Climbing Access

Please adhere to any rules and regulations and be courteous at all times. Do not park offensively and always remove all litter from crags, even if it’s not yours. This includes finger tape and cigarette butts. If you need to go to the toilet, please be sensible and go far from any water source, paths and crags. Remember, we are responsible for protecting the access to our crags. Further access information can be found under the various areas.

Awesome weather for climbing

Montagu has a very low average annual rainfall, making it the ideal place for planning a rock climbing trip. If it is raining in Cape Town, then simply hop into your car and two hours later you could be climbing under blue skies. Midsummer can be quite hot, often forcing one to find shady crags. Winters are cold at night and crisp in the shade during the day, but wonderful in the sun, making for ideal climbing conditions. In summer however, the Southeast wind often brings rain to the area.

Accommodation for rock climbers

Rock climbers are spoiled for choice in Montagu regarding accommodation. From self catering to camping, this town has it all. A popular place owned and run by rock climbers is Rainbow Glen. Here they offer very comfortable chalets in a peaceful and picturesque garden setting. David (the owner) is also very knowledgeable about most of the climbing areas. There are many other guest houses and B&Bs in Montagu, for more info visit www.montagu.org.za

Shops and restaurants

Montagu is a country village; however, it is a semi-trendy, and quite sought-after little town. It has a nice variety of shops and some good supermarkets, including a clean, well-stocked Spar and a Tops liquor store. You will be able to get just about anything in the food and drink department for a lengthy stay. There are also quite a few good restaurants, coffee shops and takeaway joints, and on Saturday mornings there is a great farmers-cum-crafty market in Bath Street. Here you will be able to buy delicious munchies and other market-type stuff. There is also a good pharmacy for any medical supplies and many banks and cash machines. The only thing lacking in Montagu is a climbing/camping shop, so be sure to have enough chalk and suchlike available for your trip.

From rocking to resting

Rock climbing is taxing on the body and you need to take time to rest. There is plenty to do in Montagu on a rest day. The mountains surrounding the town have some really nice hiking trails. If this is too strenuous for a rest day, then do a trip around the wine farms. There are dozens of excellent wineries within a 30-kilometre radius of Montagu.

There are also the hot springs at the Avalon Springs Hotel, but choose your time wisely, as this can become very crowded. There are also some crafty places one could visit and a wonderful tractor ride up the back of Arangieskop, complete with huge mouthwatering potjiekos lunch at the end. For more information on this and for more ideas, visit the information centre in Bath Street. Of course, just lounging around the camp site with a good book is also an option.

Here is a Map of Montagu with the climbing crags illustrated on the map: