Johnny Boy's Walkabout Blog

4-7 August: Byangee Walls and Pigeon House – L/R. A Budawangs stay at Bhundoo Bush Cottages with walks. Leader: Barry K.

Further Information

Byangee Walls have been a bucket list destination for me ever since I saw them from The Castle on 9 Jan 10. And my last visit to Pigeon House was on 16 Jun 01.

Having spotted photos of Barry’s recce a few weeks earlier on Facebook, I wheedled my way onto the walk and into some transport from Canberra.

Summary

Walk 1 – Distance: 4.5km | Climb: 125m | Time: 3.20pm – 4.40pm (1hr 20mins) | Grading: S/E; E(4)

Walk 2 – Distance: 11.9km | Climb: 1100m | Time: 8.00am – 3.50pm (7hrs 50mins) | Grading: L/R; H(13)

Walk 3 – Distance: 16.2km | Climb: 900m | Time: 7.40am – 4.15pm (8hrs 35mins) | Grading: L/R; H(13)

Photographs

Photographs are available, where you can start a large sized slideshow.

Video

Waypoint and Track Files

Download the gpx file for Walk 1 (if your browser does not automatically download the file, it will open the gpx file in a new window and you can then save it). To use in Google Earth, do File, Open… and select Gps or All files as the File Type.

Download the gpx file for Walk 2

Download the gpx file for Walk 3

Track Notes

Day 1

Whisked from my very door of my old folks home via coffee in Braidwood, lunch in Batemens Bay to Long Beach. Then via Princes Highway, Wheelbarrow Rd, Woodburn Rd, Clyde Ridge Rd, Yadboro Rd and Deadmans Gulch Rd to Bhundoo Bush Cottages.

Settled in to our accommodation with views to The Castle.

Walk 1

With the afternoon yet young, we went for a stroll further in along Deadmans Gulch Road to appreciate even grander views to Byangee Walls.

A great fire pit for pre-dinner drinks and nibbles, then a variety of cooking on open fire and in cottage kitchens.

In usual style, this old codger was early to bed.

Walk 1 Track Map

Day 2

A mild night (compared to the Canberra region). Up at 6.30am and ready to leave at 7.30am or thereabouts. We drove via Deadmans Gulch Rd, Western Distributor Rd and Long Gully Rd to the Long Gully camp ground.

Walk 2

Walking by 8am, I’d decided to take my chances on crossing the Yadboro River. When we arrived, no need for anyone’s crocs as the river was pretty low and just running at the crossing point.

A long pull up the old vehicle track from the river to the southern end of the lowest tier of The Castle, 2.4km rising 350vm in 1hr.

At last the feature came into clear view.

Thankfully, morning tea was called.

What followed was a magnificent cliff line base walk on footpad from the southern point of The Castle to Window Rock above Castle Gap.

There are many more photos.

We stopped above Castle Gap and doubled back to the left for a few tens of metres and scrambled up to Window Rock. Wonderful views!

The next leg of 730m in 22mins took us down through Castle Gap and along under the NE part of Byangee Walls to the ascent point.

It was a relatively easy climb (perhaps easier with long legs) with only three scramble sections and no real air. Perhaps it had been built up in my mind.

The first involved a steep rope assisted section.

The second a scramble up a fallen tree and over a boulder, again rope assisted. Pack passing was required.

A bit of relief between the second and third obstacles allowed us to appreciate the views.

The final obstacle required us to duck under a chock stone, wriggle up using back and feet against the walls and pop up through the top.

The climb was slow as we had a party of 13 and the obstacles took some time for us all to pass. Around 1hr 5mins. All was forgiven and forgotten as we took in the views during lunch.

A few of us then walked a bit of the top towards Byangee Mountain.

The stunning views were uninterrupted.

Our aim was to try to reach Pickering Point but time beat us. We turned about at the log book.

So it was basically reverse down and out.

There was one more feature, the lofty Cathedral Cave on the SE base of The Castle.

Walk 2 Track Map

Same drill as the previous night, except I went to bed tirder and earlier and slept the whole night.

Day 3

Up at 6.30am again to a light frost.

Away at 7.40am to first walk down to the Clyde River. 2.6km in 45mins.

It was cold and I had gloves and down jacket on for most of the morning, except for the steep climbs.

We returned about half way to the cottages, then walked up to the south to join the fire trail running up Longfella Ridge. A couple of steep sections.

At a track junction we turned left and climbed east-ish up Bridle Fire Trail to below Longfella Pass. Another steep climb. Morning tea was called.

At this point the fire trail turned into a wide footpad (Ian said it was an old route used to move cattle – wow!) which climbed indirectly through the Pass.

At some stage we left the track to visit caves with aboriginal rock art. This part of the route has been removed from the map segment and gpx file, and relevant photos are not georeferenced in order to protect the location.

There are many more photos.

We continued on an old fire trail across the N of Pigeon House.

The first view of our objective was a little different to that seen by most others.

From the NE we found the start of what was the original route up Pigeon House and began to climb.

It was steep, rising nearly 200 vertical metres in 650m. It took us 30mins.

Reaching the base of the rock cap, we sidled round through E to SE to the bottom of the ladders.

The ladders were in a lot better condition than in 2001!

As expected, huge views from the top!

After absorbing the views and arvo tea we walked down the regular track to the Pigeon House picnic area.

The 490 vertical metre descent over 2.8km took 1 hour.

We were met by drivers with vehicles who had turned back during the day.

Walk 3 Track Map

Day 4

A relaxed start and a final view.

The 63km drive back to Long Beach took 1hr 35mins, this time turning right onto Woodburn Rd and Monkey Mountain Rd to get us onto the Princes Highway at Termeil.

A good strong coffee (I’d been on decafe all the trip till now) and back to Canberra via lunch at Braidwood.

A dream trip come true for me. Many thanks Barry and all!

Party

8-14 walkers – Ian and Lynn B, Donna G and Tony, Barry K (leader) and Jill B, Rachel and Bruce K, Maggie M, Sharon McD, Quentin M, Lois P, Helen R, me.