Hogsback

We left Uppington, and headed towards Hogsback, splitting the drive with a night in Cradock. We were heading for Hogsback, renowned for its lush green forests. In the morning we got to see why it was so green as the heavens opened, our first real rain shower of the trip.

We arrived at Away with the Faries Backpackers, and settled in. The next day the weather had improved, and we set off early for a hike up a nearby mountain, Hog 1 (1836m). 

With a not-to-scale paper map, we walked along an unmade road until we reached the path. Alongside the river we climbed up, passing a number of waterfalls. The ground underfoot was still quite damp from the day before, making it reasonably slippery. After a while we left the river, and followed a shallower path along the side of the hill.

Once we were close, the footpath continued off into the distance. We followed it for a while hoping it would loop back round, to take us to the top. But after a short while, we decided we’d have to make our own track, and do climbed between small trees and over boulders to make our way to the top. 

We stopped for lunch at the top, overlooking a wonderful 360 degree panorama, before heading down a shorter route than the one we’d taken up.

Heading down through the forests, we took the forestry track instead; slightly longer but a better made path. Back at the road we took a different path back to our accommodation through the wooded valley. A steep descent down a set of rather dilapidated wooden steps and boardwalk led to the Madonna & Child waterfall.

It was welcome relief to be waking in the shade of the forest, as we headed towards ‘Big Tree’. It lived up to its name! A 38m tree rising high above the surrounding canopy.

Then, after another steep climb up on the other side of the valley, we arrived back at the hostel. A long 10 hour day, our first major hike since the South West Coast Path; we felt exhausted. 

Luckily the hostel has a bath tub, heated by a wood-burning boiler where we could soak our wearily limbs. Definitely the best view from a bath I’ve ever had!

We both had a quick soak before heading to the bar for a beer and pizza, feeling it was well earnt.