⇨ Go on a hike
Tai Mei Tuk has no shortage of hiking routes for you to clamber upon on all fours or leisurely stroll along. Among them are the majestic ridges of Pat Sin Leng in the vast Pat Sin Leng Country Park, a shaded dirt trail that spits you out at the Bride’s Pool Nature Trail further up north, which then leads you to the Bride’s Pool Waterfall for a well-deserved dip. Hikers looking for a tougher challenge can make the trek across the eight peaks of Pat Sin Leng as well.
For something short and cheerful, the Plover Cove Family Walk is perfect for the little ones and four-legged friends—it only takes an hour to do and the rewards are plentiful. Start off from Bradbury Jockey Club Youth Hostel and make your way around the family-friendly loop, passing through four scenic points that boast views across the Plover Cove Reservoir and dam towards Ma On Shan as well as the imposing Pat Sing Leng mountains and their commanding peaks.
A little further out from Tai Mei Tuk proper is the Ma Shi Chau Nature Trail, a geologically significant site in the Plover Cove Bay that is home to some of the oldest rocks in Hong Kong. Boasting sedimentary rock layers and an enchanting tombolo that visitors can cross, the Ma Shi Chau Nature Trail reveals topographical faults and folds that date back to the Permian period. Just be aware of tidal levels and plan ahead to make sure you’re visiting at low tide for your own safety.
Finally, for one of Hong Kong’s most difficult hikes, the Plover Cove Reservoir Country Trail clocks in at 18 kilometres, starting on the far end of the main dam and looping all around the Plover Cove Reservoir before ending near Bride’s Pool (or vice versa, depending on where you would like to start). For advanced hikers, this trek should take an average of seven to eight hours to complete, taking you up on pristine ranges with expansive views that span the Tolo Channel, Pat Sin Leng, Hung Shek Mun, Double Island, Ma On Shan, and Sai Kung.