The Five Bay Trail is a scenic, 2.5 day, 28km coast hugging hike between the West Coast Fishing villages of Paternoster and Jacobsbaai. It is made up of three legs connected through a series of transfers and marvellous interactions with local folk over meals. Guests are accommodated in a 3-4 star comfortable lodge in Paternoster for 2 nights.
The route follows the beach and existing tracks adjoining a series of five scenic bays between Paternoster and Jacobsbaai. The first leg on Day 1 is a gentle sunset walk along Paternoster beach. The second leg on Day 2 is a 15km hike from Paternoster to Trekoskraal. The third leg on Day 3 is a 13km hike from Trekoskraal to Jacobsbaai.
Trails are led by one or more guides who know the route and safeguard guests and natural and cultural heritage embedded in the landscape. The Exploratory Trail will be led by experienced trail developer and hiker Ivan Groenhof, who will be supported by 2 or more trainee local guides. Chances are that participants will have the added bonus of being joined by a specialist of some sort or someone with a lot of knowledge about the area – who and what all depends on the guides needs at the time.
The map provides an overview of the route but is not 100% accurate.
Trails are led by one or more guides who know the route and safeguard guests and natural and cultural heritage embedded in the landscape.
The following itinerary may change to suit customized requests, seasonally or due to circumstances beyond our control.
Day 1: Sunset walk along Paternoster beach and back for dinner at local restaurant.
- 16h30 – Meet at your guest lodge in Paternoster, your home for the
next two nights. - Gentle sunset stroll ( 2 hours) along the Paternoster beach toward Mosselbank and back to a local restaurant for dinner.
- Stroll or transfer back to your guest lodge.
Day 2: Hike along coast from Paternoster to Trekoskraal via Cape Columbine.
- 07h30- A continental style breakfast at the guest lodge.
- Choose your lunch from the delicious display of home-made pate, salad, cheese and bread on offer.
Pack your lunch into one of the containers provided and carry it with you. - Wander through Paternoster and along the beaches and rocky shoreline to Cape Columbine Nature Reserve,
stopping for a mid-morning break along the way. - Hugging the coast, continue along the coast through Cape Columbine to Varswaterbaai, stopping for lunch and a refreshing dip along the way.
- Follow the wild beaches for a stretch before meandering inland along tracks to the Trekoskraal headland.
- Transfer back to Paternoster for some leisure time before gathering at the open-air Skipskebys for a
Paternoster feast traditionally held in celebration of fishermen returning from sea.
Day 3: Hike from Trekoskraal via wild beaches to Jacobsbaai.
- 07h30 - Breakfast at the guest lodge.
- Transfer to Trekoskraal and start your walk to Jacobsbaai.
- Walk south around the headland of Trekoskraal, following the wild beaches and dunes adjoining Noord-Wesbaai to tiny Hospitaal Baai.
- Continue on to Jacobsbaai for lunch at the Weskusplek. The hotel belongs to singer Steve Hofmeyer and offers a whole other insight in West Coast life.
- Transfer back to Klein Paternoster.
- 16h00 – return safely home.
