The "Down" version starts at the Point Lookout Carpark this routes makes its way down Robinsons knob trail before heading onto Horseshoe Rd and eventually Hospital range road into Bellingen. All trail besides the first section of bitumen from the carpark, sensational views along the way. Despite being a net downhill, there is still ~2100m of climbing. The reverse "Up" version has ~3400m of climbing.
Traditionally the route was established to open up the escarpment to the trade route to the East and allow export of timber and Ore from the mine in the upper Bellingen catchment before it ceased operating many decades ago. Since the inception of the national park and the maintaining of Robinsons Knob trail both the Bellingen to Point Lookout and the Reverse Point Lookout to Bellingen routes have become consistent long run attempts in the local community. Primarily because it is one of the longest Point to Point trail runs in the area, and also because of the iconic start/finish location at Point Lookout, which is the highest prominent point in the geographic area.
Note that while we don't usually have directional FKTs on point-to-point routes, the history and large elevation difference between endpoints makes that a logical choice for this particular route.
Comments
Leaving from the beginning of Scotchman Range Road on the edge of Bellingen, this is a gorgeous run along the top of the Scotchman Range via Hospital Range Road and Horseshoe Road, bringing you first to the spectacular Mt Killiekrankie lookout, then onto the even more spectacular Point Lookout, one of the highest points and best views in the region. Then back down the hill and you're done, literally and figuratively :)Â
Did the "up" version from Bellingen to Point Lookout with Konrad and Andrew McDonald on 28/07/2018