Spanning 100 km across Hong Kong’s New Territories, the MacLehose Trail runs from Pak Tam Chung in Sai Kung to Tuen Mun, winding through mountains, beaches, and reservoirs. Here’s a recap of how I took on this unforgiving trail.
I had long planned to do a birthday trail this year, but the missing piece was choosing which one. Then I thought, why not try the longest trail in Hong Kong? And so it happened. With the desire to try something new, I packed my bag and went on a weeklong trip.
My MacLehose journey began with Sections 9 and 10, which stretch from Route Twisk to Tuen Mun.
After that, I did Sections 7 and 8 in reverse, starting from the endpoint of Section 8 at Route Twisk and heading toward the trailhead of Section 7. Interesting points on this hike include Needle Hill and Lead Mine Pass, where you can appreciate some wonderful rock formations.
On my third day of hiking, I picked up where I left off, walked to the exit point of Section 6, and continued toward its trailhead. I wanted to call it a day, but my legs seemed to want more, so I went on to Section 5 and exited off-trail at a practical point. Somewhere along the way, I also encountered a red-necked keelback, a venomous and poisonous snake. Lucky or unlucky, that’s part of the story now. Additionally, the Lion's Rock viewpoint offers a panoramic view of Hong Kong.
The fourth hike took me through the treacherous Section 4, which is considered the hardest part of the trail. To make it more challenging, I did it solo and as a night hike. I didn’t meet a single soul the entire time. It was just me and nature. By the time I finished this section, my legs were already feeling the effects of the consecutive hikes. When I reached my hotel, I slumped into bed and slept like a log. Fun fact: Section 4 is the steepest and most punishing part of the entire trail, with endless stone steps that locals jokingly call "the leg breaker".
What started as a random plan ended up becoming a wonderful feat for the not-so-active me. I never thought I could hike on consecutive days, much less cover a hundred kilometers. I pushed my limits this time, and it was all worth it.
And now, off to the next trail... 👌
