Castle Rock dominates the view of Table Mountain from Kirstenbosch Gardens

From Rycroft Gate you head towards the mountain and after about 15 minutes hit the contour path. Turn right towards Nursery Ravine. Go straight past the ravine and after about 5 minutes you pass another small water course. This is where you head up the mountain. There are a few cairns but here you just follow the stream until the first rock bands.

Go left at the rockbands and scramble up a 10m pitch. You then follow a faint path and cairns through some thick fynbos to the next rock band.

The first rock Bands of Nursery Buttress

Here there is a large window formed by a huge boulder resting on top of others. Scramble to the right of this window onto a ledge. From here to the right there is a crack you squeeze up to reach the top of these bands.

Again follow cairns up a few small scrambles until you reach the largest face of today. Its 15m, but with plenty of good foot and hand holds. At the top you are on a ridge. Follow this ridge until an easy chimney which takes you to the top of the lower buttress.

For much of the route you follow cairns up the buttress

From here its easy. Just head up the slope and slightly to the right to the top of Nursery Buttress. Take a break here to admire the views down over Kirstenbosch Gardens, the Southern Suburbs and False Bay.

The view from the top

Once rested follow the path to the junction with the path that joins Nursery Ravine and Skeleton Gorge.

Ridgway Ramblers offer a variety of different trails on Table Mountain. Contact us for further details.