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Wiesbaden

Wiesbaden is the capital of the German state of Hesse. Wiesbaden is a historic spa city which has catered to people from countries near and far for many centuries. At one time, Wiesbaden boasted 26 hot springs. Fourteen of the springs are still flowing today. Even the "old" Romans knew of the "Aquis Mattiacis".

Today it is part of the larger Rhine area and profits from its proximity to the Frankfurt Airport and the business centre of Frankfurt. During peak times (trade fairs, conventions, etc.) a lot of business travellers stay in Wiesbaden instead of in Frankfurt and relax from the busy metropolis in this smaller city with a charming old city.

Tourist information

 * Wiesbaden tourism website

Get in
Wiesbaden is very well connected by many highways from Frankfurt, Cologne or Mainz. Trains travel frequently and are very enjoyable. Travel times by car are roughly 15 minutes from Mainz), 35 minutes from Frankfurt, or 2 hours from Cologne (Köln).

From Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
A taxi from Frankfurt Airport to Wiesbaden costs around €60, S-Bahn is a much better deal at €4.35 one-way and goes every 15 minutes. No bus service.

From the Terminal 1, follow the signs to the regional train station Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen Regionalbahnhof which is in the basement of the Airport building. Usually Wiesbaden is the terminal station for the S-Bahn and regional train so you can easily find the correct platform. There are two train stations at the airport; in the basement the regional train station (S-Bahn & fast regional trains) and near the motorway the „Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen Fernbahnhof“ for mid-/long-distance trains (ICE and IC).

The long-distance train station is a longer walk (about an extra 10 minutes). It has much less frequent and more expensive service to Wiesbaden.

Please see additional notes in the sections below regarding train tickets.

Buying RMV tickets
Buying your ticket:

The new vending machines sell both RMV (local travel network) and DB (long distance) tickets. To buy a ticket, e.g., for the S-Bahn, make sure you are in RMV mode.

After having named your destination, choose "Einzelfahrt Erwachsene" for a single trip and the screen should display €4.35 if you are at the airport or €7.80 if you are in Frankfurt. Insert € coins or bills. All machines accept credit card or EC card, too. The printed ticket is already validated and you can board the S8 or S9 for Wiesbaden. (S1 and SE10 from Frankfurt city as well). Don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it! There is also a RMV information desk at the airport's short-distance train station.

From Frankfurt-Hahn airport ()
This airport is located in Hahn 100 km (60 mi) West of Wiesbaden. A taxi would shoot your Ryanair bargain down, so the recommended option is a bus to Mainz (9 connections per day, 1-hour ride, €13) and from there a S-Bahn or RB to Wiesbaden (3 trains per hour, €2.60). See the: timetable HHN–Mainz There is unfortunately no direct bus HHN-Wiesbaden. Another option is a bus to the actual airport of Frankfurt which has S-Bahn connections to Wiesbaden as well – slightly slower and more expensive. You can also take a taxi (9 km) to Traben-Trarbach and take the train from there (via Koblenz).

By car
If you start in Frankfurt, take the A66 until Wiesbaden-Erbenheim (Exit 6). Here you follow the signs to Wiesbaden City Center and Wiesbaden Kurhaus.

If starting from Frankfurt Airport follow signs for Wiesbaden, which takes you on the A3 until the Wiesbadener Kreuz, where you switch to the A66 until Exit 6.

Frankfurt-Wiesbaden
S-Bahns heading to Wiesbaden are S1, S8 and S9. Slightly faster is VIA's regional train (StadtExpress) which departs at the. All these trains cost €7.60, travelling by ICE is more expensive and not faster. If you are travelling in a group, ask for group prices. Get to the train station a few minutes early to allow time to figure out the ticket machine; don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it.

On trains marked IC or ICE, you can buy a ticket from the conductor on the train at a slightly higher price. However, in common with most areas in Germany, there are no ticket-sales staff on local trains (marked S-Bahn, RB, SE or RE) in the RMV tariff area and you must buy your ticket from a machine (or ticket office) before boarding the train. Such trains are patrolled regularly by ticket inspectors, sometimes plain-clothed, but always carrying identification, and you will be fined at least €40 if found without a ticket on a local train.

Cologne-Wiesbaden
If you are travelling to or from Cologne (Köln) Airport, an unforgettable experience is the ICE high-speed train run. The direct Wiesbaden-Köln ICE reaches a top speed of. However, there are only two direct trains a day in both directions; the morning trains depart 06:24, while the evening trains depart 16:45. The journey takes about one hour. There are several other indirect trains available with one connection, the travel times for these is between 1 hr 30 min and 2 hr 15 min.

If you are able to buy a ticket a day or more in advance, you will get the best price on long-distance ICE trains with the Sparpreis (Savings Fare), however on busy days those fares may be sold out. Go online or look for the red ticket machines at any big train station. More information and online purchase are available here:  If you buy a Sparpreis ticket in the DB Reisezentrum, they charge €5 per person and direction.

Another interesting option is the route through the Middle Rhine Valley. You can either take regional trains or long distance trains and pass through towns like Boppard, Koblenz, Bingen and Rüdesheim, enjoying the sights at vineyards, medieval castles and the Rhine river.

Train and bus
Wiesbaden trains and buses operate under the RMV Travel Network (Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund). If you already have a RMV ticket to Wiesbaden, you can use the bus lines without extra charge to reach your final destination. Some train tickets come with a "+City" option which includes municipal transport as well.

Wiesbaden Bus information can also be found here: English

Deutsche Bahn the German National railway.

On foot
Once you are in the city centre it's pretty comfortable to just walk around. There's a main pedestrian area (Fußgängerzone) which is similar to an open-air mall, but more relaxed. Shops line the street and alleys, and it's mostly closed off to cars. Many shops, cafes and restaurants can be found in this area. Be sure to walk around the "Old City" (Altstadt) as well.

By public transport
If you want to go further out of the city centre, you can use the developed bus system. Buses travel frequently and on time. It is possible to buy tickets on the bus, just ask the driver (because of possible language barrier issues, just say the name of the street you want to go to). Your trip will cost you a minimum of €1.60 (adult), but probably no more than €2.60 (one way). At the ticket machines, five such single tickets are available at a reduction as "Sammelkarte". There's also a one day ticket ("Tagesticket"), with which you can go wherever you want, available at the ticket machines (or the bus driver) at €6.30 for adults and €3.70 for children, respectively. Weekly tickets are available for €21.90, and have the added bonus of one other adult and all of your own children (up to 14 y.o.) travelling for free from 7PM weeknights, and all day Saturday and Sunday (and public holidays). (Dec. 2013)

By e-hailing
Uber and Free Now cover the city.

See

One of the most attractive buildings in Wiesbaden is the Kurhaus in the city centre. Built for emperor Wilhelm around 1900 it serves as a wellness and leisure time centre. It also offers a pretty garden where you can walk around or relax. Next to it are two further important buildings: the famous casino and the theatre.

Kranzplatz/Kochbrunnenplatz

Wiesbaden-Biebrich

Do

 * Football: SV Wehen Wiesbaden were promoted in 2023 and now play soccer in 2. Bundesliga, Germany's second tier. Their home ground Brita-Arena (capacity 13,500) is 1 km southeast of city centre.
 * Football: SV Wehen Wiesbaden were promoted in 2023 and now play soccer in 2. Bundesliga, Germany's second tier. Their home ground Brita-Arena (capacity 13,500) is 1 km southeast of city centre.
 * Football: SV Wehen Wiesbaden were promoted in 2023 and now play soccer in 2. Bundesliga, Germany's second tier. Their home ground Brita-Arena (capacity 13,500) is 1 km southeast of city centre.

Buy

 * Pedestrian zone: Kirchgasse and Langgasse:
 * Luisencenter, Kirchgasse: stores include Karstadt Sport and Saturn (electronics).
 * Luisencenter, Kirchgasse: stores include Karstadt Sport and Saturn (electronics).
 * Luisencenter, Kirchgasse: stores include Karstadt Sport and Saturn (electronics).

Eat
Very good restaurants are in the Taunusstraße. Pizza, pasta and more classy Italian style you find in the Goldgasse. And the Moritzstraße has inexpensive döner kebab restaurants.

Mid-range

Go next

 * Eltville am Rhein in the Rheingau
 * Rüdesheim am Rhein in the Rheingau near the Middle Rhine Valley
 * Mainz is just across the Rhine, 11 min by train or 30 min by bus
 * Worms
 * Darmstadt
 * Frankfurt

title: Wiesbaden


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Wigan

Wigan is an industrial town in Greater Manchester in the north of England. It's 17 miles northwest of central Manchester and until 1974 was part of Lancashire. In 2019 the population was 108,000.

Understand

Until 1800 Wigan was a small market town overlooking the River Douglas. The river wasn't suitable for navigation or for driving waterwheels, so the early phase of the Industrial Revolution passed the town by. Then came steam-driven mills powered by coal from the local coalfield, and the Leeds-Liverpool canal placed it right on the main trans-Pennine trade route. Wigan grew rapidly into a major centre for cotton-milling and clothing, along with mining and related industries.

In the 19th century, a narrow-gauge line carried coal trucks over a tressle viaduct spanning the river valley to the canal wharf, where the coal was tipped into barges. The name Wigan Pier is believed to have started from a joke in 1891, when a railway excursion to Southport was delayed outside Wallgate Station. "Where the hell are we, are we near the seaside yet? That there must be Wigan Pier...." — referring to the viaduct. The Wigan comedian George Formby Snr (1875-1921) took up the joke, which fitted well into his daffy Lancashire stage act, and his son George Formby Jnr (1904-1961), with his trademark ukelele, continued the theme. The viaduct was demolished in 1929 but the joke had become entrenched, and the canal wharf itself became known as the pier. In 1936 George Orwell visited Wigan, Barnsley and Sheffield to research the conditions of poor working people in industrial England, published in 1937 as The Road to Wigan Pier. In Wigan he lodged above a squalid tripe shop, whose owner regarded tripes as a unit of time, an insight worthy of Stephen Hawking: "I've had two deliveries of tripe since that happened...."

In 1974 Wigan was transferred from Lancashire to the new entity of Greater Manchester, along with Rochdale, Bolton, Bury, Oldham and others. The change was resented by some, and perhaps especially in Wigan, which was historically less connected to the city of Manchester, being something of a buffer state between Manchester, Liverpool and Preston. But all of that was almost fifty years ago, the Lancastria Irredentia faction are in their eighties and nineties, and post-industrial Wigan has more important matters to worry about.

Get in
Wigan stands between the M61 (Manchester-Preston, use exit 5 onto A58) and M6 (Midlands-Carlisle, use jcn 26 which is also the terminus of M58 from Liverpool).

By air
Manchester Airport 25 miles southeast has a direct train hourly, taking one hour to Wigan North Western and continuing north to Barrow-in-Furness.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport is 25 miles southwest, but you have to take the airport bus into central Liverpool then a train onward, travel time around two hours.

By rail
station has trains hourly from London Euston taking 2 hours via Warrington, and continuing north via Preston, Lancaster, Penrith and Carlisle to Glasgow Central. Slower trains from Euston also stop at Milton Keynes, Coventry, Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

There are also trains every 30-60 min from Liverpool via St Helens, from Blackpool via Preston, and from Manchester Airport via Piccadilly and continuing north to Barrow-in-Furness.

station has local trains every 30 min or so from Manchester Victoria via Salford, also from Bolton and Southport. A ponderous train from Leeds takes two hours via Hebden Bridge, Rochdale, Victoria and Salford, but it's quicker to change at Piccadilly.

The two stations are barely 100 yards apart: North Western is actually to the south, but its tracks sweep round to head north.

By bus
National Express Bus NX570 runs daily from London Victoria, taking six hours to Wigan via Milton Keynes and Birmingham, and continuing to Preston and Blackpool. Change at Preston for buses to Carlisle, Glasgow and Edinburgh, at St Helens for Liverpool, and at Manchester for most other inter-city routes.

Bus services from central Manchester are frequent but tedious: at least 90 min, with a change. The usual route is to take First Bus V1 via Salford to Leigh, then Stagecoach Bus 9 to Wigan.

Direct buses to Wigan (operated by Arriva) are Bus 575 from Bolton via Horwich, every 20 min taking 50 min; Bus 320 / 352 from St Helens every 15 min, taking 50 min; Bus 362 from Chorley every 30 min, taking 40 min; Bus 113 from Preston via Leyland hourly, taking two hours; and Bus 360 from Warrington every 30 min, taking an hour.

Wigan bus station is 200 yards north of Wallgate railway station.

Get around
The town is compact and you can easily walk between centre, canalside, museum and football ground. The borough however is large, with satellite towns. The quickest bus to Leigh is Number 8, every 15 min, taking 40 min via Higher Ince. Bus 10 also runs there via Ashton-in-Makerfield every 15 min.

See

 * All Saints' Church just north of Wallgate station dates to the 13th century but was mostly rebuilt in the mid-19th century.
 * at the junction of A49 Wigan Lane and Monument Rd marks the Battle of Wigan Lane, fought on 25 Aug 1651 during the final days of the Civil War. The Royalists were passing through town to try to join King Charles II at Worcester. Parliamentarian cavalry were in pursuit but their infantry was some way behind: when the Royalists realised this, they turned and counter-attacked. They made three assaults then their forces were spent, and the survivors fled as they saw the Parliamentarian infantry arriving. The defeat was a hammer blow to their cause because they'd been the last sizable English contingent of Royalists. Nine days later at Worcester, only Scots troops stood with the king; Cromwell's forces crushed them, Charles fled to the continent, and his kingdom became a republic.
 * at the junction of A49 Wigan Lane and Monument Rd marks the Battle of Wigan Lane, fought on 25 Aug 1651 during the final days of the Civil War. The Royalists were passing through town to try to join King Charles II at Worcester. Parliamentarian cavalry were in pursuit but their infantry was some way behind: when the Royalists realised this, they turned and counter-attacked. They made three assaults then their forces were spent, and the survivors fled as they saw the Parliamentarian infantry arriving. The defeat was a hammer blow to their cause because they'd been the last sizable English contingent of Royalists. Nine days later at Worcester, only Scots troops stood with the king; Cromwell's forces crushed them, Charles fled to the continent, and his kingdom became a republic.
 * at the junction of A49 Wigan Lane and Monument Rd marks the Battle of Wigan Lane, fought on 25 Aug 1651 during the final days of the Civil War. The Royalists were passing through town to try to join King Charles II at Worcester. Parliamentarian cavalry were in pursuit but their infantry was some way behind: when the Royalists realised this, they turned and counter-attacked. They made three assaults then their forces were spent, and the survivors fled as they saw the Parliamentarian infantry arriving. The defeat was a hammer blow to their cause because they'd been the last sizable English contingent of Royalists. Nine days later at Worcester, only Scots troops stood with the king; Cromwell's forces crushed them, Charles fled to the continent, and his kingdom became a republic.

Do

 * Football:
 * Bolton Wanderers Macron Stadium is five miles northeast, midway between Bolton and Wigan, off jcn 6 of M61. Wanderers likewise play in League One, the third tier.

 * Rugby League: Wigan Warriors play the 13-a-side game at the DW Stadium. They play in the Super League, the European top tier of rugby league. The women's team play in their top tier at Robin Park Arena adjacent. The RL playing season is Feb to Sep.
 * Hollywood Bowl is a bowling alley and American diner just west of town centre. It's open M-F 11AM-11PM, Sa Su 10AM-11PM.
 * Empire Cinema shows mainstream releases. It's on Robin Retail Park west of town centre, see "Buy" marker.
 * Wigan Roller Rink just south of town centre is for roller-skating / blading to music: think glitter globes and funky moves. Great family fun. Some sessions are just for lessons or private parties but public skating is Th 11AM-2PM, 7-10PM; F 7-10:30PM; Sa 11AM-4PM, 7-10:30PM; Su 11AM-4PM, 6-9PM; adult £5 and skate hire £3.
 * Leeds and Liverpool Canal stretches for 127 miles (204 km) across the Pennines. Opened in 1816, it connects the Irish Sea and Mersey at Liverpool, other canals such as the Bridgewater, several industrial towns of northern England, and eventually the North Sea via the Aire-Calder Canal from Leeds down to the Humber. It's fully navigable by boats up to 62 ft length and 14 ft 4 beam (18.90 x 4.37 m) and has a good towpath throughout for walking and cycling. In this region it snakes north from Liverpool to Burscough, then heads east through Appley Bridge to Wigan alongside the River Douglas: this forms a long artificial island. Wigan Pier is on the reach between locks 77 and 78. The canal loops the south side of town then turns north to Chorley before again turning east to Blackburn and ascending the Pennines. There are multiple access points.
 * Bridgewater Canal connects with the Leeds and Liverpool at Wigan and runs east via Leigh to meet the Manchester Ship Canal. It's also navigable but the towpath is not in such good condition - it's being refurbished, completion date TBA.
 * Flashes are areas that sank because of mining subsidence and became flooded. (This became woven into the Wigan Pier saga: "Eeh, I see the tide's in again".) Nowadays they're often wetland wildlife reserves and country parks, since even the most swinish property developers have failed to market housing amidst these bogs and lagoons. A mile south of town are Westwood and Wigan Flashes. Further southeast near the village of Leigh is Pennington Flash.
 * is a multi-purpose stadium, capacity 12,000, by Pennington Flash five miles southeast of Wigan. Playing here are rugby league team Leigh Centurions, and Manchester United women's and junior soccer teams. In 2022 the stadium hosted games in the UEFA Women's Finals and in the Rugby League World Cup, both tournaments postponed from 2021.
 * Haigh Woodland Park is a large country park two miles northeast of town. It's arranged around Haigh Hall, a 19th-century mansion converted into a hotel (see "Sleep", but the hotel is closed). There are extensive grounds and parkland, and two golf courses, the Balcarres of 18 holes and the Crawford of 9. There's also a kid's playground, stables, shops and cafe. It's bordered to the west by the Leeds and Liverpool canal.
 * is a 1.5-km outdoor track mostly used for karting; if you've mastered an indoor kart track this is the next step up. It also hosts other car and bike races and testing. It's two miles south of Wigan near the village of Bryn, which has buses and trains towards Ashton-in-Makerfield.
 * Croon: in any tune lyric wherever the word "heaven" appears, you can substitute "Wigan" with pleasing results. A similar effect is obtained by replacing "paradise" with "Heckmondwike".
 * Wigan Diggers Festival is a music festival and market held in mid-Sep to celebrate the 17th-century "Diggers", the radical socialist land reformers led by Gerrard Winstanley.
 * Watch Wallace & Gromit cartoons — they're frequently re-screened — for an idyllic vision of 1950s cobbled northern town life that's somewhere between a Hovis advert and Blake's "Jerusalem". They've been honoured by a statue in Preston, home of their creator Nick Park, but the pair actually lived at 62 West Wallaby Street, Wigan WG7 7FU, where a public monument is surely overdue.

Buy

 * Wallgate has the usual dismal High St cavalcade of charity shops, vape stores, pawnbrokers, fast food outlets and empty units. It leads into the main shopping strip, Standishgate, which has Makinson Arcade at its foot, The Galleries mall west side and Grand Arcade east. These malls' greatest contribution to Wigan's culture was during construction, which uncovered Roman remains confirming that here stood the garrison and settlement of Coccium.
 * Wigan Market, at the corner of Mesnes St and New Market St, is open M-Sa 8:30AM-5PM. Lots of empty spaces in the indoor market but still a good variety of stalls.
 * The big edge-of-town mall is Robin Retail Park 100 yards south of the football stadium, with an ASDA. The Empire Cinema and Red Robin pub are also here.

Eat

 * Meat pies: lots of outlets, though they may have been trucked in from miles away. The World Pie-Eating Championships are held annually, usually in Nov / Dec in Harry's Bar in Wallgate. Any kudos for breaking the official record of 6.72 pies in seven minutes will be only slightly dimmed by the unofficial feat of Charlie, a bichon frise who in 2007 scoffed twenty pies and gnawed another ten while his owner was distracted, thereby jeopardising the event. (This being the flat-capped north, the distraction was caused by a pigeon flying into the owner's chimney.) A fresh batch of competition pies was hurriedly baked and Charlie's owner took advantage of a loophole in the rules to enter the dog as a competitor. To no avail: Charlie couldn't face another pie.
 * Uncle Joe's Mint Balls are a local delicacy, made by William Santus & Co on Dorning St and widely available.
 * There's a slew of budget eating places along Wallgate and King St, with the usual High Street names but no stand-out.
 * There's another group next to the football stadium, notably Red Robin Pub / Wackey Warehouse, open daily to 23:00.

Drink

 * John Bull Chop House is an excellent traditional pub in an ancient building on Coopers Row 100 yards north of Wallgate station. It's open Tu-Th 4:30-11PM, F Sa 1PM-1AM, Su 3-11PM.

 * Other central pubs are The Moon Under Water (JD Wetherspoon) on Market Place, The Anvil on Dorning St, The Swan and Railway on Wallgate between the stations (re-opened in Dec 2019 after tasteful refurbishment), and the Royal Oak on Standishgate a little way north. The Bowling Green is half a mile north on Wigan Lane.

 * Clubs and late spots include The Boulevard, Jaks, Ibiza, Bentley's, Revolution Wigan and Indiependence.

Sleep

 * Premier Inn in town centre is on Harrogate Rd off A49. They have others on Warrington Rd (Marus Bridge) south of town, and to the north at Standish near jcn 27 of M6.

Connect
As of May 2022, Wigan and Leigh have 5G from EE, Three and Vodafone, and 4G from O2.

Stay safe
Town centre is well-policed, but exercise usual caution especially around late-night drunks. There are some rough outlying estates where the visitor has no reason to go.

Go next

 * Manchester and Liverpool are two great cities to explore, both within an hour's travel.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Wigan


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Wigry

 * For the park, see Wigry National Park.

Wigry is a village in Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland known for the former Camaldolese priory.

See

 * Former Camaldolese Priory - you can see Papal Apartments, Papal Chapel, Crypt, Clock Tower and exhibitions. Normal ticket 8 zł, reduced 4 zł.
 * Gardens - free
 * Church

Do

 * Rent a bike, 8 zł/hour

Buy

 * Souvenir shop also sells traditional food like sękacz.
 * Traditional fair - Jarmark Wigierski in the middle of August

Eat
The restaurant

Drink
The cafe

Sleep
You can sleep in former Camaldolese hermitages (around 300 - 340 zł per night for four persons house) or rooms in other buildings of the priory (around 150 zł for a double)

There is also a lot of campsites around Wigry lake which is a cheaper option.

Go next

 * Sejny

title: Wigry


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Wigry National Park

The Wigry National Park (in Polish Wigierski Park Narodowy) is a national park in Poland in Podlaskie Voivodship in the Suwałki lake district.

Go next

 * Augustów
 * Suwałki

title: Wigry National Park


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Vechtstreek

The Vechtstreek is a scenic region in North Holland and Utrecht. It is a popular get-away destination known for its natural beauty, castles, parks and stately homes. Muiden and Weesp, while a part of the Vechtstreek, are covered in separate articles.

Understand
The Vechtstreek is known for its many vestiges of the Dutch Golden Age, including castles, homes, parks and tea houses. They are remnants of the greatness and wealth of that period, the important commercial role played by the Vecht and the area's history as a residential area for the nobility and wealthy.

The landscape east and west of the river is also remarkable. Peat extraction in the 17th and 18th century turned vast low-lying fens into a collection of shallow, man-made lakes and bogs. Water lilies, reeds, swamps and wooded areas have developed spontaneously from the old peat canals (trekgaten) where the peat was extracted. About 70 km² have been designated as a series of nature reserves and are part of the European Natura 2000 scheme.

Orientation
The Vechtstreek is the area between Amsterdam and Utrecht, and many travellers stay in the region to be close enough to visit those cities. Orientation is difficult, as there are many small villages in the area but no definite central place to go. Maarssen is the largest town by inhabitants, but it's an outlier in terms of geography. Many travellers would spend the night near Loenen or Loosdrecht, as they are centrally located and have plenty of water sport facilities. If you're reliant on public transport, stay near Breukelen as it has a train station on the Amsterdam-Utrecht line.

If ignoring Muiden and Weesp, the Vechtstreek is administered by the three municipalities:
 * Stichtse Vecht
 * Wijdemeren
 * De Ronde Venen

Stichtse Vecht is a merger of the former municipalities of Breukelen, Loenen and Maarssen. Wijdemeren is a merger of 's-Graveland, Loosdrecht and Nederhorst Den Berg. And De Ronde Venen is a merger of Mijdrecht, Vinkeveen, Wilnis and Abcoude. If that wasn't complex enough, Stichtse Vecht and De Ronde Venen are in the province of Utrecht, while Wijdemeren is in North Holland. 's-Graveland and Kortenhoef are both in the Vechtstreek and a part of the Gooi area.

By train
The main Amsterdam-Utrecht railway line runs right through the Vechtstreek, but fast Intercity trains do not stop here. But Sprinter, slower trains, do. Maarssen, Breukelen and Abcoude have stations along the line. Depending on the village you leave from, reaching Amsterdam or Utrecht will take about 20-30 minutes. Trains to Woerden and Gouda do not pass Maarssen.

By bus
Buses are infrequent and unreliable, and it's hard to reach certain places, but if you don't have a car, you don't have a choice. Generally, buses leave from the train stations and go to the surrounding villages.

's-Graveland, Loosdrecht and Kortenhoef are reached via Hilversum. First go to that town by train, then take either bus 105 or 106. Bus 105 has Bussum Station as its last stop and leaves every 30 minutes from 07:00 till around 00:00. It takes around 10 minutes to reach bus stop Smidsbrug at the centre of 's-Graveland. Bus 106 ends at Weesp station, but it only leaves once per hour. After 10 minutes, get out at bus stop Kerklaan, also in the center of 's-Graveland.

Bus 38 runs between Maarssen train station and Utrecht Centraal, but not through the centre of Maarssen. Other buses that run through Maarssen are the 35 and 36.

By car
The Vechtstreek is well connected by road. Motorway A2 runs between Amsterdam and Utrecht and is the main access road for all important villages in the Vechtstreek. From Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, Leiden and Utrecht, drive onto the A2 and then take exit 3 for Abcoude and Nigtevecht, exit 4 for 's-Graveland, Kortenhoef, Loosdrecht, Loenen aan de Vecht, Mijdrecht, Vinkeveen, and Wilnis, exit 5 for Breukelen, and exit 6 for Maarssen. This is a busy road with a lot of traffic jams during peak hours.

Get around
Getting around by public transport buses is possible, but complicated. The easiest way to get around is by car, by bike, or even better, by boat. Bikes can be rented at railway stations.

Along the Vecht
Many visitors come to the Vechtstreek for its magnificent 17th- and 18th-century estates (Dutch: buitenplaats or landerij). Estates are dotted along the complete course of the Vecht.

's-Graveland
's-Graveland has many significant estates. The village became a popular getaway among rich traders from Amsterdam in the Dutch Golden Age, who constructed, bought or inherited large estates at the eastern side of the s-Gravelandsevaart, which used to be an important trade route that connected Amsterdam with Hilversum. As the road wasn't hardened on most places, boat transportation was popular at that time. Now most of the property is owned by Natuurmonumenten, an organisation that buys, protects and manages nature reserves in the Netherlands. It's not a co-incidence that the organisation has its headquarters in 's-Graveland.

Do
There are lakes and waterways on both sides of the Vecht. These lakes and interconnecting waterways are referred to as the Vechtplassen ("the Vecht Lakes"), a series of man-made lakes resulting from the peat extraction. The lakes near Loosdrecht are especially popular for sailing. West of the river Vecht there is another important area of man-made lakes, the Vinkeveen lakes.

A good way to spend a day is by making a bicycle tour through the area, passing many estates, polders and lakes.

A popular activity with the locals in the summer is to rent a boat and hit the lakes.

Buy
Breukelen's historic town centre has some nice shopping options.

Eat
Due to the affluent demographic, there are some high class restaurants in the area. There are also plenty of restaurants that cater to the many cyclists, so finding a day time snack or beverage should not be too difficult. Ankeveen is known by the locals as "the village with 0 shops but 4 restaurants". 's-Graveland also has some posh up-scale restaurants. Eateries in Abcoude, Kortenhoef and Nederhorst den Berg are generally cheap and aimed at the locals.

Drink
There's almost no nightlife to speak of in the area, the locals go to the surrounding cities for a night out. It is, however, possible to grab a cup of coffee at one of the restaurants.

Sleep
It's fair to say that accommodation is limited; most visitors spend the night in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Hilversum or other nearby towns. But as the area is a popular getaway destination among the locals, there certainly are options.

Go next
Muiden and Weesp are a part of the Vechtstreek, and each have a lot to offer the visitor. Muiden has a historic river quayside and the magnificent Muiderslot. Weesp was once fortified and several of the bastions, moats and forts have survived till this day.

title: Vechtstreek


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Wijk bij Duurstede

Wijk bij Duurstede is a town in Utrecht. It is a typically old Dutch town on the Crooked Rhine River. Dikes galore. Subject of Old Master Jakob Isaackszoon van Ruisdael's 1670 iconic Dutch landscape painting.

Understand
Wijk bij Duurstede, its name meaning either Settlement near Dorestad or River bend near Dorestad. Dorestad being one of the most important international trade posts before the city's demise caused by Viking raids. Wijk bij Duurstede is located roughly where this city with an estimated ten thousand inhabitants once stood.

Dorestad
Dorestad was one of, if not the biggest international trading posts of northwest Europe between the end of the seventh and the middle of the ninth century. The town was founded on the remains of a formerly Roman castellum (castle). The city was inhabited by Frisians, but was located near the border of Frisian and Frankish territories, making the city play a key role in many battles amongst the two tribes. Dorestad finally fell into Frankish hands around 719. The town was transferred to the Danish brothers Rorik and Harald in 840, with the city's demise starting not long after, in the ninth century.

The city's prosperous nature attracted attention from the North, with Viking raids, often ending with the town being burned down and parts of its population slaughtered, started in 834, with the last noted time being in 863. The exact cause of Dorestad's demise is not known, but the cause is thought to be either the Viking raids, a sand blockage in the river Rhine, which would have severely limited trade, therefore removing what was so dear to Dorestad; trade. Other theories are the shift of power in the Frankish Empire following Charlemagne's death or the lack of a religious centre (i.e. church) in the city, which left rulers and the elite less interested in Dorestad. Dorestad's fall, however, meant the rise of Tiel, Deventer and later Utrecht.

Wijk bij Duurstede
Wijk bij Duurstede, which can be commonly referred to as Wijk, obtained its city rights in 1300. The town was built on the side of a tower, which would later grow out to become the Duurstede Castle (Kasteel Duurstede). Not late after the city was reinforced with ramparts and a moat. Halfway the fourteenth century the city grew in eastern direction, which also prompted the construction of city walls and the thereto beloning city gates.

By car
Wijk bij Duurstede is quite some ways away from the nearest highway, therefore, reaching the town can be a tad complicated.

From Amsterdam, take the A2 heading south towards Utrecht. Shortly after exit 8, turn onto the A12 at Knooppunt Oudenrijn heading towards Arnhem. Follow the A12 for a while, after which you take exit 19 (Bunnik), with a turn to the right at the end of the exitramp, turning onto the N229. Following this road, you will pas the towns of Odijk, Werkhoven and Cothen in that order, after which you will arrive in Wijk bij Duurstede.

From The Hague, Rotterdam and Zeeland, first make your way to Rotterdam, joining the A15 heading for Dordrecht and Tiel at some point. Follow the A15, making sure to not stick to the A16 instead at Knooppunt Ridderkerk, where both highways run the same route for a few kilometers. Make your way past Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, Sliedrecht and Hardinxveld, using exit 33 (Tiel) to leave the highway, followed by a left turn at the end of the exitramp, heading onto the N835 heading north, crossing over the Betuweroute cargo train line. Follow the N835 across the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal (Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal), turning left on the first roundabout you see, heading for Maurik. Again, follow this road for a while until you see the next roundabout, again, taking a left turn, this time onto the N320. Follow directions to Wijk bij Duurstede from this point on. This will lead you onto the N229, which will get you directly into the city after crossing the Nederrijn river via a small ferry which runs the year round from 06:30-22:30, and charges a mere €0.50 for a single transit across the river. If you would rather avoid such costs, then you should head for Utrecht instead either near Gorinchem or Knooppunt Deil following exit 27 and 29 on the A15 respectively. From Utrecht then, follow the directions above under From Amsterdam.

From Arnhem and the Eastern and Northern Netherlands in general, take the A12 heading for Utrecht, using the exit at Maarsbergen (exit 22), following the N226 on the other side of the highway, driving away from Maarsbergen. The N226 terminates at a roundabout not long after. Here, head left onto the N225 driving into Leersum. At the roundabout in the centre of town, head right, followed by a left turn right after. Once you see the town on your left and the countryside on your right, take the next turn right (onto the Boerenbuurt), following this road. After staying on this road for some 6 km, you will find yourself on the edge of Wijk bij Duurstede. To get to the town centre, turn left onto the Zandweg once you can, and follow this road. At the end of the road, you will see the edge of the town centre.

By public transit
The nearest train station to Wijk bij Duurstede is Driebergen-Zeist on the Utrecht—Arnhem intercity line (the station is serviced by Intercity and Sprinter trains). From Driebergen-Zeist, bus 56 goes to Wijk bij Duurstede. Additionally you can get to Wijk bij Duurstede via a longer bus connection, that being bus line 41 from Utrecht Centraal via Bunnik.

By bike

 * Rhine cycle route (Rijn-Fietsroute) or EuroVelo 15 from Arnhem via Wageningen or Dordrecht via Gorinchem

See

 * Sea Shanty and Old Steam boat festival. Last Saturday of September.
 * Sea Shanty and Old Steam boat festival. Last Saturday of September.
 * Sea Shanty and Old Steam boat festival. Last Saturday of September.
 * Sea Shanty and Old Steam boat festival. Last Saturday of September.

title: Wijk bij Duurstede


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Wijlre

Wijlre is a small village in South Limburg, known for its beer and popular with tourists who are looking for a more quiet destination than nearby Maastricht or Valkenburg. It's an excellent base for hikers and bikers.

Understand
Wijlre is part of the municipality of Gulpen-Wittem but famous itself for the beer that has been brewed here since 1365 and has been known as Brand beer since the 1860s. A number of hamlets are usually considered to be part of Wijlre: Etenaken, Berghof, Cartils, Kapolder, Elkenrade, Stokhem en Beertsenhoven.

Get in
The main road in and out of Wijlre is the N595, which runs through the village and connects it to Valkenburg to the north-west and to the N278 at Wittem. There is a trainstation in the village, but it's not connected to the regular Dutch railroads. It is however used by the Zuid-Limburgse Stoomtrein Maatschappij, which brings the Miljoenenlijntje here, a steam train that connects some touristic destinations in South Limburg to each other for touristic purposes.

Bus line 40 connects Wijlre to Heerlen, Ubachsberg and Gulpen. Bus 49 passes through the village on its way from Gulpen to Valkenburg and back. There are 3 busstops, "Wijlre Brouwerij" and "Wijlre Wielderdorpstraat" being the most central ones, close to each other and served by both lines.

Get around
The village itself is very small and you can easily walk to the few sights on foot. A bike or car is handy to get to nearby destinations or the surrounding hamlets. To rent means of transport, however, you'll have to head to Valkenburg or Gulpen (for bikes).

Do

 * Touring or hiking through the lovely South Limburg countryside is a main tourist activity, also around Wijlre. You can find some leaflets with route ideas at Cafe a gen Baan'.
 * Touring or hiking through the lovely South Limburg countryside is a main tourist activity, also around Wijlre. You can find some leaflets with route ideas at Cafe a gen Baan'.

Buy
There's a supermarket from the Plus-chain, which sells everything you will need on a daily basis. For regional products, try Paul's IJsboerderij (Klapstraat 2). The local specialty is of course Brand beer, but that's for sale in pretty much any supermarket in the Netherlands.

Eat & drink
All establishments here fulfil double functions as places to eat and drink. It's perfectly normal to sit down for just a drink, or for a typical coffee with local sweet pastry (vlaai).

Connect
There's a postal service desk in the Plus supermarket (Kerkstraat 1). For internet services, some accommodations offer wifi but you'll have to head to one of the larger destinations in the area for better options or use of a computer.

Go next
Nearby destinations include:
 * Gulpen
 * Valkenburg
 * Vaals
 * Vijlen
 * Simpelveld
 * Maastricht
 * Aachen (Germany)

title: Wijlre


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Wikieup

Wikieup is a city in Mohave County, Arizona.

Get in
Most people will enter via US Highway 93. The Arizona Peace Trail, a 675-mile long looped OHV trail enters and exists Wikieup along Chicken Springs Road.

Get around
You'll have no problems getting around, as it's a small settlement. Crossing 93 on foot can be dangerous. There are sidewalks closer to Chicken Springs, and lower dirt paths along the highway.

See

Do
Wikieup has many trails for exploring by Jeep or horseback. Fascinating rocks can be found in the hills, and even ice age fossils.

Buy
Gas. It's 58 miles north to the next town (Kingman) and 77 miles south to Wickenburg. And if there's one thing you don't want to do in the Arizona desert, it's run out of gas.

Go next
You can take Hwy 93 to get out, but if you are up to some dirt road traveling, you can pick up chicken springs road, and travel to Yucca, Alamo lake, or Lake Havasu.

title: Wikieup


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Wilburton

Wilburton is in the Choctaw Country of Oklahoma and home of Robbers Cave State Park and Eastern Oklahoma State College.

Get in
The main highways and US 270 East-West and State Hwy 2 North-South.

Go next

 * Talimena Drive from Talihina, Oklahoma to Mena, Arkansas 54 Mile scenic drive in Oklahoma and Arkansas along the ridge of the Ouachita Mountains and the Ouachita National Forest. The drive has frequent turnouts so you can enjoy the scenery. Convenient access to the drive near the mid-point can be accessed from Poteau by taking Hwy 59 south.

title: Wilburton


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Wilcannia

Wilcannia is a small town in the Far West region of Outback New South Wales, some 200 km east of Broken Hill.

Understand
It is located where the Barrier Highway crosses the River Darling in an isolated, low-rainfall area of the state.

Founded in 1866 as a port on the upper Darling River, Wilcannia formed a base for European pastoral expansion into the region, previously occupied by its Aboriginal inhabitants, the Barkindji people. The name of the town is Aboriginal, reportedly meaning "a gap in the bank where the flood waters escape".

Be warned that the town has serious social problems, and doesn't have a friendly atmosphere; there are plenty of burned-out and boarded-up buildings. The First Nations peoples are doing it tough, due to poverty and isolation, and unfortunately, it isn't always safe to be in the streets at night. Consequently, few people stay long. Most use Wilcannia solely as a place to stop for fuel and a bite to eat.

Get in
Most travellers arrive in Wilcannia by road along the Barrier Highway, a surfaced and well-used highway. Broken Hill is a couple of hours' drive west, and Cobar is a couple of hours' east.

A slightly more adventurous route is from the south, along the Cobb Highway. The Cobb is named for the Cobb & Co stagecoach service that travelled along the same general route in the 1800s, but it doesn't really warrant the name "highway", as it's unsealed most of the way to the tiny rail town of Ivanhoe, though sealed beyond that down to Hay. This road runs through some beautiful and bleak country, and passes through the surprising Manara Hills. The old telegraph line is still visible in places by the road, and it's likely that you won't see any other vehicles on the road at all.

It's also possible to approach Wilcannia from Bourke, to the north, along the back roads that parallel the Darling River. This route is completely unsealed and is even more isolated than the Cobb Highway. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is a good idea.

Many local roads are unsealed gravel only and can be hazardous or impassable after wet weather / flooding. Tel 08 8091 5155 for an up-to-date road condition report.

See
The town is very small, so it doesn't take long to see what there is to see.

The old bridge, a relic of the river's brief time as a transport route, is next to the highway, and is worth a look. In its day, the road deck was raised to allow shipping to pass underneath.

Wilcannia town centre has a fine selection of heritage buildings dating mainly from the period 1870-1890, when the town was in its heyday. There's a handsome court house, and the old sheet-iron theatre (now a store) opposite the petrol station.

Sleep
You have a choice of places to stay in Wilcannia: there's the motel on the highway, and the caravan park just north of the town. Some locals recommend the caravan park as it's further from the town and its attendant social problems.

Go next
Wilcannia is a convenient base for exploring even more far-flung towns nearby, such as the opal-mining town of White Cliffs.

title: Wilcannia


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Wilcox

There is more than one place called Wilcox:

Canada

 * Wilcox (Saskatchewan) — a village in Saskatchewan

United States of America

 * Wilcox (Florida) — a town in Florida
 * Wilcox (Nebraska) — a town in Nebraska
 * Wilcox (Pennsylvania) — a town in Pennsylvania
 * Wilcox (Wisconsin) — a town in Wisconsin
 * Willcox — a town in Arizona

title: Wilcox


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Wildcat Hills

The Wildcat Hills are an escarpment of sandstone bluffs and buttes on the southern ridge of the North Platte River Valley in the Nebraska Panhandle. The bluffs run along the southern ridge for about 60 miles from the southwestern edge of Bridgeport to the Nebraska-Wyoming border.

Understand
The bluffs that cover the valley range in elevation from 4500 feet - 5200 feet. The summits of these bluffs are densely forested with pine trees. Wild animals such as mountain lions, deer, elk, and more run free in the forests.

Get in
There are a number of ways to reach the area. US Route 26 will drive past the scenic bluffs. The Kimball exit off I-80 takes you on State Route 71. The route winds through the mid-altitude bluffs. State Route 92 also spans the length of the valley below.

Get around
The easiest way to reach the Wildcat Hills is by driving. There is only one highway route through the bluffs, and that is State Route 71. All the other routes are gravel or dirt. Hiking is highly recommended in this area of scenic beauty.

See

 * Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area preserves the highest points in the Wildcat Hills. It also preserves some of the wildlife found in the area, and has some of the best recreational opportunities in the area.
 * Chimney Rock National Historic Site preserves a historical outbranch of the bluffs called Chimney Rock. The rock is about 325 feet above the valley floor. It was a very important stop along the Oregon, Mormon, and California Trails.
 * Scotts Bluff National Monument preserves huge outcrops of the Wildcat Hills near the town of Gering. The bluffs rise over 850 feet from the valley floor. The monument's local-famed Summit Road winds through three tunnels to the very summit of the bluff, giving some of the best panoramic and picturesque views in the area.

Do

 * Hiking is what a large number of people do when in the area. The trails (most trails are in Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area) give hikers panoramic vistas of the valley. Chimney Rock and Scotts Bluff are sights spotted from many of these vistas.
 * Camping is also another great way to experience the area.

Stay safe
The area is known for some of the most brutal weather in the state. During the spring and summer, very severe thunderstorms and sometimes tornadoes are common in the area. During winter, dangerous blizzards pass the area frequently.

Steep slopes and cliffs can be dangerous for hikers. Stay on the trails and watch your step. Also, the prairie rattlesnake is common around the Wildcat Hills. Although an encounter with one of these is very rare, it can happen.

title: Wildcat Hills


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Wild Coast

The Wild Coast is part of the Eastern Cape province. It offers spectacular coastlines without the tourist crowd. The region is very rural and infrastructure is sparse, so plan ahead.

It encompasses the coastal region from north of East London to the southern border with KwaZulu-Natal at Port Edward.

Towns and cities

 * - Formerly called Umtata, Mthatha is the bustling main town of the Transkei and gateway to the Wild Coast (Mpande, Port St Johns, Coffee Bay, etc). It offers some African spirit and the Nelson Mandela museum. Transportation hub with bus services to Durban, East London and points south (the bus stop is at the petrol station on the N2). Take a taxi into town from the petrol station.
 * - At the heart of the Wild Coast, with its idyllic cliffs & beaches. Grocery store and post office. There are two backpackers here, Coffee Shack and Bomvu, who between them are surf specialists, drum makers and firedancers under moon and stars.
 * - Capital of the Wild Coast and home of the wise, the wild, the wacky and the weird. Backpackers in and near town include Amapondo, Ikaya and Jungle Monkey.
 * is about 90 km from East London and is situated on the south bank of the Kei River, beyond which, lies the rural former homeland of the Transkei. The subtropical climate, unpolluted beaches and warm waters of the Indian Ocean make Kei Mouth ideal for bathers, surfers and sunbathers throughout the year.

Other destinations

 * - The seaside village of Morgan Bay is about 85 km east of East London. Morgan Bay lies between the famous Morgan Bay cliffs and a mile-long stretch of unspoilt beach, bordered by the Cape Morgan Nature Reserve.
 * - On the southern gateway to the Wild Coast this small town has some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Volunteering through Volunteer Africa 32 degrees south has made significant inroads to assisting with rural schools development in Cintsa and along the Wild Coast.
 * - Spaza shops, wild unspoiled beaches, amazing surf, canoeing, horse riding and of course The Kraal Backpackers where you can drum with the stars!
 * - Mdumbi lies 24 km north of Coffee Bay. The beach lies in a sweeping bay and is lined with shady Milkwood trees and Xhosa huts and lies at the foot of rolling green hills. The surfing is excellent and the water uncrowded.
 * - Small seaside village at the mouth of the Qholorha River. The wreck of the Jacaranda is 1 and a half hours hike north along the coast from here.
 * Bulungula, in Xora, north of Cintsa and south of Coffee Bay is in a small rural village and is an exciting place for traveLlers to visit. It's a partnership between the local community and Dave Martin and is beautiful and actively involved in community development.
 * Ntafufu River Mouth is about 10 km up the coast (north) from Port St Johns. The Ntafufu Lagoon with its mangroves must be one of the most picturesque spots along the Wild Coast.

Understand
The Wild Coast encompasses the coast between the Kei River Mouth and Umtanvuma River along the Indian Ocean. During the former Apartheid regime the Transkei (the Wild Coast and adjacent interior up to the border with Lesotho) was one of the so called "homelands" and officially politically and economically independent. It is still one of the poorest regions of South Africa.

Talk
The home of the Xhosa people, the more rural the community, the less likely they'll speak English. See the Xhosa phrasebook.

By bus
Public transport to the Wild Coast is sparse but the some of the main bus companies stop in Mthatha and Port St Johns.

Citiliner has one trip a day between Mthatha and Port Elizabeth R190-270, 3hr 20min), as does Greyhound (R220-310, 3hr 55min) (Aug 2017).

The Baz Bus runs along the Wild Coast on its way from Port Elizabeth to Durban making it one of the best options in this part of the country. The Baz Bus services Buccaneers Backpackers at its door before heading to Mthatha for its links via a separate shuttle to Coffee Bay and Bulungula. From this point the bus heads to the South Coast, so anyone needing to go to Port St Johns needs to arrange for a shuttle to pick them up at Mthatha.

By car
The N2 and R61 highway go through the Wild Coast and have been upgraded, but driving is still an experience, as cows and goats routinely cross the roads. If possible, avoid driving at night, especially off the main routes, as livestock can leap out of the dark unexpectedly, and potholes are endemic.

Most major bus companies travel through this route.

By train
This no train service in the Wild Coast.

By plane
The closest International Airport is located in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, although you can fly in to Mthatha from Johannesburg and possibly other major cities. Depending on which part of the wild coast you are visiting, East London Airport can be closer than Durban Airport. Mthatha is the closest airport but only provides flights to and from Johannesburg.

Get around
Public transport is limited.

By car
The N2 highway, which travels far inland for the entire length of the Wild Coast, is tarred. Other tarred roads include the Jikeleza Route, the R349 to Kei Mouth and Morgan's Bay, the R61 to Port St Johns and the severely pot-holed R349 to Coffee Bay. All other roads leading from the N2 to the coast are gravel and are usually in a poor state of repair. Many are accessible by offroad vehicle only

It is advisable that you phone ahead and enquire as to the state of the roads before you travel and that you take a good map. Hazards on these rural roads include potholes and animals, such as cows, goats, donkeys, sheep and geese.

Always carry water and tools with you as roadside assistance can be hard to come by here.

By offroad vehicle
You will need a permit to travel to cottages that are not on proclaimed or designated roads. (E.g. the road to the Jacaranda.) If you do not have a permit for these routes you may be charged by the Green Scorpions and given a spot fine of R2500.

If you are a cottage owner and your cottage is not on a proclaimed road you will need to present your PTO (Permission To Occupy) at the Environmental office and acquire a permit to travel on the track to your cottage. No permits will be awarded to anyone without a valid PTO. Cottage owner permits are valid for one year.

If you are travelling to a cottage that is not on a proclaimed road you will need a letter from the PTO holder which you can present at the offices to acquire a temporary permit. There is no charge for the permit. The permit is valid for one month.

This applies to anywhere within 1 km from the high-water mark along the Wild Coast from Kei Mouth up to Port Edward. You may not drive a motor vehicle in this exclusion zone without a permit. This includes quad and motor bikes, etc. If a proclaimed road goes all the way down to the sea you can then walk left or right to your angling spots from that point. If the road stops 1 km before the sea and a bush path carries on towards the sea, you will have to walk from where the proclaimed road ends. You may not ride these trails.

By bicycle
The Wild Coast is prime mountain bike territory. Most of the population don't own a car and so there are thousands of well-worn footpaths criss-crossing the landscape, making for great single track riding. There are also several mountain bike trails at places such as Mazeppa Bay, Cwebe, Mbotyi and Mkambati.

The Imana Wild Ride, South Africa's original mountain bike stage race is held annually. Much of the race is along the beaches as riders race the tides. There are many river crossings and no set route.

See

 * "The Kraal": Dylan's 'chill village' in Mpande (20km from Port St Johns on the wild coast.
 * Xhosa villages, See the round huts, meet the friendly people, maybe chat with a Sangoma (witchdoctor). Visit a shebeen (local bar). Beer and food available for hikers. NOTE: these people have no cash--don't tempt them by flashing yours!
 * Hluleka game reserve, Black and Blue wildebeest, 2 kinds of Zebras, raptors, pristine forest, butterflies in season. No lions! Hiking trail huts on a lonely beach at the south end.
 * Silaka game reserve, South of Port St Johns beach 3, beaches, breakers, bush to butterflies. Pay fee here for the Wild Coast trail, at HQ in the middle of the reserve. Hiker's hut on the north end.

Do

 * Wild Coast Trail. One of the world's great hikes, 5 days (Port St Johns - Coffee Bay). Every night on a bed in a hut. Costs about R45 for all; or the old, full 26 days (most other huts are in ruins) all the way down the Wild Coast, beaches and bush and sunshine, spirit and locals' smiles. Game reserves, few roads, fewer automobiles.  Be prepared to ford estuaries! Wear sandals when crossing in case of stings.  The moment the tide starts in is least dangerous.  Rumours of sharks are overstated. Fresh water streams at least once a day, use iodine. Firewood sufficient. Guides not needed.  Beware of undertow when swimming! People have walked solo 42 days, no worries.  A hat suitable for strong winds is a must.
 * Wild beaches, clothing optional, sunblock a must, cover up for conservative locals, beware of undertows.
 * Beach fishing, kilometre after kilometre of undeveloped, unexplored shores
 * Surfing, go to the Kraal for the best Wild Coast Surf experience
 * Spearfishing, go diving and catch your supper

Eat

 * Wood oven food, at the Kraal

Sleep

 * Morgan's Bay: Seaside village with magnificent cliffs that plunge into the sea.
 * Kei mouth: Southern gateway to the Wild Coast via one of South Africa's two remain pontoon car ferries.

title: Wild Coast


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Wilderness

Wilderness is a coastal village situated in the Western Cape province in South Africa. It is set between the Kaaimans River and the Goukama Nature Reserve in the heart of the Garden Route, bordered by the Outeniqua Mountains and swept by the Indian Ocean. Renowned for its tranquil sea, seemingly endless beaches and natural lakes and lagoons, Wilderness has become a sought-after international holiday resort. This charming paradise is a great spot for water-sport enthusiasts, but also offers a fantastic wildlife variety, particularly birds, and is the ideal location from which to enjoy rejuvenating hikes, hang-gliding, paragliding, horse-riding, or leisurely scenic drives. Wilderness is also home of many craftsmen and women in the area, whose work is for sale at the weekly and monthly craft markets. Just outside Wilderness, two breathtaking viewing points offer magnificent views of the ocean for miles – namely the 'Map of Africa Viewpoint' and 'Dolphin Point'. A photographic hotspot is the Kaaimans River Bridge, over which the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe train used to pass on its journey between George and Knysna.

By train
The train that ran between George and Knysna via Wilderness was known as the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe. The scenery along the route is stupendous, and includes the Kaaimans River bridge (the most-photographed railway bridge in the world) and the bridge over the Knysna lagoon. The railway station is in town; the tracks run right next to the main east-west road (the N2 national road). However the Choo-Tjoe service remains suspended following storm damage to the tracks along the route. Classic Rail is working to restore service on this line.

There is a pleasant short walk along the closed tracks that is accessible by the beach near the Wilderness Beach House.

By bus
All the major bus companies that ply the Cape Town-Port Elizabeth route stop in Wilderness.

By car
The N2 national road from George (to the west) and Knysna (to the east) runs through Wilderness. Driving between George and Knysna there are permanent speed cameras in the Kaaimans River Pass. The speed limit on this pass is 60 km/h for a reason, the pass is very dangerous to take at high speeds, especially when wet.

Get around
If you are staying in the village, it is an easy walk to the beach going underneath the train tracks. It's definitely easier to get around either by bike or by car. The nearest car rental is in George.

See

 * Dolphins Point, halfway up the Kaaimans there is a lookout point that offers great views of the coastline.
 * The Ocean, there are many public access points to the beach but be careful of strong currents in the area.
 * Serpentine River viewpoint, on your way up to Hoekwil, stop and admire the view.
 * Map of Africa, driving through the village up to the old George Road, follow the signage to the Map of Africa. It's a viewpoint close to where the paragliders launch and shows a beautiful view of the river valley that looks like the coastline of Africa.

Do

 * Go to the Wilderness National Park for hikes, waterfalls. Entrance fee (local and foreigner)
 * Paraglide, there are many local companies that offer tandem flights.
 * Surf, local surf stop Steps is always a hit, and world renowned Vic Bay is a short hike over the train tracks.
 * Canoe, rent a canoe and paddle up the Kaaimans or the Touw river. National Park entrance fee required.
 * Swim, the beaches are beautiful, but be careful of the currents. The safest place to swim is on the main beach or the beach at the end of Sands Road.
 * Bird watching, there are bird hides dotted around. Good place to see pygmy kingfisher, great kingfisher, lourie, woodpecker, sunbirds etc.
 * Mountain biking, some trails available.

Buy
Arts and crafts shops. Milkwood village hold a market Sunday morning.

Eat
There are many good eateries in Wilderness especially for sushi, seafood, steaks, burgers, breakfasts etc. Some places may close during load shedding if there is no diesels. Some places can get fully booked during weekends.

Drink
Wilderness is a small place, so don't expect too much night life. Drinks are available at all eateries. Often they will have bands playing at the weekend.

Sleep
Ample accommodation exists in Wilderness, but it can get full during season.

Go next
Carry on to Sedgefield and then on to Knysna or return to George and the on to Mossel Bay

title: Wilderness