Harrismith: Mountain Race and History

Harrismith can be explored through several distinct aspects: the town lies close to the N3 between Johannesburg and Durban, the Harrismith Mountain Race has a history that dates back to a bet made in 1904, and its war memorials include one to the Scots Guards and the Grenadier Guards. You can shape your stay around different interests—with the race, local history or your journey as a starting point.

The Harrismith Mountain Race and its history

The Harrismith Mountain Race starts and finishes at Harrismith Primary School. If you want to plan your trip around the race, check the latest event information in advance. The start and finish location gives you a specific reference point for planning around race day.

The history of the race goes back to 1904. Major Belcher of the Devon Regiment, which was stationed in occupied Harrismith at the time, bet that he could climb a local hill in less than an hour. Belcher reached the summit of Platberg in 52 minutes and won the bet. The hill’s name and the precise time make this more than a general founding story: it is tied to a specific place and a clearly defined challenge.

For families who enjoy exploring historical stories together while travelling, the bet and the 52 minutes provide two easy-to-grasp reference points. This lets you discover the race both as an event and through its historical background. The story brings together a person, the year 1904 and Platberg, without requiring you to piece together several different stories.

Another piece of the town’s history

Harrismith’s war memorials include a memorial to the Scots Guards and the Grenadier Guards. This offers a second historical perspective on the town alongside the story of the Mountain Race. If you want to include different themes in your stay, you can consider the race and the memorial as separate points of interest: one centres on a bet made in 1904, the other on a specific memorial to two regiments.

This can also help you decide what to focus your stay on. If you are travelling primarily for the Harrismith Mountain Race, Harrismith Primary School gives you a named start and finish location, and the bet provides a related historical story. If you are interested in war memorials, the memorial to the Scots Guards and the Grenadier Guards offers a different thematic connection. Both aspects contribute to the picture of Harrismith, without promising the same kind of travel experience.

Getting to Harrismith and finding a holiday rental

Harrismith lies close to the N3 between Johannesburg and Durban and on major long-distance bus routes. This provides a general guide for your journey: you can locate the town in relation to the N3 and the two cities mentioned, while long-distance bus connections offer another travel option. Check the connections that suit your journey when planning, especially if you are tying your stay to a particular event date.

When looking for a holiday rental, you can start with the reason for your trip: do you want to focus on the history of the Mountain Race, are you interested in the war memorials, or are you planning to visit Harrismith as part of a journey between Johannesburg and Durban? That way, choosing a holiday rental goes hand in hand with what you want to discover in Harrismith.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Memel, Bethlehem, Roadside, Fouriesburg, Paul Roux, Phuthaditjhaba, Ficksburg, Kratzenstein.

For the broader travel overview: Thabo Mofutsanyane.