Roughly 2 200 hectares of mountain fynbos

The start and end point of the Upper Gobos Walk are at the entrance to the Greyton Nature Reserve at the northern end of Park Street.

After passing through the gate, follow the Boesmanskloof Trail. Turn right, cross the Noupoort stream and climb up the winding path. It levels out and now you have a wonderful view of the village and the Riviersonderend mountains, with Abdolskop ahead of you and Perdekop left of it. The surrounding fynbos contains Protea repens (suikerbos) and Protea nerifolia, with beards on the outer flower bracts.

When you reach a stone bench, continue straight following the sign saying “Gobos”. Do not take the paths to the left or right. The path goes gently down to the Gobos River, and although overgrown in some places, you will know that you are at the correct crossing point when you see a couple of old cement slabs in the river bed. Your exit out of the river is directly across from you, and is marked by a small cairn which you should try and locate before entering the river bed. Cross the river by rock hopping and leave the river bed onto a jeep track which is not very evident until you are actually on it.

Carry on up the jeep track, crossing the little stream that originates in Wolfkloof. This can be quite wet during winter months and water flows down the jeep track ruts. At the intersection with the Boesmanskloof trail, turn right back towards Greyton. Cross the Gobos River – this is normally easiest near the old suspended pipeline hanging over the river, and continue on the dirt road going to the left.

At the intersection with Vlei Street, and the pump house on your right, continue straight up Nerina Street, which you follow up to Park Road. There, turning right and after a few minutes you will reach the entrance to the Greyton Nature Reserve, the end of this short walk.

Start and end at the entrance to Greyton Nature Reserve at the northern end of Park Street.

The walk is a very relaxing one and not strenuous. It leads you through a wonderful kloof and protea fynbos with sunbirds. Having gone through the thatched roof gate at the reserve entrance, follow the tracks ahead and turn right at the sign to Boesmanskloof Trail.

The keurboom trees flower for most of the year and tend to invade the fynbos. On the left, thick bushes of proteas and leucadendrons (tolbos with male and female plants) as well as leucospermum (pincushsions) give cover and food to a variety of birds.

On the left, a little path leads up to Lover’s Bench - a place with a beautiful view, lovely birds and amidst flowers, a perfect place for dreamers. Go straight past the sign pointing left to Boesmanskloof and Upper Gobos. The path leads you straight into the Noupoort Kloof with its towering rock walls. In late summer with some luck you might see some splendid Nerine sarniensis high up on the rocks.

The sun never gets into the end of the kloof. Here you find old trees protected from fires. Cool down in the fresh and cold mountain water but don’t go beyond the stepping stones. The water deepens unexpectedly and the rocks are slippery.

Retrace your steps and cross the Noupoort stream over a little wooden bridge and exit the valley by climbing above the small dam. Turn right at the junction with another path and you will arrive back at the entrance. Go back the same way as you came in for a gentler stroll as the suggested return path has some scrambling involved.

Note that during winter months the stream flows, at times quite vigorously, and the path in places will be covered with flowing water and slippery rocks.

As this trail is in the Greyton Nature Reserve, please respect the rules as displayed at the entrance, thank you: No pets or vehicles allowed!

Start and end at the entrance to the Greyton Nature Reserve at the northern end of Park Street. Go straight after having passed through the thatched roof entrance gate of the Reserve, then take the first path to the left. Beyond the little waterfall with the bench you continue up the valley. There Fynbos fights the Dodder, a clinging yellow parasite living off green plants. This is an indigenous plant and part of nature, where everything has its place in the food chain. In the end, however, the Dodder dies as there is no food left and the original veld is rejuvenated.

Watch the birds, there should be plenty of Sugarbirds, Weavers and the Orange-breasted Sunbirds. After about a kilometre the path turns 180degrees and ascends to the small stream which feeds the waterfall below. Just before you cross the stream there is a track to the right (towards Greyton) that leads to a stone bench overlooking the Platkloof and Greyton.

After relaxing on the bench, return to the path and turn right to cross the stream, turn left and shortly right again to walk on more or less level ground on the east lobe of the trail above the valley - this turn off is not always very obvious, but should be marked with a flat stone with green feet painted on. If you miss it, (or wish a shorter and less strenuous walk back to the end point) a zigzagging path takes you back to the reserve entrance. The views of Greyton and surroundings are awesome with Abdolskop and Perdekop in the south-east.

In springtime this is the place to look for orchids: Moederkappie, Spider orchid and others. In March and April the hillside becomes covered in a colourful display of Erica tenuifolia, E.equisetifolia and E. lateralis, interspersed with yellow 'Geelbos' (Leucadendron salignum).

Above the Noupoort Kloof the path winds down again past Lover’s Bench (the path is quite steep and stony in this area) until you reach the level path, and turning right leads you back to the gate of the Reserve.

The starting point of the Knietjieshoogte Walk, is through the fence, just beyond the back northern corner of the cemetery. Simply follow the track which is a circular route. The bench at the highest point of the walk affords wonderful views of the surrounding mountains and area, with glimpses of Boschmanskloof in the west and a glimpse of Genadendal in the distance. Flowers that are encountered along this path include proteas, ericas and several spring flowers.

On this trail dogs are welcome, mountain bikes use sections of the trail.

Start and end at the junction of lower Regent Street and Vlei Street. Walk through the picnic site and into the riverbed of the Gobos River. Rock hop across Gobos riverbed and exit by a clear path on the other side. Turn left and follow the zigzag path up a steep hillside. There are excellent views from here over the village and, at the top, panoramic views of the mountains and farmland. The Hottentots-Holland Mountains can be seen in the distance, to the west.

Follow the jeep track that winds away towards the mountains, with Abdolskop the nearest peak. Shortly, near the top of the hill, there is a track to the right which should be ignored (unless one is already tired as a steep short-cut linking up with the late part of the walk). At a 'crossroads' of tracks near a Cape Nature signboard, turn right onto an easy walking jeep track towards the Riviersonderend Road, with views along the valley. The highest peak, in the distant left, is Skilpadkop - almost 1510m. Very near the road, under some power lines, take the path to the right.

Where the path splits, either way will bring you to a point near the road. Continue forward (or to the right, depending on your chosen route) to a shooting range. This shooting range is used on each last Saturday in the month, a red flag should warn you. This is marshland and has good displays of spring flowers. Cross to the west corner, follow the fire-break to the foot of a hill and keep going towards the Gobos River. This path eventually meets up with the path that you would have taken up the zig zag – turn left back over the river and you are back in the picnic site where the walk started.

The trail is steep in parts and water should be carried. Whilst ascending the path, you will observe several paths leaving the main path, especially going up the steep part of the hill. These are “blocked” with a row of stones and should be avoided due to the erosion these old paths have caused.

Take the Krige road and cross the Riviersonderend on the low-lying bridge. This is about the position where, in days gone by, a ferryman earned his living by bringing people across the river in his boat. The water flow must have been much stronger before the Theewaterskloof Dam was built and the vegetable and fruit farms were not yet established. Keep a lookout for the Giant Kingfisher or the brilliantly coloured Malachite Kingfisher, both of which are often seen near the bridge, on the telephone lines or perched on overhanging branches.

Follow the road beyond the bridge up a short incline, and turn right into the old road quarry. Go to the top of the quarry and park in the shade of the couple of trees. When looking up at Loerkop you will see a kissing gate in the commonage fence to your right. Beyond the gate, turn right and follow the path cut into the fynbos. Go over the neck and down into a little gully. Cross the stream (most of the time there is no water) and you will find yourself climbing up among thinly spread but very thorny shrubs. These Muraltia species belong to the Polygala family which usually have a pleated horizontal frill projecting from the 'mouth'. In some years (probably depending on right rainfall at the right time) in winter these slopes are covered with purple or magenta flowers, a spectacular show!

Scanning the surrounding hills with binoculars may reward you with the sight of some antelopes, probably Grey Rhebok. With some luck blue cranes, indigenous to this area, may be observed in the farmland. Listen out for their harsh guttural call.

Further up, one of the ground proteas (P. restionifolia) can be found. All the plants which look like grass are actually restios. One has to look carefully to find the protea flower near the ground in between the restio leaves. Just short of the summit grows another not so common protea, "Tolbos" (Leucadendron teretifolia). The female cone of older plants may be bright red.

The top of Loerkop is marked with a cairn. The 360-degree view is marvellous: the whole chain of the Riviersonderend mountains is spread from east to west, with Greyton and Genadendal in sheltered positions. The Overberg wheatbelt, very green in winter and a dull brown in summer; yellow canola fields for a short time in August and September, lie to the south dominated by the massive Swartberg. This is a fine place to have breakfast or to enjoy the low sun in the afternoon.

The flat top of the hill in summer is covered with orange orchids (Satyrium coriifolium) and blue Aristea. The hilltop is flanked by rocks where aloes bring their vivid colours to the veld in winter. The path then winds down to the lower levels of fynbos, bringing you back to the kissing gate and the quarry. On the way down stop for a few minutes to reflect on life at Fritz’s Bench – put up in memory of a conservation stalwart, Fritz Volk.

This trail starts and ends at the entrance to the Greyton Nature Reserve at the end of Park Street, where shady parking is available. The walk is strenuous and very steep in some parts.

Begin by taking the gravel road that goes sharply up to the left from where you have parked. Just beyond the double-storeyed house on the left, turn right through the gate onto a jeep track that takes you through commonage, which is part of the Knietjieshoogte Walk.

Continue on this track until you come to a fence alongside a road going off to the left. Continue straight following the track until you reach the top of the saddle (approx. 2 km from starting point) and turn right. Looking up to your right you will see a small evergreen indigenous forest. These trees are Hard Pear, after which the kloof and trail are named.

The path climbs steeply up to the left of the forest. You may well brush against the fragrant scented wild buchu as you climb. At the top of the kloof, about 30 meters above a rocky overhang, the path veers right and continues to climb but less steeply now. You have reached the highest point of the walk when you reach the first stream to cross.

Continue along this path back towards the village. You will cross three streams where you may be lucky to see the beautiful blue Aristea. The more open shrubland always has something of interest in flower: the real sugarbush (Protea Repens); the yellow featherbush flowers of Aulax pallasia; in winter and spring the white Erica pannosa with its sticky leaves and hairy flowers. The various restios are also splendid in spring. In late winter, the vista from the highpoint of the walk of the Overberg farm lands with green wheat and yellow canola fields is also quite spectacular.

After having crossed the last stream that feeds the Platkloof waterfall below, the path zigzags down to the Greyton Nature Reserve entrance. You will pass through dense stands of proteas (P.eximia, P. coronata, P. aurea) and may encounter Cape Sugarbirds and Orange-breasted Sunbirds. Exit the reserve through the thatched gateway and you have completed the circular walk.

This Greyton mountain hiking trail is classed as a strenuous walk and it is recommended that all hikers carry water as there is no water available on the walk.

The start point of the Breakfast Rock Walk along the Boesmanskloof Greyton mountain hiking trail is at the Greyton Nature Reserve signboard just to the right of the end of Vlei Street. A permit is not required for this section of the Boesmanskloof mountain hiking trail.

The route crosses the Gobos River (which should not be attempted after heavy rain) and follows a flat jeep track for about 1 km. A 180 degree turn to the left marks the start of the uphill section and after about 3km of twisting, turning and climbing, Breakfast Rock appears prominently on the left (it is sign posted). The view from here is excellent with the Gobos Gorge on one side and Wolvekloof on the other. (Note that continuing on this path past Breakfast Rock takes you into a section that requires a permit (this is the McGregor Trail) obtainable from CapeNature.)

Return home the reverse of your outward journey.

This trail starts and ends at lower Nerina Street at the entry sign into Greyton Nature Reserve. The trail is strenuous and steep, and water should be carried.

Follow the jeep track to the left for about four hundred metres, and then take the right track down to the Gobos River. Cross the river and just out of the riverbed turn right onto a small path which passes the suspended water pipe and then starts climbing up the slope. Have a rest at the bench marked “a Bort”.

From the top of the first of a series of hills, the farmhouse, Weltevreden, is visible on your right in the valley below. The path ahead looks steep but becomes less so when you tackle it!  The trail follows a steep cliff to the right. On the tops of the hills you summit natural “bonsai” trees may be seen. The Rockwood or Kliphout (Heeria argentea) have survived countess fires, protected to a certain extent by rocks, as the gnarled branches show. This species consists of male and female plants. At times you will notice the strange fragrance of Agathosma ovatfolia, a member of the Buchu family. Aloe mitriformis grows on these rocky outcrops and belongs to a group of aloes flowering in mid-summer.

Go through the saddle and up the dome just in front of you. Having reached the highest point of the walk (Viewpoint) you can admire the magnificent view of the Riviersonderend Mountains. Below you the Boesmanskloof Trail to McGregor winds out of the Wolfkloof and snakes up to its highest point.  Looking south you will see the Maermanskloof valley with your path going down.

Before you go down into the Maermanskloof valley, you pass some ground proteas with their flowers hidden close to the ground. Most probably their pollinators are rodents which are attracted by nectar and the yeasty smell.

Please be aware that the path down into the valley is steep and rocky, and the fynbos has grown thick in some places, encroaching the path. Take care descending so that you can take full advantage of the beautiful flora in which you find yourself surrounded.

The cliffs have released some big rocks, now nesting in the valley. The north facing part of the valley shows different vegetation. There are fewer plants, with leaves less lush. Near rocks there are aloes, succulents that can withstand drought conditions. Small antelope, hares and even baboons may be seen. As the area is off the beaten track, birds are not used to humans and it may take some patient waiting before birds come out into the open again. From time to time, a pair of black eagles hunt along the cliffs of Abdolskop, the peak above Maermanskloof.

The path now leads up the neck, with good view of Uitkyk (1470m) in the north west and then descends to a jeep track, which then crosses another jeep track which leads to the Weltevreden farmhouse.  Keep straight on (do not take any tracks or paths to the left) and you will come to a bench, which provides a good viewpoint of Greyton below.  Walk down the Zig-zag path, cross the Gobos river, walk through the picnic site and exit the commonage through the gate and turn right into Vlei Street. A short walk will take you back to your starting point.