List of nine events scheduled for the September weekend

Barrydale is known for its good cuisine, unusual roadside stops, and places that encourage you to stay for another cup of coffee, even if you have other plans. However, if you arrive hungry and leave having only eaten, you are missing the point of this place.

Located between Langeberg and Klein-Karoo on route 62, Barrydale is a town that rewards those who slow down. Here you can explore old buildings, drive on mountain roads, discover art, and relax in warm mineral pools. Above all, there is space to simply be somewhere else for a while.

The history of Barrydale is closely linked to travel through the mountains. Initially, this area was part of the Tradouw Hoek farm, and the village itself was founded in the late 1870s and officially recognized in 1881. The town developed along with the needs of the farming community on the mountain route to Swellendam and the sale of their produce.

This route became the Tradouw Pass, which was built by the renowned civil engineer Thomas Bain between 1869 and 1873. The pass passes through Langeberg and remains one of the most memorable ways to reach Barrydale, offering rugged cliffs and mountain landscapes instead of the usual straight Karoo road section. Its name comes from the Khoisan word traditionally translated as 'Women's Trail.'

The town itself got its name after the Barry family, well-known traders and landowners in the region. There is something fitting in the fact that Barrydale is a place you pass through, but you realize you would prefer to stay.

If you are traveling from Swellendam, do not treat the Tradouw Pass as something to rush through. This historic road is a sight in itself.

The pass, stretching about 16 kilometers, climbs through Langeberg, presenting rocky slopes, local vegetation, and wide views opening up as you move into the valley. It was constructed without modern technology, using the labor of prisoners under Bain's supervision.

It is a road trip where the journey itself is truly worth paying attention to. Stop in a safe place, enjoy the scenery, and remember that the road you are driving on is part of Barrydale's history.

Barrydale is small enough to explore on foot, and a walk through the streets is one of the easiest ways to understand this town. One of the most interesting historical estates is Morrison Estate and De Au Kerk, which houses some of Barrydale's oldest surviving buildings. The original church was built in 1877 using local materials and only began to be used in 1880. Since then, the estate has been carefully restored, including the old church, parsonage, and adjacent house. Today, the former church serves as an antique shop.

The modern Dutch Reformed Church on Van Riebeeck Street also has a long history. The congregation was founded in 1880, and the church building itself dates back to 1908.

This is not a town where you need to rush to see ten historical monuments before lunch. Look up while walking. Pay attention to the old facades, verandas, and architectural details. The history of Barrydale is often quietly present before you.

Barrydale has long attracted artists, writers, and people seeking an alternative pace of life, and this creative streak remains one of the defining characteristics of the town. At Magpie Art Collective, everyday discarded items are transformed into art, installations, lighting, and other handmade goods. The collective's work is based on reusing and rethinking ordinary materials, making a visit feel less like viewing another typical gallery and more like immersing oneself in Barrydale's slightly eccentric creative mind.

Barrydale Hand Weavers is another worthwhile stop for anyone interested in crafts. The studio preserves traditional methods of hand weaving and produces textiles using a process predating industrial production.

Furthermore, small shops, galleries, and independent creative spaces are scattered throughout the town. Take time to wander, rather than coming with a shopping list.

About a 20-minute drive from Barrydale, Spa Warmwaterberg offers a completely different way to spend the day. The main attraction of the spa is its natural mineral springs, the water of which emerges from the source at a temperature of about 43.5°C before being cooled for the pools. There are also two hiking trails on the grounds: a 1.8 km trail and a longer 6.1 km route where you can see succulents, rock formations, and resting spots.

This is especially suitable for a day when you haven't accomplished much and consider that a success. Walk around, soak in the water, and let the Karoo landscape do the rest.

The landscape around Barrydale tempts you to spend all your time looking at the mountains. It is worth doing, but you can also get closer to them. Around the valley and on neighboring lands, there are opportunities for walks and hikes, ranging from easy strolls to more strenuous mountain routes. The wider region also provides access to places such as the Boosmansbos reserve and the Grootvadersbos nature reserve.

Grootvadersbos is particularly valuable if you have an extra free day. The CapeNature reserve protects one of the most significant remaining areas of the local Afro-montane taiga in the southwest Cape. Visitors can take day walks and mountain bike rides, and bird lovers have a chance to see over 196 registered species. Bushbuck, baboons, and small mammals are also found in the reserve.

The change of scenery is striking. Barrydale is located in a transitional landscape between the wetter Overberg and the drier Klein-Karoo, so in a relatively short drive, you can transition from lush succulent scrubland to cool local forest.

There is also an argument for doing less. Barrydale is not a destination to conquer. In fact, trying to cram too much into a weekend diminishes its appeal. The town has long been known for its relaxed, creative character, and it is its quiet attractions that remain in memory.

Buy what you don't need. Browse the bookstore. Sit on the veranda. Take a day trip. Watch the light change over the mountains. Talk to a local resident. Sometimes the best thing to do in Barrydale is to stop searching for something to do.

Food may have brought you to Barrydale, but it doesn't necessarily have to be the reason you leave. The true pleasure of the town lies in the combination of things that do not combine anywhere else: a historic mountain pass, Cape's old architecture, contemporary art, handicrafts, mineral springs, and a landscape transitioning from the rugged Karoo to mountain forest.

It is a place to take the scenic route. To step out of the car. To look closely.

So next time you are driving on route 62 with Barrydale on your itinerary, allow yourself more than an hour between breakfast and your next destination. Stay overnight. Drive through the pass. Walk the streets. Relax in the hot springs. Seek out art. And yes, eat well while you are there. Just don't let food be the only thing you remember.