A road runs through it. Literally. Barrydale is really just a handful of buildings scattered across the highway, albeit a rather pleasant highway.
From Montagu, it's the R62, through the Wildehondskloofhoogte and Op de Tradouw passes, the backdrop the Langeberg mountains.
If you're coming from Swellendam, on the R324, however, you travel the spectacular Tradouw Pass into the Tradouw Valley.
It was originally built by Thomas Bain, master road builder, and really should be driven at least once by any self-respecting road-tripper.
Orange and ochre cliffs tower over you, green scrub gallantly holding out against the relentless sun.
It is hot and dusty, and starkly beautiful, raptors soaring on the thermals, the sky an impossible cerulean.
Whereas quaint, westerly McGregor is all gentility and shoo-wow, and neighbouring Montagu all history and fruit, Barrydale is Route 62's swaggering rebel child. The leather-jacketwearing wild one.
It is
