It is these areas which contribute to the inherent physical beauty of the region. They are in themselves a primary tourist attraction, as well as serving an important recreational function. Under the right soil and moisture regimes, they support a number of rare plant species, for example the red disa. They cannot, and should not, be utilised for building purposes. This morphological unit has in common moderate to steep slopes and, depending on their exact location in the landscape, either granitic or shale bedrock.
Soils are typically clay-rich, with a moderate nutrient status.
Many fynbos species, including a variety of proteas, previously thrived on these slopes. However, because of their agricultural potential, these areas have been heavily exploited, particularly for viticulture. From a mining perspective, there are pockets of commercially exploitable kaolinite in the Cape Peninsula, and the metamorphosed shales of the Tygerberg provide a source of aggregate for construction purposes. In urban areas, many of the steep granitic slopes have been taken over by upmarket housing. From an aesthetic perspective, the development of the suburb of Plattekloof on the west flank of the Tygerberg and the development on the Helderberg are innapprpriate.