Cape Town
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Red Hill Ruins Above Simon’s Town

Photo Caption: Did you go hunting for any secret spots over the weekend?
Great shot ? @paper.red.capetown

Red Hill lies between Scarborough on the Atlantic side and Simon’s Town on the Indian Ocean. The lofty location offers some of the best views of the area and it’s famous for its quiet serenity and scenic beauty.

Here lies a village of ruins that very few people know about. The hill was once home to more than 70 predominantly colored families who were forcefully evicted between 1965 and 1970 by the apartheid government. These families were forced to leave their homes and relocate to the barren land on the Cape Flats, under the Group Areas Act. They were moved to make way for the construction of a new dam, which unfortunately, never happened. Higher up the hill you will also find an old graveyard with weathered tombstones still intact that dates back to the 1800’s.

SANParks owns a large part of Red Hill. The ruins serve as a reminder of the small community that once flourished in the area. It’s perfect for a fun hike. The hiking is relatively easy with mostly flat paths meandering around a pair of reservoirs. The hike requires a moderate level of fitness and takes about five hours to complete.

Nearly 44 years after they had been evicted Constant, 53 and Lawrence, 57 took GroundUp through the ruins fo Redhill.Margaret Constant

Margaret-Constant-Red-Hill-Ruins-Village
Margaret Constant sits on the steps of one of the ruined houses of her childhood. Photo by Masixole Feni.

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How do you find the Red Hill Ruins?

Red Hill is a mountain that sits above Simons Town with beautiful views of False Bay. The Red Hill Ruins are located near to Pinehaven. Between the main red Hill road and the reservoirs.

Please note that Red Hill is known to be a high crime area so please do not go alone, be alert and we recommend taking a guide who knows Cape Town well.