Chappies – part of Cape Town’s history and heritage

On a recent trip to Noordhoek, we decided to take Chapman’s Peak drive after not having driven on it for a number of years. The beauty of the surroundings, and the sheer scale of the the work that has been done to make it safe for people to be on left us gobsmacked. It was definitely a highlight of our trip. And unquestionably worthy of a That’s Cape Town blog post

A bit of history: Although the peak itself was discovered and named by an English ship’s pilot in the 1600s, it wasn’t until the early 1900s that building a road along the cliffs linking Noordhoek and Hout Bay seemed possible. Making use of convict labour, construction of the road began from the Hout Bay side in 1915. Seven ears later, in 1922, the road was officially opened to the public. Years later, in 2000, Chapman’s Peak was indefinitely closed to the public following a number of tragic accidents due to rockfalls.

Between early 2000 and December 2003, major planning and reconstruction of the road began taking place. The reconstruction focussed on making the road safer for those wanting to travel on it, but with minimal impact on the surrounding terrain, forming part of the Table Mountain Nature Reserve. On the 20th of December 2003, the road was re-opened to the public. However, it has since been closed a number of times, as needed, for maintenance and clearing of debris and rockfalls.

Today, the breathtaking views along the road make it one of Cape Town’s top tourist destinations. The sweeping landscape of the cliffs dropping down into turquoise waters below provide countless photo opportunities. And the numerous paths and tracks make hiking in the area a pleasure.

Cyclists and runners can often be seen enjoying the views while training – and two major Cape Town races (the Argus Cycle Tour and the Two Oceans Marathon) bring participants along the road.

At the end of the day – with the sun setting over the Atlantic ocean – the roadside turns into a perfect setting for picnics. Couples and families can often be seen, especially in summer, enjoying Chapman’s like this.

Chapman’s Peak, (or Chappies, as locals affectionately call it) shows off part of the natural beauty and magnificence that is Cape Town. It is part of our heritage. With the quaint villages of Hout Bay and Noordhoek found on either side, Chappies is definitely worth exploring, and enjoying. It is without-a-doubt one of our favourite Cape Town roads.

Photos taken from http://www.chapmanspeakdrive.co.za/.