Falcon Rock on Van Stadens road offers two routes up the mountain; a red route and a green route. The routes are well marked and well maintained. The green route is a little longer but gentler at 3km to the summit. The red route is steeper and only 2km to the summit. Both will give you an elevation gain of over 330m. A popular way to go is the red route up and the green route down.

Our group started the climb in the shade of tall gum trees and past large boulders scattered at the base of the mountain. As we got higher, the trees thinned out and we could see Van Stadens river mouth at the ocean. There was rope along some of the steeper sections to help if needed. Once we were above the tree line and almost at the summit, we hiked through thick fynbos with protea.

At the top it’s time for a well-earned rest and snack, and of course, the photo for bragging rights that we’d climbed a mountain. There are panoramic views of the sea and mountains for miles and miles.

Along the red route there are some technical sections, places where you need to be sure of placing your foot firmly on a rock and pulling yourself up by your arms. We managed these sections well in our grippy Merrells.

A hiking pole will be especially helpful for the downhill. Mountain weather can change in a heartbeat, so layered clothing is the way to go.