Not so Zimmerman's Loop section 6 ; more coast, more difficult, even prettier!

Duration:  11.5 km (4h)

Difficulty: 8/10. Flat for a good part but some bits are very steep, slippery, requiring rope assistance, and require some bushwhacking. Make sure you have good shows with grip, not flat soled running shoes. You can do the easier and official version, here: http://www.hongkonghikes.com/2021/01/zimmermans-loop-section-6-long-dragons.html

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere

Water needs: 2 liter. 50% shaded. 

Appreciation: 9/10. This is a "more coastal" version of Zimmerman's Loop section 6.

Map & Details: https://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/5362005352

Exercise Area: Yes, at the very end.

Transportation:  Get to Shau Kei Wan MTR, exit A1. Then take bus #9 and get off at To Tei Wan - Dragon's Back stop. Return from one of the numerous buses at the Island Resort bus terminus.

Why it's worth it:

-----------------------------------

. 

Bus #9 and get off at To Tei Wan - Dragon's Back stop. However, do not climb the stairs to Dragon's Back, nor down towards the To Tei Wan (beach). Instead, start your hike in the same direction of the bus, on Shek O Road

About 450m into the hike, leave Shek O Road, taking a right (second right), towards Cape D'Aguillar Road. Be careful as there is no sidewalk for the next 150m.

You will get tp a roundabout Private cars cannot keep going on D'Aguillar Road without special permits so, much safer from this point on.

About 15-20 minutes walk after the roundabout, you will reach this point with a road going to the left (first left). Take a left.

Another 20-30 minutes walk after your left turn on a slightly sloping road towards the peak, you will see a barrier on the road and a small building (the Cape D'Aguilar H.F. Radio Station). Just go around the building, on the right...

...all the way...

... around, and back on the road

You will eventually reach the 'Cape D'Aguilar Satellite Earth Station', that's where the road stops. Just go around the building's fences, on the left.

Keep going around and up.

Looks like a James Bond's villain's lair, doesn't it!?

You then start going in the bushes; not the characteristic rock...

... followed by more big rocks showing you the proper way.

About 300m from the Satellite Station building, you will reach this fork in the path (the ribbons might be gone), head right. 

In general, just follow the paths that go directly towards Shek O beach.
In the case above, there was a path on the left which was not the proper one.

Tricky here because the rock can be slippery. You can actually see the path down there, going through the bushes. Good shoes are a must!

Getting closer to Shek O beach

Left here. (Villagers have made some concrete steps)

Beach is right ahead.

Follow along Shek O beach and get back in the village at the car park.

At the roundabout, head left onto Shek O Road

You will walking straight on the same road...

... for about 1.5km (no turn)...

... until you reach the Big Wave Bay car park and bus stop.
Take the road to the beach, right by the bus stop.

Right

Another right in the village, towards the beach which is about 50m away at this point.

Walk along Big Wave Bay, to the boardwalk by the hill, and towards the lifeguard toward.

Go past the lifeguard tower.

Right after, you have an option to go check out the ancient rock carvings.
Well worth the 30 seconds detour.

Once done, keep going up the stairs, looking back from time to time to enjoy the view!

About 5 minutes up the stairs, you will reach this point where the stairs make a hard left and you can see the Cape Collinson Correctional facilities buildings on your right. You will see a clear dirt path on your right, going down. That's where the adventure begins. Be careful as some parts are quite steep and slippery.

Head right at the first fork.

At this point, keep going straight.

You will eventually make your way to the front of the Cape Collinson prison. 

Walk up Cape Collinson Road. Note that you will go by (on your right, about 220m after the prison's main gates) a path with ropes that go down to the Cape Collinson Battery searchlight. Worth a quick detour.

About 10-15 minutes from the prison's gate, you will reach this point where you have a shortcut on the right to the Dragon Trail. Take it. Then right on Dragon Trail road.

But, almost immediately on your right (about 20m), you will see a clear dirt path on your right.
You can decide to keep walk on the easy Dragon Trail, or take that adventurous path on the right which is slipperier, but prettier. Go ahead on the right!

At one point, you will reach this crevasse where a ladder will assist you down. At the bottom, head left and back onto Dragon Trail. Right onto Dragon Trail. You are quite close to the end of the trail at this point. 

Big buildings on the picture above is Island Resort, you final destination. There's a bus terminus underneath with tons of bus routes back to wherever you want to go.
Alternatively, you can continue on to Zimmerman's Loop Section 7: 
http://www.hongkonghikes.com/2020/12/zimmermans-loop-section-7-chai-wan-city.html

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:

--------------------------------------------

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...