And why wait for summer to start?
On Women's Day last week we walked along the Contour Path from Constantia Nek to Kirstenbosch Gardens.
Us and a couple of hundred other Capetonians, but no matter, we still got lots of quiet forest time and ample chance to admire the magnificent views.
Logistically the tricky part is needing two cars - one at each end. This makes the walk a manageable distance for small children, with about an hour's walking time which one can do as fast or slowly as you like, stopping for snacks and play along the way.
We left one car, with Friday's toddler/booster car seat in it, at the Rycroft Gate of Kirstenbosch Gardens on Rhodes Drive. Then, with Friday buckled into the back seat (she's tall enough now for this to be an option for short distances) and Sunday still in her proper car seat, we drove the short way on to Constantia Neck, leaving the second car there.
With Sunday in her backpack, Lego the doggie on her lead, juice and snacks in another pack and Friday clutching a sweaty handful of leaves from our garden (so we could 'find our way home'), we set off.
The first uphill part of the walk is the most strenuous, but we took it slow and soon we were on level ground, and it remained like that pretty much for the rest of the way.
This will be a perfect walk for high summer as the majority of the route is in shade, with lots of spots to stop and rest if required.
We had a picnic halfway, and then descended slowly into Kirstenbosch where Lego had to go back on her lead for the short walk through the top of the Gardens and out the Rycroft Gate to our waiting car.
Here we put Sunday in Friday's booster seat with me sitting beside her to make sure she didn't escape, strapped Friday next to me, and drove back to the Nek to collect the other car.
By road this distance is short enough to be no trouble at all, and well worth the chance to enjoy this lovely walk with the girls.
As I tucked Friday into bed that evening she said 'Mum, when I'm asleep will you have another good idea for us to go on a mountain walk again tomorrow?'.
Maybe not tomorrow my love, but we're looking forward to many more such family walks this summer.
For a more detailed map for this route and other walks in the area, I can't recommend Slingsby's Table Mountain Map more highly. Get it here.
