Carolle's Walking Group: Walk 36 Balmoral Middle Head Chowder Bay

Balmoral WalkThere would be agreement I think that this was one of the best walks ever. We were blest by beautiful sunny weather under blue skies as we walked close to blue water. We enjoyed Balmoral, Chowder Bay, Middle Head in Sydney Harbour National Park with views over to the Eastern suburbs and views over the ocean framed by South and North Heads, bush, military heritage by way of the tunnels, fortifications, gun emplacements, 'tiger cage". We were lucky enough to come across a dedicated Harbour Trust volunteer labouring in the sun removing debris from one of the 'disappearing gun' sites dated 1890. He pointed to a mound nearby of another site to be excavated. That one he told us was newer , 1942. We walked through Headland Park now given over to offices for some lucky workers. Exceptional views everywhere.

Thank you Linzi for the plan, for all that information and for guiding us on such a worthwhile walk. Thank you too for Burnt Orange for coffee :

"A boutique cafe and retail operation located in the historic golf clubhouse on Middle Head Peninsula. Burnt Orange is the creation of an Irish company called Avoca that is widely recognised as one of Europe’s most stylish retailers and purveyors of fine foods."

This cafe is definitely worth a re-visit for a good browse around and with a Visa card handy. It is also the place for delicious chocolate Brownies as we were to discover. We all shared one and then simply had to order another cut up into six pieces!

The following is a nice little summary I found:

"This walk is richly endowed with historical references and examples of Mosman’s military heritage, It is also easy, flat and has some fine views. Until the early 1990s much of the land was out of bounds to the general public. When it was finally deemed surplus to defence requirements the site was very nearly subdivided and sold off. After some vigorous lobbying by the community and some help from local politicians, there was a rethink. An organisation called the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust was set up to redevelop and manage the entire site, on the basis that the public would have full access and the heritage value of all buildings was to be preserved. The walk features a cairn made from stones from every county in Scotland, Mosman’s only formal grave, heritage military buildings now used for various commercial purposes including artist studios, outdoor sculptures, a fine example of a grand residence in the Californian Bungalow style, formerly a golf clubhouse and now a café restaurant with retail, artillery emplacements, ordnance tunnels, an award-winning toilet, a naval hospital and underwater training school and two nudist beaches"