Hansen's Hikes
... exploring Hong Kong's other side ...
Wilson Trail Challenge
Dates to be confirmed
The MacLehose Trail may be Hong Kong’s longest hiking trail, but one could argue that the 80-km long
Wilson Trail is the most interesting of our 4 long distance trails. Where the MacLehose generally skirts
any signs of civilization, the Wilson Trail combines the spectacular landscape with a glimpse of Hong
Kong village life.

Generally crossing higher land, the Trail offers memorable countryside experiences and the adventure of
sustained hiking. Parts of the Wilson Trail are surfaced roads, but most follow forest or hillside paths.
Hiking conditions are mostly easy to moderate, with only a few sections needing strenuous effort.

Responding to requests, we have put together the following 5-hike challenge itinerary covering virtually all
of the Wilson Trail. A few deviations from the official route have been included to enhance your
experience and to suit transport needs.

Due to space limitations, we have given only outlines of each hike below, but please feel free to contact us
should you have any questions regarding our Wilson Trail Challenge.

The cost of each hike is HK$220 per person, though anyone who has participated in all 5 Wilson Trail
Challenge hikes is entitled to a HK$100 discount on the last hike.

One of the advantages of having a trail that crosses inhabited areas is the availability of cooked meals in
restaurants, thus only two hikes require you to bring your own lunch box. Each of the other 3 hikes will
finish at a restaurant in time for a (possibly late) lunch. Still, we do ask that you bring plenty of water and
your favourite snacks for the initial few hours of hiking.

To sign up for the Hansen's Hikes Wilson Trail Challenge or to receive more information, please contact
Michael.
Wilson Trail Challenge Schedule
Click on this map
for an idea of the
route for
Hike 1
Click on this map for an idea of the route for the first leg of the Wilson Challenge...
To be confirmed
 Cloudy Hill
 
We begin our conquest of Cloudy Hill (440m) at the picturesque hidden Lau Shui Heung Reservoir by
following a steep by virtually "step-less" and traffic free service road. Just over half-way up, we turn off
to join a nicely shaded path that will lead us to the upland valley of Sha Lo Tong. We explore the old
Hakka village here before completing our climb - this time following a series of paved rocky steps.

The views from the top of Cloudy Hill over Tolo Harbour and surrounding mountains will be well worth
the effort though.

Unfortunately, the descent involves some 2091 (mostly concrete) steps, so it is with wobbly knees that
we pass the interesting Pun Chun Yuen retreat on our way to the secluded village of Lin Au. Yet, from
here it is just a short hop over to Tai Po Market.
 
Distance:
 13.5 km
Difficulty:
 6 out of 10
  
Approx. Altitude Change:
 Gain: xxx m
 Loss: xxx m
Highest Point:
 440 m (Cloudy Hill)
Meeting Time & Place:
 9:00 am
 at Fan Ling Railway Station
Finishing Time & Place:
 2:00 pm
 in Tai Po
Time Spent On Trail:
 4.25 hours
 Walking 3.5 hours + Breaks 0.75 hour
   
Food & Drink:
 Snack stops at Cloudy Hill (6 km) & Lin Au (10 km)
(Optional) Thai lunch at restaurant near Tai Po Market - not included.
Click on this map
for an idea of the
route for
Hike 2
Click on this map for an idea of the route for the second leg of the Wilson Challenge...
To be confirmed
 Reservoirs & Woodlands
 
Only 15 minutes from the bustling shopping malls and street markets of Mongkok, the central Kowloon
reservoirs provide a gate to quite a different world - a world of serenity and scenic beauty. A world
where birds are singing, cattle roam free and the only hustling is that being done by monkeys.

Passing through dense woodlands we make our way across Smuggler's Pass to the impressive Shing
Mun Reservoir. We follow a flat dirt path around the reservoir, before joining the all-weather forest track
to Lead Mine Pass.

The final descent into Tai Po is along a rough stony path.
 
Distance:
 16 km
Difficulty:
 5 out of 10
  
Approx. Altitude Change:
 Gain: 545 m
 Loss: 675 m
Highest Pont:
 380 m (Lead Mine Pass)
Meeting Time & Place:
 8:30 am
 at Prince Edward Railway Station
Finishing Time & Place:
 2:00 pm
 in Tai Po
Time Spent On Trail:
 5.25 hours
 Walking 4.25 hours + Breaks 1 hour
 
Food & Drink:
 Snack stops at Shing Mun (5 & 10 km) and Lead Mine Pass (13 km)
(Optional) late lunch at Thai restaurant at Tai Po Market (16 km)
Click on this map
for complete
Wilson Trail
Challenge
route
Click on this map for full Wilson Challenge route...
Click on this map
for an idea of the
route for
Hike 3
Click on this map for an idea of the route for the third leg of the Wilson Challenge...
To be confirmed
 The Kowloon Hills
 
Generally speaking, the longest stage of the Hansen's Hikes Wilson Trail Challenge consists of a series
of long flat or sloping paved sections interrupted by a number of unsurfaced climbs and descents.

Setting out from the Kowloon Reservoirs we make our way past families of monkeys and the iconic
Amah Rock along a nice flat catchwater that follows the lower northern slopes of Beacon Hill and Lion
Rock to reach a look-out point above Tai Wai.

This hour-long warm-up should enable us to tackle the steepest climb of the day, the 140 metre-climb
up to Sha Tin Pass.

A short break is in order at the small store here, before we begin the longest climb of the day by
following the sloping Sha Tin Pass Road to Tate's Cairn - some 255 metres higher up... The efforts are
rewarded by magnificent views over the Hong Kong cityscape.

A little further on we dig into our lunch box while enjoying a wonderful panorama over Sai Kung and Port
Shelter.

Recharged, we are then ready for the second half of our hike, part of which goes through dense woods.
We emerge into the open high above the new dormitory towns around Tseung Kwan O, but we still have
to conquer Black Hill and Chiu Keng Shan to enjoy the spectacular views over Joss Bay and Victoria
Harbour. An optional detour will take you up and down The Devil's Peak before we conclude this long
day of walking at the picturesque traditional fishing village of Lei Yue Mun.  
 
Distance:
 23 km
Difficulty:
 7 out of 10
  
Approx. Altitude Change:
 Gain: 950 m
 Loss: 1090 m
Highest Point:
 555 m
  
Meeting Time & Place:
 8:30 am
 at Prince Edward Railway Station
Finishing Time & Place:
 4:00 pm
 in Lei Yue Mun
Time Spent On Trail:
 7.25 hours
 Walking 6.25 hours + Breaks 1 hour
     
Food & Drink:
 Snack stop at Sha Tin Pass (8 km) - store
Lunch stop near Tate's Cairn (12 km) - bring lunch box
Refreshment stop at Tseng Lan Shue (17 km) - store
Snack stop at Black Hill (20.5 km)
(Optional) early dinner at Lei Yue Mun (23 km) - not included
Click on this map
for an idea of the
route for
Hike 4
Click on this map for an idea of the route for the fourth leg of the Wilson Challenge...
To be confirmed...
 The Hong Kong Island End
 
For many, the Hong Kong island leg is the toughest part of the entire challenge as the hiker has to
conquer a very large number of stairs to make across the island from Tai Koo in the north to Stanley in
the south.

Starting on the crowded north side of the island, we soon gain altitude as we make our way up the
slopes of Mount Butler and Siu Ma Shan. Fortunately, the cityscape views do offer some reward for the
effort going into the climbing.

There's a brief respite from the climbing as we home in on the Parkview, but it is just the lull before the
storm. Scaling Violet Hill, Hong Kong's south-side opens up in front of us. Unfortunately, we will have to
conquer the many concrete steps of The Twins to get there...

We reach the Wilson Trail's southern end at Stanley Gap Road from where it is just a short bus or taxi
ride to the restaurants by the waterfront in Stanley....
 
Distance:
 11.5 km
Difficulty:
 8 out of 10
  
Approx. Altitude Change:
 Gain: xxx m
 Loss: xxx m
Highest Point:
 443 m (Jardine's Lookout and Violet Hill)
Meeting Time & Place:
 8:30 am
 at Tai Koo Railway Station
Finishing Time & Place:
 2:00 pm
 in Stanley
Time Spent On Trail:
 5.5 hours
 Walking 4.75 hours + Breaks 0.75 hour
 
Food & Drink:
 Snack stops at Jardine's Lookout (4 km), Violet Hill (7.5 km)
and The Twins (10 km).
(Optional) late lunch at Stanley (11.5 km) - not included.
Click on this map
for an idea of the
route for
Hike 5
Click on this map for an idea of the route for the last leg of the Wilson Challenge...
Download Reservation Form here or click here to request more information.
Click on this map
for complete
Wilson Trail
Challenge
route
Click on this map for full Wilson Challenge route...
Click on this map
for complete
Wilson Trail
Challenge
route
Click on this map for full Wilson Challenge route...
Click on this map
for complete
Wilson Trail
Challenge
route
Click on this map for full Wilson Challenge route...
Click on this map
for complete
Wilson Trail
Challenge
route
Click on this map for full Wilson Challenge route...
Hansen's Events
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
To be confirmed
 Pat Sin Leng
 
Following a restricted road, we make our way up to and then along a small reservoir set beautifully deep
in a valley with an imposing mountain range rising steeply behind it.

Soon enough we will discover just how impressive the Pat Sin Leng really is, as we begin the climb up a
rather precarious looking path. At one or two points, chains have been installed. Allegedly, this is to
secure your safety, but in reality the chains are there mostly because you probably too busy taking in
the views to pay too much attention to where you are going.

Yes, the climb to the top is strenuous, but the views over Tolo Harbour and the mountains to the south
as well as those across the country park and into China to the north are spectacular and truly worth the
effort. What’s more, we will have plenty of time to enjoy them as the path levels out to follow the ridge.
Along the way, we pass the summit of Wong Leng.

Though we will be following the ridge, known locally as Pat Sin Leng, there are still quite a few ups and
downs to negotiate before we begin the long descent through the woods and past a couple of ghost
towns towards the small Hakka village of Luk Keng at the mangrove clad Starling Inlet...
 
Distance:
 15 km
Difficulty:
 8 out of 10
  
Approx. Altitude Change:
 Gain: 995 m
 Loss: 1020 m
Highest Point:
 639 m (Wong Leng)
Meeting Time & Place:
 9:00 am
 at Fan Ling Railway Station
Finishing Time & Place:
 4:30 pm
 at Fan Ling Railway Station
Time Spent On Trail:
 6 hours
 Walking 5 hours + Breaks 1 hour
     
Food & Drink:
 Snack stop at Wong Leng (4.5 km)
Lunch stop at Hsien Ku Fung (8 km) - bring lunch box
(Optional) refreshments at Luk Keng (15 km) - not included.
Monkeys roaming the woods - Wilson Trail Stage 6
Paperbark trees by the reservoir - Wilson Trail Stage 7
Cityscape - Wilson Trail Stage 4
Art on Black Hill - Wilson Trail Stage 3
Tai Tam Intermediary Rservoir - Wilson Trail Stage 1
Iris speculatrix - Wilson Trail Stage 2
Lau Shui Heung Reservoir - Wilson Trail Stage 8
Waymark - Wilson Trail Stage 8/9
Pat Sin Leng - Wilson Trail Stage 10
Luk Keng village - end of Wilson Trail Stage 10
Pat Sin Leng Country Park - Wilson Trail Stage 10
Typical scene from the Wilson Trail
Kwun Yam Shrine - Wilson Trail Stage 2
Shing Mun Reservoir - Wilson Trail Stage 7
Disclaimer
Participants on all Hansen's Events' hikes and rides take part entirely at their own risk. By joining any of our events all participants are automatically seen to
have agreed to have entered into a disclaimer which exonerates the outing leaders and the organizers from any personal or public responsibility whatsoever
and for any claims, injuries or damages arising thereof.