Abseiling - Castle Head

Castle Head lies on Narrow Neck Plateau, overlooking the Ruined Castle and Mt Solitary. There are excellent views from the top. The abseiling trip from Castle Head down to the Ruined Castle is challenging, as it is quite exposed in places, both on and off rope.

Head along Cliff Dr from Scenic World in Katoomba. After passing several lookouts, turn left into Glenraphael Dr, which immediately turns into a dirt road. Follow the road out along Narrow Neck to a locked gate after about 3km. At one point there is a steep section which has been cemented. The parking area is about 300m past this.

Continue out along the fire trail, keeping an eye out for tracks off to the left. You pass a track, followed by a fire trail, before reaching a National Parks sign after just over 1km. Just past this is another track off to your left with wooden posts on either side. This is the track out to Castle Head.

The track quickly turns into an old fire trail, with a few ups and downs before turning back into a track and dropping down towards the cliff edge. Not far after this the trail passes right past the cliff edge, and this is a great spot to stop and check out the views. All of the Katoomba cliffs are visible, as is the massive bulk of Mt Solitary on the far side of the Jamison Valley.

The track continues through low growing heath to Castle Head trig. The end of the trail is about 70m past here with more views of Mt Solitary, as well as Narrowneck and Cedar Creek.

From the end of the trail, scramble down a few sets of ledges to the first set of chains. The first abseil goes off the left and is around 25m long. The first person needs to swing to the right (facing the cliff) and grab a small tree. Abseiling left-handed is probably a help here.

The next abseil is about 15m from a maillon on a bolt, backed up off the tree. The abseil naturally goes to the left (facing out) but it is easy to bring back.

Scramble down and out on to the next platform. The next abseil is from slings around a tree on one side of the platform, although the abseil goes off the opposite side. Have a look at the landing before you take off. It is fairly obvious where the correct route is. The abseil is about 15m but the anchors are a fair way back.

To get to the next abseil involves a couple of scrambles, and the whole section is quite exposed. Use safety lines if you have any concerns. Scramble off to the right, and then under the cliff to the point, and then down the point. Walk along the ridge until you reach a gap of about a metre, with a drop of a couple of metres. You can jump this, or abseil off the tree to your left, and then climb up. The jump is not hard technically, but painful on the feet, particularly with a pack.

Walk out to the nose, stepping across a narrow gap near the end (somewhat exposed), and then a final scramble down to reach the anchors, set somewhat dodgily in a detached block. You have a couple of options here. One is to head straight off the front, a 45m abseil overhung about half way down.

It also looks like you can go off the left side (this is where the anchors are pointing) in a couple of stages, which would probably work if you only have one rope.

Either way, walk under the cliffs and along the ridge. After about 100m past the end of the cliffs, there is a tree on the left with slings around. Don't know how long the abseil is but it is a good way of avoiding a couple of dodgy scrambles to get down the next level of cliffs.

If you don't take it, continue along the ridge. There are two dodgy scrambles, and a couple of less dodgy ones. Belay people here if you have any concerns.

Not much further along you reach the saddle between Castle Head and the Ruined Castle. From here, turn left to go back to the Mt Solitary track, and left again to get back to the Golden Stairs, or right to head up to the Ruined Castle for lunch.

Time: 3.5hrs from car to the end of a leisurely lunch at the Ruined Castle, so probably 2.75hrs to get to the Ruined Castle. 2 experienced people, 2 60m ropes, hadn't done the route before. Another 1h10min back to the top of the Golden Stairs, including a few lookout stops. Then about 15mins back to the car. If you wanted, you could probably do a bit over 3hrs car to car with two experienced people who knew the route.