Bride's pool, Wu Kau Tang (烏蛟騰) to Bluff Head/Wong Chuk Kok Tsui (黃竹角咀). Devil's Fist (鬼手岩)

Duration: 
One way: 6hours, 14km. From Wong Chuk Kok Tsui to Wu Kau Tang. You have to get a speedboat to drop you off at Wong Chuk Kok Tsui
Return:  9-12 hours, 28km. You will have to either leave very, very early (6am) so you can make the return minibus, or plan to camp there

Difficulty:
One way: 8/10. Hard because of distance, terrain (slippery, loose rocks), bushwacking, 500m elevation gain
Return: 10/10. Double the distance and elevation gain! Only for experienced hikers. In both cases, I would suggest shades, long sleeves and long pants because of the bushwacking part. Don't skimp on water

Cel phone coverage: No coverage

Water needs: 2.5 liters

Appreciation: 9/10. Nice views. Interesting rocks formations. But don't get your hopes up too much for Devil's Fist; it is a small rock formation.

Transportation:
One way: Hire a speedboat to Wong Chuk Kok Tsui (黃竹角咀). Devil's Fist (鬼手岩), then hike to Wu Kau Tang. There, minibus 20R will take you to Tai Po Market MTR station. Last 20R is at 8:15pm so manage your time wisely!
Return: Minibus 20R from Tai Po Market to terminus Wu Kau Tang. Return the same way. Again, last 20R is at 8:15pm !

Details: http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/1966019345

Why it's worth it:

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Below are the instructions for the return trip to Wong Chuk Kok Tsui. Again, only for the experienced hikers (ones who routinely can do 15k+ hikes in non-flat terrain)

Exit A at Tai Po Market MTR station. Go in the tunnel. The go towards the Minibus terminus (left)

Minibus' schedule calls for once every hour, but they often add buses due to the route being quite busy on weekends. The bus trip to Wu Kau Tang is between 30 and 45 minutes. Wu Kau Tang is the terminus (pictured here)

A few meters back on the road where the bus came from, there's a path leading to the village. Take it

Go through the small village

Left or right around the toilet. Doesn't really matter. Path afterwards will be on the right

Just out of the small village

You want to go towards Plover Cove Country Trail

Can't miss it; a big board with a map of the trail. Take the path going up on the left of the board

Nice views along the way...

An hour and a half or so along the way. Head right at the sign. On your way back, you can always take the other way to Wu Kau Tang which is a bit easier (less scenic) and faster

Yeah, yeah...

At this point, take the path to the right...

Just as a reference

This is where you leave the Plover Cove Country trail and get on the bushwacking path towards Wong Chuk Kok Tsui. About 3.5hours/7km from the bus-terminus in Wu Kau Tang

The trail is mostly well-worned. When it gets a little bit more questionable, follow the ribbon markers

At this point, you probably have another2, 2.5 hours to go. When you reach a big pile of rocks with a sign (all in Chinese), you're almost there. The path keeps going to the right, then down to the water. The Devil's fist is there right on the rocky beach. The path going down is a bit treacherous so big mindful of loose rocks and slippery terrain. Once you are done marveling at Nature, retrace your steps all the way to Wu Kau Tang

Plover Cove Country Trail (船灣郊野公園)

Duration: 

(19 kilometers)
7 hours

Difficulty: 7/10. For distance and terrain.

Appreciation: 9/10. You'll also have a bonus waterfall start (Bride's Pool and Mirror Pool)

Transportation: Tai Po MTR station, exit A1. Take bus 275R on a Sunday or public holiday (doesn't run any other day). Return to TaI Po MTR station via bus 75k at the end of the trail.

Why it's worth it:

Garmin: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/436322856
(Ignore the abnormal little turn and skip 12 minutes into the trail on my Garmin map.We took a wrong turn there. Rest is fine)

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You will get off 275R at the bus terminus @ Bride's Pool. Then cross the road and go down by the picnic areas, over the stream and towards the other picnic area. You'll get here. Head right and up. (If you have a few minutes, you can instead go left and spend some time at Mirror Pool, just 3 minutes away. It is quite pretty)

You'll reach an intersection, go left and up on a path that zig-zags up.

Right after the zig-zag climb, you'll get to this intersection.
Head left (as our model Anthony make obvious on this picture ;-) )

You'll then go by the big, obvious Plover Cover Reservoir Country Trail sign that you cannot miss. That's the trail head. Off you go on your 7 hours adventure... The trail is obvious and there's not really and side-paths so no chances of getting lost there.

About 4, 4.5 hours along the way, you'll get to this intersection. The only point really where you could wonder which way to turn. Turn right! The rest is obvious. Be careful as the terrain gets really slippery.
The bus terminus is just a few minutes walk after the last dam.

Lantau Section 9-10-11-12

(updated: 2020-02-02)

Duration: 

25 km (7 hours)

Difficulty: 
7/10. For distance and 700m elevation gain.

Cel phone coverage: Full.

Water needs: 2.5 liter. 20% shaded

Appreciation: 
6/10. Too much of it is flat pavement.

Map & Details: 
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/396096822
https://www.mapmyhike.com/workout/4009463404/

Exercise Area: No

Transportation: Take bus route 1 at Mui Wo Bus Terminal; or take bus route 11 in Tung Chung and get off just after the Shek Pik reservoir. Ferry back to Central from Mui-Wo

Why it's worth it:

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Get off the bus just after having crossed the Shek Pik reservoir dam. There are washrooms there so might as well use them because there won't be any for a while. When done, wash your hands! ;-)
Then cross the dam.

Right after the dam, turn right

Trail is pretty straightforward; just follow the signs with the little hiking guys and you'll be fine. Yeah, high likeliness of these friendly hiking wild buffaloes...

About 1h45-2 hours in, at Shui Hau village. Follow the sign to the right, along the road. 

About 500m later, on your left, you'll leave the side of the road via a set of steps.

On the way down to Pui-O, about 5 hours in.
Only place where I wasn't sure whether to go left or right. Go right!

In Pui-O, the signage is not great. You'll want to turn right towards the beach before the bus stop. If you see that you went through he village on the main road, you went too far. You'll sign the distance post every 500 meters so use them as your guides. From this point on, smooth sailing to Mui-Wo in section 12

About 18.5km in (5 hours). On the right side, you'll see the gate to Chi Ma Wan. But you are going to take the trail on the left, with steps.

Arrived in Mui Wo, why not have a bite at China Beach Club (not China Bear by the pier, China Beach Club, by the beach, about 10 minutes walk from the pier). Red fish curry, Greek salad and apple crumble! Yum!