Winelands Marathon 2026 is a 42.2 km race on Saturday 7 November, starting at 05:30 at Coetzenburg, Stellenbosch. The course climbs about 405 m in total and has 15 water points.
From Coetzenburg through old Stellenbosch and past Spier, down the R44 to Somerset West below the Helderberg, then home through the vineyards of the Golden Triangle.
05:30, Coetzenburg, Stellenbosch (Suidwal, beside the Eerste River). New venue for 2026
The fields at Coetzenburg. Cut-off 11:30 (6 hours). Intermediate cut-off at 25.4 km: 09:30 (4 hours). Prize-giving 11:30 to 12:00
It climbs about 405 m in total. The highest point is 178 m above sea level, at km 32.7.
15 water points about every 3 km, water in recyclable cups, 10 of them with Coke (the spots shown are approximate: the 2026 positions are not published yet). Plastic free: no sachets, so bring a cup or refill flask if you can. Water and Coke at the finish
km 2.6 · 5.3 · 7.9 · 10.6 · 13.2 · 15.8 · 18.5 · 21.1 · 23.7 · 26.4 · 29 · 31.7 · 34.3 · 36.9 · 39.6
15 water points, about every 3 km
Friday 6 November, 10:00 to 18:00, at Sportsmans Warehouse Paarl, Rondebosch, Somerset West, Stellenbosch and Tygervalley. No collection on race day
Comrades and Two Oceans 2027 qualifier. Chip timed. No headphones. Entries are sold out. Official charity: Little Angels Home, Somerset West
05:30 · km 0
New this year: start, finish and race village move from Eikestad Primary School to Coetzenburg, Stellenbosch University's sports grounds. You start on Suidwal, beside the Eerste River, a few minutes before sunrise.
km 1 to 2 · Dorp Street
Stellenbosch is the second-oldest town in South Africa, and Dorp Street was its wagon road to the Cape. Under the oaks runs one of the longest rows of historic buildings in the country, past Oom Samie se Winkel, the old general dealer.
km 2 to 6 · Adam Tas Road
Adam Tas Road is named after the Stellenbosch farmer who in 1706 led a petition against the governor, Willem Adriaan van der Stel, and spent thirteen months in jail for it. The hill on your right is Papegaaiberg, Parrot Mountain: settlers once marked Simon van der Stel's birthday by shooting at a wooden parrot on a pole on its top.
km 6 to 11 · Baden Powell Drive
Baden Powell Drive runs down the Vlottenburg valley, gently downhill for five kilometres, past Stellenbosch Hills and Van Ryn's Distillery, where brandy has been made in copper pot stills since 1905, in buildings made of stones from the Eerste River.
km 9.5 · on your left
One of the oldest wine farms in South Africa: its first title deed was signed in 1692, and its old wine cellar dates from 1767.
km 11.5 to 12.7 · the first climb
At Lynedoch you turn onto Annandale Road at the lowest point of the course, 27 m above the sea. Then the first real climb: about 40 metres in just over a kilometre.
km 13 to 16.5 · Annandale Road
Annandale Road, known locally as the strawberry road for its strawberry farms, rolls east through vineyards and farmland, over the Bonterivier at km 15, then rises gently for four kilometres to the R44. You turn onto the R44 at the giant strawberry.
km 16.5 to 22 · the R44
Right onto the R44 towards Somerset West, with the Helderberg ahead. Its name means clear mountain, for the way its western face lights up in the evening; its highest point, the Dome, is 1,137 m. Helderberg Harriers, the hosts, are a Somerset West club.
km 20 to 21.5 · up to Somerset West
The R44 climbs about 60 metres in a kilometre and a half to the edge of Somerset West, the steepest climb before Stellenrust Road.
km 22.3 to 23.4 · the turn
A short loop through the Bellaire and Helderberg suburbs of Somerset West, by Beaulie Crescent, Steynsrust Road and Old Stellenbosch Road, the furthest point of the course. Then back onto the R44 for the long run home.
km 25.4 · the cut-off
The road drops about 55 metres between km 24.5 and 25.5, and at 25.4 km is the marathon's intermediate cut-off: you need to be here within 4 hours of the start, by 09:30.
km 26 to 29 · the Helderberg slopes
On your right, wine estates climb the lower slopes of the Helderberg: Avontuur, which breeds thoroughbred racehorses as well as making wine, and then Eikendal.
km 29.2 · on your right
You passed it on the way out: the big red strawberry at the corner of Annandale Road marks Mooiberge, a pick-your-own strawberry farm. The season runs from October to December, so race day falls right in the middle of it.
km 29.7 to 32.7 · the big climb
Right onto Stellenrust Road for the hardest climb of the day: about 95 metres in three kilometres. The steepest part comes first, about 50 metres in the first 600; then it eases to a steady 4% and tops out at 178 m, the highest point of the course.
km 32.7 · the highest point, 178 m
These slopes are the Golden Triangle, some of the most famous red wine country in South Africa: Stellenrust, Bilton, Stellenzicht, and Rust en Vrede, farmed since 1694. The highest point of the course comes at km 32.7, with the Helderberg behind you and Stellenbosch Mountain ahead.
km 34 to 37 · Blaauwklippen Road
Down Blaauwklippen Road, named after one of the oldest farms in the valley. Blaauwklippen means blue stones, after the granite its first farmers dug up when they cleared the land in the 1680s.
km 36 · on your left
The village of Jamestown was founded in 1902 on land bought from the Blaauwklippen farm, and its families have grown strawberries here for generations.
km 36 to 37.2 · the last climb
One last climb, about 30 metres, turning right into Wildebosch and on into Paradyskloof, below Stellenbosch Mountain. Then it's downhill to Strand Road.
km 38.4 to 39.7 · Strand Road
Right onto Strand Road and down into Stellenbosch, losing about 50 metres in two kilometres.
km 40 to 40.8 · Krigeville
Right into Krigeville on Van Reede Street, then left into Koch Street, down to the river. The last two kilometres rise gently, about 20 metres in all.
km 42.2 · Coetzenburg
Right along the Eerste River on Suidwal to the finish on the fields at Coetzenburg. The farm was granted to Dirk Coetsee in 1682; Stellenbosch University bought it in 1960, and it is now the home of Maties sport. Marathon prize-giving 11:30 to 12:00.
Route: Helderberg Harriers' official 2026 course maps. Water points: the organisers' plan, spots approximate