This walk was organised and enjoyed by me (wimpy friends) as a private walk:

Ugandathon Recce - Bruce-O'Connor Ridge NRs and Molonglo River. Part 1 - From the car park opposite 160 Dryandra St O'Connor, NW and N through the O'Connor Ridge Nature Reserve to Ginninderra Drive. Return to the bisecting bike path and SW through the Bruce Ridge Nature Reserve to Belconnen Way. Return. Part 2 - From Scrivener Dam, find a suitable way along the Molonglo River to Cotter Road.

Walk

Part 1

Drove to Dryandra St car park. Headed through the gate, crossed the bike path and NW for a while. Back to the bike path, near the underpass under the GDE. Headed beside the GDE for a few tens of metres, but the track ran out, so I returned to the track junction area in the open and wandered N along tracks to very near Ginninderra Drive. So:

Follow trails and management tracks south through the O'Connor Ridge Nature Reserve, keeping within ear-shot of the GDE. At the south-western edge of the O'Connor Ridge Nature Reserve, walk through the rocks beside the gate, across the bisecting bike path and into the Bruce Ridge Nature Reserve. Take the management track veering left which parallels the bike path for 300m. At the next track junction we are within sight of the Dryandra St car park.

EXTRACT POINT - Car park opposite 160 Dryandra St O'Connor.

Turn right and follow management trails across the back of the caravan park and continue along this straight stretch all the way to Belconnen Way. Alternatively, just before the 132kV power line crosses the track, strike right up through the bush to pick up the ridge line management trail, past one reservoir in the middle of the Nature Reserve and onto the second. From the south corner of the second reservoir, follow a bike track down to the edge of Belconnen Way. (VERY CAREFULLY) cross Belconnen Way, slanting to the right.

6.3km, including 2.8km of the Walk for Uganda route. See pic 1 for typical O'Connor Ridge NR and pic 2 for typical Bruce Ridge NR.

About turn and back to the car. Drove to Scrivener Dam.

Part 2

From Scrivener Dam I wandered along the bike path on the SE side of the Molonglo River. In contrast to the well dressed and equipped runners, cyclists, dog walkers, rowers and walkers I'd passed, a gentleman with a shopping trolley and large sheets of plastic appeared to be just getting up to face the day down off the side of the bike path. Where the obvious (mud across the bike path) trail to the Molonglo River ford comes up, I went left up the fenced easement. It becomes a signposted "Public Bridle Path" which runs across the back of the riding school to the Yarralumla Horse Paddocks. Spoke to a nice lady who was preparing for a ride with a friend. Up the public road to the Cotter Road. About turned, back to the bike path, down to the Molonglo River ford (see pic 3), across it and right onto the Bicentennial National Trail along the river to the Zoo. Across Scrivener Dam to the car where, unfortunately, there are no toilets. So the Walk for Uganda route would be:

EXTRACT POINT - National Zoo and Aquarium car park.

Follow the Bicentennial National Trail south along the west bank of the Molonglo River to the ford over the river. Cross the ford and walk up the the bike path. Cross the bike path into the fenced off horse trail easement and follow it. It becomes a "Public Bridle Path" which runs across the back of the riding school to the Yarralumla Horse Paddocks. Walk out the public road to the Cotter Road.

EXTRACT POINT - Cotter Road turn into Motel, swimming pool and Riding School.

5.4km, including 2.2km of the Walk for Uganda route.

Distance: 11.7km  Climb: 100m.  Time: 6.45 - 8.00am; 8.10 - 9.15am (2hrs 20mins) with no stops except to drive to the next start point.

Grading: M/E,X; M(6)

KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Ugandathon Recce - Bruce-O'Connor Ridge NRs and Molonglo River