Home Travel Diving Running Kids Mail us		Sunday 16th November 2003 Hong Kong has some great trails - the 100km MacLehose Trail and the 70km Wilson Trail are tough multi day routes. I decide to try the tamer (?) Hong Kong Trail which runs for 50km in 8 stages along the length of Hong Kong Island. So at 7am on Saturday morning I am at the top of the Peak tram all ready to go. Great views from all sides of the Peak and mostly flat to downhill paths get me off to a fast start. The trail is very well signposted so the map is more useful for sightseeing than direction. The trail is well shaded although the morning light is beautiful as the sun comes up. It is amazing how quickly you can get away from the congestions and city grime. The trail winds through wooded hill sides and crosses many streams and waterfalls. However many fine view is marred by a tower block or housing development. The end of stage 2 winds spectacularly around the steep slopes above Aberdeen with great views over the congested harbour and the channel across to Lamma Island. Stages 3 and 4 contour around Mounts Cameron and Nicholson through pretty woodland before reaching the half way stage at Wong Nai Chung. I have run most of the way so far but slow right down for the steep climb up to Jardine's Lookout in the centre of the island with fantastic views in all directions. From here you drop steeply into col before another steep climb to top of Mount Butler. Another steep drop leads you with tired legs to Quarry Gap. From the peaks you get spectacular views over the Tai Tam and Tai Tam Tuk reservoirs. After 20 minutes running I am crossing the reservoir dam and looking back up to Jardine's Lookout. Another km of road then a woodland path take you to the 7th stage, a concrete path that follows a storm drain for 7km along the side of Tai Tam Harbour. From the trail along the harbour you can watch wake boarders and expensive yachts and look across to the expensive development at Red Hill. I stop off at the beach for a drinks stop before tackling a gruelling climb, first up to the road and then to the top of Shek O peak. From here you can see the Shek O Village and plusher country club. This is the start of the 'Dragon's Back' - the last stage of the trail. Paragliders soar on the up current's of the steep ridge. After a while the trail drops down to woodland trail and from here a steep descent through the terraces of a huge cemetery take you Chai Wan MTR station and home again.