Hike Hout Bay Corner

Route Summary
Distance: 6.5km
Estimated time: 2.5hrs + stops.
Total Elevation gain: 650m
Type: Out and back
View Hout Bay Corner walk map

* Warning: Dangerously exposed areas and scrambling (assisted by grips and steps fixed into the rock).  Attempt with caution, esp. with children.

This hike offers some of the best views possible over Hout Bay, Llundudno, and south over Chapman's peak.

Route description
The route starts from the top of Suikerbossie hill, the pass between Hout Bay and Llundudno.  Driving from Hout Bay up Suikerbossie, watch for a sign about 50 metres from the top of the hill, on the left, indicating  Victoria Drive Access Road exit on the right.  This is the only road turning right off Suikerbossie.  Turn right into Victoria Drive Access Road and about 150m ahead of you is the entrance to Ryuterplaats Private Mountain Estate.  Park in the area provided on the left before getting to this entrance.  The route begins just to the left of this entrance gate and is well sign-posted.

Hike Scarborough to Maclears Beacon (The Nottdog Challenge)

Route Summary
Distance: 50km
Estimated time: 15hrs + stops.
Total Elevation gain: 3100m
Walk duration with stops: We started at 05:00 and completed at 23:00
Type: Point-to-point (2 cars) (Scarborough, bottom of Platteklip gorge, Table mountain)
View Scarborough to Maclears Beacon map
* Extremely long and strenuous.


Do not attempt this hike unless everyone in the party is fit and well equipped.


Today's hike was an Epic 50km of mountains and beaches.  It rolls half-a-dozen excellent hikes and their associated views, flowers and so on into one extreme day and provides a real test for anyone wanting to challenge themselves. Good preparation is essential.  I would recommend doing this in winter to avoid the heat, but this does mean walking in the dark at both ends.  Take suitable precautions should you choose to do this.


Route description
Ideally, this walk would start by walking out of Scarborough onto Redhill (behind Scarborough), past the Kleinplaas dam and North-West through the mountains to the Slangkop section of the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP).


However, because of weather and visibility we opted to walk along the coast road to the Slangkop park entrance between Witsands and Ocean View.  Directions follow for the rest of the hike in point form:

• Coming from Scarborough towards the 4-way stop at Witsands, turn left towards Ocean View and look out on the left for the TMNP sign at the entrance to the Slangkop reserve.
• Turn left here and follow the clearly marked jeep track (later turns to a path) through the reserve to the back of Kommetjie.  The path descends steeply down the back of Slangkop onto the road near the Kommetjie lighthouse.  Turn right and follow the road into Kommetjie.
• About 400m from joining the road, turn left into Van Imhoff Way and follow it through a right turn until you get access to the seafront.
• Follow the seafront path to Kommetjie beach and keep going round the corner onto Noordhoek beach and at the end of that, Noordhoek.  Look out for the remains of the Kakapo wreck at the high-water line on Noordhoek beach.
• Above the rocks at the end of Noordhoek beach, find a path (at first difficult to see but once found, marked with sign having the letters "HT" and a footprint in yellow) and follow this up to the road (Chapman's Peak drive).  Cross the road and follow the well-marked path to the top of Chapman's peak, at a height of about 560m.
• Leave Chapman's peak in the direction of Hout-bay and follow the path past lower Chapman's (on your right) with wonderrful views of Houtbay and the back of Table Mountain on your left.  After 1.6km you will come to a flat area with a well-defined 3-way intersection consisting: the way you have come; left and down to Chapman's peak drive or straight towards the mountains ahead of you.  Go straight.
• After about 10-15m the path climbs a small rocky outcrop and splits again: left takes you along the front of the mountains towards Houtbay; right steeply up into Silvermine reserve: keep left.
• Follow the contour path along the front of the mountains towards Houtbay, past some dramatic cliffs, valleys and small waterfalls.  After about 2.8km (45min steady walking) the path descends into a substantial gorge with a waterfall and some big indigenous trees.  Cross the river and you have 2 options: steeply up or steeply down!  Take the right route and head steeply up next to the river for a short way until you cross the river again and follow the path back along the mountain (away from Houtbay).  Keep heading up along this path until it rejoins the river and you have the opportunity to cross again and head towards Houtbay along a higher contour path.  You cross a big waterfall shortly after this and have dramatic views along the way. 
• About 1.1km (15-20min) after crossing this waterfall, the path gradually slopes downwards.  Watch carefully for a split  to the upward on your right: if you miss it you will begin to zig-zag down towards Chapman's Peak drive, by which time you have gone too far and must retrace your steps and find this intersection.
• This is a clear path which heads steadily upwards, crossing a river and eventually leading onto a tar road which services the Constantiaberg mast.
• Turn left on this road and after about 50m as the road curves right, watch for the path leaving the road again.  This path will take you over Vlakkenberg and down to Constantia Nek.  Stick to the main path and you can't go wrong.  The path takes you between residential estates to the road 200m on the Houtbay side of Constantia nek.  Walk up the right hand side of the road to the Constantia Nek restaurant.

Amazing variety of Cape fynbos on display

• Cross the road to the Constantia Nek car-park and walk to the top of the car-park where a small tarred road leads up towards the mountain with houses on the right.  After about 100m the road turns to gravel and there is a Table Mountain National Park sign on the left headed "Constantia Nek".  Shortly after this a footpath angles left and upwards with a small stainless steel sign indicating that this is to "Reservoirs via footpath".  Take this path upward until you meet the jeep track again on a hairpin bend after about 450m. 
• Follow the concrete Jeep-track around the hairpin bend and you will see on the left the path split from the road.  The path is a bit steeper but more direct that the road - follow either, as they join again further up the mountain.
• Some time after they rejoin, the Jeep-track crests the back of the mountain with great views of the back of Table mountain, and Cape Town suburbs down to your right.  Further on, on your right, you will find a house and shortly after that, as the road curves left, the path to Nursery Ravine and Skeleton Gorge leaves it on the right-hand side, marked by a TMNP sign.  Follow this path to the top of Nursery Ravine, Skeleton Gorge and then on to Maclears beacon, the highest point on Table Mountain at 1089m.
• From Maclears beacon, follow the signs to the cable-car or Plattekip Gorge to descend.  If you take the path along the front edge of the mountain, take care: in some areas it literally goes off the edge of the cliffs!

I trust you have enjoyed this epic!

Nottdog Challenge profile from Google Earth - Note actual distance was 50km

Hike Constantia Nek to Camel Rock

Looking back toward C. Nek on the ascent

Route Summary
Distance: 7.5 km
Estimated time: 2hrs + stops.
Total Elevation gain: 635m
Type: Out and back
View Constantia Nek to Camel Rock Walk map

* A fairly strenuous walk because of the elevation gain.  Some short sections are near vertical rock, and while there are easy stepping and holding points these need the use of your hands to be safe.

The hike provides magnificent views down Hout Bay valley during the ascent which are not visible from any other route on the mountain, the top and decent provide wonderful views of the Southern Suburbs and Cape Flats out to Hottentot's Holland.

Route description
Park at the Constantia Nek car-park and walk to the top of the car-park where a small tarred road leads up towards the mountain with houses on the right.  After about 100m the road turns to gravel and there is a Table Mountain National Park sign on the left headed "Constantia Nek".  Shortly after this a footpath angles left and upwards with a small stainless steel sign indicating that this is to "Reservoirs via footpath".  Take this path upward until you meet the jeep track again on a hairpin bend after about 450m.  At this point turn left and follow a flat section of the jeep-track until it ends in a turning area after about 100m.  At the end of the turning area find a path heading upwards between Eagles Nest on the left and the main buttress to Table Mountain on the right.  Follow this path, and as it crests the saddle between Eagles Nest and the buttress, turn right, and follow the path up the Hout Bay side of the buttress.

Camel Rock

The path is clearly marked and there are few options to go wrong.  You keep climbing over several false tops until reaching two almost vertical sections which require the use of hands to ascend safely.  Children must be guided here and less agile dogs may require lifting/help.  Shortly after this you will crest a high point where you can look up towards the back table over a series of ridges. You've made it!

The path then descends through a rock arch with overhangs on both sides which face the back table.  The overhangs are low, but this is a good spot to stop for a rest and tea.

After this you continue down into a small valley and as you climb out of it you will see Camel Rock silhouetted against the sky ahead of you - the path passes just left of this formation, and continues over a few more undulations before reaching the De Villiers dam, the lowest and smallest of the Table Mountain reservoirs.  Keep to the right here and you will meet the concrete jeep track.  Turn right and head down the mountain on the jeep track to return the Constantia Nek.

Hike to Pulpit / Breakfast Rock from Tafelberg road

Approaching Breakfast Rock

Route Summary
Distance: 5.5km
Estimated time: 2hrs + stops.
Total Elevation gain: 400m
Type: Out and back
View Breakfast Rock Walk map

 * One of the shortest and easiest walks on this blog site.  You still need to be reasonably fit, as the walk starts with 35min of steady and steepish uphill walking.

Breakfast Rock has dangerous drops off the front and sides: supervise children closely.

Breakfast Rock, also know as Pulpit Rock, is a large rock outcrop above Newlands forest, in the saddle between Devil's Peak and Table mountain.  It stands between the tops of Dark Gully and Dark Gorge, with these two features dropping away dramatically to the left and right respectively as you look out, and offers spectacular views into the Southern Suburbs and across the Cape Flats to the Hottentots Holland mountain range.  This hike is the easiest way to Breakfast Rock.  You can also walk to it from Rhodes Memorial up Newlands ravine.  Looking out across the southern suburbs from Pulpit rock, the head of Newlands Ravine is to your right and a little above you.

Dark Gully and Dark Gorge are dangerous, with regular accidents reported.  Dark Gorge is very steep at the top, but can be walked/scrambled if you are fit and agile.  Do not attempt Dark Gully without climbing equipment and appropriate experience.

Route description
Drive to Kloof Nek, and from there up to the lower cable-car station on Table Mountain's Tafelberg road.  Pass the cable-car station on your right and continue for 2.4km along Tafelberg rd.  At this point you will find some parking on the left of the road.  Secure your car and cross the road to the path clearly marked by a sign as "Devil's Peak".

Follow the path as it zig-zags up the side of the mountain towards the saddle.  After about 400m (10 min) you will come to an intersection with a horizontal contour path.  Turn right towards the cable-car station and after about 10m you have the option to go straight or take a hard left turn and continue up the mountain.  Go left.  Continue to zag-zag towards the saddle and after a further 400m you will join with another path coming upwards from your right.  Turn left again and continue upwards.  The path curves round to the left and begins to flatten out after a total of around 1.2 km or 30 minutes.  At 1.6 km (+/-40 min) there is a stream, and most of the uphill is done for the day.  This is a good spot to pause and regroup, drink and refill water bottles on a hot day.

View over Lions Head from saddle

Continue to follow the path slightly uphill.  After a further 150m, there is a well sign-posted intersection with a path leading left up Devils Peak and your path continuing towards Newlands ravine.  Continue towards Newlands ravine, ignoring 2 other paths to the left up Devils peak, and after another 150m cross the stream and continue across the saddle, keeping to the left of the rocks you see as you cross the stream.  100m from the stream you will crest the rise and see Breakfast Rock 200m in front of you.

Family Activities in Cape Town

If you are interested in a wider range or less strenuous activities in and around Cape Town, check out my sister's site, Cape Town Family Holiday Magic.

Hike Chapman's Peak - the easy way

Route Summary

Distance: 5.8km

Estimated time: 2.5hrs + stops.

Total Elevation gain: 450m

Type: Out and back

View Chapman Peak Walk map

*Short but fairly strenuous because of the elevation gain.

Today's hike was the shortest route to the beacon on Chapman's peak. Chapman's peak offers magnificent views North across Hout Bay and up to the Back Table; and South and East down the full lower Cape Peninsula.

Route description

Driving up Chapman's Peak drive from Hout Bay, you will reach the toll road booths 1.4km after passing the Chapman's Peak Hotel (on your left as you leave Hout Bay). No need to pay - they have an arrangement where you can ask for a day pass if you are walking in the area, and will be given a dated slip which you must hand in on the way out.

Three kilometres further on and about 750m before the main/highest Chapman's Peak road viewpoint, there is a small side-loop road on the left with some parking. Park here (or as close as you can), and set off up the path at the apex of the loop road, clearly sign-posted "Chapman's Peak".

The route heads fairly steeply uphill, then takes a long curve to the right before crossing a stream and curving slightly left again to a large cairn and 3-way intersection. Left takes you back along the front of the mountain range towards Hout Bay, right takes you to Chapman's peak along the side of lower Chapman's Peak.

Take the right-hand fork and follow it for 1.6 km to the saddle between lower Chapman's and Chapman's peek; this is a good spot to pause and admire your first view down the south peninsula, but the stiff 200-odd metre ascent from there to the Chapman's Peak beacon point is well worthwhile, rewarded by awesome views.

When ready return to your car along the same path.

Apologies for the quality of the photos (taken with my phone) - I'll make a point of carrying my camera from now on...

Start of Something

I've walked in the outdoors all my life; at times as a child it seemed boring, but my enjoyment in it has grown steadily to the point where it revitalises me.

I've been fortunate to have lived in Cape Town, South Africa for most of the past 25 years, and there can be few better places in the world to live if you love hiking; I'm always looking for a new trail and have numerous books which I use to guide me into new areas, but have recently decided that I should start using the web to publish my walks for other people to use, and perhaps we can get a community going sharing the best walks around the Cape.

Part of this decision has been driven by the books; they have a small market and are obviously cost-constrained, often with poor maps and perhaps 10 or 15 hikes per book. They are also out-dated in an age of data and GPS-enabled mobile phones.

For some time I have created GPS tracks of my walks and contributed them to the Open Street Map project; but as the name suggests, this is aimed at mapping streets, not footpaths. So I plan to publish those tracks here, in a more useful format for the people who may want to use them, along with GPX files for download to a GPS unit, a short description and a few photos.

Enjoy!