October 2018 October 2018 | Page 13

T Right on the border of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, the Clearwater trails lie on the banks of the Mtamvuna River, meandering through the Beaver Creek Coffee Estate and the Crags View Wild Care Centre. Most of the trails include stunning views over the Indian Ocean and spectacular views over the Mtamvuna River gorge from the Gorge View deck. All of the routes include the ‘Coffee-Bean Uphill’ before finishing at Clearwater Cabins. There are five routes ranging between 2 km and 16 km. Seventy per cent of the tracks though shaped for mountain biking are also used for walkers and trail running, and the easy trail, the 2 km green route, is also perfect for dog walking. The trail network is a system of coloured loops that can accommodate all levels of fitness and needs. The easier routes for beginners are the short red route (the longer variant of this route is highly technical; don’t confuse the two), and the green route. The blue route, 11 km, is a moderate circuit along farm roads with some single track and gravel that is great for sprints. If you don’t have your ow n bike, there are bikes for hire; and a bike wash for wet days. A café with views across the gorge is an added bonus.