Wong Nai Chung Gap Road to Wan Chai, via Mount Nicholson (聶高信山) & Mount Cameron (金馬倫山). Bonus rock bird & face

Duration:

(6.5 kilometers)
3 hours

Difficulty: 7/10. 386m elevation gain. Rating 7 instead of 5 because the down part after mount Cameron is steep and slippery. About 40% shaded.

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere.

Water needs: 1.5 liter

Appreciation: 8/10. Nice views. Some interesting rock formations, and another James Bond villain's lair!

Transportation: Bus 6 from Central (Exchange Square), get off at Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park. You will end your trek at Wan Chai MTR station.

Why it's worth it:

Map & Details: 

https://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/5699380030

Exercise Area: Yes (Wan Chai gap)

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Get off at 'Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park', which is right next to the Sinopec station.
You will see it coming and there are usually a lot of hikers getting off at this stop.

Cross the road in front of you (Wong Nai Chung Gap road), there's a little path that goes by the stone stele. Then cross the road again to the bus stop. Then head left.

Then, keep right on Deep Water Bay road for just about 50m...

... then head right unto Black's Link. You will see the sign of the Hong Kong Trail on your left

Keep going on Black Link's road

Eventually, the road narrows

After about 20 minutes walk from the Sinopec station, and 1km, you will see the electrical pylon on your left, and, on your right, this is where you will start your climb of Mount Nicholson. The rock formation you see at the top of that hill is where the 'bird' and 'face' rocks are located.

When you get to this point, the spiky rock is the bird's beak.

Looking back at the 'bird.

Once you are done with the rocks picture taking, keep going up the path towards the building which looks like something out of a James Bond movie...

Walk by the concrete structure

... then right after, you will see the James Bond villain's lair on your right (image below), and a path from the building, going down on your left. Take the path going down.

Quite pretty...

About 800m after the James Bond building, you will get back on the Hong Kong trail section 4 path. Head right

After about 25 minutes on HK Trail section 4, you will see a pavilion on your left, and a sign post on your right. Take a left towards Aberdeen Reservoir...

... but just a few meters into that path, you will see stairs going up on your right. Ignore the warning sign and climb up.

Right before the top of the stairs, you will see a dirt path going up on your left.
Take that path.

After another 400m or so, you will reach this fork in the path. Notice the trees that will make it relatively obvious. Head left.

You have reached the top of Mount Cameron!
Keep going straight and you will progressively go down.

There is one obvious fork after 300m from the top of Mount Cameron. Take a right. Be careful afterwards as the path gets steep and very slippery. Hang-on to the trees.

You will be reaching Middle Gap Road after about 25-30 minutes.
Head right on Middle Gap Road.

Then right again towards Wan Chai Gap

Lots of huge mansions along Middle Gap Road 

You will eventually reach Stubbs Road. Cross it straight and go down Wan Chai Green Trail pedestrian path. All the way down to Wan Chai...

Kennedy Road. Cross the street on the left. then go down the stairs that are by the yellow building...

Cross Queen's road and keep going straight...

... through the market, and eventually, you will reach Johnston Road.
The MTR entrance is on your right and across.

Tai Tam to Wong Nai Chung Gap (黃泥涌峽) via Sheung Tam Stream (雙潭石澗)

Duration: 
(6 kilometers)
2 hours

Difficulty: 6/10. 326m elevation gain

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere.

Water needs: 1.5 liter

Appreciation: 8/10. Great stream after a downpour.

Transportation: Sai Wan Ho MTR, Exit A. Take bus 14 and exit right after the dam. Return by bus at Wong Nai Chung Gap road.

Why it's worth it:

Map & Details: 

https://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/5636146663

Exercise Area: No

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The bus stop to Tai Tam is right off Sai Wan Ho MTR, Exit A. About 25 minutes ride.
Ring the bell when you're on the Tai Tam dam (there's just one on the way). Stop right after the dam.

Beginning of the trek is right across the bus stop.  

It starts with a nice and gentle paved hike.

Head left right before the bridge.

Then right and down.

You'll go by this dam. There's a path going up on the other side of the walkway.

About 20m into that path, it curves to the left. Take the offshoot path to the right and get into the stream. 

Lots of places to swim if you feel like it on a warm day.

This first stream ends about 100m before the dam. There's a picnic area on the right on an elevated stone area.

After a short break (maybe a snack). Head left on the path.

Left after the dam's bridge

Follow Wong Nai Chung Gap Road

At this point, head right and down. You are going towards the second stream

Don't enter the stream on the first waterfall on the left. The stream to enter is about 10-15 minutes walk further along the path.

That's the stream you will enter, at the end of the footpath. Just don't enter it right away a go up behind the sign and you'll see the entry point to the stream a few meters up.
There's one big waterfall and a few nice pools.

This is the end of the second stream. Go up the stairs and onto the road.

You'll see the ParkView estate on your right. Walk towards it.

Just keep going on Tai Tam Reservoir Road until you reach Wong Nai Chung Gap road.
Tons of buses there going everywhere...