Champagne Castle

Start at the office where the Rescue Register is located at the western side of the car park. Walk westwards up the road for about 100m and turn left up a path in the direction of the The Sphinx and Crystal Falls. This path traverses some private property and one must stay on the demarcated route through the trees and over a stream via a wooden bridge. The path then winds up along a Little Berg slope with great views of the Champagne Valley to the east. After about 40 minutes, Crystal Falls is past which, is a lovely picnic spot and a beautiful cascade of water. From there, continue up for another hour, passing the sandstone feature called The Sphinx, until Breakfast-Stream is reached high up on the top of the Little Berg. At Breakfast stream the path actually traverses land belonging to the Mountain Club of South Africa, KZN Section.  From the car park to Breakfast Stream 1.5hrs. Another 40 minutes of easy walking below the east face of Cathkin brings one to the path junction called Blind Man’s Corner. Turn right in the direction of Hlathikulu Nek and Grey’s Pass (300m before the junction is a path to the right, which is an alternative path called Keartland’s Pass. It requires about the same amount of time and effort from the office to Blind Man’s Corner). Another 45 minutes walk along the contour path and the path begins to descend into the eMhlwazini River valley. Here take a path left and up the river for 4kms to get to Keith Bush Camp and the bottom of Grey’s Pass. Most parties will walk from the car park to Keith Bush Camp in 4-5 hrs.  Keith Bush Camp is an informal campsite and was originally the site of a small round hut named after the same, Keith Bush. The cement floor slab is still visible. This is where most parties base themselves for ascents of Cathkin and Monk’s Cowl. It is also a logical place to stay before ascending Grey’s Pass. During the winter months, the river is often dry at the campsite and it may be necessary to walk downstream to get water. (Keith Bush was killed during the descent from the North Face Chimney Route of Cathkin Peak in September 1955. An abseil sling broke while abseiling).