South Africa, Western Cape
Wine valley hairpins climb to a viewpoint over the whole Franschhoek bowl.
Length
30 km
In miles
18.6 mi
Driving time
56 min
Atlas rating
9.2 / 10
The run
Franschhoek to Villiersdorp, following the R45. Drive it in either direction, though the views usually favour the climb.
Season
Open year round in normal conditions, with the usual care after rain or frost.
Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk
Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Every road in the library carries a driving and scenery score set by the same method. How we score roads.
Last reviewed 13 April 2026
Nearby
39 km away
Bainskloof Pass
An old mountain shelf road along a boulder river, narrow and beautifully engineered.
76 km away
Chapman's Peak Drive
A toll corniche blasted into a sea cliff with 114 curves above the Atlantic.
274 km away
Swartberg Pass
A hand built dry stone gravel pass twisting through folded red rock strata.
1059 km away
Moteng Pass and Mahlasela
Tarmac hairpins to 3222 metres through the roof of southern Africa.
1070 km away
Sani Pass
The switchback climb into Lesotho, finishing at the highest pub in Africa.
1163 km away
Spreetshoogte Pass
The steepest pass in Namibia, dropping off the escarpment into the Namib.
Drive here from