macgregor

This seldom driven gem of a pass ends in a dead end with a story attached. It is frequently referred to in its Afrikaans format - Boesmanskloofpasand is also called the "Road to Nowhere". The pass connects the town of McGregor with the farm Die Galg at the summit, where it ends. However in the early 1900's there was a strong need to build a road directly from McGregor to Greyton, which is a scant 25 kms to the west. The road was subsequently built and continues over the neck (Die Galg) and then descends along the northern side of the ravine, where the road was literally hacked out of the mountainside. This proved to be an onerous and expensive project and was abandoned due to lack of funds.

 

Strykhoogte is something of a mystery with no history available - even from locals in MacGregor. It is clearly an old pass as there are several sections utilising Thomas Bain's dry stone walling method to support the road. The pass runs through an arid area of the Little Karoo and offers wide views over mountains and farms. It forms the western border of the Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve - a favourite weekend destination for birders and hikers.