Signal Hill

Signal Hill is the easy viewpoint: a long, low ridge that runs from Lion's Head towards the sea, forming the northernmost part of the land area of Table Mountain National Park, and unlike Table Mountain or Lion's Head you can drive almost to the top. A road climbs from Kloof Nek, the saddle between Table Mountain and Lion's Head, along the ridge to car parks and picnic spots on the summit, about 350 metres above the sea. From there the views are tremendous. On one side the city bowl spreads out beneath Table Mountain, with the harbour, the Waterfront and Robben Island beyond; on the other the Atlantic stretches away past Sea Point and Green Point, and the sun sets straight into the ocean. On a clear summer evening locals drive up with a picnic blanket and a bottle of wine to watch the sunset and the city lights come on, and it is one of the most relaxed and romantic hours in Cape Town. The hill has history too. Its name comes from the flags once flown here to signal to ships in the bay, and on its lower slopes above Bo-Kaap stands the Noon Gun, one of the oldest traditions in the city, fired every day except Sundays and public holidays to mark midday; you hear it across the whole city bowl. Signal Hill is also home to a kramat, the shrine of a Muslim saint, one of a ring of kramats around the Cape that honour the scholars and leaders exiled here from the Dutch East Indies. And it is Cape Town's paragliding launch site: tandem pilots take off from the slopes and glide down to land near the Sea Point promenade, an exhilarating flight with the city below you, weather permitting. Entry to the hill is free.

When and how to go: sunset is the classic time, but come early in summer, because the road and car parks fill up, especially on weekends and around New Year. Bring a warm layer, as the wind picks up as the sun goes down. Mornings are quieter and clearer, and good for photographs of Table Mountain. Do not leave valuables visible in your car, and do not linger alone after dark; go with others and leave once the light has gone. If you want to walk rather than drive, paths run along the ridge from Kloof Nek, and the flat top is easy walking.

The Noon Gun and paragliding: to see the Noon Gun fired, go to the Lion Battery on the slopes above Bo-Kaap shortly before twelve on a weekday or Saturday, approached via the Bo-Kaap streets; cover your ears. Tandem paragliding flights with registered operators launch from Signal Hill when the wind is right, usually in the morning or late afternoon, and land in Sea Point; flights are often cancelled at short notice in poor conditions, so build in flexibility and book with an accredited operator.

Who it suits: everyone. Families like the easy access and picnic spots, couples come for sunset, and photographers for the views over the city and the sea. It is the best alternative to Table Mountain on a day when the cableway is closed by wind or cloud, although cloud can cover Signal Hill too.