Red Hill will never rate up there with the likes of Tokai, but as it is within easy reach of Cape Town, it makes sense for the MTB crowd to know where and what it is. Start from Pinehaven Village along a tarred road, descending gently past an old farmhouse before turning left (2.5km) towards Lewis Gay Dam.
On your bike
Start off on a quiet tarred road, descending along a gentle slope past an old farm house and then turn left at the 2.5km mark towards Lewis Gay Dam (no idea who he was). Pass through a metal boom and a National Parks sign below the dam wall, climbing along a steep and sandy jeep track. At 3.3km, turn right and crank along a gnarly downhill section, across a stream and then on to the Elsies River. Cross the recently built wooden bridge and, sticking to the main gravel road, climb back out of the valley.
Continue up the valley to a T-junction at the top (6.5km) where yo turn right. Follow the eroded track in between some peaks to the Glencairn Expressway – either head back, or complete a circular route via Glencairn and up Red Hill on tar. Latest update on this is that there is a kicking new section of track being built on the western side of the Glencairn Expressway; superbly bermed, and with butt-clenching table-tops, jumps and huge drops – the plan is to eventually link this to 4km of purpose-built XC here on Black Hill.
For information on the SANParks Activity Cards, visit their website here.
Off the bike
The fynbos biome rates as the world’s richest floral kingdom with protea trees, erica shrubs and restios grasses, and it is a justifiably renowned World Heritage site. The Peninsula wine routes are superb, and Cape Point Vineyards is a must for anyone in search of an excellent coastal sauvignon blanc. Surfing at Noordhoek Beach, camel riding at Imhoff and sea kayaking at Boulders are a few other outdoor options. The fynbos biome rates as the world’s richest floral kingdom with protea trees, erica shrubs and restios grasses, and it has just been declared a World Heritage site, so get out there and enjoy.
GPS: 34º10’58.64”S 18º24’52.96”E
