"Walk a dog (or yourself) on Noordhoek Beach!" Noordhoek Beach Tip by CatherineReichardt

If the startlingly beautiful long sweep of Noordhoek Beach looks vaguely familiar, then chances are that you've seen the 70s movie "Ryan's Daughter" (in which Noordhoek masquerades as a suspiciously sunny the West of Ireland).

Noordhoek is an extraordinary sight: over 6km kilometres of white, sandy gorgeousness that inspires awe in even a non beach enthusiast such as myself! It is sandwiched between the rocky point at Kommetjie (complete with lighthouse) to the south and the iconic Chapman's Peak to the north, so the views along the coast are breathtaking.

Noordhoek beach offers so much to do, from dog walking (hugely popular) to riding along the beach which I am dying to do (see the website below for contact details) - the stuff of Mills & Boon fantasies! It is usually breezy - often downright windswept - so it would be an excellent spot to fly a kite and there is even an old wreck (the Kakapo) which is exposed under certain weather conditions.

Of course, this the the Cape, and the Atlantic coast to boot, so be warned that the water is icy, even in high summer. There is also a strong breeze for most of the year which is is very welcome in the summer heat, but it makes it very easy for you to burn without realising. I was unwittingly rendered an unflattering shade of lobster red for the duration of my first Christmas in South Africa (when I was staying in a house just by the beach), and this is one of the very few Cape Town experiences that I wouldn't recommend!

Website: http://www.horseriding.co.za/