Dog Rock
The cache is hidden near a distinctive feature a
short distance off the Hilltop Path. This is a high contour path
which runs south-west from the top of Bailey’s Kloof across a
relatively flat area and through rock slabs before descending to
join other tracks up into Silvermine east. There are fine mountain
and sea views along the way.
To reach the
cache:
1. From Bailey’s Kloof: Park
in the lay-by on Boyes Drive @ S34 06.753 E18 27.788. Follow the rocky stepped trail up the kloof to
the junction with the Hilltop path @ S34 06.712 E18 27.611 and then turn left (south-west) to head along this
path towards the cache area passing through the rock slabs en
route.
2. From Ou Kraal: Park in the
small lay-by on Boyes Drive at S34 07.501 E18
26.866. Walk a few
metres south to the trail-head steps by the Echo Valley SignPost.
Follow the trail (Oukraal Path) along the contour then steeply
upwards up the stone steps alongside the babbling brook (seasonal)
to the first trail junction with a stone sign plaque at Weary
Willy’s S34 07.293
E18 26.770 – a
fine shady rest spot at the trail junction for Echo Valley and near
where the trail crosses the stream. Turn right here heading north
to the next junction with another stone sign plaque at
S34 07.248 E18
26.807. Here keep left
and carry on to the junction of the Spes Bona Valley trail with the
gravel track @ S34
07.132 E18 26.803 where
you head right (north) along the latter. At the path junction
@ S34 06.946 E18
27.096 take the right fork heading north-east towards the
cache area.
Using either route, when you reach
S34 06.933 E18
27.143 by a large rock
with a few small stones on top (our ‘cairn’) take the
small trail heading south-east towards the cache and the Dog
Rock.
The cache, a small camo-taped tablet pot is hidden under the
western side of a heavily weathered rock with large holes
underneath about 5m back from the northern edge of a flat rocky area.
slab.
From the cache you can either return the way you
came or continue to the other end – in which case it is
advisable to have a vehicle waiting if you wish to avoid an almost
2km walk along Boyes Drive back to your starting
point.
Of course this walk can be incorporated into longer
hikes, for example including the Old Mule Path and extensions to
Muizenberg to make a complete circuit of lower and upper contour
paths. See Peter Slingsby’s Silvermine Map for details of
available routes and suitable access
points.
Congratulations to AndyT1 on
the FTF!!