Silvertree trail

Location: Silvertree Trail, Newlands Forest to Kirstenbosch loop
Activity: Run
Category: Circular Trail
Distance: 8 km
Altitude: 95 m - 285 m
Gain: Total gain 324 metres
Gradient: up to 20 %; average climb >10 %
Rating: Beauty with Cruelty
Early every week in summer, an e-mail reminder from Patrick Cox goes out to those on the Celtic Harriers trail running mailing list. On Thursday evenings the off-roaders gather at the agreed spot, guaranteed to be somewhere on the slopes of Table Mountain, at 6 in midsummer and 5.45 as the days shorten.

The Silvertree Trail is graded a 7/10 by Pat. Almost all of that 7 is in the first couple of kilometres of this undulating route that roughly follows the contour path from the Newlands Forestry station to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and back.

After departing the car park, the route heads off up a short tarred stretch before turning southwards. Firm, mildly uphill gravel gives way to loose, very uphill stony climbs interspersed with what seem like endless steps. Even before you've emerged from the shade to reach the high point, though, the views across the Cape Flats and Southern Suburbs towards False Bay are stupendous. At Kirstenbosch the route drops down for the briefest of sojourns alongside the garden's manicured lawns, taking a quick break at a water fountain that also indicates the return route.

There are several stream crossings, some on quite slippery rock, that could be tricky in winter. The lung-bursting inclines aren't reserved for the outward stretch, either: on this undulating route, there's plenty of uphill and similarly plenty of picking your way down steps (watch out for where the sand has eroded from behind the steps' wooden retainers, ideal for tripping up the unwary).

Several opportunities for wrong turns are available; the mountain trails are well signposted at junctions, but the running trails don't necessary follow the hikers.
All in all, a perfect way to end the day.