Hornsby Council offers guided bushwalks in August

Hornsby Council is offering a series of free guided bushwalks this August that are bound to get the blood pumping.

The August program offers three challenging walks and one easy to moderate walk.

Walks taking place in August include:

Djarra Ridge bushwalk, Cowan: Taking place from 9am on August 6, this challenging 9.3km walk takes four hours to complete. The circuit walk explores a large southern section of Muogamarra Nature Reserve. Walkers will have a chance to observe rare plants, and a diverse range of tree species and local fauna. The walk contains sections of trail which are hilly, steep and rough.

Larool Creek Four-Legged Friends Walk, Thornleigh: Taking place from 9am on August 13, this two hour walk is an easy to medium hike suitable for beginners of moderate fitness levels. The route passes through beautiful bushland along Larool Creek, finishing at Ginger Meggs Park in Hornsby Valley. It includes a couple of short, steeper sections and a flight of stairs.

Smugglers Ridge Bushwalk, Fiddletown: Starting from 9am on August 20, this challenging 13km walk in Marramarra National Park offers scenic views, Aboriginal rock engravings, colourful wildflowers and a picnic lunch by the creek. It involves a steep climb from the creek.

Geology Bushwalk - Blue Gum Track, Hornsby: Starting at 9am on August 27, this challenging 5km walk takes 3.5 hours to complete and follows the popular Blue Gum Track. Walkers will explore the Hornsby diatreme - one of three overlapping basalt breccia pipes that cut through bedrock in the early Jurassic. The walk contains long sections of trail that are hilly, steep or rough and a tricky creek crossing, Leeches may be encountered, if water levels are up following recent rain.

All walks are free. meeting places are given upon booking confirmation.