The Leafy Hills of Constantia

Having recently explored a new hiking trail (for us, anyway!), and needing to slot an easy walk in between some fairly strenuous ones, we took to the Spaanschemat River Trail this morning in crisp, cool conditions. Something about the light and the scent of damp earth on a dewy morning turned my thoughts briefly to autumn, but this was soon dispelled as the light breeze became a zephyr and the January sunshine beat upon our backs. The tall trees that give this area of Cape Town the name of 'leafy suburbs' cast welcome shade as we followed the rather ill-smelling and damp path alongside the river (a mere succession of almost stagnant pools), but soon headed away from the M3 highway and turned towards the Constantia hills.
It was evident from the well-worn paths and wide track alongside the houses that this is a popular recreational trail, but apart from a few cyclists and a lone lady and her dog, it definitely didn't match the traffic of places such as the Alphen greenbelt or Newlands forest. Tall grasses in wild meadows, followed by vast sections of manicured field with views up to Constantiaberg, Vlakkenberg and Eagle's Nest made for a very pleasant but hot walk, until we crossed the very busy Spaanschemat River Rd and headed through the tarred streets of security-gated suburbia.
Our tea break was at the Kramat of Sayed Mahmud and we were a captive audience for the gentleman in charge of the gardens and tomb, as we had all sat down on a convenient shady wall. He gave a fairly lengthy history of the Kramat and various aspects of his faith and their culinary traditions - an affable fellow who was most welcoming. History lesson over, it was time to continue our journey to another place of great historical importance - Groot Constantia, the first wine farm established at the Cape. A stroll through the vineyards afforded more expansive views across the hills and a breeze blew up to cool our brows. After that it was all downhill, past the small cluster of restaurants and down the Sillery road back to Peddlars. Nearly 8km over hill and dale and a good bit of exercise for those not wanting to climb a mountain.