Zimmerman's Loop Section 5 : Tai Tam Nature Walk (大潭自然段)

Duration:  12 km (3h15)

Difficulty: 4/10. Mostly flat. 

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere

Water needs: 1 liter. 60% shaded. 

Appreciation: 6/10. 

Map & Details: https://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/5326112266

Exercise Area: No

Transportation:  Get to Stanley Terminus via a number of buses. www.hkemobility.gov.hk. Return to Shai Kei Wan MTR via bus #9

Why it's worth it:

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Off the bus @ the Stanley bus terminus, walk on Stanley Beach Road

Then hop on the beach (if not closed. Otherwise, just keep going on the road, you'll get to the same place). Then on the boardwalk. Then stairs up.

Up the stairs, head left and across the road onto Stanley Gap Road.

After about 150m on Stanley Gap Road, you'll see concrete steps on your right. That's the shortcut to the trail. If you want the 'official' entry point, walk another 200m to a larger set of concrete stairs.

Head right at the top of the stairs. Quite easy at this point, just follow the catchwater to the end, when it meets Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir

Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir. Head right at the bottom of the stairs.

Cross the road and go down

Head left here at the white building

There's a path on the left, after the dam. At the top of the stairs, head right.
Careful, no sidewalks.

Down the path here. Note the trail post on the left.

Head left at the bottom of the stairs. At this point, you are on Hong Kong Trail Section 7. You can just follow it to the end without risk of getting lost.

There's an option here, when you get close to Lan Nai Wan, to actually go through Lan Nai Wan by heading right and down, leaving HK Trail Sec 7. However, I would suggest you instead stay on Section 7 as the villagers do not enjoy the visitors too much and they have dogs that will bark at you and possibly chase you.

If you decided to face the dogs, after the temple, there's a bridge and the path back to HK Trail Sec 7 is right after the bridge, on the left.

At this point, you are about 1.5km away from the end of the trail.

Go up the stairs to the road where you can take bus #9 to Shau Kei Wan. But first, take some time at the beach, take the path down on the right...

Zimmerman's Loop Section 4 : Southern Beaches Walk (南區沙灘段)

Duration:  9 km (3h)

Difficulty: 4/10. Mostly flat. This is an extended version of the official walk with a few more beaches and closer to the coast in the South Bay Beach portion.

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere

Water needs: 1 liter. 20% shaded. 

Appreciation: 10/10. 

Map & Details: https://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/5243133550

Exercise Area: Yes

Transportation:  Ocean Park MTR, exit C. Return via various buses at Stanley bus terminus.

Why it's worth it:

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Make your way to the Ocean Park MTR station.

Exit 'C'

Head right, right off exit 'C'

Follow Wong Chuk Hang road. It will merge into Island road.

About 700m (10minutes) into your walk, you will see a path that parallels the road on your right, where the sidewalk stops. Take it. After a few meters, you will see stairs going down and a sign stating "Mills & Chung Path"

The path will quickly get you to the seafront

Deep Water Bay beach. First beach of the day!

Immediately after the beach, take the Seaview Promenade which hugs the waterfront (right)

Repulse Bay is now in sight (about 40 minutes into the walk)

Beach road @ Repulse Bay

Stay on Beach road. At this point, you are behind The Pulse mall. Quite a few beachfront restaurants there if the mood should strike

Beach Road ends. Turn right onto South Bay road.

The Middle Bay Beach will be on your right (stairs down), on your left is Ruby Court.

Head to the right, immediately after Ruby Court

Another 500m and you will see South Bay Beach in the distance

After you pass South Bay Beach (on your right), you will reach the end of South Bay road.
There's a flight of stairs at the end, take it.

Keep going straight. You will notice some white tiles on the ground.
Weird but that will do for a direction indicator! (That is the 'so-called' pigs' trail)

Some more stairs

You will see exposed rocks on your left. Climb these. Only spot that requires your hands but very short and not very difficult. Afterwards, the path is more clearly defined.

At the top of your climb, you will reach a fork in the path, head left.
The funnily twisted tree branch circled on the picture should help you identify you are there.

I little while later, you will reach another fork (again, spot the tree). Head right.

That's it, you are done with the pig's trail, head right onto Chung Hom Kok road.

After about 750m on Chung Hom Kok road, you will reach this roundabout. Just before the roundabout on your left, you will see this blue sign and behind, a path with stairs going down. That's the one you must take.

Go straight

The 'Sea Breeze' "secret" beach.

Here, you can go right and down the stairs to the 'Sea Breeze' beach, then left and up towards Stanley.

The 'Sea Breeze' beach

Right

The Murray Building

Walk all the way though the Stanley waterfront until you reach the roundabout.

Go through the market

First opening on your left in the market is the Stanley New street. Take it.

The terminus is at the end of the street.
Climb the stairs on your right, or just go around the slope

Bus terminus. Quite a few buses will take you back wherever you want to go!