Over the years, we’ve built up quite a collection of walks across the Strathbogie Ranges. We have hard walk, easy walks, flat walks, steep walks, walks with hills, walks with gorges and everything in between. Some of our walks are easily accessible from public areas, meaning that anyone can drive up and do them. Others like this one are special. Walkers get to go to places they would normally never hear about, let along go to themselves.
Bald Hill Reserve is nestled in between private farmland, around 10 minutes from the town of Strathbogie. We’ve walked a part of the hill previously, but that walk was primarily focussed on the Bald Hill Creek which runs along the base of the hill and eventually into the Seven Creeks. This time we wanted to focus on the vast rock faces that give the hill its name. Walkers started in a paddock off Tames Rd, before making the steep but relatively short climb to the first of the three granite outcrops. From there, we traversed the ridgeline to the other two outcrops, settling down for lunch in the sun on the northmost face. From here, walkers were treated to spectacular views of the Strathbogie Tableland, with keen eyed participants able to spot features all the way to Mt Major.
After lunch, a short scramble down the side of the rock to the “Kelly Caves” rewarded walkers with the rock overhang that was said to be inhabited by the Kelly Gang back in their heyday. The wide views above the rock were said to be used for spotting approaching law enforcement by the gang. A quick descent back down the side of the hill to the cars was made more urgent by a slight underestimation of the walk end time.
Thanks to those who came along, and to the local landholders for being so supportive.
