such as the unmissable Swartberg Pass to Prince Albert and then heading back via Meiringspoort), it is host to 69 wine farms and eleven specialist brandy cellars, making it the longest wine route in the Western Cape, and possibly the world.
Route 62 also provides access to some of the Capes best game reserves, cultural tours to view the ancient art of the San, hiking trails and mountain climbing, horse and ostrich riding, canoeing, caving, fishing and birding (look out for the truly elegant Blue Crane, South Africas national bird and an endangered species, often sighted en route). These are just some of the few exciting activities that can fill up your days when travelling along Route 62.
Possibly the most alluring attraction of Route 62 are the people who call this unique region home. Friendly and eager to assist, these characters will keep you entertained wherever your journey may take you and there is no better place to experience this than the quaint Karoo village of Barrydale. Recently voted the second-friendliest destination in the Western Cape (piping Cape Town at the post!!), the bar at the Karoo Art Hotel is certainly one of best places to engage with locals and see for yourself just how friendly they are!
Its also a good base to explore the surrounding region this is not a road trip you want to rush, so we recommend you spend at least two nights at the Karoo Art Hotel experiencing their old-fashioned hospitality, quirky dcor and comfortable rooms.
With the ever-changing scenery of majestic mountains, plains carpeted with succulents, vineyards and orchards, as well as the multitude of attractions on offer, the Cape Route 62 will be an unforgettable adventure for all.
King or Twin size bed options, equipped to accommodate 2 adults.
0 - 7 days before date of arrival - 100% cancellation fee
8 - 14 days before date of arrival - 75% cancellation fee
15 - 21 days before date of arrival - 50% cancellation fee
22 - 30 days before date of arrival - 25% cancellation fee
31 days or more 5% cancellation fee
In cases where guests are unable to or not permitted to travel due to government regulation and/or medical incidents related to COVID 19, all cancellation costs will be waived and all deposits refunded, regardless of the cancellation period.
The above terms are relevant to COVID 19 cancellations only and Standard Terms & Conditions remain in place for other cancellations.
Refunds of deposits/prepayments for bookings are at the discretion of management and are dependent on the ability to re-sell rooms
Cancellation Policy
0 - 7 days before date of arrival - 100% cancellation fee
8 - 14 days before date of arrival - 75% cancellation fee
15 - 21 days before date of arrival - 50% cancellation fee
22 - 30 days before date of arrival - 25% cancellation fee
31 days or more 5% cancellation fee
In cases where guests are unable to or not permitted to travel due to government regulation and/or medical incidents related to COVID 19, all cancellation costs will be waived and all deposits refunded, regardless of the cancellation period.
The above terms are relevant to COVID 19 cancellations only and Standard Terms & Conditions remain in place for other cancellations.
Refunds of deposits/prepayments for bookings are at the discretion of management and are dependent on the ability to re-sell rooms
* 30 Van Riebeeck Street, Barrydale.
Children up to the age of 5 - Stay free
Children 6 years to 11 years pay a fixed rate
