Mt Solitary & Ruined Castle Track, Blue Mountains NP NSW
Climbing Mt Solitary (950m) via the Ruined Castle is a real classic Sydney bushwalk, with spectacular views of the Jamison Valley and beyond.
When Sophia and I first started regular bushwalking we did the first half of this walk as far as the Ruined Castle. This is already a classic Sydney walk, but continuing on to the summit plateau of the stately looking Mt Solitary provides more great views, and the added satisfaction of a big day’s walking in fairly isolated country. Overnight walkers can continue further to traverse the mountain.
Lots of nice wildflowers on this walk when we did it in mid December.
You can see the Three Sisters centre right, sitting in an early(ish) morning haze. Looking towards Mt Solitary from near the start. The first part of the walk is in lush rainforest. Sophia and friends on the Ruined Castle, with Mt Solitary in the background. Looking back towards the start.
Sophia and friends on the Ruined Castle, with Mt Solitary in the background. The way up to my spot on the Ruined Castle where I took some pictures of the others. It’s first left as you get to the rock. From down below. Me on the Ruined Castle. Mt Solitary from the Ruined Castle.
Looking from the top of Mt Solitary towards the start, with Katoomba and the Three Sisters to the right.
Our lunch spot and turnaround point, at Chinaman’s Gully on Mt Solitary. The walls of Mt Solitary from a lookout just a few metres away from Chinamans Gully, a bowl like depression accessed on the track that passes over the summit plateau. Views out towards the reservoir Lake Burragorang, from a viewopoint accessed from Chinaman’s Gully on Mt Solitary.
A grass tree seemingly growing out of rock.
Some big lizard action. I chased this goanna for a while until it relented and stopped to pose for photographs. Posing for a photo. Now *that’s* a tongue! Sophia dwarfed by an extremely tall tree fern. Very stringy bark. Not sure what this was but it wasn’t long for this world as ants had got to it.
Track Notes
Wild Walks has track notes, as does the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service website. Notes as far as the Ruined Castle are in the guide book A Day in the Bush.
Starting at the Golden Stairs just outside of Katoomba, you descend through rainforest and then level out, eventually coming to the turnoff to the Ruined Castle. From the top you get 360 degree views of the area. This can be a turnaround point to make this a moderate walk, however it’s well worth plodding on up onto the summit plateau of Mt Solitary, (the final ascent is very steep), and continue 10-15 minutes to the bowl like depression called Chinaman’s Gully for more fabulous views (off to the right from a rock ledge).
The return walk is a proper workout and will probably take 6+ hours.
Starting at the Golden Stairs, it’s a steep descent through the cliff line, taking a right at the bottom to head towards the Ruined Castle. To visit these rocks take a right at the signposted turnoff. If you are going on to Mt Solitary then drop down to meet the main track and continue south-east. From the Ruined Castle, continue along the obvious track until the steep climb up onto Mt Solitary, enjoying the views as you go. Continue on past the summit and descend to Chinamans Gap for more spectacular views to the south. Intrepid walkers can continue on to Kedumba River and Kedumba Hill, but you’ll need to have arranged transport back from there or plan to stay overnight.
