Walking on Hong Kong Island
Jun 5th, 2012, 01:01 AM
#1
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Walking on Hong Kong Island
Many years ago we walked from the Peak down through bushland where there were reservoirs. We finally made it down to Aberdeen.
Does anyone know if it is still possible to do that walk ?
Any advice on other walks on the Island would also be very helpful ?
Does anyone know if it is still possible to do that walk ?
Any advice on other walks on the Island would also be very helpful ?
Jun 5th, 2012, 03:15 AM
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Yes, it's still possible to do that walk. There are several ways to do it. One involves a dirt trail part of the way and is level for a good part as it hugs the mountainside below High West (west of the Peak) offering some very good views. The other ways are downhill on paved roads.
If you ended up in Aberdeen, you may have taken the route via Peel Rise, past the charming colonial-era Hong Kong Fire Station and also through the large cemetery on the hill above Aberdeen. This is an interesting way to go, IMO, although it does not offer the views of the dirt trail option. You may also have taken the Pok Fu Lam Country Park Walk, which goes past several of the reservoirs in Pok Fu Lam; however the end of the dirt trail walk and the Pok Fu Lam walk is not in Aberdeen, they end on a major road in the Pok Fu Lam area, so I can't tell for sure which way you went.
You can see a map of some walks in the Peak area at http://www.thepeak.com.hk/en/1_3.asp. The “Hong Kong Trail” is flat (it’s also referred to as the Lugard/Harlech Road loop). It is unfortunately a bit overgrown at this point so views are obscured, although the first portion of Lugard still offers some very good views once you get to the sidewalk suspended out over the hillside. (IMO, the Severn Road walk offers better views overall, however.) The “Victoria Peak Garden” requires a bit of exertion to get uphill to the top (which is where the actual Peak is found), but is worth the effort as there are splendid views of the Southside from here. Be sure to walk around behind the car park and the largish pavilion under construction here, where you will find walkways with views. This is particularly excellent for sunset. The “Pok Fu Lam Country Park” walk is also shown on the website. The Peel Rise walk is not shown, as the guidebooks don't seem to have found it.
There are dozens of good walking options on Hong Kong Island. Without knowing your walking ability or time you would have to do the walk, it's hard to advise which would be best. If you can provide more details on what type of walk you are looking for, I can provide details. There are excellent walks on Lantau and in the Sai Kung area of the New Territories, so if you plan to go there anywhere, you can incorporate a walk or hike into the visit as well.
Dymocks, a local chain of bookstores here, has an excellent selection of walking books, go to http://www.dymocks.com.au/ for a list of locations in Hong Kong. <i>The Serious Hiker's Guide to Hong Kong</i>, the <i>"Heritage Hikers Guide to Hong Kong"</i> and <i>The Leisurely Hiker's Guide to Hong Kong</i>, all and by Pete Spurrier, are very good for urban or countryside walks, and <i>Above the City</i> is good for walks on Hong Kong Island. Jason Wordie, a local historian, has two very good books on street/neighborhood walks in Hong Kong, called <i>Streets: Hong Kong</i> and <i>Streets: Kowloon</i> respectively. He also gives very good walking tours, see www.jasonswalks.com.
For a description of some of my favourite walks on Hong Kong Island, see my posts called “Cicerone’s Favourite Hong Kong Walks II: Paradise Found! From Happy Valley to Stanley in High Heels! (Almost) The Tsz Lo Lan Shan Path” and “Cicerone's Favourite Hong Kong Walks III: The Dragon's Back” and “Cicerone's Favourite Hong Kong Walks: Severn Road, The Peak “. You can find all of these posts by clicking on these links:
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...l-night-ma.cfm http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...eels-alm-1.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...agons-back.cfm and at http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...d-the-peak.cfm
I also have written descriptions and directions for many walks, most with pictures, that I would be happy to send you, send me an email at [email protected]
If you ended up in Aberdeen, you may have taken the route via Peel Rise, past the charming colonial-era Hong Kong Fire Station and also through the large cemetery on the hill above Aberdeen. This is an interesting way to go, IMO, although it does not offer the views of the dirt trail option. You may also have taken the Pok Fu Lam Country Park Walk, which goes past several of the reservoirs in Pok Fu Lam; however the end of the dirt trail walk and the Pok Fu Lam walk is not in Aberdeen, they end on a major road in the Pok Fu Lam area, so I can't tell for sure which way you went.
You can see a map of some walks in the Peak area at http://www.thepeak.com.hk/en/1_3.asp. The “Hong Kong Trail” is flat (it’s also referred to as the Lugard/Harlech Road loop). It is unfortunately a bit overgrown at this point so views are obscured, although the first portion of Lugard still offers some very good views once you get to the sidewalk suspended out over the hillside. (IMO, the Severn Road walk offers better views overall, however.) The “Victoria Peak Garden” requires a bit of exertion to get uphill to the top (which is where the actual Peak is found), but is worth the effort as there are splendid views of the Southside from here. Be sure to walk around behind the car park and the largish pavilion under construction here, where you will find walkways with views. This is particularly excellent for sunset. The “Pok Fu Lam Country Park” walk is also shown on the website. The Peel Rise walk is not shown, as the guidebooks don't seem to have found it.
There are dozens of good walking options on Hong Kong Island. Without knowing your walking ability or time you would have to do the walk, it's hard to advise which would be best. If you can provide more details on what type of walk you are looking for, I can provide details. There are excellent walks on Lantau and in the Sai Kung area of the New Territories, so if you plan to go there anywhere, you can incorporate a walk or hike into the visit as well.
Dymocks, a local chain of bookstores here, has an excellent selection of walking books, go to http://www.dymocks.com.au/ for a list of locations in Hong Kong. <i>The Serious Hiker's Guide to Hong Kong</i>, the <i>"Heritage Hikers Guide to Hong Kong"</i> and <i>The Leisurely Hiker's Guide to Hong Kong</i>, all and by Pete Spurrier, are very good for urban or countryside walks, and <i>Above the City</i> is good for walks on Hong Kong Island. Jason Wordie, a local historian, has two very good books on street/neighborhood walks in Hong Kong, called <i>Streets: Hong Kong</i> and <i>Streets: Kowloon</i> respectively. He also gives very good walking tours, see www.jasonswalks.com.
For a description of some of my favourite walks on Hong Kong Island, see my posts called “Cicerone’s Favourite Hong Kong Walks II: Paradise Found! From Happy Valley to Stanley in High Heels! (Almost) The Tsz Lo Lan Shan Path” and “Cicerone's Favourite Hong Kong Walks III: The Dragon's Back” and “Cicerone's Favourite Hong Kong Walks: Severn Road, The Peak “. You can find all of these posts by clicking on these links:
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...l-night-ma.cfm http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...eels-alm-1.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...agons-back.cfm and at http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...d-the-peak.cfm
I also have written descriptions and directions for many walks, most with pictures, that I would be happy to send you, send me an email at [email protected]
Jun 6th, 2012, 02:11 AM
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Like Cicerone explained, walking down from the Peak on Pokfulam Reservoir Road will get you down to Pokfulam, along the reservoir, but it takes a short bus ride to get to Aberdeen from there.
Walking down the Peak on Peel Rise to get you directly to Aberdeen, but you won't pass by any reservoir.
But chances are you took a third route - you first got over from the Peak to Wan Chai Gap, either by bus #15 or by walking (like along the very quiet Barker Road and Coombe Road, with just a very short stretch of Peak Road). From Wan Chai Gap, you walked down Aberdeen Reservoir Road to Aberdeen, passing both the Upper and Lower Aberdeen Reservoirs. With a nice view of the main dam of the upper reservoir.
Walking down the Peak on Peel Rise to get you directly to Aberdeen, but you won't pass by any reservoir.
But chances are you took a third route - you first got over from the Peak to Wan Chai Gap, either by bus #15 or by walking (like along the very quiet Barker Road and Coombe Road, with just a very short stretch of Peak Road). From Wan Chai Gap, you walked down Aberdeen Reservoir Road to Aberdeen, passing both the Upper and Lower Aberdeen Reservoirs. With a nice view of the main dam of the upper reservoir.
Jun 8th, 2012, 12:15 AM
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Those routes are probably one of the few things in Hong Kong that haven't changed. But remember in August it is one of the 2 hottest months in Hong Kong and temperature can heeeeeat up to 34C and humidity close to 90%. Bring more water and a cap.
