The Red Hill Village
In the mountains above Simon’s Town lies the ruins of a little-known village. This area once housed a close-knit, predominantly coloured community, descendants of slaves from the Malayan archipelago, and many local Khoi, San, Strandloper, and Hottentot people. Predominantly Christian, they buried their dead on or near their properties. A graveyard of weathered tombstones that date to the 1800s is nearby
The apartheid regime dispossessed them of their land, and between 1965 and 1970, they were forcefully evicted under the Group Areas Act and relocated to townships like Ocean View.
In the 1980s, developers aimed to transform the area into a Riviera. Despite objections from former residents and their descendants, who warned of the sacred nature of the land, the plans proceeded. However, during initial land-clearing, a driver reported a vision and a grader overturned. The driver fled, and the land has since remained undeveloped.
To access this site, you must climb the winding Red Hill Pass linking Simon’s Town to Scarborough. At the top, near Pinehaven, turn right to find the abandoned stone ruins of Redhill, a hamlet dating back to the nineteenth century.
Within an area of less than 1km square were fruit tree orchards and vegetable gardens. There was no running water and no electricity, just candles and/or oil burners. The children fetched water daily. Houses consisted of a stable and a kitchen with an urn and kettle, and an outdoor oven to bake bread. Livestock grazed freely and roamed the forest areas. There was never a shortage of milk and meat., The men worked in the naval dockyard or for the municipality and some of the women worked in factories. On the hill. A few long trails lead to two reservoirs, and a popular hike leads through and around the beautiful and scenic Kleinplaas and the Lewis Gay Dams.
The dam on the plateau at the top of the hill is at the end of a 2 km walk across the relatively flat rock. Swimming in the dam is allowed and the water is refreshing. Along the shore of the dam are even some patches of white sand (a beach without waves). It tends to be windy so choose your day carefully. Take a picnic but also take an umbrella as there is no shade. Dogs are allowed.
There is an ammunition bunker close by that was built during World War II. It forms part of the Upper North Battery on Red Hill.
Dogs are allowed.
