Walking up Table Mountain from

 Constantia Nek

I am often asked “what is the easiest walk up Table Mountain?” A good question, and one I am not ever too sure how to answer.

A lot of people would immediately answer Platteklip Gorge. This is the steep route, straight up the front of the Cape Town side of the mountain. It is easy in that it is basically a steep staircase. No ropes or a head for height are required. Most people, of even quite negligable fitness, with a bit of determination, can reach the top in under 3 hours. Coming down is another story. Anyone with a slightly dodgy knee will suffer. Sticks are definitely recommended. Or even the cable car. Only a 15 minute away from the top of the gorge. For this reason alone, Platteklip may qualify as the easiest route, as it is the most direct, to the main table top.

However, from Constantia Nek, there is a concrete road leading up the Back Table. Although steep, it winds its way up to 650m, at the De Villiers dam.

The Concrete road at Constantia Nek

From here, the road continues on to the Woodhead and Hely Hely-Huntchinson dams, that dominate the Back Table. The lack of any steps, make this a route that is easier on the knees, heart and lungs, than any other route up Table Mountain. Of course, from the Back Table, the walk to the Main Table, is still around 2 hours, with a climb of a further 300m. So possibly, this discounts this route, from being counted as the easiest route up Table Mountain. It depends if by Table Mountain you mean only the main western table area, that is seen from Cape Town city centre. Or if you will include the entire mountain, that stretches from The City, to Constantia.

view of the Southern Suburbs, from the concrete road

Whatever your opinion. A gentle walk up the concrete road, offers magnificent views over the Southern Suburbs and False Bay. The dams are peaceful, and offer a good destination. Have a bite to eat, sitting by the water and then wind your way back down.

Relaxing by the De Villiers Dam

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