The archetypal 'the-wilderness-is-right-there-on-your-doorstep'' hike. The trail, which crosses Tai Tam Country Park, is easily reached from Central, or from Stanley (above) if you tackle it in reverse, and jaw-dropping views of hillside and sea make even the strenous sections worthwhile.
Walking time: allow two hours at the height of summer.
Difficulty: tough in parts, particularly the twin-peaked Twins, a mountainette prefaced by a murderous set of steps. Other climbs make this a trail with heart-attack potential for the unfit.
How to get there: taking a taxi from Central to the salmon-coloured Hong Kong Parkview towers on Tai Tam Reservoir Road costs about $70. Alternatively, take a no 6 Citybus from Exchange Square and alight near the Shell petrol station at the top of Wong Nai Chung Gap Road. Walk up Tai Tam Reservoir Road (a stiff introduction to the hike), keeping Wong Nai Chung Reservoir, used as a boating lake, on your right. The Wilson Trail, Section 1 (Stanley Section), marked by a stone sign, begins 200 metres before Parkview, although its ground-floor Park'N Shop is a handy place to stock up on provisions.
What to take: at least 1.5 litres of water each in hot weather. There are no stalls along the trail (and no litter bins) and little shade. Lightweight walking boots are recommended. Map (Countryside Series: Hong Kong Island), sunscreen, hat, small towel, change of T-shirt and shorts, mosquito repellent, camera, mobile phone, PowerBars or fruit.
The walk: start by punishing your calf muscles on the steps from road level, which lead to a short, undulating section of trail. Concrete gives way to clay and more steps, then a flat, sandy crest that provides the route's first spectacular views, back towards Central. The path turns rocky before climbing a set of clay steps that is slippery when wet. More concrete steps give on to another flat stretch with magnificent views of all three Tai Tam reservoirs, Mount Butler and Mount Parker to the east, and across Turtle Cove towards Shek O.