Capetonians love to wax lyrical about 'the mountain' that looms over the Mother City, providing everything from weather forecasts to traffic directions, but the fact is much of the Western Cape is covered in some of the country's most spectacular mountain ranges.

And where there's a mountain, there's invariably a hiker trodding his or her well-worn boots over the myriad rocky paths that seem to clamber over every corner of these fynbos-clad peaks.

I grew up hiking in the Cape, so am lucky to know a little about some of the most popular routes, but I found backpack-loads of inspiration in the latest book by adventure-journalist Fiona McIntosh.

The author of numerous outdoor and travel publications, McIntosh has turned her attention to a dozen of the Cape's best hiking trails. From mountain rambles through the Cederberg and Swellendam mountains to coastal ambles in De Hoop and West Coast nature reserves, the guide covers a good selection of terrain and trails for all fitness levels.

All of the trails are 'formal' trails, rather than a series of paths strung together to be explored. Many of the trails are run by private companies, offer catered or portaged options, provide comfortable overnight accommodation and many require bookings months in advance. These are the 'Oscars' of the Cape hiking trails… the famous, fêted and fabulous, rather than the wild and off-the-beaten track.

With a few exceptions they are ideal for new hikers looking for an easy introduction into the world of hiking, although heed Fiona's advice carefully – some of the trails have strenuous sections which you need to be prepared for, but often these can be avoided if you're still getting some strength into your legs.

Each of the 12 trails is divided up into a number of sections; the most useful being a day-to-day description which runs through what to expect in terms of terrain, highlights and places of interest. A detailed contour map at the start for each trail shows the various legs you'll walk, as well as highlights and rest points along the way.

At the end of each trail a useful 'Trail overview' provides all the hard facts you'll need to make a booking, as well as on the trail. Alternative walks, nearby mountain-bike trails and other activities in the area are also listed to ensure you get the most out of your time away. A useful kit-list is included to help you pack and plan for the hike.

Bags packed, trail booked and ready to go… a Western Cape Atlas (complete with detailed GPS way-points) makes finding your way to the trailhead a cinch.

Whether you're a seasoned hiker looking for inspiration or a newbie in need of a way into the world of walking, this book will inspire you to shake the dust off your rucksack and dubbin your boots. The trails are waiting.

Top 12 Hiking Trails of the Western Cape Fiona McIntosh Published by MapStudio Available at good bookstores. Recommended retail price: 159.95 Trails included:

  1. Cederberg Heritage Route
  2. West Coast Crayfish Trail
  3. Whale Trail (De Hoop Nature Reserve)
  4. Boland Hiking Trail
  5. Hoerikwaggo Tented Classic (Table Mountain)
  6. Swellendam Hiking Trail
  7. Postberg Wild Flower Trail
  8. Oystercatcher Trail (Mossel Bay)
  9. Otter Trail
  10. Tsitsikamma Trail
  11. Donkey Trail
  12. Swartberg Hiking Trail


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