HARVEY PARK
(Cyrildene)
Description:
A steep and often rocky walk along the spine of the Linksfield
Ridge. Magnificent panoramic views reward your efforts.
Directions:
It is at the top end of Cyrildene (Map Studio pg. 83 DS 108).
Dog Friendliness:
Technically all dogs should be on lead, but nobody seems to
comply.
Walk Time:
Over 1 hour.
Parking:
Parking in the street before the security boom on Beryl Street.
The guard at the barrier will look after it for you.
Safety:
It can be quite exposed and lonely on the ridge and there are
reports of vagrants living in odd areas. The residents and
management committee are trying to clean up the area. I would go
in a group and/or take a big dog with you.
Facilities:
None.
Water:
None en route. Take
some for you and your dog.
Walk:
The walk is
basically an anti-clockwise loop. From Beryl Street, head
straight up the mountain to the right of the grassed section.
Ignore the sign saying that the route is blocked. Just as you
leave the grassed area take the large track leading off to the
right. This track leads you through some tall grass and follows
the fence lines of the houses below you.
As you leave the
tall grass look for a small track leading straight up the
mountain towards the radio beacon on top of the ridge. WARNING
1: there was some human faeces at this point (you may want to
put your dog on a leash in case of rolling). The path leads
steeply upwards, but it is still fairly easy to negotiate.
WARNING 2: there is quite a lot of broken glass on the path
upwards – this is a good place to get out your carrier bag and
collect some of it as you pause for a rest.
As you reach the
top you will come across a track leading left and right just in
front of the boundary fence of the Water Board. The path leading
to the right will take you along the ridge to Gillooly’s Farm.
Take the left path and walk towards the beacon.
At the beacon, the
path splits into two strands: the one to the right leads you
down the spine near a metal fence to a tricky section in the
saddle between two small ridges. I would take the left hand path
which leads down a more easily negotiable path to the saddle.
As you reach the saddle, you join a path leading up from the
parking area from where you started. Turn right onto the path
and continue upwards and to the left towards a stone wall. The
path follows this wall to the top of the 2nd small
peak where there is a trig beacon and some more great views.
Continue past the
beacon to the west along the ridge. This path eventually starts
descending to a row of tall pine trees on a small plateau. If
you continue past the pine trees you reach two paths that end in
a dead end at fenced residential properties. Rather take a small
path leading to the left through the last couple of trees. This
will take you across the plateau and then down a steep and rocky
route back to Beryl Street via a gap between two houses.
Put your dog on a
leash and turn left onto the pleasantly shaded street and walk
the 500 m back to your car.
Watch Out For:
(1) Twisted human ankles. (2) Cuts from broken glass. (3) Worn
pads and pulled toenails from the rocky terrain.
More Info:
Tara Baum
011.616.4841
© Dogwalk Publications -
07 July 2007
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