Even though Willowmore is considered as the northern gateway to the Baviaanskloof it is a worthwhile destination in it's own right offering the visitor numerous places of interest and exceptionally friendly people. Add to this a crime free, safe and secure environment, a pleasant winter climate and you have found the ideal winter holliday destination. Bakers Dam was build by the South African Railways to supply the steam engines with water. When steam was replaced with diesel the dam was taken over by the Willowmore Municipality as the town's primary source of water at the time. Problems with algae in the water resulted in the establishment of an alternative system of interconnected boreholes and fountains on the farm Wanhoop. Click here to read more about this system. Bird watchers will spend hours at Bakers Dam since bird life abounds. Aasvo?erg, "Vulture Mountain", overlooking Willowmore, is one of the few places in the Karoo where coastal fynbos grows. The mountain offers panoramic views of the area and a wide variety of activities. A number of trails offers the hiker the chance to explore the flora, fauna and birdlife of the mountain. The rugged terrain provides even the most experienced mountain biker with exciting and challenging trails. For the adrenalin junky, the mountain lends itself to spectacular para-gliding and adventurous abseiling. Although converted to a residence some years ago the Old Prison in Willowmore is currently standing empty. Even so it is a worthwhile visit where visitors can see the courtyards, cells, bathrooms and old kitchen where food was prepared for the inmates. The thick wooden doors complete with peepholes as well as the thick bars before the windows (where there are windows!) clearly reflect the original purpose of the building. The old homestead on the farm Schilpadbeen is a historical treasure chest and is well worth a visit. Inside the homestead the walls are decorated with murals, sadly very faded after more than a hundred years. The spectacular ceilings are made of yellow wood and the yellow wood door frames are typically of the time low forcing an average sized person to stoop when leaving the room. The water rich farm was the first proclaimed farm in the Willowmore District and is currently privately owned. The farm is also mentioned in Anglo Boer War records as a place where Kmdt Gideon Scheepers spent some time during the War. Eight years after the establishment of the Old Dutch Reformed Church Rectory in 1856 Willowmore was growing at a rate that justified a Dutch Reformed congregation. Yet before even considering a proper church, a spacious parsonage was erected for the first minister, Dominee P.N.Ham who arrived on the ship Brasili?rom Holland. He only stayed for two years, and was superseded by Dominee George Murray, brother of the famous missionary Andrew Murray. He at least got a church, that was inaugurated in 1878.