Following the remains of the original Coxs Road route

I’m checking out of one of the lesser-travelled bushwalking routes published by Jim Smith in his classic “How to See the Blue Mountains” book, which follows part of the route of of the historic Coxs Road and Lockyers Road. Starting at Mount York Reserve, there are hundreds people camping and cars parked on both side of the road – but somewhat surprisingly, once I’m on the bushwalking track I only see five people on the entire walk.

The first stop after only a hundred metres is Eddys Lookout, which offers a pleasant but not overly spectacula view over Hartley Vale and the Kanimbla Valley.

From Eddys Rock, a bushwaking track follows the top of the cliffs to connect to the old Coxs Road.

The first section of the Mount York and Lockyers Road Track follows the historic Coxs Route, a 163km route that crossed the Blue Moutains from Emu Ford (Emu Plains) to Bathurst, completed over six months from 1814 to 1815. This section from the bluff at Mount York took William Cox and his road gang of 30 convicts five weeks to construct between 7 November and 14 December 1814, involving extensive cutting through rocky outcrops.

Signage points out the mortices cut in the rock for the original fencing, and where the sandstone was hewn for drainage and to hold timber beams in place. The Pass at Mount York is one of the most intact and most significant surviving sections of the historic Cox’s Road. As it descends, the road passes a series of large rock outcrops so “lofty and undermined” that Cox and his men could shelter overnight and “sleep dry”.

The old road descends fairly steeply to reach the bottom of the valley, where it becomes the Nature Walk. The old road line diverges from the bushwalking track as it turns to the northwest and enters private property.

Ascending very gently up the valley, the Nature Walk crosses a section of private land. Looking back is a nice view of the Mount York bluff which Cox had to negotiate a route down for the road.

After about 3.4km, the Nature Walk reaches the junction with Lockyers Road.

An alternate and less steep route than Coxs Road up from the valley, Lockyers Road was constructed in 1828 and 1829 – but never completed, as the work gangs were transferred to Victoria Pass (which was completed in 1832).

The top half of Lockyer Road gets a lot steeper – it seems to have more of an incline than Coxs Road – as it climbs up to the top of the spur.

It’s fairly level and easy walking along the spur, with signage along one of the rock platforms next to Lockyers Road providing some fairly obvious and not-very-useful information.

An easy scramble up a large pagoda next to the track offers a nice view over the valley below and back to the Mount York spur.

The rest of the Lockyers Road track is pleasant but uneventful walking, as it continues southward to Mount York Road.

The last part of the loop is along Mount York Road – which is now a sealed road, but follows the alignment of the original Coxs Road. You could avoid this road-bash with a car-shuffle – but there is a bushwalking track and a few things worth a stop along the way. A very brief detour off the Mount York Road takes you two historic wells, which look more like a dam than a well. While the signpost suggests they date back to the construction of Coxs Road, Cox’s Journal makes no reference to well-digging (but he does refer to water being transported in kegs ‘from the rocks below’.)

A bit further on from the wells is an unnamed lookout (unofficially called the Old Wells Lookout), where a rock platform provides an extensive view over Little Hartley.

Looking south-west over the Kanimbla Valley are the distant Kanangra mountains; a bit further on is Bardens Lookout, which offers a similar view (but this lookout is better!).

It’s a fairly quick walk back to the crowds and my car along the road to complete the Mount York and Lockyers Road loop.

Getting to the Coxs Road and Lockyers Road Loop

The signposted trail starts at the end of Mount York Road, which is 23km from Katoomba (25min drive) and 5km (5min) from the Great Western Highway. There is plenty of parking along Mount York Road. (You could also start the walk at the Lockyers Trailhead.)

More information

• Environment NSW – Cox’s Road and Early Deviations – Mount York, Cox’s Pass Precinct