Hike Devil's Peak from Kings Blockhouse, via Knife Edge

Route Summary
Distance: 13km
Estimated time: 5 hours + stops.
Total Elevation gain: 1260m
Type: Circular
View Devil's Peak via Knife Edge map

* A big, strenuous hike which you should not attempt in windy weather.  Not for children or people who suffer from vertigo.

A magnificent hike, possibly the best for views North, East and West.  Physically challenging for all but the fittest, and plenty of excitement with big drops which emphasise the views, you are seldom completely exposed to falls if you stay on the path and an adult who remains calm in these situations should be safe enough.  Weather exposure is high - it can be very hot or cold - be prepared.

Do not attempt this hike in wet weather or poor visibility! The paths are not always clear and the terrain is treacherous if you cannot see; getting lost is likely to expose you to extremely dangerous terrain.  The rock scrambles will be slippery if wet.

Route description
Find your way to the parking area at Rhodes' Memorial, and park your car. (Before 7am, the gate to Rhodes' Memorial will be closed and you will need to park at the old Zoo next to UCT, as shown on my attached map; and walk up the road to Rhodes' Memorial.) From Rhodes Memorial you can see the King's Blockhouse above you - there are several routes to it, of which I will describe the most direct. There are many paths in this area, so if unsure just keep heading towards the Blockhouse.

At the top of the Rhodes' Memorial carpark follow the wide, stepped path upward until you meet a horizontal path after about 80m. Turn left onto the path and walk about 50m looking for a path to your right. At the time of writing, this path is badly eroded. Follow it up through a copse of large Stone Pines and Protea bushes, and upward towards the Blockhouse. You will cross several horizontal paths, but keep heading upward. After about 15min the path will turn horizontally and you will have the choice to go left or right. Go right, and shortly you will come to a poorly maintained turnstile. Pass through it and follow the road upward. You can keep on the road or take one of the steep paths on your left which are a shorter route direct to the Blockhouse cannons.  Pause at the cannons to appreciate the view, and know that it is going to get a lot better!  Above and behind the Blockhouse is Mowbray Ridge with the old fire lookout on the point: your next stop.

Looking out over Kings Blockhouse
from Mowbray  Ridge

Directly behind the Blockhouse is a path which immediately splits; to the left around the water tanks and upward, and to the right horizontally toward Cape Town.  Turn left and follow the path upward.  After about 5 minutes the path splits; left curving around the front of Mowbray Ridge towards Newlands, and to the right towards Cape Town.  Keep right and the path will take you to the base of a series of steep rock face scrambles which angle up the mountain to the left.  Follow the path up to the abandoned fire lookout, there should be no further opportunities to go wrong.

Knife Edge from Minor Peak,
1st Waterfall Ravine to the right

From the fire lookout continue upwards to the peak of the ridge and then cross the notorious Knife Edge to Minor Peak.  To your left as you cross the knife edge are vertical drops into 1st Waterfall Ravine which are difficult for those who do not like heights; however, take the sensible route over the Knife Edge (keeping to the right) and you will not be seriously exposed to the drop, but rather to a kinder (though rocky) slope to the right.  After passing the Knife Edge, follow the path along the ridge to minor peak.  N.B. where the path first meets Minor Peak, the route appears to be an exposed 10m scramble which many people will not enjoy.  Rather follow the path around to the right and enjoy an easier, less exposed scramble to the top of Minor Peak.  Devil's Peak is now above you, your next stop.

Follow the path down the back of Minor Peak onto some rocks in the saddle with Devil's Peak.  Ignore the path to the right and follow the less clear path across to rocks and up the side of Devil's Peak, angling leftwards.  In general this walk is not well marked, but this area has some cairns, so look out for them to help reassure that you are on the right track.

Table Mountain saddle from Devil's Peak

At the top of the slope, below the rock face, the path turns left along a wide ledge for about 100m.  As you reach the corner, look for cairns on the rocks above you indicating an easy 10m scramble.  From the top of this, the path follows a narrower ledge left towards Newlands (caution required! it will come naturally to most...) until it reaches a series of wide cracks which lead you to the top of Devil's peak.  You must ascend the first of these, but there is a path looping out to the left before the 2nd and 3rd cracks which will also take you to the Peak.  You're there!  Enjoy the magnificent views in all directions.  You are only about 50m lower than the highest point on Table Mountain.

From here the walking is easier, downhill and more protected.  Find the well-worn path down Devil's peak on the Cape Town side and follow it down into the saddle: at one point you have the choice to go right over a ridge and down towards Cape Town or left toward the saddle - go left.  You will meet the major path across the saddle with a sign indicating the direction to Newlands Ravine to the left.  As you turn left, the start of Newlands ravine is up to your right; if you get to Pulpit rock, you need to turn right and climb upwards to Newlands ravine, which is sign-posted.  The ravines on each side of Pulpit Rock are dangerous.

Follow the stepped path in a zig-zag down Newlands ravine into the indigenous forest and you will reach the 300m contour path at a picnic table.  Turn left onto the contour path and it will lead you back to the turnstile below the King's Blockhouse.  From there, return to your car at Rhodes' Memorial.

Hike Camps Bay to the Woodhead dam via Kasteelspoort

Route Summary
Distance: 7km
Estimated time: 3hrs + stops.
Total Elevation gain: 500m
Type: Out and back
View Kasteelspoort Walk map

* This is the easiest way to get up to the dams on the back table.  Once up there, there is no cell-phone coverage or sign of the city - you could be in the mountains anywhere - magic!

Route description

Hike Kalk bay - Boomslang cave and back

Route Summary
Distance: 4km
Estimated time: 1.5hrs + stops.
Total Elevation gain: 400m
Type: Out and back
View Kalk bay - Boomslang cave walk map

* Short, fun, cave not for the claustophobic.

Today's hike was


Route description

Hike Newlands Forest to Newlands ravine

Route Summary
Distance: 8km
Estimated time: 3hrs + stops.
Total Elevation gain: 805m
Type: Out and back/Circular
View Newlands ravine walk map

* Medium length walk with a lot of uphill.  Offers combination of indigenous Afro-Montane forest (only pockets left on Table Mountain) and stunning views over the Southern Suburbs and Cape Flats.

Route description

Find your way to the Newlands Forest parking area situated below the Newlands Fire Base just off Union Ave in Newlands.

Walk up the road from the car-park through the boom and past the helicopter pads on your right.  At the T-junction you will see the Littlewort Trail sign ahead of you and slightly to your right (see picture).  Follow the Littlewort trail, a well-used path which meanders upward through the fynbos and other indigenous shrubs.  Keep your eyes out for the young Yellowwood trees and other indigenous saplings establishing themselves after being planted as part of a re-forestation programme - see photo.

Young Yellowwood tree

Keep on this path, crossing another path at right angles, until you reach a T-junction, at which point turn left for a hundred metres or so.  You will come to a river; follow the path upwards with the river on your left until you arrive at a bridge (with a jeep-track crossing horizontally) with some benches.  Pass through this area and continue to climb on the path with the river on your left.  A path will come in from your right at marker "P"; keep left and head back towards the river, keeping it on your left and noting the following landmarks as you go:

• Boardwalks shortly after the "P" marker
• On your right, a very faded "X" marker marking a young Yellowwood tree
• On your left, you may notice 1 or 2 opportunities to cross the river; don't.

About 500m from the bridge, the path has curved to the right away from the river and there is a "V" marker on the left hand side.  A few metres later you have the opportunity to head upwards, past a group of largish moss-covered rocks; or downwards;  Go up.

Picnic table at the base of Newlands ravine

From this point there is a fairly hard 20 minute uphill walk to the beautiful picnic spot on the upper contour path at the base of Newlands ravine.  As you follow the path upward, if you find a split in the path (there's at least one obvious one), choose the route which heads upwards.  Eventually you will intersect with a boardwalk, which is the upper contour path, and just to your right will be the picnic spot (see picture), a good place to rest and have a drink.

Directly opposite the entrance to the picnic table is the path leading up Newlands ravine, marked by (at the moment) an old and rusty but still legible sign.  Once on this path it will take you to the top of Newlands ravine with no opportunities for mistakes.  The scenery gets steadily more dramatic as you gain altitude and about half-way up you break out of the forest with sheer rock cliffs rising above you and views out over the Cape Flats to the Hottentots Holland mountains in the North.  At the top you will be in the saddle between Table Mountain and Devils peak, and look down on the lookout point known as Pulpit rock (subject of an earlier post).  Enjoy and explore.

On your way back, you can retrace your route to your car; or, if you would prefer a slightly circular route and to see a bit more of Newlands forest, at the picnic point turn right (as you come down) onto the contour path and continue that way.  You will cross the bottom end of a huge rockslide before crossing two streams; shortly after the second stream, the path splits; go left, and the path heads steeply down to the head of a jeep-track; follow this for about 20 metres until you see the path heading downwards on the left.  After a few hundred metres the path connects again with the road, and almost immediately afterwards you have the opportunity to leave the road to the left again on a path which doubles back.  This path heads downwards until you hear the river ahead of you and then splits - turn right and keep going down, with the river on your left.  100m on it splits again; keep left towards the river, and shortly after this cross the river to rejoin the path you headed up on earlier, near the faded "X" marker.  Head down keeping the river on your right now, and you will soon be back at the bridge.  From here any path downwards will take you back to your car.

Hike Newlands Forest (Woodcutters trail)

Route Summary
Distance: 0km
Estimated time: 2h30m + stops.
Total Elevation gain: 450m
Type: Out and back/Circular/2 cars
View Chapman Peak Walk map
*Short but fairly strenuous because of the elevation gain.
Today's hike was
Route description

Hike Platteklip Gorge

Route Summary
Distance: 9.5km
Estimated time: 5hrs + stops.
Total Elevation gain: 950m
Type: Out and back
View Platteklip Gorge Walk map

* Fairly long and strenuous, clearly marked

If you want to walk to the table top or the highest point on Table Mountain (Maclear's Beacon), this is the shortest and most clearly marked route.  As a result it is popular, particularly with tourists who have limited time and knowledge of the mountain.

• A popular variation of the map provided here is to walk up Platteklip and catch the cable car down.
• If you are content with getting to the table-top and don't feel the need to get to the highest point (which only adds about 70m), you can skip the Maclear's beacon loop, halving the distance (but not the effort!) and reducing the time by about 1.5 hours.

Route description
Use a map of Cape Town to drive to Kloof Nek, the pass between the City Bowl and the Atlantic Seaboard which is the access point to the lower cableway station.  At Kloof Nek turn left and wind up Tafelberg road to the lower cableway station.  Check your odometer at the cableway station and continue along Tafelberg road for  another 1.6km.  You will find a parking area olong the left hand side of the road with the start of the walk on the right of the road next to a security/information booth at the far end of the parking area.  A large sign marks the start of the Platteklip Gorge trail.


Follow the trail up the left hand side of a small river gorge.  After a few hundred metres you cross the stream (can be dry in summer) and shortly afterwards pass under a small grove of trees.  At this point there is a contour path bearing right towards the cable station. Turn left and continue up the path which travels horizontally along the side of the mountain for about 80m to a right-hand hairpin bend.  At this point the contour path in the other direction leaves the hairpin and continues horizontally; you follow the hairpin left and continue upwards, with Platteklip gorge visible ahead of you.  From this point there are no paths of significance which do not take you to the top of the gorge; in places the path splits, but rejoins further up.

Platteklip Gorge as seen from Tafelberg rd

Hike Lions Head

Route Summary
Distance: 5 km
Estimated time: 1.5hrs + stops.
Total Elevation gain: 500m
Type: Out and back
View Lions Head hike map
* Exposed areas with assistance provided in the form of chains, ladders and steps.  Most of these can be avoided by taking the longer route.  Hike with care.

Lion's Head is a must-do hike for everyone, visitor or resident.  It's not a hike you do to get away from it all - when the weather is good, there are always plenty of people on the route - but for good reason.  The 360° views from the top include the iconic front view of Table Mountain (if from a slight angle), the City bowl, harbour and Table Bay looking North, and the magnificent beach suburbs of the Atlantic Seaboard, historic Robben Island and the Twelve Apostles mountain range looking South and West.

View south from Lion's Head

Route description
Use a map of Cape Town to drive to Kloof Nek, the pass between the City Bowl and the Atlantic Seaboard which is also the access point to the lower cableway station.  At Kloof Nek take the road towards Signal Hill and Lion's Head which slopes steeply upward and where it begins to level out after a few hundred metres there is parking on the right and a green TMNP sign headed "Lion's Head" marking the start of the walk on the left.

The path heads off to the left and is like a highway most of the way to the top.  It spirals around the peak of Lion's Head so that, initially, it is not too steep.  After about 2 km you have done the first 360° of the spiral and are looking down on your car; at this point you have the option of continuing on a longer route or heading up a rock face on an easy scramble assisted by chains and steps firmly fixed to the rock by TMNP.  I recommend the rock face - much more fun.  My 8 and 10 year olds loved it, but as with anything on Table Mountain, you do it at your own risk.

After this point the walk steepens into a mixture of rock steps and scrambling to reach the top about 300m further on.  Plan to relax and soak up the views, preferably with a cold drink or glass of wine.  Even when busy, you can usually find a peaceful spot around the edge of the peak to take it all in.  The return trip is the same route in reverse.

Keep an eye out for paragliders: there are two launch points along the route and when the weather is right there can be quite a few paragliders sailing around the peak before gliding down to land on the beaches.

View north from Lion's Head