Hansen's Hikes
Prisons, Reservoirs and Fresh Milk
As the title indicates, this walk in the central part of the New Territories has something for everyone…
Getting off the bus at Castle Peak Road, we get a chance to see the inmates going about their daily routine as we walk
straight through one of Tai Lam’s correctional institutions. (Please remember to bring your HK ID-card or passport as we
are required to register at the prison gate. ) It might be an unusual start to a hike, but it will undoubtedly make us appreciate
even more the wide open spaces we will soon encounter.
We will have to work a little for it, though, as we follow the restricted road up to and above the rim of the Tai Lam Chung
Reservoir. However, once we have passed the dam, there will be nothing but birds, cicadas and frogs to disturb the peace
as we follow the contours of this reservoir, the largest and last of Hong Kong’s valley reservoirs.
As the valley narrows, we follow the Tai Lam stream and suddenly find ourselves looking down at a 6-lane highway as it
emerges from a tunnel to enter the wide Pat Heung plain. At this point our path dips somewhat around the pig and chicken
farms of Ho Pui before skirting the village itself. However, the efforts you put into the inevitable ensuing climb – the hardest,
but also the last real ascent of the day – are handsomely rewarded when we reach the perfect spot to consume our lunch
boxes – the dam of the Ho Pui reservoir.
Afterwards we follow a winding catchwater looking across the sprawling villages of Kam Tin and Shek Kong towards the
volcanic reaches of the Lam Tsuen Country Park. One of Hong Kong’s more beautiful sceneries awaits us as we cross the
dam of the very quiet upper Tsing Tam Reservoir. Just before the end of today’s walk, we pass a small independent dairy,
where we will stop long enough for those who so desire to sample their delicious mango pudding or a glass of very fresh
milk…
The walk might end at the PLA barracks just outside Shek Kong village, but the adventure is not over yet. The bus ride
along Route Twisk to the MTR station in Tsuen Wan is as much a feature in this outing as the prisons were at the beginning.
At 18 km this hike is a little longer than most, but it is also relatively flat. There are only 3 real hills to overcome and the
highest point of the day is a mere 170 metres above sea level. Furthermore the path is well shaded and all on tarmac and
concrete. Better still, there is not a single step to negotiate…
As the title indicates, this walk in the central part of the New Territories has something for everyone…
Getting off the bus at Castle Peak Road, we get a chance to see the inmates going about their daily routine as we walk
straight through one of Tai Lam’s correctional institutions. (Please remember to bring your HK ID-card or passport as we
are required to register at the prison gate. ) It might be an unusual start to a hike, but it will undoubtedly make us appreciate
even more the wide open spaces we will soon encounter.
We will have to work a little for it, though, as we follow the restricted road up to and above the rim of the Tai Lam Chung
Reservoir. However, once we have passed the dam, there will be nothing but birds, cicadas and frogs to disturb the peace
as we follow the contours of this reservoir, the largest and last of Hong Kong’s valley reservoirs.
As the valley narrows, we follow the Tai Lam stream and suddenly find ourselves looking down at a 6-lane highway as it
emerges from a tunnel to enter the wide Pat Heung plain. At this point our path dips somewhat around the pig and chicken
farms of Ho Pui before skirting the village itself. However, the efforts you put into the inevitable ensuing climb – the hardest,
but also the last real ascent of the day – are handsomely rewarded when we reach the perfect spot to consume our lunch
boxes – the dam of the Ho Pui reservoir.
Afterwards we follow a winding catchwater looking across the sprawling villages of Kam Tin and Shek Kong towards the
volcanic reaches of the Lam Tsuen Country Park. One of Hong Kong’s more beautiful sceneries awaits us as we cross the
dam of the very quiet upper Tsing Tam Reservoir. Just before the end of today’s walk, we pass a small independent dairy,
where we will stop long enough for those who so desire to sample their delicious mango pudding or a glass of very fresh
milk…
The walk might end at the PLA barracks just outside Shek Kong village, but the adventure is not over yet. The bus ride
along Route Twisk to the MTR station in Tsuen Wan is as much a feature in this outing as the prisons were at the beginning.
At 18 km this hike is a little longer than most, but it is also relatively flat. There are only 3 real hills to overcome and the
highest point of the day is a mere 170 metres above sea level. Furthermore the path is well shaded and all on tarmac and
concrete. Better still, there is not a single step to negotiate…
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| ... exploring Hong Kong's other side... |
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| 38 D, Tower 2, Sham Wan Towers 3, Ap Lei Chau Drive Ap Lei Chau Hong Kong Tel: (+852) 9552 0987 E-mail: info@hansens-hikes.com |