| Skyline Path | |
| Distance: 9.0 Km | |
| Duration: 8.0 hours | |
| Diff.: | |
| Scn.: | |
Start: Bus 40X get off at Lei On Estate, 86C, 680 at the Lei On terminal, MTR at Wu Kai Sha Station
End: Bus 99 to Sai Kung or Wo Kai Sai, 299X to Sai Kung or Sha Tin
You are recommended to be well equipped such as gloves and sleeves for climbing the narrow and sleep rocky cliffs.
At the junction of Kung Hang Ridge, you could follow the left path downhill along Kung Hang Ridge to Nai Chung Barbecue Site.
Due to Google changing the terms of Google Map, the daily usage rate will be limited. Please refer to the static map instead if the above map could not be displayed or used normally. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Static Map
KML file
Lei On Estate
From the bus terminal of Lei On Estate, the trail starts by following the pathway through between Lei Hing House and Lei Shing House roughly toward the east. After passing through the basketball courts, climb up along the path covering on the left planter wall to join the concrete road on the left. Head the concrete road to the right through the cross-junction under the bridge, then still go ahead until up to another concrete path. Follow the path to the right, not far ahead, pay attention to the left where is a junction of the muddy path (opposite to the lamppost 1515).
* If starting from Wu Kai Sha MTR station, you could follow Sha On Street toward Lei On Estate. When heading to the gateway of the car park nearby, trace the concrete side path on the left. Along it until the end at the junction, it then follows the path to the right until the left uphill muddy path as mentioned above. (The branch path could be shown on the map)
The north ridge of The Hunch Backs
The north ridge of The Hunch Backs
Follow the muddy path uphill until the junction, it then turns left downward (right to the reservoir from Ngau Wu Stream) and winds along the hillside eastward. Along the way, Lei On Estate could be seen on the left. Head it until the crossing of access to the north ridge of The Hunch Backs. Ascend the path on the right along the ridge through the woods, it is obvious but very steep that would require clambering. Afterward, it becomes gentle then steep again until arriving the junction of Skyline Path on the left (at around 370m height above sea level).
Note: It is required to refer the ribbon marks as the guidance for all the way along Skyline Path and Tree Line Path. In addition, you are recommended to be well equipped such as gloves and sleeves for climbing the narrow rocky cliffs and the cliff slopes.
Skyline Path
Along Skyline Path, it initially skirts along the northeast hillside of The Hunch Backs which is not too steep through the woods but sometimes over the steep rocky slopes. On the way, a distance view over Plover Cove Reservoir could be seen. Afterward, it comes to the left junction of Kung Hang Ridge. It offers the sublime scenery over Nai Chung and Three Fathoms Cove. Overlooking to the right, Tai Tung Ridge seems to stretch upward until the hilltop of the main peak of Ma On Shan (also named as Horse Head Hill). From the junction, the trail follows the right path. After passing through the gentle section, it sharply ascends along the ridge then becomes steep and rugged further. Afterward, it roughly goes along the hillside horizontally but undulates to a large extent in part of the sections.
Exit: At the junction of Kung Hang Ridge, you could follow the left path downhill along Kung Hang Ridge until Nai Chung Barbecue Site.
Cutting through the woods, the trail comes to the cliffy slope, being a difficult point for the path, which seems to straight down around three to four meters. Other than the ropes, you could depend on the trees for the descent according to the situation. After skirting the hillside, it opens up. Along the way, it passes through the left path junction from the top of Broken Kite Wall (a large rocky cliff). Continue to go ahead, the trail soon leads to the second cliffy slope. Again, depend on the trees down. Afterward, it turns upward over the rocky slopes and some of the paths become narrow and skirt the cliffs in part, be careful. Futher ahead, after sharply descending the third steep slope, it gradually goes upward.
Along the path through the woods up, it leads to the junction of Tai Tung Ridge. Afterward, follow the path on the left-front according to the ribbon mark, it soon becomes downward. After cutting through the woods along the edge of the rocky slopes, it comes to the junction at the front where could lead you to climb Elephant Forehead Ridge along the ribbon marks (further advanced level). From the junction, descend the path on the left, then turn right through the woods and skirt the rocky slope below the rocky tower of Elephant Forehead. At that time, you could look up the bottom of the tower. Head to the steep rocky slope at around three meters height, depend on the trees to climb it. The trail then leads into the valley beneath Elephant Gate. Along it up, Elephant Gate and the left adjacent rock like a boar head at the top could be seen if looking up. After passing through the section of loose gravel, pay attention to the trees and the ribbon marks on the left which is just the entry of Tree Line Path. Look up around, the cliffs of Elephant Gate on the both sides seem to be a 'gate' and gradually turns narrow, as if it attracted you to enter.
Tree Line Path
Follow Tree Line Path on the left according to the ribbon mark, it initially skirts the hillside of the rocky slope along the trees. Along the way, the trail is slightly obvious and sometimes passes through the narrow paths but it cuts through the thick woods in the later section. After skirting the hillsides, you could see Brambles Stone River lying in the valley on the left-bottom, and the ridge of MacLeHose Trail towering horizontally in the front which will be the target for the direction reference. Afterward, the trail sharply descends into the forest. Through the woods according to the ribbon marks, it leads to the junction then follow the left path (right to climb Horse Chin Valley). Along the path, it then crosses Brambles Stone River and becomes uphill. After heading to the top of the ridge, it is gentle down. Cutting through the shrubbery, it then joins MacLehose Trail. Finally, follow MacLehose Trail to the left until descending to Shui Long Wo.
Related Route : Ma On Shan
Summary
Skyline Path skirts horizontally along the east upper-hillside of Ma On Shan like a chain of a crown for it. I admired the pioneers for the adventure of opening up the difficult path. However, the more rugged the path is, the more careful with the next step you will be. As if during time of adversity it had better to clam down then think about how to solve, so that it often turns peril into safety.
Last Update : 02.05.2018
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