Passes, Poorts and Switchbacks. The Bain Legacy

We have all enjoyed the breathtaking views from the passes which enable us to travel over our spectacular mountains and into the beautiful valleys beyond .

But do we ever stop to think of the extraordinarily difficult journeys which faced our ancestors  before these incredible gateways were built ?

Do we  pause to acknowledge the foresight,  planning and engineering which went into the construction process ?

Arguably the greatest of these road builders and engineers was Thomas Bain – probably the best known of the 19th century road makers who played such a major part in opening the hinterland of the Cape Colony .

Thomas Charles John Bain  (not to be confused with artist and explorer Thomas Baines). and his father Andrew Geddes Bain  perfected the technique of constructing dry stone retaining walls – many of considerable height and length.   The roads they built are still standing and in use to this day.

Andrew was responsible for 7 major passes and Thomas for an incredible 26. These were all completed in the days before modern equipment .