Spook Hill
Spookhill is a section of Parel Valley Road in Somerset West, where, if you switch your car off, it appears to run up the hill instead of moving downhill. It has generated much discussion as to whether this apparent phenomenon is an optical illusion due to magnetism, or just one of the world’s great mysteries!
The myth has reportedly been debunked, and the hill is an optical illusion where what appears uphill is in fact downhill. The illusion is created by the trees on the road being slightly skewed, and a gradient change midway ‘down the hill.
Spook Hill running challenge
Spook Hill Gardens are a private estate that is open by appointment for charity events or garden clubs. The garden lies at the foot of the Helderberg mountain. This landscaped garden offers a series of well-defined spaces designed for relaxed exploration and outdoor enjoyment. Visitors move from a formal parterre with a linear water feature to rose-filled beds framed by privet hedges and a walled garden that changes character with the seasons. Lawns provide open views of the Helderberg and Hottentots Holland mountains, while shaded courtyards, olive groves, and fragrant camomile lawns create quieter areas to pause. Stone pathways, a pétanque court, and a private boma add interest, making the garden suitable for casual visits, photography, and small gatherings.
