The Kasteelspoort is without doubt one of the mountaineering trails to the highest of Desk Mountain. The path affords spectacular views of Camps Bay, Lion’s Head, Clifton Seashores, and the mountain vary. It’s some of the scenic mountaineering trails in Cape City. The Kasteelspoort route takes hikers to a lesser-visited a part of Desk Mountain Nationwide Park. One of many highlights of the hike is the well-known Diving Board, a rock that hangs over the sting of the steep cliff.
Kasteelspoort mountaineering path overview
- Distance – 6,5 km on the jeep observe, 11 km on the Pipe Observe
- Required time – 3-5 hours, relying on the chosen route
- Complete ascent – 680 m
- Complete descent – 680 m
- Start line – Theresa Street, Camps Bay (the jeep observe) or Kloof Nek parking zone, Tavelberg Street (the Pipe Observe)
- Ending level – the highest of Desk Mountain, 400 m away from the Diving Board.
- Issue – Three out of 5
- Terrain – footpath
- Lowest level – 289 m
- Highest level – 844 m
Instructed excursions and actions
How lengthy is the Kastellespoort hike?
The stroll up and down the Kasteelspoort path is Four km. Attending to the place to begin of the path and again provides to the space an additional 2,5 km or 7 km. Relying on the route you determine to observe to get to the path. In whole, the hike is between 6,5 km (in case you select the shortest route up and down) and 11 km (in case you stroll the longer route).
Kasteelspoort mountaineering path place to begin
The path has two potential beginning factors. The most well-liked one is on the Camps Bay facet from Theresa Street on a jeep observe, round 1,Three km to the beginning of the particular Kasttelspoort hike (the ascent to the highest of Desk Mountain). The second place to begin is on the Tavelberg Street facet of the mountain, on the Pipe Observe path, which begins throughout the highway from the Kloof Nek parking zone. It’s an extended route, 3,5 km to the place to begin of the Kasteelspoort path (the ascent). The place to start out is as much as you. We adopted the Pipe Observe path each methods.
The place does the path end?
The Kasteelspoort mountaineering path finishes on the highest of Desk Mountain, 400 m away from the Diving Board on the Camps Bay facet fairly removed from the Higher Aerial cableway station, round eight km. On the map, it’d look not too far however there is no such thing as a direct route from the Diving Board to the Higher cable automotive station it’s a must to go round following the Aqueduct Path. If you wish to go down by cable automotive it’s higher to stroll up the Platteklip Gorge.
The place is the Diving Board on Desk Mountain?
The Diving Board is the well-known rock on the highest of Desk Mountain on the Previous Cableway Station, 400 m from the top of the Kasteelspoort path and 1 km from Woodhead Reservoir. It’s a well-liked photograph spot. The rock is formed like a diving board on the sting of the cliff.
How one can get to the trailhead?
The simplest means of attending to the place to begin of the Kasteelspoort mountaineering path is by automotive. Whichever route you determine to observe (the Pipe Observe or the jeep observe) you’ll be able to park your automotive close by. If you happen to’re planning to go to Cape City you’ll be able to hire a automotive on the airport on arrival and drop it off on departure.
With out the automotive, you may get to the trailhead (the Pipe Observe on Tavelberg Street) utilizing the hop-on-hop-off vacationer bus that stops on the decrease cable automotive station. You’ll need to stroll 1,5 km again to the Kloof Nek parking zone to start out the hike.
The place to park at Kasteelspoort?
If you happen to begin from the Camps Bay facet (the jeep observe) you’ll be able to park your automotive free of charge alongside Theresa Avenue.
If you happen to begin from the Tavelberg Aspect (the Pipe Observe) you’ll be able to park your automotive free of charge on the Kloof Nek parking zone, throughout the highway from the path.
In my view, the kloof Nek parking zone is a greater possibility. There’s often area and also you don’t have to fret about your automotive it’s fairly protected.
How troublesome is the Kasteelspoort hike?
It’s a moderate-difficulty hike with a steep and lengthy ascent adopted by a subsequent descent. It’s not a technical route with none bouldering or climbing. In my view, it’s one of many best Desk Mountain mountaineering trails. I might evaluate it with the Platteklip Gorge or the Skeleton Gorge hike. It’s a lot simpler than the India Venster route.
Is the mountaineering path marked?
Sure, the Kasteelspoort mountaineering path is marked with occasional yellow footprints. At first of the path, there’s a signpost indicating the path. The path is kind of simple to observe as soon as you discover the place to begin it’s a single observe a mixture of a footpath and a rocky path going up Desk Mountain.
How a lot does the hike price?
There is no such thing as a price concerned. You’ll be able to hike Kasteelspoort free of charge. If you happen to determine to affix a mountaineering tour then you definitely’ll pay US$70 per particular person.
Kasteelspoort mountaineering path map
Kasteelspoort route description
I’d break up the mountaineering path into Four components
Half 1. From the parking zone to the start of the ascent.
We walked the Kasteelspoort from the Kloof Nek parking zone on the Pipe Observe. It’s a 3,5 km simple hike by means of fynbos with good views of Lion’s Head and Camps Bay. The route is huge and straightforward to observe with out vital ascents and descents. We’ve walked it a number of occasions with our canine. It’s a well-liked path that will get fairly busy on weekends.
If you happen to begin on the Camps Bay facet on the jeep observe it’s 1,Three km of strolling as much as get to the path.
Half 2. The ascent to Desk Mountain
After 3,5 km on the Pipe Observe, you’ll see a steel signpost with a number of arrows indicating the path of various routes, one among them being the Kasteelspoort mountaineering path. It’s the precise begin of the path. From there you begin the steep and lengthy ascent to the very prime of Desk Mountain. First, you stroll on a footpath then as you get greater up on a rocky path. Don’t neglect to look again infrequently the surroundings is spectacular. You’ll be able to see a few of Cape City’s prime sights reminiscent of Camps Bay, Lion’s Head, Clifton Seashores, and the Twelve Apostles mountain vary.
As soon as on the highest, you’ll be able to spend a while exploring the world. Don’t miss the Diving Board, it’s about 400 m away from the top of the path. When you have extra time you’ll be able to stroll to Woodhead Reservoir and Hely-Hutchinson Reservoir following the Aqueduct Path.
Half 3. The descent
The primary half of the descent is a bit difficult because of the rocky terrain. As soon as on a footpath, the descent goes faster. There are a few breathtaking lookout factors alongside the best way.
Half 4. The stroll again to the parking zone
The final half is straightforward and flat. If you happen to stroll on the Pipe Observe it’s one other 3,5 km on a footpath to get again.
On the jeep observe, it’s 1,Three km on a footpath largely downhill.
When is the very best time for mountaineering?
Summer time months, between November and March, are the very best time for mountaineering the Kasteelspoort. When it’s dry and heat. In the course of the peak summer season months December to February, it’s necessary to start out strolling early within the morning earlier than it will get too scorching. It’s not really helpful to do the Kasteelspoort hike on a really windy day.
Security on the hike
It’s necessary to observe some security suggestions when mountaineering on Desk Mountain.
Don’t hike alone. It’s higher to affix a tour than go solo.
Weekends and public holidays are the very best time for mountaineering. When there are a lot of individuals on the mountain.
At all times ensure that your cell phone has a sign.
Take sufficient water and put on a cap. It will get extremely popular and there’s nowhere to refill water on the Kasteelspoort hike.
Please observe and like us:
The gorgeous half of Stingy Nomads, answerable for all our land adventures (mountaineering, climbing, strolling the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves strolling since she was a baby, she prefers to stroll 1000 km with a backpack somewhat than to do a 10 000 km highway journey (really any highway journey). Alya is a giant fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Each time we go away she desperately misses our canine Chile.
