Maclear’s Beacon, Table Mountain, South Africa
The Highest point on Table Mountain is Maclears Beacon which is found at a height of 1086m above sea level.
The beacon itself is 3m high and was erected in 1865 by Sir Thomas Maclear. He built it as part of an experiment to measure the circumference of the earth. For his efforts towards this aim Sir Thomas was awarded the Queens medal in 1869. He also has a crator on the moon and the town of Maclear named after him.
To reach the highest point on Table Mountain is the aim of many hikers and there are several routes that can be taken to this point. The easiest way is from the upper cableway. From here a leisurely hours hike along the relatively flat top will bring you to the cairn. For those feeling more energetic but still with limited time the steep Platteklip gorge brings you to a point 30 minutes from the beacon.
Epic South Africa Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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