This Blue Mountains bushwalk explores some of the bushwalking trails along the northern end of the Narrow Neck plateau; although it doesn’t quite go to plan (due to high winds buffeting the ridges), we manage to reach Diamond Falls, Redledge Pass – and the popular Castle Head.
Diamond Falls
Leaving the cars at the locked gate along Narrow Neck, we soon pick up the climbers trail that heads west towards the cliff-line.
There are a few waratahs flowering along the track, and as we approach the edge of the Narrow Neck escarpment we can see part of the long ledge that stretches along the cliffs from Diamond Falls to Diamond Head.
We’re soon at the the edge of the Narrow Neck Plateau, where we can see Diamond Head to the west, and the Megalong Valley below.
The climbers track drops down below the top of the cliff-line, offering a slight respite from the gale-force winds that are sweeping across the top of the plateau.
We’re now following a series of narrow ledges: they have been formed naturally, but have the appearance of being cut into the sheer cliffs.
There are some great views over the Megalong Valley; the small pool (which is near Nellies Glen Road) might have been part of the historic Nellie’s Glen mining village – something to explore on a future trip.
It’s an impressive ledge system, with a few narrow sections – but it mostly consists of a wide and level path.
We’re soon at our first destination: Diamond Falls. But today it’s less of waterfall, and more of a water spray, with the high winds scattering the water in every direction.
I’d hoped that it may be possible to follow the ledge system all the way along the cliffs around Diamond Head to Redledge Pass (or at least up to Diamond Head), but getting past Diamond Falls without getting drenched was impossible. And the gusty conditions meant that continuing along some potentially narrow and exposed ledges was not the best idea. So we retreat back to Narrow Neck along the climbers track.
Redledge Pass
Returning to the Narrow Neck carpark, we continue along the firetrail; it’s less than a kilometre to the track that descends to Redledge Pass.
Opposite the unmarked track to Redledge Pass is another (also unmarked) track that heads to a small and informal lookout offering some great views of Mount Solitary and the Jamison Valley. I’m not sure if it has an official name, but I’ve seen it referred to as Butterfly Lookout, so I’ll go with that!
It’s a five minute detour, and we’re soon on our way to another set of Narrow Neck ledges. The walking track to Redledge Pass is pretty obvious as it winds its way across the Narrow Neck heath towards the edge of the plateau.
As with our previous track, once we reach the cliff-line there are some nice views over the Megalong Valley, before we drop down into a small hanging valley carved out by Corral Creek.
At the head of the small gully is Lizards Leap, a small waterfall, and on the opposite side of the gully is the start of Redledge Pass.
We – or perhaps more accurately I – make the mistake of following the base of the low cliffs around the gully. There’s a rough track to the base of the waterfall. So far, so good. But from the waterfall we encounter boggy ground, dense ferns and fallen trees as make our way (or push our way) through vegetation to the start of Redledge Pass on the opposite side of the small valley.
We’re finally back on the track, with a great view to the south of the Narrow Neck cliffs stretching to Diamond Head: looking at the vertical cliffs, there doesn’t appear to be a viable route all the way to Diamond Falls. A log book in a rusty container has a long list of bushwalkers who have traversed Redledge Pass.
There are some nice views out to Mount Elphinstone on the other side of Megalong Creek and the Six Foot Track – and of the intriguing mini-lake in the valley.
Redledge Pass – one of the 13 Narrow Neck Passes – was used by miners from the Glen Shale Mine in the valley below to get to and from Katoomba. The wide ledge has only a couple of a narrow spots, and even on a windy day offers a fairly “safe” passage along the cliffs.
The ledge ends near a small outcrop which offers some great view over the Megalong Valley; Redledge Pass continues under a large boulder and descends steeply down to the remains of the Glen Shale Mine (from here you can contine along the old tramway to return via Devils Hole – or for a more challenging walk take one of the alternate passes back up to Narrow Neck).
Today we’re returning the same way – except that we follow the rough footpad which crosses the creek about 80m downstream of the Lizards Leap waterfall, offering a much easier route.
We proceed back along the Narrow Neck management trail; the strong winds also mean there are clear views out over Lake Burragorang and the cliffs of Kings Tableland to the south.
Castle Head
Our last side-trip off the Narrow Neck management trail is the popular Castle Head trail – although the windy conditions means there are less people than normal on a weekend.
After only about 0.5km along the bushwalking track the first vantage point is reached, which gives you an idea why Castle Head attracts so many people.
The Castle Head track continues along the narrow ridge through low-growing eucalypt forest, to reach the Castle Cliff Trig.
The trail continues another 70m to the end of Castle Head, where there is a spectacular vista with Mount Solitary directly ahead, Kings Tableland to the left and and Narrow Neck and Cedar Creek to the right.
It’s too windy to linger at the lookout, so we soon head back to the cars, finishing our walk by 3:30pm (with one last very short detour to the Kure Trig, which is hidden away not far from the Narrow Neck carpark). It’s been a relatively easy day, delivering some outstanding views for relatively low effort, and avoiding the crowds on the lesser-known Diamond Falls and Redledge Pass trails.
Getting to Diamond Falls and Redledge Pass
This bushwalk starts at the locked gate along the Narrow Neck Plateau Trail (which is accessed from Cliff Drive via Glenraphael Drive. From Katoomba Station it’s a 4.8km (one hour) walk, or a short taxi trip. Neither the track to Diamond Falls or Redledge Pass are marked, but they are good trails that are easy to follow. Castle Head is a marked and popular bushwalking track.
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