7 Breathtaking Pet-Friendly hikes and walks that explore the hills of Clarens!

When your pooches get bored with retail therapy, put on your walking shoes and head for the hills! Clarens is surrounded with numerous dog-friendly hikes and walks where you can experience the beauty of our village from a different perspective.

The Clarens Village Conservancy along with Dihlabeng municipality do a wonderful job of managing the Clarens Village Nature Reserve, a large area that runs along the western edge of Clarens and includes mountain, grassland, rivers and streams and a dam, through which the walking trails meander.

The seven hikes listed below are well marked and range between easy to moderate difficulty levels and are between 30 minute - 2½ hours.

Hiking maps are obtainable from Bibliophile, Protea Hotel, Mountain Odyssey, Clarens Xtreme, The Jacket Shop, Roter Hahn Restaurant, The Courtyard Restaurant, Highland Coffee and Clarens Interiors. The sale of these maps helps support the Clarens Village Conservancy’s work in maintaining the reserve to sound environmental principals. The cost of the map also includes fishing and cycling permits.

Kloof Mountain Trail: Start at either the Kloof gate in Hill Street or the tennis courts in Berg Street. The route contains 160 m of climbing until you reach a contour path overlooking the village. Alternative routes are indicated with arrows on the summit. Enjoy stunning views of Clarens, Mount Horeb and the Maluti Mountains in the distance.

Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 4.5 km Duration: 2.5 hours

Kloof Dam Walk: The short routes around Kloof Dam form part of the Kloof Mountain Trail and are perfect for joggers and walkers with dogs. Nesting water birds can be seen around the dam and from spring into late summer the wildflowers are abundant. Pack a picnic and head from the dam to the Kloof, a shady pine forest and ravine where there a waterfall cascades during summer

The Leucosidea Trail: This is an easy 2 km hike via the Kloof Dam and along its streams and kloofs. Aim to do this walk is springtime when the wildflowers are prolific. The trail is named for Leucosidea sericea, the ouhout or cheche tree that are found on the mountain slopes and ravines around Clarens.

Duration: 45 minutes Difficulty: Easy Distance: 2 km

The Scilla Walk: Start the Scilla Walk at the reservoir on Ridge Estate or at the T-junction on Hill Street and follow the signs. Aim to do this walk from late September to November when masses of blue Scilla flowers cover the sandstone cliffs. Magnificent mountain views.

Duration: 1 hour Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 2.5 km

The Spruit Walking Trail: This is a quick and easy route along a stream and into a ravine. Along the way it passes through a patch of indigenous Ouhout forest and a small poplar and cedar plantation.

Duration: 30 minutes Difficulty: Easy Distance: 1 km

The Mallen Walk: Start the Mallen Walk near the tennis courts in Berg Street and follow the signs and arrows. This moderate trail entails an ascent to a contour path with amazing views of Clarens and the distant Maloti and Red Mountains. You’ll pass some intriguing rock formations and crags.

Duration: 1.5 hours Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 1 – 3 km

Maluti Viewpoint: Time this walk for late afternoon to view the sunset over the magnificent mountains surrounding Clarens. The Maluti View Walk forms part of the Scilla Walking Trail. Start at the Hill Street farm gate and continue up the slope to your left. Pretty fynbos, lichen, ferns and interesting succulents line the footpath. Duration: 30 minutes Difficulty: Easy Distance: 300 m

To find out more about the great works of the Clarens Village Conservancy, visit their webpage or Facebook page at: www.clarensvillageconservancy.co.za www.facebook.com/ClarensVillageConservancy

This blog was brought to you by Clarens Guest Accommodation. 4 Pet-Friendly, budget conscious, self-catering venues ideal for couples, small families and furbabies in and around the village.One night booking enquiries welcomed.

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