Montagu Trails is an asset to the local community as well as to visitors from surrounding areas and further afield. Serving users of all ages and abilities, the trails offer opportunities to connect with nature and promote a healthier, more active lifestyle. They bring families together by encouraging quality time outdoors, fostering social interaction, and providing a valuable recreational resource.
Montagu Trails has evolved into a trail system that attracts users from across the Western Cape and beyond. This has a positive impact on the region by supporting local businesses and boosting the economy.
Montagu Trails was initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Marchelle van Zyl from Flying Feet secured access to land from the Langeberg Municipality for singletrack development, along with funding from the Western Cape Government and several other stakeholders, namely:
The first singletrack trails were developed by Corrie Muller and maintained through private funding, events, donations, and community projects.
In 2022, Kamin Taute and Chris Birkin relocated to Montagu, a few months apart. Kamin approached Marchelle to get involved in cycling activities in the area. After exploring the available trails and routes, Chris also approached Marchelle, offering to assist with the maintenance and development of the singletrack network. His first priority was repairing the wooden bridge.
With keen enthusiasm to build on what Marchelle and Corrie had started, Chris began working on the trails with his gardener, Oom Poppie, every Friday. Driven by a vision to enhance mountain biking in Montagu, Chris joined forces with Marchelle, Kamin, Patti van Dyk, and Mitzi Knipe to form the Montagu Trails committee.
The trail system quickly evolved into a network that both the local community and visitors could enjoy.
In September 2023, Chris called a meeting and shared with the team that together with Mark le Roux they have a vision to bring the Absa Cape Epic back to Montagu. The last time the Absa Cape Epic was held in Montagu 2005 and 2007. Would it even be possible? The Absa Cape Epic Race Director was invited to Montagu to come and experience Untamed Africa. Months of preparation was already underway for the first meeting to showcase what Montagu had to offer and discuss the possibility of hosting two stages of the Absa Cape Epic in Montagu. Some routes were already planned and a recce was done in December 2024.
Montagu Trails team formed an Absa Cape Epic project team and involved Freddie Engelbrecht from the Montagu-Ashton Tourism Adventure portfolio. The project team today consists of Chris Birkin, Marchelle van Zyl, Kamin Taute and Freddie Engelbrecht.
Left to right: Freddie Engelbrecht, Kamin Taute, Marchelle van Zyl and Chris Birkin
The Montagu Trails team envisioned expanding the mountain biking trails into an external network beyond the existing routes in Montagu South, behind the hospital. After a positive response from the Absa Cape Epic Race Director we set out to work. The next Absa Cape Epic team (Logistics) would visit our town in April 2025. We needed to get approval from the Race Director, Logistics Team and Marketing Team. In May 2025 we received the Letter of Intent that the Absa Cape Epic would be hosting Stage 1 and Stage 2 in Montagu in March 2026.
This is the short version of the story. Many hours of hard work by our team, along with financial support from the community, have gone into making this a reality. We would like to thank the landowners for believing in our vision. Without their approval, we would not be able to host this iconic event.
Other businesses have also come on board to help make this possible. We would like to thank the following:
Forest Timbers | Build-It Montagu | Spar Montagu | Avalon Springs | Toyota Montagu | Montagu Country Hotel | Montagu Winery | The Cogmans Run hosted by No Thrills No Fuss | Inabundance | Cape Dry | Long Acres Guest Farm | Die Stal Montagu | Montagu-Ashton Tourism Association | Langeberg Municipality | Konkelwyn @ Montagu Stasie | The Quarter | Montagu Weld Worx | Keller Williams Dynamic – Hilge Avenant | Lucy Upton Properties Montagu | BluVines at Bloupunt Winery | Zenobia Construction (Pty) Ltd
