My Sunday Photo – Alphen Trail

This week my Sunday photo features the beautiful Alphen Trail.

We spent our Saturday morning walking along the Alphen Trail. Part of Constantia’s green belt, it is one of nine interwoven trails. Out of the nine, the Alphen is the most popular of the trails. Located in the Constantia Valley, it winds along the Diep River to the Constantiaberg Mountains. We started our walk from Alphen Drive but you can also choose to start the walk from Brommersvlei Road. Starting from Alphen Drive, you will notice the Alphen Hotel on your right.

This trail is ideal for walkers and runners alike. The Alphen trail hosts a park run every Saturday morning starting at 08h00.  Giving walkers and runners a pleasurable experience. This is a free run/walk and anyone can participate. For walkers, this is a fairly easy trail and can take between 30 – 40 minutes to walk. Depending on how fast your pace is. Along the way, you will find a few benches and logs to sit on. This is if you want to rest or just to have a seat. Either way you will take in the beauty of your surroundings.

If you are a dog lover, you are more than welcome to take your dog/s for a walk along this trail. Dogs run free without being on leashes. They enjoy sniffing in the lush grass and going for a dip in the river.  We are thinking of taking ours there but can’t take a chance on letting them run free.  Compared to the dogs we encountered on our walk, ours will have to be on a leash. Unfortunately they are not so well behaved and putting them on a leash will be best to avoid conflict with other dogs.

This trail offers beautiful scenery with open skies, lush trees, grass, and river streams. With a number of bridge crossings, it allows you to walk on either side of the river.

You might also find horse riders using this trail. However when they’ve been riding along the trail be mindful of a few manure droppings. You might just find yourself stepping into it.

We walked as far as Le Sueur Meadows, where we caught a glimpse of the horse stables.

Do yourself a favour and experience this trail walk. For safety concerns, don’t attempt to do this trail walk at night or very early in the morning. Best time to go is late afternoon, or over a weekend when it is busy. Take a packet along should you decide to take your dog for a walk. Just in case they decide to make a mess along the way.

This refreshing walk didn’t cost a cent. In fact what we experienced was priceless. Nothing beats being out in nature, hearing the sounds of birds chirping, taking in the beauty and breathing in the fresh air. It was good for mind, body and soul.

Have a great Sunday all!