Hiking guidebook by Hong Kong Outdoors founder Martin Williams, who has chosen 25 of the best day walks in the Hong Kong countryside.
One book to hike them all
Hiking guidebook by Hong Kong Outdoors founder Martin Williams, who has chosen 25 of the best day walks in the Hong Kong countryside. Combining journeys by car or public transport with walking, the trails take you across rugged hills and through forested valleys, past reservoirs and waterfalls, temples and ageing villages, long abandoned forts and lonely islands.
Hong Kong’s hyper dense urban area is matched by areas of great wilderness, villages, mountains and long coastlines. Martin William’s day walks allow you to discover the best Hong Kong has to offer at a moment’s notice, and to return to urban life with renewed vigour and inspiration. With decades of experience wandering the trails and his photographer’s eye for details, the ’25 Best Day Walks in Hong Kong’ is a must-bring guide for your next hike.
Paul Zimmerman, District Councillor and co-founder of Designing Hong Kong
The 25 Best Day Walks in Hong Kong by Dr. Martin Williams is one of those seminal hiking books that I’ve been waiting for. As the founder and organizer one of world’s largest hiking groups, this book helps to expand my knowledge on information previously unknown to me about Hong Kong’s trails. I highly recommend this book to novice as well as experienced hikers or visitors who want to get a taste of what Hong Kong could offer on its heritage and outdoors. Happy Hiking!
SK Shum, Founder and Organiser, Hong Kong Hiking Meetup
With a modern, colourful and thoughtfully designed layout and sized to fit into the pocket of a backpack, the 160-page guide will appeal to those new to exploring Hong Kong’s wilds and who are looking for a trusty companion on the city’s tried-and-tested walks.
South China Morning Post:
Generously featured throughout the book, Williams’ excellent photographs show the city at its most vibrant, celebrating all manner of creatures and plants, and bringing life to his equally vivid writing.
Three walks showcase the wonderful wilder side of Hong Kong Island, covering the Peak to Pokfulam in the west; a route over Dragon’s Back to Shek O in the southeast; and Parkview to Tai Tam via hills and wooded vale.
Walks cover other islands too – with one each for easily overlooked Po Toi, popular Lamma Island and Cheung Chau, far flung Tung Ping Chau, and compact Peng Chau.
There are five walks on Hong Kong’s largest, most beautiful island. Two start at the Ngong Ping plateau, with one dropping down to near the island’s north coast, while the other ascends Lantau Peak, then heads for the lower hills in the southwest. A walk leads along Lantau’s southwest coast to the almost deserted hamlet of Fan Lau; there are short strolls at the southern and east coasts, and a hike through the hilly southeastern peninsula.
Almost half the walks are in the mainland New Territories, north of Kowloon. One includes a steep climb to the top of the iconic Lion Rock; there’s a circuit of nearby Shing Mun Reservoir; a loop through the “jungle” of Tai Po Kau; a walk up Hong Kong’s highest mountain, Tai Mo Shan, followed by a ravine and waterfalls; and a visit to the fascinating Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden.
Leaving the central highlands, there’s a chance to explore rural heritage, and head to the eastern New Territories, to walk through the Sha Lo Tung basin, hike to the heights of Ma On Shan, stroll the coast by Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park, revel in the beautiful landscape of Tai Long Wan, admire the valleys and waterfalls of Bride’s Pool, and hike to the almost uninhabited coast of northeastern Hong Kong.
Published by John Beaufoy Publishing. Available in leading Hong Kong bookstores, including Bookazine; Kelly and Walsh in Pacific Place and Landmark; Hong Kong Book Centre on Des Voeux Road Central; the University Bookstore at HKU; Joint Publishing, Chung Hwa Book Co and The Commercial Press stores; and (if any left) Vibe on Lantau.
Also at online stores.
Apple Daily feature on me including The 25 Best Day Walks in HK
蘋人誌：北戴河雀聖 長洲築巢—劍橋物理化學博士Martin Williams
最近他又發表了一部新書，名為《The 25 Best Day Walks in Hong Kong》（香港最佳25條遠足路線）。「香港郊野難得的地方，是不少景點都沒有商業化的度假村，沒有樓房，完全遠離都市。你可以在大浪灣的大灣漫步半天也沒有遇上一個人，只有流浪牛，這種環境在亞洲，包括泰國的度假勝地都難以找到。」
但他感到不是太多香港人懂得欣賞我們的郊野，「我也肯定香港政府不懂得」。說的是這些年來一宗接一宗的自然保育噩耗。在大嶼山的拾塱，近年有人非法開墾，為發展丁屋鋪路。西灣大片林地也一度被富商破壞，以「有機農場」掩飾發展豪宅的意圖。白腊最近也被私人財團進佔，鏟去樹林，興建度假屋。「香港很多郊區都面臨這些威脅，為何這些人總要藉郊野發財？他們本來都很富有了。」
Alas, Apple Daily is no more; so you can but see the excerpt here.