At the start of May, longing to get away from computers, technology and deadlines by spending some time among shady trees and burbling streams instead, we went for a short ramble around Newlands Forest. As always, it was peaceful and serene in this old, well-established forest that is understandably popular among hikers, dog-walkers and trail-runners.
We parked at the Newlands Forestry and Fire Station just off Rhodes Drive (the M3) and joined the throngs of people who, like us, were eager to sweep away the mental cobwebs, recharge the spiritual batteries and get the heart-rate up by striding along forest footpaths.
Gazing up at the back of Table Mountain from one of the trails through Newlands Forest
I cannot remember the route we took, as we walked entirely without a map this time, and just allowed our feet to take us along winding paths, over river-tumbled rocks and boulders, and beneath ancient trees. We somehow found ourselves on the old Woodcutters Trail, which is one of our favourites.
It is really easy to feel oneself being swept back through the centuries to a time when there were indeed woodcutters living here. Newlands Forest, which was originally and quite appropriately known as Paradijs was an outpost established by the Dutch East India Company in the days of Jan van Rieebeek to supply the timber for the new settlements and for the shipbuilding industry, as well as for fuel.
These large rocks must have tumbled down the river over many decades
At some stage, we found the perfect spot for a picnic, perching ourselves on some vaguely flat rocks in the middle of what would probably be a raging torrent when there has been good rainfall in this area.
We find some flat rocks for a picnic in the forest
Today, there was just a trickling stream, with the vegetation looking rather dusty and dry, and leaves and twiglets crackling beneath our feet.
A little stream trickles down over the boulders - a sign that we haven't had much rain yet this winter
Suitably fortified with tea and sarmies, and our batteries indeed recharged for the week ahead, we set off again and allowed our feet to find a pleasant route back down to the parking area. Until next time, Newlands Forest!
This cairn has been built up over a long time
Other hikes we’ve done around Newlands Forest:
After all the rain we’ve had recently I’m sure that trickly stream is now a raging torrent!
When we walked/balanced-on-rocks/splashed across/through Newlands Stream on Sunday, it was definitely more than a trickly stream… a nice steady splishy-splashy gush of water came down the mountain.