 |
BLUE MOUNTAINS (NSW)
Leura Cascades |
 |
|
Circuit : 4 km ; Time : 2 hours On this walk I attempted to cover ‘all’ the walks in the immediate Leura Cascades vicinity. The only segment missing is a small unspectacular section of the Round Walk. This is very pretty country.
The view from the bridge shows some of the treats in store.
And this is looking back up to the bridge.
We follow down the stream. The Cascades are very pretty ...
... even at the end of summer.
There is shelter provided in case of rain ...
WE cross the stream at the top of the Bridal Veil Falls (how many Bridal Veil Falls are there?), and view the Falls from the nearby lookout. This is the top fall of the two Leura Falls. There is no easy access to view the bottom fall.
However, it is possible to walk to the bottom of the Bridal Veil Falls. Following back up the Round Track, there is aturnoff to the left. There had been some storm damage before my walk, but the track had already been cleared.
So to the bottom of the Bridal Veil Falls. The rocks were quite slippery.
Leaving the Falls I set off along the Amphitheatre track which follows around half way up the cliff.
In spite of its setting, there is not too much excitement along here, but the occasional good view.
After a time the track meets up with the Federal Pass Track which goes down to the Valley floor. I went down this a little way, thinking it might be a good idea to check out the Lila and Linda Falls. Maybe I made a mistake here?!
The track had its interesting moments, but the Falls were obscured by fallen branches, and in fact it seemed to be more like a cataract. Lovely just the same: I'd like to walk right down here one day.
But not today. Back up that flight of stairs, and up through Fern Bower.
Cool and shady with a tinkling stream and many ferns.
Some more storm damage was making life difficult ...
And finally, with some strenuous effort, we reach the top. This is Fern Bower gully looking down from Jamison's Lookout.
At this point the track becomes the Prince Henry Clifftop Walk, and we head back towards the Cascades car park. After following the road for a very short distance we turn back off again and come to Fossil Rock Lookout - the rock more interesting than the view!
A little further on we detour to Copeland’s lookout, of interest because it is set way out on a promontory, and also because it is very old with an original stone wall.
From here one can look down on the Amphitheatre Track where I walked ... or at least where the track runs.
Too overgrown to for me to actually identify the track itself.
A nice species of banksia along the way. The flowering season had largely passed (April).
Approaching Leura the bush changes, with more banksias and ferns.
The Bridal Veil Lookout gives a more distant view of the falls.
Ignore the turn off to the right along the Round Track. Further along, I was tempted to walk out here, but resisted!
The track now starts to get more interesting with towering cliffs ...
... changes of level ...
--- and challenges for tall people!
Finally from Majestic Lookout we see the Cascades again.
Turn left before the Leura stream crossing, and we are soon back at our starting point.
A very pleasant walk. This walk bears some similarities to the National Pass walk. It is not nearly so dramatic, but on the other hand it is less developed and so more ‘natural’. |
||
|
|
||
