Meet at the start of the path on Clovelly Rd, Clovelly - just before Dunvegan Lodge.Estimated time: 2-3 hours depending on tea and flowers ...
A snippet of information about Trappieskop from the Mountain Club's website:
How did Trappieskop above Kalk Bay get its name?
Trappieskop is a small peak overlooking Kalk Bay.The upper layers of this peak are made outof high quality Table Mountain sandstone which provide some excellent sport climbing routes.
Unknown to most Capetonians is that there are several stone age archaeological sites which were partly excavated in 1945 by Mr Peers and his son. This father and son pair investigated and catalogued many sites in the Southern Peninsula and were responsible for the excavation of Peers’ Cave (Skildergat Cave).
At the 30m level above sea level there is clear evidence of horizontal beach accumulations. What will global warming alarmists have to say about this irrefutable proof that changes in climate, sea levels have been around for thousands of years?
Other than sports climbing there is a wonderful walk around the peak. The best place to start on the traverse of the peak on the fire break is at Behr Road, Quarry Road, Godfrey Road, Marmion Avenue or at the sharp corner on Clovelly Road just before the Clovelly Golf Course. The scenic walk is not taxing and in spring time has a wealth of flowering plants.
In early times it was at first virtually impossible to travel along the coast from Muizenberg to Fish Hoek and on to Simon’s Town because in places the mountains reached all the way down to the sea. The old wagon road – die ou wapad – die ou Kaapse weg went up the Steenberg mountain and over the top of the mountains to Fish Hoek and over Brakkloofrand (now also known as Black Hill) on to Simon’s Town. The present and much more recent motor road of the same name does not quite follow the same route.
Because of necessity (development of Simonstown as a winter shelter for shipping) the passable track along the coast at the foot of the mountains was eventually developed into a wagon friendly route when explosives arrived in the colony. Approaching Fish Hoek beach there was a series of ledges, which were likened to steps that traffic had to negotiate before the track continued along Fish Hoek beach. The beach had to be utilised because the remainder of the area consisted of sand dunes and was not traversable.
Before these steep, zig-zag ledges were adjusted enough to be used by animal drawn vehicles they were suitable only for pedestrians though it would appear that daring cart drivers could manage them. Fishermen first called the shortcut die trap reis – the steps journey, but as years passed the area became known simply as die trappies and the hill at whose foot it lay, die trappies kop.
Trappieskop is a small peak overlooking Kalk Bay.The upper layers of this peak are made outof high quality Table Mountain sandstone which provide some excellent sport climbing routes.
Unknown to most Capetonians is that there are several stone age archaeological sites which were partly excavated in 1945 by Mr Peers and his son. This father and son pair investigated and catalogued many sites in the Southern Peninsula and were responsible for the excavation of Peers’ Cave (Skildergat Cave).
At the 30m level above sea level there is clear evidence of horizontal beach accumulations. What will global warming alarmists have to say about this irrefutable proof that changes in climate, sea levels have been around for thousands of years?
Other than sports climbing there is a wonderful walk around the peak. The best place to start on the traverse of the peak on the fire break is at Behr Road, Quarry Road, Godfrey Road, Marmion Avenue or at the sharp corner on Clovelly Road just before the Clovelly Golf Course. The scenic walk is not taxing and in spring time has a wealth of flowering plants.
In early times it was at first virtually impossible to travel along the coast from Muizenberg to Fish Hoek and on to Simon’s Town because in places the mountains reached all the way down to the sea. The old wagon road – die ou wapad – die ou Kaapse weg went up the Steenberg mountain and over the top of the mountains to Fish Hoek and over Brakkloofrand (now also known as Black Hill) on to Simon’s Town. The present and much more recent motor road of the same name does not quite follow the same route.
Because of necessity (development of Simonstown as a winter shelter for shipping) the passable track along the coast at the foot of the mountains was eventually developed into a wagon friendly route when explosives arrived in the colony. Approaching Fish Hoek beach there was a series of ledges, which were likened to steps that traffic had to negotiate before the track continued along Fish Hoek beach. The beach had to be utilised because the remainder of the area consisted of sand dunes and was not traversable.
Before these steep, zig-zag ledges were adjusted enough to be used by animal drawn vehicles they were suitable only for pedestrians though it would appear that daring cart drivers could manage them. Fishermen first called the shortcut die trap reis – the steps journey, but as years passed the area became known simply as die trappies and the hill at whose foot it lay, die trappies kop.
