Our party started walking at about 07h45 from Chapman’s Peak Drive in very windy conditions. We battled up to the nek above Noordhoek then headed back towards Hout Bay below the cliffs on the Lower Panorama contour path. Fortunately the wind abated a bit in the lee of the mountains, and the route lived up to its name with fantastic views of the bay and surrounding mountains with streams starting to flow after the heavy rains on Monday. We also noted pines and some hakea invading the slopes often in ‘difficult to get to’ places (see photo). Blackburn Ravine provided a sheltered spot for tea, followed by some up-hill to the lovely Alfie’s Track which took us over to the East Fort / Constantia Nek route then up and over and down to Baviaanskloof from where we headed back to the cars left at East Fort before 12h30 so, as promised, we were home for lunch!
