On your bike

Lower Guinea Fowl Trail: Although the full Guinea-fowl Trail begins at Hawthorne Avenue, Sunridge Park, the 7,5km Lower Trail starts at the Third Avenue Dip in Newton Park, leading down river to Settlers Park and Brickmakers Kloof. The trail is not difficult for reasonably fit persons. However, the river is crossed on numerous occasions by steppingstones and these may become hazardous or impassable after rain.

The trail runs alongside the Baakens River, which is about 23 km long and has its source in the Hunters Retreat area, entering the sea through the harbour. The Guinea-fowl trail passes through a steep-sided valley below the city suburbs for its full length.

Keep a look out for varied indigenous bird and animal life. A high, sheer, knife-edge spur protruding into the valley from Linkside is crossed by a boardwalk of steps which descends to the boundary of Dodds Farm. This is at present being redeveloped as a picnic area / arboretum. Access to the Guinea-fowl trail can be gained through Dodds Farm from Ninth Avenue Walmer.

Crossing the river near Bat's cave, the trail leads to the left and traverses open veld through the old Trollips Farm. It passes through a wooded section of valley bushveld and crosses the river twice, before leading on to Target Kloof. The trail goes under the road bridge and crosses the river again to follow the flood-plain below the Alsatian Club. A steep path leads up to Wellington Park, crosses a hillside of thick fynbos with a wonderful panoramic view of the Baakens Valley and descends into the Essexvale section of Settlers Park. The trail then follows the main route through Settlers Park, but, before going further, look up to the high Lovers Rock, the home of the rare peregrine falcon. The next river crossing, mostly dry, brings hiker to a choice of two route - turn left up the tarred Jan Smuts Walk to reach the main car-park or carry on through Settlers Park to eventually reach Barnes Quarry and the Brickmakers Kloof entrance.

While in Settlers Park, you may see guinea-fowl, peacock, mountain tortoise, leopard tortoise, dassies and mongooses and, if you are lucky, also see grysbok and the beautiful Knysna Lourie.