Mount Direction and Madmans Hill
Route Summary A circuit walk that climbs fairly steeply to the 448 m high Mount Direction and then return via Saggy Flats to complete a circuit.
Walk Description There are a number of options for the walk to mount Direction and on to Madmans Hill and Gunners Quoin. Although Gunners Quoin is public land getting there requires crossing private holdings. Madmans Hill is private, however people do walk there and as far as is known there have been no repercussions.
The route here is to leave the Risdon Brook circuit road after crossing the dam and following a wide vehicle track uphill taking the left fork after passing the powerline easement. It becomes quite steep further up soon after the track ends. A couple of other old bulldozed tracks are met on the way plus some old fences. At the top at the eastern end is an old Eucalypt, now apparently dead, and it is a simple ridge crest walk on to the actual Mount Direction summit. A large rock cairn is there as is some communication facilities. 
A drop off to the north east and then north crosses mostly open cleared land until it drops fairly sharply to a saddle where the power lines go through. A gate is reached, although as at Nov 2013, the fence joining it was partially down. Immediately on the north side of the gate a pad will be met leading to Madmans Hill. It becomes benched and on reaching a high point all that is needed is to walk up the steep slope to the top. 
Old gum on eastern summit
For this walk the return is the same but on reaching the benched track just keep heading south through saggy Flats eventually it is necessary to join a vehicle track to avoid a steep rocky descent to Risdon Brook. The vehicle track can be followed back parallel to the dam until a fence and gate is reached that takes you to the dam circuit road and soon after that the dam wall is reached.
Teucrium corymbosum a member of the mintbush family
Map Richmond
Last Updated Saturday, 23 November 2013
Start Point Risdon Brook Dam car park and the gate closes at 8PM in the warmer months but about 4:30 in winter.
Introduction Although not along walk the steepness makes it moderate in grade
Route Conditions Mostly off track
Facilities Toilets and picnic facilities at the start
Route Grade Moderate
Route Distance Klms 12
Days 1
Access From Grasstree Road just after roundabout on East Derwent Highway
Time Hours 5:30
Height Gain metres 450
Related Links
Comments