The Cape Peninsula is recognised around the world for its astounding range of fauna and flora. Although Vancouver and Sydney may disagree, nowhere else in the world does an area of such spectacular beauty and rich biodiversity exist within such easy reach of a metropolitan area

The Cape Floral Kingdom ? which is found predominantly on the Cape Peninsula ? is widely recognised as one of the world?s "hot-spots" of floral biodiversity. In total, the Cape Peninsula hosts more than 2285 species of plants ? more than the entire British Isles (1492 species) and New Zealand (1996 species).

So what better way to explore this incredible natural asset than on foot, tramping the many kilometres of paths that criss-cross the mountains of the Cape Peninsula?

Mike Lundy?s ever-popular guidebook, 'Best Walks of the Cape Peninsula', has recently been updated, and this fifth edition has been fully revised to ensure accurate information. Lundy has also added a further four walks to the book, bringing the total number of routes to 26.

Each of the walks has been chosen because of a particular point of interest you are sure to encounter along the route, be it a moss-covered waterfall, a grove of stately yellowwoods, the iron skeleton of a shipwreck or simply a fantastic view over the beautiful Cape Peninsula.

Caters for all abilities
Lundy has included a great mix of routes, catering for both the visitor to Cape Town who wants to explore the mountains while on holiday, as well as for the born-and-bred Capetonian who wants to be introduced to a few of the back routes. Having said that, by definition the book focuses on the most popular walks in the area, so if you?re an experienced walker looking to get off the proverbial beaten track, perhaps this is not the book for you.

Most of the popular walks on Table Mountain have been included, which any keen walker visiting Cape Town should be sure to try out. From the rather exposed and knee-jarring Platteklip gorge on the slopes above the city centre, to Skeleton Gorge which is probably the most popular route to the top of Table Mountain.

If you?re looking for the best of both worlds and want to have both mountain and sea views, the Pipe Track simply can?t be beaten. Running south from Kloof Nek below the peaks of the so-called Twelve Apostles, the Pipe Track is a fairly level walk which provides the most astounding view of the Atlantic coastline and the glamorous beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton.

Fauna and Flora
One of my favourite aspects of this book, as opposed to many other walking books, was the amount of detail given to the fauna and flora you are likely to encounter along each walk. Anecdotes such as that of the wasp that lays its eggs in the flowers of the invasive long-leaf wattle, causing the flower to die off and thus restrict the spread of this alien tree ensure that you learn about the environment as you walk along.

Each walk has a clear map and detailed route description (including the availability of water), so there?s little chance of getting lost along the way. Each walk is graded according to a simple system depending on how strenuous and exposed the walk is. From a 1A being an easy stroll with no exposure to heights to a 4D which is an exhausting walk unsuitable for those with even a mild fear of heights, the simple grading system which is explained at the beginning of the book allows you to choose a walk suited to your abilities.

The book opens with 14 pages of useful and informative facts on the Cape Peninsula, from the geology of the area to some of the interesting history surrounding the names you?re likely to encounter on your walks. Be sure to read the information on mountain safety before you set out, as the weather on the Cape mountains is notoriously fickle and can change from a gloriously sunny day to cold and wet in less than an hour.

"Best Walks of the Cape Peninsula" is an excellent introduction to walking in and around Cape Town for both the visitor and local alike. As I mentioned above, each of the walks selected are by definition popular, well-trodden routes, so don?t expect to find the road less travelled. But for those of us who are simply looking to escape into nature for a day walk now and again, this book will be right up your alley, or should that be ravine!