20 February - Plus Walk: Blue Mts NP -Narrow Neck Lookout to Ruined Castle - Jamison Valley return

a

2026 2 20 Plus peter T Runed Castle 20260220 115306                                                                                                                The Ruined Castle 

 

Eight walkers were eager to do this challenging walk in the Blue Mountains which was last on our program 2 years ago. Unfortunately, on that occasion we had to cancel it as significant storm damage and a landslide in the area resulted in the tracks being closed to walkers. Since then the Golden Stairs, which were very degraded, have been renovated with lots of sandstone, and new railings have been installed where required.
 
Driving up to the mountains we encountered more rain than had been predicted, and rain jackets were required when we started walking down Cliff Drive to Narrow Neck lookout in light rain. We couldn't see much from the lookout due to the low visibility. It was however rather magical winding our way down the nearby stairs into the valley and up to Glenraphael Drive, surrounded on both sides by trees and shrubs and the early mist. Turning right onto the unsealed road, we headed up hill towards the Golden Stairs track head further along Narrow Neck Plateau. It's in much better condition now that only cyclists and walkers can use it, but we did pass a narrow section that had been affected by subsidence.
 

                    2026 2 20 Plus peter T The Start 20260220 091325   2026 2 20 Plus peter T extra walking needed 20260220 092106                                                                             Starting point at Narrow Neck Lookout                                                           Walking in the rain along the Narrow Neck Track

 We heard, then saw a Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo appear briefly in the gloom. Some magnificent trees were also seen along the way which the photographers amongst us loved. We spotted our first Lyrebird as the rain began to ease, and the humid conditions persuaded us to remove our waterproof layer before we began our descent down the massive stairs. It was still too misty to see any decent view from the first lookout.
 
 
                                          2026 2 20 Plus peter T Lyre bird 20260220 134204      22026 2 20 Plus Wendy C IMG 0169                                                                                         Lyrebird showing off                                                                     About to start the descent from top of the Golden Stairs
 
 
As we descended, hugging the cliff edge, crossing over a waterfall, walking under rock overhangs, we admired the emerging views of the Three Sisters, the Kedumber River and the majestic Mount Solitary as the mist lifted.
 
  22026 2 20 Plus Wendy C Golden Stairs descent IMG 0171    22026 2 20 Plus Wendy C pause for photo op on G Stairs IMG 0173   2026 2 20 Plus Nick S Golden Stairs after rtepair IMG 4224 1                            Descending the Golden Stairs                                                                 Pause for a photo-op                                 More descending 
 
   2026 2 20 Plus peter T view behind 20260220 100011       2026 2 20 Plus peter T view ahead 20260220 095120
                  View back to the Three Sisters.............                                                                                          ....and forward to Mt Solitary
 
              2026 2 20 Plus peter T The view 20260220 091731      2026 2 20 Plus peter T mmore of the view 20260220 094953                                                                                Misty distant views....................                                                                                               ...........extending as the fog rose
 
 Then we turned right onto the Ruined Castle Track, which took us through a forest of tall tree ferns, blue gums, and angophora, amongst others. A number of fallen trees didn't hinder us. We also noticed that some work had begun on a small track diversion that, once finished, will make the track safer in an area where it's in danger of falling away. We were walking in Lyrebird country, and we heard them calling as we walked along the valley floor. However, the wildlife we saw far too much of was leeches brought out by the rain & they loved us. We decided not to stop for morning tea along here because of them. Near a toilet as we approached the Ruined Castle turn off, we stood on a raised-up platform to form a "Line of leech resistance" as we all tried to remove the nasty bloodsuckers from our boots and limbs. Mountain Devils were abundant on the steep rocky ascent to the Ruined Castle.
                        

 

           22026 2 20 Plus Wendy C walking in the valley IMG 0179   2026 2 20 Plus Nick S fallen tree IMG 4229 1  2026 2 20 Plus Nick S tree acroos track IMG 4231 1                                                             Walking in the valley....                                                                                                                       ......negotiating fallen trees

 

                                               22026 2 20 Plus Wendy C First attempt at dealing with leaches IMG 0178             2026 2 20 Plus peter T second leech stop 20260220 110155                                                                                                                                                  Seeking higher ground, to escape leeches!

 

22026 2 20 Plus Wendy C Scaveola IMG 0189  22026 2 20 Plus Wendy C Glycine clandestina IMG 0194  2026 2 20 Plus peter T mountain devil 20260220 094812   26 2 20 Plus Hazel pied currawongP1730793     Scaevola                                                                          Glycine Clandestina                                               Mountain Devil                     Pied Currawong

  We decided to have our delayed morning tea up on the broken shapes of the crags, so we all squeezed and hauled ourselves up through a narrow gap in the rocks in order to do this, providing assistance if needed. We were rewarded with stunning views, butterflies, a couple of inquisitive Pied Currawongs, as well as a leech free environment. Many photos were taken at this special location. After climbing back down, aided by advice from the rock climbers in the group, we ended up eating our lunch at the base of the Castle too, to avoid the leeches.

 
                  2026 2 20 Plus Nick S Rooute up to castle 2 IMG 4235 1   2026 2 20 Plus peter T hard work 20260220 114850  2026 2 20 Plus peter T sophie on Ruined Castle 20260220 114527                           -                        

                                           2026 2 20 Plus Sophie 20260220 114349   2026 2 20 Plus Sophie 20260220 112815           

                                                                                       Its a long way and hard work getting to the top!

 

                                         2026 2 20 Plus peter T Polly on Ruined Castle 20260220 114532                                                                                                                                                                        A hard slog but a great view!

 

   26 2 20 Plus Hazel resting climbers P1730806  22026 2 20 Plus Wendy C view from Ruined Castle to Narrowneck IMG 0180    22026 2 20 Plus Wendy C Ruined Castle descent IMG 0188                                                                            Resting climbers                                             Looking back to Narrow Neck                              Descent of Ruined Castle                

 

 Then we continued along the loop around the Ruined Castle. The descent was steep and slippery as we navigated our way to the bottom. We turned left at the next junction to complete the loop by walking past some covered picnic areas and campground, as well as water storage containers. Following this we retraced our steps back to the Golden Stairs, taking photos of flowers and watching and listening to lyrebirds along the route.

Climbing back up the Golden Stairs was a lot more challenging than coming down them, mainly due to the humidity and heat, as the sun was shining by this point. We agreed to meet up at the top lookout for group photos and took our time on the climb, stopping to admire the much clearer views as we did so. Photos done, we pushed on, back down Glenraphael Drive, then up the stairs to Cliff Road taking many more flower photos on way.
 

 

2026 2 20 Plus peter T whole group at top of G Stairs 20260220 143201 1                                                                         Top of the Golden Stairs, and still standing!

  Back at the cars, Peter opened up his bar so we could all enjoy a choice of chilled drinks as we removed any remaining leeches, before heading to Bakery Patisserie Schwarz at Wentworth Falls for well-deserved pastries, crumbles and drinks. The Sulphur-crested Cockatoos that normally join us there were nowhere to be seen. We all agreed that we'd had a fabulous day of walking and that the change in the weather had made the return walk very interesting. We headed home weary after the long day, but keen to do more walks in the mountains, preferably leech free!

 
2026 2 20 Plus peter T 3 sisters late view 20260220 140338
                                                                                                              Late afternoon view of the Three Sisters
 
 
                2026 2 20 Plus peter T Map with Track and WPs lores      2026 2 20 Plus peter T profile
 
Leaders: Peter T (First Aid) and Hazel
Walkers: Celia, Nick S, Nick W, Polly, Sophie (First Aid) and Wendy C (Tail End)
Words: Hazel
Photos: Sophie (24,25,26); Hazel (21,28); Nick S (8,14,15,22): Wendy C (5,6,7,13,16,18,19,29,30); Peter T(1,2,3,4,9,10,11,12,17,20,23,27,31,32).