Scarborough peak, also known as Grootkop Scarborough, is a beautiful 7km hike with a moderate climb. It gives you great views of the town of Scarborough, Scarborough beach, Witsands beach and Cape Point Nature Reserve. This hike requires a permit for yourself as well as your four-legged hiking companions.
The hike starts on Hilltop road in Scarborough. Take the path along the fire break until you reach a sign, at this sign take the single track trail that goes straight up into the mountains. For majority of the climb you remain on this path.
Eventually the path splits into two, at this split take the path to the left and continue the incline.
After some more climbing the road flattens out and you come across another fork in the road, at this fork there is a red arrow painted on a rock pointing to the left, follow this red arrow. After taking the path on the left there will be a short decline followed by a steep incline which takes you to the peak, at an elevation of 280m.
After taking a rest at the viewpoint, you follow the same trail back to the red arrow. At this point you can can either go back on the same path you took to get to the red arrow, or you can take the circular route, which is a bit longer but more gentle on the knees.
If you are taking the circular route back take a right, away from the red arrow. Just a few meters later you come across a mysterious bench placed on a platform, in what seems like the middle of nowhere.
From this bench you have a lovely view of Witsands beach through a gap between two distant peaks.
After the bench continue walking until you reach a jeep track. Then turn right and walk along the jeep track. The jeep track is parallel to a small stream. After descending along the jeep track for a while you take a right at a rock cairn and continue the descent on a single track.
At the next fork in the path, take the left turn which will bring you down to join your original path, which then takes you to the start of the trail.
This hike has many spectacular views and an interesting perspective of Scarborough from above. I hiked this trail in winter after some heavy rainfall, and the mountain was decorated with the bright yellow and green leaves of the Conebushes. The beautiful white Metalasias were also scattered throughout the mountain and looked like snow.
I have only hiked this trail once but I will definitely be hiking here again soon.
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